for slaves, or might have creesed us and thrown us overboard."

"You are right, Oliver," I answered; "and we must try to make the best
of it. I only hope we may find food and water. Unless they were less
than human, they could scarcely have placed us on an island which they
knew was destitute of water." We made these remarks as we watched the
boat rowing away toward the prow. She soon reached the vessel, was
hoisted up, and the prow made sail to the southward. We now sat down on
the beach, to see what was best to be done. Macco had his sailor's
knife, fortunately, secured with a lanyard round his neck. I had a
large clasp-knife in my pocket, which, though, like my clothes, somewhat
the worse for having been wetted with salt water, was still serviceable
and sharp.

The first thing was to survey our island, we agreed, and to try to find
water. The shore was lined in many places with the curious pandanus, or
screw-palm, which may well be described as a trunk with branches at both
ends; or rather the roots seem to have lifted the trunk into the air and
to have assumed the appearance of branches. Its woody fruit, about five
inches in diameter, is in the form of a sphere, and is regularly divided
by projections of a diamond shape.

The jungle was so thick that we could penetrate but a very little way
through it, with great difficulty. Walking along the beach, we reached
a small opening--a miniature gulf, as it were, into which apparently a
stream of water had at some time flowed, though at present the bed was
perfectly dry. Looking up it, we discovered a high hill some little
distance inland; we agreed that if we could make our way to that, we
might thence have a better view of the surrounding country. We had not
gone far when we came to a grove of bamboos. We each of us cut down a
couple: one we pointed to serve as a weapon of defence; and the other we
formed into the shape of a gouge to serve as a spade, with which we
intended to dig for water, should we not find any stream or pool.
Still, from the rich vegetation which appeared on every side, we had
little doubt that water would be found. Proceeding up the dry
water-course, we approached the hill; but it grew narrower and narrower,
till at length the trees and underwood, with numberless creepers, so
completely blocked up the way, that we could scarcely force a road
through it. Still, to the top of the hill we had determined to go.
Making use of our knives,