mnant of a joint of pork.

"We may be thankful to get even that," said Boxall.

We hunted round in every direction, but a couple of gnawed bones, with
scarcely any flesh on them, were the miserable remains of the provision
on which we had depended.

"There can be no doubt about the hyena being the thief," I observed.

"I am very sure of it," said Boxall. "Even had we buried the pork
several feet deep, the creature would have dug it up; for the brutes are
said sometimes to visit graveyards, and there to disinter human bodies
unless carefully covered up with heavy stones."

I shuddered, and felt but little inclined to eat the meat which the
animal had left us. However, Ben was not so particular, and offered to
take the bones as his share--by which arrangement he got a larger amount
than either of us. Hunger had compelled us to eat the pork raw; and
this having the natural effect of increasing our thirst, we agreed to
lose no time in looking for water.

The staves of the cask furnished us with tolerable implements for
digging; and would serve us also for weapons of defence, in default of
better. We fortunately had our knives, and as the wood was hard, we
could shape them into wooden swords and sharpen the edges. So we at
once began to search for a spot where a little verdure might tempt us to
dig. For this purpose we scattered about, agreeing to keep in sight of
each other, and the person who first found a likely spot was to wave his
stave above his head.

The hot sun now getting high in the heavens, his rays beat down on our
heads, and made us eager to discover the refreshing fluid. Boxall said
he was sure it was to be found along the coast, although he acknowledged
that such spots might be miles and miles apart. "However," he observed,
"there is nothing like trying."

We agreed to go towards the south; one taking the beach, another on his
left hand on the summit of the first line of sand-hills, the third
further in, and the fourth in a like manner on his left. Ben took the
beach, Boxall was next to him, but I was outside of all. It occurred to
me that it would be wise not only to look for water, but occasionally to
turn my spy-glass to the east in the chance of any natives appearing. I
scarcely knew whether or not it would be desirable to fall in with our
fellow-creatures, remembering what Boxall had said about the natives;
but still I thought that we might trust to the generosity and
hospitality of t