resemblance to the wild ducks of our own country that I think they
must have been the same. On these occasions we took the bow and
the sling, with both of which we were often successful, though I
must confess I was the least so. Our suppers were thus pleasantly
varied, and sometimes we had such a profusion spread out before us
that we frequently knew not with which of the dainties to begin.

I must also add, that the poor old cat which we had brought home
had always a liberal share of our good things, and so well was it
looked after, especially by Peterkin, that it recovered much of its
former strength, and seemed to improve in sight as well as hearing.

The large flat stone, or rock of coral, which stood just in front
of the entrance to our bower, was our table. On this rock we had
spread out the few articles we possessed the day we were
shipwrecked; and on the same rock, during many a day afterwards, we
spread out the bountiful supply with which we had been blessed on
our Coral Island. Sometimes we sat down at this table to a feast
consisting of hot rolls, - as Peterkin called the newly baked bread
fruit, - a roast pig, roast duck, boiled and roasted yams, cocoa
nuts, taro, and sweet potatoes; which we followed up with a dessert
of plums, apples, and plantains, - the last being a large-sized and
delightful fruit, which grew on a large shrub or tree not more than
twelve feet high, with light-green leaves of enormous length and
breadth. These luxurious feasts were usually washed down with
cocoa-nut lemonade.

Occasionally Peterkin tried to devise some new dish, - "a
conglomerate," as he used to say; but these generally turned out
such atrocious compounds that he was ultimately induced to give up