re
gladly, because at that time, I am ashamed to say, I very seldom thought
of my Creator, although I was constantly surrounded by the most
beautiful and wonderful of His works. I observed, from the expression
of my companion's countenance, that he too derived much joy from the
splendid scenery, which was all the more agreeable to us after our long
voyage on the salt sea. There the breeze was fresh and cold; but here
it was delightfully mild, and when a puff blew off the land it came
laden with the most exquisite perfume that can be imagined. While we
thus gazed we were startled by a loud "Huzza!" from Peterkin, and on
looking towards the edge of the sea we saw him capering and jumping
about like a monkey, and ever and anon tugging with all his might at
something that lay upon the shore.

"What an odd fellow he is, to be sure!" said Jack, taking me by the arm
and hurrying forward. "Come, let us hasten to see what it is."

"Here it is, boys--hurrah! Come along! Just what we want!" cried
Peterkin as we drew near, still tugging with all his power.
"First-rate; just the very ticket!"

I need scarcely say to my readers that my companion Peterkin was in the
habit of using very remarkable and peculiar phrases. And I am free to
confess that I did not well understand the meaning of some of them--
such, for instance, as "the very ticket;" but I think it my duty to
recount everything relating to my adventures with a strict regard to
truthfulness in as far as my memory serves me, so I write, as nearly as
possible, the exact words that my companions spoke. I often asked
Peterkin to explain what he meant by "ticket," but he always answered me
by going into fits of laughter. However, by observing the occasions on
which he used it, I came to understand that it meant to show that
something was remarkably good or fortunate.

On coming up we found that Peterkin was vainly endeavouring to pull the
axe out of the oar into which, it will be remembered, Jack struck it
while endeavouring to cut away the cordage among which it had become
entangled at the bow of the ship. Fortunately for us, the axe had
remained fast in the oar, and even now all Peterkin's strength could not
draw it out of the cut.

"Ah, that is capital indeed!" cried Jack, at the same time giving the
axe a wrench that plucked it out of the tough wood. "How fortunate this
is! It will be of more value to us than a hundred knives, and the edge
is quite new and sh