CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.
But although they resolved as stated in the last chapter, nothing wasdone. Finally, one morning at sunrise, as they were looking round withthe telescope, close to the turtle-pond, Masterman Ready said to MrSeagrave, "Indeed, sir, we must no longer remain in this state ofidleness; I have been thinking a great deal of our present position andprospects; as to the vessel coming back, we must, at present, give upall hopes of it. I only wish that we were quite as sure that we shallnot have a visit from the savages: that is my great fear, and it reallyhaunts me; the idea of our being surprised some night, and Mrs Seagraveand the dear children, perhaps, murdered in their beds, is awful toreflect upon."
"God help us!" exclaimed Mr Seagrave, covering up his face.
"God will help us, Mr Seagrave, but at the same time it is necessarythat we should help ourselves; he will give his blessing to ourexertions, but we cannot expect that miracles will be performed for us;and if we remain as we now are, inactive, and taking no steps to meetthe danger which threatens us, we cannot expect the divine assistance.We have had a heavy shock, but it is now time that we recover from it,and put our own shoulders to the wheel."
"I agree with you, Ready," replied William; "indeed I have been thinkingthe same thing for many days past."
"We have all been thinking of it, I believe," said Mr Seagrave; "I'msure I have lain awake night after night, considering our position andwhat we ought to do, but I have never been able to come to anysatisfactory resolution."
"No more have I till last night, Mr Seagrave, but I think that I havenow something to propose which, perhaps, will meet with your approval,"replied Ready; "so now, sir, suppose we hold another council, and cometo a decision."
"I am most willing, Ready," said Mr Seagrave, sitting down upon a rock;"and as you are the oldest, and moreover the best adviser of the three,we will first hear what you have to propose."
"Well then, Mr Seagrave, it appears to me that it will not do to remainin the house, for we may, as I have said, be surprised by the savages atany hour in the night, and we have no means of defence against numbers."
"I feel that, and have felt it for some time," replied Mr Seagrave."What shall we do, then; shall we return to the cove?"
"I should think not, sir," said Ready; "what I propose is this: we havemade a discovery on the south of the island, which is of greatimportance to us; not that I consider the fruit and other plants of anygreat value, as they will only serve to increase our luxuries, if I mayso call them, during the summer season. One great advantage to us, isthe feed which we have found for our live stock, and the fodder for themduring the rainy season; but principally, the patch of yams, which willafford us food during the winter. They are of great importance to us,and we cannot too soon protect them from the pigs, which will certainlyroot them all up, if we do not prevent them. Now, sir, you know what wehad arranged to do, but which we have not done; I think the cocoa-nutrails will take too much time, and it will be sufficient to make a ditchand hedge round the yams; but it will be very tedious if we are to gobackwards and forwards to do the work, and Mrs Seagrave and thechildren will be left alone. I therefore propose, as the weather is nowset in fair, and will remain so for months, that we pitch our tents onthat part of the island, and remove the whole family there; we shallsoon be very comfortable, and at all events much safer there than if weremain here, without any defence."
"It is an excellent plan, Ready; we shall, as you say, be removed fromdanger for the time, and when there, we may consider what we had best doby and by."
"Yes, sir. Those women may not have gained the other island, it istrue, for they had the wind right against them for several days afterthey went away in the canoe, and, moreover, the current sets strong thisway; but if they have, we must expect that the savages will pay us avisit; they will, of course, come direct to the house, if they do come."
"But, Ready, you don't mean to say that we are to leave this side of theisland altogether, and all our comfortable arrangements?" said William.
"No, William, not altogether; for now I come to the second part of myproposition. As soon as we have done our work at the yam plantation,and made everything as comfortable there as we can, I think we may thenleave Mrs Seagrave and the children in the tents, and work here. As webefore agreed, let us abandon the house in which we live at present, andfit out the outhouse which is concealed in the cocoa-nut grove, as adwelling-house, and fortify it so as to be secure against any suddenattack of the savages: for, return here we must, to live, as we cannotremain in the tents after the rainy season sets in."
"How do you propose to fortify it, Ready?" said Mr Seagrave; "I hardlyknow."
"That I will explain to you by and by, sir. Then, if the savages comehere, at all events we should be able to defend ourselves withfire-arms; one man behind a stockade is better than twenty who have noother arms but spears and clubs; and we may, with the help of God, beatthem off."
"I think your plan is excellent, Ready," said Mr Seagrave, "and thatthe sooner we begin, the better."
"That there is no doubt of, sir. Now, the first job is for William andme to try for the passage through this side of the reef with the boat,and then we will look for the little harbour which we discovered; assoon as that is done, we will return and take the tents and all werequire round in the boat, and when we have pitched the tents and all isarranged, Mrs Seagrave and the children can walk through the wood withus, and take possession."
"Let us not lose an hour, Ready; we have lost too much time already,"replied Mr Seagrave. "What shall we do to-day?"
"After breakfast, William and I will take the boat, and try for thepassage. You can remain here, packing up the tents and such articles asmust first be carried round. We shall be back, I hope, by dinner-time."
They then rose, and walked towards the house; all felt relieved in theirminds, after they had made this arrangement, satisfied that they wouldbe using all human endeavours to ward off the danger which threatenedthem, and might then put their confidence in that Providence who would,if he thought fit, protect them in their need.
Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific Page 45
