the use of the colony. An enclosure for the domestic animals, a poultry-yard for the birds, in a word to establish a sort of farm in the island, such were the two important projects for the fine season.
In consequence and in view of these future establishments, it became of much importance that they should penetrate into all the yet unknown parts of Lincoln Island, that is to say, through that thick forest which extended on the right bank of the Mercy, from its mouth to the extremity of the Serpentine peninsula, as well as on the whole of its western side. But this needed settled weather, and a month must pass before this exploration could be profitably undertaken.
They therefore waited with some impatience, when a startling incident occurred which increased the desire the settlers had to visit the whole of their domain.
It was the 24th of October. On this day, Pencroft had gone to visit his traps, which he always kept properly baited. In one of them he found three animals which would be very welcome for the larder. They were a female peccary and her two young ones.
Pencroft returned to Granite House, enchanted with his capture, and as usual, he made a great show of his game.
"Come, we shall have a grand feast, captain!" he exclaimed. "And you too, Mr. Spilett, will eat some!"
"I shall be very happy," replied the reporter; "but what is it that I am going to eat?"
"Sucking-pig."
"Oh indeed, sucking-pig, Pencroft? To hear you, I thought that you were bringing back a young partridge stuffed with truffles!"
"What?" cried Pencroft. "Do you mean to say that you turn up your nose at sucking-pig?"
"No," replied Gideon Spilett, without showing any enthusiasm; "provided one doesn't eat too much———"
"That's right, that's right," returned the sailor, who was not pleased whenever he heard his chase made light of. "You like to make objections. Seven months ago, when we landed on the island, you would have been only too glad to have met with such game!"
"Well, well," replied the reporter, "man is never perfect, nor contented."
