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〃Be it so； if you wish；〃 replied Ready。
〃Why； Ready； what noise is that？ Hark！ such a chattering； it must be monkeys。〃
〃No； they are not monkeys； but I'll tell you what they are； although I cannot see them； they are parrots … I know their noise well。 You see； William； it's not very likely that monkeys should get here； but birds can； and it is the birds that we have to thank for the bananas and guavas； and other fruits we may find here。〃
As soon as they came under the trees； there was a great rioting and fluttering； and then away flew； screaming as loud as they could； a flock of about three hundred parrots； their beautiful green and blue feathers glistening in the beams of the sun。
〃I told you so； well； we'll have some capital pies out of them； William。〃
〃Pies！ do they make good pies； Ready？〃
〃Yes； excellent； and very often have I had a good dinner from one in the West Indies； and in South America。 Stop； let us come a little this way； I see a leaf which I should like to examine。〃
〃The ground is very swampy just here； Ready； is it not？〃
〃Yes； there's plenty of water below； I don't doubt。 So much the better for the animals； we must dig some pools when they come here。
〃Oh！ I thought I was not wrong。 Look！ this is the best thing I have found yet … we now need not care so much about potatoes。〃
〃Why； what are they； Ready？〃
〃Yams； which they use instead of potatoes in the West Indies。 Indeed； potatoes do not remain potatoes long； when planted in hot climates。〃
〃How do you mean； Ready？〃
〃They turn into what they call sweet…potatoes； after one or two crops： yams are better things； in my opinion。〃
At this moment the dogs dashed among the broad yam leaves； and commenced baying； there was a great rustling and snorting。
〃What's that？〃 cried William； who had been stooping down to examine the yam plant； and who was startled at the noise。
Ready laughed heartily。 〃It isn't the first time that they've made you jump； William。〃
〃Why； it's our pigs； isn't it？〃 replied William。
〃To be sure； they're in the yam patch； very busy feeding on them； I'll be bound。〃
Ready gave a shout； and a grunting and rushing were heard among the broad leaves； and； very soon； out rushed； instead of the six； about thirty pigs large and small； who； snorting and twisting their tails； galloped away at a great rate； until they gained the cocoa…nut grove。
〃How wild they are； Ready！〃 said William。
〃Yes； and they'll be wilder every day； but we must fence these yams from them； or we shall get none ourselves。〃
〃But they'll beat down the fence before it grows up。〃
〃We must pale it with cocoa…nut palings； and plant the prickly pears outside。 Now； we'll go down to the sea…side。〃
As they neared the rocks； which were bare for about fifty yards from the water's edge； Ready said； 〃I can tell you now what those white patches on the rocks are； William； they are the places where the sea…birds come to every year to make their nests； and bring up their young。 They always come to the same place every year； if they are not disturbed。〃 They soon arrived at the spot； and found it white with the feathers of birds； mixed up with dirt。
〃I see no nests； Ready； nor the remains of any。〃
〃No； they do not make any nests； further than scratching a round hole； about half an inch deep； in the soil； and there they lay their eggs； sitting quite close to one another； they will soon be here； and begin to lay； and then we will come and take the eggs； if we want any； for they are not bad eating。〃
〃Why； Ready； what a quantity of good things we have found out already！ This has been a very fortunate expedition of ours。〃
〃Yes； it has； and we may thank God for his goodness； who thus provides for us so plentifully in the wilderness。〃
〃Do you know； Ready； I cannot help thinking that we ought to have built our house here。〃
〃Not so； William； we have not the pure water； recollect； and we have not the advantages of the sandy beach； where we have our turtle… and fish…pond。 No； we may feed our stock here； we may gather the fruit； taking our share of it with the poor birds； we may get our yams； and every other good provided for us； but our house and home must be where it is now。〃
〃You are right； Ready； but it will be a long walk。〃
〃Not when we are accustomed to it； and have made a beaten path； besides； we may bring the boat round； perhaps。〃
Then they walked along the sea…side for about a quarter of a mile； until they came to where the rocks were not so high； and there they discovered a little basin； completely formed in the rocks； with a narrow entrance。
〃See； William； what a nice little harbour for our boat！ we may here load it with yams and take it round to the bay； provided we can find an entrance through the reefs on the southern side of it； which we have not looked for yet； because we have not required it。〃
〃Yes； Ready … it is； indeed； a nice； smooth little place for the boat。 What is that thing on the bottom； there？〃 said William； pointing in the direction。
〃That is a sea crawfish； quite as good eating as a lobster。 I wonder if I could make a lobster…pot； we should catch plenty； and very good they are。〃
〃And what are those little rough things on the rock？〃
〃They are a very nice little sort of oyster； not like those we have in England； but much better … they are so delicate。〃
〃Why； Ready； we have two more good things for our table； again；〃 replied William； 〃how rich we shall be！〃
〃Yes； but we have to catch them； recollect： there is nothing to be had in this world without labour。〃
〃Ready；〃 said William； 〃we have good three hours' daylight； suppose we go back and tell what we have seen： my mother will be so glad to see us。〃
〃I agree with you； William。 We have done well for one day； and may safely go back again； and remain for another week。 There are no fruits at present； and all I care about are the yams； I should like to protect them from the pigs。 But let us go home and talk the matter over with Mr。 Seagrave。〃
They found out the spot where they had left their knapsacks and hatchets； and again took their path through the cocoa…nut trees； following the blaze which they had made in the morning。 One hour before sunset they arrived at the house； where they found Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave sitting outside； and Juno standing on the beach with the two children； who were amusing themselves with picking up the shells which were strewed about。 William gave a very clear account of all they had seen； and showed his father the specimens of the plants which he had collected。
〃This；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃is a well…known plant； and I wonder Ready did not recognize it； it is hemp。〃
〃I never saw it except in the shape of rope；〃 replied Ready。 〃I know the seed well enough。〃
〃Well； if we require it； I can tell you how to dress it；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。 〃Now； William； what is the next？〃
〃This odd…looking； rough thing。〃
〃That's the egg…plant： it bears fruit of a blue colour。 I am told they eat it in the hot countries。〃
〃Yes； sir； they do； they fry it with pepper and salt； they call it bringal。 I think it must be that。〃
〃I do not doubt but you are right；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。 〃Why； William； you should kn