masterman ready-第44章

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〃Yes；　not　one　little　drop　in　the　cask。〃

〃I　filled　it　up　to　the　top！〃　exclaimed　Ready　very　gravely；　〃the　tub　did　not　leak；　that　I　am　sure　of；　how　can　this　have　happened？〃

〃Missy；　I　tink　I　know　now；〃　said　Juno；　〃you　remember　you　send　Massa　Tommy；　the　two　or　three　days　we　wash；　to　fetch　water　from　the　well　in　little　bucket。　You　know　how　soon　be　come　back；　and　how　you　say　what　good　boy　he　was；　and　how　you　tell　Massa　Seagrave　when　he　come　to　dinner。　Now；　Missy；　I　quite　certain　Massa　Tommy　no　take　trouble　go　to　well；　but　fetch　water　from　tub　all　the　while；　and　so　he　empty　it。〃

〃I'm　afraid　you're　right；　Juno；〃　replied　Mrs。　Seagrave。　〃What　shall　we　do？〃

〃I　go　speak　Massa　Tommy；〃　said　Juno；　running　to　the　house。

〃This　is　a　very　awkward　thing；　Mr。　Seagrave；〃　observed　Ready　gravely。

Mr。　Seagrave　shook　his　head。

The　fact　was；　that　they　all　perceived　the　danger　of　their　position：　if　the　savages　did　not　leave　the　island；　they　would　perish　of　thirst　or　have　to　surrender；　and　in　the　latter　case；　all　their　lives　would　most　certainly　be　sacrificed。

Juno　now　returned：　her　suspicions　were　but　too　true。　Tommy；　pleased　with　the　praise　of　being　so　quick　in　bringing　the　water；　had　taken　out　the　spigot　of　the　cask；　and　drawn　it　all　off。

〃Well；〃　observed　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃it　is　the　will　of　Heaven　that　all　our　careful　arrangements　and　preparations　against　this　attack　should　be　defeated　by　the　idleness　of　a　child；　and　we　must　submit。〃

〃Very　true；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　〃all　our　hopes　now　are　that　the　savages　may　be　tired　out；　and　leave　the　island。〃

〃If　I　had　but　a　little　for　the　children；　I　should　not　care；〃　observed　Mrs。　Seagrave；　〃but　to　see　those　poor　things　suffer　…　is　there　not　a　drop　left；　Juno；　anywhere？〃

Juno　shook　her　head。

Mrs。　Seagrave　said　she　would　go　and　examine；　and　went　away　into　the　house　accompanied　by　Juno。

〃This　is　a　very　bad　business；　Ready；〃　observed　Mr。　Seagrave。　〃What　would　we　give　for　a　shower　of　rain　now；　that　we　might　catch　the　falling　drops！〃

〃There　are　no　signs　of　it；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　〃we　must；　however；　put　our　confidence　in　One　who　will　not　forsake　us。〃

〃I　wish　the　savages　would　come　on　again；〃　observed　William；　〃for　the　sooner　they　come；　the　sooner　the　affair　will　be　decided。〃

〃I　doubt　if　they　will　to…day；　at　night…time　I　think　it　very　probable。　We　must　make　preparations　for　it。〃

〃Why；　what　can　we　do；　Ready？〃

〃In　the　first　place；　sir；　by　nailing　planks　from　cocoa…nut　tree　to　cocoa…nut　tree　above　the　present　stockade；　we　may　make　a　great　portion　of　it　much　higher；　and　more　difficult　to　climb　over。　Some　of　them　were　nearly　in；　this　time。　If　we　do　that；　we　shall　not　have　so　large　a　space　to　watch　over　and　defend；　and　then　we　must　contrive　to　have　a　large　fire　ready　for　lighting；　that　we　may　not　have　to　fight　altogether　in　the　dark。　It　will　give　them　some　advantage　in　looking　through　the　palisades；　and　seeing　where　we　are；　but　they　cannot　well　drive　their　spears　through；　so　it　is　no　great　matter。　We　must　make　the　fire　in　the　centre　of　the　stockade；　and　have　plenty　of　tar　in　it；　to　make　it　burn　bright；　and　we　must　not；　of　course；　light　it　until　after　we　are　attacked。　We　shall　then　see　where　they　are　trying　for　an　entrance；　and　where　to　aim　with　our　muskets。〃

〃The　idea　is　very　good；　Ready；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃if　it　had　not　been　for　this　unfortunate　want　of　water；　I　really　should　be　sanguine　of　beating　them　off。〃

〃We　may　suffer　very　much；　Mr。　Seagrave；　I　have　no　doubt；　but　who　knows　what　the　morrow　may　bring　forth？〃

〃True；　Ready。　Do　you　see　the　savages　now？〃

〃No；　sir；　they　have　left　the　spot　where　they　were　in　consultation。　I　suppose　they　are　busy　with　their　wounded　and　their　dead。〃

As　Ready　had　supposed；　no　further　attack　was　made　by　the　savages　on　that　day；　and　he；　William；　and　Mr。　Seagrave；　were　very　busy　making　their　arrangements；　they　nailed　the　planks　on　the　trunks　of　the　trees　above　the　stockade；　so　as　to　make　three　sides　of　the　stockade　at　least　five　feet　higher；　and　almost　impossible　to　climb　up；　and　they　prepared　a　large　fire　in　a　tar…barrel　full　of　cocoa…nut　leaves　mixed　with　wood　and　tar；　so　as　to　burn　fiercely。　Dinner　or　supper　they　had　none；　for　there　was　nothing　but　salt　pork　and　beef　and　live　turtle；　and；　by　Ready's　advice；　they　did　not　eat；　as　it　would　only　increase　their　desire　to　drink。

The　poor　children　suffered　much；　and　little　Albert　wailed　and　cried　for　〃water；　water。〃　Ready　remained　on　the　look…out；　indeed；　everything　was　so　miserable　inside　of　the　house；　that　they　were　all　glad　to　go　out　of　it；　they　could　do　no　good；　and　poor　Mrs。　Seagrave　had　a　difficult　and　most　painful　task　to　keep　the　children　quiet　under　such　severe　privation；　for　the　weather　was　still　very　warm　and　sultry。



Chapter　LXIII

But　the　moaning　of　the　children　was　very　soon　after　dusk　drowned　by　the　yells　of　the　savages；　who；　as　Ready　had　prognosticated；　now　advanced　to　the　night　attack。

Every　part　of　the　stockade　was　at　once　assailed；　and　their　attempts　now　made　were　to　climb　into　it；　a　few　spears　were　occasionally　thrown；　but　it　was　evident　that　the　object　was　to　obtain　an　entrance　by　dint　of　numbers。　It　was　well　that　Ready　had　taken　the　precaution　of　nailing　the　deal　planks　above　the　original　stockade；　or　there　is　little　doubt　but　that　the　savages　would　have　gained　their　object；　as　it　was；　before　the　flames　of　the　fire；　which　Juno　had　lighted　by　Ready's　order；　gave　them　sufficient　light；　three　or　four　savages　had　climbed　up　and　had　been　shot　by　William　and　Mr。　Seagrave；　as　they　were　on　the　top　of　the　stockade。

When　the　fire　burnt　brightly；　the　savages　outside　were　more　easily　aimed　at；　and　a　great　many　fell　in　their　attempts　to　get　over。　The　attack　continued　more　than　an　hour；　when　at　last；　satisfied　that　they　could　not　succeed；　the　savages　once　more　withdrew；　carrying　with　them；　as　before；　their　dead　and　wounded。

〃I　trust　that　they　will　now　re…embark；　and　leave　the　island；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃I　only　wish　they　may；　sir；　it　is　not　at　all　impossible；　but　there　is　no　saying。　I　have　been　thinking；　Mr。　Seagrave；　that　we　might　be　able　to　ascertain　their　movements　by　making　a　look…out。　You　see；　sir；　that　cocoa…nut　tree；〃　continued　Ready；　pointing　to　one　of　those　to　which　the　palisades　were　fastened；　〃is　much　taller　than　any　of　the　others：　now；　by　driving　spike…nails　into　the　trunk　at　about　a　foot　apart；　we　might　ascend　it　with　ease；　and　it　would　command　a　view　of　the　whole　bay；　we　then　could　know　what　the　enemy　were　about。〃

〃Yes；　that　is　very　true；　but　will　not　anyone　be　very　much　exposed　if　he　climbs　up？〃

〃No；　sir；　for　you　see　the　cocoa…nut　trees　are　cut　down　clear　of　the　palisades　to　such　a　distance；　that　no　savage　could　come　at　all　near　without　being　seen　by　anyone　on　the　look…out；　and　giving　us　sufficient　time　to　get　down　again　before　he　could　use　his　spear。〃

〃I　believe　that　you　are　right　there；　Ready；　but　at　all　events　I　would　not　attempt　to　do　it　before　daylight；　as　there　may　be　some　of　them　still　lurking　underneath　the　stockade。〃

〃Certainly　there　may　be；　sir；　and　therefore　until　daylight　we　will　not　begin。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　then　went　into　the　house；　Ready　desired　William　to　lie　down　and　sleep　for　two　or　three　hours；　as　he　would　watch。　In　the　morning；　when　Mr　Seagrave　came　out；　he　would　have　a　little　sleep　himself。

〃I　can't　sleep；　Ready。　I'm　mad　with　thirst；〃　replied　William。

〃Yes；　sir；　it's　very　painful　…　I　feel　it　myself　very　much；　but　what　must　those　poor　children　feel？　I　pity　them　most。〃

〃I　pity　my　mother　most；　Ready；〃　replied　William；　〃it　must　be　agony　to　her　to　witness　their　sufferings；　and　not　be　able　to　relieve　them。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　it　must　be　terrible；　William；　to　a　mother's　feelings；　but　perhaps　these　savages　will　be　off　to…morrow；　and　then　we　shall　forget　our　privations。〃

〃I　trust　in　God　that　they　may；　Ready；　but　they　seem　very　determined。〃

〃Yes；　sir；　iron　is　gold　to　them；　and　what　will　civilized　men　not　do　for　gold？〃

In　the　meantime；　Mr。　Seagrave　had　gone　into　the　house。　He　found　the　children　still　crying　for　water；　notwithstanding　the　coaxing　and　soothing　of　Mrs。　Seagrave；　who　was　shedding　tears　as　she　hung　over　poor　little　Albert。　Little　Caroline　only　drooped；　and　said　nothing。　Mr。　Seagrave　remained　for　two　or　three　hours　with　his　wife；　assisting　her　in　pacifying　the　children；　and　soothing　her　to　the　utmost　of　his　power；　at　last　he　went　out　and　found　old　Ready　on　the　watch。

〃Ready；　I　had　rather　a　hundred　times　be　attacked　by　these　savages　and　have　to　defend　this　place；　than　be　in　that　house　for　even　five　minutes；　and　witness　the　sufferings　of　my　wife　and　children。〃

〃I　do　not　doubt　it；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　〃but　cheer　up；　and　let　us　hope　for　the　best；　I　think　it　very　probable　that　the　savages　after　this　second　defeat　will　leave　the　island。〃

〃I　wish　I　could　think　so；　Ready；　it　would　make　me　very　happy；　but　I　have　come　out　to　take　the　watch；　Ready。　Will　you　not　sleep　for　a　while？〃

〃I　will；　sir；　if　you　please；　take　a　little　sleep。　Call　me　in　two　hours；　it　will　then　be　daylight；　and　I　can　go　to　work；　and　you　can　get　some　repose　yourself。〃

〃I　am　too　anxious　to　sleep；　I　think　so；　at　least。〃

〃William　said　he　was　too　thirsty　to　sleep；　sir；　but；　poor　fellow；　he　is　now　fast　enough。〃

〃I　trust　that　boy　will　be　spared；　Ready。〃

〃I　hope　so　too；　but　we　are　all　in　the　hands　of　the　Almighty。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　took　his　station　on　the　plank；　and　was　left　to　his　own　reflections；　that　they　were　not　of　the　most　pleasant　kind　may　easily　be　imagined。　He　prayed　earnestly　and　fervently　that　they　might　be　delivered　from　the　danger　and　sufferings　which　threatened　them；　and　became　calm　and　tranquil；　prepared　for　the　worst；　if　the　worst　was　to　happen；　and　confidently　placing　himself　and　his　family　under　the　care　of　him　who　orders　all　as　he　thinks　best。

At　daylight　Ready　woke　up　and　relieved　Mr。　Seagrave；　who　did　not　return　to　the　house；　but　lay　down　on　the　cocoa…nut　boughs；　where　Ready　had　been　lying　by　the　side　of　William。　As　soon　as　Ready　had　got　out　the　spike…nails　and　hammer；　he　summoned　William　to　his　assistance；　and　they　commenced　driving　them　into　the　cocoa…nut　tree；　one　looking　out　in　case　of　the　savages　approaching；　while　the　other　was　at　work。　In　less　than　an　hour　they　had　gained　the　top　of　the　tree　close　to　the　boughs；　and　had　a　very　commanding　view　of　the　bay；　as　well　as　inland。　William；　who　was　driving　the　last　dozen　spikes；　took　a　survey；　and　then　came　down　to　Ready。

〃I　can　see　everything；　Ready：　they　have　pulled　down　the　old　house　altogether；　and　are　most　of　them　lying　down　outside；　covered　up　with　their　war…cloaks；　some　women　are　walking　to　and　fro　from　the　canoes；　which　are　lying　on　the　beach　where　they　first　landed。〃

〃They　have　pulled　down　the　house　to　obtain　the　iron　nails；　I　have　no　doubt；〃　replied　Ready。　〃Did　you　see　any　of　their　dead？〃

〃No；　I　did　not　look　about　very　much；　but　I　will　go　up　again　directly。　I　came　down　because　my　hands　were　jarred　with　hammering；　and　the　hammer　was　so　heavy　to　carry。　In　a　minute　or　two　I　shall　go　up　light　enough。　My　lips　are　burning；　Ready；　and　swelled；　the　skin　is　peeling　off。　I　had　no　idea　that　want　of　water　would　have　been　so　dreadful。　I　was　in　hopes　of　finding　a　cocoa…nut　or　two　on　the　tree；　but　there　was　not　one。〃

〃And　if　you　had　found　one；　it　would　not　ha