masterman ready-第43节
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ht fit； protect them in their need。
Chapter XLVI
The subject was introduced to Mrs。 Seagrave； while they were at breakfast； and as she perceived how much more secure they would be； she cheerfully consented。 In less than an hour afterwards； William and Ready had prepared the boat； and were pulling out among the rocks of the reef to find a passage； which； after a short time； and by keeping two or three cables from the point； they succeeded in doing。
〃This is very fortunate； William；〃 observed Ready； 〃but we must now take some marks to find our way in again。 See； the large black rock is on a line with the garden point： so； if we keep them in one； we shall know that we are in the proper channel； and now for a mark abreast of us； to find out when we enter it。〃
〃Why； Ready； the corner of the turtle…pond just touches the right wall of the house；〃 replied William。
〃So it does； that will do； and now let us pull away as hard as we can； so as to be back in good time。〃
They soon were on the south side of the island； and pulling up along the shore。
〃How far do you think that it is by water； Ready？〃
〃I hardly know； but at least four or five miles； so we must make up our minds to a good hour's pull。 At all events； we shall sail back again with this wind； although there is but little of it。〃
〃We are in very deep water now；〃 observed William； after a long silence。
〃Yes； on this side of the island we must expect it； the coral grows to leeward only。 I think that we cannot be very far from the little harbour we discovered。 Suppose we leave off rowing for a minute； and look about us。〃
〃There are two rocks close to the shore； Ready；〃 said William； pointing； 〃and you recollect there were two or three rocks outside of the harbour。〃
〃Very true； William； and I should not wonder if you have hit upon the very spot。 Let us pull in。〃
They did so； and； to their satisfaction； found that they were in the harbour； where the water was as smooth as a pond。
〃Now； then； William； we will step the mast； and sail back at our leisure。〃
〃Stop one moment； Ready； give me the boat…hook。 I see something between the clefts of the rocks。〃
Ready handed the boat…hook to William； who； lowering it down into the water； drove the spike of iron at the end of it into a large crayfish； which he hauled up into the boat。
〃That will be an addition to our dinner；〃 said Ready； 〃we do not go back empty…handed； and； therefore； as the saying is； we shall be more welcome； now； then； let us start； for we must pull here again this afternoon； and with a full cargo on board。〃
They stepped the mast； and as soon as they had pulled the boat clear of the harbour； set sail； and in less than an hour had rejoined the party at the house。
William had brought up the crayfish； which had only one claw； and Juno put on another pot of water to boil it； as an addition to the dinner； which was nearly ready。 Tommy at first went with his sister Caroline to look at the animal； and as soon as he had left off admiring it； he began； as usual； to tease it； first he poked its eyes with a stick； then he tried to unfold his tail； but the animal flapped； and he ran away。 At last he was trying to put his stick into the creature's mouth； when it raised its large claw； and caught him by the wrist； squeezing him so tight that Tommy screamed and danced about as the crayfish held on。 Fortunately for him； the animal had been so long out of water； and had been so much hurt by the iron spike of the boat…hook； that it was more than half…dead； or he would have been severely hurt。 Ready ran to him； and disengaged the crayfish； but Tommy was so frightened； that he took to his heels； and did not leave off running until he was one hundred yards from the house； while Juno and Ready were laughing at him till the tears came into their eyes。 When he saw the crayfish on the table； he appeared to be afraid of it； although it was dead。
〃Well； Tommy；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃I suppose you won't eat any of the crayfish？〃
〃Won't I？〃 replied Tommy。 〃I'll eat him； for he tried to eat me。〃
〃Why did you not leave the animal alone； Tommy？〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃if you had not tormented it； it would not have bitten you； I don't know whether you ought to have any。〃
〃I don't like it； I won't have any；〃 replied Tommy。 〃I like salt pork better。〃
〃Well； then； if you don't like it； you shall not have it forced upon you； Tommy；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃so now we'll divide it among the rest of us。〃
Tommy was not very well pleased at this decision； for he really did wish to have some of it； so he turned very sulky for the rest of the dinner…time； especially when old Ready told him that he had had his share of the crayfish before dinner。
Chapter XLVII
As soon as the meal was over； Mr。 Seagrave and Juno assisted them in carrying down the canvas and poles for the tent； with shovels to clear away； and the pegs to fix the tents up properly。 Before they started； William observed； 〃I think it would be a good thing； if Ready and I were to take our bedding with us； and then we could fix up one tent this evening； and sleep there； to…morrow morning we might set up the other； and get a good deal of work over before we come back。〃
〃You are right； William；〃 replied Ready； 〃let us see what Juno can give us to eat； and then we will do as you say； for the sooner we are all there the better。〃
As Mr。 Seagrave was of the same opinion； Juno packed up a piece of salt pork and some flour…cakes； which； with three or four bottles of water； they took down to the boat。 Ready having thrown in a piece of rope to moor the boat with； they shoved off and were soon through the reef； and； after a smart pull； they arrived again at the small harbour。
As soon as they had landed all the things； they made the boat fast by the rope； and then carried a portion of the canvas and tent…poles up to the first copse of trees； which were the guavas； they then returned for the remainder； and after three trips everything was up。
〃Now； William； we must see where to pitch the tent； we must not be too near the cocoa…nut grove； or we shall have too far to go for water。〃
〃Don't you think that the best place will be close to the bananas？ the ground is higher there； and the water is； you know； between the bananas and the yams。〃
〃Very true； I think it will not be a bad place； let us walk there first； and reconnoitre the ground。〃
They walked to where the bananas were now throwing out their beautiful large green leaves； and decided that they would fix the tents upon the north side of them。
〃So here let it be；〃 said Ready； 〃and now let us go and fetch all the things； it is a nice dry spot； and I think will do capitally。〃
They were soon hard at work； and long before sunset one tent was ready； and they had put their bedding in it。
〃Well； now； I suppose you are a little tired；〃 said Ready； 〃I'm sure you ought to be； for you have worked hard to…day。〃
〃I don't feel very tired； Ready； but it's not time to go to bed yet。〃
〃No； and I think we had better take our shovels and dig the pits for the water； and then we shall know by to…morrow morning whether the water is good or not。〃
〃Yes； Ready； we can do that before we get our supper。〃
They walked to where the ground between the bananas and yam patch was wet and swampy； and dug two large holes about a yard deep and square； the water trickled in very fast； and they were up to their ankles before they had finished。
〃There'll be no want of water； Ready； if it is only fit to drink。〃
〃I've no fear of that；〃 replied Ready。
They returned to the tent and made their supper off the salt pork and flour…cakes； and then lay down on the mattresses。 They were soon fast asleep； for they were tired out with the hard work which they had gone through。
The next morning； at sunrise； they were up again； the first thing they did was to go and examine the holes they had dug for water； they found them full and running over； and the water had settled quite clear； they tasted it； and pronounced it very good。
As soon as they had washed themselves； they went back and made their breakfast； and then set to work to get up the other tent。 They then cleared all the ground near the tents of brushwood and high grass； and levelled it nicely with their shovels inside。
〃Now； William； we have another job； which is to prepare a fireplace for Juno： we must go down to the beach for stones。〃
In another hour the fireplace was completed； and Ready and William looked at their work。
〃Well； I call this a very comfortable lodging…house；〃 said Ready。
〃And I am sure；〃 replied William； 〃it's very pretty。 Mamma will be delighted with it。〃
〃We shall have no want of bananas in a few weeks；〃 said Ready； 〃look； they are all in blossom already。 Well； now I suppose we had better leave everything here； and go back。 We must have another trip this afternoon； and sleep here to…night。〃
They went down to the boat； and sailed back as before； by ten o'clock in the morning they had regained the house； and then they made arrangements for their work during the remainder of the day。 It was agreed that the provisions necessary for a day or two； the table and chairs； the cooking utensils； and a portion of their c
