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第9节

masterman ready-第9节

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〃I was looking for a place to fix a tent up for the present; sir; and I think that on that little rise would be a very good place till we can look about us and do better; but we have no time now; sir; for we have plenty of trips to make before nightfall。 If you please; we'll haul the sail and other articles on to the beach; and then return on board。〃

As they were pulling the boat back; Ready said; 〃I've been thinking about what is best; Mr。 Seagrave。 Would Mrs。 Seagrave mind your leaving her? … if not; I should say we should have Juno and William on shore first; as they can be of use。〃

〃I do not think that she will mind being left on board with William and the children; provided that I return for her when she is to come on shore herself with the baby。〃

〃Well then; let William remain on board; if you please; sir。 I'll land you and Juno; Tommy; and the dogs; this time; for they will be a protection in case of accidents。 You and Juno can be doing something while I return by myself for the other articles we shall require。〃

As soon as they arrived on board; Mr。 Seagrave went down to cheer his wife with the account of what they had seen。 While he was down below; Ready had cast off the lashings of the two spars which had formed the sheers; and dragging them forward; had launched them over the gunnel; with lines fast to them; ready for towing on shore。 In a few minutes Juno and Tommy made their appearance on deck; Ready put some tools into the boat; and a couple of shovels; which he brought up when he went for the dogs; and once more they landed at the sandy cove。 Tommy stared about him a great deal; but did not speak; until he saw the shells lying on the beach; when he screamed with delight; and began to pick them up as fast as he could; the dogs barked and galloped about; overjoyed at being once more on shore; and Juno smiled as she looked around her; saying to Ready; 〃What a nice place!〃

〃Now; Mr。 Seagrave; I'll remain on shore with you a little。 First; we'll load the musket in case of need; and then you can put it out of the way of Tommy; who fingers everything; I observe。 We will take up the sail between us。 Juno; you can carry the tools; and then we can come back again for the spars; and the rope; and the other things。 Come; Tommy; you can carry a shovel at all events; and that will make you of some use。〃

Having taken all these things to the little knoll which Ready had pointed out before; they returned for the spars; and in two trips they had carried everything there; Tommy with the second shovel on his shoulder; and very proud to be employed。

〃Here are two trees which will answer our purpose pretty well;〃 said Ready; 〃as they are far enough apart: we must lash the spars up to them; and then throw the sail over; and bring it down to the ground at both ends; that will be a beginning; at all events; and I will bring some more canvas on shore; to set up the other tent between these other trees; and also to shut up the two ends of both of them; then we shall have a shelter for Madam; and Juno; and the younger children; and another for William; Tommy; and ourselves。 Now; sir; I'll just help you to lash the spars; and then I'll leave you to finish while I go on board again。〃

〃But how can we reach so high; Ready?〃

〃Why; sir; we can manage that by first lashing a spar as high as we can conveniently reach; and then standing on that while we lash the other in its proper place。 I shall bring another spar on shore; that we may do the same when we set up the other tent。〃

Having by this plan succeeded in lashing the spar high enough; and throwing the sail over the spar; Ready and Mr。 Seagrave spread it out; and found that it made a very good…sized tent。

〃Now; sir; I'll return on board; in the meantime; if you can cut pegs from the brush wood to fasten the sail down to the ground; and then with the shovel cover the bottom of it with sand to keep it down; it will be close enough when it is all finished。〃

〃I shall do very well;〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave; 〃Juno can help me to pull the canvas out tight when I am ready。〃

〃Yes; and in the meantime; Juno; take a shovel; and level the inside of the tent nice and smooth; and throw out all those old cocoa…nut leaves; and look if you see any vermin lurking among them。 Master Tommy; you must not run away; and you must not touch the axes; they will cut you if you do。 It may be as well to say; Mr。 Seagrave; that should anything happen; and you require my assistance; you had better fire off the gun; and I will come on shore to you immediately。〃



Chapter X

When Ready returned on board; he first went down into the cabin to acquaint Mrs。 Seagrave and William with what they had done。 Mrs。 Seagrave naturally felt anxious about her husband being on shore alone; and Ready informed her that they had agreed that if anything should occur Mr。 Seagrave would fire the musket。 He then went down into the sail…room to get some canvas; a new topgallant sail which was there; and a palm and needles with twine。 Scarcely had he got them out; and at the foot of the ladder; when the report of the musket was heard; and Mrs。 Seagrave rushed out of the cabin in the greatest alarm; Ready seized another musket; jumped into the boat; and pulled on shore as fast as he could。 On his arrival; quite out of breath; for as he pulled on shore he had his back towards it; and could see nothing; he found Mr。 Seagrave and Juno busy with the tent; and Tommy sitting on the ground crying very lustily。 It appeared that; while Mr Seagrave and Juno were employed; Tommy had crept away to where the musket was placed up on end against a cocoa…nut tree; and; after pulling it about some little while; had touched the trigger。 The musket went off; and; as the muzzle was pointed upwards; the charge had brought down two large cocoa…nuts。 Mr。 Seagrave; who was aware what an alarm this would produce on board the vessel; had been scolding him soundly; and now Master Tommy was crying; to prove how very penitent he was。

〃I had better return on board immediately; sir; and tell Mrs。 Seagrave;〃 said Ready。

〃Do; pray;〃 replir。 Seagrave。

Ready then returned to the ship; and explained matters; and then recommenced his labour。

Having put into the boat the sailmaker's bag; with palm and needles; two mattresses; and blankets from the captain's state room; the saucepan with the beef and pork; and a spar which he towed astern; Ready found that he had as much as he could carry; but; as there was nobody but himself in it; he came on shore very well。 Having; with the assistance of Mr。 Seagrave and Juno; got all the things up to the knoll; Ready lashed the spar up for the second tent; and then leaving them to fix it up like the other; he returned again on board。 He made two other trips to the ship; bringing with him more bedding; a bag of ship's biscuits; another of potatoes; plates; knives and forks; spoons; frying…pans and other cooking utensils; and a variety of other articles。 He then showed Juno how to fill up the ends of the first tent with the canvas and sails he had brought on shore; so as to inclose it all round; Juno took the needle and twine; and worked very well。 Ready; satisfied that she would be able to get on without them; now said: 〃Mr。 Seagrave; we have but two hours more daylight; and it is right that Mrs。 Seagrave should come on shore now; so; if you please; we'll go off and fetch her and the children。 I think we shall be able to do very well for the first night; and if it pleases God to give us fine weather; we may do a great deal more to…morrow。〃

As soon as they arrived on board; Mr。 Seagrave went down to his wife to propose her going on shore。 She was much agitated; and very weak from her illness; but she behaved courageously notwithstanding; and; supported by her husband; gained the deck; William following with the baby; and his little sister Caroline carried by Ready。 With some difficulty they were all at last placed in the boat and shoved off; but Mrs。 Seagrave was so ill; that her husband was obliged to support her in his arms; and William took an oar。 They landed very safely; and carried Mrs。 Seagrave up to the tent; and laid her down on one of the mattresses。 She asked for a little water。

〃And I have forgotten to bring any with me: well; I am a stupid old man; but I'll go on board directly;〃 said Ready: 〃to think that I should be so busy in bringing other things on shore and forget the greatest necessary in life! The fact is; I intended to look for it on the island as soon as I could; as it would save a great deal of trouble。〃

Ready returned on board as fast as he could; and brought on shore two kegs of fresh water; which he and William rolled up to the tent。

Juno had completely finished her task; and Mrs。 Seagrave having drank some water; declared that she was much better。

〃I shall not return on board any more to…night;〃 said Ready; 〃I feel tired … very tired indeed。〃

〃You must be;〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave; 〃do not think of doing any more。〃

〃And I haven't touched food this day; or even quenched my thirst;〃 replied Ready; sitting down。

〃You are ill; are you not; Ready?〃 said William。

〃A little faint; William; I'm not so young as I was。 Could you give me a little water?〃

〃Stop; Wil

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