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ange of food。 The horse； for instance； although originally indigenous to Arabia； lives as well in the Temperate； and even in the Frigid Zones it may be said； for they endure the hard winters of Russia and North America； so will domestic cattle； such as cows； sheep； pigs； &c。 It is a curious fact that； during the winter in Canada； a large proportion of the food of cattle consists of fish。〃
〃Fish； papa！ Cows eat fish？〃
〃Yes； my dear boy； such is the fact。 It is a remarkable instance of a graminivorous or grass…eating animal being changed for a time into a
flesh…eating； or rather into fish…eating animal。 But there are other animals which can live under any temperature； as the wolf； the fox； the hare； and rabbit。 It is a curious provision； … that the sheep and goats in the hottest climates throw off their warm covering of wool； and retain little better than hair； while； removed to a cold climate； they recover their warm covering immediately。〃
〃But a goat has no wool； papa。〃
〃What are Cashmere shawls made of； William？〃
〃Very true； papa。〃
〃Most animals have a certain increase of covering as they recede further from the warm climates to the cold ones。 Wolves and foxes； hares and rabbits； change the colour of their skins to white when they get far north。 The little English stoat； which is destroyed by the gamekeepers； becomes the beautiful snow…white ermine in Russia and other cold countries。〃
〃Well； papa； I think it a great advantage to man； and a proof of the Almighty's care of him and kindness to him； in permitting all the animals most useful to him to be able to live in any country； but I don't know whether I am wrong in saying so； papa： I cannot see why an animal like the wolf should not have been kept to his own climate； like the lion and tiger； and other ferocious animals。〃
〃You have started a question； William； which I am glad you have done； rather than it should have remained on your mind； and have puzzled you。 It is true that the shepherd might agree with you； that the wolf is a nuisance； equally true that the husband man may exclaim； What is the good of thistles； and the various weeds which choke the soil？ But； my dear boy； if they are not； which I think they are； for the benefit of man； at all events they are his doom for the first transgression。 ‘Cursed is the ground for thy sake … thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee … and by the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread；' was the Almighty's sentence； and it is only by labour that the husbandman can obtain his crops； and by watchfulness that the shepherd can guard his flocks。 Labour is in itself a benefit： without exercise there would be no health； and without health there would be no enjoyment。〃
〃I see now； papa。 You have mentioned the animals which can live in all climates； will you not tell us something about other animals？〃
〃There is but one remark to make； William； which is； that animals indigenous to； that is； originally to be found in； any one portion of the globe； invariably are so fashioned as to be most fit for that country； and have the food also most proper for them growing or to be obtained in that country。 Take； for instance； the camel； an animal fashioned expressly for the country to which he is indigenous； and without whose aid all communication must have been stopped between Asia and Africa。 He is called the ‘Ship of the Desert'； for the desert is a ‘sea of sand'。 His feet are so fashioned that he can traverse the sands with facility； he can live upon the coarsest vegetable food and salt plants which are found there； and he has the capacity of carrying water in a sort of secondary stomach； for his own supply where no water is to be found。 Here is an animal wonderfully made by the Almighty for an express locality； and for the convenience of man in that country； for； in England； or elsewhere； he would be of no value。 But it is late； my dear William； so we will first thank him for all his mercies； and then to bed。〃
Chapter LVII
The next morning was one of bustle； there was packing up and every preparation for departure。 Juno was called here and called there； and was obliged to ask little Caroline to look after the kettle and call to her if it boiled over。 Master Tommy； as usual； was in every one's way； and doing more harm than good in his attempts to assist。
At last； Ready； to get rid of him； sent him down with a large bundle to the beach。 Tommy shouldered it with great importance； but when he came back； looking rather warm with the exertion； and Ready asked him to take down another； he said he was too tired； and sat down very quietly till breakfast…time； before which everything was ready。
Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno packed up the breakfast and dinner things in a basket after breakfast was over； and then Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave and the family set off on their journey； accompanied by the dogs； through the cocoa…nut grove。
William and Ready lost no time in getting through their work； the crockery； kitchen utensils； table； and chairs； were the first articles put into the boat。 The goat was then led down； and they set off with a full load； and arrived at the bay long before the party who were walking through the wood。 They landed the things on the beach； and then shoved off again to bring round the bedding； which was all that was left。 By three o'clock in the afternoon they had arrived at the bay with their second and last load； and found that the other party had been there about an hour； and Mr。 Seagrave and Juno were very busy taking the articles up from the beach。
〃Well； William；〃 said Ready； 〃this is our last trip for some time； I expect； and so much the better； for our little boat must have something done to her as soon as I can find time。〃
〃Yes； indeed； Ready； she has done her work well。 Do you know I feel as if I were coming home； now that we are back to the bay。 I really feel quite glad that we have left the tents。 I found the pigeons among the peas； Ready； so we must pick them as soon as we can。 I think there were near twenty of them。 We shall have pigeon pies next year； I expect。〃
〃If it pleases God that we live and do well；〃 replied Ready； who had his eyes fixed upon the sea。
Before night everything was in its place again in the house； and as comfortable as before； and as they were very tired； they went very early to bed； having first arranged what they should do in the morning。 At daylight Ready and William went down to the turtle…pond and speared a turtle； for now the time was coming on for turning the turtle again； and the pond would soon be filled。 Having cut it up and put a portion of it into the pot； all ready for Mrs。 Seagrave； as soon as breakfast was over they proceeded to the storehouse。
After a little consultation with Mr。 Seagrave； Ready marked out a square of cocoa…nut trees surrounding the storehouse； so as to leave a space within them of about twenty yards each side； which they considered large enough for the inclosure。 These cocoa…nut trees were to serve as the posts between which were to be fixed other cocoa…nut trees cut down； and about fourteen feet high； so as to form a palisade or stockade； which could not be climbed over； and would protect them from any attack of t