e universal tranquillity of earth, sea, and
sky--rather tended to reveal to us how quiet the world around us really
was. Such sounds as I refer to were, the peculiarly melancholy--yet, it
seemed to me, cheerful--plaint of sea-birds floating on the glassy water,
or sailing in the sky, also the subdued twittering of little birds among
the bushes, the faint ripples on the beach, and the solemn boom of the
surf upon the distant coral reef. We felt very glad in our hearts as we
walked along the sands side by side. For my part, I felt so deeply
overjoyed, that I was surprised at my own sensations, and fell into a
reverie upon the causes of happiness. I came to the conclusion that a
state of profound peace and repose, both in regard to outward objects and
within the soul, is the happiest condition in which man can be placed;
for, although I had many a time been most 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 meth