masterman ready-第20章
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s I have brought in the boat。〃
〃Shall we let the goats and sheep loose; Ready?〃
〃Oh; yes; … there is no fear of their straying; the herbage here is better than on the other side; and there is plenty of it。〃
〃Well; I will let Nanny go as soon as Juno has milked her。 Now; Juno; let us see how many stones we can carry at once。〃
In an hour the fireplace was made; Ready had done all that he could; the goats were milked and let loose; and then William and Juno set off on their journey back。
Ready went down to the beach。 On his arrival there; he observed a small turtle: creeping up softly he got between it and the water; and succeeded in turning it over。 〃That will do for to…morrow;〃 said he; as he stepped into the boat; and laying hold of the oars; he pulled out of the bay to return to the cove。
Chapter XXII
Ready arrived at the cove; and proceeded to the tents; where he found the whole party listening to William; who was detailing what had been done。 The arrangements for the next day were made as soon as Ready joined them。 They then separated for the night; but Ready and William remained until it was dark; to catch the fowls and tie their legs; ready for their being put in the boat the next morning。 At daylight all were summoned to dress themselves as soon as possible; as Ready wanted to take down the tent in which Mrs。 Seagrave and the children had slept。 For; with the exception of Tommy; the others had slept upon some canvas; which they had spread out under the cocoa…nut trees。 As soon as Mrs。 Seagrave was dressed; the tent was taken down; and; with all the bedding; put into the boat。 Then; when they had breakfasted; the plates; knives and forks; and some other necessaries; were also put in; Ready laid the fowls on the top of all; and set off by himself for their new location。
After he was gone; the rest of the party prepared for their journey through the cocoa…nut grove。 William led the way; with the three dogs close to his heels; Mr。 Seagrave with the baby in his arms; Juno with little Caroline; and Mrs。 Seagrave with Master Tommy holding her hand。 They cast a last look round at the cove; and the fragments of the wreck and cargo; strewed about in every direction; and then turned into the wood。 Ready arrived at the point; and was again on shore in less than two hours after he had set off。 As soon as the boat was safe in; he did not wait to land his cargo; but going up to the turtle which he had turned the day before; he killed it; and cleaned it on the beach。 He then went to where they had built up the fireplace with stones; made a fire; filled the iron saucepan full of water; and set it on to boil; he then cut up a portion of the turtle; and put it into the pot; with some slices of salt pork; covered it up; and left it to boil; and having hung up the rest of the turtle in the shade; he went back to the beach to unload the boat。 He released the poor fowls; and they were soon busy seeking for food。
It was two or three hours before he had carried everything up; for it was a good distance; and some of the articles were heavy; and the old man was not sorry when he had finished his task; and could sit down to rest himself。
〃It's almost time they arrived;〃 thought Ready; 〃they must have started nearly four hours ago。〃 Ready remained a quarter of an hour more watching the fire; and occasionally skimming the top of the pot; when the three dogs came bounding towards him。
〃Well; they are not far off now;〃 observed Old Ready。
In six or seven minutes afterwards the party made their appearance; very hot and very fatigued。 It appeared that poor little Caroline had been tired out; and Juno had to carry her; then Mrs。 Seagrave complained of fatigue; and they had to rest a quarter of an hour; then Tommy; who refused to remain with his mamma; and had been running backwards and forwards from one to the other; had declared that he was tired; and that someone must carry him; but there was no one to carry him; so he began to cry until they stopped for another quarter of an hour till he was rested; then as soon as they went on again he again complained of being tired。 William then carried him pickaback for some time; and in so doing he missed the blaze…cut on the trees; and it was a long while before he could find it again; then baby became hungry; and he cried; and little Caroline was frightened at being so long in the wood; and she cried。 But finally they got on better; and arrived at last so warm and exhausted; that Mrs。 Seagrave went into the tent with the children to repose a little; before she could even look at the place which was to be their future residence。
〃I think;〃 said Mr。 Seagrave; 〃that this little journey of to…day has been a pretty good proof of how helpless we should have been without you; Ready。〃
〃I am glad that you are here; sir;〃 replied Ready; 〃it is a weight off my mind; now you will get on better。 I think that after a while you may live very comfortably here; but still we have much to do。 As soon as Madam has rested; we will have our dinner and then fix up our own tent; which will be quite enough after such a hard day's work。〃
〃Do you go back to the cove to…morrow; Ready?〃
〃Yes; sir; we want our stores here; it will take about three trips to empty our storehouses; and as to the other things; we can examine them and bring them down at our leisure。 As soon as I have made those three trips in the boat; we can then work here altogether。〃
〃But I can do something in the meantime。〃
〃Oh yes; there is plenty for you to do。〃
Mr。 Seagrave went into the tent; and found his wife much refreshed; but the children had all fallen fast asleep on the beds。 They waited another half…hour; and then woke Tommy and Caroline; that they might all sit down to dinner。
〃Dear me;〃 exclaimed William; as Ready took the cover off the saucepan; 〃what is it that you have so good there?〃
〃It's a treat I have prepared for you all;〃 replied Ready。 〃I know that you are tired of salt meat; so now you are going to feed like aldermen。〃
〃Why; what is it; Ready?〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave; 〃it smells very good。〃
〃It is turtle…soup; ma'am; and I hope you will like it; for; if you do; you may often have it; now that you are on this side of the island。〃
〃Indeed; it really is excellent; but it wants a little salt。 Have you any salt; Juno?〃
〃Got a little; ma'am。 Very little left;〃 replied Juno。
〃What shall we do when all our salt is gone?〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃Juno must get some more;〃 replied Ready。
〃How I get salt? … hab none left;〃 replied Juno; looking at Ready。
〃There's plenty out there; Juno;〃 said Mr。 Seagrave; pointing to the sea。
〃I don't know where;〃 said Juno; looking in that direction。
〃What do you mean; my dear?〃 inquired Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃I only mean if we want salt we can have as much as we please by boiling down salt…water in the kettle; or else making a salt…pan in the rocks; and obtaining it by the sun drying up the water and leaving the salt。 Salt is always procured in that way; either by evaporation; or boiling。〃
〃I'll soon arrange that for you; ma'am;〃 said Ready; 〃and show Juno how to get it when she wants it。〃
〃I am very glad to hear you say so; for I should feel the want of salt very much;〃 replied Mrs。 Seagrave; 〃I really never enjoyed a dinner so much as I have to…day。〃
The soup was pronounced excellent by everybody。 As soon as they had finished; Mrs。 Seagrave remained with the children; and Ready and Mr。 Seagrave; assisted by Juno and William; got the second tent up; and everything ready for the night。 They then all assembled; and returned thanks to God for their having gained their new abode; and; tired out with the fatigue of the day; were soon fast asleep。
Chapter XXIII
Mr。 Seagrave was the first up on the ensuing morning; and when Ready came out of the tent; he said to him; 〃Do you know; Ready; I feel much happier and my mind much more at ease since I find myself here。 On the other side of the island everything reminded me that we had been shipwrecked; and I could not help thinking of home and my own country; but here we appear as if we had been long settled; and as if we had come here by choice。〃
〃I trust that feeling will be stronger every