uation, as soon as I perceived the indications it gave of Toby's
foresight in laying in a supply of food for the expedition.

I eagerly inquired what quantity he had brought with him, when rummaging
once more beneath his garment, he produced a small handful of something so
soft, pulpy, and discoloured, that for a few moments he was as much
puzzled as myself to tell by what possible instrumentality such a
villanous compound had become engendered in his bosom. I can only describe
it as a hash of soaked bread and bits of tobacco, brought to a doughy
consistency by the united agency of perspiration and rain. But repulsive
as it might otherwise have been, I now regarded it as an invaluable
treasure, and proceeded with great care to transfer this paste-like mass
to a large leaf which I had plucked from a bush beside me. Toby informed
me that in the morning he had placed two whole biscuits in his bosom, with
a view of munching them, should he feel so inclined, during our flight.
These were now reduced to the equivocal substance which I had just placed
on the leaf.

Another dive into the frock brought to view some four or five yards of
calico print, whose tasteful pattern was rather disfigured by the yellow
stains of the tobacco with which it had been brought in contact. In
drawing this calico slowly from his bosom inch by inch, Toby reminded me
of a juggler performing the feat of the endless ribbon. The next cast was
a small one, being a sailor's little "ditty bag," containing needles,
thread, and other sewing utensils; then came a razor-case, followed by two
or three separate plugs of negro-head, which were fished up from the
bottom of the now empty receptacle. These various matters being inspected,
I produced a few things which I had myself brought.

As might have been anticipated from the state of my companion's edible
supplies, I found my own in a deplorable condition, and diminished to a
quantity that would not have formed half a dozen mouthfuls for a hungry
man who was partial enough to tobacco not to mind swallowing it. A few
morsels of bread, with a fathom or two of white cotton cloth, and several
pounds of choice pigtail, composed the extent of my possessions.

Our joint stock of miscellaneous articles were now made up into a compact
bundle, which it was agreed we should carry alternately. But the sorry
remains of the biscuit were not to be disposed of so summarily: the
precarious circumstances in which we were plac