He nods at Raju's explanation and follows his gesture toward the notebook, definitely interested in the idea. Foraging is something that sounds like it would be both a useful and potentially entertaining way to spend time, as it involves exploring, but again it's something that will likely have to wait until James has recovered a little further. He's entirely willing to push himself, even to extremes when necessary, but he does have enough sense not to risk overexerting himself in the distant woods somewhere alone. For now, anyway.

He makes a mental note to ask Raju about both the notes and the books he mentioned, and can't help but give a small grin at the mention that Jopson had somehow managed to make bread out of acorns. Of course he had. That certainly sounds like Jopson, and James nods at Francis' comment about not comparing oneself to the steward-turned-lieutenant. It's truly is for the best not to do such a thing, no matter who one is.

James draws his attention back toward Francis when he looks across at him, eyebrows furrowing slightly at those last comments, but he doesn't respond immediately. There's a lot in those few statements, and James isn't sure which--if any--he wants to approach at the moment, especially in front of a third party, but the subject has been one on his mind and therefore very difficult to pass up the given opportunity to address.

"The others do seem... Scattered." He phrases it carefully, neutrally, not wanting to put any sort of blame on them or on Francis, but it's something that had stood out to him. He'd thought that it was perhaps a natural dispersion, the type that happened after an expedition or commission was finished, but what Francis said makes him wonder if that isn't the case. Had they wanted some sort of organization and leadership? And if so, had Francis refused, and why?