six in the morning
As to the powder , of which there was about fifty pounds in the barrel , a small supply of it had to be taken , but the engineer hoped to manufacture an explosive substance which would allow them to husband it . To the firearms were added the five cutlasses well sheathed in leather , and , thus supplied , the settlers could venture into the vast forest with some chance of success . It is useless to add that Pencroft , Herbert , and Neb , thus armed , were at the summit of their happiness , although Cyrus Harding made them promise not to fire a shot unless it was necessary . At six in the morning the canoe put off from the shore ; all had embarked , including Top , and they proceeded to the mouth of the Mercy . The tide had begun to come up half an hour before . For several hours , therefore , there would be a current , which it was well to profit by , for later the ebb would make it difficult to ascend the river . The tide was already strong , for in three days the moon would be full , and it was enough to keep the boat in the centre of the current , where it floated swiftly along between the high banks without its being necessary to increase its speed by the aid of the oars .