After much discussion, in which Peterkin took the lead, we came to
the conclusion that the island was uninhabited, and went to bed.



CHAPTER VII.



Jack's ingenuity - We get into difficulties about fishing, and get
out of them by a method which gives us a cold bath - Horrible
encounter with a shark.


FOR several days after the excursion related in the last chapter we
did not wander far from our encampment, but gave ourselves up to
forming plans for the future and making our present abode
comfortable.

There were various causes that induced this state of comparative
inaction. In the first place, although everything around us was so
delightful, and we could without difficulty obtain all that we
required for our bodily comfort, we did not quite like the idea of
settling down here for the rest of our lives, far away from our
friends and our native land. To set energetically about
preparations for a permanent residence seemed so like making up our
minds to saying adieu to home and friends for ever, that we tacitly
shrank from it and put off our preparations, for one reason and
another, as long as we could. Then there was a little uncertainty
still as to there being natives on the island, and we entertained a