Try the other, Billy," said Desmond; "that may not be so mature."

Billy, not suspecting a trick, commenced on the second egg, when
Desmond, running into the hut, produced the rest they had brought, which
Peter slipped under the ashes. Billy looked several times at the second
egg; he was going to put it into his mouth when he bethought him of his
knife. No sooner had he cut into it, than he threw it away,
exclaiming--

"I do believe, Desmond, that you brought those on purpose; you have
almost spoilt my appetite."

"Then I have done more than anything else has ever accomplished,"
answered Desmond, laughing. "Never mind, Billy, you shall have the
freshest of those eggs cooking under the ashes if you can regain your
appetite."

"I think I shall be able to do that, but I think I will take some stew
in the mean time."

The rest of the eggs were fresh, but the doctor advised that they should
collect a supply at once, before the birds had sat too long on them, as
probably the greater number had by this time done laying.

In the afternoon Pat went off in the boat a short distance, and in less
than an hour caught more fish than the party could consume. The doctor
had been too busily employed hitherto, but he, having set each man to
work, started at the same time in search of vegetables. He came back
with a bag filled with small green leaves.

"I have found nothing except the cocoa-nuts very palatable, but until
our garden seeds come up this will prove of greater value than any roots
likely to be discovered. I was not aware that it was to be found in so
low a latitude. It is a species of sorrel; it seems placed here by
Providence for the especial use of seamen, as it is most efficacious in
preventing scurvy. All sea officers should be acquainted with it, as it
grows on nearly every uninhabited island."

As soon as it became too dark to work on the vessel, all hands turned to
for the purpose of breaking up a plot for forming the proposed garden
close to the hut, that the seeds might be put in without delay. They
again went to work the following morning before daybreak, and in a short
time a sufficient space was cleared and broken up for the intended
object; as there were no animals, all that was necessary was to run a
few sticks into the ground to mark the spot.

"Now," said the doctor, "if Providence so wills it, we may live here for
the next ten or twenty years, should we fail to build a craft in which
we can