her, and you see I've done it!"

"That you certainly have, Peterkin," said Jack, as he was examining
the transfixed animal.

We now considered how we were to carry our game home, for, although
the distance was short, the hog was very heavy. At length we hit
on the plan of tying its four feet together, and passing the spear
handle between them. Jack took one end on his shoulder, I took the
other on mine, and Peterkin carried the small pig.

Thus we returned in triumph to our bower, laden, as Peterkin
remarked, with the glorious spoils of a noble hunt. As he
afterwards spoke in similarly glowing terms in reference to the
supper that followed, there is every reason to believe that we
retired that night to our leafy beds in a high state of
satisfaction.



CHAPTER XV.



Boat-building extraordinary - Peterkin tries his hand at cookery
and fails most signally - The boat finished - Curious conversation
with the cat, and other matters.


FOR many days after this Jack applied himself with unremitting