We had two ways of walking together about our island.

When we travelled through the woods, we always did so in single file, as by this method we advanced with greater facility, the one treading in the other's footsteps.

In such cases Jack always took the lead, Peterkin followed, and I brought up the rear.

But when we travelled along the sands, which extended almost in an unbroken line of glistening white round the island, we marched abreast, as we found this method more sociable, and every way more pleasant.

Jack, being the tallest, walked next the sea, and Peterkin marched between us, as by this arrangement either of us could talk to him or he to us, while if Jack and I happened to wish to converse together, we could conveniently do so over Peterkin's head.