Part 7 (1/2)
”But why do you say `old for a seaman'?”
”Because sailors live faster than other people, partly froo, and partly fro 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, youWe have two or three hours yet, William; what shall we do next?”
”Had we not better ?”
”It hat I was going to propose, if you had not I shall be here to- 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 Williaoats and take back the htful but kind, William: nohile you and Juno fetch the stones for the fireplace, I will stoay 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 oats 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 sot between it and the water, and succeeded in turning it over ”That will do for to- 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 Williaements for the next day were made as soon as Ready joined theht, but Ready and William res, ready for their being put in the boat the next ht 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 hione, the rest of the party prepared for their journey through the cocoa-nut grove Willias close to his heels, Mr Seagrave with the baby in his arrave with Master To her hand They cast a last look round at the cove, and the frago, 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 o 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 hiht Ready; ”they o” Ready re the fire, and occasionally ski towards him
”Well, they are not far off now,” observed Old Ready
In six or seven minutes afterwards the party ued It appeared that poor little Caroline had been tired out, and Juno had to carry her; then Mrs Seagrave coue, and they had to rest a quarter of an hour; then Tom backwards and forwards from one to the other, had declared that he was tired, and that someone an 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 co tired Willia hewhile before he could find it again; then baby becahtened at being so long in the wood, and she cried But finally they got on better, and arrived at last so warrave 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 aht off et 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, ill 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, ant our stores here; it will take about three trips to es, we can exa 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 so 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 Toht 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 saltto feed like alderrave; ”it sood”
”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 et 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 knohere,” said Juno, looking in that direction
”What do you rave
”I only mean if ant salt we can have asdown salt-water in the kettle, or elseit 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, et it when she wants it”