Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/191

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CAST ASHORE ON AN ISLAND
163

at once; but the shelter under the cliff afforded a little, and with this he started a blaze, and soon had a roaring fire, upon one edge of which he erected a flat stone, which soon became hot enough to use for a rude pan for his fish.

It was the welcome smell of something to eat which aroused Larry quite as much as anything else. He sat up, rubbed his eyes in astonishment, and leaped to his feet.

"A fire, and a fish frying!" he cried. "That is a welcome sight to a fellow as hungry as I am! How did you catch him, Luke?"

"It was pure luck, Larry," answered the sailor, and told his story. "The fish will be done to a turn in a few minutes, and then we can eat our fill; and I'll warrant you'll find it fine eating, and not altogether because you're so hungry, either."

"I could eat anything," was the reply. And when they sat down in the shade,—for the sun was growing hot,—Larry declared he had never tasted anything better. The flesh of the coryphene was as sweet as a nut, and they ate and ate, until little more than the bones was left.