ith a feeling of
dismay that I remembered I had left it in the ship. I was much troubled
about this. However, I consoled myself with reflecting that I could
keep the second part of my promise to her--namely, that I should never
omit to say my prayers. So I rose quietly lest I should disturb my
companions, who were still asleep, and stepped aside into the bushes for
this purpose.

On my return I found them still slumbering, so I again lay down to think
over our situation. Just at that moment I was attracted by the sight of
a very small parrot, which Jack afterwards told me was called a
paroquet. It was seated on a twig that overhung Peterkin's head, and I
was speedily lost in admiration of its bright-green plumage, which was
mingled with other gay colours. While I looked I observed that the bird
turned its head slowly from side to side and looked downwards, first
with the one eye and then with the other. On glancing downwards I
observed that Peterkin's mouth was wide open, and that this remarkable
bird was looking into it. Peterkin used to say that I had not an atom
of fun in my composition, and that I never could understand a joke. In
regard to the latter, perhaps he was right; yet I think that, when they
were explained to me, I understood jokes as well as most people. But in
regard to the former, he must certainly have been wrong, for this bird
seemed to me to be extremely funny; and I could not help thinking that
if it should happen to faint, or slip its foot, and fall off the twig
into Peterkin's mouth, he would perhaps think it funny too! Suddenly
the paroquet bent down its head and uttered a loud scream in his face.
This awoke him, and with a cry of surprise, he started up, while the
foolish bird flew precipitately away.

"Oh, you monster!" cried Peterkin, shaking his fist at the bird. Then
he yawned, and rubbed his eyes, and asked what o'clock it was.

I smiled at this question, and answered that, as our watches were at the
bottom of the sea, I could not tell, but it was a little past sunrise.

Peterkin now began to remember where we were. As he looked up into the
bright sky, and snuffed the scented air, his eyes glistened with
delight, and he uttered a faint "Hurrah!" and yawned again. Then he
gazed slowly round, till, observing the calm sea through an opening in
the bushes, he started suddenly up as if he had received an electric
shock, uttered a vehement shout, flung off his garments, and rushi