t as we can； for it is getting late。〃
It was； indeed； much later than they had usually arrived at the little harbour； owing to the heavy load； which made the boat so long in coming round from the cove； and when they pulled in； they found Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave and the children all waiting for them。
〃You are very late； William；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave。 〃I was quite uneasy till I saw the boat at a distance。〃
〃Yes； mamma； but we could not help it； we had a heavy load to bring round； and now our work is done。〃
〃I am delighted to hear it； William； for I cannot bear you being away so long。〃
〃And my work is done；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave； 〃the hedge and ditch were finished this morning。〃
〃Well； then；〃 observed Ready； 〃we must hold another council； but I presume it will not take very long。〃
〃No； I expect not； it seldom does when people are of the same mind。 Mrs。 Seagrave won't be left here； Ready； and I don't want to leave her； so I presume on Monday we all start home again。〃
〃Yes； sir； if you please；〃 replied Ready。
〃Juno； I hope you have a good supper；〃 said William； 〃for I'm very hungry。〃
〃Yes； Massa William； plenty fried fish； Massa catch 'em this morning。〃
Chapter LVI
The next day being Sunday was a day of repose； and as they had all worked so hard； they felt the luxury of a day of rest。 In the afternoon； they agreed that on Monday they should make every preparation for quitting the tents； and returning to the house at the bay。 They decided that the live stock should all be left there； as the pasturage was so plentiful and good； with the exception of one goat； which they would take back with them； to supply them with milk； and they also agreed that the tents should be left standing； with some cooking utensils； that in case William and Ready went round for the bananas or yams； or to examine the live stock； they should not be compelled to sleep in the open air； and should have the means of dressing their dinner。 William and Ready were to carry the beds； etc。； round to the bay in the boat； which they could do in two trips； and Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave； with the family； were to walk through the woods after taking a very early breakfast。
All these points being arranged； they had finished their supper； when William again brought up the conversation about animals； as he was delighted to bear Mr。 Seagrave talk on the subject。 The conversation had not commenced more than a few minutes； when William said
〃Papa； they always say ‘as stupid as an ass'。 Is an ass such a stupid animal？〃
〃No； William； it is a very sagacious one； but the character has been given to the animal more on account of its obstinacy and untractableness； than on any other account。 It is usual to say； as stupid as an ass； or as stupid as a pig； or a goose。 Now； these three animals are very much maligned； for they are all sagacious animals。 But the fact is that； as regards the ass； we have only very sorry specimens of the animal in England； they are stunted and small； and； from want of corn and proper food； besides being very ill…treated； are slow and dull…looking animals。 The climate of England is much too cold for the ass； in the south of France and the Mediterranean； where it is much warmer； the ass is a much finer animal； but to see it in perfection we must go to the Torrid Zone in Guinea； right on the equator； the hottest portion of the globe； where the ass； in its native state and in its native country； is a handsome creature and as fleet as the wind； indeed； supposed to be； and mentioned in the Scriptures as the fleetest animal in creation。 The fact is； that in Asia； especially in Palestine and Syria； asses were in great repute； and used in preference to horses。 We must see an animal in its own climate to form a true estimate of its value。〃
〃Does climate； then； make so great a difference？〃 said William。
〃Of course it does； not only with animals； but with trees； plants； and even man； until he is accustomed to the change。 With respect to animals； there are some which can bear the different varieties of climate； and even change of food。 The horse； for instance； although originally indigenous to Arabia； lives as well in the Temperate； and even in the Frigid Zones it may be said； for they endure the hard winters of Russia and North America； so will domestic cattle； such as cows； sheep； pigs； &c。 It is a curious fact that； during the winter in Canada； a large proportion of the food of cattle consists of fish。〃
〃Fish； papa！ Cows eat fish？〃
〃Yes； my dear boy； such is the fact。 It is a remarkable instance of a graminivorous or grass…eating animal being changed for a time into a
flesh…eating； or rather into fish…eating animal。 But there are other animals which can live under any temperature； as the wolf； the fox； the hare； and rabbit。 It is a curious provision； … that the sheep and goats in the hottest climates throw off their warm covering of wool； and retain little better than hair； while； removed to a cold climate； they recover their warm covering immediately。〃
〃But a goat has no wool； papa。〃
〃What are Cashmere shawls made of； William？〃
〃Very true； papa。〃
〃Most animals have a certain increase of covering as they recede further from the warm climates to the cold ones。 Wolves and foxes； hares and rabbits； change the colour of their skins to white when they get far north。 The little English stoat； which is destroyed by the gamekeepers； becomes the beautiful snow…white ermine in Russia and other cold countries。〃
〃Well； papa； I think it a great advantage to man； and a proof of the Almighty's care of him and kindness to him； in permitting all the animals most useful to him to be able to live in any country； but I don't know whether I am wrong in saying so； papa： I cannot see why an animal like the wolf should not have been kept to his own climate； like the lion and tiger； and other ferocious animals。〃
〃You have started a question； William； which I am glad you have done； rather than it should have remained on your mind； and have puzzled you。 It is true that the shepherd might agree with you； that the wolf is a nuisance； equally true that the husband man may exclaim； What is the good of thistles； and the various weeds which choke the soil？ But； my dear boy； if they are not； which I think they are； for the benefit of man； at all events they are his doom for the first transgression。 ‘Cursed is the ground for thy sake … thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee … and by the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread；' was the Almighty's sentence； and it is only by labour that the husbandman can obtain his crops； and by watchfulness that the shepherd can guard his flocks。 Labour is in itself a benefit： without exercise there would be no health； and without health there would be no enjoyment。〃
〃I see now； papa。 You have mentioned the animals which can live in all climates； will you not tell us something about other animals？〃
〃There is but one remark to make； William； which is； that animals indigenous to； that is； originally to be found in； any one portion of the globe； invariably are so fashioned as to be most fit for that country； and have the food also most proper for them growing or to be obtained in that country。 Take； for instance； the camel； an animal fashioned expressly for the country to which he is indigenous； and without whose aid all communication must have been stopped between Asia and Africa。 He is called the ‘Ship of the Desert'； for the desert is a ‘sea of sand'。 His feet are so fashioned that he can traverse the sands with facility； he can live upon the coarsest vegetable food and salt plants which are found there； and he has the capacity of carrying water in a sort of secondary stomach； for his own supply where no water is to be found。 Here is an animal wonderfully made by the Almighty for an express locality； and for the convenience of man in that country； for； in England； or elsewhere； he would be of no value。 But it is late； my dear William； so we will first thank him for all his mercies； and then to bed。〃
Chapter LVII
The next morning was one of bustle； there was packing up and every preparation for departure。 Juno was called here and called there； and was obliged to ask little Caroline to look after the kettle and call to her if it boiled over。 Master Tommy； as usual； was in every one's way； and doing more harm than good in his attempts to assist。
At last； Ready； to get rid of him； sent him down with a large bundle to the beach。 Tommy shouldered it with great importance； but when he came back； looking rather warm with the exertion； and Ready asked him to take down another； he said he was too tired； and sat down very quietly till breakfast…time； before which everything was ready。
Mrs。 Seagrave and Juno packed up the breakfast and dinner things in a basket after breakfast was over； and then Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave and the family set off on their journey； accompanied by the dogs； through the cocoa…nut grove。
William and Ready lost no time in getting through their work； the crockery； kitchen utensils； table； and chairs； were the first articles put into the boat。 The goat was then led down； and they set off with a full load； and arrived at the bay long before the party who were walking through the wood。 They landed the things on the beach； and then shoved off again to bring round the bedding； which was all that was left。 By three o'clock in the afternoon they had arrived at the bay with their second and last load； and found that the other party had been there about an hour； and Mr。 Seagrave and Juno were very busy taking the articles up from the beach。
〃Well； William；〃 said Ready； 〃this is our last trip for some time； I expect； and so much the better； for our little boat must have something done to her as soon as I can find time。〃
〃Yes； indeed； Ready； she has done her work well。 Do you know I feel as if I were coming home； now that we are back to the bay。 I really feel quite glad that we have left the tents。 I found the pigeons among the peas； Ready； so we must pick them as soon as we can。 I think there were near twenty of them。 We shall have pigeon pies next year； I expect。〃
〃If it pleases God that we live and do well；〃 replied Ready； who had his eyes fixed upon the sea。
Before ni