In the window stood the great chest, at once a treasure-chamber and
a seat; and over it hung one of the most precious things of Star's
little world. It was a string of cocoanut-shells. Fifteen of them
there were, and each one was covered with curious and delicate
carving, and each one meant a whole year of a man's life. "For the
nuts was ripe when we kem ashore, my good mate Job Hotham and me,
on that island. So when the nuts was ripe agin, ye see, Jewel Bright,
we knowed 'twas a year since we kem. So I took my jack-knife and
carved this first shell, as a kind o' token, ye know, and not thinkin'
there'd be so many to carve." So the first shell was all covered with
ships: fair vessels, with sails all set, and smooth seas rippling
beneath them,--the ships that were even then on their way to rescue
the two castaways. And the second was carved with anchors, the sign
of hope, and with coils of rope, and nautical instruments, and things
familiar to seamen's eyes. But the third was carved with stars, and
sickle-curved moons, and broad-rayed suns, "Because, ye see, Peach
Blossom, arthly hope bein' as ye might say foundered, them things,
and what was above 'em, stayed where they was; and it stiddied a man's
mind to think on 'em, and to make a note on 'em as fur as might be.
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