on shore. I don't much like to trust them to swim
on shore, but they are awkward things in a boat. We'll try a pig, at
all events; and while I get one up, do you and William tie the legs of
the fowls, and put them into the boat; as for the cow, she cannot be
brought on shore, she is still lying down, and, I expect, won't get up
again any more; however, I have given her plenty of hay, and if she
don't rise, why I will kill her, and we can salt her down."

Ready went below, and the squealing of the pig was soon heard; he came
on deck with it hanging over his back by the hind legs, and threw it
into the sea over the gunnel: the pig floundered at first; but after a
few seconds, turned its head away from the ship and swam for the shore.

"He goes ashore straight enough," said Ready, who, with Mr Seagrave and
William, was watching the animal; but a minute afterwards, Ready
exclaimed:

"I thought as much--we've lost him!"

"How?" replied Mr Seagrave.

"D'ye see that black thing above water pushing so fast to the animal?--
that's the back fin of a shark, and he will have the poor thing--there,
he's got him!" said Ready, as the pig disappeared under the water with a
heavy splash. "Well, he's gone; better the pig than your little
children, Mr Seagrave."

"Yes, indeed, God be praised!--that monster might have been close to
them at the time that Juno took them into the water."

"He was not far off; I reckon," replied Ready. "We'll go down now and
tie the legs of the other four pigs, and bring them up; with what's
already in the boat they will be a good load."

As soon as the pigs were in the boat, Ready sculled it on shore, while
Mr Seagrave and William brought up the goats and sheep ready for the
next trip. Ready soon returned. "Now this will be our last trip for
to-day, and, if I am any judge of the weather, our last trip for some
days; it is banking up very thick in the offing. This trip we'll be
able to put into the boat a bag of corn for the creatures, in case we
require it, and then we may say good-bye to the ship for a day or two at
least."

They then all got into the boat, which was very deeply laden, for the
corn was heavy, but they got safe on shore, although they leaked very
much. Having landed the goats and sheep, William led them up to the
tent, where they remained very quietly; the pigs had run away, and so
had the fowls.

"That's what I call a good day's work, Mr Seagrave," said Ready; "the
littl