We are a Brazilian fintech with the mission to democratize alternative investments for all. We work to diversify your investment portfolio offering legal claims that have no correlation with the stock market. Everything is digital and safe, with specialized legal teams ready to help multiply your assets. www.balko.com.br

Balko

: I built a bot that automatically sends personalized, context-aware messages to every new listing posted on . The bot found me a flat in Berlin! TLDR wg-gesucht.de If you’re interested in the technical side of this project, feel free to while reading this article! dig through the code Intro As my exchange semester at Technische Universität Berlin approached, I started looking for places to live. Without an existing network in Berlin, I used the website to contact potential flatshares. This was a very repetitive process, and I decided to automate it. wg-geuscht.de Automate the Boring Stuff With JavaScript I set up email alerts for all new potential flats in my price range on and used Google Clouds with a to watch for any incoming email to my Gmail inbox. wg-gesucht.de Pub/Sub service push subscription Once a new email arrives, the service sends a webhook notification to my server. Parsing the Email On the server, written in JavaScript with , I read the latest email in my Gmail inbox and parsed it with Regex to see if the email contained links to any wg-geuscht listings. Express Navigating the Listing For each listing, I spawned a Chromium browser using , an end-to-end testing framework. This allowed me to navigate the website just as one would when interacting with it themselves. I signed into my account, took note of the listing description, and hit send message. Playwright Generating a Message Using GPT-3.5 Turbo The message is generated using with the following prompt: GPT-3.5 Turbo const prompt = `
Can you spice up the following text: "${starterText}"
The updated text should explain why I would fit in the flatshare with the
following listing text: "${listingText}". Add some emojies as well.
Mention that my semester is from September to March, so a stay for that
perioud would be ideal (but Im always flexible)! And if the listing is
written in German, the answer should be in German as well. And if the listing
says I need to say a specific word, start the whole text with that word!
`; The generated message was sent alongside a couple of images of myself. The Result The time it took from a listing that went live to my bot sending a response was around 10 seconds, making me confident in being the first responder. This was the response that secured me a flat: Hallo zusammen! 🦄

Das scheint ja eine richtig coole WG zu sein, in die ich perfekt reinpassen würde! 😄

Ich bin Isak und ich glaube, dass ich perfekt in dein WG-Zimmer passen würde! Mein Semester in Berlin geht von September bis März, also wäre ein Aufenthalt für diesen Zeitraum ideal (aber ich bin auch immer flexibel!). Die Lage der Wohnung klingt super, besonders die Nähe zum RAW-Gelände und zum Boxhagener Platz. Und hey, eine Tram-Station direkt vor der Tür ist auch genial! 🚋

Die Wohnung hört sich toll an, mit Balkon, Badewanne und Waschmaschine. Da fühlt man sich doch gleich wie zuhause! Wenn du Interesse hast, würde ich mich freuen, von dir zu hören. 📞

Liebe Grüße und hoffentlich bis bald!

Isak

P.S. Wenn die Anzeige auf Deutsch ist, dann antworte ich auch gerne auf Deutsch. Aber sei gewarnt, mein Deutsch ist manchmal etwas holprig. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof! 😄 Closing Thoughts Looking back, I spent more time tinkering with the bot than I would have manually responding to email notifications. But with that being said, I am happy with how this project turned out. I got a lot of good laughs from the silly responses the bot would send, and the frequency of people getting back to me was noticeably increased (most likely because I was their first responder). I recently tried spinning the bot up again, but since my search in June, captcha verification has been implemented on their site. This may be for the better. For all I know, many of the listings themselves were created using ChatGPT.

How I Moved to Berlin Using ChatGPT and JavaScript

কিভাবে আমি ChatGPT এবং JavaScript ব্যবহার করে বার্লিনে চলে এসেছি

Wie ich mit ChatGPT und JavaScript nach Berlin gezogen bin

Cómo me mudé a Berlín usando ChatGPT y JavaScript

Comment j'ai déménagé à Berlin en utilisant ChatGPT et JavaScript

चैटजीपीटी और जावास्क्रिप्ट का उपयोग करके मैं बर्लिन कैसे चला गया

ChatGPT と JavaScript を使用してベルリンに移住した方法

ChatGPT와 JavaScript를 사용하여 베를린으로 이사한 방법

Como me mudei para Berlim usando ChatGPT e JavaScript

Как я переехал в Берлин, используя ChatGPT и JavaScript

ChatGPT ve JavaScript Kullanarak Berlin'e Nasıl Taşındım

Cách tôi chuyển đến Berlin bằng ChatGPT và JavaScript

我如何使用 ChatGPT 和 JavaScript 搬到柏林

Introduction This article will teach you how to run evaluations using any LLM model without succumbing to the dreaded "OpenAI Rate Limit" exception. We’d start by: Defining what rate-limit means and using an analogy Understanding what OpenAI rate-limits are Explaining how the Rate-Limit Process was developed Explaining the Code Implementation Summarizing the strategy used in the Code Implementation What is Rate-limiting (and Analogy explanation)? So far, Cloudflare explanation is the best I have seen: Rate-limiting is a strategy for limiting network traffic. It puts a cap on how often someone can repeat an action within a certain time-frame - for instance, trying to log in to an account. To put it simply, imagine being a mother of four kids who all love honey. Last time, the honey ran out sooner than expected. Now, you've set a timer to count up to ten thousand and given each child a turn to have some honey. The timer represents the rate-limit, as it enforces a specific wait time before they can have more honey. Having explained the concept, let's understand OpenAI rate-limits and discuss how I implemented a rate-limit logic to manage OpenAI's R/TPM (request/token per minute) using Python. Understanding OpenAI Rate Limits OpenAI has set certain restrictions on the number of requests one can make for its AI models within a minute. These limitations are different for each AI model provided by OpenAI. For the free version: For the gpt-3.5-turbo model, users can make 40,000 token requests per day or 3 API calls per minute. For the tier 1: For the gpt-3.5-turbo model, users are allowed 60,000 token requests or 3,500 API calls per minute. For the gpt-4 model, the limit is 10,000 token requests or 500 API calls per minute. For the gpt-4-turbo-preview, users can make 150,000 token requests or 500 API calls per minute. For the gpt-4-vision-preview, users can make 10,000 token requests and/or 500 API calls per minute. See the for more information about other tiers rate-limits.. docs The reason for these restrictions includes: Ensuring that the services run smoothly and responsively, as complex tasks like the ones performed by the AI models require substantial resources. Managing the demand across all users and making sure that the available infrastructure, such as their servers and GPUs, can handle the requests without being overloaded. Preparing for surges in usage and maintaining efficient operation under high demand. These limitations are expected to stay consistent for the foreseeable future. Explaining The Rate-limit Process The process (see image below) involves enabling users to run LLM evaluations from the UI and configure rate-limit parameters for their LLM apps without needing to write the logic themselves. This is achieved through a function that prepares and invokes the batch. Each call in the batch invokes the function, which in turn invokes the final function ( ) with the retry mechanism. run_with_retry invoke_app I'm confident you can write the code-logic in any language of your choice after having a look at the above process. Regardless, I'll show you how I did mine. For more background and context, I primarily work as a backend software engineer at Agenta. is an open-source end-to-end LLM developer platform that provides you with the tools for prompt engineering and management, ⚖️ evaluation, human annotation, and 🚀 deployment. All without imposing any restrictions on your choice of framework, library, or model. allows developers and product teams to collaborate in building production-grade LLM-powered applications in less time. Agenta Agenta We wanted to give users the ability to configure their LLM evaluations rate-limiting configuration from the UI so they can bypass their LLM provider rate-limiting exception. Looking at the process diagram, the first thing to implement is the logic for preparing and invoking the batch (of LLM calls). Validating the rate limit configuration and using a data validation model to define the LLM run rate limit is important. The model below handles the parameter required for the batch invoke to function. rate_limit_config from pydantic import BaseModel, Field


class LLMRunRateLimit(BaseModel):
    batch_size: int = Field(default=10)
    max_retries: int = Field(default=3)
    retry_delay: int = Field(default=3)
    delay_between_batches: int = Field(default=5) The function takes the following parameters: batch_invoke uri: The URL of your LLM application. testset_data: The testset data that your LLM application needs to process. parameters: The parameters for your LLM application. rate_limit_config: The rate limit configuration (as seen in the above interface to create new evaluation). async def batch_invoke(
    uri: str, testset_data: List[Dict], parameters: Dict, rate_limit_config: Dict
) -> List[AppOutput]:
    """
    Invokes the LLm app in batches, processing the testset data.

    Args:
        uri (str): The URI of the LLm app.
        testset_data (List[Dict]): The testset data to be processed.
        parameters (Dict): The parameters for the LLm app.
        rate_limit_config (Dict): The rate limit configuration.

    Returns:
        List[AppOutput]: The list of app outputs after running all batches.
    """

    batch_size = rate_limit_config[
        "batch_size"
    ]  # Number of testset to make in each batch
    max_retries = rate_limit_config[
        "max_retries"
    ]  # Maximum number of times to retry the failed llm call
    retry_delay = rate_limit_config[
        "retry_delay"
    ]  # Delay before retrying the failed llm call (in seconds)
    delay_between_batches = rate_limit_config[
        "delay_between_batches"
    ]  # Delay between batches (in seconds)

    list_of_app_outputs: List[AppOutput] = []  # Outputs after running all batches
    openapi_parameters = await get_parameters_from_openapi(uri + "/openapi.json")

    async def run_batch(start_idx: int):
        print(f"Preparing {start_idx} batch...")
        end_idx = min(start_idx + batch_size, len(testset_data))
        for index in range(start_idx, end_idx):
            try:
                batch_output: AppOutput = await run_with_retry(
                    uri,
                    testset_data[index],
                    parameters,
                    max_retries,
                    retry_delay,
                    openapi_parameters,
                )
                list_of_app_outputs.append(batch_output)
                print(f"Adding outputs to batch {start_idx}")
            except Exception as exc:
                import traceback
                traceback.print_exc()
                print(
                    f"Error processing batch[{start_idx}]:[{end_idx}] ==> {str(exc)}"
                )

        # Schedule the next batch with a delay
        next_batch_start_idx = end_idx
        if next_batch_start_idx < len(testset_data):
            await asyncio.sleep(delay_between_batches)
            await run_batch(next_batch_start_idx)

    # Start the first batch
    await run_batch(0)
    return list_of_app_outputs After preparing and invoking the batch, the next step involves executing the logic. This custom implementation includes rate-limiting functionality and manages the invocation of the llm app, retrying after the set delay is reached. Exponential backoff, a technique that retries an operation with an exponentially increasing wait-time, is employed until a maximum retry count is reached. run_with_retry async def run_with_retry(
    uri: str,
    input_data: Any,
    parameters: Dict,
    max_retry_count: int,
    retry_delay: int,
    openapi_parameters: List[Dict],
) -> AppOutput:
    """
    Runs the specified app with retry mechanism.

    Args:
        uri (str): The URI of the app.
        input_data (Any): The input data for the app.
        parameters (Dict): The parameters for the app.
        max_retry_count (int): The maximum number of retries.
        retry_delay (int): The delay between retries in seconds.
        openapi_parameters (List[Dict]): The OpenAPI parameters for the app.

    Returns:
        AppOutput: The output of the app.

    """

    retries = 0
    last_exception = None
    while retries < max_retry_count:
        try:
            result = await invoke_app(uri, input_data, parameters, openapi_parameters)
            return result
        except (httpx.TimeoutException, httpx.ConnectTimeout, httpx.ConnectError) as e:
            last_exception = e
            print(f"Error in evaluation. Retrying in {retry_delay} seconds:", e)
            await asyncio.sleep(retry_delay)
            retries += 1

    # If max retries reached, return the last exception
    return AppOutput(output=None, status=str(last_exception)) The Use of : It’s important to handle an exception even after it has used up its max retries. This way, you allow all the data that you are trying to process to run, and then you can determine what failed and what passed. AppOutput The final step is invoking the app, using the of the LLM app to determine how to invoke it with a single datapoint. openapi_parameters The make_payload function should not concern you. It constructs the payload for invoking the LLM app based on its parameters. OpenAPI async def invoke_app(
    uri: str, datapoint: Any, parameters: Dict, openapi_parameters: List[Dict]
) -> AppOutput:
    """
    Invokes an app for one datapoint using the openapi_parameters to determine
    how to invoke the app.

    Args:
        uri (str): The URI of the app to invoke.
        datapoint (Any): The data to be sent to the app.
        parameters (Dict): The parameters required by the app taken from the db.
        openapi_parameters (List[Dict]): The OpenAPI parameters of the app.

    Returns:
        AppOutput: The output of the app.

    Raises:
        httpx.HTTPError: If the POST request fails.
    """

    url = f"{uri}/generate"
    payload = await make_payload(datapoint, parameters, openapi_parameters)

    async with httpx.AsyncClient() as client:
        try:
            logger.debug(f"Invoking app {uri} with payload {payload}")
            response = await client.post(
                url, json=payload, timeout=httpx.Timeout(timeout=5, read=None, write=5)
            )
            response.raise_for_status()

            llm_app_response = response.json()
            app_output = (
                llm_app_response["message"]
                if isinstance(llm_app_response, dict)
                else llm_app_response
            )
            return AppOutput(output=app_output, status="success")
        except:
            return AppOutput(output="Error", status="error") And that rounds up the process. Summary The backoff exponential strategy in the code works as follows: The batch_invoke function splits the testset data into smaller batches with a configurable size. Each batch is processed sequentially. Batch Processing: Within each batch, each data point is processed by the function. This function attempts to invoke the app for the data point. If the invocation fails due to specific network errors (timeouts, connection issues), the function retries with a delay. This delay is initially set to a configurable value ( ) and is doubled for each subsequent retry attempt within the same batch. Individual Invokes with Retry: run_with_retry retry_delay This approach helps avoid overloading the app server with repeated requests after a failure. It gives the server time to recover and allows the queue of pending requests to clear before retrying. The strategy also includes a configurable maximum number of retries per data point to prevent infinite loops. A delay between batches ( ) is also included to avoid exceeding rate limits set by the app server. delay_between_batches I hope this summarizes everything that you have learnt in today’s article. Please let me know if you have any questions!

OpenAI's Rate Limit: A Guide to Exponential Backoff for LLM Evaluation

OpenAI এর রেট লিমিট: এলএলএম মূল্যায়নের জন্য সূচকীয় ব্যাকঅফের জন্য একটি নির্দেশিকা

Das Ratenlimit von OpenAI: Ein Leitfaden zum exponentiellen Backoff für die LLM-Bewertung

Límite de tasa de OpenAI: una guía para el retroceso exponencial para la evaluación de LLM

Limite de débit d'OpenAI : un guide sur l'intervalle exponentiel pour l'évaluation LLM

ओपनएआई की दर सीमा: एलएलएम मूल्यांकन के लिए घातीय बैकऑफ़ के लिए एक गाइड

OpenAI のレート制限: LLM 評価のための指数バックオフのガイド

OpenAI의 속도 제한: LLM 평가를 위한 지수 백오프 가이드

Limite de taxa da OpenAI: um guia para retirada exponencial para avaliação LLM

Ограничение скорости OpenAI: руководство по экспоненциальному отсрочке для оценки LLM

OpenAI'nin Hız Limiti: Yüksek Lisans Değerlendirmesi için Üstel Gerileme Kılavuzu

Giới hạn tỷ lệ của OpenAI: Hướng dẫn về thời gian chờ theo cấp số nhân để đánh giá LLM

OpenAI 的速率限制：LLM 评估指数退避指南

The Balcony at Basle

Abandoned by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . CHAPTER I here CHAPTER I Conversation on the Subject of the Bullet—Construction of a Canoe—Hunting—At the Top of a Kauri—Nothing to attest the Presence of Man—Neb and Herbert's Prize—Turning a Turtle—The Turtle disappears—Cyrus Harding's Explanation. It was now exactly seven months since the balloon voyagers had been thrown on Lincoln Island. During that time, notwithstanding the researches they had made, no human being had been discovered. No smoke even had betrayed the presence of man on the surface of the island. No vestiges of his handiwork showed that either at an early or at a late period had man lived there. Not only did it now appear to be uninhabited by any but themselves, but the colonists were compelled to believe that it never had been inhabited. And now, all this scaffolding of reasonings fell before a simple ball of metal, found in the body of an inoffensive rodent! In fact, this bullet must have issued from a firearm, and who but a human being could have used such a weapon? When Pencroft had placed the bullet on the table, his companions looked at it with intense astonishment. All the consequences likely to result from this incident, notwithstanding its apparent insignificance, immediately took possession of their minds. The sudden apparition of a supernatural being could not have startled them more completely. Cyrus Harding did not hesitate to give utterance to the suggestions which this fact, at once surprising and unexpected, could not fail to raise in his mind. He took the bullet, turned it over and over, rolled it between his finger and thumb; then, turning to Pencroft, he asked,— "Are you sure that the peccary wounded by this bullet was not more than three months old?" "Not more, captain," replied Pencroft. "It was still sucking its mother when I found it in the trap." "Well," said the engineer, "that proves that within three months a gun-shot was fired in Lincoln Island." "And that a bullet," added Gideon Spilett, "wounded, though not mortally, this little animal." "That is unquestionable," said Cyrus Harding, "and these are the deductions which must be drawn from this incident: that the island was inhabited before our arrival, or that men have landed here within three months. Did these men arrive here voluntarily or involuntarily, by disembarking on the shore or by being wrecked? This point can only be cleared up later. As to what they were, Europeans or Malays, enemies or friends of our race, we cannot possibly guess; and if they still inhabit the island, or if they have left it, we know not. But these questions are of too much importance to be allowed to remain long unsettled." "No! a hundred times no! a thousand times no!" cried the sailor, springing up from the table. "There are no other men than ourselves on Lincoln Island! By my faith! The island isn't large, and if it had been inhabited, we should have seen some of the inhabitants long before this!" "In fact, the contrary would be very astonishing," said Herbert. "But it would be much more astonishing, I should think," observed the reporter, "that this peccary should have been born with a bullet in its inside!" "At least," said Neb seriously, "if Pencroft has not had—" "Look here, Neb," burst out Pencroft. "Do you think I could have a bullet in my jaw for five or six months without finding it out? Where could it be hidden?" he asked opening his mouth to show the two-and-thirty teeth with which it was furnished. "Look well, Neb, and if you find one hollow tooth in this set, I will let you pull out half a dozen!" "Neb's supposition is certainly inadmissible," replied Harding, who, notwithstanding the gravity of his thoughts, could not restrain a smile. "It is certain that a gun has been fired in the island, within three months at most. But I am inclined to think that the people who landed on this coast were only here a very short time ago, or that they just touched here; for if, when we surveyed the island from the summit of Mount Franklin, it had been inhabited, we should have seen them or we should have been seen ourselves. It is therefore probable that within only a few weeks castaways have been thrown by a storm on some part of the coast. However that may be, it is of consequence to us to have this point settled." "I think that we should act with caution," said the reporter. "Such is my advice," replied Cyrus Harding, "for it is to be feared that Malay pirates have landed on the island!" "Captain," asked the sailor, "would it not be a good plan, before setting out, to build a canoe in which we could either ascend the river, or, if we liked, coast round the island? It will not do to be unprovided." "Your idea is good, Pencroft," replied the engineer, "but we cannot wait for that. It would take at least a month to build a boat." "Yes, a real boat," replied the sailor; "but we do not want one for a sea voyage, and in five days at the most, I will undertake to construct a canoe fit to navigate the Mercy." "Five days," cried Neb, "to build a boat?" "Yes, Neb; a boat in the Indian fashion." "Of wood?" asked the negro, looking still unconvinced. "Of wood," replied Pencroft, "or rather of bark. I repeat, captain, that in five days the work will be finished!" "In five days, then, be it," replied the engineer. "But till that time we must be very watchful," said Herbert. "Very watchful indeed, my friends," replied Harding; "and I beg you to confine your hunting excursions to the neighbourhood of Granite House." The dinner ended less gaily than Pencroft had hoped. So, then, the island was, or had been, inhabited by others than the settlers. Proved as it was by the incident of the bullet, it was hereafter an unquestionable fact, and such a discovery could not but cause great uneasiness amongst the colonists. Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett, before sleeping, conversed long about the matter. They asked themselves if by chance this incident might not have some connection with the inexplicable way in which the engineer had been saved, and the other peculiar circumstances which had struck them at different times. However Cyrus Harding, after having discussed the pros and cons of the question, ended by saying,— "In short, would you like to know my opinion, my dear Spilett?" "Yes, Cyrus." "Well, then, it is this: however minutely we explore the island, we shall find nothing." The next day Pencroft set to work. He did not mean to build a boat with boards and planking, but simply a flat-bottomed canoe, which would be well suited for navigating the Mercy—above all, for approaching its source, where the water would naturally be shallow. Pieces of bark, fastened one to the other, would form a light boat; and in case of natural obstacles, which would render a portage necessary, it would be easily carried. Pencroft intended to secure the pieces of bark by means of nails, to insure the canoe being water-tight. It was first necessary to select the trees which would afford a strong and supple bark for the work. Now the last storm had brought down a number of large birch trees, the bark of which would be perfectly suited for their purpose. Some of these trees lay on the ground, and they had only to be barked, which was the most difficult thing of all, owing to the imperfect tools which the settlers possessed. However, they overcame all difficulties. Whilst the sailor, seconded by the engineer, thus occupied himself without losing an hour, Gideon Spilett and Herbert were not idle. They were made purveyors to the colony. The reporter could not but admire the boy, who had acquired great skill in handling the bow and spear. Herbert also showed great courage and much of that presence of mind which may justly be called "the reasoning of bravery." These two companions of the chase, remembering Cyrus Harding's recommendations, did not go beyond a radius of two miles round Granite House; but the borders of the forest furnished a sufficient tribute of agouties, capybaras, kangaroos, peccaries, etc.; and if the result from the traps was less than during the cold, still the warren yielded its accustomed quota, which might have fed all the colony in Lincoln Island. Often during these excursions, Herbert talked with Gideon Spilett on the incident of the bullet, and the deductions which the engineer drew from it, and one day—it was the 26th of October—he said,— "But, Mr. Spilett, do you not think it very extraordinary that, if any castaways have landed on the island, they have not yet shown themselves near Granite House?" "Very astonishing if they are still here," replied the reporter, "but not astonishing at all if they are here no longer!" "So you think that these people have already quitted the island?" returned Herbert. "It is more than probable, my boy; for if their stay was prolonged, and above all, if they were still here, some accident would have at last betrayed their presence." "But if they were able to go away," observed the lad, "they could not have been castaways." "No, Herbert; or, at least, they were what might be called provisional castaways. It is very possible that a storm may have driven them to the island without destroying their vessel, and that, the storm over, they went away again." "I must acknowledge one thing," said Herbert, "it is that Captain Harding appears rather to fear than desire the presence of human beings on our island." "In short," responded the reporter, "there are only Malays who frequent these seas, and those fellows are ruffians which it is best to avoid." "It is not impossible, Mr. Spilett," said Herbert, "that some day or other we may find traces of their landing." "I do not say no, my boy. A deserted camp, the ashes of a fire, would put us on the track, and this is what we will look for in our next expedition." The day on which the hunters spoke thus, they were in a part of the forest near the Mercy, remarkable for its beautiful trees. There, among others, rose, to a height of nearly 200 feet above the ground, some of those superb coniferæ, to which, in New Zealand, the natives give the name of Kauris. "I have an idea, Mr. Spilett," said Herbert. "If I were to climb to the top of one of these kauris, I could survey the country for an immense distance round." "The idea is good," replied the reporter; "but could you climb to the top of those giants?" "I can at least try," replied Herbert. The light and active boy then sprang on the first branches, the arrangement of which made the ascent of the kauri easy, and in a few minutes he arrived at the summit, which emerged from the immense plain of verdure. From this elevated situation his gaze extended over all the southern portion of the island, from Claw Cape on the south-east, to Reptile End on the south-west. To the north-west rose Mount Franklin, which concealed a great part of the horizon. But Herbert, from the height of his observatory, could examine all the yet unknown portion of the island which might have given shelter to the strangers whose presence they suspected. The lad looked attentively. There was nothing in sight on the sea, not a sail, neither on the horizon nor near the island. However, as the bank of trees hid the shore, it was possible that a vessel, especially if deprived of her masts, might lie close to the land and thus be invisible to Herbert. Neither in the forests of the Far West was anything to be seen. The wood formed an impenetrable screen, measuring several square miles, without a break or an opening. It was impossible even to follow the course of the Mercy, or to ascertain in what part of the mountain it took its source. Perhaps other creeks also ran towards the west, but they could not be seen. But at last, if all indication of an encampment escaped Herbert's sight, could he not even catch a glimpse of smoke, the faintest trace of which would be easily discernible in the pure atmosphere? For an instant Herbert thought he could perceive a slight smoke in the west, but a more attentive examination showed that he was mistaken. He strained his eyes in every direction, and his sight was excellent. No, decidedly there was nothing there. Herbert descended to the foot of the kauri, and the two sportsmen returned to Granite House. There Cyrus Harding listened to the lad's account, shook his head and said nothing. It was very evident that no decided opinion could be pronounced on this question until after a complete exploration of the island. Two days after—the 28th of October—another incident occurred, for which an explanation was again required. Whilst strolling along the shore about two miles from Granite House, Herbert and Neb were fortunate enough to capture a magnificent specimen of the order of chelonia. It was a turtle of the species Midas, the edible green turtle, so called from the colour both of its shell and fat. Herbert caught sight of this turtle as it was crawling among the rocks to reach the sea. "Help, Neb, help!" he cried. Neb ran up. "What a fine animal!" said Neb; "but how are we to catch it?" "Nothing is easier, Neb," replied Herbert. "We have only to turn the turtle on its back, and it cannot possibly get away. Take your spear and do as I do." The reptile, aware of danger, had retired between its carapace and plastron. They no longer saw its head or feet, and it was motionless as a rock. Herbert and Neb then drove their sticks underneath the animal, and by their united efforts managed without difficulty to turn it on its back. The turtle, which was three feet in length, would have weighed at least four hundred pounds. "Capital!" cried Neb; "this is something which will rejoice friend Pencroft's heart." In fact, the heart of friend Pencroft could not fail to be rejoiced, for the flesh of the turtle, which feeds on wrack-grass, is extremely savoury. At this moment the creature's head could be seen, which was small, flat, but widened behind by the large temporal fossæ hidden under the long roof. "And now, what shall we do with our prize?" said Neb. "We can't drag it to Granite House!" "Leave it here, since it cannot turn over," replied Herbert, "and we will come back with the cart to fetch it." "That is the best plan." However, for greater precaution, Herbert took the trouble, which Neb deemed superfluous, to wedge up the animal with great stones, after which the two hunters returned to Granite House, following the beach, which the tide had left uncovered. Herbert, wishing to surprise Pencroft, said nothing about the "superb specimen of a chelonian" which they had turned over on the sand, but, two hours later, he and Neb returned with the cart to the place where they had left it. The "superb specimen of a chelonian" was no longer there! Neb and Herbert stared at each other first, then they stared about them. It was just at this spot that the turtle had been left. The lad even found the stones which he had used, and therefore he was certain of not being mistaken. "Well!" said Neb, "these beasts can turn themselves over, then?" "It appears so," replied Herbert, who could not understand it at all, and was gazing at the stones scattered on the sand. "Well, Pencroft will be disgusted!" "And Captain Harding will perhaps be very perplexed how to explain this disappearance" thought Herbert. "Look here," said Neb, who wished to hide his ill-luck, "we won't speak about it." "On the contrary, Neb we must speak about it," replied Herbert. And the two, taking the cart, which there was now no use for, returned to Granite House. Arrived at the dockyard, where the engineer and the sailor were working together Herbert recounted what had happened. "Oh! the stupids!" cried the sailor, "to have let at least fifty meals escape!" "But, Pencroft," replied Neb, "it wasn't our fault that the beast got away, as I tell you, we had turned it over on its back!" "Then you didn't turn it over enough!" returned the obstinate sailor. "Not enough!" cried Herbert. And he told how he had taken care to wedge up the turtle with stones. "It is a miracle, then!" replied Pencroft. "I thought, captain," said Herbert, "that turtles, once placed on their backs, could not regain their feet, especially when they are of a large size?" "That is true, my boy," replied Cyrus Harding. "Then how did it manage?" "At what distance from the sea did you leave this turtle?" asked the engineer, who, having suspended his work, was reflecting on this incident. "Fifteen feet at the most," replied Herbert. "And the tide was low at the time?" "Yes, captain." "Well," replied the engineer, "what the turtle could not do on the sand it might have been able to do in the water. It turned over when the tide overtook it, and then quietly returned to the deep sea." "Oh! what stupids we were!" cried Neb. "That is precisely what I had the honour of telling you before!" returned the sailor. Cyrus Harding had given this explanation, which, no doubt, was admissible. But was he himself convinced of the accuracy of this explanation? It cannot be said that he was. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (2010). Abandoned. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/33516/pg33516-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

Exactly seven months since the balloon voyagers had been thrown on Lincoln Island

Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . Publisher’s Note here PUBLISHERS’ NOTE. “Five Weeks in a Balloon” is, in a measure, a satire on modern books of African travel. So far as the geography, the inhabitants, the animals, and the features of the countries the travellers pass over are described, it is entirely accurate. It gives, in some particulars, a survey of nearly the whole field of African discovery, and in this way will often serve to refresh the memory of the reader. The mode of locomotion is, of course, purely imaginary, and the incidents and adventures fictitious. The latter are abundantly amusing, and, in view of the wonderful “travellers’ tales” with which we have been entertained by African explorers, they can scarcely be considered extravagant; while the ingenuity and invention of the author will be sure to excite the surprise and the admiration of the reader, who will find M. VERNE as much at home in voyaging through the air as in journeying “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas.” About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (2002). Five Weeks in a Balloon. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3526/pg3526-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

“Five Weeks in a Balloon” is, in a measure, a satire on modern books of African travel

Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. Read this book online for free on HackerNoon! : Five Weeks in a Balloon Title : Jules Verne Author : November 1, 2002 [eBook #3526] Most recently updated: July 27, 2021 Release date : English Language TABLE OF LINKS PUBLISHERS’ NOTE. FIVE WEEKS IN A BALLOON. CHAPTER FIRST. CHAPTER SECOND. CHAPTER THIRD. CHAPTER FOURTH. CHAPTER FIFTH. CHAPTER SIXTH. CHAPTER SEVENTH. CHAPTER EIGHTH. CHAPTER NINTH. CHAPTER TENTH. CHAPTER ELEVENTH. CHAPTER TWELFTH. CHAPTER THIRTEENTH. CHAPTER FOURTEENTH. CHAPTER FIFTEENTH. CHAPTER SIXTEENTH. CHAPTER SEVENTEENTH. CHAPTER EIGHTEENTH. CHAPTER NINETEENTH. CHAPTER TWENTIETH. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIRST. CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND. CHAPTER TWENTY-THIRD. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIFTH. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIXTH. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENTH. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTH. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINTH. CHAPTER THIRTIETH. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIRST. CHAPTER THIRTY-SECOND. CHAPTER THIRTY-THIRD. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOURTH. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIFTH. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIXTH. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVENTH. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHTH. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINTH. CHAPTER FORTIETH. CHAPTER FORTY-FIRST. CHAPTER FORTY-SECOND. CHAPTER FORTY-THIRD. CHAPTER FORTY-FOURTH. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (2002). Five Weeks in a Balloon. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/3526/pg3526-images.html This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

Five Weeks in a Balloon by Jules Verne - Table of Links

Two years and a half since the castaways from the balloon had been thrown on Lincoln Island

The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne, is part of the HackerNoon Books Series. You can jump to any chapter in this book . Chapter I here Chapter I It was now exactly seven months since the balloon voyagers had been thrown on Lincoln Island. During that time, notwithstanding the researches they had made, no human being had been discovered. No smoke even had betrayed the presence of man on the surface of the island. No vestiges of his handiwork showed that either at an early or at a late period had man lived there. Not only did it now appear to be uninhabited by any but themselves, but the colonists were compelled to believe that it never had been inhabited. And now, all this scaffolding of reasonings fell before a simple ball of metal, found in the body of an inoffensive rodent! In fact, this bullet must have issued from a firearm, and who but a human being could have used such a weapon? When Pencroft had placed the bullet on the table, his companions looked at it with intense astonishment. All the consequences likely to result from this incident, notwithstanding its apparent insignificance, immediately took possession of their minds. The sudden apparition of a supernatural being could not have startled them more completely. Cyrus Harding did not hesitate to give utterance to the suggestions which this fact, at once surprising and unexpected, could not fail to raise in his mind. He took the bullet, turned it over and over, rolled it between his finger and thumb; then, turning to Pencroft, he asked,— “Are you sure that the peccary wounded by this bullet was not more than three months old?” “Not more, captain,” replied Pencroft. “It was still sucking its mother when I found it in the trap.” “Well,” said the engineer, “that proves that within three months a gun-shot was fired in Lincoln Island.” “And that a bullet,” added Gideon Spilett, “wounded, though not mortally, this little animal.” “That is unquestionable,” said Cyrus Harding, “and these are the deductions which must be drawn from this incident: that the island was inhabited before our arrival, or that men have landed here within three months. Did these men arrive here voluntarily or involuntarily, by disembarking on the shore or by being wrecked? This point can only be cleared up later. As to what they were, Europeans or Malays, enemies or friends of our race, we cannot possibly guess; and if they still inhabit the island, or if they have left it, we know not. But these questions are of too much importance to be allowed to remain long unsettled.” “No! a hundred times no! a thousand times no!” cried the sailor, springing up from the table. “There are no other men than ourselves on Lincoln Island! By my faith! The island isn’t large and if it had been inhabited, we should have seen some of the inhabitants long before this!” “In fact, the contrary would be very astonishing,” said Herbert. “But it would be much more astonishing, I should think,” observed the reporter, “if this peccary had been born with a bullet in its inside!” “At least,” said Neb seriously, “if Pencroft has not had—” “Look here, Neb,” burst out Pencroft. “Do you think I could have a bullet in my jaw for five or six months without finding it out? Where could it be hidden?” he asked, opening his mouth to show the two-and-thirty teeth with which it was furnished. “Look well, Neb, and if you find one hollow tooth in this set, I will let you pull out half a dozen!” “Neb’s supposition is certainly inadmissible,” replied Harding, who, notwithstanding the gravity of his thoughts, could not restrain a smile. “It is certain that a gun has been fired in the island, within three months at most. But I am inclined to think that the people who landed on this coast were only here a very short time ago, or that they just touched here; for if, when we surveyed the island from the summit of Mount Franklin, it had been inhabited, we should have seen them or we should have been seen ourselves. It is therefore, probable that within only a few weeks castaways have been thrown by a storm on some part of the coast. However that may be, it is of consequence to us to have this point settled.” “I think that we should act with caution,” said the reporter. “Such is my advice,” replied Cyrus Harding, “for it is to be feared that Malay pirates have landed on the island!” “Captain,” asked the sailor, “would it not be a good plan, before setting out, to build a canoe in which we could either ascend the river, or, if we liked, coast round the inland? It will not do to be unprovided.” “Your idea is good, Pencroft,” replied the engineer, “but we cannot wait for that. It would take at least a month to build a boat.” “Yes, a real boat,” replied the sailor; “but we do not want one for a sea voyage, and in five days at the most, I will undertake to construct a canoe fit to navigate the Mercy.” “Five days,” cried Neb, “to build a boat?” “Yes, Neb; a boat in the Indian fashion.” “Of wood?” asked the Negro, looking still unconvinced. “Of wood,” replied Pencroft, “or rather of bark. I repeat, captain, that in five days the work will be finished!” “In five days, then, be it,” replied the engineer. “But till that time we must be very watchful,” said Herbert. “Very watchful indeed, my friends,” replied Harding; “and I beg you to confine your hunting excursions to the neighborhood of Granite House.” The dinner ended less gaily than Pencroft had hoped. So, then, the island was, or had been, inhabited by others than the settlers. Proved as it was by the incident of the bullet, it was hereafter an unquestionable fact, and such a discovery could not but cause great uneasiness among the colonists. Cyrus Harding and Gideon Spilett, before sleeping, conversed long about the matter. They asked themselves if by chance this incident might not have some connection with the inexplicable way in which the engineer had been saved, and the other peculiar circumstances which had struck them at different times. However, Cyrus Harding, after having discussed the pros and cons of the question, ended by saying,— “In short, would you like to know my opinion, my dear Spilett?” “Yes, Cyrus.” “Well, then, it is this: however minutely we explore the island, we shall find nothing.” The next day Pencroft set to work. He did not mean to build a boat with boards and planking, but simply a flat-bottomed canoe, which would be well suited for navigating the Mercy—above all, for approaching its source, where the water would naturally be shallow. Pieces of bark, fastened one to the other, would form a light boat; and in case of natural obstacles, which would render a portage necessary, it would be easily carried. Pencroft intended to secure the pieces of bark by means of nails, to insure the canoe being water-tight. It was first necessary to select the trees which would afford a strong and supple bark for the work. Now the last storm had brought down a number of large birch-trees, the bark of which would be perfectly suited for their purpose. Some of these trees lay on the ground, and they had only to be barked, which was the most difficult thing of all, owing to the imperfect tools which the settlers possessed. However, they overcame all difficulties. While the sailor, seconded by the engineer, thus occupied himself without losing an hour, Gideon Spilett and Herbert were not idle. They were made purveyors to the colony. The reporter could not but admire the boy, who had acquired great skill in handling the bow and spear. Herbert also showed great courage and much of that presence of mind which may justly be called “the reasoning of bravery.” These two companions of the chase, remembering Cyrus Harding’s recommendations, did not go beyond a radius of two miles round Granite House; but the borders of the forest furnished a sufficient tribute of agoutis, capybaras, kangaroos, peccaries, etc.; and if the result from the traps was less than during the cold, still the warren yielded its accustomed quota, which might have fed all the colony in Lincoln Island. Often during these excursions, Herbert talked with Gideon Spilett on the incident of the bullet, and the deductions which the engineer drew from it, and one day—it was the 26th of October—he said—“But, Mr. Spilett, do you not think it very extraordinary that, if any castaways have landed on the island, they have not yet shown themselves near Granite House?” “Very astonishing if they are still here,” replied the reporter, “but not astonishing at all if they are here no longer!” “So you think that these people have already quitted the island?” returned Herbert. “It is more than probable, my boy; for if their stay was prolonged, and above all, if they were still here, some accident would have at last betrayed their presence.” “But if they were able to go away,” observed the lad, “they could not have been castaways.” “No, Herbert; or, at least, they were what might be called provisional castaways. It is very possible that a storm may have driven them to the island without destroying their vessel, and that, the storm over, they went away again.” “I must acknowledge one thing,” said Herbert, “it is that Captain Harding appears rather to fear than desire the presence of human beings on our island.” “In short,” responded the reporter, “there are only Malays who frequent these seas, and those fellows are ruffians which it is best to avoid.” “It is not impossible, Mr. Spilett,” said Herbert, “that some day or other we may find traces of their landing.” “I do not say no, my boy. A deserted camp, the ashes of a fire, would put us on the track, and this is what we will look for in our next expedition.” The day on which the hunters spoke thus, they were in a part of the forest near the Mercy, remarkable for its beautiful trees. There, among others, rose, to a height of nearly 200 feet above the ground, some of those superb coniferae, to which, in New Zealand, the natives give the name of Kauris. “I have an idea, Mr. Spilett,” said Herbert. “If I were to climb to the top of one of these kauris, I could survey the country for an immense distance round.” “The idea is good,” replied the reporter; “but could you climb to the top of those giants?” “I can at least try,” replied Herbert. The light and active boy then sprang on the first branches, the arrangement of which made the ascent of the kauri easy, and in a few minutes he arrived at the summit, which emerged from the immense plain of verdure. From this elevated situation his gaze extended over all the southern portion of the island, from Claw Cape on the southeast, to Reptile End on the southwest. To the northwest rose Mount Franklin, which concealed a great part of the horizon. But Herbert, from the height of his observatory, could examine all the yet unknown portion of the island, which might have given shelter to the strangers whose presence they suspected. The lad looked attentively. There was nothing in sight on the sea, not a sail, neither on the horizon nor near the island. However, as the bank of trees hid the shore, it was possible that a vessel, especially if deprived of her masts, might lie close to the land and thus be invisible to Herbert. Neither in the forests of the Far West was anything to be seen. The wood formed an impenetrable screen, measuring several square miles, without a break or an opening. It was impossible even to follow the course of the Mercy, or to ascertain in what part of the mountain it took its source. Perhaps other creeks also ran towards the west, but they could not be seen. But at last, if all indication of an encampment escaped Herbert’s sight could he not even catch a glimpse of smoke, the faintest trace of which would be easily discernible in the pure atmosphere? For an instant Herbert thought he could perceive a slight smoke in the west, but a more attentive examination showed that he was mistaken. He strained his eyes in every direction, and his sight was excellent. No, decidedly there was nothing there. Herbert descended to the foot of the kauri, and the two sportsmen returned to Granite House. There Cyrus Harding listened to the lad’s account, shook his head and said nothing. It was very evident that no decided opinion could be pronounced on this question until after a complete exploration of the island. Two days after—the 28th of October—another incident occurred, for which an explanation was again required. While strolling along the shore about two miles from Granite House, Herbert and Neb were fortunate enough to capture a magnificent specimen of the order of chelonia. It was a turtle of the species Midas, the edible green turtle, so called from the color both of its shell and fat. Herbert caught sight of this turtle as it was crawling among the rocks to reach the sea. “Help, Neb, help!” he cried. Neb ran up. “What a fine animal!” said Neb; “but how are we to catch it?” “Nothing is easier, Neb,” replied Herbert. “We have only to turn the turtle on its back, and it cannot possibly get away. Take your spear and do as I do.” The reptile, aware of danger, had retired between its carapace and plastron. They no longer saw its head or feet, and it was motionless as a rock. Herbert and Neb then drove their sticks underneath the animal, and by their united efforts managed without difficulty to turn it on its back. The turtle, which was three feet in length, would have weighed at least four hundred pounds. “Capital!” cried Neb; “this is something which will rejoice friend Pencroft’s heart.” In fact, the heart of friend Pencroft could not fail to be rejoiced, for the flesh of the turtle, which feeds on wrack-grass, is extremely savory. At this moment the creature’s head could be seen, which was small, flat, but widened behind by the large temporal fossae hidden under the long roof. “And now, what shall we do with our prize?” said Neb. “We can’t drag it to Granite House!” “Leave it here, since it cannot turn over,” replied Herbert, “and we will come back with the cart to fetch it.” “That is the best plan.” However, for greater precaution, Herbert took the trouble, which Neb deemed superfluous, to wedge up the animal with great stones; after which the two hunters returned to Granite House, following the beach, which the tide had left uncovered. Herbert, wishing to surprise Pencroft, said nothing about the “superb specimen of a chelonian” which they had turned over on the sand; but, two hours later, he and Neb returned with the cart to the place where they had left it. The “superb specimen of a chelonian” was no longer there! Neb and Herbert stared at each other first; then they stared about them. It was just at this spot that the turtle had been left. The lad even found the stones which he had used, and therefore he was certain of not being mistaken. “Well!” said Neb, “these beasts can turn themselves over, then?’’ “It appears so,” replied Herbert, who could not understand it at all, and was gazing at the stones scattered on the sand. “Well, Pencroft will be disgusted!” “And Captain Harding will perhaps be very perplexed how to explain this disappearance,” thought Herbert. “Look here,” said Neb, who wished to hide his ill-luck, “we won’t speak about it.” “On the contrary, Neb, we must speak about it,” replied Herbert. And the two, taking the cart, which there was now no use for, returned to Granite House. Arrived at the dockyard, where the engineer and the sailor were working together, Herbert recounted what had happened. “Oh! the stupids!” cried the sailor, “to have let at least fifty meals escape!” “But, Pencroft,” replied Neb, “it wasn’t our fault that the beast got away; as I tell you, we had turned it over on its back!” “Then you didn’t turn it over enough!” returned the obstinate sailor. “Not enough!” cried Herbert. And he told how he had taken care to wedge up the turtle with stones. “It is a miracle, then!” replied Pencroft. “I thought, captain,” said Herbert, “that turtles, once placed on their backs, could not regain their feet, especially when they are of a large size?’ “That is true, my boy,” replied Cyrus Harding. “Then how did it manage?” “At what distance from the sea did you leave this turtle?” asked the engineer, who, having suspended his work, was reflecting on this incident. “Fifteen feet at the most,” replied Herbert. “And the tide was low at the time?” “Yes, captain.” “Well,” replied the engineer, “what the turtle could not do on the sand it might have been able to do in the water. It turned over when the tide overtook it, and then quietly returned to the deep sea.” “Oh! what stupids we were!” cried Neb. “That is precisely what I had the honor of telling you before!” returned the sailor. Cyrus Harding had given this explanation, which, no doubt, was admissible. But was he himself convinced of the accuracy of this explanation? It cannot be said that he was. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Jules Verne (1998). The Mysterious Island. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved October 2022 https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1268/1268-h/1268-h.htm This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at , located at . www.gutenberg.org https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html

It was now exactly seven months since the balloon voyagers

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