journey, nevertheless we had pursued it so diligently that our
frames were not a little prostrated. Our minds were also very much
exhausted in consequence of the many surprises, frequent alarms,
and much profound thought, to which they had been subjected; so
that when we lay down on the night of our return under the shelter
of the bower, we fell immediately into very deep repose. I can
state this with much certainty, for Jack afterwards admitted the
fact, and Peterkin, although he stoutly denied it, I heard snoring
loudly at least two minutes after lying down. In this condition we
remained all night and the whole of the following day without
awaking once, or so much as moving our positions. When we did
awake it was near sunset, and we were all in such a state of
lassitude that we merely rose to swallow a mouthful of food. As
Peterkin remarked, in the midst of a yawn, we took breakfast at
tea-time, and then went to bed again, where we lay till the
following forenoon.

After this we arose very greatly refreshed, but much alarmed lest
we had lost count of a day. I say we were much alarmed on this
head, for we had carefully kept count of the days since we were
cast upon our island, in order that we might remember the Sabbath-
day, which day we had hitherto with one accord kept as a day of
rest, and refrained from all work whatsoever. However, on
considering the subject, we all three entertained the same opinion
as to how long we had slept, and so our minds were put at ease.

We now hastened to our Water Garden to enjoy a bathe, and to see
how did the animals which I had placed in the tank. We found the
garden more charming, pelucid, and inviting than ever, and Jack and
I plunged into its depth, and gambolled among its radiant coral