Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER FIFTY.

  After dinner they resumed their labour. "I wonder what's in this case?"said Mr Seagrave, pointing to the first at hand. Ready set to workwith his axe, and broke off the lid, and found a number of pasteboardboxes full of tapes, narrow ribbons, stay-laces, whalebones, and cottonson reels.

  "This has been sent out for some Botany Bay milliner," said MrSeagrave. "I presume, however, we must confiscate it for the benefit ofMrs Seagrave and Miss Caroline. We will take them to them as soon aswe have time."

  The next was a box without a lock; the lid was forced up, and they founda dozen half-gallon square bottles of gin stored in divisions.

  "That's Hollands, sir, I know," said Ready; "what shall we do with it?"

  "We will not destroy it, Ready, but at the same time we will not use itbut as a medicine," replied Mr Seagrave; "we have been so long used tospring-water, that it would be a pity to renew a taste for spirituousliquors."

  "I trust we shall never want to drink a drop of it, sir, either as amedicine or otherwise. Now for this cask with wooden hoops."

  The head was soon out, and discovered a dinner set of painted china withgold edges.

  "This, Mr Seagrave, may be useful, for we are rather short of platesand dishes. Common white would have served as well."

  "And be more suitable with our present outfit," replied Mr Seagrave.

  "Here's a box with your name on it, sir," said Ready; "do you know whatis in it?"

  "I have no idea, Ready; but your axe will decide the point."

  When the box was opened, everything appeared in a sad mouldy state fromthe salt water which had penetrated; but on removing the brown paper andpasteboard, it was found to contain stationery of all sorts, and, excepton the outside, it was very little injured.

  "This is indeed a treasure, Ready. I recollect now; this is paper,pens, and everything requisite for writing, besides children's books,copy-books, paint-boxes, and a great many other articles in thestationery line."

  "Well, sir, that is fortunate. Now we may set up our school, and as thewhole population of the island will attend it, it will really be aNational School."

  "Very true, Ready. Now for that cask."

  "I can tell what that is by the outside; it is oil, and very acceptable,for our candles are nearly out. Now we come to the most valuable of allour property."

  "What is that, Ready?"

  "All the articles which I brought on shore in the different trips I tookin the boat before the ship went to pieces; for you see, sir, iron don'tswim, and, therefore, what I looked after most was ironware of allsorts, and tools. Here are three kegs of small nails, besides two bagsof large, and there are several axes, hammers, and other tools, besideshanks of twine, sailing needles, and bees'-wax."

  "They are indeed valuable, Ready."

  "Here's some more of my plunder, as the Americans say. All these arewash-deck buckets, this a small harness cask for salting meat, andhere's the cook's wooden trough for making bread, which will please MissJuno; and in it, you see, I have put all the galley-hooks, ladles, andspoons, and the iron trivets, and here's two lamps. I think I put somecotton wicks somewhere--I know I did; we shall find them by and by.Here's the two casks, one of cartridges made up, and the other ofgunpowder, and the other six muskets."

  "These are really treasures, Ready, and yet how well we have donewithout them."

  "Very true, sir, but we shall do better with them, and when we fit upthe storehouse for a dwelling, Mr Seagrave, we shall be able to make ita little more comfortable in every respect than the present one; for yousee there, all the fir-planking and deals, which William and I buried inthe sand."

  "I really had quite forgotten them, Ready. If I could but get the fearof the savages coming over out of my head, I really think we might livevery comfortably even on this island."

  "Do you know, Mr Seagrave, I am glad to hear you say that, for itproves that you are more contented and resigned than you were."

  "I am so, Ready--at least I think so; but perhaps it is, that theimmediate danger from the savages so fills my thoughts, that I no longerdwell so much upon our being taken off the island."

  "I dare say it is as you state, sir; but now let us go on with oursearch. Here are the ship's compasses, and deep sea line and reel, alsothe land lead. The stuff will be very useful for our little boat."

  "And I am very glad of the compasses, Ready; for with them I shall beable to make a sort of survey of the island, when I have a little time.Your pocket compass is too small for surveying. I shall take somebearings now, while I am here, as I may not be back again very soon."

  "Well, sir, I think if we open this other case, which I perceive hasyour name on it, it will be as much as we need do to-day, for the sun isgoing down; we can then make up some kind of bed, eat our suppers, andgo to sleep."

  "I am very tired, Ready, and shall be glad to do as you propose. Thatcase contains books; but what portion of my library I do not know."

  "But you soon will, sir," replied Ready, wrenching it open with his axe."They are a little stained on the outside, but they are jammed so tightthat they do not appear to have suffered much. Here are one or two,sir."

  "Plutarch's Lives. I am glad I have them: they are excellent readingfor young or old; there is no occasion to open any more, as I know allthe other books in the case are `History'; perhaps the best case whichcould have been saved."