masterman ready-第44节
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ons necessary for a day or two； the table and chairs； the cooking utensils； and a portion of their clothes； should be taken round that afternoon； that Ready and William should come back early the next morning； and then they should all set off together through the wood to the new location。 The sheep and lambs （for they had four lambs）； the goats and kids； were to be driven through the wood by Mr。 Seagrave； William and Ready and the dogs would be very useful in driving them。 As for the fowls and chickens； it was decided they should be left； as Ready and William could look after them on their occasional visits。
Chapter XLVIII
The boat was well loaded that afternoon； and they had a heavy pull round； and hard work afterwards to carry all the articles up。 William and Ready were； therefore； not sorry when their work was done； and they went to bed as soon as they had taken their supper。
At sunrise； they went back to the bay in the boat； which they hauled up； and then proceeded to the house； where they found that everyone was ready to start。 Mr。 Seagrave had collected all the animals； and they set off； the marks on the trees were very plain； and they had no difficulty in finding their way； but they had a good deal of trouble with the goats and sheep； and did not get on very fast。 It was three hours before they got clear of the cocoa…nut grove； and Mrs。 Seagrave was quite tired out。 At last they arrived； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave could not help exclaiming 〃How beautiful！〃
When they came to where the tents were pitched by the side of the bananas； they were equally pleased： it was quite a fairy spot。 Mrs。 Seagrave went into her tent to repose after her fatigue； the goats and sheep were allowed to stray away as they pleased； the dogs lay down； panting with their long journey； Juno put Albert on the bed while she went with William to collect fuel to cook the dinner； Ready went to the pits to get some water； while Mr。 Seagrave walked about； examining the different clumps of trees with which the meadow was studded。
When Ready returned with the water； he called the dogs； and went back towards the yam plantation。 Tommy followed them； the dogs went into the yams； and were soon barking furiously； which pleased Tommy very much； when； of a sudden； out burst again in a drove all the pigs； followed by the dogs； and so close to Tommy that he screamed with fright； and tumbled head over heels。
〃I thought you were there； my gentlemen；〃 said Ready； looking after the pigs； 〃the sooner we fence you out the better。〃
The pigs scampered away； and went into the cocoa…nut grove as they had done before。 The dogs followed the pigs； and did not return for a long while afterwards。
It was late before the dinner was ready； and they were all very glad to go early to bed。
At day dawn； William and Ready had again started； and walked through the cocoa…nut grove back to the house； to bring round in the boat the articles of furniture and the clothes which had been left。 Having collected everything in the house； and procured some more pork and flour from the storehouse； they completed the load by spearing one of the turtles which remained； and putting it into the bottom of the boat； they then set off again for their new residence； and arrived in time for breakfast。
〃What a delightful spot this is！〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。 〃I think we ought always to make it our summer residence； and only go back to the house during the rainy season。〃
〃It is much cooler here； madam； during the summer； and much more pleasant； but we are more protected in the house by the cocoa…nut grove。〃
〃Yes； that is true； and it is very valuable during the rainy season； but it makes it warmer in the summer time。 I like the change； Ready； and shall be sorry when we have to go back again。〃
〃Now I must go； and help Juno to cut up the turtle；〃 said Ready。 〃We must make our larder among the banana trees。〃
〃But what are we all to do； Ready？〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。 〃We must not be idle。〃
〃No； sir； but I think we must give up this day to putting everything to rights； and making everything comfortable inside the tents； to…morrow we will commence the ditch and hedge round the yam plantation。 We need not work very hard at it； for I don't think the pigs will venture here again； as I mean to tie up all the dogs round the yam patch every night； and their barking will keep them off。〃
〃That will be a very good plan； Ready。 What beautiful food there is for the sheep and goats！〃
〃Yes； this must be their future residence for the best part of the year。 I think to…morrow we will begin a piece of the ditch； and show William how to put in the cuttings of prickly pear for the hedge； and then； I should propose that you and I go to the cove to examine the stores and select what it will be necessary to bring round。 I think you said that you must go yourself？〃
〃Yes； Ready； I wish to go。 When we have made our selection； I will return； and then you and William； who is more used to the boat than I am； can bring the stores round。 I presume we shall not bring them here？〃
〃No； sir； we will take them round to the storehouse。 When we have done that job； we must then commence our alterations and our stockade。〃
Chapter XLIX
The next morning they went with their shovels to the yam plantation； and commenced their work。 As the ground was soft and swampy； the labour was very easy。 The ditch was dug nearly a yard wide； and the earth thrown up on a bank inside。 They then went to where the large patch of prickly pears grew； and cut a quantity； which they planted on the top of the bank。 Before night； they had finished about nine or ten yards of the hedge and ditch。
〃I don't think that the pigs will get over that when it is finished；〃 said Ready； 〃and William will be able to get on by himself when we are gone； as well as if we were with him。〃
〃I'll try if I cannot shoot a pig or two；〃 said William。
〃Let it be a young one； then； we must not kill the old ones。 Now I think we may as well go back。 Juno is carrying in the supper。〃
Before Mr。 Seagrave and Ready started on the following morning； the latter gave William directions as to the boat。 The provisions and the knapsack having been already prepared； they took leave of Mrs。 Seagrave； and set off； each armed with a musket； and Ready with his axe slung over his shoulder。 They had a long walk before them； as they had first to find their way back to the house； and from thence had to walk through the wood to the cove。
In two hours after leaving the house they reached the spot where they had first landed。 The rocks near to it were strewed with timber and planks； which lay bleaching in the sun； or half…buried in the sand。 Mr。 Seagrave sat down； and sighed deeply as he said； 〃Ready； the sight of these timbers； of which the good ship Pacific was built； recalls feelings which I had hoped to have dismissed from my mind； but I cannot help them rising up。 The remains of this vessel appear to me as the last link between us and the civilised world； which we have been torn from； and all my thoughts of home and country； and I may say all my longing for them； are revived as strong as ever。〃
〃And very natural that they should； Mr。 Seagrave； I feel it also。 I am content； it is true； because I have nothing to wish or look forward to； but still I could not help thinking of poor Captain Osborn and my shipmates； as I looked upon the wreck； and wishing that I might take them by the hand again。 It is very natural that one should do so。 Why； sir； do you know that I feel unhappy even about the poor ship。 We sailors love our vessels； especially when they have good qualities； and the Pacific was as fine a vessel as ever was built。 Now； sir； I feel quite melancholy when I see her planks and timbers lying about here。 But； sir； if we cannot help feeling as we do； it is our duty to check the feeling； so that it does not get the mastery over us。 We can do no more。〃
〃Very true； Ready；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； rising up； 〃it is not only useless； but even sinful to indulge in them； as they only can lead to our repining at the decrees of heaven。 Let us now examine the rocks； and see if anything has been thrown up that may be of use to us。〃
They walked round； but； with the exception of spars and a barrel or two of tar； they could find nothing of value。 There was no want of staves and iron hoops of broken casks； and these； Ready observed； would make excellent palings for the garden when they had time to bring them round。
After they had returned； they sat down to rest themselves； and then they went to the tents in the cocoa…nut grove； in which they had collected the articles thrown up when the ship went to pieces。
〃Why； the pigs have been at work here！〃 said Ready； 〃they have contrived to open one cask of flour somehow or another； look； sir … I suppose it must have been shaky； or they could not have routed into it； the canvas is not good for much； I fear； fortunately； we have several bolts of new； which I brought on shore。 Now； sir； we will see what condition the stores are in。 All these are casks of flour； and we run no risk in opening them； and seeing if they are in good order。〃
The first cask which was opened had a cake round it as hard as a board； but when it was
