about two o’clock
It was therefore more for the traces of a dead than of a living man that Pencroft and his companions searched . But their searches were vain , and during the half of that day they sought to no purpose among the thickets of trees which covered the islet . There was then scarcely any doubt that , if the castaway was dead , no trace of his body now remained , but that some wild beast had probably devoured it to the last bone . `` We will set off to-morrow at daybreak , '' said Pencroft to his two companions , as about two o'clock they were resting for a few minutes under the shade of a clump of firs . `` I should think that we might without scruple take the utensils which belonged to the castaway , '' added Herbert . `` I think so , too , '' returned Gideon Spilett , `` and these arms and tools will make up the stores of Granite House . The supply of powder and shot is also most important . ''