Intheeveningthehuntersreturned,havingenjoyedgoodsport,andbeingliterallyloadedwithgame;indeed,theyhadasmuchasfourmencouldpossiblycarry.TopworeanecklaceoftealandJupwreathsofsniperoundhisbody.

           "Here,master,"criedNeb;"here’ssomethingtoemployourtime!Preservedandmadeintopiesweshallhaveawelcomestore!ButImusthavesomeonetohelpme.Icountonyou,Pencroft."

           "No,Neb,"repliedthesailor;"Ihavetheriggingofthevesseltofinishandtolookafter,andyouwillhavetodowithoutme."

           "Andyou,Mr.Herbert?"

           "Imustgotothecorralto-morrow,Neb,"repliedthelad.

           "Itwillbeyouthen,Mr.Spilett,whowillhelpme?"

           "Toobligeyou,Neb,Iwill,"repliedthereporter;"butIwarnyouthatifyoudiscloseyourreceiptstome,Ishallpublishthem."

           "Wheneveryoulike,Mr.Spilett,"repliedNeb;"wheneveryoulike."

           AndsothenextdayGideonSpilettbecameNeb’sassistantandwasinstalledinhisculinarylaboratory.Theengineerhadpreviouslymadeknowntohimtheresultoftheexplorationwhichhehadmadethedaybefore,andonthispointthereportersharedHarding’sopinion,thatalthoughhehadfoundnothing,asecretstillremainedtobediscovered!

           Thefrostcontinuedforanotherweek,andthesettlersdidnotleaveGraniteHouseunlesstolookafterthepoultry-yard.Thedwellingwasfilledwithappetizingodors,whichwereemittedfromthelearnedmanipulationofNebandthereporter.