them, I should be wholly unable to encounter such sufferings as
we had lately passed through. To the justice of these
observations Toby somewhat reluctantly assented.

We were surprised that, after moving as far as we had along the
valley, we should still meet with the same impervious thickets;
and thinking, that although the borders of the stream might be
lined for some distance with them, yet beyond there might be more
open ground, I requested Toby to keep a bright look-out upon one
side, while I did the same on the other, in order to discover
some opening in the bushes, and especially to watch for the
slightest appearance of a path or anything else that might
indicate the vicinity of the islanders.

What furtive and anxious glances we cast into those dim-looking
shadows! With what apprehensions we proceeded, ignorant at what
moment we might be greeted by the javelin of some ambushed
savage. At last my companion paused, and directed my attention
to a narrow opening in the foliage. We struck into it, and it
soon brought us by an indistinctly traced path to a comparatively
clear space, at the further end of which we descried a number of
the trees, the native name of which is 'annuee', and which bear a
most delicious fruit. What a race! I hobbling over the ground
like some decrepid wretch, and Toby leaping forward like a
greyhound. He quickly cleared one of the trees on which there
were two or three of the fruit, but to our chagrin they proved to
be much decayed; the rinds partly opened by the birds, and their
hearts half devoured. However, we quickly despatched them, and
no ambrosia could have been more delicious.