in the world are wrong ones
except your own. However, don't talk so much, and hand me the pork
before Jack finishes it. I feel myself entitled to at least one minute
morsel."

"Peterkin, you're a villain--a paltry little villain!" said Jack quietly
as he tossed the hind legs (including the tail) of a cold roast pig to
his comrade; "and I must again express my regret that unavoidable
circumstances have thrust your society upon me, and that necessity has
compelled me to cultivate your acquaintance. Were it not that you are
incapable of walking upon the water, I would order you, sir, out of the
canoe!"

"There! you've awakened Avatea with your long tongue," retorted
Peterkin, with a frown, as the girl gave vent to a deep sigh. "No," he
continued, "it was only a snore. Perchance she dreameth of her black
Apollo.--I say, Ralph, do leave just one little slice of that yam!
Between you and Jack I run a chance of being put on short allowance, if
not--yei-a-a-ow!"

Peterkin's concluding remark was a yawn of so great energy that Jack
recommended him to postpone the conclusion of his meal till next
morning--a piece of advice which he followed so quickly that I was
forcibly reminded of his remark, a few minutes before, in regard to the
sharp practice of Avatea.

My readers will have observed, probably, by this time, that I am much
given to meditation: they will not, therefore, be surprised to learn
that I fell into a deep reverie on the subject of sleep, which was
continued without intermission into the night, and prolonged without
interruption into the following morning. But I cannot feel assured that
I actually slept during that time, although I am tolerably certain that
I was not awake.

Thus we lay, like a shadow, on the still bosom of the ocean, while the
night closed in, and all around was calm, dark, and silent.

A thrilling cry of alarm from Peterkin startled us in the morning, just
as the grey dawn began to glimmer in the east.

"What's wrong?" cried Jack, starting up.

Peterkin replied by pointing, with a look of anxious dread, towards the
horizon; and a glance sufficed to show us that one of the largest-sized
war-canoes was approaching us!

With a groan of mingled despair and anger, Jack seized his paddle,
glanced at the compass, and in a suppressed voice commanded us to "Give
way!" But we did not require to be urged. Already our four paddles
were glancing in the water, and the canoe bounded over the g