按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ing it down with me this afternoon； and then； when it is fixed in the earth in that way； we shall always have the cask full of water for use； and the spring filling it as fast as we empty it。〃
〃I understand；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃that shall be our task while you are absent。〃
〃Now； I have nothing more to do than to speak to Juno about dinner；〃 replied Ready； 〃and then I'll just take a mouthful； and be off。〃
Ready directed Juno to fry some pork in the frying…pan； and then to cut off some slices from the turtle； and cook turtle…steaks for dinner； as well as to warm up the soup which was left； and then； with a biscuit and a piece of beef in his hand； he went down to the boat and set off for the cove。 Mr。 Seagrave and William worked hard； and； by twelve o'clock； the hole was quite large and deep enough； according to the directions Ready had given。 They then left their work and went to the tent。
〃You don't know how much happier I am now that I am here；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； taking her husband's hand； as he seated himself by her。
〃I trust it is a presentiment of future happiness； my dear；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。 〃I assure you that I feel the same； and was saying so to Ready this morning。〃
〃I feel that I could live here for ever； it is so calm and beautiful； but I miss one thing … there are no birds singing here as at home。〃
〃I have seen no birds except sea…birds； and of them there is plenty。 Have you； William？〃
〃Only once； father。 I saw a flight a long way off。 Ready was not with me； and I could not tell what they were； but they were large birds； as big as pigeons； I should think。 There is Ready coming round the point；〃 continued William。 〃How fast that little boat sails！ It is a long pull； though； for the old man when he goes to the cove。〃
〃Let us go down and help Ready carry up some of the things before dinner；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
They did so； and William rolled up the empty water…cask which Ready had brought with him。
The turtle…steaks were as much approved of as the turtle…soup； indeed； after having been so long on salt meat； a return to fresh provisions was delightful。
〃And now to finish our well；〃 said William； as soon as dinner was over。
〃How hard you do work； William！〃 said his mother。
〃So I ought； mother。 I must learn to do everything now。〃
〃And that you will very soon；〃 said Ready。
They rolled the cask to the spring； and； to their astonishment； found the great hole which they had dug not two hours before quite full of water。
〃Oh dear；〃 said William； 〃we shall have to throw all the water out to get the cask down。〃
〃Think a little； William；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃for the spring runs so fast that it will not be an easy task。 Cannot we do something else？〃
〃Why； father； the cask will float； you know；〃 replied William。
〃To be sure it will as it is； but is there no way of making it sink？〃
〃Oh yes。 I know … we must bore some holes in the bottom； and then it will fill and sink down of itself。〃
〃Exactly；〃 replied Ready。 〃I expected that we should have to do that； and have the big gimlet with me。〃
Ready bored three or four holes in the bottom of the cask； and as it floated the water ran into it； and by degrees it gradually sank down。 As soon as the top of the cask was level with the surface they filled in all round with the spade and shovel； and the well was completed。
Chapter XXIV
The next morning； as soon as breakfast was over； Mr。 Seagrave observed： 〃Now that we have so many things to do； I think； Ready； we ought to lay down a plan of operations； method is everything when work is to be done： now tell me what you propose shall be our several occupations for the next week； for to…morrow is Sunday； and although we have not yet been able to honour the day as we should； I think that now we must and ought to keep it holy。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 replied Ready。 〃To…morrow we will rest from our labour； and ask God's blessing upon our endeavours during the six days of the week； and now； as to your proposition； Mr。 Seagrave； shall we begin first with the lady？〃
〃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 sho