We did not, as was our wont, bathe that morning in our Water Garden,
but, in order to save time, refreshed ourselves in the shallow water
just opposite the bower. Our breakfast was also despatched without loss
of time, and in less than an hour afterwards all our preparations for
the journey were completed.
In addition to his ordinary dress, Jack tied a belt of cocoa-nut cloth
round his waist, into which he thrust the axe. I was also advised to
put on a belt and carry a short cudgel or bludgeon in it; for, as Jack
truly remarked, the sling would be of little use if we should chance to
come to close quarters with any wild animal. As for Peterkin,
notwithstanding that he carried such a long, and I must add, frightful-
looking spear over his shoulder, we could not prevail on him to leave
his club behind; "for," said he, "a spear at close quarters is not
worth a button." I must say that it seemed to me that the club was, to
use his own style of language, not worth a button-hole; for it was all
knotted over at the head, something like the club which I remember to
have observed in picture-books of Jack the Giant Killer, besides being
so heavy that he required to grasp it with both hands in order to wield
it at all. However, he took it with him, and in this manner we set out
upon our travels.
We did not consider it necessary to carry any food with us, as we knew
that wherever we went we should be certain to fall in with cocoa-nut
trees; having which we were amply supplied, as Peterkin said, with meat
and drink and pocket-handkerchiefs! I took the precaution, however, to
put the burning-glass into my pocket lest we should want fire.
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