masterman ready-第16章
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； and to drink copiously。
〃Look at them！ how they enjoy it！ I don't think any Israelite felt more grateful when Moses struck the rock than I do now； William。 This was the one thing wanting； but it was the one thing indispensable。 Now we have everything we can wish for on this island； and if we are only content； we may be happy … ay； much happier than are those who are worrying themselves to heap up riches； not knowing who shall gather them。 See； the poor animals have had enough at last。 Now； shall we go back to breakfast？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied William： 〃I shall enjoy it now； and have a good drink of water myself。〃
〃That is a plenteous spring； depend upon it；〃 said Ready； as they walked back to where they had slept and left their knapsacks； 〃but we must clear it out further up among the trees； where the sun cannot reach it； and then it will be cool； and not be dried up。 We shall have plenty of work for the next year at least； if we remain here。 Where we are now will be a capital spot to build our house on。〃
As soon as the breakfast was over； Ready said； 〃Now we must go down and explore the other point； for you see； William； I have not yet found a passage through the reef； and as our little boat must come round this side of the island； it is at the point on this side that I must try to find an entrance。 When I was on the opposite point it did appear to me that the water was not broken close to this point； and should there be a passage we shall be very fortunate。〃
They soon arrived at the end of the point of land； and found that Ready was not wrong in his supposition； the water was deep； and there was a passage many yards wide。 The sea was so smooth； and the water so clear； that they could see down to the rocky bottom； and watched the fish as they darted along。 〃Look there！〃 said Willy； pointing out about fifty yards from the beach； 〃a great shark； Ready！〃
〃Yes； I see him； sir；〃 replied Ready： 〃there's plenty of them here； depend upon it； and you must be very careful how you get into the water： the sharks always keep to the leeward of the island； and for one where Juno bathed your little brother； you will find fifty here。 I'm quite satisfied now； William； we shall do very well； and all we have now to think of is moving away from the other side of the island as fast as possible。〃
〃Shall we go back to…day？〃
〃Yes； I think so； for we shall only be idle here。 It is not twelve o'clock； I should think； and we shall have plenty of time。 I think we had better start at once； we will leave the spade and axe here； for it is no use taking them back again。 The musket I will take along。 But first let us go back and look at the spring； and see how the water flows。〃
As they walked along the edge of the sandy beach they found the sea…birds hovering close to them： all of a sudden a large shoal of fish threw themselves high and dry on the sand； and they were followed by several of a larger size； which also lay flapping on the beach； while the sea…birds； darting down close to the feet of William and Ready； and seizing up the fish； flew away with them。
〃How very strange！〃 said William； surprised。
〃Yes； sir； but you see how it is … the small fish were chased by the larger ones； which are bonettas； and in their fright ran upon the beach。 These bonettas were so anxious to catch them； that they came on shore also； and then the gannets picked them all up。〃
They found the hole which Ready had dug quite full of water； and； tasting it； it proved very sweet and good。 Overjoyed at this discovery； they covered up the articles they agreed to leave behind them with some boughs under the notched cocoa…nut trees； and； calling the dogs； set off on their journey back again to the cove。
Chapter XVII
Guided by the marks made on the trees； William and Ready made rapid progress in their return； and in less than two hours found themselves almost clear of the wood which had taken them nearly eight hours to force their way through the day before。
〃I feel the wind now； Ready；〃 observed William； 〃and we must be nearly through the wood； but it appears to me to be very dark。〃
〃I was just thinking the same；〃 replied Ready。 〃I should not wonder if there is a storm brewing up； and if so； the sooner we are back again the better。〃
As they proceeded； the rustling and waving of the boughs of the trees； and ever and anon a gust of wind； followed by a moaning and creaking sound； proved that such was the fact； and as they emerged from the grove； they perceived that the sky； as it became visible to them； was of one dark leaden hue； and no longer of the brilliant blue which it usually had presented to their sight。
〃There is indeed a gale coming on；〃 said Ready； as they cleared the wood： 〃let us go on to the tents as fast as possible； for we must see that all is as secure as we can make it。〃
The dogs now bounded forward； and at their appearance at the tents Mr。 Seagrave and Juno came out； and seeing Ready and William advancing； made known the welcome tidings to Mrs。 Seagrave； who； with the children； had remained within。 In a moment more William was pressed in his mother's arms。
〃I am glad that you are come back； Ready；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； shaking him by the hand after he had embraced William； 〃for I fear that bad weather is coming on。〃
〃I am sure of it；〃 replied Ready； 〃and we must expect a blusterous night。 This will be one of the storms which are forerunners of the rainy season。 However； we have good news for you； and must only take this as a warning to hasten our departure as soon as possible。 We shall have fine weather after this for a month or so； although we must expect a breeze now and then。 But we must work hard and do our best； and now； if you please； you and Juno； William and I； will go and haul up the boat as far from the beach as we possibly can； for the waves will be high and run a long way up； and our boat will be our main dependence soon。〃
The four went down as soon as Ready had sawed the ends of the spars which had been cut off； into three rollers； to fix under the keel； with the help afforded by them； the boat was soon hauled up high into the brushwood； where it was considered by Ready to be perfectly safe。
〃I meant to have worked upon her immediately；〃 observed Ready； 〃but I must wait now till the gale is over； and I did hope to have got on board once more； and looked after some things which I have since remembered would have been useful； but I strongly suspect；〃 continued he； looking at the weather； 〃that we shall never go on board of the poor vessel again。 Hear the moaning of the coming storm； sir； look how the sea…birds wheel about and scream； as if to proclaim her doom； but we must not wait here … the tents must be made more secure； for they will have to hold up against no small force of wind； if I mistake not。〃
Ready； assisted by Mr。 Seagrave； now got out some heavy canvas and lines； and commenced putting it as a double cover over the tents； to keep out the rain； they also secured the tents with guys and stays of rope； so as to prevent them being blown down； while Juno with a shovel deepened the trench which had been made round the tents； so that the water might run off more easily。 During the time they were at work； Ready had made Mr。 Seagrave acquainted with what they had discovered and done during the exploring expedition； and the adventure with the pigs made them all laugh heartily。
As the sun went down； the weather threatened still more； the wind blew strong； and the rocky beach was lashed by the waves and white with spray； while the surf roared as it poured in and broke upon the sand in the cove。 The whole family had retired to bed except Ready； who said that he would watch the weather a little before he turned in。 The old man walked towards the beach； and leaned against the gunnel of the boat； and there he remained with his keen gray eye fixed upon the distance； which was now one opaque mass； except where the white foam of the waters gleamed through the darkness of the night！ 〃Yes！〃 thought he； 〃the winds and the waves are summoned to do his bidding； and evenly do they work together … as one rises； so does the other； when one howls； the other roars in concert … hand in hand they go in their fury an
