masterman ready-第45节

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　order。〃

The　first　cask　which　was　opened　had　a　cake　round　it　as　hard　as　a　board；　but　when　it　was　cut　through　with　the　axe；　the　inside　was　found　in　a　good　state。

〃That's　all　right；　sir；　and　I　presume　the　others　will　be　the　same；　the　salt　water　has　got　in　so　far　and　made　a　crust；　which　has　preserved　the　rest。　But　now　let　us　go　to　dinner；　and　to　work　afterwards。〃



Chapter　L

After　dinner　they　resumed　their　labour。　〃I　wonder　what's　in　this　case？〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave；　pointing　to　the　first　at　hand。　Ready　set　to　work　with　his　axe；　and　broke　off　the　lid；　and　found　a　number　of　pasteboard　boxes　full　of　tapes；　narrow　ribbons；　stay…laces；　whalebones；　and　cottons　on　reels。

〃This　has　been　sent　out　for　some　Botany　Bay　milliner；〃　said　Mr。　Seagrave。　〃I　presume；　however；　we　must　confiscate　it　for　the　benefit　of　Mrs。　Seagrave　and　Miss　Caroline。　We　will　take　them　to　them　as　soon　as　we　have　time。〃

The　next　was　a　box　without　a　lock；　the　lid　was　forced　up；　and　they　found　a　dozen　half…gallon　square　bottles　of　gin　stored　in　divisions。

〃That's　Hollands；　sir；　I　know；〃　said　Ready；　〃what　shall　we　do　with　it？〃

〃We　will　not　destroy　it；　Ready；　but　at　the　same　time　we　will　not　use　it　but　as　a　medicine；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃we　have　been　so　long　used　to　spring…water；　that　it　would　be　a　pity　to　renew　a　taste　for　spirituous　liquors。〃

〃I　trust　we　shall　never　want　to　drink　a　drop　of　it；　sir；　either　as　a　medicine　or　otherwise。　Now　for　this　cask　with　wooden　hoops。〃

The　head　was　soon　out；　and　discovered　a　dinner　set　of　painted　china　with　gold　edges。

〃This；　Mr。　Seagrave；　may　be　useful；　for　we　are　rather　short　of　plates　and　dishes。　Common　white　would　have　served　as　well。〃

〃And　be　more　suitable　with　our　present　outfit；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave。

〃Here's　a　box　with　your　name　on　it；　sir；〃　said　Ready；　〃do　you　know　what　is　in　it？〃

〃I　have　no　idea；　Ready；　but　your　axe　will　decide　the　point。〃

When　the　box　was　opened；　everything　appeared　in　a　sad　mouldy　state　from　the　salt　water　which　had　penetrated；　but　on　removing　the　brown　paper　and　pasteboard；　it　was　found　to　contain　stationery　of　all　sorts；　and；　except　on　the　outside；　it　was　very　little　injured。

〃This　is　indeed　a　treasure；　Ready。　I　recollect　now；　this　is　paper；　pens；　and　everything　requisite　for　writing；　besides　children's　books；　copy…books；　paint…boxes；　and　a　great　many　other　articles　in　the　stationery　line。〃

〃Well；　sir；　that　is　fortunate。　Now　we　may　set　up　our　school；　and　as　the　whole　population　of　the　island　will　attend　it；　it　will　really　be　a　National　School。〃

〃Very　true；　Ready。　Now　for　that　cask。〃

〃I　can　tell　what　that　is　by　the　outside；　it　is　oil；　and　very　acceptable；　for　our　candles　are　nearly　out。　Now　we　come　to　the　most　valuable　of　all　our　property。〃

〃What　is　that；　Ready？〃

〃All　the　articles　which　I　brought　on　shore　in　the　different　trips　I　took　in　the　boat　before　the　ship　went　to　pieces；　for　you　see；　sir；　iron　don't　swim；　and；　therefore；　what　I　looked　after　most　was　ironware　of　all　sorts；　and　tools。　Here　are　three　kegs　of　small　nails；　besides　two　bags　of　large；　and　there　are　several　axes；　hammers；　and　other　tools；　besides　hanks　of　twine；　sailing　needles；　and　bees'…wax。〃

〃They　are　indeed　valuable；　Ready。〃

〃Here's　some　more　of　my　plunder；　as　the　Americans　say。　All　these　are　wash…deck　buckets；　this　a　small　harness　cask　for　salting　meat；　and　here's　the　cook's　wooden　trough　for　making　bread；　which　will　please　Miss　Juno；　and　in　it；　you　see；　I　have　put　all　the　galley…hooks；　ladles；　and　spoons；　and　the　iron　trivets；　and　here's　two　lamps。　I　think　I　put　some　cotton　wicks　somewhere　…　I　know　I　did；　we　shall　find　them　by　and　by。　Here's　the　two　casks；　one　of　cartridges　made　up；　and　the　other　of　gunpowder；　and　the　other　six　muskets。〃

〃These　are　really　treasures；　Ready；　and　yet　how　well　we　have　done　without　them。〃

〃Very　true；　sir；　but　we　shall　do　better　with　them；　and　when　we　fit　up　the　storehouse　for　a　dwelling；　Mr。　Seagrave；　we　shall　be　able　to　make　it　a　little　more　comfortable　in　every　respect　than　the　present　one；　for　you　see　there；　all　the　fir…planking　and　deals；　which　William　and　I　buried　in　the　sand。〃

〃I　really　had　quite　forgotten　them；　Ready。　If　I　could　but　get　the　fear　of　the　savages　coming　over　out　of　my　head；　I　really　think　we　might　live　very　comfortably　even　on　this　island。〃

〃Do　you　know；　Mr。　Seagrave；　I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　that；　for　it　proves　that　you　are　more　contented　and　resigned　than　you　were。〃

〃I　am　so；　Ready　…　at　least　I　think　so；　but　perhaps　it　is；　that　the　immediate　danger　from　the　savages　so　fills　my　thoughts；　that　I　no　longer　dwell　so　much　upon　our　being　taken　off　the　island。〃

〃I　dare　say　it　is　as　you　state；　sir；　but　now　let　us　go　on　with　our　search。　Here　are　the　ship's　compasses；　and　deep　sea　line　and　reel；　also　the　land　lead。　The　stuff　will　be　very　useful　for　our　little　boat。〃

〃And　I　am　very　glad　of　the　compasses；　Ready；　for　with　them　I　shall　be　able　to　make　a　sort　of　survey　of　the　island；　when　I　have　a　little　time。　Your　pocket　compass　is　too　small　for　surveying。　I　shall　take　some　bearings　now；　while　I　am　here；　as　I　may　not　be　back　again　very　soon。〃

〃Well；　sir；　I　think　if　we　open　this　other　case；　which　I　perceive　has　your　name　on　it；　it　will　be　as　much　as　we　need　do　to…day；　for　the　sun　is　going　down；　we　can　then　make　up　some　kind　of　bed；　eat　our　suppers；　and　go　to　sleep。〃

〃I　am　very　tired；　Ready；　and　shall　be　glad　to　do　as　you　propose。　That　case　contains　books；　but　what　portion　of　my　library　I　do　not　know。〃

〃But　you　soon　will；　sir；〃　replied　Ready；　wrenching　it　open　with　his　axe。　〃They　are　a　little　stained　on　the　outside；　but　they　are　jammed　so　tight　that　they　do　not　appear　to　have　suffered　much。　Here　are　one　or　two；　sir。〃

〃Plutarch's　Lives。　I　am　glad　I　have　them：　they　are　excellent　reading　for　young　or　old；　there　is　no　occasion　to　open　any　more；　as　I　know　all　the　other　books　in　the　case　are　‘History'；　perhaps　the　best　case　which　could　have　been　saved。〃



Chapter　LI

Mr。　Seagrave　and　Ready　then　set　to　work；　and　made　a　rough　sort　of　bed　of　cocoa…nut　branches；　and；　after　eating　their　supper；　committed　themselves　to　the　divine　protection；　and　went　to　sleep。　The　next　morning　they　resumed　their　labour；　and　opened　every　other　case　and　package　that　had　been　saved　from　the　wreck；　they　found　more　hooks；　four　boxes　of　candles；　three　casks　of　rice；　and　several　other　useful　articles；　besides　many　others　which　were　of　no　value　to　them。

A　chest　of　tea；　and　two　bags　of　coffee；　which　Ready　had　brought　on　shore；　were；　much　to　their　delight；　found　in　good　order；　but　there　was　no　sugar；　the　little　which　they　had　saved　having　been　melted　away。

〃That's　unfortunate；　sir。〃

〃We　cannot　expect　to　get　things　here；　as　though　we　were　a　hundred　yards　from　a　grocer's　shop。　Now　let　us　go　to　where　we　covered　up　the　other　articles　with　sand。〃

The　sand　was　shovelled　up；　and　the　barrels　of　beef　and　pork　and　the　deal　boards　found　in　good　order；　but　many　other　things　were　quite　spoilt。　About　noon　they　had　finished；　and　as　they　had　plenty　of　time；　Mr。　Seagrave　took　the　bearings　of　the　different　points　of　land　with　the　compasses。　They　then　shouldered　their　muskets；　and　set　off　on　their　return。

They　gained　the　house　in　the　bay；　and　having　rested　a　little　while　at　the　storehouse；　they　proceeded　on　their　way　to　the　tents　in　the　meadow。　They　had　about　half　a　mile　to　go；　when　Ready　heard　a　noise；　and　made　a　sign　to　Mr。　Seagrave　to　stop。　Ready；　whispering　to　Mr。　Seagrave　that　the　pigs　were　all　close　to　them；　loaded　his　musket；　Mr。　Seagrave　did　the　same；　and　they　walked　very　softly　to　where　they　now　heard　their　grunting；　they　did　not　see　them　till　they　were　within　twenty　yards；　and　then　they　came　upon　the　whole　herd；　the　pigs　raised　their　heads；　the　old　ones　gave　a　loud　grunt；　and　then；　just　as　Ready　fired　his　musket；　they　all　set　off　at　full　speed。　Mr。　Seagrave　had　no　opportunity　of　firing；　but　Ready　had　shot　one；　which　lay　kicking　and　struggling　under　a　cocoa…nut　tree。

〃A　piece　of　fresh　pork　will　be　quite　a　treat；　Mr。　Seagrave；〃　said　Ready；　as　they　walked　up　to　where　the　animal　was　lying。

〃It　will；　indeed；　Ready；〃　replied　Mr。　Seagrave；　〃we　must　contrive　to　carry　the　beast　home　between　us。〃

〃We　will　sling　it　on　the　musket；　sir；　and　it　will　not　be　very　heavy。　It　is　one　of　those　born　on　the　island；　and　a　very　fine　fellow　for　his　age。〃

The　pig　was　soon　slung；　and　they　carried　it　between　them。　As　they　cleared　the　wood；　they　perceived　Mrs。　Seagrave　and　William；　who　had　heard　the　report　of　the　musket；　and　had　come　out　to　meet　them。

William　took　the　load　from　his　father；　who　walked　on　with　Mrs。　Seagrave。

〃Well；　William；　what　news　have　you？〃　said　Ready。

〃Why；　very　good；　Ready。　Yesterday　evening；　when　I　was　tired　of　work；　I　thought　I　would　take　the　boat；　and　try　if　there　was　any　fish　to　he　caught　on　this　side　of　the　island　in　the　deep　water；　and　I　caught　three　large　ones；　quite　different　from　those　we　took　among　the　reefs。　We　had　one　for　breakfast　and　dinner　to…day；　and　it　was　excellent。〃

〃Did　you　go　out　in　the　boat　by　yourself？〃

〃No；　I　took　Juno　with　me。　She　pulls　very　well；　Ready。〃

〃She　is　a　handy　girl；　William。　Well；　we　have　had　our　survey；　and　there　will　be　plenty　of　work　for　you　and　me；　I　can　tell　you；　I　don't　t