masterman ready-第7章

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t；　and　then　I　can　rig　a　pair　of　sheers；　and　have　them　all　ready　for　hoisting　up　to…morrow　morning　to　get　the　boat　in。　You　see；　with　so　little　strength　on　board；　and　no　masts；　we　shall　be　obliged　to　contrive。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　assisted　Ready　in　getting　the　two　spars　aft；　and　laid　on　the　spot　which　was　required。　〃There　now；　Mr。　Seagrave；　you　may　go　down　below。　William　had　better　let　loose　the　two　dogs；　and　give　them　a　little　victuals；　for　we　have　quite　forgot　them；　poor　things。　I　shall　keep　watch　to…night；　for　I　have　plenty　to　do；　and　plenty　to　think　of；　so；　good…night；　sir。〃

Ready　remained　on　deck；　lashing　the　heads　of　the　spars；　and　fixing　his　tackles　ready　for　the　morrow。　When　all　was　done；　he　sat　down　upon　one　of　the　hen…coops　aft；　and　remained　in　deep　thought。　At　last；　tired　with　watching　and　exertion；　the　old　man　fell　asleep。　He　was　awakened　at　daylight　by　the　dogs；　who　had　been　set　at　liberty；　and　who；　after　walking　about　the　ship　and　finding　nobody；　had　then　gone　to　sleep　at　the　cabin　door。　At　daybreak　they　had　roused　up；　and　going　on　deck　had　found　old　Ready　asleep　on　the　hen…coop；　and　were　licking　his　face　in　their　joy　at　having　discovered　him。　〃Ay；〃　said　the　old　man；　as　he　got　off　the　hen…coop；　〃you'll　all　three　be　useful；　if　I　mistake　not；　by　and　by。　Down；　Vixen；　down　…　poor　creature；　you've　lost　a　good　master；　I'm　afraid。〃

〃Stop　…　now　let　me　see；〃　said　Ready；　talking　to　himself；　〃first　…　but　I'll　get　the　log　board　and　a　bit　of　chalk；　and　write　them　down；　for　my　memory　is　not　quite　so　good　as　it　was。〃

Ready　placed　the　logboard　on　the　hen…coop；　and　then　wrote　on　it　with　the　chalk：　〃Three　dogs；　two　goats；　and　Billy　the　kid　（I　think　there's　five　pigs）；　fowls　（quite　enough）；　three　or　four　pigeons　（I'm　sure）；　the　cow　（she　has　lain　down　and　won't　get　up　again；　I'm　afraid；　so　we　must　kill　her）；　and　there's　the　merino　ram　and　sheep　belonging　to　Mr。　Seagrave　…　plenty　of　live　stock。　Now；　what's　the　first　things　we　must　get　on　shore　after　we　are　all　landed　…　a　spar　and　topgallant　sail　for　a　tent；　a　coil　or　two　of　rope；　a　mattress　or　two　for　Madam　and　the　children；　two　axes；　hammer　and　nails；　something　to　eat　…　yes；　and　something　to　cut　it　with。　There；　that　will　do　for　the　present；〃　said　old　Ready；　getting　up。　〃Now；　I'll　just　light　the　fire；　get　the　water　on；　and；　while　I　think　of　it；　boil　two　or　three　pieces　of　beef　and　pork　to　go　on　shore　with　them；　and　then　I'll　call　up　Mr。　Seagrave；　for　I　reckon　it　will　be　a　hard　day's　work。〃



Chapter　IX

As　soon　as　Ready　had　executed　his　intentions；　and　had　fed　the　animals；　he　went　to　the　cabin　and　called　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William。　With　their　assistance　the　sheers　were　raised；　and　secured　in　their　place；　the　boat　was　then　hooked　on；　but；　as　one　person　was　required　to　bear　it　clear　of　the　davits　and　taffrail；　they　could　not　hoist　it　in。

〃Master　William；　will　you　run　down　to　Juno；　and　tell　her　to　come　on　deck　to　assist　us　…　we　must　all　work　now？〃

William　soon　returned　with　Juno；　who　was　a　strong　girl；　and；　with　her　assistance；　they　succeeded　in　getting　the　boat　in。

The　boat　was　turned　over；　and　Ready　commenced　his　work；　while　Mr。　Seagrave；　at　his　request；　put　the　pitch…pot　on　the　galley　fire；　all　ready　for　pitching　the　canvas　when　it　was　nailed　on。　It　was　not　till　dinner…time　that　Ready；　who　had　worked　hard；　could　patch　up　the　boat；　he　then　payed　the　canvas　and　the　seams　which　he　had　caulked　with　pitch　both　inside　and　out。

〃I　think　we　shall　do　now；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃we'll　drag　her　to　the　gangway　and　launch　her。　It's　fortunate　for　us　that　they　did　clear　away　the　gunnel；　as　we　shall　have　no　trouble。〃

A　rope　was　made　fast　to　the　boat；　to　hold　her　to　the　ship：　she　was　then　launched　over　the　gunnel　by　the　united　exertions　of　Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready；　and　to　their　great　satisfaction　she　appeared　to　leak　very　little。

〃Now；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃what　shall　we　do　first　…　take　some　things　on　shore；　or　some　of　the　children？〃

〃What　do　you　say；　Ready？〃

〃I　think　as　the　water　is　as　smooth　as　glass；　and　we　can　land　anywhere；　you　and　I　had　better　go　first　to　reconnoitre；　…　it　is　not　two　hundred　yards　to　the　beach；　and　we　shall　lose　but　little　time。〃

〃Very　well；　Ready；　I　will　first　run　down　and　tell　my　wife。〃

〃And；　in　the　meanwhile；　I'll　put　the　sail　into　the　boat；　and　one　or　two　other　things。〃

Ready　put　the　sail　in；　an　axe；　a　musket；　and　some　cord；　then　they　both　got　into　the　boat　and　pulled　on　shore。

When　they　landed；　they　found　that　they　could　see　nothing　of　the　interior　of　the　island；　the　cocoa…nut　groves　were　so　thick；　but　to　their　right　they　perceived；　at　about　a　quarter　of　a　mile　off；　a　small　sandy　cove；　with　brushwood　growing　in　front　of　the　cocoa…nut　trees。

〃That；〃　said　Ready；　pointing　to　it；　〃must　be　our　location。　Let　us　get　into　the　boat　again　and　pull　to　it。〃

In　a　few　minutes　they　arrived　at　the　cove；　the　water　was　shallow；　and　as　clear　as　crystal。　Beneath　the　boat's　bottom　they　could　see　beautiful　shells；　and　the　fish　darting　about　in　every　direction。

The　sand　extended　about　forty　yards　from　the　water；　and　then　commenced　the　brushwood；　which　ran　back　about　forty　yards　further；　intermingled　with　single　cocoa…nut　trees；　until　it　joined　the　cocoa…nut　grove。　They　pulled　the　boat　in　and　landed。

〃What　a　lovely　spot　this　is！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃and　perhaps　mortal　man　has　never　yet　visited　it　till　now：　those　cocoa…nuts　have　borne　their　fruit　year　after　year；　have　died；　and　others　have　sprung　up　in　their　stead；　and　here　has　this　spot　remained；　perhaps　for　centuries；　all　ready　for　man　to　live　in；　and　to　enjoy　whenever　he　should　come　to　it。〃

〃Providence　is　bountiful；　Mr。　Seagrave；〃　replied　Ready；　〃and　supplies　our　wants　when　we　least　expect　it。　If　you　please　we　will　walk　a　little　way　into　the　wood：　take　the　gun　as　a　precaution；　sir；　not　that　there　appears　to　be　much　occasion　for　it　…　there　is　seldom　anything　wild　on　these　small　islands；　except　a　pig　or　two　has　been　put　on　shore　by　considerate　Christians。〃

〃Well；　now　that　we　are　in　the　grove；　Ready；　what　do　you　think？〃

〃I　was　looking　for　a　place　to　fix　a　tent　up　for　the　present；　sir；　and　I　think　that　on　that　little　rise　would　be　a　very　good　place　till　we　can　look　about　us　and　do　better；　but　we　have　no　time　now；　sir；　for　we　have　plenty　of　trips　to　make　before　nightfall。　If　you　please；　we'll　haul　the　sail　and　other　articles　on　to　the　beach；　and　then　return　on　board。〃

As　they　were　pulling　the　boat　back；　Ready　said；　〃I've　been　thinking　about　what　is　best；　Mr。　Seagrave。　Would　Mrs。　Seagrave　mind　your　leaving　her？　…　if　not；　I　should　say　we　should　have　Juno　and　William　on　shore　first；　as　they　can　be　of　use。〃

〃I　do　not　think　that　she　will　mind　being　left　on　board　with　William　and　the　children；　provided　that　I　return　for　her　when　she　is　to　come　on　shore　herself　with　the　baby。〃

〃Well　then；　let　William　remain　on　board；　if　you　please；　sir。　I'll　land　you　and　Juno；　Tommy；　and　the　dogs；　this　time；　for　they　will　be　a　protection　in　case　of　accidents。　You　and　Juno　can　be　doing　something　while　I　return　by　myself　for　the　other　articles　we　shall　require。〃

As　soon　as　they　arrived　on　board；　Mr。　Seagrave　went　down　to　cheer　his　wife　with　the　account　of　what　they　had　seen。　While　he　was　down　below；　Ready　had　cast　off　the　lashings　of　the　two　spars　which　had　formed　the　sheers；　and　dragging　them　forward；　had　launched　them　over　the　gunnel；　with　lines　fast　to　them；　ready　for　towing　on　shore。　In　a　few　minutes　Juno　and　Tommy　made　their　appearance　on　deck；　Ready　put　some　tools　into　the　boat；　and　a　couple　of　shovels；　which　he　brought　up　when　he　went　for　the　dogs；　and　once　more　they　landed　at　the　sandy　cove。　Tommy　stared　about　him　a　great　deal；　but　did　not　speak；　until　he　saw　the　shells　lying　on　the　beach；　when　he　screamed　with　delight；　and　began　to　pick　them　up　as　fast　as　he　could；　the　dogs　barked　and　galloped　about；　overjoyed　at　being　once　more　on　shore；　and　Juno　smiled　as　she　looked　around　her；　saying　to　Ready；　〃What　a　nice　place！〃

〃Now；　Mr。　Seagrave；　I'll　remain　on　shore　with　you　a　little。　First；　we'll　load　the　musket　in　case　of　need；　and　then　you　can　put　it　out　of　the　way　of　Tommy；　who　fingers　everything；　I　observe。　We　will　take　up　the　sail　between　us。　Juno；　you　can　carry　the　tools；　and　then　we　can　come　back　again　for　the　spars；　and　the　rope；　and　the　other　things。　Come；　Tommy；　you　can　carry　a　shovel　at　all　events；　and　that　will　make　you　of　some　use。〃

Having　taken　all　these　things　to　the　little　knoll　which　Ready　had　pointed　out　before；　they　returned　for　the　spars；　and　in　two　trips　they　had　carried　everything　there；　Tommy　with　the　second　shovel　on　his　shoulder；　and　very　proud　to　be　employed。

〃Here　are　two　trees　which　will　answer　our　purpose　pretty　well；〃　said　Ready；　〃as　they　are　far　enough　apart：　we　must　lash　the　spars　up　to　them；　and　then　throw　the　sail　over；　and　bring　it　down　to　the　ground　at　both　ends；　that　will　be　a　beginning；　at　all　events；　and　I　will　bring　some　more　canvas　on　shore；　to　set　up　the　other　tent　between　these　other　trees；　and　also　to　shut　up　the　two　ends　of　both　of　them；　then　we　shall　have　a　shelter　for　Madam；　and　Juno；　and　the　younger　children；　and　another　for　William；　Tommy；　and　ourselves。　Now；　sir；　I'll　just　help　you　to　lash　the　spars；　and　then　I'll　leave　you　to　finish　while　I　go　on　board　again。〃

〃But　how　can　we　reach　so　high；　Ready？〃

〃Why；　sir；　we　can　manage　that　by　first　lashing　a　spar　as　high　as　we　can　conveniently　reach；　and　then　standing　on　that　while　we　lash　the　other　in　its　proper　place。　I　shall　bring　another　spar　on　shore；　that　we　may　do　the　same　when　we　set　up　the　other　tent。〃

Having　by　this　plan　succeeded　in　lashing　the　spar　high　enough；　and　throwing　the　sail　over　the　spar；　Ready　and　Mr。　Seagrave　spread　it　out；　and　found　that　it　made　a　very　good…sized　tent。

〃Now；　sir；　I'll　return　on　board；　in　the　meantime；　if　you　can　cut　pegs　from　the　brush　wood　to　fasten　the　sail　down　to　the　ground；　and　then　with　the　shovel　cover　the　bottom　of　it　with　sand　to　keep　it　down；　it　will　be　close　enough　when　it　is　all　finished。〃

〃I　shall　do　very　well；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃Juno　can　help　me　to　pull　the　canvas　out　tight　when　I　am　ready。〃

〃Yes；　and　in　the　meantime；　Juno；　take　a　shovel；　and　level　the　inside　of　the　tent　nice　and　smooth；　and　throw　out　all　those　old　cocoa…nut　leaves；　and　look　if　you　see　any　vermin　lurking　among　them。　Master　Tommy；　you　must　not　run　away；　and　you　must　not　touch　the　axes；　they　will　cut　you　if　you　do。　It　may　be　as　well　to　say；　Mr。　Seagrave；　that　should　anything　happen；　and　you　require　my　assistance；　you　had　better　fire　off　the　gun；　and　I　will　come　on　shore　to　you　immediately。〃



Chapter　X

When　Ready　returned　on　board；　he　first　went　down　into　the　cabin　to　acquaint　Mrs。　Seagrave　and　William　with　what　they　had　done。　Mrs。　Seagrave　naturally　felt　anxious　about　her　husband　being　on　shore　alone；　and　Ready　informed　her　that　they　had　agreed　that　if　anything　should　occur　Mr。　Seagrave　would　fire　the　musket。　He　then　went　down　into　the　sail…room　to　get　some　canvas；　a　new　topgallant　sail　which　was　there；　and　a　palm　and　needles　with　twine。　Scarcely　had　he　got　them　out；　and　at　the　foot　of　the　ladder；　when　the　report　of　the　musket　was　heard；　and　Mrs。　Seagrave　rushed　out　of　the　cabin　in　the　greatest　alarm；　Ready　seized　another　musket；　jumped　into　the　boat；　and　pulled　on　shore　as