Part 18 (1/2)
”Well, mamma, I suppose I must write by the penny post, to let you kno I ah at me, William I do wish there was a penny post, and that you could write every day”
Ready and William made every preparation for a continued absence They took their blankets with the, and when all was prepared they bade Mr and Mrs Seagrave farewell They were now to pull to the bay, and leave their luggage, and then go round to the cove As they shoved off, Willia Re, Willias away, but of no use to us”
”Yes, he will, Ready; I must take him; for I have an idea come into my head, so let me have my oay”
”Well, William, you can always have your oay, as far as I', there is an end of the matter”
They hoisted the sail, and as the breeze was fresh, were round to the bay in a very short time They took their provisions and stores up to the house, and ed rice which Ready had brought froht, that they had noards of forty chickens; soh to kill
They then got into the boat again, and pulled away for the cove; the as fresh, and against the pull; but, as Ready observed, it was much better that it should be so, as, when the boat was loaded, they could very quickly sail back again to the bay
As soon as they arrived at the cove, they lost no ti the boat; the nails, and iron work of every description, with the twine and tools, co Re on the sandy beach, they shoved off, hoisted their sail, and in an hour had regained the bay, and passed through the reef
”I ao has arrived safe, William, for it is very valuable to us Noill take them all up, and that will be sufficient for to-day; to-morrow, if we can, ill make two trips”
”We can, if we start early,” replied William; ”but now let us have our dinner, and carry the res up afterwards”
As they were eating their dinner, and Willia, Ready said, ”Pray, Willia Remus with you?”
”I will tell you, Ready; I oes back when he is ordered, and noish to see if he will not go back to the tents, if he is told I have brought a piece of paper and pencil with me”
William then wrote on the paper, ”Dear Mao quite safe Your affectionate son, WILLIAM”
Willia's neck with a piece of twine, and then calling hio back, sir;” the dog looked wistfully at William, as if not sure of what he was to do, but Willia, who ran away a little distance, and then stopped
”Go back, Reain pretended to throw the stone, repeating the order, and then the dog set off as fast as his legs could carry hione at all events,” said Williao home”
”We shall see, sir,” replied Ready; ”and now that we have finished our dinner, ill bring up the things, and put them in the storehouse”
Chapter LIII
As soon as they had carried up the whole of the cargo, they secured the boat, and went up to the house to sleep Just as they went in, Re up to the, Williao hoo back; I really a to eat, and then he will; but, dear me, Ready! this is not the paper I tied round his neck I think not Let me see” William took the paper, opened it, and read-- ”Dear Willialad you are well Write every day, and God bless you; it was very clever of you and Remus Your affectionate mother, SELINA SEAGRAVE”
”Well, it is clever,” said Ready; ”I'ain, too, when he was ordered”
”Dear Reive you a good supper, for you deserve it”
”So he does, sir Well, you've established a post on the island, which is a great improvement Seriously, William, it reat comfort to ed all three to be here e fit up the storehouse, and o to bed, for we must be up with the lark to-ht to say, up with the parrots; for they are the only land birds on the island”
”You forget the pigeons; I saw one of theht!”
The next , they were off before breakfast The boat was soon loaded, and they returned under sail They then breakfasted, and having left the things they had brought on the beach, that they ain, and returned with another cargo two hours before dusk; this they landed, and then secured the boat As soon as they were in the house, Williaht round two cargoes to-day All well, and very tired Yours, WILLIAM”
Re this tio back - go hoed his tail, and set off i returned with the answer
”How fast he must run, Ready! he has not been away more than two hours”
”No So, now, Re and coaxing, for you are a clever, good little dog”
The next day, as they had to take the two cargoes up to the house, they could only make one trip to the cove On Saturday they only made one trip, as they had to return to the tents, which they did by water, having first put a turtle into the boat; on their arrival, they found the to receive them
”Well, William, you did keep your prorave ”How very delightful it is! I shall have no fear nohen you are all away”
”I must teach Romulus and Vixen to do the same, mamma”
”And I'll teach the puppies,” said Tommy
”Yes, Tommy; by the tih to carry it,” said Ready ”Coaet on, Mr Seagrave?”
”Pretty well, Ready,” replied Mr Seagrave; ”I have nearly finished two sides I think by the end of next week I shall have pretty well inclosed it”
”Well, sir, you reat hurry; Williaether”
”It is my duty to work, Ready; and I may add, it is a pleasure”
As they were at supper the conversation turned upon the cleverness shown by the dog Reacity of animals, when William asked the question of his father: ”What is the difference then between reason and instinct?”