Thenextday,the20thofOctober,atseveno’clockinthemorning,afteravoyageoffourdays,the"Bonadventure"gentlyglideduptothebeachatthemouthoftheMercy.

           CyrusHardingandNeb,whohadbecomeveryuneasyatthebadweatherandtheprolongedabsenceoftheircompanions,hadclimbedatdaybreaktotheplateauofProspectHeights,andtheyhadatlastcaughtsightofthevesselwhichhadbeensolonginreturning.

           "Godbepraised!theretheyare!"exclaimedCyrusHarding.

           AstoNebinhisjoy,hebegantodance,totwirlround,clappinghishandsandshouting,"Oh!mymaster!"Amoretouchingpantomimethanthefinestdiscourse.

           Theengineer’sfirstidea,oncountingthepeopleonthedeckofthe"Bonadventure,"wasthatPencrofthadnotfoundthecastawayofTaborIsland,oratanyratethattheunfortunatemanhadrefusedtoleavehisislandandchangeoneprisonforanother.

           IndeedPencroft,GideonSpilett,andHerbertwerealoneonthedeckofthe"Bonadventure."

           Themomentthevesseltouched,theengineerandNebwerewaitingonthebeach,andbeforethepassengershadtimetoleapontothesand,Hardingsaid:"Wehavebeenveryuneasyatyourdelay,myfriends!Didyoumeetwithanyaccident?"

           "No,"repliedGideonSpilett;"onthecontrary,everythingwentwonderfullywell.Wewilltellyouallaboutit."

           "However,"returnedtheengineer,"yoursearchhasbeenunsuccessful,sinceyouareonlythree,justasyouwent!"

           "Excuseme,captain,"repliedthesailor,"wearefour.