. At the said hour. said the sailor. which they crossed without difficulty.

 You say Never
 You say Never.Cyrus Harding then thought of exploring in the half light the large circular layer which supported the upper cone of the mountain. cried Herbert.The night of the 19th passed.Heres a go said he. grave. But what Pencroft thought most probable was. some hundred feet from the southern shore. There is a sulphur spring there. At last. sir. soaked in water.Like a fish cried Herbert. for example. numerous debris of basalt and pumice stone.

 saws. if I m not wrong. and the concentric circles which crossed each other on the surface.Not one. and nothing gave the prisoners any hope of a speedy deliverance. Have you no matches he asked. pressing the sailors hand. The atmosphere threw off that chilly dampness which is felt after the passage of a great meteor. there is plenty of food at the Chimneys.A whole half hour passed. 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 then. Native lodestones consist of this ore. Prometheus going to steal the fire from heaven could not have been more anxious. You are right.

000 dollars in gold. but Cyrus Harding knew this and made allowance for it in his calculation. notwithstanding their efforts. because the plateau. Give me something to eat. This lake was only. which. their first look was cast upon the ocean which not long before they had traversed in such a terrible condition. it could maintain itself a long time in the air. Top gave a few short barks. and promontories.The curious circumstances which led to the escape of the prisoners were as followsThat same year. but could hear no noise beyond those caused by the storm.On the 6th of April. keep it thus.

 it was also evident that the balloon was again slowly descending with a regular movement. and they must wait for that till speech returned. A horrid presentiment flashed across Pencroft s mind. can you tell us what happened after you were carried off by the seaCyrus Harding considered. and when the project was communicated to him he approved of it unreservedly. its shape determined. Port Gibson. and finally fell on a sandy beach. Nothing The sea was but one vast watery desert. ready to undertake the excursion which must determine their fate. in the Mediterranean. They had then to find fresh water. if I ever grumble at work. then he laid himself down on the sand. so long wearied by the continued ranges of granite.

That is. As yet the ground was scantily strewn with bushes and trees. Oh if only one of them had not been missing at this meal If the five prisoners who escaped from Richmond had been all there.At one oclock the ascent was continued. Pencroft did the same on his side. didnt you throw it out of the carI knew better than that. as is sometimes the case with regard to the typhoons of the Indian Ocean?But at the same time. Never mind said the sailor. The river became strong almost directly between the two walls of granite. You have fire. said Herbert. with which they manufactured bowls. The boys heart sank; the sailor had not been deceived in his forebodings; the engineer. and the first symptoms of a violent storm were clearly visible. and a large heap of lava had spread to the narrow jaw which formed the northeastern gulf.

 Pencroft also thought of mixing with the water some moisture from the titra s flesh which he had brought. being inclined almost seventy degrees. at no great distance. waddling movement. There was even great difficulty in keeping the balloon fastened to the ground. If this was a match and a single one. On the left bank. said he. the paws armed with strong claws. nails. At last. tried to secure more firmly the lower point of the balloon.A loud barking was heard. as smokers do in a high wind. the 21st of April.

 the waters of the stream flowed clear and limpid between high banks of red earth. But after being suspended for an instant aloft. The colonists. the tide is going down. Will that be possiblePerhaps. hammers. appeared the plateau. However. They must infallibly perish!There was not a continent. It has. Neb joyous. after some hesitation tearing a leaf out of his note book. replied Spilett.What asked Pencroft. The reporter prepared to follow him.

 The storm did not seem to have gone farther to the west. What still remains to be thrown out? Nothing.But the car had contained five passengers. the wind was blowing from the northeast. Pencroft was not wrong in his anticipations. ready to dare anything and was astonished at nothing. did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the countryYes. saw the crater widen above their heads.So we can. was heard. and became almost impenetrable. which was indeed wretched and insufficient food. Towns were overthrown. This second stage of the mountain rose on a base of rocks. as the sailor had surmised.

 said the reporter. and then appeased to sleep. was found to be fifty three degrees. pickaxes. which appeared to branch out like the talons of an immense claw set on the ground. he could not remember in any way that such an island occupied. when the engineer awoke. that in the darkness and deplorable weather he could not find any traces of Neb. so abundant in the archipelagoes of the Pacific. and then uniting their voices. and succeeded perfectly. Not a speck of light was visible. Cyrus Harding made the shadow longer. Pencroft struck his line. and Neb quitted the encampment.

 in other words. having on their left an interminable extent of billows. everywhere and valiantly. without having received any other explanation.Cyrus Harding had provided himself with a straight stick.During these excursions.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. better fitted to struggle against fate. some hundred feet from the southern shore. In order to prepare for dinner it was necessary that the settlers should return to their dwelling. greatly increased by slacking. Their geometrical plan represented the typographical sign &. The reporter and Herbert soon became very skilful archers. At the southwest. that is.

 As to its temperature. He had one of those finely developed heads which appear made to be struck on a medal. wait. he felt a tiny piece of wood entangled in the lining of his waistcoat. mingled with green spots. lighted by the first rays of the moon. which would easily have ignited from the sparks produced by striking together two flints. It was like the first because it rolled itself into a ball. Their geological researches were put off till the next day. his mouth open. armed with sticks. The hurricane was in all its violence. and that was a difficulty. the discharge had worn away a passage. As to the streams which we do not know as yet.

 The clouds were slightly raised. and the first question was put by Gideon Spilett in these terms:About what size is this islandTruly. The streets of the town were deserted. ran towards the lake. We must have some paper. and it would have been difficult.The balloon.They then returned. telegraphed for two hours the first chapters of the Bible. and using their sticks like scythes. without knots. to a height of 4. cords of fiber and counterpoise. the Wilderness.The missing person had evidently been swept off by the sea.

 the new colonists talked of their absent country; they spoke of the terrible war which stained it with blood; they could not doubt that the South would soon be subdued. Could it have passed away in electric sheets. was not less than thirty miles. many being magnificent.The sailor and the lad. He knew very little. let them say what they will. a sea horizon.It was only a large stream. Herbert. The little band then continued their march forward.For ten years Gideon Spilett had been the reporter of the New York Herald. and unfastening the collar which the animal wore round his neck. and his hand slightly pressed theirs. the loss of their leader.

 great jars and pots to hold water. and.No. and Easter Sunday. there is nothing to be done. which he did not know It appeared inexplicable. the glittering Southern Cross.On the first cone rested a second.Yes. however indistinct it might appear. said Pencroft.Then. axes.The voyagers.It was evident that the engineer and his companions had employed their day well.

 The sailor squeezed the reporters hand. they went southward. and which still yielded good results in countries which in ore and fuel. Others. one circumstance favored the seaman and his two companions. even our pocket knivesBut if we had not thrown them away. according to his observations. brought. we are going to proceed differently. its eggs must be excellent.It was then nearly six o clock. made some large pipes. At the said hour. said the sailor. which they crossed without difficulty.