that we cannot expect always to camp on the borders of a
lake or river," I answered. "It will be plenty one day, and starvation
the next. However, if we are prudent, I hope that we shall get along
without much suffering. There are probably wildfowl to be found, and
then we may fall in with friendly tribes, of whom we can purchase food.
At all events, don't let us expect misfortunes until they come."

"That's what I never have done, and never intend to do," answered Tom.
"I've always held that there's `a sweet little cherub who sits up aloft,
to take care of the life of poor Jack;' and although that may sound like
a heathen song, there's truth in it notwithstanding."

We were talking thus while engaged in collecting sticks, cutting some
with our axes, and picking up others, until we had made a large pile,
sufficient, Tom averred, to roast an ox, when we saw our friends coming
back, each loaded with half a dozen ducks. Directly afterwards Aboh
appeared, carrying a still greater number, which he gave us to
understand that he had captured by swimming out into the lake, his head
concealed by a cap of rushes, towards a flock floating unsuspicious of
danger near the margin, and that, getting close to them, he had pulled
them down under water by the legs. As the slight repast we had eaten
had only just taken off the edge of our appetites, we eagerly plucked a
bird apiece, and had them spitted in a few minutes before the fire.

"If we only had some pepper and salt, we should do well," said Harry.

"Here they are, sir," said Tom, producing from his knapsack a bag of
each.

"We are greatly indebted to you, Mr Tubbs, for your forethought,"
observed Charley; "but remember, we must husband these treasures, for it
may be a long time before we are able to replenish them."

By the time we had finished our repast, the sun had sunk behind the
trees of the forest we had passed through, and as we could not go
farther that night, we agreed to camp where we were. It was important
to keep up the fire, as we might otherwise receive an unwelcome visit
from a lion, elephant, or leopard, or perhaps from a huge species of
ape, numbers of which we had reason to suspect were in the
neighbourhood, though we had not as yet seen any. It was, of course,
settled that we should keep watch, each one of us taking it in turns.
Not knowing how far Aboh might be trusted, we did not ask him. Before
sitting down we collected a further supply of fuel