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！
nd was hauled to the piles； and soon afterwards a boat； which had been lowered from the stern of one of the vessels； picked us both up。 We were taken to a public…house； and put into bed till dry clothes could be sent for us； and then I found that the person I had saved was my godfather； Mr。 Masterman。 Everyone was loud in my praise； and； although perhaps I ought not to say it； it was a bold act for so young a boy as I was。 The sailors took me home to my mother in a sort of triumphal procession； and she； poor thing； when she heard what I had done； embraced me over and over again； one moment rejoicing at my preservation； and the next weeping bitterly at the thoughts of the danger I had encountered； and the probability that my bold spirit would lead me into still greater。〃
〃But she did not blame you for what you had done？〃
〃Oh no； William； she felt that I had done my duty towards my neighbour； and perhaps she felt in her own heart that I had returned good for evil； but she did not say so。 The next day Mr。 Masterman called upon us； he certainly looked very foolish and confused when he asked for his godson； whom he had so long neglected。 My mother； who felt how useful he might be to me； received him very kindly； but I had been often told of his neglect of me and my mother； and of his supposed unfair conduct towards my father； and had taken a violent dislike to him； his advances towards me were therefore very coolly received。 I felt glad that I had saved him； but although I could not exactly understand my own feelings at the time； I am ashamed to say that my pleasure was not derived from having done a good action； so much as indulging a feeling of revenge in having put one under an obligation who had treated me ill； this arose from my proud spirit； which my mother could not check。 So you see； William； there was very little merit in what I had done； as； after I had done it； I indulged those feelings which I ought to have checked。〃
〃I think I could not have helped feeling the same； Ready； under such circumstances；〃 replied William。
〃The impulse which induced me to act was good；〃 replied Ready； 〃but the feeling which I indulged in afterwards took away the whole merit of the deed。 I am stating what I believe to be the truth； and an old man like me can look upon the past without bias； but not without regret。 Mr。 Masterman made but a short visit； he told my mother that he would now take care of me and bring me up to the business of a ship…builder as soon as I was old enough to leave school； and that in the meantime he would pay all my expenses。 My poor mother was very grateful； and shed tears of joy； and when Mr。 Masterman went away； she embraced me； and said that now she was happy； as I should have a profession on shore and not go to sea。 I must do justice to Mr。 Masterman； he kept his word and sent money to my mother； so that she became quite cheerful and comfortable； and everyone congratulated her； and she used to fondle me； and say； it was all through me that she was relieved from her distress。〃
〃How happy that must have made you； Ready！〃 said William。
〃Yes； it did； but it made me also very proud。 Strange to say； I could not conquer my dislike to Mr。 Masterman； I had nourished the feeling too long。 I could not bear that my mother should be under obligations to him； or that he should pay for my schooling； it hurt my foolish pride； young as I then was； and although my mother was happy； I was not。 Besides； as I was put to a better school； and was obliged to remain with the other boys； I could no longer run about the wharfs； or go on board the vessels； as before。 I did not see then； as I do now； that it was all for my good but I became discontented and unhappy； merely because I was obliged to pay attention to my learning； and could no longer have my own way。 The master complained of me； and Mr。 Masterman called and scolded me well。 I became more disobedient； and then I was punished。 This irritated me； and I made up my mind that I would run away to sea。 You see； William； I was all in the wrong； and so will all boys be who think they know better than those who have charge of them； and now only see what I probably lost by my foolish conduct。 I say probably； for no one can calculate or foresee what is to take place； but； as far as appearances went； I had every prospect of receiving a good education … of succeeding Mr。 Masterman in his business； and； very probably； of inheriting his large fortune； so that I might have been at this time a rich and well…educated man； surrounded with all the comforts and luxuries of life； perhaps with an amiable wife and large family round me； to make me still happier； instead of being what I now am； a poor； worn…out old seaman upon a desert isle。 I point this out to you； William； to show how one false and foolish step in the young may affect their whole prospects in life； and； instead of enabling them to sail down with the stream of prosperity； may leave them to struggle against the current of adversity； as has been the case with me。〃
〃It is； indeed； a good lesson； Ready；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。
〃It is； not that I repine at my lot； even while I regret the errors that led to it。 An all…wise and gracious God disposes of us as he thinks best； and I can now say with perfect sincerity； ‘Thy will； not mine； be done'。〃
〃Your misfortunes have； however； proved an incalculable benefit to us； Ready；〃 observed Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃for had you not gone to sea； and been on board the ship when the crew deserted us； what would have become of us？〃
〃Well； madam； it is some comfort to think that a worn…out old seaman like myself has been of some use。〃
Chapter XXXII
The bleating of the kids woke them the next morning earlier than usual。 The weather was again fine； and the sun shining brightly； and Ready turned out Nanny and her progeny。 They had an excellent breakfast of fried fish； and then Mr。 Seagrave； Ready； and William went out to their work： the two first took down the tents； and spread the canvas on the ground； that it might be well dried； while William went in pursuit of the fowls； which had not been seen for a day or two。 After half…an…hour's search in the cocoa…nut grove； he heard the cock crow； and soon afterwards found them all。 He threw them some split peas； which he had brought with him。 They were hungry enough and followed him home to the house； where he left them and went to join Ready and his father。
〃William；〃 said Ready； 〃I think； now that we have spread out the tents； we will； if Mr。 Seagrave approves； all set to at once and knock up a fowl…house； it won't be more than a day's job； and then the creatures will have a home。 There are four very thick cocoa…nut trees close to the house； we will build it under them； it will be a good job over。〃 Mr。 Seagrave assented； and they set immediately to work。 There were many thin poles left； the tops of the cocoa…nut trees which had been cut down to build the house； these they nailed to the trunks of the four trees； so as to make a square； and then they ran up rafters for a pitched roof。
〃Now； sir； this is only rough work； we will first put up a perch or two for them； and then close in the side； and thatch the roof with cocoa…nut branch