clusters of twos and threes on the branches; but as we were anxious to
get to the top of the hill, we refrained from attempting to pluck any at
that time.

Our hearts were now very much cheered by our good fortune, and it was
with light and active steps that we clambered up the steep sides of the
hill. On reaching the summit, a new, and if possible a grander, prospect
met our gaze. We found that this was not the highest part of the island,
but that another hill lay beyond, with a wide valley between it and the
one on which we stood. This valley, like the first, was also full of
rich trees, some dark and some light green, some heavy and thick in
foliage, and others light, feathery, and graceful, while the beautiful
blossoms on many of them threw a sort of rainbow tint over all, and gave
to the valley the appearance of a garden of flowers. Among these we
recognised many of the bread-fruit trees, laden with yellow fruit, and
also a great many cocoa-nut palms. After gazing our fill we pushed down
the hill side, crossed the valley, and soon began to ascend the second
mountain. It was clothed with trees nearly to the top, but the summit
was bare, and in some places broken.

While on our way up we came to an object which filled us with much
interest. This was the stump of a tree that had evidently been cut down
with an axe! So, then, we were not the first who had viewed this
beautiful isle. The hand of man had been at work there before us. It
now began to recur to us again that perhaps the island was inhabited,
although we had not seen any traces of man until now; but a second glance
at the stump convinced us that we had not more reason to think so now
than formerly; for the surface of the wood was quite decayed, and partly
covered with fungus and green matter, so that it must have been cut many
years ago.

"Perhaps," said Peterkin, "some ship or other has touched here long ago
for wood, and only taken one tree."

We did not think this likely, however, because, in such circumstances,
the crew of a ship would cut wood of small size, and near the shore,
whereas this was a large tree and stood near the top of the mountain. In
fact it was the highest large tree on the mountain, all above it being
wood of very recent growth.

"I can't understand it," said Jack, scratching the surface of the stump
with his axe. "I can only suppose that the savages have been here and
cut it for some purpose known only to themselves.