“We will go aboard, and to-morrow we will begin again,” replied the reporter. They were about adopting this counsel, when Herbert, pointing to something dimly visible, through the trees, exclaimed:— “There’s a house!” All three directed their steps towards the place indicated, and they made out in the twilight that it was built of planks, covered with heavy tarpaulin. The door, half closed, was pushed back by Pencroff, who entered quickly. The place was empty! CHAPTER XXXVI. THE INVENTORY—THE NIGHT—SOME LETTERS—THE SEARCH CONTINUED—PLANTS AND ANIMALS—HERBERT IN DANGER—ABOARD—THE DEPARTURE—BAD WEATHER—A GLIMMER OF INTELLIGENCE —LOST AT SEA—A TIMELY LIGHT. Pencroff, Spilett and Herbert stood silent In darkness. Then the former gave a loud call. There was no answer. He lit a twig, and the light illuminated for a moment a small room, seemingly deserted. At one end was a large chimney, containing some cold cinders and an armful of dry wood. Pencroff threw the lighted twig into it, and the wood caught fire and gave out a bright light. The sailor and his companions thereupon discovered a bed in disorder, its damp and mildewed covers proving that it had been long unused; in the corner of the fireplace were two rusty kettles and an overturned pot; a clothes-press with some sailors’ clothing, partially moulded; on the table a tin plate, and a Bible, injured by the dampness; in a corner some tools, a shovel, a mattock, a pick, two shot guns, one of which was broken; on a shelf was a barrel full of powder, a barrel of lead, and a number of boxes of caps. All were covered with a thick coating of dust. “There is no one here,” said the reporter. “Not a soul.” “This room has not been occupied in a long time.” “Since a very long time.” “Mr. Spilett,” said Pencroff, “I think that instead of going on board we had better stay here all night.” “You are right, Pencroff, and if the proprietor returns he will not be sorry, perhaps, to find the place occupied.” “He won’t come back, though,” said the sailor, shaking his head. “Do you think he has left the island?” “If he had left the island he would have taken these things with him. You know how much a shipwrecked person would be attached to these objects. No, no,” repeated the sailor, in the tone of a man perfectly convinced; “no, he has not left the island. He is surely here.” “Alive?” “Alive or dead. But if he is dead he could not have buried himself, I am sure, and we will at least find his remains.”