done, we proceeded to examine into the state of our larder, for, as
Jack truly remarked, there was no knowing how long the pirates
might remain on the island.

"Perhaps," said Peterkin, "they may take it into their heads to
stop here altogether, and so we shall be buried alive in this
place."

"Don't you think, Peterkin, that it's the nearest thing to being
drowned alive that you ever felt?" said Jack with a smile. "But
I've no fear of that. These villains never stay long on shore.
The sea is their home, so you may depend upon it that they won't
stay more than a day or two at the furthest."

We now began to make arrangements for spending the night in the
cavern. At various periods Jack and I had conveyed cocoa nuts and
other fruits, besides rolls of cocoa-nut cloth, to this submarine
cave, partly for amusement, and partly from a feeling that we might
possibly be driven one day to take shelter here from the savages.
Little did we imagine that the first savages who would drive us
into it would be white savages, perhaps our own countrymen. We
found the cocoa-nuts in good condition, and the cooked yams, but
the bread-fruits were spoiled. We also found the cloth where we
had left it; and, on opening it out, there proved to be sufficient
to make a bed; which was important, as the rock was damp. Having
collected it all together, we spread out our bed, placed our torch
in the midst of us, and ate our supper. It was indeed a strange
chamber to feast in; and we could not help remarking on the cold,
ghastly appearance of the walls, and the black water at our side,
with the thick darkness beyond, and the sullen sound of the drops