Таємничий острів

           Theyreturnedonboard,breakfasted,sothatitshouldnotbenecessarytodineuntilverylate;thentherepastbeingended,theexplorationwascontinuedandconductedwiththemostminutecare.Indeed,itwasveryprobablethattheonlyinhabitantoftheislandhadperished.ItwasthereforemoreforthetracesofadeadthanofalivingmanthatPencroftandhiscompanionssearched.Buttheirsearcheswerevain,andduringthehalfofthatdaytheysoughttonopurposeamongthethicketsoftreeswhichcoveredtheislet.Therewasthenscarcelyanydoubtthat,ifthecastawaywasdead,notraceofhisbodynowremained,butthatsomewildbeasthadprobablydevouredittothelastbone.

           "Wewillsetoffto-morrowatdaybreak,"saidPencrofttohistwocompanions,asabouttwoo’clocktheywererestingforafewminutesundertheshadeofaclumpoffirs.

           "Ishouldthinkthatwemightwithoutscrupletaketheutensilswhichbelongedtothecastaway,"addedHerbert.

           "Ithinkso,too,"returnedGideonSpilett,"andthesearmsandtoolswillmakeupthestoresofGraniteHouse.Thesupplyofpowderandshotisalsomostimportant."

           "Yes,"repliedPencroft,"butwemustnotforgettocaptureacoupleortwoofthosepigs,ofwhichLincolnIslandisdestitute."

           "Nortogatherthoseseeds,"addedHerbert,"whichwillgiveusallthevegetablesoftheOldandtheNewWorlds."

           "Thenperhapsitwouldbebest,"saidthereporter,"toremainadaylongeronTaborIsland,soastocollectallthatmaybeusefultous."

           "No,Mr.