drenched and blinded with spray, that we knew not for a few moments
whither to flee for shelter. At length we all three gained an
eminence beyond the reach of the water; but what a scene of
devastation met our gaze as we looked along the shore! This
enormous wave not only burst over the reef, but continued its way
across the lagoon, and fell on the sandy beach of the island with
such force that passed completely over it and dashed into the
woods, levelling the smaller trees and bushes in its headlong
course!

On seeing this, Jack said he feared our bower must have been swept
away, and that the boat, which was on the beach, must have been
utterly destroyed. Our hearts sank within us as we thought of
this, and we hastened round through the woods towards our home. On
reaching it we found, to our great relief of mind, that the force
of the wave had been expended just before reaching the bower; but
the entrance to it was almost blocked up by the torn-up bushes and
tangled heaps of sea-weed. Having satisfied ourselves as to the
bower, we hurried to the spot where the boat had been left; but no
boat was there! The spot on which it had stood was vacant, and no
sign of it could we see on looking around us.

"It may have been washed up into the woods," said Jack, hurrying up
the beach as he spoke. Still, no boat was to be seen, and we were
about to give ourselves over to despair, when Peterkin called to
Jack and said, -

"Jack, my friend, you were once so exceedingly sagacious and wise
as to make me acquainted with the fact that cocoa nuts grow upon
trees; will you now be so good as to inform me what sort of fruit