“You are right, Spilett,” responded the engineer, “and I would have made this verification before, only that if I have made an error it cannot exceed five degrees in latitude or longitude.” “Who knows,” replied the reporter, “who knows but that we are much nearer an inhabited land than we believe?” “We will know to-morrow,” responded the engineer,” and had it not been for the other work, which has left us no leisure, we would have known already.” “Well,” said Pencroff, “Mr. Smith is too good an observer to have been mistaken, and if the island has not moved, it is just where he put it!” So the next day the engineer made the observations with the sextant with the following result:—Longitude 150° 30’ west; latitude 34° 57’ south. The previous observation had given the situation of the island as between longitude 150° and 155° west, and latitude 36° and 35° south, so that, notwithstanding the rudeness of his apparatus, Smith’s error had not been more than five degrees. “Now,” said Spilett, “since, beside a sextant, we have an atlas, see, my dear Cyrus, the exact position of Lincoln Island in the Pacific.” Herbert brought the atlas, which it will be remembered gave the nomenclature in the French language, and the volume was opened at the map of the Pacific. The engineer, compass in hand, was about to determine their situation, when, suddenly he paused, exclaiming:— “Why, there is an island marked in this part of the Pacific!” “An island?” cried Pencroff. “Doubtless it is ours.” added Spilett. “No.” replied Smith. “This island is situated in 153° of longitude and 37° 11’ of latitude.” “And what’s the name?” asked Herbert. “Tabor Island.” “Is it important?” “No, it is an island lost in the Pacific, and which has never, perhaps, been visited.” “Very well, we will visit it,” said Pencroff. “We?” “Yes, sir; We will build a decked boat, and I will undertake to steer her. How far are we from this Tabor Island?” “A hundred and fifty miles to the northeast.” “Is that all?” responded Pencroff. “Why in forty-eight hours, with a good breeze, we will be there!” “But what would be the use?” asked the reporter. “We cannot tell till we see it!” And upon this response it was decided that a boat should be built so that it might be launched by about the next October, on the return of good weather. CHAPTER XXXII. SHIP BUILDING—THE SECOND HARVEST—AI HUNTING—A NEW PLANT—A WHALE—THE HARPOON FROM THE VINEYARD—CUTTING UP THIS CETACEA—USE OF THE WHALEBONE—THE END OF MAY—PENCROFF IS CONTENT. When Pencroff was possessed of an idea, he would not rest till it was executed. Now, he wanted to visit Tabor Island, and as a boat of some size was necessary, therefore the boat must be built. He and the engineer accordingly determined upon the following model:—