CHAPTER IX.



Prepare for a journey round the island - Sagacious reflections -
Mysterious appearances and startling occurrences.


SCARCELY had the sun shot its first ray across the bosom of the
broad Pacific, when Jack sprang to his feet, and, hallooing in
Peterkin's ear to awaken him, ran down the beach to take his
customary dip in the sea. We did not, as was our wont, bathe that
morning in our Water Garden, but, in order to save time, refreshed
ourselves in the shallow water just opposite the bower. Our
breakfast was also despatched without loss of time, and in less
than an hour afterwards all our preparations for the journey were
completed.

In addition to his ordinary dress, Jack tied a belt of cocoa-nut
cloth round his waist, into which he thrust the axe. I was also
advised to put on a belt and carry a short cudgel or bludgeon in
it; for, as Jack truly remarked, the sling would be of little use
if we should chance to come to close quarters with any wild animal.
As for Peterkin, notwithstanding that he carried such a long, and I
must add, frightful-looking spear over his shoulder, we could not
prevail on him to leave his club behind; "for," said he, "a spear
at close quarters is not worth a button." I must say that it
seemed to me that the club was, to use his own style of language,
not worth a button-hole; for it was all knotted over at the head,