oon after their eyes were aching with the
beauties of coast and lagoon.

"Oh, this is tiresome," cried the doctor; "fancy wasting our time
hunting for danger when there are such chances for collecting. Look at
those birds flying into that grove."

"Yes, and this glorious garden under us. It's so clear that the bottom
seems close enough to touch with the hand."

"Look at those fish too. Did you ever see such colours in the
sunshine?" cried the doctor.

"There goes a snake," said Jack, "quite a big one; and what's that long
shadowy-looking creature?"

"Small shark," said the doctor. "Take notice. Water's tempting for
bathing, but it won't do here. There's a shell! Why, Jack, that great
oyster must weigh a couple of hundred-weight!"

"What's that?" cried Jack. "Father's pointing to the shore. I see: a
lizard. No, it's too big; it must be a crocodile."

"Couldn't be in a bit of an island like this. It is, though. Ah, I
see, there's a little river runs up into the land. Look, it's one of
the valleys. I wonder the water's so clear. Comes over rocks, I
suppose."

"There he goes," cried Jack, for just then the great heavy saurian,
which had crawled out at daybreak to have a nap in the warm sun, divined
danger, shut its jaws with a loud snap, and rushed clumsily into the
water, giving its tail a flourish as it disappeared in a heavy swirl.

"I should have liked his head," said the doctor, "but he may keep it for
the present. We'll remember this place and come and look him up another
time."

"Is it true that their horny skulls can't be penetrated by a bullet?"
asked Jack.

"I should be sorry to trust to it if a man was taking aim at me with a
rifle, Jack. Oh no: I dare say if you shot at one and it hit the beast
at a very sharp angle it might glance off, but a fair straight shot
would go right through one of them. Look at that butterfly--or moth."

"There's something drinking--two somethings--four or five. What are
they?"

"Legs and loins of pork, all alive oh!" said the doctor merrily. "Dear
me! and we must not fire at them. What a pity! Look at that little
fellow. He's just the size for the larder."

"You mustn't speak so loud, doctor," cried Jack, laughing; "the pigs
hear what you are plotting against them."

"Seems like it. My word, how they can run!"

"And swim," cried Jack. "I did not see that fellow in the water."

For one had suddenly appeared from behind a rock about a dozen