Page 280 - Child's own book

Having b}' the loaves (which they tore off) found some of the
eamc^ ho dug them up, and carried them to hjj barrack, where
hf broiled a slice of iiis fish, and in the ashes roasted them ; they
ate something like chesnuts dime in the same manner. As
soon as he had dined, he went out to dig up a pood quantity. In
his way, he saw a tortoise crawling before him. "f Heaven itc
praised!” said he, ‘‘ here is what will supply me both with
victuals and a utensil to dress it in; ‘ he ran therefore and
turned it on its back to prevent its getting away, whilst he went
for his hatchet to separate the hnttetn shell from the top, in
order to make a keltic of the deepest, and a dish of the flat
part. Being provided with a boiling utensil, he often had a
change, by means of ihose admirable roots \ some of which he
roasted for bread, others he boiled with salt cod. Being pTO*
vided with the most necessary furniture, he thought on more
conveniences, resolving to make himself a table to eat his
victuals Upon, and a chair to sit on ; these, after two or three
days’ hard labour, be completed ; nnd> aa winter was coming on,
he made another longer hut thinner mat to cover him. That
care being over, another succecds, but of far greater moment:
Here ia a dwelling," said he, iL to shelter me from the
weather, and a bed to rest this poor body of mine; but where
U the fond to support it V' At last he resolved to make pro­
vision of those excellent roots, and with his hatchet cut a piece
of tree, wherewith he made a shovel, in order to dig (hem up
with mnrc ease, With this instrument, he went to the place,
which being near the monkeys' quarters^ they came down off
the trees in great numbers, grinning as if they would have
flown at him.
Having stood a considerable lime, those animals seeing he
did not go forward, rath went and snatchcd enough for itself;
giving him an opportunity of digging a few for himself; and as
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