but selfish: I must and will
shake it off. Hitherto I have only been a clog and an incumbrance to
you; but I trust I shall soon behave better, and make myself useful. If
you think, then, that it would be better that you should go instead of
William, I am quite content. Go, then, with Ready, and may Heaven
protect you both!"

"No, ma'am," replied Ready, "William will do just as well. Indeed, I
would go by myself with pleasure; but we know not what the day may bring
forth. I might be taken ill--I might hurt myself--I am an old man, you
know; and then I was thinking that if any accident was to happen to me,
you might miss me--that's all."

"Pardon me," replied Mrs Seagrave; "a mother is foolish at times."

"Over-anxious, ma'am, perhaps, but not foolish," replied Ready.

"Well, then, William shall go with you, Ready;--that point's settled,"
observed Mr Seagrave: "what is the next?"

"The next is to prepare for our journey. We must take some provisions
and water with us, a gun and some ammunition, a large axe for me, and
one of the hatchets for William; and, if you please, Romulus and Remus
had better come with us. Juno, put a piece of beef and a piece of pork
into the pot. William, will you fill four quart bottles with water,
while I sew up a knapsack out of canvas for each of us?"

"And what shall I do, Ready?" said Mr Seagrave.

"Why, sir, if you will sharpen the axe and the hatchet on the
grindstone, it would be of great service, and Tommy can turn it, he is
so fond of work."

Tommy jumped up directly; he was quite strong enough to turn the
grindstone, but he was much fonder of play than work; but as Ready had
said that he was fond of it, he wished to prove that such was the case,
and worked very hard. Before they went to prayers and retired for the
night, the axe was sharpened, the knapsacks made, and everything else
ready.

"When do you intend to start, Ready?" said Mr Seagrave.

"Why, sir, I should like to get off at the dawn of day, when the heat is
not so great."

"And when do you intend to come back?" said Mrs Seagrave.

"Why, madam, we have provisions enough for three days: if we start
to-morrow morning, which is Wednesday, I hope to be back some time on
Friday evening; but I won't be later than Saturday morning if I can help
it."

"Good-night--and good-bye, mother," said William, "for I shall not see
you to-morrow!"

"God bless and protect you, my dear child!" replied Mrs Seagrave.
"Ta