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！
Ready went for the barrico； a little cask； which held six or seven gallons of water。 He put on the head…dress and war…cloak of the savage； and； taking the barrico on his shoulder； and the spear in his hand； the poles which barred the door were softly removed by William； and after ascertaining that no one was concealed beneath the palisades； Ready pressed William's hand； and set off across the cleared space outside of the stockade； and gained the cocoa…nut trees。 William； as directed； closed the door； passed one pole through the inner door…posts for security； and remained on the watch。 He was in an awful state of suspense； listening to the slightest noise； even the slight rustling by the wind of the cocoa…nut boughs above him made him start； there he continued for some minutes； his gun ready cocked by his side。
It is time that he returned； thought William； the distance is not 100 yards； and yet I have heard no noise。 At last he thought he heard footsteps coming very softly。 Yes； it was so。 Ready was returning； and without any accident。 William had his hand upon the pole； to slip it on one side and open the door； when he beard a scuffle and a fall close to the door。 He immediately threw down the pole； and opened it just as Ready called him by name。 William seized his musket and sprang out； he found Ready struggling with a savage； who was uppermost； and with his spear at Ready's breast。 In a second William levelled and fired； and the savage fell dead。
〃Take the water in quick； William；〃 said Ready in a faint voice。 〃I will contrive to crawl in if I can。〃
William caught up the barrico of water； and took it in； he then hastened to Ready； who was on his knees。 Mr。 Seagrave； hearing the musket fired； had run out； and finding the stockade door open； followed William； and seeing him endeavouring to support Ready； caught hold of his other arm； and they led him tottering into the stockade； the door was then immediately secured； and they went to his assistance。
〃Are you hurt； Ready？〃 said William。
〃Yes； dear boy； yes； hurt to death； I fear： his spear went through my breast。 Water； quick； water！〃
〃Alas！ that we had some；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。
〃We have； papa；〃 replied William； 〃but it has cost us dearly。〃
William ran for a pannikin； and taking out the bung； poured some water out of the barrico and gave it to Ready； who drank it with eagerness。
〃Now； William； lay me down on these cocoa…nut boughs； go and give some water to the others； and when you have all drunk； then come to me again。 Don't tell Mrs。 Seagrave that I'm hurt。 Do as I beg of you。〃
〃Papa； take the water … do pray；〃 replied William； 〃I cannot leave Ready。〃
〃I will； my boy；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃but first drink yourself。〃
William； who was very faint； drank off the pannikin of water； which immediately revived him； and then； while Mr。 Seagrave hastened with some water to the children and women； occupied himself with old Ready； who breathed heavily； but did not speak。
Chapter LXV
After returning twice for water； to satisfy those in the house； Mr。 Seagrave came to the assistance of William； who had been removing Ready's clothes to ascertain the nature of the wound he had received。
〃We had better move him to where the other cocoa…nut boughs lie； he will be more comfortable there；〃 said William。
Ready whispered； 〃More water。〃 William gave him some more and then； with the assistance of his father； Ready was removed to a more comfortable place。 As soon as they laid him there； Ready turned on his side； and threw up a quantity of blood。
〃I am better now；〃 said he in a low voice； 〃bind up the wound； William； an old man like me has not much blood to spare。〃
Mr。 Seagrave and William then examined the wound； the spear had gone deep into the lungs。 William threw off his shirt； tore it up into strips； and then bound up the wound so as to stop the effusion of blood。
Ready； who at first appeared much exhausted with being moved about； gradually recovered so as to be able to speak in a low voice； when Mrs。 Seagrave came out of the house。
〃Where is that brave； kind man？〃 cried she； 〃that I may bless him and thank him。〃
Mr。 Seagrave went to her； and caught her by the arm。 〃He is hurt； my dear； and very much hurt。 I did not tell you at the time。〃
Mr。 Seagrave related what had occurred； and then led her to where Ready was lying。 Mrs。 Seagrave knelt by his side； took his hand； and burst into tears。
〃Don't weep for me；〃 said Ready； 〃my days have been numbered； I'm only sorry that I cannot any more be useful to you。〃
〃Dear good man；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃whatever may be our fates； and that is for the Almighty to decide for us； as long as I have life； what you have done for me and mine shall never be forgotten。〃
Mrs。 Seagrave then bent over him； and kissing his forehead； rose and retired weeping into the house。
〃William；〃 said Ready； 〃I can't talk now； raise my head a little； and then leave me。 You have not looked round lately。 Come again in about half an hour。 Leave me now； Mr。 Seagrave； I shall be better if I doze a little。〃
They complied with Ready's request； went up to the planks； and examined carefully all round the stockade； at last they stopped。
〃This is a sad business； William；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。
William shook his head。 〃He would not let me go；〃 replied he； 〃I wish he had。 I fear that he is much hurt。〃
〃I should say that he cannot recover； William。 We shall miss him to…morrow if they attack us。〃
〃I hardly know what to say； papa； but I feel that since we have been relieved； I am able to do twice as much as I could have done before。〃
〃I feel the same； but still with such a force against us； two people cannot do much。〃
〃If my mother and Juno load the muskets for us；〃 replied William； 〃we shall at all events do as much now as we should have been able to do if there were three； so exhausted as we should have been。〃
〃Perhaps so； at all events we will do our best； for we fight for our lives and for those most dear to us。〃
William went softly up to Ready； and found that he was dozing； he therefore did not disturb him； but returned to his father。 Now that their thirst had been appeased； they all felt the calls of hunger。 Juno and William went and cut off steaks from the turtle； and fried them； they all made a hearty meal； and perhaps never had they taken one with so much relish in their lives。
It was nearly daylight； when William； who had several times been softly up to Ready； found him with his eyes open。
〃How do you find yourself； Ready？〃 said William。
〃I am quiet and easy； William； and without much pain； but I think I am sinking； and shall not last long。 Recollect that if you are obliged to escape from the stockade； you take no heed of me； but leave me where I am。 I cannot live； and were you to move me； I should only die the sooner。〃
〃I had rather die with you； than leave you； Ready。〃
〃No； that is wrong； you must save your mother； and your brothers and sister； promise me that you will do as I wish。〃
William hesitated。
〃I point out to you your duty； William。 I know what your feelings are； but you must not give way to them； promise me this； or you will make me very miserable。〃