remark, however, that Jack did not use them often, as they were
extremely heavy.

It was beginning to grow dark when we returned to our encampment;
so we put off our visit to the top of a hill till next day, and
employed the light that yet remained to us in cutting down a
quantity of boughs and the broad leaves of a tree, of which none of
us knew the name. With these we erected a sort of rustic bower, in
which we meant to pass the night. There was no absolute necessity
for this, because the air of our island was so genial and balmy
that we could have slept quite well without any shelter; but we
were so little used to sleeping in the open air, that we did not
quite relish the idea of lying down without any covering over us:
besides, our bower would shelter us from the night dews or rain, if
any should happen to fall. Having strewed the floor with leaves
and dry grass, we bethought ourselves of supper.

But it now occurred to us, for the first time, that we had no means
of making a fire.

"Now, there's a fix! - what shall we do?" said Peterkin, while we
both turned our eyes to Jack, to whom we always looked in our
difficulties. Jack seemed not a little perplexed.

"There are flints enough, no doubt, on the beach," said he, "but
they are of no use at all without a steel. However, we must try."
So saying, he went to the beach, and soon returned with two flints.
On one of these he placed the tinder, and endeavoured to ignite it;
but it was with great difficulty that a very small spark was struck
out of the flints, and the tinder, being a bad, hard piece, would