masterman ready-第7部分

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　gave　the　helm　up　to　Mr。　Seagrave；　and　went　forward　to　examine。　When　they　were　within　three　or　four　miles　of　it；　Ready　came　back　from　the　forecastle　and　said；　〃I　think　I　see　my　way　pretty　clear；　sir：　you　see　we　are　to　the　windward　of　the　island；　and　there　is　always　deep　water　to　the　windward　of　these　sort　of　isles；　and　reefs　and　shoals　to　leeward；　we　must；　therefore；　find　some　little　cleft　in　the　coral　rock　to　dock　her　in；　as　it　were；　or　she　may　fall　back　into　deep　water　after　she　has　taken　the　ground；　for　sometimes　these　islands　run　up　like　a　wall；　with　forty　or　fifty　fathom　of　water　close　to　the　weather…sides　of　them；　but　I　see　a　spot　where　I　think　she　may　be　put　on　shore　with　safety。　You　see　those　three　cocoa…nut　trees　close　together　on　the　beach？　Now；　sir；　I　cannot　well　see　them　as　I　steer；　so　do　you　go　forward；　and　if　I　am　to　steer　more　to　the　right；　put　out　your　right　hand；　and　if　to　the　left；　the　same　with　your　left；　and　when　the　ship's　head　is　as　it　ought　to　be；　then　drop　the　hand　which　you　have　raised。〃

〃I　understand；　Ready；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　who　then　went　forward　and　directed　the　steering　of　the　vessel　as　they　neared　the　island。　When　they　were　within　half　a　mile　of　it；　the　colour　of　the　water　changed；　very　much　to　the　satisfaction　of　Ready；　who　knew　that　the　weather…side　of　the　island　would　not　be　so　steep　as　was　usually　the　case：　still　it　was　an　agitating　moment　as　they　ran　on　to　beach。　They　were　now　within　a　cable's　length；　and　still　the　ship　did　not　ground；　a　little　nearer；　and　there　was　a　grating　at　her　bottom　…　it　was　the　breaking　off　of　the　coral…trees　which　grew　below　like　forests　under　water　…　again　she　grated；　and　more　harshly；　then　struck；　and　then　again；　at　last　she　struck　violently；　as　the　swell　lifted　her　further　on；　and　then　remained　fast　amid　quiet。　Ready　let　go　the　helm　to　ascertain　the　position　of　the　ship。　He　looked　over　the　stern　and　around　the　ship；　and　found　that　she　was　firmly　fixed；　fore　and　aft；　upon　a　bed　of　coral　rocks。



Chapter　VIII

〃All's　well　so　far；　sir；〃　said　Ready　to　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃and　now　let　us　return　thanks　to　Heaven。〃

As　they　rose　to　their　feet　again；　after　giving　thanks　to　the　Almighty；　William　came　up　and　said；　〃Father；　my　mother　was　awakened　by　the　noise　under　the　ship's　bottom；　and　is　frightened　…　will　you　go　down　to　her？〃

〃What　is　the　matter；　my　dear；　…　and　where　have　you　all　been？〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Seagrave；　when　her　husband　went　down　below。　〃I　have　been　so　frightened　…　I　was　in　a　sound　sleep；　and　I　was　awakened　with　such　a　dreadful　noise。〃

〃Be　composed；　my　dear；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃we　have　been　in　great　danger；　and　are　now；　I　trust；　in　safety。　Tell　me；　are　you　not　better　for　your　long　sleep？〃

〃Yes；　much　better　…　much　stronger；　but　do　tell　me　what　has　happened。〃

〃Much　took　place；　dearest；　before　you　went　to　sleep；　which　was　concealed　from　you；　but　now；　as　I　expect　we　shall　all　go　on　shore　in　a　short　time〃

〃Go　on　shore；　my　dear？〃

〃Yes；　on　shore。　Now　be　calm；　and　hear　what　has　happened；　and　how　much　we　have　reason　to　be　grateful　to　Heaven。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　then　entered　into　a　detail　of　all　that　had　passed。　Mrs。　Seagrave　heard　him　without　reply；　and　when　he　had　finished；　she　threw　herself　in　his　arms　and　wept　bitterly。　Mr。　Seagrave　remained　with　his　wife；　using　all　his　efforts　to　console　her；　until　Juno　reappeared　with　the　children；　for　it　was　now　getting　late；　then　he　returned　on　deck。

〃Well；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　when　Mr。　Seagrave　went　up　to　him；　〃I　have　been　looking　well　about　me；　and　I　think　that　we　have　great　reason　to　be　thankful。　The　ship　is　fast　enough；　and　will　not　move　until　some　violent　gales　come　on　and　break　her　up；　but　of　that　there　is　no　fear　at　present：　the　little　wind　that　there　is；　is　going　down；　and　we　shall　have　a　calm　before　morning。〃

〃I　grant　that　there　is　no　immediate　danger；　Ready；　but　how　are　we　to　get　on　shore？　…　and；　when　on　shore；　how　are　we　to　exist？〃

〃I　have　thought　of　that　too；　sir；　and　I　must　have　your　assistance；　and　even　that　of　Master　William；　to　get　the　little　boat　on　board　to　repair　her：　her　bottom　is　stove　in；　it　is　true；　but　I　am　carpenter　enough　for　that；　and　with　some　well…tarred　canvas　I　can　make　her　sufficiently　water…tight　to　land　us　all　in　safety。　We　must　set　to　at　daylight。〃

〃And　when　we　get　on　shore？〃

〃Why；　Mr。　Seagrave；　where　there　are　cocoa…nut　trees　in　such　plenty　as　there　are　on　that　island；　there　is　no　fear　of　starvation；　even　if　we　had　not　the　ship's　provisions。　I　expect　a　little　difficulty　with　regard　to　water；　for　the　island　is　low　and　small；　but　we　cannot　expect　to　find　everything　exactly　as　we　wish。〃

〃I　am　thankful　to　the　Almighty　for　our　preservation；　Ready；　but　still　there　are　feelings　which　I　cannot　get　over。　Here　we　are　cast　away　upon　a　desolate　island；　which　perhaps　no　ship　may　ever　come　near；　so　that　there　is　little　chance　of　our　being　taken　off。　It　is　a　melancholy　and　cruel　fate；　Ready；　and　that　you　must　acknowledge。〃

〃Mr。　Seagrave；　as　an　old　man　compared　to　you；　I　may　venture　to　say　that　you　are　ungrateful　to　Heaven　to　give　way　to　these　repinings。　What　is　said　in　the　book　of　Job？　‘Shall　we　receive　good　of　the　Lord；　and　shall　we　not　receive　evil？'　Besides；　who　knows　whether　good　may　not　proceed　from　what　appears　evil？　I　beg　your　pardon；　Mr。　Seagrave；　I　hope　I　have　not　offended　you；　but；　indeed；　sir；　I　felt　that　it　was　my　duty　to　speak　as　I　have　done。〃

〃You　have　reproved　me　very　just＇y；　Ready；　and　I　thank　you　for　it；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃I　will　repine　no　more；　but　make　the　best　of　it。〃

〃And　trust　in　God；　sir；　who；　if　he　thinks　fit；　will　restore　you　once　more　to　your　friends；　and　increase　tenfold　your　flocks　and　herds。〃

〃That　quotation　becomes　very　apt；　Ready；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　smiling；　〃considering　that　all　my　prospects　are　in　flocks　and　herds　upon　my　land　in　New　South　Wales。　I　must　put　myself　under　your　orders；　for；　in　our　present　position；　you　are　my　superior　…　knowledge　is　power。　Can　we　do　anything　to…night？〃

〃I　can　do　a　little；　Mr。　Seagrave；　but　you　cannot　assist　me　till　tomorrow　morning；　except　indeed　to　help　me　to　drag　these　two　spars　aft；　and　then　I　can　rig　a　pair　of　sheers；　and　have　them　all　ready　for　hoisting　up　to…morrow　morning　to　get　the　boat　in。　You　see；　with　so　little　strength　on　board；　and　no　masts；　we　shall　be　obliged　to　contrive。〃

Mr。　Seagrave　assisted　Ready　in　getting　the　two　spars　aft；　and　laid　on　the　spot　which　was　required。　〃There　now；　Mr。　Seagrave；　you　may　go　down　below。　William　had　better　let　loose　the　two　dogs；　and　give　them　a　little　victuals；　for　we　have　quite　forgot　them；　poor　things。　I　shall　keep　watch　to…night；　for　I　have　plenty　to　do；　and　plenty　to　think　of；　so；　good…night；　sir。〃

Ready　remained　on　deck；　lashing　the　heads　of　the　spars；　and　fixing　his　tackles　ready　for　the　morrow。　When　all　was　done；　he　sat　down　upon　one　of　the　hen…coops　aft；　and　remained　in　deep　thought。　At　last；　tired　with　watching　and　exertion；　the　old　man　fell　asleep。　He　was　awakened　at　daylight　by　the　dogs；　who　had　been　set　at　liberty；　and　who；　after　walking　about　the　ship　and　finding　nobody；　had　then　gone　to　sleep　at　the　cabin　door。　At　daybreak　they　had　roused　up；　and　going　on　deck　had　found　old　Ready　asleep　on　the　hen…coop；　and　were　licking　his　face　in　their　joy　at　having　discovered　him。　〃Ay；〃　said　the　old　man；　as　he　got　off　the　hen…coop；　〃you'll　all　three　be　useful；　if　I　mistake　not；　by　and　by。　Down；　Vixen；　down　…　poor　creature；　you've　lost　a　good　master；　I'm　afraid。〃

〃Stop　…　now　let　me　see；〃　said　Ready；　talking　to　himself；　〃first　…　but　I'll　get　the　log　board　and　a　bit　of　chalk；　and　write　them　down；　for　my　memory　is　not　quite　so　good　as　it　was。〃

Ready　placed　the　logboard　on　the　hen…coop；　and　then　wrote　on　it　with　the　chalk：　〃Three　dogs；　two　goats；　and　Billy　the　kid　（I　think　there's　five　pigs）；　fowls　（quite　enough）；　three　or　four　pigeons　（I'm　sure）；　the　cow　（she　has　lain　down　and　won't　get　up　again；　I'm　afraid；　so　we　must　kill　her）；　and　there's　the　merino　ram　and　sheep　belonging　to　Mr。　Seagrave　…　plenty　of　live　stock。　Now；　what's　the　first　things　we　must　get　on　shore　after　we　are　all　landed　…　a　spar　and　topgallant　sail　for　a　tent；　a　coil　or　two　of　rope；　a　mattress　or　two　for　Madam　and　the　children；　two　axes；　hammer　and　nails；　something　to　eat　…　yes；　and　something　to　cut　it　with。　There；　that　will　do　for　the　present；〃　said　old　Ready；　getting　up。　〃Now；　I'll　just　light　the　fire；　get　the　water　on；　and；　while　I　think　of　it；　boil　two　or　three　pieces　of　beef　and　pork　to　go　on　shore　with　them；　and　then　I'll　call　up　Mr。　Seagrave；　for　I　reckon　it　will　be　a　hard　day's　work。〃



Chapter　IX

As　soon　as　Ready　had　executed　his　intentions；　and　had　fed　the　animals；　he　went　to　the　cabin　and　called　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William。　With　their　assistance　the　sheers　were　raised；　and　secured　in　their　place；　the　boat　was　then　hooked　on；　but；　as　one　person　was　required　to　bear　it　clear　of　the　davits　and　taffrail；　they　could　not　hoist　it　in。

〃Master　William；　will　you　run　down　to　Juno；　and　tell　her　to　come　on　deck　to　assist　us　…　we　must　all　work　now？〃

William　soon　returned　with　Juno；　who　was　a　strong　girl；　and；　with　her　assistance；　they　succeeded　in　getting　the　boat　in。

The　boat　was　turned　over；　and　Ready　commenced　his　work；　while　Mr。　Seagrave；　at　his　request；　put　the　pitch…pot　on　the　galley　fire；　all　ready　for　pitching　the　canvas　when　it　was　nailed　on。　It　was　not　till　dinner…time　that　Ready；　who　had　worked　hard；　could　patch　up　the　boat；　he　then　payed　the　canvas　and　the　seams　which　he　had　caulked　with　pitch　both　inside　and　out。

〃I　think　we　shall　do　now；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃we'll　drag　her　to　the　gangway　and　launch　her。　It's　fortunate　for　us　that　they　did　clear　away　the　gunnel；　as　we　shall　have　no　trouble。〃

A　rope　was　made　fast　to　the　boat；　to　hold　her　to　the　ship：　she　was　then　launched　over　the　gunnel　by　the　united　exertions　of　Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready；　and　to　their　great　satisfaction　she　appeared　to　leak　very　little。

〃Now；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃what　shall　we　do　first　…　take　some　things　on　shore；　or　some　of　the　children？〃

〃What　do　you　say；　Ready？〃

〃I　think　as　the　water　is　as　smooth　as　glass；　and　we　can　land　anywhere；　you　and　I　had　better　go　first　to　reconnoitre；　…　it　is　not　two　hundred　yards　to　the　beach；　and　we　shall　lose　but　little　time。〃

〃Very　well；　Re