to their view.

These were carefully taken up, and carried back to the place of
encampment, where they were left lying upon the ground, the party
resuming their quest, in hope of being able to lay in a larger and more
permanent supply.

As it chanced, another considerable receptacle was struck, giving back
sweet music to the probing of the boat-hook; and its contents were also
added to the larder.

As the last lot had been found under sand that appeared but recently
stirred, it followed that they were fresher than those of the second
finding, and therefore was it determined upon that they should be first
eaten.

The egg-gatherers having been now several hours engaged, and again
become almost as hungry as when first cast upon the shore, once more
kindled a fire, set the huge shells upon it, and using the one as a
boiling-pot, and the other as a frying-pan, prepared themselves a meal
of two courses--_oeuf bouille_ and _omelette_.

Next day they again went in search of other eggs, intending to lay in a
store against the eventuality of any possible period of famine.

But although they discovered several scratched places, and carefully
"sounded" them, no more maleos' eggs could be found; and they came to
the conclusion that they had despoiled all the "incubator" beds existing
on that section of the Bornean coast.

By reason of their rapidly-increasing strength, their appetites were by
this time almost insatiable. They were, therefore, not long in using up
all the "setting" last gathered, and were about to begin upon the other
lot that did not seem so "newly laid." These had been kept separate,
and permitted to lie where they had first placed them--out on the open
surface of the sand, some fifteen or twenty yards beyond the shadow of
the tree. Negligently, and somewhat unwisely, had this been done; for
during the day the hot sun shining down upon them would naturally have a
tendency to spoil and addle them. Still the time had not been very
long; and as no one thought of their being damaged, they were preparing
to turn them into eggs poached, fried, boiled, or otherwise.

Saloo had rekindled the fire, and got ready his pots and pans; while
Murtagh, who had stepped out to the "larder", was about to take up one
of the eggs, and carry it to the "kitchen." But at that moment a sight
met the eyes of the Irishman, that not only astonished, but caused him
to sing out so excitedly as at once to attract the attention of