they proceeded about half a
mile, when the professor held up his hand.

In front of them was a large breadfruit tree, and under its branches was
a wild boar, engaged in eating the tender fruit which had fallen to the
ground.

"Approach gently, and fire all together," said the professor.

They did so, and four shots were discharged at the same time.

The wild boar uttered a ferocious grunt, ran a few paces, and fell down
dead.

"What is it, sir?" asked Carl.

"A wild boar; do you not see his tusks? Now, Stumpton, set to work, and
cut a leg of pork off piggy. You, Folsom, make a fire with the dry
wood; it will kindle when I rub two sticks together. You, Barnaby,
gather some of this fruit."

"Is it good to eat, sir?"

"You will find it excellent. I recognize it as the breadfruit of the
tropics, and, cut up in slices and toasted over the fire, nothing could
be better for us with our roast pork," answered the professor.

They were quickly at work. The fire was lighted, the leg of pork cut off
and fixed to a tripod, the breadfruit toasted, and plates supplied by
large palm leaves. Presently a delicious odor of roast pork spread
itself around.

After living so long on the peculiar fare provided by Captain Vindex,
they enjoyed their dinner immensely; and, when they had satisfied their
appetites, they sat down under the shade of a tree, sheltered from the
noontide heat.

"Now, sir," said Mont, "what are we to do?"

"I have no wish to return to our floating prison," replied the
professor. "The question is, shall we go back, or shall we try to make
our way to some port, risking the dangers of the way, the chances of
starvation?"

"That does not appear likely," answered Mont, thinking of the roast pork
and the breadfruit.

"When our guns are empty, we may not find it so easy to kill game,
however abundant it may be. The savages are another danger."

"Put it to the vote, sir," said our hero.

"Certainly; all you who wish to make an effort to escape from the
thralldom in which we are held, hold up your hands."

Every hand was extended.

"To the contrary?"

There was no response.

"Not a hand," said the professor. "I may, then, conclude, that we are
unanimous in our wish for freedom, and it is decided that we do not
return to the _Searcher_."

"Hurrah!" cried Stump, proceeding to stand on his head again.

"If you don't stop those street-arab tricks," remarked Mont, "you'll
have a fit, after such a meal a