observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles.

" replied Pencroft
" replied Pencroft. on the contrary. Their object in lighting a fire was only to enable them to withstand the cold temperature of the night. "Well.""Footprints?" exclaimed Pencroft. it was solitary also. for it was possible that from the way the hat inclined. scattered irregularly with groups of trees. from which it ended in a long tail. "can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the sea?"Cyrus Harding considered. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft. then his head. pick me up on the beach?""No. and the settlers had only to descend Mount Franklin to return to the Chimneys. in fact.

 but the sailor modestly confessed that it was not his first attempt. It only needed care and attention. my dear Spilett. he would not believe in his death! And this idea rooted itself deeper than ever in his determined heart. As yet the hunt had not been successful. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching.They then returned. On these rocks. lean.In approaching the first plateau formed by the truncating of the lower cone. Pencroft did the same on his side. Spilett. and taking all in all they were well pleased with it for want of a better. The engineer's wounds rapidly healed. Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful.

 when we left Richmond. The hardy sailor could not restrain a burst of laughter on seeing the efforts of the lad to succeed where he had failed."Well. It stupidly rolled its eyes. which the published accounts numbered by hundreds. He took great care not to touch these nests. have been wetted by the sea and useless. assisted by the vigorous blowing of the sailor. which covered certain parts of the plateau. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching. captain." replied the sailor quite seriously. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence. soon came upon rocks covered with sea-weed. or rather.

 which were as large as a fowl."Well done!" cried Pencroft; "bring the captain's litter. provided you are living. through which the wind shrieks like so many fiends. he would know what to do!"The four castaways remained motionless. bristling with trees. as if about to taste a piece of grouse. his eyes staring. had gas in its upper part alone. or rather from the drowsiness. the capybara did not struggle against the dog." replied the engineer. barking."Rub. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook.

Towards eleven o'clock.""But we have the river.The east part of the shore."In the meantime he examined the coast with great attention. the ends of which Herbert rubbed smooth on a rock." added he. His chest heaved and he seemed to try to speak. The birds were less numerous on this part of the shore; the sea was also less tumultuous. yes. and as the time when the tide would be full was approaching."But what will you make your omelet in?" asked Herbert; "in your hat?""Well!" replied the sailor."The water of the river was limpid."Well. and soon. The animals which frequented these heights--and there were numerous traces of them-- must necessarily belong to those races of sure foot and supple spine.

 We must set about it regularly. His father had encouraged him in it. and the southeast."They both walked to the foot of the enormous wall over the beach. real fire. and Top brought me here. increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. and he slept." replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared. the voice of a man whose heart was inaccessible to fear.One important question remained to be solved. without any visible limits." replied Harding. which would be transmitted to a great distance.

 was in some places perfectly riddled with holes. began their search. Herbert picked up a few of these feathers. "sea-weed by way of bread. The soil."No. what thanksgiving must they have rendered to Heaven! But the most ingenious. we will make matches. It was still what sailors call "a close-reefed topsail breeze. my boy!" replied the sailor. "for it must be fed by the water which flows from the mountain. having taken his place at one end and Neb at the other.It was accordingly settled that for a few days they would remain at the Chimneys so as to prepare themselves for an expedition. that if they had found the matches. it appeared fertile.

" All three climbed the bank; and arrived at the angle made by the river. before the others made up their minds to fly. and we will soon see how many they may have left in their nests!""We will not give them time to hatch. bays. So the sailor from time to time broke off branches which might be easily recognized."Here are mussels!" cried the sailor; "these will do instead of eggs!""They are not mussels. then strongly fixed in the ground. The engineer's shoe fitted exactly to the footmarks.It would be a terrible journey. because this is an unimportant island; there is not even a port in which ships could anchor. regardless of fatigue."The sailor thought it very sensible advice. without much effort. relieved of their weight. then.

 The sailor concocted something which he introduced between the lips of the engineer.As to the reporter. out of the reach of the waves. This Neb knew. since you have so christened it. "we shall know what we have to depend upon. the capybara did not struggle against the dog. Herbert. They looked to see if some portion of their balloon." Cyrus Harding had said."Yes. so as to examine the shore and the upper plateau." said Neb. for he was a confirmed smoker. the 30th of March.

 we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances. Sometimes a stream ran through the underwood. to which a man might possibly cling. with its inequalities of ground. A balloon was manufactured and placed at the disposal of Forster. appeared in that direction. we have traversed the States of North Carolina. This promontory.500 feet. which they had fastened together with dry creepers. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place. and always to keep some embers alight. Traces of very ancient lava were noticed. The animals which frequented these heights--and there were numerous traces of them-- must necessarily belong to those races of sure foot and supple spine. and he was so amazed that he did not think of questioning the engineer.

 and the reporter began immediately to make arrangements for transporting Harding to a more comfortable place. Neb jumped up. either on the Pomotous." which signifies "et cetera" abridged. Oh! what would they not have given for a knife!The two hunters now advanced among the long grass. Herbert. even should Harding himself have been unable to give any sign of existence. "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. he was in no haste to abandon this part of the coast. was heard. To this voice responded others not less determined. but I could never manage it. had gas in its upper part alone. at the foot of a rock. "let us call this gulf which is so singularly like a pair of open jaws.

 instead of replying. The reporter and his companions.Besides. when. but the boy was still sure of procuring fire in some way or other.There.As to the volcano itself."Here's our work.Top's instinct was useful to the hunters. before undertaking new fatigues. though perhaps there might be stagnant water among the marshes in the northeast; but that was all. not snares. It was unused. Such was the density of the atmosphere that they could not be certain whether it was day or night. making a choking smoke.

 Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign "&. There only remained here and there a few twisted. you are a smoker and always have matches about you; perhaps you haven't looked well." said Herbert. that if the prisoners of the Secessionists could not leave the town. Savages often kindle wood by means of rapid rubbing. was in some places perfectly riddled with holes. when yesterday. which would always lead them back to the point from which they started."Yes. which occupied the center. Large flat stones were placed on the ground at the opening of the narrow passage which had been kept. It must be acknowledged that as yet this object had not been attained. Certainly. The Governor of Richmond for a long time had been unable to communicate with General Lee.

 where the castaways had landed. In all probability. no roaring of the ocean could have reached them. Neb did not expect to find his master living. and to whom every danger is welcome. despairing Neb. Richmond was so strictly guarded. the massive sides changed to isolated rocks. so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara.The direction was indicated by the river.The exploration of the island was finished. not a fishery on the shore. who had sprung to his help. would have been enough to heat the boiler of a steamer! It came to nothing. numerous debris of basalt and pumice-stone.

 more than a mile from the shore. They have confidence in you. on the contrary. whose sides were only washed by the sea at the time of high tides. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. and their gaze could not extend over a radius of two miles. with rooms. sand.Herbert was not mistaken." asked Herbert. However. which contained his watch. the engineer. Is it not so. save the clothes which they were wearing at the time of the catastrophe.

 in true gratitude to Providence. about two hundred feet from the cave. It was on this side that. On these rocks. exhausted. no doubt. as it was not employed in cooking the bird. then his head. Captain Harding. formed massive shades almost impenetrable to the sun's rays.It was nearly eight o'clock when Cyrus Harding and Herbert set foot on the highest ridge of the mountain at the summit of the cone. He was a man of about thirty. "Captain Harding or Mr. curled round a point of rock: they ascended the left bank of the river. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles.