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She had but little sail, for the wind was so strong, +that the canvas would have been split into pieces by the furious blasts +before which she was driven through the waves, which were very high, +and following her almost as fast as she darted through their boiling +waters; sometimes heaving up her stern and sinking her bows down so +deep into the hollow of the sea, that it appeared as if she would have +dived down underneath the waves; but she was a fine vessel, and the +captain was a good seaman, who did what he considered best for the +safety of his vessel, and then put his trust in that Providence who is +ever watchful over us. + +The captain stood before the wheel, watching the men who were steering +the ship; for when you are running before a heavy gale, it requires +great attention to the helm: and as he looked around him and up at the +heavens, he sang in a low voice the words of a sea song: + +"One wide water all around us, +All above us one black sky." + +And so it was with them;--they were in the middle of the Atlantic, not +another vessel to be seen, and the heavens were covered with black +clouds, which were borne along furiously by the gale; the sea ran +mountains high, and broke into large white foaming crests, while the +fierce wind howled through the rigging of the vessel. + +Besides the captain of the ship and the two men at the wheel, there +were two other personages on deck: one was a young lad about twelve +years old, and the other a weather-beaten old seaman, whose grisly +locks were streaming in the wind, as he paced aft and looked over the +taffrail of the vessel. + +The young lad, observing a heavy sea coming up to the stern of the +vessel, caught hold of the old man's arm, crying out - "Won't that +great wave come into us, Ready?" + +"No, Master William, it will not: don't you see how the ship lifts her +quarters to it?--and now it has passed underneath us. But it might +happen, and then what would become of you, if I did not hold on, and +hold you on also? You would be washed overboard." + +"I don't like the sea much, Ready; I wish we were safe on shore again," +replied the lad. "Don't the waves look as if they wished to beat the +ship all to pieces?" + +"Yes, they do; and they roar as if angry because they cannot bury the +vessel beneath them: but I am used to them, and with a good ship like +this, and a good captain and crew, I don't care for them." + +"But sometimes ships do sink, and then everybody is drowned." + +"Yes; and very often the very ships sink which those on board think are +most safe. We can only do our best, and after that we must submit to +the will of Heaven." + +"What little birds are those flying about so close to the water?" + +"Those are Mother Carey's chickens. You seldom see them except in a +storm, or when a storm is coming on." + +The birds which William referred to were the stormy petrels. + +"Were you ever shipwrecked on a desolate island like Robinson Crusoe?" + +"Yes, Master William, I have been shipwrecked; but I never heard of +Robinson Crusoe. So many have been wrecked and undergone great +hardships, and so many more have never lived to tell what they have +suffered, that it's not very likely that I should have known that one +man you speak of, out of so many." + +"Oh! but it's all in a book which I have read. I could tell you all +about it--and so I will when the ship is quiet again; but now I wish +you would help me down below, for I promised mamma not to stay up +long." + +"Then always keep your promise like a good lad," replied the old man; +"now give me your hand, and I'll answer for it that we will fetch the +hatchway without a tumble; and when the weather is fine again, I'll +tell you how I was wrecked, and you shall tell me all about Robinson +Crusoe." + +Having seen William safe to the cabin door, the old seaman returned to +the deck, for it was his watch. + +Masterman Ready, for such was his name, had been more than fifty years +at sea, having been bound apprentice to a collier which sailed from +South Shields, when he was only ten years old. His face was browned +from long exposure, and there were deep furrows on his cheeks, but he +was still a hale and active man. He had served many years on board of a +man-of-war, and had been in every climate: he had many strange stories +to tell, and he might be believed even when his stories were strange, +for he would not tell an untruth. He could navigate a vessel, and, of +course, he could read and write. The name of Ready was very well suited +to him, for he was seldom at a loss; and in cases of difficulty and +danger, the captain would not hesitate to ask his opinion, and +frequently take his advice. He was second mate of the vessel. + +The Pacific was, as we have observed, a very fine ship, and well able +to contend with the most violent storm. She was of more than four +hundred tons burthen, and was then making a passage out to New South +Wales, with a valuable cargo of English hardware, cutlery, and other +manufactures. The captain was a good navigator and seaman, and moreover +a good man, of a cheerful, happy disposition, always making the best of +everything, and when accidents did happen, always more inclined to +laugh than to look grave. His name was Osborn. The first mate, whose +name was Mackintosh, was a Scotsman, rough and ill-tempered, but paying +strict attention to his duty - a man that Captain Osborn could trust, +but whom he did not like. + +Ready we have already spoken of, and it will not be necessary to say +anything about the seamen on board, except that there were thirteen of +them, hardly a sufficient number to man so large a vessel; but just as +they were about to sail, five of the seamen, who did not like the +treatment they had received from Mackintosh, the first mate, had left +the ship, and Captain Osborn did not choose to wait until he could +obtain others in their stead. This proved unfortunate, as the events +which we shall hereafter relate will show. + + + +Chapter II + +Master William, whom we have introduced to the reader, was the eldest +boy of a family who were passengers on board, consisting of the father, +mother, and four children: his father was a Mr. Seagrave, a very +well-informed, clever man, who having for many years held an office +under government at Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, was now +returning from a leave of absence of three years. He had purchased from +the government several thousand acres of land; it had since risen very +much in value, and the sheep and cattle which he had put on it were +proving a source of great profit. His property had been well managed by +the person who had charge of it during his absence in England, and he +was now taking out with him a variety of articles of every description +for its improvement, and for his own use, such as furniture for his +house, implements of agriculture, seeds, plants, cattle, and many other +things too numerous to mention. + +Mrs. Seagrave was an amiable woman, but not in very strong health. The +family consisted of William, who was the eldest, a clever, steady boy, +but, at the same time, full of mirth and humour; Thomas, who was six +years old, a very thoughtless but good-tempered boy, full of mischief, +and always in a scrape; Caroline, a little girl of seven years; and +Albert, a fine strong little fellow, who was not one year old: he was +under the charge of a black girl, who had come from the Cape of Good +Hope to Sydney, and had followed Mrs. Seagrave to England. We have now +mentioned all the people on board of the Pacific: perhaps we ought not +to forget two shepherd's dogs, belonging to Mr. Seagrave, and a little +terrier, which was a great favourite of Captain Osborn, to whom she +belonged. + +It was not until the fourth day from its commencement that the gale +abated, and then it gradually subsided until it was nearly a calm. The +men who had been watching night after night during the gale now brought +all their clothes which had been drenched by the rain and spray, and +hung them up in the rigging to dry: the sails, also, which had been +furled, and had been saturated by the wet, were now loosened and spread +out that they might not be mildewed. The wind blew mild and soft, the +sea had gone down, and the ship was running through the water at the +speed of about four miles an hour. Mrs. Seagrave, wrapped up in a +cloak, was seated upon one of the arm-chests near the stern of the +ship, her husband and children were all with her enjoying the fine +weather, when Captain Osborn, who had been taking an observation of the +sun with his sextant, came up to them. + +"Well, Master Tommy, you are very glad that the gale is over?" + +"I didn't care," replied Tommy, "only I spilt all my soup. But Juno +tumbled off her chair, and rolled away with the baby, till papa picked +them both up." + +"It was a mercy that poor Albert was not killed," observed Mrs. +Seagrave. + +"And so he might have been, if Juno had not thought only of him and +nothing at all about herself," replied Mr. Seagrave. + +"That's very true, sir," replied Captain Osborn. "She saved the child, +and, I fear, hurt herself." + +"I thump my head very hard," said Juno, smiling. + +"Yes, and it's lucky that you have a good thick woolly coat over it," +replied Captain Osborn, laughing. + +"It is 12 o'clock by the sun, sir," said Mackintosh, the first mate, to +the captain. + +"Then bring me up the latitude, Mr. Mackintosh, while I work out the +longitude from the sights which I took this morning. In five minutes, +Mr. Seagrave, I shall be ready to prick off over our place on the +chart." + +"Here are the dogs come up on deck," said William; "I dare say they are +as glad of the fine weather as we are. Come here, Romulus! Here, Remus! +- Remus!" + +"Well, sir," said Ready, who was standing by them with his quadrant in +his hand, "I should like to ask you a question. Those dogs of yours +have two very odd names which I never heard before. Who were Romulus +and Remus?" + +"Romulus and Remus," replied Mr. Seagrave, "were the names of two +shepherds, brothers, who in ancient days founded the city of Rome, +which eventually became the largest and most celebrated empire in the +world. They were the first kings of Rome, and reigned together. History +says that Remus affronted Romulus by leaping over a wall he had raised, +and Romulus, in his anger, took away his life; but the history of early +days is not to be depended upon." + +"No, nor the brothers either, it appears," replied Ready; "however, it +is the old story - two of a trade can never agree. One sometimes hears +of Rome now - is that the same place?" + +"Yes," replied William, "it is the remains of the old city." + +"Well, one lives and learns," said Ready. "I have learnt something +to-day, which everyone will to the last day of his life, if he will +only ask questions. I'm an old man, and perhaps don't know much, except +in the seafaring way; but I should have known much less if I did not +ask for information, and was not ashamed to acknowledge my ignorance; +that's the way to learn, Master William." + +"Very good advice, Ready, - and, William, I hope you will profit by +it," said Mr. Seagrave; "never be ashamed to ask the meaning of what +you do not understand." + +"I always do, papa. Do I not ask you questions, Ready?" + +"Yes, you do, and very clever questions for a boy of your age; and I +only wish that I could answer them better than I can sometimes." + +"I should like to go down now, my dear," said Mrs. Seagrave; "perhaps +Ready will see the baby down safe." + +"That I will, ma'am," said Ready, putting his quadrant on the capstan: +"now, Juno, give me the child, and go down first; - backwards, you +stupid girl! how often do I tell you that? Some day or another you will +come down with a run." + +"And break my head," said Juno. + +"Yes, or break your arm; and then who is to hold the child?" + +As soon as they were all down in the cabin, the captain and Mr. +Seagrave marked the position of the vessel on the chart, and found that +they were one hundred and thirty miles from the Cape of Good Hope. + +"If the wind holds, we shall be in to-morrow," said Mr. Seagrave to his +wife. "Juno, perhaps you may see your father and mother." + +Poor Juno shook her head, and a tear or two stole down her dark cheek. +With a mournful face she told them, that her father and mother belonged +to a Dutch boor, who had gone with them many miles into the interior: +she had been parted from them when quite a little child, and had been +left at Cape Town. + + + +Chapter III + +The next morning the Pacific arrived at the Cape and anchored in Table +Bay. + +"Why do they call this Table Bay, Ready?" said William. + +"I suppose it's because they call that great mountain the Table +Mountain, Master William; you see how flat the mountain is on the top." + +"Yes, it is quite as flat as a table." + +"Yes, and sometimes you will see the white clouds rolling down over the +top of it in a very curious manner, and that the sailors call spreading +the tablecloth: it is a sign of bad weather." + +"Then I hope they will not spread the tablecloth while we are here, +Ready," said William, "for I shall certainly have no appetite. We have +had bad weather enough already, and mamma suffers so much from it. What +a pretty place it is!" + +"We shall remain here two days, sir," said Captain Osborn to Mr. +Seagrave, "if you and Mrs. Seagrave would like to go on shore." + +"I will go down and ask Mrs. Seagrave," said her husband, who went down +the ladder, followed by William. + +Upon the question being put to Mrs. Seagrave, she replied that she was +quite satisfied with the ship having no motion, and did not feel +herself equal to going on shore; it was therefore decided that she +should remain on board with the two younger children, and that, on the +following day, Mr. Seagrave should take William and Tommy to see Cape +Town, and return on board before night. + +The next morning, Captain Osborn lowered down one of the large boats, +and Mr. Seagrave, accompanied by Captain Osborn, went on shore with +William and Tommy. Tommy had promised his mamma to be very good; but +that he always did, and almost always forgot his promise directly he +was out of sight. As soon as they landed, they went up to a gentleman's +house, with whom Captain Osborn was acquainted. They stayed for a few +minutes to drink a glass of lemonade, for it was very warm; and then it +was proposed that they should go to the Company's Gardens and see the +wild beasts which were confined there, at which William was much +delighted, and Tommy clapped his hands with joy. + +"What are the Company's Gardens, papa?" inquired William. + +"They were made by the Dutch East India Company, at the time that the +Cape of Good Hope was in their possession. They are, properly speaking, +Botanical Gardens; but, at the same time, the wild animals are kept +there. Formerly there were a great many, but they have not been paid +attention to lately, for we have plenty of these animals in England +now." + +"What shall we see?" said Tommy. + +"You will see lions, Tommy, a great many in a large den together," said +Captain Osborn. + +"Oh! I want to see a lion." + +"You must not go too near them, recollect." + +"No, I won't," said Tommy. + +As soon as they entered the gates, Tommy escaped from Captain Osborn, +and ran away in his hurry to see the lions; but Captain Osborn caught +him again, and held him fast by the hand. + +"Here is a pair of very strange birds," said the gentleman who +accompanied them; "they are called Secretaries, on account of the +feathers which hang behind their heads, as the feather of a pen does +when a clerk puts it behind his ear: but they are very useful, for they +are snake-killers; indeed, they would, if they could, live altogether +upon snakes, which they are very great enemies to, never letting one +escape. They strike them with their feet, and with such force as to +kill them immediately." + +"Are there many snakes in this country?" inquired William. + +"Yes, and very venomous snakes," replied Mr. Seagrave; "so that these +birds are very useful in destroying them. You observe, William, that +the Almighty, in his wisdom, has so arranged it that no animal +(especially of a noxious kind) shall be multiplied to excess, but kept +under by being preyed upon by some other; indeed, wherever in any +country an animal exists in any quantity, there is generally found +another animal which destroys it. The Secretary inhabits this country +where snakes exist in numbers, that it may destroy them: in England the +bird would be of little value." + +"But some animals are too large or too fierce to be destroyed by +others, papa; for instance, the elephant and the lion." + +"Very true; but these larger animals do not breed so fast, and +therefore their numbers do not increase so rapidly. For instance, a +pair of elephants will not have more than one young one in the space of +two years or more; while the rabbits, which are preyed upon and the +food of so many other beasts as well as birds, would increase +enormously, if they were not destroyed. Examine through the whole of +creation, and you will find that there is an unerring hand, which +invariably preserves the balance exact; and that there are no more +mouths than for which food is provided, although accidental +circumstances may for a time occasion a slight alteration." + +They continued their walk until they came to the den of the lions. It +was a large place, in closed with a strong and high wall of stone, with +only one window to it for the visitors to look at them, as it was open +above. This window was wide, and with strong iron bars running from the +top to the bottom; but the width between the bars was such that a lion +could put his paw out with ease; and they were therefore cautioned not +to go too near. It was a fine sight to see eight or ten of these +noble-looking animals lying down in various attitudes, quite +indifferent apparently to the people outside--basking in the sun, and +slowly moving their tufted tails to and fro. William examined them at a +respectful distance from the bars; and so did Tommy, who had his mouth +open with astonishment, in which there was at first not a little fear +mixed, but he soon got bolder. The gentleman who had accompanied them, +and who had been long at the Cape, was relating to Mr. Seagrave and +Captain Osborn some very curious anecdotes about the lion. William and +they were so interested, that they did not perceive that Tommy had +slipped back to the grated window of the den. Tommy looked at the +lions, and then he wanted to make them move about: there was one fine +full-grown young lion, about three years old, who was lying down +nearest to the window; and Tommy took up a stone and threw it at him: +the lion appeared not to notice it, for he did not move, although he +fixed his eyes upon Tommy; so Tommy became more brave, and threw +another, and then another, approaching each time nearer to the bars of +the window. + +All of a sudden the lion gave a tremendous roar, and sprang at Tommy, +bounding against the iron bars of the cage with such force that, had +they not been very strong, it must have broken them. As it was, they +shook and rattled so that pieces of mortar fell from the stones. Tommy +shrieked; and, fortunately for himself, fell back and tumbled head over +heels, or the lion's paws would have reached him. Captain Osborn and +Mr. Seagrave ran up to Tommy, and picked him up: he roared with fright +as soon as he could fetch his breath, while the lion stood at the bars, +lashing his tail, snarling, and showing his enormous fangs. + +"Take me away--take me on board the ship!" cried Tommy, who was +terribly frightened. + +"What did you do, Tommy?" said Captain Osborn. + +"I won't throw any more stones, Mr. Lion; I won't indeed!" cried Tommy, +looking terrified towards the animal. + +Mr. Seagrave scolded Tommy well for his foolish conduct, and by degrees +he became more composed; but he did not recover himself until they had +walked some distance away from the lion's den. + +They then looked at the other animals which were to be seen, Tommy +keeping a most respectful distance from every one of them. He wouldn't +even go near to a Cape sheep with a broad tail. + +When they had seen everything, they went back to the gentleman's house +to dinner; and, after dinner, they returned on board. + + + +Chapter IV + +The following morning the fresh water and provisions were received on +board, and once more the Pacific stretched her broad canvas to the +winds, and there was every prospect of a rapid voyage, as for many days +she continued her passage with a fair wind and flowing sheet. But this +did not continue: it fell calm, and remained so for nearly three days, +during which not a breath of wind was to be seen on the wide expanse of +water; all nature appeared as if in repose, except that now and then an +albatross would drop down at some distance from the stern of the +vessel, and, as he swam lazily along with his wings half-furled, pick +up the fragments of food which had been thrown over the side. + +"What great bird is that, Ready?" inquired William. + +"It is an albatross, the largest sea-bird we have. Their wings are very +long. I have seen them shot, and they have measured eleven feet from +the tip of one wing to the tip of the other when the wings have been +spread out." + +"It is the first one that I have seen," said William. + +"Because you seldom meet them north of the Cape, sir: people do say +that they go to sleep on the wing, balancing themselves high up in the +air." + +"Papa," said William, turning to Mr. Seagrave, who stood by, "why is it +that one bird can swim and another cannot? You recollect when Tommy +drove the hens into the large pond, they flounced about, and their +feathers became wet, and would support them no longer, and then they +were drowned. Now, how does a sea-bird contrive to remain so long on +the water?" + +"Because a sea-bird, William, is provided with a sort of oil on purpose +to anoint the outside of its feathers, and this oil prevents the water +from penetrating them. Have you not observed the ducks on shore +dressing their feathers with their bills? They were then using this oil +to make their feathers waterproof." + +"How odd!" + +"Don't say how odd, William; that is not an expression to use when we +talk of the wonderful provisions made by the Almighty hand, who +neglects not the meanest of his creatures - say rather, how wonderful!" + +"That's very true, sir," observed Ready; "but still you must not be too +hard upon Master William, for I have heard many a grownup man make use +of the same expression." + +On the third day of the calm, the barometer fell so low as to induce +Captain Osborn to believe that they should have a severe gale, and +every preparation was made to meet it, should it come on. Nor was he +mistaken: towards midnight the clouds gathered up fast, and as they +gathered up in thick piles, heaped one over the other, the lightning +darted through them in every direction; and as the clouds rose up, so +did the wind, but at first only in heavy gusts, and then lulling again +to a calm. + +"Ready," said Captain Osborn, "how do you think we shall have the +wind?" + +"Why, Captain Osborn, to tell you the truth, I don't think it will be +steady to one point long. It may at first blow hard from the north, but +it's my idea it will shift soon to some other quarter, and blow still +harder." + +"What think you, Mackintosh?" + +"We'll have plenty of it, and a long steady gale, that's my notion; and +the sooner we ship the dead lights the better." + +Mr. Seagrave, with William, happened to be standing by at the time of +this conversation, and at the term dead lights Willie's face expressed +some anxiety. Ready perceived it, and said-- + +"That's a foolish name they give to the shutters which go over the +cabin windows to prevent the water from breaking into the cabin when a +vessel sails before the wind; you know we had them on the last time +that we had a gale." + +"But, Ready," said Captain Osborn, "why do you think that we shall have +a shift of wind?" + +"Well, I don't know; perhaps I was wrong," replied the old man, "and +Mr. Mackintosh is right: the wind does seem to come steady from the +north-east, that's certain;" and Ready walked away to the binnacle, and +looked at the compass. Mr. Seagrave and William then went below, and +Mr. Mackintosh went forward to give his orders. As soon as they were +all gone, Ready went up again to Captain Osborn and said: + +"Captain Osborn, it's not for me to contradict Mr. Mackintosh, but +that's of little consequence in a time like this: I should have held to +my opinion, had it not been that the gentleman passenger and his son +were standing by, but now, as the coast is clear, I tell you that we +shall have something worse than a gale of wind. I have been in these +latitudes before, and I am an old seaman, as you know. There's +something in the air, and there has been something during the last +three days of calm, which reminds me too well of what I have seen here +before; and I am sure that we shall have little better than a +hurricane, as far as wind goes - and worse in one point, that it will +last much longer than hurricanes generally do. I have been watching, +and even the birds tell me so, and they are told by their nature, which +is never mistaken. That calm has been nothing more than a repose of the +winds previous to their being roused up to do their worst; and that is +my real opinion?" + +"Well, and I'm inclined to agree with you, Ready; so we must send +topgallant yards down on deck, and all the small sails and lumber out +of the tops. Get the trysail aft and bent, and lower down the gaff. I +will go forward." + +Their preparations were hardly complete before the wind had settled to +a fierce gale from the north-east. The sea rose rapidly; topsail after +topsail was furled; and by dusk the Pacific was flying through the +water with the wind on her quarter, under reefed foresail and storm +staysail. It was with difficulty that three men at the wheel could keep +the helm, such were the blows which the vessel received from the heavy +seas on the quarter. Not one seaman in the ship took advantage of his +watch below to go to sleep that night, careless as they generally are; +the storm was too dreadful. About three o'clock in the morning the wind +suddenly subsided; it was but for a minute or two, and then it again +burst on the vessel from another quarter of the compass, as Ready had +foretold, splitting the foresail into fragments, which lashed and +flogged the wind till they were torn away by it, and carried far to +leeward. The heavens above were of a pitchy darkness, and the only +light was from the creaming foam of the sea on every side. The shift of +wind, which had been to the west-north-west, compelled them to alter +the course of the vessel, for they had no chance but to scud, as they +now did, under bare poles; but in consequence of the sea having taken +its run from the former wind, which had been north-east, it was, as +sailors call it, cross, and every minute the waves poured over the +ship, sweeping all before their weight of waters. One poor man was +washed overboard, and any attempt made to save him would have been +unavailing. Captain Osborn was standing by the weather gunnel, holding +on by one of the belaying-pins, when he said to Mackintosh: + +"How long will this last, think you?" + +"Longer than the ship will," replied the mate gravely. + +"I should hope not," replied the captain; "still it cannot look worse. +What do you think, Ready?" + +"Far more fear from above than from below just now," replied Ready, +pointing to the yard-arms of the ship, to each of which were little +balls of electric matter attached, flaring out to a point. "Look at +those two clouds, sir, rushing at each other; if I--" + +Ready had not time to finish what he would have said, before a blaze of +light, so dazzling that it left them all in utter darkness for some +seconds afterwards, burst upon their vision, accompanied with a peal of +thunder, at which the whole vessel trembled fore and aft. A crash - a +rushing forward - and a shriek were heard, and when they had recovered +their eyesight, the foremast had been rent by the lightning as if it +had been a lath, and the ship was in flames: the men at the wheel, +blinded by the lightning, as well as appalled, could not steer; the +ship broached to - away went the mainmast over the side - and all was +wreck, confusion, and dismay. + +Fortunately the heavy seas which poured over the forecastle soon +extinguished the flames, or they all must have perished; but the ship +lay now helpless, and at the mercy of the waves beating violently +against the wrecks of the masts which floated to leeward, but were +still held fast to the vessel by their rigging. As soon as they could +recover from the shock, Ready and the first mate hastened to the wheel +to try to get the ship before the wind; but this they could not do, as, +the foremast and mainmast being gone, the mizenmast prevented her +paying off and answering to the helm. Ready, having persuaded two of +the men to take the helm, made a sign to Mackintosh (for now the wind +was so loud that they could not hear each other speak), and, going aft, +they obtained axes, and cut away the mizen-rigging; the mizen-topmast +and head of the mizenmast went over the side, and then the stump of the +foremast was sufficient to get the ship before the wind again. Still +there was much delay and confusion, before they could clear away the +wreck of the masts; and, as soon as they could make inquiry, they found +that four of the men had been killed by the lightning and the fall of +the foremast, and there were now but eight remaining, besides Captain +Osborn and his two mates. + + + +Chapter V + +Sailors are never discouraged by danger as long as they have any chance +of relieving themselves by their own exertions. The loss of their +shipmates, so instantaneously summoned away, - the wrecked state of the +vessel, - the wild surges burying them beneath their angry waters, - +the howling of the wind, the dazzling of the lightning, and the pealing +of the thunder, did not prevent them from doing what their necessity +demanded. Mackintosh, the first mate, rallied the men, and contrived to +fix a block and strap to the still smoking stump of the foremast; a +rope was rove through the block, and the main-topgallant sail hoisted, +so that the vessel might run faster before the gale, and answer her +helm better than she did. + +The ship was again before the wind, and comparatively safe, +notwithstanding the heavy blows she now received from the pursuing +waves. Night again came on, but there was no repose, and the men were +worn out with exposure and fatigue. + +The third day of the gale dawned, but the appearances were as alarming +as ever: the continual breaking of the seas over the stern had washed +away the binnacles, and it was impossible now to be certain of the +course the ship had been steered, or the distance which had been run; +the leaky state of the vessel proved how much she had already suffered +from the violent shocks which she had received, and the certainty was +apparent, that if the weather did not abate, she could not possibly +withstand the force of the waves much longer. + +The countenance of Captain Osborn showed great anxiety: he had a heavy +responsibility on his shoulders - he might lose a valuable ship, and +still more valuable cargo, even if they did not all lose their lives; +for they were now approaching where the sea was studded with low coral +islands, upon which they might be thrown by the waves and wind, without +having the slightest power to prevent it in their present disabled +condition. + +Ready was standing by him when Captain Osborn said-- + +"I don't much like this, Ready; we are now running on danger and have +no help for it." + +"That's true enough," replied Ready: "we have no help for it; it is +God's will, sir, and His will be done." + +"Amen!" replied Captain Osborn solemnly; and then he continued, after a +pause, "There were many captains who envied me when I obtained command +of this fine ship, - would they change with me now?" + +"I should rather think not, Captain Osborn, but you never know what the +day may bring forth. You sailed with this vessel, full of hope - you +now, not without reason, feel something approaching to despair; but who +knows? it may please the Almighty to rebuke those angry winds and +waves, and to-morrow we may again hope for the best; at all events you +have done your duty - no man can do more." + +"You are right," replied Captain Osborn; "but hold hard, Ready, that +sea's aboard of us." + +Ready had just time to cling with both hands to the belaying-pins when +the sea poured over the vessel, with a volume of water which for some +time swept them off their legs: they clung on firmly, and at last +recovered their feet. + +"She started a timber or two with that blow, I rather think," said +Ready. + +"I'm afraid so; the best vessel ever built could not stand such shocks +long," replied Captain Osborn; "and at present, with our weak crew, I +do not see that we can get more sail upon her." + +All that night the ship flew in darkness before the gale. At daybreak +the wind abated, and the sea went down: the ship was, however, still +kept before the wind, for she had suffered too much to venture to put +her broadside to the sea. Preparations were now made for getting up +jury-masts; and the worn-out seamen were busily employed, under the +direction of Captain Osborn and his two mates, when Mr. Seagrave and +William came upon deck. + +William stared about him: he perceived, to his astonishment, that the +tall masts, with all their rigging and sails, had disappeared, and that +the whole deck was in a state of confusion and disorder. + +"See, my child," said Mr. Seagrave, "the wreck and devastation which +are here. See how the pride of man is humbled before the elements of +the great Jehovah." + +"Ay, Master Willy," said old Ready, "look around you, as you well may. +Do you remember the verses in the Bible? - if not, I remember them +well, for I have often read them, and have often felt the truth of +them: 'They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great +waters, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep'." + +"But, father," said Willy, after a pause, "how shall we ever get to +Sydney without masts or sails?" + +"Why, William," replied Ready, "we must do what we can: we sailors are +never much at a loss, and I dare say before night you will find us +under some sort of sail again. We have lost our great masts, so we must +put up jury-masts, as we call them; that is, little ones, and little +sails upon them; and, if it pleases God, we shall see Sydney yet. How +is Madam, sir?" continued Ready to Mr. Seagrave. "Is she better?" + +"I fear she is very weak and ill," replied Mr. Seagrave; "nothing but +fine weather will do her any good. Do you think that it will be fine +now?" + +"Why, sir, to tell you the truth, I fear we shall have more of it yet: +I have not given my thoughts to the captain, as I might be mistaken; +but still I think so - I've not been fifty years at sea without +learning something. I don't like the gathering of that bank there, Mr. +Seagrave, and I shouldn't wonder if it were to blow again from the very +same quarter, and that before dark." + +"God's will be done," replied Mr. Seagrave, "but I am very fearful +about my poor wife, who is worn to a shadow." + +"I shouldn't think so much about that, sir, as I really never knew of +people dying that way, although they suffer much. William, do you know +that we have lost some of our men since you were down below?" + +"No - I heard the steward say something outside about the foremast." + +"We have lost five of our smartest and best men - Wilson was washed +overboard, Fennings and Masters struck dead with the lightning, and +Jones and Emery crushed by the fall of the foremast. You are young, +Master Willy, but you cannot think too early of your Maker, or call to +mind what they say in the burial service, - 'In the midst of life we +are in death'." + +"Thank you, Ready, for the lesson you have given my son," said Mr. +Seagrave; "and, William, treasure it up in your memory." + +"Yes, William, they are the words of an old man who has seen many and +many a one who was full of youth and spirits called away before him, +and who is grateful to God that he has been pleased to preserve his +life, and allow him to amend his ways." + +"I have been thinking," said Mr. Seagrave, after a silence of a minute +or two, "that a sailor has no right to marry." + +"I've always thought so, sir," replied Ready; "and I dare say many a +poor deserted sailor's wife, when she has listened to the wind and rain +in her lonely bed, has thought the same." + +"With my permission," continued Mr. Seagrave, "my boys shall never go +to sea if there is any other profession to be found for them." + +"Well, Mr. Seagrave, they do say that it's no use baulking a lad if he +wishes to go to sea, and that if he is determined, he must go: now I +think otherwise - I think a parent has a right to say no, if he +pleases, upon that point; for you see, sir, a lad, at the early age at +which he goes to sea, does not know his own mind. Every high-spirited +boy wishes to go to sea - it's quite natural; but if the most of them +were to speak the truth, it is not that they so much want to go to sea, +as that they want to go from school or from home, where they are under +the control of their masters or their parents." + +"Very true, Ready; they wish to be, as they consider they will be, +independent." + +"And a pretty mistake they make of it, sir. Why, there is not a greater +slave in the world than a boy who goes to sea, for the first few years +after his shipping: for once they are corrected on shore, they are +punished ten times at sea, and they never again meet with the love and +affection they have left behind them. It is a hard life, and there have +been but few who have not bitterly repented it, and who would not have +returned, like the prodigal son, and cast themselves at their fathers' +feet, only that they have been ashamed." + +"That's the truth, Ready, and it is on that account that I consider +that a parent is justified in refusing his consent to his son going to +sea, if he can properly provide for him in any other profession. There +never will be any want of sailors, for there always will be plenty of +poor lads whose friends can do no better for them; and in that case the +seafaring life is a good one to choose, as it requires no other capital +for their advancement than activity and courage." + + + +Chapter VI + +Mr. Seagrave and William went down below into the cabin, where they +found that there was plenty of employment; the steward had brought a +basin of very hot pea-soup for the children. Tommy, who was sitting up +in the bed-place with his sister, had snatched it out of Juno's left +hand, for she held the baby with the other, and in so doing, had thrown +it over Caroline, who was screaming, while Juno, in her hurry to assist +Caroline, had slipped down on the deck with the baby, who was also +crying with fright, although not hurt. Unfortunately, Juno had fallen +down upon Vixen the terrier, who in return had bitten her in the leg, +which had made Juno also cry out; while Mrs. Seagrave was hanging her +head out of her standing bed-place, frightened out of her wits at the +accident, but unable to be of any assistance. Fortunately, Mr. Seagrave +came down just in time to pick up Juno and the baby, and then tried to +comfort little Caroline, who after all was not much scalded, as the +soup had had time to cool. + +"Massa Tommy is a very naughty boy," cried Juno, rubbing her leg. +Master Tommy thought it better to say nothing - he was duly admonished +- the steward cleaned up the mess, and order was at length restored. + +In the meantime, they were not idle upon deck; the carpenter was busy +fixing a step for one of the spare topmasts instead of a mainmast, and +the men were fitting the rigging; the ship unfortunately had sprung a +leak, and four hands at the pumps interfered very much with their task. +As Ready had prophesied, before night the gale blew, the sea rose again +with the gale, and the leaking of the vessel increased so much, that +all other labour was suspended for that at the pump. For two more days +did the storm continue, during which time the crew were worn out with +fatigue - they could pump no longer: the ship, as she rolled, proved +that she had a great deal of water in her hold - when, melancholy as +were their prospects already, a new disaster took place, which was +attended with most serious results. Captain Osborn was on the +forecastle giving some orders to the men, when the strap of the block +which hoisted up the main-topgallant yard on the stump of the foremast +gave way, the yard and sail came down on the deck, and struck him +senseless. As long as Captain Osborn commanded them, the sailors had so +high an opinion of his abilities as a seaman, and were so encouraged by +his cheerful disposition, that they performed their work well and +cheerfully; but now that he was, if not killed, at all events senseless +and incapable of action, they no longer felt themselves under control. +Mackintosh was too much disliked by the seamen to allow his words to +have any weight with them. They were regardless of his injunctions or +requests, and they now consulted among themselves. + +"The gale is broke, my men, and we shall have fine weather now," +observed Ready, going up to the sailors on the forecastle. "The wind is +going down fast." + +"Yes," replied one of the men, "and the ship is going down fast, that's +quite as certain." + +"A good spell at the pumps would do us some good now," replied Ready. +"What d'ye say, my lads?" + +"A glass of grog or two would do us more," replied the seaman. "What +d'ye say, my boys? I don't think that the captain would refuse us, poor +fellow, if he could speak." + +"What do you mean to do, my lads?" inquired Mackintosh: "not get drunk, +I hope?" + +"Why not?" observed another of the men; "the ship must go down soon." + +"Perhaps she may - I will not deny it," said Mackintosh; "but that is +no reason why we should not be saved: now, if you get drunk, there is +no chance of any one being saved, and my life is precious to me. I'm +ready to join with you in anything you please, and you may decide what +is to be done; but get drunk you shall not, if I can help it, that's +certain." + +"And how can you help it?" replied one of the seamen, surlily. + +"Because two resolute men can do a great deal - I may say three, for in +this instance Ready will be of my side, and I can call to my assistance +the cabin passenger - recollect the firearms are all in the cabin. But +why should we quarrel? - Say at once what you intend to do; and if you +have not made up your minds, will you listen to what I propose?" + +As Mackintosh's courage and determination were well known, the seamen +again consulted together, and then asked him what he proposed. + +"We have one good boat left, the new yawl at the booms: the others, as +you know, are washed away, with the exception of the little boat +astern, which is useless, as she is knocked almost to pieces. Now we +cannot be very far from some of the islands, indeed I think we are +among them now. Let us fit out the boat with everything we require, go +about our work steadily and quietly, drink as much grog as will not +hurt us, and take a good provision of it with us. The boat is complete +with her masts, sails, and oars; and it's very hard if we do not save +ourselves somewhere. Ready, do I give good advice or not?" + +"You give very good advice, Mackintosh - only what is to become of the +cabin passengers, the women, and children? and are you going to leave +poor Captain Osborn? or what do you mean to do?" + +"We won't leave the captain," said one of the seamen. + +"No - no!" exclaimed the others. + +"And the passengers?" + +"Very sorry for them," replied the former spokesman; "but we shall have +enough to do to save our own lives." + +"Well, my lads, I agree with you," said Mackintosh. "Charity begins at +home. What do you say I - shall it be so?" + +"Yes," replied the seamen, unanimously; and Ready knew that it was in +vain to expostulate. They now set about preparing the boat, and +providing for their wants. Biscuits, salt pork, two or three small +casks of water, and a barrel of rum were collected at the gangway; +Mackintosh brought up his quadrant and a compass, some muskets, powder +and shot; the carpenter, with the assistance of another man, cut away +the ship's bulwarks down to the gunnel, so as to enable them to launch +the boat overboard, for they could not, of course, hoist her out now +that the masts were gone. In an hour everything was prepared. A long +rope was made fast to the boat, which was brought to the gunnel ready +for launching overboard, and the ship's broadside was brought to the +wind. As this was done, Mr. Seagrave came on deck and looked around +him. + +He perceived the boat ready for launching, the provisions and water at +the gangway, the ship brought to the wind, and rolling slowly to the +heave of the sea; at last he saw Ready sitting down by Captain Osborn, +who was apparently dead. "What is all this, Ready?" inquired Seagrave. +"Are they going to leave the ship? have they killed Captain Osborn?" + +"No, sir, - not quite so bad as that. Poor Captain Osborn was struck +down by the fall of the yard, and has been insensible ever since; but, +as to the other matter, I fear that is decided: you see they are +launching the boat." + +"But my poor wife, she will never be able to go - she cannot move - she +is so ill!" + +"I'm afraid, Mr. Seagrave, that they have no idea of taking either you, +or your wife, or your children, with them." + +"What! leave us here to perish I Merciful Heaven! how cruel - how +barbarous!" + +"It is not kind, Mr. Seagrave, but still you see it is the law of +nature. When it is a question of life, it is every one for himself, for +life is sweet: they are not more unkind than they would be to each +other, if there were too many for the boat to hold. I've seen all this +before in my time," replied Ready, gravely. + +"My wife! my children!" cried Mr. Seagrave, covering his face with his +hands. "But I will speak to them," continued he after a pause; "surely +they will listen to the dictates of humanity; at all events Mr. +Mackintosh will have some power over them. Don't you think so, Ready?" + +"Well, Mr. Seagrave, if I must speak, I confess to you that there is +not a harder heart among them than that of Mr. Mackintosh, and it's +useless speaking to him or any one of them; and you must not be too +severe upon them neither: the boat is small, and could not hold more +people with the provisions which they take with them - that is the +fact. If they were to take you and your family into the boat, it might +be the cause of all perishing together; if I thought otherwise I would +try what I could do to persuade them, but it is useless." + +"What must be done, then, Ready?" + +"We must put our trust in a merciful God, Mr. Seagrave, who will +dispose of us as he thinks fit." + +"We must? What! do not you go with them?" + +"No, Mr. Seagrave. I have been thinking about it this last hour, and I +have made up my mind to remain with you. They intend to take poor +Captain Osborn with them, and give him a chance, and have offered to +take me; but I shall stay here." + +"To perish?" replied Mr. Seagrave, with surprise. + +"As God pleases, Mr. Seagrave I am an old man, and it is of little +consequence. I care little whether I am taken away a year or two +sooner, but I do not like to see blossoms cut off in early spring: I +may be of use if I remain, for I've an old head upon my shoulders, and +I could not leave you all to perish when you might be saved if you only +knew how to act. But here the seamen come - the boat is all ready, and +they will now take poor Captain Osborn with them." + +The sailors came aft, and lifted up the still insensible captain. As +they were going away one of them said, "Come, Ready, there's no time to +lose." + +"Never mind me, Williams; I shall stick to the ship," replied Ready. "I +wish you success with all my heart; and, Mr. Mackintosh, I have but one +promise to exact from you, and I hope you will not refuse me: which is, +that if you are saved, you will not forget those you leave here on +board, and take measures for their being searched for among the +islands." + +"Nonsense, Ready! come into the boat," replied the first mate. + +"I shall stay here, Mr. Mackintosh; and I only beg that you will +promise me what I ask. Acquaint Mr. Seagrave's friends with what has +happened, and where it is most likely we may be found, if it please God +to save us. Do you promise me that?" + +"Yes, I do, if you are determined to stay; but," continued he, going up +to Ready, and whispering to him, "it is madness:- come away, man!" + +"Good-bye, Mr. Mackintosh," replied Ready, extending his hand. "You +will keep your promise?" + +After much further expostulation on the part of Mackintosh and the +seamen, to which Ready gave a deaf ear, the boat was pushed off, and +they made sail to the north-east. + + + +Chapter VII + +For some time after the boat had shoved off from the ship, old Ready +remained with his arms folded, watching it in silence. Mr. Seagrave +stood by him; his heart was too full for utterance, for he imagined +that as the boat increased her distance from the vessel, so did every +ray of hope depart, and that his wife and children, himself, and the +old man who was by his side were doomed to perish. His countenance was +that of a man in utter despair. At last old Ready spoke. + +"They think that they will be saved and that we must perish, Mr. +Seagrave; they forget that there is a Power above, who will himself +decide that point - a power compared to which the efforts of weak man +are as nought." + +"True," replied Mr. Seagrave, in a low voice; "but still what chance we +can have on a sinking ship, with so many helpless creatures around us, +I confess I cannot imagine." + +"We must do our best, and submit to His will," replied Ready, who then +went aft, and shifted the helm, so as to put the ship again before the +wind. + +As the old man had foretold to the seamen before they quitted the +vessel, the gale was now over, and the sea had gone down considerably. +The ship, however, dragged but slowly through the water, and after a +short time Ready lashed the wheel, and went forward. On his return to +the quarter-deck, he found Mr. Seagrave had thrown himself down +(apparently in a state of despair) upon the sail on which Captain +Osborn had been laid after his accident. + +"Mr. Seagrave, do not give way," said Ready; "if I thought our +situation hopeless, I would candidly say so; but there always is hope, +even at the very worst, - and there always ought to be trust in that +God without whose knowledge not a sparrow falls to the ground. But, Mr. +Seagrave, I shall speak as a seaman, and tell you what our +probabilities are. The ship is half-full of water, from her seams +having opened by the straining in the gale, and the heavy blows which +she received; but, now that the gale has abated, she has recovered +herself very much. I have sounded the well, and find that she has not +made many inches within the last two hours, and probably, as she closes +her seams, will make less. If, therefore, it pleases God that the fine +weather should continue, there is no fear of the vessel sinking under +us for some time; and as we are now amongst the islands, it is not +impossible, nay, it is very probable, that we may be able to run her +ashore, and thins save our hives. I thought of all this when I refused +to go in the boat, and I thought also, Mr. Seagrave, that if you were +to have been deserted by me as well as by all the rest, you would have +been unable yourself to take advantage of any chances which might turn +up in your favour, and therefore I have remained, hoping, under God's +providence, to be the means of assisting you and your family in this +sore position. I think now it would be better that you should go down +into the cabin, and with a cheerful face encourage poor Mrs. Seagrave +with the change in the weather, and the hopes of arriving in some place +of safety. If she does not know that the men have quitted the ship, do +not tell her; say that the steward is with the other men, which will be +true enough, and, if possible, leave her in the dark as to what has +taken place. Master William can be trusted, and if you will send him +here to me, I will talk to him." + +"I hardly know what to think, Ready, or how sufficiently to thank you +for your self-devotion, if I may so term it, in this exigency. That +your advice is excellent and that I shall follow it, you may be +assured; and, should we be saved from the death which at present stares +us in the face, my gratitude--" + +"Do not speak of that, sir; I am an old man with few wants, and whose +life is of little use now. All I wish to feel is, that I am trying to +do my duty in that situation into which it has pleased God to call me. +What can this world offer to one who has roughed it all his life, and +who has neither kith nor kin that he knows of to care about his death?" + +Mr. Seagrave pressed the hand of Ready, and went down without making +any reply. He found that his wife had been asleep for the last hour, +and was not yet awake. The children were also quiet in their beds. Juno +and William were the only two who were sitting up. + +William made a sign to his father that his mother was asleep, and then +said in a whisper, "I did not like to leave the cabin while you were on +deck, hut the steward has not been here these two hours: he went to +milk the goat for baby and has not returned. We have had no breakfast, +none of us." + +"William, go on deck," replied his father; "Ready wishes to speak to +you." + +William went on deck to Ready, who explained to him the position in +which they were placed; he pointed out to him the necessity of his +doing all he could to assist his father and him, and not to alarm his +mother in her precarious state of health. William, who, as it may be +expected, looked very grave, did, however, immediately enter into +Ready's views, and proceeded to do his best. "The steward," said he, +"has left with the other men, and when my mother wakes she will ask why +the children have had no breakfast. What can I do?" + +"I think you can milk one of the goats if I show you how, while I go +and get the other things ready; I can leave the deck, for you see the +ship steers herself very nicely; - and, William, I have sounded the +well just before you came up, and I don't think she makes much water; +and," continued he, looking round him, and up above, "we shall have +fine weather, and a smooth sea before night." + +By the united exertions of Ready and William the breakfast was prepared +while Mrs. Seagrave still continued in a sound sleep. The motion of the +ship was now very little: she only rolled very slowly from one side to +the other; the sea and wind had gone down, and the sun shone brightly +over their heads; the boat had been out of sight some time, and the +ship did not go through the water faster than three miles an hour, for +she had no other sail upon her than the main-topgallant sail hoisted up +on the stump of the foremast. Ready, who had been some time down in the +cabin, proposed to Mr. Seagrave that Juno and all the children should +go on deck. "They cannot be expected to be quiet, sir; and, now that +Madam is in such a sweet sleep, it would be a pity to wake her. After +so much fatigue she may sheep for hours, and the longer the better, for +you know that (in a short time, I trust) she will have to exert +herself." Mr. Seagrave agreed to the good sense of this proposal, and +went on deck with Juno and the children, leaving William in the cabin +to watch his mother. Poor Juno was very much astonished when she came +up the ladder and perceived the condition of the vessel, and the +absence of the men; but Mr. Seagrave told her what had happened, and +cautioned her against saying a word to Mrs. Seagrave. Juno promised +that she would not; but the poor girl perceived the danger of their +position, and, as she pressed little Albert to her bosom, a tear or two +rolled down her cheeks. Even Tommy and Caroline could not help asking +where the masts and sails were, and what had become of Captain Osborn. + +"Look there, sir," said Ready, pointing out some floating sea-weed to +Mr. Seagrave. + +"I perceive it," said Mr. Seagrave; "but what then?" + +"That by itself would not be quite proof," replied Ready, "but we +sailors have other signs and tokens. Do you see those birds hovering +over the waves?" + +"I do." + +"Well, sir, those birds never go far from land, that's all: and now, +sir, I'll go down for my quadrant; for, although I cannot tell the +longitude just now, at all events I can find out the latitude we are +in, and then by looking at the chart shall be able to give some kind of +guess whereabout we are, if we see land soon. + +"It is nearly noon now," observed Ready, reading off his quadrant, "the +sun rises very slowly. What a happy thing a child is! Look, sir, at +those little creatures playing about, and as merry now, and as unaware +of danger, as if they were at home in their parlour. I often think, +sir, it is a great blessing for a child to be called away early; and +that it is selfish in parents to repine." + +"Perhaps it is," replied Mr. Seagrave, looking mournfully at his +children. + +"It's twelve o'clock, sir. I'll just go down and work the latitude, and +then I'll bring up the chart." + +Mr. Seagrave remained on deck. He was soon in deep and solemn thought; +nor was it to be wondered at - the ship a wreck and deserted - left +alone on the wide water with his wife and helpless family, with but one +to assist him: had that one deserted as well as the rest, what would +have been his position then? Utter helplessness! And now what had they +to expect? Their greatest hopes were to gain some island, and, if they +succeeded, perhaps a desert island, perhaps an island inhabited by +savages - to be murdered, or to perish miserably of hunger and thirst. +It was not until some time after these reflections had passed through +his mind, that Mr. Seagrave could recall himself to a sense of +thankfulness to the Almighty for having hitherto preserved them, or +could say with humility, "O Lord! thy will, not mine, be done." But, +having once succeeded in repressing his murmurs, he then felt that he +had courage and faith to undergo every trial which might be imposed +upon him. + +"Here is the chart, sir," said Ready, "and I have drawn a pencil line +through our latitude: you perceive that it passes through this cluster +of islands; and I think we must be among them, or very near. Now I must +put something on for dinner, and then look sharp out for the land. Will +you take a look round, Mr. Seagrave, especially a-head and on the +bows?" + +Ready went down to see what he could procure for dinner, as the seamen, +when they left the ship, had collected almost all which came first to +hand. He soon procured a piece of salt beef and some potatoes, which he +put into the saucepan, and then returned on deck. + +Mr. Seagrave was forward, looking over the bows, and Ready went there +to him. + +"Ready, I think I see something, but I can hardly tell what it is: it +appears to be in the air, and yet it is not clouds. Look there, where I +point my finger." + +"You're right, sir," replied Ready, "there is something; it is not the +land which you see, but it is the trees upon the land which are +refracted, as they call it, so as to appear, as you say, as if they +were in the air. That is an island, sir, depend upon it; but I will go +down and get my glass. + +"It is the land, Mr. Seagrave," said Ready, after examining it with his +glass - "yes, it is so," continued he, musing; "I wish that we had seen +it earlier; and yet we must be thankful." + +"Why so, Ready?" + +"Only, sir, as the ship forges so slowly through the water, I fear that +we shall not reach it before dark, and I should have wished to have had +daylight to have laid her nicely on it." + +"There is very little wind now." + +"Well, let us hope that there will be more," replied Ready; "if not, we +must do our best. But I must now go to the helm, for we must steer +right for the island; it would not do to pass it, for, Mr. Seagrave, +although the ship does not leak so much as she did, yet I must now tell +you that I do not think that she could be kept more than twenty-four +hours above water. I thought otherwise this morning when I sounded the +well; but when I went down in the hold for the beef, I perceived that +we were in more danger than I had any idea of; however, there is the +land, and every chance of escape; so let us thank the Lord for all his +mercies." + +"Amen!" replied Mr. Seagrave. + +Ready went to the helm and steered a course for the land, which was not +so far distant as he had imagined, for the island was very low: by +degrees the wind freshened up, and they went faster through the water; +and now, the trees, which had appeared as if in the air, joined on to +the land, and they could make out that it was a low coral island +covered with groves of cocoa-nuts. Occasionally Ready gave the helm up +to Mr. Seagrave, and went forward to examine. When they were within +three or four miles of it, Ready came back from the forecastle and +said, "I think I see my way pretty clear, sir: you see we are to the +windward of the island, and there is always deep water to the windward +of these sort of isles, and reefs and shoals to leeward; we must, +therefore, find some little cleft in the coral rock to dock her in, as +it were, or she may fall back into deep water after she has taken the +ground, for sometimes these islands run up like a wall, with forty or +fifty fathom of water close to the weather-sides of them; but I see a +spot where I think she may be put on shore with safety. You see those +three cocoa-nut trees close together on the beach? Now, sir, I cannot +well see them as I steer, so do you go forward, and if I am to steer +more to the right, put out your right hand, and if to the left, the +same with your left; and when the ship's head is as it ought to be, +then drop the hand which you have raised." + +"I understand, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave; who then went forward and +directed the steering of the vessel as they neared the island. When +they were within half a mile of it, the colour of the water changed, +very much to the satisfaction of Ready, who knew that the weather-side +of the island would not be so steep as was usually the case: still it +was an agitating moment as they ran on to beach. They were now within a +cable's length, and still the ship did not ground; a little nearer, and +there was a grating at her bottom - it was the breaking off of the +coral-trees which grew below like forests under water - again she +grated, and more harshly, then struck, and then again; at last she +struck violently, as the swell lifted her further on, and then remained +fast amid quiet. Ready let go the helm to ascertain the position of the +ship. He looked over the stern and around the ship, and found that she +was firmly fixed, fore and aft, upon a bed of coral rocks. + + + +Chapter VIII + +"All's well so far, sir," said Ready to Mr. Seagrave; "and now let us +return thanks to Heaven." + +As they rose to their feet again, after giving thanks to the Almighty, +William came up and said, "Father, my mother was awakened by the noise +under the ship's bottom, and is frightened - will you go down to her?" + +"What is the matter, my dear, - and where have you all been?" exclaimed +Mrs. Seagrave, when her husband went down below. "I have been so +frightened - I was in a sound sleep, and I was awakened with such a +dreadful noise." + +"Be composed, my dear," replied Mr. Seagrave; "we have been in great +danger, and are now, I trust, in safety. Tell me, are you not better +for your long sleep?" + +"Yes, much better - much stronger; but do tell me what has happened." + +"Much took place, dearest, before you went to sleep, which was +concealed from you; but now, as I expect we shall all go on shore in a +short time--" + +"Go on shore, my dear?" + +"Yes, on shore. Now be calm, and hear what has happened, and how much +we have reason to be grateful to Heaven." + +Mr. Seagrave then entered into a detail of all that had passed. Mrs. +Seagrave heard him without reply; and when he had finished, she threw +herself in his arms and wept bitterly. Mr. Seagrave remained with his +wife, using all his efforts to console her, until Juno reappeared with +the children, for it was now getting late; then he returned on deck. + +"Well, sir," said Ready, when Mr. Seagrave went up to him, "I have been +looking well about me, and I think that we have great reason to be +thankful. The ship is fast enough, and will not move until some violent +gales come on and break her up; but of that there is no fear at +present: the little wind that there is, is going down, and we shall +have a calm before morning." + +"I grant that there is no immediate danger, Ready; but how are we to +get on shore? - and, when on shore, how are we to exist?" + +"I have thought of that too, sir, and I must have your assistance, and +even that of Master William, to get the little boat on board to repair +her: her bottom is stove in, it is true, but I am carpenter enough for +that, and with some well-tarred canvas I can make her sufficiently +water-tight to land us all in safety. We must set to at daylight." + +"And when we get on shore?" + +"Why, Mr. Seagrave, where there are cocoa-nut trees in such plenty as +there are on that island, there is no fear of starvation, even if we +had not the ship's provisions. I expect a little difficulty with regard +to water, for the island is low and small; but we cannot expect to find +everything exactly as we wish." + +"I am thankful to the Almighty for our preservation, Ready; but still +there are feelings which I cannot get over. Here we are cast away upon +a desolate island, which perhaps no ship may ever come near, so that +there is little chance of our being taken off. It is a melancholy and +cruel fate, Ready, and that you must acknowledge." + +"Mr. Seagrave, as an old man compared to you, I may venture to say that +you are ungrateful to Heaven to give way to these repinings. What is +said in the book of Job? `Shall we receive good of the Lord, and shall +we not receive evil?' Besides, who knows whether good may not proceed +from what appears evil? I beg your pardon, Mr. Seagrave, I hope I have +not offended you; but, indeed, sir, I felt that it was my duty to speak +as I have done." + +"You have reproved me very just]y, Ready; and I thank you for it," +replied Mr. Seagrave; "I will repine no more, but make the best of it." + +"And trust in God, sir, who, if he thinks fit, will restore you once +more to your friends, and increase tenfold your flocks and herds." + +"That quotation becomes very apt, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave, +smiling, "considering that all my prospects are in flocks and herds +upon my land in New South Wales. I must put myself under your orders; +for, in our present position, you are my superior - knowledge is power. +Can we do anything to-night?" + +"I can do a little, Mr. Seagrave; but you cannot assist me till +tomorrow morning, except indeed to help me to drag these two spars aft; +and then I can rig a pair of sheers, and have them all ready for +hoisting up to-morrow morning to get the boat in. You see, with so +little strength on board, and no masts, we shall be obliged to +contrive." + +Mr. Seagrave assisted Ready in getting the two spars aft, and laid on +the spot which was required. "There now, Mr. Seagrave, you may go down +below. William had better let loose the two dogs, and give them a +little victuals, for we have quite forgot them, poor things. I shall +keep watch to-night, for I have plenty to do, and plenty to think of; +so, good-night, sir." + +Ready remained on deck, lashing the heads of the spars, and fixing his +tackles ready for the morrow. When all was done, he sat down upon one +of the hen-coops aft, and remained in deep thought. At last, tired with +watching and exertion, the old man fell asleep. He was awakened at +daylight by the dogs, who had been set at liberty, and who, after +walking about the ship and finding nobody, had then gone to sleep at +the cabin door. At daybreak they had roused up, and going on deck had +found old Ready asleep on the hen-coop, and were licking his face in +their joy at having discovered him. "Ay," said the old man, as he got +off the hen-coop, "you'll all three be useful, if I mistake not, by and +by. Down, Vixen, down - poor creature, you've lost a good master, I'm +afraid." + +"Stop - now let me see," said Ready, talking to himself; "first - but +I'll get the log board and a bit of chalk, and write them down, for my +memory is not quite so good as it was." + +Ready placed the logboard on the hen-coop, and then wrote on it with +the chalk:-- "Three dogs, two goats, and Billy the kid (I think there's +five pigs); fowls (quite enough); three or four pigeons (I'm sure); the +cow (she has lain down and won't get up again, I'm afraid, so we must +kill her); and there's the merino ram and sheep belonging to Mr. +Seagrave - plenty of live stock. Now, what's the first things we must +get on shore after we are all landed - a spar and topgallant sail for a +tent, a coil or two of rope, a mattress or two for Madam and the +children, two axes, hammer and nails, something to eat - yes, and +something to cut it with. There, that will do for the present," said +old Ready, getting up. "Now, I'll just light the fire, get the water +on, and, while I think of it, boil two or three pieces of beef and pork +to go on shore with them; and then I'll call up Mr. Seagrave, for I +reckon it will be a hard day's work." + + + +Chapter IX + +As soon as Ready had executed his intentions, and had fed the animals, +he went to the cabin and called Mr. Seagrave and William. With their +assistance the sheers were raised, and secured in their place; the boat +was then hooked on, but, as one person was required to bear it clear of +the davits and taffrail, they could not hoist it in. + +"Master William, will you run down to Juno, and tell her to come on +deck to assist us - we must all work now?" + +William soon returned with Juno, who was a strong girl; and, with her +assistance, they succeeded in getting the boat in. + +The boat was turned over, and Ready commenced his work; while Mr. +Seagrave, at his request, put the pitch-pot on the galley fire, all +ready for pitching the canvas when it was nailed on. It was not till +dinner-time that Ready, who had worked hard, could patch up the boat; +he then payed the canvas and the seams which he had caulked with pitch +both inside and out. + +"I think we shall do now, sir," said Ready; "we'll drag her to the +gangway and launch her. It's fortunate for us that they did clear away +the gunnel, as we shall have no trouble." + +A rope was made fast to the boat, to hold her to the ship: she was then +launched over the gunnel by the united exertions of Mr. Seagrave and +Ready, and to their great satisfaction she appeared to leak very +little. + +"Now, sir," said Ready, "what shall we do first - take some things on +shore, or some of the children?" + +"What do you say, Ready?" + +"I think as the water is as smooth as glass, and we can land anywhere, +you and I had better go first to reconnoitre, - it is not two hundred +yards to the beach, and we shall lose but little time." + +"Very well, Ready, I will first run down and tell my wife." + +"And, in the meanwhile, I'll put the sail into the boat, and one or two +other things." + +Ready put the sail in, an axe, a musket, and some cord; then they both +got into the boat and pulled on shore. + +When they landed, they found that they could see nothing of the +interior of the island, the cocoa-nut groves were so thick; but to +their right they perceived, at about a quarter of a mile off, a small +sandy cove, with brushwood growing in front of the cocoa-nut trees. + +"That," said Ready, pointing to it, "must be our location. Let us get +into the boat again and pull to it." + +In a few minutes they arrived at the cove; the water was shallow, and +as clear as crystal. Beneath the boat's bottom they could see beautiful +shells, and the fish darting about in every direction. + +The sand extended about forty yards from the water, and then commenced +the brushwood, which ran back about forty yards further, intermingled +with single cocoa-nut trees, until it joined the cocoa-nut grove. They +pulled the boat in and landed. + +"What a lovely spot this is!" exclaimed Mr. Seagrave; "and perhaps +mortal man has never yet visited it till now: those cocoa-nuts have +borne their fruit year after year, have died, and others have sprung up +in their stead; and here has this spot remained, perhaps for centuries, +all ready for man to live in, and to enjoy whenever he should come to +it." + +"Providence is bountiful, Mr. Seagrave," replied Ready, "and supplies +our wants when we least expect it. If you please we will walk a little +way into the wood: take the gun as a precaution, sir; not that there +appears to be much occasion for it - there is seldom anything wild on +these small islands, except a pig or two has been put on shore by +considerate Christians." + +"Well, now that we are in the grove, Ready, what do you think?" + +"I was looking for a place to fix a tent up for the present, sir, and I +think that on that little rise would be a very good place till we can +look about us and do better; but we have no time now, sir, for we have +plenty of trips to make before nightfall. If you please, we'll haul the +sail and other articles on to the beach, and then return on board." + +As they were pulling the boat back, Ready said, "I've been thinking +about what is best, Mr. Seagrave. Would Mrs. Seagrave mind your leaving +her? - if not, I should say we should have Juno and William on shore +first, as they can be of use." + +"I do not think that she will mind being left on board with William and +the children, provided that I return for her when she is to come on +shore herself with the baby." + +"Well then, let William remain on board, if you please, sir. I'll land +you and Juno, Tommy, and the dogs, this time, for they will be a +protection in case of accidents. You and Juno can be doing something +while I return by myself for the other articles we shall require." + +As soon as they arrived on board, Mr. Seagrave went down to cheer his +wife with the account of what they had seen. While he was down below, +Ready had cast off the lashings of the two spars which had formed the +sheers, and dragging them forward, had launched them over the gunnel, +with lines fast to them, ready for towing on shore. In a few minutes +Juno and Tommy made their appearance on deck; Ready put some tools into +the boat, and a couple of shovels, which he brought up when he went for +the dogs, and once more they landed at the sandy cove. Tommy stared +about him a great deal, but did not speak, until he saw the shells +lying on the beach, when he screamed with delight, and began to pick +them up as fast as he could; the dogs barked and galloped about, +overjoyed at being once more on shore; and Juno smiled as she looked +around her, saying to Ready, "What a nice place!" + +"Now, Mr. Seagrave, I'll remain on shore with you a little. First, +we'll load the musket in case of need, and then you can put it out of +the way of Tommy, who fingers everything, I observe. We will take up +the sail between us. Juno, you can carry the tools; and then we can +come back again for the spars, and the rope, and the other things. +Come, Tommy, you can carry a shovel at all events, and that will make +you of some use." + +Having taken all these things to the little knoll which Ready had +pointed out before, they returned for the spars; and in two trips they +had carried everything there, Tommy with the second shovel on his +shoulder, and very proud to be employed. + +"Here are two trees which will answer our purpose pretty well," said +Ready, "as they are far enough apart: we must lash the spars up to +them, and then throw the sail over, and bring it down to the ground at +both ends; that will be a beginning, at all events; and I will bring +some more canvas on shore, to set up the other tent between these other +trees, and also to shut up the two ends of both of them; then we shall +have a shelter for Madam, and Juno, and the younger children, and +another for William, Tommy, and ourselves. Now, sir, I'll just help you +to lash the spars, and then I'll leave you to finish while I go on +board again." + +"But how can we reach so high, Ready?" + +"Why, sir, we can manage that by first lashing a spar as high as we can +conveniently reach, and then standing on that while we lash the other +in its proper place. I shall bring another spar on shore, that we may +do the same when we set up the other tent." + +Having by this plan succeeded in lashing the spar high enough, and +throwing the sail over the spar, Ready and Mr. Seagrave spread it out, +and found that it made a very good-sized tent. + +"Now, sir, I'll return on board; in the meantime, if you can cut pegs +from the brush wood to fasten the sail down to the ground, and then +with the shovel cover the bottom of it with sand to keep it down, it +will be close enough when it is all finished." + +"I shall do very well," replied Mr. Seagrave; "Juno can help me to pull +the canvas out tight when I am ready." + +"Yes; and in the meantime, Juno, take a shovel, and level the inside of +the tent nice and smooth, and throw out all those old cocoa-nut leaves, +and look if you see any vermin lurking among them. Master Tommy, you +must not run away; and you must not touch the axes, they will cut you +if you do. It may be as well to say, Mr. Seagrave, that should anything +happen, and you require my assistance, you had better fire off the gun, +and I will come on shore to you immediately." + + + +Chapter X + +When Ready returned on board, he first went down into the cabin to +acquaint Mrs. Seagrave and William with what they had done. Mrs. +Seagrave naturally felt anxious about her husband being on shore alone, +and Ready informed her that they had agreed that if anything should +occur Mr. Seagrave would fire the musket. He then went down into the +sail-room to get some canvas, a new topgallant sail which was there, +and a palm and needles with twine. Scarcely had he got them out, and at +the foot of the ladder, when the report of the musket was heard, and +Mrs. Seagrave rushed out of the cabin in the greatest alarm; Ready +seized another musket, jumped into the boat, and pulled on shore as +fast as he could. On his arrival, quite out of breath, for as he pulled +on shore he had his back towards it, and could see nothing, he found +Mr. Seagrave and Juno busy with the tent, and Tommy sitting on the +ground crying very lustily. It appeared that, while Mr Seagrave and +Juno were employed, Tommy had crept away to where the musket was placed +up on end against a cocoa-nut tree, and, after pulling it about some +little while, had touched the trigger. The musket went off; and, as the +muzzle was pointed upwards, the charge had brought down two large +cocoa-nuts. Mr. Seagrave, who was aware what an alarm this would +produce on board the vessel, had been scolding him soundly, and now +Master Tommy was crying, to prove how very penitent he was. + +"I had better return on board immediately, sir, and tell Mrs. +Seagrave," said Ready. + +"Do, pray," replir. Seagrave. + +Ready then returned to the ship, and explained matters, and then +recommenced his labour. + +Having put into the boat the sailmaker's bag, with palm and needles, +two mattresses, and blankets from the captain's state room, the +saucepan with the beef and pork, and a spar which he towed astern, +Ready found that he had as much as he could carry; but, as there was +nobody but himself in it, he came on shore very well. Having, with the +assistance of Mr. Seagrave and Juno, got all the things up to the +knoll, Ready lashed the spar up for the second tent, and then leaving +them to fix it up like the other, he returned again on board. He made +two other trips to the ship, bringing with him more bedding, a bag of +ship's biscuits, another of potatoes, plates, knives and forks, spoons, +frying-pans and other cooking utensils, and a variety of other +articles. He then showed Juno how to fill up the ends of the first tent +with the canvas and sails he had brought on shore, so as to inclose it +all round; Juno took the needle and twine, and worked very well. Ready, +satisfied that she would be able to get on without them, now said: "Mr. +Seagrave, we have but two hours more daylight, and it is right that +Mrs. Seagrave should come on shore now; so, if you please, we'll go off +and fetch her and the children. I think we shall be able to do very +well for the first night; and if it pleases God to give us fine +weather, we may do a great deal more to-morrow." + +As soon as they arrived on board, Mr. Seagrave went down to his wife to +propose her going on shore. She was much agitated, and very weak from +her illness, but she behaved courageously notwithstanding, and, +supported by her husband, gained the deck, William following with the +baby, and his little sister Caroline carried by Ready. With some +difficulty they were all at last placed in the boat and shoved off; but +Mrs. Seagrave was so ill, that her husband was obliged to support her +in his arms, and William took an oar. They landed very safely, and +carried Mrs. Seagrave up to the tent, and laid her down on one of the +mattresses. She asked for a little water. + +"And I have forgotten to bring any with me: well, I am a stupid old +man; but I'll go on board directly," said Ready: "to think that I +should be so busy in bringing other things on shore and forget the +greatest necessary in life! The fact is, I intended to look for it on +the island as soon as I could, as it would save a great deal of +trouble." + +Ready returned on board as fast as he could, and brought on shore two +kegs of fresh water, which he and William rolled up to the tent. + +Juno had completely finished her task, and Mrs. Seagrave having drank +some water, declared that she was much better. + +"I shall not return on board any more to-night," said Ready, "I feel +tired - very tired indeed." + +"You must be," replied Mr. Seagrave; "do not think of doing any more." + +"And I haven't touched food this day, or even quenched my thirst," +replied Ready, sitting down. + +"You are ill, are you not, Ready?" said William. + +"A little faint, William; I'm not so young as I was. Could you give me +a little water?" + +"Stop, William, I will," said Mr. Seagrave, taking up a tin can which +had been filled for his wife: "here, Ready, drink this." + +"I shall be better soon, sir; I'll just lie down a little, and then +I'll have a biscuit and a little meat." + +Poor old Ready was indeed quite tired out; but he ate something, and +felt much revived. Juno was very busy; she had given the children some +of the salt meat and biscuit to eat. The baby, and Tommy, and Caroline +had been put to bed, and the second tent was nearly ready. + +"It will do very well for to-night, Juno," said Mr. Seagrave; "we have +done work enough for this day." + +"Yes, sir," replied Ready, "and I think we ought to thank God for his +mercies to us before we go to sleep." + +"You remind me of my duty, Ready; let us thank him for his goodness, +and pray to him for his protection before we go to sleep." + +Mr. Seagrave then offered up a prayer of thankfulness; and they all +retired to rest. + + + +Chapter XI + +Mr. Seagrave was the first who awoke and rose from his bed on the +ensuing morning. He stepped out of the tent, and looked around him. The +sky was clear and brilliant. A light breeze ruffled o'er the surface of +the water, and the tiny waves rippled one after another upon the white +sand of the cove. To the left of the cove the land rose, forming small +hills, behind which appeared the continuation of the cocoa-nut groves. +To the right, a low ridge of coral rocks rose almost as a wall from the +sea, and joined the herbage and brushwood at about a hundred paces, +while the wreck of the Pacific, lying like some huge stranded monster, +formed the prominent feature in the landscape. The sun was powerful +where its beams could penetrate; but where Mr. Seagrave stood, the +cocoa-nuts waved their feathery leaves to the wind, and offered an +impervious shade. A feeling of the extreme beauty of the scene, subdued +by the melancholy created by the sight of the wrecked vessel, pervaded +the mind of Mr. Seagrave as he meditated over it. + +"Yes," thought he, "if, tired with the world and its anxieties, I had +sought an abode of peace and beauty, it would have been on a spot like +this. How lovely is the scene! - what calm - what content - what a +sweet sadness does it create! How mercifully have we been preserved +when all hope appeared to be gone; and how bountifully have we been +provided for, now that we have been saved, - and yet I have dared to +repine, when I ought to be full of gratitude! May God forgive me! Wife, +children, all safe, nothing to regret but a few worldly goods and a +seclusion from the world for a time - yes, but for how long a time - +What! rebellious still! - for the time that it shall please God in his +wisdom to ordain." Mr. Seagrave turned back to his tent. William, +Tommy, and old Ready still remained fast asleep. "Excellent old man!" +thought Mr. Seagrave. "What a heart of oak is hid under that rugged +bark! - Had it not been for his devotion where might I and all those +dear helpless creatures have been now?" + +The dogs, who had crept into the tent and laid themselves down upon the +mattresses by the side of William and Tommy, now fawned upon Mr. +Seagrave. William woke up with their whining, and having received a +caution from his father not to wake Ready, he dressed himself and came +out. + +"Had I not better call Juno, father?" said William; "I think I can, +without waking mamma, if she is asleep." + +"Then do, if you can, my boy; and I will see what cooking utensils +Ready has brought on shore." + +William soon returned to his father, stating that his mother was in a +sound sleep, and that Juno had got up without waking her or the two +children. + +"Well, we'll see if we cannot get some breakfast ready for them, +William. Those dry cocoa-nut leaves will make an excellent fire." + +"But, father, how are we to light the fire? we have no tinder-box or +matches." + +"No; but there are other ways, William, although, in most of them, +tinder is necessary. The savages can produce fire by rubbing a soft +piece of wood against a hard one. But we have gunpowder; and we have +two ways of igniting gunpowder - one is by a flint and steel, and the +other is by collecting the sun's rays into one focus by a +magnifying-glass." + +"But, father, when we have lighted the fire, what have we to cook? we +have no tea or coffee." + +"No, I do not think we have," replied Mr. Seagrave. + +"But we have potatoes, father." + +"Yes, William, but don't you think it would be better if we made our +breakfast off the cold beef and pork and ship's biscuit for once, and +not use the potatoes? we may want them all to plant, you know. But why +should we not go on board of the ship ourselves? you can pull an oar +pretty well, and we must all learn to work now, and not leave +everything for poor old Ready to do. Come, William." + +Mr. Seagrave then went down to the cove; the little boat was lying on +the beach, just lifted by the rippling waves; they pushed her off, and +got into her. "I know where the steward kept the tea and coffee, +father," said William, as they pulled on board; "mamma would like some +for breakfast, I'm sure, and I'll milk the goats for baby." + +Although they were neither of them very handy at the oar, they were +soon alongside of the ship; and, having made the boat fast, they +climbed on board. + +William first went down to the cabin for the tea and coffee, and then +left his father to collect other things while he went to milk the +goats, which he did in a tin pan. He then poured the milk into a +bottle, which he had washed out, that it might not be spilt, and went +back to his father. + +"I have filled these two baskets full of a great many things, William, +which will be very acceptable to your mamma. What else shall we take?" + +"Let us take the telescope, at all events, father; and let us take a +whole quantity of clothes - they will please mamma: the clean ones are +all in the drawers - we can bring them up in a sheet; and then, father, +let us bring some of the books on shore; and I'm sure mamma will long +for her Bible and prayer-book; - here they are." + +"You are a good boy, William," replied Mr. Seagrave. "I will now take +those things up to the boat, and then return for the rest." + +In a short time everything was put into the boat, and they pulled on +shore again. They found Juno, who had been washing herself, waiting for +them at the cove, to assist to take up the things. + +"Well, Juno, how do you find yourself this morning?" + +"Quite well, massa," said Juno: and then pointing to the clear water, +she said, "Plenty fish here." + +"Yes, if we only had lines," replied Mr. Seagrave. "I think Ready has +both hooks and lines somewhere. Come, Juno, take up this bundle of +linen to your tent: we can manage all the rest." + +When they arrived at the tent they found that every one was awake +except Ready, who appeared still to sleep very sound. Mrs. Seagrave had +passed a very good night, and felt herself much refreshed. William made +some touch-paper, which he lighted with one of the glasses from the +telescope, and they soon had a good fire. Mr. Seagrave went to the +beach, and procured three large stones to rest the saucepan on; and in +half an hour the water was boiling and the tea made. + + +Chapter XII + +Juno had taken the children down to the cove, and, walking out into the +water up to her knees, had dipped them in all over, as the shortest way +of washing them, and had then dressed them and left them with their +mother, while she assisted William to get the cups and saucers and +plates for breakfast. Everything was laid out nice and tidy between the +two tents, and then William proposed that he should awaken Ready. + +"Yes, my boy, you may as well now - he will want his breakfast." + +William went and pushed Ready on the shoulder. "Ready, have you had +sleep enough?" said William, as the old man sat up. + +"Yes, William. I have had a good nap, I expect; and now I will get up, +and see what I can get for breakfast for you all." + +"Do," replied William, laughing. + +Ready was soon dressed, for he had only taken off his jacket when he +lay down. He put it on, and came out of the tent; when, to his +astonishment, he found the whole party (Mrs. Seagrave having come out +with the children) standing round the breakfast, which was spread on +the ground. + +"Good-morning, Ready!" said Mrs. Seagrave, extending her hand. Mr. +Seagrave also shook hands with him. + +"You have had a good long sleep, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave, "and I +would not waken you after your fatigue of yesterday." + +"I thank you, sir; and I am glad to see that Madam is so well: and I am +not sorry to see that you can do so well without me," continued Ready, +smiling. + +"Indeed, but we cannot, I'm afraid," replied Mrs. Seagrave; "had it not +been for you and your kindness, where should we have been now?" + +"We can get a breakfast ready without you," said Mr. Seagrave; "but +without you, I think we never should have required another breakfast by +this time. But we will tell Ready all we have done while we eat our +breakfast: now, my dear, if you please." Mrs. Seagrave then read a +chapter from the Bible, and afterwards they all knelt down while Mr. +Seagrave offered up a prayer. + +While they were at breakfast, William told Ready how they had gone on +board, and what they had brought on shore, and he also mentioned how +Juno had dipped all the children in the sea. + +"But Juno must not do that again," replied Ready, "until I have made +all safe; you know that there are plenty of sharks about these islands, +and it is very dangerous to go into the water." + +"Oh, what an escape they have had!" cried Mrs. Seagrave, shuddering. + +"It's very true," continued Ready; "but they don't keep so much to the +windward of the islands where we are at present; but still that smooth +cove is a very likely place for them to come into; so it's just as well +not to go in again, Juno, until I have time to make a place for you to +bathe in in safety. As soon as we can get as much as we want from the +ship, we must decide whether we shall stay here or not." + +"Stay here or not, Ready! - what do you mean?" + +"Why, we have not yet found any water, and that is the first necessary +of life - if there is no water on this side of the island, we must +pitch our tents somewhere else." + +"That's very true," replied Mr. Seagrave; "I wish we could find time to +explore a little." + +"So we can, sir; but we must not lose this fine weather to get a few +things from the ship. We had better go now. You and William can remain +on board to collect the things, and I will land them on the beach for +Juno to bring up." + +The whole day was spent in landing every variety of article which they +thought could be useful. All the small sails, cordage, twine, canvas, +small casks, saws, chisels, and large nails. and elm and oak plank, +were brought on shore before dinner. After they had taken a hearty +dinner, the cabin tables and chairs, all their clothes, some boxes of +candles, two bags of coffee, two of rice, two more of biscuits, several +pieces of beef and pork and bags of flour, some more water, the +grindstone, and Mrs. Seagrave's medicine-chest were landed. When Ready +came off again, he said, "Our poor boat is getting very leaky, and will +not take much more on shore without being repaired; and Juno has not +been able to get half the things up - they are too heavy for one +person. I think we shall do pretty well now, Mr. Seagrave; and we had +better, before it is dark, get all the animals on shore. I don't much +like to trust them to swim on shore, but they are awkward things in a +boat. We'll try a pig, at all events; and while I get one up, do you +and William tie the legs of the fowls, and put them into the boat; as +for the cow, she cannot be brought on shore, she is still lying down, +and, I expect, won't get up again any more; however, I have given her +plenty of hay, and if she don't rise, why I will kill her, and we can +salt her down." + +Ready went below, and the squealing of the pig was soon heard; he came +on deck with it hanging over his back by the hind legs, and threw it +into the sea over the gunnel: the pig floundered at first; but after a +few seconds, turned its head away from the ship and swam for the shore. + +"He goes ashore straight enough," said Ready, who, with Mr. Seagrave +and William, was watching the animal; but a minute afterwards, Ready +exclaimed: + +"I thought as much - we've lost him!" + +"How?" replied Mr. Seagrave. + +"D'ye see that black thing above water pushing so fast to the animal? - +that's the back fin of a shark, and he will have the poor thing - +there, he's got him!" said Ready, as the pig disappeared under the +water with a heavy splash. "Well, he's gone; better the pig than your +little children, Mr. Seagrave." + +"Yes, indeed, God be praised! - that monster might have been close to +them at the time that Juno took them into the water." + +"He was not far off; I reckon," replied Ready. "We'll go down now and +tie the legs of the other four pigs, and bring them up; with what's +already in the boat they will be a good load." + +As soon as the pigs were in the boat, Ready sculled it on shore, while +Mr. Seagrave and William brought up the goats and sheep ready for the +next trip. Ready soon returned. "Now this will be our last trip for +to-day, and, if I am any judge of the weather, our last trip for some +days; it is banking up very thick in the offing. This trip we'll be +able to put into the boat a bag of corn for the creatures, in case we +require it, and then we may say good-bye to the ship for a day or two +at least." + +They then all got into the boat, which was very deeply laden, for the +corn was heavy, but they got safe on shore, although they leaked very +much. Having landed the goats and sheep, William led them up to the +tent, where they remained very quietly; the pigs had run away, and so +had the fowls. + +"That's what I call a good day's work, Mr. Seagrave," said Ready; "the +little boat has done its duty well; but we must not venture in her +again until I have put her into a little better condition." + +They were not at all sorry, after their hard day's work, to find that +Juno had prepared coffee for them; and while they were drinking it, +they narrated to Mrs. Seagrave the tragically death of the poor pig by +the shark. Poor Juno appeared quite frightened at the danger which the +children had been in, even now that it was all over. + +"We shall have plenty to do here to-morrow," observed Mr. Seagrave, "in +getting things into their places." + +"We shall have plenty to do for some time, I expect," replied Ready. +"In two months, or thereabouts, we shall have the rainy season come on, +and we must be under cover before that time, if we possibly can." + +"What's the first thing we must do, Ready?" inquired Mr. Seagrave. + +"To-morrow we had better fix up another tent or two, to stow away all +the articles we have brought on shore: that will be one good day's +work; we shall then know where to lay our hands upon everything, and +see what we want." + +"That's very true; and what shall we do then?" + +"Why then, sir, I think we must make a little expedition to explore the +island, and find out where we must build our house." + +"Can we build a house?" said William. + +"Oh, yes, sir, and with more ease than you would think. There's no tree +so valuable as the cocoa-nut tree; and the wood is so light that we can +easily move it about." + +"Why, what are the great merits of the cocoa-nut tree?" said Mrs. +Seagrave. + +"I'll tell you, madam: in the first place, you have the wood to build +the house with; then you have the bark with which you can make ropes +and lines, and fishing-nets if you please; then you have the leaves for +thatching your house; then you have the fruit, which, as a nut, is good +to eat, and very useful in cooking; and in the young nut is the milk, +which is also very wholesome; then you have the oil to burn, and the +shell to make cups of, if you haven't any, and then you can draw toddy +from the tree, which is very pleasant to drink when fresh, but will +make you tipsy if it is kept too long. There is no tree which yields so +many useful things to man, for it supplies him with almost everything." + +"At all events, we've plenty of them," said William. + +"Yes, William, there's no want of them; and I am glad of it, for had +there been but few, I should not have liked to destroy them. People +might be wrecked here, as well as ourselves, and without the good +fortune that we have had in getting so many necessaries on shore; and +they might be obliged to depend wholly upon the cocoa-nut trees for +their support." + + + +Chapter XIII + +When breakfast was over the next morning, Ready observed, "Now, Mr. +Seagrave, we must hold a council of war, and decide upon an exploring +party for to-morrow; and, when we have settled that, we will find some +useful way of employing ourselves for the rest of the day. The first +question is, of whom is the party to consist? - and upon that I wish to +hear your opinion." + +"Why, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave, "it appears to me that you and I +should go." + +"Surely not both of you, my dear," interrupted Mrs. Seagrave. "You can +do without my husband, can you not, Ready?" + +"I certainly should have liked to have Mr. Seagrave to advise with, +ma'am," replied Ready; "but still I have thought upon it, and do not +think that William would be quite sufficient protection for you; or, at +all events, you would not feel that he was, which is much the same +thing; and so, if Mr. Seagrave has no objection, it would perhaps be +better that he remained with you." + +"Would you go alone, then, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave. + +"No, sir, I do not think that would be right either, - some accident +might happen; there is no saying what might happen, although there is +every appearance of safety. I should like, therefore, to have some one +with me; the question is, whether it be William or Juno?" + +"Take me," said Tommy. + +"Take you, Tommy!" said Ready, laughing; "then I must take Juno to take +care of you. No; I think they cannot spare you. Your mamma will want +you when we are gone; you are so useful in gathering wood for the fire, +and taking care of your little sister and brother, that your mother +cannot part with you; so I must have either Juno or William." + +"And which would you prefer, Ready?" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"William, certainly, ma'am, if you will let him go with me, as you +could ill spare the girl." + +"Indeed, I do not like it; I would rather lose Juno for a time," +replied Mrs. Seagrave. + +"My dear wife," said Mr. Seagrave, "recollect how Providence has +preserved us in such awful dangers - how we are landed in safety. And +now, will you not put trust in that Providence, when the dangers are, +as I trust, only imaginary?" + +"I was wrong, my dear husband; but sickness and suffering have made me, +I fear, not only nervous and frightened, but selfish: I must and will +shake it off. Hitherto I have only been a clog and an incumbrance to +you; but I trust I shall soon behave better, and make myself useful. If +you think, then, that it would be better that you should go instead of +William, I am quite content. Go, then, with Ready, and may Heaven +protect you both!" + +"No, ma'am," replied Ready, "William will do just as well. Indeed, I +would go by myself with pleasure; but we know not what the day may +bring forth. I might be taken ill - I might hurt myself - I am an old +man, you know; and then I was thinking that if any accident was to +happen to me, you might miss me - that's all." + +"Pardon me," replied Mrs Seagrave; "a mother is foolish at times." + +"Over-anxious, ma'am, perhaps, but not foolish," replied Ready. + +"Well, then, William shall go with you, Ready; - that point's settled," +observed Mr. Seagrave: "what is the next?" + +"The next is to prepare for our journey. We must take some provisions +and water with us, a gun and some ammunition, a large axe for me, and +one of the hatchets for William; and, if you please, Romulus and Remus +had better come with us. Juno, put a piece of beef and a piece of pork +into the pot. William, will you fill four quart bottles with water, +while I sew up a knapsack out of canvas for each of us?" + +"And what shall I do, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave. + +"Why, sir, if you will sharpen the axe and the hatchet on the +grindstone, it would be of great service, and Tommy can turn it, he is +so fond of work." + +Tommy jumped up directly; he was quite strong enough to turn the +grindstone, but he was much fonder of play than work; but as Ready had +said that he was fond of it, he wished to prove that such was the case, +and worked very hard. Before they went to prayers and retired for the +night, the axe was sharpened, the knapsacks made, and everything else +ready. + +"When do you intend to start, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave. + +"Why, sir, I should like to get off at the dawn of day, when the heat +is not so great." + +"And when do you intend to come back?" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Why, madam, we have provisions enough for three days: if we start +to-morrow morning, which is Wednesday, I hope to be back some time on +Friday evening; but I won't be later than Saturday morning if I can +help it." + +"Good-night - and good-bye, mother," said William, "for I shall not see +you to-morrow!" + +"God bless and protect you, my dear child!" replied Mrs. Seagrave. +"Take care of him, Ready, and good-bye to you till we meet." + +Mrs. Seagrave went into the tent to hide the tears which she could not +suppress. + + + +Chapter XIV + +Ready was up before the sun had appeared, and he awakened William. The +knapsacks had been already packed, with two bottles of water in each, +wrapped round with cocoa-nut leaves, to prevent their breaking, and the +beef and pork divided between each knapsack. Ready's, which was larger +than William's, held the biscuit and several other things which Ready +had prepared in case they might require them. + +As soon as the knapsacks were on, Ready took the axe and gun, and asked +William if he thought he could carry a small spade on his shoulder, +which they had brought on shore along with the shovels. William replied +that he could; and the dogs, who appeared to know they were going, were +all ready standing by them. Then, just as the sun rose, they turned +into the cocoa-nut grove, and were soon out of sight of the tents. + +"Now, William, do you know," said Ready, stopping after they had walked +twenty yards, "by what means we may find our way back again; for you +see this forest of trees is rather puzzling, and there is no path to +guide us?" + +"No, I am sure I cannot tell; I was thinking of the very same thing +when you spoke; and of Tom Thumb, who strewed peas to find his way +back, but could not do it, because the birds picked them all up." + +"Well, Tom Thumb did not manage well, and we must try to do better; we +must do as the Americans always do in their woods, - we must blaze the +trees." + +"Blaze them! what, set fire to them?" replied William. + +"No, no, William. Blaze is a term they use when they cut a slice of the +bark off the trunk of a tree, just with one blow of a sharp axe, as a +mark to find their way back again. They do not blaze every tree, but +about every tenth tree as they go along, first one to the right, and +then one to the left, which is quite sufficient; and it is very little +trouble, - they do it as they walk along, without stopping. So now +we'll begin: you take the other side, it will be more handy for you to +have your hatchet in your right hand; I can use my left. See now - just +a slice off the bark - the weight of the axe does it almost." + +"What an excellent plan!" observed William. + +"But I have another friend in my pocket," replied Ready, "and I must +use him soon." + +"What is that?" + +"Poor Captain Osborn's pocket-compass. You see, William, the blazing +will direct us how to go back again; but it will not tell us what +course we are now to steer. At present, I know we are going right, as I +can see through the wood behind us; but by and by we shall not be able, +and then I must make use of the compass." + +"I understand that very well; but tell me, Ready, why do you bring the +spade with us - what will be the use of it? You did not say yesterday +that you were going to bring me." + +"No, William, I did not, as I did not like to make your mother anxious; +but the fact is, I am very anxious myself as to whether there is any +water on this island; if there is not, we shall have to quit it sooner +or later, for although we may get water by digging in the sand, it +would be too brackish to use for any time, and would make us all ill. +Very often there will be water if you dig for it, although it does not +show above-ground; and therefore I brought the spade." + +"You think of everything, Ready." + +"No, I do not, William; but, in our present situation, I think of more +things than perhaps your father and mother would: they have never known +what it is to be put to their shifts; but a man like me, who has been +all his life at sea, and who has been wrecked, and suffered hardships +and difficulties, and has been obliged to think or die, has a greater +knowledge, not only from his own sufferings, but by hearing how others +have acted when they were in distress. Necessity sharpens a man's wits; +and it is very curious what people do contrive when they are compelled +to do so, especially seamen." + +"And where are we going to now, Ready?" + +"Right to the leeward side of the island." + +"Why do you call it the leeward side of the island?" + +"Because among these islands the winds almost always blow one way; we +landed on the windward side; the wind is at our back; now put up your +finger, and you will feel it even among the trees." + +"No, I cannot," replied William, as he held up his finger. + +"Then wet your finger, and try again." + +William wet his finger, and held it up again. "Yes, I feel it now," +said he; "but why is that?" + +"Because the wind blows against the wet, and you feel the cold." + +As Ready said this the dogs growled, then started forward and barked. + +"What can be there?" cried William. + +"Stand still, William," replied Ready, cocking his gun, "and I will go +forward to see." Ready advanced cautiously with the gun to his hip. The +dogs barked more furiously; and at last, out of a heap of cocoa-nut +leaves collected together, burst all the pigs which had been brought on +shore, grunting and galloping away as fast as they could, with the dogs +in pursuit of them. + +"It's only the pigs," said Ready, smiling; "I never thought I should be +half-frightened by a tame pig. Here, Romulus! here, Remus! come back!" +continued Ready, calling to the dogs. "Well, William, this is our first +adventure." + +"I hope we shall not meet with any one more dangerous," replied +William, laughing; "but I must say that I was alarmed." + +"No wonder; for, although not likely, it is possible there may be wild +animals on this island, or even savages; but being alarmed is one +thing, and being afraid is another: a man may be alarmed, and stand his +ground; but a man that is afraid will run away." + +"I do not think I shall ever run away and leave you, Ready, if there is +danger." + +"I'm sure you will not; but still you must not be rash; and now we will +go on again, as soon as I have uncocked my gun. I have seen more +accidents happen from people cocking their guns, and forgetting to +uncock them afterwards, than you can have any idea of. Recollect, also, +until you want to fire, never cock your gun." + +Ready and William continued their way through the cocoa-nut grove for +more than an hour longer, marking the trees as they went along; they +then sat down to take their breakfast. + +"Don't give the dogs any water, William, nor any of the salt meat; give +them biscuit only." + +"But they are very thirsty; may not I give them a little?" + +"No: we shall want it all ourselves, in the first place; and, in the +next, I wish them to be thirsty. And, William, take my advice, and only +drink a small quantity of water at a time. The more you drink, the more +you want." + +"Then I should not eat so much salt meat." + +"Very true; the less you eat the better, unless we find water, and fill +our bottles again." + +"But we have our axes, and can always cut down a cocoa-nut, and get the +milk from the young nuts." + +"Very true; and fortunate it is that we have that to resort to; but +still we could not do very well on cocoa-nut milk alone, even if it +were to be procured all the year round. Now we will go on if you do not +feel tired." + +"Not in the least; I am tired of seeing nothing but the stems of +cocoa-nut trees, and shall be glad when we are through the wood." + +"Then the faster we walk the better," said Ready; "as far as I can +judge, we must be about half-way across now." + +Ready and William recommenced their journey; and, after half-an-hour's +walking, they found that the ground was not so level as it had been - +sometimes they went gradually up hill, at others down. + +"I am very glad to find the island is not so flat here; we have a +better chance of finding water." + +"It is much steeper before us," replied William; "it's quite a hill." + +The ground now became more undulating, although still covered with +cocoa-nut trees, even thicker together than before. They continued +their march, occasionally looking at the compass, until William showed +symptoms of weariness, for the wood had become more difficult to get +through than at first. + +"How many miles do you think we have walked, Ready?" said Willy. + +"About eight, I should think." + +"Not more than eight?" + +"No; I do not think that we have made more than two miles an hour: it's +slow work, travelling by compass and marking the trees; but I think the +wood looks lighter before us, now that we are at the top of this hill." + +"It does, Ready; I fancy I can see the blue sky again." + +"Your eyes are younger than mine, William, and perhaps you may - +however, we shall soon find out." + +They now descended into a small hollow, and then went up hill again. As +soon as they arrived at the top, William cried out, "The sea, Ready! +there's the sea!" + +"Very true, William, and I'm not sorry for it." + +"I thought we never should get out of that nasty wood again," said +William, as he impatiently pushed on, and at last stood clear of the +cocoa-nut grove. Ready soon joined him, and they surveyed the scene +before them in silence. + + + +Chapter XV + +"Oh! how beautiful!" exclaimed William, at last; "I'm sure mamma would +like to live here. I thought the other side of the island very pretty, +but it's nothing compared to this." + +"It is very beautiful," replied Ready, thoughtfully. + +A more lovely scene could scarcely be imagined. The cocoa-nut grove +terminated about a quarter of a mile from the beach, very abruptly, for +there was a rapid descent for about thirty feet from where they stood +to the land below, on which was a mixture of little grass knolls and +brushwood, to about fifty yards from the water's edge, where it was met +with dazzling white sand, occasionally divided by narrow ridges of rock +which ran inland. The water was a deep blue, except where it was broken +into white foam on the reefs, which extended for miles from the beach, +and the rocks of which now and then showed themselves above water. On +the rocks were perched crowds of gannets and men-of-war birds, while +others wheeled in the air, every now and then darting down into the +blue sea, and bringing up in their bills a fish out of the shoals which +rippled the water, or bounded clear of it in their gambols. The form of +the coast was that of a horse-shoe bay - two points of land covered +with shrubs extending far out on each side. The line of the horizon, +far out at sea, was clear and unbroken. + +Ready remained for some time without speaking; he scanned the horizon +right and left, and then he turned his eyes along the land. At last +William said: + +"What are you thinking of, Ready?" + +"Why, I am thinking that we must look for water as fast as we can." + +"But why are you so anxious?" + +"Because I can see no island to leeward of us as I expected, and +therefore there is less chance of getting off this island; and this +bay, although very beautiful, is full of reefs, and I see no inlet, +which makes it awkward for many reasons. But we cannot judge at first +sight. Let us now sit down and take our dinner, and after that we will +explore a little." + +Ready cut two wide marks in the stems of the cocoa-nut trees, and then +descended with William to the low ground, where they sat down to eat +their dinner. As soon as their meal was finished they first walked down +to the water's edge, and Ready turned his eyes inland to see if he +could discover any little ravine or hollow which might be likely to +contain fresh water. "There are one or two places there," observed +Ready, pointing to them with his finger, "where the water has run down +in the rainy season: we must examine them carefully, but not now. I +want to find out whether there is any means of getting our little boat +through this reef of rocks, or otherwise we shall have very hard work +(if we change our abode to this spot) to bring all our stores through +that wood; so we will pass the rest of this day in examining the coast, +and to-morrow we will try for fresh water." + +"Look at the dogs, Ready, they are drinking the sea-water, poor +things!" + +"They won't drink much of that, I expect; you see they don't like it +already." + +"How beautiful the corals are - look here, they grow like little trees +under the water, - and look here, here is really a flower in bloom +growing on that rock just below the water." + +"Put your finger to it, Master William," said Ready. + +William did so, and the flower, as he called it, immediately shut up. + +"Why, it's flesh, and alive!" + +"Yes, it is; I have often seen them before: they call them sea-anemones +- they are animals; but I don't know whether they are shell-fish or +not. Now, let us walk out to the end of this point of land, and see if +we can discover any opening in the reef. The sun is going down, and we +shall not have more than an hour's daylight, and then we must look out +for a place to sleep in." + +"But what is that?" cried William, pointing to the sand - "that round +dark thing?" + +"That's what I'm very glad to see, William: it's a turtle. They come up +about this time in the evening to drop their eggs, and then they bury +them in the sand." + +"Can't we catch them?" + +"Yes, we can catch them if we go about it quietly; but you must take +care not to go behind them, or they will throw such a shower of sand +upon you, with their hind flappers or fins, that they would blind you +and escape at the same time. The way to catch them is to get at their +heads and turn them over on their backs by one of the fore-fins, and +then they cannot turn back again." + +"Let us go and catch that one." + +"I should think it very foolish to do so, as we could not take it away, +and it would die to-morrow from the heat of the sun." + +"I did not think of that, Ready; if we come to live here, I suppose we +shall catch them whenever we want them." + +"No, we shall not, for they only come on shore in the breeding-season; +but we will make a turtle pond somewhere which they cannot get out of, +but which the sea flows into; and then when we catch them we will put +them into it, and have them ready for use as we require them." + +"That will be a very good plan," replied William. + +They now continued their walk, and, forcing their way through the +brushwood which grew thick upon the point of land, soon arrived at the +end of it. + +"What is that out there?" said William, pointing to the right of where +they stood. + +"That is another island, which I am very glad to see even in that +direction, although it will not be so easy to gain it, if we are +obliged to leave this for want of water. It is a much larger island +than this, at all events," continued Ready, scanning the length of the +horizon, along which he could see the tops of the trees. - "Well, we +have done very well for our first day, so we will go and look for a +place to lie down and pass the night." + +They returned to the high ground where the cocoa-nut grove ended, and +collecting together several branches and piles of leaves, made a good +soft bed under the trees. + +"And now we'll go to bed. Look, William, at the long shadow of the +trees the sun has nearly set." + +"Shall I give the dogs some water now, Ready? See, poor Remus is +licking the sides of the bottles." + +"No, do not give them any: it appears to be cruel, but I want the +intelligence of the poor animals to-morrow, and the want of water will +make them very keen, and we shall turn it to good account. So now, +William, we must not forget to return thanks to a merciful God, and to +beg his care over us for this night. We little know what the day may +bring forth. Good-night!" + + + +Chapter XVI + +William slept as sound as if he had been on shore in England upon a +soft bed in a warm room - so did old Ready; and when they awoke the +next morning it was broad daylight. The poor dogs were suffering for +want of water, and it pained William to see them with their tongues +out, panting and whining as they looked up to him. "Now, William," said +Ready, "shall we take our breakfast before we start, or have a walk +first?" + +"Ready, I cannot really drink a drop of water myself, and I am thirsty, +unless you give a little to these poor dogs." + +"I pity the poor dumb creatures as much as you do, Master Willy; it is +kindness to ourselves and them too, which makes me refuse it to them. +However, if you like, we will take a walk first, and see if we can find +any water. Let us first go to the little dell to the right, and if we +do not succeed, we will try farther on where the water has run down +during the rainy season." William was very glad to go, and away they +went, followed by the dogs, Ready having taken up the spade, which he +carried on his shoulder. They soon came to the dell, and the dogs put +their noses to the ground, and snuffed about. Ready watched them; at +last they lay down panting. + +"Let us go on," said Ready, thoughtfully; they went on to where the run +of water appeared to have been - the dogs snuffed about more eagerly +than before. + +"You see, William, these poor dogs are now so eager for water, that if +there is any, they will find it out where we never could. I don't +expect water above-ground, but there may be some below it. This beach +is hardly far enough from the water's edge, or I should try in the sand +for it." + +"In the sand - but would it not be salt?" replied William. + +"No, not if at a good distance from the sea-beach; for you see, +William, the sand by degrees filters the sea-water fresh, and very +often when the sand runs in a long way from the high-water mark, if you +dig down, you will find good fresh water, at other times it is a little +brackish, but still fit for use." + +"Look, Ready, at Romulus and Remus - how hard they are digging with +their paws there in the hollow." + +"Thanks to Heaven that they are! You don't know how happy you have made +me feel: for, to tell you the truth, I was beginning to be alarmed." + +"But why do they dig?" + +"Because there is water there, poor animals. Now you see the advantage +of having kept them in pain for a few hours; it is in all probability +the saving of all of us, for we must either have found water or quitted +this island. Now let us help the poor dogs with the spade, and they +shall soon be rewarded for their sufferings." + +Ready walked quickly to where the dogs continued digging: they had +already got down to the moist earth, and were so eagerly at work, that +it was with difficulty he could get them out of his way to use his +spade. He had not dug two feet before the water trickled down, and in +four or five minutes the dogs had sufficient to plunge their noses in, +and to drink copiously. + +"Look at them! how they enjoy it! I don't think any Israelite felt more +grateful when Moses struck the rock than I do now, William. This was +the one thing wanting, but it was the one thing indispensable. Now we +have everything we can wish for on this island, and if we are only +content, we may be happy - ay, much happier than are those who are +worrying themselves to heap up riches, not knowing who shall gather +them. See, the poor animals have had enough at last. Now, shall we go +back to breakfast?" + +"Yes," replied William: "I shall enjoy it now, and have a good drink of +water myself." + +"That is a plenteous spring, depend upon it," said Ready, as they +walked back to where they had slept and left their knapsacks; "but we +must clear it out further up among the trees, where the sun cannot +reach it, and then it will be cool, and not be dried up. We shall have +plenty of work for the next year at least, if we remain here. Where we +are now will be a capital spot to build our house on." + +As soon as the breakfast was over, Ready said, "Now we must go down and +explore the other point, for you see, William, I have not yet found a +passage through the reef, and as our little boat must come round this +side of the island, it is at the point on this side that I must try to +find an entrance. When I was on the opposite point it did appear to me +that the water was not broken close to this point; and should there be +a passage we shall be very fortunate." + +They soon arrived at the end of the point of land, and found that Ready +was not wrong in his supposition; the water was deep, and there was a +passage many yards wide. The sea was so smooth, and the water so clear, +that they could see down to the rocky bottom, and watched the fish as +they darted along. "Look there!" said Willy, pointing out about fifty +yards from the beach, "a great shark, Ready!" + +"Yes, I see him, sir," replied Ready: "there's plenty of them here, +depend upon it; and you must be very careful how you get into the +water: the sharks always keep to the leeward of the island, and for one +where Juno bathed your little brother, you will find fifty here. I'm +quite satisfied now, William, we shall do very well, and all we have +now to think of is moving away from the other side of the island as +fast as possible." + +"Shall we go back to-day?" + +"Yes, I think so, for we shall only be idle here. It is not twelve +o'clock, I should think, and we shall have plenty of time. I think we +had better start at once; we will leave the spade and axe here, for it +is no use taking them back again. The musket I will take along. But +first let us go back and look at the spring, and see how the water +flows." + +As they walked along the edge of the sandy beach they found the +sea-birds hovering close to them: all of a sudden a large shoal of fish +threw themselves high and dry on the sand, and they were followed by +several of a larger size, which also lay flapping on the beach, while +the sea-birds, darting down close to the feet of William and Ready, and +seizing up the fish, flew away with them. + +"How very strange!" said William, surprised. + +"Yes, sir; but you see how it is - the small fish were chased by the +larger ones, which are bonettas, and in their fright ran upon the +beach. These bonettas were so anxious to catch them, that they came on +shore also, and then the gannets picked them all up." + +They found the hole which Ready had dug quite full of water, and, +tasting it, it proved very sweet and good. Overjoyed at this discovery, +they covered up the articles they agreed to leave behind them with some +boughs under the notched cocoa-nut trees, and, calling the dogs, set +off on their journey back again to the cove. + + + +Chapter XVII + +Guided by the marks made on the trees, William and Ready made rapid +progress in their return, and in less than two hours found themselves +almost clear of the wood which had taken them nearly eight hours to +force their way through the day before. + +"I feel the wind now, Ready," observed William, "and we must be nearly +through the wood; but it appears to me to be very dark." + +"I was just thinking the same," replied Ready. "I should not wonder if +there is a storm brewing up; and if so, the sooner we are back again +the better." + +As they proceeded, the rustling and waving of the boughs of the trees, +and ever and anon a gust of wind, followed by a moaning and creaking +sound, proved that such was the fact; and as they emerged from the +grove, they perceived that the sky, as it became visible to them, was +of one dark leaden hue, and no longer of the brilliant blue which it +usually had presented to their sight. + +"There is indeed a gale coming on," said Ready, as they cleared the +wood: "let us go on to the tents as fast as possible, for we must see +that all is as secure as we can make it." + +The dogs now bounded forward; and at their appearance at the tents Mr. +Seagrave and Juno came out, and seeing Ready and William advancing, +made known the welcome tidings to Mrs. Seagrave, who, with the +children, had remained within. In a moment more William was pressed in +his mother's arms. + +"I am glad that you are come back, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave, shaking +him by the hand after he had embraced William, "for I fear that bad +weather is coming on." + +"I am sure of it," replied Ready, "and we must expect a blusterous +night. This will be one of the storms which are forerunners of the +rainy season. However, we have good news for you, and must only take +this as a warning to hasten our departure as soon as possible. We shall +have fine weather after this for a month or so, although we must expect +a breeze now and then. But we must work hard and do our best; and now, +if you please, you and Juno, William and I, will go and haul up the +boat as far from the beach as we possibly can, for the waves will be +high and run a long way up, and our boat will be our main dependence +soon." + +The four went down as soon as Ready had sawed the ends of the spars +which had been cut off, into three rollers, to fix under the keel; with +the help afforded by them, the boat was soon hauled up high into the +brushwood, where it was considered by Ready to be perfectly safe. + +"I meant to have worked upon her immediately," observed Ready; "but I +must wait now till the gale is over; and I did hope to have got on +board once more, and looked after some things which I have since +remembered would have been useful; but I strongly suspect," continued +he, looking at the weather, "that we shall never go on board of the +poor vessel again. Hear the moaning of the coming storm, sir; look how +the sea-birds wheel about and scream, as if to proclaim her doom; but +we must not wait here - the tents must be made more secure, for they +will have to hold up against no small force of wind, if I mistake not." + +Ready, assisted by Mr. Seagrave, now got out some heavy canvas and +lines, and commenced putting it as a double cover over the tents, to +keep out the rain; they also secured the tents with guys and stays of +rope, so as to prevent them being blown down; while Juno with a shovel +deepened the trench which had been made round the tents, so that the +water might run off more easily. During the time they were at work, +Ready had made Mr. Seagrave acquainted with what they had discovered +and done during the exploring expedition, and the adventure with the +pigs made them all laugh heartily. + +As the sun went down, the weather threatened still more; the wind blew +strong, and the rocky beach was lashed by the waves and white with +spray, while the surf roared as it poured in and broke upon the sand in +the cove. The whole family had retired to bed except Ready, who said +that he would watch the weather a little before he turned in. The old +man walked towards the beach, and leaned against the gunnel of the +boat, and there he remained with his keen gray eye fixed upon the +distance, which was now one opaque mass, except where the white foam of +the waters gleamed through the darkness of the night! "Yes!" thought +he; "the winds and the waves are summoned to do his bidding, and evenly +do they work together - as one rises, so does the other; when one +howls, the other roars in concert - hand in hand they go in their fury +and their force. Had they been called up but one week since, where +would have been those who have now been, as it were, intrusted to my +weak help? The father, the mother, the children, the infant at the +breast, and I, the gray-headed old man, - all buried fathoms deep, +awaiting our summons; but they were restrained by his will, and by his +will we were saved. Will those timbers which bore us here so +miraculously hold together till morning? I should think not. What are +the iron bolts and fastenings of weak man, compared with the force of +God's elements: they will snap as yarns; and by to-morrow's dawn, the +fragments of the stout ship will be washing and tossing on the wild +surf. Well, it will be a kindness to us, for the waters will perform +the labour which we could not; they will break up the timbers for our +use, and throw on shore from the hold those articles which we could not +reach with our little strength." + +A sharp flash of lightning struck upon the old man's eyes, and +obstructed his vision for the moment. "The storm will soon be at its +height," thought he; "I will watch the tents, and see how they stand up +against its force." Then the rain came pattering down, and the wind +howled louder than before. In a minute or two the darkness became so +intense that he could hardly find his way back to the tents. He turned +round, but could not see, for he was blinded by the heavy rain. As +nothing could be done, he went into the tent and sheltered himself from +the storm, although he would not lie down, lest his services might be +required. The others had retired to bed, but with the exception of +Tommy and the children, they had not taken off their clothes. + + + +Chapter XVIII + +The storm now raged furiously, the lightning was accompanied by loud +peals of thunder, and the children awoke and cried with fright, till +they were hushed to sleep again. The wind howled as it pressed with all +its violence against the tents, while the rain poured off in torrents. +One moment the canvas of the tents would bulge in, and the cords which +held it strain and crack; at another, an eddy of wind would force out +the canvas, which would flap and flap, while the rain found many an +entrance. The tent in which Mrs. Seagrave and the children reposed was +on the outside of the others, and therefore the most exposed. About +midnight the wind burst on them with greater violence than before. A +loud crash was heard by Ready and Mr. Seagrave, followed by the shrieks +of Mrs. Seagrave and Juno; the pegs of the tent had given way, and the +inmates were exposed to the fury of the elements. Ready rushed out, +followed by Mr. Seagrave and William. So strong was the wind and +beating rain, and such was the darkness, that it was with some +difficulty that by their united efforts the women and children could be +extricated. Tommy was the first taken up by Ready: his courage had all +gone, and he was bellowing furiously. William took Albert in charge and +carried him into the other tent, where Tommy sat in his wet shirt +roaring most melodiously. Juno, Mrs. Seagrave, and the little girl were +at last carried away and taken into the other tent: fortunately no one +was hurt, although the frightened children could not be pacified, and +joined in chorus with Tommy. Nothing more could be done except to put +the children into bed, and then the whole party sat up the remainder of +the night listening to the noise of the wind, the roaring of the sea, +and the loud patter of the rain against the canvas. At dawn of day, +Ready went out, and found that the gale had spent its force, and had +already much abated; but it was not one of those bright glorious +mornings to which they had been accustomed since their arrival at the +island: the sky was still dark, and the clouds were chasing each other +wildly; there was neither sun nor blue sky to be seen: it still rained, +but only at intervals, and the earth was soft and spongy; the little +cove, but the day before so beautiful, was now a mass of foaming and +tumultuous waves, and the surf was thrown many yards upon the beach: +the horizon was confused - you could not distinguish the line between +the water and the sky, and the whole shore of the island was lined with +a white foam. Ready turned his eyes to where the ship had been fixed on +the rocks: it was no longer there - the whole frame had disappeared; +but the fragments of it, and the contents of the holds, were floating +about in every direction, or tossing amongst the surf on the beach. + +"I thought as much," said Ready, pointing to where the ship had lain, +as he turned round and found that Mr. Seagrave had followed him; "look, +sir, this gale has broken her up entirely. This is a warning to us not +to remain here any longer: we must make the most of the fine weather +which we may have before the rainy season sets in." + +"I agree with you, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave, - "and there is +another proof of it," pointing to the tent which had been blown down. +"It was a mercy that none of them were hurt." + +"Very true, sir; but the gale is breaking, and we shall have fine +weather to-morrow. Let us now see what we can do with the tent, while +William and Juno try if they can get any breakfast." + +They set to work. Ready and Mr. Seagrave made it fast with fresh cords +and pegs, and very soon had it all ready; but the beds and bedding were +wet through. They hauled over the wet canvas, and then left it to go to +their breakfast, to which Juno had summoned them. + +"We need do no more at present," said Ready, "by night-time it will not +be so wet, and we can handle it easier. I see a break in the sky now +which promises fine weather soon. And now we had better work hard +to-day, for we may save a great many things, which may be dashed to +pieces on the rocks, if we do not haul them on the beach." + + + +Chapter XIX + +They went down to the beach. Ready first procured from the stores a +good stout rope; and as the waves threw up casks and timbers of the +vessel, they stopped them from being washed back again, and either +rolled or hauled them up with the rope until they were safely landed. +This occupied them for the major part of the day; and yet they had not +collected a quarter of the articles that were in their reach, +independent of the quantity which floated about out at sea and at the +entrance of the cove. + +"I think," said Ready, "we have done a good day's work; tomorrow we +shall be able to do much more, for the sea is going down, and the sun +is showing himself from the corner of that cloud. Now we will go to +supper, and then see if we can make ourselves more comfortable for the +night." + +The tent which had not been blown down was given to Mrs. Seagrave and +the children, and the other was fitted up as well as it could be. The +bedding being all wet, they procured some sails from the stores, which, +being stowed away farther in the grove, had not suffered much from the +tempest; and, spreading the canvas, they lay down, and the night passed +without any disaster, for the wind was now lulled to a pleasant breeze. + +The next morning the sun shone bright - the air was fresh and bracing; +but a slight breeze rippled the waters, and there was little or no +surf. The various fragments of the wreck were tossed by the little surf +that still remained; many things were lying on the beach which had +landed during the night, and many more required but a little trouble to +secure them. There appeared to be a sort of in draught into the cove, +as all the articles which had been floating out at sea were now +gradually coming on shore in that direction. Ready and Mr. Seagrave +worked till breakfast-time, and had by that time saved a great many +casks and packages. + +After breakfast they went down again to the beach and resumed their +labours. "Look, Ready; what is that?" said William, who was with them, +as he pointed to a white-looking mass floating in the cove. + +"That, sir, is the poor cow; and if you look again, you will see the +sharks are around, making a feast of her: don't you see them?" + +"Yes, I do - what a quantity!" + +"Yes, there's no want of them, William; so be very careful how you get +into the water, and never let Tommy go near it, for they don't care how +shallow it is when they see their food. But now, sir," said Ready, "I +must leave you and William to do what you can in saving any more of the +wreck, while I set to and put the boat in proper repair." + +Ready left them at their own employment, and went away for his tools. +During this time Mr. Seagrave and William occupied themselves in +collecting the different articles thrown on shore, and rolling up the +casks as far as they could. + +As it would take some days for Ready to put the boat into proper order, +Mr. Seagrave determined that he would go to the other side of the +island with William, that he might examine it himself; and, as Mrs. +Seagrave had no objection to be left with Ready and Juno, on the third +day after the gale they set off. William led the way, guiding his +footsteps through the grove by the blazing of the cocoa-nut trees; and +in two hours they reached their destination. + +"Is not this beautiful, father?" said William. + +"Yes, indeed it is, my dear boy," replied Mr. Seagrave. "I fancied that +nothing could be more beautiful than the spot where we reside, but this +surpasses it, not only in variety, but in extent." + +"And now let us examine the spring, father," said William, leading the +way to the ravine. + +The spring was full and flowing, and the water excellent. They then +directed their steps towards the sandy beach, and, having walked some +time, sat down upon a coral rock. + +"Who would have ever imagined, William," said Mr. Seagrave, "that this +island, and so many more which abound in the Pacific Ocean, could have +been raised by the work of little insects not bigger than a pin's +head?" + +"Insects, father?" replied William. + +"Yes, insects. Give me that piece of dead coral, William. Do you see +that on every branch there are a hundred little holes? Well, in every +one of these little holes once lived a sea-insect; and as these insects +increase, so do the branches of the coral-trees." + +"Yes, I understand that; but how do you make out that this island was +made by them?" + +"Almost all the islands in these seas have been made by the labour and +increase of these small animals. The coral grows at first at the bottom +of the sea, where it is not disturbed by the winds or waves: by +degrees, as it increases, it advances higher and higher to the surface, +till at last it comes near to the top of the water; then it is stopped +in its growth by the force of the winds and waves, which break it off, +and of course it never grows above the water, for if it did the animals +would die." + +"Then how does it become an island?" + +"By very slow degrees; the time, perhaps, much depending upon chance: +for instance, a log of wood floating about, and covered with barnacles, +may ground upon the coral reefs; that would be a sufficient +commencement, for it would remain above water, and then shelter the +coral to leeward of it, until a flat rock had formed, level with the +edge of the water. The sea-birds are always looking for a place to rest +upon, and they would soon find it, and then their droppings would, in +course of time, form a little patch above water, and other floating +substances would be thrown on it; and land-birds, who are blown out to +sea, might rest themselves on it, and the seeds from their stomachs, +when dropped, would grow into trees or bushes." + +"I understand that." + +"Well then, William, you observe there is an island commenced, as it +were, and, once commenced, it soon increases, for the coral would then +be protected to leeward, and grow up fast. Do you observe how the coral +reefs extend at this side of the island, where they are protected from +the winds and waves; and how different it is on the weather side, which +we have just left? Just so the little patch above water protects the +corals to leeward, and there the island increases fast; for the birds +not only settle on it, hut they make their nests and rear their young, +and so every year the soil increases; and then, perhaps, one cocoa-nut +in its great outside shell at last is thrown on these little patches - +it takes root, and becomes a tree, every year shedding its large +branches, which are turned into mould as soon as they decay, and then +dropping its nuts, which again take root and grow in this mould; and +thus they continue, season after season, and year after year, until the +island becomes as large and as thickly covered with trees as the one we +are now standing upon. Is not this wonderful, my dear boy? Is not he a +great and good God who can make such minute animals as these work his +pleasure, and at the time he thinks fit produce such a beautiful island +as this?" + +"Indeed he is!" exclaimed William. + +"We only need use our eyes, William, and we shall love as well as +adore. Look at that shell - is it not beautifully marked? - could the +best painter in the world equal its colouring?" + +"No, indeed, - I should think not." + +"And yet there are thousands of them in sight, and perhaps millions +more in the water. They have not been coloured in this way to be +admired, like the works of man; for this island has been till now +probably without any one upon it, and no one has ever seen them. It +makes no difference to Him, who has but to wish, and all is complete." + +For a few minutes after this conversation, Mr. Seagrave and William +were both silent. Mr. Seagrave then rose from where he was sitting: +"Come, William, let us now find our way back again; we have three +hours' daylight left, and shall be home in good time." + + + +Chapter XX + +Everything was now preparing for their removal to the leeward side of +the island. Ready had nearly completed the boat; he had given it a +thorough repair, and fitted a mast and sail. William and Mr. Seagrave +continued to collect and secure the various articles thrown on shore, +particularly such as would be injured by their exposure to the weather: +these they rolled or carried into the cocoa-nut grove, so as to be +sheltered from the sun; but there were so many things thrown on shore +day after day, that they hardly knew what they had: but they secured +case and cask one after another, waiting for a better opportunity to +examine their contents. At last they collected a great many articles +together, and, with their shovels, covered them over with sand, it +being impossible to get them from the beach without more time than they +could spare. + +Neither was Mrs. Seagrave, who was now getting quite strong, or Juno, +idle. They had made up everything that they could in packages, ready +for moving. On the eighth day after the gale, they were ready, and it +was arranged that Ready should put into the boat the bedding and canvas +of one tent, and should take William with him on his expedition. Having +transported this safe, he should return for a load of the most +necessary articles, and then the family should walk through the grove +to the other side of the island, and remain there with Mr. Seagrave +while Ready and William returned for the other tent; and after that, +the boat should make as many trips as the weather would permit, till +they had brought all the things absolutely required. It was a lovely +calm morning when Ready and William pushed off in the boat, which was +well loaded; and as soon as they were clear of the cove they hoisted +the sail, and went away before the wind along the coast. In two hours +they had run to the eastern end of the island, and hauled up close +inshore: the point which ran out, and at the end of which there was an +inlet, was not a mile from them, and in a very short time they had +lowered the sail, and were pulling in for the sandy beach. + +"You see, William, it is fortunate for us that we shall always have a +fair wind when we come down loaded, and only have to pull our empty +boat back again." + +"Indeed it is. How many miles do you think it is from the cove to this +part of the island?" + +"About six or seven, not more: the island, you see, is long and narrow. +Now let us get the things out and carry them up, and then we will be +back to the cove long before dark." + +The boat was soon unloaded, but they had some way to carry up the +things. "We shall not mind such a gale as we had the other day when our +tents are pitched here, William," said Ready, "for we shall be +protected by the whole width of the cocoa-nut grove. We shall hardly +feel the wind, although we shall the rain, for that will come down in +torrents." + +"I must go and see how our spring gets on," said William, "and get a +drink from it." + +Willy reported the spring to be up to the brim with water, and that he +had never drunk water so excellent. They then pushed off the boat, and, +after rowing for about two hours or more, found themselves at the +entrance of the cove, and Mrs. Seagrave, with Tommy by her side, waving +her handkerchief to them. + +They very soon pulled in to the beach, and, landing, received the +congratulations of the whole party at their first successful voyage, +and all expressed their delight at its having proved so much shorter +than had been anticipated. + +"Tommy will go next time," said Master Tommy. + +"By and by, when Tommy grows a little taller," replied Ready. + +"Massa Tommy, you come help me to milk the goats," said Juno. + +"Yes, Tommy milk the goats," said the little urchin, running after +Juno. + +"You must be almost tired of eating nothing but salt meat and biscuit, +ma'am," said Ready, as they sat down to their meal; "but when we are +all safe on the other side of the island we hope to feed you better. At +present it is hard work and hard fare." + +"As long as the children are well, I care very little about it; but I +must say that, after the last gale, I am as anxious as you to be on the +other side of the island, especially after the account William has +given me of it. It must be a paradise! When do we set off?" + +"Not till the day after to-morrow, ma'am, I should think; for you see I +must have another trip for the cooking utensils and the bundles which +you have made up. If you will spare Juno to walk through the wood with +William to-morrow, we will then have the tent ready for you and the +children." + + + +Chapter XXI + +Old Ready had his boat loaded and had made sail for the other side of +the island long before the family were up; indeed, before they were +dressed he had landed his whole cargo on the beach, and was sitting +down quietly taking his breakfast. As soon as he had eaten the beef and +biscuit which he had taken with him, he carried up the things which he +had brought, and commenced arrangements for setting up the tent, +intending to await the arrival of William and Juno, that they might +assist him in getting up the spars and canvas over it. + +About ten o'clock William made his appearance, leading one of the goats +by a string, followed by the others. Juno came after with the sheep, +also holding one with a cord; the rest had very quietly joined the +procession. "Here we are at last!" said William laughing; "we have had +terrible work in the woods, for Nanny would run on one side of a tree +when I went on the other, and then I had to let go the string. We fell +in with the pigs again, and Juno gave such a squall!" + +"I tink 'em wild beast," said Juno. "Ah! what a nice place! Missis will +like to live here." + +"Yes, it is a very nice place, Juno; and you'll be able to wash here, +and never mind about saving the water." + +"I am thinking," said William, "how we are to get the fowls here; they +are not very wild, but still we cannot catch them." + +"I'll bring them with me to-morrow, William." + +"But how will you catch them?" + +"Wait till they are gone to roost, and then you may catch them when you +please." + +"And I suppose the pigeons and the pigs must run wild?" + +"The best thing we can do with them." + +"Then we shall have to shoot them, I suppose?" + +"Well, William, so we shall; and the pigeons also, when they have +become plentiful, if we remain here so long. We shall soon be well +stocked and live in plenty. But now you must help me to get the tent up +and everything in order, so that your mamma may find things comfortable +on her arrival, for she will be very tired, I dare say, walking through +the wood." + +"Mamma is much better than she was," replied William. "I think she will +soon be quite strong again, especially when she comes to live at this +beautiful place." + +"We have a great deal of work to do, more than we can get through +before the rainy season; which is a pity, but it can't helped; by this +time next year we shall be more comfortable." + +"Why, what have we to do besides putting up the tents and shifting over +here?" + +"In the first place we have to build a house, and that will take a long +while. Then we ought to make a little garden, and sow the seeds which +your father brought from England with him." + +"0h! that will be nice; where shall we make it, Ready?" + +"We must put a fence across that point of land, and dig up all the +brushwood; the mould is very good." + +"Then what next?" + +"Then we shall want a storehouse for all the things we have got, and +all that are in the wood and on the beach: and consider what a many +trips we shall have to make with the little boat to bring them all +round." + +"Yes, that is very true, Ready. Have we anything more to do?" + +"Plenty; we have to build a turtle-pond and a fish-pond, and a +bathing-place for Juno to wash the children in. But first we must make +a proper well at the spring, so as to have plenty of fresh water: now +there's enough for a year's hard work at least." + +"Well, let us once get mamma and the children here, and we will work +hard." + +"I should wish very much to see it all done, William," said Ready. "I +hope my life will be spared till it is done, at all events." + +"But why do you say that, Ready? you are an old man, but you are strong +and healthy." + +"I am so now; but what does the Book say? - `In the midst of life we +are in death'. You are young and healthy, and promise a long life; but +who knows but you may be summoned away tomorrow. Can I, then, an old +man, worn out with hardships, expect to live long? No - no, William! +Still I should like to remain here as long as I can be useful, and then +I trust I may depart in peace. I never wish to leave this island; and I +have a kind of feeling that my bones will remain on it. God's will be +done!" + +For some time after Ready had finished, neither of them said a word, +but continued their employment, stretching out the canvas of the tent, +and fastening it down to the ground with pegs. At last William broke +the silence. + +"Ready, did you not say your Christian name was Masterman?" + +"So it is, William." + +"It is a very odd Christian name! You were called after some other +person?" + +"Yes, I was, William; he was a very rich man." + +"Do you know, Ready, I should like very much if you will one day tell +me your history - I mean your whole life, from the time you were a +boy." + +"Well, perhaps I may, William; for there are many parts of my life +which would prove a lesson to others: but that must be after we have +got through our work." + +"How old are you, Ready?" + +"I am turned of sixty-four; a very old age for a seaman. I could not +obtain employment on board of a vessel if it were not that I am well +known to several captains." + +"But why do you say `old for a seaman'?" + +"Because sailors live faster than other people, partly from the +hardships which they undergo, and partly from their own fault in +drinking so much spirits; and then they are too often reckless and care +nothing for their healths." + +"But you never drink spirits now?" + +"No, never, William; but in my early days I was as foolish as others. +Now, Juno, you may bring in the bedding. We have two or three hours +yet, William; what shall we do next?" + +"Had we not better make the fireplace all ready for cooking?" + +"It was what I was going to propose, if you had not. I shall be here +to-morrow long before any of you, and I will take care that supper is +ready on your arrival." + +"I brought a bottle of water in my knapsack," replied William, "not so +much for the water, as because I want to milk the goats and take back +the milk for baby." + +"You proved yourself not only thoughtful but kind, William: now while +you and Juno fetch the stones for the fireplace, I will stow away under +the trees the things I have brought in the boat." + +"Shall we let the goats and sheep loose, Ready?" + +"Oh, yes, - there is no fear of their straying; the herbage here is +better than on the other side, and there is plenty of it." + +"Well, I will let Nanny go as soon as Juno has milked her. Now, Juno, +let us see how many stones we can carry at once." + +In an hour the fireplace was made, Ready had done all that he could, +the goats were milked and let loose, and then William and Juno set off +on their journey back. + +Ready went down to the beach. On his arrival there, he observed a small +turtle: creeping up softly he got between it and the water, and +succeeded in turning it over. "That will do for to-morrow," said he, as +he stepped into the boat; and laying hold of the oars, he pulled out of +the bay to return to the cove. + + + +Chapter XXII + +Ready arrived at the cove, and proceeded to the tents, where he found +the whole party listening to William, who was detailing what had been +done. The arrangements for the next day were made as soon as Ready +joined them. They then separated for the night, but Ready and William +remained until it was dark, to catch the fowls and tie their legs, +ready for their being put in the boat the next morning. At daylight all +were summoned to dress themselves as soon as possible, as Ready wanted +to take down the tent in which Mrs. Seagrave and the children had +slept. For, with the exception of Tommy, the others had slept upon some +canvas, which they had spread out under the cocoa-nut trees. As soon as +Mrs. Seagrave was dressed, the tent was taken down, and, with all the +bedding, put into the boat. Then, when they had breakfasted, the +plates, knives and forks, and some other necessaries, were also put in; +Ready laid the fowls on the top of all, and set off by himself for +their new location. + +After he was gone, the rest of the party prepared for their journey +through the cocoa-nut grove. William led the way, with the three dogs +close to his heels, Mr. Seagrave with the baby in his arms, Juno with +little Caroline, and Mrs. Seagrave with Master Tommy holding her hand. +They cast a last look round at the cove, and the fragments of the wreck +and cargo, strewed about in every direction, and then turned into the +wood. Ready arrived at the point, and was again on shore in less than +two hours after he had set off. As soon as the boat was safe in, he did +not wait to land his cargo, but going up to the turtle which he had +turned the day before, he killed it, and cleaned it on the beach. He +then went to where they had built up the fireplace with stones, made a +fire, filled the iron saucepan full of water, and set it on to boil; he +then cut up a portion of the turtle, and put it into the pot, with some +slices of salt pork, covered it up, and left it to boil; and having +hung up the rest of the turtle in the shade, he went back to the beach +to unload the boat. He released the poor fowls, and they were soon busy +seeking for food. + +It was two or three hours before he had carried everything up, for it +was a good distance, and some of the articles were heavy, and the old +man was not sorry when he had finished his task, and could sit down to +rest himself. + +"It's almost time they arrived," thought Ready; "they must have started +nearly four hours ago." Ready remained a quarter of an hour more +watching the fire, and occasionally skimming the top of the pot, when +the three dogs came bounding towards him. + +"Well, they are not far off now," observed Old Ready. + +In six or seven minutes afterwards the party made their appearance, +very hot and very fatigued. It appeared that poor little Caroline had +been tired out, and Juno had to carry her; then Mrs. Seagrave +complained of fatigue, and they had to rest a quarter of an hour; then +Tommy, who refused to remain with his mamma, and had been running +backwards and forwards from one to the other, had declared that he was +tired, and that someone must carry him; but there was no one to carry +him, so he began to cry until they stopped for another quarter of an +hour till he was rested; then as soon as they went on again he again +complained of being tired. William then carried him pickaback for some +time, and in so doing he missed the blaze-cut on the trees, and it was +a long while before he could find it again; then baby became hungry, +and he cried, and little Caroline was frightened at being so long in +the wood, and she cried. But finally they got on better, and arrived at +last so warm and exhausted, that Mrs. Seagrave went into the tent with +the children to repose a little, before she could even look at the +place which was to be their future residence. + +"I think," said Mr. Seagrave, "that this little journey of to-day has +been a pretty good proof of how helpless we should have been without +you, Ready." + +"I am glad that you are here, sir," replied Ready, "it is a weight off +my mind; now you will get on better. I think that after a while you may +live very comfortably here; but still we have much to do. As soon as +Madam has rested, we will have our dinner and then fix up our own tent, +which will be quite enough after such a hard day's work." + +"Do you go back to the cove to-morrow, Ready?" + +"Yes, sir, we want our stores here; it will take about three trips to +empty our storehouses; and as to the other things, we can examine them +and bring them down at our leisure. As soon as I have made those three +trips in the boat, we can then work here altogether." + +"But I can do something in the meantime." + +"Oh yes, there is plenty for you to do." + +Mr. Seagrave went into the tent, and found his wife much refreshed; but +the children had all fallen fast asleep on the beds. They waited +another half-hour, and then woke Tommy and Caroline, that they might +all sit down to dinner. + +"Dear me," exclaimed William, as Ready took the cover off the saucepan, +"what is it that you have so good there?" + +"It's a treat I have prepared for you all," replied Ready. "I know that +you are tired of salt meat, so now you are going to feed like +aldermen." + +"Why, what is it, Ready?" said Mrs. Seagrave; "it smells very good." + +"It is turtle-soup, ma'am; and I hope you will like it; for, if you do, +you may often have it, now that you are on this side of the island." + +"Indeed, it really is excellent; but it wants a little salt. Have you +any salt, Juno?" + +"Got a little, ma'am. Very little left," replied Juno. + +"What shall we do when all our salt is gone?" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Juno must get some more," replied Ready. + +"How I get salt? - hab none left," replied Juno, looking at Ready. + +"There's plenty out there, Juno," said Mr. Seagrave, pointing to the +sea. + +"I don't know where," said Juno, looking in that direction. + +"What do you mean, my dear?" inquired Mrs. Seagrave. + +"I only mean if we want salt we can have as much as we please by +boiling down salt-water in the kettle, or else making a salt-pan in the +rocks, and obtaining it by the sun drying up the water and leaving the +salt. Salt is always procured in that way, either by evaporation, or +boiling." + +"I'll soon arrange that for you, ma'am," said Ready, "and show Juno how +to get it when she wants it." + +"I am very glad to hear you say so; for I should feel the want of salt +very much," replied Mrs. Seagrave, "I really never enjoyed a dinner so +much as I have to-day." + +The soup was pronounced excellent by everybody. As soon as they had +finished, Mrs. Seagrave remained with the children; and Ready and Mr. +Seagrave, assisted by Juno and William, got the second tent up, and +everything ready for the night. They then all assembled, and returned +thanks to God for their having gained their new abode; and, tired out +with the fatigue of the day, were soon fast asleep. + + + +Chapter XXIII + +Mr. Seagrave was the first up on the ensuing morning; and when Ready +came out of the tent, he said to him, "Do you know, Ready, I feel much +happier and my mind much more at ease since I find myself here. On the +other side of the island everything reminded me that we had been +shipwrecked; and I could not help thinking of home and my own country; +but here we appear as if we had been long settled, and as if we had +come here by choice." + +"I trust that feeling will be stronger every day, sir; for it's no use, +and indeed sinful, to repine." + +"I acknowledge it, and with all humility. What is the first thing which +you wish we should set about?" + +"I think, sir, the first object is to have a good supply of fresh +water; and I therefore wish you and William - Here he is. Good-morning, +William - I was saying that I thought it better that Mr. Seagrave and +you should clear out the spring while I am away in the boat. I brought +another shovel with me yesterday, and you both can work; perhaps we had +better go there, as Juno, I see, is getting the breakfast ready. You +observe, Mr. Seagrave, we must follow up the spring till we get among +the cocoa-nut trees, where it will be shaded from the sun; that is +easily done by digging towards them, and watching how the water flows. +Then, if you will dig out a hole large enough to sink down in the earth +one of the water-casks which lie on the beach, I will bring it down +with me this afternoon; and then, when it is fixed in the earth in that +way, we shall always have the cask full of water for use, and the +spring filling it as fast as we empty it." + +"I understand," replied Mr. Seagrave; "that shall be our task while you +are absent." + +"Now, I have nothing more to do than to speak to Juno about dinner," +replied Ready; "and then I'll just take a mouthful, and be off." + +Ready directed Juno to fry some pork in the frying-pan, and then to cut +off some slices from the turtle, and cook turtle-steaks for dinner, as +well as to warm up the soup which was left; and then, with a biscuit +and a piece of beef in his hand, he went down to the boat and set off +for the cove. Mr. Seagrave and William worked hard; and, by twelve +o'clock, the hole was quite large and deep enough, according to the +directions Ready had given. They then left their work and went to the +tent. + +"You don't know how much happier I am now that I am here," said Mrs. +Seagrave, taking her husband's hand, as he seated himself by her. + +"I trust it is a presentiment of future happiness, my dear," said Mr. +Seagrave. "I assure you that I feel the same, and was saying so to +Ready this morning." + +"I feel that I could live here for ever, it is so calm and beautiful; +but I miss one thing - there are no birds singing here as at home." + +"I have seen no birds except sea-birds, and of them there is plenty. +Have you, William?" + +"Only once, father. I saw a flight a long way off. Ready was not with +me, and I could not tell what they were; but they were large birds, as +big as pigeons, I should think. There is Ready coming round the point," +continued William. "How fast that little boat sails! It is a long pull, +though, for the old man when he goes to the cove." + +"Let us go down and help Ready carry up some of the things before +dinner," said Mrs. Seagrave. + +They did so; and William rolled up the empty water-cask which Ready had +brought with him. + +The turtle-steaks were as much approved of as the turtle-soup; indeed, +after having been so long on salt meat, a return to fresh provisions +was delightful. + +"And now to finish our well," said William, as soon as dinner was over. + +"How hard you do work, William!" said his mother. + +"So I ought, mother. I must learn to do everything now." + +"And that you will very soon," said Ready. + +They rolled the cask to the spring, and, to their astonishment, found +the great hole which they had dug not two hours before quite full of +water. + +"Oh dear," said William, "we shall have to throw all the water out to +get the cask down." + +"Think a little, William," said Mr. Seagrave, "for the spring runs so +fast that it will not be an easy task. Cannot we do something else?" + +"Why, father, the cask will float, you know," replied William. + +"To be sure it will as it is; but is there no way of making it sink?" + +"Oh yes. I know - we must bore some holes in the bottom, and then it +will fill and sink down of itself." + +"Exactly," replied Ready. "I expected that we should have to do that, +and have the big gimlet with me." + +Ready bored three or four holes in the bottom of the cask, and as it +floated the water ran into it, and by degrees it gradually sank down. +As soon as the top of the cask was level with the surface they filled +in all round with the spade and shovel, and the well was completed. + + + +Chapter XXIV + +The next morning, as soon as breakfast was over, Mr. Seagrave observed: +"Now that we have so many things to do, I think, Ready, we ought to lay +down a plan of operations; method is everything when work is to be +done: now tell me what you propose shall be our several occupations for +the next week, for to-morrow is Sunday; and although we have not yet +been able to honour the day as we should, I think that now we must and +ought to keep it holy." + +"Yes, sir," replied Ready. "To-morrow we will rest from our labour, and +ask God's blessing upon our endeavours during the six days of the week; +and now, as to your proposition, Mr. Seagrave, shall we begin first +with the lady?" + +"You must not consider that you have ladies with you now, Ready," said +Mrs. Seagrave, "at least, not fine ladies. My health and strength are +recovering fast, and I mean to be very useful. I propose to assist Juno +in all the domestic duties, such as the cookery and washing, to look +after and teach the children, mend all the clothes, and make all that +is required, to the best of my ability. If I can do more I will." + +"I think we may be satisfied with that, Mr. Seagrave," replied Ready. +"Now, sir, the two most pressing points, with the exception of building +the house, are to dig up a piece of ground, and plant our potatoes and +seeds; and to make a turtle-pond, so as to catch the turtle and put +them in before the season is over." + +"You are right," replied Mr. Seagrave; "but which ought to be done +first?" + +"I should say the turtle-pond, as it will be only a few days' work for +you, Juno, and William. I shall not want your assistance for this next +week. I shall fix upon some spot, not far from here, where the trees +are thickest in the grove, and cut them down so as to clear out a space +in which we will, by and by, build our storerooms; and, as soon as the +rainy season has gone by, we can remove all our stores from the other +side of the island. It will occupy me the whole of the week, cutting +down the trees and sawing them into proper lengths, ready for building +the house, and then we must all join our strength and get it up without +delay." + +"Can you really manage to get it up in time? How soon do you expect the +rains will come on?" + +"In three or four weeks. After next week, I shall probably have the +assistance of two of you, if not of all. Now I think of it, I must +return to the cove." + +"What for?" + +"Don't you recollect, sir, your two-wheeled carriage, packed up in +matting, which was thrown on shore in the gale? You laughed when you +saw it, and said it would be of little use now; but the wheels and axle +will he very useful, as we can make a wide path to the place when I cut +down the trees, and wheel out the logs much more easily than we can +drag or carry them." + +"That is an excellent idea. It will save a great deal of labour." + +"I expect that it will, sir. William and I will go away early on Monday +morning, and be back before breakfast. To-day we will fix upon the +spots where our garden is to be, our turtle-pond to be made, and the +trees to be cut down. That shall be our business, Mr. Seagrave; and +William and Juno may put things a little more to rights here." + +Mr. Seagrave and Ready then walked down to the beach, and, after +surveying the reefs for some time, Ready said, "You see, Mr. Seagrave, +we do not want too much water for a turtle-pond, as, if it is too deep, +there is a difficulty in catching them when we want them: what we want +is a space of water surrounded by a low wall of stones, so that the +animals cannot escape, for they cannot climb up, although they can walk +on the shelving sand with their flippers. Now the reef here is high out +of the water, and the space within the reef and the beach is deep +enough, and the rocks on the beach nearly fill up that side and prevent +them crawling away by the shore. We have, therefore, little more to do +than to fill up the two other sides, and then our pond will be +complete." + +"I see it will not be a long job either, if we can find loose rocks +enough," replied Mr. Seagrave. + +"Almost all those which are on the beach are loose," replied Ready, +"and there are plenty close to us: some of them will be too heavy to +carry, but they can be brought here by the aid of handspikes and +crowbars. Suppose we make a signal for William and Juno, and set them +to work." + +Mr. Seagrave called and waved his hat, and Juno and William came down +to them. Juno was ordered to go back for two handspikes, while Ready +explained to William what was to be done. Having stayed with them and +assisted them for some time after Juno had returned with the +implements, Mr. Seagrave and Ready proceeded to the point, to fix upon +a spot for a garden, leaving William and Juno to continue their labour. + + + +Chapter XXV + +Mr. Seagrave and Ready then continued their way along the beach, until +they arrived at the point which the latter had considered as a +convenient place to make the garden. They found a sufficiency of mould; +and as the point was narrow at its joining on to the mainland, no great +length of enclosure would be required. + +"You see, sir," said Ready, "we can wait till after the rainy season is +over before we put up the fence, and we can prepare it in the meantime, +when the weather will permit us to work. The seeds and potatoes will +not come up until after the rains are finished; so all we have to do is +to dig up the ground, and put them in as fast as we can. We cannot make +a large garden this year; but our potatoes we must contrive to get in, +if we cannot manage anything else." + +"If we have no fence to make," replied Mr. Seagrave, "I think we shall +be able to clear away quite enough ground in a week to put in all that +we require." + +"The first job will be to pull up the small brushwood," said Ready, +"and turn up the ground; the larger plants we must leave, if we have +not time. Tommy might be of some use here in taking away the shrubs as +you pull them up; but we had better now go on to the grove, and choose +the spot for cutting down the trees. I have made my mark." + +Ready and Mr. Seagrave proceeded in the direction which the former had +pointed out, until they arrived at a spot on a rising ground, where the +trees were so thick that it was not very easy to pass through them. + +"There is the place," said Ready. "I propose to cut all the timber we +want for the houses out of this part of the grove, and to leave an open +square place, in the centre of which we will build our storerooms. You +see, sir, if necessary, with a very little trouble we might turn it +into a place of protection and defence, as a few palisades here and +there between the trees would make it, what they call in the East +Indies, a stockade." + +"Very true, but I trust we shall not require it for such a purpose." + +"I hope so too, but there is nothing like being prepared; however, we +have plenty to do before we can think of that. Now, sir, as dinner is +ready, suppose we return, and after dinner we will both commence our +tasks." + +Juno and William returned to the dinner which Mrs. Seagrave had +prepared. They were both very warm with their work, which was very +hard, but very eager to finish their task. After dinner was over, Mrs. +Seagrave requested her husband, as he was about to go down to the +point, with the spade and a small hatchet in his hand, to take Tommy +with him, as she had a great deal to do, and could not watch him as +well as the baby and Caroline. So Mr. Seagrave took Tommy by the hand, +and led him to the point, and made him sit down close to him while he +cleared away the brushwood. + +Mr. Seagrave worked very hard, and when he had cut down and cleared a +portion of the ground, he made Tommy carry away to a little distance, +and pile in a heap, the bushes which he had cleared away. When Mr. +Seagrave had cleared away a large piece of ground with his hatchet, he +then took his spade to dig at the roots and turn up the mould, leaving +Tommy to amuse himself. What Tommy did for about an hour, during which +Mr. Seagrave worked very diligently, his father did not observe; but +all of a sudden he began to cry; and when his father asked him the +reason, he did not answer, but only cried the more, until at last he +put his hands to his stomach, and roared most lustily. As he appeared +to be in very great pain, his father left off work, and led him up to +the tent, when Mrs. Seagrave came out, alarmed at his cries. Ready, who +had heard Tommy screaming for so long a while, thought that there might +be something serious, and left his work to ascertain the cause. When he +heard what had passed, he said: + +"Depend upon it, the child has eaten something which has made him ill. +Tell me, Tommy, what did you eat when you were down there?" + +"Berries," roared Tommy. + +"I thought as much, ma'am," said Ready. "I must go and see what the +berries were." And the old man hastened down to the place where Mr. +Seagrave had been at work. In the meantime Mrs. Seagrave was much +alarmed lest the child should have poisoned himself, and Mr. Seagrave +went to search among the medicines for some castor-oil. + +Ready returned just as he came back to the tent with the bottle of +castor-oil, and he told Ready that he was about to give Tommy a dose. + +"Well, sir," replied Ready, who had a plant in his hand, "I don't think +you should give him any, for it appears to me that he has taken too +much already. This is, if I recollect right, the castor-oil plant, and +here are some of the castor-oil beans which Master Tommy has been +eating. Tell me, Tommy, did you eat them?" + +"Yes," cried Tommy. + +"I thought so: give him a little warm drink, ma'am, and he'll soon be +better: it will teach him not to eat berries or beans again." + +What Ready said was true; nevertheless Master Tommy was very ill for +the whole of the day, and was put early to bed. + + + +Chapter XXVI + +The next day, when Mr. Seagrave, William, Juno, and Ready were all at +work at their allotted tasks, Mrs. Seagrave was sitting down at the +front of the tent, the little baby, Albert, crawling close to her, +Caroline trying to work with her needle, and Tommy was making holes in +the ground, and putting a small stone into each hole. + +"What are you doing, Tommy?" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"I'm making a garden," replied Tommy. + +"Making a garden! Then you ought to plant some trees in it." + +"No; I'm sowing seeds: look here," replied Tommy, pointing to the +stones. + +"But these are stones, not seeds." + +"Well, but I pretend, and that's the same thing," replied Tommy. + +"Not exactly, Tommy; suppose, instead of eating those beans yesterday, +you had only pretended to eat them, wouldn't it have been better?" + +"I won't eat any more," replied Tommy. + +"No, not of those beans; but if you saw anything else which you thought +you would like, I am afraid you would eat it, and be as ill and even +worse than you were." + +"I like cocoa-nuts; why don't we have some? there's plenty upon the +trees." + +"But who is to climb up so high, Tommy? Can you?" + +"No; but why don't Ready climb, or papa, or William?" + +"I suppose they will get some by and by, when they are not so busy, but +they have no time now." + +"I like turtle-soup," replied Tommy. + +"William and Juno are making a pond to put turtle in, and then we shall +have it oftener; but we cannot have everything we like when we wish for +it." + +"I like fried fish," said Tommy; "why don't we have fried fish?" + +"Because every one is too busy to catch them just now. Tommy, go and +bring your brother Albert back; he has crawled too near to Billy, and +he butts sometimes." + +Tommy went after the baby, who was crawling towards the kid, which had +now grown pretty large, and as he took up his brother he kicked at the +goat's head. + +"Don't do that, Tommy; he'll butt at you, and hurt you." + +"I don't care," replied Tommy, holding the baby by one hand while he +continued to kick at Billy. Billy, however, would not stand it; he +lowered his head, made a butt at Tommy, and he and Albert rolled on the +ground one over the other. The baby roared, and Tommy began to whimper. +Mrs. Seagrave ran up to them and caught up the baby; and Tommy, +alarmed, caught hold of his mother's dress for protection, looking +behind him at Billy, who appeared inclined to renew the attack. + +"Why don't you mind what is said to you, Tommy? I told you that he +would butt you," said Mrs. Seagrave, pacifying the child. + +"I don't care for him," replied Tommy, who perceived that the goat was +walking away. + +"No, you are very brave now that he has gone; but you're a very naughty +boy not to mind what is said to you." + +"Billy never butts at me, mamma," said Caroline. + +"No, my dear, because you do not tease him; but your brother is very +fond of teasing animals, and so he gets punished and frightened. It is +very wrong of him to do so, especially as he is told by his father and +me that he ought not." + +"You said I was a good boy when I learnt my lesson this morning," +replied Tommy. + +"Yes, but you should always be good," replied his mother. + +"I can't be always good," said Tommy; "I want my dinner." + +"It is dinner-time, Tommy, that is certain, but you must wait until +they all come home from their work." + +"There's Ready coming, with a bag on his shoulder," replied Tommy. + +Ready soon came up to where Mrs. Seagrave was sitting, and laid down +the bag. "I've brought you some young cocoa-nuts, and some old ones +also, from the trees that I have been cutting down." + +"Oh! cocoa-nuts - I like cocoa-nuts!" cried Tommy. + +"I told you, Tommy, that we should have some by and by, and they have +come sooner than we thought. You are very warm, Ready." + +"Yes, ma'am," replied Ready, wiping his face; "it is rather warm work, +for there is no breeze in the grove to cool one. Is there anything you +want from the other side of the island, for I shall go there directly +after dinner?" + +"What for?" + +"I must bring the wheels to get the timber out; for I must clear it +away as I go, until the path is finished. I must have William to help +me." + +"William will like the trip, I do not doubt. I do not recollect +anything in particular that we want, Ready," replied Mrs. Seagrave. +"There he comes with Juno, and I see Mr. Seagrave has laid down his +spade; so Caroline, dear, take care of Albert, while I get the dinner +for them." + +Ready assisted Mrs. Seagrave, and the dinner was spread out on the +ground, for they had not brought the chairs and tables with them to +their new residence, as they thought that they could do without them +till the house was built. William reported that Juno and he would have +the turtle-pond complete by the next day. Mr. Seagrave had cleared +sufficient ground to plant the half-sack of potatoes that they had +saved, so that in a day or two they would be able to put all their +strength upon the cutting and drawing of the timber. + +After dinner, William and Ready set off in the boat, and, before it was +dark, returned with the wheels and axle of the carriage, and several +other articles to make up their load. + + + +Chapter XXVII + +"Now, William," said Ready, "if you are not very sleepy, perhaps you +would like to come with me to-night, and see if we cannot turn some of +the turtle, for the season is going away fast, and they will leave the +island very soon." + +As soon as the sun had disappeared, William and Ready went down to the +beach, and sat quietly on a rock. In a short time, Ready perceived a +turtle crawling on the sand, and, desiring William to follow him +without speaking, walked softly down by the water's edge, so as to get +between the animal and the sea. + +As soon as the turtle perceived them, it made for the water, but they +met it; and Ready, seizing hold of one of its fore-flippers, turned it +over on its back. + +"You see, William, that is the way to turn a turtle: take care that he +does not catch you with his mouth, for, if he did, he would bite the +piece out. Now the animal cannot get away, for he can't turn over +again, and we shall find him here to-morrow morning; so we will now +walk along the beach, and see if we cannot find some more." + +Ready and William remained till past midnight, and turned sixteen +turtle. + +"I think that will do, William, for once: we have made a good night's +work of it, for we have provided food for many days. Tomorrow we must +put them all into the pond." + +"How shall we carry such large animals?" + +"We need not carry them; we must put some old canvas under them, and +haul them along by that means; we can easily do that on the smooth +sand." + +"Why don't we catch some fish, Ready? We might put them into the +turtle-pond." + +"They would not stay there long, William, nor could we easily get them +out if they did. I have often thought of getting some lines ready, and +yet the time has never come, for I feel sleepy after our day's work; +but as soon as the house is built, we will have them, and you shall be +fisherman-in-chief." + +"But the fish will bite at night, will they not?" + +"Oh yes, and better than they do in the daytime." + +"Well, then, if you will get me a line and show me how, I will fish for +an hour or so after the work is done; I know mamma is getting tired of +salt meat, and does not think it good for Caroline." + +"Well, then, I will get a bit of candle to-morrow night, and fit up two +fishing-lines. But I must go with you, William. We don't use much +candle, at all events." + +"No, we are too glad to go to bed: but there are two or three boxes of +one sort or another up in the cove." + +The next morning before breakfast all hands were employed in getting +the turtle into the pond. After breakfast, William and Juno finished +the pond where the walls had not been raised high enough; and, when +they returned to dinner, reported that their task was completed. Mr. +Seagrave also said that he had, he thought, cleared quite ground enough +for the present; and as Mrs. Seagrave wanted Juno to help her to wash +the linen that afternoon, it was agreed that William, Ready, and Mr. +Seagrave should all go down to the garden, and put in the potatoes. + +Ready worked with the spade, while Mr. Seagrave and William cut the +potatoes in pieces, so as to have an eye in each piece. When they had +finished this work, Mr. Seagrave said - "Now that we have finished +cutting the potatoes, let us go and assist Ready in planting them and +the seeds which we have brought down with us." + + + +Chapter XXVIII + +That night Ready sat up for two or three hours working by candle-light +(William keeping him company), very busily engaged fitting up the +fishing-lines with leads and hooks. At last two were complete. + +"What bait must we use, Ready?" + +"I should think that the best would be one of the fish out of the +shells which are in the sand; but a piece of pork fat will, I dare say, +do as well." + +"And whereabouts would you fish, Ready?" + +"The best place, I should think, would be at the farthermost end of the +point, where I got the boat through the reef - the water is deep there +close to the rocks." + +"I was thinking, Ready, if those gannets and men-of-war birds would be +good eating." + +"Not very, William; they are very tough and very fishy: we must try for +those when we can get nothing better. Now that we have got in the seeds +and potatoes, we must all set to to-morrow morning to fell and carry +the timber. I think Mr. Seagrave had better use the axe with me; and +you and Juno can, when I have shown you how, hang the timber to the +axle, and wheel it out to the place where we have decided upon building +the house. And now we had better go to bed." + +William, however, had made up his mind to do otherwise: he knew that +his mother would be very glad to have some fish, and he determined, as +the moon shone bright, to try if he could not catch some before he went +to bed; so he waited very quietly till he thought Ready was asleep as +well as the others, and then went out with the lines, and went down to +the beach, where he picked up three or four shells, and, breaking them +between two pieces of rock, took out the fish and baited his hooks. He +then walked to the point. It was a beautiful night; the water was very +smooth, and the moonbeams pierced deep below the surface. William threw +in his line, and as soon as the lead touched the bottom he pulled it up +about a foot, as Ready had instructed him; and he had not held his line +more than half a minute, when it was jerked so forcibly, that not +expecting it he was nearly hauled into the water; as it was, the fish +was so strong that the line slipped through his hand and scored his +fingers; but after a time he was able to pull it in, and he landed on +the beach a large silver-scaled fish, weighing nine or ten pounds. As +soon as he had dragged it so far away from the edge of the rocks as to +prevent its flapping into the water again, William took out the hook +and determined to try for another. His line was down as short a time as +before, when it was again jerked with violence; but William was this +time prepared, and he let out the line and played the fish till it was +tired, and then pulled it up, and found that the second fish was even +larger than the first. Satisfied with his success, he wound up his +lines, and, running a piece of string through the gills of the fish, +dragged them back to the tents, and hanged them to the pole, for fear +of the dogs eating them; he then went in, and was soon fast asleep. The +next morning William was the first up, and showed his prizes with much +glee; but Ready was very much displeased with him. + +"You did very wrong, William, to run the risk which you did. If you +were resolved to catch fish, why did you not tell me, and I would have +gone with you? You say, yourself, that the fish nearly hauled you into +the water; suppose it had done so, or suppose a small shark instead of +one of these gropers (as we call them) had taken the bait, you must +have been jerked in; and the rocks are so steep there, that you would +not have been able to get out again before a shark had hold of you. +Think a moment what would have been the distress of your father and the +agony and despair of your poor mother, when this news should have +arrived." + +"I was very wrong, Ready," replied William, "now that I think of it; +but I wanted to surprise and please my mother." + +"That reason is almost sufficient to plead your pardon, my dear boy," +replied Ready; "but don't do so again. And now let us say no more about +it; nobody will know that you have been in danger, and there's no harm +done; and you mustn't mind an old man scolding you a little." + +"No, indeed, Ready, I do not, for I was very thoughtless; but I had no +idea that there was danger." + +"There's your mother coming out of her tent," replied Ready. +"Good-morning, madam. Do you know what William has done for you last +night? Look, here are two beautiful fish, and very excellent eating +they are, I can tell you." + +"I am quite delighted," replied Mrs. Seagrave. + +Tommy clapped his hands and danced about, crying, "Fried fish for +dinner;" and Juno said, "Have very fine dinner to-day, Missy Caroline." + +After breakfast they all set out for the grove, where Ready had been +cutting down the trees, taking with them the wheels and axle, and a +couple of stout ropes. Mr. Seagrave and Ready cut down the trees and +slung them to the axle, and Juno and William dragged them to the spot +where the house was to be built. + +They were not sorry when dinner was ready, for it was very hard work. + +That night, tired as they were, Ready and William went out, and turned +eight more turtle. They continued felling the cocoa-nut trees and +dragging the timber for the remainder of the week, when they considered +that they had nearly enough, and on Tuesday morning they commenced +building the house. + + + +Chapter XXIX + +Ready had cut out and prepared the door-posts and window-frames from +timber which he had towed round from the cove. He now fixed four poles +in the earth upright at each corner, and then, with the assistance of +Mr. Seagrave, notched every log of cocoa-nut wood on both sides, where +it was to meet with the one crossing it, so that, by laying log upon +log alternately, they fitted pretty close, and had only to have the +chinks between them filled in with cocoa-nut leaves twisted very tight, +and forced between them: this was the work of William and Juno when no +more logs were ready for carrying; and, by degrees, the house rose up +from its foundation. The fireplace could not be made at once, as they +had either to find clay, or to burn shells into lime and build it up +with rocks and mortar; but a space was left for it. For three weeks +they worked very hard: as soon as the sides were up, they got on the +whole of the roof and rafters; and then, with the broad leaves of the +cocoa-nut trees which had been cut down, Ready thatched it very strong +and securely. At the end of the three weeks the house was secure from +the weather; and it was quite time, for the weather had begun to +change, the clouds now gathered thick, and the rainy season was +commencing. + +"We have no time to lose, sir," said Ready to Mr. Seagrave. "We have +worked hard, but we must for a few days work harder still. We must fit +up the inside of the house, so as to enable Madam to get into it as +soon as possible." + +The earth in the inside of the house was then beaten down hard, so as +to make a floor; and a sort of bedstead, about two feet from the +ground, running the whole length of the house, was raised on each side +of the interior: these were fitted with canvas screens to let down by +night. And then Ready and William took the last trip in the boat to +fetch the chairs and tables, which they did just before the coming on +of the first storm of the season. The bedding and all the utensils were +now taken into the house; and a little outhouse was built up to cook +in, until the fireplace could be made. + +It was late on the Saturday night that the family shifted into the new +house; and fortunate it was that they had no further occasion for +delay, for on the Sunday the first storm burst upon them; the wind blew +with great force; and, although they were shielded from it, still the +cocoa-nut trees ground and sawed each other's stems as they bent their +heads to its force. The lightning was vivid, and the thunder appalling, +while the rain descended in a continual torrent. The animals left the +pastures, and sheltered themselves in the grove; and, although noonday, +it was so dark that they could not see to read. + +"This, then, is the rainy season which you talked about, Ready," said +Mrs. Seagrave. "Is it always like this? If so, what shall we do?" + +"No, madam; the sun will shine sometimes, but not for long at a time. +We shall be able to get out and do something every now and then almost +every day, but still we shall have rain, perhaps, for many days without +intermission, and we must work indoors." + +"How thankful we ought to be that we have a house over our heads; we +should have been drowned in the tents." + +"That I knew, madam, and therefore I was anxious to get a house over +your head; let us thank God for it." + +"Indeed we ought," observed Mr. Seagrave; "and it is, indeed, time for +us to read the service." + +The morning service was then performed in the new house. Violent as the +rain was, it did not penetrate through the thatch which had been put +on. Ready and William went out to secure the boat, which they were +afraid would be injured, and returned wet to the skin. The storm +continued without intermission the whole of the night, but they slept +dry and safe; and, when awakened by the noise of the thunder and the +pelting of the rain, they thanked God that they had found a dwelling in +the wilderness upon which they had been cast. + + + +Chapter XXX + +When they all rose up the next morning, the clouds had cleared off, and +the sun was shining bright. Ready and Juno were the first out of the +house - Ready with the telescope under his arm, which he always took +with him when he went his rounds, as he termed it, in the morning. + +"Well, Juno," said Ready, "this is a fine morning after the rain." + +"Yes, Massa Ready, very fine morning; but how I get fire light, and +make kittle boil for breakfast, I really don't know - stick and +cocoa-nut trash all so wet." + +"Before I went to bed last night, Juno, I covered up the embers with +ashes, put some stones over them, and then some cocoa-nut branches, so +I think you will find some fire there yet. I was going my morning's +round, but I will stay a little and help you." + +"Tank you, Massa Ready; plenty rain fell last night." + +"Yes, not a little, Juno; you must not expect to find the water at the +well very clear this morning; indeed, I doubt if you will see the well +at all. Here's some stuff which is not very wet." + +"I got plenty of fire, too," replied Juno, who had removed the branches +and stones, and was now on her knees blowing up the embers. + +"You'll do very well now, Juno," said Ready; "besides, William will be +out directly - so I'll leave you." + +Ready whistled to the dogs, who came bounding out, and then set off on +his round of inspection. He first directed his steps to the well in the +ravine; but, instead of the gushing spring and the limpid clear water, +with which the cask sunk for a well had been filled, there was now a +muddy torrent, rushing down the ravine, and the well was covered with +it, and not to be distinguished. + +"I thought as much," said Ready, musing over the impetuous stream; +"well, better too much water than too little." Ready waded through, as +he wished to examine the turtle-pond, which was on the other side of +the stream. Finding all right, he again crossed the water, where it was +now spread wide over the sandy beach, until he came to the other point +where he had moored his boat, both by the head and stern, with a rope, +and a heavy stone made fast to it, as an anchor. + +From this point, as usual, he surveyed the horizon with his telescope; +not that he thought that there was a chance of a vessel arriving among +these islands; but, still, as it was possible, he took the trouble; but +never except when he went out in the morning alone, as he was aware +that the very circumstance of his so doing would make Mr. Seagrave +melancholy and unsettled. As usual, he dropped the telescope on his +arm, after his survey, saying to himself, "Little use doing that." + +The gale having blown offshore, the boat had dragged her moorings, and +was so far out that Ready could not get at her. + +"Here's a puzzle," said the old man; "how foolish of me not to have +made a line fast to the shore! I'll not trust myself to John Shark by +swimming to the boat." + +"Let me see." Ready took the halyards and sheets belonging to the +boat's sails, which be had left on the beach, and bent one on to the +other until he had sufficient length of rope. He then made a piece of +wood, about two feet long, fast by the middle to the end of the rope, +and, after one or two attempts, contrived to throw it into the boat. +The piece of wood caught under one of the thwarts, and this enabled him +to draw the boat to the shore. + +Having baled out the water which had fallen into her during the storm, +he then landed again and examined the garden. + +"Now to find the sheep and goats," said Ready, "and then my morning's +walk is over. Now, Romulus, now, Remus, boys, find them out," continued +he; and the dogs, who appeared to know what he was in search of, went +away in pursuit, and soon found the sheep and two of the goats, but the +third goat was not with them. + +"Why, where can Black Nanny be?" muttered Ready, stopping a little +while; at last he heard a bleat, in a small copse of brush wood, to +which he directed his steps, followed by the dogs. "I thought as much," +said he, as be perceived Nanny lying down in the copse with two +new-born kids at her side. "Come, my little fellows, we must find some +shelter for you," said he, taking one up under each arm. "Come, Nanny." + +Ready walked back to the house, and brought in the kids, followed by +Nanny. He found Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave and the children all dressed. +Caroline and Tommy gave a scream of delight when they saw the little +kids, and even little Albert clapped his hands. As soon as Ready put +them down on the ground, Tommy and Caroline had each their arms round +one. + +"I've brought an addition to our family, Mrs. Seagrave," said Ready: +"we must allow them to remain in the house until I can knock up a +little shelter for them. This is only a beginning; I expect we shall +soon have more." + +As soon as the children could be persuaded to part with the kids, Nanny +was tied up in a corner, and was very content with fondling and nursing +her progeny. Juno and William brought in the breakfast, and as soon as +it was over, Mr. Seagrave said, "Now, Ready, I think we must hold a +council, and make arrangements as to our allotted duties and +employments during the rainy season. We have a great deal to do, and +must not be idle." + +"Yes, sir, we have a great deal to do, and, to get through our work, we +must have order and method in our doings. I've lived long enough to +know how much can be done by regularity and discipline. Why, sir, there +is more work got out of men in a well-conducted man-of-war than there +can in the merchant service in double the time. And why so? Because +everything is in its place, and there is a place for everything." + +"I agree with you," said Mrs. Seagrave; "method is everything. While +one careless little girl is looking for her thimble, another will have +finished her work." + +"I assure you I never should have known what can be done by order and +arrangement, if I had not been pressed on board of a man-of-war. I +found that everything was done in silence. Every man was to his post; +everyone had a rope to haul upon, or a rope to let go; the boatswain +piped, and in a few seconds every sail was set or taken in as was +required. It seemed to me at first like magic. And you observe, Mr. +Seagrave, that when there is order and discipline, every man becomes of +individual importance. If I learnt nothing else on board of a +man-of-war, I learnt to make the most of time, and the most of the +strength which you could command." + +"You are very right, Ready; you must teach us to do the same," replied +Mr. Seagrave. + +"We have so much to do, that I hardly know where to begin; yet, sir, we +must work at present how we can, and when we can, until we have got +things into a little better order. We have done well up to the +present." + +"What do you think we ought to do first?" + +"Well, sir, our first job will be to haul up the boat and secure her +from harm; we will half-dock her in the sand, and cover her over, for I +do not think it will be safe to go in her now to the other side of the +island, where the sea will always be rough." + +"There I perfectly agree with you. Now what is the next?" + +"Why, sir, we must not leave the tents where they are, but take them +down, and as soon as they are dry, stow them away, for we may want them +by and by; then, sir, we must build a large outhouse for our stores and +provisions, with a thatched roof, and a floor raised about four feet +from the ground; and then, under the floor, the sheep and goats will +have a protection from the weather. Then there is the fish-pond to +make, and also a salt-pan to cut out of the rock. Then we have two more +long jobs. One is, to go through the woods and examine the stores we +have left on the other side of the island, sort and arrange them all +ready for bringing here after the rains are over; and we must also +explore the island a little, and find out what it produces; for at +present we know nothing of it: we may find a great many things useful +to us, a great many trees and fruits, and I hope and trust we may be +able to find some more grass for our live stock." + +"I agree with you in all you say, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave; "now +how shall we divide our strength?" + +"We will not divide at present, sir, if you please. Juno has plenty to +do indoors with Mrs. Seagrave; William, and you, and I, will first +secure the boat and stow away the tents and gear; after that, we will +set about the outbuilding, and work at it when we can. If Juno has any +time to spare, she had better collect the cocoa-nut leaves, and pile +them up for fuel; and Tommy will, I dare say, go with her, and show her +how to draw them along." + +"Yes, I'll show her," said Tommy, getting on his feet. + +"Not just now, Tommy," said Ready, "but as soon as your mamma can spare +her to go with you. Come, sir, a few hours of weather like this is not +to be lost," continued Ready; "we shall have more rain before the day +is over, I expect. I will first go to the tent for the shovels; then I +will haul the boat round to the beach and meet you there. You and +William can take some cord, tie up a large bundle of cocoa-nut boughs, +sling it to the wheels, and draw it down to the beach and meet me." + + + +Chapter XXXI + +As so many cocoa-nut trees had been cut down to build the house, there +were plenty of boughs lying in every direction, and William and Mr. +Seagrave had soon procured sufficient. In a very short time the boat +was drawn up about ten yards from the water's edge, which Ready said +was quite sufficient; they then dug from under with their shovels until +the boat was sunk about half down in the sand. + +Having filled in the sand all round her up to her gunnel, the boat was +then carefully covered over with the boughs, which were weighed down +with sand that they might not be blown away. + +"I don't see why you should cover the boat up in this way, Ready; the +rain won't hurt her," observed William. + +"No, sir, the rain won't do her any harm, but the sun will, when it +bursts out occasionally; for it's very powerful when it does shine, and +it would split her all to pieces." + +"I forgot that," replied William. "What shall we do now?" + +"Suppose, as we have two hours to dinner-time, you run for the lines, +William, and we'll try for some fish." + +"We cannot all three of us fish with only two lines," said Mr. +Seagrave. + +"No, sir; and as William knows how to catch them, suppose you remain +with him, and I will go up and collect wood and chips for Juno's fire. +She was hard pressed for it this morning, it was so wet; but, if once +piled up, it will soon be dry. Be careful, Mr. Seagrave, not to hold +the lines tight in your hands, or you may be jerked into the water." + +Mr. Seagrave and William were very fortunate; before the two hours were +expired they had caught eight large fish, which they brought up to the +house slung on the boat-hook. Tommy hallooed loudly for fish for +dinner, and as they had caught so many, it was agreed that the dinner +should be put off until some could be got ready, and they were not +sorry to eat them instead of salt pork. + +They had hardly sat down to table, when the rain came pattering down on +the roof, and in a quarter of an hour the storm was as violent, and the +thunder and lightning as terrific as on the day before. All outdoor +labour was again suspended. Mrs. Seagrave, Juno, and Caroline took +their work, for there was plenty to do with the needle and thread, and +Ready soon found employment for the rest. William and Mr. Seagrave +unlaid some thick rope, that Ready might make smaller and more useful +rope with the yarns. Ready took up his sailing needles, and worked +eyelet-holes in the canvas screens (which they had put up in a hurry), +so that they might be drawn to and fro as required. + +As soon as Ready had hung up the curtains, he looked under the +bedsteads for a large bundle, and said, as he opened it, "I shall now +decorate Madam Seagrave's sleeping-place. It ought to be handsomer than +the others." The bundle was composed of the ship's ensign, which was +red, and a large, square, yellow flag with the name of the ship Pacific +in large black letters upon it. These two flags Ready festooned and +tied up round the bed-place, so as to give it a very gay appearance, +and also to hide the rough walls of the cottage. + +"Indeed, Ready, I am much obliged to you," said Mrs. Seagrave, when he +had finished; "it is really quite grand for this place." + +"It's the best use we can put them to now, madam," said Ready. + +"I am afraid so," replied Mr. Seagrave, thoughtfully. + +"Ready," said William, after the candles were lighted, "you once +half-promised me that you would tell me your history; I wish you would +tell us some of it now, as it will pass away the evening." + +"Well, William, I did say so, and I shall keep my word. When you have +heard my story, you will say that I have been very foolish in my time; +and so I have; but if it proves a warning to you, it will, at all +events, be of some use." + +Ready then commenced his history as follows: + +History of Old Ready. + +"Of course, you wish to know who my father and mother were: that is +soon told. My father was the captain of a merchant vessel, which traded +from South Shields to Hamburg, and my poor mother, God bless her, was +the daughter of a half-pay militia captain, who died about two months +after their marriage. The property which the old gentleman had +bequeathed to my mother was added to that which my father had already +vested in the brig, and he then owned one-third of the vessel; the +other two-thirds were the property of a very rich ship-builder and +owner, of the name of Masterman. What with the profits of the share he +held of the vessel and his pay as captain, my father was well to do. +Mr. Masterman, who had a very high opinion of my father, and gained +much money by his exertions and good management, was present at the +marriage, and when I was born, about a year afterwards, he stood for me +as godfather. Every one considered that this was a most advantageous +circumstance for me, and congratulated my father and mother; for Mr. +Masterman was a bachelor, of nearly sixty years, without any near +relations. It is true, that he was very fond of money; but that, they +said, was all the better, as he could not take it away with him when he +died. An end, however, was soon put to all their worldly ideas, for a +year after I was born, my father was drowned at sea, his vessel and the +whole of her crew being lost on the Texel sands; and my mother found +herself a widow, with a child scarcely weaned, when she was but +twenty-two years of age. + +"It was supposed that my mother would still have sufficient to live +upon, as the ship had been insured at two-thirds of her value; but, to +the astonishment of everybody, Mr. Masterman contrived to make it +appear that it was his two-thirds of the vessel which had been +insured." + +"What is insurance?" inquired William. + +"Insurance, my dear boy, is paying a certain sum to people who are +called underwriters, that in case the vessel or cargo is lost or +damaged, the loss or damage is made good to the owners of the vessel or +cargo. You pay in proportion to the risk incurred. Supposing you wished +to insure one thousand pounds on a vessel or cargo, and ten per cent +was required, you would, if the vessel came home safe, pay the +underwriters one hundred pounds; if, on the contrary, the vessel was +lost, the underwriters would have to pay you one thousand pounds, the +sum which you had insured. I beg your pardon for the interruption, +Ready." + +"No need, Mr. Seagrave; we never should lose an opportunity of teaching +the young. Well, how far the assertion of Mr. Masterman was correct or +not, it was impossible at the time to say; but I do know that everybody +cried out `shame', and that if he did deprive the widow, he had much to +answer for; for the Bible says, `Pure religion is to visit the +fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep yourself +unspotted in the world'. The consequence was, that my mother had little +or nothing to live upon; but she found friends who assisted her, and +she worked embroidery, and contrived to get on somehow until I was +eight or nine years of age." + +"But did not your godfather come forward to the assistance of your +mother?" inquired Mr. Seagrave. + +"No, sir, strange to say, he did not; and that made people talk the +more. I believe it was the abuse of him, which he did not fail to hear, +and which he ascribed to my mother, which turned him away from us; +perhaps it was his own conscience, for we always dislike those we have +injured." + +"Unfortunately, there is great truth in that remark of yours, Ready," +observed Mr. Seagrave; "still, it is strange that he did not do +something." + +"It was very strange, sir, - at least, so it appeared at the time, but +he was very fond of money, and irritated at the reports and +observations which were made about him. But, to go on, sir, I was a +strong, hardy boy, and, whenever I could escape from my mother or +school, was always found by the water-side or on board of the vessels. +In the summer-time I was half the day in water, and was a very good +swimmer. My mother perceived my fondness for the profession, and tried +all she could to divert my thoughts some other way. She told me of the +dangers and hardships which sailors went through, and always ended with +my father's death and a flood of tears. + +"We certainly are of a perverse nature, as I have often heard the +clergyman say, for it appears to me that we always wish to do that +which we are told not to do. If my mother had not been always +persuading me against going to sea, I really believe I might have +stayed at home. I've often thought since, how selfish and unfeeling I +must have been. I was too young to know what pain I was giving my +mother, and how anxiety was preying upon her, all on my account. +Children cannot feel it; if they did, they would do otherwise, for our +hearts are seldom hard until we grow older." + +"I agree with you, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave. "If children really knew +how much their parents suffer when they behave ill, how alarmed they +are at any proofs of wickedness in them, they would be much better." + +"We never find that out, sir, till it is too late," continued Ready. +"Well, sir, I was little more than nine years old, when, on a very +windy day, and the water rough, a hawser, by which a vessel was fast to +the wharf, was carried away with a violent jerk, and the broken part, +as it flew out, struck a person who was at the edge of the wharf, and +knocked him into the sea. I heard the crying out, and the men from the +wharf and from the ships were throwing ropes to him, but he could not +catch hold of them; indeed, he could not swim well, and the water was +rough. I caught a rope that had been hauled in again, and leapt off the +wharf. + +"Young as I was, I swam like a duck, and put the rope into his hands +just as he was going down. He clung to it as drowning men only can +cling, and was hauled to the piles, and soon afterwards a boat, which +had been lowered from the stern of one of the vessels, picked us both +up. We were taken to a public-house, and put into bed till dry clothes +could be sent for us; and then I found that the person I had saved was +my godfather, Mr. Masterman. Everyone was loud in my praise; and, +although perhaps I ought not to say it, it was a bold act for so young +a boy as I was. The sailors took me home to my mother in a sort of +triumphal procession; and she, poor thing, when she heard what I had +done, embraced me over and over again, one moment rejoicing at my +preservation, and the next weeping bitterly at the thoughts of the +danger I had encountered, and the probability that my bold spirit would +lead me into still greater." + +"But she did not blame you for what you had done?" + +"Oh no, William; she felt that I had done my duty towards my neighbour, +and perhaps she felt in her own heart that I had returned good for +evil; but she did not say so. The next day Mr. Masterman called upon +us; he certainly looked very foolish and confused when he asked for his +godson, whom he had so long neglected. My mother, who felt how useful +he might be to me, received him very kindly; but I had been often told +of his neglect of me and my mother, and of his supposed unfair conduct +towards my father, and had taken a violent dislike to him; his advances +towards me were therefore very coolly received. I felt glad that I had +saved him; but although I could not exactly understand my own feelings +at the time, I am ashamed to say that my pleasure was not derived from +having done a good action, so much as indulging a feeling of revenge in +having put one under an obligation who had treated me ill; this arose +from my proud spirit, which my mother could not check. So you see, +William, there was very little merit in what I had done, as, after I +had done it, I indulged those feelings which I ought to have checked." + +"I think I could not have helped feeling the same, Ready, under such +circumstances," replied William. + +"The impulse which induced me to act was good," replied Ready; "but the +feeling which I indulged in afterwards took away the whole merit of the +deed. I am stating what I believe to be the truth; and an old man like +me can look upon the past without bias, but not without regret. Mr. +Masterman made but a short visit; he told my mother that he would now +take care of me and bring me up to the business of a ship-builder as +soon as I was old enough to leave school, and that in the meantime he +would pay all my expenses. My poor mother was very grateful, and shed +tears of joy; and when Mr. Masterman went away, she embraced me, and +said that now she was happy, as I should have a profession on shore and +not go to sea. I must do justice to Mr. Masterman; he kept his word and +sent money to my mother, so that she became quite cheerful and +comfortable, and everyone congratulated her, and she used to fondle me, +and say, it was all through me that she was relieved from her +distress." + +"How happy that must have made you, Ready!" said William. + +"Yes, it did, but it made me also very proud. Strange to say, I could +not conquer my dislike to Mr. Masterman; I had nourished the feeling +too long. I could not bear that my mother should be under obligations +to him, or that he should pay for my schooling; it hurt my foolish +pride, young as I then was; and although my mother was happy, I was +not. Besides, as I was put to a better school, and was obliged to +remain with the other boys, I could no longer run about the wharfs, or +go on board the vessels, as before. I did not see then, as I do now, +that it was all for my good but I became discontented and unhappy, +merely because I was obliged to pay attention to my learning, and could +no longer have my own way. The master complained of me; and Mr. +Masterman called and scolded me well. I became more disobedient, and +then I was punished. This irritated me, and I made up my mind that I +would run away to sea. You see, William, I was all in the wrong; and so +will all boys be who think they know better than those who have charge +of them; and now only see what I probably lost by my foolish conduct. I +say <i>probably</i>, for no one can calculate or foresee what is to +take place; but, as far as appearances went, I had every prospect of +receiving a good education - of succeeding Mr. Masterman in his +business, and, very probably, of inheriting his large fortune; so that +I might have been at this time a rich and well-educated man, surrounded +with all the comforts and luxuries of life; perhaps with an amiable +wife and large family round me, to make me still happier, instead of +being what I now am, a poor, worn-out old seaman upon a desert isle. I +point this out to you, William, to show how one false and foolish step +in the young may affect their whole prospects in life; and, instead of +enabling them to sail down with the stream of prosperity, may leave +them to struggle against the current of adversity, as has been the case +with me." + +"It is, indeed, a good lesson, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave. + +"It is; not that I repine at my lot, even while I regret the errors +that led to it. An all-wise and gracious God disposes of us as he +thinks best; and I can now say with perfect sincerity, `Thy will, not +mine, be done'." + +"Your misfortunes have, however, proved an incalculable benefit to us, +Ready," observed Mrs. Seagrave; "for had you not gone to sea, and been +on board the ship when the crew deserted us, what would have become of +us?" + +"Well, madam, it is some comfort to think that a worn-out old seaman +like myself has been of some use." + + + +Chapter XXXII + +The bleating of the kids woke them the next morning earlier than usual. +The weather was again fine, and the sun shining brightly, and Ready +turned out Nanny and her progeny. They had an excellent breakfast of +fried fish, and then Mr. Seagrave, Ready, and William went out to their +work: the two first took down the tents, and spread the canvas on the +ground, that it might be well dried, while William went in pursuit of +the fowls, which had not been seen for a day or two. After +half-an-hour's search in the cocoa-nut grove, he heard the cock crow, +and soon afterwards found them all. He threw them some split peas, +which he had brought with him. They were hungry enough and followed him +home to the house, where he left them and went to join Ready and his +father. + +"William," said Ready, "I think, now that we have spread out the tents, +we will, if Mr. Seagrave approves, all set to at once and knock up a +fowl-house; it won't be more than a day's job, and then the creatures +will have a home. There are four very thick cocoa-nut trees close to +the house; we will build it under them; it will be a good job over." +Mr. Seagrave assented, and they set immediately to work. There were +many thin poles left, the tops of the cocoa-nut trees which had been +cut down to build the house; these they nailed to the trunks of the +four trees, so as to make a square, and then they ran up rafters for a +pitched roof. + +"Now, sir, this is only rough work; we will first put up a perch or two +for them, and then close in the side, and thatch the roof with +cocoa-nut branches; but there's Juno taking in the dinner, so we'll +finish it afterwards." + +After their meal the work was renewed; Mr. Seagrave collected the +branches while William and Ready worked upon the sides and roof, and +before the evening closed in, the fowl-house was complete. William +enticed the fowls down to it with some more split peas, and then walked +away. + +"Now, sir, the creatures will soon find their way in; and by and by, +when I have time, I'll make a door to the entrance." + +"And now," said William, "I think we had better roll up the canvas of +the tents; we have had a splendid day, and may not be so fortunate +to-morrow." + +"Very true; we will get them housed, and stow them away under the +bed-places; there is plenty of room." By the time that they had folded +up the canvas, and William had brought in Nanny and the kids, the sun +had set, and they went into the house. Ready was requested to go on +with his history, which he did as follows:-- + +"I said last night that I determined to run away from school and go to +sea, but I did not tell you how I managed it. I had no chance of +getting out of the school unperceived, except after the boys were all +put to bed. The room that I slept in was at the top of the house - the +doors I knew were all locked; but there was a trap-door which led out +on the roof, fastened by a bolt inside, and a ladder leading up to it; +and I determined that I would make my escape by that way. As soon as +all the other boys were fast asleep, I arose and dressed myself very +quietly, and then left the room. + +"The moon shone bright, which was lucky for me, and I gained the +trap-door without any noise. I had some difficulty in forcing it up, as +it was heavy for a boy of my age; but I contrived to do so at last, and +gained the roof of the house. I then began looking about me, to see how +I was to get to the ground, and after walking to and fro several times, +I decided that I could slip down by a large water-pipe; it was so far +detached from the bricks, that I could get my small fingers round it. I +climbed over the parapet, and, clinging to the pipe firmly with my +hands and knees, I slid down, and arrived at the bottom in safety." + +"It's a wonder you did not break your neck, Ready," observed Mrs. +Seagrave. + +"It was, indeed, ma'am. As soon as I was landed in the flowerbed, which +was below, I hastened to the iron gates at the entrance, and soon +climbed up and got to the other side into the road. I started as fast +as I could towards the port, and when I arrived at the wharf, I +perceived that a vessel had her topsails loose, and meant to take +advantage of the ebb-tide which had just made; the men were singing `Yo +heave yo', getting the anchor up; and as I stood watching, almost +making up my mind that I would swim off to her, I perceived that a man +pushed off in her jolly-boat, and was sculling to a post a little +higher up, where a hawser had been made fast; I ran round, and arrived +there before he had cast off the rope; without saying a word, I jumped +into the boat. + +"`What do you want, youngster?' said the seaman. + +"`I want to go to sea,' said I, breathless; `take me on board - pray +do.' + +"`Well,' said he, `I heard the captain say he wanted an apprentice, and +so you may come.' + +"He sculled the boat back again to the vessel, and I climbed up her +side. + +"`Who are you?' said the captain. + +"I told him that I wanted to go to sea. + +"`You are too little and too young.' + +"`No, I am not,' replied I. + +"`Why, do you think that you dare go aloft?' + +"`I'll show you,' replied I; and I ran up the rigging like a cat, and +went out at the topgallant yard-arm. + +"When I came down, the captain said, `Well, I think you'll make a sharp +seaman by and by; so I'll take you, and, as soon as I get to London, +I'll bind you apprentice.' + +"The ship, which was a collier, was soon out of port, and before the +day had dawned I found myself on the wide ocean, which was hereafter to +be my home. + +"As soon as the hurry and confusion were over, I was examined by the +captain, who appeared to me to be a very rough, harsh man; indeed, +before the day was over I almost repented of the step which I had +taken, and when I sat down cold and wet upon some old sail at night, +the thoughts of my mother, and what distress I should occasion her, for +the first time rushed into my mind, and I wept bitterly; but it was too +late then. I have often thought, Mr. Seagrave, that the life of +hardship which I have since gone through has been a judgment on me for +my cruelty to my mother, in leaving her the way I did. It broke her +heart; a poor return, William, for all her care and kindness! God +forgive me!" + +Old Ready left off for some little time, and the remainder of the party +kept silence. Then he said - "I'll leave off now, if you please: I +don't feel inclined to go on; my heart is full when I recall that +foolish and wicked deed of mine." + + + +Chapter XXXIII + +The next morning was fine, and as soon as breakfast was over, they took +the wheels down to the turtle-pond, and Ready having speared one of the +largest by means of a pike with a barb to it, which he had made on +purpose, they hauled it on shore, slung it under the wheels, and took +it up to the house. Having killed the turtle, and cut it up, Juno, +under the directions of Ready, chose such portions as were required for +the soup; and when the pot was on the fire, Ready, Mr. Seagrave, and +William set off with the cross-cut saw and hatchets, to commence +felling the cocoa-nut trees for the building of the outhouse, which was +to hold their stores, as soon as they could be brought round from the +other side of the island. + +"I mean this to be our place of refuge in case of danger, sir," +observed Ready; "and therefore I have selected this thick part of the +wood, as it is not very far from the house, and by cutting the path to +it in a zigzag, it will be quite hidden from sight; and we must make +the path just wide enough to allow the wheels to pass, and stump up the +roots of the trees which we are obliged to cut down, otherwise the +stumps would attract attention." + +"I agree with you, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave; "there is no saying +what may happen." + +"You see, sir, it is often the custom for the natives, in this part of +the world, to come in their canoes from one island to another, merely +to get cocoa-nuts. I can't say that the other islands near us are +inhabited, but still it is probable, and we cannot tell what the +character of the people may be. I tell you this, but we had better not +say a word to Mrs. Seagrave, as it may distress her." + +Mr. Seagrave agreed, and Ready continued: + +"We are now near the spot, sir. You see, when we have got over this +hill, where the trees are so very thick, the fall in the ground will +assist in the concealment of the building. I should say we are very +near right where we now stand." + +"How far are we now from the house? We must not be too distant." + +"I reckon we are not 150 yards in a straight line, although the road +will, by its turning, make it double the distance." + +"Then I think this spot will do very well." + +"I'll just mark out the trees which are to stand, Mr. Seagrave, and +those which are to be cut down, so as to leave about four feet of stump +standing." + +As soon as they had planned the building, the axes and saw were in full +use, and tree after tree fell one upon the other. They worked hard till +dinner-time, and were not sorry at the prospect of sitting down to a +rich mess of turtle-soup. + +"My dear William, and you too, Mr. Seagrave, how very warm you are!" +said Mrs. Seagrave; "you must not work so hard." + +"Cutting down trees is very warm work, mother," replied William, "and +hard work will never hurt any one, especially when he dines off +turtle-soup. Why, Tommy, what's the matter with you?" + +"Tommy and I are at variance," replied Mrs. Seagrave. "I had my thimble +this morning, and had commenced my sewing, when I was called out by +Juno, and Caroline went with me, and Tommy was left in the house. When +I came back I found him outside, and on going back to my work, there +was no thimble to be found; I asked him if he had touched it, and his +answer was that he would look for it. He did look, and said he could +not find it; I have asked him several times if he took it away, and his +only answer is that he will find it by and by." + +"Tommy, did you take the thimble?" said Mr. Seagrave, gravely. + +"I'll find it by and by, papa." + +"That's not an answer. Did you take the thimble?" + +"I'll find it by and by, papa," said Tommy, whimpering. + +"That's all the answer he will give me," said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Well, then, he shall have no dinner till the thimble makes its +appearance," replied Mr. Seagrave. + +Master Tommy began to cry at this intelligence. Juno appeared with the +turtle-soup; and Tommy cried louder when they had said grace and +commenced their dinner. They were all very hungry, and William sent his +plate for another portion, which he had not commenced long before he +put his finger in his mouth and pulled out something. + +"Why, mother, here's the thimble in my soup," cried William. + +"No wonder he said he would find it by and by," said Ready, smiling; +"he meant to have fished it up, I suppose, from what was left of the +soup after dinner. Well, Mrs. Seagrave, I don't mean to say that Tommy +is a good boy, but still, although be would not tell where the thimble +was, he has not told a falsehood about it." + +"No, he has not," replied William. "I think, now that the thimble is +found, if he begs pardon, papa will forgive him." + +"Tommy, come here," said Mr. Seagrave. "Tell me why you put that +thimble into the soup?" + +"I wanted to taste the soup. I wanted to fill the thimble; the soup +burnt my fingers, and I let the thimble drop in." + +"Well, a thimbleful wasn't much, at all events," observed Ready. "And +why didn't you tell your mamma where the thimble was?" + +"I was afraid mamma throw all the soup away, and then I get none for +dinner." + +"Oh! that was it, was it? Well, sir, I said you should have no dinner +till the thimble was found, so, as it is found, you may have your +dinner; but if you ever refuse to answer a question again, I shall +punish you more severely." + +Tommy was glad the lecture was over, and more glad to get his +turtle-soup; he finished one plate, and, as he asked for another, he +said, "Tommy won't put thimble in again; put tin pot in next time." + +After dinner they went to their work again, and did not come in again +till sunset. + +"The clouds are gathering fast, sir," observed Ready; "we shall have +rain to-night." + +"I fear we shall; but we must expect it now, Ready." + +"Yes, sir; and by and by we shall have it for days together." + +"Ready," said Mrs. Seagrave, "if you are not too tired, perhaps you +will go on with your history." + +"Certainly, ma'am, if you wish it," replied Ready. "When I left off, I +was on board of the collier, bound to London. We had a very fair wind, +and a quick passage. I was very sick until we arrived in the Nore, and +then I recovered, and, as you may suppose, was astonished at the busy +scene, and the quantity of vessels which were going up and down the +river. But I did not like my captain; he was very severe and brutal to +the men; and the apprentice who was on board told me to run away, and +get into another vessel, and not to bind myself apprentice to this +captain, or I should be beat all day long, and be treated as bad as he +was. I knew this was the case, as the captain kicked and cuffed him +twenty times a day. The men said that he did not do so to me, for fear +I should refuse to be his apprentice; but that, as soon as my +indentures were signed, he would treat me in the same way. + +"Well, I made up my mind that I would not remain in the collier; and, +as the captain had gone on shore, I had plenty of time to look about +me. There was a large ship, which was ready to sail, lying in the +stream; I spoke to two boys who were at the stairs in her boat, and +they told me that they were very comfortable on board, and that the +captain wanted two or three apprentices. I went on board with them, and +offered myself. The captain asked me a great many questions, and I told +him the truth, and why I did not like to remain in the collier. He +agreed to take me; and I went on shore with him, signed my indentures, +and received from him a sufficient supply of clothes; and, two days +afterwards, we sailed for Bombay and China." + +"But you wrote to your mother, Ready, did you not?" said William. + +"Yes, I did; for the captain desired me to do so, and he put a few +lines at the bottom to comfort her; but, unfortunately, the letter, +which was sent on shore by the cook, never arrived. Whether he dropped +it, or forgot it till after the ship sailed, and then tore it up, I do +not know; but, as I found out afterwards, it never did get to her +hands." + +"It was not your fault that the letter did not arrive safe," said Mrs. +Seagrave. + +"No, madam, that was not my fault; the fault had been committed +before." + +"Don't dwell any more upon that portion of your history, Ready; but +tell us what took place after you sailed for the East Indies." + +"Be it so, if you please. I certainly was very smart and active for my +age, and soon became a great favourite on board, especially with the +lady passengers, because I was such a little fellow. We arrived safely +at Bombay, where our passengers went on shore, and in three weeks +afterwards we sailed down the straits for China. It was war time, and +we were very often chased by French privateers; but as we had a good +crew and plenty of guns, none of them ventured to attack us, and we got +safe to Macao, where we unloaded our cargo and took in teas. We had to +wait some time for a convoy, and then sailed for England. When we were +off the Isle of France, the convoy was dispersed in a gale; and three +days afterwards, a French frigate bore down upon us, and after +exchanging a few broadsides, we were compelled to haul down our +colours. A lieutenant was sent on board with forty men to take charge +of us, for we were a very rich prize to them. The captain and most of +the crew were taken on board of the frigate, but ten Lascars and the +boys were left in the Indiaman, to assist in taking her into the Isle +of France, which was at that time in the hands of the French. I thought +it hard that I was to go to prison at twelve years old; but I did not +care much about it, and very soon I was as gay and merry as ever. We +had made the island, and were on a wind beating up to the port, when a +vessel was seen to windward, and although I could not understand what +the Frenchmen said, I perceived that they were in a great fluster and +very busy with their spy-glasses, and Jack Romer, one of my brother +'prentices who had been three years at sea, said to me, `I don't think +we'll go to prison after all, Ready, for that vessel is an English +man-of-war, if I'm not mistaken.' At last she came down within three +miles of us, and hoisted English colours and fired a gun. The Frenchmen +put the ship before the wind, but it was of no use; the man-of-war came +up with us very fast, and then the Frenchmen began to pack up their +clothes, together with all the other things which they had collected +out of the property of our captain and crew; a shot was fired which +went clean over our heads, and then they left the helm, and Jack Romer +went to it, and, with my help, hove the ship up in the wind; a boat +came on board and took possession, and so there was one escape, at all +events. + +"They sent a midshipman as prize-master on board of the vessel, and +left all us, who had been taken prisoners by the French, in the vessel, +to help to work her into port, as the captain did not wish to part with +any more men of his own than was necessary. We soon made sail for +England, quite delighted at having escaped a French prison, but, after +all, we only exchanged it for a Dutch one." + +"How do you mean?" + +"I mean that, two days afterwards, as we were rounding the Cape, +another French vessel bore down upon us, and captured us. This time we +did not find any friend in need, and were taken into Table Bay; for at +that time the Cape of Good Hope was in the possession of the Dutch, +who, as well as the French, were at war with England." + +"How very unfortunate you were, Ready!" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Yes, madam, we were, and I can't say much in favour of a Dutch prison. +However, I was very young at that time, and did not care much - I had a +light heart." + + + +Chapter XXXIV + +A heavy storm came on soon after they had retired to rest; the +lightning was so vivid that its flashes penetrated through the chinks +of the door and windows, and the thunder burst upon them with a noise +which prevented them obtaining any sleep. The children cried and +trembled as they lay in the arms of Mrs. Seagrave and Juno, who were +almost as much alarmed themselves. + +"This is very awful," said Mr. Seagrave to Ready, for they had both +risen from their beds. + +"It is indeed, sir; I never knew a more terrible storm than this." + +"Merciful Heaven!" exclaimed Mr. Seagrave. + +As he spoke, they were both thrown back half-stunned; a crash of +thunder burst over the house, which shook everything in it; a +sulphurous smell pervaded the building, and soon afterwards, when they +recovered their feet, they perceived that the house was full of smoke, +and they heard the wailing of the women and the shrieks of the children +in the bed-places on the other side. + +"God have mercy on us!" exclaimed Ready, who was the first to recover +himself, and who now attempted to ascertain the injury which had been +done: "the lightning has struck us, and I fear that the house is on +fire somewhere." + +"My wife - my children!" exclaimed Mr. Seagrave; "are they all safe?" + +"Yes, yes!" cried Mrs. Seagrave, "all safe; Tommy has come to me; but +where is Juno? Juno!" + +Juno answered not. William darted to the other side of the house, and +found Juno lying on her side, motionless. + +"She is dead, father," cried William. + +"Help me to carry her out of the house, Mr. Seagrave," said Ready, who +had lifted up the poor girl; "she may be only stunned." + +They carried Juno out of the house, and laid her on the ground; the +rain poured down in torrents. + +Ready left them for a minute, to ascertain if the house was on fire; he +found that it had been in flames at the further corner, but the rain +had extinguished it. He then went back to Mr. Seagrave and William, who +were with Juno. + +"I will attend to the girl, sir," said Ready; "go you and Master +William into the house; Mrs. Seagrave will be too much frightened if +she is left alone at such an awful time. See, sir! Juno is not dead - +her chest heaves - she will come to very soon; thank God for it!" + +William and Mr. Seagrave returned to the house; they found Mrs. +Seagrave fainting with anxiety and fear. The information they brought, +that Juno was not killed by the lightning, did much to restore her. +William soothed little Albert, and Tommy in a few minutes was fast +asleep again in his father's arms. The storm now abated, and as the day +began to break, Ready appeared with Juno, who was sufficiently +recovered to he able to walk in with his support; she was put into her +bed, and then Ready and Mr. Seagrave went to examine if further +mischief had been done. The lightning had come in at the further end of +the house, at the part where the fireplace was intended to have been +made. + +"We have been most mercifully preserved," said Mr. Seagrave. + +"Yes, sir, thanks be to God for all his goodness," replied Ready. + +"I think we have a large roll of copper wire, Ready; have we not?" said +Mr. Seagrave. + +"Yes, sir, I was just thinking of it myself; we will have a +lightning-conductor up the first thing." + +It was now broad daylight. Mrs. Seagrave dressed herself and the +children, and as soon as she was ready, Mr. Seagrave read such portions +of the Psalms as were appropriate, and they earnestly joined in a +prayer of thankfulness and humility. William went out to prepare the +breakfast, and Ready procured the coil of copper wire from those stores +which were stowed under the bed-places. This he unrolled, and stretched +it out straight, and then went for the ladder, which was at the +outhouse they had commenced building. As soon as breakfast was over, +Ready and Mr. Seagrave went out again to fix up the +lightning-conductor, leaving William to do the work of Juno, who still +remained fast asleep in her bed. + +"I think," said Ready, "that one of those two trees which are close +together will suit the best; they are not too near the house, and yet +quite near enough for the wire to attract the lightning." + +"I agree with you, Ready; but we must not leave both standing." + +"No, sir, but we shall require them both to get up and fix the wire; +after that we will cut down the other." + +Ready put his ladder against one of the trees, and, taking with him the +hammer and a bag of large spike-nails, drove one of the nails into the +trunk of the tree till it was deep enough in to bear his weight; he +then drove in another above it, and so he continued to do, standing +upon one of them while he drove in another above, till he had reached +the top of the tree, close to the boughs; he then descended, and, +leaving the hammer behind him, took up a saw and small axe, and in +about ten minutes he had cut off the head of the cocoa-nut tree, which +remained a tall, bare pole. + +"Take care, Ready, how you come down," said Mr. Seagrave anxiously. + +"Never fear, sir," replied Ready; "I'm not so young as I was, but I +have been too often at the mast-head, much higher than this." + +Ready came down again, and then cut down a small pole, to fix with a +thick piece of pointed wire at the top of it, on the head of the +cocoa-nut tree. He then went up, lashed the small pole to the head of +the tree, made the end of the copper wire fast to the pointed wire, and +then he descended. The other tree near to it was then cut down, and the +lower end of the wire buried in the ground at the bottom of the tree on +which the lightning-conductor had been fixed. + +"That's a good job done, sir," said Ready, wiping his face, for he was +warm with the work. + +"Yes," replied Mr. Seagrave; "and we must put up another near the +outhouse, or we may lose our stores." + +"Very true, sir." + +"You understand this, William, don't you?" said his father. + +"O yes, papa; lightning is attracted by metal, and will now strike the +point instead of the house, run down the wire, and only tear up the +ground below." + +"It's coming on again, sir, as thick as ever," observed the old man; +"we shall do no work to-day, I'm afraid. I'll just go and see where the +stock are." + +Juno was now up again, and said that she was quite well, with the +exception of a headache. As Ready had predicted, the rain now came on +again with great violence, and it was impossible to do any work out of +doors. At the request of William he continued his narrative. + +Narrative of Old Ready. + +"Well, William, as soon as they had let go their anchor in Table Bay, +we were all ordered on shore, and sent up to a prison close to the +Government Gardens. We were not very carefully watched, as it appeared +impossible for us to get away, and I must say we were well treated in +every respect; but we were told that we should be sent to Holland in +the first man-of-war which came into the bay, and we did not much like +the idea. + +"There were, as I told you, some other boys as well as myself, who +belonged to the Indiaman, and we kept very much together, not only +because we were more of an age, but because we had been shipmates so +long. Two of these boys, one of whom I have mentioned as Jack Romer, +and the other Will Hastings, were my particular friends; and one day, +as we were sitting under the wall warming ourselves, for it was winter +time, Romer said, `How very easy it would be for us to get away, if we +only knew where to go to!' + +"`Yes,' replied Hastings; `but where are we to go to, if it is not to +the Hottentots and wild savages; and when we get there, what can we do? +- we can't get any further.' `Well,' said I, `I would rather be living +free among savages, than be shut up in a prison.' That was our first +talk on the subject, but we had many others afterwards; and as the one +or two Dutch soldiers who stood sentry spoke English, and we could talk +a little Dutch, we obtained a good deal of information from them; for +they had very often been sent to the frontiers of the colony. We +continued to ask questions, and to talk among ourselves for about two +months, and at last we resolved that we would make our escape. We +should have done much better if we had remained where we were; but +there is no putting old heads upon young shoulders. We saved up our +provisions, bought some long Dutch knives, tied our few clothes up in +bundles, and one dark night we contrived to remain in the yard without +being perceived, when the prisoners were locked up; and raising a long +pole, which lay in the yard, to the top of the wall, with a good deal +of scrambling we contrived to get over it, and made off as fast as we +could for the Table Mountain." + +"What was your reason for going there, Ready?" + +"Why, Hastings, who was the oldest, and, I will say, the sharpest of +the three, said that we had better stay up there for a few days, till +we had made up our minds what to do, and try if we could not procure a +musket or two, and ammunition; for, you see, we had money, as, when the +Indiaman was first taken, the captain divided a keg of rupees, which +was on board, among the officers and men, in proportion to the wages +due to them, thinking it was better for the crew to have the money than +to leave it for the Frenchmen; and we had spent very little while in +prison. There was also another reason why he persuaded us to go to the +Table Mountain, which was, that as soon as our escape was found out, +they would send parties to look for us; thinking, of course, that we +had made for the interior; and we should have less chance of being +retaken if we travelled after the first search was over. The soldiers +had told us of the lions, and other wild animals, and how dangerous it +was to travel, and Hastings said, that not finding us, they would +suppose we had been destroyed by the wild beasts, and would not look +for us any more." + +"Foolish indeed," observed Mrs. Seagrave, "to set off you knew not +where, in a country full of wild beasts and savages." + +"True enough, madam," replied Ready. "We ran at first until we were out +of breath, and then we walked on as fast as we could - not going right +up the mountain, but keeping a slanting direction to the south-west, so +as to get away from the town, and more towards False Bay. + +"We had walked about four hours, and began to feel very tired, when the +day dawned, and then we looked out for a place to conceal ourselves in. +We soon found a cave with a narrow entrance, large enough inside to +hold half-a-dozen of such lads as we were, and we crawled in. It was +quite dry, and, as we were very tired, we lay down with our heads on +our bundles, intending to take a nap; but we had hardly made ourselves +comfortable and shut our eyes, when we heard such a screaming and +barking that we were frightened out of our lives almost. We could not +think what it could be. At last Hastings peeped out, and began to +laugh; so Homer and I looked out also, and there we saw about one +hundred and fifty large baboons leaping and tumbling about in such a +way as I never saw; they were bigger than we were - indeed, when they +stood on their hind legs they were much taller, and they had very large +white tusks. Some of them were females, with young ones on their backs, +and they were just as active as the males. At last they played such +antics, that we all burst out into a loud laugh, and we had not ceased +when we found the grinning face of one of the largest of those brutes +close to our own. He had dropped from the rock above us, like magic. We +all three backed into the cave, very much frightened, for the teeth of +the animal were enormous, and he looked very savage. He gave a shrill +cry, and we perceived all the rest of the herd coming to him as fast as +they could. I said that the cave was large enough to hold six of us; +but there was a sort of inner cave which we had not gone into, as the +entrance was much smaller. Homer cried out, `Let us go into the inside +cave - we can get in one by one;' and he backed in; Hastings followed +with his bundle, and I hurried in after him just in time; for the +baboons, who had been chattering to each other for half a minute, came +into the outer cave just as I crawled into the inner. Five or six of +them came in, all males, and very large. The first thing they did was +to lay hold of Homer's bundle, which they soon opened - at once they +seized his provisions and rammed them into their pouches, and then they +pulled out the other things and tore them all to pieces. As soon as +they had done with the bundle, two of them came towards the inner cave +and saw us. One put his long paw in to seize us; but Hastings gave him +a slash with his knife, and the animal took his paw out again fast +enough. It was laughable to see him hold out his hand to the others, +and then taste the blood with the tip of his tongue, and such a +chattering I never heard - they were evidently very angry, and more +came into the cave and joined them; then another put in his hand, and +received a cut just as before. At last, two or three at once tried to +pull us out, but we beat them all off with our knives, wounding them +all very severely. For about an hour they continued their attempts, and +then they went away out of the cave, but remained at the mouth +shrieking and howling. We began to be very tired of this work, and +Homer said that he wished he was back in prison again; and so did I, I +can assure you; but there was no getting out, for had we gone out the +animals would have torn us to pieces. We agreed that we had no chance +but the animals becoming tired and going away; and most anxious we +were, for the excitement had made us very thirsty, and we wanted water. +We remained for two hours in this way imprisoned by baboons, when all +of a sudden a shrill cry was given by one of the animals, and the whole +herd went galloping off as fast as they could, screaming louder than +ever. We waited for a short time to see if they would return, and then +Hastings crawled out first, and looking out of the cave very +cautiously, said that they were all gone, and that he could see nothing +but a Hottentot sitting down watching some cattle; we therefore all +came out, very happy at our release. That was our first adventure; we +had plenty afterwards; but I think it is now time we should go to bed. +It is my opinion we shall have a fine day to-morrow, sir; but there's +no saying." + +"I do so want to hear what happened to you afterwards, Ready," said +William. + +"Well, so you shall; but there's a time for everything, and this is +bed-time, unless you like to go with me; the weather has cleared up, +and I want to catch a fish or two for to-morrow." + + + +Chapter XXXV + +As Ready had predicted, the weather set in fine after the violent storm +of which we have made mention. For a fortnight, with little +intermission, it continued fine, and during that time, Ready, Mr. +Seagrave, and William worked from daylight till dusk at the storehouse, +which they were so anxious to complete, and were so tired when their +work was over, that even William did not ask Ready to go on with his +history. At last the storehouse was complete, thatched and wattled in +on three sides, leaving one open for ventilation; the lower part, which +had been arranged for the folding of the stock at night and during the +rainy season, was also wattled in with cocoa-nut boughs on three sides, +and made a very comfortable retreat for the animals. The winding path +to the storehouse was also cut through the cocoa-nut grove, but the +stumps were not removed, as they could not spare the time. All the +stores that they had brought round were put into the storehouse, and +they were now ready to take up some other job. It was, however, agreed +that, on the day after the building was finished, they should all have +a day's holiday, which they certainly did require. William caught some +fish, a turtle was speared and wheeled up to the house; and they not +only had a holiday, but a feast. Mr. Seagrave and William had been +walking on the beach with Mrs. Seagrave and the children, while Ready +was assisting Juno in cutting up the turtle; they had shown Mrs. +Seagrave the storehouse, and the goats with the four kids had been led +there, as there was no longer any occasion for them to remain in the +house. The weather was beautiful, and they agreed to go and examine the +garden. They found that the seeds had not yet commenced sprouting, +notwithstanding the heavy rains. + +"I should have thought that so much rain would have made them come up," +said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"No, my dear," replied Mr. Seagrave; "they require more of the sun than +they will have till the rainy season is nearly over; a few days like +this, and they will soon be above-ground." + +"Let us sit down on this knoll, it is quite dry," said Mrs. Seagrave. +"I little thought," continued she, "that I could have been so happy in +a desert island. I thought I should feel the loss of books very +severely, but I really do not think that I could have found time to +read." + +"Employment is a source of happiness, especially when you are usefully +employed. An industrious person is always a happy person, provided he +is not obliged to work too hard; and even where you have cause for +unhappiness, nothing makes you forget it so soon as occupation." + +"But, mamma, we shall not always have so much to do as we have now," +said William. + +"Of course not," replied Mr. Seagrave; "and then we shall find our +books a great source of enjoyment. I am anxious to go to the other side +of the island, and see what have been spared to us, and whether they +have been much damaged; but that cannot be until after the rains are +over, and we can use the boat again. + +"Look at this minute insect which is crawling on my finger," said Mr. +Seagrave, turning to William: "what a number of legs it has!" + +"Yes, I have seen something like it in old books. How fast it runs with +its little legs; thinner than hairs - how wonderful!" + +"Yes, William," replied Mr. Seagrave, "we have only to examine into any +portion, however small, of creation, and we are immediately filled with +wonder. There is nothing which points out to us the immensity and the +omniscience of the Almighty more than the careful provision which has +been made by Him for the smallest and most insignificant of created +beings. This little animal is perhaps one of many millions, who have +their term of existence, and their enjoyment, as well as we have. What +is it? - an insect of the minutest kind, a nothing in creation; yet has +the same care been bestowed upon its formation: these little legs, +hardly visible, have their muscles and their sinews; and every other +portion of its body is as complete, as fearfully and wonderfully +fashioned, as our own. Such is his will; and what insects we ought to +feel ourselves, when compared to the God of power and of love!" + +"Let me also point out to you, William," continued Mr. Seagrave, "the +infinity of his creative power, displayed in endless variety. Amongst +the millions of men that have been born, and died, if ever yet were +there seen two faces or two bodies exactly alike; nay, if you could +examine the leaves upon the trees, although there may be millions upon +millions in a forest, you could not discover two leaves of precisely +the same form and make." + +"I have often tried in vain," replied William; "yet some animals are so +much alike, that I cannot perceive any difference between them - sheep, +for instance." + +"Very true; you cannot tell the difference, because you have not +examined them; but a shepherd, if he has seven hundred sheep under his +care, will know every one of them from the others; which proves that +there must be a great difference between them, although not perceptible +to the casual observer; and the same, no doubt, is the case with all +other classes of animals." + +"Yes, William," observed Ready; "I have often wondered over the things +that I have seen, and I have even in my ignorance felt what your papa +has now told you; and it has brought into my mind the words of Job: +`When I consider, I am afraid of him'." + +"Papa," said William, after a pause in the conversation, "you have +referred to the variety - the wonderful variety - shown in the works of +the Deity. Tell me some other prominent feature in creation." + +"One of the most remarkable, William, is order." + +"Point out to me, papa, where and in what that quality is most +observable." + +"Everywhere and in everything, my dear boy; whether we cast our eyes up +to the heavens above us, or penetrate into the bowels of the earth, the +principle of order is everywhere - everything is governed by fixed +laws, which cannot be disobeyed: we have order in the seasons, in the +tides, in the movement of the heavenly bodies, in the instinct of +animals, in the duration of life assigned to each; from the elephant +who lives more than a century, to the ephemeral fly, whose whole +existence is limited to an hour. + +"Inanimate nature is subject to the same unvarying laws. Metals, and +rocks, and earths, and all the mineral kingdom follow one law in their +crystallization, never varying from the form assigned to them; each +atom depositing itself in the allotted place, until that form is +complete: we have order in production, order in decay; but all is +simple to him by whom the planets were thrown out into space, and were +commanded to roll in their eternal orbits." + +"Yes; the stars in the heavens are beautiful," said William, "but they +are not placed there in order." + +"The fixed stars do not appear to us to be in order - that is, they do +not stud the heavens at equal distances from each other as we view +them; but you must recollect that they are at very different distances +from this earth, spreading over all infinity of space; and we have +reason to suppose that this our earth is but a mere unit in the +multitude of created worlds, only one single portion of an infinite +whole. As the stars now appear to us, they are useful to the mariner, +enabling him to cross the trackless seas; and to the astronomer, who +calculates the times and seasons." + +"What do you mean, papa, by saying that this world of ours is supposed +to be but one of a multitude of created worlds?" + +"Our little knowledge is bounded to this our own earth, which we have +ascertained very satisfactorily to be but one of several planets +revolving round our own sun. I say our own sun, because we have every +reason to suppose that each of those fixed stars, and myriads now not +visible to the naked eye, are all suns, bright and glorious as our own, +and of course throwing light and heat upon unseen planets revolving +round them. Does not this give you some idea of the vastness, the +power, and the immensity of God?" + +"One almost loses one's self in the imagination," said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Yes," replied Mr. Seagrave; "and it has been surmised by some, who +have felt in their hearts the magnificence of the Great Architect, that +there must be some point of view in space where all those glorious +suns, which seem to us confused in the heavens above us, will appear +all symmetrically arranged, will there be viewed in regular order, +whirling round in one stupendous and perfect system of beauty and +design; and where can that be, if it is not in that heaven which we +hope to gain?" + +There was a silence for a few moments, when William said, "They say +that there are people who are atheists, papa. How can they be so if +they only look around them? I am sure a mere examination of the works +of God ought to make them good Christians." + +"No, my child," replied Mr. Seagrave; "there you are in error. Few deny +the existence of a Deity, and an examination of his works may make them +good and devout men, but not Christians. There are good men to be found +under every denomination, whether they be Jews, Mahomedans, or Pagans; +but they are not Christians." + +"Very true, papa." + +"Faith in things seen, if I may use the term, my dear child, may induce +men to acknowledge the power and goodness of the Almighty, but it will +not make them wise to salvation; for that end, it is necessary, as the +Apostle saith, to have faith in things not seen." + + + +Chapter XXXVI + +"Well, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave, after breakfast, "which is to be our +next job?" + +"Why, sir, I think we had better all set to, to collect the branches +and ends of the cocoa-nut trees cut down, and stack them for fuel. +Tommy and Juno have already made a good large pile, and I think, by +to-night, we shall have made the stack, and so arranged it that the +rain will not get into it much. After that, as the weather will not +permit us to leave the house for any time, we will cut our salt-pan and +make our fish-pond; they will take a week at least, and then we shall +have little more to do near home. I think the strength of the rains is +over already, and perhaps in a fortnight we may venture to walk through +the wood, and examine what we have saved from the wreck." + +"And we are to explore the island; are we not, Ready?" said William. "I +long to do that." + +"Yes, William, but that must be almost the last job; for we shall be +away for two or three nights, perhaps, and we must look out for fine +weather. We will, however, do that before we bring the stores round in +the boat." + +"But how are we to make the salt-pan, Ready? We must cut it out of the +solid rock." + +"Yes, William; but I have three or four of what they call cold chisels, +and with one of them and a hammer, we shall get on faster than you +think; for the coral rock, although hard at the surface, is soft a +little below it." + +The whole of that day was employed in piling up the cocoa-nut branches +and wood. Ready made a square stack, like a haystack, with a gable top, +over which he tied the long branches, so that the rain would pour off +it. + +"There," said Ready, as he came down the ladder, "that will be our +provision for next year; we have quite enough left to go on with till +the rainy season is over, and we shall have no difficulty in collecting +it afterwards when the weather is dry." + +Mr. Seagrave sighed and looked grave; Ready observed it, and said, "Mr. +Seagrave, it is not that we may want it; but still we must prepare for +the next rainy season, in case we do want it. That Captain Osborn, if +he lives, will send to look for us, I have no doubt; nay, I believe +that Mackintosh will do the same; but still you must not forget that +they all may have perished, although we have been so mercifully +preserved. We must put our trust in God, sir." + +"We must, Ready; and if it is his will, we must not murmur. I have +schooled myself as much as possible; but thoughts will come in spite of +my endeavours to restrain them." + +"Of course they will, sir; that's natural: however, sir, you must hope +for the best; fretting is no good, and it is sinful." + +"I feel it is, Ready; and when I see how patient, and even happy, my +wife is under such privations, I am angry with myself." + +"A woman, sir, bears adversity better than a man. A woman is all love, +and if she has but her husband and children with her, and in good +health, she will make herself happy almost anywhere: but men are +different: they cannot bear being shut out of the world as you are +now." + +"It is our ambition which makes us unhappy, Ready," replied Mr. +Seagrave; "but let us say no more about it: God must dispose of me as +he thinks fit." + +After supper, Ready, being requested by William, continued his +narrative. + +"I left off, if I recollect right, William, just as the Hottentot, with +the cattle under his care, had frightened away the baboons who were +tormenting us. Well, we came out of the cave and sat down under the +rock, so that the Hottentot could not see us, and we had a sort of +council of war. Romer was for going back and giving ourselves up again; +for he said it was ridiculous to be wandering about without any arms to +defend ourselves against wild beasts, and that we might fall in with +something worse than the baboons very soon; and he was right. It would +have been the wisest thing which we could have done; but Hastings said, +that if we went back we should be laughed at, and the idea of being +laughed at made us all agree that we would not. Bear this in mind, +William, and never let the fear of ridicule induce you to do what is +wrong; or if you have done wrong, prevent you from returning to what is +your duty." + +"Many thanks for your advice, Ready; I hope William will not forget +it," said Mr. Seagrave. + +"Well, sir, such was our reason for not giving up our mad scheme; and +having so decided, the next point of consultation between us was, how +we were to procure arms and ammunition, which we could not do without. +As we were talking this over, I peeped from behind the rock to see +where the Hottentot might be; I perceived that he had laid himself +down, and wrapped himself up in his kross, a mantle of sheep-skins +which they always wear. Now we had observed that he carried his musket +in his hand, when we first saw him, as the Hottentots always go out +armed, and I pointed out to Hastings and Romer that if he was asleep, +we might get possession of his musket without his perceiving it. This +was a good idea, and Hastings said he would crawl to him on his hands +and knees, while we remained behind the rock. He did so very +cautiously, and found the man's head covered up in his kross and fast +asleep; so there was no fear, for the Hottentots are very hard to wake +at any time; that we knew well. Hastings first took the musket and +carried it away out of the reach of the Hottentot, and then he returned +to him, cut the leather thong which slung his powder-horn and +ammunition, and retreated with all of them without disturbing the man +from his sleep. We were quite overjoyed at this piece of good luck, and +determined to walk very cautiously some distance from where the +Hottentot lay, that in case he awoke he should not see us. Keeping our +eyes about in every direction, lest we should meet with anybody else, +we proceeded nearly a mile towards Table Bay, when we fell in with a +stream of water. This was another happy discovery, for we were very +thirsty; so we concealed ourselves near the stream after we had +quenched our thirst, and made a dinner off the provisions we had +brought with us." + +"But, Ready, did you not do wrong to steal the Hottentot's musket?" + +"No, William; in that instance it could not be considered as a theft. +We were in an enemy's country, trying to escape; we were therefore just +as much at war with the country as we were when they took us prisoners, +and we no more stole the musket than they could be said to have stolen +our ship. Am I not right, Mr. Seagrave?" + +"I believe you are justified in what may seem extreme acts for the +recovery of your liberty, after you have been made prisoners. It has +always been so considered." + +"Well, sir, to go on: we waited till dusk, and then we continued our +march towards False Bay as fast as we could. We knew that there were +farmers down in the valley, or rather on the sides of the hills, and we +hoped to obtain, by some means or other, two more muskets. It was near +twelve o'clock at night, with a bright moon, when we had a sight of the +water in False Bay, and soon afterwards we heard the baying of a large +dog, and not far from us we distinguished two or three farmhouses, with +their cattle-folds and orchards. We then looked for a hiding-place, +where we might remain till the morning; we found one between some large +pieces of rock. We agreed that one should watch while the other two +slept; this Hastings undertook to do, as he was not inclined to sleep. +At daylight he woke Romer and me, and we made our breakfast. From the +place we were concealed in, we had a bird's-eye view of the farmhouse, +and of what was going on. + +"The farmhouse and buildings just below us were much smaller than the +other two, which were more distant. We watched the people as they went +about. In about an hour the Hottentots came out, and we perceived that +they were yoking the oxen to the waggon; they yoked twelve pair, and +then the Hottentot driver got in and drove off towards Cape Town. Soon +after that, another Hottentot drove the cows up the valley to feed; and +then a Dutch woman came out of the house with two children, and fed the +poultry. + +"We watched for another hour, and then the farmer himself made his +appearance, with a pipe in his mouth, and sat down on a bench. When his +pipe was out, he called to the house, and a Hottentot woman came to him +with more tobacco and a light. During the whole of the day we did not +see any other people about the house, so we concluded that there were +no more than the farmer, his wife, the Hottentot woman, and two +children. About two hours after noon the farmer went to the stable and +led out his horse, mounted, mid rode away; we saw him speak to the +Hottentot woman when he rode off, and she soon after went down the +valley with a basket on her head, and a long knife in her hand. Then +Hastings said it was time that we moved, for there was but one woman in +the house, and we could easily overpower her and get what we wanted; +still there was a great risk, as she might give the alarm, and we +should have to escape in the day-time, and might be seen and taken +prisoners again. However, as it was our only chance, we resolved to go +down to the farmhouse very cautiously, and be all ready to seize any +opportunity. We crept down the hill, and gained the fence, which was at +the back of the farmhouse, without being discovered: we remained there +for about a quarter of an hour, when, to our great joy, we observed the +farmer's wife go out of the house, leading a child in each hand; +apparently she was going to visit one of her neighbours, for she went +in the direction of one of the other farms. As soon as she was a +hundred yards off, Hastings crept softly through the fence, and entered +the farmhouse by the back-door; he came out again, and made a sign for +us to come in. We found him already in possession of a rifle and a +musket, which had been hanging over the fire-place, and we soon handed +down the powder-horns and ammunition pouches, which were hung up at a +different part of the room, away from the fire-place. + +"Having gained these, Hastings set me to watch at the front door, lest +anybody should return, while Romer and he looked out for something else +in the way of provisions. We got possession of three hams, and a large +loaf of bread as big as a small washing-tub. With these articles we +made our way safe back to our retreat. We then looked round, and could +see nobody in any direction, so we presumed that we were not +discovered. As there was a sort of ravine full of rocks dividing the +hill, which we were obliged to pass before we could get into the +valley, unless we went down close to the farmhouse, we agreed that it +would be better at once to cross it during the day-time, so that we +should get that difficulty over, and, at the same time, be further from +the farmhouse. We did so; and found a very secure hiding-place, where +we lay down, waiting for the sun to set before we started on our +journey into the interior. I think I had better leave off now, William, +as it is getting late." + + + +Chapter XXXVII + +The fishpond was commenced the next morning. Ready, Mr. Seagrave, and +William went down together to the beach, and, after much examination, +chose a spot about one hundred yards from the turtle-pond as most +eligible for the purpose; the water being shallow, so that at the part +farthest from the shore there would not be more than three feet. + +"Now, sir," said Ready, "this is a very simple job; all we have to do +is to collect small rocks and stones, pile them up wall-fashion inside, +and with a slope outside, so as to break the force of the waves when +the water is a little rough; of course, the water will find its way +through the stones, and will be constantly changed. It's very true, +that we can at most times catch fish when we want them, but it is not +always that we can spare the time, so it's just as well to have always +a certain quantity at hand, to take out at a moment's warning; and we +can, of course, catch them and put them in here when we have nothing +else to do. Juno will be able to come down and take them out with a +spear, when we are away and she wants something for dinner." + +"But there are few stones about here, Ready; we shall have to fetch +them a long way," said William. + +"Well, then, William, let us get the wheels down here, and then we can +carry a quantity at a time." + +"But how shall we carry them, Ready?" + +"We will sling a tub on the axle; I will go up and get that ready and +bring it down; in the meantime, you and Mr. Seagrave can collect all +the stones which are near at hand." + +Ready soon returned with the wheels, and the tub slung with rope on the +axle, and by that means they found that they could collect the stones +very fast; Mr. Seagrave and William bringing them, and Ready in the +water, building up the wall. + +"We have quite forgot another job which we must put in hand, sir," +observed Ready; "but the fish-pond reminds me of it." + +"What is that, Ready?" + +"A bathing-place for the children, and indeed for us all; we shall want +it when the hot weather comes on, but we will put it off till then. I +can tell you, sir, that although I don't mind building this wall in the +shallow water, I shall be very careful when the water is up to my +knees, for you don't know how bold the sharks are in these latitudes. +When I was at St. Helena, not very long ago, we had a melancholy proof +of it." + +"Tell us the story, Ready." + +"Well, two soldiers were standing on the rocks at St. Helena; the rocks +were out of the water, but the swell just broke over them. Two sharks +swam up to them, and one of them, with a blow of his tail, turning +round the same way, tripped one of them into the water, which was very +deep. His comrade was very much frightened, and ran to the barracks to +tell the story. About a week afterwards, a schooner was in Sandy Bay, +on the other side of the island, and the people seeing a very large +shark under the stern, put out a hook with a piece of pork, and caught +him; they opened him, and found inside of him, to their horror, the +whole of the body of the soldier, except the legs below the knees: the +monster had swallowed him whole, with the exception of his legs, which +it had nipped off when it closed its jaws." + +"I really had no idea that they were so bold, Ready." + +"It is a fact, I assure you; and therefore we cannot be too careful how +we go into the water: you saw how soon the poor pig was despatched." + +"I wonder how the pigs get on, Ready," said William. + +"I dare say they have littered by this time, sir; they have no want of +food." + +"But can they eat the cocoa-nuts?" + +"Not the old ones, but they can the young ones, which are constantly +dropping from the trees, and then there's plenty of roots for them. If +we stay long here we shall soon have good sport hunting them; but we +must be very careful; for although they were tame pigs when we brought +them on shore, they will be wild and very savage in a very short time." + +"How must we hunt them?" said Mr. Seagrave. + +"Why, sir, with the dogs, and then shoot them. I am glad that Vixen +will have pups soon; we shall want more dogs." + +"Shall we not have more mouths than we can find food for?" + +"Never fear that, sir, as long as we have the sea to fish in. Dogs live +very well upon fish, even if it is raw." + +"We shall have some lambs soon, Ready, shall we not?" + +"Yes, sir, I expect very soon. I wish we had more food for the animals: +they are put rather hard to it just now; but next year, if we find more +food on the island, we must keep the grass near home, to make hay and +stack it for the winter time - or the rainy season rather, for there is +no winter in these latitudes. I'm pretty sure we shall find some clear +land on the south of the island, for the cocoa-nut grove does not +extend so close to the water on that side as it does on the north." + +"I do so long to go on our exploring party," said William. + +"We must wait a little," replied Ready; "but I don't know whether you +will go; we must not all three go at once, and leave Mrs. Seagrave +alone." + +"No," replied Mr. Seagrave, "that would not be fair; either you or I +must remain, William." + +William made no reply, but it was evident that he was annoyed at the +idea of not being of the party. They worked very hard that day, and the +walls rose fast out of the water. + +After supper, Ready continued his narrative. "We remained concealed +until it was dark, and then Hastings and Romer, each with a musket on +his shoulders and a ham at his back; and I, being the smallest, with +the rifle and the great loaf of bread, set off on our journey. Our +intention was to travel north, as we knew that was the road leading +from the colony; but Hastings had decided that we should first go to +the eastward, so as to make what we sailors call a circumbendibus, +which would keep us out of the general track. We passed through the +deep sands of False Bay, and after that gradually ascended, getting +among brushwood and young trees; but we saw no signs of cultivation, +nor did we pass one house after we had left False Bay astern of us. +About twelve o'clock we were very much fatigued, and longed for a drink +of water, but we did not find any, although the moon shone as bright as +day. We distinctly heard, however, what we did not much like, the +howling and cries of the wild beasts which increased as we went on; +still we did not see any, and that was our comfort. At last we were so +tired that we all sat down on the ledge of a rock. We dared not go to +sleep, so we remained there till daylight, listening to the howling of +the animals. We none of us spoke, and I presume that Hastings' and +Romer's thoughts were the same as my own, which were, that I would have +given a great deal to find myself safe and sound again within the +prison walls. However, daylight came at last; the wild beasts did not +prowl any more; we walked on till we found a stream of water, where we +sat down and took our breakfast, after which our courage revived, and +we talked and laughed as we walked on, just as we had done before. We +now began to ascend the mountains, which Hastings said must be the +Black Mountains that the soldiers had talked to us about. They were +very desolate; and when night came on we collected brushwood, and cut +down branches with our knives, that we might make a fire, not only to +warm ourselves, but to scare away the wild beasts, whose howling had +already commenced. We lighted our fire and ate our supper; the loaf was +half gone, and the hams had been well cut into - we knew, therefore, +that very soon we should have to trust to our guns for procuring food. +As soon as we had finished our meal, we lay down by the fire, with our +muskets loaded close to us, and our ammunition placed out of danger. We +were so tired that we were soon fast asleep. It had been agreed that +Romer should keep the first watch, and Hastings the middle, and I the +morning; but Romer fell asleep, and the consequence was, that the fire +was not kept up. It was about midnight that I was awakened by something +breathing hard in my face, and just as I could recall my senses and +open my eyes, I found myself lifted up by my waistband, and the teeth +of some animal pinching my flesh. I tried to catch at my musket, but I +put out my wrong hand, and laid hold of a still lighted brand out of +the fire, which I darted into the animal's face; it let me drop +directly, and ran away." + +"What a providential escape!" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Yes, it was, ma'am; the animal was a hyena. Fortunately they are a +very cowardly sort of beast; still, had it not been for the lighted +stick, it would have carried me off, for I was very small then, and it +lifted me up as if I was a feather in its mouth. The shout I gave woke +Hastings, who seized his musket and fired. I was very much frightened, +as you may suppose. As for Romer, he never woke till we pushed him +hard, he was so completely knocked up. This affair, of course, made us +more cautious, and afterwards we lighted two fires, and slept between +them, one always remaining on the watch. For a week we travelled on, +and as soon as we were over the mountains, we turned our heads to the +northward. Our provisions were all gone, and we were one day without +any; but we killed an antelope called a spring-bock, which gave us +provisions for three or four days: there was no want of game after we +had descended into the plain. I forgot to mention, however, a narrow +escape we had, just before we had left an extensive forest on the side +of the mountain. We had walked till past noon, and were very much +tired; we decided upon taking our dinner under a large tree, and we +threw ourselves down in the shade. Hastings was lying on his back, with +his eyes looking upwards, when he perceived on the lower branch of the +tree a panther, which lay along it, his green eyes fixed upon us, and +ready to spring; he seized his musket, and fired it without taking aim, +for there was no time; but the ball entered the stomach of the animal, +and, as it appeared, divided its back-bone. Down came the beast, within +three or four feet of where we lay, with a loud roar, and immediately +crouched to spring upon Romer; but it could not, for the back-bone +being broken, it had not any power in its hinder quarters, so it raised +up its fore quarters, and then dropped down again. I never saw such +rage and fury in an animal in my life. At first we were too much +frightened to fire; but, perceiving that the beast could not spring, +Hastings snatched the musket from Romer and shot it through the head. + +"We were now obliged to hunt for our livelihood, and we became bolder +than ever. Our clothes were all in rags; but we had plenty of powder +and ammunition; there were hundreds and hundreds of antelopes and gnus +in the plain - indeed, sometimes it was impossible to count them. But +this plentiful supply of game was the cause of our being in greater +danger, for now, for the first time, we heard the roar of the lions +every night. We made large fires to keep them off, but they often made +us tremble when they came near to us." + +"Did you ever meet with one in the day-time?" said William. + +"Yes, sir; we often saw them, but they never attacked us, and we were +too much afraid to fire at them. Once we met one face to face. We had +killed an antelope called a hartebeest, and, with our muskets on our +shoulders, were running to secure it. Just as we came up to the spot, +we beard a roar, and found ourselves not ten yards from a lion, who was +lying on the top of the beast we had killed, his eyes flashing fire at +us, and half raising himself, as if ready for a spring. We all took to +our heels as fast as we could. I never looked back till I was out of +breath: but the lion was content with our running away, and did not +take the trouble to follow us. Well, sir, we had been travelling, we +really hardly knew where, but certainly in a northerly direction, for +three weeks, and were quite worn out: we now all agreed that we had +done a very foolish thing, and would gladly have gone back again. For +my part, I declare that I was willing to lie down and die, if I could +have so done, and I became quite indifferent to the roaring of the +lions, and felt as if I should be glad if one would have made a meal of +me. At length, one morning, we fell in with a party of natives. They +were of the Karroo tribe, as they told us by pointing to themselves, +and saying, `Karroos', and then they pointed to us, and said `Dutch'. +We shot game, and gave it to them, which pleased them very much, and +they remained with us for five or six days. We tried by signs to +inquire of them, if there were any Dutch settlement about there; and +they understood us, and said that there was, in a direction which they +pointed out to us, to the north-east. We offered them a present if they +would show us the way. Two of the men agreed to go with us; the rest of +the tribe, with the women and children, went southward. The next day we +arrived at a Dutch settlement of three or four farmhouses, called +Graaff Reinet; but I must leave off now, for it is past bed-time." + + + +Chapter XXXVIII + +The construction of the fish-pond proceeded rapidly, and on the third +day it was nearly complete. As soon as all the walls were finished, +Ready threw out sand and shingle, so as to make the part next to the +beach nearly as deep as the other; so that there might be sufficient +water to prevent the gulls and man-of-war birds from darting down, and +striking the fish. While Ready was thus employed, Mr. Seagrave and +William collected more rocks, so as to divide the pond into four parts, +at the same time allowing a communication between each part. These +inside walls, as well as the outside, were made of sufficient width to +walk upon; by which means they would have all the fish within reach of +the spear, in case they wished to take them out. The day after the pond +was completed the weather changed. The rain poured down with great +force, but it was not accompanied with such terrific thunder and +lightning, nor were the storms of so long continuance, as at the +commencement of the rainy season. In the intervals of fine weather they +caught a great many fish, which they put into the pond, so that it was +well stocked. But a circumstance occurred, which was the occasion of +great alarm to them all; which was, that one evening William was taken +with a shivering, and complained very much of a pain in his head. Ready +had promised to continue his narrative on that evening, but William was +too ill to sit up. He was put into bed, and the next morning he was in +a violent fever. Mr. Seagrave was much alarmed, as the symptoms were +worse every hour; and Ready, who had sat up with him during the night, +called Mr. Seagrave out of the house, and said, "This is a bad case, +sir: William was working yesterday with his hat off, and I fear that he +has been struck by the sun." + +The poor boy was for many days in great danger; and the cheerful house +was now one of gloom and silence. How fervent were now the morning and +evening prayers; how often during the day did his parents offer up a +petition to heaven for their dear boy's recovery. The weather became +finer every day, and it was almost impossible to keep Tommy quiet: Juno +went out with him and Albert every morning, and kept them with her +while she cooked; and, fortunately, Vixen had some young ones, and when +Juno could no longer amuse them, she brought them two of the puppies to +play with. As for the quiet, meek little Caroline, she would remain +during the whole day holding her mother's hand, and watching her +brother, or working with her needle by the side of his bed. + +Ready, who could not be idle, had taken the hammer and cold chisel to +make the salt-pan, at which he worked during those portions of the day +in which his services were not required indoors; and as he sat chipping +away the rock, his thoughts were ever upon William, for he dearly loved +the boy for his amiable disposition and his cleverness; and many a time +during the day would he stop his work, and the tears would run down his +cheeks as he offered up his petition to the Almighty that the boy might +be spared to his afflicted parents. And those prayers were heard, for +on the ninth day William was pronounced by Ready and Mr. Seagrave to +have much less fever, and shortly afterwards it left him altogether; +but he was so weak that he could not raise himself in his bed for two +or three days; and it was not till more than a fortnight after the +fever had left him that he could go out of the house. The joy that was +expressed by them all when the change took place may be imagined: nor +were the thanksgivings less fervent than had been the prayers. + +During his convalescence, as there was nothing else to do, Mr. Seagrave +and Ready, who now went gladly to their work, determined, as the +salt-pan was finished, that they would make a bathing-place. Juno came +to their assistance, and was very useful in assisting to drag the +wheels which brought the rocks and stones; and Tommy was also brought +down, that he might be out of the way while Mrs. Seagrave and Caroline +watched the invalid. By the time that William was able to go out of the +house, the bathing-place was finished, and there was no longer any fear +of the sharks. William came down to the beach with his mother, and +looked at the work which had been done; he was much pleased with it, +and said, "Now, Ready, we have finished everything at home for the +present; all we have to do is to explore the island, and to go to the +cove and examine our collection from the wreck." + +"Very true, William; and the weather has been so fine, that I think we +may venture upon one or the other in a few days more; but not till you +are stronger." + +"I shall soon be strong again, Ready." + +"I have no doubt of it, William; and we have good reason to thank God, +for we could ill spare you." + +"It's a long while since you have gone on with your story, Ready," said +William, after they had taken their supper; "I wish you would do so +now, as I am sure I shall not be tired." + +"With pleasure, William," replied Ready; "but can you remember where I +left off, for my memory is none of the best?" + +"Oh, yes; if you recollect, you had just arrived at a Dutch farmer's +house, in company with the savages, at a place called Graaff Reinet, I +think." + +"Well then, the Dutch farmer came out when he saw us coming, and asked +us who we were. We told him that we were English prisoners, and that we +wished to give ourselves up to the authorities. He took away our arms +and ammunition, and said that he was the authority in that part, which +was true enough; and then he said, `You'll not run away without arms +and ammunition, that's certain. As for sending you to the Cape, that I +may not be able to do for months; so if you wish to be fed well, you +must work well while you're here.' We replied, that we should be very +glad to make ourselves useful, and then he sent us some dinner by a +Hottentot girl. But we soon found out that we had to deal with an +ill-tempered, brutal fellow; and that he gave us plenty of hard work, +but by no means plenty of food. He would not trust us with guns, so the +Hottentots went out with the cattle, but he gave us plenty of work to +do about the house; and at last he treated us very cruelly. When he was +short of provisions for the Hottentots and other slaves, of whom he bad +a good many, he would go out with the other farmers who lived near him, +and shoot quaggas for them to eat. Nobody but a Hottentot could live +upon such flesh." + +"What is quagga?" + +"A wild ass, partly covered with stripes, but not so much as the zebra; +a pretty animal to look at, but the flesh is very bad. At last he would +give us nothing to eat but quaggas, the same as the Hottentots, while +he and his family - for he had a wife and five children - lived upon +mutton and the flesh of the antelope, which is very excellent eating. +We asked him to allow us a gun to procure better food, and he kicked +Romer so unmercifully, that he could not work for two days afterwards. +Our lives became quite a burden to us; we were employed all day on the +farm, and every day he was more brutal towards us. At last we agreed +that we would stand it no longer, and one evening Hastings told him so. +This put him into a great rage, and he called two of the slaves, and +ordered them to tie him to the waggon wheel, swearing that he would cut +every bit of skin off his body, and he went into his house to get his +whip. The slaves had hold of Hastings, and were tying him up, for they +dared not disobey their master, when he said to us, `If I am flogged +this way, it will be all over with us. Now's your time; run back behind +the house, and when he comes out with the whip, do you go in and seize +the muskets, which are always ready loaded. Hold him at bay till I get +clear, and then we will get away somehow or other. You must do it, for +I am sure he will flog me till I am dead, and he will shoot you, as +runaway prisoners, as he did his two Hottentots the other day.' As +Romer and I thought this very probable, we did as Hastings told us; and +when the Dutchman had gone towards him where he was tied up, about +fifty yards from the house, we went in. The farmer's wife was in bed, +having just had an addition to her family, and the children we cared +not for. We seized two muskets and a large knife, and came out just as +the Dutchman had struck the first blow with the rhinoceros whip, which +was so severe, that it took away poor Hastings' breath. We went up; he +turned round and saw us: we levelled our muskets at him, and he +stopped. `Another blow, and we'll shoot you,' cried Romer. `Yes,' cried +I; `we are only boys, but you've Englishmen to deal with.' When we came +up, Romer kept his piece levelled at the Dutchman, while I passed him, +and with the knife cut the thongs which bound Hastings. The Dutchman +turned pale and did not speak, he was so frightened, and the slaves ran +away. As soon as Hastings was free, he seized a large wooden mallet, +used for driving in stakes, and struck the Dutchman down to the earth, +crying out, `That for flogging an Englishman, you rascal!' + +"While the man lay senseless or dead - I didn't know which at the time +- we tied him to the waggon wheels, and returning to the house, seized +some ammunition and other articles which might be useful. We then went +to the stables, and took the three best horses which the Dutchman had, +put some corn in a sack for each of them, took some cord for halters, +mounted, and rode away as fast as we could. As we knew that we should +be pursued, we first galloped away as if we were going eastward to the +Cape; and then, as soon as we were on ground which would not show the +tracks of our horses' hoofs, we turned round to the northward, in the +direction of the Bushman country. It was dark soon after we had altered +our course; but we travelled all night, and although we heard the +roaring of the lions at a distance, we met with no accident. At +daylight we rested our horses, and gave them some corn, and then sat +down to eat some of the provision we had brought with us." + +"How long were you with the farmer at Graaff Reinet?" + +"Nearly eight months, sir; and during that time we could not only speak +Dutch, but we could make ourselves understood by the Hottentots and +other natives. While we were eating we held a consultation how we +should proceed. We were aware that the Dutchmen would shoot us if they +came up with us, and that they would come out in strong force against +us; and we were afraid that we had killed the man, and if so, they +would hang us as soon as we got to the Cape; so we were at a great loss +to know how to act. At last we decided that we would cross the country +of the Bushmen, and get to the sea-side, to the northward of the Cape. +We determined that it would be better to travel at night, as there +would be less fear of the wild beasts, or of being seen; so we went +fast asleep for many hours. Towards the evening, we found water for the +horses, and then we fed them again, and proceeded on our journey. I +won't tell what passed every day for a fortnight, by which time we had +pretty well killed our horses, and we were compelled to stop among a +tribe of Gorraguas, a very mild, inoffensive people, who supplied us +with milk, and treated us very kindly. We had some adventures, +nevertheless. One day as we were passing by a tuft of small trees, a +rhinoceros charged upon my horse, which very narrowly escaped by +wheeling short round and getting behind him; the beast then made off +without meddling with us any more. Every day we used to shoot some +animal or other, for provision: sometimes it was a gnu, something +between an antelope and a bull; at other times it was one of the +antelope kind. + +"Well, we stayed for three weeks with these people, and gave our horses +time to refresh themselves; and then we set off again, keeping more +towards the coast as we went southward, for the Gorraguas told us that +there was a fierce native tribe, called Kaffers, to the northward, who +would certainly kill us if we went there. The fact is, we did not know +what to do. We had left the Cape without any exact idea where we should +go to, like foolish boys as we were, and we became more entangled with +difficulties every day. At last we decided that it would be better to +find our way back to the Cape, and deliver ourselves up as prisoners, +for we were tired out with fatigue and constant danger. All that we +were afraid of was that we had killed the Dutch farmer at Graaff +Reinet, who had treated us so brutally; but Hastings said he did not +care; that was his business, and he would take his chance: so when we +bade adieu to the Gorraguas, we turned our horses' heads to the +south-east, so as to make the sea and go to the southward at the same +time. + +"I have now to mention a most melancholy event which occurred. Two days +after we had recommenced our travels, in passing through some high +grass, we stumbled on a lion, which was devouring a gnu. Romer, who +happened to be some ten yards foremost of the three, was so alarmed +that he fired at the animal, which we had agreed never to do, as it was +folly to enrage so powerful a beast, when our party was so small. The +lion was slightly wounded; he gave a roar that might have been heard +for a mile, sprang upon Romer, and with one blow of his paw knocked him +off the saddle into the bushes. Our horses, which were frightened, +wheeled round and fled, for the animal was evidently about to attack +us. As it was, he did make one bound in our direction; we could not +pull up until we had gone half a mile; and when we did, we saw the lion +had torn down the horse which Romer had ridden, and was dragging away +the carcass to the right at a sort of a canter, without any apparent +effort on his part. We waited till he was well off, and then rode back +to the spot where Romer had fallen: we soon found him, but he was quite +dead; the blow with the lion's paw had fractured his skull. + +"I ought to have said that the Gorraguas told us not to travel by +night, but by day; and we had done so in consequence of their advice. I +believe it was very good advice, notwithstanding this unfortunate +accident, for we found that when we had travelled all night the lions +had more than once followed us the whole time; and indeed I have often +thought since that we were altogether indebted to his mercy who +ordereth all things, both in heaven and earth, that we escaped so well +as we did. Three days after poor Romer's death we first saw the wide +ocean again. We kept near the coast, but we soon found that we could +not obtain the supply of game, or fuel for our fires at night, so well +as we could in the interior, and we agreed to get away from the coast +again. We had a dreary plain to pass over, and we were quite faint for +want of food - for we had been without any for nearly two days - when +we came upon an ostrich. Hastings put his horse to his speed, but it +was of no use - the ostrich ran much faster than the horse could. I +remained behind, and, to my great joy, discovered his nest, with +thirteen large eggs in it. Hastings soon came back, with his horse +panting and out of wind. We sat down, lighted a fire, and roasted two +of the eggs: we made a good dinner of them, and having put four more on +our saddle-bows, we continued our journey. At last, one forenoon, we +saw the Table Mountain, and were as glad to see it as if we had seen +the white cliffs of Old England. We pushed on our horses with the hopes +of being once more comfortably in prison before night; when, as we +neared the bay, we noticed that English colours were flying on board of +the vessels in the road. This surprised us very much; but soon after +that we met an English soldier, who told us that the Cape had been +taken by our forces more than six months ago. This was a joyful +surprise, as you may suppose. We rode into the town, and reported +ourselves to the main guard; the governor sent for us, heard our story, +and sent us to the admiral, who took us on board of his own ship." + + + +Chapter XXXIX + +The next morning, as there was no particular work on hand, Ready and +Mr. Seagrave took the lines to add to the stock of the fish-pond. As +the weather was fine and cool, William accompanied them, that he might +have the benefit of the fresh air. As they passed the garden, they +observed that the seeds sown had already sprung up an inch or two above +the ground, and that, apparently none of them had missed. While Ready +and Mr. Seagrave were fishing, and William sitting near them, William +said to his father-- + +"Many of the islands near us are inhabited; are they not, papa?" + +"Yes, but not those very near us, I believe. At all events, I never +heard any voyagers mention having seen inhabitants on the isles near +which we suppose the one we are on to be." + +"What sort of people are the islanders in these seas?" + +"They are various. The New Zealanders are the most advanced in +civilization. The natives of Van Diemen's Land and Australia are some +portions of them of a very degraded class - indeed, little better than +the beasts of the field." + +"I have seen them," said Ready; "and I think I can mention a people, +not very numerous indeed, who are still more like the beasts of the +field. I saw them once; and, at first, thought they were animals, and +not human beings." + +"Indeed, Ready; where may that be?" + +"In the Great Andaman Isles, at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal. I once +anchored in distress in Port Cornwallis, and the morning after we +anchored, we saw some black things going upon all fours under the trees +that came down to the water's edge. We got the telescope, and perceived +then that they were men and women, for they stood upright." + +"Did you ever come into contact with them?" + +"No, sir, I did not; but I met, at Calcutta, a soldier who had; for at +one time the East India Company intended making a settlement on the +island, and sent some troops there. He said that they caught two of +them; that they were not more than four feet high, excessively stupid +and shy; they had no houses or huts to live in, and all that they did +was to pile up some bushes to keep the wind off." + +"Had they any arms?" + +"Yes, sir, they had bows and arrows; but so miserably made, and so +small, that they could not kill anything but very small birds." + +"Where did the people come from who inhabited these islands, papa?" + +"That is difficult to say, William; but it is supposed that they have +become inhabited in much the same way as this our island has been - +that is, by people in canoes or boats driven out to sea, and saving +their lives by effecting a landing, as we have done." + +"I believe that's the truth," replied Ready; "I heard say that the +Andaman Isles were supposed to have been first inhabited by a slaver +full of negroes, who were wrecked on the coast in a typhoon." + +"What is a typhoon, Ready?" + +"It is much the same as a hurricane, William; it comes on in India at +the change of the monsoons." + +"But what are monsoons?" + +"Winds that blow regular from one quarter so many months during the +year, and then change round and blow from another just as long." + +"And what are the trade-winds, which I heard poor Captain Osborn +talking about after we left Madeira?" + +"The trade-winds blow on the equator, and several degrees north and +south of it, from the east to the west, following the course of the +sun." + +"Is it the sun which produces these winds?" + +"Yes, the extreme heat of the sun between the tropics rarefies the air +as the earth turns round, and the trade-winds are produced by the +rushing in of the less heated air." + +"Yes, William; and the trade-winds produce what they call the Gulf +Stream," observed Ready. + +"How is that? I have heard it spoken of, papa." + +"The winds, constantly following the sun across the Atlantic Ocean, and +blowing from east to west, have great effect upon the sea, which is +forced up into the Gulf of Mexico (where it is stopped by the shores of +America), so that it is many feet higher in the Gulf than in the +eastern part of the Atlantic. This accumulation of water must of course +find a vent somewhere, and it does in what is called the Gulf Stream, +by which the waters are poured out, running very strong to the +northward, along the shores of America, and then eastward, passing not +far from Newfoundland, until its strength is spent somewhere to the +northward of the Azores." + +"The Gulf Stream, William," said Ready, "is always several degrees +warmer than the sea in general, which is, they say, owing to its waters +remaining in the Gulf of Mexico so long, where the heat of the sun is +so great." + +"What do you mean by the land and sea breezes in the West Indies, and +other hot climates, papa?" + +"It is the wind first blowing off from the shore, and then blowing from +the sea towards the shore, during certain hours of the day, which it +does regularly every twenty-four hours. This is also the effect of the +heat of the sun. The sea breeze commences in the morning, and in the +afternoon it dies away, when the land breeze commences, which lasts +till midnight." + +"There are latitudes close to the trade-winds," said Ready, "where the +wind is not certain, where ships have been becalmed for weeks; the +crews have exhausted the water on board, and they have suffered +dreadfully. We call them the Horse latitudes - why, I do not know. But +it is time for us to leave off, and for Master William to go into the +house." + +They returned home, and after supper Ready went on with his narrative. + +"I left off at the time that I was sent on board of the man-of-war, and +I was put down on the books as a supernumerary boy. I was on board of +her for nearly four years, and we were sent about from port to port, +and from clime to clime, until I grew a strong, tall lad, and was put +into the mizen-top. I found it very comfortable. I did my duty, and the +consequence was, I never was punished; for a man may serve on board of +a man-of-war without fear of being punished, if he only does his duty, +and the duty is not very hard either; not like on board of the merchant +vessels, where there are so few hands - there it is hard work. Of +course, there are some captains who command men-of-war who are harsh +and severe; but it was my good fortune to be with a very mild and +steady captain, who was very sorry when he was obliged to punish the +men, although he would not overlook any improper conduct. The only +thing which was a source of constant unhappiness to me was, that I +could not get to England again, and see my mother. I had written two or +three letters, but never had an answer; and at last I became so +impatient that I determined to run away the very first opportunity +which might offer. We were then stationed in the West Indies, and I had +very often consultations with Hastings on the subject, for he was quite +as anxious to get away as I was; and we had agreed that we would start +off together the very first opportunity. At last we anchored in Port +Royal, Jamaica, and there was a large convoy of West India ships, laden +with sugar, about to sail immediately. We knew that if we could get on +board of one, they would secrete us until the time of sailing, for they +were short-handed enough, the men-of-war having pressed every man they +could lay their hands upon. There was but one chance, and that was by +swimming on board of one of the vessels during the night-time, and that +was easy enough, as they were anchored not a hundred yards from our own +ship. What we were afraid of was the sharks, which were so plentiful in +the harbour. However, the night before the convoy was to sail we made +up our minds that we would run the risk, for we were so impatient to +escape that we did not care for anything. It was in the middle watch - +I recollect it, and shall recollect it all my life, as if it were last +night - that we lowered ourselves down very softly from the bows of the +ship, and as soon as we were in the water we struck out for one of the +West Indiamen close to us. The sentry at the gangway saw the light in +the water made by our swimming through it, and he hailed, of course; we +gave no answer, but swam as fast as we could; for after he had hailed +we heard a bustle, and we knew that the officer of the watch was +manning a boat to send after us. I had just caught hold of the cable of +the West Indiaman, and was about to climb up by it, for I was a few +yards before Hastings, when I heard a loud shriek, and, turning round, +perceived a shark plunging down with Hastings in his jaws. I was so +frightened, that for a short time I could not move: at last I recovered +myself, and began to climb up by the cable as fast as I could. I was +just in time, for another shark made a rush at me; and although I was +clear out of the water more than two feet, he sprung up and just caught +my shoe by the heel, which he took down with him. Fear gave me +strength, and in a second or two afterwards I was up at the +hawse-holes, and the men on board, who had been looking over the bows, +and had witnessed poor Hastings' death, helped me on board, and hurried +me down below, for the boat from our ship was now nearly alongside. +When the officer of the boat came on board, they told him they had +perceived us both in the water, close to their vessel, and that the +sharks had taken us down. As the shriek of Hastings was heard by the +people in the boat, the officer believed that it was the case, and +returned to the ship. I heard the drum beat to quarters on board of the +man-of-war, that they might ascertain who were the two men who had +attempted to swim away, and a few minutes afterwards they beat the +retreat, having put down D. D. against my name on the books, as well as +against that of poor Hastings." + +"What does D. D. mean?" + +"D. stands for discharged from the service; D. D. stands for dead," +replied Ready; "and it was only through the mercy of Providence that I +was not so." + +"It was a miraculous escape indeed," observed Mr. Seagrave. + +"Yes, indeed, sir; I can hardly describe my sensations for some hours +afterwards. I tried to sleep, but could not - I was in agony. The +moment I slumbered, I thought the shark had hold of me, and I would +start up and shriek; and then I said my prayers and tried to go to +sleep again, but it was of no use. The captain of the West Indiaman was +afraid that my shrieks would be heard, and he sent me down a tumbler of +rum to drink off; this composed me, and at last I fell into a sound +sleep. When I awoke, I found that the ship was under weigh and with all +canvas set, surrounded by more than a hundred other vessels; the +men-of-war who took charge of the convoy, firing guns and making +signals incessantly. It was a glorious sight, and we were bound for Old +England. I felt so happy, that I thought I would risk the jaws of +another shark to have regained my liberty, and the chance of being once +more on shore in my own country, and able to go to Newcastle and see my +poor mother." + +"I am afraid that your miraculous escape did you very little good, +Ready," observed Mrs. Seagrave, "if you got over it so soon." + +"Indeed, madam, it was not so; that was only the feeling which the +first sight of the vessels under weigh for England produced upon me. I +can honestly say that I was a better and more serious person. The very +next night, when I was in my hammock, I prayed very fervently; and +there happened to be a very good old Scotchman on board, the second +mate, who talked very seriously to me, and pointed out how wonderful +had been my preservation, and I felt it. It was he who first read the +Bible with me, and made me understand it, and, I may say, become fond +of it. I did my duty on our passage home as a seaman before the mast, +and the captain was pleased with me. The ship I was in was bound to +Glasgow, and we parted company with the convoy at North Foreland, and +arrived safe in port. The captain took me to the owners, who paid me +fifteen guineas for my services during the voyage home; and as soon as +I received the money, I set off for Newcastle as fast as I could. I had +taken a place on the outside of the coach, and I entered into +conversation with a gentleman who sat next to me. I soon found out that +he belonged to Newcastle, and I first inquired if Mr. Masterman, the +ship-builder, was still alive. He told me that he had been dead about +three months. `And to whom did he leave his money?' I asked, `for he +was very rich, and had no kin.' `He had no relations,' replied the +gentleman, `and he left all his money to build an hospital and +almshouses. He had a partner in his business latterly, and he left the +yard and all the stores to him, I believe, because he did not know whom +to leave it to. There was a lad whom I knew for certain he intended to +have adopted and to have made his heir - a lad of the name of Ready; +but he ran away to sea, and has never been heard of since. It is +supposed that he was lost in a prize, for he was traced so far. Foolish +boy that he was. He might now have been a man of fortune.' + +"`Very foolish indeed,' replied I. + +"`Yes; but he has harmed more than himself. His poor mother, who doted +upon him, as soon as she heard that he was lost, pined away by degrees, +and--' + +"`You don't mean to say that she is dead?' interrupted I, seizing the +gentleman by the arm. + +"`Yes,' replied he, looking at me with surprise; `she died last year of +a broken heart.' + +"I fell back on the luggage behind me, and should have fallen off the +coach if the gentleman had not held me. He called to the coachman to +pull up the horses, and they took me down, and put me inside; and as +the coach rolled on, I cried as if my heart would break." + +Ready appeared so much affected, that Mr. Seagrave proposed that he +should leave off his history for the present. + +"Thank you, sir, it will be better; for I feel my old eyes dim with +tears, even now. It's a dreadful thing in after-life to reflect upon, +that your foolish conduct has hastened the death of a most kind mother; +but so it was, William, and I give you the truth for your advantage." + + + +Chapter XL + +A few mornings afterwards, Juno came in before breakfast with six eggs +in her apron, which she had found in the hen-house. + +"Look, Missy Seagrave - fowls lay eggs - soon have plenty - plenty for +Master William - make him well again - and plenty for chickens by and +by." + +"You haven't taken them all out of the nests, Juno; have you?" + +"No; leave one in each nest for hen to see." + +"`Well, then, we will keep them for William, and I hope, as you say, +they will make him strong again." + +"I am getting quite strong now, mother," replied William; "I think it +would be better to leave the eggs for the hens to sit upon." + +"No, no, William; your health is of more consequence than having early +chickens." + +For a few days Mr. Seagrave and Ready were employed at the garden +clearing away the weeds, which had begun to sprout up along with the +seeds which had been sown; during which time William recovered very +fast. The two first days, Juno brought in three or four eggs regularly; +but on the third day there were none to be found. On the fourth day the +hens appeared also not to have laid, much to the surprise of Mrs. +Seagrave; as when hens commence laying eggs they usually continue. On +the fifth morning, when they sat down to breakfast, Master Tommy did +not make his appearance, and Mrs. Seagrave asked where he was. + +"I suspect, madam," said Old Ready, laughing, "that Tommy will not come +either to his breakfast or his dinner to-day." + +"What can you mean, Ready?" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Why, madam, I will tell you. I thought it very odd that there were no +eggs, and I thought it probable that the hens might have laid astray; +so I went about yesterday evening to search. I could not find any eggs, +but I found the egg-shells, hid under some cocoa-nut leaves; and I +argued, that if an animal, supposing there was any on the island, had +taken the eggs, it would not have been so careful to hide the +egg-shells. So, this morning, I fastened up the door of the hen-house, +and only left open the little sliding door, by which the fowls go in to +roost; and then, after you were up, I watched behind the trees, and saw +Tommy come out, and go to the hen-house. He tried the door, and finding +it fast, crept into the hen-house by the little sliding-door. As soon +as he was in I let down the slide, and fastened it with a nail; so +there he is, caught in his own trap." + +"And there shall he remain all day, the little glutton!" said Mr. +Seagrave. + +"Yes, it will serve him right," replied Mrs. Seagrave; "and be a lesson +to him." + +Mr. Seagrave, Ready, and William, as usual, went down to their work; +Mrs. Seagrave and Juno, with little Caroline, were busy indoors. Tommy +remained very quiet for an hour, when he commenced roaring; but it was +of no use, no one paid any attention to him. At dinner-time he began to +roar again, but with as little success: it was not till the evening +that the door of the hen-house was opened, and Tommy permitted to come +out. He looked very foolish; and sat down in a corner without speaking. + +"Well, Tommy, how many eggs did you suck to-day" said Ready. + +"Tommy won't suck eggs any more," said the urchin. + +"No, you had better not," replied Mr. Seagrave, "or you will find, in +the end, that you will have less to eat, instead of more, as you have +this day." + +Tommy waited very quietly and very sulkily till supper was ready, when +he made up for lost time. After which Ready continued his narrative. + +"I told you, William, that I was informed by the gentleman on the coach +that my mother had died of a broken heart, in consequence of my +supposed death. I was in agony until I arrived at Newcastle, where I +could ascertain all the facts connected with her decease. When the +coach stopped, the gentleman, who had remained outside, came to the +coach door, and said to me, `If I mistake not, you are Masterman Ready, +who ran away to sea; are you not?' `Yes, sir,' replied I, very +sorrowfully, `I am.' `Well, my man,' said he, `cheer up; when you went +away you were young and thoughtless, and certainly had no idea that you +would have distressed your mother as you did. It was not your going to +sea, but the report of your death, which preyed so much upon her mind; +and that was not your fault. You must come with me, as I have something +to say to you.' + +"`I will call upon you to-morrow, sir,' replied I; `I cannot do +anything until I talk to the neighbours and visit my poor mother's +grave. It is very true that I did not intend to distress my mother; and +that the report of my death was no fault of mine. But I cannot help +feeling that, if I had not been so thoughtless, she would be still +alive and happy.' The gentleman gave me his address, and I promised to +call upon him next morning. I then went to the house my mother used to +live in. I knew that she was not there; yet I was disappointed and +annoyed when I heard merry laughter within. I looked in, for the door +was open; in the corner where my mother used to sit, there was a +mangle, and two women busily at work; others were ironing at a large +table; and when they cried out to me, `What do you want?' and laughed +at me, I turned away in disgust, and went to a neighbouring cottage, +the inmates of which had been very intimate with my mother. I found the +wife at home, but she did not know me; and I told her who I was. She +had attended my mother during her illness, till the day of her death; +and she told me all I wished to know. It was some little relief to my +mind to hear that my poor mother could not have lived, as she had an +incurable cancer; but at the same time the woman told me that I was +ever in her thoughts, and that my name was the last word on her lips. +She also said that Mr. Masterman had been very kind to my mother, and +that she had wanted nothing. I then asked her to show me where my +mother had been buried. She put on her bonnet, and led me to the grave, +and then, at my request, she left me. I seated myself down by the mound +of turf which covered her, and long and bitterly did I weep her loss +and pray for forgiveness. + +"It was quite dark when I left the spot and went back to the cottage of +the kind woman who had attended my mother. I conversed with her and her +husband till late, and then, as they offered me a bed, I remained with +them that night. Next morning I went to keep my appointment with the +gentleman whom I had met in the coach: I found by the brass plate on +the door that he was a lawyer. He desired me to sit down, and then he +closed the door carefully, and having asked me many questions, to +ascertain if I was really Masterman Ready, he said he was the person +employed at Mr. Masterman's death, and that he had found a paper which +was of great consequence, as it proved that the insurance of the vessel +which had belonged to my father and Mr. Masterman, and which had been +lost, had not been made on Mr. Masterman's share only, but upon my +father's as well, and that Mr. Masterman had defrauded my mother. He +said he had found the paper in a secret drawer some time after Mr. +Masterman's death, and that my mother being dead, and I being supposed +to be dead, he did not see any use in making known so disagreeable a +circumstance; but that, now I had re-appeared, it was his duty so to +do, and that he would arrange the matter for me, if I pleased, with the +corporation of the town, to whom all Mr. Masterman's property had been +left in trust to build an hospital and almshouses. He said that the +insurance on the vessel was three thousand pounds, and that one-third +of the vessel belonged to my father, so that a thousand pounds were due +to him, which the interest for so many years would increase to above +two thousand pounds. This was good news for me, and you may suppose I +readily agreed to all he proposed. He set to work at once, and having +called together the mayor and corporation of the town, and proved the +document, they immediately agreed that I was entitled to the money, and +that it should be paid to me without any contest. Thus you see, Master +William, was a new temptation thrown in my way." + +"How do you mean a temptation? It surely was very fortunate, Ready," +said William. + +"Yes, William, it was, as people say, fortunate, according to the ideas +of the world; every one congratulated me, and I was myself so inflated +with my good fortune, that I forgot all the promises of amendment, all +the vows of leading a good life, which I made over my poor mother's +grave. Now do you perceive why I called it a temptation, Master +William?" + +"My dear child," said Mr. Seagrave, "riches and prosperity in this +world prove often the greatest of temptations; it is adversity that +chastens and amends us, and which draws us to God." + +"As soon as the money was in my own hands," continued Ready, "I began +to squander it away in all manner of folly. Fortunately, I had not +received it more than ten days, when the Scotch second mate came like a +guardian angel to save me. As soon as I had made known to him what had +taken place, he reasoned with me, pointed out to me that I had an +opportunity of establishing myself for life, and proposed that I should +purchase a part of a vessel, on condition that I was captain of her. I +liked this idea very much, and being convinced that I had been making a +fool of myself, I resolved to take his advice; but one thing only +restrained me: I was still very young, not more than twenty years old; +and although I could navigate at one time, I had latterly paid no +attention. I told Sanders this, and he replied, that if I would take +him as my first mate, that difficulty would be got over, as he could +navigate well, and that I could learn to do so in the first voyage; so +all was arranged. + +"Fortunately, I had not spent above one hundred pounds of the money. I +set off for Glasgow in company with Sanders, and he busied himself very +hard in looking about for a vessel that would suit. At last, he found +that there was one ready for launching, which, in consequence of the +failure of the house for which it was built, was to be sold. He made +inquiries, and having found who was likely to purchase her - that it +was a very safe and respectable firm - he made a proposal for me that I +should take one-fourth share of her, and command her. As Sanders was +very respectable, and well known to be a steady man, his recommendation +was attended to so far that the parties wished to see and speak to me. +They were satisfied with me, young as I was, and the bargain was made. +I paid down my two thousand pounds for my share, and as soon as the +vessel was launched, was very busy with Sanders, whom I had chosen as +first mate, in fitting her out. The house which had purchased her with +me was a West India firm, and the ship was of course intended for the +West India trade. I had two or three hundred pounds left, after I had +paid my share of the vessel, and this I employed in purchasing a +venture on my own account, and providing nautical instruments, &c. I +also fitted myself out, for you see, William, although Sanders had +persuaded me to be rational, I was still puffed up with pride at the +idea of being captain of my own ship; it was too great a rise for one +who had just before been a lad in the mizen-top of a man-of-war. I +dressed myself very smart - wore white shirts, and rings on my fingers. +Indeed, as captain and part owner of a fine vessel, I was considered as +somebody, and was often invited to the table of the other owners of the +vessel. I was well off, for my pay was ten pounds a month, independent +of what my own venture might produce, and my quarter-share of the +profits of the vessel. This may be considered as the most prosperous +portion of my life; and so, if you please, we will leave off here for +to-night, for I may as well tell you at once that it did not last very +long." + + + +Chapter XLI + +For several days after, they were employed in clearing away the stumps +of the cocoa-nut trees in the winding path to the storehouse; and as +soon as that work was finished, Ready put up a lightning-conductor at +the side of the storehouse, like the one which he had put up near to +the cottage. They had now got through all the work that they had +arranged to do during the rainy season. The ewes had lambed, but both +the sheep and the goats began to suffer for want of pasture. For a week +they had no rain, and the sun burst out very powerfully; and Ready was +of opinion that the rainy season was now over. William had become quite +strong again, and he was very impatient that they should commence the +survey of the island. After a great deal of consultation, it was at +last settled, that Ready and William should make the first survey to +the southward, and then return and report what they had discovered. +This was decided upon on the Saturday evening, and on the Monday +morning they were to start. The knapsacks were got ready, and well +filled with boiled salt pork, and flat cakes of bread. They were each +to have a musket and ammunition, and a blanket was folded up to carry +on the shoulders, that they might sleep on it at night. Ready did not +forget his compass, or the small axes, for them to blaze the trees as +they went through the wood. + +The whole of Saturday was occupied in making their preparations. After +supper, Ready said, "Now, William, before we start on our travels, I +think I may as well wind up my history. I haven't a great deal more to +tell, as my good fortune did not last long; and after my remaining so +long in a French prison, my life was one continued chapter of from bad +to worse. Our ship was soon ready, and we sailed with convoy for +Barbadoes. Sanders proved a good navigator, and from him, before we +arrived at Barbadoes, I gained all the knowledge which I required to +enable me to command and navigate my vessel. Sanders attempted to renew +our serious conversation, but my property had made me vain; and now +that I felt I could do without his assistance, I not only kept him at a +distance, but assumed the superior. This was a very ungrateful return +for his kindness to me; but it is too often the case in this world. +Sanders was very much annoyed, and on our arrival at Barbadoes, he told +me that it was his intention to quit the vessel. I replied very +haughtily, that he might do as he pleased; the fact is, I was anxious +to get rid of him, merely because I was under obligations to him. Well, +sir, Sanders left me, and I felt quite happy at his departure. My ship +was soon with a full cargo of sugar on board of her, and we waited for +convoy to England. When at Barbadoes, I had an opportunity to buy four +brass guns, which I mounted on deck, and had a good supply of +ammunition on board. I was very proud of my vessel, as she had proved +in the voyage out to be a very fast sailer: indeed, she sailed better +than some of the men-of-war which convoyed us; and now that I had guns +on board, I considered myself quite safe from any of the enemies' +privateers. While we were waiting for convoy, which was not expected +for a fortnight, it blew a very heavy gale, and my ship, as well as +others, dragged their anchors, and were driven out of Carlisle Bay. We +were obliged to make sail to beat into the bay again, it still blowing +very fresh. What with being tired waiting so long for convoy, and the +knowledge that arriving before the other West Indiamen would be very +advantageous, I made up my mind that, instead of beating up into the +bay again, I would run for England without protection, trusting to the +fast sailing of my vessel and the guns which I had on board. I forgot +at the time that the insurance on the vessel was made in England as +`sailing with convoy', and that my sailing without would render the +insurance void, if any misfortune occurred. Well, sir, I made sail for +England, and for three weeks everything went on well. We saw very few +vessels, and those which did chase us could not come up with us; but as +we were running with a fair wind up channel, and I had made sure of +being in port before night, a French privateer hove in sight and gave +chase. We were obliged to haul our wind, and it blowing very fast, we +carried away our main-top mast. This accident was fatal; the privateer +came alongside of us and laid us by the board, and that night I was in +a French prison, and, I may say, a pauper; for the insurance of the +vessel was void, from my having sailed without convoy. I felt that I +had no one to thank but myself for the unfortunate position I was in; +at all events, I was severely punished, for I remained a prisoner for +nearly six years. I contrived to escape with three or four others; we +suffered dreadfully, and at last arrived in England, in a Swedish +vessel, without money, or even clothes that would keep out the weather. +Of course, I had nothing to do but to look out for a berth on board of +a ship, and I tried for that of second mate, but without success; I was +too ragged and looked too miserable; so I determined, as I was +starving, to go before the mast. There was a fine vessel in the port; I +went on board to offer myself; the mate went down to the captain, who +came on deck, and who should he be but Sanders? I hoped that he would +not remember me, but he did immediately, and held out his hand. I never +did feel so ashamed in my life as I did then. Sanders perceived it, and +asked me down into the cabin. I then told him all that had happened, +and he appeared to forget that I had behaved so ill to him; he offered +me a berth on board, and money in advance to fit me out. But if he +would not remember my conduct, I could not forget it, and I told him +so, and begged his forgiveness. Well, sir, that good man, as long as he +lived, was my friend. I became his second mate before he died, and we +were again very intimate. My misfortunes had humbled me, and I once +more read the Bible with him; and I have, I trust, done so ever since. +When he died, I continued second mate for some time, and then was +displaced. Since that, I have always been as a common seaman on board +of different vessels; but I have been well treated and respected, and I +may add, I have not been unhappy, for I felt that property would have +only led me into follies, and have made me forget, that in this world +we are to live so as to prepare ourselves for another. Now, William, +you have the history of Masterman Ready; and I hope that there are +portions of it which may prove useful to you. To-morrow we must be off +betimes, and as we are all to breakfast early together, why, I think +the sooner we go to bed the better." + +"Very true," replied Mr. Seagrave, "William, dear, bring me the Bible." + + + +Chapter XLII + +They were all up early the next morning, and breakfasted at an early +hour. The knapsacks and guns, and the other requisites for the journey, +were all prepared; William and Ready rose from the table, and taking an +affectionate leave of Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave, they started on their +journey. The sun was shining brilliantly, and the weather had become +warm; the ocean in the distance gleamed brightly, as its waters danced, +and the cocoa-nut trees moved their branches gracefully to the breeze. +They set off in high spirits, and having called the two shepherd dogs, +and driven back Vixen, who would have joined the party, they passed the +storehouse, and ascending the hill on the other side, they got their +hatchets ready to blaze the trees; and Ready having set his course by +his pocket compass, they were fairly on their way. For some time they +continued to cut the bark of the trees with their hatchets, without +speaking, and then Ready stopped again to look at his compass. + +"I think the wood is thicker here than ever, Ready," observed William. + +"Yes, sir, it is; but I suspect we are now in the thickest part of it, +right in the middle of the island; however, we shall soon see. We must +keep a little more away to the southward. We had better get on as fast +as we can. We shall have less work by and by, and then we can talk +better." + +For half-an-hour they continued their way through the wood, and, as +Ready had observed, the trees became more distant from each other; +still, however, they could not see anything before them but the stems +of the cocoa-nuts. It was hard work, chopping the trees every second, +and their foreheads were moist with the exertion. + +"I think we had better pull up for a few minutes, William; you will be +tired." + +"I have not been so used to exercise, Ready, and therefore I feel it +more," replied William, wiping his face with his handkerchief. "I +should like to stop a few minutes. How long do you think it will be +before we are out of the wood?" + +"Not half-an-hour more, sir, I should think; even before that, +perhaps." + +"What do you expect to find, Ready?" + +"That's a difficult question to answer. I can tell you what I hope to +find, which is, a good space of clear ground between the beach and the +wood, where we may pasture our sheep and goats; and perhaps we may find +some other trees besides cocoa-nuts: at present, you know, we have seen +only them and the castor-oil beans, that Tommy took such a dose of. You +see, William, there is no saying what new seeds may have been brought +here by birds, or by the winds and waves." + +"But will those seeds grow?" + +"Yes, William; I have been told that seeds may remain hundreds of years +under-ground, and come up afterwards when exposed to the heat." + +They continued their way, and had not walked for more than a quarter of +an hour, when William cried out, "I see the blue sky, Ready; we shall +soon be out; and glad shall I be, for my arm aches with chopping." + +"I dare say it does, sir. I am just as glad as you are, for I'm tired +of marking the trees; however, we must continue to mark, or we shall +not find our way back when we want it." + +In ten minutes more they were clear of the cocoa-nut grove, and found +themselves among brushwood higher than their heads; so that they could +not see how far they were from the shore. + +"Well," said William, throwing down his hatchet, "I'm glad that's over; +now let us sit down a little before we go any further." + +"I'm of your opinion, sir," replied Ready, sitting down by the side of +William; "I feel more tired to-day than I did when we first went +through the wood, after we set off from the cove. I suppose it's the +weather. Come back, dogs; lie down." + +"The weather is very fine, Ready." + +"Yes, now it is; but I meant to have said that the rainy season is very +trying to the health, and I suppose I have not recovered from it yet. +You have had a regular fever, and, of course, do not feel strong; but a +man may have no fever, and yet his health suffer a great deal from it. +I am an old man, William, and feel these things now." + +"I think that before we go on, Ready, we had better have our dinner; +that will do us good." + +"Well, we will take an early dinner, and we shall get rid of one bottle +of water, at all events; indeed, I think that, as we must go back by +the same way we came, we may as well leave our knapsacks and everything +but our guns under these trees; I dare say we shall sleep here too, for +I told Mr. Seagrave positively not to expect us back to-night. I did +not like to say so before your mother, she is so anxious about you." + +They opened their knapsacks, and made their meal, the two dogs coming +in for their share; after which they again started on their +discoveries. For about ten minutes they continued to force their way +through the thick and high bushes, till at last they broke out clear of +them, and then looked around them for a short time without speaking. +The sea was about half a mile distant, and the intervening land was +clear, with fresh blades of grass just bursting out of the earth, +composing a fine piece of pasture of at least fifty acres, here and +there broken with small patches of trees and brushwood; there was no +sandy beach, but the rocks rose from the sea about twenty to thirty +feet high, and were in one or two places covered with something which +looked as white as snow. + +"Well, Ready," said William, "there will be no want of pasture for our +flock, even if it increases to ten times its number." + +"No," replied Ready, "we are very fortunate, and have great reason to +be thankful; this is exactly what we required; and now let us go on a +little, and examine these patches of wood, and see what they are. I see +a bright green leaf out there, which, if my eyes do not fail me, I have +seen many a time before." When they arrived at the clump of trees which +Ready had pointed out, he said, "Yes, I was right. Look there, this is +the banana; it is just bursting out now, and will soon be ten feet +high, and bearing fruit which is excellent eating; besides which the +stem is capital fodder for the beasts." + +"Here is a plant I never saw before," said William, pulling off a piece +of it, and showing it to Ready. + +"But I have, William. It is what they call the bird's-eye pepper; they +make Cayenne pepper out of it. Look, the pods are just formed; it will +be useful to us in cooking, as we have no pepper left. You see, +William, we must have some birds on the island; at least it is most +probable, for all the seeds of these plants and trees must have been +brought here by them. The banana and the pepper are the food of many +birds. What a quantity of bananas are springing up in this spot; there +will be a little forest of them in a few weeks." + +"What is that rough-looking sort of shrub out there, Ready?" + +"I can't see so well as you, William, so let us walk up to it. Oh, I +know it now; it is what they call the prickly pear in the West Indies. +I am very glad to have found that, for it will be very useful to us." + +"Is it good eating, Ready?" + +"Not particularly; and the little spikes run into your fingers, and are +very difficult to get rid of; but it is not bad by way of a change. No, +the use it will be to us is to hedge in our garden, and protect it from +the animals; it makes a capital fence, and grows very fast, and without +trouble. Now let us go on to that patch of trees, and see what they +are." + +"What is this plant, Ready?" + +"I don't know, William." + +"Then I think I had better make a collection of all those you don't +know, and take them back to father; he is a good botanist." + +William pulled a branch of the plant off, and carried it with him. On +their arrival at the next patch of trees, Ready looked at them +steadfastly for some time. + +"I ought to know that tree," said he. "I have often seen it in hot +countries. Yes, it's the guava." + +"What! is it the fruit they make guava jelly of?" said William. + +"Yes, the very same." + +"Let us now walk in the direction of those five or six trees," said +William; "and from there down to the rocks; I want to find out how it +is that they are so white." + +"Be it so, if you wish," replied Ready. + +"Why, Ready, what noise is that? Hark! such a chattering, it must be +monkeys." + +"No, they are not monkeys; but I'll tell you what they are, although I +cannot see them; they are parrots - I know their noise well. You see, +William, it's not very likely that monkeys should get here, but birds +can, and it is the birds that we have to thank for the bananas and +guavas, and other fruits we may find here." + +As soon as they came under the trees, there was a great rioting and +fluttering, and then away flew, screaming as loud as they could, a +flock of about three hundred parrots, their beautiful green and blue +feathers glistening in the beams of the sun. + +"I told you so; well, we'll have some capital pies out of them, +William." + +"Pies! do they make good pies, Ready?" + +"Yes, excellent; and very often have I had a good dinner from one in +the West Indies, and in South America. Stop, let us come a little this +way; I see a leaf which I should like to examine." + +"The ground is very swampy just here, Ready; is it not?" + +"Yes; there's plenty of water below, I don't doubt. So much the better +for the animals; we must dig some pools when they come here. + +"Oh! I thought I was not wrong. Look! this is the best thing I have +found yet - we now need not care so much about potatoes." + +"Why, what are they, Ready?" + +"Yams, which they use instead of potatoes in the West Indies. Indeed, +potatoes do not remain potatoes long, when planted in hot climates." + +"How do you mean, Ready?" + +"They turn into what they call sweet-potatoes, after one or two crops: +yams are better things, in my opinion." + +At this moment the dogs dashed among the broad yam leaves, and +commenced baying; there was a great rustling and snorting. + +"What's that?" cried William, who had been stooping down to examine the +yam plant, and who was startled at the noise. + +Ready laughed heartily. "It isn't the first time that they've made you +jump, William." + +"Why, it's our pigs, isn't it?" replied William. + +"To be sure; they're in the yam patch, very busy feeding on them, I'll +be bound." + +Ready gave a shout, and a grunting and rushing were heard among the +broad leaves, and, very soon, out rushed, instead of the six, about +thirty pigs large and small; who, snorting and twisting their tails, +galloped away at a great rate, until they gained the cocoa-nut grove. + +"How wild they are, Ready!" said William. + +"Yes, and they'll be wilder every day; but we must fence these yams +from them, or we shall get none ourselves." + +"But they'll beat down the fence before it grows up." + +"We must pale it with cocoa-nut palings, and plant the prickly pears +outside. Now, we'll go down to the sea-side." + +As they neared the rocks, which were bare for about fifty yards from +the water's edge, Ready said, "I can tell you now what those white +patches on the rocks are, William; they are the places where the +sea-birds come to every year to make their nests, and bring up their +young. They always come to the same place every year, if they are not +disturbed." They soon arrived at the spot, and found it white with the +feathers of birds, mixed up with dirt. + +"I see no nests, Ready, nor the remains of any." + +"No, they do not make any nests, further than scratching a round hole, +about half an inch deep, in the soil, and there they lay their eggs, +sitting quite close to one another; they will soon be here, and begin +to lay, and then we will come and take the eggs, if we want any, for +they are not bad eating." + +"Why, Ready, what a quantity of good things we have found out already! +This has been a very fortunate expedition of ours." + +"Yes, it has; and we may thank God for his goodness, who thus provides +for us so plentifully in the wilderness." + +"Do you know, Ready, I cannot help thinking that we ought to have built +our house here." + +"Not so, William; we have not the pure water, recollect, and we have +not the advantages of the sandy beach, where we have our turtle- and +fish-pond. No; we may feed our stock here; we may gather the fruit, +taking our share of it with the poor birds; we may get our yams, and +every other good provided for us; but our house and home must be where +it is now." + +"You are right, Ready; but it will be a long walk." + +"Not when we are accustomed to it, and have made a beaten path; +besides, we may bring the boat round, perhaps." + +Then they walked along the sea-side for about a quarter of a mile, +until they came to where the rocks were not so high, and there they +discovered a little basin, completely formed in the rocks, with a +narrow entrance. + +"See, William, what a nice little harbour for our boat! we may here +load it with yams and take it round to the bay, provided we can find an +entrance through the reefs on the southern side of it, which we have +not looked for yet, because we have not required it." + +"Yes, Ready - it is, indeed, a nice, smooth little place for the boat. +What is that thing on the bottom, there?" said William, pointing in the +direction. + +"That is a sea crawfish, quite as good eating as a lobster. I wonder if +I could make a lobster-pot; we should catch plenty, and very good they +are." + +"And what are those little rough things on the rock?" + +"They are a very nice little sort of oyster; not like those we have in +England, but much better - they are so delicate." + +"Why, Ready, we have two more good things for our table, again," +replied William; "how rich we shall be!" + +"Yes; but we have to catch them, recollect: there is nothing to be had +in this world without labour." + +"Ready," said William, "we have good three hours' daylight; suppose we +go back and tell what we have seen: my mother will be so glad to see +us." + +"I agree with you, William. We have done well for one day; and may +safely go back again, and remain for another week. There are no fruits +at present, and all I care about are the yams; I should like to protect +them from the pigs. But let us go home and talk the matter over with +Mr. Seagrave." + +They found out the spot where they had left their knapsacks and +hatchets, and again took their path through the cocoa-nut trees, +following the blaze which they had made in the morning. One hour before +sunset they arrived at the house, where they found Mr. and Mrs. +Seagrave sitting outside, and Juno standing on the beach with the two +children, who were amusing themselves with picking up the shells which +were strewed about. William gave a very clear account of all they had +seen, and showed his father the specimens of the plants which he had +collected. + +"This," said Mr. Seagrave, "is a well-known plant; and I wonder Ready +did not recognize it; it is hemp." + +"I never saw it except in the shape of rope," replied Ready. "I know +the seed well enough." + +"Well, if we require it, I can tell you how to dress it," replied Mr. +Seagrave. "Now, William, what is the next?" + +"This odd-looking, rough thing." + +"That's the egg-plant: it bears fruit of a blue colour. I am told they +eat it in the hot countries." + +"Yes, sir, they do; they fry it with pepper and salt; they call it +bringal. I think it must be that." + +"I do not doubt but you are right," replied Mr. Seagrave. "Why, +William, you should know this." + +"It is like the grape-vine." + +"Yes, and it is so; it is the wild grape; we shall eat them by and +bye." + +"I have only one more, papa: what is this?" + +"You don't know it, because it has sprung up so high, William; but it +is the common mustard plant, - what we use in England, and is sold as +mustard and cress. I think you have now made a famous day's work of it; +and we have much to thank God for." + +As soon as they had returned to the house, a consultation was held as +to their future proceedings; and, after some debate, it was agreed that +it would be advisable that they should take the boat out of the sand; +and, as soon as it was ready, examine the reef on the southward, to see +if they could find a passage through it, as it would take a long while +to go round it; and, as soon as that was accomplished, Mr. Seagrave, +Ready, William, and Juno should all go through the wood, carrying with +them a tent to pitch on the newly-discovered piece of ground: and that +they should set up a flag-staff at the little harbour, to point out its +position. Of course, that would be a hard day's work; but that they +would, nevertheless, return the same night, and not leave Mrs. Seagrave +alone with the children. Having accomplished this, Ready and William +would then put the wheels and axle in the boat, and other articles +required, such as saw, hatchets, and spades, and row round to the south +side of the island, to find the little harbour. As soon as they had +landed them, and secured the boat, they would then return by the path +through the wood. + +The next job would be to rail in the yam plantation to keep off the +pigs, and, at the same time, to drive the sheep and goats through the +wood, that they might feed on the new pasture ground. Ready and William +were then to cut down cocoa-nut trees sufficient for the paling, fix up +the posts, and when that was done, Mr. Seagrave was to come to them and +assist them in railing it in, and drawing the timber. This they +expected would be all done in about a month; and during that time, as +Mrs. Seagrave and Juno would be, for the greatest part of it, left at +the house, they were to employ themselves in clearing the garden of +weeds, and making preparation for fencing it in. + +As soon as this important work had been completed, the boat would +return to the bay with a load of prickly pears for the garden fence, +and then they were to direct their attention to the stores which had +been saved from the wreck, and were lying in the cove where they had +first landed. When they had examined them, and brought round what were +required, and secured them in the storehouse, they would then have a +regular survey of the island by land and by water. But man proposes and +God disposes, as will be shown by the interruption of their intended +projects which we shall have to narrate in the ensuing chapter. + + + +Chapter XLIII + +As usual, Ready was the first up on the following morning, and having +greeted Juno, who followed him out of the house, he set off on his +accustomed rounds, to examine into the stock and their other +possessions. He was standing in the garden at the point. First he +thought that it would be necessary to get ready some sticks for the +peas, which were now seven or eight inches out of the ground; he had +proceeded a little farther, to where the calivances, or French haricot +beans, had been sown, and had decided upon the propriety of hoeing up +the earth round them, as they were a very valuable article of food, +that would keep, and afford many a good dish during the rainy or winter +season. He had gone on to ascertain if the cucumber seeds had shown +themselves above-ground, and was pleased to find that they were doing +well. He said to himself, "We have no vinegar, that I know of, but we +can preserve them in salt and water, as they do in Russia; it will be a +change, at all events;" and then he raised his eyes and looked out to +the offing, and, as usual, scanned the horizon. He thought he saw a +ship to the north-east, and he applied his telescope to his eye. He was +not mistaken - it was a vessel. + +The old man's heart beat quick; he dropped his telescope on his arm, +and fetched some heavy breaths before he could recover from the effect +of this unexpected sight. After a minute, he again put his telescope to +his eye, and then made her out to be a brig, under top-sails and +top-gallant sails, steering directly for the island. + +Ready walked to the rocky point, from which they fished, and sat down +to reflect. Could it be that the vessel had been sent after them, or +that she had by mere chance come among the islands? He decided after a +short time that it must be chance, for none could know that they were +saved, much less that they were on the island. Her steering towards the +island must then be either that she required water or something else; +perhaps she would alter her course and pass by them. "At all events," +thought the old man, "we are in the hands of God, who will, at his own +time and in his own way, do with us as he thinks fit. I will not at +present say anything to Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave. It would be cruel to +raise hopes which might end in disappointment. A few hours will decide. +And yet I cannot do without help - I must trust William." + +Ready rose, examined the vessel with his telescope, and then walked +towards the house. William was up, and the remainder of the family were +stirring. + +"William," said Ready to him, as they walked away from the house, "I +have a secret to tell you, which you will at once see the necessity of +not telling to anyone at present. A few hours will decide the +question." William readily gave his promise. "There is a vessel off the +island; she may be the means of rescuing us, or she may pass without +seeing us. It would be too cruel a disappointment to your father and +mother, if the latter were the case." + +William stared at Ready, and for a moment could not speak, his +excitement was so great. + +"Oh, Ready, how grateful I am! I trust that we may he taken away, for +you have no idea how my poor father suffers in silence - and so does my +mother." + +"I know it, William, I know it, and it is natural; they do their best +to control their yearnings, and they can do no more. But now we must be +quick, and at work before breakfast. But stop, I will show you the +vessel." + +Ready caught the vessel in the field of the telescope, which he leant +against the trunk of a cocoa-nut, and William put his eye to the glass. + +"Do you see her?" + +"Oh yes, Ready, and she is coming this way." + +"Yes, she is steering right for the island. I will put the telescope +down here, and we will go about our work." + +William and Ready went to the storehouse for the axe. Ready selected a +very slight cocoa-nut tree nearest to the beach, which he cut down, and +as soon as the top was taken off with the assistance of William he +carried it down to the point. + +"Now, William, go for a shovel and dig a hole here, that we may fix it +up as a flag-staff. When all is ready, I will go for a small block and +some rope for halyards to hoist up the flags as soon as the vessel is +likely to see them. At breakfast-time, I shall propose that you and I +get the boat out of the sand and examine her, and give Mr. Seagrave +some work indoors." + +"But the flags, Ready; they are round my mother's bed. How shall we get +them?" + +"Suppose I say that it is time that the house should be well cleaned, +and that the canvas hangings of the beds should he taken out to be +aired this fine day. Ask your father to take the direction of the work +while we dig out the boat; that will employ them all inside the house." + +"Yes, that will do, Ready." + +During breakfast-time, Ready observed that he intended to get the boat +out of the sand, and that William should assist him. + +"And what am I to do, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave. + +"Why, sir, I think, now that the rains are over, it would not be a bad +thing if we were to air bedding, as they say at sea; it is a fine, warm +day; and if all the bedding was taken out of the house and well shaken, +and then left out to air, it would be a very good job over; for you +see, sir, I have thought more than once that the house does smell a +little close." + +"It will be a very good thing, Ready," observed Mrs. Seagrave; "and, at +the same time, Juno and I will give the house a thorough cleaning and +sweeping." + +"Had we not better have the canvas screens down, and air them too?" + +"Yes," replied Ready; "we had better air everything. We will assist in +taking down the screens and flags, and spread them out to air, and +then, if Mr. Seagrave has no objection, we will leave him to +superintend and assist Madam and Juno." + +"With all my heart," replied Mr. Seagrave. "We have done breakfast, and +will begin as soon as you please." + +Ready and William took down the canvas screens and flags, and went out +of the cottage with them; they spread out the canvas at some distance +from the house, and then William went down to the beach with the flags, +while Ready procured the block and small rope to hoist them up with. + +Ready's stratagem answered well. Without being perceived by those in +the cottage, the flag-staff was raised, and fixed in the ground, and +the flags all ready for hoisting; then Ready and William returned to +the fuel-stack, and each carried down as much stuff as they could hold, +that they might make a smoke to attract the notice of those on board of +the vessel. All this did not occupy much more than an hour, during +which the brig continued her course steadily towards the island. When +Ready first saw her the wind was light, but latterly the breeze had +increased very much, and at last the brig took in her top-gallant +sails. The horizon behind the vessel, which had been quite clear, was +now banked up with clouds, and the waves curled in white foam over the +reefs of rocks extending from the island. + +"The breeze is getting up strong, William," said Ready, "and she will +soon be down, if she is not frightened at the reefs, which she can see +plainer now the water is rough, than she could before." + +"I trust she will not be afraid," replied William. "How far do you +think she is off now?" + +"About five miles; not more. The wind has hauled round more to the +southward, and it is banking up fast, I see. I fear that we shall have +another smart gale; however, it won't last long. Come, let us hoist the +flags; we must not lose a chance; the flags will blow nice and clear +for them to see them." + +William and Ready hoisted up the ensign first, and below it the flag, +with the ship's name, Pacific, in large letters upon it. "Now then," +said Ready, as he made fast the halyards, "let us strike a light and +make a smoke; that will attract their notice." + +As soon as the cocoa-nut leaves were lighted, Ready and William threw +water upon them, so as to damp them and procure a heavy column of +smoke. The vessel approached rapidly, and they were watching her in +silent suspense, when they perceived Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave, Juno +carrying Albert, with Tommy and Caroline running down as fast as they +could to the beach. The fact was, that Tommy, tired of work, had gone +out of the house and walked towards the beach; there he perceived, +first, the flags hoisted, and then he detected the vessel off the +island. He immediately ran back to the house, crying out, "Papa! Mamma! +Captain Osborn come back - come back in a big ship." At this +announcement, Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave ran out of the house, perceived the +vessel and the flags flying, and ran as fast as they could down to +where William and Ready were standing by the flag-staff. + +"Oh! Ready, why did you not tell us this before?" exclaimed Mr. +Seagrave. + +"I wish you had not known it now, sir," replied Ready; "but, however, +it can't be helped; it was done out of kindness, Mr. Seagrave." + +"Yes, indeed it was, papa." + +Mrs. Seagrave dropped down on the rock, and burst into tears. Mr. +Seagrave was equally excited. + +"Does she see us, Ready?" exclaimed he at last. + +"No, sir, not yet, and I waited till she did, before I made it known to +you," replied Ready. + +"She is altering her course, Ready," said William. + +"Yes, sir, she has hauled to the wind; she is afraid of coming too near +to the reefs." + +"Surely she is not leaving us!" exclaimed Mrs. Seagrave. + +"No, madam; but she does not see us yet." + +"She does! she does!" cried William, throwing up his hat; "see, she +hoists her ensign." + +"Very true, sir; she does see us. Thanks be to God!" + +Mr. Seagrave embraced his wife, who threw herself sobbing into his +arms, kissed his children with rapture, and wrung old Ready's hand. He +was almost frantic with joy. William was equally delighted. + +As soon as they were a little more composed, Ready observed: "Mr. +Seagrave, that they have seen us is certain, and what we must now do is +to get our own boat out of the sand. We know the passage through the +reefs, and they do not. I doubt if they will, however, venture to send +a boat on shore, until the wind moderates a little. You see, sir, it is +blowing up very strong just now." + +"But you don't think it will blow harder, Ready?" + +"I am sorry to say, sir, that I do. It looks very threatening to the +southward, and until the gale is over, they will not venture near an +island so surrounded with rocks. It would be very imprudent if they +did. However, sir, a few hours will decide." + +"But, surely," said Mrs. Seagrave, "even if it does blow, they will not +leave the island without taking us off. They will come after the gale +is over." + +"Yes, madam, if they can, I do think they will; but God knows, some men +have hard hearts, and feel little for the misery of others." + +The brig had, in the meantime, kept away again, as if she was running +in; but very soon afterwards she hauled to the wind, with her head to +the northward, and stood away from the island. + +"She is leaving us," exclaimed William, mournfully. + +"Hard-hearted wretches!" said Mr. Seagrave, with indignation. + +"You are wrong to say that, sir," replied Ready: "excuse me, Mr. +Seagrave, for being so bold; but the fact is, that if I was in command +of that vessel, I should do just as they have done. The gale rises +fast, and it would be very dangerous for them to remain where they now +are. It does not at all prove that they intend to leave us; they but +consult their own safety, and, when the gale is over, we shall, I +trust, see them again." + +No reply was made to Ready's judicious remarks. The Seagraves only saw +that the vessel was leaving them, and their hearts sank. They watched +her in silence, and as she gradually diminished to the view, so did +their hopes depart from them. The wind was now fierce, and a heavy +squall, with rain, obscured the offing, and the vessel was no longer to +be distinguished. Mr. Seagrave turned to his wife, and mournfully +offered her his arm. They walked away from the beach without speaking; +the remainder of the party, with the exception of old Ready, followed +them. Ready remained some time with his eyes in the direction where the +vessel was last seen. At last he hauled down the ensign and flag, and, +throwing them over his shoulder, followed the disconsolate party to the +house. + + + +Chapter XLIV + +When Ready arrived, he found them all plunged in such deep distress, +that he did not consider it advisable to say anything. The evening +closed in; it was time to retire. The countenance of Mr. Seagrave was +not only gloomy, but morose. The hour for retiring to rest had long +passed when Ready broke the silence by saying, "Surely, you do not +intend to sit up all night, Mr. Seagrave?" + +"Oh, no! there's no use sitting up now," replied Mr. Seagrave, rising +up impatiently. "Come, my dear, let us go to bed." + +Mrs. Seagrave rose, and retired behind the canvas screen. Her husband +seemed as if he was about to follow her, when Ready, without speaking, +laid the Bible on the table before him. Mr. Seagrave did not appear to +notice it; but William touched his father's arm, pointed to the book, +and then went inside of the screen, and led out his mother. + +"God forgive me!" exclaimed Mr. Seagrave. "In my selfishness and +discontent I had forgotten--" + +"Yes, sir, you had forgotten those words, `Come unto me, all ye who are +weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'" + +"I am ashamed of myself," said Mrs. Seagrave, bursting into tears. + +Mr. Seagrave opened the Bible, and read the psalm. As soon as he had +closed the book, "good night" were all the words that passed, and they +all retired to rest. + +During the night, the wind howled and the rain beat down. The children +slept soundly, but Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave, Ready, and William were awake +during the whole of the night, listening to the storm, and occupied +with their own thoughts. + +Ready was dressed before daylight, and out on the beach before the sun +had risen. The gale was at its height; and after a careful survey with +his telescope, he could see nothing of the vessel. He remained on the +beach till breakfast-time, when he was summoned by William, and +returned to the house. He found Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave up, and more +composed than they were the evening before; and they welcomed him +warmly. + +"I fear, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave, "that you have no good news for +us." + +"No, sir; nor can you expect any good news until after the gale is +over. The vessel could not remain here during the gale - that is +certain; and there is no saying what the effects of the gale may be. +She may lie to, and not be far from us when the gale is over; or she +may be obliged to scud before the gale, and run some hundred miles from +us. Then comes the next chance. I think, by her running for the island, +that she was short of water; the question is, then, whether she may not +find it necessary to run for the port she is bound to, or water at some +other place. A captain of a vessel is bound to do his best for the +owners. At the same time I do think, that if she can with propriety +come back for us she will. The question is, first, whether she can; +and, secondly, whether the captain is a humane man, and will do so at +his own inconvenience." + +"There is but poor comfort in all that," replied Mr. Seagrave. + +"It is useless holding out false hopes, sir," replied Ready; "but even +if the vessel continues her voyage, we have much to be thankful for." + +"In what, Ready?" + +"Why, sir, no one knew whether we were in existence or not, and +probably we never should have been searched for; but now we have made +it known, and by the ship's name on the flag they know who we are, and, +if they arrive safe in port, will not fail to communicate the +intelligence to your friends. Is not that a great deal to be thankful +for? We may not be taken off by this vessel, but we have every hope +that another will be sent out to us." + +"Very true, Ready; I ought to have seen that before; but my despair and +disappointment were yesterday so great, that it almost took away my +reason." + +The gale continued during the day, and showed no symptoms of abatement, +when they again retired for the night. The following day Ready was up +early, as usual, and William accompanied him to the beach. + +"I don't think that it blows so hard as it did, Ready." + +"No, William, it does not; the gale is breaking, and by night, I have +no doubt, will be over. It is, however, useless looking for the vessel, +as she must be a long way from this. It would take her a week, perhaps, +to come back to us if she was to try to do so, unless the wind should +change to the northward or westward." + +"Ready! Ready!" exclaimed William, pointing to the south-east part of +the reef; "what is that? Look! it's a boat." + +Ready put his telescope to his eye. "It's a canoe, William, and there +are people in it." + +"Why, where can they have come from? See! they are among the breakers; +they will be lost. Let us go towards them, Ready." + +They hastened along the beach to the spot nearest to where the canoe +was tossing on the surf, and watched it as it approached the shore. + +"William, this canoe must have been blown off from the large island, +which lies out there;" and Ready again looked through his telescope: +"there are two people in it, and they are islanders. Poor things! they +struggle hard for their lives, and seem much exhausted; but they have +passed through the most dangerous part of the reef." + +"Yes," replied William, "they will soon be in smoother water; but the +surf on the beach is very heavy." + +"They won't mind that, if their strength don't fail them - they manage +the canoe beautifully." + +During this conversation the canoe had rapidly come towards the land. +In a moment or two afterwards, it passed through the surf and grounded +on the beach. The two people in it had just strength enough left to +paddle through the surf, and then they dropped down in the bottom of +the canoe, quite exhausted. + +"Let's drag the canoe higher up, William. Poor creatures! they are +nearly dead." + +While dragging it up, Ready observed that the occupants were both +women: their faces were tattooed all over; otherwise they were young, +and might have been good-looking. + +"Shall I run up and get something for them, Ready?" + +"Do, William; ask Juno to give you some of whatever there is for +breakfast; anything warm." + +William soon returned with some thin oatmeal porridge, which Juno had +been preparing for breakfast; and a few spoonfuls being forced down the +throats of the two natives they gradually revived. William then left +Ready, and went up to acquaint his father and mother with this +unexpected event. + +William soon returned with Mr. Seagrave, and as the women were now able +to sit up, they hauled up the canoe as far as they could, to prevent +her being beat to pieces. They found nothing in the canoe, except a +piece of matting and the two paddles which had been used by the +natives. + +"You see, sir," said Ready, "it is very clear that these two poor +women, having been left in charge of the canoe, have been blown off +from the shore of one of the islands to the south-east; they must have +been contending with the gale ever since the day before yesterday, and, +as it appears, without food or water. It's a mercy that they gained +this island." + +"It is so," replied Mr. Seagrave; "but to tell the truth, I am not over +pleased at their arrival. It proves what we were not sure of before, +that we have very near neighbours, who may probably pay us a very +unwelcome visit." + +"That may be, sir," replied Ready; "still these two poor creatures +being thrown on shore here does not make the matter worse, or the +danger greater. Perhaps it may turn to our advantage; for if these +women learn to speak English before any other islanders visit us, they +will interpret for us, and be the means, perhaps, of saving our lives." + +"Would their visit be so dangerous, then, Ready?" + +"Why, sir, a savage is a savage, and, like a child, wishes to obtain +whatever he sees; especially he covets what he may turn to use, such as +iron, &c. If they came, and we concealed a portion, and gave up the +remainder of our goods, we might escape; but still there is no trusting +to them, and I would infinitely prefer defending ourselves against +numbers to trusting to their mercy." + +"But how can we defend ourselves against a multitude?" + +"We must be prepared, sir: if we can fortify ourselves, with our +muskets we would be more than a match for hundreds." + +Mr. Seagrave turned away. After a pause he said, "It is not very +pleasant to be now talking of defending ourselves against savages, when +we hoped two days ago to be leaving the island. Oh, that that brig +would make its appearance again!" + +"The wind is going down fast, sir," observed Ready; "it will be fine +weather before the evening. We may look out for her; at all events, for +the next week I shall not give up all hopes." + +"A whole week, Ready! Alas! how true it is, that hope deferred maketh +the heart sick." + +"It is a severe trial, Mr. Seagrave; but we must submit when we are +chastened. We had better get these poor creatures up to the house, and +let them recover themselves." + +Ready then beckoned to them to get on their feet, which they both did, +although with some difficulty. He then went in advance, making a sign +for them to follow; they understood him, and made the attempt, but were +so weak, that they would have fallen if they had not been supported by +Mr. Seagrave and William. + +It required a long time for them to arrive at the house. Mrs. Seagrave, +who knew what had happened, received them very kindly, and Juno had a +mess ready, which she put before them. They ate a little and then lay +down, and were soon sound asleep. + +"It is fortunate for us that they are women," observed Mr. Seagrave: +"we should have had great difficulty had they been men." + +"Yes, sir," replied Ready; "but still we must not trust women too much +at first, for they are savages." + +"Where shall we put them to-night, Ready?" + +"Why, sir, I have been thinking about that. I wish we had a shed close +to us; but as we have not, we must let them sleep in the storehouse." + +We must now pass over a space of fifteen days, in which there was +nothing done. The expectation of the vessel returning was still alive, +although each day decreased these hopes. Every morning Ready and +William were at the beach with the telescope, and the whole of the day +was passed in surmises, hopes, and fears. In fact, the appearance of +the vessel and the expectation of leaving the island had completely +overturned all the regularity and content of our island party. No other +subject was broached - not any of the work proposed was begun, as it +was useless to do anything if they were to leave the island. After the +first week had passed, they felt that every day their chances were more +adverse, and at the end of the fortnight all hopes were very +unwillingly abandoned. + +The Indian women had, in the meantime, recovered their fatigues, and +appeared to be very mild and tractable. Whatever they were able to do, +they did cheerfully, and had already gained a few words of English. The +party to explore was again talked over, and arranged for the following +Monday, when a new misfortune fell on them, which disconcerted all +their arrangements. + +On the Saturday morning, when Ready, as usual, went his rounds, as he +walked along the beach, he perceived that the Indian canoe was missing. +It had been hauled up clear of the water, so that it could not have +floated away. Ready's heart misgave him; he looked through his +telescope in the direction of the large island, and thought he could +distinguish a speck on the water at a great distance. As he was thus +occupied, William came down to him. + +"William," said Ready, "I fear those island women have escaped in their +canoe. Run up, and see if they are in the outhouse, or anywhere else, +and let me know as soon as you can." + +William in a few minutes returned, breathless, stating that the women +were not to be found, and that they had evidently carried away with +them a quantity of the large nails and other pieces of iron which were +in the small kegs in the storehouse. + +"This is bad, William; this is worse than the vessel not coming back." + +"Why, we can do without them, Ready." + +"Yes; but when they get back to their own people, and show them the +iron they have brought with them, and describe how much more there is +to be had, depend upon it, we shall have a visit from them in numbers, +that they may obtain more. I ought to have known better than to leave +the canoe here. We must go and consult with Mr. Seagrave, for the +sooner we begin to work now, the better." + +They communicated the intelligence to Mr. Seagrave when they were +outside. He at once perceived their danger, so they held a council, and +came to the following resolutions:-- + +That it would be necessary that they should immediately stockade the +storehouse, so as to render it impossible for any one to get in; and +that, as soon as the fortification was complete, the storehouse should +be turned into their dwelling-house; and such stores as could not be +put within the stockade should be removed to their present house, or +concealed in the cocoa-nut grove. + +It was decided that nothing should be begun on that day, Saturday; that +Sunday should be spent in devout prayer for help and encouragement from +the Almighty, who would do towards them as his wisdom should ordain; +and that on Monday, with the blessing of God, they would recommence +their labour. + +"I don't know why, but I feel more courage now that there is a prospect +of danger, than I felt when there was little or none," said Mrs. +Seagrave. + +"How little do we know what the day may bring forth!" exclaimed Mr. +Seagrave. "How joyful were our anticipations when the vessel hoisted +her colours! we felt sure that we were to be taken off the island. The +same gale that drove the vessel away brought down to us the island +women. The fair weather after the gale, which we hoped would have +brought back the vessel to our succour, on the contrary enabled the +women to escape in the canoe, and make known our existence to those who +may come to destroy us. How true it is that man plans in vain; and that +it is only by the Almighty will and pleasure that he can obtain his +ends!" + + + +Chapter XLV + +But although they resolved as stated in the last chapter, nothing was +done. Finally, one morning at sunrise, as they were looking round with +the telescope, close to the turtle-pond, Masterman Ready said to Mr. +Seagrave, "Indeed, sir, we must no longer remain in this state of +idleness; I have been thinking a great deal of our present position and +prospects; as to the vessel coming back, we must, at present, give up +all hopes of it. I only wish that we were quite as sure that we shall +not have a visit from the savages: that is my great fear, and it really +haunts me; the idea of our being surprised some night, and Mrs. +Seagrave and the dear children, perhaps, murdered in their beds, is +awful to reflect upon." + +"God help us!" exclaimed Mr. Seagrave, covering up his face. + +"God will help us, Mr. Seagrave, but at the same time it is necessary +that we should help ourselves; he will give his blessing to our +exertions, but we cannot expect that miracles will be performed for us; +and if we remain as we now are, inactive, and taking no steps to meet +the danger which threatens us, we cannot expect the divine assistance. +We have had a heavy shock, but it is now time that we recover from it, +and put our own shoulders to the wheel." + +"I agree with you, Ready," replied William; "indeed I have been +thinking the same thing for many days past." + +"We have all been thinking of it, I believe," said Mr. Seagrave; "I'm +sure I have lain awake night after night, considering our position and +what we ought to do, but I have never been able to come to any +satisfactory resolution." + +"No more have I till last night, Mr. Seagrave, but I think that I have +now something to propose which, perhaps, will meet with your approval," +replied Ready; "so now, sir, suppose we hold another council, and come +to a decision." + +"I am most willing, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave, sitting down upon a +rock; "and as you are the oldest, and moreover the best adviser of the +three, we will first hear what you have to propose." + +"Well then, Mr. Seagrave, it appears to me that it will not do to +remain in the house, for we may, as I have said, be surprised by the +savages at any hour in the night, and we have no means of defence +against numbers." + +"I feel that, and have felt it for some time," replied Mr. Seagrave. +"What shall we do, then; shall we return to the cove?" + +"I should think not, sir," said Ready; "what I propose is this: we have +made a discovery on the south of the island, which is of great +importance to us; not that I consider the fruit and other plants of any +great value, as they will only serve to increase our luxuries, if I may +so call them, during the summer season. One great advantage to us, is +the feed which we have found for our live stock, and the fodder for +them during the rainy season; but principally, the patch of yams, which +will afford us food during the winter. They are of great importance to +us, and we cannot too soon protect them from the pigs, which will +certainly root them all up, if we do not prevent them. Now, sir, you +know what we had arranged to do, but which we have not done; I think +the cocoa-nut rails will take too much time, and it will be sufficient +to make a ditch and hedge round the yams; but it will be very tedious +if we are to go backwards and forwards to do the work, and Mrs. +Seagrave and the children will be left alone. I therefore propose, as +the weather is now set in fair, and will remain so for months, that we +pitch our tents on that part of the island, and remove the whole family +there; we shall soon be very comfortable, and at all events much safer +there than if we remain here, without any defence," + +"It is an excellent plan, Ready; we shall, as you say, be removed from +danger for the time, and when there, we may consider what we had best +do by and by." + +"Yes, sir. Those women may not have gained the other island, it is +true, for they had the wind right against them for several days after +they went away in the canoe, and, moreover, the current sets strong +this way; but if they have, we must expect that the savages will pay us +a visit; they will, of course, come direct to the house, if they do +come." + +"But, Ready, you don't mean to say that we are to leave this side of +the island altogether, and all our comfortable arrangements?" said +William. + +"No, William, not altogether; for now I come to the second part of my +proposition. As soon as we have done our work at the yam plantation, +and made everything as comfortable there as we can, I think we may then +leave Mrs. Seagrave and the children in the tents, and work here, As we +before agreed, let us abandon the house in which we live at present, +and fit out the outhouse which is concealed in the cocoa-nut grove, as +a dwelling-house, and fortify it so as to be secure against any sudden +attack of the savages: for, return here we must, to live, as we cannot +remain in the tents after the rainy season sets in." + +"How do you propose to fortify it, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave; "I hardly +know." + +"That I will explain to you by and by, sir. Then, if the savages come +here, at all events we should be able to defend ourselves with +fire-arms; one man behind a stockade is better than twenty who have no +other arms but spears and clubs; and we may, with the help of God, beat +them off." + +"I think your plan is excellent, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave, "and that +the sooner we begin, the better." + +"That there is no doubt of, sir. Now, the first job is for William and +me to try for the passage through this side of the reef with the boat, +and then we will look for the little harbour which we discovered; as +soon as that is done, we will return and take the tents and all we +require round in the boat, and when we have pitched the tents and all +is arranged, Mrs. Seagrave and the children can walk through the wood +with us, and take possession." + +"Let us not lose an hour, Ready; we have lost too much time already," +replied Mr. Seagrave. "What shall we do to-day?" + +"After breakfast, William and I will take the boat, and try for the +passage. You can remain here, packing up the tents and such articles as +must first be carried round. We shall be back, I hope, by dinner-time." + +They then rose, and walked towards the house; all felt relieved in +their minds, after they had made this arrangement, satisfied that they +would be using all human endeavours to ward off the danger which +threatened them, and might then put their confidence in that Providence +who would, if he thought fit, protect them in their need. + + + +Chapter XLVI + +The subject was introduced to Mrs. Seagrave, while they were at +breakfast, and as she perceived how much more secure they would be, she +cheerfully consented. In less than an hour afterwards, William and +Ready had prepared the boat, and were pulling out among the rocks of +the reef to find a passage, which, after a short time, and by keeping +two or three cables from the point, they succeeded in doing. + +"This is very fortunate, William," observed Ready; "but we must now +take some marks to find our way in again. See, the large black rock is +on a line with the garden point: so, if we keep them in one, we shall +know that we are in the proper channel; and now for a mark abreast of +us, to find out when we enter it." + +"Why, Ready, the corner of the turtle-pond just touches the right wall +of the house," replied William. + +"So it does; that will do; and now let us pull away as hard as we can, +so as to be back in good time." + +They soon were on the south side of the island, and pulling up along +the shore. + +"How far do you think that it is by water, Ready?" + +"I hardly know; but at least four or five miles, so we must make up our +minds to a good hour's pull. At all events, we shall sail back again +with this wind, although there is but little of it." + +"We are in very deep water now," observed William, after a long +silence. + +"Yes, on this side of the island we must expect it; the coral grows to +leeward only. I think that we cannot be very far from the little +harbour we discovered. Suppose we leave off rowing for a minute, and +look about us." + +"There are two rocks close to the shore, Ready," said William, +pointing, "and you recollect there were two or three rocks outside of +the harbour." + +"Very true, William, and I should not wonder if you have hit upon the +very spot. Let us pull in." + +They did so; and, to their satisfaction, found that they were in the +harbour, where the water was as smooth as a pond. + +"Now, then, William, we will step the mast, and sail back at our +leisure." + +"Stop one moment, Ready; give me the boat-hook. I see something between +the clefts of the rocks." + +Ready handed the boat-hook to William, who, lowering it down into the +water, drove the spike of iron at the end of it into a large crayfish, +which he hauled up into the boat. + +"That will be an addition to our dinner," said Ready; "we do not go +back empty-handed, and, therefore, as the saying is, we shall be more +welcome; now, then, let us start, for we must pull here again this +afternoon, and with a full cargo on board." + +They stepped the mast, and as soon as they had pulled the boat clear of +the harbour, set sail, and in less than an hour had rejoined the party +at the house. + +William had brought up the crayfish, which had only one claw, and Juno +put on another pot of water to boil it, as an addition to the dinner, +which was nearly ready. Tommy at first went with his sister Caroline to +look at the animal, and as soon as he had left off admiring it, he +began, as usual, to tease it; first he poked its eyes with a stick, +then he tried to unfold his tail, but the animal flapped, and he ran +away. At last he was trying to put his stick into the creature's mouth, +when it raised its large claw, and caught him by the wrist, squeezing +him so tight that Tommy screamed and danced about as the crayfish held +on. Fortunately for him, the animal had been so long out of water, and +had been so much hurt by the iron spike of the boat-hook, that it was +more than half-dead, or he would have been severely hurt. Ready ran to +him, and disengaged the crayfish; but Tommy was so frightened, that he +took to his heels, and did not leave off running until he was one +hundred yards from the house, while Juno and Ready were laughing at him +till the tears came into their eyes. When he saw the crayfish on the +table, he appeared to be afraid of it, although it was dead. + +"Well, Tommy," said Mr. Seagrave, "I suppose you won't eat any of the +crayfish?" + +"Won't I?" replied Tommy. "I'll eat him, for he tried to eat me." + +"Why did you not leave the animal alone, Tommy?" said Mr. Seagrave; "if +you had not tormented it, it would not have bitten you; I don't know +whether you ought to have any." + +"I don't like it; I won't have any," replied Tommy. "I like salt pork +better." + +"Well, then, if you don't like it, you shall not have it forced upon +you, Tommy," replied Mr. Seagrave; "so now we'll divide it among the +rest of us." + +Tommy was not very well pleased at this decision, for he really did +wish to have some of it, so he turned very sulky for the rest of the +dinner-time, especially when old Ready told him that he had had his +share of the crayfish before dinner. + + + +Chapter XLVII + +As soon as the meal was over, Mr. Seagrave and Juno assisted them in +carrying down the canvas and poles for the tent, with shovels to clear +away, and the pegs to fix the tents up properly. Before they started, +William observed, "I think it would be a good thing, if Ready and I +were to take our bedding with us, and then we could fix up one tent +this evening, and sleep there; to-morrow morning we might set up the +other, and get a good deal of work over before we come back." + +"You are right, William," replied Ready; "let us see what Juno can give +us to eat, and then we will do as you say, for the sooner we are all +there the better." + +As Mr. Seagrave was of the same opinion, Juno packed up a piece of salt +pork and some flour-cakes, which, with three or four bottles of water, +they took down to the boat. Ready having thrown in a piece of rope to +moor the boat with, they shoved off and were soon through the reef, +and, after a smart pull, they arrived again at the small harbour. + +As soon as they had landed all the things, they made the boat fast by +the rope, and then carried a portion of the canvas and tent-poles up to +the first copse of trees, which were the guavas; they then returned for +the remainder, and after three trips everything was up. + +"Now, William, we must see where to pitch the tent; we must not be too +near the cocoa-nut grove, or we shall have too far to go for water." + +"Don't you think that the best place will be close to the bananas? the +ground is higher there, and the water is, you know, between the bananas +and the yams." + +"Very true, I think it will not be a bad place; let us walk there +first, and reconnoitre the ground." + +They walked to where the bananas were now throwing out their beautiful +large green leaves, and decided that they would fix the tents upon the +north side of them. + +"So here let it be," said Ready; "and now let us go and fetch all the +things; it is a nice dry spot, and I think will do capitally." + +They were soon hard at work, and long before sunset one tent was ready, +and they had put their bedding in it. + +"Well, now, I suppose you are a little tired," said Ready; "I'm sure +you ought to be, for you have worked hard to-day." + +"I don't feel very tired, Ready, but it's not time to go to bed yet." + +"No; and I think we had better take our shovels and dig the pits for +the water, and then we shall know by to-morrow morning whether the +water is good or not." + +"Yes, Ready, we can do that before we get our supper." + +They walked to where the ground between the bananas and yam patch was +wet and swampy, and dug two large holes about a yard deep and square; +the water trickled in very fast, and they were up to their ankles +before they had finished. + +"There'll be no want of water, Ready, if it is only fit to drink." + +"I've no fear of that," replied Ready. + +They returned to the tent and made their supper off the salt pork and +flour-cakes, and then lay down on the mattresses. They were soon fast +asleep, for they were tired out with the hard work which they had gone +through. + +The next morning, at sunrise, they were up again; the first thing they +did was to go and examine the holes they had dug for water; they found +them full and running over, and the water had settled quite clear; they +tasted it, and pronounced it very good. + +As soon as they had washed themselves, they went back and made their +breakfast, and then set to work to get up the other tent. They then +cleared all the ground near the tents of brushwood and high grass, and +levelled it nicely with their shovels inside. + +"Now, William, we have another job, which is to prepare a fireplace for +Juno: we must go down to the beach for stones." + +In another hour the fireplace was completed, and Ready and William +looked at their work. + +"Well, I call this a very comfortable lodging-house," said Ready. + +"And I am sure," replied William, "it's very pretty. Mamma will be +delighted with it." + +"We shall have no want of bananas in a few weeks," said Ready; "look, +they are all in blossom already. Well, now I suppose we had better +leave everything here, and go back. We must have another trip this +afternoon, and sleep here to-night." + +They went down to the boat, and sailed back as before; by ten o'clock +in the morning they had regained the house, and then they made +arrangements for their work during the remainder of the day. It was +agreed that the provisions necessary for a day or two, the table and +chairs, the cooking utensils, and a portion of their clothes, should be +taken round that afternoon, that Ready and William should come back +early the next morning, and then they should all set off together +through the wood to the new location. The sheep and lambs (for they had +four lambs), the goats and kids, were to be driven through the wood by +Mr. Seagrave; William and Ready and the dogs would be very useful in +driving them. As for the fowls and chickens, it was decided they should +be left, as Ready and William could look after them on their occasional +visits. + + + +Chapter XLVIII + +The boat was well loaded that afternoon, and they had a heavy pull +round, and hard work afterwards to carry all the articles up. William +and Ready were, therefore, not sorry when their work was done, and they +went to bed as soon as they had taken their supper. + +At sunrise, they went back to the bay in the boat, which they hauled +up, and then proceeded to the house, where they found that everyone was +ready to start. Mr. Seagrave had collected all the animals, and they +set off; the marks on the trees were very plain, and they had no +difficulty in finding their way; but they had a good deal of trouble +with the goats and sheep, and did not get on very fast. It was three +hours before they got clear of the cocoa-nut grove, and Mrs. Seagrave +was quite tired out. At last they arrived, and Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave +could not help exclaiming "How beautiful!" + +When they came to where the tents were pitched by the side of the +bananas, they were equally pleased: it was quite a fairy spot. Mrs. +Seagrave went into her tent to repose after her fatigue; the goats and +sheep were allowed to stray away as they pleased; the dogs lay down, +panting with their long journey; Juno put Albert on the bed while she +went with William to collect fuel to cook the dinner; Ready went to the +pits to get some water, while Mr. Seagrave walked about, examining the +different clumps of trees with which the meadow was studded. + +When Ready returned with the water, he called the dogs, and went back +towards the yam plantation. Tommy followed them; the dogs went into the +yams, and were soon barking furiously, which pleased Tommy very much; +when, of a sudden, out burst again in a drove all the pigs, followed by +the dogs, and so close to Tommy that he screamed with fright, and +tumbled head over heels. + +"I thought you were there, my gentlemen," said Ready, looking after the +pigs; "the sooner we fence you out the better." + +The pigs scampered away, and went into the cocoa-nut grove as they had +done before. The dogs followed the pigs, and did not return for a long +while afterwards. + +It was late before the dinner was ready, and they were all very glad to +go early to bed. + +At day dawn, William and Ready had again started, and walked through +the cocoa-nut grove back to the house, to bring round in the boat the +articles of furniture and the clothes which had been left. Having +collected everything in the house, and procured some more pork and +flour from the storehouse, they completed the load by spearing one of +the turtles which remained, and putting it into the bottom of the boat; +they then set off again for their new residence, and arrived in time +for breakfast. + +"What a delightful spot this is!" said Mrs. Seagrave. "I think we ought +always to make it our summer residence, and only go back to the house +during the rainy season." + +"It is much cooler here, madam, during the summer, and much more +pleasant; but we are more protected in the house by the cocoa-nut +grove." + +"Yes; that is true, and it is very valuable during the rainy season; +but it makes it warmer in the summer time. I like the change, Ready, +and shall be sorry when we have to go back again." + +"Now I must go, and help Juno to cut up the turtle," said Ready. "We +must make our larder among the banana trees." + +"But what are we all to do, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave. "We must not be +idle." + +"No, sir; but I think we must give up this day to putting everything to +rights, and making everything comfortable inside the tents; to-morrow +we will commence the ditch and hedge round the yam plantation. We need +not work very hard at it, for I don't think the pigs will venture here +again, as I mean to tie up all the dogs round the yam patch every +night, and their barking will keep them off." + +"That will be a very good plan, Ready. What beautiful food there is for +the sheep and goats!" + +"Yes; this must be their future residence for the best part of the +year. I think to-morrow we will begin a piece of the ditch, and show +William how to put in the cuttings of prickly pear for the hedge, and +then, I should propose that you and I go to the cove to examine the +stores and select what it will be necessary to bring round. I think you +said that you must go yourself?" + +"Yes, Ready, I wish to go. When we have made our selection, I will +return, and then you and William, who is more used to the boat than I +am, can bring the stores round. I presume we shall not bring them +here?" + +"No, sir, we will take them round to the storehouse. When we have done +that job, we must then commence our alterations and our stockade." + + + +Chapter XLIX + +The next morning they went with their shovels to the yam plantation, +and commenced their work. As the ground was soft and swampy, the labour +was very easy. The ditch was dug nearly a yard wide, and the earth +thrown up on a bank inside. They then went to where the large patch of +prickly pears grew, and cut a quantity, which they planted on the top +of the bank. Before night, they had finished about nine or ten yards of +the hedge and ditch. + +"I don't think that the pigs will get over that when it is finished," +said Ready, "and William will be able to get on by himself when we are +gone, as well as if we were with him." + +"I'll try if I cannot shoot a pig or two," said William. + +"Let it be a young one, then; we must not kill the old ones. Now I +think we may as well go back. Juno is carrying in the supper." + +Before Mr. Seagrave and Ready started on the following morning, the +latter gave William directions as to the boat. The provisions and the +knapsack having been already prepared, they took leave of Mrs. +Seagrave, and set off, each armed with a musket, and Ready with his axe +slung over his shoulder. They had a long walk before them, as they had +first to find their way back to the house, and from thence had to walk +through the wood to the cove. + +In two hours after leaving the house they reached the spot where they +had first landed. The rocks near to it were strewed with timber and +planks, which lay bleaching in the sun, or half-buried in the sand. Mr. +Seagrave sat down, and sighed deeply as he said, "Ready, the sight of +these timbers, of which the good ship Pacific was built, recalls +feelings which I had hoped to have dismissed from my mind; but I cannot +help them rising up. The remains of this vessel appear to me as the +last link between us and the civilised world, which we have been torn +from, and all my thoughts of home and country, and I may say all my +longing for them, are revived as strong as ever." + +"And very natural that they should, Mr. Seagrave; I feel it also. I am +content, it is true, because I have nothing to wish or look forward to; +but still I could not help thinking of poor Captain Osborn and my +shipmates, as I looked upon the wreck, and wishing that I might take +them by the hand again. It is very natural that one should do so. Why, +sir, do you know that I feel unhappy even about the poor ship. We +sailors love our vessels, especially when they have good qualities, and +the Pacific was as fine a vessel as ever was built. Now, sir, I feel +quite melancholy when I see her planks and timbers lying about here. +But, sir, if we cannot help feeling as we do, it is our duty to check +the feeling, so that it does not get the mastery over us. We can do no +more." + +"Very true, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave, rising up; "it is not only +useless, but even sinful to indulge in them, as they only can lead to +our repining at the decrees of heaven. Let us now examine the rocks, +and see if anything has been thrown up that may be of use to us." + +They walked round, but, with the exception of spars and a barrel or two +of tar, they could find nothing of value. There was no want of staves +and iron hoops of broken casks, and these, Ready observed, would make +excellent palings for the garden when they had time to bring them +round. + +After they had returned, they sat down to rest themselves, and then +they went to the tents in the cocoa-nut grove, in which they had +collected the articles thrown up when the ship went to pieces. + +"Why, the pigs have been at work here!" said Ready; "they have +contrived to open one cask of flour somehow or another; look, sir - I +suppose it must have been shaky, or they could not have routed into it; +the canvas is not good for much, I fear; fortunately, we have several +bolts of new, which I brought on shore. Now, sir, we will see what +condition the stores are in. All these are casks of flour, and we run +no risk in opening them, and seeing if they are in good order." + +The first cask which was opened had a cake round it as hard as a board; +but when it was cut through with the axe, the inside was found in a +good state. + +"That's all right, sir; and I presume the others will be the same; the +salt water has got in so far and made a crust, which has preserved the +rest. But now let us go to dinner, and to work afterwards." + + + +Chapter L + +After dinner they resumed their labour. "I wonder what's in this case?" +said Mr. Seagrave, pointing to the first at hand. Ready set to work +with his axe, and broke off the lid, and found a number of pasteboard +boxes full of tapes, narrow ribbons, stay-laces, whalebones, and +cottons on reels. + +"This has been sent out for some Botany Bay milliner," said Mr. +Seagrave. "I presume, however, we must confiscate it for the benefit of +Mrs. Seagrave and Miss Caroline. We will take them to them as soon as +we have time." + +The next was a box without a lock; the lid was forced up, and they +found a dozen half-gallon square bottles of gin stored in divisions. + +"That's Hollands, sir, I know," said Ready; "what shall we do with it?" + +"We will not destroy it, Ready, but at the same time we will not use it +but as a medicine," replied Mr. Seagrave; "we have been so long used to +spring-water, that it would be a pity to renew a taste for spirituous +liquors." + +"I trust we shall never want to drink a drop of it, sir, either as a +medicine or otherwise. Now for this cask with wooden hoops." + +The head was soon out, and discovered a dinner set of painted china +with gold edges. + +"This, Mr. Seagrave, may be useful, for we are rather short of plates +and dishes. Common white would have served as well." + +"And be more suitable with our present outfit," replied Mr. Seagrave. + +"Here's a box with your name on it, sir," said Ready; "do you know what +is in it?" + +"I have no idea, Ready; but your axe will decide the point." + +When the box was opened, everything appeared in a sad mouldy state from +the salt water which had penetrated; but on removing the brown paper +and pasteboard, it was found to contain stationery of all sorts, and, +except on the outside, it was very little injured. + +"This is indeed a treasure, Ready. I recollect now; this is paper, +pens, and everything requisite for writing, besides children's books, +copy-books, paint-boxes, and a great many other articles in the +stationery line." + +"Well, sir, that is fortunate. Now we may set up our school, and as the +whole population of the island will attend it, it will really be a +National School." + +"Very true, Ready. Now for that cask." + +"I can tell what that is by the outside; it is oil, and very +acceptable, for our candles are nearly out. Now we come to the most +valuable of all our property." + +"What is that, Ready?" + +"All the articles which I brought on shore in the different trips I +took in the boat before the ship went to pieces; for you see, sir, iron +don't swim, and, therefore, what I looked after most was ironware of +all sorts, and tools. Here are three kegs of small nails, besides two +bags of large, and there are several axes, hammers, and other tools, +besides hanks of twine, sailing needles, and bees'-wax." + +"They are indeed valuable, Ready." + +"Here's some more of my plunder, as the Americans say. All these are +wash-deck buckets, this a small harness cask for salting meat, and +here's the cook's wooden trough for making bread, which will please +Miss Juno; and in it, you see, I have put all the galley-hooks, ladles, +and spoons, and the iron trivets, and here's two lamps. I think I put +some cotton wicks somewhere - I know I did; we shall find them by and +by. Here's the two casks, one of cartridges made up, and the other of +gunpowder, and the other six muskets." + +"These are really treasures, Ready, and yet how well we have done +without them." + +"Very true, sir, but we shall do better with them, and when we fit up +the storehouse for a dwelling, Mr. Seagrave, we shall be able to make +it a little more comfortable in every respect than the present one; for +you see there, all the fir-planking and deals, which William and I +buried in the sand." + +"I really had quite forgotten them, Ready. If I could but get the fear +of the savages coming over out of my head, I really think we might live +very comfortably even on this island." + +"Do you know, Mr. Seagrave, I am glad to hear you say that, for it +proves that you are more contented and resigned than you were." + +"I am so, Ready - at least I think so; but perhaps it is, that the +immediate danger from the savages so fills my thoughts, that I no +longer dwell so much upon our being taken off the island." + +"I dare say it is as you state, sir; but now let us go on with our +search. Here are the ship's compasses, and deep sea line and reel, also +the land lead. The stuff will be very useful for our little boat." + +"And I am very glad of the compasses, Ready; for with them I shall be +able to make a sort of survey of the island, when I have a little time. +Your pocket compass is too small for surveying. I shall take some +bearings now, while I am here, as I may not be back again very soon." + +"Well, sir, I think if we open this other case, which I perceive has +your name on it, it will be as much as we need do to-day, for the sun +is going down; we can then make up some kind of bed, eat our suppers, +and go to sleep." + +"I am very tired, Ready, and shall be glad to do as you propose. That +case contains books; but what portion of my library I do not know." + +"But you soon will, sir," replied Ready, wrenching it open with his +axe. "They are a little stained on the outside, but they are jammed so +tight that they do not appear to have suffered much. Here are one or +two, sir." + +"Plutarch's Lives. I am glad I have them: they are excellent reading +for young or old; there is no occasion to open any more, as I know all +the other books in the case are `History'; perhaps the best case which +could have been saved." + + + +Chapter LI + +Mr. Seagrave and Ready then set to work, and made a rough sort of bed +of cocoa-nut branches; and, after eating their supper, committed +themselves to the divine protection, and went to sleep. The next +morning they resumed their labour, and opened every other case and +package that had been saved from the wreck; they found more hooks, four +boxes of candles, three casks of rice, and several other useful +articles, besides many others which were of no value to them. + +A chest of tea, and two bags of coffee, which Ready had brought on +shore, were, much to their delight, found in good order; but there was +no sugar, the little which they had saved having been melted away. + +"That's unfortunate, sir." + +"We cannot expect to get things here, as though we were a hundred yards +from a grocer's shop. Now let us go to where we covered up the other +articles with sand." + +The sand was shovelled up, and the barrels of beef and pork and the +deal boards found in good order, but many other things were quite +spoilt. About noon they had finished, and as they had plenty of time, +Mr. Seagrave took the bearings of the different points of land with the +compasses. They then shouldered their muskets, and set off on their +return. + +They gained the house in the bay, and having rested a little while at +the storehouse, they proceeded on their way to the tents in the meadow. +They had about half a mile to go, when Ready heard a noise, and made a +sign to Mr. Seagrave to stop. Ready, whispering to Mr. Seagrave that +the pigs were all close to them, loaded his musket; Mr. Seagrave did +the same, and they walked very softly to where they now heard their +grunting; they did not see them till they were within twenty yards, and +then they came upon the whole herd; the pigs raised their heads; the +old ones gave a loud grunt, and then, just as Ready fired his musket, +they all set off at full speed. Mr. Seagrave had no opportunity of +firing, but Ready had shot one, which lay kicking and struggling under +a cocoa-nut tree. + +"A piece of fresh pork will be quite a treat, Mr. Seagrave," said +Ready, as they walked up to where the animal was lying. + +"It will, indeed, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave; "we must contrive to +carry the beast home between us." + +"We will sling it on the musket, sir, and it will not be very heavy. It +is one of those born on the island, and a very fine fellow for his +age." + +The pig was soon slung, and they carried it between them. As they +cleared the wood, they perceived Mrs. Seagrave and William, who had +heard the report of the musket, and had come out to meet them. + +William took the load from his father, who walked on with Mrs. +Seagrave. + +"Well, William, what news have you?" said Ready. + +"Why, very good, Ready. Yesterday evening, when I was tired of work, I +thought I would take the boat, and try if there was any fish to he +caught on this side of the island in the deep water, and I caught three +large ones, quite different from those we took among the reefs. We had +one for breakfast and dinner to-day, and it was excellent." + +"Did you go out in the boat by yourself?" + +"No; I took Juno with me. She pulls very well, Ready." + +"She is a handy girl, William. Well, we have had our survey, and there +will be plenty of work for you and me, I can tell you; I don't think we +can bring everything round in a week; so I suppose to-morrow we had +better be off." + +"Well, I like boating better than ditching, I can tell you, Ready," +replied William. "I shan't be sorry to leave that work to my father." + +"I suppose it must fall to him; as he will, of course, prefer staying +with Mrs. Seagrave and the children." + +As soon as they were at the tents, Ready hung up the pig to the cross +pole of the tent in which he and William and Mr. Seagrave slept, and +having propped the muskets up against the side of the tent, he went +with William to get his knife and some stretchers of wood to open the +pig with. While he and William were away, Caroline and Tommy came out +to look at it, and Tommy, after telling Caroline how glad he was that +they were to have roast pig for dinner, took up one of the muskets, and +said, "Now, Caroline, I'll shoot the pig." + +"Oh! Tommy, you must not touch the gun," cried Caroline; "papa will be +very angry." + +"I don't care," replied Tommy. "I'll show you how to shoot the pig." + +"Don't, Tommy," cried Caroline; "if you do, I'll go and tell mamma." + +"Then I'll shoot you," replied Tommy, trying to point the musket at +her. + +Caroline was so frightened, that she ran away as fast as she could, and +then Tommy, using all his strength, contrived to get the musket up to +his shoulder, and pulled the trigger. + +It so happened that Tommy had taken up Mr. Seagrave's musket, which had +not been fired, and when he pulled the trigger it went off, and as he +did not hold it tight to his shoulder, it recoiled, and hit him with +the butt right on his face, knocking out two of his teeth, besides +making his nose bleed very fast. + +Tommy was so astonished and frightened at the musket going off, and the +blow which he received, that he gave a loud yell, dropped the musket, +and ran to the tent where his father and mother were, just as they had +started up and had rushed out at hearing the report. + +When Mrs. Seagrave saw Tommy all covered with blood, and screaming so +loud, she was so alarmed that she could not stand, and fell fainting in +Mr. Seagrave's arms. Ready and William, on hearing the musket go off, +had run as fast as they could, fearing that some accident had happened; +and while Mr. Seagrave supported his wife, Ready went to Tommy, and +wiping the blood off his face with the palm of his hand, perceived that +there was no wound or serious mischief, and cried out to Mr. Seagrave, +"He's not hurt, sir; it's only his nose bleeding." + +"Musket knocked me down," cried Tommy, sobbing as the blood ran out of +his mouth. + +"Serve you right, Tommy; you'll take care not to touch the musket +again." + +"I won't touch it again," cried Tommy, blubbering. + +Juno now came up with some water to wash his face; Mrs. Seagrave had +recovered, and gone back into the tent, on Mr. Seagrave telling her +that it was only Tommy's nose which was bleeding. + +In about half-an-hour Tommy had ceased crying, and his nose had left +off bleeding; his face was washed, and then it was discovered that he +had lost two front teeth, and that his cheek and lips were very much +bruised. He was undressed, and put to bed, and was soon fast asleep. + +"I should not have left the muskets," said Ready to William; "it was my +fault; but I thought Tommy had been told so often not to touch +fire-arms, that he would not dare to do so." + +"He pointed it at me, and tried to shoot me," said Caroline, "but I ran +away." + +"Merciful heavens! what an escape!" cried Mrs. Seagrave. + +"He has been well punished this time, madam, and I'll venture to say he +will not touch a musket again in a hurry." + +"Yes; but he must be punished more," said Mr. Seagrave. "he must +remember it." + +"Well, sir, if he is to be punished more, I think you cannot punish him +better than by not allowing him to have any of the pig when it is +cooked." + +"I think so too, Ready; and therefore that is a settled thing - no pig +for Tommy." + + + +Chapter LII + +The next morning Tommy's face presented a very woeful appearance. His +cheek and lips were swelled and black, and the loss of his two front +teeth made him look much worse. + +Tommy looked very glum when he came to breakfast. There was the pig's +fry for breakfast, and the smell of it had been very inviting to Tommy; +but when his father scolded him, and told him that he was not to have +one bit of the pig, he began to cry and roar so loud, that he was sent +away from the tents till he had left off. + +After breakfast, Ready proposed that he and William should take the +boat, and begin their labour of carrying the articles round from the +cove to the bay where the house was, pointing out that there was not a +day to be lost. Juno had, at his request, already baked a large piece +of the pig for them to take with them, and boiled a piece of salt pork, +so that they were all ready to start. + +"But, Ready," said Mrs. Seagrave, "how long do you intend to remain +absent with William?" + +"Why, madam, this is Wednesday; of course we shall be back on Saturday +night." + +"My dear William, I cannot bear the idea of your being absent so long, +and as you will be on the water every day, I shall be in a continual +fright until I see you again." + +"Well, mamma, I suppose I must write by the penny post, to let you know +how I am." + +"Don't laugh at me, William. I do wish there was a penny post, and that +you could write every day." + +Ready and William made every preparation for a continued absence. They +took their blankets with them, and a small pot for cooking, and when +all was prepared they bade Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave farewell. They were +now to pull to the bay, and leave their luggage, and then go round to +the cove. As they shoved off, William took the dog Remus into the boat. + +"Why do you take the dog, William? he will be of use here in keeping +the pigs away, but of no use to us." + +"Yes, he will, Ready; I must take him; for I have an idea come into my +head, so let me have my own way." + +"Well, William, you can always have your own way, as far as I'm +concerned; if you wish to take the dog, there is an end of the matter." + +They hoisted the sail, and as the breeze was fresh, were round to the +bay in a very short time. They took their provisions and stores up to +the house, and made fast the door, called the fowls, and gave them some +damaged rice which Ready had brought from the cove, and found, to their +great delight, that they had now upwards of forty chickens; some, +indeed, quite grown, and large enough to kill. + +They then got into the boat again, and pulled away for the cove; the +wind was fresh, and against them, so they had a long pull; but, as +Ready observed, it was much better that it should be so, as, when the +boat was loaded, they could very quickly sail back again to the bay. + +As soon as they arrived at the cove, they lost no time in loading the +boat; the nails, and iron work of every description, with the twine and +tools, composed the major part of the first cargo; and calling Remus, +who was lying on the sandy beach, they shoved off, hoisted their sail, +and in an hour had regained the bay, and passed through the reef. + +"I am glad that this cargo has arrived safe, William, for it is very +valuable to us. Now we will take them all up, and that will be +sufficient for to-day; to-morrow, if we can, we will make two trips." + +"We can, if we start early," replied William; "but now let us have our +dinner, and carry the remainder of the things up afterwards." + +As they were eating their dinner, and William was giving the bones to +the dog, Ready said, "Pray, William, what was the idea in your head +which made you bring Remus with you?" + +"I will tell you, Ready; I mean him to carry a letter to mamma; you +know that he always goes back when he is ordered, and now I wish to see +if he will not go back to the tents, if he is told. I have brought a +piece of paper and pencil with me." + +William then wrote on the paper, + +"Dear Mamma:--We are quite well, and just returned with the first cargo +quite safe. Your affectionate son, WILLIAM." + +William tied the paper round the dog's neck with a piece of twine, and +then calling him out of the house, said to him, "Remus, go back, sir - +go back, sir;" the dog looked wistfully at William, as if not sure of +what he was to do, but William took up a stone, and pretended to throw +it at the dog, who ran away a little distance, and then stopped. + +"Go back, Remus - go back, sir." William again pretended to throw the +stone, repeating the order, and then the dog set off as fast as his +legs could carry him through the cocoa-nut grove. + +"He is gone at all events," said William; "I think he will go home." + +"We shall see, sir," replied Ready; "and now that we have finished our +dinner, we will bring up the things, and put them in the storehouse." + + + +Chapter LIII + +As soon as they had carried up the whole of the cargo, they secured the +boat, and went up to the house to sleep. Just as they went in, Remus +came bounding up to them with a letter round his neck. + +"Here's the dog, William," said Ready; "he won't go home after all." + +"How provoking! I made sure he would go back; I really am disappointed. +We will give him nothing to eat, and then he will; but, dear me, Ready! +this is not the paper I tied round his neck. I think not. Let me see." +William took the paper, opened it, and read-- + +"Dear William:--Your letter arrived safe, and we are glad you are well. +Write every day, and God bless you; it was very clever of you and +Remus. Your affectionate mother, SELINA SEAGRAVE." + +"Well, it is clever," said Ready; "I'm sure I had no idea he had gone; +and his coming back again, too, when he was ordered." + +"Dear Remus, good dog," said William, caressing it: "now I'll give you +a good supper, for you deserve it." + +"So he does, sir. Well, you've established a post on the island, which +is a great improvement. Seriously, William, it may prove very useful." + +"At all events it will be a great comfort to my mother." + +"Yes, especially as we shall be obliged all three to be here when we +fit up the storehouse, and make the proposed alterations. Now I think +we had better go to bed, for we must be up with the lark to-morrow." + +"Here I suppose we ought to say, up with the parrots; for they are the +only land birds on the island." + +"You forget the pigeons; I saw one of them in the wood the other day. +Good night!" + +The next morning, they were off before breakfast. The boat was soon +loaded, and they returned under sail. They then breakfasted, and having +left the things they had brought on the beach, that they might lose no +time, they set off again, and returned with another cargo two hours +before dusk; this they landed, and then secured the boat. As soon as +they were in the house, William wrote on a piece of paper:-- + +"Dear Mamma:-- We have brought round two cargoes to-day. All well, and +very tired. Yours, WILLIAM." + +Remus did not require any teaching this time. William patted him, and +said, "Good dog. Now, Remus, go back - go home, sir;" and the dog +wagged his tail, and set off immediately. + +Before they were in bed, the dog returned with the answer. + +"How fast he must run, Ready! he has not been away more than two +hours." + +"No. So, now, Remus, you shall have plenty of supper, and plenty of +patting and coaxing, for you are a clever, good little dog." + +The next day, as they had to take the two cargoes up to the house, they +could only make one trip to the cove. On Saturday they only made one +trip, as they had to return to the tents, which they did by water, +having first put a turtle into the boat; on their arrival, they found +them all at the little harbour, waiting to receive them. + +"Well, William, you did keep your promise and send me a letter by +post," said Mrs. Seagrave. "How very delightful it is! I shall have no +fear now when you are all away." + +"I must teach Romulus and Vixen to do the same, mamma." + +"And I'll teach the puppies," said Tommy. + +"Yes, Tommy; by the time you can write a letter, the puppies will be +old enough to carry it," said Ready. "Come, Albert, I'll carry you up; +you and I haven't had a game of play for a long while. How does the +ditch and hedge get on, Mr. Seagrave?" + +"Pretty well, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave; "I have nearly finished two +sides. I think by the end of next week I shall have pretty well +inclosed it." + +"Well, sir, you must not work too hard, there is no great hurry; +William and I can get through a great deal together." + +"It is my duty to work, Ready; and I may add, it is a pleasure." + +As they were at supper the conversation turned upon the cleverness +shown by the dog Remus. + +Mr. Seagrave narrated many instances of the sagacity of animals, when +William asked the question of his father: "What is the difference then +between reason and instinct?" + +"The difference is very great, William, as I will explain to you; but I +must first observe, that it has been the custom to say that man is +governed by reason, and animals by instinct, alone. This is an error. +Man has instinct as well as reason; and animals, although chiefly +governed by instinct, have reasoning powers." + +"In what points does man show that he is led by instinct?" + +"When a child is first born, William, it acts by instinct only: the +reasoning powers are not yet developed; as we grow up, our reason +becomes every day more matured, and gains the mastery over our +instinct, which decreases in proportion." + +"Then when we have grown to a good old age, I suppose we have no +instinct left in us?" + +"Not so, my dear boy; there is one and a most powerful instinct +implanted in man which never deserts him on this side of the grave. It +is the fear, not of death, but of utter annihilation, that of becoming +nothing after death. This instinctive feeling could not have been so +deeply implanted in us, but as an assurance that we shall not be +annihilated after death, but that our souls shall still exist, although +our bodies shall have perished. It may be termed the instinctive +evidence of a future existence." + +"That is very true, Mr. Seagrave," observed Ready. + +"Instinct in animals, William," continued Mr. Seagrave, "is a feeling +which compels them to perform certain acts without previous thought or +reflection; this instinct is in full force at the moment of their +birth; it was therefore perfect in the beginning, and has never varied. +The swallow built her nest, the spider its web, the bee formed its +comb, precisely in the same way four thousand years ago, as they do +now. I may here observe, that one of the greatest wonders of instinct +is the mathematical form of the honeycomb of the bee, which has been +proved by demonstration to be that by which is given the greatest +possible saving of time and labour." + +"But that is all pure instinct, papa; now you said that animals had +reasoning powers. Will you point out to me how they show that they +have?" + +"I will, my dear boy; but we had better defer it till another evening. +It is now time to go to bed." + + + +Chapter LIV + +The following day, being Sunday, was devoted to the usual religious +exercises. Tommy stole away out of the tent, while Mr. Seagrave was +reading a sermon, to have a peep at the turtle-soup, which was boiling +on the fire; however, Juno suspected him, and had hold of him just as +he was taking the lid off the pot. He was well scolded, and very much +frightened lest he should have no soup for his dinner; however, as it +was not a very heavy offence, he was forgiven. + +In the evening, William requested his father to renew the conversation +about the reasoning powers of animals. + +"With pleasure, William," replied Mr. Seagrave; "it is a fit discourse +for a Sunday evening. Let us, however, first examine the various mental +faculties discoverable in animals. In the first place, they have +memory, especially memory of persons and places, quite as tenacious as +our own. A dog will recognize an old master after many years absence. +An elephant, who had again escaped into the woods, after twenty years +remaining in a wild state, recognized his old mahoot, or driver. A dog +will find his way back when taken more than a hundred miles from his +master's residence. Another proof of memory in animals, were it +required, is that they dream. Now, a dream is a confused recollection +of past events; and how often do you not hear Romulus and Remus +growling, barking, and whining in their sleep!" + +"Very true, papa." + +"Well, then, they have attention. See how patiently a cat will remain +for hours before a hole, in watch for the mouse to come out. A spider +will remain for months watching for the fly to enter its web; but this +quality is to be observed in every animal in the pursuit of its prey. +They have also association of ideas, which is, in fact, reasoning. A +dog proves that; he will allow a gentleman to come up to the door, but +fly at a beggar. When he is in charge of any property he will take no +notice of a passer-by; but if a man stops, he barks immediately. In the +elephant this association of ideas is even more remarkable; indeed, he +understands what is said to him better than any other animal; his +reasoning powers are most extraordinary. Promise him rewards, and he +will make wonderful exertion. He is also extremely alive to a sense of +shame. The elephants were employed to transport the heavy artillery in +India. One of the finest attempted in vain to force a gun through a +swamp. `Take away that lazy beast,' said the director `and bring +another.' The animal was so stung with the reproach, that it used so +much exertion to force the gun on with its head, as to fracture its +skull, and it fell dead. When Chunee, the elephant which was so long in +Exeter Change, was ordered as usual to take up a sixpence with his +trunk, it happened one day that the sixpence rolled against the +skirting-board, out of his reach. Chunee stopped, and reflected a +little while, and then, drawing the air into his trunk, he threw it out +with all his force against the skirting-board; the rebound of the air +from the skirting-board blew the sixpence towards him, and he was +enabled to reach it." + +"That was very clever of him," replied William. + +"Yes; it was a proof of thought, with a knowledge of cause and effect. +There was a curious instance of a horse, which, by the bye, I consider +the most noble animal of creation, which was ridden round by his +master, to deliver newspapers. He invariably stopped at the doors where +papers were to be left; but it happened that two people, living at +different houses, took in a weekly newspaper between them; and it was +agreed, that one should have the first reading of it on one week, and +the other on the following. After a short time the horse became +accustomed to this arrangement, and stopped at the one house on the one +week, and at the other house on the following, never making a mistake." + +"That was very curious; what a sagacious animal he must have been!" +observed William. + +"Animals also are, as you know, capable of receiving instruction, which +is another proof of reasoning powers. The elephant, the horse, the dog, +the pig, even birds may be taught a great deal." + +"But then, papa, I still wish to know where the line is to be drawn +between reason and instinct." + +"I was about to come to that very point, William. When animals follow +their instinct in providing their food, bringing up their young, and in +their precautions against danger, they follow certain fixed rules, from +which they never deviate. But circumstances may occur against which +their instinct can afford them no regular provision; then it is that +their reasoning powers are called into action. I will explain this by +stating a fact relative to the bee, one of the animals upon which +instinct is most powerful in its action. There is a certain large moth, +called the Death's-head moth, which is very fond of honey. It sometimes +contrives to force its way through the aperture of the hive, and gain +an entrance. The bees immediately attack it, and it is soon destroyed +by their stings; but the carcass is so large, that they cannot carry it +out of the hive, as they invariably do the bodies of the smaller +insects which may have intruded, and it appears that their sense of +smell is very acute. What, then, do they do to avoid the stench arising +from the dead body of this large moth? Why, they embalm it, covering it +entirely with wax, by which it no longer becomes offensive to them." + +"But, papa, might not their instinct have provided for such an event?" +observed William. + +"If such an event could have occurred to the bees in their wild state, +you certainly might have raised the question; but recollect, William, +that bees in their wild state live in the hollows of trees, and that +the hole by which they enter is never more than sufficiently large to +admit one bee at a time; consequently, no animal larger than a bee +could gain entrance, and if it did, could of course have been easily +removed from the hive; but the bees were here in a new position, in an +artificial state, in a hive of straw with a large aperture, and +therefore met with an exigence they were not prepared for, and acted +accordingly." + +"Yes, papa, I perceive the difference." + +"I will conclude my observations with one remark. It appears to me, +that although the Almighty has thought proper to vary the intellectual +and the reasoning powers of animals in the same way that he has varied +the species and the forms, yet even in this arrangement he has not been +unmindful of the interest and welfare of man. For you will observe, +that the reasoning powers are chiefly, if not wholly, given to those +animals which man subjects to his service and for his use - the +elephant, the horse, and the dog; thereby making these animals of more +value, as the powers given to them are at the service and under the +control of man." + + + +Chapter LV + +On the Monday morning, William and Ready went away in the boat, as +before, to bring round the various articles from the cove. It had been +arranged that they were not to return till the Saturday evening, and +that the dog Remus was to bring intelligence of them and their welfare +every afternoon. They worked hard during the week, and on Saturday they +had completed their task; with the exception of a portion of the +timbers of the ship, everything had been brought round, but had not +been carried up to the storehouse, as that required more time. + +On Saturday morning, they went for the last time to the cove, and Ready +selected some heavy oak timber out of the quantity which was lying on +the beach, part of which they put into the boat, and the remainder they +towed astern. It was a heavy load, and although the wind was fair to +sail hack again to the bay, the boat went but slowly through the water. + +"Well, William," said Ready, "we have done a good week's work, and I +must say it is high time that it is done; for the boat is in rather a +crazy condition, and I must contrive to patch her up by and by, when +there is time." + +"We shall not want to use her very much after this, Ready," replied +William; "a few trips round to the little harbour will be all that will +be required before we come back again to our old quarters." + +"That's true, William; but she leaks very much, and at all events I'll +give her a coat of pitch as soon as possible. For a slight-built little +thing as she is, she has done hard duty." + +"Pray, Ready, why, when you speak of a ship or boat, do you always call +it she?" + +"Well, William, I don't know why, but it is certain that we sailors +always do so. I believe it is because a sailor loves his ship. His ship +is his wife, is a very common saying with us; and then you see, Master +William, a vessel is almost a thing of life in appearance. I believe +that's the reason, and of course if a vessel is she, a little boat must +be a she also." + +"Well, I think you have explained it very well, Ready. I suppose on +Monday we shall set to at the storehouse, and alter it for our future +residence?" + +"Can't begin too soon, William," replied Ready; "I don't doubt but Mr. +Seagrave has finished the hedge and ditch round the yams by this time, +and if so, I expect Madam will not like to be left in the tents alone +with Juno and the children, and so we shall all move back to the house +again until we have altered the storehouse; I must say that I would +rather your mamma remained in the tents until all was finished." + +"Because you are afraid of a visit from the savages, Ready?" + +"I am, sir, and that's the truth." + +"But, Ready, if they do come, we shall see them coming, and would it +not be better that we should all be together, even if we are obliged to +conceal ourselves in consequence of not being prepared? Suppose the +savages were to overrun the island, and find my mother, my little +brother, and sister, defenceless, at the time we were obliged to +retreat from our house; how dreadful that would be!" + +"But I counted upon retreating to the tents." + +"So we can all together, unless we are surprised in the night." + +"That we must take care not to be. There's not three hours' dark in +this season of the year. Well, William, I doubt not you may be right, +and if they are all with us, Juno will be a great help, and we shall +get through our work the faster." + +"We had better let the question be decided by my father and mother." + +"Very true, William; here's the point at last. We will haul the timber +on the beach, and then be off as fast as we can, for it is getting +late." + +It was, indeed, much later than they had usually arrived at the little +harbour, owing to the heavy load, which made the boat so long in coming +round from the cove; and when they pulled in, they found Mr. and Mrs. +Seagrave and the children all waiting for them. + +"You are very late, William," said Mrs. Seagrave. "I was quite uneasy +till I saw the boat at a distance." + +"Yes, mamma; but we could not help it; we had a heavy load to bring +round, and now our work is done." + +"I am delighted to hear it, William; for I cannot bear you being away +so long." + +"And my work is done," said Mr. Seagrave; "the hedge and ditch were +finished this morning." + +"Well, then," observed Ready, "we must hold another council, but I +presume it will not take very long." + +"No; I expect not; it seldom does when people are of the same mind. +Mrs. Seagrave won't be left here, Ready, and I don't want to leave her, +so I presume on Monday we all start home again." + +"Yes, sir; if you please," replied Ready. + +"Juno, I hope you have a good supper," said William; "for I'm very +hungry." + +"Yes, Massa William; plenty fried fish; Massa catch 'em this morning." + + + +Chapter LVI + +The next day being Sunday was a day of repose, and as they had all +worked so hard, they felt the luxury of a day of rest. In the +afternoon, they agreed that on Monday they should make every +preparation for quitting the tents, and returning to the house at the +bay. They decided that the live stock should all be left there, as the +pasturage was so plentiful and good, with the exception of one goat, +which they would take back with them, to supply them with milk; and +they also agreed that the tents should be left standing, with some +cooking utensils, that in case William and Ready went round for the +bananas or yams, or to examine the live stock, they should not be +compelled to sleep in the open air, and should have the means of +dressing their dinner. William and Ready were to carry the beds, etc., +round to the bay in the boat, which they could do in two trips, and Mr. +and Mrs. Seagrave, with the family, were to walk through the woods +after taking a very early breakfast. + +All these points being arranged, they had finished their supper, when +William again brought up the conversation about animals, as he was +delighted to bear Mr. Seagrave talk on the subject. The conversation +had not commenced more than a few minutes, when William said-- + +"Papa, they always say `as stupid as an ass'. Is an ass such a stupid +animal?" + +"No, William; it is a very sagacious one; but the character has been +given to the animal more on account of its obstinacy and +untractableness, than on any other account. It is usual to say, as +stupid as an ass, or as stupid as a pig, or a goose. Now, these three +animals are very much maligned, for they are all sagacious animals. But +the fact is that, as regards the ass, we have only very sorry specimens +of the animal in England; they are stunted and small, and, from want of +corn and proper food, besides being very ill-treated, are slow and +dull-looking animals. The climate of England is much too cold for the +ass; in the south of France and the Mediterranean, where it is much +warmer, the ass is a much finer animal; but to see it in perfection we +must go to the Torrid Zone in Guinea, right on the equator, the hottest +portion of the globe, where the ass, in its native state and in its +native country, is a handsome creature and as fleet as the wind; +indeed, supposed to be, and mentioned in the Scriptures as the fleetest +animal in creation. The fact is, that in Asia, especially in Palestine +and Syria, asses were in great repute, and used in preference to +horses. We must see an animal in its own climate to form a true +estimate of its value." + +"Does climate, then, make so great a difference?" said William. + +"Of course it does, not only with animals, but with trees, plants, and +even man, until he is accustomed to the change. With respect to +animals, there are some which can bear the different varieties of +climate, and even change of food. The horse, for instance, although +originally indigenous to Arabia, lives as well in the Temperate, and +even in the Frigid Zones it may be said, for they endure the hard +winters of Russia and North America; so will domestic cattle, such as +cows, sheep, pigs, &c. It is a curious fact that, during the winter in +Canada, a large proportion of the food of cattle consists of fish." + +"Fish, papa! Cows eat fish?" + +"Yes, my dear boy, such is the fact. It is a remarkable instance of a +graminivorous or grass-eating animal being changed for a time into a +flesh-eating, or rather into fish-eating animal. But there are other +animals which can live under any temperature, as the wolf, the fox, the +hare, and rabbit. It is a curious provision, - that the sheep and goats +in the hottest climates throw off their warm covering of wool, and +retain little better than hair; while, removed to a cold climate, they +recover their warm covering immediately." + +"But a goat has no wool, papa." + +"What are Cashmere shawls made of, William?" + +"Very true, papa." + +"Most animals have a certain increase of covering as they recede +further from the warm climates to the cold ones. Wolves and foxes, +hares and rabbits, change the colour of their skins to white when they +get far north. The little English stoat, which is destroyed by the +gamekeepers, becomes the beautiful snow-white ermine in Russia and +other cold countries." + +"Well, papa, I think it a great advantage to man, and a proof of the +Almighty's care of him and kindness to him, in permitting all the +animals most useful to him to be able to live in any country; but I +don't know whether I am wrong in saying so, papa: I cannot see why an +animal like the wolf should not have been kept to his own climate, like +the lion and tiger, and other ferocious animals." + +"You have started a question, William, which I am glad you have done, +rather than it should have remained on your mind, and have puzzled you. +It is true that the shepherd might agree with you, that the wolf is a +nuisance; equally true that the husband man may exclaim, What is the +good of thistles, and the various weeds which choke the soil? But, my +dear boy, if they are not, which I think they are, for the benefit of +man, at all events they are his doom for the first transgression. +`Cursed is the ground for thy sake - thorns and thistles shall it bring +forth to thee - and by the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread,' was +the Almighty's sentence; and it is only by labour that the husbandman +can obtain his crops, and by watchfulness that the shepherd can guard +his flocks. Labour is in itself a benefit: without exercise there would +be no health, and without health there would be no enjoyment." + +"I see now, papa. You have mentioned the animals which can live in all +climates; will you not tell us something about other animals?" + +"There is but one remark to make, William, which is, that animals +indigenous to, that is, originally to be found in, any one portion of +the globe, invariably are so fashioned as to be most fit for that +country, and have the food also most proper for them growing or to be +obtained in that country. Take, for instance, the camel, an animal +fashioned expressly for the country to which he is indigenous, and +without whose aid all communication must have been stopped between Asia +and Africa. He is called the `Ship of the Desert'; for the desert is a +`sea of sand'. His feet are so fashioned that he can traverse the sands +with facility; he can live upon the coarsest vegetable food and salt +plants which are found there, and he has the capacity of carrying water +in a sort of secondary stomach, for his own supply where no water is to +be found. Here is an animal wonderfully made by the Almighty for an +express locality, and for the convenience of man in that country; for, +in England, or elsewhere, he would be of no value. But it is late, my +dear William; so we will first thank him for all his mercies, and then +to bed." + + + +Chapter LVII + +The next morning was one of bustle; there was packing up and every +preparation for departure. Juno was called here and called there, and +was obliged to ask little Caroline to look after the kettle and call to +her if it boiled over. Master Tommy, as usual, was in every one's way, +and doing more harm than good in his attempts to assist. + +At last, Ready, to get rid of him, sent him down with a large bundle to +the beach. Tommy shouldered it with great importance, but when he came +back, looking rather warm with the exertion, and Ready asked him to +take down another, he said he was too tired, and sat down very quietly +till breakfast-time, before which everything was ready. + +Mrs. Seagrave and Juno packed up the breakfast and dinner things in a +basket after breakfast was over, and then Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave and the +family set off on their journey, accompanied by the dogs, through the +cocoa-nut grove. + +William and Ready lost no time in getting through their work; the +crockery, kitchen utensils, table, and chairs, were the first articles +put into the boat. The goat was then led down, and they set off with a +full load, and arrived at the bay long before the party who were +walking through the wood. They landed the things on the beach, and then +shoved off again to bring round the bedding, which was all that was +left. By three o'clock in the afternoon they had arrived at the bay +with their second and last load, and found that the other party had +been there about an hour, and Mr. Seagrave and Juno were very busy +taking the articles up from the beach. + +"Well, William," said Ready, "this is our last trip for some time, I +expect; and so much the better, for our little boat must have something +done to her as soon as I can find time." + +"Yes, indeed, Ready, she has done her work well. Do you know I feel as +if I were coming home, now that we are back to the bay. I really feel +quite glad that we have left the tents. I found the pigeons among the +peas, Ready, so we must pick them as soon as we can. I think there were +near twenty of them. We shall have pigeon pies next year, I expect." + +"If it pleases God that we live and do well," replied Ready, who had +his eyes fixed upon the sea. + +Before night everything was in its place again in the house, and as +comfortable as before, and as they were very tired, they went very +early to bed, having first arranged what they should do in the morning. +At daylight Ready and William went down to the turtle-pond and speared +a turtle, for now the time was coming on for turning the turtle again, +and the pond would soon be filled. Having cut it up and put a portion +of it into the pot, all ready for Mrs. Seagrave, as soon as breakfast +was over they proceeded to the storehouse. + +After a little consultation with Mr. Seagrave, Ready marked out a +square of cocoa-nut trees surrounding the storehouse, so as to leave a +space within them of about twenty yards each side, which they +considered large enough for the inclosure. These cocoa-nut trees were +to serve as the posts between which were to be fixed other cocoa-nut +trees cut down, and about fourteen feet high, so as to form a palisade +or stockade, which could not be climbed over, and would protect them +from any attack of the savages. + +As soon as the line of trees had been marked out, they set to work +cutting down all the trees within the line, and then outside to a +distance of ten yards, so as to give them room for their work. Ready +cut out cross-pieces, to nail from tree to tree, and now they found the +advantage of having saved so many of the large spike nails, without +which they never could have made so good or so quick a job of it. Mr. +Seagrave cut down trees, William and Juno sawed them off at a proper +length with one of the cross-cut saws, and then carried them to Ready. +They soon had more cut out than be could use, and then they dragged +away the tops and branches, and piled them at a distance on the ground, +to use as winter fuel, while Mr. Seagrave helped Ready in fixing up the +palisades. They worked very hard that day, and were not sorry to go to +bed. Ready, however, took an opportunity to speak to William. + +"I think," said he, "that now we are here again, it will be necessary +to keep a sort of night-watch, in case of accident. I shall not go to +bed till it is quite dark, which it will be by nine o'clock, and shall +have my glass to examine the offing the last thing. You see, there is +little fear of the savages coming here in the night-time, but they may +just before night or very early in the morning, so one of us must be up +again before daybreak, that is between two and three o'clock in the +morning, to see if there is anything to be seen of them; if there is +not, of course we may go to bed again, as they cannot arrive till many +hours afterwards; and we must watch the wind and weather, if it is +favourable for them to come to us, which, indeed, the wind will not be +except at the commencement of the rainy season but it may be very +light, and then they would not care for its being against them. I've +been thinking of it, William, a great deal, and my idea is, that it +will be at the beginning of the rainy season that we shall have a +visit, if we have one at all; for you see that the wind don't blow +regular from one quarter, as it does now, but is variable, and then +they can make sail in their canoes, and come here easily, instead of +pulling between thirty and forty miles, which is hard work against wind +and current. Still, we must not be careless and we must keep a good +look-out even now. I don't want to fret your father and Mrs. Seagrave +with my fears on the subject, but I tell you what I really think, and +what we ought to do." + +"I agree with you, Ready, and I will take care to be up before +daybreak, and examine very carefully with the spy-glass as soon as the +day dawns. You take the night part, and I will do the morning part of +the watching." + + + +Chapter LVIII + +For nearly a fortnight, the work upon the stockade continued without +any intermission, when a circumstance occurred which created the +greatest alarm and excitement. One day, as the party returned to +dinner, Mrs. Seagrave said with surprise, "Why, was not Tommy with +you?" + +"No," replied Mr. Seagrave; "he has not been near us all day; he went +with us after breakfast, but did not remain a quarter of an hour." + +"No, Missy; I tell Massa Tommy to help carry cocoa-nut leaves, and then +he go away directly." + +"Goodness! where can he be?" exclaimed Mrs. Seagrave, alarmed. + +"I dare say he is picking up shells on the beach, ma'am," replied +Ready, "or perhaps he is in the garden. I will go and see." + +"I see him - oh, mercy! - I see him," said Juno, pointing with her +finger; "he in the boat, and boat go to sea!" + +It was but too true: there was Tommy in the boat, and the boat had +drifted from the beach, and was now a cable's length away from it, +among the breakers. + +William ran off like the wind, followed close by Mr. Seagrave and +Ready, and at a distance by Mrs. Seagrave and Juno; indeed, there was +no time to be lost, for the wind was off the shore, and in a short time +the boat would have been out to sea. + +William, as soon as he arrived at the beach, threw off his hat and +jacket and dashed into the water. He was already up to his middle, when +old Ready, who had followed him, caught him by the arm and said: + +"William, go back immediately. I insist upon it. Your going can do no +good, as you do not understand the thing so well as I do; and go I +will, so there will be double risk for nothing. Mr. Seagrave, order him +back. He will obey you. I insist upon it, sir." + +"William," said Mr. Seagrave, "come back immediately, I command you." + +William obeyed, but before he was clear of the water Ready had swam +across to the first rocks on the reef, and was now dashing through the +pools between the rocks, towards the boat. + +"Oh, father!" said William, "if that good old man is lost, I shall +never forgive myself. Look, father, one - two - three sharks, here, +close to us. He has no chance. See, he is again in deep water. God +protect him!" + +In the meantime, Mr. Seagrave, whose wife was now by his side, after +glancing his eye a moment at the sharks, which were within a few feet +of the beach, had kept his gaze steadily upon Ready's movements. If he +passed through the passage of deep water between the rocks he might be +considered safe, as the boat was now beating on a reef on the other +side, where the water was shallow. It was a moment of intense anxiety. +At last Ready had gained the reef, and had his hands upon the rocks, +and was climbing on them. + +"He is safe, is he not?" whispered Mrs. Seagrave faintly. + +"Yes; now I think he is," replied Mr. Seagrave, as Ready had gained a +footing on the rocks, where the water was but a little above his +ankles. "I think there is no deep water between him and the boat." + +In another minute Ready was over the rocks, and had seized the gunnel +of the boat. + +"He is in the boat," cried William. "Thank God!" + +"Yes, we must thank God, and that fervently," replied Mr. Seagrave. +"Look at those monsters," continued he, pointing to the sharks; "how +quick they swim to and fro; they have scented their prey on the water. +It is fortunate they are here." + +"See, he has the boat-hook, and is pushing the boat off the reef into +the deep water. Oh! he is quite safe now." + +Such, however, was not the case. The boat had been beating on the rocks +of the reef, and had knocked a hole in her bottom, and as soon as Ready +had forced the boat into deep water, she began to fill immediately. +Ready pushed as hard as he could with the boat-hook, and tearing off +his neck-cloth, forced as much as he could of it into the hole. This +saved them; but the boat was up to the thwarts with water, and the +least motion on the part of Ready, or even Tommy, would have upset her +immediately, and they had still to pass the deep water between the reef +and the beach, where the sharks were swimming. Ready, who perceived his +danger, called out to them to throw large stones at the sharks as fast +as they could, to drive them away. This was immediately done by Mr. +Seagrave and William, aided by Juno and Mrs. Seagrave. + +The pelting of the stones had the desired effect. The sharks swam away, +and Ready passed through to the beach, and the boat grounded just as +she was up to the gunnel in water, and about to turn over. He handed +out Tommy, who was so dreadfully frightened that he could not cry. + +As soon as Ready landed, William sprang into his arms, crying, "Thank +God, you are safe, Ready!" Mrs. Seagrave, overpowered by her feelings, +sank her head upon William's shoulder, and burst into tears. + +"It was touch and go, William," observed Ready, as they walked up to +the house, preceded by Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave. "How much mischief may be +created by a thoughtless boy! However, one can't put old heads on young +shoulders, and so Tommy must be forgiven." + +"He has been punished enough, as far as fright goes," replied William; +"I'll answer for it, he'll never get into the boat again by himself." + +"No, I think not. But now, William, you saw how nearly I was swamped in +the boat; indeed, it was only by his mercy that I was preserved; but +taking the question merely as far as our endeavours could help us, do +you think that if you had gained the boat instead of me, you would have +brought her to the beach as I did?" + +"No, Ready; I never could have managed her so skilfully as you did, and +therefore I must have been swamped before I got on shore." + +"Well, William, as I am an old sailor and you are not, therefore it is +not vanity which makes me say that you could not have managed the boat +so well as I did. Now, as I had not three or four seconds to spare, +you, as you say, must have been swamped. I mention this to prove to you +that I was right in desiring your father to order you back." + +"Certainly, Ready; but Tommy is my brother, and I felt that it was more +my duty than yours to risk my life for him." + +"A very proper feeling, William; but you have other duties, which are, +to look after your father and mother, and be a comfort and solace to +them. Your life is more valuable than mine. I am an old man on the +brink of the grave, and a year or two makes no difference, but your +life is, I hope, of more consequence." + +That evening the prayers were more than usually solemn, and the +thanksgivings more heartfelt and sincere. Exhausted with the exciting +scene of the day, they all retired early to bed. + + + +Chapter LIX + +When Tommy was questioned on the following morning as to his inducement +to get into the boat, to their great surprise he replied, that he +wanted to go round to the tents again, to see if the bananas were ripe; +that he intended to eat some of them and be back before dinner-time, +that he might not be found out. + +"I suspect, Tommy, you would have been very hungry before you ate any +bananas if we had not perceived you," said Ready. + +"I won't go into the boat any more," said Tommy. + +"I rather think you will keep to that resolution, Tommy," replied Mr. +Seagrave; "however, I must leave your mother to point out to you the +danger you were in yourself, and in which you placed others by your +folly." + +The stockade was now almost finished; the door was the occasion of a +good deal of consultation; at last, it was agreed that it would be +better to have a door of stout oak plank, but with second door-posts +inside, about a foot apart from the door, between which could be +inserted short poles one above the other, so as to barricade it within +when required. This would make the door as strong as any other portion +of the stockade. As soon as this was all complete, the storehouse was +to be altered for a dwelling-house, by taking away the wattles of +cocoa-nut boughs on the sides, and filling them up with logs of +cocoa-nut trees. + +Before the week was ended the stockade and door were complete, and they +now began to fell trees, to form the sides of the house. This was rapid +work; and while Mr. Seagrave, William, and Juno felled the trees, and +brought them on the wheels to the side of the stockade, all ready cut +to their proper lengths, Ready was employed in flooring the house with +a part of the deal planks which they had brought round from the cove. +But this week they were obliged to break off for two days, to collect +all their crops from the garden. + +A fortnight more passed away in continual hard work, but the house was +at last finished, and very complete, compared to the one they were +residing in. It was much larger, and divided into three rooms by the +deal planking: the middle room which the door opened into was the +sitting and eating room, with a window behind; the two side rooms were +sleeping-rooms, one for Mrs. Seagrave and the children, and the other +for the male portion of the family. + +"See, William," said Ready, when they were alone, "what we have been +able to do by means of those deal planks; why, to have floored this +house, and run up the partitions, would have taken us half a year if we +had had to saw the wood." + +"Yes; and what a comfort it is to have so many shelves about. When +shall we shift into this house?" + +"The sooner the better. We have plenty of work still to do, but we can +work outside of the stockade." + +"And what do you propose to do with the old house?" said William. + +"We had better put some of our stores of least value in it for the +present, until we can fit up another storehouse inside the stockade." + +"Then we'll put those casks in, for they take up a great deal of room." + +"All but that large one, William; we shall want that. I shall fix it up +in a corner." + +"What for, Ready?" + +"To put water in." + +"But we are closer to the spring than we were at the other house." + +"I know that; but, perhaps, we may not be able to go out of the +stockade, and then we shall want water." + +"I understand, Ready; how thoughtful you are!" + +"If at my age I did not think a little, William, it would be very odd. +You don't know how anxious I am to see them all inside of this +defence." + +"But why should we not come in, Ready?" + +"Why, sir, as there is still plenty of work, I do not like to press the +matter, lest your mamma should be fidgeted, and think there was danger; +but danger there is; I have a kind of forewarning of it. I wish you +would propose that they should come in at once; the standing-bed places +are all ready, except the canvas, and I shall nail on new by to-night." + +In consequence of this conversation, William proposed at dinnertime +that the next day they should go into the new house, as it was so much +more handy to work there and live there at the same time. Mr. Seagrave +was of the same opinion, but Mrs. Seagrave thought it better that +everything should be tidy first. + +"Why, ma'am," said Ready, "the only way to get things tidy is to go +yourself and make them so. Nothing will ever be in its place unless you +are there to put it in." + +"Well, Ready," said Mrs. Seagrave, "since you are against me as well as +all the rest, I give it up. and if you please we will shift over +to-morrow." + +"Indeed, ma'am, I think it will be better; this is the last month of +fine weather, and we shall have plenty to do." + +"Be it so, Ready; you are the best judge; to-morrow we will take up our +quarters in the stockade." + +"Thank God!" muttered Ready very softly. + +The next day was fully employed in changing their residence, and +shifting over the bedding and utensils; and that night they slept +within the stockade. Ready had run up a very neat little outhouse of +plank, as a kitchen for Juno, and another week was fully employed as +follows: the stores were divided; those of least consequence, and the +salt provisions, flour, and the garden produce, &c., were put into the +old house; the casks of powder and most of the cartridges were also put +there for security; but a cask of beef, of pork, and flour, all the +iron-work and nails, canvas, &c., were stowed away for the present +under the new house, which had, when built as a storehouse, been raised +four feet from the ground to make a shelter for the stock. This was +very spacious, and, of course, quite dry, and contained all they wished +to put in. Ready also took care, by degrees, to fill the large +water-butt full of water, and had fixed into the bottom a spigot for +drawing the water off. + +"Well, Mr. Seagrave," said Ready on the Saturday, "we have done a good +many hard weeks' work lately, but this is the last of them. We are now +comfortably settled in our new house: our stores are all under cover, +and safe from the weather, and so we may now take things a little +easier. William and I must repair the boat, so that we may take a trip +round to examine how the stock and yams get on." + +"And the bananas and the guavas," said Tommy. + +"Why, we have quite forgotten all about them," observed Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Yes, ma am; we have been so busy, that it is no wonder; however, there +may be some left yet, and I will go round as soon as the boat is able +to swim, and bring all I can find." + +"We must put our seeds and potatoes in before the rainy season, Ready." + +"It will be better, sir, if we can find time, as we shall not have much +more fine weather now; at all events, we can get them in at intervals +when the weather is fine. Now I shall go my rounds for turtle. +Good-night, ma'am, - good-night, sir. Come, William." + +William and Ready succeeded in turning six more turtles to add to their +stock, and having taken a careful survey with the telescope, they came +back, fastened the door of the stockade, and went to bed. + + + +Chapter LX + +Another week passed away, during which Ready repaired the boat, and +William and Mr. Seagrave were employed in digging up the garden. It was +also a very busy week at the house, as they had not washed linen for +some time. Mrs. Seagrave and Juno, and even little Caroline were hard +at work, and Tommy was more useful than ever he had been, going for the +water as they required it, and watching little Albert. Indeed, he was +so active, that Mrs. Seagrave praised him before his papa, and Tommy +was quite proud. + +On the Monday William and Ready set off in the boat to the little +harbour, and found all the stock doing well. Many of the bananas and +guavas had ripened and withered, but there were enough left to fill the +boat half full. + +"We cannot do better than to leave the stock where it is at present, +William; they can run into the cocoa-nut grove for shelter if there is +a storm, and there is feed enough for ten times as many." + +"Yes; but will you not dig up a few yams first?" + +"I had quite forgotten it, William. I will go for the spade." + +Having procured the yams, they set off on their return. Before they +arrived at the bay, the sky clouded over and threatened a storm. It did +not, however, rain till after they had landed, when a small shower +announced the commencement of the rainy season. The fruit was very +welcome to all of them, it was so long since they had tasted any. + +The following day was beautifully fine, and everything appeared +refreshed by the rain which had fallen. It was, however, agreed, that +Ready and William should go round the next morning, bring home the +tents, and as many yams as the boat could carry. William and Ready went +out at night as usual, when Ready observed that the wind had chopped +round to the eastward. + +"That will be bad for us to-morrow, Ready," replied William. "We may +sail to the harbour, but we shall have to pull back with the loaded +boat." + +"I trust it will be no worse than that, at all events," replied Ready; +"but we must now return, and go to bed. I shall be up by daylight, so +you need not wake without you like." + +"I can't help waking," replied William, "and I shall, therefore, be up +with you." + +"Very well, I am always glad of your company." + +The next morning, just before the day dawned, Ready and William +unfastened the door of the stockade, and went down to the beach. The +wind was still to the eastward, and blowing rather fresh, and the sky +was cloudy. As the sun rose, Ready, as usual, had his telescope with +him, and looked through it at the offing to the eastward. As he kept +the spy-glass to his eye for some time without speaking, William said: + +"Do you see anything, Ready, that you look so long in that direction?" + +"Either my old eyes deceive me, or I fear that I do," replied Ready; +"but a few minutes more will decide." + +There was a bank of clouds on the horizon to the eastward, but as soon +as the sun had risen above them, Ready, who had the telescope fixed in +the same direction, said: + +"Yes, William, I am right. I thought that those dark patches I saw +there were brown grass sails." + +"Sails of what, Ready?" said William, hastily. + +"Of the Indian canoes; I knew that they would come. Take the glass and +look yourself; my eye is quite dim from straining it so long." + +"Yes, I have them now," replied William, with his eye to the glass. At +last he said: + +"Why, there are twenty or thirty of them, Ready, at least." + +"And with twenty or thirty men in each too, William." + +"What must we do, Ready? How frightened my poor mother will be! I'm +afraid we can do nothing against such a number." + +"Yes, William, we can do a great deal, and we must do a great deal. +That there are hundreds of savages there is no doubt; but recollect +that we have a stockade, which they cannot easily climb over, and +plenty of firearms and ammunition, so that we can make a good fight of +it, and perhaps beat them off, for they have nothing but clubs and +spears." + +"How fast they come down, Ready; why, they will be here in an hour." + +"No, sir, nor in two hours either; those are very large canoes. +However, there is no time to be lost. While I watch them for a few +minutes till I make them more clearly out, do you run up to the house +and beckon your father to come down to me; and then, William, get all +the muskets ready, and bring the casks of powder, and of made-up +cartridges, from the old house into the stockade. Call Juno, and she +will help you. We shall have time enough to do everything. After you +have done that, you had better come down and join us." + +In a very few minutes after William ran up to the house, Mr. Seagrave +made his appearance. + +"Ready, there is danger, I'm sure; William would not tell me, I +presume, because he was afraid of alarming his mother. What is it?" + +"It is, Mr. Seagrave, that the savages are now coming down upon us in +large force; perhaps five or six hundred of them; and that we shall +have to defend ourselves with might and main." + +"Do you think we have any chance against such a force?" + +"Yes, sir, with God's help I have no doubt but that we shall beat them +off; but we must fight hard, and for some days, I fear." + +Mr. Seagrave examined the fleet of canoes with the glass. "It is, +indeed, dreadful odds to contend against." + +"Yes, sir, but three muskets behind a stockade are almost a match for +all their clubs and spears, provided none of us are wounded." + +"Well, Ready, we must put our trust in the Lord, and do our best; I +will second you to the utmost of my power, and William, I'm sure, will +do his duty." + +"I think, sir," said Ready, "we had better not wait here any more, as +we have not long to prepare for them. We have only to fix up some of +our strong deal planks on the inside of the stockade for us to stand +upon when we are attacked, that we may see what the enemy is about, and +be able to fire upon them. But first we had better go to the old house, +and take out what provisions and other articles we shall most want, and +roll the casks into the stockade, for to the old house they will go +first, and perhaps destroy everything in it. The casks they certainly +will, for the sake of the iron hoops. An hour's work will do a great +deal. I believe we have everything we want in the stockade; Juno has +her fuel, the large butt of water will last us two or three weeks at +least, and if we have time, we will get the wheels down, and spear a +couple of turtles for fresh provisions." + +These observations were made as they walked up to the house. As soon as +they arrived, they found William and Juno had just brought in the +powder and cartridges. Mr. Seagrave went in to break the matter to his +wife. + +"I was told that I had to expect this, my dear," replied Mrs. Seagrave, +"so that it has not come upon me altogether unawares, and anything that +a poor weak woman can do, I will." + +"I am indeed greatly relieved," said Mr. Seagrave, "by finding you thus +prepared and supported. I shall feel no anxiety - but we have work to +be done." + +Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave then joined William, Beady, and Juno, who had +already proceeded to the old house. The children were all still in bed +and asleep, so that there was no occasion for any one to watch them. + + + +Chapter LXI + +As they could have a very good view of the canoes from where the old +house stood, Ready examined them with his glass every time that he +returned from rolling up a cask to the stockade. Every one worked hard; +even Mrs. Seagrave did all she could, either assisting in rolling the +casks, or carrying up what she was able to lift. In an hour they had +got into the stockade all that they most cared for, and the canoes were +still about six or seven miles off. + +"We have a good hour before they arrive, sir," said Ready, "and even +then the reefs will puzzle them not a little; I doubt if they are +disembarked under two hours. We have plenty of time for all we wish to +do. Juno, go for the wheels, and William, come down with the spear, and +we will have some of the turtle into the stockade. Mr. Seagrave, I do +not require your assistance, so if you will have the kindness to get +out the muskets, and examine the flints, it will be as well." + +"Yes; and then you have to load them," replied Mrs. Seagrave. "Juno and +I can do that at all events, ready for you to fire them." + +"An excellent idea, madam," replied Ready. + +In half an hour six turtles were brought up by Juno and William, and +then Ready followed them into the stockade. + +They then rolled the casks, and upheaded them by the sides of the +stockade, and fixed up deal planks to stand upon, just high enough to +enable them to see over the top of the palisades, and to fire at the +enemy. Mrs. Seagrave had been shown how to load a musket, and Juno was +now taught the same. + +"Now, sir, we are all prepared," said Ready, "and Madam and Juno can go +and look a little after the children, and get breakfast." + +As soon as the children were dressed, Mr. Seagrave called Ready, who +was outside, watching the canoes, and they went to their morning +devotions, and prayed heartily for succour in this time of need. They +then breakfasted in haste; for, as may be supposed, they were almost +too anxious to eat. + +"This suspense is worse than all," said Mrs. Seagrave. "I wish now that +they were come." + +"Shall I go to Ready and hear his report, my dear? - I will not be away +three minutes." + +In a short time Mr. Seagrave returned, saying that the canoes were +close to the beach, that the savages evidently had a knowledge of the +passages through the reefs, as they had steered right in, and had +lowered their sails; that Ready and William were on the look-out, but +concealed behind the cocoa-nut trees. + +"I hope they will not stay out too long." + +"No fear of that, my dear Selina; but they had better watch their +motions to the last minute." + +During this conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave within the +stockade, William and Ready were watching the motions of the savages, a +large portion of whom had landed out of ten of the canoes, and the +others were following their example as fast as they could, forcing +their way through the reefs. The savages were all painted, with their +war-cloaks and feathers on, and armed with spears and clubs, evidently +having come with no peaceable intentions. + +William, who had taken the telescope to examine them more minutely, +said to Ready, "What a fierce, cruel set of wretches they appear to be; +if they overpower us they will certainly kill us!" + +"Of that there is no doubt, William; but we must fight hard, and not +let them overpower us. Kill us they certainly will, and I am not sure +that they may not eat us afterwards; but that is of little +consequence." + +William replied in a determined tone, "I'll fight as long as I have +breath in my body; but, Ready, they are coming up as fast as they can." + +"Yes; we must wait no longer. Come, William." + +"I thought I saw another vessel under sail, out away by the garden +point, Ready, just as we turned away." + +"Very likely, sir, a canoe which has separated from the others during +the night. Come, quick, William, they have begun to yell." + +Another half-minute, and they arrived at the door of the stockade; they +entered, shut the door, and then barricaded it with the cocoa-nut poles +which they had fitted to the inner door-posts. + + + +Chapter LXII + +The loud yells of the savages struck terror into the heart of Mrs. +Seagrave; it was well that she had not seen their painted bodies and +fierce appearance, or she would have been much more alarmed. Little +Albert and Caroline clung around her neck with terror in their faces; +they did not cry, but looked round and round to see from whence the +horrid noise proceeded, and then clung faster to their mother. Tommy +was very busy, finishing all the breakfast which had been left, for +there was no one to check him as usual; Juno was busy outside, and was +very active and courageous. Mr. Seagrave had been employed making the +holes between the palisades large enough to admit the barrels of the +muskets, so that they could fire at the savages without being exposed; +while William and Ready, with. their muskets loaded, were on the +look-out for their approach. + +"They are busy with the old house just now, sir," observed Ready, "but +that won't detain them long." + +"Here they come," replied William; "and look, Ready, is not that one of +the women who escaped from us in the canoe, who is walking along with +the first two men? Yes, it is, I am sure." + +"You are right, William, it is one of them. Ah! they have stopped; they +did not expect the stockade, that is clear, and it has puzzled them; +see how they are all crowding together and talking; they are holding a +council of war how to proceed; that tall man must be one of their +chiefs. Now, William, although I intend to fight as hard as I can, yet +I always feel a dislike to begin first; I shall therefore show myself +over the palisades, and if they attack me, I shall then fire with a +quiet conscience." + +"But take care they don't hit you, Ready." + +"No great fear of that, William. Here they come." + +Ready now stood upon the plank within, so as to show himself to the +savages, who gave a tremendous yell, and as they advanced a dozen +spears were thrown at him with so true an aim that, had he not +instantly dodged behind the stockade, he must have been killed. Three +or four spears remained quivering in the palisades, just below the top; +the others went over it, and fell down inside of the stockade, at the +further end. + +"Now, William, take good aim;" but before William could fire, Mr. +Seagrave, who had agreed to be stationed at the corner so that he might +see if the savages went round to the other side, fired his musket, and +the tall chief fell to the ground. + +Ready and William also fired, and two more of the savages were seen to +drop amidst the yells of their companions. Juno handed up the other +muskets which were ready loaded, and took those discharged, and Mrs. +Seagrave, having desired Caroline to take care of her little brother, +and Tommy to be very quiet and good, came out, turned the key of the +door upon them, and hastened to assist Juno in reloading the muskets. + +The spears now rushed through the air, and it was well that they could +fire from the stockade without exposing their persons, or they would +have had but little chance. The yells increased, and the savages now +began to attack on every quarter; the most active, who climbed like +cats, actually succeeded in gaining the top of the palisades, but, as +soon as their heads appeared above, they were fired at with so true an +aim that they dropped down dead outside. This combat lasted for more +than an hour, when the savages, having lost a great many men, drew off +from the assault, and the parties within the stockade had time to +breathe. + +"They have not gained much in this bout, at all events," said Ready; +"it was well fought on our side, and William, you certainly behaved as +if you had been brought up to it." + +"Do you think they will go away now?" said Mrs. Seagrave. + +"Oh, no, madam, not yet; they will try us every way before they leave +us. You see these are very brave men, and it is clear that they know +what gunpowder is, or they would have been more astonished." + +"I should think so too," replied Mr. Seagrave; "the first time that +savages hear the report of firearms, they are usually thrown into great +consternation." + +"Yes, sir; but such has not been the case with these people, and +therefore I reckon it is not the first time that they have fought with +Europeans." + +"Are they all gone, Ready?" said William, who had come down from the +plank to his mother. + +"No; I see them between the trees now; they are sitting round in a +circle, and, I suppose, making speeches." + +"Well, I'm very thirsty, at all events," said William; "Juno, bring me +a little water." + +Juno went to the water-tub to comply with William's request, and in a +few moments afterwards came back in great consternation. + +"Oh, Massa! oh, Missy! no water; water all gone!" + +"Water all gone!" cried Ready and all of them in a breath. + +"Yes; not one little drop in the cask." + +"I filled it up to the top!" exclaimed Ready very gravely; "the tub did +not leak, that I am sure of; how can this have happened?" + +"Missy, I tink I know now," said Juno; "you remember you send Massa +Tommy, the two or three days we wash, to fetch water from the well in +little bucket. You know how soon be come back, and how you say what +good boy he was, and how you tell Massa Seagrave when he come to +dinner. Now, Missy, I quite certain Massa Tommy no take trouble go to +well, but fetch water from tub all the while, and so he empty it." + +"I'm afraid you're right, Juno," replied Mrs. Seagrave. "What shall we +do?" + +"I go speak Massa Tommy," said Juno, running to the house. + +"This is a very awkward thing, Mr. Seagrave," observed Ready gravely. + +Mr. Seagrave shook his head. + +The fact was, that they all perceived the danger of their position: if +the savages did not leave the island, they would perish of thirst or +have to surrender; and in the latter case, all their lives would most +certainly be sacrificed. + +Juno now returned: her suspicions were but too true. Tommy, pleased +with the praise of being so quick in bringing the water, had taken out +the spigot of the cask, and drawn it all off. + +"Well," observed Mr. Seagrave, "it is the will of Heaven that all our +careful arrangements and preparations against this attack should be +defeated by the idleness of a child, and we must submit." + +"Very true, sir," replied Ready; "all our hopes now are that the +savages may be tired out, and leave the island." + +"If I had but a little for the children, I should not care," observed +Mrs. Seagrave; "but to see those poor things suffer - is there not a +drop left, Juno, anywhere?" + +Juno shook her head. + +Mrs. Seagrave said she would go and examine, and went away into the +house accompanied by Juno. + +"This is a very bad business, Ready," observed Mr. Seagrave. "What +would we give for a shower of rain now, that we might catch the falling +drops!" + +"There are no signs of it, sir," replied Ready; "we must, however, put +our confidence in One who will not forsake us." + +"I wish the savages would come on again," observed William; "for the +sooner they come, the sooner the affair will be decided." + +"I doubt if they will to-day; at night-time I think it very probable. +We must make preparations for it." + +"Why, what can we do, Ready?" + +"In the first place, sir, by nailing planks from cocoa-nut tree to +cocoa-nut tree above the present stockade, we may make a great portion +of it much higher, and more difficult to climb over. Some of them were +nearly in, this time. If we do that, we shall not have so large a space +to watch over and defend; and then we must contrive to have a large +fire ready for lighting, that we may not have to fight altogether in +the dark. It will give them some advantage in looking through the +palisades, and seeing where we are, but they cannot well drive their +spears through, so it is no great matter. We must make the fire in the +centre of the stockade, and have plenty of tar in it, to make it burn +bright, and we must not, of course, light it until after we are +attacked. We shall then see where they are trying for an entrance, and +where to aim with our muskets." + +"The idea is very good, Ready," said Mr. Seagrave; "if it had not been +for this unfortunate want of water, I really should be sanguine of +beating them off." + +"We may suffer very much, Mr. Seagrave, I have no doubt; but who knows +what the morrow may bring forth?" + +"True, Ready. Do you see the savages now?" + +"No, sir; they have left the spot where they were in consultation. I +suppose they are busy with their wounded and their dead." + +As Ready had supposed, no further attack was made by the savages on +that day, and he, William, and Mr. Seagrave, were very busy making +their arrangements; they nailed the planks on the trunks of the trees +above the stockade, so as to make three sides of the stockade at least +five feet higher, and almost impossible to climb up; and they prepared +a large fire in a tar-barrel full of cocoa-nut leaves mixed with wood +and tar, so as to burn fiercely. Dinner or supper they had none, for +there was nothing but salt pork and beef and live turtle, and, by +Ready's advice, they did not eat, as it would only increase their +desire to drink. + +The poor children suffered much; and little Albert wailed and cried for +"water, water." Ready remained on the look-out; indeed, everything was +so miserable inside of the house, that they were all glad to go out of +it; they could do no good, and poor Mrs. Seagrave had a difficult and +most painful task to keep the children quiet under such severe +privation, for the weather was still very warm and sultry. + + + +Chapter LXIII + +But the moaning of the children was very soon after dusk drowned by the +yells of the savages, who, as Ready had prognosticated, now advanced to +the night attack. + +Every part of the stockade was at once assailed, and their attempts now +made were to climb into it; a few spears were occasionally thrown, but +it was evident that the object was to obtain an entrance by dint of +numbers. It was well that Ready had taken the precaution of nailing the +deal planks above the original stockade, or there is little doubt but +that the savages would have gained their object; as it was, before the +flames of the fire, which Juno had lighted by Ready's order, gave them +sufficient light, three or four savages had climbed up and had been +shot by William and Mr. Seagrave, as they were on the top of the +stockade. + +When the fire burnt brightly, the savages outside were more easily +aimed at, and a great many fell in their attempts to get over. The +attack continued more than an hour, when at last, satisfied that they +could not succeed, the savages once more withdrew, carrying with them, +as before, their dead and wounded. + +"I trust that they will now re-embark, and leave the island," said Mr. +Seagrave. + +"I only wish they may, sir; it is not at all impossible; but there is +no saying. I have been thinking, Mr. Seagrave, that we might be able to +ascertain their movements by making a look-out. You see, sir, that +cocoa-nut tree," continued Ready, pointing to one of those to which the +palisades were fastened, "is much taller than any of the others: now, +by driving spike-nails into the trunk at about a foot apart, we might +ascend it with ease, and it would command a view of the whole bay; we +then could know what the enemy were about." + +"Yes, that is very true; but will not anyone be very much exposed if he +climbs up?" + +"No, sir; for you see the cocoa-nut trees are cut down clear of the +palisades to such a distance, that no savage could come at all near +without being seen by anyone on the look-out, and giving us sufficient +time to get down again before he could use his spear." + +"I believe that you are right there, Ready; but at all events I would +not attempt to do it before daylight, as there may be some of them +still lurking underneath the stockade." + +"Certainly there may be, sir, and therefore until daylight we will not +begin." + +Mr. Seagrave then went into the house; Ready desired William to lie +down and sleep for two or three hours, as he would watch. In the +morning, when Mr Seagrave came out, he would have a little sleep +himself. + +"I can't sleep, Ready. I'm mad with thirst," replied William. + +"Yes, sir; it's very painful - I feel it myself very much, but what +must those poor children feel? I pity them most." + +"I pity my mother most, Ready," replied William; "it must be agony to +her to witness their sufferings, and not be able to relieve them." + +"Yes, indeed, it must be terrible, William, to a mother's feelings; but +perhaps these savages will be off to-morrow, and then we shall forget +our privations." + +"I trust in God that they may, Ready, but they seem very determined." + +"Yes, sir; iron is gold to them, and what will civilized men not do for +gold?" + +In the meantime, Mr. Seagrave had gone into the house. He found the +children still crying for water, notwithstanding the coaxing and +soothing of Mrs. Seagrave, who was shedding tears as she hung over poor +little Albert. Little Caroline only drooped, and said nothing. Mr. +Seagrave remained for two or three hours with his wife, assisting her +in pacifying the children, and soothing her to the utmost of his power; +at last he went out and found old Ready on the watch. + +"Ready, I had rather a hundred times be attacked by these savages and +have to defend this place, than be in that house for even five minutes, +and witness the sufferings of my wife and children." + +"I do not doubt it, sir," replied Ready; "but cheer up, and let us hope +for the best; I think it very probable that the savages after this +second defeat will leave the island." + +"I wish I could think so, Ready; it would make me very happy; but I +have come out to take the watch, Ready. Will you not sleep for a +while?" + +"I will, sir, if you please, take a little sleep. Call me in two hours; +it will then be daylight, and I can go to work, and you can get some +repose yourself." + +"I am too anxious to sleep; I think so, at least." + +"William said he was too thirsty to sleep, sir, but, poor fellow, he is +now fast enough." + +"I trust that boy will be spared, Ready." + +"I hope so too; but we are all in the hands of the Almighty." + +Mr. Seagrave took his station on the plank, and was left to his own +reflections; that they were not of the most pleasant kind may easily be +imagined. He prayed earnestly and fervently that they might be +delivered from the danger and sufferings which threatened them, and +became calm and tranquil; prepared for the worst, if the worst was to +happen, and confidently placing himself and his family under the care +of him who orders all as he thinks best. + +At daylight Ready woke up and relieved Mr. Seagrave, who did not return +to the house, but lay down on the cocoa-nut boughs, where Ready had +been lying by the side of William. As soon as Ready had got out the +spike-nails and hammer, he summoned William to his assistance, and they +commenced driving them into the cocoa-nut tree, one looking out in case +of the savages approaching, while the other was at work. In less than +an hour they had gained the top of the tree close to the boughs, and +had a very commanding view of the bay, as well as inland. William, who +was driving the last dozen spikes, took a survey, and then came down to +Ready. + +"I can see everything, Ready: they have pulled down the old house +altogether, and are most of them lying down outside, covered up with +their war-cloaks; some women are walking to and fro from the canoes, +which are lying on the beach where they first landed." + +"They have pulled down the house to obtain the iron nails, I have no +doubt," replied Ready. "Did you see any of their dead?" + +"No; I did not look about very much, but I will go up again directly. I +came down because my hands were jarred with hammering, and the hammer +was so heavy to carry. In a minute or two I shall go up light enough. +My lips are burning, Ready, and swelled; the skin is peeling off. I had +no idea that want of water would have been so dreadful. I was in hopes +of finding a cocoa-nut or two on the tree, but there was not one." + +"And if you had found one, it would not have had any milk in it at this +season of the year. However, William, if the savages do not go away +to-day, something must be done. I wish now that you would go up again, +and see if they are not stirring." + +William again mounted to the top of the tree, and remained up for some +minutes; when he came down, he said, "They are all up now, and swarming +like bees. I counted 260 of the men in their war-cloaks and feather +head-dresses; the women are passing to and fro from the well with +water; there is nobody at the canoes except eight or ten women, who are +beating their heads, I think, or doing something of the kind. I could +not make it out well, but they seem all doing the same thing." + +"I know what they are about, William: they are cutting themselves with +knives or other sharp instruments. It is the custom of these people. +The dead are all put into the canoes, and these women are lamenting +over them; perhaps they are going away, since the dead are in the +canoes. but there is no saying." + + + +Chapter LXIV + +The second day was passed in keeping a look-out upon the savages, and +awaiting a fresh attack. They could perceive from the top of the +cocoa-nut tree that the savages held a council of war in the forenoon, +sitting round in a large circle, while one got up in the centre and +made a speech, flourishing his club and spear while he spoke. In the +afternoon the council broke up, and the savages were observed to be +very busy in all directions, cutting down the cocoa-nut trees, and +collecting all the brushwood. + +Ready watched them for a long while, and at last came down a little +before sunset. "Mr. Seagrave," said he, "we shall have, in my opinion, +no attack this night, but to-morrow we must expect something very +serious; the savages are cutting down the trees, and making large +faggots; they do not get on very fast, because their hatchets are made +of stone and don't cut very well, but perseverance and numbers will +effect everything, and I dare say that they will work all night till +they have obtained as many faggots as they want." + +"But what do you imagine to be their object, Ready, in cutting down +trees, and making the faggots?" + +"Either, sir, to pile them up outside the palisades, so large as to be +able to walk up upon them, or else to pile them up to set fire to them, +and burn us out." + +"Do you think they will succeed?" + +"Not without very heavy loss; perhaps we may best them off, but it will +be a hard fight; harder than any we have had yet. We must have the +women to load the muskets, so that we may fire as fast as we can. I +should not think much of their attempt to burn us, if it were not for +the smoke. Cocoa-nut wood, especially with the bark on, as our +palisades have, will char a long while, but not burn easily when +standing upright; and the fire, when the faggots are kindled, although +it will be fierce, will not last long." + +"But suffering as we are now, Ready, for want of water, how can we +possibly keep up our strength to meet them in a suffocating smoke and +flame? we must drop with sheer exhaustion." + +"We must hope for the best, and do our best, Mr. Seagrave," replied +Ready; "and recollect that should anything happen to me during the +conflict, and if there is any chance of your being overpowered, you +must take advantage of the smoke to escape into the woods, and find +your way to the tents. I have no doubt that you will be able to do +that; of course the attack will be to windward if they use fire, and +you must try and escape to leeward; I have shown William how to force a +palisade if necessary. The savages, if they get possession, will not +think of looking for you at first, and, perhaps, when they have +obtained all that the house contains, not even afterwards." + +"Why do you say if any accident happens to you, Ready?" said William. + +"Because, William, if they place the faggots so as to be able to walk +to the top of the palisades, I may be wounded or killed, and so may +you." + +"Of course," replied William; "but they are not in yet, and they shall +have a hard fight for it." + +Ready then told Mr. Seagrave that he would keep the watch, and call him +at twelve o'clock. During these two days, they had eaten very little; a +turtle had been killed, and pieces fried, but eating only added to +their thirst, and even the children refused the meat. The sufferings +were now really dreadful, and poor Mrs. Seagrave was almost frantic. + +As soon as Mr. Seagrave had gone into the house, Ready called William, +and said, "William, water we must have. I cannot bear to see the agony +of the poor children, and the state of mind which your poor mother is +in; and more, without water we never shall be able to beat off the +savages to-morrow. We shall literally die of choking in the smoke, if +they use fire. Now, William, I intend to take one of the seven-gallon +barricos, and go down to the well for water. I may succeed, and I may +not, but attempt it I must, and if I fall it cannot be helped." + +"Why not let me go, Ready?" replied William. + +"For many reasons, William," said Ready; "and the chief one is that I +do not think you would succeed so well as I shall. I shall put on the +war-cloak and feathers of the savage who fell dead inside of the +stockade, and that will be a disguise, but I shall take no arms except +his spear, as they would only be in my way, and increase the weight I +have to carry. Now observe, you must let me out of the door, and when I +am out, in case of accident put one of the poles across it inside; that +will keep the door fast, if they attack it, until you can secure it +with the others. Watch my return, and be all ready to let me in. Do you +understand me?" + +"Yes, perfectly, Ready; but I am now, I must confess, really +frightened; if anything was to happen to you, what a misery it would +be!" + +"There is no help for it, William. Water must, if possible, be +procured, and now is a better time to make the attempt than later, when +they may be more on the watch; they have left off their work, and are +busy eating; if I meet any one, it will only be a woman." + +Ready went for the barrico, a little cask, which held six or seven +gallons of water. He put on the head-dress and war-cloak of the savage; +and, taking the barrico on his shoulder, and the spear in his hand, the +poles which barred the door were softly removed by William, and after +ascertaining that no one was concealed beneath the palisades, Ready +pressed William's hand, and set off across the cleared space outside of +the stockade, and gained the cocoa-nut trees. William, as directed, +closed the door, passed one pole through the inner door-posts for +security, and remained on the watch. He was in an awful state of +suspense, listening to the slightest noise, even the slight rustling by +the wind of the cocoa-nut boughs above him made him start; there he +continued for some minutes, his gun ready cocked by his side. + +It is time that he returned, thought William; the distance is not 100 +yards, and yet I have heard no noise. At last he thought he heard +footsteps coming very softly. Yes, it was so. Ready was returning, and +without any accident. William had his hand upon the pole, to slip it on +one side and open the door, when he beard a scuffle and a fall close to +the door. He immediately threw down the pole, and opened it just as +Ready called him by name. William seized his musket and sprang out; he +found Ready struggling with a savage, who was uppermost, and with his +spear at Ready's breast. In a second William levelled and fired, and +the savage fell dead. + +"Take the water in quick, William," said Ready in a faint voice. "I +will contrive to crawl in if I can." + +William caught up the barrico of water, and took it in; he then +hastened to Ready, who was on his knees. Mr. Seagrave, hearing the +musket fired, had run out, and finding the stockade door open, followed +William, and seeing him endeavouring to support Ready, caught hold of +his other arm, and they led him tottering into the stockade; the door +was then immediately secured, and they went to his assistance. + +"Are you hurt, Ready?" said William. + +"Yes, dear boy, yes; hurt to death, I fear: his spear went through my +breast. Water, quick, water!" + +"Alas! that we had some," said Mr. Seagrave. + +"We have, papa," replied William; "but it has cost us dearly." + +William ran for a pannikin, and taking out the bung, poured some water +out of the barrico and gave it to Ready, who drank it with eagerness. + +"Now, William, lay me down on these cocoa-nut boughs; go and give some +water to the others, and when you have all drunk, then come to me +again. Don't tell Mrs. Seagrave that I'm hurt. Do as I beg of you." + +"Papa, take the water - do pray," replied William; "I cannot leave +Ready." + +"I will, my boy," replied Mr. Seagrave; "but first drink yourself." + +William, who was very faint, drank off the pannikin of water, which +immediately revived him, and then, while Mr. Seagrave hastened with +some water to the children and women, occupied himself with old Ready, +who breathed heavily, but did not speak. + + + +Chapter LXV + +After returning twice for water, to satisfy those in the house, Mr. +Seagrave came to the assistance of William, who had been removing +Ready's clothes to ascertain the nature of the wound he had received. + +"We had better move him to where the other cocoa-nut boughs lie; he +will be more comfortable there," said William. + +Ready whispered, "More water." William gave him some more and then, +with the assistance of his father, Ready was removed to a more +comfortable place. As soon as they laid him there, Ready turned on his +side, and threw up a quantity of blood. + +"I am better now," said he in a low voice; "bind up the wound, William; +an old man like me has not much blood to spare." + +Mr. Seagrave and William then examined the wound; the spear had gone +deep into the lungs. William threw off his shirt, tore it up into +strips, and then bound up the wound so as to stop the effusion of +blood. + +Ready, who at first appeared much exhausted with being moved about, +gradually recovered so as to be able to speak in a low voice, when Mrs. +Seagrave came out of the house. + +"Where is that brave, kind man?" cried she, "that I may bless him and +thank him." + +Mr. Seagrave went to her, and caught her by the arm. "He is hurt, my +dear; and very much hurt. I did not tell you at the time." + +Mr. Seagrave related what had occurred, and then led her to where Ready +was lying. Mrs. Seagrave knelt by his side, took his hand, and burst +into tears. + +"Don't weep for me," said Ready; "my days have been numbered; I'm only +sorry that I cannot any more be useful to you." + +"Dear good man," said Mrs. Seagrave, "whatever may be our fates, and +that is for the Almighty to decide for us, as long as I have life, what +you have done for me and mine shall never be forgotten." + +Mrs. Seagrave then bent over him, and kissing his forehead, rose and +retired weeping into the house. + +"William," said Ready, "I can't talk now; raise my head a little, and +then leave me. You have not looked round lately. Come again in about +half an hour. Leave me now, Mr. Seagrave; I shall be better if I doze a +little." + +They complied with Ready's request; went up to the planks, and examined +carefully all round the stockade; at last they stopped. + +"This is a sad business, William," said Mr. Seagrave. + +William shook his head. "He would not let me go," replied he; "I wish +he had. I fear that he is much hurt." + +"I should say that he cannot recover, William. We shall miss him +to-morrow if they attack us." + +"I hardly know what to say, papa; but I feel that since we have been +relieved, I am able to do twice as much as I could have done before." + +"I feel the same, but still with such a force against us, two people +cannot do much." + +"If my mother and Juno load the muskets for us," replied William, "we +shall at all events do as much now as we should have been able to do if +there were three, so exhausted as we should have been." + +"Perhaps so; at all events we will do our best, for we fight for our +lives and for those most dear to us." + +William went softly up to Ready, and found that he was dozing; he +therefore did not disturb him, but returned to his father. Now that +their thirst had been appeased, they all felt the calls of hunger. Juno +and William went and cut off steaks from the turtle, and fried them; +they all made a hearty meal, and perhaps never had they taken one with +so much relish in their lives. + +It was nearly daylight, when William, who had several times been softly +up to Ready, found him with his eyes open. + +"How do you find yourself, Ready?" said William. + +"I am quiet and easy, William, and without much pain; but I think I am +sinking, and shall not last long. Recollect that if you are obliged to +escape from the stockade, you take no heed of me, but leave me where I +am. I cannot live, and were you to move me, I should only die the +sooner." + +"I had rather die with you, than leave you, Ready." + +"No, that is wrong; you must save your mother, and your brothers and +sister; promise me that you will do as I wish." + +William hesitated. + +"I point out to you your duty, William. I know what your feelings are, +but you must not give way to them; promise me this, or you will make me +very miserable." + +William squeezed Ready's hand; his heart was too full to speak. + +"They will come at daylight, William; you have not much time to spare; +climb to the look-out, and wait there till day dawns; watch them as +long as you can, and then come and tell me what you have seen." + +Ready's voice became faint after this exertion of speaking so much. + +William immediately climbed up the cocoa-nut tree, and waited there +till daylight. At the dawn of day, he perceived that the savages were +at work, that they had collected all the faggots together opposite to +where the old house had stood, and were very busy in making +arrangements for the attack. At last, every one shouldered a faggot, +and commenced their advance towards the stockade; William immediately +descended and called his father, who was talking with Mrs. Seagrave. +The muskets were all loaded, and Mrs. Seagrave and Juno took their +posts below the planking, to reload them as fast as they were fired. + +"We must fire upon them as soon as we are sure of not missing, +William," said Mr. Seagrave, "for the more we check their advance, the +better." + +When the first savages were within fifty yards, they both fired, and +two of the men dropped; they continued to fire as their assailants came +up, with great success for the first ten minutes; after which the +savages advanced in a larger body, and took the precaution to hold the +faggots in front of them, for some protection as they approached. By +these means they gained the stockade in safety, and commenced laying +their faggots. Mr. Seagrave and William still kept up an incessant fire +upon them, but not with so much success as before. + +Although many fell, the faggots were gradually heaped up, till they +almost reached to the holes between the palisades, through which they +pointed their muskets; and as the savages contrived to slope them down +from the stockade to the ground, it was evident that they meant to +mount up and take them by escalade. At last, it appeared as if all the +faggots had been placed, and the savages retired farther back, to where +the cocoa-nut trees were still standing. + +"They have gone away, father," said William; "but they will come again, +and I fear it is all over with us." + +"I fear so too, my boy," replied Mr. Seagrave; "they are only +retreating to arrange for a general assault, and they now will be able +to gain an entrance. I almost wish that they had fired the faggots; we +might have escaped as Ready pointed out to us, but now I fear we have +no chance." + +"Don't say a word to my mother," said William; "let us defend ourselves +to the last, and if we are overpowered it is the will of God." + +"I should like to take a farewell embrace of your dear mother," said +Mr. Seagrave; "but, no; it will be weakness just now. Here they come, +William, in a swarm. Well, God bless you, my boy; we shall all, I +trust, meet in Heaven!" + +The whole body of savages were now advancing from the cocoa-nut wood in +a solid mass; they raised a yell, which struck terror into the hearts +of Mrs. Seagrave and Juno, yet they flinched not. The savages were +again within fifty yards of them, when the fire was opened upon them; +the fire was answered by loud yells, and the savages had already +reached to the bottom of the sloping pile of faggots, when the yells +and the reports of the muskets were drowned by a much louder report, +followed by the crackling and breaking of the cocoa-nut trees, which +made both parties start with surprise; another and another followed, +the ground was ploughed up, and the savages fell in numbers. + +"It must be the cannon of a ship, father," said William; "we are saved +- we are saved!" + +"It can be nothing else; we are saved, and by a miracle!" replied Mr. +Seagrave in utter astonishment. + +The savages paused in the advance, quite stupefied; again, again, +again, the report of the loud guns boomed through the air, and the +round-shot and grape came whizzing and tearing through the cocoa-nut +grove; at this last broadside, the savages turned, and fled towards +their canoes: not one was left to be seen. + +"We are saved!" cried Mr. Seagrave, leaping off the plank and embracing +his wife, who sank down on her knees, and held up her clasped hands in +thankfulness to Heaven. + +William had hastened up to the look-out on the cocoa-nut tree, and now +cried out to them below, as the guns were again discharged: + +"A large schooner, father; she is firing at the savages, who are at the +canoes; they are falling in every direction: some have plunged into the +water; there is a boat full of armed men coming on shore; they are +close to the beach, by the garden-point. Three of the canoes have got +off full of men; there go the guns again; two of the canoes are sunk, +father; the boat has landed, and the people are coming up this way." +William then descended from the look-out as fast as he could. + +As soon as he was down, he commenced unbarring the door of the +stockade. He pulled out the last pole just as he heard the feet of +their deliverers outside. He threw open the door, and, a second after, +found himself in the arms of Captain Osborn. + + + +Chapter LXVI + +Before we wind up this history, it will be as well to state to my young +readers how it was that Captain Osborn made his appearance at so +fortunate a moment. It will be recollected how a brig came off the +island some months before this, and the great disappointment that the +party on the island experienced in her not making her appearance again. +The fact was, that those on board of the brig had not only seen their +signals, but had read the name of the "Pacific" upon the flag hoisted; +but the heavy gale which came on drove them so far to the southward, +that the master of the brig did not consider that he should do his duty +to his owners, if he lost so much time in beating up for the island +again. He therefore decided upon making all sail for Sydney, to which +port he was bound. + +When Captain Osborn was put into the boat by Mackintosh and the seamen +of the Pacific, he was still insensible; but he gradually recovered, +and after a stormy night, Captain Osborn was so far recovered as to +hear from Mackintosh what had taken place, and why it was that he found +himself in an open boat at sea. The next morning the wind moderated, +and they were fortunate enough to fall in with a vessel bound to Van +Diemen's Land, which took them all on board. + +From the account given by Mackintosh, Captain Osborn had no doubt in +his mind but that the Seagrave family had perished, and the loss of the +vessel, with them on board, was duly reported to the owners. When at +Van Diemen's Land, Captain Osborn was so much taken with the beauty and +fertility of the country, and perhaps not so well inclined to go to sea +again after such danger as he had incurred in the last voyage, that he +resolved to purchase land and settle there. He did so, and had already +stocked his farm with cattle, and had gone round to Sydney in a +schooner to await the arrival of a large order from England which he +had sent for, when the brig arrived and reported the existence of some +white people on the small island, and also that they had hoisted a flag +with the name Pacific worked on it. + +Captain Osborn, hearing this, went to the master of the brig, and +questioned him. He found the latitude and longitude of the island to be +not far from that of the ship when she was deserted, and he was now +convinced that, by some miracle, the Seagrave family had been +preserved. He therefore went to the Governor of New South Wales, and +made him acquainted with the facts which had been established, and the +Governor instantly replied, that the government armed schooner was at +his service, if he would himself go in quest of his former shipmates. +Inconvenient as the absence at that time was to Captain Osborn, he at +once acquiesced, and in a few days the schooner sailed for her +destination. She arrived off the island on the same morning that the +fleet of canoes with the savages effected their landing, and when +William made the remark to Ready as they were hastening into the +stockade, that there was another vessel under sail off the +garden-point, had Ready had time to put his eye to the telescope, he +would have discovered that it was the schooner. + +The schooner stood in to the reefs, and then hauled off again, that she +might send her boat in to sound for an anchorage. The boat, when +sounding, perceived the canoes and the savages, and afterwards heard +the report of firearms on the first attack. On her return on board the +schooner, they stated what they had seen and heard, and their idea that +the white people on the island were being attacked by the savages. As +the boat did not return on board till near dusk, they had not time to +canvas, the question when the night attack was made, and they again +heard the firing of the muskets. This made Captain Osborn most anxious +to land as soon as possible, but as the savages were in such numbers, +and the crew of the schooner did not consist of more than twenty-five +men, the commander considered it was rash to make the attempt. He did, +however, show the utmost anxiety to bring his schooner to an anchor, so +as to protect his men, and then agreed that they should land. + +The boat had reported deep water and good anchorage close to the +garden-point, and every preparation was made for running at daylight on +the following morning; but unfortunately, it fell calm for the best +part of the day, and it was not until the morning after, just as the +savages were making their last attack upon the stockade, that she could +get in. As soon as she did, she opened the fire of her carronades, and +the result is already known. + +My readers must, if they can, imagine the joy of Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave +when they beheld their old friend Captain Osborn. All danger was now +over; the party who had landed with him went out under the command of +the mate, to ascertain if there were any more of the savages to be +found; but, except the dead and dying, all had escaped in some of the +smaller canoes. Captain Osborn remained with the Seagraves, and they +informed him of the state of poor old Ready, whom William had gone to +attend as soon as Captain Osborn was engaged with his father and +mother. Captain Osborn hurried out to see him; Ready knew his voice, +for his eyes were already so dim that he could not see. + +"That is Captain Osborn, I know," said Ready in a faint voice. "You +have come in good time, sir; I knew you would come, and I always said +so: you have the thanks of a dying man." + +"I hope it is not so bad as that, Ready; we have a surgeon on board, +and I will send for him at once." + +"No surgeon can help me, sir," replied Ready; "another hour of time +will not pass before I shall be in Eternity." + +The old man then joined his hands across his breast, and remained for +some time in silent prayer. Then he bade them farewell in a faint +voice, which at last was changed to a mere whisper. They still +remained, in silence and in tears, standing round him, William only +kneeling and holding his hand, when the old man's head fell back, and +he was no more! + +"It is all over," said Mr. Seagrave mournfully, "and he has, I have no +doubt, gone to receive the reward of a good and just man. `Happy are +those who die in the Lord.'" + +Mr. Seagrave then led away his wife and children, leaving Juno and +William. William closed his eyes, and Juno went and fetched the ship's +ensign, which they laid over the body, after which they joined the rest +of the party in the house. + +It was decided that the following day should be passed in packing up +and getting on board their luggage, and that the day after the family +should embark. William then mentioned the wish of poor old Ready as to +his burial. The commander of the schooner immediately gave directions +for a coffin to be made, and for his men to dig the grave at the spot +that William should point out. + + + +Chapter LXVII + +The hurry and bustle of preparing for their departure from the island, +and the rapid succession of events which had been crowded together +within so very few days, had not allowed time for much thought or +reflection to Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave and William; at length, however, +every preparation had been made, and they were no longer urged by the +commander of the schooner to hasten their packing up and arrangements; +for everything had been sent on board during the afternoon, and it was +proposed that they should sail on the following day. + +Now they had time to feel, and bitterly did they lament the loss of +their old friend, and deplore that he had not survived to sail with +them to Sydney. They had always indulged the hope that one day they +should be taken off the island, and in that hope they had ever looked +forward to old Ready becoming a part of their future household. Now +that their wishes had been granted - so much was the feeling of joy and +gratitude mingled with regret - that could he have been restored to +them, they felt as if they would have gladly remained on the island. + +Captain Osborn, the commander, and the crew of the schooner had taken +leave of them for the night, and had gone on board, having made +arrangements for the interment of Ready, previous to their sailing, on +the following day. The children had been put to bed, and Juno had +quitted the house; Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave and William were sitting +together in their now half-dismantled room, when Juno entered; the poor +girl had evidently been weeping. + +"Well, Juno," observed Mr. Seagrave, with a view to break the silence +which had continued for some time previous to her entrance, "are you +not glad to leave the island?" + +"One time I think I would be very glad, but now I not care much," +replied Juno. "Island very nice place, all very happy till savage come. +Suppose they not kill old Ready, I not care." + +"Yes, indeed," said Mrs. Seagrave, "it is a sad blow to us all; I did +hope to have fostered the good old man, and to have been able to have +shown him our gratitude, but--" + +"It is the will of Heaven that it should be otherwise," continued Mr. +Seagrave; "I would give half that I am possessed of, that he had not +perished." + +"Oh, Massa!" said Juno, "I sit by him just now; I take off the flag and +look at his face, so calm, look so happy, so good, I almost tink he +smile at me, and then I cry. Oh! Massa Tommy, all because you idle +boy." + +"It adds much to my regret," replied Mr. Seagrave, "that his life +should have been sacrificed through the thoughtlessness of one of my +own children; what a lesson it will be to Tommy when he is old enough +to comprehend the consequences of his conduct." + +"That he must not know, papa," said William, who had been leaning +mournfully over the table; "one of Ready's last injunctions was that +Tommy was never to be told of it." + +"His last wishes shall be religiously attended to, my dear boy," +replied Mr. Seagrave; "for what do we not owe to that good old man? +When others deserted us and left us to perish, he remained with us to +share our fate. By his skill we were saved and landed in safety. He +provided for our wants, added to our comforts, instructed us how to +make the best use of our means. Without his precautions we should have +perished by the spears of the savages. What an example of Christian +fortitude and humility did he ever show us! and indeed, I may truly +say, that by his example, sinful as I must ever be, I have become, I +trust, a better man. Would that he were now sitting by us, - but the +Lord's will be done!" + +"I feel as if I had lost a stay or prop," replied Mrs. Seagrave. "So +accustomed have I been to look to him for advice since we have been on +this island. Had he not been thus snatched from us - had he been spared +to us a few years, and had we been permitted to surround his death-bed, +and close his eyes in peace--" and Mrs. Seagrave wept upon the shoulder +of her husband. + +After a time, Mrs. Seagrave recovered herself; but silence ensued, only +broken by an occasional sob from poor Juno. William's heart was too +full; he could not for a long while utter a word; at last he said in a +low voice: + +"I feel that, next to my dear father and mother, I have lost my best +friend. I cannot forgive myself for allowing him to go for the water; +it was my duty to go, and I ought to have gone." + +"And yet we could have ill spared you, my dear boy; you might have +perished," replied Mrs. Seagrave. + +"It would have been as God willed," replied William; "I might have +perished, or I might not." + +"We never know what the morrow may bring forth," said Mr. Seagrave, "or +what may be in store for us. Had not this misfortune happened, had old +Ready been spared to us, how joyfully should I and all of you have +quitted this island, full of anticipation, and indulging in worldly +prospects. What a check have I received! I now am all thought and +anxiety. I have said to myself, `we have been happy on this island; our +wants have been supplied; even our comforts have been great. We have +been under no temptations, for we have been isolated from the world; am +I so sure that I shall be as happy in future as I have been? Am I +confident, now my long-wished-for return to the world is about to take +place, that I shall have no cause to lament that I ever quitted this +peaceful, quiet spot?' I feel that it is a duty to my family that I +should return to society, but I am far from feeling that our happiness +may be increased. We have, however, a plain precept to follow, which +is, to do our duty in that state of life to which it has pleased God to +call us." + +"Yes," replied Mrs. Seagrave; "I feel the truth of all you have just +said. We are in his hands; let us put our trust in him." + +"We will," replied Mr. Seagrave; "but it is late, and we have to rise +early to-morrow morning. This is the last evening which we shall pass +on this island; let us return our thanks for the happiness we have +enjoyed here. We thought to have quitted this spot in joy, - it is his +will that we should leave it in sorrow." + +Mr. Seagrave took down the Bible, and after he had read a chapter, he +poured forth a prayer suited to their feelings, and they all retired to +repose. + +The next morning they were up early, and packed up the few articles +which still remained to go on board. Mr. Seagrave read the prayers, and +they went to breakfast. Few words were exchanged, for there was a +solemn grief upon all of them. They waited for the arrival of Captain +Osborn and the crew of the schooner to attend the funeral of poor old +Ready. William, who had gone out occasionally to look at the vessel, +now came in, and said that two boats were pulling on shore. A few +minutes afterwards, Captain Osborn and the commander of the schooner +soon made their appearance. The coffin had been brought on shore; the +body of Ready was put into it, and it was screwed down. + +In half an hour all was prepared, and the family were summoned from the +house. The coffin, covered with the Union Jack as a pall, was raised on +the shoulders of six of the seamen, and they bore it to the grave, +followed by Mrs. Seagrave and the children, the commander of the +schooner, and several of the men. Mr. Seagrave read the funeral +service, the grave was filled up, and they all walked back in silence. +At the request of William, the commander of the schooner had ordered +the carpenter to prepare an oak paling to put round the grave, and a +board on which was written the name of the deceased and day of his +death. As soon as this had been fixed up, William, with a deep sigh, +followed the commander of the schooner to the house to announce that +all was finished, and that the boat waited for them to embark. + +"Come, my dear," said Mr. Seagrave to his wife. + +"I will, I will," replied Mrs. Seagrave, "but I don't know how it is, +now that the hour is come, I really feel such pain at quitting this +dear island. Had it not been for poor Ready's death, I really do think +I should wish to remain." + +"I don't doubt but that you feel sorrow, my dear, but we must not keep +Captain Osborn waiting." + +As Mr. Seagrave was aware that the commander of the schooner was +anxious to get clear of the islands before night, he now led his wife +down to the boat. They all embarked, and were soon on the deck of the +schooner, from whence they continued to fix their eyes upon the island, +while the men were heaving up the anchor. At last sail was made upon +the vessel, the garden-point was cleared, and, as they ran away with a +fair wind, each object on the shore became more indistinct. Still their +eyes were turned in that direction. + +As they ran down to the westward, they passed the cove where they had +first landed, and Mr. Seagrave directed Mrs. Seagrave's attention to +it. She remained for some time looking at it in silence, and then said +as she turned away: + +"We shall never be more happy than we were on that island, Seagrave." + +"It will indeed be well, my dear, if we never are less happy," replied +her husband. + +The schooner now ran fast through the water, and the island was every +minute less distinct; after a time, the land was below the horizon, and +the tops of the cocoa-nut trees only to be seen; these gradually +disappeared. Juno watched on, and when at last nothing could be seen, +she waved her handkerchief in the direction of the island, as if to bid +it farewell, and then went down below to hide her grief. + +The wind continued fair, and, after a favourable passage of little more +than four weeks, they arrived at Sydney Cove, the port to which they +were bound when they embarked from England on board of the good ship +Pacific. + +P.S. - As my young readers will probably wish to know a little more +about the Seagrave family, I will inform them that Mr. Seagrave, like +the patriarch Job after his tribulation, found his flocks and herds +greatly increased on his arrival at Sydney. Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave lived +to see all their children grown up. William inherited the greater part +of the property from his father, after having for many years assisted +him in the management of it. Tommy, notwithstanding all his scrapes, +grew up a very fine fellow, and entered the army. Caroline married a +young clergyman, and made him an excellent wife; little Albert went +into the navy, and is at present a commander. + +Juno is still alive, and lives at Seagrave plantation with William, and +her greatest pleasure is to take his children on her knee, and tell +them long stories about the island, and make them cry when she goes +through the history of old Ready's death and burial. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of Masterman Ready, by Captain Marryat + diff --git a/1412.zip b/1412.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d370e89 --- /dev/null +++ b/1412.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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