However, verdure was not wanting to the right beyond the precipice.

They could easily distinguish a confused mass of great trees, which extended beyond the limits of their view.
This verdure relieved the eye, so long wearied by the continued ranges of granite.

Lastly, beyond and above the plateau, in a northwesterly direction and at a distance of at least seven miles, glittered a white summit which reflected the sun's rays.

It was that of a lofty mountain, capped with snow.
The question could not at present be decided whether this land formed an island, or whether it belonged to a continent.

But on beholding the convulsed masses heaped up on the left, no geologist would have hesitated to give them a volcanic origin, for they were unquestionably the work of subterranean convulsions.
Gideon Spilett, Pencroft, and Herbert attentively examined this land, on which they might perhaps have to live many long years; on which indeed they might even die, should it be out of the usual track of vessels, as was likely to be the case.
"Well," asked Herbert, "what do you say, Pencroft ?" "There is some good and some bad, as in everything," replied the sailor.
"We shall see.