Theywerethenoccupyingthecenterofarockyplain，whichthesunscorchedwithitsparchingrays。Thiswasformedbyaconsiderableelevationofthesoil，whichseemedtooffertothemembersoftheGunCluballtheconditionsrequisitefortheconstructionoftheirColumbiad。
\"Halt！\"saidBarbicane，reiningup。\"Hasthisplaceanylocalappellation？\"
\"ItiscalledStonesHill，\"repliedoneoftheFloridans。
Barbicane，withoutsayingaword，dismounted，seizedhisinstruments，andbegantonotehispositionwithextremeexactness。Thelittleband，drawnupintherear，watchedhisproceedingsinprofoundsilence。
Atthismomentthesunpassedthemeridian。Barbicane，afterafewmoments，rapidlywrotedowntheresultofhisobservations，andsaid: