They would not hear me when I protested that such a course would, from my point of view, be extremely unpleasant and undignified--even painful.
Every day we kept a good look-out for passing ships; and from twenty to forty catamarans were always stationed on the beach in readiness to take us out to sea should there be any hope of a rescue.

As my knowledge of English was at this time not very perfect, the girls took it upon themselves to improve me, and I made rapid progress under their vivacious tuition.

They would promptly correct me in the pronunciation of certain vowels when I read aloud from the only book I possessed--the Anglo-French Testament I have already mentioned.

They were, by the way, exceedingly interested in the records of my daily life, sensations, &c., which I had written in _blood_ in the margins of my little Bible whilst on the island in Timor Sea.

About this time I tried to make some ink, having quill pens in plenty from the bodies of the wild geese; but the experiment was a failure.
Both girls, as I have already hinted, had wonderful memories, and could recite numberless passages which they had learnt at school.