Part 5 (2/2)
”That is another island, which I ah it will not be so easy to gain it, if we are obliged to leave this for want of water It is a er 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 ill 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, o to bed Look, Willia shadow of the trees the sun has nearly set”
”Shall I give the dogs so the sides of the bottles”
”No, do not give theence of the poor animals to-morrow, and the want of water will ood account So now, Williaet to return thanks to a ht We little knohat the day ht!”
Chapter XVI
Willialand upon a soft bed in a warm roo it was broad daylight The poor dogs were suffering for want of water, and it pained Willia 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 ive 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, ill 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, ill try farther on where the water has run down during the rainy season” Willias, Ready having taken up the spade, which he carried on his shoulder They soon caround, and snuffed about Ready watched theo on,” said Ready, thoughtfully; they went on to where the run of water appeared to have been - the dogs snuffed about erly than before
”You see, Williaer 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 h froe, or I should try in the sand for it”
”In the sand - but would it not be salt?” replied Williaood distance frorees filters the sea-water fresh, and very often when the sand runs in a long way froood fresh water, at other times it is a little brackish, but still fit for use”
”Look, Ready, at Ro with their paws there in the hollow”
”Thanks to Heaven that they are! You don't kno happy you haveto be alar?”
”Because there is water there, poor ani kept the 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 erly at work, that it ith difficulty he could get the two feet before the water trickled down, and in four or five e their noses in, and to drink copiously
”Look at therateful when Moses struck the rock than I do now, Willia indispensable Noe have everything we can wish for on this island, and if we are only content, we may be happy - ay,theather theh at last Now, shall we go back to breakfast?”
”Yes,” replied Williaood drink of water , depend upon it,” said Ready, as they walked back to where they had slept and left their knapsacks; ”but wethe 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 noill be a capital spot to build our house on”
As soon as the breakfast was over, Ready said, ”Noe o down and explore the other point, for you see, Williah 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 botto ”Look there!” said willy, pointing out about fifty yards froreat shark, Ready!”
”Yes, I see him, sir,” replied Ready: ”there's plenty of theet 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 isaway 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; ill leave the spade and axe here, for it is no use taking theo 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 theh 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 Willia up the fish, fleith thee!” said William, surprised
”Yes, sir; but you see how it is - the ser ones, which are bonettas, and in their fright ran upon the beach These bonettas were so anxious to catch theannets picked the 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 thehs 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 ress in their return, and in less than two hours found themselves alht hours to force their way through the day before
”I feel the wind now, Ready,” observed Williah the wood; but it appears tothe same,” replied Ready ”I should not wonder if there is a storain 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 asound, proved that such was the fact; and as they erove, they perceived that the sky, as it becaer of the brilliant blue which it usually had presented to their sight
”There is indeed a gale coo on to the tents as fast as possible, for we must see that all is as secure as we can s now bounded forward; and at their appearance at the tents Mr Seagrave and Juno ca, rave, ith the children, had remained within In a moment lad that you are co him by the hand after he had e on”
”I am sure of it,” replied Ready, ”and we ht This will be one of the storms which are forerunners of the rainy season However, we have good news for you, andto hasten our departure as soon as possible We shall have fine weather after this for a h 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, Williao and haul up the boat as far froh 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 theh into the brushwood, where it was considered by Ready to be perfectly safe
”I meant to have worked upon her iale is over; and I did hope to have got on board once s which I have since rely suspect,” continued he, looking at the weather, ”that we shall never go on board of the poor vessel again Hear thestorm, sir; look how the sea-birds wheel about and scream, as if to proclaim her doom; but we must not wait here - the tents ainst no small force of wind, if I ot out so 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 the blohile Juno with a shovel deepened the trench which had been ht run offthe tirave acquainted hat they had discovered and done during the exploring expedition, and the adventure with the pigs h heartily
As the sun went down, the weather threatened still , 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 unnel of the boat, and there he reray eye fixed upon the distance, which was now one opaque leaht he; ”the winds and the waves are suether - 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 ray-headed oldour summons; but they were restrained by his will, and by his ere saved Will those tiether till ? 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- 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 ht he; ”I atch the tents, and see how they stand up against its force” Then the rain ca 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 hih he would not lie down, lest his services ht 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