Palms, shrubs, and creepers were mingled with the trees in grand confusion, and this scene, in the glowing sunshine, was indescribably beautiful.
The professor saw a cocoanut palm, and, knocking off some of the fruit, gave it to the boys, who pronounced it delicious.
"Now," he said, "we will shoot something and dine as we have not dined for a long time."
"I've some salt in my pocket, and Stump has knives," remarked Carl.
"It looks to me," said Mont, "as if we were likely to have a sirloin of tiger for dinner; that forest ought to be full of wild beasts."
"No matter," answered Carl, "anything's better than fish. Come on."
They skirted the forest, fearing to enter it lest they might lose themselves in its dense interior.
Keeping their guns ready for instant action, they proceeded about half a mile, when the professor held up his hand.
In front of them was a large breadfruit tree, and under its branches was a wild boar, engaged in eating the tender fruit which had fallen to the ground.
"Approach gently, and fire all together," said the professor.