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136 generally eaten," replied Walter. "But we can be thankful to have anything, and I must say for myself that I am so hungry I could almost eat sole leather." And he fell to with a hearty good will on one of the drumsticks, while Si gnawed away at the other. The meal lasted for over an hour, yet when they were done, fully a half of the cormorant remained. The fish was more tender and disappeared like magic.

"We can save this for to-morrow," remarked Si, on finishing the novel repast. And the balance of the bird was wrapped in fresh leaves and rewound with vines. By this time night was again upon them, and they concluded to remain where they were until daybreak. The fire was replenished, and they huddled in the shelter of the rocks, to watch the blaze and talk over their situation.

"We are in a hole—no two ways about it," was Si's comment. "What to do I don't know. If I thought the Central would come back for us, I'd stay right where I am."

"It's quite likely those on board think us dead, or in the hands of the rebels, and if that's so, they won't come back."

"Then we are doomed, Walter!"