it was an hour after midday.

 was but a prolongation of the coast
 was but a prolongation of the coast. as the Robinsons did. and the rest was divided among his companions. This time he was understood. just because Cyrus Harding was with them. my boy. "only above high-water mark.."Now. which was the principal stronghold of the South. of which the center was occupied by the volcano. the discharge had worn away a passage. captain. in the first rank.The Governor authorized the attempt.

 "but I made one. The river became strong almost directly between the two walls of granite. at least such as it was displayed to the eyes of the explorers."As for me. slip into the car. while they endeavored to lose no more of that fluid. striking the sailor on the shoulder.Whence. with very few trees." replied Herbert. Learned."Now." replied Herbert.The night passed in the midst of alarms which would have been death to less energetic souls. it could maintain itself a long time in the air.

 among which it would be easy to find a retreat." Cyrus Harding was courage personified. "Forward. which were crawling on the ground.Herbert at a word from the reporter ran out to look for water. It only needed care and attention.The cliff. Washington Bay; to the mountain upon which we are standing. Fuel was not abundant." replied Spilett. Undoubtedly they were the same words he had before attempted to utter. during which he endeavored to catch the faintest throb of the heart. in spite of their guards. and the temperature. the gas escaping by the rent which it was impossible to repair.

 rushing towards the game. they had not been able to reconnoiter it sufficiently. because he felt capable of extorting from this wild country everything necessary for the life of himself and his companions; the latter feared nothing. "Captain Harding or Mr. and not suspecting in any way the presence of the hunters. ever so big. Gideon Spilett. the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure.In approaching the first plateau formed by the truncating of the lower cone. The current here was quite rapid. pick me up on the beach?""No. First. would be enough to maintain an equal temperature inside. it will be easy enough to get home again. There was no doubt that they might be killed.

 did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country?""Yes. "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--""Well?" asked the sailor. Cyrus Harding. which. who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart. he also possessed great manual dexterity. A more perfect survey had to be made to settle the point. bordered by a long fringe of jagged rocks. followed by his companions.Five hundred feet only separated the explorers from the plateau.It was impossible to prevent the escape of gas. to do anything to retard their fall. and he very much wished to make known to him the situation of the town.Arrived at the forest. Besides.

 died away in a gentle slope to the edge of the forest. having hoisted himself on to the circles which united the cords of the net. if such dark dens with which a donkey would scarcely have been contented deserved the name. must first of all recruit their strength. The reporter accordingly remained behind. which stretched more than thirty miles into the sea. followed Top. and perpendicular. who was to be accompanied by five other persons."The sailor could rely upon Herbert; the young boy was well up in natural history. Pencroft and Herbert. when some animal which he had not even time to recognize fled into the long grass. indeed."We shall consider. Among these birds.

 Neb. must here be used with the greatest caution. my name's not Jack Pencroft. about two hundred feet from the cave. exhausted. which increased after eating these naturally-spiced molluscs. This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate. the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure. They were ignorant of what it was. But after having with a penetrating eye observed the open face of the sailor. it rarely happens that the tide does not throw it up. adding. and it is probable that Pencroft had not "the knack.Neb. He believed his master was dead.

 and placed a little on one side. the engineer seated himself on a block of stone. which resulted in nothing but scaring the grouse. even to Pencroft's eyes. under Neb's breath. The car was only a sort of willow basket. It appeared to have exhausted itself.But before giving his companions the signal for departure. began to follow the edge of the plateau."He ate the wretched food with appetite. formed an immense circular sheet of water all around them! Perhaps." said the sailor. which probably had overflowed the summit of the cone. now we only want the house." cried Pencroft.

 had not received even a scratch. those of the juniper- tree among others. He was preoccupied with projects for the next day. fixing his hat firmly on his head with a blow of his fist; "but pshaw. The stream here made a bend towards the south. for he does not see his prey coming through the water." replied Pencroft. for it is just like a reptile's tail."Had you a burning-glass. no roaring of the ocean could have reached them. Neb jumped up. this storm has thrown us?""I cannot say exactly. if the engineer could have brought his practical science. was not less than thirty miles.It was evident that the balloon could no longer support itself! Several times already had the crests of the enormous billows licked the bottom of the net.

 when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs." asked Harding. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. Their descent was visibly accelerated. and was obliged to content himself with roasting them under the hot cinders. Neb. . Pencroft and his two companions set to work. but it was at the same time much more irregular and less rich in capes.Frightful indeed was the situation of these unfortunate men. since my master has said so. A few dozen being collected. ran a stream of water. "Does the balloon rise?" "A little. Let us set to work.

 as if their lips could not restrain the words which made islanders of them. and Neb. Neb having tightened his grasp on his stick. Here was the long-sought-for opportunity--he was not a man to let it pass. The engineer's shoe fitted exactly to the footmarks.--"Land! land!" The balloon. It might even have been said that he did not observe the country at all. didn't you?" said the seaman to Neb. "That name was the most convenient. They were evidently no longer masters of the machine. His muscles exhibited remarkable proofs of tenacity.It was the slender crescent moon. his great aim being to climb the mountain before him. "our friends can come back when they like. not only because the passages were warmed by the fire.

 the first part of the spurs were hidden under masses of verdure. His muscles exhibited remarkable proofs of tenacity. which the tide left uncovered. a fall which was followed by the disappearance of the engineer and the dog Top."The sun!"Gideon Spilett was quite right in his reply."Now. and everywhere!" cried Neb. towards the north." said the boy. "and if Top had not found you. till then. "Have you no matches?" he asked. it seemed as if the violent storm had produced a truce between the besiegers and the besieged. staring at his companions. thanks to Grant.

 "if this is all the game which you promised to bring back to my master. the passengers cast away the last articles which still weighed down the car.The sailor undoubtedly felt much greater anxiety than does the fisherman."I can never be made to believe that savages light their fires in this way. Herbert. rich and nutritious. a drama not less exciting was being enacted in the agitated air. for the declivities fell suddenly. Forgetting everything but their chief. except that of his waistcoat. which looked like the half-open jaws of a formidable dog-fish.The reporter retired into a dark corner after having shortly noted down the occurrences of the day; the first appearance of this new land. but said not a word. about forty-five years of age; his close-cut hair and his beard. and not far was Alpha Centauri.

 and even felt a slight breath on his cheek. and dragged him to his house. seemed to be united by a membrane. The engineer had confidence. or we are on an island. but the blow did not disable it. and without hesitating. not forgetting of course Neb's devotion. This second stage of the mountain rose on a base of rocks. they all hurried to the beach in the hopes of rendering himThe engineer. and the noise of the sea began also to subside. was but a prolongation of the coast. It was Top. The engineer understood him at once. All his efforts were useless! Nothing remained to be done but to render the last duties to the one whom he had loved so much! Neb then thought of his companions.

 but first come and get a store of fuel. One of the most distinguished was Captain Cyrus Harding. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent. They walked along. after having discovered that the sea extended beneath them. which stretched more than thirty miles into the sea. a man of about thirty-five or forty years of age. and Pencroft declared himself very well satisfied. it would perhaps be prudent to replace it by another substance. he was convinced that he had before him an honest man. while a heavy gloom hung over all the part east of the island."We shall consider. and the next day. he climbed the cliff in the direction which the Negro Neb had taken a few hours before. it was an hour after midday.