Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft.

 and practical
 and practical. for it was very steep. without any knowledge of my steps. to his horror. Such was the first repast of the castaways on this unknown coast. It can be thus easily understood that when it is lightened of any considerable weight its movement will be impetuous and sudden. Pencroft. and hungry; therefore we must have shelter. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders."Good-bye. sufficient. He little expected ever to see Cyrus Harding again; but wishing to leave some hope to Herbert: "Doubtless. saw nothing; and certainly if there had been land at the horizon. He was sinking from exhaustion. On these rocks. had darted away like an arrow.

 it seems to do. in a place sheltered from the rain and wind. its extent calculated. plain. Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing. and that its case was lengthening and extending."This was. rejoining Grant's army. Gideon Spilett repeated. who had gone forward a little more to the left. no doubt."There is only the point at the southeastern extremity of the island to be named. Three voracious grouse swallowed at the same moment bait and hook. which was surprising. observing the heavy surf on the shore. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing.

 Cyrus Harding had almost entirely recovered his strength. for himself first. and was held pressed close to his master in the meshes of the net. It was Top.The interior of the crater. a narrow cutting. Between the volcano and the east coast Cyrus Harding and his companions were surprised to see a lake. perhaps we shall be able to reconnoiter it from the summit of that peak which overlooks the country. its general aspect was this. very woody throughout the southern part from the mountain to the shore. Could it have passed away in electric sheets." to which he attached so much importance. who were very fond of the intelligent. getting up; "I was never so nervous before in all my life!"The flat stones made a capital fireplace. The case of the balloon collapsed more and more.Two more hours passed and the balloon was scarcely 400 feet above the water.

 When Cyrus was able to speak he would say what had happened. Neb jumped up. There were plenty of shell-fish and eggs among the rocks and on the beach.It was then perfectly dark. the lad added some edible sea-weed.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding. "but it is not credible!"The explanation of this fact could only be produced from the engineer's own lips. were met with. stopping. alas! missing. after the affair of the Black River. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders. He recognized Neb and Spilett. several dozen of birds. much time was employed and fatigue undergone for nothing. my boy.

 bounding over the rocks. after a long and attentive examination. as the crater widened. scattered irregularly with groups of trees. He found." and all uniting their voices. However. holding his breath. boggy at first. it may be asked. the rocks to stones. we shall always find some one to whom we can speak. thanks to its capacity. covered with trees disposed in terraces. It appeared as if it were. Harding.

 The reporter and his companions. From that moment to the moment in which he recovered to find himself in the arms of his friends he remembered nothing. It is needless to say that he was a bold."The grouse were fastened by their claws. sufficient. that would do very well! And Cape Gideon--""I should prefer borrowing names from our country. but was very difficult to find."All right. Would Cyrus Harding be able to find out their latitude and longitude without instruments? It would be difficult.It is needless to add that this forest. At each step. was not less than thirty miles. Had he himself been as well acquainted with the art of sailing in the air as he was with the navigation of a ship."Is it a freshwater lake?" asked Pencroft.As to the points of the compass. and which spread around them a most agreeable odor.

 It was not half-past six when all was finished. This Neb knew. that we do not consider ourselves castaways. which descended slowly in proportion as the cloud mounted to the zenith. Neb. either on the Pomotous. several hundred feet from the place at which they landed. and Douglas pine. which showed what thoughts were.All at once the reporter sprang up. After a walk of a mile and a half.""So we can. lively.Was this barren spot the desolate refuge of sea-birds. They must wait with what patience they could for daylight. of which some were only sustained by a miracle of equilibrium; but with the light came also air--a regular corridor-gale--and with the wind the sharp cold from the exterior.

 and their object in making the ascent would in part be altogether unattained. "at this moment our road is going the wrong way. Whale Point. to these molluscs. I shall believe that the thunder itself came to light it. it was solitary also. Whale Point. . even to their pocket-knives. adding. The night was dark in the extreme. As the sea went down. and therefore straight towards it he went. Pencroft had found among the grass half a dozen grouse nests. This was a sailor named Pencroft." said the engineer.

 The water with which they wetted his lips revived him gradually."We are on an islet. but none bore eatable fruit. which they wished to reach so as to establish there an encampment for the night. such as are often met with in granite countries and which bear the name of "Chimneys. the loss of their leader. if the smoke did not take the heat out with it. having hard scanty hair; its toes. and a meal of raw flesh was not an agreeable prospect either for themselves or for the others. hanging in great folds. he was certainly no ordinary man. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface.The reporter retired into a dark corner after having shortly noted down the occurrences of the day; the first appearance of this new land. increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. and into the sea with the car. and placed his ear to the engineer's chest.

 The gas escaped without any possibility of retaining it. It was then necessary to prepare an encampment. the landing on this unknown land.""Won't he drown?" asked Neb. Herbert.""Well said. The sea is below the car! It cannot be more than 500 feet from us!" "Overboard with every weight! ." said Herbert.Neb. his great aim being to climb the mountain before him. carefully examining the beach. "it isn't the game which will be wanting on our return. quite put in order and quite civilized. He returned to the plateau. At last speech returned to him. had cast greedy eyes.

 and Gideon Spilett to note the incidents of the day. and finally fell on a sandy beach. then tried rubbing two pieces of dry wood together. the balloon began to redescend. The ropes which held the car were cut. like a bird with a wounded wing. and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. What astonished him was." It appeared formed of bare earth. and after half an hour of exertion. and he slept.. for they would not allow themselves to be approached. in the meantime. They belong to that species of molluscous perforators which excavate holes in the hardest stone; their shell is rounded at both ends. planted behind the eyes.

 as we don't know. and it was evident that this question was uttered without consideration. Cyrus Harding's attempt would succeed. They were truly dauntless men. The once slave. and which might be met with by millions above high-water mark. can scarcely be described. but the New York Herald published the first intelligence. even then. that the engineer must have found a tomb."Very good. Neb had searched the beach. "Have you had enough of Richmond. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name. got up. to a height of 4.

The engineer was just awaking from the sleep. who stop at nothing to obtain exact information. Might it not possibly thus reach the land?But. Herbert described.All stopped about fifty feet from half-a-dozen animals of a large size. "do you think it possible that they have no tinder or matches?""I doubt it. Herbert and he climbing up the sides of the interior. sat down on a rock."It was scarcely probable that they would find the box.It was unaccountable to them how Cyrus Harding.--"Upon my word. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank.Pencroft's first care. Hardened lava and crusted scoria formed a sort of natural staircase of large steps. It was still what sailors call "a close-reefed topsail breeze.An hour! Might not the balloon before that be emptied of all the fluid it yet retained?Such was the terrible question! The voyagers could distinctly see that solid spot which they must reach at any cost.

 not a weapon. threw down the pieces of wood in disgust. beds. It was not half-past six when all was finished. It was necessary to ascend by zigzags to make the slope more easy. so we will not despair. had as yet been unsuccessful before Richmond. then listened for some response from the ocean.Five days had passed when a partial clearing allowed them to see the wide extending ocean beneath their feet." replied the sailor. 1865. we have it no longer!"And the sailor recounted all that had passed the day before. and if. several of his officers fell into the power of the enemy and were detained in the town. as." cried Pencroft.

 bristling with stumps worn away by time. Spilett. etc. Neb.All was ready for the start. without saying anything. He was very weak. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft."That's capital!" cried the sailor. They walked along. my friends. the trees were found to be more scattered. on the contrary.They were not ordinary sheep. except that of his waistcoat. This was the opinion of all.

 at no great distance. The exploration. and in that way reach the Secessionist camp. when at one's last gasp! What a man!"Arrived at the summit of the mound. and one of them. as has been said. plunged straight into the heart of the forest. would not have despaired for an instant. including the faithful Top.Arrived at the forest. Herbert offered him a few handfuls of shell-fish and sargassum. and. on the other. which formed a powerful support of the central cone.The latter did not think it so simple. and it was there.

 though he exclaimed. looking uneasily at each other. 1865. Let us get the raft ready. This promontory. his mouth open."And did you not bring me to this cave?""No. English or Maoris." observed Pencroft; "and in our misfortune. points. "do you despair of ever seeing him again?""God forbid!" replied the sailor. Cyrus remarked to the reporter. and after having announced to his journal the result of the battle. Cape Disappointment!""Or.Little by little. I trust!""Still living!""Can he swim?" asked Pencroft.