There, that will do for the present," said old Ready, getting up. "Now,
I'll just light the fire, get the water on, and, while I think of it,
boil two or three pieces of beef and pork to go on shore with them; and
then I'll call up Mr Seagrave, for I reckon it will be a hard day's
work."

CHAPTER NINE.

As soon as Ready had executed his intentions, and had fed the animals,
he went to the cabin and called Mr Seagrave and William. With their
assistance the sheers were raised, and secured in their place; the boat
was then hooked on, but, as one person was required to bear it clear of
the davits and taffrail, they could not hoist it in.

"Master William, will you run down to Juno, and tell her to come on deck
to assist us--we must all work now?"

William soon returned with Juno, who was a strong girl; and, with her
assistance, they succeeded in getting the boat in.

The boat was turned over, and Ready commenced his work; while Mr
Seagrave, at his request, put the pitch-pot on the galley fire, all
ready for pitching the canvas when it was nailed on. It was not till
dinner-time that Ready, who had worked hard, could patch up the boat; he
then payed the canvas and the seams which he had caulked with pitch both
inside and out.

"I think we shall do now, sir," said Ready; "we'll drag her to the
gangway and launch her. It's fortunate for us that they did clear away
the gunnel, as we shall have no trouble."

A rope was made fast to the boat, to hold her to the ship: she was then
launched over the gunnel by the united exertions of Mr Seagrave and
Ready, and to their great satisfaction she appeared to leak very little.

"Now, sir," said Ready, "what shall we do first--take some things on
shore, or some of the children?"

"What do you say, Ready?"

"I think as the water is as smooth as glass, and we can land anywhere,
you and I had better go first to reconnoitre,--it is not two hundred
yards to the beach, and we shall lose but little time."

"Very well, Ready, I will first run down and tell my wife."

"And, in the meanwhile, I'll put the sail into the boat, and one or two
other things."

Ready put the sail in, an axe, a musket, and some cord; then they both
got into the boat and pulled on shore.

When they landed, they found that they could see nothing of the interior
of the island, the cocoa-nut groves were so thick; but to their right
they perceived, at about a quarter of a mile off, a small sandy cove,