This work occupied some little time, and it was 10 o’clock when the three returned to Smith and Spilett. The engineer had just wakened from the sleep, or rather stupor, in which they had found him. The color had come back to his lips, which had been as pale as death. He raised himself slightly, and looked about, as if questioning where he was. “Can you listen to me without being tired, Cyrus?” asked the reporter. “Yes,” responded the engineer. “I think,” said the sailor, “that Mr. Smith can listen better after having taken some more of this tetra jelly,—it is really tetra, sir,” he continued, as he gave him some of the mixture, to which he had this time added some of the meat of the bird. Cyrus Smith swallowed these bits of tetra, and the remainder was eaten by his companions, who were suffering from hunger, and who found the repast light enough. “Well,” said the sailor, “there are victuals waiting for us at the Chimneys, for you must know, Mr. Smith, that to the south of here we have a house with rooms and beds and fire-place, and in the pantry dozens of birds which our Herbert calls couroucous. Your litter is ready, and whenever you feel strong enough we will carry you to our house.” “Thanks, my friend,” replied the engineer, “in an hour or two we will go. And now, Spilett, continue.” The reporter related everything that had happened. Recounting the events unknown to Smith; the last plunge of the balloon, the landing upon this unknown shore, its deserted appearance, the discovery of the Chimneys, the search for the engineer, the devotion of Neb, and what they owed to Top’s intelligence, etc. “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 if you are astonished, we are equally surprised to find you here.” “It is indeed singular,” said the engineer, who was gradually reviving and taking interest in these details. “But,” asked the sailor, “cannot you remember anything that happened after you were washed away by that heavy sea?”