five
o’clock in the evening
It was to say the least very extraordinary , and they were compelled to believe that Tabor Island was not or was no longer inhabited . Perhaps , after all the document was already several months or several years old , and it was possible in this case , either that the castaway had been enabled to return to his country , or that he had died of misery . Pencroft , Spilett , and Herbert , forming more or less probable conjectures , dined rapidly on board the `` Bonadventure '' so as to be able to continue their excursion until nightfall . This was done at five o'clock in the evening , at which hour they entered the wood . Numerous animals fled at their approach , being principally , one might say , only goats and pigs , which were obviously European species . Doubtless some whaler had landed them on the island , where they had rapidly increased . Herbert resolved to catch one or two living , and take them back to Lincoln Island .