It was a piece of bacon.

True, it did not weigh many ounces, but small as it was it would suffice to alleviate the pangs of hunger for one day at least.

I was just on the point of raising it to my mouth, when a hand was laid upon my arm.

It was only by a most determined effort that I kept myself from screaming out one instant more, and I found myself face to face with Hobart.
In a moment I understood all.

Plainly this rascal Hobart had saved some provision from the wreck, upon which he had been subsisting ever since.
The steward had provided for himself, whilst all around him were dying of starvation.