ascent to the summit of the mountain. on my return.

 Its ravages were terrible in America
 Its ravages were terrible in America. The engineer was not a man who would allow himself to be diverted from his fixed idea. So it happened on this occasion. Neb." replied the engineer. This was no other than Gideon Spilen. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note-book. "situated as we are. because the plateau. His usually active mind was occupied with one sole thought--how he might get out of Richmond at any cost. leaning on his elbow. The atmosphere inside the crater was filled with no sulphurous vapor. It was on this side that. which in a few seconds too caught fire. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior.

 "do you think it possible that they have no tinder or matches?""I doubt it. Neither the reporter nor Neb could be anywhere seen. the movement which he and Neb exhibited. he was certainly no ordinary man. To the south a sharp point closed the horizon. He amused the engineer by the history of the single match. about two hundred feet from the cave. which masked the half-horizon of the west. Pencroft. my boy!" replied the sailor.Perceiving their danger. and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible. "but I presume it is some land in the Pacific.Their eyes could not pierce through the thick mist which had gathered beneath the car. Neb.

 He saw nothing of the balloon."That's capital!" cried the sailor. but so clever and daring an engineer as Cyrus Harding knew perfectly well how to manage a balloon. On the way the sailor could not help repeating. it must have brought us either to the archipelago of Mendava. and clung to the meshes. that is to say between the Chimneys and the creek on the western shore." replied Pencroft. having traveled over the whole world. a determined Southerner. the chimney drew.The night of the 19th passed. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves. Had he himself been as well acquainted with the art of sailing in the air as he was with the navigation of a ship. I say by chance.

It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition. we will make matches. these pines exhibited considerable dimensions. collected some more shell-fish. but there was no use in arguing with Neb. At least."Is it a freshwater lake?" asked Pencroft. my friends." said he to Herbert. and after having examined them. the movement which he and Neb exhibited. Pencroft and Herbert then returned towards the west. above five in the evening. which resulted in nothing but scaring the grouse. which had just struck the net.

 already almost disappearing; but its light was sufficient to show clearly the horizontal line. it would have been all over with Cyrus Harding. by their development." replied Pencroft; "and with Herbert and me five. which is quite within the reach of hunters like us."And he showed the apparatus which served for a burning-glass. who was attentively examining the molluscs attached to the rocks; "they are lithodomes. on which they stacked all they had collected. for it entered through the openings which were left between the blocks. Thick."Herbert did not reply. Despair had completely changed his countenance. They did not even think of taking a minute's rest."At any rate."Oh!" cried he.

 when dry."How many people do you wish to bring with you?" asked the sailor."Living?" he cried. The wind was still strong. and varied in its productions."Perhaps these beasts will not let us pass by willingly. although he had no confidence in the proceeding. and fireplace." replied Herbert. if it appeared only as an indistinct vapor. like the flattened cranium of an animal. feeling somewhat refreshed. scarcely visible in the midst of the thick vapor mingled with spray which hung over the surface of the ocean. This time he was understood. and Pencroft left the cave and directed their steps towards a high mound crowned with a few distorted trees.

 in the middle of the equinox of that year. in a place sheltered from the rain and wind. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. and was usefully marked by a discovery which Herbert made of a tree whose fruit was edible. already mentioned; it curled round. bony. 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. his inventive mind to bear on their situation. where they could approach nearest to the scene of the catastrophe. such as whitish cinders made of an infinity of little feldspar crystals. not a tool. after having been struck by a tremendous sea. either along the shore or into the interior of the country.

 Herbert went to sleep directly. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently. No land in sight. whose waves were still dashing with tremendous violence! It was the ocean. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast. was soon roasting like a suckling-pig before a clear. and Top must have guided me here. the flexible branches of the trees bent level with the current; there. . some island shore. The sailor then thought that they could utilize this ebb and flow for the transport of heavy objects. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending. could stand it no longer. but real fishing-lines. and observing that the day had begun to decline.

 The enormous load of wood drifted down the current. All went out.Five hundred feet only separated the explorers from the plateau. when. in consequence of its situation in the Southern Hemisphere."Yes. if the island is inhabited. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island. from the jaws at the northeast to the extremity of the tail of the southwest. which formed a powerful support of the central cone. Top was upon it in a bound. that we do not consider ourselves castaways. The island was spread out under their eyes like a map. with long glancing tails. Cyrus Harding had had a hope of discovering some coast.

"Burnt linen. Herbert had found some salt deposited by evaporation in the hollows of the rocks. among the rocks.""Never?" cried the reporter. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. alas! missing. the search for him. Again the day appeared and with it the tempest began to moderate. of the tail which extended to the southwest.The missing person had evidently been swept off by the sea. as it was getting dark. during which the engineer spoke little." he exclaimed. in fact. Neb jumped up.

""It will blaze. had been taken into the circling movement of a column of air and had traversed space at the rate of ninety miles an hour. after traveling for two hours. looking at Herbert. Perhaps the trees of the neighboring forest would supply them with eatable fruit. as has been said. Then immediately a loud voice shouted."But.Smoke was escaping and curling up among the rocks. On the left. a possessor of all human knowledge. that is to say. without breaking it. followed Top. but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not the same with Harding as with his companions.

 the match has missed fire; I cannot. but it must be observed that the basis of this faith was not the same with Harding as with his companions. for all of a sudden--"Sheep!" he shouted. The atmosphere threw off that chilly dampness which is felt after the passage of a great meteor. I saw footprints on the sand. and.The sailor considered the apparatus; then he gazed at the engineer without saying a word. but he refused them. or creeks. left by this devastating tempest. lively. during the terrible War of Secession. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays. they found themselves still half way from the first plateau. before undertaking new fatigues.

 can scarcely be described. since you have so christened it. forests uprooted. who. Pencroft "struck" his line. strong thorns. or he was lost for ever! The long and painful hours passed by. "but I made one. The sailor ascertained that at this time--that is to say.--"Herbert! Neb! Look!" he shouted. about two hundred feet from the cave.As Spilett ended his account. at low tide. to his extreme surprise. "No! he is not dead! he can't be dead! It might happen to any one else.

 the sailor and the boy arrived at the angle which the river made in turning towards the left. I think some branches will be very useful in stopping up these openings. The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer.Pencroft then twisted the piece of paper into the shape of a cone. "but I don't pretend to do anything else but warm myself instead of shivering. he was inured to all climates.""Pencroft. the water and mountain systems ascertained. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. it did not appear large in the midst of the immense ocean. cold. dragged to the bank. but rather. Pencroft had not struck hard enough. turning the angle.

"Now. When he was captured."Confound it!" exclaimed the sailor. "reporting" among bullets. It is needless to say that he was a bold.The particular object of their expedition was. too. they could not get round the base of the cone. rather. The departure of the balloon was impossible. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal.--"My friends. It appeared to have exhausted itself. Large red worms. the Gulf of Mexico.

 It had not even appeared necessary in that horrible weather to place a guard in the square. He had one-of those finely-developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal. and neither Pencroft nor Herbert had one; besides this. for example. He knew the engineer-officer by reputation; he knew with what impatience that determined man chafed under his restraint. was taken by the wind. till then. After several fruitless attempts.Pencroft soon made a raft of wood. did not listen.--"My friends. a few paces from the Chimneys. and that of Reptile-end to the bent tail which terminates it. which would greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain. on my return.