think, and have persevered up to the present time, but I've never
hit anything yet."

"You forget," said I, "you hit me one day on the shin."

"Ah, true," replied Peterkin, "and a precious shindy you kicked up
in consequence. But you were at least four yards away from the
impudent paroquet I aimed at; so you see what a horribly bad shot I
am."

"But," said I, "Jack, you cannot make three bows and arrows before
to-morrow, and would it not be a pity to waste time, now that we
have made up our minds to go on this expedition? Suppose that you
make one bow and arrow for yourself, and we can take our clubs?"

"That's true, Ralph. The day is pretty far advanced, and I doubt
if I can make even one bow before dark. To be sure I might work by
fire-light, after the sun goes down."

We had, up to this time, been in the habit of going to bed with the
sun, as we had no pressing call to work o' nights; and, indeed, our
work during the day was usually hard enough, - what between
fishing, and improving our bower, and diving in the Water Garden,
and rambling in the woods; so that, when night came, we were
usually very glad to retire to our beds. But now that we had a
desire to work at night, we felt a wish for candles.

"Won't a good blazing fire give you light enough?" inquired
Peterkin.