Our encounter with the shark was the first great danger that had
befallen us since landing on this island, and we felt very seriously
affected by it, especially when we considered that we had so often
unwittingly incurred the same danger before while bathing. We were now
forced to take to fishing again in the shallow water, until we should
succeed in constructing a raft. What troubled us most, however, was,
that we were compelled to forego our morning swimming excursions. We
did, indeed, continue to enjoy our bathe in the shallow water, but Jack
and I found that one great source of our enjoyment was gone, when we
could no longer dive down among the beautiful coral groves at the
bottom of the lagoon. We had come to be so fond of this exercise, and
to take such an interest in watching the formations of coral and the
gambols of the many beautiful fish amongst the forest of red and green
seaweeds, that we had become quite familiar with the appearance of the
fish and the localities that they chiefly haunted. We had also become
expert divers. But we made it a rule never to stay long under water at
a time.
Jack told me that to do so often was bad for the lungs, and, instead of
affording us enjoyment, would ere long do us a serious injury. So we
never stayed at the bottom as long as we might have done, but came up
frequently to the top for fresh air, and dived down again immediately.
Sometimes, when Jack happened to be in a humorous frame, he would seat
himself at the bottom of the sea on one of the brain-corals, as if he
were seated on a large paddock-stool, and then make faces at me, in
order, if possible, to make me laugh under water.
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