noon
Both of us were determined to make the best of what had happened ; so , having eaten our breakfast , and packed up the remainder of our provisions , we recommenced our march forward . Mike insisted on our encamping early in the day , so that he might search for food ; and before dark he had procured a supply of the same description as that on which we had been living for several days . The next morning we went on as before , and I felt my strength considerably restored . Soon after noon , having reached the summit of a height , we saw before us a wide river , connected with a series of small lakes , their borders apparently deeply fringed with tall grass . This , Mike said , he believed must be rice , and it would afford us a change of diet if we could procure some ; we accordingly made our way down towards the nearest . We thought , also , that we might catch some unwary ducks , if they were not accustomed to the sight of human beings . On getting close to the borders , we fancied we heard some sounds from a brood of ducklings .