superb tree, which certainly was the largest we had yet seen on the
island. Its trunk was at least five feet in diameter, with a
smooth gray bark; above this the spreading branches were clothed
with light green leaves, amid which were clusters of bright yellow
fruit, so numerous as to weigh down the boughs with their great
weight. This fruit seemed to be of the plum species, of an oblong
form, and a good deal larger than the magnum bonum plum. The
ground at the foot of this tree was thickly strewn with the fallen
fruit, in the midst of which lay sleeping, in every possible
attitude, at least twenty hogs of all ages and sizes, apparently
quite surfeited with a recent banquet.

Jack and I could scarce restrain our laughter as we gazed at these
coarse, fat, ill-looking animals, while they lay groaning and
snoring heavily amid the remains of their supper.

"Now, Ralph," said Jack, in a low whisper, "put a stone in your
sling, - a good big one, - and let fly at that fat fellow with his
back toward you. I'll try to put an arrow into yon little pig."

"Don't you think we had better put them up first?" I whispered; "it
seems cruel to kill them while asleep."

"If I wanted SPORT, Ralph, I would certainly set them up; but as we
only want PORK, we'll let them lie. Besides, we're not sure of
killing them; so, fire away."

Thus admonished, I slung my stone with so good aim that it went
bang against the hog's flank as if against the head of a drum; but
it had no other effect than that of causing the animal to start to