The Coral Island A Tale of The Pacific Ocean: R. M. Ballantyne Project Gutenberg

TheCoralIsland
ATaleofthePacificOcean
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R.M.Ballantyne
ProjectGutenberg
EBSCO Publishing : eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) - printed on 7/31/2017 11:59 AM via UNIVERSIDAD EUROPEA DE MADRID
AN: 1069400 ; Ballantyne, R. M..; The Coral Island : A Tale of the Pacific Ocean
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Preface
IwasaboywhenIwentthroughthewonderfuladventureshereinsetdown.Withthememoryofmyboyishfeelingsstronguponme,Ipresentmybookspeciallyto
boys,intheearnesthopethattheymayderivevaluableinformation,muchpleasure,greatprofit,andunboundedamusementfromitspages.
Onewordmore.Ifthereisanyboyormanwholovestobemelancholyandmorose,andwhocannotenterwithkindlysympathyintotheregionsoffun,letme
seriouslyadvisehimtoshutmybookandputitaway.Itisnotmeantforhim.
RALPHROVER
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CHAPTERI.
ThebeginningMyearlylifeandcharacterIthirstforadventureinforeignlandsandgotosea.
ROVINGhasalwaysbeen,andstillis,myrulingpassion,thejoyofmyheart,theverysunshineofmyexistence.Inchildhood,inboyhood,andinman'sestate,I
havebeenarovernotamererambleramongthewoodyglensanduponthehilltopsofmyownnativeland,butanenthusiasticroverthroughoutthelengthand
breadthofthewidewideworld.
Itwasawild,blacknightofhowlingstorm,thenightinwhichIwasbornonthefoamingbosomofthebroadAtlanticOcean.Myfatherwasaseacaptainmy
grandfatherwasaseacaptainmygreatgrandfatherhadbeenamarine.NobodycouldtellpositivelywhatoccupationHISfatherhadfollowedbutmydearmother
usedtoassertthathehadbeenamidshipman,whosegrandfather,onthemother'sside,hadbeenanadmiralintheroyalnavy.Atanyrateweknewthat,asfar
backasourfamilycouldbetraced,ithadbeenintimatelyconnectedwiththegreatwaterywaste.Indeedthiswasthecaseonbothsidesofthehouseformymother
alwayswenttoseawithmyfatheronhislongvoyages,andsospentthegreaterpartofherlifeuponthewater.
Thusitwas,Isuppose,thatIcametoinheritarovingdisposition.SoonafterIwasborn,myfather,beingold,retiredfromaseafaringlife,purchasedasmallcottage
inafishingvillageonthewestcoastofEngland,andsettleddowntospendtheeveningofhislifeontheshoresofthatseawhichhadforsomanyyearsbeenhis
home.ItwasnotlongafterthisthatIbegantoshowtherovingspiritthatdweltwithinme.Forsometimepastmyinfantlegshadbeengainingstrength,sothatI
cametobedissatisfiedwithrubbingtheskinoffmychubbykneesbywalkingonthem,andmademanyattemptstostandupandwalklikeamanallofwhich
attempts,however,resultedinmysittingdownviolentlyandinsuddensurprise.OnedayItookadvantageofmydearmother'sabsencetomakeanothereffortand,
tomyjoy,Iactuallysucceededinreachingthedoorstep,overwhichItumbledintoapoolofmuddywaterthatlaybeforemyfather'scottagedoor.Ah,howvividly
Irememberthehorrorofmypoormotherwhenshefoundmeswelteringinthemudamongstagroupofcacklingducks,andthetendernesswithwhichshestripped
offmydrippingclothesandwashedmydirtylittlebody!Fromthistimeforthmyramblesbecamemorefrequent,and,asIgrewolder,moredistant,untilatlastI
hadwanderedfarandnearontheshoreandinthewoodsaroundourhumbledwelling,anddidnotrestcontentuntilmyfatherboundmeapprenticetoacoasting
vessel,andletmegotosea.
ForsomeyearsIwashappyinvisitingtheseaports,andincoastingalongtheshoresofmynativeland.MyChristiannamewasRalph,andmycomradesaddedto
thisthenameofRover,inconsequenceofthepassionwhichIalwaysevincedfortravelling.Roverwasnotmyrealname,butasIneverreceivedanyotherIcame
atlasttoanswertoitasnaturallyastomypropernameand,asitisnotabadone,IseenogoodreasonwhyIshouldnotintroducemyselftothereaderasRalph
Rover.Myshipmateswerekind,goodnaturedfellows,andtheyandIgotonverywelltogether.Theydid,indeed,veryfrequentlymakegameofandbanterme,
butnotunkindlyandIoverheardthemsometimessayingthatRalphRoverwasa"queer,oldfashionedfellow."This,Imustconfess,surprisedmemuch,andI
ponderedthesayinglong,butcouldcomeatnosatisfactoryconclusionastothatwhereinmyoldfashionednesslay.ItistrueIwasaquietlad,andseldomspoke
exceptwhenspokento.Moreover,Inevercouldunderstandthejokesofmycompanionsevenwhentheywereexplainedtome:whichdulnessinapprehension
occasionedmemuchgriefhowever,ItriedtomakeupforitbysmilingandlookingpleasedwhenIobservedthattheywerelaughingatsomewitticismwhichIhad
failedtodetect.Iwasalsoveryfondofinquiringintothenatureofthingsandtheircauses,andoftenfellintofitsofabstractionwhilethusengagedinmymind.But
inallthisIsawnothingthatdidnotseemtobeexceedinglynatural,andcouldbynomeansunderstandwhymycomradesshouldcallme"anoldfashionedfellow."
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Now,whileengagedinthecoastingtrade,IfellinwithmanyseamenwhohadtravelledtoalmosteveryquarteroftheglobeandIfreelyconfessthatmyheart
glowedardentlywithinmeastheyrecountedtheirwildadventuresinforeignlands, thedreadfulstormstheyhadweathered,theappallingdangerstheyhad
escaped,thewonderfulcreaturestheyhadseenbothonthelandandinthesea,andtheinterestinglandsandstrangepeopletheyhadvisited.Butofalltheplacesof
whichtheytoldme,nonecaptivatedandcharmedmyimaginationsomuchastheCoralIslandsoftheSouthernSeas.Theytoldmeofthousandsofbeautifulfertile
islandsthathadbeenformedbyasmallcreaturecalledthecoralinsect,wheresummerreignednearlyalltheyearround, wherethetreeswereladenwitha
constantharvestofluxuriantfruit,wheretheclimatewasalmostperpetuallydelightful,yetwhere,strangetosay,menwerewild,bloodthirstysavages,exceptingin
thosefavouredislestowhichthegospelofourSaviourhadbeenconveyed.Theseexcitingaccountshadsogreataneffectuponmymind,that,whenIreachedthe
ageoffifteen,IresolvedtomakeavoyagetotheSouthSeas.
IhadnolittledifficultyatfirstinprevailingonmydearparentstoletmegobutwhenIurgedonmyfatherthathewouldneverhavebecomeagreatcaptainhadhe
remainedinthecoastingtrade,hesawthetruthofwhatIsaid,andgavehisconsent.Mydearmother,seeingthatmyfatherhadmadeuphismind,nolonger
offeredoppositiontomywishes."Butoh,Ralph,"shesaid,onthedayIbadeheradieu,"comebacksoontous,mydearboy,forwearegettingoldnow,Ralph,
andmaynothavemanyyearstolive."
Iwillnottakeupmyreader'stimewithaminuteaccountofallthatoccurredbeforeItookmyfinalleaveofmydearparents.Sufficeittosay,thatmyfatherplaced
meunderthechargeofanoldmessmateofhisown,amerchantcaptain,whowasonthepointofsailingtotheSouthSeasinhisownship,theArrow.Mymother
gavemeherblessingandasmallBibleandherlastrequestwas,thatIwouldneverforgettoreadachaptereveryday,andsaymyprayerswhichIpromised,with
tearsinmyeyes,thatIwouldcertainlydo.
SoonafterwardsIwentonboardtheArrow,whichwasafinelargeship,andsetsailfortheislandsofthePacificOcean.
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CHAPTERII.
ThedepartureTheseaMycompanionsSomeaccountofthewonderfulsightswesawonthegreatdeepAdreadfulstormandafrightfulwreck.
ITwasabright,beautiful,warmdaywhenourshipspreadhercanvasstothebreeze,andsailedfortheregionsofthesouth.Oh,howmyheartboundedwithdelight
asIlistenedtothemerrychorusofthesailors,whiletheyhauledattheropesandgotintheanchor!Thecaptainshoutedthemenrantoobeythenobleshipbent
overtothebreeze,andtheshoregraduallyfadedfrommyview,whileIstoodlookingonwithakindoffeelingthatthewholewasadelightfuldream.
ThefirstthingthatstruckmeasbeingdifferentfromanythingIhadyetseenduringmyshortcareeronthesea,wasthehoistingoftheanchorondeck,andlashingit
firmlydownwithropes,asifwehadnowbidadieutothelandforever,andwouldrequireitsservicesnomore.
"There,lass,"criedabroadshoulderedjacktar,givingtheflukeoftheanchoraheartyslapwithhishandafterthehousingwascompleted"there,lass,takeagood
napnow,forweshan'taskyoutokissthemudagainformanyalongdaytocome!"
Andsoitwas.Thatanchordidnot"kissthemud"formanylongdaysafterwardsandwhenatlastitdid,itwasforthelasttime!
Therewereanumberofboysintheship,buttwoofthemweremyspecialfavourites.JackMartinwasatall,strapping,broadshoulderedyouthofeighteen,witha
handsome,goodhumoured,firmface.Hehadhadagoodeducation,wascleverandheartyandlionlikeinhisactions,butmildandquietindisposition.Jackwasa
generalfavourite,andhadapeculiarfondnessforme.MyothercompanionwasPeterkinGay.Hewaslittle,quick,funny,decidedlymischievous,andabout
fourteenyearsold.ButPeterkin'smischiefwasalmostalwaysharmless,elsehecouldnothavebeensomuchbelovedashewas.
"Hallo!youngster,"criedJackMartin,givingmeaslapontheshoulder,thedayIjoinedtheship,"comebelowandI'llshowyouyourberth.YouandIaretobe
messmates,andIthinkweshallbegoodfriends,forIlikethelooko'you."
Jackwasright.HeandIandPeterkinafterwardsbecamethebestandstanchestfriendsthatevertossedtogetheronthestormywaves.
Ishallsaylittleaboutthefirstpartofourvoyage.Wehadtheusualamountofroughweatherandcalmalsowesawmanystrangefishrollinginthesea,andIwas
greatlydelightedonedaybyseeingashoalofflyingfishdartoutofthewaterandskimthroughtheairaboutafootabovethesurface.Theywerepursuedby
dolphins,whichfeedonthem,andoneflyingfishinitsterrorflewovertheship,struckontherigging,andfelluponthedeck.Itswingswerejustfinselongated,and
wefoundthattheycouldneverflyfaratatime,andnevermountedintotheairlikebirds,butskimmedalongthesurfaceofthesea.JackandIhaditfordinner,and
founditremarkablygood.
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WhenweapproachedCapeHorn,atthesouthernextremityofAmerica,theweatherbecameverycoldandstormy,andthesailorsbegantotellstoriesaboutthe
furiousgalesandthedangersofthatterriblecape.
"CapeHorn,"saidone,"isthemosthorribleheadlandIeverdoubled.I'vesailedroundittwicealready,andbothtimestheshipwasa'mostblow'douto'thewater."
"An'I'vebeenrounditonce,"saidanother,"an'thattimethesailsweresplit,andtheropesfrozenintheblocks,sothattheywouldn'twork,andwewosallbutlost."
"An'I'vebeenrounditfivetimes,"criedathird,"an'everytimewoswussthananother,thegaleswossotreemendous!"
"AndI'vebeenrounditnotimesatall,"criedPeterkin,withanimpudentwinkofhiseye,"an'THATtimeIwosblow'dinsideout!"
Nevertheless,wepassedthedreadedcapewithoutmuchroughweather,and,inthecourseofafewweeksafterwards,weresailinggently,beforeawarmtropical
breeze,overthePacificOcean.Thusweproceededonourvoyage,sometimesboundingmerrilybeforeafairbreeze,atothertimesfloatingcalmlyontheglassy
waveandfishingforthecuriousinhabitantsofthedeep,allofwhich,althoughthesailorsthoughtlittleofthem,werestrange,andinteresting,andverywonderfulto
me.
AtlastwecameamongtheCoralIslandsofthePacific,andIshallneverforgetthedelightwithwhichIgazed,whenwechancedtopassone,atthepure,white,
dazzlingshores,andtheverdantpalmtrees,whichlookedbrightandbeautifulinthesunshine.Andoftendidwethreelongtobelandedonone,imaginingthatwe
shouldcertainlyfindperfecthappinessthere!Ourwishwasgrantedsoonerthanweexpected.
Onenight,soonafterweenteredthetropics,anawfulstormburstuponourship.Thefirstsquallofwindcarriedawaytwoofourmastsandleftonlytheforemast
standing.Eventhis,however,wasmorethanenough,forwedidnotdaretohoistaragofsailonit.Forfivedaysthetempestragedinallitsfury.Everythingwas
sweptoffthedecksexceptonesmallboat.Thesteersmanwaslashedtothewheel,lestheshouldbewashedaway,andweallgaveourselvesupforlost.The
captainsaidthathehadnoideawherewewere,aswehadbeenblownfaroutofourcourseandwefearedmuchthatwemightgetamongthedangerouscoral
reefswhicharesonumerousinthePacific.Atdaybreakonthesixthmorningofthegalewesawlandahead.Itwasanislandencircledbyareefofcoralonwhich
thewavesbrokeinfury.Therewascalmwaterwithinthisreef,butwecouldonlyseeonenarrowopeningintoit.Forthisopeningwesteered,but,erewereached
it,atremendouswavebrokeonourstern,toretheruddercompletelyoff,andleftusatthemercyofthewindsandwaves.
"It'salloverwithusnow,lads,"saidthecaptaintothemen"gettheboatreadytolaunchweshallbeontherocksinlessthanhalfanhour."
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Themenobeyedingloomysilence,fortheyfeltthattherewaslittlehopeofsosmallaboatlivinginsuchasea.
"Comeboys,"saidJackMartin,inagravetone,tomeandPeterkin,aswestoodonthequarterdeckawaitingourfate"Comeboys,wethreeshallsticktogether.
Youseeitisimpossiblethatthelittleboatcanreachtheshore,crowdedwithmen.Itwillbesuretoupset,soImeanrathertotrustmyselftoalargeoar,Isee
throughthetelescopethattheshipwillstrikeatthetailofthereef,wherethewavesbreakintothequietwaterinsideso,ifwemanagetoclingtotheoartillitis
drivenoverthebreakers,wemayperhapsgaintheshore.Whatsayyouwillyoujoinme?"
WegladlyagreedtofollowJack,forheinspireduswithconfidence,althoughIcouldperceive,bythesadtoneofhisvoice,thathehadlittlehopeand,indeed,when
Ilookedatthewhitewavesthatlashedthereefandboiledagainsttherocksasifinfury,Ifeltthattherewasbutastepbetweenusanddeath.Myheartsankwithin
mebutatthatmomentmythoughtsturnedtomybelovedmother,andIrememberedthosewords,whichwereamongthelastthatshesaidtome"Ralph,my
dearestchild,alwaysrememberinthehourofdangertolooktoyourLordandSaviourJesusChrist.Healoneisbothableandwillingtosaveyourbodyandyour
soul."SoIfeltmuchcomfortedwhenIthoughtthereon.
Theshipwasnowveryneartherocks.Themenwerereadywiththeboat,andthecaptainbesidethemgivingorders,whenatremendouswavecametowardsus.
Wethreerantowardsthebowtolayholdofouroar,andhadbarelyreacheditwhenthewavefellonthedeckwithacrashlikethunder.Atthesamemomentthe
shipstruck,theforemastbrokeoffclosetothedeckandwentovertheside,carryingtheboatandmenalongwithit.Ouroargotentangledwiththewreck,and
Jackseizedanaxetocutitfree,but,owingtothemotionoftheship,hemissedthecordageandstrucktheaxedeepintotheoar.Anotherwave,however,washed
itclearofthewreck.Weallseizedholdofit,andthenextinstantwewerestrugglinginthewildsea.ThelastthingIsawwastheboatwhirlinginthesurf,andall
thesailorstossedintothefoamingwaves.ThenIbecameinsensible.
Onrecoveringfrommyswoon,Ifoundmyselflyingonabankofsoftgrass,undertheshelterofanoverhangingrock,withPeterkinonhiskneesbymyside,tenderly
bathingmytempleswithwater,andendeavouringtostopthebloodthatflowedfromawoundinmyforehead.
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CHAPTERIII.
TheCoralIslandOurfirstcogitationsafterlanding,andtheresultofthemWeconcludethattheislandisuninhabited.
THEREisastrangeandpeculiarsensationexperiencedinrecoveringfromastateofinsensibility,whichisalmostindescribableasortofdreamy,confused
consciousnessahalfwakinghalfsleepingcondition,accompaniedwithafeelingofweariness,which,however,isbynomeansdisagreeable.AsIslowlyrecovered
andheardthevoiceofPeterkininquiringwhetherIfeltbetter,IthoughtthatImusthaveoversleptmyself,andshouldbesenttothemastheadforbeinglazybut
beforeIcouldleapupinhaste,thethoughtseemedtovanishsuddenlyaway,andIfanciedthatImusthavebeenill.Thenabalmybreezefannedmycheek,andI
thoughtofhome,andthegardenatthebackofmyfather'scottage,withitsluxuriantflowers,andthesweetscentedhoneysucklethatmydearmothertrainedso
carefullyuponthetrellisedporch.Buttheroaringofthesurfputthesedelightfulthoughtstoflight,andIwasbackagainatsea,watchingthedolphinsandtheflying
fish,andreefingtopsailsoffthewildandstormyCapeHorn.Graduallytheroarofthesurfbecamelouderandmoredistinct.Ithoughtofbeingwreckedfarfar
awayfrommynativeland,andslowlyopenedmyeyestomeetthoseofmycompanionJack,who,withalookofintenseanxiety,wasgazingintomyface.
"Speaktous,mydearRalph,"whisperedJack,tenderly,"areyoubetternow?"
Ismiledandlookedup,saying,"Betterwhy,whatdoyoumean,Jack?I'mquitewell"
"Thenwhatareyoushammingfor,andfrighteningusinthisway?"saidPeterkin,smilingthroughhistearsforthepoorboyhadbeenreallyundertheimpressionthatI
wasdying.
Inowraisedmyselfonmyelbow,andputtingmyhandtomyforehead,foundthatithadbeencutprettyseverely,andthatIhadlostagooddealofblood.
"Come,come,Ralph,"saidJack,pressingmegentlybackward,"liedown,myboyyou'renotrightyet.Wetyourlipswiththiswater,it'scoolandclearascrystal.I
gotitfromaspringcloseathand.Therenow,don'tsayaword,holdyourtongue,"saidhe,seeingmeabouttospeak."I'lltellyouallaboutit,butyoumustnot
utterasyllabletillyouhaverestedwell."
"Oh!don'tstophimfromspeaking,Jack,"saidPeterkin,who,nowthathisfearsformysafetywereremoved,busiedhimselfinerectingashelterofbrokenbranches
inordertoprotectmefromthewindwhich,however,wasalmostunnecessary,fortherockbesidewhichIhadbeenlaidcompletelybroketheforceofthegale.
"Lethimspeak,Jackit'sacomforttohearthathe'salive,afterlyingtherestiffandwhiteandsulkyforawholehour,justlikeanEgyptianmummy.Neversawsuch
afellowasyouare,Ralphalwaysuptomischief.You'vealmostknockedoutallmyteethandmorethanhalfchokedme,andnowyougoshammingdead!It's
verywickedofyou,indeeditis."
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WhilePeterkinranoninthisstyle,myfacultiesbecamequiteclearagain,andIbegantounderstandmyposition."WhatdoyoumeanbysayingIhalfchokedyou,
Peterkin?"saidI.
"WhatdoImean?IsEnglishnotyourmothertongue,ordoyouwantmetorepeatitinFrench,bywayofmakingitclearer?Don'tyouremember"
"Iremembernothing,"saidI,interruptinghim,"afterwewerethrownintothesea."
"Hush,Peterkin,"saidJack,"you'reexcitingRalphwithyournonsense.I'llexplainittoyou.Yourecollectthataftertheshipstruck,wethreesprangoverthebow
intotheseawell,Inoticedthattheoarstruckyourheadandgaveyouthatcutonthebrow,whichnearlystunnedyou,sothatyougraspedPeterkinroundtheneck
withoutknowingapparentlywhatyouwereabout.Indoingsoyoupushedthetelescope,whichyouclungtoasifithadbeenyourlife,againstPeterkin'smouth
"
"Pusheditagainsthismouth!"interruptedPeterkin,"saycrammeditdownhisthroat.Why,there'sadistinctmarkofthebrassrimonthebackofmygulletatthis
moment!"
"Well,well,bethatasitmay,"continuedJack,"youclungtohim,Ralph,tillIfearedyoureallywouldchokehimbutIsawthathehadagoodholdoftheoar,soI
exertedmyselftotheutmosttopushyoutowardstheshore,whichweluckilyreachedwithoutmuchtrouble,forthewaterinsidethereefisquitecalm."
"Butthecaptainandcrew,whatofthem?"Iinquiredanxiously.
Jackshookhishead.
"Aretheylost?"
"No,theyarenotlost,Ihope,butIfearthereisnotmuchchanceoftheirbeingsaved.Theshipstruckattheverytailoftheislandonwhichwearecast.Whenthe
boatwastossedintotheseaitfortunatelydidnotupset,althoughitshippedagooddealofwater,andallthemenmanagedtoscrambleintoitbutbeforetheycould
gettheoarsoutthegalecarriedthempastthepointandawaytoleewardoftheisland.AfterwelandedIsawthemendeavouringtopulltowardsus,butastheyhad
onlyonepairofoarsoutoftheeightthatbelongtotheboat,andasthewindwasblowingrightintheirteeth,theygraduallylostground.ThenIsawthemputabout
andhoistsomesortofsail,ablanket,Ifancy,foritwastoosmallfortheboat,andinhalfanhourtheywereoutofsight."
"Poorfellows,"Imurmuredsorrowfully.
"ButthemoreIthinkaboutit,I'vebetterhopeofthem,"continuedJack,inamorecheerfultone."Yousee,Ralph,I'vereadagreatdealabouttheseSouthSea
Islands,andIknowthatinmanyplacestheyarescatteredaboutinthousandsoverthesea,sothey'realmostsuretofallinwithoneofthembeforelong."
"I'msureIhopeso,"saidPeterkin,earnestly."Butwhathasbecomeofthewreck,Jack?IsawyouclamberinguptherockstherewhileIwaswatchingRalph.Did
yousayshehadgonetopieces?"
"No,shehasnotgonetopieces,butshehasgonetothebottom,"repliedJack."AsIsaidbefore,shestruckonthetailoftheislandandstoveinherbow,butthe
nextbreakerswungherclear,andshefloatedawaytoleeward.Thepoorfellowsintheboatmadeahardstruggletoreachher,butlongbeforetheycamenearher
shefilledandwentdown.ItwasaftershefounderedthatIsawthemtryingtopulltotheisland."
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TherewanalongsilenceafterJackceasedspeaking,andIhavenodoubtthateachwasrevolvinginhismindourextraordinaryposition.FormypartIcannotsay
thatmyreflectionswereveryagreeable.Iknewthatwewereonanisland,forJackhadsaidso,butwhetheritwasinhabitedornotIdidnotknow.Ifitshouldbe
inhabited,Ifeltcertain,fromallIhadheardofSouthSeaIslanders,thatweshouldberoastedaliveandeaten.Ifitshouldturnouttobeuninhabited,Ifanciedthat
weshouldbestarvedtodeath."Oh!"thoughtI,"iftheshiphadonlystuckontherockswemighthavedoneprettywell,forwecouldhaveobtainedprovisionsfrom
her,andtoolstoenableustobuildashelter,butnowalas!alas!wearelost!"TheselastwordsIutteredaloudinmydistress.
"Lost!Ralph?"exclaimedJack,whileasmileoverspreadhisheartycountenance."Saved,youshouldhavesaid.Yourcogitationsseemtohavetakenawrongroad,
andledyoutoawrongconclusion."
"DoyouknowwhatconclusionIhavecometo?"saidPeterkin."Ihavemadeupmymindthatit'scapital,firstrate,thebestthingthateverhappenedtous,and
themostsplendidprospectthateverlaybeforethreejollyyoungtars.We'vegotanislandalltoourselves.We'lltakepossessioninthenameofthekingwe'llgo
andentertheserviceofitsblackinhabitants.Ofcoursewe'llrise,naturally,tothetopofaffairs.Whitemenalwaysdoinsavagecountries.Youshallbeking,Jack
Ralph,primeminister,andIshallbe"
"Thecourtjester,"interruptedJack.
"No,"retortedPeterkin,"I'llhavenotitleatall.Ishallmerelyacceptahighlyresponsiblesituationundergovernment,foryousee,Jack,I'mfondofhavingan
enormoussalaryandnothingtodo."
"Butsupposetherearenonatives?"
"Thenwe'llbuildacharmingvilla,andplantalovelygardenroundit,stuckallfullofthemostsplendiferoustropicalflowers,andwe'llfarmtheland,plant,sow,reap,
eat,sleep,andbemerry."
"Buttobeserious,"saidJack,assumingagraveexpressionofcountenance,whichIobservedalwayshadtheeffectofcheckingPeterkin'sdispositiontomakefunof
everything,"wearereallyinratheranuncomfortableposition.Ifthisisadesertisland,weshallhavetoliveverymuchlikethewildbeasts,forwehavenotatoolof
anykind,notevenaknife."
"Yes,wehaveTHAT,"saidPeterkin,fumblinginhistrouserspocket,fromwhichhedrewforthasmallpenknifewithonlyoneblade,andthatwasbroken.
"Well,that'sbetterthannothingbutcome,"saidJack,rising,"wearewastingourtimeinTALKINGinsteadofDOING.Youseemwellenoughtowalknow,
Ralph,letusseewhatwehavegotinourpockets,andthenletusclimbsomehillandascertainwhatsortofislandwehavebeencastupon,for,whethergoodor
bad,itseemslikelytobeourhomeforsometimetocome."
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CHAPTERIV.
Weexamineintoourpersonalproperty,andmakeahappydiscoveryOurislanddescribedJackproveshimselftobelearnedandsagaciousabovehis
fellowsCuriousdiscoveriesNaturallemonade!
WEnowseatedourselvesuponarockandbegantoexamineintoourpersonalproperty.Whenwereachedtheshore,afterbeingwrecked,mycompanionshad
takenoffpartoftheirclothesandspreadthemoutinthesuntodry,for,althoughthegalewasragingfiercely,therewasnotasinglecloudinthebrightsky.Theyhad
alsostrippedoffmostpartofmywetclothesandspreadthemalsoontherocks.Havingresumedourgarments,wenowsearchedallourpocketswiththeutmost
care,andlaidtheircontentsoutonaflatstonebeforeusand,nowthatourmindswerefullyalivetoourcondition,itwaswithnolittleanxietythatweturnedour
severalpocketsinsideout,inorderthatnothingmightescapeus.Whenallwascollectedtogetherwefoundthatourworldlygoodsconsistedofthefollowing
articles:
First,Asmallpenknifewithasinglebladebrokenoffaboutthemiddleandveryrusty,besideshavingtwoorthreenotchesonitsedge.(Peterkinsaidofthis,withhis
usualpleasantry,thatitwoulddoforasawaswellasaknife,whichwasagreatadvantage.)Second,AnoldGermansilverpencilcasewithoutanyleadinit.
Third,Apieceofwhipcordaboutsixyardslong.Fourth,Asailmaker'sneedleofasmallsize.Fifth,Aship'stelescope,whichIhappenedtohaveinmyhandatthe
timetheshipstruck,andwhichIhadclungtofirmlyallthetimeIwasinthewater.IndeeditwaswithdifficultythatJackgotitoutofmygraspwhenIwaslying
insensibleontheshore.IcannotunderstandwhyIkeptsuchafirmholdofthistelescope.Theysaythatadrowningmanwillclutchatastraw.Perhapsitmayhave
beensomesuchfeelinginme,forIdidnotknowthatitwasinmyhandatthetimewewerewrecked.However,wefeltsomepleasureinhavingitwithusnow,
althoughwedidnotseethatitcouldbeofmuchusetous,astheglassatthesmallendwasbrokentopieces.OursixtharticlewasabrassringwhichJackalways
woreonhislittlefinger.Ineverunderstoodwhyheworeit,forJackwasnotvainofhisappearance,anddidnotseemtocareforornamentsofanykind.Peterkin
said"itwasinmemoryofthegirlheleftbehindhim!"Butasheneverspokeofthisgirltoeitherofus,IaminclinedtothinkthatPeterkinwaseitherjestingor
mistaken.Inadditiontothesearticleswehadalittlebitoftinder,andtheclothesonourbacks.Theselastwereasfollows:
Eachofushadonapairofstoutcanvasstrousers,andapairofsailors'thickshoes.Jackworearedflannelshirt,abluejacket,andaredKilmarnockbonnetor
nightcap,besidesapairofworstedsocks,andacottonpockethandkerchief,withsixteenportraitsofLordNelsonprintedonit,andaunionJackinthemiddle.
Peterkinhadonastripedflannelshirt,whichheworeoutsidehistrousers,andbeltedroundhiswaist,afterthemannerofatunic,andaroundblackstrawhat.
Hehadnojacket,havingthrownitoffjustbeforewewerecastintotheseabutthiswasnotofmuchconsequence,astheclimateoftheislandprovedtobe
extremelymildsomuchso,indeed,thatJackandIoftenpreferredtogoaboutwithoutourjackets.Peterkinhadalsoapairofwhitecottonsocks,andablue
handkerchiefwithwhitespotsalloverit.Myowncostumeconsistedofablueflannelshirt,abluejacket,ablackcap,andapairofworstedsocks,besidesthe
shoesandcanvasstrousersalreadymentioned.Thiswasallwehad,andbesidesthesethingswehadnothingelsebut,whenwethoughtofthedangerfromwhich
wehadescaped,andhowmuchworseoffwemighthavebeenhadtheshipstruckonthereefduringthenight,wefeltverythankfulthatwewerepossessedofso
much,although,Imustconfess,wesometimeswishedthatwehadhadalittlemore.
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Whilewewereexaminingthesethings,andtalkingaboutthem,Jacksuddenlystartedandexclaimed
"Theoar!wehaveforgottentheoar."
"Whatgoodwillthatdous?"saidPeterkin"there'swoodenoughontheislandtomakeathousandoars."
"Ay,lad,"repliedJack,"butthere'sabitofhoopironattheendofit,andthatmaybeofmuchusetous."
"Verytrue,"saidI,"letusgofetchit"andwiththatweallthreeroseandhasteneddowntothebeach.Istillfeltalittleweakfromlossofblood,sothatmy
companionssoonbegantoleavemebehindbutJackperceivedthis,and,withhisusualconsiderategoodnature,turnedbacktohelpme.Thiswasnowthefirst
timethatIhadlookedwellaboutmesincelanding,asthespotwhereIhadbeenlaidwascoveredwiththickbusheswhichalmosthidthecountryfromourview.
Aswenowemergedfromamongtheseandwalkeddownthesandybeachtogether,Icastmyeyesabout,and,truly,myheartglowedwithinmeandmyspiritsrose
atthebeautifulprospectwhichIbeheldoneveryside.Thegalehadsuddenlydiedaway,justasifithadblownfuriouslytillitdashedourshipupontherocks,and
hadnothingmoretodoafteraccomplishingthat.Theislandonwhichwestoodwashilly,andcoveredalmosteverywherewiththemostbeautifulandrichly
colouredtrees,bushes,andshrubs,noneofwhichIknewthenamesofatthattime,except,indeed,thecocoanutpalms,whichIrecognisedatoncefromthemany
picturesthatIhadseenofthembeforeIlefthome.Asandybeachofdazzlingwhitenesslinedthisbrightgreenshore,anduponittherefellagentlerippleofthesea.
Thislastastonishedmemuch,forIrecollectedthatathometheseausedtofallinhugebillowsontheshorelongafterastormhadsubsided.Butoncastingmy
glanceouttoseathecausebecameapparent.AboutamiledistantfromtheshoreIsawthegreatbillowsoftheoceanrollinglikeagreenwall,andfallingwitha
long,loudroar,uponalowcoralreef,wheretheyweredashedintowhitefoamandflungupincloudsofspray.Thisspraysometimesflewexceedinglyhigh,and,
everyhereandthere,abeautifulrainbowwasformedforamomentamongthefallingdrops.Weafterwardsfoundthatthiscoralreefextendedquiteroundthe
island,andformedanaturalbreakwatertoit.Beyondthisthesearoseandtossedviolentlyfromtheeffectsofthestormbutbetweenthereefandtheshoreitwasas
calmandassmoothasapond.
MyheartwasfilledwithmoredelightthanIcanexpressatsightofsomanygloriousobjects,andmythoughtsturnedsuddenlytothecontemplationoftheCreatorof
themall.Imentionthisthemoregladly,becauseatthattime,Iamashamedtosay,IveryseldomthoughtofmyCreator,althoughIwasconstantlysurroundedby
themostbeautifulandwonderfulofHisworks.Iobservedfromtheexpressionofmycompanion'scountenancethathetooderivedmuchjoyfromthesplendid
scenery,whichwasallthemoreagreeabletousafterourlongvoyageonthesaltsea.There,thebreezewasfreshandcold,buthereitwasdelightfullymildand,
whenapuffblewofftheland,itcameladenwiththemostexquisiteperfumethatcanbeimagined.Whilewethusgazed,wewerestartledbyaloud"Huzza!"from
Peterkin,and,onlookingtowardstheedgeofthesea,wesawhimcaperingandjumpingaboutlikeamonkey,andeverandanontuggingwithallhismightat
somethingthatlayupontheshore.
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"Whatanoddfellowheis,tobesure,"saidJack,takingmebythearmandhurryingforward"come,letushastentoseewhatitis."
"Hereitis,boys,hurrah!comealong.Justwhatwewant,"criedPeterkin,aswedrewnear,stilltuggingwithallhispower."Firstratejusttheveryticket!"
IneedscarcelysaytomyreadersthatmycompanionPeterkinwasinthehabitofusingveryremarkableandpeculiarphrases.AndIamfreetoconfessthatIdid
notwellunderstandthemeaningofsomeofthem,such,forinstance,as"theveryticket"butIthinkitmydutytorecounteverythingrelatingtomyadventureswith
astrictregardtotruthfulnessinasfarasmymemoryservesmesoIwrite,asnearlyaspossible,theexactwordsthatmycompanionsspoke.Ioftenasked
Peterkintoexplainwhathemeantby"ticket,"buthealwaysansweredmebygoingintofitsoflaughter.However,byobservingtheoccasionsonwhichheusedit,I
cametounderstandthatitmeanttoshowthatsomethingwasremarkablygood,orfortunate.
OncomingupwefoundthatPeterkinwasvainlyendeavouringtopulltheaxeoutoftheoar,intowhich,itwillberemembered,Jackstruckitwhileendeavouringto
cutawaythecordageamongwhichithadbecomeentangledatthebowoftheship.Fortunatelyforustheaxehadremainedfastintheoar,andevennow,all
Peterkin'sstrengthcouldnotdrawitoutofthecut.
"Ah!thatiscapitalindeed,"criedJack,atthesametimegivingtheaxeawrenchthatpluckeditoutofthetoughwood."Howfortunatethisis!Itwillbeofmore
valuetousthanahundredknives,andtheedgeisquitenewandsharp."
"I'llanswerforthetoughnessofthehandleatanyrate,"criedPeterkin"myarmsarenearlypulledoutofthesockets.Butseehere,ourluckisgreat.Thereisiron
ontheblade."Hepointedtoapieceofhoopiron,ashespoke,whichhadbeennailedroundthebladeoftheoartopreventitfromsplitting.
Thisalsowasafortunatediscovery.Jackwentdownonhisknees,andwiththeedgeoftheaxebegancarefullytoforceoutthenails.Butastheywerefirmlyfixed
in,andtheoperationbluntedouraxe,wecarriedtheoarupwithustotheplacewherewehadlefttherestofourthings,intendingtoburnthewoodawayfromthe
ironatamoreconvenienttime.
"Now,lads,"saidJack,afterwehadlaiditonthestonewhichcontainedourlittleall,"Iproposethatweshouldgotothetailoftheisland,wheretheshipstruck,
whichisonlyaquarterofamileoff,andseeifanythingelsehasbeenthrownashore.Idon'texpectanything,butitiswelltosee.Whenwegetbackhereitwillbe
timetohaveoursupperandprepareourbeds."
"Agreed!"criedPeterkinandItogether,as,indeed,wewouldhaveagreedtoanyproposalthatJackmadefor,besideshisbeingolderandmuchstrongerandtaller
thaneitherofus,hewasaverycleverfellow,andIthinkwouldhaveinducedpeoplemucholderthanhimselftochoosehimfortheirleader,especiallyifthey
requiredtobeledonaboldenterprise.
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Now,aswehastenedalongthewhitebeach,whichshonesobrightlyintheraysofthesettingsunthatoureyeswerequitedazzledbyitsglare,itsuddenlycameinto
Peterkin'sheadthatwehadnothingtoeatexceptthewildberrieswhichgrewinprofusionatourfeet.
"Whatshallwedo,Jack?"saidhe,witharuefullook"perhapstheymaybepoisonous!"
"Nofear,"repliedJack,confidently"Ihaveobservedthatafewofthemarenotunlikesomeoftheberriesthatgrowwildonourownnativehills.Besides,Isaw
oneortwostrangebirdseatingthemjustafewminutesago,andwhatwon'tkillthebirdswon'tkillus.Butlookupthere,Peterkin,"continuedJack,pointingtothe
branchedheadofacocoanutpalm."Therearenutsforusinallstages."
"Sothereare!"criedPeterkin,whobeingofaveryunobservantnaturehadbeentoomuchtakenupwithotherthingstonoticeanythingsohighabovehisheadasthe
fruitofapalmtree.But,whateverfaultsmyyoungcomradehad,hecouldnotbeblamedforwantofactivityoranimalspirits.Indeed,thenutshadscarcelybeen
pointedouttohimwhenheboundedupthetallstemofthetreelikeasquirrel,and,inafewminutes,returnedwiththreenuts,eachaslargeasaman'sfist.
"Youhadbetterkeepthemtillwereturn,"raidJack."Letusfinishourworkbeforeeating."
"Sobeit,captain,goahead,"criedPeterkin,thrustingthenutsintohistrouserspocket."InfactIdon'twanttoeatjustnow,butIwouldgiveagooddealfora
drink.OhthatIcouldfindaspring!butIdon'tseethesmallestsignofonehereabouts.Isay,Jack,howdoesithappenthatyouseemtobeuptoeverything?You
havetoldusthenamesofhalfadozentreesalready,andyetyousaythatyouwereneverintheSouthSeasbefore."
"I'mnotuptoEVERYTHING,Peterkin,asyou'llfindouterelong,"repliedJack,withasmile"butIhavebeenagreatreaderofbooksoftravelandadventureall
mylife,andthathasputmeuptoagoodmanythingsthatyouare,perhaps,notacquaintedwith."
"Oh,Jack,that'sallhumbug.Ifyoubegintolayeverythingtothecreditofbooks,I'llquitelosemyopinionofyou,"criedPeterkin,withalookofcontempt."I've
seenaloto'fellowsthatwereALWAYSporingoverbooks,andwhentheycametotrytoDOanything,theywerenobetterthanbaboons!"
"Youarequiteright,"retortedJack"andIhaveseenalotoffellowswhoneverlookedintobooksatall,whoknewnothingaboutanythingexceptthethingstheyhad
actuallyseen,andverylittletheyknewevenaboutthese.Indeed,someweresoignorantthattheydidnotknowthatcocoanutsgrewoncocoanuttrees!"
Icouldnotrefrainfromlaughingatthisrebuke,fortherewasmuchtruthinit,astoPeterkin'signorance.
"Humph!maybeyou'reright,"answeredPeterkin"butIwouldnotgiveTUPPENCEforamanofbooks,ifhehadnothingelseinhim."
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"NeitherwouldI,"saidJack"butthat'snoreasonwhyyoushouldrunbooksdown,orthinklessofmeforhavingreadthem.Suppose,now,Peterkin,thatyou
wantedtobuildaship,andIweretogiveyoualongandparticularaccountofthewaytodoit,wouldnotthatbeveryuseful?"
"Nodoubtofit,"saidPeterkin,laughing.
"AndsupposeIweretowritetheaccountinaletterinsteadoftellingyouinwords,wouldthatbelessuseful?"
"Wellno,perhapsnot."
"Well,supposeIweretoprintit,andsendittoyouintheformofabook,woulditnotbeasgoodandusefulasever?"
"Oh,bother!Jack,you'reaphilosopher,andthat'sworsethananything!"criedPeterkin,withalookofpretendedhorror.
"Verywell,Peterkin,weshallsee,"returnedJack,haltingundertheshadeofacocoanuttree."Yousaidyouwerethirstyjustaminuteagonow,jumpupthattree
andbringdownanut,notaripeone,bringagreen,unripeone."
Peterkinlookedsurprised,but,seeingthatJackwasinearnest,heobeyed.
"Now,cutaholeinitwithyourpenknife,andclapittoyourmouth,oldfellow,"saidJack.
Peterkindidashewasdirected,andwebothburstintouncontrollablelaughteratthechangesthatinstantlypassedoverhisexpressivecountenance.Nosoonerhad
heputthenuttohismouth,andthrownbackhisheadinordertocatchwhatcameoutofit,thanhiseyesopenedtotwicetheirordinarysizewithastonishment,
whilehisthroatmovedvigorouslyintheactofswallowing.Thenasmileandlookofintensedelightoverspreadhisface,except,indeed,themouth,which,being
firmlyfixedtotheholeinthenut,couldnottakepartintheexpressionbutheendeavouredtomakeupforthisbywinkingatusexcessivelywithhisrighteye.At
lengthhestopped,and,drawingalongbreath,exclaimed
"Nectar!perfectnectar!Isay,Jack,you'reaBritonthebestfellowIevermetinmylife.Onlytastethat!"saidhe,turningtomeandholdingthenuttomymouth.
Iimmediatelydrank,andcertainlyIwasmuchsurprisedatthedelightfulliquidthatflowedcopiouslydownmythroat.Itwasextremelycool,andhadasweettaste,
mingledwithacidinfact,itwasthelikestthingtolemonadeIevertasted,andwasmostgratefulandrefreshing.IhandedthenuttoJack,who,aftertastingit,said,
"Now,Peterkin,youunbeliever,Ineversawortastedacocoanutinmylifebefore,exceptthosesoldinshopsathomebutIoncereadthatthegreennutscontain
thatstuff,andyouseeitistrue!"
"Andpray,"askedPeterkin,"whatsortof'stuff'doestheripenutcontain?"
"Ahollowkernel,"answeredJack,"withaliquidlikemilkinitbutitdoesnotsatisfythirstsowellashunger.ItisverywholesomefoodIbelieve."
"Meatanddrinkonthesametree!"criedPeterkin"washinginthesea,lodgingontheground,andallfornothing!Mydearboys,we'resetupforlifeitmustbe
theancientParadise,hurrah!"andPeterkintossedhisstrawhatintheair,andranalongthebeachhallooinglikeamadmanwithdelight.
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Weafterwardsfound,however,thattheselovelyislandswereveryunlikeParadiseinmanythings.Butmoreofthisinitsproperplace.
Wehadnowcometothepointofrocksonwhichtheshiphadstruck,butdidnotfindasinglearticle,althoughwesearchedcarefullyamongthecoralrocks,which
atthisplacejuttedoutsofarasnearlytojointhereefthatencircledtheisland.Justaswewereabouttoreturn,however,wesawsomethingblackfloatinginalittle
covethathadescapedourobservation.Runningforward,wedrewitfromthewater,andfoundittobealongthickleatherboot,suchasfishermenathomewear
andafewpacesfartheronwepickedupitsfellow.Weatoncerecognisedtheseashavingbelongedtoourcaptain,forhehadwornthemduringthewholeofthe
storm,inordertoguardhislegsfromthewavesandspraythatconstantlywashedoverourdecks.Myfirstthoughtonseeingthemwasthatourdearcaptainhad
beendrownedbutJacksoonputmymindmoreatrestonthatpoint,bysayingthatifthecaptainhadbeendrownedwiththebootson,hewouldcertainlyhavebeen
washedashorealongwiththem,andthathehadnodoubtwhateverhehadkickedthemoffwhileinthesea,thathemightswimmoreeasily.
Peterkinimmediatelyputthemon,buttheyweresolargethat,asJacksaid,theywouldhavedoneforboots,trousers,andvesttoo.Ialsotriedthem,but,althoughI
waslongenoughinthelegsforthem,theyweremuchtoolargeinthefeetformesowehandedthemtoJack,whowasanxioustomakemekeepthem,butasthey
fittedhislargelimbsandfeetasiftheyhadbeenmadeforhim,Iwouldnothearofit,soheconsentedatlasttousethem.Imayremark,however,thatJackdidnot
usethemoften,astheywereextremelyheavy.
Itwasbeginningtogrowdarkwhenwereturnedtoourencampmentsoweputoffourvisittothetopofahilltillnextday,andemployedthelightthatyetremained
tousincuttingdownaquantityofboughsandthebroadleavesofatree,ofwhichnoneofusknewthename.Withtheseweerectedasortofrusticbower,in
whichwemeanttopassthenight.Therewasnoabsolutenecessityforthis,becausetheairofourislandwassogenialandbalmythatwecouldhavesleptquitewell
withoutanyshelterbutweweresolittleusedtosleepingintheopenair,thatwedidnotquiterelishtheideaoflyingdownwithoutanycoveringoverus:besides,
ourbowerwouldshelterusfromthenightdewsorrain,ifanyshouldhappentofall.Havingstrewedthefloorwithleavesanddrygrass,webethoughtourselvesof
supper.
Butitnowoccurredtous,forthefirsttime,thatwehadnomeansofmakingafire.
"Now,there'safix!whatshallwedo?"saidPeterkin,whilewebothturnedoureyestoJack,towhomwealwayslookedinourdifficulties.Jackseemednotalittle
perplexed.
"Thereareflintsenough,nodoubt,onthebeach,"saidhe,"buttheyareofnouseatallwithoutasteel.However,wemusttry."Sosaying,hewenttothebeach,
andsoonreturnedwithtwoflints.Ononeoftheseheplacedthetinder,andendeavouredtoigniteitbutitwaswithgreatdifficultythataverysmallsparkwas
struckoutoftheflints,andthetinder,beingabad,hardpiece,wouldnotcatch.Hethentriedthebitofhoopiron,whichwouldnotstrikefireatallandafterthat
thebackoftheaxe,withnobettersuccess.DuringallthesetrialsPeterkinsatwithhishandsinhispockets,gazingwithamostmelancholyvisageatourcomrade,
hisfacegrowinglongerandmoremiserableateachsuccessivefailure.
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"Ohdear!"hesighed,"Iwouldnotcareabuttonforthecookingofourvictuals,perhapstheydon'tneedit,butit'ssodismaltoeatone'ssupperinthedark,and
wehavehadsuchacapitalday,thatit'sapitytofinishoffinthisglumstyle.Oh,Ihaveit!"hecried,startingup"thespyglass,thebigglassattheendisa
burningglass!"
"Youforgetthatwehavenosun,"saidI.
Peterkinwassilent.Inhissuddenrecollectionofthetelescopehehadquiteoverlookedtheabsenceofthesun.
"Ah,boys,I'vegotitnow!"exclaimedJack,risingandcuttingabranchfromaneighbouringbush,whichbestrippedofitsleaves."Irecollectseeingthisdoneonce
athome.Handmethebitofwhipcord."WiththecordandbranchJacksoonformedabow.Thenhecutapiece,aboutthreeincheslong,offtheendofadead
branch,whichhepointedatthetwoends.Roundthishepassedthecordofthebow,andplacedoneendagainsthischest,whichwasprotectedfromitspointbya
chipofwoodtheotherpointheplacedagainstthebitoftinder,andthenbegantosawvigorouslywiththebow,justasablacksmithdoeswithhisdrillwhileboring
aholeinapieceofiron.Inafewsecondsthetinderbegantosmokeinlessthanaminuteitcaughtfireandinlessthanaquarterofanhourweweredrinkingour
lemonadeandeatingcocoanutsroundafirethatwouldhaveroastedanentiresheep,whilethesmoke,flames,andsparks,flewupamongthebroadleavesofthe
overhangingpalmtrees,andcastawarmglowuponourleafybower.
Thatnightthestarryskylookeddownthroughthegentlyrustlingtreesuponourslumbers,andthedistantroaringofthesurfuponthecoralreefwasourlullaby.
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CHAPTERV.
Morning,andcogitationsconnectedtherewithWeluxuriateinthesea,tryourdivingpowers,andmakeenchantingexcursionsamongthecoralgroves
atthebottomoftheoceanThewondersofthedeepenlargedupon.
WHATajoyfulthingitistoawaken,onafreshgloriousmorning,andfindtherisingsunstaringintoyourfacewithdazzlingbrilliancy!toseethebirdstwitteringin
thebushes,andtohearthemurmuringofarill,orthesofthissingripplesastheyfallupontheseashore!Atanytimeandinanyplacesuchsightsandsoundsare
mostcharming,butmoreespeciallyaretheysowhenoneawakenstothem,forthefisttime,inanovelandromanticsituation,withthesoftsweetairofatropical
climateminglingwiththefreshsmellofthesea,andstirringthestrangeleavesthatflutteroverheadandaroundone,orrufflingtheplumageofthestrangerbirdsthat
flyinquiringlyaround,asiftodemandwhatbusinesswehavetointrudeuninvitedontheirdomains.WhenIawokeonthemorningaftertheshipwreck,Ifound
myselfinthismostdelightfulconditionand,asIlayonmybackuponmybedofleaves,gazingupthroughthebranchesofthecocoanuttreesintotheclearblue
sky,andwatchedthefewfleecycloudsthatpassedslowlyacrossit,myheartexpandedmoreandmorewithanexultinggladness,thelikeofwhichIhadneverfelt
before.WhileImeditated,mythoughtsagainturnedtothegreatandkindCreatorofthisbeautifulworld,astheyhaddoneonthepreviousday,whenIfirstbeheld
theseaandthecoralreef,withthemightywavesdashingoveritintothecalmwatersofthelagoon.
Whilethusmeditating,InaturallybethoughtmeofmyBible,forIhadfaithfullykeptthepromise,whichIgaveatpartingtomybelovedmother,thatIwouldreadit
everymorninganditwaswithafeelingofdismaythatIrememberedIhadleftitintheship.Iwasmuchtroubledaboutthis.However,Iconsoledmyselfwith
reflectingthatIcouldkeepthesecondpartofmypromisetoher,namely,thatIshouldneveromittosaymyprayers.SoIrosequietly,lestIshoulddisturbmy
companions,whowerestillasleep,andsteppedasideintothebushesforthispurpose.
OnmyreturnIfoundthemstillslumbering,soIagainlaydowntothinkoveroursituation.JustatthatmomentIwasattractedbythesightofaverysmallparrot,
whichJackafterwardstoldmewascalledaparoquet.ItwasseatedonatwigthatoverhungPeterkin'shead,andIwasspeedilylostinadmirationofitsbrightgreen
plumage,whichwasmingledwithothergaycolours.WhileIlookedIobservedthatthebirdturneditsheadslowlyfromsidetosideandlookeddownwards,fist
withtheoneeye,andthenwiththeother.OnglancingdownwardsIobservedthatPeterkin'smouthwaswideopen,andthatthisremarkablebirdwaslookinginto
it.PeterkinusedtosaythatIhadnotanatomoffuninmycomposition,andthatInevercouldunderstandajoke.Inregardtothelatter,perhapshewasrightyetI
thinkthat,whentheywereexplainedtome,Iunderstoodjokesaswellasmostpeople:butinregardtotheformerhemustcertainlyhavebeenwrong,forthisbird
seemedtometobeextremelyfunnyandIcouldnothelpthinkingthat,ifitshouldhappentofaint,orslipitsfoot,andfalloffthetwigintoPeterkin'smouth,hewould
perhapsthinkitfunnytoo!Suddenlytheparoquetbentdownitsheadandutteredaloudscreaminhisface.Thisawokehim,and,withacryofsurprise,hestarted
up,whilethefoolishbirdflewprecipitatelyaway.
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"Ohyoumonster!"criedPeterkin,shakinghisfistatthebird.Thenheyawnedandrubbedhiseyes,andaskedwhato'clockitwas.
Ismiledatthisquestion,andansweredthat,asourwatcheswereatthebottomofthesea,Icouldnottell,butitwasalittlepastsunrise.
Peterkinnowbegantorememberwherewewere.Ashelookedupintothebrightsky,andsnuffedthescentedair,hiseyesglistenedwithdelight,andheuttereda
faint"hurrah!"andyawnedagain.Thenhegazedslowlyround,till,observingthecalmseathroughanopeninginthebushes,hestartedsuddenlyupasifhehad
receivedanelectricshock,utteredavehementshout,flungoffhisgarments,and,rushingoverthewhitesands,plungedintothewater.ThecryawokeJack,who
roseonhiselbowwithalookofgravesurprisebutthiswasfollowedbyaquietsmileofintelligenceonseeingPeterkininthewater.Withanenergythatheonly
gavewaytoinmomentsofexcitement,Jackboundedtohisfeet,threwoffhisclothes,shookbackhishair,andwithalionlikespring,dashedoverthesandsand
plungedintotheseawithsuchforceasquitetoenvelopPeterkininashowerofspray.Jackwasaremarkablygoodswimmeranddiver,sothatafterhisplungewe
sawnosignofhimfornearlyaminuteafterwhichhesuddenlyemerged,withacryofjoy,agoodmanyyardsoutfromtheshore.Myspiritsweresomuchraised
byseeingallthisthatI,too,hastilythrewoffmygarmentsandendeavouredtoimitateJack'svigorousboundbutIwassoawkwardthatmyfootcaughtonastump,
andIfelltothegroundthenIslippedonastonewhilerunningoverthemud,andnearlyfellagain,muchtotheamusementofPeterkin,wholaughedheartily,and
calledmea"slowcoach,"whileJackcriedout,"Comealong,Ralph,andI'llhelpyou."However,whenIgotintothewaterImanagedverywell,forIwasreallya
goodswimmer,anddivertoo.Icouldnot,indeed,equalJack,whowassuperiortoanyEnglishmanIeversaw,butIinfinitelysurpassedPeterkin,whocouldonly
swimalittle,andcouldnotdiveatall.
WhilePeterkinenjoyedhimselfintheshallowwaterandinrunningalongthebeach,JackandIswamoutintothedeepwater,andoccasionallydivedforstones.I
shallneverforgetmysurpriseanddelightonfirstbeholdingthebottomofthesea.AsIhavebeforestated,thewaterwithinthereefwasascalmasapondand,as
therewasnowind,itwasquiteclear,fromthesurfacetothebottom,sothatwecouldseedowneasilyevenatadepthoftwentyorthirtyyards.WhenJackandI
divedinshallowerwater,weexpectedtohavefoundsandandstones,insteadofwhichwefoundourselvesinwhatappearedreallytobeanenchantedgarden.The
wholeofthebottomofthelagoon,aswecalledthecalmwaterwithinthereef,wascoveredwithcoralofeveryshape,size,andhue.Someportionswereformed
likelargemushroomsothersappearedlikethebrainofaman,havingstalksornecksattachedtothembutthemostcommonkindwasaspeciesofbranchingcoral,
andsomeportionswereofalovelypalepinkcolour,otherspurewhite.Amongthistheregrewlargequantitiesofseaweedoftherichesthuesimaginable,andof
themostgracefulformswhileinnumerablefishesblue,red,yellow,green,andstripedsportedinandoutamongsttheflowerbedsofthissubmarinegarden,and
didnotappeartobeatallafraidofourapproachingthem.
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Ondartingtothesurfaceforbreath,afterourfirstdive,JackandIroseclosetoeachother.
"Didyoueverinyourlife,Ralph,seeanythingsolovely?"saidJack,asheflungthesprayfromhishair.
"Never,"Ireplied."Itappearstomelikefairyrealms.Icanscarcelybelievethatwearenotdreaming."
"Dreaming!"criedJack,"doyouknow,Ralph,I'mhalftemptedtothinkthatwereallyaredreaming.Butifso,Iamresolvedtomakethemostofit,anddream
anotherdivesoheregoes,downagain,myboy!"
Wetooktheseconddivetogether,andkeptbesideeachotherwhileunderwaterandIwasgreatlysurprisedtofindthatwecouldkeepdownmuchlongerthanI
everrecollecthavingdoneinourownseasathome.Ibelievethatthiswasowingtotheheatofthewater,whichwassowarmthatweafterwardsfoundwecould
remaininitfortwoandthreehoursatatimewithoutfeelinganyunpleasanteffectssuchasweusedtoexperienceintheseaathome.WhenJackreachedthe
bottom,hegraspedthecoralstems,andcreptalongonhishandsandknees,peepingundertheseaweedandamongtherocks.Iobservedhimalsopickuponeor
twolargeoysters,andretaintheminhisgrasp,asifhemeanttotakethemupwithhim,soIalsogatheredafew.Suddenlyhemadeagraspatafishwithblueand
yellowstripesonitsback,andactuallytoucheditstail,butdidnotcatchit.Atthisheturnedtowardsmeandattemptedtosmilebutnosoonerhadhedonesothan
hespranglikeanarrowtothesurface,where,onfollowinghim,Ifoundhimgaspingandcoughing,andspittingwaterfromhismouth.Inafewminuteshe
recovered,andwebothturnedtoswimashore.
"Ideclare,Ralph,"saidhe,"thatIactuallytriedtolaughunderwater."
"SoIsaw,"Ireplied"andIobservedthatyouverynearlycaughtthatfishbythetail.Itwouldhavedonecapitallyforbreakfastifyouhad."
"Breakfastenoughhere,"saidhe,holdinguptheoysters,aswelandedandranupthebeach."Hallo!Peterkin,hereyouare,boy.Splitopenthesefellowswhile
RalphandIputonourclothes.They'llagreewiththecocoanutsexcellently,Ihavenodoubt."
Peterkin,whowasalreadydressed,tooktheoysters,andopenedthemwiththeedgeofouraxe,exclaiming,"Now,thatIScapital.There'snothingI'msofondof."
"Ah!that'slucky,"remarkedJack."I'llbeabletokeepyouingoodordernow,MasterPeterkin.Youknowyoucan'tdiveanybetterthanacat.So,sir,whenever
youbehaveill,youshallhavenooystersforbreakfast."
"I'mverygladthatourprospectofbreakfastissogood,"saidI,"forI'mveryhungry."
"Here,then,stopyourmouthwiththat,Ralph,"saidPeterkin,holdingalargeoystertomylips.Iopenedmymouthandswalloweditinsilence,andreallyitwas
remarkablygood.
Wenowsetourselvesearnestlyaboutourpreparationsforspendingtheday.Wehadnodifficultywiththefirethismorning,asourburningglasswasanadmirable
oneandwhileweroastedafewoystersandateourcocoanuts,weheldalong,animatedconversationaboutourplansforthefuture.Whatthoseplanswere,and
howwecarriedthemintoeffect,thereadershallseehereafter.
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CHAPTERVI.
Anexcursionintotheinterior,inwhichwemakemanyvaluableandinterestingdiscoveriesWegetadreadfulfrightThebreadfruittreeWonderful
peculiarityofsomeofthefruittreesSignsofformerinhabitants.
OURfirstcare,afterbreakfast,wastoplacethefewarticleswepossessedinthecreviceofarockatthefartherendofasmallcavewhichwediscoverednearour
encampment.Thiscave,wehoped,mightbeusefultousafterwardsasastorehouse.Thenwecuttwolargeclubsoffaspeciesofveryhardtreewhichgrewnear
athand.OneofthesewasgiventoPeterkin,theothertome,andJackarmedhimselfwiththeaxe.Wetooktheseprecautionsbecausewepurposedtomakean
excursiontothetopofthemountainsoftheinterior,inordertoobtainabetterviewofourisland.Ofcourseweknewnotwhatdangersmightbefallusbytheway,
sothoughtitbesttobeprepared.
Havingcompletedourarrangementsandcarefullyextinguishedourfire,wesalliedforthandwalkedashortdistancealongtheseabeach,tillwecametotheentrance
ofavalley,throughwhichflowedtherivuletbeforementioned.Hereweturnedourbacksontheseaandstruckintotheinterior.
Theprospectthatburstuponourviewonenteringthevalleywastrulysplendid.Oneithersideofustherewasagentleriseintheland,whichthusformedtworidges
aboutamileapartoneachsideofthevalley.Theseridges,which,aswellasthelowgroundsbetweenthem,werecoveredwithtreesandshrubsofthemost
luxuriantkind continuedtorecedeinlandforabouttwomiles,whentheyjoinedthefootofasmallmountain.Thishillroseratherabruptlyfromtheheadofthe
valley,andwaslikewiseentirelycoveredeventothetopwithtrees,exceptononeparticularspotneartheleftshoulder,wherewasabareandrockyplaceofa
brokenandsavagecharacter.Beyondthishillwecouldnotsee,andwethereforedirectedourcourseupthebanksoftherivulettowardsthefootofit,intendingto
climbtothetop,shouldthatbepossible,as,indeed,wehadnodoubtitwas.
Jack,beingthewisestandboldestamongus,tookthelead,carryingtheaxeonhisshoulder.Peterkin,withhisenormousclub,camesecond,ashesaidheshould
liketobeinapositiontodefendmeifanydangershouldthreaten.Ibroughtuptherear,but,havingbeenmoretakenupwiththewonderfulandcuriousthingsI
sawatstartingthanwiththoughtsofpossibledanger,Ihadveryfoolishlyleftmyclubbehindme.Although,asIhavesaidthetreesandbusheswereveryluxuriant,
theywerenotsothicklycrowdedtogetherastohinderourprogressamongthem.Wewereabletowindinandout,andtofollowthebanksofthestreamquite
easily,although,itistrue,theheightandthicknessofthefoliagepreventedusfromseeingfarahead.Butsometimesajuttingoutrockonthehillsidesaffordedusa
positionwhencewecouldenjoytheromanticviewandmarkourprogresstowardsthefootofthehill.Iwagparticularlystruck,duringthewalk,withtherichnessof
theundergrowthinmostplaces,andrecognisedmanyberriesandplantsthatresembledthoseofmynativeland,especiallyatall,elegantlyformedfern,which
emittedanagreeableperfume.Therewereseveralkindsofflowers,too,butIdidnotseesomanyoftheseasIshouldhaveexpectedinsuchaclimate.Wealso
sawagreatvarietyofsmallbirdsofbrightplumage,andmanyparoquetssimilartotheonethatawokePeterkinsorudelyinthemorning.
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Thusweadvancedtothefootofthehillwithoutencounteringanythingtoalarmus,except,indeed,once,whenwewerepassingcloseunderapartofthehillwhich
washiddenfromourviewbythebroadleavesofthebananatrees,whichgrewingreatluxurianceinthatpart.Jackwasjustpreparingtoforcehiswaythroughthis
thicket,whenwewerestartledandarrestedbyastrangepatteringorrumblingsound,whichappearedtousquitedifferentfromanyofthesoundswehadheard
duringthepreviouspartofourwalk.
"Hallo!"criedPeterkin,stoppingshortandgraspinghisclubwithbothhands,"what'sthat?"
NeitherofusrepliedbutJackseizedhisaxeinhisrighthand,whilewiththeotherhepushedasidethebroadleavesandendeavouredtopeeramongstthem.
"Icanseenothing,"hesaid,afterashortpause.
"Ithinkit"
Againtherumblingsoundcame,louderthanbefore,andweallsprangbackandstoodonthedefensive.Formyself,havingforgottenmyclub,andnothavingtaken
theprecautiontocutanother,Ibuttonedmyjacket,doubledmyfists,andthrewmyselfintoaboxingattitude.Imustsay,however,thatIfeltsomewhatuneasyand
mycompanionsafterwardsconfessedthattheirthoughtsatthismomenthadbeeninstantlyfilledwithalltheyhadeverheardorreadofwildbeastsandsavages,
torturingsatthestake,roastingsalive,andsuchlikehorriblethings.Suddenlythepatteringnoiseincreasedwithtenfoldviolence.Itwasfollowedbyafearfulcrash
amongthebushes,whichwasrapidlyrepeated,asifsomegiganticanimalwereboundingtowardsus.Inanothermomentanenormousrockcamecrashingthrough
theshrubbery,followedbyacloudofdustandsmallstones,flewclosepastthespotwherewestood,carryingbushesandyoungtreesalongwithit.
"Pooh!isthatall?"exclaimedPeterkin,wipingtheperspirationoffhisforehead."Why,IthoughtitwasallthewildmenandbeastsintheSouthSeaIslandsgalloping
oninonegrandchargetosweepusoffthefaceoftheearth,insteadofamerestonetumblingdownthemountainside."
"Nevertheless,"remarkedJack,"ifthatsamestonehadhitanyofus,itwouldhaverenderedthechargeyouspeakofquiteunnecessary,Peterkin."
Thiswastrue,andIfeltverythankfulforourescape.Onexaminingthespotmorenarrowly,wefoundthatitlayclosetothefootofaveryruggedprecipice,from
whichstonesofvarioussizeswerealwaystumblingatintervals.Indeed,thenumerousfragmentslyingscatteredallaroundmighthavesuggestedthecauseofthe
sound,hadwenotbeentoosuddenlyalarmedtothinkofanything.
Wenowresumedourjourney,resolvingthat,inourfutureexcursionsintotheinterior,wewouldbecarefultoavoidthisdangerousprecipice.
Soonafterwardswearrivedatthefootofthehillandpreparedtoascendit.HereJackmadeadiscoverywhichcausedusallverygreatjoy.Thiswasatreeofa
remarkablybeautifulappearance,whichJackconfidentlydeclaredtobethecelebratedbreadfruittree.
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"Isitcelebrated?"inquiredPeterkin,withalookofgreatsimplicity.
"Itis,"repliedJack
"That'sodd,now,"rejoinedPeterkin"neverheardofitbefore."
"Thenit'snotsocelebratedasIthoughtitwas,"returnedJack,quietlysqueezingPeterkin'shatoverhiseyes"butlisten,youignorantboobie!andhearofitnow."
Peterkinreadjustedhishat,andwassoonlisteningwithasmuchinterestasmyself,whileJacktoldusthatthistreeisoneofthemostvaluableintheislandsofthe
souththatitbearstwo,sometimesthree,cropsoffruitintheyearthatthefruitisverylikewheatenbreadinappearance,andthatitconstitutestheprincipalfoodof
manyoftheislanders.
"So,"saidPeterkin,"weseemtohaveeverythingreadypreparedtoourhandsinthiswonderfulisland,lemonadereadybottledinnuts,andloafbreadgrowingon
thetrees!"
Peterkin,asusual,wasjestingnevertheless,itisacuriousfactthathespokealmosttheliteraltruth."Moreover,"continuedJack,"thebreadfruittreeaffordsa
capitalgum,whichservesthenativesforpitchingtheircanoesthebarkoftheyoungbranchesismadebythemintoclothandofthewood,whichisdurableandof
agoodcolour,theybuildtheirhouses.Soyousee,lads,thatwehavenolackofmaterialheretomakeuscomfortable,ifweareonlycleverenoughtouseit."
"Butareyousurethatthat'sit?"askedPeterkin.
"Quitesure,"repliedJack"forIwasparticularlyinterestedintheaccountIoncereadofit,andIrememberthedescriptionwell.Iamsorry,however,thatIhave
forgottenthedescriptionsofmanyothertreeswhichIamsurewehaveseentoday,ifwecouldbutrecognisethem.Soyousee,Peterkin,I'mnotuptoeverything
yet."
"Nevermind,Jack,"saidPeterkin,withagrave,patronizingexpressionofcountenance,pattinghistallcompanionontheshoulder,"nevermind,Jackyouknowa
gooddealforyourage.You'reacleverboy,sir,apromisingyoungmanandifyouonlygoonasyouhavebegun,sir,youwill"
TheendofthisspeechwassuddenlycutshortbyJacktrippingupPeterkin'sheelsandtumblinghimintoamassofthickshrubs,where,findinghimselfcomfortable,
helaystillbaskinginthesunshine,whileJackandIexaminedthebreadtree.
Weweremuchstruckwiththedeep,richgreencolourofitsbroadleaves,whichweretwelveoreighteenincheslong,deeplyindented,andofaglossysmoothness,
likethelaurel.Thefruit,withwhichitwasloaded,wasnearlyround,andappearedtobeaboutsixinchesindiameter,witharoughrind,markedwithlozenge
shapeddivisions.Itwasofvariouscolours,fromlightpeagreentobrownandrichyellow.Jacksaidthattheyellowwastheripefruit.Weafterwardsfoundthat
mostofthefruittreesontheislandwereevergreens,andthatwemight,whenwewished,plucktheblossomandtheripefruitfromthesametree.Suchawonderful
differencefromthetreesofourowncountrysurprisedusnotalittle.Thebarkofthetreewasroughandlightcolouredthetrunkwasabouttwofeetindiameter,
anditappearedtobetwentyfeethigh,beingquitedestituteofbranchesuptothatheight,whereitbranchedoffintoabeautifulandumbrageoushead.Wenoticed
thatthefruithunginclustersoftwosandthreesonthebranchesbutaswewereanxioustogettothetopofthehill,werefrainedfromattemptingtopluckanyatthat
time.
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Ourheartswerenowverymuchcheeredbyourgoodfortune,anditwaswithlightandactivestepsthatweclamberedupthesteepsidesofthehill.Onreachingthe
summit,anew,andifpossibleagrander,prospectmetourgaze.Wefoundthatthiswasnotthehighestpartoftheisland,butthatanotherhilllaybeyond,witha
widevalleybetweenitandtheoneonwhichwestood.Thisvalley,likethefirst,wasalsofullofrichtrees,somedarkandsomelightgreen,someheavyandthickin
foliage,andotherslight,feathery,andgraceful,whilethebeautifulblossomsonmanyofthemthrewasortofrainbowtintoverall,andgavetothevalleythe
appearanceofagardenofflowers.Amongthesewerecognisedmanyofthebreadfruittrees,ladenwithyellowfruit,andalsoagreatmanycocoanutpalms.After
gazingourfillwepusheddownthehillside,crossedthevalley,andsoonbegantoascendthesecondmountain.Itwasclothedwithtreesnearlytothetop,butthe
summitwasbare,andinsomeplacesbroken.
Whileonourwayupwecametoanobjectwhichfilleduswithmuchinterest.Thiswasthestumpofatreethathadevidentlybeencutdownwithanaxe!So,then,
wewerenotthefirstwhohadviewedthisbeautifulisle.Thehandofmanhadbeenatworktherebeforeus.Itnowbegantorecurtousagainthatperhapsthe
islandwasinhabited,althoughwehadnotseenanytracesofmanuntilnowbutasecondglanceatthestumpconvincedusthatwehadnotmorereasontothinkso
nowthanformerlyforthesurfaceofthewoodwasquitedecayed,andpartlycoveredwithfungusandgreenmatter,sothatitmusthavebeencutmanyyearsago.
"Perhaps,"saidPeterkin,"someshiporotherhastouchedherelongagoforwood,andonlytakenonetree."
Wedidnotthinkthislikely,however,because,insuchcircumstances,thecrewofashipwouldcutwoodofsmallsize,andneartheshore,whereasthiswasalarge
treeandstoodnearthetopofthemountain.Infactitwasthehighestlargetreeonthemountain,allaboveitbeingwoodofveryrecentgrowth.
"Ican'tunderstandit,"saidJack,scratchingthesurfaceofthestumpwithhisaxe."Icanonlysupposethatthesavageshavebeenhereandcutitforsomepurpose
knownonlytothemselves.But,hallo!whathavewehere?"
Ashespoke,Jackbegancarefullytoscrapeawaythemossandfungusfromthestump,andsoonlaidbarethreedistincttracesofmarks,asifsomeinscriptionor
initialshadbeencutthereon.Butalthoughthetracesweredistinct,beyondalldoubt,theexactformoftheletterscouldnotbemadeout.Jackthoughttheylooked
likeJ.S.butwecouldnotbecertain.Theyhadapparentlybeencarelesslycut,andlongexposuretotheweatherhadsobrokenthemupthatwecouldnotmake
outwhattheywere.Wewereexceedinglyperplexedatthisdiscovery,andstayedalongtimeattheplaceconjecturingwhatthesemarkscouldhavebeen,but
withoutavailso,asthedaywasadvancing,weleftitandquicklyreachedthetopofthemountain.
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Wefoundthistobethehighestpointoftheisland,andfromitwesawourkingdomlying,asitwere,likeamaparoundus.AsIhavealwaysthoughtitimpossibleto
getathingproperlyintoone'sunderstandingwithoutcomprehendingit,Ishallbegthereader'spatienceforalittlewhileIdescribeourisland,thus,shortly:
Itconsistedoftwomountainstheoneweguessedat500feettheother,onwhichwestood,at1000.Betweentheselayarich,beautifulvalley,asalreadysaid.
Thisvalleycrossedtheislandfromoneendtotheother,beinghighinthemiddleandslopingoneachsidetowardsthesea.Thelargemountainsloped,ontheside
farthestfromwherewehadbeenwrecked,graduallytowardstheseabutalthough,whenviewedataglance,ithadthusaregularslopingappearance,amore
carefulobservationshowedthatitwasbrokenupintoamultitudeofverysmallvales,orratherdellsandglens,intermingledwithlittleruggedspotsandsmallbut
abruptprecipiceshereandthere,withrivuletstumblingovertheiredgesandwanderingdowntheslopesinlittlewhitestreams,sometimesglisteningamongthebroad
leavesofthebreadfruitandcocoanuttrees,orhidaltogetherbeneaththerichunderwood.Atthebaseofthismountainlayanarrowbrightgreenplainormeadow,
whichterminatedabruptlyattheshore.Ontheothersideoftheisland,whencewehadcome,stoodthesmallerhill,atthefootofwhichdivergedthreevalleysone
beingthatwhichwehadascended,withasmallervaleoneachsideofit,andseparatedfromitbythetworidgesbeforementioned.Inthesesmallervalleysthere
werenostreams,buttheywereclothedwiththesameluxuriantvegetation.
Thediameteroftheislandseemedtobeabouttenmiles,and,asitwasalmostcircularinform,itscircumferencemusthavebeenthirtymilesperhapsalittlemore,if
allowancebemadeforthenumerousbaysandindentationsoftheshore.Theentireislandwasbeltedbyabeachofpurewhitesand,onwhichlavedthegentle
ripplesofthelagoon.Wenowalsoobservedthatthecoralreefcompletelyencircledtheislandbutitvarieditsdistancefromithereandthere,insomeplacesbeing
amilefromthebeach,inothers,afewhundredyards,buttheaveragedistancewashalfamile.Thereeflayverylow,andthesprayofthesurfbrokequiteoveritin
manyplaces.Thissurfneverceaseditsroar,for,howevercalmtheweathermightbe,thereisalwaysagentleswayingmotioninthegreatPacific,which,although
scarcenoticeableoutatsea,reachestheshoreatlastinahugebillow.Thewaterwithinthelagoon,asbeforesaid,wasperfectlystill.Therewerethreenarrow
openingsinthereefoneoppositeeachendofthevalleywhichIhavedescribedascrossingtheislandtheotheroppositeourownvalley,whichweafterwards
namedtheValleyoftheWreck.Ateachoftheseopeningsthereefroseintotwosmallgreenislets,coveredwithbushesandhavingoneortwococoanutpalmson
each.Theseisletswereverysingular,andappearedasifplantedexpresslyforthepurposeofmarkingthechannelintothelagoon.Ourcaptainwasmakingforone
oftheseopeningsthedaywewerewrecked,andwouldhavereachedittoo,Idoubtnot,hadnottherudderbeentornaway.Withinthelagoonwereseveralpretty,
lowcoralislands,justoppositeourencampmentand,immediatelybeyondthese,outatsea,layaboutadozenotherislands,atvariousdistances,fromhalfamileto
tenmilesallofthem,asfaraswecoulddiscern,smallerthanoursandapparentlyuninhabited.Theyseemedtobelowcoralislands,raisedbutlittleabovethesea,
yetcoveredwithcocoanuttrees.
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Allthiswenoted,andagreatdealmore,whilewesatonthetopofthemountain.Afterwehadsatisfiedourselveswepreparedtoreturnbuthereagainwe
discoveredtracesofthepresenceofman.Thesewereapoleorstaffandoneortwopiecesofwoodwhichhadbeensquaredwithanaxe.Allofthesewere,
however,verymuchdecayed,andtheyhadevidentlynotbeentouchedformanyyears.
Fullofthesediscoverieswereturnedtoourencampment.Onthewaywefellinwiththetracesofsomefourfootedanimal,butwhetheroldorofrecentdatenone
ofuswereabletoguess.Thisalsotendedtoraiseourhopesofobtainingsomeanimalfoodontheisland,sowereachedhomeingoodspirits,quitepreparedfor
supper,andhighlysatisfiedwithourexcursion.
Aftermuchdiscussion,inwhichPeterkintookthelead,wecametotheconclusionthattheislandwasuninhabited,andwenttobed.
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CHAPTERVII.
Jack'singenuityWegetintodifficultiesaboutfishing,andgetoutofthembyamethodwhichgivesusacoldbathHorribleencounterwithashark.
FORseveraldaysaftertheexcursionrelatedinthelastchapterwedidnotwanderfarfromourencampment,butgaveourselvesuptoformingplansforthefuture
andmakingourpresentabodecomfortable.
Therewerevariouscausesthatinducedthisstateofcomparativeinaction.Inthefirstplace,althougheverythingarounduswassodelightful,andwecouldwithout
difficultyobtainallthatwerequiredforourbodilycomfort,wedidnotquiteliketheideaofsettlingdownherefortherestofourlives,farawayfromourfriendsand
ournativeland.Tosetenergeticallyaboutpreparationsforapermanentresidenceseemedsolikemakingupourmindstosayingadieutohomeandfriendsforever,
thatwetacitlyshrankfromitandputoffourpreparations,foronereasonandanother,aslongaswecould.Thentherewasalittleuncertaintystillastotherebeing
nativesontheisland,andweentertainedakindoffainthopethatashipmightcomeandtakeusoff.Butasdayafterdaypassed,andneithersavagesnorships
appeared,wegaveupallhopeofanearlydeliveranceandsetdiligentlytoworkatourhomestead.
Duringthistime,however,wehadnotbeenaltogetheridle.Wemadeseveralexperimentsincookingthecocoanut,mostofwhichdidnotimproveit.Thenwe
removedourgoods,andtookupourabodeinthecave,butfoundthechangesobadthatwereturnedgladlytothebower.Besidesthiswebathedveryfrequently,
andtalkedagreatdealatleastJackandPeterkindid,Ilistened.Amongotherusefulthings,Jack,whowaseverthemostactiveanddiligent,convertedabout
threeinchesofthehoopironintoanexcellentknife.Firsthebeatitquiteflatwiththeaxe.Thenhemadearudehandle,andtiedthehoopirontoitwithourpiece
ofwhipcord,andgroundittoanedgeonapieceofsandstone.Whenitwasfinishedheusedittoshapeabetterhandle,towhichhefixeditwithastripofhis
cottonhandkerchiefinwhichoperationhehad,asPeterkinpointedout,tornoffoneofLordNelson'snoses.However,thewhipcord,thussetfree,wasusedby
Peterkinasafishingline.Hemerelytiedapieceofoystertotheendofit.Thisthefishwereallowedtoswallow,andthentheywerepulledquicklyashore.Butas
thelinewasveryshortandwehadnoboat,thefishwecaughtwereexceedinglysmall.
OnedayPeterkincameupfromthebeach,wherehehadbeenangling,andsaidinaverycrosstone,"I'lltellyouwhat,Jack,I'mnotgoingtobehumbuggedwith
catchingsuchcontemptiblethingsanylonger.Iwantyoutoswimoutwithmeonyourback,andletmefishindeepwater!"
"Dearme,Peterkin,"repliedJack,"Ihadnoideayouweretakingthethingsomuchtoheart,elseIwouldhavegotyououtofthatdifficultylongago.Letmesee,"
andJacklookeddownatapieceoftimberonwhichhehadbeenlabouring,withapeculiargazeofabstraction,whichhealwaysassumedwhentryingtoinventor
discoveranything.
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"Whatsayyoutobuildingaboat?"heinquired,lookinguphastily.
"Takefartoolong,"wasthereply"can'tbebotheredwaiting.Iwanttobeginatonce!"
AgainJackconsidered."Ihaveit!"hecried."We'llfellalargetreeandlaunchthetrunkofitinthewater,sothatwhenyouwanttofishyou'venothingtodobutto
swimouttoit."
"Wouldnotasmallraftdobetter?"saidI.
"Muchbetterbutwehavenoropestobindittogetherwith.Perhapswemayfindsomethinghereafterthatwilldoaswell,but,inthemeantime,letustrythetree."
Thiswasagreedon,sowestartedofftoaspotnotfardistant,whereweknewofatreethatwouldsuitus,whichgrewnearthewater'sedge.Assoonaswe
reacheditJackthrewoffhiscoat,and,wieldingtheaxewithhissturdyarms,hackedandhewedatitforaquarterofanhourwithoutstopping.Thenhepaused,
and,whilehesatdowntorest,Icontinuedthework.ThenPeterkinmadeavigorousattackonit,sothatwhenJackrenewedhispowerfulblows,afewminutes
cuttingbroughtitdownwithaterriblecrash.
"Hurrah!nowforit,"criedJack"letusoffwithitshead."
Sosayinghebegantocutthroughthestemagain,ataboutsixyardsfromthethickend.Thisdone,hecutthreestrong,shortpolesorleversfromthestoutbranches,
withwhichtorollthelogdownthebeachintotheseafor,asitwasnearlytwofeetthickatthelargeend,wecouldnotmoveitwithoutsuchhelps.Withthelevers,
however,werolleditslowlyintothesea.
Havingbeenthussuccessfulinlaunchingourvessel,wenextshapedtheleversintorudeoarsorpaddles,andthenattemptedtoembark.Thiswaseasyenoughto
dobut,afterseatingourselvesastridethelog,itwaswiththeutmostdifficultywekeptitfromrollingroundandplungingusintothewater.Notthatwemindedthat
muchbutwepreferred,ifpossible,tofishindryclothes.Tobesure,ourtrouserswerenecessarilywet,asourlegsweredanglinginthewateroneachsideofthe
logbut,astheycouldbeeasilydried,wedidnotcare.Afterhalfanhour'spractice,webecameexpertenoughtokeepourbalanceprettysteadily.ThenPeterkin
laiddownhispaddle,andhavingbaitedhislinewithawholeoyster,droptitintodeepwater.
"Now,then,Jack,"saidhe,"becautioussteerclearo'thatseaweed.Therethat'sitgently,now,gently.Iseeafellowatleastafootlongdownthere,comingto
ha!that'sit!Oh!bother,he'soff."
"Didhebite?"saidJack,urgingthelogonwardsalittlewithhispaddle.
"Bite?ay!Hetookitintohismouth,butthemomentIbegantohaulheopenedhisjawsandletitoutagain."
"Lethimswallowitnexttime,"saidJack,laughingatthemelancholyexpressionofPeterkin'svisage.
"Therehe'sagain,"criedPeterkin,hiseyesflashingwithexcitement."Lookout!Nowthen!No!Yes!No!Why,thebruteWON'Tswallowit!"
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"Trytohaulhimupbythemouth,then,"criedJack."Doitgently."
AheavysighandalookofblankdespairshowedthatpoorPeterkinhadtriedandfailedagain.
"Nevermind,lad,"saidJack,inavoiceofsympathy"we'llmoveon,andofferittosomeotherfish."Sosaying,Jackpliedhispaddlebutscarcelyhadhemoved
fromthespot,whenafishwithanenormousheadandalittlebodydartedfromunderarockandswallowedthebaitatonce.
"Gothimthistime,that'safact!"criedPeterkin,haulingintheline."He'sswallowedthebaitrightdowntohistail,Ideclare.Ohwhatathumper!"
Asthefishcamestrugglingtothesurface,weleanedforwardtoseeit,andoverbalancedthelog.Peterkinthrewhisarmsroundthefish'sneckand,inanother
instant,wewereallflounderinginthewater!
Ashoutoflaughterburstfromusaswerosetothesurfacelikethreedrownedrats,andseizedholdofthelog.Wesoonrecoveredourposition,andsatmore
warily,whilePeterkinsecuredthefish,whichhadwellnighescapedinthemidstofourstruggles.Itwaslittleworthhaving,howeverbut,asPeterkinremarked,it
wasbetterthanthesmoutshehadbeencatchingforthelasttwoorthreedayssowelaiditonthelogbeforeus,andhavingrebaitedtheline,droptitinagainfor
another.
Now,whilewewerethusintentuponoursport,ourattentionwassuddenlyattractedbyarippleonthesea,justafewyardsawayfromus.Peterkinshoutedtous
topaddleinthatdirection,ashethoughtitwasabigfish,andwemighthaveachanceofcatchingit.ButJack,insteadofcomplying,said,inadeep,earnesttoneof
voice,whichIneverbeforeheardhimuse,
"Haulupyourline,Peterkinseizeyourpaddlequick,it'sashark!"
Thehorrorwithwhichweheardthismaywellbeimagined,foritmustberememberedthatourlegswerehangingdowninthewater,andwecouldnotventuretopull
themupwithoutupsettingthelog.Peterkininstantlyhauledupthelineand,graspinghispaddle,exertedhimselftotheutmost,whilewealsodidourbesttomake
forshore.Butwewereagoodwayoff,andthelogbeing,asIhavebeforesaid,veryheavy,movedbutslowlythroughthewater.Wenowsawthesharkquite
distinctlyswimmingroundandroundus,itssharpfineverynowandthenprotrudingabovethewater.Fromitsactiveandunsteadymotions,Jackknewitwas
makingupitsmindtoattackus,soheurgedusvehementlytopaddleforourlives,whilehehimselfsetustheexample.Suddenlyheshouted"Lookout!therehe
comes!"andinasecondwesawthemonstrousfishdivecloseunderus,andturnhalfoveronhisside.Butweallmadeagreatcommotionwithourpaddles,which
nodoubtfrighteneditawayforthattime,aswesawitimmediatelyaftercirclingroundusasbefore.
"Throwthefishtohim,"criedJack,inaquick,suppressedvoice"we'llmaketheshoreintimeyetifwecankeephimoffforafewminutes."
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Peterkinstoppedoneinstanttoobeythecommand,andthenpliedhispaddleagainwithallhismight.Nosoonerhadthefishfallenonthewaterthanweobserved
thesharktosink.Inanothersecondwesawitswhitebreastrisingforsharksalwaysturnoverontheirsideswhenabouttoseizetheirprey,theirmouthsbeingnot
atthepointoftheirheadslikethoseofotherfish,but,asitwere,undertheirchins.Inanothermomenthissnoutroseabovethewater,hiswidejaws,armedwitha
terrificdoublerowofteeth,appeared.Thedeadfishwasengulfed,andthesharksankoutofsight.ButJackwasmistakeninsupposingthatitwouldbesatisfied.
Inaveryfewminutesitreturnedtous,anditsquickmotionsledustofearthatitwouldattackusatonce.
"Stoppaddling,"criedJacksuddenly."Iseeitcomingupbehindus.Now,obeymyordersquickly.OurlivesmaydependonitRalph.Peterkin,doyourbestto
BALANCETHELOG.Don'tlookoutfortheshark.Don'tglancebehindyou.Donothingbutbalancethelog."
PeterkinandIinstantlydidaswewereordered,beingonlytoogladtodoanythingthataffordedusachanceorahopeofescape,forwehadimplicitconfidencein
Jack'scourageandwisdom.Forafewseconds,thatseemedlongminutestomymind,wesatthussilentlybutIcouldnotresistglancingbackward,despitethe
orderstothecontrary.Ondoingso,IsawJacksittingrigidlikeastatue,withhispaddleraised,hislipscompressed,andhiseyebrowsbentoverhiseyes,which
glaredsavagelyfrombeneaththemdownintothewater.Ialsosawtheshark,tomyhorror,quitecloseunderthelog,intheactofdartingtowardsJack'sfoot.I
couldscarcesuppressacryonbeholdingthis.Inanothermomentthesharkrose.Jackdrewhislegsuddenlyfromthewater,andthrewitoverthelog.The
monster'ssnoutrubbedagainstthelogasitpassed,andrevealeditshideousjaws,intowhichJackinstantlyplungedthepaddle,andthrustitdownitsthroat.So
violentwastheactthatJackrosetohisfeetinperformingitthelogwastherebyrolledcompletelyover,andwewereoncemoreplungedintothewater.Weall
rose,splutteringandgasping,inamoment.
"Nowthen,strikeoutforshore,"criedJack."Here,Peterkin,catchholdofmycollar,andkickoutwithawill."
Peterkindidashewasdesired,andJackstruckoutwithsuchforcethathecutthroughthewaterlikeaboatwhileI,beingfreefromallencumbrance,succeededin
keepingupwithhim.Aswehadbythistimedrawnprettyneartotheshore,afewminutesmoresufficedtocarryusintoshallowwaterand,finally,welandedin
safety,thoughverymuchexhausted,andnotalittlefrightenedbyourterribleadventure.
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CHAPTERVIII.
ThebeautiesofthebottomoftheseatemptPeterkintodiveHowhediditMoredifficultiesovercomeThewatergardenCuriouscreaturesofthe
seaThetankCandlesmissedverymuch,andthecandlenuttreediscoveredWonderfulaccountofPeterkin'sfirstvoyageClothfoundgrowingona
treeAplanprojected,andarmspreparedforoffenceanddefenceAdreadfulcry.
OURencounterwiththesharkwasthefirstgreatdangerthathadbefallenussincelandingonthisisland,andwefeltveryseriouslyaffectedbyit,especiallywhenwe
consideredthatwehadsooftenunwittinglyincurredthesamedangerbeforewhilebathing.Wewerenowforcedtotaketofishingagainintheshallowwater,until
weshouldsucceedinconstructingaraft.Whattroubledusmost,however,was,thatwewerecompelledtoforegoourmorningswimmingexcursions.Wedid,
indeed,continuetoenjoyourbatheintheshallowwater,butJackandIfoundthatonegreatsourceofourenjoymentwasgone,whenwecouldnolongerdivedown
amongthebeautifulcoralgrovesatthebottomofthelagoon.Wehadcometobesofondofthisexercise,andtotakesuchaninterestinwatchingtheformationsof
coralandthegambolsofthemanybeautifulfishamongsttheforestsofredandgreenseaweeds,thatwehadbecomequitefamiliarwiththeappearanceofthefish
andthelocalitiesthattheychieflyhaunted.Wehadalsobecomeexpertdivers.Butwemadeitarulenevertostaylongunderwateratatime.Jacktoldmethatto
dosooftenwasbadforthelungs,and,insteadofaffordingusenjoyment,woulderelongdousaseriousinjury.Soweneverstayedatthebottomaslongaswe
mighthavedone,butcameupfrequentlytothetopforfreshair,anddiveddownagainimmediately.Sometimes,whenJackhappenedtobeinahumorousframe,he
wouldseathimselfatthebottomoftheseaononeofthebraincorals,asifhewereseatedonalargepaddockstool,andthenmakefacesatme,inorder,if
possible,tomakemelaughunderwater.Atfirst,whenhetookmeunawares,henearlysucceeded,andIhadtoshoottothesurfaceinordertolaughbut
afterwardsIbecameawareofhisintentions,and,beingnaturallyofagravedisposition,Ihadnodifficultyinrestrainingmyself.Iusedoftentowonderhowpoor
Peterkinwouldhavelikedtobewithusandhesometimesexpressedmuchregretatbeingunabletojoinus.Iusedtodomybesttogratifyhim,poorfellow,by
relatingallthewondersthatwesawbutthis,insteadofsatisfying,seemedonlytowhethiscuriositythemore,soonedayweprevailedonhimtotrytogodownwith
us.But,althoughabraveboyineveryotherway,Peterkinwasverynervousinthewater,anditwaswithdifficultywegothimtoconsenttobetakendown,forhe
couldneverhavemanagedtopushhimselfdowntothebottomwithoutassistance.Butnosoonerhadwepulledhimdownayardorsointothedeepclearwater,
thanhebegantostruggleandkickviolently,sowewereforcedtolethimgo,whenheroseoutofthewaterlikeacork,gavealoudgaspandafrightfulroar,and
struckoutforthelandwiththeutmostpossiblehaste.
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Now,allthispleasureweweretoforego,andwhenwethoughtthereon,JackandIfeltverymuchdepressedinourspirits.Icouldsee,also,thatPeterkingrieved
andsympathizedwithus,for,whentalkingaboutthismatter,herefrainedfromjestingandbanteringusuponit.
As,however,aman'sdifficultiesusuallysethimupondevisingmethodstoovercomethem,wherebyheoftendiscoversbetterthingsthanthosehemayhavelost,so
thisourdifficultyinducedustothinkofsearchingforalargepoolamongtherocks,wherethewatershouldbedeepenoughfordivingyetsosurroundedbyrocksas
topreventsharksfromgettingatus.Andsuchapoolweafterwardsfound,whichprovedtobeverymuchbetterthanourmostsanguinehopesanticipated.Itwas
situatednotmorethantenminutes'walkfromourcamp,andwasintheformofasmalldeepbayorbasin,theentrancetowhich,besidesbeingnarrow,wasso
shallowthatnofishsolargeasasharkcouldgetin,atleastnotunlessheshouldbearemarkablythinone.
Insideofthisbasin,whichwecalledourWaterGarden,thecoralformationsweremuchmorewonderful,andtheseaweedplantsfarmorelovelyandvividly
coloured,thaninthelagoonitself.Andthewaterwassoclearandstill,that,althoughverydeep,youcouldseetheminutestobjectatthebottom.Besidesthis,
therewasaledgeofrockwhichoverhungthebasinatitsdeepestpart,fromwhichwecoulddivepleasantlyandwhereonPeterkincouldsitandseenotonlyallthe
wondersIhaddescribedtohim,butalsoseeJackandmecreepingamongstthemarineshrubberyatthebottom,like,asheexpressedit,"twogreatwhitesea
monsters."Duringtheseexcursionsofourstothebottomofthesea,webegantogetaninsightintothemannersandcustomsofitsinhabitants,andtomake
discoveriesofwonderfulthings,thelikeofwhichweneverbeforeconceived.Amongotherthings,weweredeeplyinterestedwiththeoperationsofthelittlecoral
insectwhich,IwasinformedbyJack,issupposedtohaveentirelyconstructedmanyofthenumerousislandsinPacificOcean.And,certainly,whenweconsidered
thegreatreefwhichtheseinsectshadformedroundtheislandonwhichwewerecast,andobservedtheirceaselessactivityinbuildingtheirmyriadcells,itdidatfirst
seemasifthismightbetruebutthen,again,whenIlookedatthemountainsoftheisland,andreflectedthattherewerethousandsofsuch,manyofthemmuch
higher,intheSouthSeas,Idoubtedthattheremustbesomemistakehere.Butmoreofthishereafter.
Ialsobecamemuchtakenupwiththemannersandappearanceoftheanemones,andstarfish,andcrabs,andseaurchins,andsuchlikecreaturesandwasnot
contentwithwatchingthoseIsawduringmydivesintheWaterGarden,butImustneedsscoopoutaholeinthecoralrockclosetoit,whichIfilledwithsaltwater,
andstockedwithsundryspecimensofanemonesandshellfish,inordertowatchmorecloselyhowtheywereinthehabitofpassingtheirtime.Ourburningglass
alsonowbecameagreattreasuretome,asitenabledmetomagnify,andsotoperceivemoreclearlytheformsandactionsofthesecuriouscreaturesofthedeep.
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Havingnowgotourselvesintoaverycomfortablecondition,webegantotalkofaprojectwhichwehadlonghadincontemplation,namely,totravelentirelyround
theislandinorder,first,toascertainwhetheritcontainedanyotherproductionswhichmightbeusefultousand,second,toseewhethertheremightbeanyplace
moreconvenientandsuitableforourpermanentresidencethanthatonwhichwewerenowencamped.Notthatwewereinanydegreedissatisfiedwithitonthe
contrary,weentertainedquiteahomefeelingtoourboweranditsneighbourhoodbutifabetterplacedidexist,therewasnoreasonwhyweshouldnotmakeuseof
it.Atanyrate,itwouldbewelltoknowofitsexistence.
Wehadmuchearnesttalkoverthismatter.ButJackproposedthat,beforeundertakingsuchanexcursion,weshouldsupplyourselveswithgooddefensivearms,
for,asweintendednotonlytogoroundalltheshore,buttoascendmostofthevalleys,beforereturninghome,weshouldbelikelytomeetinwith,hewouldnotsay
dangers,but,atleast,witheverythingthatexistedontheisland,whateverthatmightbe.
"Besides,"saidJack,"itwon'tdoforustoliveoncocoanutsandoystersalways.Nodoubttheyareveryexcellentintheirway,butIthinkalittleanimalfood,now
andthen,wouldbeagreeableaswellasgoodforusandastherearemanysmallbirdsamongthetrees,someofwhichareprobablyverygoodtoeat,Ithinkit
wouldbeacapitalplantomakebowsandarrows,withwhichwecouldeasilyknockthemover."
"Firstrate!"criedPeterkin."Youwillmakethebows,Jack,andI'lltrymyhandatthearrows.Thefactis,I'mquitetiredofthrowingstonesatthebirds.Ibegan
theverydaywelanded,Ithink,andhavepersevereduptothepresenttime,butI'veneverhitanythingyet."
"Youforget,"saidI,"youhitmeonedayontheshin."
"Ah,true,"repliedPeterkin,"andapreciousshindyyoukickedupinconsequence.ButyouwereatleastfouryardsawayfromtheimpudentparoquetIaimedatso
youseewhatahorriblybadshotIam."
"But,"saidI,"Jack,youcannotmakethreebowsandarrowsbeforetomorrow,andwoulditnotbeapitytowastetime,nowthatwehavemadeupourmindsto
goonthisexpedition?Supposethatyoumakeonebowandarrowforyourself,andwecantakeourclubs?"
"That'strue,Ralph.Thedayisprettyfaradvanced,andIdoubtifIcanmakeevenonebowbeforedark.TobesureImightworkbyfirelight,afterthesungoes
down."
Wehad,uptothistime,beeninthehabitofgoingtobedwiththesun,aswehadnopressingcalltoworko'nightsand,indeed,ourworkduringthedaywasusually
hardenough, whatbetweenfishing,andimprovingourbower,anddivingintheWaterGarden,andramblinginthewoodssothat,whennightcame,wewere
usuallyverygladtoretiretoourbeds.Butnowthatwehadadesiretoworkatnight,wefeltawishforcandles.
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"Won'tagoodblazingfiregiveyoulightenough?"inquiredPeterkin.
"Yes,"repliedJack,"quiteenoughbutthenitwillgiveusagreatdealmorethanenoughofheatinthiswarmclimateofours."
"True,"saidPeterkin"Iforgotthat.Itwouldroastus."
"Well,asyou'realwaysdoingthatatanyrate,"remarkedJack,"wecouldscarcelycallitachange.Butthefactis,I'vebeenthinkingoverthissubjectbefore.There
isacertainnutgrowingintheseislandswhichiscalledthecandlenut,becausethenativesuseitinsteadofcandles,andIknowallaboutit,andhowtoprepareitfor
burning"
"Thenwhydon'tyoudoit?"interruptedPeterkin."Whyhaveyoukeptusinthedarksolong,youvilephilosopher?"
"Because,"saidJack,"Ihavenotseenthetreeyet,andI'mnotsurethatIshouldknoweitherthetreeorthenutsifIdidseethem.Yousee,Iforgetthedescription."
"Ah!that'sjustthewaywithme,"saidPeterkinwithadeepsigh."InevercouldkeepinmymindforhalfanhourthefewdescriptionsIeverattemptedto
remember.TheveryfirstvoyageIevermadewascausedbymymistakingadescription,orforgettingit,whichisthesamething.Andahorriblevoyageitwas.I
hadtofightwiththecaptainthewholewayout,andmadethehomewardvoyagebyswimming!"
"Come,Peterkin,"saidI,"youcan'tgetevenMEtobelievethat."
"Perhapsnot,butit'strue,notwithstanding,"returnedPeterkin,pretendingtobehurtatmydoubtinghisword.
"Letushearhowithappened,"saidJack,whileagoodnaturedsmileoverspreadhisface.
"Well,youmustknow,"beganPeterkin,"thattheverydaybeforeIwenttosea,Iwasgreatlytakenupwithagameathockey,whichIwasplayingwithmyold
schoolfellowsforthelasttimebeforeleavingthem.YouseeIwasyoungthen,Ralph."Peterkingazed,inanabstractedandmelancholymanner,outtosea!"Well,
inthemidstofthegame,myuncle,whohadtakenallthebotherandtroubleofgettingmebound'prenticeandriggedout,cameandtookmeaside,andtoldmethat
hewascalledsuddenlyawayfromhome,andwouldnotbeabletoseemeaboard,ashehadintended.'However,'saidhe,'thecaptainknowsyouarecoming,so
that'snotofmuchconsequencebutasyou'llhavetofindtheshipyourself,youmustrememberhernameanddescription.D'yehear,boy?'Icertainlydidhear,but
I'mafraidIdidnotunderstand,formymindwassotakenupwiththegame,whichIsawmysidewaslosing,thatIbegantogrowimpatient,andthemomentmy
unclefinishedhisdescriptionoftheship,andbademegoodbye,Iboltedbacktomygame,withonlyaconfusedideaofthreemasts,andagreenpaintedtafferel,
andagiltfigureheadofHerculeswithhisclubatthebow.NextdayIwassomuchcastdownwitheverybodysayinggoodbye,andaloto'myfemalefriends
cryin'horriblyoverme,thatIdidnotstartfortheharbour,wheretheshipwaslyingamongathousandothers,tillitwasalmosttoolate.SoIhadtorunthewhole
way.WhenIreachedthepier,thereweresomanymasts,andsomuchconfusion,thatIfeltquitehumblebumbledinmyfaculties.'Now,'saidItomyself,'Peterkin,
you'reinafix.'ThenIfanciedIsawagiltfigureheadandthreemasts,belongingtoashipjustabouttostartsoIdartedonboard,butspeedilyjumpedonshore
again,whenIfoundthattwoofthemastsbelongedtoanothervessel,andthefigureheadtoathird!AtlastIcaughtsightofwhatImadesurewasit,afinelarge
vesseljustcastingoffhermoorings.Thetafferelwasgreen.Threemasts,yes,thatmustbeit,andthegiltfigureheadofHercules.Tobesureithadathree
prongedpitchforkinitshandinsteadofaclubbutthatmightbemyuncle'smistakeorperhapsHerculessometimesvariedhisweapons.'Castoff!'roaredavoice
fromthequarterdeck.'Holdon!'criedI,rushingfranticallythroughthecrowd.'Holdon!holdon!'repeatedsomeofthebystanders,whilethemenattheropes
delayedforaminute.Thisthrewthecaptainintoafrightfulrageforsomeofhisfriendshadcomedowntoseehimoff,andhavinghisorderscontradictedsoflatly
wastoomuchforhim.However,thedelaywassufficient.Itookaraceandagoodleaptheropeswerecastoffthesteamtuggaveapuff,andwestarted.
Suddenlythecaptainwasuptome:'Wheredidyoucomefrom,youscamp,andwhatdoyouwanthere?'
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"'Please,sir,'saidI,touchingmycap,'I'myou'renew'prenticecomeaboard.'
"'New'Prentice,'saidhe,stamping,'I'vegotnonew'prentice.Myboysareallaboardalready.Thisisatrick,youyoungblackguard.You'verunaway,youhave'
andthecaptainstampedaboutthedeckandsworedreadfullyfor,yousee,thethoughtofhavingtostoptheshipandloweraboatandlosehalfanhour,allforthe
slakeofsendingasmallboyashore,seemedtomakehimveryangry.Besides,itwasblowin'freshoutsidetheharbour,sothat,tohaveletthesteameralongsideto
putmeintoitwasnoeasyjob.Justaswewerepassingthepierhead,whereseveralboatswererowingintoharbour,thecaptaincameuptome,
"'You'verunaway,youblackguard,'hesaid,givingmeaboxontheear.
"'NoIhaven't,'saidI,angrilyfortheboxwasbynomeansalightone.
"Hark'ee,boy,canyouswim?'
"'Yes,'saidI.
"'Thendoit,'and,seizingmebymytrousersandthenapeofmyneck,hetossedmeoverthesideintothesea.Thefellowsintheboatsattheendofthepier,
backedtheiroarsonseeingthisbutobservingthatIcouldswim,theyallowedmetomakethebestofmywaytothepierhead.So,yousee,Ralph,thatIreallydid
swimmyfirsthomewardvoyage."
JacklaughedandpattedPeterkinontheshoulder."Buttellusaboutthecandlenuttree,"saidI"youweretalkingaboutit."
"Verytrue,"saidJack,"butIfearIcanrememberlittleaboutit.IbelievethenutisaboutthesizeofawalnutandIthinkthattheleavesarewhite,butIamnotsure."
"Eh!ha!hum!"exclaimedPeterkin,"Isawatreeansweringtothatdescriptionthisveryday."
"Didyou?"criedJack."Isitfarfromthis?"
"No,nothalfamile."
"Thenleadmetoit,"saidJack,seizinghisaxe.
Inafewminuteswewereallthreepushingthroughtheunderwoodoftheforest,headedbyPeterkin.
Wesooncametothetreeinquestion,which,afterJackhadcloselyexaminedit,weconcludedmustbethecandlenuttree.Itsleaveswereofabeautifulsilvery
white,andformedafinecontrasttothedarkgreenfoliageofthesurroundingtrees.Weimmediatelyfilledourpocketswiththenuts,afterwhichJacksaid,
"Now,Peterkin,climbthatcocoanuttreeandcutmeoneofthelongbranches."
Thiswassoondone,butitcostsometrouble,forthestemwasveryhigh,andasPeterkinusuallypullednutsfromtheyoungertrees,hewasnotmuchaccustomedto
climbingthehighones.Theleaforbranchwasaverylargeone,andweweresurprisedatitssizeandstrength.Viewedfromalittledistance,thecocoanuttree
seemstobeatall,straightstem,withoutasinglebranchexceptatthetop,wherethereisatuftoffeatherylookingleaves,thatseemtowavelikesoftplumesinthe
wind.Butwhenwesawoneoftheseleavesorbranchesatourfeet,wefoundittobeastrongstalk,aboutfifteenfeetlong,withanumberofnarrow,pointed
leafletsrangedalternatelyoneachside.Butwhatseemedtousthemostwonderfulthingaboutitwasacurioussubstanceresemblingcloth,whichwaswrapped
roundthethickendofthestalk,whereithadbeencutfromthetree.Peterkintoldusthathehadthegreatestdifficultyinseparatingthebranchfromthestem,on
accountofthissubstance,asitwaswrappedquiteroundthetree,and,heobserved,roundalltheotherbranches,thusformingastrongsupporttothelargeleaves
whileexposedtohighwinds.WhenIcallthissubstanceclothIdonotexaggerate.Indeed,withregardtoallthethingsIsawduringmyeventfulcareerintheSouth
Seas,Ihavebeenexceedinglycarefulnottoexaggerate,orinanywaytomisleadordeceivemyreaders.Thiscloth,Isay,wasremarkablyliketocoarsebrown
cottoncloth.Ithadaseamorfibredownthecentreofit,fromwhichdivergedotherfibres,aboutthesizeofabristle.Thereweretwolayersofthesefibres,very
longandtough,theonelayercrossingtheotherobliquely,andthewholewascementedtogetherwithastillfinerfibrousandadhesivesubstance.Whenweregarded
itattentively,wecouldwithdifficultybelievethatithadnotbeenwovenbyhumanhands.Thisremarkablepieceofclothwestrippedcarefullyoff,andfoundittobe
abovetwofeetlong,byafootbroad,andwecarriedithomewithusasagreatprize.
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Jacknowtookoneoftheleaflets,and,cuttingoutthecentralspineorstalk,hurriedbackwithittoourcamp.Havingmadeasmallfire,hebakedthenutsslightly,
andthenpealedoffthehusks.Afterthishewishedtoboreaholeinthem,which,nothavinganythingbetterathandatthetime,hedidwiththepointofouruseless
pencilcase.Thenhestrungthemonthecocoanutspine,andonputtingalighttothetopmostnut,wefoundtoourjoythatitburnedwithaclear,beautifulflame
uponseeingwhich,Peterkinsprangupanddancedroundthefireforatleastfiveminutesintheexcessofhissatisfaction.
"Nowlads,"saidJack,extinguishingourcandle,thesunwillsetinanhour,sowehavenotimetolose."Ishallgoandcutayoungtreetomakemybowoutof,and
youhadbettereachofyougoandselectgoodstrongsticksforclubs,andwe'llsettoworkatthemafterdark."
Sosayingheshoulderedhisaxeandwentoff,followedbyPeterkin,whileItookupthepieceofnewlydiscoveredcloth,andfelltoexaminingitsstructure.So
engrossedwasIinthisthatIwasstillsittinginthesameattitudeandoccupationwhenmycompanionsreturned.
"Itoldyouso!"criedPeterkin,withaloudlaugh."Oh,Ralph,you'reincorrigible.See,there'saclubforyou.Iwassure,whenweleftyoulookingatthatbitof
stuff,thatwewouldfindyouporingoveritwhenwecameback,soIjustcutaclubforyouaswellasformyself."
"Thankyou,Peterkin,"saidI."Itwaskindofyoutodothat,insteadofscoldingmeforalazyfellow,asIconfessIdeserve."
"Oh!astothat,"returnedPeterkin,"I'llblowyouupyet,ifyouwishitonlyitwouldbeofnouseifIdid,foryou'reaperfectmule!"
Asitwasnowgettingdarkwelightedourcandle,andplacingitinaholdermadeoftwocrossingbranches,insideofourbower,weseatedourselvesonourleafy
bedsandbegantowork.
"Iintendtoappropriatethebowformyownuse,"saidJack,chippingthepieceofwoodhehadbroughtwithhisaxe."Iusedtobeaprettyfairshotonce.But
what'sthatyou'redoing?"headded,lookingatPeterkin,whohaddrawntheendofalongpoleintothetent,andwasendeavouringtofitasmallpieceofthehoop
irontotheendofit.
"I'mgoingtoenlistintotheLancers,"answeredPeterkin."Yousee,Jack,Ifindtheclubratheranunwieldyinstrumentformydelicatelyformedmuscles,andIflatter
myselfIshalldomoreexecutionwithaspear."
"Well,iflengthconstitutespower,"saidJack,"you'llcertainlybeinvincible."
ThepolewhichPeterkinhadcutwasfulltwelvefeetlong,beingaverystrongbutlightandtoughyoungtree,whichmerelyrequiredthinningatthebutttobea
serviceableweapon.
"That'saverygoodidea,"saidI.
"Whichthis?"inquiredPeterkin,pointingtothespear.
"Yes"Ireplied.
"Humph!"saidhe"you'dfinditaprettytoughandmatteroffactidea,ifyouhaditstuckthroughyourgizzard,oldboy!"
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"Imeantheideaofmakingitisagoodone,"saidI,laughing."And,nowIthinkofit,I'llchangemyplan,too.Idon'tthinkmuchofaclub,soI'llmakemeaslingout
ofthispieceofcloth.Iusedtobeveryfondofslinging,eversinceIreadofDavidslayingGoliaththePhilistine,andIwasoncethoughttobeexpertatit."
SoIsettoworktomanufactureasling.Foralongtimeweallworkedverybusilywithoutspeaking.AtlengthPeterkinlookedup:"Isay,Jack,I'msorrytosayI
mustapplytoyouforanotherstripofyourhandkerchief,totieonthisrascallyheadwith.It'sprettywelltornatanyrate,soyouwon'tmissit."
JackproceededtocomplywiththisrequestwhenPeterkinsuddenlylaidhishandonhisarmandarrestedhim.
"Hist,man,"saidhe,"betenderyoushouldneverbeneedlesslycruelifyoucanhelpit.DotrytoshavepastLordNelson'smouthwithouttearingit,ifpossible!
Thanks.Thereareplentymorehandkerchiefsonthecocoanuttrees."
PoorPeterkin!withwhatpleasantfeelingsIrecallandrecordhisjestsandhumoroussayingsnow!
Whilewewerethusengaged,wewerestartledbyadistantbutmoststrangeandhorriblecry.Itseemedtocomefromthesea,butwassofarawaythatwecould
notclearlydistinguishitsprecisedirection.Rushingoutofourbower,wehasteneddowntothebeachandstayedtolisten.Againitcamequiteloudanddistincton
thenightair,aprolonged,hideouscry,somethinglikethebrayingofanass.Themoonhadrisen,andwecouldseetheislandsinandbeyondthelagoonquite
plainly,buttherewasnoobjectvisibletoaccountforsuchacry.Astronggustofwindwasblowingfromthepointwhencethesoundcame,butthisdiedawaywhile
weweregazingouttosea.
"Whatcanitbe?"saidPeterkin,inalowwhisper,whileweallinvoluntarilycreptclosertoeachother.
"Doyouknow,"saidJack,"Ihaveheardthatmysterioussoundtwicebefore,butneversoloudastonight.IndeeditwassofaintthatIthoughtImusthavemerely
fanciedit,so,asIdidnotwishtoalarmyou,Isaidnothingaboutit."
Welistenedforalongtimeforthesoundagain,butasitdidnotcome,wereturnedtothebowerandresumedourwork.
"Verystrange,"saidPeterkin,quitegravely."Doyoubelieveinghosts,Ralph?"
"No,"Ianswered,"Idonot.NeverthelessImustconfessthatstrange,unaccountablesounds,suchaswehavejustheard,makemefeelalittleuneasy."
"Whatsayyoutoit,Jack?"
"Ineitherbelieveinghostsnorfeeluneasy,"hereplied."Ineversawaghostmyself,andInevermetwithanyonewhohadandIhavegenerallyfoundthatstrange
andunaccountablethingshavealmostalwaysbeenaccountedfor,andfoundtobequitesimple,oncloseexamination.Icertainlycan'timaginewhatTHATsound
isbutI'mquitesureIshallfindoutbeforelong,andifit'saghostI'll"
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"Eatit,"criedPeterkin.
"Yes,I'lleatit!Now,then,mybowandtwoarrowsarefinishedsoifyou'rereadywehadbetterturnin."
BythistimePeterkinhadthinneddownhisspearandtiedanironpointverycleverlytotheendofitIhadformedasling,thelinesofwhichwerecomposedofthin
stripsofthecocoanutcloth,plaitedandJackhadmadeastoutbow,nearlyfivefeetlong,withtwoarrows,featheredwithtwoorthreelargeplumeswhichsome
birdhaddropt.Theyhadnobarbs,butJacksaidthatifarrowswerewellfeathered,theydidnotrequireironpoints,butwouldflyquitewellifmerelysharpenedat
thepointwhichIdidnotknowbefore.
"Afeatheredarrowwithoutabarb,"saidhe,"isagoodweapon,butabarbedarrowwithoutfeathersisutterlyuseless."
Thestringofthebowwasformedofourpieceofwhipcord,partofwhich,ashedidnotliketocutit,wasrolledroundthebow.
Althoughthuspreparedforastartonthemorrow,wethoughtitwisetoexerciseourselvesalittleintheuseofourweaponsbeforestarting,sowespentthewholeof
thenextdayinpractising.Anditwaswellwedidso,forwefoundthatourarmswereveryimperfect,andthatwewerefarfromperfectintheuseofthem.First,
Jackfoundthatthebowwasmuchtoostrong,andhehadtothinit.Alsothespearwasmuchtooheavy,andsohadtobereducedinthickness,althoughnothing
wouldinducePeterkintohaveitshortened.Myslingansweredverywell,butIhadfallensomuchoutofpracticethatmyfirststoneknockedoffPeterkin'shat,and
narrowlymissedmakingasecondGoliathofhim.However,afterhavingspentthewholedayindiligentpractice,webegantofindsomeofourformerexpertness
returningatleastJackandIdid.AsforPeterkin,beingnaturallyaneathandedboy,hesoonhandledhisspearwell,andcouldrunfulltiltatacocoanut,andhitit
withgreatprecisiononceoutofeveryfivetimes.
ButIfeelsatisfiedthatweowedmuchofourrapidsuccesstotheunflaggingenergyofJack,whoinsistedthat,sincewehadmadehimCaptain,weshouldobeyhim
andhekeptusatworkfrommorningtillnight,perseveringly,atthesamething.Peterkinwishedverymuchtorunaboutandstickhisspearintoeverythinghe
passedbutJackputupacocoanut,andwouldnotlethimleaveoffrunningatthatforamoment,exceptwhenhewantedtorest.WelaughedatJackforthis,but
wewerebothconvincedthatitdidusmuchgood.
Thatnightweexaminedandrepairedourarmserewelaydowntorest,althoughweweremuchfatigued,inorderthatwemightbeinreadinesstosetoutonour
expeditionatdaylightonthefollowingmorning.
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CHAPTERIX.
PrepareforajourneyroundtheislandSagaciousreflectionsMysteriousappearancesandstartlingoccurrences.
SCARCELYhadthesunshotitsfirstrayacrossthebosomofthebroadPacific,whenJacksprangtohisfeet,and,hallooinginPeterkin'seartoawakenhim,ran
downthebeachtotakehiscustomarydipinthesea.Wedidnot,aswasourwont,bathethatmorninginourWaterGarden,but,inordertosavetime,refreshed
ourselvesintheshallowwaterjustoppositethebower.Ourbreakfastwasalsodespatchedwithoutlossoftime,andinlessthananhourafterwardsallour
preparationsforthejourneywerecompleted.
Inadditiontohisordinarydress,Jacktiedabeltofcocoanutclothroundhiswaist,intowhichhethrusttheaxe.Iwasalsoadvisedtoputonabeltandcarrya
shortcudgelorbludgeoninitfor,asJacktrulyremarked,theslingwouldbeoflittleuseifweshouldchancetocometoclosequarterswithanywildanimal.Asfor
Peterkin,notwithstandingthathecarriedsuchalong,andImustadd,frightfullookingspearoverhisshoulder,wecouldnotprevailonhimtoleavehisclubbehind
"for,"saidhe,"aspearatclosequartersisnotworthabutton."Imustsaythatitseemedtomethattheclubwas,tousehisownstyleoflanguage,notwortha
buttonholeforitwasallknottedoveratthehead,somethingliketheclubwhichIremembertohaveobservedinpicturebooksofJacktheGiantKiller,besides
beingsoheavythatherequiredtograspitwithbothhandsinordertowielditatall.However,hetookitwithhim,and,inthismannerwesetoutuponourtravels.
Wedidnotconsideritnecessarytocarryanyfoodwithus,asweknewthatwhereverwewentweshouldbecertaintofallinwithcocoanuttreeshavingwhich,we
wereamplysupplied,asPeterkinsaid,withmeatanddrinkandpockethandkerchiefs!Itooktheprecaution,however,toputtheburningglassintomypocket,lest
weshouldwantfire.
Themorningwasexceedinglovely.ItwasoneofthatverystillandpeacefulsortwhichmadethefewnoisesthatweheardseemtobeQUIETnoises.Iknowno
otherwayofexpressingthisidea.Noiseswhichsofarfrominterruptingtheuniversaltranquillityofearth,sea,andskyrathertendedtorevealtoushowquietthe
worldaroundusreallywas.SuchsoundsasIrefertowere,thepeculiarlymelancholyyet,itseemedtome,cheerfulplaintofseabirdsfloatingontheglassy
water,orsailinginthesky,alsothesubduedtwitteringoflittlebirdsamongthebushes,thefaintripplesonthebeach,andthesolemnboomofthesurfuponthe
distantcoralreef.Wefeltverygladinourheartsaswewalkedalongthesandssidebyside.Formypart,Ifeltsodeeplyoverjoyed,thatIwassurprisedatmyown
sensations,andfellintoareverieuponthecausesofhappiness.Icametotheconclusionthatastateofprofoundpeaceandrepose,bothinregardtooutward
objectsandwithinthesoul,isthehappiestconditioninwhichmancanbeplacedfor,althoughIhadmanyatimebeenmostjoyfulandhappywhenengagedin
bustling,energetic,activepursuitsoramusements,IneverfoundthatsuchjoyorsatisfactionwassodeeporsopleasanttoreflectuponasthatwhichInow
experienced.AndIwasthemoreconfirmedinthisopinionwhenIobserved,and,indeed,wastoldbyhimself,thatPeterkin'shappinesswasalsoverygreatyethe
didnotexpressthisbydancing,aswashiswont,nordidhegivesomuchasasingleshout,butwalkedquietlybetweenuswithhiseyesparkling,andajoyfulsmile
uponhiscountenance.MyreadermustnotsupposethatIthoughtallthisintheclearandmethodicalmannerinwhichIhavesetitdownhere.Thesethoughtsdid,
indeed,passthroughmymind,buttheydidsoinaveryconfusedandindefinitemanner,forIwasyoungatthattime,andnotmuchgiventodeepreflections.
NeitherdidIconsiderthatthepeacewhereofIwriteisnottobefoundinthisworldatleastinitsperfection,althoughIhavesincelearnedthatbyreligionaman
mayattaintoaverygreatdegreeofit.
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IhavesaidthatPeterkinwalkedalongthesandsbetweenus.Wehadtwowaysofwalkingtogetheraboutourisland.Whenwetravelledthroughthewoods,we
alwaysdidsoinsinglefile,asbythismethodweadvancedwithgreaterfacility,theonetreadingintheother'sfootsteps.InsuchcasesJackalwaystookthelead,
Peterkinfollowed,andIbroughtuptherear.Butwhenwetravelledalongthesands,whichextendedalmostinanunbrokenlineofglisteningwhiteroundtheisland,
wemarchedabreast,aswefoundthismethodmoresociable,andeverywaymorepleasant.Jack,beingthetallest,walkednextthesea,andPeterkinmarched
betweenus,asbythisarrangementeitherofuscouldtalktohimorhetous,whileifJackandIhappenedtowishtoconversetogether,wecouldconvenientlydoso
overPeterkin'shead.Peterkinusedtosay,inreferencetothisarrangement,thathadhebeenastallaseitherofus,ourorderofmarchmighthavebeenthesame,
for,asJackoftenusedtoscoldhimforlettingeverythingwesaidtohimpassinatoneearandoutattheother,hisheadcouldofcourseformnointerruptiontoour
discourse.
Wewerenowfairlystarted.Halfamile'swalkconveyedusroundabendinthelandwhichshutoutourbowerfromview,andforsometimeweadvancedata
briskpacewithoutspeaking,thoughoureyeswerenotidle,butnotedeverything,inthewoods,ontheshore,orinthesea,thatwasinteresting.Afterpassingthe
ridgeoflandthatformedonesideofourvalleytheValleyoftheWreckwebeheldanothersmallvalelyingbeforeusinalltheluxuriantlovelinessoftropical
vegetation.Wehad,indeed,seenitbeforefromthemountaintop,butwehadnoideathatitwouldturnouttobesomuchmorelovelywhenwewereclosetoit.
Wewereabouttocommencetheexplorationofthisvalley,whenPeterkinstoppedus,anddirectedourattentiontoaveryremarkableappearanceinadvancealong
theshore.
"What'syon,thinkyou?"saidhe,levellinghisspear,asifheexpectedanimmediateattackfromtheobjectinquestion,thoughitwasfullhalfamiledistant.
Ashespoke,thereappearedawhitecolumnabovetherocks,asifofsteamorspray.Itroseupwardstoaheightofseveralfeet,andthendisappeared.Hadthis
beennearthesea,wewouldnothavebeensogreatlysurprised,asitmightinthatcasehavebeenthesurf,foratthispartofthecoastthecoralreefapproachedso
neartotheislandthatinsomepartsitalmostjoinedit.Therewasthereforenolagoonbetween,andtheheavysurfoftheoceanbeatalmostuptotherocks.Butthis
whitecolumnappearedaboutfiftyyardsinland.Therocksattheplacewererugged,andtheystretchedacrossthesandybeachintothesea.Scarcehadwe
ceasedexpressingoursurpriseatthissight,whenanothercolumnflewupwardsforafewseconds,notfarfromthespotwherethefirsthadbeenseen,and
disappearedandso,atlongirregularintervals,thesestrangesightsrecurred.Wewerenowquitesurethatthecolumnswerewateryorcomposedofspray,but
whatcausedthemwecouldnotguess,sowedeterminedtogoandsee.
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Inafewminuteswegainedthespot,whichwasveryruggedandprecipitous,and,moreover,quitedampwiththefallingofthespray.Wehadmuchadotopass
overdryshod.Thegroundalsowasfullofholeshereandthere.Now,whilewestoodanxiouslywaitingforthereappearanceofthesewaterspouts,wehearda
low,rumblingsoundnearus,whichquicklyincreasedtoagarglingandhissingnoise,andamomentafterwardsathickspoutofwaterburstupwardsfromaholein
therock,andspoutedintotheairwithmuchviolence,andsoclosetowhereJackandIwerestandingthatitnearlytouchedus.Wesprangtooneside,butnot
beforeacloudofspraydescended,anddrenchedusbothtotheskin.
Peterkin,whowasstandingfartheroff,escapedwithafewdrops,andburstintoanuncontrollablefitoflaughteronbeholdingourmiserableplight.
"Mindyoureye!"heshoutedeagerly,"theregoesanother!"Thewordswerescarcelyoutofhismouthwhentherecameupaspoutfromanotherhole,whichserved
usexactlyinthesamemannerasbefore.
Peterkinnowshriekedwithlaughterbuthismerrimentwasabruptlyputastoptobythegurglingnoiseoccurringclosetowherehestood.
"Where'llitspoutthistime,Iwonder?"hesaid,lookingaboutwithsomeanxiety,andpreparingtorun.Suddenlytherecamealoudhissorsnortafiercespoutof
waterburstupbetweenPeterkin'slegs,blewhimoffhisfeet,envelopedhiminitsspray,andhurledhimtotheground.Hefellwithsomuchviolencethatwefeared
hemusthavebrokensomeofhisbones,andrananxiouslytohisassistancebutfortunatelyhehadfallenonaclumpoftangledherbage,inwhichhelaysprawlingina
mostdeplorablecondition.
Itwasnowourturntolaughbutaswewerenotyetquitesurethathewasunhurt,andasweknewnotwhenorwherethenextspoutmightarise,weassistedhim
hastilytojumpupandhurryfromthespot.
Imayhereadd,thatalthoughIamquitecertainthatthespoutofwaterwasverystrong,andthatitblewPeterkincompletelyoffhislegs,Iamnotquitecertainofthe
exactheighttowhichitliftedhim,beingsomewhatstartledbytheevent,andblindedpartiallybythespray,sothatmypowerofobservationwassomewhatimpaired
forthemoment.
"What'stobedonenow?"inquiredPeterkinruefully.
"Makeafire,lad,anddryourselves,"repliedJack.
"Andhereismaterialreadytoourhand,"saidI,pickingupadriedbranchofatree,aswehurrieduptothewoods.
Inaboutanhourafterthismishapourclotheswereagaindried.Whiletheywerehangingupbeforethefire,wewalkeddowntothebeach,andsoonobservedthat
thesecuriousspoutstookplaceimmediatelyafterthefallofahugewave,neverbeforeitand,moreover,thatthespoutsdidnottakeplaceexceptingwhenthe
billowwasanextremelylargeone.Fromthisweconcludedthattheremustbeasubterraneouschannelintherockintowhichthewaterwasdrivenbythelarger
waves,andfindingnowayofescapeexceptthroughthesesmallholes,wasthusforcedupviolentlythroughthem.Atanyrate,wecouldnotconceiveanyother
reasonforthesestrangewaterspouts,andasthisseemedaverysimpleandprobableone,weforthwithadoptedit.
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"Isay,Ralph,what'sthatinthewater?isitashark?"saidJack,justaswewereabouttoquittheplace.
Iimmediatelyrantotheoverhangingledgeofrock,fromwhichhewaslookingdownintothesea,andbentoverit.ThereIsawaveryfaintpaleobjectofagreenish
colour,whichseemedtomoveslightlywhileIlookedatit.
"It'slikeafishofsomesort,"saidI.
"Hallo,Peterkin!"criedJack,"fetchyourspearhere'sworkforit."
Butwhenwetriedtoreachtheobject,thespearprovedtobetooshort.
"There,now,"saidPeterkinwithasneer,"youwerealwaystellingmeitwastoolong."
Jacknowdrovethespearforciblytowardstheobject,andletgohisholdbut,althoughitseemedtobewellaimed,hemusthavemissed,forthehandlesoonrose
againandwhenthespearwasdrawnup,therewasthepalegreenobjectinexactlythesamespot,slowlymovingitstail.
"Veryodd,"saidJack.
Butalthoughitwasundoubtedlyveryodd,and,althoughJackandallofusplungedthespearatitrepeatedly,wecouldneitherhititnordriveitaway,sowewere
compelledtocontinueourjourneywithoutdiscoveringwhatitwas.Iwasverymuchperplexedatthisstrangeappearanceinthewater,andcouldnotgetitoutof
mymindforalongtimeafterwards.However,IquietedmyselfbyresolvingthatIwouldpayavisittoitagainatsomemoreconvenientseason.
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CHAPTERX.
Makediscoveryofmanyexcellentrootsandfruits TheresourcesoftheCoralIslandgraduallyunfolded Thebaniantree Anothertreewhichis

supportedbynaturalplanksWaterfowlfoundAveryremarkablediscovery,andaverypeculiarmurderWeluxuriateonthefatoftheland.
OURexaminationofthelittlevalleyprovedtobealtogethermostsatisfactory.Wefoundinitnotonlysimilartreestothosewehadalreadyseeninourownvalley,
butalsooneortwoothersofadifferentspecies.Wehadalsothesatisfactionofdiscoveringapeculiarvegetable,whichJackconcludedmustcertainlybethatof
whichhehadreadasbeingverycommonamongtheSouthSeaislanders,andwhichwasnamedTARO.Alsowefoundalargesupplyofyams,andanotherroot
likeapotatoinappearance.Asthesewereallquitenewtous,weregardedourlotasamostfortunateone,inbeingthuscastonanislandwhichwassoprolificand
sowellstoredwithallthenecessariesoflife.Longafterwardswefoundoutthatthisislandofourswasnobetterintheserespectsthanthousandsofotherislandsin
thoseseas.Indeed,manyofthemweremuchricherandmoreproductivebutthatdidnotrenderusthelessgratefulforourpresentgoodfortune.Weeachputone
oftheserootsinourpocket,intendingtousethemforoursupperofwhichmorehereafter.Wealsosawmanybeautifulbirdshere,andtracesofsomefourfooted
animalagain.Meanwhilethesunbegantodescend,sowereturnedtotheshore,andpushedonroundthespoutingrocksintothenextvalley.Thiswasthatvalley
ofwhichIhavespokenasrunningacrosstheentireisland.Itwasbyfarthelargestandmostbeautifulthatwehadyetlookedupon.Hereweretreesofevery
shapeandsizeandhuewhichitispossibletoconceiveof,manyofwhichwehadnotseenintheothervalleysfor,thestreaminthisvalleybeinglarger,andthe
mouldmuchricherthanintheValleyoftheWreck,itwasclothedwithamoreluxuriantgrowthoftreesandplants.Sometreesweredarkglossygreen,othersofa
richandwarmhue,contrastingwellwiththoseofapalelightgreen,whichwereeverywhereabundant.Amongthesewerecognisedthebroaddarkheadsofthe
breadfruit,withitsgoldenfruitthepure,silveryfoliageofthecandlenut,andseveralspecieswhichboreastrongresemblancetothepinewhilehereandthere,in
groupsandinsingletrees,rosethetallformsofthecocoanutpalms,spreadingabroad,andwavingtheirgracefulplumeshighabovealltherest,asiftheywerea
superiorraceofstatelygiantskeepingguardovertheseluxuriantforests.Oh!itwasamostenchantingscene,andIthankedGodforhavingcreatedsuchdelightful
spotsfortheuseofman.
Now,whileweweregazingaroundusinsilentadmiration,Jackutteredanexclamationofsurprise,and,pointingtoanobjectalittletoonesideofus,said,
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"That'sabaniantree."
"Andwhat'sabaniantree?"inquiredPeterkin,aswewalkedtowardsit.
"Averycuriousone,asyoushallseepresently,"repliedJack."ItiscalledtheAOAhere,ifIrecollectrightly,andhasawonderfulpeculiarityaboutit.Whatan
enormousoneitis,tobesure."
"IT!"repeatedPeterkin"why,therearedozensofbanianshere!Whatdoyoumeanbytalkingbadgrammar?Isyourphilosophydesertingyou,Jack?"
"Thereisbutonetreehereofthiskind,"returnedJack,"asyouwillperceiveifyouwillexamineit."And,sureenough,wedidfindthatwhatwehadsupposedwasa
forestoftreeswasinrealityonlyone.Itsbarkwasofalightcolour,andhadashiningappearance,theleavesbeinglanceshaped,small,andofabeautifulpea
green.Butthewonderfulthingaboutitwas,thatthebranches,whichgrewoutfromthestemhorizontally,sentdownlongshootsorfibrestotheground,which,
takingroot,hadthemselvesbecometrees,andwerecoveredwithbarklikethetreeitself.Manyofthesefibreshaddescendedfromthebranchesatvarious
distances,andthussupportedthemonnaturalpillars,someofwhichweresolargeandstrong,thatitwasnoteasyatfirsttodistinguishtheoffspringfromtheparent
stem.Thefibreswereofallsizesandinallstatesofadvancement,fromthepillarswehavejustmentionedtosmallcordswhichhungdownandwereabouttotake
root,andthinbrownthreadsstillfarfromtheground,whichswayedaboutwitheverymotionofwind.Inshort,itseemedtousthat,iftherewereonlyspace
affordedtoit,thissingletreewouldatlengthcoverthewholeisland.
Shortlyafterthiswecameuponanotherremarkabletree,which,asitspeculiarformationafterwardsprovedextremelyusefultous,meritsdescription.Itwasa
splendidchestnut,butitspropernameJackdidnotknow.However,therewerequantitiesoffinenutsuponit,someofwhichweputinourpockets.Butitsstem
wasthewonderfulpartofit.Itrosetoabouttwelvefeetwithoutabranch,andwasnotofgreatthicknessonthecontrary,itwasremarkablyslenderforthesizeof
thetreebut,tomakeupforthis,therewerefourorfivewonderfulprojectionsinthisstem,whichIcannotbetterdescribethanbyaskingthereadertosupposethat
fiveplanksoftwoinchesthickandthreefeetbroadhadbeenplacedroundthetrunkofthetree,withtheirEDGEScloselyfixedtoit,fromthegrounduptothe
branches,andthattheseplanksbadbeencoveredoverwiththebarkofthetreeandincorporatedwithit.Inshort,theywerejustnaturalbuttresses,withoutwhich
thestemcouldnothavesupporteditsheavyandumbrageoustop.Wefoundthesechestnutstobeverynumerous.Theygrewchieflyonthebanksofthestream,
andwereofallsizes.
Whilewewereexaminingasmalltreeofthiskind,Jackchippedapieceoffabuttresswithhisaxe,andfoundthewoodtobefirmandeasilycut.Hethenstruckthe
axeintoitwithallhisforce,andverysoonsplititoffclosetothetree,first,however,havingcutitacrosstransverselyaboveandbelow.Bythismeanshesatisfied
himselfthatwecouldnowobtainshortplanks,asitwereallreadysawn,ofanysizeandthicknessthatwedesiredwhichwasaverygreatdiscoveryindeed,perhaps
themostimportantwehadyetmade.
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Wenowwendedourwaybacktothecoast,intendingtoencampnearthebeach,aswefoundthatthemosquitoesweretroublesomeintheforest.Onourwaywe
couldnothelpadmiringthebirdswhichflewandchirpedaroundus.Amongthemweobservedaprettykindofparoquet,withagreenbody,abluehead,andared
breastalsoafewbeautifulturtledoves,andseveralflocksofwoodpigeons.Thehuesofmanyofthesebirdswereextremelyvivid,brightgreen,blue,andscarlet,
beingtheprevailingtints.Wemadeseveralattemptsthroughoutthedaytobringdownoneofthese,bothwiththebowandthesling,notformeresport,butto
ascertainwhethertheyweregoodforfood.Butweinvariablymissed,althoughonceortwicewewereverynearhitting.Aseveningdrewon,however,aflockof
pigeonsflewpast.Islungastoneintothemidstofthemataventure,andhadthegoodfortunetokillone.Wewerestartled,soonafter,byaloudwhistlingnoise
aboveourheadsandonlookingup,sawaflockofwildducksmakingforthecoast.Wewatchedthese,and,observingwheretheyalighted,followedthemupuntil
wecameuponamostlovelybluelake,notmorethantwohundredyardslong,imbosomedinverdanttrees.Itsplacidsurface,whichreflectedeveryleafandstem,
asifinamirror,wascoveredwithvariousspeciesofwildducks,feedingamongthesedgesandbroadleavedwaterplantswhichfloatedonit,whilenumerousbirds
likewaterhensrantoandfromostbusilyonitsmargin.Theseallwithoneaccordflewtumultuouslyawaytheinstantwemadeourappearance.Whilewalking
alongthemarginweobservedfishinthewater,butofwhatsortwecouldnottell.
Now,aswenearedtheshore,JackandIsaidwewouldgoalittleoutofourwaytoseeifwecouldprocureoneofthoseducksso,directingPeterkintogostraight
totheshoreandkindleafire,weseparated,promisingtorejoinhimspeedily.Butwedidnotfindtheducks,althoughwemadeadiligentsearchforhalfanhour.
Wewereabouttoretraceoursteps,whenwewerearrestedbyoneofthestrangestsightsthatwehadyetbeheld.
Justinfrontofus,atthedistanceofabouttenyards,grewasuperbtree,whichcertainlywasthelargestwehadyetseenontheisland.Itstrunkwasatleastfivefeet
indiameter,withasmoothgraybarkabovethisthespreadingbrancheswereclothedwithlightgreenleaves,amidwhichwereclustersofbrightyellowfruit,so
numerousastoweighdowntheboughswiththeirgreatweight.Thisfruitseemedtobeoftheplumspecies,ofanoblongform,andagooddeallargerthanthe
magnumbonumplum.Thegroundatthefootofthistreewasthicklystrewnwiththefallenfruit,inthemidstofwhichlaysleeping,ineverypossibleattitude,atleast
twentyhogsofallagesandsizes,apparentlyquitesurfeitedwitharecentbanquet.
JackandIcouldscarcerestrainourlaughteraswegazedatthesecoarse,fat,illlookinganimals,whiletheylaygroaningandsnoringheavilyamidtheremainsoftheir
supper.
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"Now,Ralph,"saidJack,inalowwhisper,"putastoneinyoursling,agoodbigone,andletflyatthatfatfellowwithhisbacktowardyou.I'lltrytoputan
arrowintoyonlittlepig."
"Don'tyouthinkwehadbetterputthemupfirst?"Iwhispered"itseemscrueltokillthemwhileasleep."
"IfIwantedSPORT,Ralph,IwouldcertainlysetthemupbutasweonlywantPORK,we'llletthemlie.Besides,we'renotsureofkillingthemso,fireaway."
Thusadmonished,Islungmystonewithsogoodaimthatitwentbangagainstthehog'sflankasifagainsttheheadofadrumbutithadnoothereffectthanthatof
causingtheanimaltostarttoitsfeet,withafrightfulyellofsurprise,andscamperaway.AtthesameinstantJack'sbowtwanged,andthearrowpinnedthelittlepig
tothegroundbytheear.
"I'vemissed,afterall,"criedJack,dartingforwardwithupliftedaxe,whilethelittlepigutteredaloudsqueal,torethearrowfromtheground,andranawaywithit,
alongwiththewholedrove,intothebushesanddisappeared,thoughweheardthemscreaminglongafterwardsinthedistance.
"That'sveryprovoking,now,"saidJack,rubbingthepointofhisnose.
"Very,"Ireplied,strokingmychin.
"Well,wemustmakehasteandrejoinPeterkin,"saidJack."It'sgettinglate."And,withoutfurtherremark,wethreadedourwayquicklythroughthewoodstowards
theshore.
Whenwereachedit,wefoundwoodlaidout,thefirelightedandbeginningtokindleup,withothersignsofpreparationforourencampment,butPeterkinwas
nowheretobefound.WewonderedverymuchatthisbutJacksuggestedthathemighthavegonetofetchwatersohegaveashouttolethimknowthatwehad
arrived,andsatdownuponarock,whileIthrewoffmyjacketandseizedtheaxe,intendingtosplituponeortwobilletsofwood.ButIhadscarcemovedfrom
thespotwhen,inthedistance,weheardamostappallingshriek,whichwasfollowedupbyachorusofyellsfromthehogs,andaloud"hurrah!"
"Idobelieve,"saidI,"thatPeterkinhasmetwiththehogs."
"WhenGreekmeetsGreek,"saidJack,soliloquizing,"thencomesthetugof"
"Hurrah!"shoutedPeterkininthedistance.
Weturnedhastilytowardsthedirectionwhencethesoundcame,andsoondescriedPeterkinwalkingalongthebeachtowardsuswithalittlepigtransfixedonthe
endofhislongspear!
"Welldone,myboy!"exclaimedJack,slappinghimontheshoulderwhenhecameup,"you'rethebestshotamongstus."
"LookhereJack!"criedPeterkin,ashedisengagedtheanimalfromhisspear."Doyourecognisethathole?"saidhe,pointingtothepig'sear"andareyoufamiliar
withthisarrow,eh?"
"Well,Ideclare!"saidJack.
"Ofcourseyoudo,"interruptedPeterkin"but,pray,restrainyourdeclarationsatthistime,andlet'shavesupper,forI'muncommonlyhungry,Icantellyouandit's
nojoketochargeawholeherdofswinewiththeirgreatgrandmotherbristlinglikeagiantporcupineattheheadofthem!"
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Wenowsetaboutpreparingsupperand,truly,agooddisplayofviandswemade,whenallwaslaidoutonaflatrockinthelightoftheblazingfire.Therewas,first
ofall,thelittlepigthentherewasthetaroroot,andtheyam,andthepotato,andsixplumsand,lastly,thewoodpigeon.TothesePeterkinaddedabitofsugar
cane,whichhehadcutfromalittlepatchofthatplantwhichhehadfoundnotlongafterseparatingfromus"and,"saidhe,"thepatchwassomewhatinasquare
form,whichconvincesmeitmusthavebeenplantedbyman."
"Verylikely,"repliedJack."Fromallwehaveseen,I'minclinedtothinkthatsomeofthesavagesmusthavedweltherelongago."
Wefoundnosmalldifficultyinmakingupourmindshowweweretocookthepig.Noneofushadevercutuponebefore,andwedidnotknowexactlyhowto
beginbesides,wehadnothingbuttheaxetodoitwith,ourknifehavingbeenforgotten.AtlastJackstartedupandsaid,
"Don'tletuswastemoretimetalkingaboutit,boys.Holditup,Peterkin.There,laythehindlegonthisblockofwood,so"andhecutitoff,withalargeportionof
thehaunch,atasingleblowoftheaxe."Nowtheother,that'sit."Andhavingthuscutoffthetwohindlegs,hemadeseveraldeepgashesinthem,thrustasharp
pointedstickthrougheach,andstuckthemupbeforetheblazetoroast.Thewoodpigeonwasthensplitopen,quiteflat,washedcleaninsaltwater,andtreatedina
similarmanner.Whilethesewerecooking,wescrapedaholeinthesandandashesunderthefire,intowhichweputourvegetables,andcoveredthemup.
Thetarorootwasofanovalshape,abouttenincheslongandfourorfivethick.Itwasofamottledgraycolour,andhadathickrind.Wefounditsomewhatlike
anIrishpotato,andexceedinglygood.Theyamwasroundish,andhadaroughbrownskin.Itwasverysweetandwellflavoured.Thepotato,weweresurprised
tofind,wasquitesweetandexceedinglypalatable,asalsoweretheplumsand,indeed,theporkandpigeontoo,whenwecametotastethem.Altogetherthiswas
decidedlythemostluxurioussupperwehadenjoyedformanyadayandJacksaiditwasoutofsightbetterthanweevergotonboardshipandPeterkinsaidhe
fearedthatifweshouldremainlongontheislandhewouldinfalliblybecomeagluttonoranepicure:whereatJackremarkedthatheneednotfearthat,forhewas
BOTHalready!Andso,havingeatenourfill,notforgettingtofinishoffwithaplum,welaidourselvescomfortablydowntosleepuponacouchofbranchesunder
theoverhangingledgeofacoralrock.
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CHAPTERXI.
Effectsofovereating,andreflectionsthereon Humbleadviceregardingcoldwater The"horriblecry"accountedfor Thecuriousbirdscalled

penguinsPeculiarityofthecocoanutpalmQuestionsontheformationofcoralislandsMysteriousfootstepsStrangediscoveriesandsadsights.
WHENweawokeonthefollowingmorning,wefoundthatthesunwasalreadyagoodwayabovethehorizon,soIcametotheconclusionthataheavysupperis
notconducivetoearlyrising.Nevertheless,wefeltremarkablystrongandwell,andmuchdisposedtohaveourbreakfast.First,however,wehadourcustomary
morningbathe,whichrefreshedusgreatly.
Ihaveoftenwonderedverymuchinafteryearsthattheinhabitantsofmyowndearlanddidnotmakemorefrequentuseofthismostcharmingelement,water.I
meaninthewayofcoldbathing.Ofcourse,Ihaveperceivedthatitisnotconvenientforthemtogointotheseaortheriversinwinter,asweusedtodoonthe
CoralIslandbutthen,Iknewfromexperiencethatalargewashingtubandaspongedoformamostpleasantsubstitute.Thefeelingsoffreshness,ofcleanliness,of
vigour,andextremehilarity,thatalwaysfollowedmybathesinthesea,andeven,wheninEngland,myablutionsinthewashtub,weresodelightful,thatIwould
soonerhavegonewithoutmybreakfastthanwithoutmybatheincoldwater.Myreaderswillforgivemeforaskingwhethertheyareinthehabitofbathingthus
everymorningandiftheyanswer"No,"theywillpardonmeforrecommendingthemtobeginatonce.Oflateyears,sinceretiringfromthestirringlifeofadventure
whichIhaveledsolonginforeignclimes,Ihaveheardofasystemcalledthecoldwatercure.Now,Idonotknowmuchaboutthatsystem,soIdonotmeanto
upholdit,neitherdoIintendtorunitdown.Perhaps,inreferencetoit,Imayjusthintthattheremaybetoomuchofagoodthing.IknownotbutofthisIamquite
certain,thattheremayalsobetoolittleofagoodthingandthegreatdelightIhavehadincoldbathingduringthecourseofmyadventurouscareerinclinesmeto
thinkthatitisbettertorisktakingtoomuchthantocontentone'sselfwithtoolittle.Suchismyopinion,derivedfrommuchexperiencebutIputitbeforemy
readerswiththeutmostdiffidenceandwithprofoundmodesty,knowingthatitmaypossiblyjarwiththeirfeelingsofconfidenceintheirownabilitytoknowand
judgeastowhatisbestandfittestinreferencetotheirownaffairs.But,toreturnfromthisdigression,forwhichIhumblycraveforgiveness.
Wehadnotadvancedonourjourneymuchaboveamileorso,andwerejustbeginningtofeelthepleasantglowthatusuallyaccompaniesvigorousexercise,when,
onturningapointthatrevealedtousanewandbeautifulclusterofislands,weweresuddenlyarrestedbytheappallingcrywhichhadsoalarmedusafewnights
before.Butthistimewewerebynomeanssomuchalarmedasonthepreviousoccasion,because,whereasatthattimeitwasnight,nowitwasdayandIhave
alwaysfound,thoughIamunabletoaccountforit,thatdaylightbanishesmanyofthefearsthatareapttoassailusinthedark.
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Onhearingthesound,Peterkininstantlythrewforwardhisspear.
"Now,whatcanitbe?"saidhe,lookingroundatJack."Itellyouwhatitis,ifwearetogoonbeingpulledupinaconstantstateofhorrorandastonishment,aswe
havebeenforthelastweek,thesoonerwe'reouto'thisislandthebetter,notwithstandingtheyamsandlemonade,andporkandplums!"
Peterkin'sremarkwasfollowedbyarepetitionofthecry,louderthanbefore.
"Itcomesfromoneoftheseislands,"saidJack.
"Itmustbetheghostofajackass,then,"saidPeterkin,"forIneverheardanythingsolike."
Weallturnedoureyestowardstheclusterofislands,where,onthelargest,weobservedcuriousobjectsmovingontheshore.
"Soldierstheyare,that'sflat!"criedPeterkin,gazingatthemintheutmostamazement.
And,intruth,Peterkin'sremarkseemedtometobecorrectfor,atthedistancefromwhichwesawthem,theyappearedtobeanarmyofsoldiers.Therethey
stood,rankandfile,inlinesandinsquares,marchingandcountermarching,withbluecoatsandwhitetrousers.Whilewewerelookingatthem,thedreadfulcry
cameagainoverthewater,andPeterkinsuggestedthatitmustbearegimentsentouttomassacrethenativesincoldblood.AtthisremarkJacklaughedandsaid,
"Why,Peterkin,theyarepenguins!"
"Penguins?"repeatedPeterkin.
"Ay,penguins,Peterkin,penguins,nothingmoreorlessthanbigseabirds,asyoushallseeoneofthesedays,whenwepaythemavisitinourboat,whichImean
tosetaboutbuildingthemomentwereturntoourbower."
"So,then,ourdreadfulyellingghostsandourmurderingarmyofsoldiers,"remarkedPeterkin,"havedwindleddowntopenguins,bigseabirds!Verygood.Then
Iproposethatwecontinueourjourneyasfastaspossible,lestourislandshouldbeconvertedintoadreambeforewegetcompletelyroundit."
Now,aswecontinuedonourway,Iponderedmuchoverthisnewdiscovery,andthesingularappearanceofthesebirds,ofwhichJackcouldonlygiveusavery
slightandvagueaccountandIbegantolongtocommencetoourboat,inorderthatwemightgoandinspectthemmorenarrowly.Butbydegreesthesethoughts
leftme,andIbegantobemuchtakenupagainwiththeinterestingpeculiaritiesofthecountrywhichwewerepassingthrough.
Thesecondnightwepassedinamannersomewhatsimilartothefirst,atabouttwothirdsofthewayroundtheisland,aswecalculated,andwehopedtosleepon
thenightfollowingatourbower.Iwillnotherenotesoparticularlyallthatwesaidandsawduringthecourseofthissecondday,aswedidnotmakeanyfurther
discoveriesofgreatimportance.Theshorealongwhichwetravelled,andthevariouspartsofthewoodsthroughwhichwepassed,weresimilartothosewhichhave
beenalreadytreatedof.Therewereoneortwoobservationsthatwemade,however,andthesewereasfollows:
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Wesawthat,whilemanyofthelargefruitbearingtreesgrewonlyinthevalleys,andsomeofthemonlynearthebanksofthestreams,wherethesoilwaspeculiarly
rich,thecocoanutpalmgrewineveryplacewhatsoever,notonlyonthehillsides,butalsoontheseashore,andeven,ashasbeenalreadystated,onthecoral
reefitself,wherethesoil,ifwemayusethename,wasnothingbetterthanloosesandmingledwithbrokenshellsandcoralrock.Soneartothesea,too,didthis
usefultreegrow,thatinmanyplacesitsrootswerewashedbythesprayfromthebreakers.Yetwefoundthetreesgrowingthusonthesandstobequiteas
luxuriantasthosegrowinginthevalleys,andthefruitasgoodandrefreshingalso.Besidesthis,Inoticedthat,onthesummitofthehighmountain,whichweonce
moreascendedatadifferentpointfromourfirstascent,werefoundabundanceofshellsandbrokencoralformations,whichJackandIagreedprovedeitherthat
thisislandmusthaveoncebeenunderthesea,orthattheseamustoncehavebeenabovetheisland.Inotherwords,thatasshellsandcoralcouldnotpossiblyclimb
tothemountaintop,theymusthavebeenwasheduponitwhilethemountaintopwasonalevelwiththesea.Weponderedthisverymuchandweputtoourselves
thequestion,"Whatraisedtheislandtoitspresentheightabovethesea?"Buttothiswecouldbynomeansgivetoourselvesasatisfactoryreply.Jackthoughtit
mighthavebeenblownupbyavolcanoandPeterkinsaidhethoughtitmusthavejumpedupofitsownaccord!Wealsonoticed,whathadescapedusbefore,that
thesolidrocksofwhichtheislandwasformedwerequitedifferentfromthelivecoralrocksontheshore,wherethewonderfullittleinsectswerecontinually
working.Theyseemed,indeed,tobeofthesaucematerial,asubstancelikelimestonebut,whilethecoralrockswerequitefullofminutecellsinwhichtheinsects
lived,theotherrocksinlandwerehardandsolid,withouttheappearanceofcellsatall.Ourthoughtsandconversationsonthissubjectweresometimessoprofound
thatPeterkinsaidweshouldcertainlygetdrownedinthematlast,evenalthoughweweresuchgooddivers!Neverthelesswedidnotallowhispleasantryonthis
andsimilarpointstodeterusfrommakingournotesandobservationsaswewentalong.
Wefoundseveralmoredrovesofhogsinthewoods,butabstainedfromkillinganyofthem,havingmorethansufficientforourpresentnecessities.Wesawalso
manyoftheirfootprintsinthisneighbourhood.Amongthesewealsoobservedthefootprintsofasmalleranimal,whichweexaminedwithmuchcare,butcould
formnocertainopinionastothem.Peterkinthoughttheywerethoseofalittledog,butJackandIthoughtdifferently.Webecameverycuriousonthismatter,the
moresothatweobservedthesefootprintstoliescatteredaboutinonelocality,asiftheanimalwhichhadmadethemwaswanderingroundaboutinaveryirregular
manner,andwithoutanyobjectinview.Earlyintheforenoonofourthirddayweobservedthesefootprintstobemuchmorenumerousthanever,andinone
particularspottheydivergedoffintothewoodsinaregularbeatentrack,whichwas,however,socloselybesetwithbushes,thatwepushedthroughitwith
difficulty.Wehadnowbecomesoanxioustofindoutwhatanimalthiswas,andwhereitwentto,thatwedeterminedtofollowthetrack,and,ifpossible,clearup
themystery.Peterkinsaid,inabanteringtone,thathewassureitwouldbeclearedupasusualinsomefrightfullysimpleway,andprovetobenomysteryatall!
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Thebeatentrackseemedmuchtoolargetohavebeenformedbytheanimalitself,andweconcludedthatsomelargeranimalhadmadeit,andthatthesmallerone
madeuseofit.Buteverywherethecreepingplantsandtangledbushescrossedourpath,sothatweforcedourwayalongwithsomedifficulty.Suddenly,aswe
cameuponanopenspace,weheardafaintcry,andobservedablackanimalstandinginthetrackbeforeus.
"Awildcat!"criedJack,fittinganarrowtohisbow,anddischargingitsohastilythathemissedtheanimal,andhittheearthabouthalfafoottoonesideofit.Toour
surprisethewildcatdidnotfly,butwalkedslowlytowardsthearrow,andsnuffedatit.
"That'sthemostcomicalwildcatIeversaw!"criedJack.
"It'satamewildcat,Ithink,"saidPeterkin,levellinghisspeartomakeacharge.
"Stop!"criedI,layingmyhandonhisshoulder"Idobelievethepoorbeastisblind.See,itstrikesagainstthebranchesasitwalksalong.Itmustbeaveryold
one"andIhastenedtowardsit.
"Onlythink,"saidPeterkin,withasuppressedlaugh,"ofasuperannuatedwildcat!"
Wenowfoundthatthepoorcatwasnotonlyblind,ornearlyso,butextremelydeaf,asitdidnothearourfootstepsuntilwewerequiteclosebehindit.Thenit
spranground,and,puttingupitsbackandtail,whiletheblackhairstoodallonend,utteredahoarsemewandafuff.
"Poorthing,"saidPeterkin,gentlyextendinghishand,andendeavouringtopatthecat'shead."Poorpussychee,chee,cheepuss,puss,pusscheetiepussy!"
Nosoonerdidthecathearthesesoundsthanallsignsofangerfled,and,advancingeagerlytoPeterkin,italloweditselftobestroked,andrubbeditselfagainsthis
legs,purringloudlyallthetime,andshowingeverysymptomofthemostextremedelight.
"It'snomoreawildcatthanIam!"criedPeterkin,takingitinhisarms."It'squitetame.Poorpussy,cheetiepussy!"
WenowcrowdedaroundPeterkin,andwerenotalittlesurprised,and,tosaytruth,agooddealaffected,bythesightofthepooranimal'sexcessivejoy.Itrubbed
itsheadagainstPeterkin'scheek,lickedhischin,andthrustitsheadalmostviolentlyintohisneck,whileitpurredmoreloudlythanIeverheardacatpurrbefore,
andappearedtobesomuchoverpoweredbyitsfeelings,thatitoccasionallymewedandpurredalmostinthesamebreath.Suchdemonstrationsofjoyandaffection
ledusatoncetoconcludethatthispoorcatmusthaveknownmanbefore,andweconjecturedthatithadbeenlefteitheraccidentallyorbydesignontheisland
manyyearsago,andwasnowevincingitsextremejoyatmeetingoncemorewithhumanbeings.Whilewewerefondlingthecatandtalkingaboutit,Jackglanced
roundtheopenspaceinthemidstofwhichwestood.
"Hallo!"exclaimedhe"thislookssomethinglikeaclearing.Theaxehasbeenatworkhere.Justlookatthesetreestumps."
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Wenowturnedtoexaminethese,and,withoutdoubt,wefoundtreesthathadbeencutdownhereandthere,alsostumpsandbrokenbranchesallofwhich,
however,werecompletelycoveredoverwithmoss,andboreevidenceofhavingbeeninthisconditionforsomeyears.Nohumanfootprintsweretobeseen,either
onthetrackoramongthebushesbutthoseofthecatwerefoundeverywhere.Wenowdeterminedtofollowupthetrackasfarasitwent,andPeterkinputthecat
downbutitseemedtobesoweak,andmewedsoverypitifully,thathetookitupagainandcarrieditinhisarms,where,inafewminutes,itfellsoundasleep.
Abouttenyardsfartheron,thefelledtreesbecamemorenumerous,andthetrack,divergingtotheright,followedforashortspacethebanksofastream.Suddenly
wecametoaspotwhereoncemusthavebeenarudebridge,thestonesofwhichwerescatteredinthestream,andthoseoneachbankentirelycoveredoverwith
moss.Insilentsurpriseandexpectancywecontinuedtoadvance,and,afewyardsfartheron,beheld,undertheshelterofsomebreadfruittrees,asmallhutor
cottage.Icannothopetoconveytomyreadersaverycorrectideaofthefeelingsthataffectedusonwitnessingthisunexpectedsight.Westoodforalongtimein
silentwonder,fortherewasadeepandmostmelancholystillnessabouttheplacethatquiteoverpoweredusandwhenwedidatlengthspeak,itwasinsubdued
whispers,asifweweresurroundedbysomeawfulorsupernaturalinfluence.EvenPeterkin'svoice,usuallysoquickandlivelyonalloccasions,washushednow
fortherewasadrearinessaboutthissilent,lonely,uninhabitedcottage,sostrangeinitsappearance,sofarawayfromtheusualdwellingsofman,soold,decayed,
anddesertedinitsaspect,thatfelluponourspiritslikeathickcloud,andblottedoutaswithapallthecheerfulsunshinethathadfilledussincethecommencement
ofourtourroundtheisland.
Thehutorcottagewasrudeandsimpleinitsconstruction.Itwasnotmorethantwelvefeetlongbytenfeetbroad,andaboutsevenoreightfeethigh.Ithadone
window,orratherasmallframeinwhichawindowmight,perhaps,oncehavebeen,butwhichwasnowempty.Thedoorwasexceedinglylow,andformedof
roughboards,andtheroofwascoveredwithbroadcocoanutandplantainleaves.Buteverypartofitwasinastateoftheutmostdecay.Mossandgreenmatter
grewinspotsalloverit.Thewoodworkwasquiteperforatedwithholestheroofhadnearlyfallenin,andappearedtobepreventedfromdoingsoaltogetherbythe
thickmattingofcreepingplantsandtheinterlacedbrancheswhichyearsofneglecthadallowedtocoveritalmostentirelywhilethethick,luxuriantbranchesofthe
breadfruitandothertreesspreadaboveit,andflungadeep,sombreshadowoverthespot,asiftoguarditfromtheheatandthelightofday.Weconversedlong
andinwhispersaboutthisstrangehabitationereweventuredtoapproachitandwhenatlengthwedidsoitwas,atleastonmypart,withfeelingsofawe.
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AtfirstJackendeavouredtopeepinatthewindow,butfromthedeepshadowofthetreesalreadymentioned,andthegloomwithin,hecouldnotclearlydiscern
objectssoweliftedthelatchandpushedopenthedoor.Weobservedthatthelatchwasmadeofiron,andalmosteatenawaywithrust.Inthelikeconditionwere
alsothehinges,whichcreakedasthedoorswungback.Onentering,westoodstillandgazedaroundus,whileweweremuchimpressedwiththedrearystillnessof
theroom.Butwhatwesawtheresurprisedandshockedusnotalittle.Therewasnofurnitureintheapartmentsavealittlewoodenstoolandanironpot,thelatter
almosteatenthroughwithrust.Inthecornerfarthestfromthedoorwasalowbedstead,onwhichlaytwoskeletons,imbeddedinalittleheapofdrydust.With
beatingheartswewentforwardtoexaminethem.Onewastheskeletonofaman,theotherthatofadog,whichwasextendedclosebesidethatoftheman,withits
headrestingonhisbosom
Nowwewereverymuchconcernedaboutthisdiscovery,andcouldscarcerefrainfromtearsonbeholdingthesesadremains.Aftersometime,webegantotalk
aboutwhatwehadseen,andtoexamineinandaroundthehut,inordertodiscoversomecluetothenameorhistoryofthispoorman,whohadthusdiedinsolitude,
withnonetomournhislosssavehiscatandhisfaithfuldog.Butwefoundnothing, neitherabooknorascrapofpaper.Wefound,however,thedecayed
remnantsofwhatappearedtohavebeenclothing,andanoldaxe.Butnoneofthesethingsboremarksofanykindand,indeed,theyweresomuchdecayedasto
convinceusthattheyhadlainintheconditioninwhichwefoundthemformanyyears.
Thisdiscoverynowaccountedtousforthetreestumpatthetopofthemountainwiththeinitialscutonitalsoforthepatchofsugarcaneandothertracesofman
whichwehadmetwithinthecourseofourramblesovertheisland.Andweweremuchsaddenedbythereflectionthatthelotofthispoorwanderermightpossibly
beourown,aftermanyyears'residenceontheisland,unlessweshouldberescuedbythevisitofsomevesselorthearrivalofnatives.Havingnocluewhateverto
accountforthepresenceofthispoorhumanbeinginsuchalonelyspot,wefelltoconjecturingwhatcouldhavebroughthimthere.Iwasinclinedtothinkthathe
musthavebeenashipwreckedsailor,whosevesselhadbeenlosthere,andallthecrewbeendrownedexcepthimselfandhisdogandcat.ButJackthoughtitmore
likelythathehadrunawayfromhisvessel,andhadtakenthedogandcattokeephimcompany.Wewerealsomuchoccupiedinourmindswiththewonderful
differencebetweenthecatandthedog.Forherewesawthatwhiletheoneperished,likealovingfriend,byitsmaster'sside,withitsheadrestingonhisbosom,the
otherhadsoughttosustainitselfbyprowlingabroadintheforest,andhadlivedinsolitudetoagoodoldage.However,wedidnotconcludefromthisthatthecat
wasdestituteofaffection,forwecouldnotforgetitsemotionsonfirstmeetingwithusbutwesawfromthis,thatthedoghadagreatdealmoreofgenerouslovein
itsnaturethanthecat,becauseitnotonlyfounditimpossibletoliveafterthedeathofitsmaster,butitmustneeds,whenitcametodie,crawltohissideandrestits
headuponhislifelessbreast.
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Whilewewerethinkingonthesethings,andexaminingintoeverythingabouttheroom,wewereattractedbyanexclamationfromPeterkin.
"Isay,Jack,"saidhe,"hereissomethingthatwillbeofusetous."
"Whatisit?"saidJack,hasteningacrosstheroom.
"Anoldpistol,"repliedPeterkin,holdinguptheweapon,whichhehadjustpulledfromunderaheapofbrokenwoodandrubbishthatlayinacorner.
"That,indeed,mighthavebeenuseful,"saidJack,examiningit,"ifwehadanypowderbutIsuspectthebowandtheslingwillprovemoreserviceable."
"True,Iforgotthat,"saidPeterkin"butwemayaswelltakeitwithus,fortheflintwillservetostrikefirewithwhenthesundoesnotshine."
Afterhavingspentmorethananhouratthisplacewithoutdiscoveringanythingoffurtherinterest,Peterkintookuptheoldcat,whichhadlainverycontentedlyasleep
onthestoolwhereonhehadplacedit,andwepreparedtotakeourdeparture.Inleavingthehut,Jackstumbledheavilyagainstthedoorpost,whichwassomuch
decayedastobreakacross,andthewholefabricofthehutseemedreadytotumbleaboutourears.Thisputintoourheadsthatwemightaswellpullitdown,and
soformamoundovertheskeleton.Jack,therefore,withhisaxe,cutdowntheotherdoorpost,which,whenitwasdone,broughtthewholehutinruinstothe
ground,andthusformedagravetothebonesofthepoorrecluseandhisdog.Thenweleftthespot,havingbroughtawaytheironpot,thepistol,andtheoldaxe,as
theymightbeofmuchusetoushereafter.
Duringtherestofthisdaywepursuedourjourney,andexaminedtheotherendofthelargevalley,whichwefoundtobesomuchaliketothepartsalready
described,thatIshallnotrecounttheparticularsofwhatwesawinthisplace.Imay,however,remark,thatwedidnotquiterecoverourformercheerfulspiritsuntil
wearrivedatourbower,whichwedidlateintheevening,andfoundeverythingjustinthesameconditionaswehadleftitthreedaysbefore.
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CHAPTERXII.
SomethingwrongwiththetankJack'swisdomandPeterkin'simpertinenceWonderfulbehaviourofacrabGoodwishesforthosewhodwellfarfrom
theseaJackcommencestobuildalittleboat.
RESTissweetaswellforthebodyasforthemind.Duringmylongexperience,amidthevicissitudesofachequeredlife,Ihavefoundthatperiodsofprofoundrest
atcertainintervals,inadditiontotheordinaryhoursofrepose,arenecessarytothewellbeingofman.Andthenatureaswellastheperiodofthisrestvaries,
accordingtothedifferenttemperamentsofindividuals,andthepeculiarcircumstancesinwhichtheymaychancetobeplaced.Tothosewhoworkwiththeirminds,
bodilylabourisrest.Tothosewholabourwiththebody,deepsleepisrest.Tothedowncast,theweary,andthesorrowful,joyandpeacearerest.Nay,further,I
thinkthattothegay,thefrivolous,thereckless,whensatedwithpleasuresthatcannotlast,evensorrowprovestoberestofakind,although,perchance,itwere
betterthatIshouldcallitreliefthanrest.Thereis,indeed,butoneclassofmentowhomrestisdenied.Thereisnoresttothewicked.AtthisIdobuthint,
however,asItreatnotofthatrestwhichisspiritual,but,moreparticularly,ofthatwhichappliestothemindandtothebody.
Ofthisrestwestoodmuchinneedonourreturnhome,andwefounditexceedinglysweet,whenweindulgedinit,aftercompletingthejourneyjustrelated.Ithad
not,indeed,beenaverylongjourney,neverthelesswehadpursueditsodiligentlythatourframeswerenotalittleprostrated.Ourmindswerealsoverymuch
exhaustedinconsequenceofthemanysurprises,frequentalarms,andmuchprofoundthought,towhichtheyhadbeensubjectedsothatwhenwelaydownonthe
nightofourreturnundertheshelterofthebower,wefellimmediatelyintoverydeeprepose.Icanstatethiswithmuchcertainty,forJackafterwardsadmittedthe
fact,andPeterkin,althoughhestoutlydeniedit,Iheardsnoringloudlyatleasttwominutesafterlyingdown.Inthisconditionweremainedallnightandthewholeof
thefollowingdaywithoutawakingonce,orsomuchasmovingourpositions.Whenwedidawakeitwasnearsunset,andwewereallinsuchastateoflassitude
thatwemerelyrosetoswallowamouthfuloffood.AsPeterkinremarked,inthemidstofayawn,wetookbreakfastatteatime,andthenwenttobedagain,where
welaytillthefollowingforenoon.
Afterthiswearoseverygreatlyrefreshed,butmuchalarmedlestwehadlostcountofaday.Isayweweremuchalarmedonthishead,forwehadcarefullykept
countofthedayssincewewerecastuponourisland,inorderthatwemightremembertheSabbathday,whichdaywehadhithertowithoneaccordkeptasaday
ofrest,andrefrainedfromallworkwhatsoever.However,onconsideringthesubject,weallthreeentertainedthesameopinionastohowlongwehadslept,and
soourmindswereputatease.
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WenowhastenedtoourWaterGardentoenjoyabathe,andtoseehowdidtheanimalswhichIhadplacedinthetank.Wefoundthegardenmorecharming,
pelucid,andinvitingthanever,andJackandIplungedintoitsdepth,andgambolledamongitsradiantcoralgroveswhilePeterkinwallowedatthesurface,andtried
occasionallytokickusaswepassedbelow.Havingdressed,Ithenhastenedtothetankbutwhatwasmysurpriseandgrieftofindnearlyalltheanimalsdead,and
thewaterinaputridcondition!Iwasgreatlydistressedatthis,andwonderedwhatcouldbethecauseofit.
"Why,youprecioushumbug,"saidPeterkin,cominguptome,"howcouldyouexpectittobeotherwise?WhenfishesareaccustomedtoliveinthePacificOcean,
howcanyouexpectthemtoexistinaholelikethat?"
"Indeed,Peterkin,"Ireplied,"thereseemstobetruthinwhatyousay.Nevertheless,nowIthinkofit,theremustbesomeerrorinyourreasoningfor,ifIputinbut
afewverysmallanimals,theywillbearthesameproportiontothispondthatthemillionsoffishbeartotheocean."
"Isay,Jack,"criedPeterkin,wavinghishand,"comehere,likeagoodfellow.Ralphisactuallytalkingphilosophy.Docometoourassistance,forhe'souto'sight
beyondmealready!"
"What'sthematter?"inquiredJack,comingup,whileheendeavouredtoscrubhislonghairdrywithatowelofcocoanutcloth.
IrepeatedmythoughtstoJack,who,Iwashappytofind,quiteagreedwithme."Yourbestplan,"hesaid,"willbetoputveryfewanimalsatfirstintoyourtank,
andaddmoreasyoufinditwillbearthem.Andlookhere,"headded,pointingtothesidesofthetank,which,forthespaceoftwoinchesabovethewaterlevel,
wereincrustedwithsalt,"youmustcarryyourphilosophyalittlefarther,Ralph.Thatwaterhasevaporatedsomuchthatitistoosaltforanythingtolivein.Youwill
requiretoaddFRESHwaternowandthen,inordertokeepitatthesamedegreeofsaltnessasthesea."
"Verytrue,Jack,thatneverstruckmebefore,"saidI.
"And,nowIthinkofit,"continuedJack,"itseemstomethatthesurestwayofarrangingyourtanksoastogetittokeeppureandingoodcondition,willbeto
imitatetheoceaninit.InfactmakeitaminiaturePacific.Idon'tseehowyoucanhopetosucceedunlessyoudothat."
"Mosttrue,"saidI,ponderingwhatmycompanionsaid."ButIfearthatthatwillbeverydifficult."
"Notatall,"criedJack,rollinghistowelupintoaball,andthrowingitintothefaceofPeterkin,whohadbeengrinningandwinkingathimduringthelastfiveminutes.
"Notatall.Lookhere.Thereiswaterofacertainsaltnessintheseawell,fillyourtankwithseawater,andkeepitatthatsaltnessbymarkingtheheightatwhich
thewaterstandsonthesides.Whenitevaporatesalittle,pourinFRESHwaterfromthebrooktillitcomesuptothemark,andthenitwillberight,forthesaltdoes
notevaporatewiththewater.Then,there'slotsofseaweedintheseawell,goandgetoneortwobitsofseaweed,andputthemintoyourtank.Ofcoursethe
weedmustbealive,andgrowingtolittlestonesoryoucanchipabitofftherockswiththeweedstickingtoit.Then,ifyoulike,youcanthrowalittlesandand
gravelintoyourtank,andthething'scomplete."
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"Nay,notquite,"saidPeterkin,whohadbeengravelyattentivetothisoffhandadvice,"notquiteyoumustfirstmakethreelittlementodiveinitbeforeitcanbe
saidtobeperfect,andthatwouldberatherdifficult,Ifear,fortwoofthemwouldrequiretobephilosophers.Buthallo!what'sthis?Isay,Ralph,lookhere.
There'soneo'yourcrabsuptosomethinguncommon.It'sperformingthemostremarkableoperationforacrabIeversaw,takingoffitscoat,Idobelieve,before
goingtobed!"
Wehastilystoopedoverthetank,andcertainlywerenotalittleamusedattheconductofoneofthecrabswhichstillsurviveditcompanions.Itwasoneofthe
commonsmallcrabs,liketothosethatarefoundrunningabouteverywhereonthecoastsofEngland.Whilewegazedatit,weobserveditsbacktosplitawayfrom
thelowerpartofitsbody,andoutofthegapthusformedcameasoftlumpwhichmovedandwrithedunceasingly.Thislumpcontinuedtoincreaseinsizeuntilit
appearedlikeabunchofcrab'slegs:and,indeed,suchitprovedinaveryfewminutestobeforthepointsofthetoeswereatlengthextricatedfromthisholeinits
back,thelegsspreadout,thebodyfollowed,andthecrabwalkedawayquiteentire,eventothepointsofitsnipperclaws,leavingaperfectlyentireshellbehindit,
sothat,whenwelooked,itseemedasthoughthereweretwocompletecrabsinsteadofone!
"Well!"exclaimedPeterkin,drawingalongbreath,"I'veHEARDofamanjumpingoutofhisskinandsittingdowninhisskeletoninordertocoolhimself,butInever
expectedtoSEEacrabdoit!"
Wewere,intruth,muchamazedatthisspectacle,andthemoresowhenweobservedthatthenewcrabwaslargerthanthecrabthatitcameoutof.Itwasalso
quitesoft,butbynextmorningitsskinhadhardenedintoagoodshell.Wecamethustoknowthatcrabsgrowinthisway,andnotbythegrowingoftheirshells,as
wehadalwaysthoughtbeforewesawthiswonderfuloperation.
NowIconsideredwelltheadvicewhichJackhadgivenmeaboutpreparingmytank,andthemoreIthoughtofit,themoreIcametoregarditasverysoundand
worthyofbeingactedon.SoIforthwithputhisplaninexecution,andfoundittoanswerexcellentlywell,indeedmuchbeyondmyexpectationforIfoundthatafter
alittleexperiencehadtaughtmetheproperproportionofseaweedandanimalstoputintoacertainamountofwater,thetankneedednofartherattendanceand,
moreover,Ididnotrequireeverafterwardstoreneworchangetheseawater,butonlytoaddaverylittlefreshwaterfromthebrook,nowandthen,astheother
evaporated.IthereforeconcludedthatifIhadbeensuddenlyconveyed,alongwithmytank,intosomeregionwheretherewasnosaltseaatall,mylittleseaandmy
seafishwouldhavecontinuedtothriveandtoprospernotwithstanding.Thismademegreatlytodesirethatthosepeopleintheworldwholivefarinlandmight
knowofmywonderfultank,and,byhavingmaterialsliketothoseofwhichitwasmadeconveyedtothem,thusbeenabledtowatchthehabitsofthosemost
mysteriousanimalsthatresideinthesea,andexaminewiththeirowneyesthewondersofthegreatdeep.
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Formanydaysafterthis,whilePeterkinandJackwerebusilyemployedinbuildingalittleboatoutofthecuriousnaturalplanksofthechestnuttree,Ispentmuchof
mytimeinexaminingwiththeburningglassthemarvellousoperationsthatwereconstantlygoingoninmytank.HereIsawthoseanemoneswhichcling,likelittle
red,yellow,andgreenblobsofjelly,totherocks,putforth,asitwere,amultitudeofarmsandwaittilllittlefishorothersmallanimalculesunwarilytouchedthem,
whentheywouldinstantlyseizethem,foldarmafterarmaroundtheirvictims,andsoengulfthemintheirstomachs.HereIsawtheceaselessworkingofthoselittle
coralinsectswhoseeffortshaveencrustedtheislandsofthePacificwithvastrocks,andsurroundedthemwithenormousreefs.AndIobservedthatmanyofthese
insects,thoughextremelyminute,wereverybeautiful,comingoutoftheirholesinacircleoffinethreads,andhavingtheformofashuttlecock.HereIsawcurious
littlebarnaclesopeningaholeintheirbacksandconstantlyputtingoutathinfeatheryhand,withwhich,Idoubtnot,theydraggedtheirfoodintotheirmouths.Here,
also,Isawthosecrabswhichhaveshellsonlyonthefrontoftheirbodies,butnoshellwhateverontheirremarkablytendertails,sothat,inordertofindaprotection
tothem,theythrustthemintotheemptyshellsofwilks,orsomesuchfish,andwhentheygrowtoobigforone,changeintoanother.But,mostcuriousofall,Isaw
ananimalwhichhadthewonderfulpower,whenitbecameill,ofcastingitsstomachanditsteethawayfromit,andgettinganentirelynewsetinthecourseofafew
months!AllthisIsaw,andagreatdealmore,bymeansofmytankandmyburningglass,butIrefrainfromsettingdownmoreparticularshere,asIhavestillmuch
totelloftheadventuresthatbefelluswhileweremainedonthisisland.
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CHAPTERXIII.
Notablediscoveryatthespoutingcliffs Themysteriousgreenmonsterexplained WearethrownintounutterableterrorbytheideathatJackis

drownedTheDiamondCave.
"COME,Jack,"criedPeterkin,onemorningaboutthreeweeksafterourreturnfromourlongexcursion,"let'sbejollytoday,anddosomethingvigorous.I'mquite
tiredofhammeringandhammering,hewingandscrewing,cuttingandbutting,atthatlittleboatofours,thatseemsashardtobuildasNoah'sarkletusgoonan
excursiontothemountaintop,orhaveahuntafterthewildducks,ormakeadashatthepigs.I'mquiteflatflatasbadgingerbeerflatasapancakeinfact,I
wantsomethingtorouseme,totossmeup,asitwere.Eh!whatdoyousaytoit?"
"Well,"answeredJack,throwingdowntheaxewithwhichhewasjustabouttoproceedtowardstheboat,"ifthat'swhatyouwant,Iwouldrecommendyoutomake
anexcursiontothewaterspoutsthelastonewehadtodowithtossedyouupaconsiderableheight,perhapsthenextwillsendyouhigher,whoknows,ifyou'reat
allreasonableormoderateinyourexpectations!"
"Jack,mydearboy,"saidPeterkin,gravely,"youarereallybecomingtoofondofjesting.It'sathingIdon'tatallapproveof,andifyoudon'tgiveitup,Ifearthat,
forourmutualgood,weshallhavetopart."
"Well,then,Peterkin,"repliedJack,withasmile,"whatwouldyouhave?"
"Have?"saidPeterkin,"IwouldHAVEnothing.Ididn'tsayIwantedtoHAVEIsaidthatIwantedtoDO."
"Bytheby,"saidI,interruptingtheirconversation,"Iamremindedbythisthatwehavenotyetdiscoveredthenatureofyoncuriousappearancethatwesawnearthe
waterspouts,onourjourneyroundtheisland.Perhapsitwouldbewelltogoforthatpurpose."
"Humph!"ejaculatedPeterkin,"Iknowthenatureofitwellenough."
"Whatwasit?"saidI.
"ItwasofaMYSTERIOUSnaturetobesure!"saidhe,withawaveofhishand,whileherosefromthelogonwhichhehadbeensitting,andbuckledonhisbelt,
intowhichhethrusthisenormousclub.
"Wellthen,letusawaytothewaterspouts,"criedJack,goinguptothebowerforhisbowandarrows"andbringyourspear,Peterkin.Itmaybeuseful."
Wenow,havingmadeupourmindstoexamineintothismatter,salliedfortheagerlyinthedirectionofthewaterspoutrocks,which,asIhavebeforementioned,
werenotfarfromourpresentplaceofabode.Onarrivingtherewehasteneddowntotheedgeoftherocks,andgazedoverintothesea,whereweobservedthe
palegreenobjectstilldistinctlyvisible,movingitstailslowlytoandfrointhewater.
"Mostremarkable!"saidJack.
"Exceedinglycurious,"saidI.
"Beatseverything!"saidPeterkin.
"Now,Jack,"headded,"youmadesuchapoorfigureinyourlastattempttostickthatobject,thatIwouldadviseyoutoletmetryit.Ifithasgotaheartatall,I'll
engagetosendmyspearrightthroughthecoreofitifithasn'tgotaheart,I'llsenditthroughthespotwhereitsheartoughttobe."
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"Fireaway,then,myboy,"repliedJackwithalaugh.
Peterkinimmediatelytookthespear,poiseditforasecondortwoabovehishead,thendarteditlikeanarrowintothesea.Downitwentstraightintothecentreof
thegreenobject,passedquitethroughit,andcameupimmediatelyafterwards,pureandunsullied,whilethemysterioustailmovedquietlyasbefore!
"Now,"saidPeterkin,gravely,"thatbruteisaheartlessmonsterI'llhavenothingmoretodowithit."
"I'mprettysurenow,"saidJack,"thatitismerelyaphosphoriclightbutImustsayI'mpuzzledatitsstayingalwaysinthatexactspot."
Ialsowasmuchpuzzled,andinclinedtothinkwithJackthatitmustbephosphoriclightofwhichluminousappearancewehadseenmuchwhileonourvoyageto
theseseas."But,"saidI,"thereisnothingtohinderusfromdivingdowntoit,nowthatwearesureitisnotashark."
"True,"returnedJack,strippingoffhisclothes"I'llgodown,Ralph,asI'mbetteratdivingthanyouare.Nowthen,Peterkin,outo'theroad!"Jackstepped
forward,joinedhishandsabovehishead,bentovertherocks,andplungedintothesea.Forasecondortwothespraycausedbyhisdivehidhimfromview,then
thewaterbecamestill,andwesawhimswimmingfardowninthemidstofthegreenobject.Suddenlyhesankbelowit,andvanishedaltogetherfromoursight!We
gazedanxiouslydownatthespotwherehehaddisappeared,fornearlyaminute,expectingeverymomenttoseehimriseagainforbreathbutfullyaminutepassed,
andstillhedidnotreappear.Twominutespassed!andthenafloodofalarmrushedinuponmysoul,whenIconsideredthatduringallmyacquaintancewithhim,
Jackhadneverstayedunderwatermorethanaminuteatatimeindeedseldomsolong.
"Oh,Peterkin!"Isaid,inavoicethattrembledwithincreasinganxiety,"somethinghashappened.Itismorethanthreeminutesnow!"ButPeterkindidnotanswer
andIobservedthathewasgazingdownintothewaterwithalookofintensefearmingledwithanxiety,whilehisfacewasoverspreadwithadeadlypaleness.
Suddenlyhesprangtohisfeetandrushedaboutinafranticstate,wringinghishands,andexclaiming,"Oh,Jack,Jack!heisgone!Itmusthavebeenashark,andhe
isgoneforever!"
ForthenextfiveminutesIknownotwhatIdid.Theintensityofmyfeelingsalmostbereftmeofmysenses.ButIwasrecalledtomyselfbyPeterkinseizingmeby
theshoulderandstaringwildlyintomyface,whileheexclaimed,"Ralph!Ralph!perhapshehasonlyfainted.Diveforhim,Ralph!"
Itseemedstrangethatthisdidnotoccurtomesooner.InamomentIrushedtotheedgeoftherocks,and,withoutwaitingtothrowoffmygarments,wasonthe
pointtospringintothewaves,whenIobservedsomethingblackrisingupthroughthegreenobject.InanothermomentJack'sheadrosetothesurface,andhegave
awildshout,flingingbackthesprayfromhislocks,aswashiswontafteradive.Nowwewerealmostasmuchamazedatseeinghimreappear,wellandstrong,as
wehadbeenatfirstathisnonappearancefor,tothebestofourjudgment,hehadbeennearlytenminutesunderwater,perhapslonger,anditrequirednoexertion
ofourreasontoconvinceusthatthiswasutterlyimpossibleformortalmantodoandretainhisstrengthandfaculties.Itwasthereforewithafeelingakinto
superstitiousawethatIhelddownmyhandandassistedhimtoclamberupthesteeprocks.ButnosuchfeelingaffectedPeterkin.NosoonerdidJackgainthe
rocksandseathimselfonone,pantingforbreath,thanhethrewhisarmsroundhisneck,andburstintoafloodoftears."Oh,Jack,Jack!"saidhe,"wherewere
you?Whatkeptyousolong?"
Account: s1136447

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TheCoralIsland

Makediscoveryofmanyexcellentrootsandfruits TheresourcesoftheCoralIslandgraduallyunfolded Thebaniantree Anothertreewhichis

Effectsofovereating,andreflectionsthereon Humbleadviceregardingcoldwater The"horriblecry"accountedfor Thecuriousbirdscalled

Notablediscoveryatthespoutingcliffs Themysteriousgreenmonsterexplained WearethrownintounutterableterrorbytheideathatJackis

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