my bones will remain on it。 God's will be done！〃
For some time after Ready had finished； neither of them said a word； but continued their employment； stretching out the canvas of the tent； and fastening it down to the ground with pegs。 At last William broke the silence。
〃Ready； did you not say your Christian name was Masterman？〃
〃So it is； William。〃
〃It is a very odd Christian name！ You were called after some other person？〃
〃Yes； I was； William； he was a very rich man。〃
〃Do you know； Ready； I should like very much if you will one day tell me your history … I mean your whole life； from the time you were a boy。〃
〃Well； perhaps I may； William； for there are many parts of my life which would prove a lesson to others： but that must be after we have got through our work。〃
〃How old are you； Ready？〃
〃I am turned of sixty…four； a very old age for a seaman。 I could not obtain employment on board of a vessel if it were not that I am well known to several captains。〃
〃But why do you say ‘old for a seaman'？〃
〃Because sailors live faster than other people； partly from the hardships which they undergo； and partly from their own fault in drinking so much spirits； and then they are too often reckless and care nothing for their healths。〃
〃But you never drink spirits now？〃
〃No； never； William； but in my early days I was as foolish as others。 Now； Juno； you may bring in the bedding。 We have two or three hours yet； William； what shall we do next？〃
〃Had we not better make the fireplace all ready for cooking？〃
〃It was what I was going to propose； if you had not。 I shall be here to…morrow long before any of you； and I will take care that supper is ready on your arrival。〃
〃I brought a bottle of water in my knapsack；〃 replied William； 〃not so much for the water； as because I want to milk the goats and take back the milk for baby。〃
〃You proved yourself not only thoughtful but kind； William： now while you and Juno fetch the stones for the fireplace； I will stow away under the trees the things I have brought in the boat。〃
〃Shall we let the goats and sheep loose； Ready？〃
〃Oh； yes； … there is no fear of their straying； the herbage here is better than on the other side； and there is plenty of it。〃
〃Well； I will let Nanny go as soon as Juno has milked her。 Now； Juno； let us see how many stones we can carry at once。〃
In an hour the fireplace was made； Ready had done all that he could； the goats were milked and let loose； and then William and Juno set off on their journey back。
Ready went down to the beach。 On his arrival there； he observed a small turtle： creeping up softly he got between it and the water； and succeeded in turning it over。 〃That will do for to…morrow；〃 said he； as he stepped into the boat； and laying hold of the oars； he pulled out of the bay to return to the cove。
Chapter XXII
Ready arrived at the cove； and proceeded to the tents； where he found the whole party listening to William； who was detailing what had been done。 The arrangements for the next day were made as soon as Ready joined them。 They then separated for the night； but Ready and William remained until it was dark； to catch the fowls and tie their legs； ready for their being put in the boat the next morning。 At daylight all were summoned to dress themselves as soon as possible； as Ready wanted to take down the tent in which Mrs。 Seagrave and the children had slept。 For； with the exception of Tommy； the others had slept upon some canvas； which they had spread out under the cocoa…nut trees。 As soon as Mrs。 Seagrave was dressed； the tent was taken down； and； with all the bedding； put into the boat。 Then； when they had breakfasted； the plates； knives and forks； and some other necessaries； were also put in； Ready laid the fowls on the top of all； and set off by himself for their new location。
After he was gone； the rest of the party prepared for their journey through the cocoa…nut grove。 William led the way； with the three dogs close to his heels； Mr。 Seagrave with the baby in his arms； Juno with little Caroline； and Mrs。 Seagrave with Master Tommy holding her hand。 They cast a last look round at the cove； and the fragments of the wreck and cargo； strewed about in every direction； and then turned into the wood。 Ready arrived at the point； and was again on shore in less than two hours after he had set off。 As soon as the boat was safe in； he did not wait to land his cargo； but going up to the turtle which he had turned the day before； he killed it； and cleaned it on the beach。 He then went to where they had built up the fireplace with stones； made a fire； filled the iron saucepan full of water； and set it on to boil； he then cut up a portion of the turtle； and put it into the pot； with some slices of salt pork； covered it up； and left it to boil； and having hung up the rest of the turtle in the shade； he went back to the beach to unload the boat。 He released the poor fowls； and they were soon busy seeking for food。
It was two or three hours before he had carried everything up； for it was a good distance； and some of the articles were heavy； and the old man was not sorry when he had finished his task； and could sit down to rest himself。
〃It's almost time they arrived；〃 thought Ready； 〃they must have started nearly four hours ago。〃 Ready remained a quarter of an hour more watching the fire； and occasionally skimming the top of the pot； when the three dogs came bounding towards him。
〃Well； they are not far off now；〃 observed Old Ready。
In six or seven minutes afterwards the party made their appearance； very hot and very fatigued。 It appeared that poor little Caroline had been tired out； and Juno had to carry her； then Mrs。 Seagrave complained of fatigue； and they had to rest a quarter of an hour； then Tommy； who refused to remain with his mamma； and had been running backwards and forwards from one to the other； had declared that he was tired； and that someone must carry him； but there was no one to carry him； so he began to cry until they stopped for another quarter of an hour till he was rested； then as soon as they went on again he again complained of being tired。 William then carried him pickaback for some time； and in so doing he missed the blaze…cut on the trees； and it was a long while before he could find it again； then baby became hungry； and he cried； and little Caroline was frightened at being so long in the wood； and she cried。 But finally they got on better； and arrived at last so warm and exhausted； that Mrs。 Seagrave went into the tent with the children to repose a little； before she could even look at the place which was to be their future residence。
〃I think；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃that this little journey of to…day has been a pretty good proof of how helpless we should have been without you； Ready。〃
〃I am glad that you are here； sir；〃 replied Ready； 〃it is a weight off my mind； now you will get on better。 I think that after a while you may live very comfortably here； but still we have much to do。 As soon as Madam has rested； we will have our dinner and then fix up our own tent； which will be quite enough after such a hard day's work。〃
〃Do you go back to the cove to…morrow； Ready？〃
〃Yes； sir； we want our stores here； it will take about three trips to empty our storehouses； and as to the other things； we can examine them and bring them down at our leisure。 As soon as I have made those three trips in the boat； we can then work here altogether。〃
〃But I can do something in the meantime。〃
〃Oh yes； there is plenty for you to do。〃
Mr。 Seagrave went into the tent； and found his wife much refreshed； but the children had all fallen fast asleep on the beds。 They waited another half…hour； and then woke Tommy and Caroline； that they might all sit down to dinner。
〃Dear me；〃 exclaimed William； as Ready took the cover off the saucepan； 〃what is it that you have so good there？〃
〃It's a treat I have prepared for you all；〃 replied Ready。 〃I know that you are tired of salt meat； so now you are going to feed like aldermen。〃
〃Why； what is it； Ready？〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃it smells very good。〃
〃It is turtle…soup； ma'am； and I hope you will like it； for； if you do； you may often have it； now that you are on this side of the island。〃
〃Indeed； it really is excellent； but it wants a little salt。 Have you any salt； Juno？〃
〃Got a little； ma'am。 Very little left；〃 replied Juno。
〃What shall we do when all our salt is gone？〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃Juno must get some more；〃 replied Ready。
〃How I get salt？ … hab none left；〃 replied Juno； looking at Ready。
〃There's plenty out there； Juno；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； pointing to the sea。
〃I don't know where；〃 said Juno； looking in that direction。
〃What do you mean； my dear？〃 inquired Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃I only mean if we want salt we can have as much as we please by boiling down salt…water in the kettle； or else making a salt…pan in the rocks； and obtaining it by the sun drying up the water and leaving the salt。 Salt is always procured in that way； either by evaporation； or boiling。〃
〃I'll soon arrange that for you； ma'am；〃 said Ready； 〃and show Juno how to get it when she wants it。〃
〃I am very glad to hear you say so； for I should feel the want of salt very much；〃 replied Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃I really never enjoyed a dinner so much as I have to…day。〃
The soup was pronounced excellent by everybody。 As soon as they had finished； Mrs。 Seagrave remained with the children； and Ready and Mr。 Seagrave； assisted by Juno and William； got the second tent up； and everything ready for the night。 They then all assembled； and returned thanks to God for their having gained their new abode； and； tired out with the fatigue of the day； were soon fast asleep。
Chapter XXIII
Mr。 Seagrave was the first up on the ensuing morning； and when Ready came out of the tent； he said to him； 〃Do you know； Ready； I feel much happier and my mind much more at ease since I find myself here。 On the other side of the island everything reminded me that we had been shipwrecked； and I could not help thinking of home and my own country； but here we appear as if we had been long settled； and as if we had come here by choice。〃
〃I trust that feeling will be stronger every