ch,
as we stood embracing each other indiscriminately in our dripping
garments, and giving utterance to incoherent rhapsodies, mingled with
wild shouts. It can be more easily imagined than described; so I will
draw a curtain over this part of my history, and carry the reader
forward over an interval of three days.

During the greater part of that period Peterkin did nothing but roast
pigs, taro, and bread-fruit, and ply me with plantains, plums, potatoes,
and cocoa-nuts, while I related to him and Jack the terrible and
wonderful adventures I had gone through since we last met. After I had
finished the account, they made me go all over it again; and when I had
concluded the second recital I had to go over it again, while they
commented upon it piecemeal. They were much affected by what I told
them of the probable fate of Avatea, and Peterkin could by no means
brook the idea of the poor girl being converted into a _long pig_! As
for Jack, he clenched his teeth, and shook his fist towards the sea,
saying at the same time that he was sorry he had not broken Tararo's
head, and he only hoped that one day he should be able to plant his
knuckles on the bridge of that chief's nose! After they had `pumped me
dry,' as Peterkin said, I begged to be informed of what had happened to
them during my long absence, and particularly as to how they got out of
the Diamond Cave.

"Well, you must know," began Jack, "after you had dived out of the cave,
on the day you were taken away from us, we waited very patiently for
half-an-hour, not expecting you to return before the end of that time.
Then we began to upbraid you for staying so long when you knew we would
be anxious; but when an hour passed we became alarmed, and I resolved at
all hazards to dive out and see what had become of you, although I felt
for poor Peterkin, because, as he truly said, `If you never come back,
I'm shut up here for life.' However, I promised not to run any risk,
and he let me go--which, to say truth, I thought very courageous of
him!"

"I should just think it was," interrupted Peterkin, looking at Jack over
the edge of a monstrous potato which he happened to be devouring at the
time.

"Well," continued Jack, "you may guess my consternation when you did not
answer to my halloo. At first I imagined that the pirates must have
killed you, and left you in the bush or thrown you into the sea; then it
occurred to me that this would have served no end of theirs