Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

  Old Ready had his boat loaded and had made sail for the other side ofthe island long before the family were up; indeed, before they weredressed he had landed his whole cargo on the beach, and was sitting downquietly taking his breakfast. As soon as he had eaten the beef andbiscuit which he had taken with him, he carried up the things which hehad brought, and commenced arrangements for setting up the tent,intending to await the arrival of William and Juno, that they mightassist him in getting up the spars and canvas over it.

  About ten o'clock William made his appearance, leading one of the goatsby a string, followed by the others. Juno came after with the sheep,also holding one with a cord; the rest had very quietly joined theprocession. "Here we are at last!" said William laughing; "we have hadterrible work in the woods, for Nanny would run on one side of a treewhen I went on the other, and then I had to let go the string. We fellin with the pigs again, and Juno gave such a squall!"

  "I tink 'em wild beast," said Juno. "Ah! what a nice place! Missiswill like to live here."

  "Yes, it is a very nice place, Juno; and you'll be able to wash here,and never mind about saving the water."

  "I am thinking," said William, "how we are to get the fowls here; theyare not very wild, but still we cannot catch them."

  "I'll bring them with me to-morrow, William."

  "But how will you catch them?"

  "Wait till they are gone to roost, and then you may catch them when youplease."

  "And I suppose the pigeons and the pigs must run wild?"

  "The best thing we can do with them."

  "Then we shall have to shoot them, I suppose?"

  "Well, William, so we shall; and the pigeons also, when they have becomeplentiful, if we remain here so long. We shall soon be well stocked andlive in plenty. But now you must help me to get the tent up andeverything in order, so that your mamma may find things comfortable onher arrival, for she will be very tired, I dare say, walking through thewood."

  "Mamma is much better than she was," replied William. "I think she willsoon be quite strong again, especially when she comes to live at thisbeautiful place."

  "We have a great deal of work to do, more than we can get through beforethe rainy season; which is a pity, but it can't helped; by this timenext year we shall be more comfortable."

  "Why, what have we to do besides putting up the tents and shifting overhere?"

  "In the first place we have to build a house, and that will take a longwhile. Then we ought to make a little garden, and sow the seeds whichyour father brought from England with him."

  "Oh! that will be nice; where shall we make it, Ready?"

  "We must put a fence across that point of land, and dig up all thebrushwood; the mould is very good."

  "Then what next?"

  "Then we shall want a storehouse for all the things we have got, and allthat are in the wood and on the beach: and consider what a many trips weshall have to make with the little boat to bring them all round."

  "Yes, that is very true, Ready. Have we anything more to do?"

  "Plenty; we have to build a turtle-pond and a fish-pond, and abathing-place for Juno to wash the children in. But first we must makea proper well at the spring, so as to have plenty of fresh water: nowthere's enough for a year's hard work at least."

  "Well, let us once get mamma and the children here, and we will workhard."

  "I should wish very much to see it all done, William," said Ready. "Ihope my life will be spared till it is done, at all events."

  "But why do you say that, Ready? you are an old man, but you are strongand healthy."

  "I am so now; but what does the Book say?--`In the midst of life we arein death.' You are young and healthy, and promise a long life; but whoknows but you may be summoned away tomorrow. Can I, then, an old man,worn out with hardships, expect to live long? No--no, William! Still Ishould like to remain here as long as I can be useful, and then I trustI may depart in peace. I never wish to leave this island; and I have akind of feeling that my bones will remain on it. God's will be done!"

  For some time after Ready had finished, neither of them said a word, butcontinued their employment, stretching out the canvas of the tent, andfastening it down to the ground with pegs. At last William broke thesilence.

  "Ready, did you not say your Christian name was Masterman?"

  "So it is, William."

  "It is a very odd Christian name! You were called after some otherperson?"

  "Yes, I was, William; he was a very rich man."

  "Do you know, Ready, I should like very much if you will one day tell meyour history--I mean your whole life, from the time you were a boy."

  "Well, perhaps I may, William; for there are many parts of my life whichwould prove a lesson to others: but that must be after we have gotthrough our work."

  "How old are you, Ready?"

  "I am turned of sixty-four; a very old age for a seaman. I could notobtain employment on board of a vessel if it were not that I am wellknown to several captains."

  "But why do you say `old for a seaman?'"

  "Because sailors live faster than other people, partly from thehardships which they undergo, and partly from their own fault indrinking so much spirits; and then they are too often reckless and carenothing for their healths."

  "But you never drink spirits now?"

  "No, never, William; but in my early days I was as foolish as others.Now, Juno, you may bring in the bedding. We have two or three hoursyet, William; what shall we do next?"

  "Had we not better make the fireplace all ready for cooking?"

  "It was what I was going to propose, if you had not. I shall be hereto-morrow long before any of you, and I will take care that supper isready on your arrival."

  "I brought a bottle of water in my knapsack," replied William, "not somuch for the water, as because I want to milk the goats and take backthe milk for baby."

  "You proved yourself not only thoughtful but kind, William: now whileyou and Juno fetch the stones for the fireplace, I will stow away underthe trees the things I have brought in the boat."

  "Shall we let the goats and sheep loose, Ready?"

  "Oh, yes,--there is no fear of their straying; the herbage here isbetter than on the other side, and there is plenty of it."

  "Well, I will let Nanny go as soon as Juno has milked her. Now, Juno,let us see how many stones we can carry at once."

  In an hour the fireplace was made, Ready had done all that he could, thegoats were milked and let loose, and then William and Juno set off ontheir journey back.

  Ready went down to the beach. On his arrival there, he observed a smallturtle: creeping up softly he got between it and the water, andsucceeded in turning it over. "That will do for to-morrow," said he, ashe stepped into the boat; and laying hold of the oars, he pulled out ofthe bay to return to the cove.