It must be mentioned here, that during these works, which were actively conducted, for the bad season was approaching, the alimentary question was not neglected.  Every day, the reporter and Herbert, who had been voted purveyors to the colony, devoted some hours to the chase.  As yet, they only hunted in Jacamar Wood, on the left of the river, because, for want of a bridge or boat, the Mercy had not yet been crossed.  All the immense woods, to which the name of the Forests of the Far West had been given, were not explored.  They reserved this important excursion for the first fine days of the next spring.  But Jacamar Wood was full of game; kangaroos and boars abounded, and the hunters iron-tipped spears and bows and arrows did wonders.  Besides, Herbert discovered towards the southwest point of the lagoon a natural warren, a slightly damp meadow, covered with willows and aromatic herbs which scented the air, such as thyme, basil, savory, all the sweet-scented species of the labiated plants, which the rabbits appeared to be particularly fond of.

On the reporter observing that since the table was spread for the rabbits, it was strange that the rabbits themselves should be wanting, the two sportsmen carefully explored the warren.  At any rate, it produced an abundance of useful plants, and a naturalist would have had a good opportunity of studying many specimens of the vegetable kingdom.  Herbert gathered several shoots of the basil, rosemary, balm, betony, etc., which possess different medicinal properties, some pectoral, astringent, febrifuge, others anti-spasmodic, or anti-rheumatic.  When, afterwards, Pencroft asked the use of this collection of herbs,—­

“For medicine,” replied the lad, “to treat us when we are ill.”

“Why should we be ill, since there are no doctors in the island?” asked Pencroft quite seriously.

There was no reply to be made to that, but the lad went on with his collection all the same, and it was well received at Granite House.  Besides these medicinal herbs, he added a plant known in North America as “Oswego tea,” which made an excellent beverage.

At last, by searching thoroughly, the hunters arrived at the real site of the warren.  There the ground was perforated like a sieve.

“Here are the burrows!” cried Herbert.

“Yes,” replied the reporter, “so I see.”

“But are they inhabited?”

“That is the question.”

This was soon answered.  Almost immediately, hundreds of little animals, similar to rabbits, fled in every direction, with such rapidity that even Top could not overtake them.  Hunters and dog ran in vain; these rodents escaped them easily.  But the reporter resolved not to leave the place, until he had captured at least half-a-dozen of the quadrupeds.  He wished to stock their larder first, and domesticate those which they might take later.  It would not have been difficult to do this, with a few snares stretched at the openings of the burrows.  But at this moment they had neither snares, nor anything to make them of.  They must, therefore, be satisfied with visiting each hole, and rummaging in it with a stick, hoping by dint of patience to do what could not be done in any other way.