together, and rising like a vast vegetable wall to a
height of over a hundred feet. Only a few straggled beyond this line.
The very first of them, that nearest the sea, was a large elm-like tree,
with tall trunk, and spreading leafy limbs that formed a screen from the
sun, now well up in the sky, and every moment growing more sultry. It
offered a convenient camping-place; and under its cool shadow they could
recline until with restored strength they might either seek or build
themselves a better habitation.

An ample store of dry faggots was lying near; and Murtagh having
collected them into a pile, took out his flint and steel, and commenced
striking a light.

Meanwhile their eyes were almost constantly turned toward Saloo, all of
them wondering what had taken him back to the boat. Their wonder was
not diminished when they saw him pass the place where the pinnace had
been pulled up on the sand, and wade straight out into the water--as if
he were going back to the breakers!

Presently, after he had got about knee-deep, they saw him stoop down,
until his body was nearly buried under the sea, and commence what
appeared to be a struggle with some creature still concealed from their
observation. Nor was their wonder any the less, when at length he rose
erect again, holding in his hands what for all the world looked like a
huge rock, to which a number of small shells and some sea-weed adhered.

"What does the Malay crather want wid a big stone?" was the
interrogatory of the astonished Irishman. "And, look, captin, it's that
same he's about bringin' us. I thought it moight be some kind of
shill-fish. Hungry as we are, we can't ate stones?"

"Not so fast, Murtagh," said the captain, who had more carefully
scrutinised the article Saloo had taken up. "It's not a stone, but what
you first supposed it--a shell-fish."

"That big thing a shill-fish! Arrah now, captin, aren't you jokin'?"

"No, indeed. What Saloo has got in his arms, if I'm not mistaken, is an
oyster."

"An oysther? Two fut in length and over one in breadth. Why, it's as
much as the Malay can carry. Don't yez see that he's staggerin' under
it?"

"Very true; but it's an oyster for all that. I'm now sure of it, as I
can see its shape, and the great ribs running over it. Make haste, and
get your fire kindled; for it's a sort of oyster rather too
strong-flavoured to be eaten raw. Saloo evidently intends it to be
roasted."

Murtagh did as req