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！
two bags of large； and there are several axes； hammers； and other tools； besides hanks of twine； sailing needles； and bees'…wax。〃
〃They are indeed valuable； Ready。〃
〃Here's some more of my plunder； as the Americans say。 All these are wash…deck buckets； this a small harness cask for salting meat； and here's the cook's wooden trough for making bread； which will please Miss Juno； and in it； you see； I have put all the galley…hooks； ladles； and spoons； and the iron trivets； and here's two lamps。 I think I put some cotton wicks somewhere … I know I did； we shall find them by and by。 Here's the two casks； one of cartridges made up； and the other of gunpowder； and the other six muskets。〃
〃These are really treasures； Ready； and yet how well we have done without them。〃
〃Very true； sir； but we shall do better with them； and when we fit up the storehouse for a dwelling； Mr。 Seagrave； we shall be able to make it a little more comfortable in every respect than the present one； for you see there； all the fir…planking and deals； which William and I buried in the sand。〃
〃I really had quite forgotten them； Ready。 If I could but get the fear of the savages coming over out of my head； I really think we might live very comfortably even on this island。〃
〃Do you know； Mr。 Seagrave； I am glad to hear you say that； for it proves that you are more contented and resigned than you were。〃
〃I am so； Ready … at least I think so； but perhaps it is； that the immediate danger from the savages so fills my thoughts； that I no longer dwell so much upon our being taken off the island。〃
〃I dare say it is as you state； sir； but now let us go on with our search。 Here are the ship's compasses； and deep sea line and reel； also the land lead。 The stuff will be very useful for our little boat。〃
〃And I am very glad of the compasses； Ready； for with them I shall be able to make a sort of survey of the island； when I have a little time。 Your pocket compass is too small for surveying。 I shall take some bearings now； while I am here； as I may not be back again very soon。〃
〃Well； sir； I think if we open this other case； which I perceive has your name on it； it will be as much as we need do to…day； for the sun is going down； we can then make up some kind of bed； eat our suppers； and go to sleep。〃
〃I am very tired； Ready； and shall be glad to do as you propose。 That case contains books； but what portion of my library I do not know。〃
〃But you soon will； sir；〃 replied Ready； wrenching it open with his axe。 〃They are a little stained on the outside； but they are jammed so tight that they do not appear to have suffered much。 Here are one or two； sir。〃
〃Plutarch's Lives。 I am glad I have them： they are excellent reading for young or old； there is no occasion to open any more； as I know all the other books in the case are ‘History'； perhaps the best case which could have been saved。〃
Chapter LI
Mr。 Seagrave and Ready then set to work； and made a rough sort of bed of cocoa…nut branches； and； after eating their supper； committed themselves to the divine protection； and went to sleep。 The next morning they resumed their labour； and opened every other case and package that had been saved from the wreck； they found more hooks； four boxes of candles； three casks of rice； and several other useful articles； besides many others which were of no value to them。
A chest of tea； and two bags of coffee； which Ready had brought on shore； were； much to their delight； found in good order； but there was no sugar； the little which they had saved having been melted away。
〃That's unfortunate； sir。〃
〃We cannot expect to get things here； as though we were a hundred yards from a grocer's shop。 Now let us go to where we covered up the other articles with sand。〃
The sand was shovelled up； and the barrels of beef and pork and the deal boards found in good order； but many other things were quite spoilt。 About noon they had finished； and as they had plenty of time； Mr。 Seagrave took the bearings of the different points of land with the compasses。 They then shouldered their muskets； and set off on their return。
They gained the house in the bay； and having rested a little while at the storehouse； they proceeded on their way to the tents in the meadow。 They had about half a mile to go； when Ready heard a noise； and made a sign to Mr。 Seagrave to stop。 Ready； whispering to Mr。 Seagrave that the pigs were all close to them； loaded his musket； Mr。 Seagrave did the same； and they walked very softly to where they now heard their grunting； they did not see them till they were within twenty yards； and then they came upon the whole herd； the pigs raised their heads； the old ones gave a loud grunt； and then； just as Ready fired his musket； they all set off at full speed。 Mr。 Seagrave had no opportunity of firing； but Ready had shot one； which lay kicking and struggling under a cocoa…nut tree。
〃A piece of fresh pork will be quite a treat； Mr。 Seagrave；〃 said Ready； as they walked up to where the animal was lying。
〃It will； indeed； Ready；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃we must contrive to carry the beast home between us。〃
〃We will sling it on the musket； sir； and it will not be very heavy。 It is one of those born on the island； and a very fine fellow for his age。〃
The pig was soon slung； and they carried it between them。 As they cleared the wood； they perceived Mrs。 Seagrave and William； who had heard the report of the musket； and had come out to meet them。
William took the load from his father； who walked on with Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃Well； William； what news have you？〃 said Ready。
〃Why； very good； Ready。 Yesterday evening； when I was tired of work； I thought I would take the boat； and try if there was any fish to he caught on this side of the island in the deep water； and I caught three large ones； quite different from those we took among the reefs。 We had one for breakfast and dinner to…day； and it was excellent。〃
〃Did you go out in the boat by yourself？〃
〃No； I took Juno with me。 She pulls very well； Ready。〃
〃She is a handy girl； William。 Well； we have had our survey； and there will be plenty of work for you and me； I can tell you； I don't think we can bring everything round in a week； so I suppose to…morrow we had better be off。〃
〃Well； I like boating better than ditching； I can tell you； Ready；〃 replied William。 〃I shan't be sorry to leave that work to my father。〃
〃I suppose it must fall to him； as he will； of course； prefer staying with Mrs。 Seagrave and the children。〃
As soon as they were at the tents； Ready hung up the pig to the cross pole of the tent in which he and William and Mr。 Seagrave slept； and having propped the muskets up against the side of the tent； he went with William to get his knife and some stretchers of wood to open the pig with。 While he and William were away； Caroline and Tommy came out to look at it； and Tommy； after telling Caroline how glad he was that they were to have roast pig for dinner； took up one of the muskets； and said； 〃Now； Caroline； I'll shoot the pig。〃
〃Oh！ Tommy； you must not touch the gun；〃 cried Caroline； 〃papa will be very angry。〃
〃I don't care；〃 replied Tommy。 〃I'll show you how to sh