and tipping the mountain tops with a red glow. The sea was shining
like a sheet of glass, yet heaving with the long deep swell that,
all the world round, indicates the life of ocean; and the bright
sea-weeds and the brilliant corals shone in the depths of that
pellucid water, as we rowed over it, like rare and precious gems.
Oh! it was a sight fitted to stir the soul of man to its
profoundest depths, and, if he owned a heart at all, to lift that
heart in adoration and gratitude to the great Creator of this
magnificent and glorious universe.

At first, in the strength of our delight, we rowed hither and
thither without aim or object. But after the effervescence of our
spirits was abated, we began to look about us and to consider what
we should do.

"I vote that we row to the reef," cried Peterkin.

"And I vote that we visit the islands within the lagoon," said I.

"And I vote we do both," cried Jack, "so pull away, boys."

As I have already said, we had made four oars, but our boat was so
small that only two were necessary. The extra pair were reserved
in case any accident should happen to the others. It was therefore
only needful that two of us should row, while the third steered, by
means of an oar, and relieved the rowers occasionally.

First we landed on one of the small islands and ran all over it,
but saw nothing worthy of particular notice. Then we landed on a
larger island, on which were growing a few cocoa-nut trees. Not