"At first I could scarcely see anything as I gazed around me, it
was so dark; but gradually my eyes became accustomed to it, and I
found that I was in a huge cave, part of the walls of which I
observed on each side of me. The ceiling just above me was also
visible, and I fancied that I could perceive beautiful glittering
objects there, but the farther end of the cave was shrouded in
darkness. While I was looking around me in great wonder, it came
into my head that you two would think I was drowned; so I plunged
down through the passage again in a great hurry, rose to the
surface, and - here I am!"

When Jack concluded his recital of what he had seen in this
remarkable cave, I could not rest satisfied till I had dived down
to see it; which I did, but found it so dark, as Jack had said,
that I could scarcely see anything. When I returned, we had a long
conversation about it, during which I observed that Peterkin had a
most lugubrious expression on his countenance.

"What's the matter, Peterkin?" said I.

"The matter?" he replied. "It's all very well for you two to be
talking away like mermaids about the wonders of this cave, but you
know I must be content to hear about it, while you are enjoying
yourselves down there like mad dolphins. It's really too bad."

"I'm very sorry for you, Peterkin, indeed I am," said Jack, "but we
cannot help you. If you would only learn to dive - "

"Learn to fly, you might as well say!" retorted Peterkin, in a very
sulky tone.