The engineer, the meshes of the net having given way, had been carried off by a wave.

His dog also had disappeared.

The faithful animal had voluntarily leaped out to help his master.

"Forward," cried the reporter; and all four, Spilett, Herbert, Pencroft, and Neb, forgetting their fatigue, began their search.

Poor Neb shed bitter tears, giving way to despair at the thought of having lost the only being he loved on earth.
Only two minutes had passed from the time when Cyrus Harding disappeared to the moment when his companions set foot on the ground.