masterman ready-第45章

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e　ground；　and　the　flags　all　ready　for　hoisting；　then　Ready　and　William　returned　to　the　fuel…stack；　and　each　carried　down　as　much　stuff　as　they　could　hold；　that　they　might　make　a　smoke　to　attract　the　notice　of　those　on　board　of　the　vessel。　All　this　did　not　occupy　much　more　than　an　hour；　during　which　the　brig　continued　her　course　steadily　towards　the　island。　When　Ready　first　saw　her　the　wind　was　light；　but　latterly　the　breeze　had　increased　very　much；　and　at　last　the　brig　took　in　her　top…gallant　sails。　The　horizon　behind　the　vessel；　which　had　been　quite　clear；　was　now　banked　up　with　clouds；　and　the　waves　curled　in　white　foam　over　the　reefs　of　rocks　extending　from　the　island。

〃The　breeze　is　getting　up　strong；　William；〃　said　Ready；　〃and　she　will　soon　be　down；　if　she　is　not　frightened　at　the　reefs；　which　she　can　see　plainer　now　the　water　is　rough；　than　she　could　before。〃

〃I　trust　she　will　not　be　afraid；〃　replied　William。　〃How　far　do　you　think　she　is　off　now？〃

〃About　five　miles；　not　more。　The　wind　has　hauled　round　more　to　the　southward；　and　it　is　banking　up　fast；　I　see。　I　fear　that　we　shall　have　another　smart　gale；　however；　it　won't　last　long。　Come；　let　us　hoist　the　flags；　we　must　not　lose　a　chance；　the　flags　will　blow　nice　and　clear　for　them　to　see　them。〃

William　and　Ready　hoisted　up　the　ensign　first；　and　below　it　the　flag；　with　the　ship's　name；　Pacific；　in　large　letters　upon　it。　〃Now　then；〃　said　Ready；　as　he　made　fast　the　halyards；　〃let　us　strike　a　light　and　make　a　smoke；　that　will　attract　their　notice。〃

As　soon　as　the　cocoa…nut　leaves　were　lighted；　Ready　and　William　threw　water　upon　them；　so　as　to　damp　them　and　procure　a　heavy　column　of　smoke。　The　vessel　approached　rapidly；　and　they　were　watching　her　in　silent　suspense；　when　they　perceived　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Seagrave；　Juno　carrying　Albert；　with　Tommy　and　Caroline　running　down　as　fast　as　they　could　to　the　beach。　The　fact　was；　that　Tommy；　tired　of　work；　had　gone　out　of　the　house　and　walked　towards　the　beach；　there　he　perceived；　first；　the　flags　hoisted；　and　then　he　detected　the　vessel　off　the　island。　He　immediately　ran　back　to　the　house；　crying　out；　〃Papa！　Mamma！　Captain　Osborn　come　back　…　come　back　in　a　big　ship。〃　At　this　announcement；　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Seagrave　ran　out　of　the　house；　perceived　the　vessel　and　the　flags　flying；　and　ran　as　fast　as　they　could　down　to　where　William　and　Ready　were　standing　by　the　flag…staff。

〃Oh！　Ready；　why　did　you　not　tell　us　this　before？〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃I　wish　you　had　not　known　it　now；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　〃but；　however；　it　can't　be　helped；　it　was　done　out　of　kindness；　Mr。　Seagrave。〃

〃Yes；　indeed　it　was；　papa。〃

Mrs。　Seagrave　dropped　down　on　the　rock；　and　burst　into　tears。　Mr。　Seagrave　was　equally　excited。

〃Does　she　see　us；　Ready？〃　exclaimed　he　at　last。

〃No；　sir；　not　yet；　and　I　waited　till　she　did；　before　I　made　it　known　to　you；〃　replied　Ready。

〃She　is　altering　her　course；　Ready；〃　said　William。

〃Yes；　sir；　she　has　hauled　to　the　wind；　she　is　afraid　of　coming　too　near　to　the　reefs。〃

〃Surely　she　is　not　leaving　us！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃No；　madam；　but　she　does　not　see　us　yet。〃

〃She　does！　she　does！〃　cried　William；　throwing　up　his　hat；　〃see；　she　hoists　her　ensign。〃

〃Very　true；　sir；　she　does　see　us。　Thanks　be　to　God！〃

Mr。　Seagrave　embraced　his　wife；　who　threw　herself　sobbing　into　his　arms；　kissed　his　children　with　rapture；　and　wrung　old　Ready's　hand。　He　was　almost　frantic　with　joy。　William　was　equally　delighted。

As　soon　as　they　were　a　little　more　composed；　Ready　observed：　〃Mr。　Seagrave；　that　they　have　seen　us　is　certain；　and　what　we　must　now　do　is　to　get　our　own　boat　out　of　the　sand。　We　know　the　passage　through　the　reefs；　and　they　do　not。　I　doubt　if　they　will；　however；　venture　to　send　a　boat　on　shore；　until　the　wind　moderates　a　little。　You　see；　sir；　it　is　blowing　up　very　strong　just　now。〃

〃But　you　don't　think　it　will　blow　harder；　Ready？〃

〃I　am　sorry　to　say；　sir；　that　I　do。　It　looks　very　threatening　to　the　southward；　and　until　the　gale　is　over；　they　will　not　venture　near　an　island　so　surrounded　with　rocks。　It　would　be　very　imprudent　if　they　did。　However；　sir；　a　few　hours　will　decide。〃

〃But；　surely；〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave；　〃even　if　it　does　blow；　they　will　not　leave　the　island　without　taking　us　off。　They　will　come　after　the　gale　is　over。〃

〃Yes；　madam；　if　they　can；　I　do　think　they　will；　but　God　knows；　some　men　have　hard　hearts；　and　feel　little　for　the　misery　of　others。〃

The　brig　had；　in　the　meantime；　kept　away　again；　as　if　she　was　running　in；　but　very　soon　afterwards　she　hauled　to　the　wind；　with　her　head　to　the　northward；　and　stood　away　from　the　island。

〃She　is　leaving　us；〃　exclaimed　William；　mournfully。

〃Hard…hearted　wretches！〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　with　indignation。

〃You　are　wrong　to　say　that；　sir；〃　replied　Ready：　〃excuse　me；　Mr。　Seagrave；　for　being　so　bold；　but　the　fact　is；　that　if　I　was　in　command　of　that　vessel；　I　should　do　just　as　they　have　done。　The　gale　rises　fast；　and　it　would　be　very　dangerous　for　them　to　remain　where　they　now　are。　It　does　not　at　all　prove　that　they　intend　to　leave　us；　they　but　consult　their　own　safety；　and；　when　the　gale　is　over；　we　shall；　I　trust；　see　them　again。〃

No　reply　was　made　to　Ready's　judicious　remarks。　The　Seagraves　only　saw　that　the　vessel　was　leaving　them；　and　their　hearts　sank。　They　watched　her　in　silence；　and　as　she　gradually　diminished　to　the　view；　so　did　their　hopes　depart　from　them。　The　wind　was　now　fierce；　and　a　heavy　squall；　with　rain；　obscured　the　offing；　and　the　vessel　was　no　longer　to　be　distinguished。　Mr。　Seagrave　turned　to　his　wife；　and　mournfully　offered　her　his　arm。　They　walked　away　from　the　beach　without　speaking；　the　remainder　of　the　party；　with　the　exception　of　old　Ready；　followed　them。　Ready　remained　some　time　with　his　eyes　in　the　direction　where　the　vessel　was　last　seen。　At　last　he　hauled　down　the　ensign　and　flag；　and；　throwing　them　over　his　shoulder；　followed　the　disconsolate　party　to　the　house。



Chapter　XLIV

When　Ready　arrived；　he　found　them　all　plunged　in　such　deep　distress；　that　he　did　not　consider　it　advisable　to　say　anything。　The　evening　closed　in；　it　was　time　to　retire。　The　countenance　of　Mr。　Seagrave　was　not　only　gloomy；　but　morose。　The　hour　for　retiring　to　rest　had　long　passed　when　Ready　broke　the　silence　by　saying；　〃Surely；　you　do　not　intend　to　sit　up　all　night；　Mr。　Seagrave？〃

〃Oh；　no！　there's　no　use　sitting　up　now；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　rising　up　impatiently。　〃Come；　my　dear；　let　us　go　to　bed。〃

Mrs。　Seagrave　rose；　and　retired　behind　the　canvas　screen。　Her　husband　seemed　as　if　he　was　about　to　follow　her；　when　Ready；　without　speaking；　laid　the　Bible　on　the　table　before　him。　Mr。　Seagrave　did　not　appear　to　notice　it；　but　William　touched　his　father's　arm；　pointed　to　the　book；　and　then　went　inside　of　the　screen；　and　led　out　his　mother。

〃God　forgive　me！〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Seagrave。　〃In　my　selfishness　and　discontent　I　had　forgotten〃

〃Yes；　sir；　you　had　forgotten　those　words；　‘Come　unto　me；　all　ye　who　are　weary　and　heavy　laden；　and　I　will　give　you　rest。'〃

〃I　am　ashamed　of　myself；〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave；　bursting　into　tears。

Mr。　Seagrave　opened　the　Bible；　and　read　the　psalm。　As　soon　as　he　had　closed　the　book；　〃good　night〃　were　all　the　words　that　passed；　and　they　all　retired　to　rest。

During　the　night；　the　wind　howled　and　the　rain　beat　down。　The　children　slept　soundly；　but　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Seagrave；　Ready；　and　William　were　awake　during　the　whole　of　the　night；　listening　to　the　storm；　and　occupied　with　their　own　thoughts。

Ready　was　dressed　before　daylight；　and　out　on　the　beach　before　the　sun　had　risen。　The　gale　was　at　its　height；　and　after　a　careful　survey　with　his　telescope；　he　could　see　nothing　of　the　vessel。　He　remained　on　the　beach　till　breakfast…time；　when　he　was　summoned　by　William；　and　returned　to　the　house。　He　found　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Seagrave　up；　and　more　composed　than　they　were　the　evening　before；　and　they　welcomed　him　warmly。

〃I　fear；　Ready；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃that　you　have　no　good　news　for　us。〃

〃No；　sir；　nor　can　you　expect　any　good　news　until　after　the　gale　is　over。　The　vessel　could　not　remain　here　during　the　gale　…　that　is　certain；　and　there　is　no　saying　what　the　effects　of　the　gale　may　be。　She　may　lie