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masterman ready-第45部分

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〃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 the savages。

As soon as the line of trees had been marked out; they set to work cutting down all the trees within the line; and then outside to a distance of ten yards; so as to give them room for their work。 Ready cut out cross…pieces; to nail from tree to tree; and now they found the advantage of having saved so many of the large spike nails; without which they never could have made so good or so quick a job of it。 Mr。 Seagrave cut down trees; William and Juno sawed them off at a proper length with one of the cross…cut saws; and then carried them to Ready。 They soon had more cut out than be could use; and then they dragged away the tops and branches; and piled them at a distance on the ground; to use as winter fuel; while Mr。 Seagrave helped Ready in fixing up the palisades。 They worked very hard that day; and were not sorry to go to bed。 Ready; however; took an opportunity to speak to William。

〃I think;〃 said he; 〃that now we are here again; it will be necessary to keep a sort of night…watch; in case of accident。 I shall not go to bed till it is quite dark; which it will be by nine o'clock; and shall have my glass to examine the offing the last thing。 You see; there is little fear of the savages coming here in the night…time; but they may just before night or very early in the morning; so one of us must be up again before daybreak; that is between two and three o'clock in the morning; to see if there is anything to be seen of them; if there is not; of course we may go to bed again; as they cannot arrive till many hours afterwards; and we must watch the wind and weather; if it is favourable for them to come to us; which; indeed; the wind will not be except at the commencement of the rainy season but it may be very light; and then they would not care for its being against them。 I've been thinking of it; William; a great deal; and my idea is; that it will be at the beginning of the rainy season that we shall have a visit; if we have one at all; for you see that the wind don't blow regular from one quarter; as it does now; but is variable; and then they can make sail in their canoes; and come here easily; instead of pulling between thirty and forty miles; which is hard work against wind and current。 Still; we must not be careless and we must keep a good look…out even now。 I don't want to fret your father and Mrs。 Seagrave with my fears on the subject; but I tell you what I really think; and what we ought to do。〃

〃I agree with you; Ready; and I will take care to be up before daybreak; and examine very carefully with the spy…glass as soon as the day dawns。 You take the night part; and I will do the morning part of the watching。〃



Chapter LVIII

For nearly a fortnight; the work upon the stockade continued without any intermission; when a circumstance occurred which created the greatest alarm and excitement。 One day; as the party returned to dinner; Mrs。 Seagrave said with surprise; 〃Why; was not Tommy with you?〃

〃No;〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave; 〃he has not been near us all day; he went with us after breakfast; but did not remain a quarter of an hour。〃

〃No; Missy; I tell Massa Tommy to help carry cocoa…nut leaves; and then he go away directly。〃

〃Goodness! where can he be?〃 exclaimed Mrs。 Seagrave; alarmed。

〃I dare say he is picking up shells on the beach; ma'am;〃 replied Ready; 〃or perhaps he is in the garden。 I will go and see。〃

〃I see him … oh; mercy! … I see him;〃 said Juno; pointing with her finger; 〃he in the boat; and boat go to sea!〃

It was but too true: there was Tommy in the boat; and the boat had drifted from the beach; and was now a cable's length away from it; among the breakers。

William ran off like the wind; followed close by Mr。 Seagrave and Ready; and at a distance by Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno; indeed; there was no time to be lost; for the wind was off the shore; and in a short time the boat would have been out to sea。

William; as soon as he arrived at the beach; threw off his hat and jacket and dashed into the water。 He was already up to his middle; when old Ready; who had followed him; caught him by the arm and said:

〃William; go back immediately。 I insist upon it。 Your going can do no good; as you do not understand the thing so well as I do; and go I will; so there will be double risk for nothing。 Mr。 Seagrave; order him back。 He will obey you。 I insist upon it; sir。〃

〃William;〃 said Mr。 Seagrave; 〃come back immediately; I command you。〃

William obeyed; but before he was clear of the water Ready had swam across to the first rocks on the reef; and was now dashing through the pools between the rocks; towards the boat。

〃Oh; father!〃 said William; 〃if that good old man is lost; I shall never forgive myself。 Look; father; one … two … three sharks; here; close to us。 He has no chance。 See; he is again in deep water。 God protect him!〃

In the meantime; Mr。 Seagrave; whose wife was now by his side; after glancing his eye a moment at the sharks; which were within a few feet of the beach; had kept his gaze steadily upon Ready's movements。 If he passed through the passage of deep water between the rocks he might be considered safe; as the boat was now beating on a reef on the other side; where the water was shallow。 It was a moment of intense anxiety。 At last Ready had gained the reef; and had his hands upon the rocks; and was climbing on them。

〃He is safe; is he not?〃 whispered Mrs。 Seagrave faintly。

〃Yes; now I think he is;〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave; as Ready had gained a footing on the rocks; where the water was but a little above his ankles。 〃I think there is no deep water between him and the boat。〃

In another minute Ready was over the rocks; and had seized the gunnel of the boat。

〃He is in the boat;〃 cried William。 〃Thank God!〃

〃Yes; we must thank God; and that fervently;〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。 〃Look at those monsters;〃 continued he; pointing to the sharks; 〃how quick they swim to and fro; they have scented their prey on the water。 It is fortunate they are here。〃

〃See; he has the boat…hook; and is pushing the boat off the reef into the deep water。 Oh! he is quite safe now。〃

Such; however; was not the case。 The boat had been beating on the rocks of the reef; and had knocked a hole in her bottom; and as soon as Ready had forced the boat into deep water; she began to fill immediately。 Ready pushed as hard as he could with the boat…hook; and tearing off his neck…cloth; forced as much as he could of it into the hole。 This saved them; but the boat was up to the thwarts with water; and the least motion on the part of Ready; or even Tommy; would have upset her immediately; and they had still to pass the deep water between the reef and the beach; where the sharks were swimming。 Ready; who perceived his danger; called out to them to throw large stones at the sharks as fast as they could; to drive them away。 This was immediately done by Mr。 Seagrave and William; aided by Juno and Mrs。 Seagrave。

The pelting of the stones had the desired effect。 The sharks swam away; and Ready passed through to the beach; and the boat grounded just as she was up to the gunnel in water; and about to turn over。 He handed out Tommy; who was so dreadfully frightened that he could not cry。

As soon as Ready landed; William sprang into his arms; crying; 〃Thank God; you are safe; Ready!〃 Mrs。 Seagrave; overpowered by her feelings; sank her head upon William's shoulder; and burst into tears。

〃It was touch and go; William;〃 observed Ready; as they walked up to the house; preceded by Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave。 〃How much mischief may be created by a thoughtless boy! However; one can't put old heads on young shoulders; and so Tommy must be forgiven。〃

〃He has been punished enough; as far as fright goes;〃 replied William; 〃I'll answer for it; he'll never get into the boat again by himself。〃

〃No; I think not。 But now; William; you saw how nearly I was swamped in the boat; indeed; it was only by his mercy that I was preserved; but taking the question merely as far as our endeavours could help us; do you think that if you had gained the boat instead of me; you would have brought her to the beach as I did?〃

〃No; Ready; I never could have managed her so skilfully as you did; and therefore I must have been swamped before I got on shore。〃

〃Well; William; as I am an old sailor and you are not; therefore it is not vanity which makes me say that you could not have managed the boat so well as I did。 Now; as I had not three or four seconds to spare; you; as you say; must have been swamped。 I mention this to prove to you that I was right in desiring your father to order you back。〃

〃Certainly; Ready; but Tommy is my brother; and I felt that it was more my duty than yours to risk my life for him。〃

〃A very proper feeling; William; but you have other duties; which are; to look after your father and mother; and be a comfort and solace to them。 Your life is more valuable than mine。 I am an old man on the brink of the grave; and a year or two makes no difference; but your life is; I hope; of more consequence。〃

That evening the prayers were more than usually solemn; and the thanksgivings more heartf
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