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The next day was fully employed in changing their residence； and shifting over the bedding and utensils； and that night they slept within the stockade。 Ready had run up a very neat little outhouse of plank； as a kitchen for Juno； and another week was fully employed as follows： the stores were divided； those of least consequence； and the salt provisions； flour； and the garden produce； &c。； were put into the old house； the casks of powder and most of the cartridges were also put there for security； but a cask of beef； of pork； and flour； all the iron…work and nails； canvas； &c。； were stowed away for the present under the new house； which had； when built as a storehouse； been raised four feet from the ground to make a shelter for the stock。 This was very spacious； and； of course； quite dry； and contained all they wished to put in。 Ready also took care； by degrees； to fill the large water…butt full of water； and had fixed into the bottom a spigot for drawing the water off。
〃Well； Mr。 Seagrave；〃 said Ready on the Saturday； 〃we have done a good many hard weeks' work lately； but this is the last of them。 We are now comfortably settled in our new house： our stores are all under cover； and safe from the weather； and so we may now take things a little easier。 William and I must repair the boat； so that we may take a trip round to examine how the stock and yams get on。〃
〃And the bananas and the guavas；〃 said Tommy。
〃Why； we have quite forgotten all about them；〃 observed Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃Yes； ma am； we have been so busy； that it is no wonder； however； there may be some left yet； and I will go round as soon as the boat is able to swim； and bring all I can find。〃
〃We must put our seeds and potatoes in before the rainy season； Ready。〃
〃It will be better； sir； if we can find time； as we shall not have much more fine weather now； at all events； we can get them in at intervals when the weather is fine。 Now I shall go my rounds for turtle。 Good…night； ma'am； … good…night； sir。 Come； William。〃
William and Ready succeeded in turning six more turtles to add to their stock； and having taken a careful survey with the telescope； they came back； fastened the door of the stockade； and went to bed。
Chapter LX
Another week passed away； during which Ready repaired the boat； and William and Mr。 Seagrave were employed in digging up the garden。 It was also a very busy week at the house； as they had not washed linen for some time。 Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno； and even little Caroline were hard at work； and Tommy was more useful than ever he had been； going for the water as they required it； and watching little Albert。 Indeed； he was so active； that Mrs。 Seagrave praised him before his papa； and Tommy was quite proud。
On the Monday William and Ready set off in the boat to the little harbour； and found all the stock doing well。 Many of the bananas and guavas had ripened and withered； but there were enough left to fill the boat half full。
〃We cannot do better than to leave the stock where it is at present； William； they can run into the cocoa…nut grove for shelter if there is a storm； and there is feed enough for ten times as many。〃
〃Yes； but will you not dig up a few yams first？〃
〃I had quite forgotten it； William。 I will go for the spade。〃
Having procured the yams； they set off on their return。 Before they arrived at the bay； the sky clouded over and threatened a storm。 It did not； however； rain till after they had landed； when a small shower announced the commencement of the rainy season。 The fruit was very welcome to all of them； it was so long since they had tasted any。
The following day was beautifully fine； and everything appeared refreshed by the rain which had fallen。 It was； however； agreed； that Ready and William should go round the next morning； bring home the tents； and as many yams as the boat could carry。 William and Ready went out at night as usual； when Ready observed that the wind had chopped round to the eastward。
〃That will be bad for us to…morrow； Ready；〃 replied William。 〃We may sail to the harbour； but we shall have to pull back with the loaded boat。〃
〃I trust it will be no worse than that； at all events；〃 replied Ready； 〃but we must now return； and go to bed。 I shall be up by daylight； so you need not wake without you like。〃
〃I can't help waking；〃 replied William； 〃and I shall； therefore； be up with you。〃
〃Very well； I am always glad of your company。〃
The next morning； just before the day dawned； Ready and William unfastened the door of the stockade； and went down to the beach。 The wind was still to the eastward； and blowing rather fresh； and the sky was cloudy。 As the sun rose； Ready； as usual； had his telescope with him； and looked through it at the offing to the eastward。 As he kept the spy…glass to his eye for some time without speaking； William said：
〃Do you see anything； Ready； that you look so long in that direction？〃
〃Either my old eyes deceive me； or I fear that I do；〃 replied Ready； 〃but a few minutes more will decide。〃
There was a bank of clouds on the horizon to the eastward； but as soon as the sun had risen above them； Ready； who had the telescope fixed in the same direction； said：
〃Yes； William； I am right。 I thought that those dark patches I saw there were brown grass sails。〃
〃Sails of what； Ready？〃 said William； hastily。
〃Of the Indian canoes； I knew that they would come。 Take the glass and look yourself； my eye is quite dim from straining it so long。〃
〃Yes； I have them now；〃 replied William； with his eye to the glass。 At last he said：
〃Why； there are twenty or thirty of them； Ready； at least。〃
〃And with twenty or thirty men in each too； William。〃
〃What must we do； Ready？ How frightened my poor mother will be！ I'm afraid we can do nothing against such a number。〃
〃Yes； William； we can do a great deal； and we must do a great deal。 That there are hundreds of savages there is no doubt； but recollect that we have a stockade； which they cannot easily climb over； and plenty of firearms and ammunition； so that we can make a good fight of it； and perhaps beat them off； for they have nothing but clubs and spears。〃
〃How fast they come down； Ready； why； they will be here in an hour。〃
〃No； sir； nor in two hours either； those are very large canoes。 However； there is no time to be lost。 While I watch them for a few minutes till I make them more clearly out； do you run up to the house and beckon your father to come down to me； and then； William； get all the muskets ready； and bring the casks of powder； and of made…up cartridges； from the old house into the stockade。 Call Juno； and she will help you。 We shall have time enough to do everything。 After you have done that； you had better come down and join us。〃
In a very few minutes after William ran up to the house； Mr。 Seagrave made his appearance。
〃Ready； there is danger； I'm sure； William would not tell me； I presume； because he was afraid of alarming his mother。 What is it？〃
〃It is； Mr。 Seagrave； that the savages are now coming down upon us in large force； perhaps five or six hundred of them； and that we shall have to defend ourselves with might and main。〃
〃Do you think we have any ch