All went out.

The weather had become very fine.

The sun was rising from the sea's horizon, and touched with golden spangles the prismatic rugosities of the huge precipice.
Having thrown a rapid glance around him, the engineer seated himself on a block of stone.

Herbert offered him a few handfuls of shell-fish and sargassum, saying,-- "It is all that we have, Captain Harding." "Thanks, my boy," replied Harding; "it will do--for this morning at least." He ate the wretched food with appetite, and washed it down with a little fresh water, drawn from the river in an immense shell.
His companions looked at him without speaking.

Then, feeling somewhat refreshed, Cyrus Harding crossed his arms, and said,-- "So, my friends, you do not know yet whether fate has thrown us on an island, or on a continent ?" "No, captain," replied the boy.
"We shall know to-morrow," said the engineer; "till then, there is nothing to be done." "Yes," replied Pencroft.
"What ?" "Fire," said the sailor, who, also, had a fixed idea.
"We will make it, Pencroft," replied Harding.
"While you were carrying me yesterday, did I not see in the west a mountain which commands the country ?" "Yes," replied Spilett, "a mountain which must be rather high--" "Well," replied the engineer, "we will climb to the summit to-morrow, and then we shall see if this land is an island or a continent.