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e attacked。 We shall then see where they are trying for an entrance； and where to aim with our muskets。〃
〃The idea is very good； Ready；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃if it had not been for this unfortunate want of water； I really should be sanguine of beating them off。〃
〃We may suffer very much； Mr。 Seagrave； I have no doubt； but who knows what the morrow may bring forth？〃
〃True； Ready。 Do you see the savages now？〃
〃No； sir； they have left the spot where they were in consultation。 I suppose they are busy with their wounded and their dead。〃
As Ready had supposed； no further attack was made by the savages on that day； and he； William； and Mr。 Seagrave； were very busy making their arrangements； they nailed the planks on the trunks of the trees above the stockade； so as to make three sides of the stockade at least five feet higher； and almost impossible to climb up； and they prepared a large fire in a tar…barrel full of cocoa…nut leaves mixed with wood and tar； so as to burn fiercely。 Dinner or supper they had none； for there was nothing but salt pork and beef and live turtle； and； by Ready's advice； they did not eat； as it would only increase their desire to drink。
The poor children suffered much； and little Albert wailed and cried for 〃water； water。〃 Ready remained on the look…out； indeed； everything was so miserable inside of the house； that they were all glad to go out of it； they could do no good； and poor Mrs。 Seagrave had a difficult and most painful task to keep the children quiet under such severe privation； for the weather was still very warm and sultry。
Chapter LXIII
But the moaning of the children was very soon after dusk drowned by the yells of the savages； who； as Ready had prognosticated； now advanced to the night attack。
Every part of the stockade was at once assailed； and their attempts now made were to climb into it； a few spears were occasionally thrown； but it was evident that the object was to obtain an entrance by dint of numbers。 It was well that Ready had taken the precaution of nailing the deal planks above the original stockade； or there is little doubt but that the savages would have gained their object； as it was； before the flames of the fire； which Juno had lighted by Ready's order； gave them sufficient light； three or four savages had climbed up and had been shot by William and Mr。 Seagrave； as they were on the top of the stockade。
When the fire burnt brightly； the savages outside were more easily aimed at； and a great many fell in their attempts to get over。 The attack continued more than an hour； when at last； satisfied that they could not succeed； the savages once more withdrew； carrying with them； as before； their dead and wounded。
〃I trust that they will now re…embark； and leave the island；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。
〃I only wish they may； sir； it is not at all impossible； but there is no saying。 I have been thinking； Mr。 Seagrave； that we might be able to ascertain their movements by making a look…out。 You see； sir； that cocoa…nut tree；〃 continued Ready； pointing to one of those to which the palisades were fastened； 〃is much taller than any of the others： now； by driving spike…nails into the trunk at about a foot apart； we might ascend it with ease； and it would command a view of the whole bay； we then could know what the enemy were about。〃
〃Yes； that is very true； but will not anyone be very much exposed if he climbs up？〃
〃No； sir； for you see the cocoa…nut trees are cut down clear of the palisades to such a distance； that no savage could come at all near without being seen by anyone on the look…out； and giving us sufficient time to get down again before he could use his spear。〃
〃I believe that you are right there； Ready； but at all events I would not attempt to do it before daylight； as there may be some of them still lurking underneath the stockade。〃
〃Certainly there may be； sir； and therefore until daylight we will not begin。〃
Mr。 Seagrave then went into the house； Ready desired William to lie down and sleep for two or three hours； as he would watch。 In the morning； when Mr Seagrave came out； he would have a little sleep himself。
〃I can't sleep； Ready。 I'm mad with thirst；〃 replied William。
〃Yes； sir； it's very painful … I feel it myself very much； but what must those poor children feel？ I pity them most。〃
〃I pity my mother most； Ready；〃 replied William； 〃it must be agony to her to witness their sufferings； and not be able to relieve them。〃
〃Yes； indeed； it must be terrible； William； to a mother's feelings； but perhaps these savages will be off to…morrow； and then we shall forget our privations。〃
〃I trust in God that they may； Ready； but they seem very determined。〃
〃Yes； sir； iron is gold to them； and what will civilized men not do for gold？〃
In the meantime； Mr。 Seagrave had gone into the house。 He found the children still crying for water； notwithstanding the coaxing and soothing of Mrs。 Seagrave； who was shedding tears as she hung over poor little Albert。 Little Caroline only drooped； and said nothing。 Mr。 Seagrave remained for two or three hours with his wife； assisting her in pacifying the children； and soothing her to the utmost of his power； at last he went out and found old Ready on the watch。
〃Ready； I had rather a hundred times be attacked by these savages and have to defend this place； than be in that house for even five minutes； and witness the sufferings of my wife and children。〃
〃I do not doubt it； sir；〃 replied Ready； 〃but cheer up； and let us hope for the best； I think it very probable that the savages after this second defeat will leave the island。〃
〃I wish I could think so； Ready； it would make me very happy； but I have come out to take the watch； Ready。 Will you not sleep for a while？〃
〃I will； sir； if you please； take a little sleep。 Call me in two hours； it will then be daylight； and I can go to work； and you can get some repose yourself。〃
〃I am too anxious to sleep； I think so； at least。〃
〃William said he was too thirsty to sleep； sir； but； poor fellow； he is now fast enough。〃
〃I trust that boy will be spared； Ready。〃
〃I hope so too； but we are all in the hands of the Almighty。〃
Mr。 Seagrave took his station on the plank； and was left to his own reflections； that they were not of the most pleasant kind may easily be imagined。 He prayed earnestly and fervently that they might be delivered from the danger and sufferings which threatened them； and became calm and tranquil； prepared for the worst； if the worst was to happen； and confidently placing himself and his family under the care of him who orders all as he thinks best。
At daylight Ready woke up and relieved Mr。 Seagrave； who did not return to the house； but lay down on the cocoa…nut boughs； where Ready had been lying by the side of William。 As soon as Ready had got out the spike…nails and hammer； he summoned William to his assistance； and they commenced driving them into the cocoa…nut tree； one looking out in case of the savages approaching； while the other was at work。 In less than an hour they had gained the top of the tree close to the boughs； and had a very commanding view of the bay； as well as inland。 William； who was driving