t
before been a lad in the mizen-top of a man-of-war. I dressed myself
very smart--wore white shirts, and rings on my fingers. Indeed, as
captain and part owner of a fine vessel, I was considered as somebody,
and was often invited to the table of the other owners of the vessel. I
was well off, for my pay was ten pounds a month, independent of what my
own venture might produce, and my quarter-share of the profits of the
vessel. This may be considered as the most prosperous portion of my
life; and so, if you please, we will leave off here for to-night, for I
may as well tell you at once that it did not last very long."

CHAPTER FORTY ONE.

For several days after, they were employed in clearing away the stumps
of the cocoa-nut trees in the winding path to the storehouse; and as
soon as that work was finished, Ready put up a lightning-conductor at
the side of the storehouse, like the one which he had put up near to the
cottage. They had now got through all the work that they had arranged
to do during the rainy season. The ewes had lambed, but both the sheep
and the goats began to suffer for want of pasture. For a week they had
no rain, and the sun burst out very powerfully; and Ready was of opinion
that the rainy season was now over. William had become quite strong
again, and he was very impatient that they should commence the survey of
the island. After a great deal of consultation, it was at last settled,
that Ready and William should make the first survey to the southward,
and then return and report what they had discovered. This was decided
upon on the Saturday evening, and on the Monday morning they were to
start. The knapsacks were got ready, and well filled with boiled salt
pork, and flat cakes of bread. They were each to have a musket and
ammunition, and a blanket was folded up to carry on the shoulders, that
they might sleep on it at night. Ready did not forget his compass, or
the small axes, for them to blaze the trees as they went through the
wood.

The whole of Saturday was occupied in making their preparations. After
supper, Ready said, "Now, William, before we start on our travels, I
think I may as well wind up my history. I haven't a great deal more to
tell, as my good fortune did not last long; and after my remaining so
long in a French prison, my life was one continued chapter of from bad
to worse. Our ship was soon ready, and we sailed with convoy for
Barbadoes. Sanders proved a goo