Part 4 (2/2)
”Why, h for three days: if we start to-, which is Wednesday, I hope to be back so; but I won't be later than Saturday ood-bye, mother,” said William, ”for I shall not see you to-morrow!”
”God bless and protect you, rave ”Take care of hirave 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 Willias which Ready had prepared in case they ht require them
As soon as the knapsacks were on, Ready took the axe and gun, and asked Williaht he could carry a sht on shore along with the shovels Willias, 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, Willia after they had walked twenty yards, ”by what ain; for you see this forest of trees is rather puzzling, and there is no path to guide us?”
”No, I a when you spoke; and of Tom Thumb, who strewed peas to find his way back, but could not do it, because the birds picked thee 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 ain 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 noe'll begin: you take the other side, it will be ht hand; I can use ht 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-coo back again; but it will not tell us what course we are now to steer At present, I knoe 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 tellthe spade with us - ill 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 wein the sand, it would be too brackish to use for any time, and wouldfor it, although it does not show above-ground; and therefore I brought the spade”
”You think of everything, Ready”
”No, I do not, Willias than perhaps your father and mother would: they have never knohat it is to be put to their shi+fts; but a man like me, who has been all his life at sea, and who has been wrecked, and suffered hardshi+ps and difficulties, and has been obliged to think or die, has a greater knowledge, not only fro 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 seaht to the leeward side of the island”
”Why do you call it the leeward side of the island?”
”Because a these islands the winds almost always blow one e landed on the ard side; the wind is at our back; now put up your finger, and you will feel it even a the trees”
”No, I cannot,” replied Williaer, and try again”
Williaain ”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 Willia 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 the; ”I never thought I should be half-frightened by a ta Here, Ro to the dogs ”Well, William, this is our first adventure”
”I hope we shall not ; ”but I h not likely, it is possible therealar afraid is another: a round; 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 ain, as soon as I have uncocked un I have seen uns, 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 Williarove for ; they then sat down to take their breakfast
”Don't give the dogs any water, Williaive theive 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 thenuts”
”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 Noill go on if you do not feel tired”
”Not in the least; I a but the steh the wood”
”Then the faster alk the better,” said Ready; ”as far as I can judge, we must be about half-way across now”