Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER EIGHT.

  "All's well so far, sir," said Ready to Mr Seagrave; "and now let usreturn thanks to Heaven."

  As they rose to their feet again, after giving thanks to the Almighty,William came up and said, "Father, my mother was awakened by the noiseunder the ship's bottom, and is frightened--will you go down to her?"

  "What is the matter, my dear,--and where have you all been?" exclaimedMrs Seagrave, when her husband went down below. "I have been sofrightened--I was in a sound sleep, and I was awakened with such adreadful noise."

  "Be composed, my dear," replied Mr Seagrave; "we have been in greatdanger, and are now, I trust, in safety. Tell me, are you not betterfor your long sleep?"

  "Yes, much better--much stronger; but do tell me what has happened."

  "Much took place, dearest, before you went to sleep, which was concealedfrom you; but now, as I expect we shall all go on shore in a shorttime--"

  "Go on shore, my dear?"

  "Yes, on shore. Now be calm, and hear what has happened, and how muchwe have reason to be grateful to Heaven."

  Mr Seagrave then entered into a detail of all that had passed. MrsSeagrave heard him without reply; and when he had finished, she threwherself in his arms and wept bitterly. Mr Seagrave remained with hiswife, using all his efforts to console her, until Juno reappeared withthe children, for it was now getting late; then he returned on deck.

  "Well, sir," said Ready, when Mr Seagrave went up to him, "I have beenlooking well about me, and I think that we have great reason to bethankful. The ship is fast enough, and will not move until some violentgales come on and break her up; but of that there is no fear at present:the little wind that there is, is going down, and we shall have a calmbefore morning."

  "I grant that there is no immediate danger, Ready; but how are we to geton shore?--and, when on shore, how are we to exist?"

  "I have thought of that too, sir, and I must have your assistance, andeven that of Master William, to get the little boat on board to repairher: her bottom is stove in, it is true, but I am carpenter enough forthat, and with some well-tarred canvas I can make her sufficientlywater-tight to land us all in safety. We must set to at daylight."

  "And when we get on shore?"

  "Why, Mr Seagrave, where there are cocoa-nut trees in such plenty asthere are on that island, there is no fear of starvation, even if we hadnot the ship's provisions. I expect a little difficulty with regard towater, for the island is low and small; but we cannot expect to findeverything exactly as we wish."

  "I am thankful to the Almighty for our preservation, Ready; but stillthere are feelings which I cannot get over. Here we are cast away upona desolate island, which perhaps no ship may ever come near, so thatthere is little chance of our being taken off. It is a melancholy andcruel fate, Ready, and that you must acknowledge."

  "Mr Seagrave, as an old man compared to you, I may venture to say thatyou are ungrateful to Heaven to give way to these repinings. What issaid in the book of Job? `Shall we receive good of the Lord, and shallwe not receive evil?' Besides, who knows whether good may not proceedfrom what appears evil? I beg your pardon, Mr Seagrave, I hope I havenot offended you; but, indeed, sir, I felt that it was my duty to speakas I have done."

  "You have reproved me very justly, Ready; and I thank you for it,"replied Mr Seagrave; "I will repine no more, but make the best of it."

  "And trust in God, sir, who, if he thinks fit, will restore you oncemore to your friends, and increase tenfold your flocks and herds."

  "That quotation becomes very apt, Ready," replied Mr Seagrave, smiling,"considering that all my prospects are in flocks and herds upon my landin New South Wales. I must put myself under your orders; for, in ourpresent position, you are my superior--knowledge is power. Can we doanything to-night?"

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

  Mr Seagrave assisted Ready in getting the two spars aft, and laid onthe spot which was required. "There now, Mr Seagrave, you may go downbelow. William had better let loose the two dogs, and give them alittle victuals, for we have quite forgot them, poor things. I shallkeep 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 histackles ready for the morrow. When all was done, he sat down upon oneof the hen-coops aft, and remained in deep thought. At last, tired withwatching and exertion, the old man fell asleep. He was awakened atdaylight by the dogs, who had been set at liberty, and who, afterwalking about the ship and finding nobody, had then gone to sleep at thecabin door. At daybreak they had roused up, and going on deck had foundold Ready asleep on the hen-coop, and were licking his face in their joyat having discovered him. "Ay," said the old man, as he got off thehen-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'mafraid."

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

  Ready placed the logboard on the hen-coop, and then wrote on it with thechalk:--"Three dogs, two goats, and Billy the kid (I think there's fivepigs); 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 killher); 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 shoreafter we are all landed--a spar and topgallant sail for a tent, a coilor 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.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; andthen I'll call up Mr Seagrave, for I reckon it will be a hard day'swork."