We now resumed our journey, resolving that, in our future
excursions into the interior, we would be careful to avoid this
dangerous precipice.

Soon afterwards we arrived at the foot of the hill and prepared to
ascend it. Here Jack made a discovery which caused us all very
great joy. This was a tree of a remarkably beautiful appearance,
which Jack confidently declared to be the celebrated bread-fruit
tree.

"Is it celebrated?" inquired Peterkin, with a look of great
simplicity.

"It is," replied Jack

"That's odd, now," rejoined Peterkin; "never heard of it before."

"Then it's not so celebrated as I thought it was," returned Jack,
quietly squeezing Peterkin's hat over his eyes; "but listen, you
ignorant boobie! and hear of it now."

Peterkin re-adjusted his hat, and was soon listening with as much
interest as myself, while Jack told us that this tree is one of the
most valuable in the islands of the south; that it bears two,
sometimes three, crops of fruit in the year; that the fruit is very
like wheaten bread in appearance, and that it constitutes the
principal food of many of the islanders.

"So," said Peterkin, "we seem to have everything ready prepared to