Nep had already dug a deep hole, and on looking into it, his master saw, to his surprise and satisfaction, a number of eggs as large as those of a swan, of a red brick colour. Stooping down, he eagerly picked up one of them, which he broke and found that it was perfectly sweet. Here was a storehouse, which would supply him with an abundance of excellent food. Having collected as many eggs as he could carry in his handkerchief, calling Nep, who seemed in no way disposed to leave the treasure, he set off for his cave. Making up his fire, he put three of his eggs under the ashes to cook, the only way he could think of to dress them, while he ate a portion of the one he had broken, which, though raw, was palatable, and contributed to allay the pangs of hunger. The remainder he gave to Nep, who eagerly gobbled it up, showing how hungry he had become. That the eggs were laid by birds, he had no doubt, though of what species they were he was unable to determine. He resolved, however, to return next morning, and to wait near the spot, supposing that they must be large birds, and that he should be able to kill one, which would afford him ample food for a day or two. "I shall then be as well off as that fellow Hargrave," he thought to himself, "and I at all events shall be independent of him." Having finished his supper, he commenced making a bow. One only of the sticks appeared suitable for the purpose. On bending it, back it sprang with considerable force. While still working away by the light of his waning fire, sleep so completely overpowered him, that he let fall his knife, and the stick of his bow by his side, while his head bent down over his breast. When he awoke, his fire was almost out, and as he could see to work no more, he crept back into his cave, where he lay down to sleep, with Nep, as usual, by his side. CHAPTER TWELVE. A TRYING TIME--THE FATAL CRASH--BEN RUDALL'S LAST EFFORT--AMONG THE BREAKERS--THROWN ON SHORE--THE FIRST SHELTER--THE CARPENTER'S CHEST-- SETTING TRAPS--A VERY SATISFACTORY MEAL--VISIT OF NEP--A PRESENT FOR LORD REGINALD--DICK BUILDING HIS HUT--MEETING OF THE RIVAL CRUSOES-- SUPPLIES STOPPED--COLLECTING STORES--BOAT-BUILDING--USEFUL EMPLOYMENT OF TIME--CONSTRUCTING A COT--THE MEGAPODES--A CROSSBOW. We must now go back to the night of the shipwreck. Dick, with Ben Rudall and several other men, had been stationed forward, and remained at their posts when land was first seen under the lee. "There'll be a watery grave for most of us," said Ben when the cry arose of "Land, land!" often so cheering to seamen, but on the present occasion of such dreadful import. "We must have a struggle for our lives, at all events," said Dick. "Better than going down in mid-ocean, without a plank to cling to."