they were in the Pacific.

At this height--one hundred and, fifty feet--the island which
measured about fifteen miles round, was like a three-pointed star in
the sea.

Off the southwest point was an islet and a range of rocks. On the
shore there were no tide-marks, and this tended to confirm Robur in
his opinion as to his position for the ebb and flow are almost
imperceptible in the Pacific.

At the northwest point there was a conical mountain about two hundred
feet high.

No natives were to be seen, but they might be on the opposite coast.
In any case, if they had perceived the aeronef, terror had made them
either hide themselves or run away. The "Albatross" had anchored on
the southwest point of the island. Not far off, down a little creek,
a small river flowed in among the rocks. Beyond were several winding
valleys; trees of different kinds; and birds--partridges and
bustards--in great numbers. If the island was not inhabited it was
habitable. Robur might surely have landed on it; if he had not done
so it was probably because the ground was uneven and did not offer a
convenient spot to beach the aeronef.

While he was waiting for the sun the engineer began the repairs he
reckoned on completing before the day was over. The suspensory screws
were undamaged and had worked admirably amid all the violence of the
storm, which, as we have said, had considerably lightened their work.
At this moment half of them were in action, enough to keep the