These important projects must be carried out during the good weather. Consequently, in view of these future arrangements, it was important to undertake a reconnoissance into the unexplored part of Lincoln Island, to wit:—the high forests which extended along the right bank of the Mercy, from its mouth to the end of Serpentine Peninsula. But they must be sure of their weather, and a month must yet elapse before it would be worth while to undertake this exploration. While they were waiting impatiently, an incident occurred which redoubled their anxiety to examine the whole island. It was now the 24th of October. On this day Pencroff went to look after his traps which he always kept duly baited. In one of them, he found three animals, of a sort welcome to the kitchen. It was a female peccary with her two little ones. Pencroff returned to Granite House, delighted with his prize, and, as usual, made a great talk about it. “Now, we’ll have a good meal, Mr Smith,” cried he, “and you too, Mr. Spilett, must have some.” “I shall be delighted,” said the reporter, “but what is it you want me to eat?” “Sucking pig,” said Pencroff. “Oh, a suckling-pig! To hear you talk one would think you had brought back a stuffed partridge!” “Umph,” said Pencroff, “so you turn up your nose at my suckling pig?” “No,” answered Spilett coolly, “provided one does not get too much of them—” “Very well, Mr. Reporter!” returned the sailor, who did not like to hear his game disparaged. “You are getting fastidious! Seven months ago, when we were cast upon this island, you would have been only too glad to have come across such game.” “Well, well,” said the reporter, “men are never satisfied.” “And now,” continued Pencroff, “I hope Neb will distinguish himself. Let us see; these little peccaries are only three months old, they will be as tender as quail. Come, Neb, I will superintend the cooking of them myself.” The sailor, followed by Neb, hastened to the kitchen, and was soon absorbed over the oven. The two prepared a magnificent repast; the two little peccaries, kangaroo soup, smoked ham, pistachio nuts, dragon-tree wine, Oswego tea; in a word, everything of the best. But the favorite dish of all was the savory peccaries made into a stew. At 5 o’clock, dinner was served in the dining-room of Granite House. The kangaroo soup smoked upon the table. It was pronounced excellent. After the soup came the peccaries, which Pencroff begged to be allowed to carve, and of which he gave huge pieces to every one. These suckling pigs were indeed delicious, and Pencroff plied his knife and fork with intense earnestness, when suddenly a cry and an oath escaped him. “What’s the matter?” said Smith. “The matter is that I have just lost a tooth!” replied the sailor. “Are there pebbles in your peccaries, then?” said Spilett. “It seems so,” said the sailor, taking out of his mouth the object which had cost him a grinder. It was not a pebble, it was a leaden pellet.