opening in the bushes, he started suddenly up as if he had received
an electric shock, uttered a vehement shout, flung off his
garments, and, rushing over the white sands, plunged into the
water. The cry awoke Jack, who rose on his elbow with a look of
grave surprise; but this was followed by a quiet smile of
intelligence on seeing Peterkin in the water. With an energy that
he only gave way to in moments of excitement, Jack bounded to his
feet, threw off his clothes, shook back his hair, and with a lion-
like spring, dashed over the sands and plunged into the sea with
such force as quite to envelop Peterkin in a shower of spray. Jack
was a remarkably good swimmer and diver, so that after his plunge
we saw no sign of him for nearly a minute; after which he suddenly
emerged, with a cry of joy, a good many yards out from the shore.
My spirits were so much raised by seeing all this that I, too,
hastily threw off my garments and endeavoured to imitate Jack's
vigorous bound; but I was so awkward that my foot caught on a
stump, and I fell to the ground; then I slipped on a stone while
running over the mud, and nearly fell again, much to the amusement
of Peterkin, who laughed heartily, and called me a "slow coach,"
while Jack cried out, "Come along, Ralph, and I'll help you."
However, when I got into the water I managed very well, for I was
really a good swimmer, and diver too. I could not, indeed, equal
Jack, who was superior to any Englishman I ever saw, but I
infinitely surpassed Peterkin, who could only swim a little, and
could not dive at all.

While Peterkin enjoyed himself in the shallow water and in running
along the beach, Jack and I swam out into the deep water, and
occasionally dived for stones. I shall never forget my surprise
and delight on first beholding the bottom of the sea. As I have