Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific
Page 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN.
Mr Seagrave was the first who awoke and rose from his bed on theensuing morning. He stepped out of the tent, and looked around him.The sky was clear and brilliant. A light breeze ruffled o'er thesurface of the water, and the tiny waves rippled one after another uponthe white sand of the cove. To the left of the cove the land rose,forming small hills, behind which appeared the continuation of thecocoa-nut groves. To the right, a low ridge of coral rocks rose almostas a wall from the sea, and joined the herbage and brushwood at about ahundred paces, while the wreck of the Pacific, lying like some hugestranded monster, formed the prominent feature in the landscape. Thesun was powerful where its beams could penetrate; but where Mr Seagravestood, the cocoa-nuts waved their feathery leaves to the wind, andoffered an impervious shade. A feeling of the extreme beauty of thescene, subdued by the melancholy created by the sight of the wreckedvessel, pervaded the mind of Mr Seagrave as he meditated over it.
"Yes," thought he, "if, tired with the world and its anxieties, I hadsought an abode of peace and beauty, it would have been on a spot likethis. How lovely is the scene!--what calm--what content--what a sweetsadness does it create! How mercifully have we been preserved when allhope appeared to be gone; and how bountifully have we been provided for,now that we have been saved,--and yet I have dared to repine, when Iought to be full of gratitude! May God forgive me! Wife, children, allsafe, nothing to regret but a few worldly goods and a seclusion from theworld for a time--yes, but for how long a time--What! rebelliousstill!--for the time that it shall please God in his wisdom to ordain."Mr Seagrave turned back to his tent. William, Tommy, and old Readystill remained fast asleep. "Excellent old man!" thought Mr Seagrave."What a heart of oak is hid under that rugged bark!--Had it not been forhis devotion where might I and all those dear helpless creatures havebeen now?"
The dogs, who had crept into the tent and laid themselves down upon themattresses by the side of William and Tommy, now fawned upon MrSeagrave. William woke up with their whining, and having received acaution from his father not to wake Ready, he dressed himself and cameout.
"Had I not better call Juno, father?" said William; "I think I can,without waking mamma, if she is asleep."
"Then do, if you can, my boy; and I will see what cooking utensils Readyhas brought on shore."
William soon returned to his father, stating that his mother was in asound sleep, and that Juno had got up without waking her or the twochildren.
"Well, we'll see if we cannot get some breakfast ready for them,William. Those dry cocoa-nut leaves will make an excellent fire."
"But, father, how are we to light the fire? we have no tinder-box ormatches."
"No; but there are other ways, William, although, in most of them,tinder is necessary. The savages can produce fire by rubbing a softpiece of wood against a hard one. But we have gunpowder; and we havetwo ways of igniting gunpowder--one is by a flint and steel, and theother is by collecting the sun's rays into one focus by amagnifying-glass."
"But, father, when we have lighted the fire, what have we to cook? wehave no tea or coffee."
"No, I do not think we have," replied Mr Seagrave.
"But we have potatoes, father."
"Yes, William, but don't you think it would be better if we made ourbreakfast off the cold beef and pork and ship's biscuit for once, andnot use the potatoes? we may want them all to plant, you know. But whyshould we not go on board of the ship ourselves? you can pull an oarpretty well, and we must all learn to work now, and not leave everythingfor poor old Ready to do. Come, William."
Mr Seagrave then went down to the cove; the little boat was lying onthe beach, just lifted by the rippling waves; they pushed her off, andgot into her. "I know where the steward kept the tea and coffee,father," said William, as they pulled on board; "mamma would like somefor breakfast, I'm sure, and I'll milk the goats for baby."
Although they were neither of them very handy at the oar, they were soonalongside of the ship; and, having made the boat fast, they climbed onboard.
William first went down to the cabin for the tea and coffee, and thenleft his father to collect other things while he went to milk the goats,which he did in a tin pan. He then poured the milk into a bottle, whichhe had washed out, that it might not be spilt, and went back to hisfather.
"I have filled these two baskets full of a great many things, William,which will be very acceptable to your mamma. What else shall we take?"
"Let us take the telescope, at all events, father; and let us take awhole quantity of clothes--they will please mamma: the clean ones areall in the drawers--we can bring them up in a sheet; and then, father,let us bring some of the books on shore; and I'm sure mamma will longfor her Bible and prayer-book;--here they are."
"You are a good boy, William," replied Mr Seagrave. "I will now takethose things up to the boat, and then return for the rest."
In a short time everything was put into the boat, and they pulled onshore again. They found Juno, who had been washing herself, waiting forthem at the cove, to assist to take up the things.
"Well, Juno, how do you find yourself this morning?"
"Quite well, massa," said Juno: and then pointing to the clear water,she said, "Plenty fish here."
"Yes, if we only had lines," replied Mr Seagrave. "I think Ready hasboth hooks and lines somewhere. Come, Juno, take up this bundle oflinen to your tent: we can manage all the rest."
When they arrived at the tent they found that every one was awake exceptReady, who appeared still to sleep very sound. Mrs Seagrave had passeda very good night, and felt herself much refreshed. William made sometouch-paper, which he lighted with one of the glasses from thetelescope, and they soon had a good fire. Mr Seagrave went to thebeach, and procured three large stones to rest the saucepan on; and inhalf an hour the water was boiling and the tea made.