utside shell at last is thrown on these little patches … it takes root； and becomes a tree； every year shedding its large branches； which are turned into mould as soon as they decay； and then dropping its nuts； which again take root and grow in this mould； and thus they continue； season after season； and year after year； until the island becomes as large and as thickly covered with trees as the one we are now standing upon。 Is not this wonderful； my dear boy？ Is not he a great and good God who can make such minute animals as these work his pleasure； and at the time he thinks fit produce such a beautiful island as this？〃
〃Indeed he is！〃 exclaimed William。
〃We only need use our eyes； William； and we shall love as well as adore。 Look at that shell … is it not beautifully marked？ … could the best painter in the world equal its colouring？〃
〃No； indeed； … I should think not。〃
〃And yet there are thousands of them in sight； and perhaps millions more in the water。 They have not been coloured in this way to be admired； like the works of man； for this island has been till now probably without any one upon it； and no one has ever seen them。 It makes no difference to Him； who has but to wish； and all is complete。〃
For a few minutes after this conversation； Mr。 Seagrave and William were both silent。 Mr。 Seagrave then rose from where he was sitting： 〃Come； William； let us now find our way back again； we have three hours' daylight left； and shall be home in good time。〃
Chapter XX
Everything was now preparing for their removal to the leeward side of the island。 Ready had nearly completed the boat； he had given it a thorough repair； and fitted a mast and sail。 William and Mr。 Seagrave continued to collect and secure the various articles thrown on shore； particularly such as would be injured by their exposure to the weather： these they rolled or carried into the cocoa…nut grove； so as to be sheltered from the sun； but there were so many things thrown on shore day after day； that they hardly knew what they had： but they secured case and cask one after another； waiting for a better opportunity to examine their contents。 At last they collected a great many articles together； and； with their shovels； covered them over with sand； it being impossible to get them from the beach without more time than they could spare。
Neither was Mrs。 Seagrave； who was now getting quite strong； or Juno； idle。 They had made up everything that they could in packages； ready for moving。 On the eighth day after the gale； they were ready； and it was arranged that Ready should put into the boat the bedding and canvas of one tent； and should take William with him on his expedition。 Having transported this safe； he should return for a load of the most necessary articles； and then the family should walk through the grove to the other side of the island； and remain there with Mr。 Seagrave while Ready and William returned for the other tent； and after that； the boat should make as many trips as the weather would permit； till they had brought all the things absolutely required。 It was a lovely calm morning when Ready and William pushed off in the boat； which was well loaded； and as soon as they were clear of the cove they hoisted the sail； and went away before the wind along the coast。 In two hours they had run to the eastern end of the island； and hauled up close inshore： the point which ran out； and at the end of which there was an inlet； was not a mile from them； and in a very short time they had lowered the sail； and were pulling in for the sandy beach。
〃You see； William； it is fortunate for us that we shall always have a fair wind when we come down loaded； and only have to pull our empty boat back again。〃
〃Indeed it is。 How many miles do you think it is from the cove to this part of the island？〃
〃About six or seven； not more： the island； you see； is long and narrow。 Now let us get the things out and carry them up； and then we will be back to the cove long before dark。〃
The boat was soon unloaded； but they had some way to carry up the things。 〃We shall not mind such a gale as we had the other day when our tents are pitched here； William；〃 said Ready； 〃for we shall be protected by the whole width of the cocoa…nut grove。 We shall hardly feel the wind； although we shall the rain； for that will come down in torrents。〃
〃I must go and see how our spring gets on；〃 said William； 〃and get a drink from it。〃
Willy reported the spring to be up to the brim with water； and that he had never drunk water so excellent。 They then pushed off the boat； and； after rowing for about two hours or more； found themselves at the entrance of the cove； and Mrs。 Seagrave； with Tommy by her side； waving her handkerchief to them。
They very soon pulled in to the beach； and； landing； received the congratulations of the whole party at their first successful voyage； and all expressed their delight at its having proved so much shorter than had been anticipated。
〃Tommy will go next time；〃 said Master Tommy。
〃By and by； when Tommy grows a little taller；〃 replied Ready。
〃Massa Tommy； you come help me to milk the goats；〃 said Juno。
〃Yes； Tommy milk the goats；〃 said the little urchin； running after Juno。
〃You must be almost tired of eating nothing but salt meat and biscuit； ma'am；〃 said Ready； as they sat down to their meal； 〃but when we are all safe on the other side of the island we hope to feed you better。 At present it is hard work and hard fare。〃
〃As long as the children are well； I care very little about it； but I must say that； after the last gale； I am as anxious as you to be on the other side of the island； especially after the account William has given me of it。 It must be a paradise！ When do we set off？〃
〃Not till the day after to…morrow； ma'am； I should think； for you see I must have another trip for the cooking utensils and the bundles which you have made up。 If you will spare Juno to walk through the wood with William to…morrow； we will then have the tent ready for you and the children。〃
Chapter XXI
Old Ready had his boat loaded and had made sail for the other side of the island long before the family were up； indeed； before they were dressed he had landed his whole cargo on the beach； and was sitting down quietly taking his breakfast。 As soon as he had eaten the beef and biscuit which he had taken with him； he carried up the things which he had brought； and commenced arrangements for setting up the tent； intending to await the arrival of William and Juno； that they might assist him in getting up the spars and canvas over it。
About ten o'clock William made his appearance； leading one of the goats by a string； followed by the others。 Juno came after with the sheep； also holding one with a cord； the rest had very quietly joined the procession。 〃Here we are at last！〃 said William laughing； 〃we have had terrible work in the woods； for Nanny would run on one side of a tree when I went on the other； and then I had to let go the string。 We fell in with the pigs again； and Juno gave such a squall！〃
〃I tink 'em wild beast；〃 said Juno。 〃Ah！ what a nice place！ Missis will like to live here。〃
〃Yes； it is a very nice place； Juno； and you'll be able to wash here； and never mind about saving the water。〃
〃I am thinking；〃 said William； 〃how we are to get the fowls here； they are not very wild； but still we cannot catch them。〃
〃I'll bring them with me to…morrow； William。〃
〃But how will you catch them？〃
〃Wait till they are gone to roost； and then you may catch them when you please。〃
〃And I suppose the pigeons and the pigs must run wild？〃
〃The best thing we can do with them。〃
〃Then we shall have to shoot them； I suppose？〃
〃Well； William； so we shall； and the pigeons also； when they have become plentiful； if we remain here so long。 We shall soon be well stocked and live in plenty。 But now you must help me to get the tent up and everything in order； so that your mamma may find things comfortable on her arrival； for she will be very tired； I dare say； walking through the wood。〃
〃Mamma is much better than she was；〃 replied William。 〃I think she will soon be quite strong again； especially when she comes to live at this beautiful place。〃
〃We have a great deal of work to do； more than we can get through before the rainy season； which is a pity； but it can't helped； by this time next year we shall be more comfortable。〃
〃Why； what have we to do besides putting up the tents and shifting over here？〃
〃In the first place we have to build a house； and that will take a long while。 Then we ought to make a little garden； and sow the seeds which your father brought from England with him。〃
〃0h！ that will be nice； where shall we make it； Ready？〃
〃We must put a fence across that point of land； and dig up all the brushwood； the mould is very good。〃
〃Then what next？〃
〃Then we shall want a storehouse for all the things we have got； and all that are in the wood and on the beach： and consider what a many trips we shall have to make with the little boat to bring them all round。〃
〃Yes； that is very true； Ready。 Have we anything more to do？〃
〃Plenty； we have to build a turtle…pond and a fish…pond； and a bathing…place for Juno to wash the children in。 But first we must make a proper well at the spring； so as to have plenty of fresh water： now there's enough for a year's hard work at least。〃
〃Well； let us once get mamma and the children here； and we will work hard。〃
〃I should wish very much to see it all done； William；〃 said Ready。 〃I hope my life will be spared till it is done； at all events。〃
〃But why do you say that； Ready？ you are an old man； but you are strong and healthy。〃
〃I am so now； but what does the Book say？ … ‘In the midst of life we are in death'。 You are young and healthy； and promise a long life； but who knows but you may be summoned away tomorrow。 Can I； then； an old man； worn out with hardships； expect to live long？ No … no； William！ Still I should like to remain here as long as I can be useful； and then I trust I may depart in peace。 I never wish to leave this island； and I have a kind of feeling that my bones will remain on it。 God's will be done！〃
For some time after Ready had finished； neither