uested, and by the time the Malay, bearing his heavy
burden, reached the tree, smoke was oozing through a stack of faggots
that were soon after ablaze.

"Tha, Cappen Ledwad," said the Malay, flinging his load at the captain's
feet. "Tha plenty shell-fiss--makee all we big blakfass. Inside find
good meat. We no need open him. Hot coalee do that."

They all gathered around the huge shell, surveying it with curiosity,
more especially the young people.

It was that strange testaceous fish found in the Indian seas, and known
to sailors as the "Singapore oyster"--of which specimens are not rare
measuring a yard in length, and over eighteen inches in breadth at the
widest diameter.

Their curiosity, however, was soon satisfied; for with stomachs craving
as theirs, they were in no very fit condition for the pursuit of
conchological studies; and Saloo once more lifting the large oyster--
just as much as he could do--dropped it among the faggots, now fairly
kindled into a fire.

More were heaped around and over it, until it was buried in the heart of
a huge pile, the sea-weeds that still clung to it crackling, and the
salt water spurting and spitting, as the smoke, mingled with the bright
blaze, ascended toward the overshadowing branches of the tree.

In due time Saloo, who had cooked Singapore oysters before, pronounced
it sufficiently roasted; when the faggots were kicked aside, and with a
boat-hook, which Murtagh had brought from the pinnace, the oyster [Note
1.] was dragged out of the ashes.

Almost instantly it fell open, its huge valves displaying in their
concave cups enough "oyster-meat" to have afforded a supper for a party
of fifteen individuals instead of five--that is, fifteen not so famished
as they were.

With some knives and other utensils, which the Irishman had also brought
away from the boat, they seated themselves around the grand bivalve; nor
did they arise from their seats until the shells were scraped clean, and
hunger, that had so long tortured them, was quite banished from their
thoughts.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note 1. Strictly speaking, the Singapore oyster is a gigantic species
of Clam, (_Tridacna_).

CHAPTER SEVEN.

A DANGEROUS LOCALITY.

After their ample meal of oyster "roasted in the shell," which was a
breakfast instead of a supper, they rested for the remainder of the day,
and all through the following night. They requir