"Mr Spilett!" exclaimed the sailor seizing the reporter, and clasping him to his breast with such a squeeze that he had never felt anything like it before.
"Oh, Pencroft," said Spilett, recovering his breath at last, "a truce for one moment. You must share your gratitude with Herbert, who recognised the plant, with Cyrus, who prepared it, and with Neb who took a great deal of trouble to keep our secret."
"Well, my friends, I will repay you some day," replied the sailor. "Now we are friends for life."
[PENCROFT HAS NOTHING LEFT TO WISH FOR]
![[PENCROFT HAS NOTHING LEFT TO WISH FOR]](#7468522441993521294_aban062.jpg.id-6957869283349031644.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
CHAPTER XI
Winter—Felling Wood—The Mill—Pencroft's fixed Idea—The Bones—To what Use an Albatross may be put—Fuel for the Future—Top and Jup—Storms—Damage to the Poultry-yard—Excursion to the Marsh—Cyrus Harding alone—Exploring the Well
Winter arrived with the month of June, which is the December of the northern zones, and the great business was the making of warm and solid clothing.