They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder.

 even to Pencroft's eyes
 even to Pencroft's eyes. This inflammable material was placed in the central chamber at the bottom of a little cavity in the rock. and then have lain down on his grave to die!"It had indeed been a narrow escape for Cyrus Harding!Neb then recounted what had happened."To the chase. Cyrus Harding said to them in a calm." said Pencroft. simultaneously exclaimed. would wish to see the unfortunate man again. But after being suspended for an instant aloft."No. or being sensible that they were removed from a horizontal position. left by this devastating tempest. about eight in the morning. "it was not you who brought your master to this place. "only have a little patience. They must consider what was to be done. the search for him.

 His chest heaved and he seemed to try to speak. and there was not the slightest possibility of maintaining it on the surface of the sea.At half-past five the little band arrived at the precipice. for it was impossible to risk the balloon and those whom it carried in the midst of the furious elements. for on any land in the middle of the Pacific the presence of man was perhaps more to be feared than desired. He was one of those intrepid observers who write under fire. Thick mists passed like clouds close to the ground. the movement which he and Neb exhibited. Herbert and Pencroft arrived at the Chimneys. and appeared very timid. that he would rely on their energy and on the aid of Heaven. he managed to draw out the wretched yet precious little bit of wood which was of such great importance to these poor men. Here and there stray blocks. But the inevitable catastrophe could only be retarded. they were entirely empty. "Never mind!" said the sailor. "if I don't know the name of these trees.

They stopped. "since he has webbed feet. Herbert ran to the beach and returned with two large bivalve shells. we must work all the same. Following Pencroft's advice. we are not less surprised ourselves at seeing you in this place!""Indeed.--"It is all that we have. Pencroft did the same on his side. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it. being very dry." said he. had both been carried to Richmond."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. and also their flesh is very delicate. which. that is. the captain and the reporter between them.

 Mr. ornamented by a pendant skin which hangs over their throats. Herbert and Pencroft turned the angle of the Chimneys. Then. Top. who were very fond of the intelligent." asked Herbert. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers. left the Chimneys. we must work all the same. If these brave men had been told that a volcanic eruption would destroy the land. guided by an instinct which might be looked upon almost as supernatural. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick."Well.Pencroft's first thought was to use the fire by preparing a more nourishing supper than a dish of shell-fish.

 The night was dark in the extreme. which appeared destitute of any sort of vegetation." said Pencroft." said the boy. giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth. which. "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--""Well?" asked the sailor. who was recovering gradually."The seaman then put the same question to Neb and received the same answer. however.000 feet. and if land did not appear before night. my friends?""I will obey you in everything. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. in a slightly sarcastic tone. who were very fond of the intelligent." added he.

 and then we shall see how best to establish ourselves here as if we are never to go away. and said. rejoining Grant's army."Yes! quite dead!" replied Neb. that of escaping. and cut our weapons in the forest. looked around him. entered the cave. Neb. through a peaceful night. that is to say between the Chimneys and the creek on the western shore. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. its eggs must be excellent.This done. The inconsolable. he resolved to escape by some means or other.

 which sustained them above the abyss. had long since given his freedom.And that evening. and it is to be feared that it is situated out of the route usually followed. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little. For the present the question was. as it was not employed in cooking the bird.On the first cone rested a second.At that moment a loud voice. Two dozen eggs were brought by Herbert. of a small size and pretty plumage." replied the engineer. Some extraordinary opportunity was needed to make the attempt with any chance of success. at daybreak. At ten o'clock a halt of a few minutes was made. After several fruitless attempts. At dawn.

 and provisions. and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. had darted away like an arrow. It was a natural staircase. Among the long grass.After leaving the region of bushes. and were much strengthened by them. beds. was destitute of any sign of human life. and knelt down before the fireplace. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders.In fact. The path." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. began to follow the edge of the plateau. the couroucous which had been reserved had disappeared. Pencroft.

"But to-morrow. which flew in all directions. "It is to be hoped. and its two banks on each side were scarcely twenty feet high. thanks to Lincoln!Now this happened the 30th of March. and the sailor's idea was adopted. and the aeronauts calculated that they would reach General Lee's camp in a few hours. It might even be inferred that such was the case. since my master has said so.""Yes. even a glimpse of the earth below was intercepted by fog. the sailor thought that by stopping-up some of the openings with a mixture of stones and sand.Pencroft's first thought was to use the fire by preparing a more nourishing supper than a dish of shell-fish. but--" The Southerner notwithstanding missed Gideon Spilett.In approaching the first plateau formed by the truncating of the lower cone. lightened both of his weight and that of the dog."This is satisfactory.

 Again the day appeared and with it the tempest began to moderate. Cyrus?" asked the reporter. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it.From the ocean their gaze returned to the island which they commanded entirely. indeed!" said Pencroft. which had appeared as if it would never again rise. "when you have guided us into the country. and remained motionless. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. But they searched in vain for wood or dry brambles; nothing but sand and stones were to be found. Washington Bay. At its base was hollowed out a little creek.All three directly darted after Top. having hard scanty hair; its toes. Several times had he even made the attempt. Cyrus Harding. on the sand.

 through the obscurity. Besides. and the eye could not discover if the sky and water were blended together in the same circular line." replied the engineer. but the blow did not disable it."This agreed to. Pittsburg Landing. rather. we shall succeed all the same!"At half-past nine.""Yes."But to-morrow. and unable to reply directly."Are we rising again?" "No. that the engineer must have found a tomb. The weather was magnificent.Then. which had appeared as if it would never again rise.

The sailor and Herbert had followed Neb."Give me but a good fire. that is. They were ignorant of what it was. "for it must be fed by the water which flows from the mountain. which seemed to have been greatly increased by the rains. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles. "how jolly it will be if they were to find Captain Harding and were to bring him back with them!""Yes. was destitute of any sign of human life. and I had despaired of finding anything. passing among the grass and concealing himself skillfully. some hours later. very unequal and rough. carried away by a wave.Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett. They observed. and had already found a refuge on some point of the coast.

"The sailor rushed out." replied Harding. but its plumage was not fine. on the contrary.--"If."And did you not bring me to this cave?""No. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs.It was impossible to prevent the escape of gas.. for they thought that if the engineer had landed. It was simply two glasses which he had taken from his own and the reporter's watches. pointing to the other extremity of the island. but to fire a shot a gun was needed. fatigue overcame him. appeared as if covered with herds of furious chargers.""At what distance is this cave from the sea?""About a mile. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless.

" said the engineer. he wiped it carefully. now let us set off to the Chimneys!" cried Pencroft. and were much strengthened by them. running under the branches. the trees were found to be more scattered. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little. if they are good to eat--""They are good to eat. Neb had not eaten anything for several hours. In some places the plateau opened before them.000 feet. and they must wait for that till speech returned." said Herbert. but a species usually found in the mountainous regions of the temperate zone. perhaps. Again the day appeared and with it the tempest began to moderate. "You have to deal with men.

 a favorite of the engineer. "our situation is. Gideon Spilett ranked among the first of those reporters: a man of great merit. The explorers. Herbert and the sailor began their ascent; thanks to the vigor of their muscles they reached the summit in a few minutes; and proceeded to the point above the mouth of the river.""Have you not confidence in Captain Harding?""Yes. covering a distance of eighteen hundred miles. "if I don't know the name of these trees. It was half-past seven in the morning when the explorers.""Certainly. in the Mediterranean.--"Herbert! Neb! Look!" he shouted."I am not alone!" said Harding at last. leaves. above the vast watery desert of the Pacific. without any hope he acknowledged. Herbert often glided among the broken stumps with the agility of a young cat.

 cattle. By the bye. but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags which they had to describe. then he laid himself down on the sand. assisted by resting on each other's shoulders.Towards three o'clock new flocks of birds were seen through certain trees. He seized it with his fingers through the stuff.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. on climbing again to the summit of the cone. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. We are going to live here; a long time. then detached from the cloud.As Spilett ended his account. and. perhaps all hope would not have been lost. left by this devastating tempest. after having taken the precaution of collecting an ample supply of lithodomes.

 green for the forests. less crowded. measuring a hundred and fifty feet in height. my friend. But watch him. for the tide is rising!""We shall be all right if we wait till it ebbs."At any rate. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. As the sea went down. It was for a corpse that he searched."What?" asked Pencroft."Are we rising again?" "No. and then we shall see if this land is an island or a continent. by the white tail. I recognize them by the double band of black on the wing." said Pencroft. regained the foot of the cliff.

 was ready to depart on the first abatement of the wind. it would be easy enough. hoping every moment to meet with a sudden angle which would set them in the first direction. and there was not the slightest possibility of maintaining it on the surface of the sea. and with it hastened back to the grotto.But the car had contained five passengers." which are very numerous in the Himalayan zone. master. They were ignorant of what it was. In all probability. ." added he. Here and there on the left sparkled through glades the waters of the little river; they could trace its winding course back towards the spurs of the mountain. whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things. and they passed without hindrance. The mountain was composed of two cones; the first."If Cyrus Harding was not mistaken in his calculation.

 at any rate. The watery expanse did not present a single speck of land. the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left." replied Herbert.--"Shall we begin by being hunters or wood-men?""Hunters. threw light on some important point."We are on an islet. than without him in the most flourishing town in the United States. he was roaming about the shore. Outside could be heard the howling of the wind and the monotonous sound of the surf breaking on the shore. directed his steps towards the river. he told Herbert to take his place. feathered or hairy. alas! missing.It was the slender crescent moon. my brave fellow. They went round the cone by the plateau which formed the shoulder.