joyful and happy when engaged in bustling, energetic, active
pursuits or amusements, I never found that such joy or satisfaction
was so deep or so pleasant to reflect upon as that which I now
experienced. And I was the more confirmed in this opinion when I
observed, and, indeed, was told by himself, that Peterkin's
happiness was also very great; yet he did not express this by
dancing, as was his wont, nor did he give so much as a single
shout, but walked quietly between us with his eye sparkling, and a
joyful smile upon his countenance. My reader must not suppose that
I thought all this in the clear and methodical manner in which I
have set it down here. These thoughts did, indeed, pass through my
mind, but they did so in a very confused and indefinite manner, for
I was young at that time, and not much given to deep reflections.
Neither did I consider that the peace whereof I write is not to be
found in this world - at least in its perfection, although I have
since learned that by religion a man may attain to a very great
degree of it.

I have said that Peterkin walked along the sands between us. We
had two ways of walking together about our island. When we
travelled through the woods, we always did so in single file, as by
this method we advanced with greater facility, the one treading in
the other's footsteps. In such cases Jack always took the lead,
Peterkin followed, and I brought up the rear. But when we
travelled along the sands, which extended almost in an unbroken
line of glistening white round the island, we marched abreast, as
we found this method more sociable, and every way more pleasant.
Jack, being the tallest, walked next the sea, and Peterkin marched
between us, as by this arrangement either of us could talk to him
or he to us, while if Jack and I happened to wish to converse