Part 20 (2/2)
”And with twenty or thirty men in each too, Williahtened ainst such a nureat deal, and we es there is no doubt; but recollect that we have a stockade, which they cannot easily climb over, and plenty of firearht of it, and perhaps beat the but clubs and spears”
”How fast they come down, Ready; why, they will be here in an hour”
”No, sir, nor in two hours either; those are very large canoes However, there is no time to be lost While I watch them for a few minutes till I make them more clearly out, do you run up to the house and beckon your father to coet all thethe casks of powder, and of es, from the old house into the stockade Call Juno, and she will help you We shall have ti After you have done that, you had better come down and join us”
In a very few rave er, I'm sure; William would not tellhis rave, that the savages are now coe force; perhaps five or six hundred of theht and ainst such a force?”
”Yes, sir, with God's help I have no doubt but that we shall beat theht hard, and for sorave exalass ”It is, indeed, dreadful odds to contend against”
”Yes, sir, but three muskets behind a stockade are almost a match for all their clubs and spears, provided none of us are wounded”
”Well, Ready, we must put our trust in the Lord, and do our best; I will second you to the utmost of my power, and William, I'm sure, will do his duty”
”I think, sir,” said Ready, ”we had better not wait here anyto prepare for the deal planks on the inside of the stockade for us to stand upon e are attacked, that we may see what the enemy is about, and be able to fire upon theo to the old house, and take out what provisions and other articles we shall most want, and roll the casks into the stockade, for to the old house they will go first, and perhaps destroy everything in it The casks they certainly will, for the sake of the iron hoops An hour's ill do a great deal I believe we have everything ant in the stockade; Juno has her fuel, the large butt of water will last us two or three weeks at least, and if we have tiet the wheels down, and spear a couple of turtles for fresh provisions”
These observations were made as they walked up to the house As soon as they arrived, they found Williaes Mr Seagrave went in to break the matter to his wife
”I was told that I had to expect this, rave, ”so that it has not co that a poor oreatly relieved,” said Mr Seagrave, ”by finding you thus prepared and supported I shall feel no anxiety - but we have work to be done”
Mr and Mrs Seagrave then joined William, Beady, and Juno, who had already proceeded to the old house The children were all still in bed and asleep, so that there was no occasion for any one to watch theood view of the canoes frolass every ti up a cask to the stockade Every one worked hard; even Mrs Seagrave did all she could, either assisting in rolling the casks, or carrying up what she was able to lift In an hour they had got into the stockade all that they most cared for, and the canoes were still about six or seven ood hour before they arrive, sir,” said Ready, ”and even then the reefs will puzzle them not a little; I doubt if they are disembarked under two hours We have plenty of tio for the wheels, and William, come doith the spear, and ill have sorave, I do not require your assistance, so if you will have the kindness to get out the muskets, and examine the flints, it will be as well”
”Yes; and then you have to load therave ”Juno and I can do that at all events, ready for you to fire them”
”An excellent idea, madam,” replied Ready
In half an hour six turtles were brought up by Juno and William, and then Ready followed them into the stockade
They then rolled the casks, and upheaded them by the sides of the stockade, and fixed up deal planks to stand upon, just high enough to enable them to see over the top of the palisades, and to fire at the enerave had been sho to load a ht the same
”Now, sir, we are all prepared,” said Ready, ”and Madaet breakfast”
As soon as the children were dressed, Mr Seagrave called Ready, as outside, watching the canoes, and they went to theirdevotions, and prayed heartily for succour in this time of need They then breakfasted in haste; for, as may be supposed, they were almost too anxious to eat
”This suspense is worse than all,” said Mrs Seagrave ”I wish now that they were coo to Ready and hear his report, my dear? - I will not be away threethat the canoes were close to the beach, that the savages evidently had a knowledge of the passages through the reefs, as they had steered right in, and had lowered their sails; that Ready and William were on the look-out, but concealed behind the cocoa-nut trees
”I hope they will not stay out too long”
”No fear of that, my dear Selina; but they had better watch theirthis conversation between Mr and Mrs Seagrave within the stockade, Williae portion of whom had landed out of ten of the canoes, and the others were following their exah the reefs The savages were all painted, with their war-cloaks and feathers on, and ar come with no peaceable intentions
William, who had taken the telescope to examine them more minutely, said to Ready, ”What a fierce, cruel set of wretches they appear to be; if they overpower us they will certainly kill us!”
”Of that there is no doubt, Williaht hard, and not let them overpower us Kill us they certainly will, and I am not sure that they may not eat us afterwards; but that is of little consequence”
Willia as I have breath inup as fast as they can”
”Yes; we ht I saw another vessel under sail, out away by the garden point, Ready, just as we turned away”
”Very likely, sir, a canoe which has separated froht Coun to yell”
Another half-minute, and they arrived at the door of the stockade; they entered, shut the door, and then barricaded it with the cocoa-nut poles which they had fitted to the inner door-posts
Chapter LXII
The loud yells of the savages struck terror into the heart of Mrs Seagrave; it ell that she had not seen their painted bodies and fierce appearance, or she would have beenaround her neck with terror in their faces; they did not cry, but looked round and round to see fro faster to theirall the breakfast which had been left, for there was no one to check him as usual; Juno was busy outside, and was very active and courageous Mr Seagrave had been eh to admit the barrels of theexposed; while William and Ready, with their muskets loaded, were on the look-out for their approach
”They are busy with the old house just now, sir,” observed Ready, ”but that won't detain the”
”Here they come,” replied William; ”and look, Ready, is not that one of the wo with the first two ht, William, it is one of them Ah! they have stopped; they did not expect the stockade, that is clear, and it has puzzled the; they are holding a council of war how to proceed; that tall h I intend to fight as hard as I can, yet I always feel a dislike to begin first; I shall therefore show myself over the palisades, and if they attack me, I shall then fire with a quiet conscience”
”But take care they don't hit you, Ready”
”No great fear of that, William Here they come”
Ready now stood upon the plank within, so as to show hiave a tremendous yell, and as they advanced a dozen spears were thrown at hied behind the stockade, hein the palisades, just below the top; the others went over it, and fell down inside of the stockade, at the further end