He was much weakened though and neither of them had
thought it safe to attempt to seek the coast until he had fully
regained his old-time strength.
So far but little had occurred to give them alarm. Twice
they had seen natives on the mainland--evidently hunting
parties; but no sign of pursuit had developed. Those whom
they had seen had been pure-blood Malays--there had been
no samurai among them; but their savage, warlike appearance
had warned the two against revealing their presence.
They had subsisted upon fish and fruit principally since
they had come to the island. Occasionally this diet had been
relieved by messes of wild fowl and fox that Byrne had been
successful in snaring with a primitive trap of his own invention;
but lately the prey had become wary, and even the fish
seemed less plentiful. After two days of fruit diet, Byrne
announced his intention of undertaking a hunting trip upon
the mainland.
"A mess of venison wouldn't taste half bad," he remarked.
"Yes," cried the girl, "I'm nearly famished for meat--it
seems as though I could almost eat it raw."
"I know that I could," stated Billy. "Lord help the deer
that gets within range of this old gat of Theriere's, and you
may not get even a mouthful--I'm that hungry I'll probably
eat it all, hoof, hide, and horns, before ever I get any of it
back here to you.
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