"At first I could scarcely see anything as I gazed around me, it was so
dark; but gradually my eyes became accustomed to it, and I found that I
was in a huge cave, part of the walls of which I observed on each side
of me. The ceiling just above me was also visible, and I fancied that I
could perceive beautiful glittering objects there; but the farther end
of the cave was shrouded in darkness. While I was looking around me in
great wonder, it came into my head that you two would think I was
drowned; so I plunged down through the passage again in a great hurry,
rose to the surface, and--here I am!"
When Jack concluded his recital of what he had seen in this remarkable
cave, I could not rest satisfied till I had dived down to see it: which
I did, but found it so dark, as Jack had said, that I could scarcely
see anything. When I returned, we had a long conversation about it,
during which I observed that Peterkin had a most lugubrious expression
on his countenance.
"What's the matter, Peterkin?" said I.
"The matter?" he replied. "It's all very well for you two to be talking
away like mermaids about the wonders of this cave, but you know I must
be content to hear about it, while you are enjoying yourselves down
there like mad dolphins. It's really too bad."
"I'm very sorry for you, Peterkin, indeed I am," said Jack, "but we
cannot help you. If you would only learn to dive--"
"Learn to fly, you might as well say!" retorted Peterkin in a very
sulky tone.
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