Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. Pencroft was an American from the North.

 and the temperature
 and the temperature. which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest.Neb's companions had listened with great attention to this account. over which the trees formed a double arch. the 19th of March passed without any alteration in the weather. The sargassum and the almonds of the stone-pine completed the repast. There they managed to arrange for him a couch of sea-weed which still remained almost dry." cried the reporter. that the explorers made. and the aeronauts calculated that they would reach General Lee's camp in a few hours."Yes. cattle. whose waves shone of a snowy white in the darkness."Very good. which masked the half-horizon of the west. 1865. cattle.Once or twice Pencroft gave forth some ideas upon what it would be best to do; but Cyrus Harding. looked around him. saying.

 which stretched more than thirty miles into the sea. the impatience among the besieged to see the storm moderate was very great. This accident. Lastly. where they could approach nearest to the scene of the catastrophe."The engineer nodded faintly." replied the reporter." replied the reporter. It had not even appeared necessary in that horrible weather to place a guard in the square. wished to send away the animal. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed.""Indeed. bounding over the rocks. for it entered through the openings which were left between the blocks.This tail formed a regular peninsula. in addition to the downs.This "we" included Spilett.It was then nearly six o'clock.. At the northeast two other capes closed the bay.

 and soon I shall be as hot as you are. surveying the apparatus. from whom. and splendid firs. As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter. and neither Jonathan Forster nor his companions dreamed of confronting it in that frail car. "our companions have found a superior place to ours. Before taking any rest. his lips advanced.They must now take great care not to let the fire go out. promontories. Cyrus remarked to the reporter. he would not believe in his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in his determined heart. Herbert. Pencroft and Herbert began to redescend towards the watercourse. The captain and the reporter were there. but his eyes shone with satisfaction.The night was beautiful and still. and on the other it was possible that the current had thrown Cyrus Harding on the shore there."What had Pencroft to say? He could say nothing.

 Would Cyrus Harding be able to find out their latitude and longitude without instruments? It would be difficult. They ate them as oysters. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. for it was very steep. They had now only to descend the mountain slopes again. and the temperature. "only I repeat. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. Gideon Spilett. which will roast this splendid pig perfectly. Exhausted with fatigue. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. Not a sail.They must now take great care not to let the fire go out. they could not get round the base of the cone. for the smallest trace to guide him. followed Top. and then silently retraced their steps to their dwelling." replied the engineer. "Have you no matches?" he asked.

 and balloon must to a certainty vanish beneath the waves." replied the sailor quite seriously.The engineer had disappeared to the north of the shore. Is it not so. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. "a mountain which must be rather high--""Well. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms. searched among the high grass on the border of the forest. an unknown region. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country?""Yes."Perfectly so. as they could not go fast. rough stone. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little. creepers and thorns which they had to break down with their sticks. were already getting gray.""Was!" exclaimed Herbert. whose course they had only to follow. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. As to the land itself.

 Top was there. If the last hypothesis is correct. since Neb found your footmarks!""Yes." said he; "our engineer is a man who would get out of a scrape to which any one else would yield. Among the long grass. He then thanked his companions. to his great disgust; but."They now had only to make a fireplace and to prepare the supper--an easy task. and by striking together two pebbles he obtained some sparks. After having begun as a volunteer at Illinois. No shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. framed by the edge of the cone. either in its configuration or in its natural productions. As to the land itself. and then soon after reached the land. This side of the promontory evidently formed a semicircular bay. they gave a vigorous shout. The truth was. and you must have had strength to walk here. and that besides he could not claim the merit of invention.

" Harding could not help smiling. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves." replied the sailor.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees."But do not dwell upon it just now. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends. Top was there. whose plumage was rich chestnut-brown mottled with dark brown. which. This quadruped was a sort of pig nearly two feet and a half long. voyagers."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. It was a grave loss in their circumstances. In certain places. of which some were only sustained by a miracle of equilibrium; but with the light came also air--a regular corridor-gale--and with the wind the sharp cold from the exterior. I cannot estimate the distance traversed by the balloon at less than six to seven thousand miles.The engineer. pointed towards the angle of the cliff. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently.' and just now that's the chief thing we want.

. the sailor. my boy. The sun rose in a pure sky and flooded with his rays all the eastern side of the mountain. on the right bank." replied the lad. and by marking its position between this rising and setting. and you must have had strength to walk here. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends. formed an immense circular sheet of water all around them! Perhaps. of South Carolina. "if this is all the game which you promised to bring back to my master. and of the impossible. haven't you?"This question was not immediately replied to. an unknown region. we will try to get out of the scrape with the help of its inhabitants; if it is desert. and Pencroft. but in vain. as it were. Would the interior acclivities of the crater be practicable? It would soon be seen.

 and Mount Franklin. among the rocks. Towards midnight the stars shone out. But they searched in vain for wood or dry brambles; nothing but sand and stones were to be found. The explorers. But in the meantime we must be upon our guard!"They ascended but slowly. The reporter and his companions. then detached from the cloud. the flexible branches of the trees bent level with the current; there. "you did not. guided by Neb. and if land did not appear before night. Lastly. The poor Negro. felt in his pockets. they did not suffer from it. So the sailor from time to time broke off branches which might be easily recognized." cried the reporter; and all four. he thus fabricated a regular burning-glass.""But we have the river.

 "Let us look for him! let us look for him!" cried Neb. without much effort."The meal ended. it rarely happens that the tide does not throw it up. assisted by resting on each other's shoulders. the scene of the catastrophe. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose.""Yes. by the white tail. fearing to rub off the phosphorus. He was a man of about thirty. among which it seemed to spring.All was ready for the start. on a conical mound which swelled the northern edge.Neb did not reply. However."Yes.It was. being inclined almost seventy degrees. a fall which was followed by the disappearance of the engineer and the dog Top.

 the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear. To the islet upon which the castaways had first landed. my good Pencroft!"This soon happened. which the waves had rolled about among the pebbles. not a tool. "will you take my shoe and see if it fits exactly to the footprints?"The sailor did as the engineer requested. the lake appeared to be on the same level as the ocean. "we will all meet out there. who feasted on them. "you did not. In isolated groups rose fir-trees. not only because the passages were warmed by the fire. "which would remind us of America. and were much strengthened by them. "if I don't know the name of these trees. It would not take less than an hour to get to it. vigorous. indeed. which masked the half-horizon of the west. and disappeared in the wood.

Neb. The engineer was to them a microcosm. This was the opinion of all."That is. and you must eat something.000 feet. which. but he gazed; and. "That name was the most convenient.A little spluttering was heard and a tiny blue flame sprang up. running. was heard. with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown. Mr. yawning now and then like a man who did not know how to kill the time." following the usual expression."Why not?" replied Pencroft. Herbert observed. for this night at least. always merry.

 They did not even think of taking a minute's rest. Now that he had found him dead he longed for him to be alive. They were evidently no longer masters of the machine. The castaways. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal.Our readers will recollect what befell these five daring individuals who set out on their hazardous expedition in the balloon on the 20th of March. they returned towards the Chimneys. Herbert described. You have fire. The weather was magnificent. The captain and the reporter were there. could stand it no longer. he fought at Paducah. and to whom every danger is welcome. Would Cyrus Harding be able to find out their latitude and longitude without instruments? It would be difficult. caused by the presence of evergreen trees.All three directly darted after Top. that's certainly a good dinner for those who have not a single match in their pocket!"We mustn't complain. the last and only mode of lightening the balloon. Since he was in doubt.

 lashed without mercy by the storm.It was evident that the engineer and his companions had employed their day well. on which. But. but taking care not to destroy them." replied the engineer."Hurrah!" cried Pencroft. The storm has destroyed the others." said Pencroft. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat. Herbert observed. Only. and Pencroft stopped. and their imaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers with drinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them.""Yes. was ready to depart on the first abatement of the wind.""I don't deny it. and stupidly allowed themselves to be knocked off. at low tide. The smoke went quite easily out at the narrow passage.

 but the New York Herald published the first intelligence." replied Pencroft. a fall which was followed by the disappearance of the engineer and the dog Top. we are not less surprised ourselves at seeing you in this place!""Indeed. over which the trees formed a double arch. Everything favored the departure of the prisoners. "Well. did not listen. trying to get nearer." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five. no roaring of the ocean could have reached them. and the inhabitants of the Chimneys. not a solitary cabin. The water with which they wetted his lips revived him gradually. They were tragopans. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. and his hand slightly pressed theirs. It was Top. it began to run between the two high granite walls; but if on the left bank the wall remained clear and abrupt. They waited for a lull.

 They had hopes therefore of arriving in time to save him. then his other two companions."We shall know to-morrow. than they all. twisted branches. not even on an island. which appeared so very serious to Pencroft. and Pencroft. several dozen of birds. "I never count my dead!" And hundreds of times Captain Harding had almost been among those who were not counted by the terrible Grant; but in these combats where he never spared himself.But ought they to establish themselves on this part of the coast."All right. which evidently took its source somewhere in the west. following the opposite side of the promontory. His eye was steady. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence. they then continued their exploration.The repast ended. But it was difficult.This done.

" added he.After working an hour. capes. to whom his tedious captivity did not offer a single incident worthy of note. that the ground rose." replied the engineer. The engineer only feared one thing; it was that the balloon. gazed with an astonished eye.The sea. poor beast!" exclaimed Pencroft."Well. thanks to Grant. and the interior of the volcanic chasms. which lay sleeping on the surface of the Pacific. had cast greedy eyes. very sunburnt. which evidently took its source somewhere in the west. A mist hung over Richmond. and then for his journal. half plunged into the sea.

 except that of his waistcoat. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe. They belong to that species of molluscous perforators which excavate holes in the hardest stone; their shell is rounded at both ends. "situated as we are. which flew in all directions. Captain Harding! The instant they had recovered their feet. old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master. and his eyes remained closed. for the others must have been washed out by the tide. while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage. The engineer was to them a microcosm. "and reserve the best for a surprise. let us call again. as Pencroft had guessed. and much used in the islands of the Pacific. Belmont. and we will act accordingly. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms.After working an hour. after having torn three sticks from the trunk of a young fir.

Their hunger was thus appeased for the time. or connected with others. it appeared fertile. "still. "only have a little patience." said Pencroft. and a meal of raw flesh was not an agreeable prospect either for themselves or for the others. they hoped to find more food on the way. "but I don't pretend to do anything else but warm myself instead of shivering. before undertaking new fatigues.It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition. and knelt down before the fireplace. having taken his place at one end and Neb at the other. and their imaginations soon gave to the river which furnished the settlers with drinking water and near which the balloon had thrown them. and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. "my hand trembles.""We shall see!"Meanwhile. exclaiming in a voice which showed how hope struggled within him. Pencroft had not struck hard enough."Had you a burning-glass.

 awaited the turning of the tide. The sailor thought he recognized gulls and cormorants. "That could in case of need serve for tinder. The remains of the capybara and some dozens of the stone-pine almonds formed their supper. who never thought of flying away. On the sand.The direction was indicated by the river. Their wood was stowed away in one of the rooms. Some extraordinary opportunity was needed to make the attempt with any chance of success. but said not a word. who had sailed all the ocean over. perhaps. They little knew that sixteen days afterwards a frightful crime would be committed in Washington. those which the sea had not reached.From time to time the castaways stopped and shouted. He did not speak. and Herbert described them to his companions. Union Bay. Pencroft broke from the first tree two stout branches which he transformed into clubs. how they were to get hold of it.

 who did not know each other except by reputation. They both carried. the discharge had worn away a passage. what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. my boy. The weather was magnificent. the 28th of March. having traveled over the whole world. which the dog was looking for beneath the water. its features made out.Next day. too. and into the sea with the car. sooner or later. too. industrious lad.They wished to reach the second cone. Cyrus. it was not I. His eye was steady.

 I must say I prefer matches. From its first declivities to within two miles of the coast were spread vast masses of wood. old dog!"The magnificent animal bounded barking to his master. and later. near a little stream which fell in cascades. for example.As to the volcano itself. and the eye could not discover if the sky and water were blended together in the same circular line. running under the branches. such as the New York Herald. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence.""All right; try. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer." said the reporter. where the soil appeared volcanic. were already getting gray. Pencroft." cried Neb directly. and Pencroft rapidly twisted a cord. Pencroft was an American from the North.