landed and ran up the beach. "Hallo! Peterkin, here you are, boy.
Split open these fellows while Ralph and I put on our clothes.
They'll agree with the cocoa nuts excellently, I have no doubt."

Peterkin, who was already dressed, took the oysters, and opened
them with the edge of our axe, exclaiming, "Now, that IS capital.
There's nothing I'm so fond of."

"Ah! that's lucky," remarked Jack. "I'll be able to keep you in
good order now, Master Peterkin. You know you can't dive any
better than a cat. So, sir, whenever you behave ill, you shall
have no oysters for breakfast."

"I'm very glad that our prospect of breakfast is so good," said I,
"for I'm very hungry."

"Here, then, stop your mouth with that, Ralph," said Peterkin,
holding a large oyster to my lips. I opened my mouth and swallowed
it in silence, and really it was remarkably good.

We now set ourselves earnestly about our preparations for spending
the day. We had no difficulty with the fire this morning, as our
burning-glass was an admirable one; and while we roasted a few
oysters and ate our cocoa nuts, we held a long, animated
conversation about our plans for the future. What those plans
were, and how we carried them into effect, the reader shall see
hereafter.