The entire process did not take more than two minutes.
For our supper, he gathered a few plantains and laid them on the fire.

I profited by the opportunity to dry my clothes, by sitting down near the fire, and turning first one side towards it, and then the other.

Half wet through, and tolerably fatigued, I retired to my couch of dry leaves immediately after partaking of our scanty meal.
It is a fortunate circumstance that in these wild and remote districts neither men nor beasts afford the slightest grounds for apprehension; the former are very quiet and peaceably inclined, and, with the exception of a few wild boars, the latter are not dangerous.

The island is especially favoured; it contains no poisonous or hurtful insects or reptiles.

It is true there are a few scorpions, but so small and harmless, that they may be handled with impunity.