seven in
the morning
Besides , they hoped to find more food on the way . As the glasses had been returned to the watches of the engineer and reporter , Pencroft burned a little linen to serve as tinder . As to flint , that would not be wanting in these regions of Plutonic origin . It was half-past seven in the morning when the explorers , armed with sticks , left the Chimneys . Following Pencroft 's advice , it appeared best to take the road already traversed through the forest , and to return by another route . It was also the most direct way to reach the mountain . They turned the south angle and followed the left bank of the river , which was abandoned at the point where it formed an elbow towards the southwest .