Chapter Seven - Page 2

capacious
receptacle, he first brought to light about a pound of tobacco,
whose component parts still adhered together, the whole outside
being covered with soft particles of sea-bread. Wet and
dripping, it had the appearance of having been just recovered
from the bottom of the sea. But I paid slight attention to a
substance of so little value to us in our present situation, as
soon as I perceived the indications it gave of Toby's foresight
in laying in a supply of food for the expedition.

I eagerly inquired what quantity he had brought with him, when
rummaging once more beneath his garment, he produced a small
handful of something so soft, pulpy, and discoloured, that for a
few moments he was as much puzzled as myself to tell by what
possible instrumentality such a villainous compound had become
engendered in his bosom. I can only describe it as a hash of
soaked bread and bits of tobacco, brought to a doughy consistency
by the united agency of perspiration and rain. But repulsive as
it might otherwise have been, I now regarded it as an invaluable
treasure, and proceeded with great care to transfer this
paste-like mass to a large leaf which I had plucked from a bush
beside me. Toby informed me that in the morning he had placed
two whole biscuits in his bosom, with a view of munching them,
should he feel so inclined, during our flight. These were now
reduced to the equivocal substance which I had just placed on the
leaf.

Another dive into the frock brought to view some four or five
yards of calico print, whose tasteful pattern was rather
disfigured by the yellow stains of the tobacco with which it had
been brought in contact. In drawing this calico slowly from his
bosom inch by inch, Toby reminded me of a juggler performing the
feat of the endless ribbon. The next cast was a small one, being
a sailor's little 'ditty bag', containing needles, thread, and
other sewing utensils, then came a razor-case, followed by two or
three separate plugs of negro-head, which were fished up from the
bottom of the now empty receptacle. These various matters, being
inspected, I produced the few things which I had myself brought.

As might have been anticipated from the state of my companion's
edible supplies, I found my own in a deplorable condition, and
diminished to a quantity that would not have formed half a dozen
mouthfuls for a hungry man who was partial enough to tobacco not
to mind swallowing it. A few morsels of bread, with a fathom or
two of white cotton cloth, and several pounds of choice pigtail,
composed the extent of my possessions.

Our joint stock of miscellaneous articles were now made up into a
compact bundle, which it was agreed we should carry alternately.
But