Part 22 (1/2)
Ready went for the barrico, a little cask, which held six or seven gallons of water He put on the head-dress and war-cloak of the savage; and, taking the barrico on his shoulder, and the spear in his hand, the poles which barred the door were softly re that no one was concealed beneath the palisades, Ready pressed William's hand, and set off across the cleared space outside of the stockade, and gained the cocoa-nut trees Williah the inner door-posts for security, and remained on the watch He was in an awful state of suspense, listening to the slightest noise, even the slight rustling by the wind of the cocoa-nut boughs above hiun ready cocked by his side
It is tiht William; the distance is not 100 yards, and yet I have heard no noise At last he thought he heard footsteps co, and without any accident William had his hand upon the pole, to slip it on one side and open the door, when he beard a scuffle and a fall close to the door He immediately thren the pole, and opened it just as Ready called hi out; he found Ready struggling with a savage, as uppermost, and with his spear at Ready's breast In a second Williae fell dead
”Take the water in quick, William,” said Ready in a faint voice ”I will contrive to crawl in if I can”
Williaht up the barrico of water, and took it in; he then hastened to Ready, as on his knees Mr Seagrave, hearing thethe stockade door open, followed Williaht hold of his other ar into the stockade; the door was then immediately secured, and they went to his assistance
”Are you hurt, Ready?” said William
”Yes, dear boy, yes; hurt to death, I fear: his spear went through my breast Water, quick, water!”
”Alas! that we had sorave
”We have, papa,” replied William; ”but it has cost us dearly”
Willia, poured soave it to Ready, who drank it with eagerness
”Now, Williaive some water to the others, and when you have all drunk, then corave that I' of you”
”Papa, take the water - do pray,” replied William; ”I cannot leave Ready”
”I will, rave; ”but first drink yourself”
William, as very faint, drank off the pannikin of water, which irave hastened with some water to the children and women, occupied himself with old Ready, who breathed heavily, but did not speak
Chapter LXV
After returning twice for water, to satisfy those in the house, Mr Seagrave ca Ready's clothes to ascertain the nature of the wound he had received
”We had better hs lie; he will be more comfortable there,” said Williaave him some more and then, with the assistance of his father, Ready was removed to a more comfortable place As soon as they laid him there, Ready turned on his side, and threw up a quantity of blood
”I am better now,” said he in a low voice; ”bind up the wound, William; an old rave and Williaone deep into the lungs William threw off his shi+rt, tore it up into strips, and then bound up the wound so as to stop the effusion of blood
Ready, who at first appeared radually recovered so as to be able to speak in a low voice, when Mrs Seagrave came out of the house
”Where is that brave, kind man?” cried she, ”that I rave went to her, and caught her by the arm ”He is hurt, my dear; and very rave related what had occurred, and then led her to where Ready was lying Mrs Seagrave knelt by his side, took his hand, and burst into tears
”Don't weep for me,” said Ready; ”my days have been numbered; I'm only sorry that I cannot any rave, ”whatever hty to decide for us, as long as I have life, what you have done for rave then bent over hi into the house
”William,” said Ready, ”I can't talk now; raise my head a little, and then leave ain in about half an hour Leave rave; I shall be better if I doze a little”
They complied with Ready's request; went up to the planks, and examined carefully all round the stockade; at last they stopped
”This is a sad business, Williarave
Williao,” replied he; ”I wish he had I fear that he is much hurt”
”I should say that he cannot recover, William We shall miss him to-morrow if they attack us”
”I hardly knohat to say, papa; but I feel that since we have been relieved, I am able to do twice as much as I could have done before”
”I feel the saainst us, two people cannot do much”
”If my mother and Juno load the muskets for us,” replied William, ”we shall at all events do as much noe should have been able to do if there were three, so exhausted as we should have been”
”Perhaps so; at all events ill do our best, for we fight for our lives and for those most dear to us”
Willia; he therefore did not disturb him, but returned to his father Now that their thirst had been appeased, they all felt the calls of hunger Juno and William went and cut off steaks from the turtle, and fried them; they all made a hearty meal, and perhaps never had they taken one with so ht, when William, who had several times been softly up to Ready, found him with his eyes open
”How do you find yourself, Ready?” said William
”I am quiet and easy, Willia, and shall not last long Recollect that if you are obliged to escape from the stockade, you take no heed of me, but leave me where I am I cannot live, and were you to move me, I should only die the sooner”
”I had rather die with you, than leave you, Ready”
”No, that is wrong; you must save your mother, and your brothers and sister; promise me that you will do as I wish”
William hesitated
”I point out to you your duty, Williaive way to them; promise me this, or you will make me very miserable”