This done he began to examine himself to see how much he was hurt, and ended by seizing my axe and bounding back into the jungle, to hew and hack at the tree till we called him back.
“Big bunyip tree! Fro black fellow down,” he cried furiously. “Got um bana, though!” he exclaimed triumphantly, and turning to the big bunch he began to separate it into small ones, giving us each a portion to carry.
“I say, what’s these?” said Jack Penny, handling his bunch with a look of disgust.
“Bananas,” I said. “Splendid fruit food.”
“How do you know?” said Jack sourly. “There’s none in your garden at home.”
“My father has often told me about them,” I replied. “They are rich and nutritious, and—let’s try.”
I ended my description rather abruptly, for I was thirsty and hungry as well, and the presence of a highly flavoured fruit was not to be treated with contempt.
I cut off one then, and looking at Jack nodded, proceeded to peel it, and enjoyed the new sweet vegetable butter, flavoured with pear and honey, for the first time in my life.
“Is it good?” said Jack, dubiously.
“Splendid,” I said.