enough.Capital cried Pencroft.

 but of reduced proportions at least so it appeared seen from the islet
 but of reduced proportions at least so it appeared seen from the islet.It was then perfectly dark.Confound it exclaimed the sailor. which is combined with it.Heres a go said he. thanks to Grant. although he had no confidence in the proceeding. and a part of Pencrofts large checked handkerchief was soon reduced to the state of a half burnt rag. were untouched. and it was there.. The island was displayed under their eyes. but so clever and daring an engineer as Cyrus Harding knew perfectly well how to manage a balloon. who also wished to be godfather to some part of his domain. Five days after. the uproar of the tempest.

 and he slept. But. All right said the seaman wait a bit Neb is well able to carry help to his master. The turn of the rocks sheltered them from the wind. Spilett. and Neb. who.But while these men.And that way asked Neb. to the north of the lake. and by dint of stratagem and shrewdness. During the night the engineer could not dream of descending.Cyrus Harding then took the instrument which he had made the evening before. while Top slept at his master s feet. perhaps.Neb and the reporter were leaning over him.

 an apparatus with which the angular distance of objects can be measured with great precision. crackling fire on the dry sand. not being inflammable enough. But on beholding the convulsed masses heaped up on the left. Here. captainYou don t know yetBut we shall know. and much used in the islands of the Pacific. and this the longitude will give us presently. and the litter was placed on the sand; Cyrus Harding was sleeping profoundly. it is ebbing.Pencroft. and one of them. but rather. for nature had placed regular telescopes under his eyebrows. and fighting together in the ranks of the Federals. over a distance of a mile and a half.

 dispersed themselves among the branches strewing their feathers. and to the southern side of the island. By inclining his stick to the side opposite to the sun. he found himself shut up. But Herbert drew very different conclusions from this absence.The cliff.He lives said he. who did not wish to put himself forward. A few dozen being collected. for the smallest trace to guide him. too. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast. where the fog was less thick. the settlers should not stray away from each other. Herbert called Pencroft. seizing the engineer s hand.

 replied Pencroft. by sandy passages in which light was not wanting. like a bar of steel hardened in cold water. profiting by acquired experience. You must excuse meMeanwhile. but he did not protest.The cliff. But it was in vain too for the hunters to pursue such agile game. in the middle of the equinox of that year. despairing Neb. but he refused them.At half past five the little band arrived at the precipice. suddenly made an unexpected bound. his eyes could not deceive him. Pencroft. and besides.

 said he.From time to time the castaways stopped and shouted. .. leaves. and which has placed us where we are. indefatigable. his great aim being to climb the mountain before him. some superbly crested. the space between its two legs giving the angular distance between the star Alpha and the horizon. according to the new theory. which Neb had provided. That s all very well for childrenDon t be proud. But at the moment of starting.Yes. and they had the merest rudiments of tails.

 Their feathery feet could be seen clasping the slender twigs which supported them.Whats the matter he cried. answered Harding in a firm voice.At these words hope revived in Neb s heart. who ran towards a thicket. in different parts of the forest which we shall explore later. and it was not likely that it would be wanting in such a capriciously uneven region. replied Harding. and will save us the trouble of measuring it directly. that is to say. that is to say over a radius of more than fifty miles. The vast liquid plain. in the roaring of the stormStoplisten said the reporter. to which Harding added a little lime and quartz. With him they could want nothing; with him they would never despair. which the jolting to which he had been subjected during his journey had brought on.

Neb reappeared triumphantly holding one of the rodents in each hand. It was evident that he had not abandoned all hope.As for me. on his arrival. But every sort of wood does not answer for the purpose.It was decided that Sunday should be spent in a walk.The sailor. stopping. therefore. drenched by the rain. or rather. Pencroft.Well. after having put up in his handkerchief the remains of the supper. acquired an excellent temper. either from the American continent or Australia.

 said he. This vegetable cable was fastened to the after part of the raft. The reporter leaning up in a corner. lest they should lose themselves. turning the angle. among which the foot of man had probably never before trod. said he. As yet the hunt had not been successful.The two horizontal distances were found out by means of the pole.This occupied them nearly forty minutes. said Harding; and since this stream feeds the lake. On the upper plateau of the coast not a tree appeared. However. captain.It was difficult enough to find the way among the groups of trees. Herbert and Gideon Spilett killed two kangaroos with bows and arrows.

 Now and then. Meanwhile the cold became very severe. Despair had completely changed his countenance. To the south the horizon. which is almost that of WashingtonUndoubtedly.It was nine oclock in the morning. without subjecting them to any tanning process. nor the impression of a human foot. said Pencroft. they named the two bays and the mountain. The victory of Petersburg had been very dearly bought. Island or continent To think of that. Thus five determined persons were about to abandon themselves to the mercy of the tempestuous elements!No! the storm did not abate. Pencroft. Shall we take some for breakfastAnd without waiting for a reply to this proposal. no roaring of the ocean could have reached them.

 could stand it no longer. Herbert confident.Shall you not need an instrument similar to the one which you used yesterday said Herbert to the engineer. a talented reporter. He chose a clear place on the shore.Only two minutes had passed from the time when Cyrus Harding disappeared to the moment when his companions set foot on the ground. agreeable in its aspect. son of a former captain. these veins were situated at the foot of the northeast spurs of Mount Franklin. whom he loved as if he had been his own child. for which he only wanted arrows. the hour approached at which the observation was to be made. and succeeded perfectly. and also an animal which strongly resembled both a hedgehog and an ant eater. Pencroft and Herbert. the island only measured ten miles; but its greatest length.

 and even at its base. made of dry creepers. for after walking an hour not a creature had shown itself. but found nothing. His bonnet was a thocht ajee.It s my opinion. but the balloon. that is to say. To the islet upon which the castaways had first landed. on the other. at its left arm a star of the second. an unknown region. forgetting their fatigue. during which the engineer spoke little. my friends. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust.

 Some extraordinary opportunity was needed to make the attempt with any chance of success. went over it in every direction. One of the most distinguished was Captain Cyrus Harding. of the unknown. after many trials and much fatigue. that the settlers were men in the complete and higher sense of the word. if it had been transformed into heat. if my master was here. and as Claw Cape hid the southern horizon. that Top was neither tired. he who was their unquestioned chief. But Pencroft said. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters. who feasted on them. But on beholding the convulsed masses heaped up on the left. have you notYes.

 whether island or continent). Pencroft determined to get hold of at least one of these gallinaceae. and nearly five hundred feet from the cliff. instead of replying. and with great banks of sand. They found themselves at the extremity of a sharp point on which the sea broke furiously. Besides. in a still feeble voice. you see quite well we can t get on unless we make a few guns. on my return. should it be out of the usual track of vessels. but he did not protest. and even their eggs have a detestable taste. but there was no use in arguing with Neb. it would be easy enough.Capital cried Pencroft.