But something was in the sky. A balloon rushed through space with a velocity of ninety miles an hour[3]. Below the balloon, there was a basket with five men.
The storm was terrible. The passengers were unable to determine the course. They did not know where they were. They did not see anything. The thick fog was under the balloon. Around them everything was obscure. The clouds were very dense. No light, no sound.
The balloon rose to a height of 4,500 feet. The passengers discovered that the sea was beneath them. The dangers above were less formidable than below.
The night passed. At dawn, the clouds rose high into the heavens. In a few hours[4], the whirlwind disappeared. The balloon was again sinking slowly.
There was no land, not even an island, beneath them. It was a terrible situation. These men were unfortunate. The gas continued to escape. They fell fast. At 1 o’clock they were 600 feet above the sea. The gas poured out. Soon the voyagers, balloon, and basket will disappear beneath the waves.
These men were strong. They were silent. They were ready to struggle. It was 2 o’clock, and the balloon was only 400 feet above the waves. Then they heard a voice:
– Is everything thrown out?[5]
– No, we have 10,000 francs in gold.
A heavy bag fell into the sea.
– Does the balloon rise?
– A little, but it will soon fall again.
– Now the basket!
The basket fell into the sea. They wanted to lighten the apparatus. The five passengers clambered into the net around the hoop. The balloon went up. But soon it began to descend.
At 4 o’clock, their dog began to bark.
– Top[6] saw something! Land! Land!
They saw a land. But it was very far. Was it an island or a continent? Where were they? How to reach that land? At 4 o’clock the balloon grazed the surface of the sea.
Then the balloon jumped into the air. It rose 1,500 feet, and soon, however, it fell upon the sand. The passengers hastened to the ground. The basket contained five passengers and a dog. Four men were upon the shore. The fifth one was in the water. His friends cried:
– Perhaps he will swim here. Save him! Let us save him!
Chapter II
Who were those men? They were prisoners, and they succeeded to escape. Their voyage lasted five days. How did it start?
In February, 1865, the enemies, the Southerners[7], captured many officers. One of the most famous of them was Cyrus Smith[8], an engineer, and a scientist. He was thin, bony, and lean. He was about forty-five years old, with moustache. His muscles were very firm. He was educated, and practical, his temperament was superb. Cyrus Smith was also very brave.
The Southerners caught another man – Gideon Spilett[9], a well-known reporter. He was energetic, prompt, full of ideas. He was a soldier and an artist. Gideon Spilett was tall. He was forty years old or more. His eyes were clear and lively.
Cyrus Smith had a black servant. Smith freed his slaves, but this servant did not want to leave his master. He was a man of thirty years, vigorous, agile, adroit, intelligent, quick and honest. His name was Neb.
All these people were in Richmond[10], and it was very difficult to escape. The Southerners wanted to pass over the lines of the besiegers in a balloon. So the balloon was ready. The departure of the balloon was on the 18th of March. On the morning of the 18th, there was a great storm. The weather was terrible.
Cyrus Smith met a man whom he did not know. It was Pencroff[11], a sailor. He was about thirty-five years old. He was strong. Pencroff came to Richmond on business. He had with him Herbert Brown[12], a boy. This boy was fifteen years old, he was the son of Pencroff’s captain, and an orphan. Pencroff loved the boy.
So, Pencroff wanted to get out. He addressed Mr. Smith:
– Mr. Smith?
The engineer looked at the man.
– Mr. Smith, do you want to escape?
– How? – answered the engineer, quickly. – Who are you?
Pencroff told him about himself.
– Well, – replied Smith. – And how will you escape?
– By this balloon!
The sailor explained his project, which was very simple. The storm was terrible, it is true; but a skillful engineer, Smith, knew how to manage a balloon. He saw many storms in his life.
Cyrus Smith listened to the sailor and stayed silent. This was the opportunity! The project was very dangerous, but it was real. During the night, they will reach the balloon, and creep into the basket!
– I am not alone, – said Smith.
– How many people more? – demanded the sailor.
– Two; my friend Spilett, and my man Neb.
– Three, – replied Pencroff; – and, with Herbert and myself, five. Can the balloon carry us?
– Yes. We will go! – said the engineer.
– Tonight, at ten o’clock, – replied Smith.
Evening arrived. Fog passed over the earth. The weather was cold. The streets of the city were empty. No one cared to guard the balloon in a weather like this.
At half past 9, Cyrus Smith and his companions came together at the basket. Four of them took their places in the basket, while Pencroff unfastened the bundles of ballast. Then the sailor joined his companions. At that moment, a dog leaped into the basket. It was Top, the dog of the engineer.
Then the storm burst upon them. It was not until five days later that they saw the sea below them.
So of these five men, four found themselves[13], four days later, on a desert coast. And their leader, Cyrus Smith, disappeared.
Chapter III
The engineer’s dog disappeared, too. The faithful animal tried to rescue its master.
It was nearly 6 o’clock. The night was very dark. The men went northward along the shore. Where are they? They walked upon a sandy soil. They were searching all the corners.
After a walk of twenty minutes, the four men were suddenly stopped by a precipice. They saw a sharp point upon which the sea broke.
– We must turn back, – said the sailor.
They cried, but without response. They waited, and tried once more. And again there was no answer. Then they turned back. However, Pencroff observed that the shore was bold there, and the birds were less numerous on this shore. They were walking towards the south. Soon they were on the shore again.
– We are on an island, – exclaimed Pencroff.
The words of the sailor were true. The castaways were upon an island not more than two miles long. It was necessary to wait until the next day to search for the engineer.
Then they searched for wood or dry branches. Sand and stones were all they found. One can understand the grief of Neb and his companions, who loved their brave comrade. The engineer escaped. Did he die? The hours were long and dreadful, the cold was intense. But the castaways did not sleep. They