er hunted
about in search of game or fruits, which might serve as an addition to
their breakfast. Birds of gorgeous plumage flew about overhead, or
flitted among the branches of the trees; and high up, far beyond their
reach, they observed some tempting-looking fruit, on which numerous
birds were feeding. They gazed at them with envious eyes.

"Our only chance of getting any will be if those feathered gentlemen
should be kind enough to let some fall," observed the doctor. "We must
not be too proud to take advantage of their negligence."

While he was speaking, a large bird of black plumage, with an enormous
beak, and a horn-shaped ornament on the top of it, flew at one of the
fruits, and nipping it off, down it came to the ground; while the bird,
perching on a bough, attacked another, with more benefit to himself.
Walter picked up the fallen fruit, which, though it had a somewhat hard
skin, was full of a delicious juicy pulp. While he was examining the
fruit, the doctor watched the bird, which, picking off fruit after
fruit, appeared to throw them up and catch them in its mouth as they
fell. The bird having apparently satisfied itself, then flew off to the
trunk of a tree of enormous size and height. The doctor followed it,
and found that it made use of its beak to carry food, with which it was
supplying another of its species--poking its head out of a hole in the
trunk.

"We must have those birds if we are hard pressed, as I am afraid we
shall be unless our traps succeed, or we can manage some serviceable
bows and arrows for shooting game," said the doctor to Walter, who had
followed him.

On their way back to the pool they picked up several more fruits which
had dropped. They met Alice, who had not only bathed herself, but had
washed her clothes, and dried them in the hot sun, which struck with
great force against the side of the rock, so that in a few minutes they
were again fit to be put on.

"We must follow your wise example by-and-by," said the doctor; "but we
will now go back to breakfast, or Mr Shobbrok will wonder what has
become of us."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

ENCAMPED ON THE ISLAND--BREAKFAST ON ROAST DUCK--SANDAL-WOOD--BOWS AND
ARROWS MANUFACTURED--HORNBILLS CAPTURED--A HOUSE COMMENCED.

The doctor, with Alice and Walter, had just left the side of the stream
to return to the camp, when they met Dan and Nub carrying the cask,
slung on a pole between them.

"We go to get fresh water, and be ba