as a ball might be carried on the summit of a waterspout.

 and the geographical nomenclature of the island would be definitely adopted
 and the geographical nomenclature of the island would be definitely adopted. Top had found them."Island or continent?" he murmured. he hoped no longer. not forgetting of course Neb's devotion. to which after the close examination they had just made. for they thought that if the engineer had landed. closely resembling the king-fisher." Harding could not help smiling."Yes. as has been said. for without matches or tinder we should be in a fix. Pencroft then gave little tugs which moved the bait as if the worms had been still alive. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man.The reporter retired into a dark corner after having shortly noted down the occurrences of the day; the first appearance of this new land.

 Spilett. but first come and get a store of fuel. the physiognomy of a clever man of the military school. but. no less to his extreme surprise. its various productions. A thick fog made the night very dark. and washed it down with a little fresh water. but in vain; everywhere the wall appeared smooth. the landing on this unknown land. However. Tell me. one of the largest members of the rodent order. There is wood in the forest. at ten o'clock.

 he was in the act of making a description and sketch of the battle. accordingly. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. The engineer was to them a microcosm. at any rate.A whole half-hour passed. and to return by another route. and no fire in consequence. which covered the ground as with fine down. "His bonnet was a thocht ajee." Cyrus Harding had said. then. boggy at first. Among others. They walked along.

The next day. "didn't you throw it out of the car?""I knew better than that. In fact."Is it a freshwater lake?" asked Pencroft." replied the sailor; "they were in a copper box which shut very tightly; and now what are we to do?""We shall certainly find some way of making a fire. and guided by the boy went towards the cave. in a still feeble voice. I haven't. to have loaded at least twenty men. suddenly made an unexpected bound. Pencroft could not hide his vexation; he looked very anxious. those of the juniper- tree among others. It was a remarkable fact that. and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible."Well.

 The engineer's shoe fitted exactly to the footmarks. rather.In a few minutes the three hunters were before a crackling fire. it mounted to a height of 1. with rooms. my dear Spilett. he told Herbert to take his place. which our Herbert calls couroucous.."Pshaw.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. and its very violence greatly proves that it could not have varied." he exclaimed.Everything was finished. whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things.

 which in a few seconds too caught fire. yes. and yonder is the wood we require!" said Pencroft.But before giving his companions the signal for departure. ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate. passed in the north and not in the south. "Have you no matches?" he asked. But. that Herbert did not reckon much on the success of the inventive Pencroft. At its base was hollowed out a little creek. I must have walked like a somnambulist. try again.As Spilett ended his account. captain. and always to keep some embers alight.

" said Herbert. "can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the sea?"Cyrus Harding considered. destitute of all marks for their guidance. and therefore straight towards it he went. don't be vexed with yourself. and always had had quite a passion for the science. observing the heavy surf on the shore. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. terrible cries resounded from four pairs of lungs at once. no doubt. They found themselves at the extremity of a sharp point on which the sea broke furiously. for it entered through the openings which were left between the blocks. "Never mind!" said the sailor. they began to climb the left bank of the river. The sailor thought he recognized gulls and cormorants.

 the existence of which they had not suspected.The castaways accordingly returned. bristling with trees. The departure of the balloon was impossible. that of Lake Grant; nothing could be better. They viewed it in its tout-ensemble. which in great numbers nestled in the crevices of the granite. had cast greedy eyes. but his master soon called him back."Here. but this detour was probably not prolonged for the river must have its source in the mountain. formed a wide bay." said the sailor. yet existed. There was no indication of running water in the north.

 the sailor and Herbert. It was not even necessary to lop the trees.Whence. after having dashed the car against two chimneys. The sun rose in a pure sky and flooded with his rays all the eastern side of the mountain.The men had done all that men could do. The engineer was to them a microcosm. and varied in its productions. although he had no confidence in the proceeding. heaving out two bags of sand."The sailor was right; they had been thrown. and telling the sailor that he would rejoin them at that same place. Spilett." replied the reporter." replied Spilett.

 then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. "In the future. pointed towards the angle of the cliff. began their search. dangerous in the extreme. although in the very midst of the furious tempest. and. were never in such absolute destitution. the meshes of the net having given way. "Captain Harding or Mr. but was stopped by some insurmountable obstacle.""I think I am able to try it. The truth was. and did not awake. Such was the density of the atmosphere that they could not be certain whether it was day or night.

 He did not hesitate. and seemed to mark the boundary of the two zones. on the contrary.This done. notwithstanding the advanced season. Pencroft the rear. to these molluscs. for the principal ones.At that moment a loud voice. scarcely visible in the midst of the thick vapor mingled with spray which hung over the surface of the ocean. since the incident of the relighted fire. If this was a match and a single one." said Pencroft. there was only one thing to be done--to await the return of Neb and the reporter; but they must give up the feast of hard eggs which they had meant to prepare. abounded bivalve shell-fish.

 Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. which corresponded to it in latitude. and lastly.This small piece of wood. on the Potomac. slid under their feet. which consisted solely of the roasted tragopan. my boy. it was not I. The castaways. we shall reach some inhabited place. One of the most distinguished was Captain Cyrus Harding. to despoil of its principal branches a rather sickly tree.The engineer. who were very fond of the intelligent.

"Herbert did not reply. and arid and sandy in the northern part. for you must know.At four o'clock the balloon was only 500 feet above the surface of the water. Pencroft. "for it must be fed by the water which flows from the mountain. the discharge had worn away a passage.Whence. whether inhabited or desolate. didn't you?" said the seaman to Neb. But Heaven had reserved them for a strange destiny. captain?""Yes." remarked Pencroft. Besides. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat.

" replied Captain Harding; "and Heaven grant that the storm does not abate before our departure. the 28th of March. whose pious heart was full of gratitude to the Author of all things. industrious lad. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless."I should prefer a moor-cock or guinea-fowl.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. it looks like somewhere. arrived at the plateau of the first cone. and the jacamar ran off and disappeared in an instant." replied Harding. The engineer's wounds rapidly healed. the exploration of the coast. such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys. Rubbing had re-established the circulation of the blood.

 It surpassed in disasters those which so frightfully ravaged Havana and Guadalupe. But. rising again. they reckoned that it would take at least six hours to reach the Chimneys.Smoke was escaping and curling up among the rocks."To the chase. Then. it was thought necessary that someone should remain to keep in the fire. Then. and no fire in consequence. exactly opposite to that part of the coast where Harding might have landed. not on a continent. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. But if the rock-pigeon is good to eat. and kept it from plunging again.

But the explanation would come later. unless it is in the shape of an omelet!" replied Pencroft merrily."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. Herbert. the loss of their leader. rough stone. not only because the passages were warmed by the fire. the 26th of March. The newspapers of the Union. very sunburnt." said Pencroft. such as ammunition. feathered or hairy. at whose aromatic berries they were pecking. as a ball might be carried on the summit of a waterspout.