were very imperfect, and that we were far from perfect in the use
of them. First, Jack found that the bow was much too strong, and
he had to thin it. Also the spear was much too heavy, and so had
to be reduced in thickness, although nothing would induce Peterkin
to have it shortened. My sling answered very well, but I had
fallen so much out of practice that my first stone knocked off
Peterkin's hat, and narrowly missed making a second Goliath of him.
However, after having spent the whole day in diligent practice, we
began to find some of our former expertness returning - at least
Jack and I did. As for Peterkin, being naturally a neat-handed
boy, he soon handled his spear well, and could run full tilt at a
cocoa nut, and hit it with great precision once out of every five
times.

But I feel satisfied that we owed much of our rapid success to the
unflagging energy of Jack, who insisted that, since we had made him
Captain, we should obey him; and he kept us at work from morning
till night, perseveringly, at the same thing. Peterkin wished very
much to run about and stick his spear into everything he passed;
but Jack put up a cocoa nut, and would not let him leave off
running at that for a moment, except when he wanted to rest. We
laughed at Jack for this, but we were both convinced that it did us
much good.

That night we examined and repaired our arms ere we lay down to
rest, although we were much fatigued, in order that we might be in
readiness to set out on our expedition at daylight on the following
morning.