ck soon wid it," said Nub as they
passed. "Mr Shobbrok, him roast de duck ready for breakfast."

The doctor and his young companions hurried on, for their morning's walk
had made them very hungry. They found the mate employed in roasting the
duck in the usual camp fashion, on a spit supported by two forked
sticks. Near it was the large shell of the mollusc on another fire,
where Nub had placed it to warm up its contents.

"We have fish and fowl; but I wish that we had some farinaceous or other
vegetable diet in addition--for the sake of our young lady, especially,"
observed the mate.

"We have, at all events, brought something of the sort," said Walter,
producing his handkerchief, full of the fruits he had picked up.

"I am indeed thankful to see them," said the mate; "for I began to fear
that we should all suffer from living so entirely on animal food."

"I have little doubt that we shall find more fruits and probably various
vegetables," said the doctor; "and I will undertake to go in search of
them after breakfast."

"I should like to accompany you," said Walter; "though, if the fruit in
these regions only grows high up on the trees such as these do, we shall
be puzzled to get them."

"We must climb the trees, then, or find some other means of bringing it
down," said the mate. "My idea is, that, before we do anything else, we
should set about making some bows and arrows, as well as some spears, to
defend ourselves against any savage animals, or to kill any we may be
able to chase."

The doctor agreed to the mate's proposal, though he believed, he said,
that there were no savage animals of any size in the Pacific islands
likely to annoy them. As the duck was not quite cooked, they sat
themselves down under the shade of a lofty tree, to await the return of
Nub and Dan. They very soon appeared; and while Nub went to have a look
at the mollusc which he and Dan were to have for breakfast, the seaman
came and threw himself down at the mate's side with a small branch of
tree in his hand, which he was examining attentively.

"What is that you have got there?" asked the mate, turning round to him.

"Faith, your honour, it's something, I suppose; for Nub says that if we
can cut enough of it, and can get a ship to carry it away, we shall all
make our fortunes." Dan as he spoke handed the branch to the mate, who
turned it about, evidently puzzled to know what it was.

"Let us look at it," said the doctor, who