masterman ready-第41章

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〃If　it　pleases　God　that　we　live　and　do　well；〃　replied　Ready；　who　had　his　eyes　fixed　upon　the　sea。

Before　night　everything　was　in　its　place　again　in　the　house；　and　as　comfortable　as　before；　and　as　they　were　very　tired；　they　went　very　early　to　bed；　having　first　arranged　what　they　should　do　in　the　morning。　At　daylight　Ready　and　William　went　down　to　the　turtle…pond　and　speared　a　turtle；　for　now　the　time　was　coming　on　for　turning　the　turtle　again；　and　the　pond　would　soon　be　filled。　Having　cut　it　up　and　put　a　portion　of　it　into　the　pot；　all　ready　for　Mrs。　Seagrave；　as　soon　as　breakfast　was　over　they　proceeded　to　the　storehouse。

After　a　little　consultation　with　Mr。　Seagrave；　Ready　marked　out　a　square　of　cocoa…nut　trees　surrounding　the　storehouse；　so　as　to　leave　a　space　within　them　of　about　twenty　yards　each　side；　which　they　considered　large　enough　for　the　inclosure。　These　cocoa…nut　trees　were　to　serve　as　the　posts　between　which　were　to　be　fixed　other　cocoa…nut　trees　cut　down；　and　about　fourteen　feet　high；　so　as　to　form　a　palisade　or　stockade；　which　could　not　be　climbed　over；　and　would　protect　them　from　any　attack　of　the　savages。

As　soon　as　the　line　of　trees　had　been　marked　out；　they　set　to　work　cutting　down　all　the　trees　within　the　line；　and　then　outside　to　a　distance　of　ten　yards；　so　as　to　give　them　room　for　their　work。　Ready　cut　out　cross…pieces；　to　nail　from　tree　to　tree；　and　now　they　found　the　advantage　of　having　saved　so　many　of　the　large　spike　nails；　without　which　they　never　could　have　made　so　good　or　so　quick　a　job　of　it。　Mr。　Seagrave　cut　down　trees；　William　and　Juno　sawed　them　off　at　a　proper　length　with　one　of　the　cross…cut　saws；　and　then　carried　them　to　Ready。　They　soon　had　more　cut　out　than　be　could　use；　and　then　they　dragged　away　the　tops　and　branches；　and　piled　them　at　a　distance　on　the　ground；　to　use　as　winter　fuel；　while　Mr。　Seagrave　helped　Ready　in　fixing　up　the　palisades。　They　worked　very　hard　that　day；　and　were　not　sorry　to　go　to　bed。　Ready；　however；　took　an　opportunity　to　speak　to　William。

〃I　think；〃　said　he；　〃that　now　we　are　here　again；　it　will　be　necessary　to　keep　a　sort　of　night…watch；　in　case　of　accident。　I　shall　not　go　to　bed　till　it　is　quite　dark；　which　it　will　be　by　nine　o'clock；　and　shall　have　my　glass　to　examine　the　offing　the　last　thing。　You　see；　there　is　little　fear　of　the　savages　coming　here　in　the　night…time；　but　they　may　just　before　night　or　very　early　in　the　morning；　so　one　of　us　must　be　up　again　before　daybreak；　that　is　between　two　and　three　o'clock　in　the　morning；　to　see　if　there　is　anything　to　be　seen　of　them；　if　there　is　not；　of　course　we　may　go　to　bed　again；　as　they　cannot　arrive　till　many　hours　afterwards；　and　we　must　watch　the　wind　and　weather；　if　it　is　favourable　for　them　to　come　to　us；　which；　indeed；　the　wind　will　not　be　except　at　the　commencement　of　the　rainy　season　but　it　may　be　very　light；　and　then　they　would　not　care　for　its　being　against　them。　I've　been　thinking　of　it；　William；　a　great　deal；　and　my　idea　is；　that　it　will　be　at　the　beginning　of　the　rainy　season　that　we　shall　have　a　visit；　if　we　have　one　at　all；　for　you　see　that　the　wind　don't　blow　regular　from　one　quarter；　as　it　does　now；　but　is　variable；　and　then　they　can　make　sail　in　their　canoes；　and　come　here　easily；　instead　of　pulling　between　thirty　and　forty　miles；　which　is　hard　work　against　wind　and　current。　Still；　we　must　not　be　careless　and　we　must　keep　a　good　look…out　even　now。　I　don't　want　to　fret　your　father　and　Mrs。　Seagrave　with　my　fears　on　the　subject；　but　I　tell　you　what　I　really　think；　and　what　we　ought　to　do。〃

〃I　agree　with　you；　Ready；　and　I　will　take　care　to　be　up　before　daybreak；　and　examine　very　carefully　with　the　spy…glass　as　soon　as　the　day　dawns。　You　take　the　night　part；　and　I　will　do　the　morning　part　of　the　watching。〃



Chapter　LVIII

For　nearly　a　fortnight；　the　work　upon　the　stockade　continued　without　any　intermission；　when　a　circumstance　occurred　which　created　the　greatest　alarm　and　excitement。　One　day；　as　the　party　returned　to　dinner；　Mrs。　Seagrave　said　with　surprise；　〃Why；　was　not　Tommy　with　you？〃

〃No；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃he　has　not　been　near　us　all　day；　he　went　with　us　after　breakfast；　but　did　not　remain　a　quarter　of　an　hour。〃

〃No；　Missy；　I　tell　Massa　Tommy　to　help　carry　cocoa…nut　leaves；　and　then　he　go　away　directly。〃

〃Goodness！　where　can　he　be？〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Seagrave；　alarmed。

〃I　dare　say　he　is　picking　up　shells　on　the　beach；　ma'am；〃　replied　Ready；　〃or　perhaps　he　is　in　the　garden。　I　will　go　and　see。〃

〃I　see　him　…　oh；　mercy！　…　I　see　him；〃　said　Juno；　pointing　with　her　finger；　〃he　in　the　boat；　and　boat　go　to　sea！〃

It　was　but　too　true：　there　was　Tommy　in　the　boat；　and　the　boat　had　drifted　from　the　beach；　and　was　now　a　cable's　length　away　from　it；　among　the　breakers。

William　ran　off　like　the　wind；　followed　close　by　Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready；　and　at　a　distance　by　Mrs。　Seagrave　and　Juno；　indeed；　there　was　no　time　to　be　lost；　for　the　wind　was　off　the　shore；　and　in　a　short　time　the　boat　would　have　been　out　to　sea。

William；　as　soon　as　he　arrived　at　the　beach；　threw　off　his　hat　and　jacket　and　dashed　into　the　water。　He　was　already　up　to　his　middle；　when　old　Ready；　who　had　followed　him；　caught　him　by　the　arm　and　said：

〃William；　go　back　immediately。　I　insist　upon　it。　Your　going　can　do　no　good；　as　you　do　not　understand　the　thing　so　well　as　I　do；　and　go　I　will；　so　there　will　be　double　risk　for　nothing。　Mr。　Seagrave；　order　him　back。　He　will　obey　you。　I　insist　upon　it；　sir。〃

〃William；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃come　back　immediately；　I　command　you。〃

William　obeyed；　but　before　he　was　clear　of　the　water　Ready　had　swam　across　to　the　first　rocks　on　the　reef；　and　was　now　dashing　through　the　pools　between　the　rocks；　towards　the　boat。

〃Oh；　father！〃　said　William；　〃if　that　good　old　man　is　lost；　I　shall　never　forgive　myself。　Look；　father；　one　…　two　…　three　sharks；　here；　close　to　us。　He　has　no　chance。　See；　he　is　again　in　deep　water。　God　protect　him！〃

In　the　meantime；　Mr。　Seagrave；　whose　wife　was　now　by　his　side；　after　glancing　his　eye　a　moment　at　the　sharks；　which　were　within　a　few　feet　of　the　beach；　had　kept　his　gaze　steadily　upon　Ready's　movements。　If　he　passed　through　the　passage　of　deep　water　between　the　rocks　he　might　be　considered　safe；　as　the　boat　was　now　beating　on　a　reef　on　the　other　side；　where　the　water　was　shallow。　It　was　a　moment　of　intense　anxiety。　At　last　Ready　had　gained　the　reef；　and　had　his　hands　upon　the　rocks；　and　was　climbing　on　them。

〃He　is　safe；　is　he　not？〃　whispered　Mrs。　Seagrave　faintly。

〃Yes；　now　I　think　he　is；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　as　Ready　had　gained　a　footing　on　the　rocks；　where　the　water　was　but　a　little　above　his　ankles。　〃I　think　there　is　no　deep　water　between　him　and　the　boat。〃

In　another　minute　Ready　was　over　the　rocks；　and　had　seized　the　gunnel　of　the　boat。

〃He　is　in　the　boat；〃　cried　William。　〃Thank　God！〃

〃Yes；　we　must　thank　God；　and　that　fervently；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave。　〃Look　at　those　monsters；〃　continued　he；　pointing　to　the　sharks；　〃how　quick　they　swim　to　and　fro；　they　have　scented　their　prey　on　the　water。　It　is　fortunate　they　are　here。〃

〃See；　he　has　the　boat…hook；　and　is　pushing　the　boat　off　the　reef　into　the　deep　water。　Oh！　he　is　quite　safe　now。〃

Such；　however；　was　not　the　case。　The　boat　had　been　beating　on　the　rocks　of　the　reef；　and　had　knocked　a　hole　in　her　bottom；　and　as　soon　as　Ready　had　forced　the　boat　into　deep　water；　she　began　to　fill　immediately。　Ready　pushed　as　hard　as　he　could　with　the　boat…hook；　and　tearing　off　his　neck…cloth；　forced　as　much　as　he　could　of　it　into　the　hole。　This　saved　them；　but　the　boat　was　up　to　the　thwarts　with　water；　and　the　least　motion　on　the　part　of　Ready；　or　even　Tommy；　would　have　upset　her　immediately；　and　they　had　still　to　pass　the　deep　water　between　the　reef　and　the　beach；　where　the　sharks　were　swimming。　Ready；　who　perceived　his　danger；　called　out　to　them　to　throw　large　stones　at　the　sharks　as　fast　as　they　could；　to　drive　them　away。　This　was　immediately　done　by　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William；　aided　by　Juno　and　Mrs。　Seagrave。

The　pelting　of　the　stones　had　the　desired　effect。　The　sharks　swam　away；　and　Ready　passed　through　to　the　beach；　and　the　boat　grounded　just　as　she　was　up　to　the　gunnel　in　water；　and　about　to　turn　over。　He　handed　out　Tommy；　who　was　so　dreadfully　frightened　that　he　could　not　cry。

As　soon　as　Ready　landed；　William　sprang　into　his　arms；　crying；　〃Thank　God；　you　are　safe；　Ready！〃　Mrs。　Seagrave；　overpowered　by　her　feelings；　sank　her　head　upon　William's　shoulder；　and　burst　into　tears。

〃It　was　touch　and　go；　William；〃　observed　Ready；　as　they　walked　up　to　the　house；　preceded　by　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Seagrave。　〃How　much　mischief　may　be　created　by　a　thoughtless　boy！　However；　one　can't　put　old　heads　on　young　shoulders；　and　so　Tommy　must　be　forgiven。〃

〃He　has　been　punished　enough；　as　far　as　fright　goes；〃　replied　William；　〃I'll　answer　for　it；　he'll　never　get　into　the　boat　again　by　himself。〃

〃No；　I　think　not。　But　now；　William；　you　saw　how　nearly　I　was　swamped　in　the　boat；　indeed；　it　was　only　by　his　mercy　that　I　was　preserved；　but　taking　the　question　merely　as　far　as　our　endeavours　could　help　us；　do　you　think　that　if　you　had　gained　the　boat　instead　of　me；　you　would　have　brought　her　to　the　beach　as　I　did？〃

〃No；　Ready；　I　never　could　have　managed　her　so　skilfully　as　you　did；　and　therefore　I　must　have　been　swamped　before　I　got　on　shore。〃

〃Well；　William；　as　I　am　an　old　sailor　and　you　are　not；　therefore　it　is　not　vanity　which　makes　me　say　that　you　could　not　have　managed　the　boat　so　well　as　I　did。　Now；　as　I　had　not　three　or　four　seconds　to　spare；　you；　as　you　say；　must　have　been　swamped。　I　mention　this　to　prove　to　you　that　I　was　right　in　desiring　your　father　to　order　you　back。〃

〃Certainly；　Ready；　but　Tommy　is　my　brother；　and　I　felt　that　it　was　more　my　duty　than　yours　to　risk　my　life　for　him。〃

〃A　very　proper　feeling；　William；　but　you　have　other　duties；　which　are；　to　look　after　your　father　and　mother；　and　be　a　comfort　and　solace　to　them。　Your　life　is　more　valuable　than　mine。　I　am　an　old　man　on　the　brink　of　the　grave；　and　a　year　or　two　makes　no　difference；　but　your　life　is；　I　hope；　of　more　consequence。〃

That　evening　the　prayers　were　more　than　usually　solemn；　and　the　thanksgivings　more　heartfelt　and　sincere。　Exhausted　with　the　exciting　scene　of　the　day；　they　all　retired　early　to　bed。



Chapter　LIX

When　Tommy　was　questioned　on　the　following　morning　as　to　his　inducement　to　get　into　the　boat；　to　their　great　surprise　he　replied；　that　he　wanted　to　go　round　to　the　tents　again；　to　see　if　the　bananas　were　ripe；　that　he　intended　to　eat　some　of　them　and　be　back　before　dinner…time；　that　he　might　not　be　found　out。

〃I　suspect；　Tommy；　you　would　have　been　very　hungry　before　you　ate　any　bananas　if　we　had　not　perceived　you；〃　said　Ready。

〃I　won't　go　into　the　boat　any　more；〃　said　Tommy。

〃I　rather　think　you　will　keep　to　that　resolution；　Tommy；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃however；　I　must　leave　your　mother　to　point　out　to　you　the　danger　you　were　in　yourself；　and　in　which　you　placed　others　by　your　folly。〃

The　stockade　was　now　almost　finished；　the　door　was　the　occasion　of　a　good　deal　of　consultation；　at　last；　it　was　agreed　that　it　would　be　better　to　have　a　door　of　stout　oak　plank；　but　with　second　door…po