er. "I was thinking of searching
for salt on the seashore."

"A still more effectual way of preserving the meat will be to smoke it,
I suspect," said the doctor. "We have an abundance of stones, and we
can easily build a `smoking-house,' with the ever-useful bamboos for
rafters. We shall have time to do something before dinner."

"At all events, we can make a beginning. There's nothing like setting
at once about a thing which has to be done," observed Walter.

"You are right, my boy; and we will get the mate and Dan to help us, as
Nub, I see, is busy attending to our roast," said the doctor.

They immediately set to work to erect a circular wall about six feet in
diameter. They did not stop to procure cement, as even should the
structure tumble down no great damage would be done, and it might easily
be built up again. They had already raised it two or three feet in
height before Nub had finished his culinary operations. Dinner was laid
out, not, as hitherto, on the ground, but on a rustic-looking table,
with benches on one side, and a large arm-chair at one end for Mr
Shobbrok. Alice superintended the arrangements. They had leaves for
plates, sticks for forks, and their clasp-knives enabled them to cut up
their meat; and a neat bamboo cup stood by the side of each person,
while one of larger dimensions served to hold their only beverage, pure
water. At length Nub shouted, "Dinner is ready;" and he and Dan entered
the house, each bearing a large shell which they had picked up on the
shore,--one containing a piece of roast lizard, and the other one of the
hornbills captured in the morning. Nub then hurried out again, and
returned with a third shell full of sago; while a fourth was filled with
some roots which the doctor had dug up. The latter assured his friends
that they were perfectly wholesome, as he knew the nature of the plants.
They complimented Nub on his cooking, and all sat down with excellent
appetites, and hearts thankful for the substantial meal which had been
supplied them. Little had they expected to find so large a supply of
wholesome food when they first landed.

The next day the doctor and Nub went on with the erection of the
smoking-house; while the mate, assisted by Dan, made preparations for
the proposed alterations in the boat. He looked somewhat grave,
however, over the business; and Dan heard him saying to himself, "I wish
that I thought it would do. But it's a fearful risk for th