were quite dry before the shower, and at some
distance above high-water mark. Jack, however, suggested a cause which
seemed to me very probable. We used often to see waterspouts in the
sea. A waterspout is a whirling body of water, which rises from the sea
like a sharp-pointed pillar. After rising a good way, it is met by a
long tongue, which comes down from the clouds; and when the two have
joined, they look something like an hour-glass. The waterspout is then
carried by the wind--sometimes gently, sometimes with violence--over the
sea, sometimes up into the clouds; and then, bursting asunder, it
descends in a deluge. This often happens over the land as well as over
the sea; and it sometimes does much damage, but frequently it passes
gently away. Now, Jack thought that the little fish might perhaps have
been carried up in a waterspout, and so sent down again in a shower of
rain. But we could not be certain as to this point, yet we thought it
likely.

During these delightful fishing and boating excursions we caught a good
many eels, which we found to be very good to eat. We also found turtles
among the coral rocks, and made excellent soup in our iron kettle.
Moreover, we discovered many shrimps and prawns, so that we had no lack
of variety in our food; and, indeed, we never passed a week without
making some new and interesting discovery of some sort or other, either
on the land or in the sea.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

A MONSTER WAVE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES--THE BOAT LOST AND FOUND--PETERKIN'S
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT--SUPPLIES OF FOOD FOR A VOYAGE IN THE BOAT--WE VISIT
PENGUIN ISLAND, AND ARE AMAZED BEYOND MEASURE--ACCOUNT OF THE PENGUINS.

One day, not long after our little boat was finished, we were sitting on
the rocks at Spouting Cliff, and talking of an excursion which we
intended to make to Penguin Island the next day.

"You see," said Peterkin, "it might be all very well for a stupid fellow
like me to remain here and leave the penguins alone; but it would be
quite inconsistent with your characters as philosophers to remain any
longer in ignorance of the habits and customs of these birds, so the
sooner we go the better."

"Very true," said I. "There is nothing I desire so much as to have a
closer inspection of them."

"And I think," said Jack, "that you had better remain at home, Peterkin,
to take care of the cat; for I'm sure the hogs will be at it in your
absence, out of revenge for your killing their gre