Part 17 (1/2)
Before Mr Seagrave and Ready started on the following ave 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 ar over his shoulder They had a long walk before them, as they had first to find their way back to the house, and froh 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 streith ti in the sun, or half-buried in the sand Mr Seagrave sat down, and sighed deeply as he said, ”Ready, the sight of these tiood shi+p Pacific was built, recalls feelings which I had hoped to have dis up The remains of this vessel appear to me as the last link between us and the civilised world, which we have been torn frohts of ho for the as ever”
”And very natural that they should, Mr Seagrave; I feel it also I a to wish or look forward to; but still I could not help thinking of poor Captain Osborn andthat I ain It is very natural that one should do so Why, sir, do you know that I feel unhappy even about the poor shi+p 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 quiteabout 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 noup; ”it is not only useless, but even sinful to indulge in the at the decrees of heaven Let us now exa 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 arden when they had ti them round
After they had returned, they sat down to rest therove, in which they had collected the articles thrown up when the shi+p 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 nehich I brought on shore Now, sir, ill see what condition the stores are in All these are casks of flour, and we run no risk in opening theood 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 presuot in so far and o 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 ith 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 sorave ”I presume, however, we rave 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 tirave; ”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 ooden 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 rave
”Here's a box with your name on it, sir,” said Ready; ”do you knohat 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 fro 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 Noe 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 Noe 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 shi+p went to pieces; for you see, sir, iron don't swim, and, therefore, what I looked after s of se, and there are several axes, ha 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 sbread, 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 thees unpowder, and the other six muskets”
”These are really treasures, Ready, and yet hoe have done without them”
”Very true, sir, but we shall do better with therave, 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 Williaotten the over out of ht live very corave, I alad to hear you say that, for it proves that you are ned than you were”
”I am so, Ready - at least I think so; but perhaps it is, that the ihts, that I no longer dwell sotaken off the island”
”I dare say it is as you state, sir; but now let us go on with our search Here are the shi+p's compasses, and deep sea line and reel, also the land lead The stuff will be very useful for our little boat”
”And I alad 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 ti I shall take soain very soon”
”Well, sir, I think if we open this other case, which I perceive has your name on it, it will be asdoe can then o to sleep”
”I alad 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 jaht that they do not appear to have suffered much Here are one or two, sir”