and enter the service of its black inhabitants. Of course we'll
rise, naturally, to the top of affairs. White men always do in
savage countries. You shall be king, Jack; Ralph, prime minister,
and I shall be - "

"The court jester," interrupted Jack.

"No," retorted Peterkin, "I'll have no title at all. I shall
merely accept a highly responsible situation under government, for
you see, Jack, I'm fond of having an enormous salary and nothing to
do."

"But suppose there are no natives?"

"Then we'll build a charming villa, and plant a lovely garden round
it, stuck all full of the most splendiferous tropical flowers, and
we'll farm the land, plant, sow, reap, eat, sleep, and be merry."

"But to be serious," said Jack, assuming a grave expression of
countenance, which I observed always had the effect of checking
Peterkin's disposition to make fun of everything, "we are really in
rather an uncomfortable position. If this is a desert island, we
shall have to live very much like the wild beasts, for we have not
a tool of any kind, not even a knife."

"Yes, we have THAT," said Peterkin, fumbling in his trousers
pocket, from which he drew forth a small penknife with only one
blade, and that was broken.

"Well, that's better than nothing; but come," said Jack, rising,