reenish colour, which seemed to move slightly while I
looked at it.

"It's like a fish of some sort," said I.

"Hallo, Peterkin!" cried Jack. "Fetch your spear; here's work for it!"

But when we tried to reach the object, the spear proved to be too short.

"There, now," said Peterkin with a sneer; "you were always telling me it
was too long."

Jack now drove the spear forcibly towards the object, and let go his
hold. But although it seemed to be well aimed, he must have missed, for
the handle soon rose again; and when the spear was drawn up, there was
the pale-green object in exactly the same spot, slowly moving its tail.

"Very odd!" said Jack.

But although it was undoubtedly very odd, and although Jack and all of
us plunged the spear at it repeatedly, we could neither hit it nor drive
it away, so we were compelled to continue our journey without
discovering what it was. I was very much perplexed at this strange
appearance in the water, and could not get it out of my mind for a long
time afterwards. However, I quieted myself by resolving that I would
pay a visit to it again at some more convenient season.

CHAPTER TEN.

MAKE DISCOVERY OF MANY EXCELLENT ROOTS AND FRUITS--THE RESOURCES OF THE
CORAL ISLAND GRADUALLY UNFOLDED--THE BANYAN TREE--ANOTHER TREE WHICH IS
SUPPORTED BY NATURAL PLANKS--WATER-FOWL FOUND--A VERY REMARKABLE
DISCOVERY, AND A VERY PECULIAR MURDER--WE LUXURIATE ON THE FAT OF THE
LAND.

Our examination of the little valley proved to be altogether most
satisfactory. We found in it not only similar trees to those we had
already seen in our own valley, but also one or two others of a
different species. We had also the satisfaction of discovering a
peculiar vegetable, which, Jack concluded, must certainly be that of
which he had read as being very common among the South Sea Islanders,
and which was named taro. Also we found a large supply of yams, and
another root like a potato in appearance. As these were all quite new
to us, we regarded our lot as a most fortunate one, in being thus cast
on an island which was so prolific and so well stored with all the
necessaries of life. Long afterwards we found out that this island of
ours was no better in these respects than thousands of other islands in
those seas. Indeed, many of them were much richer and more productive;
but that did not render us the less grateful for our present good
fortune. We each put one of these roots in our pocket