Peterkin endeavoured to turn this affair off with a laugh, but I
observed that he blushed very deeply at the time we discovered
ourselves, and he did not seem to relish any allusion to the
subject afterwards; so we refrained from remarking on it ever
after, - though it tickled us not a little at the time.

After supper we retired to rest and to dream of wonderful
adventures in our little boat, and distant voyages upon the sea.



CHAPTER XVI.



The boat launched - We visit the coral reef - The great breaker
that never goes down - Coral insects - The way in which coral
islands are made - The boat's sail - We tax our ingenuity to form
fish-hooks - Some of the fish we saw - And a monstrous whale -
Wonderful shower of little fish - Water-spouts.


IT was a bright, clear, beautiful morning, when we first launched
our little boat and rowed out upon the placid waters of the lagoon.
Not a breath of wind ruffled the surface of the deep. Not a cloud
spotted the deep blue sky. Not a sound that was discordant broke
the stillness of the morning, although there were many sounds,
sweet, tiny, and melodious, that mingled in the universal harmony
of nature. The sun was just rising from the Pacific's ample bosom