Herbert, Neb, and Pencroft did the same, while Top slept at his master's feet.
Next day, the 28th of March, when the engineer awoke, about eight in the morning, he saw his companions around him watching his sleep, and, as on the day before, his first words were:-- "Island or continent ?" This was his uppermost thought.
"Well!" replied Pencroft, "we don't know anything about it, captain!" "You don't know yet ?" "But we shall know," rejoined Pencroft, "when you have guided us into the country." "I think I am able to try it," replied the engineer, who, without much effort, rose and stood upright.
"That's capital!" cried the sailor.
"I feel dreadfully weak," replied Harding.

"Give me something to eat, my friends, and it will soon go off.

You have fire, haven't you ?" This question was not immediately replied to.

But, in a few seconds-- "Alas! we have no fire," said Pencroft, "or rather, captain, we have it no longer!" And the sailor recounted all that had passed the day before.

He amused the engineer by the history of the single match, then his abortive attempt to procure fire in the savages' way.
"We shall consider," replied the engineer, "and if we do not find some substance similar to tinder--" "Well ?" asked the sailor.
"Well, we will make matches.
"Chemicals ?" "Chemicals!" "It is not more difficult than that," cried the reporter, striking the sailor on the shoulder.
The latter did not think it so simple, but he did not protest.