"That fish, or mollusc as the naturalists would call it, was undoubtedly something of the whelk family; and if you can only find some of them large enough to cut up in slices, we shall have nothing to ear as to a supply of india-rubber shoe-soles.

I've had some experience of contract beef in the army; but that is calves'-foot jelly compared to Mark's whelk." "I thought it would be a delicacy, sir," said Mark, whose ears were particularly red as he saw Mary laughing.
"And I thought it was a trick," said the major; "so, after wriggling the monster out with my penknife and trying it fairly, I gave it to Mark's dog, and he has looked very unwell ever since." The major's high spirits, and the calm matter-of-fact way in which his wife and daughter bore their privations, had an influence on the rest of the party, the captain looking less troubled, and Mr Gregory less serious.

As for the sailors, they appeared to be quite enjoying themselves and treating the whole as a kind of picnic.
But there was plenty of work to be done, for as soon as the captain had seen to the two wounded men, who were able to talk now feebly, but without a trace of delirium, he began to make his plans, talking the matters over with the major and the mate; while the men, pending instructions, cut off all the cocoa-nut leaves to lay to dry, and gathered plenty of fuel for the cooking fire, whose place Small decided ought to be in a nook among some rocks, where it would be sheltered from the wind, and the rocks would grow heated and help the roasting or baking.
"It is gloriously fine now," the captain commenced by saying; "and one of the first things we ought to do is to provide a kind of hut or shed against the tremendous showers we are sure to have before long." "My dear Strong," said the major, "I'm ready for anything, from shooting savages to cutting down trees." "Then take your gun," said the captain, "and shoot a few savages, only keep yourself to the smaller inhabitants of the place, as we are not cannibals." "Can I have Mark for my game-bearer ?" said the major; and the lad darted a grateful look at him.
"I was going to propose that he should take a gun and go with you," said the captain.

"He can catch a fish, and the sooner he can shoot us food the better.

But be careful, my lad, and don't waste powder." "I'll drill him," said the major; "and, by the way, would it not be as well to hoist something in the shape of colours on the top of the highest tree one of the men can mount ?" "I had planned that too," said the captain.