The darkness was absolute. Sea, sky, and earth were black.
For some moments the reporter and his two companions stood in this place. Then again, in the hush of the storm, they heard, far away, the barking of a dog. This must be Top. But was the dog alone?
It was indeed Top. But he was alone! Neither his master nor Neb accompanied him. It seemed inexplicable how, through the darkness and storm, the dog came to the Chimneys. Herbert drew the dog towards him; and the dog rubbed its neck against the lad’s hands.
– Top will guide us to its master! – said Herbert.
Pencroff made no objection. The tempest was terriblr. It was difficult to follow a straight course. The better way, therefore, was to trust to the instinct of Top. The reporter and the lad walked behind the dog, and the sailor followed after. The rain was not heavy, but the strength of the storm was terrible.
Probably, Neb found his master and sent the faithful dog to them. But is the engineer dead?
– Saved! He is saved! Isn’t he, Top? – repeated the boy. And the dog barked.
By 4 o’clock the wind was drier and colder. No murmur passed their lips. They were determined to follow Top wherever he wished to lead them.
At 5 o’clock the sailor and his companions were six miles from the Chimneys. Top ran ahead, returned, and ran again. The dog left the coast, and walked among the downs. The border of the downs was composed of hills and hillocks. It was like a little Switzerland of sand, but a dog instinct could find the way.
Five minutes after the reporter and his companions reached a hollow, before which Top stopped with a loud bark. The three entered the cave. Neb was there, he was kneeling beside a body upon a bed of grass. It was the body of Cyrus Smith.
Chapter VIII
Neb did not move. The sailor uttered one word.
– Alive? – he cried.
Neb did not answer. Herbert stood motionless. It was evident that the poor servant did not hear the voice of the sailor.
The reporter knelt down beside the motionless body, and pressed his ear to the chest of the engineer. Then he tried to detect some movement of the heart.
Gideon Spilett, after a long and attentive examination, rose up.
– He lives! – he said.
Pencroff knelt down beside Cyrus Smith; he also detected some heartbeats. Herbert hurried in search of water. Soon he found a brook; so the lad soaked his handkerchief in the stream, and hastened back with it to the cave.
The drops of fresh water produced an instantaneous effect. A sigh escaped from the breast of Smith.
– We will save him, – said the reporter.
Neb removed the clothing from his master. Neither on his head nor body nor limbs was there a bruise or even a scratch. That was astonishing.
– You thought he was dead? – asked the sailor Neb.
– Yes, I thought so, – answered Neb. – And I wanted to die beside my master.
Then Neb told them everything. Neb followed along the coast to the north, until he reached that part of the beach. There he searched the shore, the rocks, the sand for any marks. He did not hope to find his master. Then he decided to continue some miles further up the coast.
– I followed the shore two miles further, and yesterday evening, about 5 o’clock, I discovered footprints upon the sand.
– Footprints?! – cried Pencroff.
– Yes, sir, – replied Neb.
– And did they begin at the water? – demanded the reporter.
– No, – answered Neb, – above high-water mark. The sight of these footprints made me wild with joy. They went towards the downs. I followed them for a quarter of an hour. Five minutes later, I heard a dog bark. It was Top. And he brought me here, to my master.
– So you, Neb, – said the reporter, – did not bring your master to this place?
– No, it was not I, – answered Neb.
It was a real mystery. But they must carry Cyrus Smith to the Chimneys as soon as possible.
Soon the engineer opened his eyes. Neb and the reporter were leaning over him.
– My master! my master! – cried Neb.
The engineer heard him. He recognized Neb and his companions.
– Is it an island or a continent? – he murmured.
– What is the difference? – cried Pencroff, unable to restrain the exclamation, – you are alive! Island or continent? We will see that later.
The engineer seemed to sleep. The sailor was repeating:
– Island or continent! To think of that! What a man!
Pencroff and his companions constructed a litter, which they covered with leaves and grass. This work occupied some little time, and it was 10 o’clock when the three returned to Smith and Spilett.
The engineer woke from the sleep. The color came back to his lips. He raised himself slightly, and looked about.
– Well, – said the sailor, – Mr. Smith, your litter is ready, and we will carry you to our house.
– Thanks, my friend, – replied the engineer. – in an hour or two we will go.
The reporter related everything.
– But, – asked Smith, in a feeble voice, – you did not pick me up on the beach?
– No, – replied the reporter.
– And it was not you who brought me to this hollow?
– No.
– How far is this place from the reef?
– At least half a mile, – replied Pencroff, – and we are very surprised to find you here. But cannot you remember anything that happened after you were washed away?
Cyrus Smith tried to think, but he remembered little. The wave swept him from the net of the balloon. Then Top sprang to his rescue. Smith found himself in the midst of the tumultuous sea, more than half a mile from shore. He was swimming vigorously against the waves; but a strong current seized him. It carried him to the north, and soon he sank into the abyss. From that moment he remembered nothing.
– It’s strange, – said the reporter. – Did anyone rescue you from the waves?
– That is inexplicable.
Towards noon, Pencroff asked Smith if he felt strong enough. Fortunately, the rain stopped. At half past 5 the little party reached the Chimneys.
Chapter IX
The engineer was sleeping. First of all,
