this time drawn pretty near to the shore, a few minutes more
sufficed to carry us into shallow water; and, finally, we landed in
safety, though very much exhausted, and not a little frightened by
our terrible adventure.



CHAPTER VIII.



The beauties of the bottom of the sea tempt Peterkin to dive - How
he did it - More difficulties overcome - The water garden - Curious
creatures of the sea - The tank - Candles missed very much, and the
candle-nut tree discovered - Wonderful account of Peterkin's first
voyage - Cloth found growing on a tree - A plan projected, and arms
prepared for offence and defence - A dreadful cry.


OUR encounter with the shark was the first great danger that had
befallen us since landing on this island, and we felt very
seriously affected by it, especially when we considered that we had
so often unwittingly incurred the same danger before while bathing.
We were now forced to take to fishing again in the shallow water,
until we should succeed in constructing a raft. What troubled us
most, however, was, that we were compelled to forego our morning
swimming excursions. We did, indeed, continue to enjoy our bathe
in the shallow water, but Jack and I found that one great source of
our enjoyment was gone, when we could no longer dive down among the
beautiful coral groves at the bottom of the lagoon. We had come to