f the poor fellows lie there they can't have got away; but, then, how
could the last have managed to bury himself?"

Chandos remarked that perhaps there were four people, and that a
survivor had performed that office for the rest; but the old man was
positive that there were only three, as he had counted that number of
plates and knives and forks, and had, moreover, found three worn-out
pairs of shoes. Their hunger put a speedy end to the discussion, and
made them continue their search for food. Birds flitted by them, but
they had no fowling-pieces, and in vain they tried to knock some down.
Berries and some larger fruits hung temptingly on the trees out of reach
above their heads.

"Those birds do not live upon nothing," observed Chandos. "If we cannot
catch them, we may at all events eat the fruit they live on."

"A bright idea," exclaimed Dickenson. "I see a big fellow pecking away
at a yellow, juicy-looking fruit up there. Depend on it, he finds it
ripe. Now, if you and Ned will give me a hoist, I can manage to reach
the lowest branch, and though the boughs might break with the weight of
a heavier man, they will bear me--if not, look out and catch me."

Dickenson, with the aid of Chandos and Ned--the first of whom mounted on
the others' shoulders--soon clambered up the tree, and though the
branches bent with his weight, he managed to throw down several ripe
fruit. Having put two or three in his pocket, he retired to the inner
end of a branch to stop the cravings of hunger, while Chandos and Ned
were employed in the same way below. The fruit had stones in the
centre, and was more mealy and much richer than a pear.

Ralph and Jacob had in the meantime gone down to the beach to collect
mussels or other shell-fish. Chandos shouted to them, but as they did
not hear him, he set off with a supply of the fruit in his pockets.
They had found shell-fish in abundance, and had collected as many as
they could require. Having no means of lighting a fire, they were
obliged to eat them uncooked; but notwithstanding this, with the aid of
the fruit, they contrived to make a hearty meal. Having thus somewhat
recruited their strength, although they would gladly have thrown
themselves on the ground and gone to sleep, they determined at once to
set out in search of any of their shipmates who might have escaped from
the wreck. The distance, Ralph feared, would, however, prove
considerable, and tax their strength to the utm