mutter these words: "That's all very fine, but you can see there is nothing for me in that box!"
This led Neb to say, "Why, friend Pencroft, what more do you expect?"
"Half a pound of tobacco," replied Pencroft seriously, "and nothing would have been wanting to complete my happiness!"
No one could help laughing at this speech.
The result of this discovery of the chest was, that it was now more than ever necessary to explore the island thoroughly. It was therefore agreed that the next morning at break of day they should set out, by ascending the Mercy so as to reach the western shore. If any castaways had landed on the coast, it was to be feared they were without resources, and it was therefore the more necessary to carry help to them without delay.
During the day the different articles were carried to Granite House and arranged in the great hall.
This day—the 29th of October—was a Sunday, and, before going to bed, Herbert asked the engineer if he would not read them something from the Gospel.
"Willingly," replied Cyrus Harding.
He took the sacred volume, and was about to open it, when Pencroft stopped him saying, "Captain, I am superstitious. Open at random and read the first verse your eye falls on. We will see if it applies to our situation."
Cyrus Harding smiled at the sailor's idea, and, yielding to his wish, he opened exactly at a place where the leaves were separated by a marker.
Immediately his eyes were attracted by a cross made with a pencil against the eighth verse of the seventh chapter of St. Matthew. He read the verse, which was this:
"For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth."
CHAPTER III
EXPLORING THE MERCY RIVER
The next day, the 30th of October, all was ready for the proposed exploring expedition, which recent events had rendered so necessary. Things had so come about that
