He noticed that the chimney of the lamp was sooty and discoloured, and somewhat to the Missioner's amusement he took it off and cleaned it.

The light was much more satisfactory then.

He wandered about the cabin, scrutinizing, as if out of curiosity, Tavish's belongings.

There was not much to discover.
Close to the bunk there was a small battered chest with riveted steel ribs.

He wondered whether it was unlocked, and what it contained.