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第56节

masterman ready-第56节

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They complied with Ready's request; went up to the planks; and examined carefully all round the stockade; at last they stopped。

〃This is a sad business; William;〃 said Mr。 Seagrave。

William shook his head。 〃He would not let me go;〃 replied he; 〃I wish he had。 I fear that he is much hurt。〃

〃I should say that he cannot recover; William。 We shall miss him to…morrow if they attack us。〃

〃I hardly know what to say; papa; but I feel that since we have been relieved; I am able to do twice as much as I could have done before。〃

〃I feel the same; but still with such a force against us; two people cannot do much。〃

〃If my mother and Juno load the muskets for us;〃 replied William; 〃we shall at all events do as much now as we should have been able to do if there were three; so exhausted as we should have been。〃

〃Perhaps so; at all events we will do our best; for we fight for our lives and for those most dear to us。〃

William went softly up to Ready; and found that he was dozing; he therefore did not disturb him; but returned to his father。 Now that their thirst had been appeased; they all felt the calls of hunger。 Juno and William went and cut off steaks from the turtle; and fried them; they all made a hearty meal; and perhaps never had they taken one with so much relish in their lives。

It was nearly daylight; when William; who had several times been softly up to Ready; found him with his eyes open。

〃How do you find yourself; Ready?〃 said William。

〃I am quiet and easy; William; and without much pain; but I think I am sinking; and shall not last long。 Recollect that if you are obliged to escape from the stockade; you take no heed of me; but leave me where I am。 I cannot live; and were you to move me; I should only die the sooner。〃

〃I had rather die with you; than leave you; Ready。〃

〃No; that is wrong; you must save your mother; and your brothers and sister; promise me that you will do as I wish。〃

William hesitated。

〃I point out to you your duty; William。 I know what your feelings are; but you must not give way to them; promise me this; or you will make me very miserable。〃

William squeezed Ready's hand; his heart was too full to speak。

〃They will come at daylight; William; you have not much time to spare; climb to the look…out; and wait there till day dawns; watch them as long as you can; and then come and tell me what you have seen。〃

Ready's voice became faint after this exertion of speaking so much。

William immediately climbed up the cocoa…nut tree; and waited there till daylight。 At the dawn of day; he perceived that the savages were at work; that they had collected all the faggots together opposite to where the old house had stood; and were very busy in making arrangements for the attack。 At last; every one shouldered a faggot; and commenced their advance towards the stockade; William immediately descended and called his father; who was talking with Mrs。 Seagrave。 The muskets were all loaded; and Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno took their posts below the planking; to reload them as fast as they were fired。

〃We must fire upon them as soon as we are sure of not missing; William;〃 said Mr。 Seagrave; 〃for the more we check their advance; the better。〃

When the first savages were within fifty yards; they both fired; and two of the men dropped; they continued to fire as their assailants came up; with great success for the first ten minutes; after which the savages advanced in a larger body; and took the precaution to hold the faggots in front of them; for some protection as they approached。 By these means they gained the stockade in safety; and commenced laying their faggots。 Mr。 Seagrave and William still kept up an incessant fire upon them; but not with so much success as before。

Although many fell; the faggots were gradually heaped up; till they almost reached to the holes between the palisades; through which they pointed their muskets; and as the savages contrived to slope them down from the stockade to the ground; it was evident that they meant to mount up and take them by escalade。 At last; it appeared as if all the faggots had been placed; and the savages retired farther back; to where the cocoa…nut trees were still standing。

〃They have gone away; father;〃 said William; 〃but they will come again; and I fear it is all over with us。〃

〃I fear so too; my boy;〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave; 〃they are only retreating to arrange for a general assault; and they now will be able to gain an entrance。 I almost wish that they had fired the faggots; we might have escaped as Ready pointed out to us; but now I fear we have no chance。〃

〃Don't say a word to my mother;〃 said William; 〃let us defend ourselves to the last; and if we are overpowered it is the will of God。〃

〃I should like to take a farewell embrace of your dear mother;〃 said Mr。 Seagrave; 〃but; no; it will be weakness just now。 Here they come; William; in a swarm。 Well; God bless you; my boy; we shall all; I trust; meet in Heaven!〃

The whole body of savages were now advancing from the cocoa…nut wood in a solid mass; they raised a yell; which struck terror into the hearts of Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno; yet they flinched not。 The savages were again within fifty yards of them; when the fire was opened upon them; the fire was answered by loud yells; and the savages had already reached to the bottom of the sloping pile of faggots; when the yells and the reports of the muskets were drowned by a much louder report; followed by the crackling and breaking of the cocoa…nut trees; which made both parties start with surprise; another and another followed; the ground was ploughed up; and the savages fell in numbers。

〃It must be the cannon of a ship; father;〃 said William; 〃we are saved … we are saved!〃

〃It can be nothing else; we are saved; and by a miracle!〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave in utter astonishment。

The savages paused in the advance; quite stupefied; again; again; again; the report of the loud guns boomed through the air; and the round…shot and grape came whizzing and tearing through the cocoa…nut grove; at this last broadside; the savages turned; and fled towards their canoes: not one was left to be seen。

〃We are saved!〃 cried Mr。 Seagrave; leaping off the plank and embracing his wife; who sank down on her knees; and held up her clasped hands in thankfulness to Heaven。

William had hastened up to the look…out on the cocoa…nut tree; and now cried out to them below; as the guns were again discharged:

〃A large schooner; father; she is firing at the savages; who are at the canoes; they are falling in every direction: some have plunged into the water; there is a boat full of armed men coming on shore; they are close to the beach; by the garden…point。 Three of the canoes have got off full of men; there go the guns again; two of the canoes are sunk; father; the boat has landed; and the people are coming up this way。〃 William then descended from the look…out as fast as he could。

As soon as he was down; he commenced unbarring the door of the stockade。 He pulled out the last pole just as he heard the feet of their deliverers outside。 He threw open the door; and; a second after; found himself in the arms of Captain Osborn。



Chapter LXVI

Before we wind up this history; it will be as well to state to my young readers how it was that Captain Osborn made his appearance at so fortunate a moment。 It will be recollected how a brig came off the island some months before this; and the great disappointment that the party on the island experienced in her not making her appearance again。 The fact was; that those on board of the brig had not only seen their signals; but had read the name of the 〃Pacific〃 upon the flag hoisted; but the heavy gale which came on drove them so far to the southward; that the master of the brig did not consider that he should do his duty to his owners; if he lost so much time in beating up for the island again。 He therefore decided upon making all sail for Sydney; to which port he was bound。

When Captain Osborn was put into the boat by Mackintosh and the seamen of the Pacific; he was still insensible; but he gradually recovered; and after a stormy night; Captain Osborn was so far recovered as to hear from Mackintosh what had taken place; and why it was that he found himself in an open boat at sea。 The next morning the wind moderated; and they were fortunate enough to fall in with a vessel bound to Van Diemen's Land; which took them all on board。

From the account given by Mackintosh; Captain Osborn had no doubt in his mind but that the Seagrave family had perished; and the loss of the vessel; with them on board; was duly reported to the owners。 When at Van Diemen's Land; Captain Osborn was so much taken with the beauty and fertility of the country; and perhaps not so well inclined to go to sea again after such danger as he had incurred in the last voyage; that he resolved to purchase land and settle there。 He did so; and had already stocked his farm with cattle; and had gone round to Sydney in a schooner to await the arrival of a large order from England which he had sent for; when the brig arrived and reported the existence of some white people on the small island; and also that they had hoisted a flag with the name 

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