masterman ready-第16章

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〃You　must　not　consider　that　you　have　ladies　with　you　now；　Ready；〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave；　〃at　least；　not　fine　ladies。　My　health　and　strength　are　recovering　fast；　and　I　mean　to　be　very　useful。　I　propose　to　assist　Juno　in　all　the　domestic　duties；　such　as　the　cookery　and　washing；　to　look　after　and　teach　the　children；　mend　all　the　clothes；　and　make　all　that　is　required；　to　the　best　of　my　ability。　If　I　can　do　more　I　will。〃

〃I　think　we　may　be　satisfied　with　that；　Mr。　Seagrave；〃　replied　Ready。　〃Now；　sir；　the　two　most　pressing　points；　with　the　exception　of　building　the　house；　are　to　dig　up　a　piece　of　ground；　and　plant　our　potatoes　and　seeds；　and　to　make　a　turtle…pond；　so　as　to　catch　the　turtle　and　put　them　in　before　the　season　is　over。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃but　which　ought　to　be　done　first？〃

〃I　should　say　the　turtle…pond；　as　it　will　be　only　a　few　days'　work　for　you；　Juno；　and　William。　I　shall　not　want　your　assistance　for　this　next　week。　I　shall　fix　upon　some　spot；　not　far　from　here；　where　the　trees　are　thickest　in　the　grove；　and　cut　them　down　so　as　to　clear　out　a　space　in　which　we　will；　by　and　by；　build　our　storerooms；　and；　as　soon　as　the　rainy　season　has　gone　by；　we　can　remove　all　our　stores　from　the　other　side　of　the　island。　It　will　occupy　me　the　whole　of　the　week；　cutting　down　the　trees　and　sawing　them　into　proper　lengths；　ready　for　building　the　house；　and　then　we　must　all　join　our　strength　and　get　it　up　without　delay。〃

〃Can　you　really　manage　to　get　it　up　in　time？　How　soon　do　you　expect　the　rains　will　come　on？〃

〃In　three　or　four　weeks。　After　next　week；　I　shall　probably　have　the　assistance　of　two　of　you；　if　not　of　all。　Now　I　think　of　it；　I　must　return　to　the　cove。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃Don't　you　recollect；　sir；　your　two…wheeled　carriage；　packed　up　in　matting；　which　was　thrown　on　shore　in　the　gale？　You　laughed　when　you　saw　it；　and　said　it　would　be　of　little　use　now；　but　the　wheels　and　axle　will　he　very　useful；　as　we　can　make　a　wide　path　to　the　place　when　I　cut　down　the　trees；　and　wheel　out　the　logs　much　more　easily　than　we　can　drag　or　carry　them。〃

〃That　is　an　excellent　idea。　It　will　save　a　great　deal　of　labour。〃

〃I　expect　that　it　will；　sir。　William　and　I　will　go　away　early　on　Monday　morning；　and　be　back　before　breakfast。　To…day　we　will　fix　upon　the　spots　where　our　garden　is　to　be；　our　turtle…pond　to　be　made；　and　the　trees　to　be　cut　down。　That　shall　be　our　business；　Mr。　Seagrave；　and　William　and　Juno　may　put　things　a　little　more　to　rights　here。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready　then　walked　down　to　the　beach；　and；　after　surveying　the　reefs　for　some　time；　Ready　said；　〃You　see；　Mr。　Seagrave；　we　do　not　want　too　much　water　for　a　turtle…pond；　as；　if　it　is　too　deep；　there　is　a　difficulty　in　catching　them　when　we　want　them：　what　we　want　is　a　space　of　water　surrounded　by　a　low　wall　of　stones；　so　that　the　animals　cannot　escape；　for　they　cannot　climb　up；　although　they　can　walk　on　the　shelving　sand　with　their　flippers。　Now　the　reef　here　is　high　out　of　the　water；　and　the　space　within　the　reef　and　the　beach　is　deep　enough；　and　the　rocks　on　the　beach　nearly　fill　up　that　side　and　prevent　them　crawling　away　by　the　shore。　We　have；　therefore；　little　more　to　do　than　to　fill　up　the　two　other　sides；　and　then　our　pond　will　be　complete。〃

〃I　see　it　will　not　be　a　long　job　either；　if　we　can　find　loose　rocks　enough；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃Almost　all　those　which　are　on　the　beach　are　loose；〃　replied　Ready；　〃and　there　are　plenty　close　to　us：　some　of　them　will　be　too　heavy　to　carry；　but　they　can　be　brought　here　by　the　aid　of　handspikes　and　crowbars。　Suppose　we　make　a　signal　for　William　and　Juno；　and　set　them　to　work。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　called　and　waved　his　hat；　and　Juno　and　William　came　down　to　them。　Juno　was　ordered　to　go　back　for　two　handspikes；　while　Ready　explained　to　William　what　was　to　be　done。　Having　stayed　with　them　and　assisted　them　for　some　time　after　Juno　had　returned　with　the　implements；　Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready　proceeded　to　the　point；　to　fix　upon　a　spot　for　a　garden；　leaving　William　and　Juno　to　continue　their　labour。



Chapter　XXV

Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready　then　continued　their　way　along　the　beach；　until　they　arrived　at　the　point　which　the　latter　had　considered　as　a　convenient　place　to　make　the　garden。　They　found　a　sufficiency　of　mould；　and　as　the　point　was　narrow　at　its　joining　on　to　the　mainland；　no　great　length　of　enclosure　would　be　required。

〃You　see；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃we　can　wait　till　after　the　rainy　season　is　over　before　we　put　up　the　fence；　and　we　can　prepare　it　in　the　meantime；　when　the　weather　will　permit　us　to　work。　The　seeds　and　potatoes　will　not　come　up　until　after　the　rains　are　finished；　so　all　we　have　to　do　is　to　dig　up　the　ground；　and　put　them　in　as　fast　as　we　can。　We　cannot　make　a　large　garden　this　year；　but　our　potatoes　we　must　contrive　to　get　in；　if　we　cannot　manage　anything　else。〃

〃If　we　have　no　fence　to　make；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃I　think　we　shall　be　able　to　clear　away　quite　enough　ground　in　a　week　to　put　in　all　that　we　require。〃

〃The　first　job　will　be　to　pull　up　the　small　brushwood；〃　said　Ready；　〃and　turn　up　the　ground；　the　larger　plants　we　must　leave；　if　we　have　not　time。　Tommy　might　be　of　some　use　here　in　taking　away　the　shrubs　as　you　pull　them　up；　but　we　had　better　now　go　on　to　the　grove；　and　choose　the　spot　for　cutting　down　the　trees。　I　have　made　my　mark。〃

Ready　and　Mr。　Seagrave　proceeded　in　the　direction　which　the　former　had　pointed　out；　until　they　arrived　at　a　spot　on　a　rising　ground；　where　the　trees　were　so　thick　that　it　was　not　very　easy　to　pass　through　them。

〃There　is　the　place；〃　said　Ready。　〃I　propose　to　cut　all　the　timber　we　want　for　the　houses　out　of　this　part　of　the　grove；　and　to　leave　an　open　square　place；　in　the　centre　of　which　we　will　build　our　storerooms。　You　see；　sir；　if　necessary；　with　a　very　little　trouble　we　might　turn　it　into　a　place　of　protection　and　defence；　as　a　few　palisades　here　and　there　between　the　trees　would　make　it；　what　they　call　in　the　East　Indies；　a　stockade。〃

〃Very　true；　but　I　trust　we　shall　not　require　it　for　such　a　purpose。〃

〃I　hope　so　too；　but　there　is　nothing　like　being　prepared；　however；　we　have　plenty　to　do　before　we　can　think　of　that。　Now；　sir；　as　dinner　is　ready；　suppose　we　return；　and　after　dinner　we　will　both　commence　our　tasks。〃

Juno　and　William　returned　to　the　dinner　which　Mrs。　Seagrave　had　prepared。　They　were　both　very　warm　with　their　work；　which　was　very　hard；　but　very　eager　to　finish　their　task。　After　dinner　was　over；　Mrs。　Seagrave　requested　her　husband；　as　he　was　about　to　go　down　to　the　point；　with　the　spade　and　a　small　hatchet　in　his　hand；　to　take　Tommy　with　him；　as　she　had　a　great　deal　to　do；　and　could　not　watch　him　as　well　as　the　baby　and　Caroline。　So　Mr。　Seagrave　took　Tommy　by　the　hand；　and　led　him　to　the　point；　and　made　him　sit　down　close　to　him　while　he　cleared　away　the　brushwood。

Mr。　Seagrave　worked　very　hard；　and　when　he　had　cut　down　and　cleared　a　portion　of　the　ground；　he　made　Tommy　carry　away　to　a　little　distance；　and　pile　in　a　heap；　the　bushes　which　he　had　cleared　away。　When　Mr。　Seagrave　had　cleared　away　a　large　piece　of　ground　with　his　hatchet；　he　then　took　his　spade　to　dig　at　the　roots　and　turn　up　the　mould；　leaving　Tommy　to　amuse　himself。　What　Tommy　did　for　about　an　hour；　during　which　Mr。　Seagrave　worked　very　diligently；　his　father　did　not　observe；　but　all　of　a　sudden　he　began　to　cry；　and　when　his　father　asked　him　the　reason；　he　did　not　answer；　but　only　cried　the　more；　until　at　last　he　put　his　hands　to　his　stomach；　and　roared　most　lustily。　As　he　appeared　to　be　in　very　great　pain；　his　father　left　off　work；　and　led　him　up　to　the　tent；　when　Mrs。　Seagrave　came　out；　alarmed　at　his　cries。　Ready；　who　had　heard　Tommy　screaming　for　so　long　a　while；　thought　that　there　might　be　something　serious；　and　left　his　work　to　ascertain　the　cause。　When　he　heard　what　had　passed；　he　said：

〃Depend　upon　it；　the　child　has　eaten　something　which　has　made　him　ill。　Tell　me；　Tommy；　what　did　you　eat　when　you　were　down　there？〃

〃Berries；〃　roared　Tommy。

〃I　thought　as　much；　ma'am；〃　said　Ready。　〃I　must　go　and　see　what　the　berries　were。〃　And　the　old　man　hastened　down　to　the　place　where　Mr。　Seagrave　had　been　at　work。　In　the　meantime　Mrs。　Seagrave　was　much　alarmed　lest　the　child　should　have　poisoned　himself；　and　Mr。　Seagrave　went　to　search　among　the　medicines　for　some　castor…oil。

Ready　returned　just　as　he　came　back　to　the　tent　with　the　bottle　of　castor…oil；　and　he　told　Ready　that　he　was　about　to　give　Tommy　a　dose。

〃Well；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　who　had　a　plant　in　his　hand；　〃I　don't　think　you　should　give　him　any；　for　it　appears　to　me　that　he　has　taken　too　much　already。　This　is；　if　I　recollect　right；　the　castor…oil　plant；　and　here　are　some　of　the　castor…oil　beans　which　Master　Tommy　has　been　eating。　Tell　me；　Tommy；　did　you　eat　them？〃

〃Yes；〃　cried　Tommy。

〃I　thought　so：　give　him　a　little　warm　drink；　ma'am；　and　he'll　soon　be　better：　it　will　teach　him　not　to　eat　berries　or　beans　again。〃

What　Ready　said　was　true；　nevertheless　Master　Tommy　was　very　ill　for　the　whole　of　the　day；　and　was　put　early　to　bed。



Chapter　XXVI

The　next　day；　when　Mr。　Seagrave；　William；　Juno；　and　Ready　were　all　at　work　at　their　allotted　tasks；　Mrs。　Seagrave　was　sitting　down　at　the　front　of　the　tent；　the　little　baby；　Albert；　crawling　close　to　her；　Caroline　trying　to　work　with　her　needle；　and　Tommy　was　making　holes　in　the　ground；　and　putting　a　small　stone　into　each　hole。

〃What　are　you　doing；　Tommy？〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃I'm　making　a　garden；〃　replied　Tommy。

〃Making　a　garden！　Then　you　ought　to　plant　some　trees　in　it。〃

〃No；　I'm　sowing　seeds：　look　here；〃　replied　Tommy；　pointing　to　the　stones。

〃But　these　are　stones；　not　seeds。〃

〃Well；　but　I　pretend；　and　that's　the　same　thing；〃　replied　Tommy。

〃Not　exactly；　Tommy；　suppose；　instead　of　eating　those　beans　yesterday；　you　had　only　pretended　to　eat　them；　wouldn't　it　have　been　better？〃

〃I　won't　eat　any　more；〃　replied　Tommy。

〃No；　not　of　those　beans；　but　if　you　saw　anything　else　which　you　thought　you　would　like；　I　am　afraid　you　would　eat　it；　and　be　as　ill　and　even　worse　than　you　were。〃

〃I　like　cocoa…nuts；　why　don't　we　have　some？　there's　plenty　upon　the　trees。〃

〃But　who　is　to　climb　up　so　high；　Tommy？　Can　you？〃

〃No；　but　why　don't　Ready　climb；　or　papa；　or　William？〃

〃I　suppose　they　will　get　some　by　and　by；　when　they　are　not　so　busy；　but　they　have　no　time　now。〃

〃I　like　turtle…soup；〃　replied　Tommy。

〃William　and　Juno　are　making　a　pond　to　put　turtle　in；　and　then　we　shall　have　it　oftener；　but　we　cannot　have　everything　we　like　when　we　wish　for　it。〃

〃I　like　fried　fish；〃　said　Tommy；　〃why　don't　we　have　fried　fish？〃

〃Because　every　one　is　too　busy　to　catch　them　just　now。　Tommy；　go　and　bring　your　brother　Albert　back；　he　has　crawled　too　near　to　Billy；　and　he　butts　sometimes。〃

Tommy　went　after　the　baby；　who　was　crawling　towards　the　kid；　which　had　now　grown　pretty　large；　and　as　he　took　up　his　brother　he　kicked　at　the　goat's　head。

〃Don't　do　that；　Tommy；　he'll　butt　at　you；　and　hurt　you。〃

〃I　don't　care；〃　replied　Tommy；　holding　the　baby　by　one　hand　while　he　continued　to　kick　at　Billy。　Billy；　however；　would　not　stand　it；　he　lowered　his　head；　made　a　butt　at　Tommy；　and　he　and　Albert　rolled　on　the　ground