mollusc, but agreed that, unless more
perfectly cooked, it was likely to prove very indigestible. Having
finished our repast, we crept into our hut. I should have said we had
strewn it thickly with leaves to serve as a mattress. The nights were
warm, and as there was no wind, we required no covering beyond that
afforded us by the roof. We agreed, however, that as soon as we could
manufacture some sago, we would build a more substantial mansion, in
which we might be able to live should the rains come on.

I cannot describe the incidents of each day; for having no note-book,
they are somewhat mixed up in my memory. For two days we laboured on at
the tree, and had now begun to make some progress. I became somewhat
eager at length, and hacked away incautiously with my knife. In so
doing, I caught it in the wood; and in drawing it out again, snapped the
blade across. Here was indeed a misfortune.

"O Massa Walter," exclaimed Macco, "dat bad!"

"It is indeed," I said; "for though you and Oliver may in time get
through the trunk with your knives, it will certainly take much longer."

"Not so certain of dat," said Macco. "An idea strike me. You take my
knife--don't break it, though--and I come back by-and-by and see what I
can do."

Saying this, he handed me his knife, and with greater caution I
continued my task.

"We must be content to chop out a little at a time," observed Oliver.
"Perseverance will succeed in the end. It might even be done with a
penknife, if we did not attempt to work too quickly."

Macco, after being absent an hour, returned with several articles in his
hand. One was a thick flat shell, something like an oyster-shell, only
very much larger. He had also brought some pieces of wood, with some
fibre to serve as string, and some small sticks of bamboo. He sat down
near us, and taking the shell, formed with the bamboo a small drilling
machine. With wonderful rapidity he worked away, drilling first one
hole and then another in the shell, till he had formed a line completely
across it. He now asked for his knife, and shaped away the wood he had
brought. Placing two pieces, one on each side of the shell, with
another at the back, he secured the whole together by means of the
fibre, binding it round and round through the holes, till he had formed
a serviceable-looking axe.

"Dere," he said, lifting the weapon.

"Let me have it!" I exclaimed. "I will work away gladly with it."

"No, n