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〃I've brought an addition to our family； Mrs。 Seagrave；〃 said Ready： 〃we must allow them to remain in the house until I can knock up a little shelter for them。 This is only a beginning； I expect we shall soon have more。〃
As soon as the children could be persuaded to part with the kids； Nanny was tied up in a corner； and was very content with fondling and nursing her progeny。 Juno and William brought in the breakfast； and as soon as it was over； Mr。 Seagrave said； 〃Now； Ready； I think we must hold a council； and make arrangements as to our allotted duties and employments during the rainy season。 We have a great deal to do； and must not be idle。〃
〃Yes； sir； we have a great deal to do； and； to get through our work； we must have order and method in our doings。 I've lived long enough to know how much can be done by regularity and discipline。 Why； sir； there is more work got out of men in a well…conducted man…of…war than there can in the merchant service in double the time。 And why so？ Because everything is in its place； and there is a place for everything。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃method is everything。 While one careless little girl is looking for her thimble； another will have finished her work。〃
〃I assure you I never should have known what can be done by order and arrangement； if I had not been pressed on board of a man…of…war。 I found that everything was done in silence。 Every man was to his post； everyone had a rope to haul upon； or a rope to let go； the boatswain piped； and in a few seconds every sail was set or taken in as was required。 It seemed to me at first like magic。 And you observe； Mr。 Seagrave； that when there is order and discipline； every man becomes of individual importance。 If I learnt nothing else on board of a man…of…war； I learnt to make the most of time； and the most of the strength which you could command。〃
〃You are very right； Ready； you must teach us to do the same；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。
〃We have so much to do； that I hardly know where to begin； yet； sir； we must work at present how we can； and when we can； until we have got things into a little better order。 We have done well up to the present。〃
〃What do you think we ought to do first？〃
〃Well； sir； our first job will be to haul up the boat and secure her from harm； we will half…dock her in the sand； and cover her over； for I do not think it will be safe to go in her now to the other side of the island； where the sea will always be rough。〃
〃There I perfectly agree with you。 Now what is the next？〃
〃Why； sir； we must not leave the tents where they are； but take them down； and as soon as they are dry； stow them away； for we may want them by and by； then； sir； we must build a large outhouse for our stores and provisions； with a thatched roof； and a floor raised about four feet from the ground； and then； under the floor； the sheep and goats will have a protection from the weather。 Then there is the fish…pond to make； and also a salt…pan to cut out of the rock。 Then we have two more long jobs。 One is； to go through the woods and examine the stores we have left on the other side of the island； sort and arrange them all ready for bringing here after the rains are over； and we must also explore the island a little； and find out what it produces； for at present we know nothing of it： we may find a great many things useful to us； a great many trees and fruits； and I hope and trust we may be able to find some more grass for our live stock。〃
〃I agree with you in all you say； Ready；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃now how shall we divide our strength？〃
〃We will not divide at present； sir； if you please。 Juno has plenty to do indoors with Mrs。 Seagrave； William； and you； and I； will first secure the boat and stow away the tents and gear； after that； we will set about the outbuilding； and work at it when we can。 If Juno has any time to spare； she had better collect the cocoa…nut leaves； and pile them up for fuel； and Tommy will； I dare say； go with her； and show her how to draw them along。〃
〃Yes； I'll show her；〃 said Tommy； getting on his feet。
〃Not just now； Tommy；〃 said Ready； 〃but as soon as your mamma can spare her to go with you。 Come； sir； a few hours of weather like this is not to be lost；〃 continued Ready； 〃we shall have more rain before the day is over； I expect。 I will first go to the tent for the shovels； then I will haul the boat round to the beach and meet you there。 You and William can take some cord； tie up a large bundle of cocoa…nut boughs； sling it to the wheels； and draw it down to the beach and meet me。〃
Chapter XXXI
As so many cocoa…nut trees had been cut down to build the house； there were plenty of boughs lying in every direction； and William and Mr。 Seagrave had soon procured sufficient。 In a very short time the boat was drawn up about ten yards from the water's edge； which Ready said was quite sufficient； they then dug from under with their shovels until the boat was sunk about half down in the sand。
Having filled in the sand all round her up to her gunnel； the boat was then carefully covered over with the boughs； which were weighed down with sand that they might not be blown away。
〃I don't see why you should cover the boat up in this way； Ready； the rain won't hurt her；〃 observed William。
〃No； sir； the rain won't do her any harm； but the sun will； when it bursts out occasionally； for it's very powerful when it does shine； and it would split her all to pieces。〃
〃I forgot that；〃 replied William。 〃What shall we do now？〃
〃Suppose； as we have two hours to dinner…time； you run for the lines； William； and we'll try for some fish。〃
〃We cannot all three of us fish with only two lines；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。
〃No； sir； and as William knows how to catch them； suppose you remain with him； and I will go up and collect wood and chips for Juno's fire。 She was hard pressed for it this morning； it was so wet； but； if once piled up； it will soon be dry。 Be careful； Mr。 Seagrave； not to hold the lines tight in your hands； or you may be jerked into the water。〃
Mr。 Seagrave and William were very fortunate； before the two hours were expired they had caught eight large fish； which they brought up to the house slung on the boat…hook。 Tommy hallooed loudly for fish for dinner； and as they had caught so many； it was agreed that the dinner should be put off until some could be got ready； and they were not sorry to eat them instead of salt pork。
They had hardly sat down to table； when the rain came pattering down on the roof； and in a quarter of an hour the storm was as violent； and the thunder and lightning as terrific as on the day before。 All outdoor labour was again suspended。 Mrs。 Seagrave； Juno； and Caroline took their work； for there was plenty to do with the needle and thread； and Ready soon found employment for the rest。 William and Mr。 Seagrave unlaid some thick rope； that Ready might make smaller and more useful rope with the yarns。 Ready took up his sailing needles； and worked eyelet…holes in the canvas screens （which they had put up in a hurry）； so that they might be drawn to and fro as required。
As soon as Ready had hung up the curtains； he looked under the bedsteads for a la