masterman ready-第11部分

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While　they　were　at　breakfast；　William　told　Ready　how　they　had　gone　on　board；　and　what　they　had　brought　on　shore；　and　he　also　mentioned　how　Juno　had　dipped　all　the　children　in　the　sea。

〃But　Juno　must　not　do　that　again；〃　replied　Ready；　〃until　I　have　made　all　safe；　you　know　that　there　are　plenty　of　sharks　about　these　islands；　and　it　is　very　dangerous　to　go　into　the　water。〃

〃Oh；　what　an　escape　they　have　had！〃　cried　Mrs。　Seagrave；　shuddering。

〃It's　very　true；〃　continued　Ready；　〃but　they　don't　keep　so　much　to　the　windward　of　the　islands　where　we　are　at　present；　but　still　that　smooth　cove　is　a　very　likely　place　for　them　to　come　into；　so　it's　just　as　well　not　to　go　in　again；　Juno；　until　I　have　time　to　make　a　place　for　you　to　bathe　in　in　safety。　As　soon　as　we　can　get　as　much　as　we　want　from　the　ship；　we　must　decide　whether　we　shall　stay　here　or　not。〃

〃Stay　here　or　not；　Ready！　…　what　do　you　mean？〃

〃Why；　we　have　not　yet　found　any　water；　and　that　is　the　first　necessary　of　life　…　if　there　is　no　water　on　this　side　of　the　island；　we　must　pitch　our　tents　somewhere　else。〃

〃That's　very　true；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃I　wish　we　could　find　time　to　explore　a　little。〃

〃So　we　can；　sir；　but　we　must　not　lose　this　fine　weather　to　get　a　few　things　from　the　ship。　We　had　better　go　now。　You　and　William　can　remain　on　board　to　collect　the　things；　and　I　will　land　them　on　the　beach　for　Juno　to　bring　up。〃

The　whole　day　was　spent　in　landing　every　variety　of　article　which　they　thought　could　be　useful。　All　the　small　sails；　cordage；　twine；　canvas；　small　casks；　saws；　chisels；　and　large　nails。　and　elm　and　oak　plank；　were　brought　on　shore　before　dinner。　After　they　had　taken　a　hearty　dinner；　the　cabin　tables　and　chairs；　all　their　clothes；　some　boxes　of　candles；　two　bags　of　coffee；　two　of　rice；　two　more　of　biscuits；　several　pieces　of　beef　and　pork　and　bags　of　flour；　some　more　water；　the　grindstone；　and　Mrs。　Seagrave's　medicine…chest　were　landed。　When　Ready　came　off　again；　he　said；　〃Our　poor　boat　is　getting　very　leaky；　and　will　not　take　much　more　on　shore　without　being　repaired；　and　Juno　has　not　been　able　to　get　half　the　things　up　…　they　are　too　heavy　for　one　person。　I　think　we　shall　do　pretty　well　now；　Mr。　Seagrave；　and　we　had　better；　before　it　is　dark；　get　all　the　animals　on　shore。　I　don't　much　like　to　trust　them　to　swim　on　shore；　but　they　are　awkward　things　in　a　boat。　We'll　try　a　pig；　at　all　events；　and　while　I　get　one　up；　do　you　and　William　tie　the　legs　of　the　fowls；　and　put　them　into　the　boat；　as　for　the　cow；　she　cannot　be　brought　on　shore；　she　is　still　lying　down；　and；　I　expect；　won't　get　up　again　any　more；　however；　I　have　given　her　plenty　of　hay；　and　if　she　don't　rise；　why　I　will　kill　her；　and　we　can　salt　her　down。〃

Ready　went　below；　and　the　squealing　of　the　pig　was　soon　heard；　he　came　on　deck　with　it　hanging　over　his　back　by　the　hind　legs；　and　threw　it　into　the　sea　over　the　gunnel：　the　pig　floundered　at　first；　but　after　a　few　seconds；　turned　its　head　away　from　the　ship　and　swam　for　the　shore。

〃He　goes　ashore　straight　enough；〃　said　Ready；　who；　with　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William；　was　watching　the　animal；　but　a　minute　afterwards；　Ready　exclaimed：

〃I　thought　as　much　…　we've　lost　him！〃

〃How？〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃D'ye　see　that　black　thing　above　water　pushing　so　fast　to　the　animal？　…　that's　the　back　fin　of　a　shark；　and　he　will　have　the　poor　thing　…　there；　he's　got　him！〃　said　Ready；　as　the　pig　disappeared　under　the　water　with　a　heavy　splash。　〃Well；　he's　gone；　better　the　pig　than　your　little　children；　Mr。　Seagrave。〃

〃Yes；　indeed；　God　be　praised！　…　that　monster　might　have　been　close　to　them　at　the　time　that　Juno　took　them　into　the　water。〃

〃He　was　not　far　off；　I　reckon；〃　replied　Ready。　〃We'll　go　down　now　and　tie　the　legs　of　the　other　four　pigs；　and　bring　them　up；　with　what's　already　in　the　boat　they　will　be　a　good　load。〃

As　soon　as　the　pigs　were　in　the　boat；　Ready　sculled　it　on　shore；　while　Mr。　Seagrave　and　William　brought　up　the　goats　and　sheep　ready　for　the　next　trip。　Ready　soon　returned。　〃Now　this　will　be　our　last　trip　for　to…day；　and；　if　I　am　any　judge　of　the　weather；　our　last　trip　for　some　days；　it　is　banking　up　very　thick　in　the　offing。　This　trip　we'll　be　able　to　put　into　the　boat　a　bag　of　corn　for　the　creatures；　in　case　we　require　it；　and　then　we　may　say　good…bye　to　the　ship　for　a　day　or　two　at　least。〃

They　then　all　got　into　the　boat；　which　was　very　deeply　laden；　for　the　corn　was　heavy；　but　they　got　safe　on　shore；　although　they　leaked　very　much。　Having　landed　the　goats　and　sheep；　William　led　them　up　to　the　tent；　where　they　remained　very　quietly；　the　pigs　had　run　away；　and　so　had　the　fowls。

〃That's　what　I　call　a　good　day's　work；　Mr。　Seagrave；〃　said　Ready；　〃the　little　boat　has　done　its　duty　well；　but　we　must　not　venture　in　her　again　until　I　have　put　her　into　a　little　better　condition。〃

They　were　not　at　all　sorry；　after　their　hard　day's　work；　to　find　that　Juno　had　prepared　coffee　for　them；　and　while　they　were　drinking　it；　they　narrated　to　Mrs。　Seagrave　the　tragically　death　of　the　poor　pig　by　the　shark。　Poor　Juno　appeared　quite　frightened　at　the　danger　which　the　children　had　been　in；　even　now　that　it　was　all　over。

〃We　shall　have　plenty　to　do　here　to…morrow；〃　observed　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃in　getting　things　into　their　places。〃

〃We　shall　have　plenty　to　do　for　some　time；　I　expect；〃　replied　Ready。　〃In　two　months；　or　thereabouts；　we　shall　have　the　rainy　season　come　on；　and　we　must　be　under　cover　before　that　time；　if　we　possibly　can。〃

〃What's　the　first　thing　we　must　do；　Ready？〃　inquired　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃To…morrow　we　had　better　fix　up　another　tent　or　two；　to　stow　away　all　the　articles　we　have　brought　on　shore：　that　will　be　one　good　day's　work；　we　shall　then　know　where　to　lay　our　hands　upon　everything；　and　see　what　we　want。〃

〃That's　very　true；　and　what　shall　we　do　then？〃

〃Why　then；　sir；　I　think　we　must　make　a　little　expedition　to　explore　the　island；　and　find　out　where　we　must　build　our　house。〃

〃Can　we　build　a　house？〃　said　William。

〃Oh；　yes；　sir；　and　with　more　ease　than　you　would　think。　There's　no　tree　so　valuable　as　the　cocoa…nut　tree；　and　the　wood　is　so　light　that　we　can　easily　move　it　about。〃

〃Why；　what　are　the　great　merits　of　the　cocoa…nut　tree？〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃I'll　tell　you；　madam：　in　the　first　place；　you　have　the　wood　to　build　the　house　with；　then　you　have　the　bark　with　which　you　can　make　ropes　and　lines；　and　fishing…nets　if　you　please；　then　you　have　the　leaves　for　thatching　your　house；　then　you　have　the　fruit；　which；　as　a　nut；　is　good　to　eat；　and　very　useful　in　cooking；　and　in　the　young　nut　is　the　milk；　which　is　also　very　wholesome；　then　you　have　the　oil　to　burn；　and　the　shell　to　make　cups　of；　if　you　haven't　any；　and　then　you　can　draw　toddy　from　the　tree；　which　is　very　pleasant　to　drink　when　fresh；　but　will　make　you　tipsy　if　it　is　kept　too　long。　There　is　no　tree　which　yields　so　many　useful　things　to　man；　for　it　supplies　him　with　almost　everything。〃

〃At　all　events；　we've　plenty　of　them；〃　said　William。

〃Yes；　William；　there's　no　want　of　them；　and　I　am　glad　of　it；　for　had　there　been　but　few；　I　should　not　have　liked　to　destroy　them。　People　might　be　wrecked　here；　as　well　as　ourselves；　and　without　the　good　fortune　that　we　have　had　in　getting　so　many　necessaries　on　shore；　and　they　might　be　obliged　to　depend　wholly　upon　the　cocoa…nut　trees　for　their　support。〃



Chapter　XIII

When　breakfast　was　over　the　next　morning；　Ready　observed；　〃Now；　Mr。　Seagrave；　we　must　hold　a　council　of　war；　and　decide　upon　an　exploring　party　for　to…morrow；　and；　when　we　have　settled　that；　we　will　find　some　useful　way　of　employing　ourselves　for　the　rest　of　the　day。　The　first　question　is；　of　whom　is　the　party　to　consist？　…　and　upon　that　I　wish　to　hear　your　opinion。〃

〃Why；　Ready；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃it　appears　to　me　that　you　and　I　should　go。〃

〃Surely　not　both　of　you；　my　dear；〃　interrupted　Mrs。　Seagrave。　〃You　can　do　without　my　husband；　can　you　not；　Ready？〃

〃I　certainly　should　have　liked　to　have　Mr。　Seagrave　to　advise　with；　ma'am；〃　replied　Ready；　〃but　still　I　have　thought　upon　it；　and　do　not　think　that　William　would　be　quite　sufficient　protection　for　you；　or；　at　all　events；　you　would　not　feel　that　he　was；　which　is　much　the　same　thing；　and　so；　if　Mr。　Seagrave　has　no　objection；　it　would　perhaps　be　better　that　he　remained　with　you。〃

〃Would　you　go　alone；　then；　Ready？〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃No；　sir；　I　do　not　think　that　would　be　right　either；　…　some　accident　might　happen；　there　is　no　saying　what　might　happen；　although　there　is　every　appearance　of　safety。　I　should　like；　therefore；　to　have　some　one　with　me；　the　question　is；　whether　it　be　William　or　Juno？〃

〃Take　me；〃　said　Tommy。

〃Take　you；　Tommy！〃　said　Ready；　laughing；　〃then　I　must　take　Juno　to　take　care　of　you。　No；　I　think　they　cannot　spare　you。　Your　mamma　will　want　you　when　we　are　gone；　you　are　so　useful　in　gathering　wood　for　the　fire；　and　taking　care　of　your　little　sister　and　brother；　that　your　mother　cannot　part　with　you；　so　I　must　have　either　Juno　or　William。〃

〃And　which　would　you　prefer；　Ready？〃　said　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃William；　certainly；　ma'am；　if　you　will　let　him　go　with　me；　as　you　could　ill　spare　the　girl。〃

〃Indeed；　I　do　not　like　it；　I　would　rather　lose