he rain poured off in torrents。 One moment the canvas of the tents would bulge in； and the cords which held it strain and crack； at another； an eddy of wind would force out the canvas； which would flap and flap； while the rain found many an entrance。 The tent in which Mrs。 Seagrave and the children reposed was on the outside of the others； and therefore the most exposed。 About midnight the wind burst on them with greater violence than before。 A loud crash was heard by Ready and Mr。 Seagrave； followed by the shrieks of Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno； the pegs of the tent had given way； and the inmates were exposed to the fury of the elements。 Ready rushed out； followed by Mr。 Seagrave and William。 So strong was the wind and beating rain； and such was the darkness； that it was with some difficulty that by their united efforts the women and children could be extricated。 Tommy was the first taken up by Ready： his courage had all gone； and he was bellowing furiously。 William took Albert in charge and carried him into the other tent； where Tommy sat in his wet shirt roaring most melodiously。 Juno； Mrs。 Seagrave； and the little girl were at last carried away and taken into the other tent： fortunately no one was hurt； although the frightened children could not be pacified； and joined in chorus with Tommy。 Nothing more could be done except to put the children into bed； and then the whole party sat up the remainder of the night listening to the noise of the wind； the roaring of the sea； and the loud patter of the rain against the canvas。 At dawn of day； Ready went out； and found that the gale had spent its force； and had already much abated； but it was not one of those bright glorious mornings to which they had been accustomed since their arrival at the island： the sky was still dark； and the clouds were chasing each other wildly； there was neither sun nor blue sky to be seen： it still rained； but only at intervals； and the earth was soft and spongy； the little cove； but the day before so beautiful； was now a mass of foaming and tumultuous waves； and the surf was thrown many yards upon the beach： the horizon was confused … you could not distinguish the line between the water and the sky； and the whole shore of the island was lined with a white foam。 Ready turned his eyes to where the ship had been fixed on the rocks： it was no longer there … the whole frame had disappeared； but the fragments of it； and the contents of the holds； were floating about in every direction； or tossing amongst the surf on the beach。
〃I thought as much；〃 said Ready； pointing to where the ship had lain； as he turned round and found that Mr。 Seagrave had followed him； 〃look； sir； this gale has broken her up entirely。 This is a warning to us not to remain here any longer： we must make the most of the fine weather which we may have before the rainy season sets in。〃
〃I agree with you； Ready；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； … 〃and there is another proof of it；〃 pointing to the tent which had been blown down。 〃It was a mercy that none of them were hurt。〃
〃Very true； sir； but the gale is breaking； and we shall have fine weather to…morrow。 Let us now see what we can do with the tent； while William and Juno try if they can get any breakfast。〃
They set to work。 Ready and Mr。 Seagrave made it fast with fresh cords and pegs； and very soon had it all ready； but the beds and bedding were wet through。 They hauled over the wet canvas； and then left it to go to their breakfast； to which Juno had summoned them。
〃We need do no more at present；〃 said Ready； 〃by night…time it will not be so wet； and we can handle it easier。 I see a break in the sky now which promises fine weather soon。 And now we had better work hard to…day； for we may save a great many things； which may be dashed to pieces on the rocks； if we do not haul them on the beach。〃
Chapter XIX
They went down to the beach。 Ready first procured from the stores a good stout rope； and as the waves threw up casks and timbers of the vessel； they stopped them from being washed back again； and either rolled or hauled them up with the rope until they were safely landed。 This occupied them for the major part of the day； and yet they had not collected a quarter of the articles that were in their reach； independent of the quantity which floated about out at sea and at the entrance of the cove。
〃I think；〃 said Ready； 〃we have done a good day's work； tomorrow we shall be able to do much more； for the sea is going down； and the sun is showing himself from the corner of that cloud。 Now we will go to supper； and then see if we can make ourselves more comfortable for the night。〃
The tent which had not been blown down was given to Mrs。 Seagrave and the children； and the other was fitted up as well as it could be。 The bedding being all wet； they procured some sails from the stores； which； being stowed away farther in the grove； had not suffered much from the tempest； and； spreading the canvas； they lay down； and the night passed without any disaster； for the wind was now lulled to a pleasant breeze。
The next morning the sun shone bright … the air was fresh and bracing； but a slight breeze rippled the waters； and there was little or no surf。 The various fragments of the wreck were tossed by the little surf that still remained； many things were lying on the beach which had landed during the night； and many more required but a little trouble to secure them。 There appeared to be a sort of in draught into the cove； as all the articles which had been floating out at sea were now gradually coming on shore in that direction。 Ready and Mr。 Seagrave worked till breakfast…time； and had by that time saved a great many casks and packages。
After breakfast they went down again to the beach and resumed their labours。 〃Look； Ready； what is that？〃 said William； who was with them； as he pointed to a white…looking mass floating in the cove。
〃That； sir； is the poor cow； and if you look again； you will see the sharks are around； making a feast of her： don't you see them？〃
〃Yes； I do … what a quantity！〃
〃Yes； there's no want of them； William； so be very careful how you get into the water； and never let Tommy go near it； for they don't care how shallow it is when they see their food。 But now； sir；〃 said Ready； 〃I must leave you and William to do what you can in saving any more of the wreck； while I set to and put the boat in proper repair。〃
Ready left them at their own employment； and went away for his tools。 During this time Mr。 Seagrave and William occupied themselves in collecting the different articles thrown on shore； and rolling up the casks as far as they could。
As it would take some days for Ready to put the boat into proper order； Mr。 Seagrave determined that he would go to the other side of the island with William； that he might examine it himself； and； as Mrs。 Seagrave had no objection to be left with Ready and Juno； on the third day after the gale they set off。 William led the way； guiding his footsteps through the grove by the blazing of the cocoa…nut trees； and in two hours they reached their destination。
〃Is not this beautiful； father？〃 said William。
〃Yes； indeed it is； my dear boy；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave。 〃I fancied that nothing could be more beautiful than the spot where we reside； but this surpasses it； not only in variety； but in extent。〃
〃And now let us examine the spring； father；〃 said William； leading the way to the ravine。
The spring was full and flowing； and the water excellent。 They then directed their steps towards the sandy beach； and； having walked some time； sat down upon a coral rock。
〃Who would have ever imagined； William；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃that this island； and so many more which abound in the Pacific Ocean； could have been raised by the work of little insects not bigger than a pin's head？〃
〃Insects； father？〃 replied William。
〃Yes； insects。 Give me that piece of dead coral； William。 Do you see that on every branch there are a hundred little holes？ Well； in every one of these little holes once lived a sea…insect； and as these insects increase； so do the branches of the coral…trees。〃
〃Yes； I understand that； but how do you make out that this island was made by them？〃
〃Almost all the islands in these seas have been made by the labour and increase of these small animals。 The coral grows at first at the bottom of the sea； where it is not disturbed by the winds or waves： by degrees； as it increases； it advances higher and higher to the surface； till at last it comes near to the top of the water； then it is stopped in its growth by the force of the winds and waves； which break it off； and of course it never grows above the water； for if it did the animals would die。〃
〃Then how does it become an island？〃
〃By very slow degrees； the time； perhaps； much depending upon chance： for instance； a log of wood floating about； and covered with barnacles； may ground upon the coral reefs； that would be a sufficient commencement； for it would remain above water； and then shelter the coral to leeward of it； until a flat rock had formed； level with the edge of the water。 The sea…birds are always looking for a place to rest upon； and they would soon find it； and then their droppings would； in course of time； form a little patch above water； and other floating substances would be thrown on it； and land…birds； who are blown out to sea； might rest themselves on it； and the seeds from their stomachs； when dropped； would grow into trees or bushes。〃
〃I understand that。〃
〃Well then； William； you observe there is an island commenced； as it were； and； once commenced； it soon increases； for the coral would then be protected to leeward； and grow up fast。 Do you observe how the coral reefs extend at this side of the island； where they are protected from the winds and waves； and how different it is on the weather side； which we have just left？ Just so the little patch above water protects the corals to leeward； and there the island increases fast； for the birds not only settle on it； hut they make their nests and rear their young； and so every year the soil increases； and then； perhaps； one cocoa…nut in its great outside shell at last is thrown on these little patches … it takes root； and becomes a tree； every ye