The Mysterious Island

The men are baffled by the lead bullet. The small peccary could not have been more than three months old, and they have been on the island for seven months. Cyrus Smith draws the necessary implications: “[E]ither the island was inhabited before our arrival or men have landed here sometime in the past three months” (253). The men debate but are unable to imagine a solution that does not involve the presence of other human beings on the island. To increase their ability to explore the island, Pencroff decides to build a canoe.

Five days later, the canoe is built, and the five men take it on a short excursion. Coming down the river and to the shoreline, the men discover in the sand two barrels tied to a large chest. They tow the chest and barrels back up the river to Granite House, where they break the lock and peer inside. To their great surprise and joy, the chest contains a veritable treasure trove of items—knives, chisels, drills, nails and screws, swords, gunpowder, binoculars, clothing, aluminum dishes, an atlas, paper, a Bible, and much more.

They examine the contents closely for any indication of where they might have come from, or to whom they may have belonged, but are unable to make any such determination.