appeared to us, of future islands. Thus, on this reef, we came to
perceive how most of the small islands of those seas are formed. On one
part we saw the spray of the breaker washing over the rocks, and millions
of little, active, busy creatures continuing the work of building up this
living rampart. At another place, which was just a little too high for
the waves to wash over it, the coral insects were all dead; for we found
that they never did their work above water. They had faithfully
completed the mighty work which their Creator had given them to do, and
they were now all dead. Again, in other spots the ceaseless lashing of
the sea had broken the dead coral in pieces, and cast it up in the form
of sand. Here sea-birds had alighted, little pieces of sea-weed and
stray bits of wood had been washed up, seeds of plants had been carried
by the wind and a few lovely blades of bright green had already sprung
up, which, when they died, would increase the size and fertility of these
emeralds of Ocean. At other places these islets had grown apace, and
were shaded by one or two cocoa-nut trees, which grew, literally, in the
sand, and were constantly washed by the ocean spray; yet, as I have
before remarked, their fruit was most refreshing and sweet to our taste.

Again at this time Jack and I pondered the formation of the large coral
islands. We could now understand how the low ones were formed, but the
larger islands cost us much consideration, yet we could arrive at no
certain conclusion on the subject.

Having satisfied our curiosity and enjoyed ourselves during the whole
day, in our little boat, we returned, somewhat wearied, and, withal,
rather hungry, to our bower.

"Now," said Jack, "as our boat answers so well, we will get a mast and
sail made immediately."

"So we will," cried Peterkin, as we all assisted to drag the boat above
high-water mark; "we'll light our candle and set about it this very
night. Hurrah, my boys, pull away!"

As we dragged our boat, we observed that she grated heavily on her keel;
and, as the sands were in this place mingled with broken coral rocks, we
saw portions of the wood being scraped off.

"Hallo!" cried Jack, on seeing this. "That won't do. Our keel will be
worn off in no time at this rate."

"So it will," said I, pondering deeply as to how this might be prevented.
But I am not of a mechanical turn, naturally, so I could conceive no
remedy save that of putting a plate o