masterman ready-第15章

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Caroline；　and　Mrs。　Seagrave　with　Master　Tommy　holding　her　hand。　They　cast　a　last　look　round　at　the　cove；　and　the　fragments　of　the　wreck　and　cargo；　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　was　two　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　himself。

〃It's　almost　time　they　arrived；〃　thought　Ready；　〃they　must　have　started　nearly　four　hours　ago。〃　Ready　remained　a　quarter　of　an　hour　more　watching　the　fire；　and　occasionally　skimming　the　top　of　the　pot；　when　the　three　dogs　came　bounding　towards　him。

〃Well；　they　are　not　far　off　now；〃　observed　Old　Ready。

In　six　or　seven　minutes　afterwards　the　party　made　their　appearance；　very　hot　and　very　fatigued。　It　appeared　that　poor　little　Caroline　had　been　tired　out；　and　Juno　had　to　carry　her；　then　Mrs。　Seagrave　complained　of　fatigue；　and　they　had　to　rest　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　then　Tommy；　who　refused　to　remain　with　his　mamma；　and　had　been　running　backwards　and　forwards　from　one　to　the　other；　had　declared　that　he　was　tired；　and　that　someone　must　carry　him；　but　there　was　no　one　to　carry　him；　so　he　began　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　complained　of　being　tired。　William　then　carried　him　pickaback　for　some　time；　and　in　so　doing　he　missed　the　blaze…cut　on　the　trees；　and　it　was　a　long　while　before　he　could　find　it　again；　then　baby　became　hungry；　and　he　cried；　and　little　Caroline　was　frightened　at　being　so　long　in　the　wood；　and　she　cried。　But　finally　they　got　on　better；　and　arrived　at　last　so　warm　and　exhausted；　that　Mrs。　Seagrave　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　am　glad　that　you　are　here；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　〃it　is　a　weight　off　my　mind；　now　you　will　get　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；　we　will　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；　we　want　our　stores　here；　it　will　take　about　three　trips　to　empty　our　storehouses；　and　as　to　the　other　things；　we　can　examine　them　and　bring　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　something　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　Tommy　and　Caroline；　that　they　might　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　salt　meat；　so　now　you　are　going　to　feed　like　aldermen。〃

〃Why；　what　is　it；　Ready？〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave；　〃it　smells　very　good。〃

〃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　must　get　some　more；〃　replied　Ready。

〃How　I　get　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　know　where；〃　said　Juno；　looking　in　that　direction。

〃What　do　you　mean；　my　dear？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃I　only　mean　if　we　want　salt　we　can　have　as　much　as　we　please　by　boiling　down　salt…water　in　the　kettle；　or　else　making　a　salt…pan　in　the　rocks；　and　obtaining　it　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；　ma'am；〃　said　Ready；　〃and　show　Juno　how　to　get　it　when　she　wants　it。〃

〃I　am　very　glad　to　hear　you　say　so；　for　I　should　feel　the　want　of　salt　very　much；〃　replied　Mrs。　Seagrave；　〃I　really　never　enjoyed　a　dinner　so　much　as　I　have　to…day。〃

The　soup　was　pronounced　excellent　by　everybody。　As　soon　as　they　had　finished；　Mrs。　Seagrave　remained　with　the　children；　and　Ready　and　Mr。　Seagrave；　assisted　by　Juno　and　William；　got　the　second　tent　up；　and　everything　ready　for　the　night。　They　then　all　assembled；　and　returned　thanks　to　God　for　their　having　gained　their　new　abode；　and；　tired　out　with　the　fatigue　of　the　day；　were　soon　fast　asleep。



Chapter　XXIII

Mr。　Seagrave　was　the　first　up　on　the　ensuing　morning；　and　when　Ready　came　out　of　the　tent；　he　said　to　him；　〃Do　you　know；　Ready；　I　feel　much　happier　and　my　mind　much　more　at　ease　since　I　find　myself　here。　On　the　other　side　of　the　island　everything　reminded　me　that　we　had　been　shipwrecked；　and　I　could　not　help　thinking　of　home　and　my　own　country；　but　here　we　appear　as　if　we　had　been　long　settled；　and　as　if　we　had　come　here　by　choice。〃

〃I　trust　that　feeling　will　be　stronger　every　day；　sir；　for　it's　no　use；　and　indeed　sinful；　to　repine。〃

〃I　acknowledge　it；　and　with　all　humility。　What　is　the　first　thing　which　you　wish　we　should　set　about？〃

〃I　think；　sir；　the　first　object　is　to　have　a　good　supply　of　fresh　water；　and　I　therefore　wish　you　and　William　…　Here　he　is。　Good…morning；　William　…　I　was　saying　that　I　thought　it　better　that　Mr。　Seagrave　and　you　should　clear　out　the　spring　while　I　am　away　in　the　boat。　I　brought　another　shovel　with　me　yesterday；　and　you　both　can　work；　perhaps　we　had　better　go　there；　as　Juno；　I　see；　is　getting　the　breakfast　ready。　You　observe；　Mr。　Seagrave；　we　must　follow　up　the　spring　till　we　get　among　the　cocoa…nut　trees；　where　it　will　be　shaded　from　the　sun；　that　is　easily　done　by　digging　towards　them；　and　watching　how　the　water　flows。　Then；　if　you　will　dig　out　a　hole　large　enough　to　sink　down　in　the　earth　one　of　the　water…casks　which　lie　on　the　beach；　I　will　bring　it　down　with　me　this　afternoon；　and　then；　when　it　is　fixed　in　the　earth　in　that　way；　we　shall　always　have　the　cask　full　of　water　for　use；　and　the　spring　filling　it　as　fast　as　we　empty　it。〃

〃I　understand；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃that　shall　be　our　task　while　you　are　absent。〃

〃Now；　I　have　nothing　more　to　do　than　to　speak　to　Juno　about　dinner；〃　replied　Ready；　〃and　then　I'll　just　take　a　mouthful；　and　be　off。〃

Ready　directed　Juno　to　fry　some　pork　in　the　frying…pan；　and　then　to　cut　off　some　slices　from　the　turtle；　and　cook　turtle…steaks　for　dinner；　as　well　as　to　warm　up　the　soup　which　was　left；　and　then；　with　a　biscuit　and　a　piece　of　beef　in　his　hand；　he　went　down　to　the　boat　and　set　off　for　the　cove。　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William　worked　hard；　and；　by　twelve　o'clock；　the　hole　was　quite　large　and　deep　enough；　according　to　the　directions　Ready　had　given。　They　then　left　their　work　and　went　to　the　tent。

〃You　don't　know　how　much　happier　I　am　now　that　I　am　here；〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave；　taking　her　husband's　hand；　as　he　seated　himself　by　her。

〃I　trust　it　is　a　presentiment　of　future　happiness；　my　dear；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave。　〃I　assure　you　that　I　feel　the　same；　and　was　saying　so　to　Ready　this　morning。〃

〃I　feel　that　I　could　live　here　for　ever；　it　is　so　calm　and　beautiful；　but　I　miss　one　thing　…　there　are　no　birds　singing　here　as　at　home。〃

〃I　have　seen　no　birds　except　sea…birds；　and　of　them　there　is　plenty。　Have　you；　William？〃

〃Only　once；　father。　I　saw　a　flight　a　long　way　off。　Ready　was　not　with　me；　and　I　could　not　tell　what　they　were；　but　they　were　large　birds；　as　big　as　pigeons；　I　should　think。　There　is　Ready　coming　round　the　point；〃　continued　William。　〃How　fast　that　little　boat　sails！　It　is　a　long　pull；　though；　for　the　old　man　when　he　goes　to　the　cove。〃

〃Let　us　go　down　and　help　Ready　carry　up　some　of　the　things　before　dinner；〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave。

They　did　so；　and　William　rolled　up　the　empty　water…cask　which　Ready　had　brought　with　him。

The　turtle…steaks　were　as　much　approved　of　as　the　turtle…soup；　indeed；　after　having　been　so　long　on　salt　meat；　a　return　to　fresh　provisions　was　delightful。

〃And　now　to　finish　our　well；〃　said　William；　as　soon　as　dinner　was　over。

〃How　hard　you　do　work；　William！〃　said　his　mother。

〃So　I　ought；　mother。　I　must　learn　to　do　everything　now。〃

〃And　that　you　will　very　soon；〃　said　Ready。

They　rolled　the　cask　to　the　spring；　and；　to　their　astonishment；　found　the　great　hole　which　they　had　dug　not　two　hours　before　quite　full　of　water。

〃Oh　dear；〃　said　William；　〃we　shall　have　to　throw　all　the　water　out　to　get　the　cask　down。〃

〃Think　a　little；　William；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃for　the　spring　runs　so　fast　that　it　will　not　be　an　easy　task。　Cannot　we　do　something　else？〃

〃Why；　father；　the　cask　will　float；　you　know；〃　replied　William。

〃To　be　sure　it　will　as　it　is；　but　is　there　no　way　of　making　it　sink？〃

〃Oh　yes。　I　know　…　we　must　bore　some　holes　in　the　bottom；　and　then　it　will　fill　and　sink　down　of　itself。〃

〃Exactly；〃　replied　Ready。　〃I　expected　that　we　should　have　to　do　that；　and　have　the　big　gimlet　with　me。〃

Ready　bored　three　or　four　holes　in　the　bottom　of　the　cask；　and　as　it　floated　the　water　ran　into　it；　and　by　degrees　it　gradually　sank　down。　As　soon　as　the　top　of　the　cask　was　level　with　the　surface　they　filled　in　all　round　with　the　spade　and　shovel；　and　the　well　was　completed。



Chapter　XXIV

The　next　morning；　as　soon　as　breakfast　was　over；　Mr。　Seagrave　observed：　〃Now　that　we　have　so　many　things　to　do；　I　think；　Ready；　we　ought　to　lay　down　a　plan　of　operations；　method　is　everything　when　work　is　to　be　done：　now　tell　me　what　you　propose　shall　be　our　several　occupations　for　the　next　week；　for　to…morrow　is　Sunday；　and　although　we　have　not　yet　been　able　to　honour　the　day　as　we　should；　I　think　that　now　we　must　and　ought　to　keep　it　holy。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　replied　Ready。　〃To…morrow　we　will　rest　from　our　labour；　and　ask　God's　blessing　upon　our　endeavours　during　the　six　days　of　the　week；　and　now；　as　to　your　proposition；　Mr。　Seagrave；　shall　we　begin　first　with　the　lady？〃

〃You　must　not　consider　that　you　have　ladies　with　you　now；　Ready；〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave；　〃at　least；　not　fine