After I
had finished the account, they made me go all over it again; and when I
had concluded the second recital, I had to go over it again, while they
commented upon it piecemeal. They were much affected by what I told
them of the probable fate of Avatea, and Peterkin could by no means
brook the idea of the poor girl being converted into a _long pig_!
As for Jack, he clinched his teeth, and shook his fist towards the sea,
saying at the same time that he was sorry he had not broken Tararo's
head, and he only hoped that one day he should be able to plant his
knuckles on the bridge of that chiefs nose! After they had "pumped me
dry," as Peterkin said, I begged to be informed of what had happened to
them during my long absence, and particularly as to how they got out of
the Diamond Cave.
"Well, you must know," began Jack, "after you had dived out of the
cave, on the day you were taken away from us, we waited very patiently
for half-an-hour, not expecting you to return before the end of that
time. Then we began to upbraid you for staying so long, when you knew
we would be anxious; but when an hour passed, we became alarmed, and I
resolved at all hazards to dive out, and see what had become of you,
although I felt for poor Peterkin, because, as he truly said, 'If you
never come back I'm shut up here for life.' However, I promised not to
run any risk, and he let me go; which, to say truth, I thought very
courageous of him!"
"I should just think it was," interrupted Peterkin, looking at Jack
over the edge of a monstrous potato which he happened to be devouring
at the time.
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