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
