masterman ready-第25章

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s　of　rock。　We　agreed　that　one　should　watch　while　the　other　two　slept；　this　Hastings　undertook　to　do；　as　he　was　not　inclined　to　sleep。　At　daylight　he　woke　Romer　and　me；　and　we　made　our　breakfast。　From　the　place　we　were　concealed　in；　we　had　a　bird's…eye　view　of　the　farmhouse；　and　of　what　was　going　on。

〃The　farmhouse　and　buildings　just　below　us　were　much　smaller　than　the　other　two；　which　were　more　distant。　We　watched　the　people　as　they　went　about。　In　about　an　hour　the　Hottentots　came　out；　and　we　perceived　that　they　were　yoking　the　oxen　to　the　waggon；　they　yoked　twelve　pair；　and　then　the　Hottentot　driver　got　in　and　drove　off　towards　Cape　Town。　Soon　after　that；　another　Hottentot　drove　the　cows　up　the　valley　to　feed；　and　then　a　Dutch　woman　came　out　of　the　house　with　two　children；　and　fed　the　poultry。

〃We　watched　for　another　hour；　and　then　the　farmer　himself　made　his　appearance；　with　a　pipe　in　his　mouth；　and　sat　down　on　a　bench。　When　his　pipe　was　out；　he　called　to　the　house；　and　a　Hottentot　woman　came　to　him　with　more　tobacco　and　a　light。　During　the　whole　of　the　day　we　did　not　see　any　other　people　about　the　house；　so　we　concluded　that　there　were　no　more　than　the　farmer；　his　wife；　the　Hottentot　woman；　and　two　children。　About　two　hours　after　noon　the　farmer　went　to　the　stable　and　led　out　his　horse；　mounted；　mid　rode　away；　we　saw　him　speak　to　the　Hottentot　woman　when　he　rode　off；　and　she　soon　after　went　down　the　valley　with　a　basket　on　her　head；　and　a　long　knife　in　her　hand。　Then　Hastings　said　it　was　time　that　we　moved；　for　there　was　but　one　woman　in　the　house；　and　we　could　easily　overpower　her　and　get　what　we　wanted；　still　there　was　a　great　risk；　as　she　might　give　the　alarm；　and　we　should　have　to　escape　in　the　day…time；　and　might　be　seen　and　taken　prisoners　again。　However；　as　it　was　our　only　chance；　we　resolved　to　go　down　to　the　farmhouse　very　cautiously；　and　be　all　ready　to　seize　any　opportunity。　We　crept　down　the　hill；　and　gained　the　fence；　which　was　at　the　back　of　the　farmhouse；　without　being　discovered：　we　remained　there　for　about　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　when；　to　our　great　joy；　we　observed　the　farmer's　wife　go　out　of　the　house；　leading　a　child　in　each　hand；　apparently　she　was　going　to　visit　one　of　her　neighbours；　for　she　went　in　the　direction　of　one　of　the　other　farms。　As　soon　as　she　was　a　hundred　yards　off；　Hastings　crept　softly　through　the　fence；　and　entered　the　farmhouse　by　the　back…door；　he　came　out　again；　and　made　a　sign　for　us　to　come　in。　We　found　him　already　in　possession　of　a　rifle　and　a　musket；　which　had　been　hanging　over　the　fire…place；　and　we　soon　handed　down　the　powder…horns　and　ammunition　pouches；　which　were　hung　up　at　a　different　part　of　the　room；　away　from　the　fire…place。

〃Having　gained　these；　Hastings　set　me　to　watch　at　the　front　door；　lest　anybody　should　return；　while　Romer　and　he　looked　out　for　something　else　in　the　way　of　provisions。　We　got　possession　of　three　hams；　and　a　large　loaf　of　bread　as　big　as　a　small　washing…tub。　With　these　articles　we　made　our　way　safe　back　to　our　retreat。　We　then　looked　round；　and　could　see　nobody　in　any　direction；　so　we　presumed　that　we　were　not　discovered。　As　there　was　a　sort　of　ravine　full　of　rocks　dividing　the　hill；　which　we　were　obliged　to　pass　before　we　could　get　into　the　valley；　unless　we　went　down　close　to　the　farmhouse；　we　agreed　that　it　would　be　better　at　once　to　cross　it　during　the　day…time；　so　that　we　should　get　that　difficulty　over；　and；　at　the　same　time；　be　further　from　the　farmhouse。　We　did　so；　and　found　a　very　secure　hiding…place；　where　we　lay　down；　waiting　for　the　sun　to　set　before　we　started　on　our　journey　into　the　interior。　I　think　I　had　better　leave　off　now；　William；　as　it　is　getting　late。〃



Chapter　XXXVII

The　fishpond　was　commenced　the　next　morning。　Ready；　Mr。　Seagrave；　and　William　went　down　together　to　the　beach；　and；　after　much　examination；　chose　a　spot　about　one　hundred　yards　from　the　turtle…pond　as　most　eligible　for　the　purpose；　the　water　being　shallow；　so　that　at　the　part　farthest　from　the　shore　there　would　not　be　more　than　three　feet。

〃Now；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃this　is　a　very　simple　job；　all　we　have　to　do　is　to　collect　small　rocks　and　stones；　pile　them　up　wall…fashion　inside；　and　with　a　slope　outside；　so　as　to　break　the　force　of　the　waves　when　the　water　is　a　little　rough；　of　course；　the　water　will　find　its　way　through　the　stones；　and　will　be　constantly　changed。　It's　very　true；　that　we　can　at　most　times　catch　fish　when　we　want　them；　but　it　is　not　always　that　we　can　spare　the　time；　so　it's　just　as　well　to　have　always　a　certain　quantity　at　hand；　to　take　out　at　a　moment's　warning；　and　we　can；　of　course；　catch　them　and　put　them　in　here　when　we　have　nothing　else　to　do。　Juno　will　be　able　to　come　down　and　take　them　out　with　a　spear；　when　we　are　away　and　she　wants　something　for　dinner。〃

〃But　there　are　few　stones　about　here；　Ready；　we　shall　have　to　fetch　them　a　long　way；〃　said　William。

〃Well；　then；　William；　let　us　get　the　wheels　down　here；　and　then　we　can　carry　a　quantity　at　a　time。〃

〃But　how　shall　we　carry　them；　Ready？〃

〃We　will　sling　a　tub　on　the　axle；　I　will　go　up　and　get　that　ready　and　bring　it　down；　in　the　meantime；　you　and　Mr。　Seagrave　can　collect　all　the　stones　which　are　near　at　hand。〃

Ready　soon　returned　with　the　wheels；　and　the　tub　slung　with　rope　on　the　axle；　and　by　that　means　they　found　that　they　could　collect　the　stones　very　fast；　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William　bringing　them；　and　Ready　in　the　water；　building　up　the　wall。

〃We　have　quite　forgot　another　job　which　we　must　put　in　hand；　sir；〃　observed　Ready；　〃but　the　fish…pond　reminds　me　of　it。〃

〃What　is　that；　Ready？〃

〃A　bathing…place　for　the　children；　and　indeed　for　us　all；　we　shall　want　it　when　the　hot　weather　comes　on；　but　we　will　put　it　off　till　then。　I　can　tell　you；　sir；　that　although　I　don't　mind　building　this　wall　in　the　shallow　water；　I　shall　be　very　careful　when　the　water　is　up　to　my　knees；　for　you　don't　know　how　bold　the　sharks　are　in　these　latitudes。　When　I　was　at　St。　Helena；　not　very　long　ago；　we　had　a　melancholy　proof　of　it。〃

〃Tell　us　the　story；　Ready。〃

〃Well；　two　soldiers　were　standing　on　the　rocks　at　St。　Helena；　the　rocks　were　out　of　the　water；　but　the　swell　just　broke　over　them。　Two　sharks　swam　up　to　them；　and　one　of　them；　with　a　blow　of　his　tail；　turning　round　the　same　way；　tripped　one　of　them　into　the　water；　which　was　very　deep。　His　comrade　was　very　much　frightened；　and　ran　to　the　barracks　to　tell　the　story。　About　a　week　afterwards；　a　schooner　was　in　Sandy　Bay；　on　the　other　side　of　the　island；　and　the　people　seeing　a　very　large　shark　under　the　stern；　put　out　a　hook　with　a　piece　of　pork；　and　caught　him；　they　opened　him；　and　found　inside　of　him；　to　their　horror；　the　whole　of　the　body　of　the　soldier；　except　the　legs　below　the　knees：　the　monster　had　swallowed　him　whole；　with　the　exception　of　his　legs；　which　it　had　nipped　off　when　it　closed　its　jaws。〃

〃I　really　had　no　idea　that　they　were　so　bold；　Ready。〃

〃It　is　a　fact；　I　assure　you；　and　therefore　we　cannot　be　too　careful　how　we　go　into　the　water：　you　saw　how　soon　the　poor　pig　was　despatched。〃

〃I　wonder　how　the　pigs　get　on；　Ready；〃　said　William。

〃I　dare　say　they　have　littered　by　this　time；　sir；　they　have　no　want　of　food。〃

〃But　can　they　eat　the　cocoa…nuts？〃

〃Not　the　old　ones；　but　they　can　the　young　ones；　which　are　constantly　dropping　from　the　trees；　and　then　there's　plenty　of　roots　for　them。　If　we　stay　long　here　we　shall　soon　have　good　sport　hunting　them；　but　we　must　be　very　careful；　for　although　they　were　tame　pigs　when　we　brought　them　on　shore；　they　will　be　wild　and　very　savage　in　a　very　short　time。〃

〃How　must　we　hunt　them？〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃Why；　sir；　with　the　dogs；　and　then　shoot　them。　I　am　glad　that　Vixen　will　have　pups　soon；　we　shall　want　more　dogs。〃

〃Shall　we　not　have　more　mouths　than　we　can　find　food　for？〃

〃Never　fear　that；　sir；　as　long　as　we　have　the　sea　to　fish　in。　Dogs　live　very　well　upon　fish；　even　if　it　is　raw。〃

〃We　shall　have　some　lambs　soon；　Ready；　shall　we　not？〃

〃Yes；　sir；　I　expect　very　soon。　I　wish　we　had　more　food　for　the　animals：　they　are　put　rather　hard　to　it　just　now；　but　next　year；　if　we　find　more　food　on　the　island；　we　must　keep　the　grass　near　home；　to　make　hay　and　stack　it　for　the　winter　time　…　or　the　rainy　season　rather；　for　there　is　no　winter　in　these　latitudes。　I'm　pretty　sure　we　shall　find　some　clear　land　on　the　south　of　the　island；　for　the　cocoa…nut　grove　does　not　extend　so　close　to　the　water　on　that　side　as　it　does　on　the　north。〃

〃I　do　so　long　to　go　on　our　exploring　party；〃　said　William。

〃We　must　wait　a　little；〃　replied　Ready；　〃but　I　don't　know　whether　you　will　go；　we　must　not　all　three　go　at　once；　and　leave　Mrs。　Seagrave　alone。〃

〃No；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃that　would　not　be　fair；　either　you　or　I　must　remain；　William。〃

William　made　no　reply；　but　it　was　evident　that　he　was　annoyed　at　the　idea　of　not　being　of　the　party。　They　worked　very　hard　that　day；　and　the　walls　rose　fast　out　of　the　water。

After　supper；　Ready　continued　his　narrative。　〃We　remained　concealed　until　it　was　dark；　and　then　Hastings　and　Romer；　each　with　a　musket　on　his　shoulders　and　a　ham　at　his　back；　and　I；　being　the　smallest；　with　the　rifle　and　the　great　loaf　of　bread；　set　off　on　our　journey。　Our　intention　was　to　travel　north；　as　we　knew　that　was　the　road　leading　from　the　colony；　but　Hastings　had　decided　that　we　should　first　go　to　the　eastward；　so　as　to　make　what　we　sailors　call　a　circumbendibus；　which　would　keep　us　out　of　the　general　track。　We　passed　through　the　deep　sands　of　False　Bay；　and　after　that　gradually　ascended；　getting　among　brushwood　and　young　trees；　but　we　saw　no　signs　of　cultivation；　nor　did　we　pass　one　house　after　we　had　left　False　Bay　astern　of　us。　About　twelve　o'clock　we　were　very　much　fatigued；　and　longed　for　a　drink　of　water；　but　we　did　not　find　any；　although　the　moon　shone　as　bright　as　day。　We　distinctly　heard；　however；　what　we　did　not　much　like；　the　howling　and　cries　of　the　wild　beasts　which　increased　as　we　went　on；　still　we　did　not　see　any；　and　that　was　our　comfort。　At　last　we　were　so　tired　that　we　all　sat　down　on　the　ledge　of　a　rock。　We　dared　not　go　to　sleep；　so　we　remained　there　till　daylight；　listening　to　the　howling　of　the　animals。　We　none　of　us　spoke；　and　I　presume　that　Hastings'　and　Romer's　thoughts　were　the　same　as　my　own；　which　were；　that　I　would　have　given　a　great　deal　to　find　myself　safe　and　sound　again　within　the　prison　walls。　However；　daylight　came　at　last；　the　wild　beasts　did　not　prowl　any　more；　we　walked　on　till　we　found　a　stream　of　water；　where　we　sat　down　and　took　our　breakfast；　after　which　our　courage　revived；　and　we　talked　and　laughed　as　we　walked　on；　just　as　we　had　done　before。　We　now　began　to　ascend　the　mountains；　which　Hastings　said　must　be　the　Black　Mountains　that　the　soldiers　had　talked　to　us　about。　They　were　very　desolate；　and　when　night　came　on　we　collected　brushwood；　and　cut　down　branches　with　our　knives；　that　we　might　make　a　fire；　not　only　to　warm　ourselves；　but　to　scare　away　the　wild　beasts；　whose　howling　had　already　commenced。　We　lighted　our　fire　and　ate　our　supper；　the　loaf　was　half　gone；　and　the　hams　had　been　well　cut　into　…　we　knew；　therefore；　that　very　soon　we　should　have　to　trust　to　our　guns　for　procuring　food。　As　soon　as　we　had　fi