CHAPTER TWENTY.
Everything was now preparing for their removal to the leeward side ofthe island. Ready had nearly completed the boat; he had given it athorough repair, and fitted a mast and sail. William and Mr Seagravecontinued to collect and secure the various articles thrown on shore,particularly such as would be injured by their exposure to the weather:these they rolled or carried into the cocoa-nut grove, so as to besheltered from the sun; but there were so many things thrown on shoreday after day, that they hardly knew what they had: but they securedcase and cask one after another, waiting for a better opportunity toexamine their contents. At last they collected a great many articlestogether, and, with their shovels, covered them over with sand, it beingimpossible to get them from the beach without more time than they couldspare.
Neither was Mrs Seagrave, who was now getting quite strong, or Juno,idle. They had made up everything that they could in packages, readyfor moving. On the eighth day after the gale, they were ready, and itwas arranged that Ready should put into the boat the bedding and canvasof one tent, and should take William with him on his expedition. Havingtransported this safe, he should return for a load of the most necessaryarticles, and then the family should walk through the grove to the otherside of the island, and remain there with Mr Seagrave while Ready andWilliam returned for the other tent; and after that, the boat shouldmake as many trips as the weather would permit, till they had broughtall the things absolutely required. It was a lovely calm morning whenReady and William pushed off in the boat, which was well loaded; and assoon as they were clear of the cove they hoisted the sail, and went awaybefore the wind along the coast. In two hours they had run to theeastern end of the island, and hauled up close inshore: the point whichran out, and at the end of which there was an inlet, was not a mile fromthem, and in a very short time they had lowered the sail, and werepulling in for the sandy beach.
"You see, William, it is fortunate for us that we shall always have afair wind when we come down loaded, and only have to pull our empty boatback again."
"Indeed it is. How many miles do you think it is from the cove to thispart of the island?"
"About six or seven, not more: the island, you see, is long and narrow.Now let us get the things out and carry them up, and then we will beback to the cove long before dark."
The boat was soon unloaded, but they had some way to carry up thethings. "We shall not mind such a gale as we had the other day when ourtents are pitched here, William," said Ready, "for we shall be protectedby the whole width of the cocoa-nut grove. We shall hardly feel thewind, although we shall the rain, for that will come down in torrents."
"I must go and see how our spring gets on," said William, "and get adrink from it."
Willy reported the spring to be up to the brim with water, and that hehad never drunk water so excellent. They then pushed off the boat, and,after rowing for about two hours or more, found themselves at theentrance of the cove, and Mrs Seagrave, with Tommy by her side, wavingher handkerchief to them.
They very soon pulled in to the beach, and, landing, received thecongratulations of the whole party at their first successful voyage, andall expressed their delight at its having proved so much shorter thanhad been anticipated.
"Tommy will go next time," said Master Tommy.
"By and by, when Tommy grows a little taller," replied Ready.
"Massa Tommy, you come help me to milk the goats," said Juno.
"Yes, Tommy milk the goats," said the little urchin, running after Juno.
"You must be almost tired of eating nothing but salt meat and biscuit,ma'am," said Ready, as they sat down to their meal; "but when we are allsafe on the other side of the island we hope to feed you better. Atpresent it is hard work and hard fare."
"As long as the children are well, I care very little about it; but Imust say that, after the last gale, I am as anxious as you to be on theother side of the island, especially after the account William has givenme of it. It must be a paradise! When do we set off?"
"Not till the day after to-morrow, ma'am, I should think; for you see Imust have another trip for the cooking utensils and the bundles whichyou have made up. If you will spare Juno to walk through the wood withWilliam to-morrow, we will then have the tent ready for you and thechildren."
Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific Page 20