I must put myself under your orders; for, in our
present position, you are my superior--knowledge is power. Can we do
anything to-night?"

"I can do a little, Mr Seagrave; but you cannot assist me till tomorrow
morning, except indeed to help me to drag these two spars aft; and then
I can rig a pair of sheers, and have them all ready for hoisting up
to-morrow morning to get the boat in. You see, with so little strength
on board, and no masts, we shall be obliged to contrive."

Mr Seagrave assisted Ready in getting the two spars aft, and laid on
the spot which was required. "There now, Mr Seagrave, you may go down
below. William had better let loose the two dogs, and give them a
little victuals, for we have quite forgot them, poor things. I shall
keep watch to-night, for I have plenty to do, and plenty to think of;
so, good-night, sir."

Ready remained on deck, lashing the heads of the spars, and fixing his
tackles ready for the morrow. When all was done, he sat down upon one
of the hen-coops aft, and remained in deep thought. At last, tired with
watching and exertion, the old man fell asleep. He was awakened at
daylight by the dogs, who had been set at liberty, and who, after
walking about the ship and finding nobody, had then gone to sleep at the
cabin door. At daybreak they had roused up, and going on deck had found
old Ready asleep on the hen-coop, and were licking his face in their joy
at having discovered him. "Ay," said the old man, as he got off the
hen-coop, "you'll all three be useful, if I mistake not, by and by.
Down, Vixen, down--poor creature, you've lost a good master, I'm
afraid."

"Stop--now let me see," said Ready, talking to himself; "first--but I'll
get the log board and a bit of chalk, and write them down, for my memory
is not quite so good as it was."

Ready placed the logboard on the hen-coop, and then wrote on it with the
chalk:--"Three dogs, two goats, and Billy the kid (I think there's five
pigs); fowls (quite enough); three or four pigeons (I'm sure); the cow
(she has lain down and won't get up again, I'm afraid, so we must kill
her); and there's the merino ram and sheep belonging to Mr Seagrave--
plenty of live stock. Now, what's the first things we must get on shore
after we are all landed--a spar and topgallant sail for a tent, a coil
or two of rope, a mattress or two for Madam and the children, two axes,
hammer and nails, something to eat--yes, and something to cut it with.