Thesunofthemorrowhadnotclearedthemorningbank：thelakeofthelagoon，theislets，andthewallofbreakersnowbeginningtosubside，stilllayclearlypicturedintheflushedobscurityofearlyday，whenwesteppedagainuponthedeckoftheFlyingScud：Nares，myself，themate，twoofthehands，andonedozenbright，virginaxes，inwaragainstthatmassivestructure。Ithinkwealldrewpleasurablebreath；soprofoundinmanistheinstinctofdestruction，soengagingistheinterestofthechase。Forwewerenowabouttotaste，inasupremedegree，thedoublejoysofdemolishingatoyandplaying“Hidethehandkerchief“：sportsfromwhichwehadallperhapsdesistedsincethedaysofinfancy。Andthetoyweweretoburstinpieceswasadeep-seaship；andthehiddengoodforwhichweweretohuntwasaprodigiousfortune。
Thedeckswerewasheddown，themainhatchremoved，andagun-tacklepurchaseriggedbeforetheboatarrivedwithbreakfast。Ihadgrownsosuspiciousofthewreck，thatitwasapositiverelieftometolookdownintothehold，andseeitfull，ornearlyfull，ofundeniablericepackedintheChinesefashioninbolusesofmatting。Breakfastover，Johnsonandthehandsturnedtouponthecargo；whileNaresandI，havingsmashedopentheskylightandriggedupawindsailondeck，begantheworkofrummagingthecabins。
Imustnotbeexpectedtodescribeourfirstday’swork，orforthatmatteranyoftherest，inorderanddetailasitoccurred。
Suchparticularitymighthavebeenpossibleforseveralofficersandadraftofmenfromashipofwar，accompaniedbyanexperiencedsecretarywithaknowledgeofshorthand。Fortwoplainhumanbeings，unaccustomedtotheuseofthebroad-axeandconsumedwithanimpatientgreedoftheresult，thewholebusinessmelts，intheretrospect，intoanightmareofexertion，heat，hurry，andbewilderment；sweatpouringfromthefacelikerain，thescurryofrats，thechokingexhalationsofthebilge，andthethrobsandsplinteringsofthetoilingaxes。Ishallcontentmyselfwithgivingthecreamofourdiscoveriesinalogicalratherthanatemporalorder；thoughthetwoindeedpracticallycoincided，andwehadfinishedourexplorationofthecabin，beforewecouldbecertainofthenatureofthecargo。
NaresandIbeganoperationsbytossinguppell-mellthroughthecompanion，andpilinginasqualidheapaboutthewheel，allclothes，personaleffects，thecrockery，thecarpet，stalevictuals，tinsofmeat，andinaword，allmovablesfromthemaincabin。Thence，wetransferredourattentiontothecaptain’squartersonthestarboardside。Usingtheblanketsforabasket，wesentupthebooks，instruments，andclothestoswellourgrowingmiddenonthedeck；andthenNares，goingonhandsandknees，begantoforageunderneaththebed。BoxafterboxofManillacigarsrewardedhissearch。Itookoccasiontosmashsomeoftheseboxesopen，andeventoguillotinethebundlesofcigars；butquiteinvain——nosecretcacheofopiumencouragedmetocontinue。