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〃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 shoot the pig。〃
〃Don't； Tommy；〃 cried Caroline； 〃if you do； I'll go and tell mamma。〃
〃Then I'll shoot you；〃 replied Tommy； trying to point the musket at her。
Caroline was so frightened； that she ran away as fast as she could； and then Tommy； using all his strength； contrived to get the musket up to his shoulder； and pulled the trigger。
It so happened that Tommy had taken up Mr。 Seagrave's musket； which had not been fired； and when he pulled the trigger it went off； and as he did not hold it tight to his shoulder； it recoiled； and hit him with the butt right on his face； knocking out two of his teeth； besides making his nose bleed very fast。
Tommy was so astonished and frightened at the musket going off； and the blow which he received； that he gave a loud yell； dropped the musket； and ran to the tent where his father and mother were； just as they had started up and had rushed out at hearing the report。
When Mrs。 Seagrave saw Tommy all covered with blood； and screaming so loud； she was so alarmed that she could not stand； and fell fainting in Mr。 Seagrave's arms。 Ready and William； on hearing the musket go off； had run as fast as they could； fearing that some accident had happened； and while Mr。 Seagrave supported his wife； Ready went to Tommy； and wiping the blood off his face with the palm of his hand； perceived that there was no wound or serious mischief； and cried out to Mr。 Seagrave； 〃He's not hurt； sir； it's only his nose bleeding。〃
〃Musket knocked me down；〃 cried Tommy； sobbing as the blood ran out of his mouth。
〃Serve you right； Tommy； you'll take care not to touch the musket again。〃
〃I won't touch it again；〃 cried Tommy； blubbering。
Juno now came up with some water to wash his face； Mrs。 Seagrave had recovered； and gone back into the tent； on Mr。 Seagrave telling her that it was only Tommy's nose which was bleeding。
In about half…an…hour Tommy had ceased crying； and his nose had left off bleeding； his face was washed； and then it was discovered that he had lost two front teeth； and that his cheek and lips were very much bruised。 He was undressed； and put to bed； and was soon fast asleep。
〃I should not have left the muskets；〃 said Ready to William； 〃it was my fault； but I thought Tommy had been told so often not to touch fire…arms； that he would not dare to do so。〃
〃He pointed it at me； and tried to shoot me；〃 said Caroline； 〃but I ran away。〃
〃Merciful heavens！ what an escape！〃 cried Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃He has been well punished this time； madam； and I'll venture to say he will not touch a musket again in a hurry。〃
〃Yes； but he must be punished more；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。 〃he must remember it。〃
〃Well； sir； if he is to be punished more； I think you cannot punish him better than by not allowing him to have any of the pig when it is cooked。〃
〃I think so too； Ready； and therefore that is a settled thing … no pig for Tommy。〃
Chapter LII
The next morning Tommy's face presented a very woeful appearance。 His cheek and lips were swelled and black； and the loss of his two front teeth made him look much worse。
Tommy looked very glum when he came to breakfast。 There was the pig's fry for breakfast； and the smell of it had been very inviting to Tommy； but when his father scolded him； and told him that he was not to have one bit of the pig； he began to cry and roar so loud； that he was sent away from the tents till he had left off。
After breakfast； Ready proposed that he and William should take the boat； and begin their labour of carrying the articles round from the cove to the bay where the house was； pointing out that there was not a day to be lost。 Juno had； at his request； already baked a large piece of the pig for them to take with them； and boiled a piece of salt pork； so that they were all ready to start。
〃But； Ready；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃how long do you intend to remain absent with William？〃
〃Why； madam； this is Wednesday； of course we shall be back on Saturday night。〃
〃My dear William； I cannot bear the idea of your being absent so long； and as you will be on the water every day； I shall be in a continual fright until I see you again。〃
〃Well； mamma； I suppose I must write by the penny post； to let you know how I am。〃
〃Don't laugh at me； William。 I do wish there was a penny post； and that you could write every day。〃
Ready and William made every preparation for a continued absence。 They took their blankets with them； and a small pot for cooking； and when all was prepared they bade Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave farewell。 They were now to pull to the bay； and leave their luggage； and then go round to the cove。 As they shoved off； William took the dog Remus into the boat。
〃Why do you take the dog； William？ he will be of use here in keeping the pigs away； but of no use to us。〃
〃Yes； he will； Ready； I must take him； for I have an idea come into my head； so let me have my own way。〃
〃Well； William； you can always have your own way； as far as I'm concerned； if you wish to take the dog； there is an end of the matter。〃
They hoisted the sail； and as the breeze was fresh； were round to the bay in a very short time。 They took their provisions and stores up to the house； and made fast the door； called the fowls； and gave them some damaged rice which Ready had brought from the cove； and found； to their great delight； that they had now upwards of forty chickens； some； indeed； quite grown； and large enough to kill。
They then got into the boat again； and pulled away for the cove； the wind was fresh； and against them； so they had a long pull； but； as Ready observed； it was much better that it should be so； as； when the boat was loaded； they could very quickly sail back again to the bay。
As soon as they arrived at the cove； they lost no time in loading the boat； the nails； and iron work of every description； with the twine and tools； composed the major part of the first cargo； and calling Remus； who was lying on the sandy beach； they shoved off； hoisted their sail； and in an hour had regained the bay； and passed through the reef。
〃I am glad that this cargo has arrived safe； William； for it is very valuable to us。 Now we will take them all up； and that will be sufficient for to…day； to…morrow； if we can； we will make two trips。〃
〃We can； if we start early；〃 replied William； 〃but now let us have our dinner； and carry the remainder of the things up afterwards。〃
As they were eating their dinner； and William was giving the bones to the dog； Ready said； 〃Pray； William； what was the idea in your head which made you bring Remus with you？〃
〃I will tell you； Ready； I mean him to carry a letter to mamma； you know that he always goes back when he is ordered； and now I wish to see if he will not go back to the tents； if he is told。 I have brought a piece of paper and pencil with me。〃
William then wrote on the paper；
〃Dear Mamma：We are quite well； and just returned with the first cargo quite safe。 Your affectionate son； WILLIAM。〃
William tied the paper round the dog's neck with a piece of twine； and then calling h