"The line of argument which you indicate is exceedingly forcible, (how
delightfully those oysters smell!) I really think I begin to perceive
some of the advantages of republicanism already."

"With the right of private judgment, properly understood," resumed Max,
"I should be reluctant to interfere. You will, I presume, enjoy the
exercise of so precious a privilege, even with a cocoa-nut breakfast,
which you can probably obtain, by requesting Prince Eiulo to scale one
of yonder tufted trees."

"How clear the matter becomes with a little reflection," observed Browne
"(this camping out in the open air gives one a famous appetite). In
fact your reasoning is almost irresistible, (that fish looks
particularly nice), and really I begin to think I can safely profess
myself a good republican--until after breakfast at any rate."

Max's culinary operations being at last completed, Johnny placed a huge
shell to his lips, and sounded a long blast by way of announcement that
breakfast was ready. The fish was served up in a fresh palm-leaf, and
Johnny declared with much complacency, that not all the crockery-stores
in New York, could furnish a platter of such royal dimensions. The
leaves of the hibiscus, served admirably for plates; for knives and
forks, we used the strong stalks, or central fibres, of cocoa-nut
leaflet; which, with fingers in reserve for an emergency, answered at
least as well as the chopsticks of the Chinese. Upon the whole, it
cannot be denied that our table-service, simple as it was, has its
advantages: it involved no necessity for any washing of dishes, no
anxiety on the score of broken crockery, and we could indulge in the
extravagance of a new dinner set every day, or even at every meal, for
that matter, if so disposed.

The fish proved most excellent, resembling the striped bass in flavour
and appearance: as to the oysters, they were unanimously voted equal to
Shrewsburys.

"Ah!" sighed Max, "if we had now but a cup of coffee and a hot roll,
those inestimable blessings of civilisation, we could almost forget that
we are on a desert island."

"Wait until the bread-fruit ripens," said Arthur, "and we shall have a
tolerably fair substitute for your `hot rolls.' Eiulo will show us the
most approved mode of preparing it, and we shall find it nearly equal to
the wheaten loaf."

"All that Max seems to think about, is the eating," said Browne,
swallowing the last remaining oyster, "but I begin to f