They reached Frycollin's cabin.

Tapage was snoring away in a style worthy of his name, and that promised well.
To his great surprise, Uncle Prudent had not even to push Frycollin's door.

It was open.

He stepped into the doorway and looked around.
"Nobody here!" he said.
"Nobody! Where can he be ?" asked Phil Evans.
They went into the bow, thinking Frycollin might perhaps be asleep in the corner.

Still they found nobody.
"Has the fellow got the start of us ?" asked Uncle Prudent.
"Whether he has or not," said Phil Evans, "we can't wait any longer.
Down you go." Without hesitation the fugitives one after the other clambered over the side and, seizing the cable with hands and feet slipped down it safe and sound to the ground.
Think of their joy at again treading the earth they had lost for so long--at walking on solid ground and being no longer the playthings of the atmosphere! They were staring up the creek to the interior of the island when suddenly a form rose in front of them.