masterman ready-第59章
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Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave then joined William； Beady； and Juno； who had already proceeded to the old house。 The children were all still in bed and asleep； so that there was no occasion for any one to watch them。
Chapter LXI
As they could have a very good view of the canoes from where the old house stood； Ready examined them with his glass every time that he returned from rolling up a cask to the stockade。 Every one worked hard； even Mrs。 Seagrave did all she could； either assisting in rolling the casks； or carrying up what she was able to lift。 In an hour they had got into the stockade all that they most cared for； and the canoes were still about six or seven miles off。
〃We have a good hour before they arrive； sir；〃 said Ready； 〃and even then the reefs will puzzle them not a little； I doubt if they are disembarked under two hours。 We have plenty of time for all we wish to do。 Juno； go for the wheels； and William； come down with the spear； and we will have some of the turtle into the stockade。 Mr。 Seagrave； I do not require your assistance； so if you will have the kindness to get out the muskets； and examine the flints； it will be as well。〃
〃Yes； and then you have to load them；〃 replied Mrs。 Seagrave。 〃Juno and I can do that at all events； ready for you to fire them。〃
〃An excellent idea； madam；〃 replied Ready。
In half an hour six turtles were brought up by Juno and William； and then Ready followed them into the stockade。
They then rolled the casks； and upheaded them by the sides of the stockade； and fixed up deal planks to stand upon； just high enough to enable them to see over the top of the palisades； and to fire at the enemy。 Mrs。 Seagrave had been shown how to load a musket； and Juno was now taught the same。
〃Now； sir； we are all prepared；〃 said Ready； 〃and Madam and Juno can go and look a little after the children； and get breakfast。〃
As soon as the children were dressed； Mr。 Seagrave called Ready； who was outside； watching the canoes； and they went to their morning devotions； and prayed heartily for succour in this time of need。 They then breakfasted in haste； for； as may be supposed； they were almost too anxious to eat。
〃This suspense is worse than all；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。 〃I wish now that they were come。〃
〃Shall I go to Ready and hear his report； my dear？ … I will not be away three minutes。〃
In a short time Mr。 Seagrave returned； saying that the canoes were close to the beach； that the savages evidently had a knowledge of the passages through the reefs； as they had steered right in； and had lowered their sails； that Ready and William were on the look…out； but concealed behind the cocoa…nut trees。
〃I hope they will not stay out too long。〃
〃No fear of that； my dear Selina； but they had better watch their motions to the last minute。〃
During this conversation between Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave within the stockade； William and Ready were watching the motions of the savages； a large portion of whom had landed out of ten of the canoes； and the others were following their example as fast as they could； forcing their way through the reefs。 The savages were all painted； with their war…cloaks and feathers on； and armed with spears and clubs； evidently having come with no peaceable intentions。
William； who had taken the telescope to examine them more minutely； said to Ready； 〃What a fierce； cruel set of wretches they appear to be； if they overpower us they will certainly kill us！〃
〃Of that there is no doubt； William； but we must fight hard； and not let them overpower us。 Kill us they certainly will； and I am not sure that they may not eat us afterwards； but that is of little consequence。〃
William replied in a determined tone； 〃I'll fight as long as I have breath in my body； but； Ready； they are coming up as fast as they can。〃
〃Yes； we must wait no longer。 Come； William。〃
〃I thought I saw another vessel under sail； out away by the garden point； Ready； just as we turned away。〃
〃Very likely； sir； a canoe which has separated from the others during the night。 Come； quick； William； they have begun to yell。〃
Another half…minute； and they arrived at the door of the stockade； they entered； shut the door； and then barricaded it with the cocoa…nut poles which they had fitted to the inner door…posts。
Chapter LXII
The loud yells of the savages struck terror into the heart of Mrs。 Seagrave； it was well that she had not seen their painted bodies and fierce appearance； or she would have been much more alarmed。 Little Albert and Caroline clung around her neck with terror in their faces； they did not cry； but looked round and round to see from whence the horrid noise proceeded； and then clung faster to their mother。 Tommy was very busy； finishing all the breakfast which had been left； for there was no one to check him as usual； Juno was busy outside； and was very active and courageous。 Mr。 Seagrave had been employed making the holes between the palisades large enough to admit the barrels of the muskets； so that they could fire at the savages without being exposed； while William and Ready； with。 their muskets loaded； were on the look…out for their approach。
〃They are busy with the old house just now； sir；〃 observed Ready； 〃but that won't detain them long。〃
〃Here they come；〃 replied William； 〃and look； Ready； is not that one of the women who escaped from us in the canoe； who is walking along with the first two men？ Yes； it is； I am sure。〃
〃You are right； William； it is one of them。 Ah！ they have stopped； they did not expect the stockade； that is clear； and it has puzzled them； see how they are all crowding together and talking； they are holding a council of war how to proceed； that tall man must be one of their chiefs。 Now； William； although I intend to fight as hard as I can； yet I always feel a dislike to begin first； I shall therefore show myself over the palisades； and if they attack me； I shall then fire with a quiet conscience。〃
〃But take care they don't hit you； Ready。〃
〃No great fear of that； William。 Here they come。〃
Ready now stood upon the plank within； so as to show himself to the savages； who gave a tremendous yell； and as they advanced a dozen spears were thrown at him with so true an aim that； had he not instantly dodged behind the stockade； he must have been killed。 Three or four spears remained quivering in the palisades； just below the top； the others went over it； and fell down inside of the stockade； at the further end。
〃Now； William； take good aim；〃 but before William could fire； Mr。 Seagrave； who had agreed to be stationed at the corner so that he might see if the savages went round to the other side； fired his musket； and the tall chief fell to the ground。
Ready and William also fired； and two more of the savages were seen to drop amidst the yells of their companions。 Juno handed up the other muskets which were ready loaded； and took those discharged； and Mrs。 Seagrave； having desired Caroline to take care of her little brother； and Tommy to be very quiet and good； came out； turned the key of the door upon them； and hastened to assist Juno in reloading the muskets。
The spears now rushed through the air； and it was well that they could fire from the stockade without exposing their persons； or they would have had but little chance。 The yells increased； and the savages now began to attack on every quarter； the most active； who climbed like cats； actually succeeded in gaining the top of the palisades； but； as soon as their heads appeared above； they were fired at with so true an aim that they dropped down dead outside。 This combat lasted for more than an hour； when the savages； having lost a great many men； drew off from the assault； and the parties within the stockade had time to breathe。
〃They have not gained much in this bout； at all events；〃 said Ready； 〃it was well fought on our side； and William； you certainly behaved as if you had been brought up to it。〃
〃Do you think they will go away now？〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃Oh； no； madam； not yet； they will try us every way before they leave us。 You see these are very brave men； and it is clear that they know what gunpowder is； or they would have been more astonished。〃
〃I should think
