, but could see no signs that the natives had gone
inland at any other point.

"We may as well go along the shore now," Stephen said, "then we shall see
how far this inlet is from our bay."

They were turning to start when there was a rustle among the undergrowth,
followed by a short deep sound. Jacopo dropped his musket and fell on his
knees. The captain crossed himself hastily; but Stephen dashed forward
towards the spot where the sound had come, shouting:

"Come along, captain, it is a pig."

There was a rush as he entered the bushes, and a dozen pigs dashed off. He
levelled his musket and fired at the hindmost, and gave a shout of delight
as it rolled over.

"Fresh meat, captain," he exclaimed as the Peruvian joined him; "and there
are at least a dozen others who have made off. Hurrah! there is no fear of
starving; we may be sure that this is not the only herd on the island."

The pig was dragged out on to the sea-shore; it was a young animal,
although nearly full grown. Jacopo was now in his element; he cut the pig
open, eviscerated it, carried it down to the edge of the water, washed it,
tied the legs together, and with his sword cut down a sapling and thrust
it through them.

"We will carry the pig, senor, as you shot him. That is but a fair
division of labour," the captain said, raising one end of the pole on his
shoulder, while Jacopo took the other. They had gone but a hundred yards
further when the trees near the beach grew less densely, and the ground
beneath them was covered by a plant with large leaves and yellow flowers.
Stephen, who was walking ahead, went up to examine them.

"Hurrah, captain!" he shouted, "they are wild melons."

The others laid down the pig and ran up to him. The patch extended as far
as they could see; the plants covered the ground and climbed the trees by
means of the rattans, festooning them with their bright leaves and flowers
and fruit of all degree of ripeness. On the ground they found no ripe
fruit. There were evident signs that this was a favourite resort of the
pigs, and that they devoured the fruit as fast as it ripened.

"We will fence in a large patch of this," Stephen said; "there will be
plenty for the pigs and us too. I never felt thankful that a pig could not
climb before," he laughed, as he cut a melon hanging overhead. Although
somewhat wanting in flavour the fruit seemed to the three men, after their
privation for upwards of a month from green vegetables o