Part 4 (1/2)
”He goes ashore straight enough,” said Ready, ith Mr Seagrave and Willia the aniht as rave
”D'ye see that black thing above water pushi+ng so fast to the animal? - that's the back fin of a shark, and he will have the poor thing - there, he's got hi 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 ht 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 do and tie the legs of the other four pigs, and bring theood load”
As soon as the pigs were in the boat, Ready sculled it on shore, while Mr Seagrave and Williaoats and sheep ready for the next trip Ready soon returned ”Now this will be our last trip for to-day, and, if I ae of the weather, our last trip for so 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 ood-bye to the shi+p 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 oats and sheep, William led thes 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 ain 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 therave 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-s 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 ti we rave
”To-morroe had better fix up another tent or two, to stoay all the articles we have brought on shore: that will be one good day's work; we shall then knohere to lay our hands upon everything, and see ant”
”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 reat rave
”I'll tell you, madam: in the first place, you have the wood to build the house with; then you have the bark hich you can -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 willThere is no tree which yields so s to ”
”At all events, we've plenty of them,” said Willialad of it, for had there been but few, I should not have liked to destroy theht be wrecked here, as well as ourselves, and without the good fortune that we have had in getting so ed to depend wholly upon the cocoa-nut trees for their support”
Chapter XIII
When breakfast was over the next rave, weparty for to-morrow; and, e have settled that, ill find so 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 o”
”Surely not both of you, rave ”You can do without my husband, can you not, Ready?”
”I certainly should have liked to have Mr Seagrave to advise with, ht 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 hich is rave has no objection, it would perhaps be better that he reo alone, then, Ready?” said Mr Seagrave
”No, sir, I do not think that would be right either, - soht 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 ; ”then I must take Juno to take care of you No; I think they cannot spare you Your athering 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 Williarave
”Williao with irl”
”Indeed, I do not like it; I would rather lose Juno for a tirave
”My dear wife,” said Mr Seagrave, ”recollect how Providence has preserved us in such awful dangers - hoe are landed in safety And noill you not put trust in that Providence, when the dangers are, as I trust, only i,have htened, but selfish: Iand 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, ”Williao byforth I ht hurtthat if any accident was to happen to ht rave; ”a mother is foolish at times”
”Over-anxious, ma'am, perhaps, but not foolish,” replied Ready
”Well, then, Williao with you, Ready; - that point's settled,” observed Mr Seagrave: ”what is the next?”
”The next is to prepare for our journey We un and soe 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 ater, 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”
Toh 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 knapsackselse 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 corave