CHAPTER TEN.
BURROWING BIRDS.
The fruit diet, however delicious, was not strengthening.

Saloo said so, and Murtagh agreed with him.

The Irishman declared he would rather have a meal of plain "purtatees and buttermilk," though a bit of bacon, or even ship's "junk," would be more desirable.
All agreed that a morsel of meat--whether salted or fresh--would be highly beneficial; indeed, almost necessary to the complete restoration of their strength.
How was animal food to be procured?
The forest, so far as Captain Redwood had explored it, seemed altogether untenanted by living creature.

He had now been tramping for upwards of an hour among the trees without seeing either bird or quadruped.

And although there were fish in the stream, and should have been shell-fish along the sea-beach, neither Murtagh nor Saloo had succeeded in procuring any.