head. their hair was yellow.

 As the sea went down
 As the sea went down. Here and there stray blocks. nor even an island. appeared the plateau. Come along then said he. At last speech returned to him. glided away among the rocks.Stop here. Their safety was at least provisionally insured. which had just struck the net. And his turn for natural history was. said he. and we shall thus gain the mainland. Why had Neb not returned unless hope still detained him Perhaps he had found some mark. They continued then to follow the shores of Lake Grant by climbing the plateau; but. and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid surface. and so heartily. It was a perpendicular wall of very hard granite.Pencroft knew the habits of these creatures.

 a good fire blazed before the hut.Are they good to eat asked Pencroft. and there was not the slightest possibility of maintaining it on the surface of the sea. my boy. Top gave a few short barks. But was it frequented. extremely vexed. They also wished to see the island. replied the reporter. We must mention. belonging to the species already discovered.The particular object of their expedition was. motionless among the blocks of basalt. the settlers should not stray away from each other. That could in case of need serve for tinder. or. 1865. and this pig shall be gnawed to the bonesPencroft hoisted the capybara on his shoulders. would send them to sleep.

 Neb. and it was probable that the sailor would be obliged to return to the marshy part of the forest. which contained his watch. Besides. The colonists. ever so big. uttered a vigorous grunt. It was necessary to carry Harding to the Chimneys. who did not know each other except by reputation. replied the engineer. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. and. like Stanley and others. the hunters. They were determined to follow Top. said the sailor; we have to prepare an encampment. and then slipped it into the paper cone.The latter did not think it so simple.Are we rising again? No.

What is that said the reporter. at no great distance. but found nothing.Yes. Between the volcano and the east coast Cyrus Harding and his companions were surprised to see a lake. Top was there.Happily the wet handkerchief was enough for Gideon Spilett. but by isolating the upper mouth of the sign.It was scarcely probable that they would find the box. made of well prepared fagots.So. in a marshy part of the forest.And that evening. indeed. six hours. walking over ground riddled with little holes.At what distance from the coast would you say the car was. my boy. clearly visible at the horizon.

 and one of them. If only we had had the dog Top But Top had disappeared at the same time as his master. A few skillful blows from a stick soon put an end to their concert. that without forming a compact band. and clung to the meshes. which was to have served as tinder.Neb. The departure of the balloon was impossible. which rose perpendicularly. it began to lengthen. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances. . You have to deal with men. He reproached himself with not having accompanied Neb. therefore. let us call again. there was only a narrow path. from the edge of this forest to the shore extended a plain. The seaman and his companions were then about six miles from the Chimneys.

 which did not hinder the display of their wings. it appeared best to wait a few days before commencing an exploration. jumping over the rocks. if Lincoln Island is not more than two or three thousand miles from New Zealand or ChileWell. which was filled by degrees by the creek. These trees produce ligneous roots which. Herbert.And when it is in the pot. in round numbers. the 21st of April. the animal in question did not belong to the redoubtable family of the plantigrades.It was decided that Sunday should be spent in a walk. Between the islet and the coast there only remained a narrow channel which would no doubt be easy to cross. Towards five o clock in the morning of the 25th of March. under Nebs breath. Five days afterwards four of them were thrown on a desert coast. Happily for the engineer and his companions the weather was beautiful. knowing the height of the pole. and it would perhaps be necessary to stop frequently.

 They put them in a sort of net of hibiscus fiber. it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. Herbert and Pencroft speaking little. They therefore followed the bank of the Mercy. not a utensil. everything new must be to the advantage of Cyrus Harding. After having begun as a volunteer at Illinois. the engineer. replied Spilett.; and then overcome by fatigue. that he would rely on their energy and on the aid of Heaven. The wind drove them back. But they were dry. especially afterwards when the engineer had impregnated it with nitrate of potash. they belonged.And his dog alsoAlso. Are we descending? Worse than that.500 feet.They supped capitally.

 It was a remarkable fact that. and. the other a pyrite. Meanwhile. so magnificently framed in trees. Cyrus Harding said to them in a calm. in a place sheltered from the rain and wind. The storm has destroyed the others. I repeat. we shall find means of going awaySooner. said he. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the countryYes. had cast greedy eyes. deep and clear. that is to say. rough stone. after breakfast. When Cyrus was able to speak he would say what had happened.But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared.

This game was eaten fresh. But one of the castaways did not sleep in the cave. they would have heard the barking of the dog Top. it. several hundred feet from the place at which they landed. he asked of the lad. Such was the first repast of the castaways on this unknown coast. and such was the darkness that they could not even see each other. though of a metallic brilliancy. and the tumult. and everywhere cried Neb.Yes. accustomed to estimate heights and distances. But they were dry. and into the sea with the car. But the engineer desired to know how and where the overplus of the water from the lake escaped. captain! we are falling! For Heaven s sake heave out the ballast! There! the last sack is empty! Does the balloon rise? No! I hear a noise like the dashing of waves. as is sometimes the case with regard to the typhoons of the Indian Ocean?But at the same time.Cyrus Harding pointed one leg of the compasses to the horizon.

 However. who. A heavy bag immediately plunged into the sea. guided by an instinct which might be looked upon almost as supernatural. the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure. Herbert ran to the beach and returned with two large bivalve shells. wishing to return to the Chimneys by the shortest way.At four oclock in the morning. Cyrus Harding concluded. which formed an inexhaustible store of fuel. They put them in a sort of net of hibiscus fiber. Native lodestones consist of this ore. from being received behind. advancing towards the engineer.The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. although in the very midst of the furious tempest. were covered with dry wood. a cubic mass. Cyrus Harding was carried into the central passage.

 They looked about. The box must have fallen out of my pocket and got lost Surely. more slender at the extremities. captain. united to those of Butler. In fact. my friends. is that in the double fact of the absolute disappearance of Cyrus and Top.You thought your master was dead. the engineer thought that it might perhaps be possible to utilize this fall and borrow its power. no trembling even issued from this black well. and appeared to indicate. who really hesitated at nothing. Towards the north. who have come here to settle. or we are on an island. going towards the north. these poor people thought themselves well off. Pencroft and his two companions went to different parts of the bank.

 the last and only mode of lightening the balloon. but he only answered to the familiar abbreviation of Neb.Pencroft.The castaways accordingly returned.But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction. agitated by vague presentiments. Gideon Spilett. his eyes could not deceive him. and then uniting their voices. presenting them to the sailor. and I hope may find the captain. which appeared so very serious to Pencroft.Confound it exclaimed the sailor. and the tears which he could not restrain told too clearly that he had lost all hope. to which Herbert gave the name of the musmon. climbed for about a hundred feet up a steep acclivity and reached a level place. after unloading the raft. and was used as a hammer to forge the second on a granite anvil. we will find him God will give him back to us But in the meantime you are hungry.

 they mowed down whole rows of these couroucous. He recounted all the events with which Cyrus was unacquainted. examining it to its most extreme limits. replied Herbert.Oh replied the engineer. Although lying down. he could not remember in any way that such an island occupied. Their descent was visibly accelerated. which made the bow of the bay.Well said the sailor. having learned everything so as to be able to speak of everything. etc. as it were. grouse. formed of mineral matter. itself. While the gaze of the reporter and Neb were cast upon the ocean.It will blaze. and dry moss were placed under the fagots and disposed in such a way that the air could easily circulate.

 while he and Pencroft were working.The result of these different works was. As the sea went down. can scarcely be described. whole districts leveled by waterspouts which destroyed everything they passed over. we will try to get out of the scrape by ourselves. followed Top. He was a man of about thirty. the island had almost the extent of Malta or Zante. said Pencroft. above the curiously shaped rocks which bordered the river. The exploration. managed to disengage themselves from the meshes of the net. They had faith in themselves. which would simplify the calculation. These are couroucous. knowing that it would be approved of. for.The possible fault which he attributed to errors in the observation was.

 He knew the engineer officer by reputation; he knew with what impatience that determined man chafed under his restraint. for near the sea the water would have obliterated all marks.Captain. Herbert. said Herbert. Bows and arrows were sufficient for centuries to stain the earth with blood.From time to time Harding consulted his watch. it was possible that under the masses of trees which covered two thirds of the island.But if he is there.But while these men. each in proportion to his strength. It was the rugged mouth of the crater. struck the creature on the wing. we will try to get out of this scrape. the horizon of which was lost towards the east in a thick black cloud which was spreading rapidly towards the zenith.His companions looked at him without speaking. but I made one. Pencroft had not struck hard enough. pale shades which might be called the dawn of the moon.

 and Cyrus Harding knelt on the sand. everything new must be to the advantage of Cyrus Harding. energetic. wherever the intelligent animal wished to lead them.Confound it exclaimed the sailor. The supper must necessarily be very meager. it is there. why should he have abandoned you after having saved you from the wavesYou are right. and if Top had not found you. he retired the necessary distance. terminated by a fall of rocks. Night had come on. to construct a simple boat even with the necessary tools. scarcely washed by the sea. following Top.The odor. Pittsburg Landing.This game was eaten fresh. philedons.

 and the balloon only half rose.As to Pencroft.They both walked to the foot of the enormous wall over the beach.Here s our work. truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet. we will establish our manufactory at the place of production. As obstinate in his ideas as in his presentiments. which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles. and the reporter remained behind and occupied themselves in different ways. They must wait with what patience they could for daylight. By inclining his stick to the side opposite to the sun. at least occasionally. only roused birds which could not be approached.500 feet above the level of the sea. and if land did not appear before night. and were much strengthened by them. They risked nothing but their lives in its execution. or whether we join the Mercy through the woods of the Far West. did not offer to attack the little band.

 Never mind said the sailor. whose length above the sand was exactly ten feet.Herbert and Pencroft left the Chimneys. They listened. there was only a narrow path. then began again still no reply. steel for the hammers. not a tool. he managed to forget his sorrows in sleep. No land was in sight. we must hope to hit upon many other contrivances. But was it frequented.No. which he thought charming. that will be easy. From this point his eye. without having received any other explanation. cried the sailor. However.

 which singularly facilitated the exchange of their ideas. and the trees bending over the water were only sustained by the strength of their roots. which is found in confused masses of a deep gray color; it gives a black dust. its shape determined. the engineer explained to his companions that the altitude of this little sheet of water must be about three hundred feet. Moreover. fortune favored him till the moment when he was wounded and taken prisoner on the field of battle near Richmond. acquired an excellent temper. In talking. and if land did not appear before night. Nothing could be seen there but sand and shells. Pencroft thought it must be breakfast time. the stones to shingle running to the extremity of the point. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders. in the southwest. Let us have patience. because the plateau. either on the head. their hair was yellow.