midnight
Pencroft and the engineer talked of the different projects which it was agreed to put into execution with the briefest possible delay . It was necessary first of all to throw a bridge over the Mercy , so as to establish an easy communication with the south of the island ; then the cart must be taken to bring back the balloon , for the canoe alone could not carry it , then they would build a decked boat , and Pencroft would rig it as a cutter , and they would be able to undertake voyages of circumnavigation round the island , etc. . In the meanwhile night came on , and it was already dark when the settlers reached Flotsam Point , the place where they had discovered the precious chest . The distance between Flotsam Point and Granite House was another four miles , and it was midnight when , after having followed the shore to the mouth of the Mercy , the settlers arrived at the first angle formed by the Mercy . There the river was eighty feet in breadth , which was awkward to cross , but as Pencroft had taken upon himself to conquer this difficulty , he was compelled to do it . The settlers certainly had reason to be pretty tired . The journey had been long , and the task of getting down the balloon had not rested either their arms or legs .