You've moved everything but the provisions, and you've forgotten them entirely." Master Tom admitted the grievousness of his fault and returned at once to the drift cavern after the forgotten provision pack.

The bread, as they all knew, was long ago exhausted, but plenty of meat remained, and this Tom presently brought.

When he opened the pack a disagreeable odor spread itself at once over the little room.
"Phew! what's that ?" said Tom, and putting his nose to the meat, he looked up in blank consternation, saying: "The meat is spoiled, Sam! What on earth shall we do ?" The case was an alarming one certainly.

They were hungry, and Sam, whose returning health had brought with it a ravenous appetite, was particularly so.

He needed wholesome, nourishing food now more than anything else, as he knew.
"Well," he said, after thinking the matter over, "it can't be helped.
There's nothing for it but to fall back on sweet potatoes till I get strong enough to go hunting.