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The hunters had scarcely entered the bushes when they saw Top engaged in a struggle with an animal which he was holding by the ear. This quadruped was a sort of pig nearly two and a half feet long, of a blackish brown, less deep at the stomach, and with hard scanty hair. Its toes, then strongly fixed in the ground, seemed to be united by a membrane. Harbert recognized in this animal the capybara, which is one of the largest members of the rodent order.

Meanwhile, the capybara did not struggle against the dog. It stupidly rolled its eyes, deeply buried in a thick bed of fat. Perhaps it saw men for the first time.

Neb tightened his grasp on his stick, and was just going to fell the pig, when the latter, tearing itself from Top's teeth, by which it was only held by the tip of its ear, uttered a vigorous grunt, rushed upon Harbert, almost overthrew him, and disappeared in the wood.

66 The rascal!" cried Pencroff.

All three directly darted after Top, but just as they joined him the animal disappeared under the waters of a large pond shaded by venerable pines.

Neb, Harbert and Pencroff stopped, motionless. Top plunged into the water, but the capybara, hidden at the bottom of the pond, did not appear.

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Let us wait," said the boy, "for he will soon come to the surface to breathe."

"Won't he drown?" asked Ned. "No," replied Harbert, "since he has webbed feet, and is almost an amphibious animal. Let's watch for him."

Top remained in the water. Pencroff and his two companions went to different parts of the bank, so as to cut off the retreat of the capybara, which the dog was looking for beneath the water.

Harbert was not mistaken. In a few minutes the animal appeared on the surface of the water. Top was upon it in a bound, and kept it from plunging again. An instant later, the capabara, dragged to the bank, was killed by a blow from Neb's stick.

"Hurrah!" cried Pencroff, who was always ready with this cry of triumph.

Nothing but a good fire, and this pig shall be gnawed to the bones!"

Pencroff hoisted the capybara on his shoulders, and, judging by the height of the sun that it was about two o'clock, he gave the signal to return.

Top's instinct was useful to the hunters,

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IN a few minutes the three hunters were before a crackling fire. The captain and the reporter were there. Pencroff looked from one to the other, his capybara in his hand, without saying a word.

"Fire," cried the reporter, "real fire, which will roast that splendid game perfectly, and we will have a feast presently!" "But who lighted it?" asked Pencroff. "The sun!"

Gideon Spilett was right in his reply. It was the sun that had furnished the heat which so astonished Pencroff. The sailor could scarcely believe his eyes, and he was so amazed that he did not think of questioning the engineer.

"Had you a burning glass, sir?" asked Harbert of Smith.

"No, my boy," replied he, "but I made one."

And he showed the apparatus which served for a burning-glass. It was simply two glasses which he had taken from his own and the reporter's watches. Having filled them with water and rendered their edges adhesive by means of a little clay, he had thus fabricated a regular burningglass, which, concentrating the solar rays on some very dry moss, soon caused it to blaze.

The sailor considered the apparatus; then he gazed at the engineer without saying a word, only his look plainly expressed his opinion that if Cyrus Smith were not a magician, he was certainly no ordinary man. At last speech returned to him, and he cried:

"Note that, Mr. Spilett, note that down on your paper!"

"It is noted," replied the reporter. Then, Neb helping him, the seaman arranged the spit, and the capybara, properly cleaned, was soon roasting like a sucking pig before a clear, crackling fire.

The Chimneys had again become more habitable, not only because the passages were warmed by the fire, but because the partitions of wood and mud had been reestablished.

It was evident that the engineer and his companions had employed their day well. Cyrus Smith had almost entirely recovered his strength, and had proved it by climbing to the upper plateau. From this point his eye, accustomed to estimate heights and distances, was fixed for a long time on the cone, the summit of which he wished to reach the next day. The mountain, situated about six miles to the north-west, appeared to him to measure 3,500 feet above the level of the sea. Consequently the gaze of an observer posted on its summit would extend over a radius of at least fifty miles. Therefore it was probable that Smith could easily solve the question of "island or continent," to which he gave, not without reason, the first place.

They supped capitally. The flesh of the capybara was declared excellent. The sargassum and the almonds of the stone pine completed the repast, during which the engineer spoke little. He was preoccupied with projects for the next day.

Once or twice Pencroff gave forth some ideas upon what it would be best to do; but Cyrus Smith, who was evidently of a methodical mind, contented himself with shaking his head.

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"To-morrow," he repeated, we shall know what we have to depend upon, and we can act accordingly."

The meal ended, fresh armfuls of wood were thrown on the fire, and the inhabitants of the Chimneys, including the faithful Top, were soon buried in a deep sleep. No incident disturbed this peaceful night, and the next day, the 29th of March, they awoke fresh and active, ready to under take the excursion which must determine their fate.

All was ready for the start. The remains of the capybara would be enough to sustain the five companions for at least twenty-four hours. Besides, they hoped to find more food on the way. the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter, Pencroff burned a little linen to serve as tinder. As

to flint, that would not be wanting in these regions of Plutonic origin. It was halfpast seven in the morning when the explorers, armed with sticks, left the Chimneys. Following Pencroff's advice, it appeared best to take the road, already traversed through the forest, and to return by another route. It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain. They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river, which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the south-west. The path, already trodden under the evergreen trees, was found, and at nine o'clock Cyrus Smith and his companions had reached the western border of the forest. The ground, till then very little undulating, boggy at first, dry and sandy afterwards, had a gentle slope, which ascended from the shore towards the interior of the country. A few very timid animals were seen under the foresttrees. Top quickly started them, but his master soon called him back, for the time had not come to commence hunting—that would be attended to later. The engineer was not a man who would allow himself to be diverted from his central idea. would not even be mistaken in asserting that he did not observe the country, either in its configuration or in its natural productions, his great aim being to climb the mountain before him, and therefore straight towards it he went. At ten o'clock a halt of a few minutes was made. On leaving the forest, the mountain system of the country appeared before the explorers. The mountain was composed of two cones; the first, truncated at a height of about two thousand five hundred feet, was sustained by buttresses, which appeared to branch out like the talons of an immense claw set on the ground. Between these were narrow valleys, bristling with trees, the last clumps of which rose to the top of the lowest cone. There appeared to be less vegetation on that side of the mountain which was exposed to the north-east, and deep fissures could be seen where, no doubt, there were water-courses.

One

On the first cone rested a second, slightly rounded, and placed a little on one side, like a great round hat cocked over the ear. A Scotchman would have said, "his bonnet was a thocht ajee." It appeared as if formed of bare earth, here and there pierced by reddish rocks.

They wished to reach the second cone, and proceeding along the ridge of the spurs

seemed to be the best way by which to gain it.

"We are on volcanic ground," said the engineer, and his companions, following him, began to ascend by degrees on the back of a spur, which was connected with the first plateau by a winding path.

The ground had evidently been convulsed by subterranean force. Here and there stray blocks, and much débris of basalt and pumice-stone, were met with. In isolated groups rose fir-trees, which, some hundred feet lower, at the bottom of the narrow gorges, formed massive shades, almost impenetrable to the sun's rays.

During this first part of the ascent, Harbert remarked upon the footprints, which indicated the recent passage of large animals.

"Perhaps these beasts will not let us pass by willingly," said Pencroff.

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Well," replied the reporter, who had already hunted the tiger in India, and the lion in Africa, "we shall soon learn how successfully to encounter them. But in the meantime we must be upon our guard!" Meanwhile they ascended but slowly. The way was long, and its tediousness increased by detours and obstacles which could not be surmounted directly. Sometimes, too, the ground suddenly fell, and they found themselves on the edge of a deep chasm which they had to go round. Thus, in retracing their steps so as to find some practicable path, much time was employed and fatigue undergone for nothing. At twelve o'clock, when the small band of adventurers halted for breakfast at the foot of a large group of firs, near a little stream which fell in cascades, they found themselves still half way from the first plateau, which most probably they would not reach till nightfall. From this point the view of the sea was much extended, but on the right the high promontory prevented their seeing whether there was land beyond it. On the left, the sight extended several miles to the north; but, on the north-west, at the point occupied by the explorers, it was cut short by the ridge of a fantasticallyshaped spur, which formed a powerful support of the central cone.

At one o'clock the ascent was continued. They slanted more towards the south-west and again entered the thick bushes. There under the shade of the trees fluttered a number of gallinacæe belonging to the pheasant species. They were tragopans, ornamented by a pendent skin which hangs

over the throat, and by two small, round horns planted behind the eyes. These were about the size of a fowl, the female uniformly brown, while the male was gorgeous in his red plumage decorated with white spots. Gideon Spilett, with a stone cleverly and vigorously thrown, killed one of these tragopans, at which Pencroff, made hungry by the fresh air, had looked with greedy eyes.

After leaving the region of bushes, the party, resting on each other's shoulders, climbed for about a hundred feet up a very steep acclivity and reached a level place, with very few trees, where the soil appeared volcanic. The object was, to ascend by zigzags, and thus make the slope more gradual, for it was very steep, and each had to choose with care the place to put his foot. Neb and Harbert took the lead, Pencroff the rear, the captain and the reporter between them. The animals which frequented these heights,—and there were plenty of traces of them,-must necessarily belong to those races, of sure foot and supple spine, the chamois or the goat. Several were seen, but this was not the name Pencroff gave them, for all of a sudden he shouted

"Sheep!"

All stopped, about fifty feet from halfa-dozen animals of a large size, with strong horns bent back and flattened towards the point, with a woolly fleece, hidden under long, silky hair of a tawny color. They were not ordinary sheep, but a species. usually found in the mountainous regions of the temperate zone, to which Harbert gave the name of musmon.

"Have they legs and chops?" asked the sailor.

"Yes," replied Harbert.

"Well, then, they are sheep!" said Pen

croff.

The animals, motionless among the blocks of basalt, gazed with astonishment, as if they saw human beings for the first time. Then, their fears suddenly aroused, they disappeared, bounding over the rocks.

"Good-bye, till we meet again!" cried Pencroff, as he watched them, in such a comical tone that the others could not help laughing.

The ascent was continued. Here and there were traces of lava. Sulphur springs sometimes stopped their way, and they had to go round them. In some places the sulphur had formed crystals among other substances, such as whitish cinders,

made of an infinity of little feldspar crystals.

On approaching the first plateau formed by the truncating of the lower cone, the difficulties of the ascent were very great. Towards four o'clock the extreme zone of the trees had been passed. There only remained here and there a few twisted, stunted pines, which must have had a hard life in resisting at this altitude the high winds from the open sea. Happily for the engineer and his companions, the weather was beautiful, the atmosphere tranquil; for a high breeze at an elevation of three thousand feet would have hindered their proceedings. The purity of the sky at the zenith was felt through the transparent air. Perfect calm reigned around them. They could not see the sun, then hid by the vast screen of the upper cone, which masked the half-horizon of the west, and whose enormous shadow stretching to the shore increased as the radiant luminary sank in its diurnal course. Vapors,-mist rather than clouds,-began to appear in the east and assume all the prismatic colors under the influence of the solar rays.

Only five hundred feet separated the explorers from the plateau which they wished to reach in order to establish there an encampment for the night; but these five hundred feet were increased to more than two miles by the zigzags they had to describe. The soil, as it were, slid under their feet. The slope often presented such an angle that when the stones worn by the air did not give a sufficient support they slipped to the ground. Evening came on by degrees, and it was almost night when Cyrus Smith and his companions, much fatigued by an ascent of seven hours, arrived at the plateau of the first cone. It was then necessary to prepare an encampment, and to restore their strength by eating first and sleeping afterwards. The second cone of the mountain rose on a base of rocks among which it would be easy to find a retreat. Fuel was not abundant. However, a fire could be made by means of the moss and dry brushwood, which covered certain parts of the plateau. While the sailor was preparing his hearth with stones, Neb and Harbert occupied. themselves with getting a supply of fuel. They soon returned with a load of brushwood. The steel was struck, the burnt linen caught the sparks of flint, and by the aid of Neb's breath a crackling fire showed itself in a few minutes under the shelter of the

rocks. Their object in lighting a fire was only to enable them to withstand the cold temperature of the night, as it was not employed in cooking the bird, which Neb kept for the next day. The remains of the capybara and some dozens of the stone pine almonds formed their supper. It was not half-past six when all was finished.

Cyrus Smith then thought of exploring in the twilight the large circular layer which supported the upper cone of the mountain. Before taking any rest, he wished to know if it were possible to get round the base of the cone in the case of its sides being too steep and its summit being inaccessible. This question preoccupied him, for it was possible that from the way the hat inclined, that is to say, towards the north, the plateau was not practicable. Also, if the summit of the mountain could not be reached on one side, and if, on the other, they could not get round the base of the cone, it would be impossible to survey the western part of the country, and their object in making the ascent would in part be unattained.

The engineer, accordingly, without regarding his fatigues, leaving Pencroff and Neb to arrange the beds, and Gideon Spilett to note the incidents of the day, began to follow the edge of the plateau, going towards the north. Harbert accompanied him.

The night was beautiful and still, and the darkness was not yet deep. Cyrus Smith and the boy walked near each other, without speaking. In some places the plateau opened before them, and they passed without hindrance. In others, obstructed by rocks, there was only a narrow path, in which two persons could not walk abreast. After a walk of twenty minutes, they were obliged to stop. From this point the slope of the two cones became one. shoulder here separated the two parts of the mountain. The slope, being inclined almost seventy degrees, the path became impracticable.

No

But if the engineer and the boy were obliged to give up thoughts of following a circular direction, in return an opportunity was given for ascending the cone.

In fact, before them opened a deep hollow. It was the rugged mouth of the crater, by which the eruptive liquid matter had escaped at the periods when the volcano had been in activity. Hardened lava and crusted scoria formed a sort of natural staircase of large steps, which would

greatly facilitate the ascent to the summit of the mountain. Smith took all this in at a glance, and without hesitating, followed by the lad, he entered the enormous chasm in the midst of increasing obscurity.

There was still a height of a thousand feet to overcome. Would the interior acclivities of the crater be practicable? It would soon be seen. The persevering engineer resolved to continue his ascent until he was stopped. Happily these acclivities wound up the interior of the volcano and favored their ascent.

As to the volcano itself, it could not be doubted that it was completely extinct. No smoke escaped from its sides; not a flame could be seen in the dark hollows; not a roar, not a mutter, no trembling even, issued from this black well, which perhaps reached far into the bowels of the earth. The atmosphere inside the crater was filled with no sulphurous vapor. It was more than the sleep of a volcano, it was its complete extinction. Cyrus Smith's attempt would succeed.

Little by little, Harbert and he, climbing up the sides of the interior, saw the crater widen above their heads. The radius of this circular portion of the sky, framed by the edge of the cone, increased obviously. At each step the explorers made, fresh stars entered the field of their vision. The magnificent constellations of the southern sky shone resplendent. At the zenith, glittered the splendid Antares

in the Scorpion, and not far the Beta in the Centaur, which is believed to be the nearest star to the terrestrial globe. Then, as the crater widened, appeared Fomalhaut of the Fish, the Southern Triangle, and lastly, nearly at the Antarctic Pole, the glittering Southern Cross, which corresponds to the Polar Star of the Northern Hemisphere. It was nearly eight o'clock when Cyrus Smith and Harbert put their foot on the highest ridge of the mountain at the summit of the cone. It was perfectly dark, and the vision could not extend over a radius of two miles. Did the sea surround this unknown land, or was this land connected in the west by some continent of the Pacific? It could not yet be made out. Towards the west, a cloudy belt, clearly visible at the horizon, increased the gloom, and the eye could not discover whether the sky and water were blended together in the same circular line.

But at one point of the horizon a vague light suddenly appeared, which descended slowly in proportion as the cloud mounted to the zenith. It was the slender crescent moon, already disappearing. But its light was sfflucient to show clearly the horizontal line, then detached from the cloud, and the engineer could see its reflection trembling for an instant on a liquid. surface. Cyrus Smith seized the lad's hand, and in a grave voice exclaimed: “An island!" at the moment when the lunar crescent disappeared beneath the waves.

(To be continued.)

MY RIVER.

SING out, laugh out, O River, glad and new-
Sing out, ring out, the wooded gorges through.

Sing, sing, and bring from meadows, morning sweet,

The slippery shadows on your silver feet.

Your fairy shallops glitter in the sun,

And deftly row the rowers, all as one.

Sing louder, River, for the noon is high.
And swifter speed the freighted barges by,
And deftly row the rowers as they sing:
"That which we bear away we never bring."

O river, westering towards an unseen tide,
Your slowing current seeks the yielding side,
And heavily row the rowers as they feel
The long waves lapsing underneath the keel;
Sing low, sing low, O river, winding slow,
The sea is near-the darkness falls-sing low!

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