as he was, he again got up, and searching about for the sort of
wood he wanted, he fixed on a couple of saplings and the branch of a
tree. He intended to make the string by untwisting some of the rope
from the wreck, while there were plenty of reeds by the side of the
stream which he thought would serve as arrows, though how to form heads
he had not yet decided. He hoped that by working away by the light of
his fire, he might get a bow finished before the morning.

He intended to test the sticks before bestowing labour on any of them,
but in the mean time it was absolutely necessary to get some food, for
he felt so weak that he could scarcely drag himself back to his cave.
Nep was certainly of the same opinion in regard to the necessity of
finding provisions, as he continued hunting round and round in all
directions, occasionally stopping and barking eagerly at a monkey, which
looked down at him from a high branch, or at an opossum, to one of which
he gave chase, but the creature got up a tree before he could reach it,
and from its hollow kept looking at the strange animal which had invaded
its native domains. At last Lord Reginald saw Nep run to the top of a
mound, which he observed in an open space in the wood. It appeared to
be composed of sticks, dead leaves, stones, rotten wood, earth, and
rubbish of all sorts. The mound was between five and six feet high, and
fully twelve feet across. He thought it must be the grave of some of
the aborigines who had once inhabited the island, but the dog was
evidently of opinion that it contained something worth looking after, as
he began scratching away with might and main, in so eager a manner, that
Lord Reginald was induced to go up and ascertain what he was about.

Nep had already dug a deep hole, and on looking into it, his master saw,
to his surprise and satisfaction, a number of eggs as large as those of
a swan, of a red brick colour. Stooping down, he eagerly picked up one
of them, which he broke and found that it was perfectly sweet. Here was
a storehouse, which would supply him with an abundance of excellent
food.

Having collected as many eggs as he could carry in his handkerchief,
calling Nep, who seemed in no way disposed to leave the treasure, he set
off for his cave. Making up his fire, he put three of his eggs under
the ashes to cook, the only way he could think of to dress them, while
he ate a portion of the one he had broken, which, though raw, was
pa