A keen craving for animal food had grown upon them, and they were not without some regretful thoughts at having permitted the dead gavial to drift out to sea.

Even from the carcass of the saurian they might have obtained steaks that, if not very dainty or delicate, would at least have been eatable.
Discouraged by their want of success, and still feeling feeble, they did not go out again that day, but remained resting under the tree.
While they were munching their evening meal--of durions, as the dinner had been--the Malay commenced discoursing upon eggs, which set them all thinking about them.

If they only had a few, it would be just the very thing to nourish and give them strength.

But where were the eggs to be obtained?
This was the question asked him by the Irishman, who could at that moment have eaten a dozen, boiled, fried, poached, in omelette, or even, as he said himself, have "sucked" them.
"Iggs indade!" he exclaimed, as Saloo made mention of the article; "I'd loike to see one, an could ate a basketful of them, if they were as big as swans'.

What puts iggs in your head, nigger ?" "Eggs no long way off," rejoined the Malay.