He moved again in a circuit about the cabin, watching carefully, and now and then looking up among the trees.  Perhaps an opossum might be hanging from a bough!  But he saw nothing until he widened his circuit, and then he ran directly into the myriads of wild pigeons.  Here was food for an army, and he quickly secured plenty of it.  The danger of the rifle report was gone, as he had nothing to do but take a stick and knock off a bough as many of the pigeons as he wished.  Then he hastened back to the cabin with his welcome burden.  Paul still slept, and it pleased Henry to give him a surprise.  He kindled the fire afresh, cleaned two of the youngest, fattest, and tenderest of the pigeons, and began to boil them in the pot.

When the water simmered and pleasant odors arose, he was afraid that Paul would awake, as he turned once or twice on his bed and spoke a few incoherent words.  But he continued to sleep, nevertheless, and at last the pigeon stew was ready, throwing out a savory odor.

The day was now coming, and Henry opened the window.  The forest, wet with morning dew, was rising up into the light, and afar in the east shone the golden glory of the sun.  He drew a deep breath of the fresh, good air, and decided to leave the window open.  Then he filled the broken gourd with the grateful stew, and, holding it in his right hand, shook Paul violently with his left.  Paul, who had now slept his fill, sat up suddenly and opened his eyes.

“Here, Paul, open your mouth,” said Henry commandingly, “and take this fine stew.  Dr. Ware has prepared it for you specially, and it is sure to bring hack your strength and spirits.  And there’s plenty more of it.”

Paul sniffed hungrily, and his eyes opened wider and wider.

“Why—­why, Henry!” he exclaimed.  “How long have I slept, and where did you get this?”

“You’ve slept about twenty hours, more or less,” replied Henry, laughing with satisfaction, “and this is wild pigeon stew.  Fifteen or twenty millions roosted out there in the forest last night, and they won’t miss the dozen or so that I’ve taken.  Here, hurry up; I’m hungry, and it’s my turn next.”

Paul said no more, but, thankful enough, took the stew and ate it.  Then, by turns, they used the broken gourd and ate prodigiously, varied by drinks from the water barrel.  They had fasted long, they had undergone great exertions, and it took much to remove the sharp edge from their appetites.  But it was done at last, and they rested content.

“Henry,” said Paul, upon whose mind the fortunate advent of the wild pigeons made a deep impression, “while we have had great mischances, it seems to me also that we have been much favored by Providence.  Our finding of this cabin was just in time, and then came the pigeons as if specially for us.  You remember in the Bible how the Lord sent the manna in the wilderness for the Israelites; it seems to me that He’s doing the same thing for us.”