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READY'S NARRATIVE.

when I recall that foolish and wicked deed of mine. Mr. Seagrave," continued Ready, "as it is bed-time, if you please, I'll hand you the Bible. Oblige me by reading that part, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Oh; sir, what comfort there is in that book!"

Mr. Seagrave read the chapter that Ready requested, and finished with a short prayer, after which they all retired to their beds.

TOMMY-WHERE'S THE THIMBLE?

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE next morning was fine, and as soon as breakfast was over, they took the wheels down to the turtle-pond, and Ready having speared one of the largest by means of a pike with a barb to it, which he had made on purpose, they hauled it on shore, slung it under the wheels, and took it up to the house. Having killed the turtle, and cut it up, Juno, under the directions of Ready, chose such portions as were required for the soup ;

and when the pot was on the fire, Ready, Mr. Seagrave, and William, set off with the cross-cut saw and hatchets, to commence felling the cocoanut trees for the building of the outhouse, which was to hold their stores, as soon as they could be brought round from the other side of the island.

"I mean this to be our place of refuge in case of danger, sir," observed Ready ; "and therefore I have selected this thick part of the wood, as it is not very far from the house, and by cutting the path to it in a zigzag, it will be quite hidden from sight; and we must make the path just wide enough to allow the wheels to pass, and stump up the roots of the trees which we are obliged to cut down, otherwise the stumps would attract attention. Not that I think we shall ever want it ; but still it is a precaution which we may as well take, as it will not give us a great deal of extra labour."

"I agree with you, Ready," replied Mr. Seagrave; “there is no saying what may happen.”

"You see, sir, between ourselves, it is often the custom for the natives, in this part of the world, to come in their canoes from one island to another, merely to get cocoa-nuts. I can't say

COMMENCE OUTHOUSE.

277

that the other islands near us are inhabited, but still it is probable, and we cannot tell what the character of the people may be. I tell you this, but you had better not say a word to Mrs. Seagrave, as it may distress her; Master William, you will I am sure.

not,

"Oh no; I would not say anything to alarm my mother, depend upon it, Ready."

You see,

"We are now near the spot, sir. when we have got over this hill, where the trees are so very thick, the fall in the ground will assist in the concealment of the building. I should say we are very near right where we now stand, sir, for we are two-thirds of the way down the hollow, and we have more than sufficient slope to drain off the water."

"How far are we now from the house, Ready? We must not be too distant."

"I reckon we are not a hundred and fifty yards in a straight line, although the road will, by its turning, make it double the distance."

"Then I think this spot will do very well; so the sooner we begin the better."

"I'll just mark out the trees which are to stand, Mr. Seagrave, and those which are to be cut down, so as to leave about four feet of stump

278

standing.

TOMMY IN DISGRACE.

Master William, will you please to

take the other end of the line?"

As soon as they had planned the building, the axes and saw were in full use, and tree after tree fell one upon the other. They worked hard till dinner-time, and were not sorry at the prospect of sitting down to a rich mess of turtle-soup.

My dear William, and you too, Mr. Seagrave, how very warm you are," said Mrs. Seagrave; (( you must not work so hard."

Cutting down trees is very warm work, mother," replied William, "and hard work will never hurt any one, especially when he dines off turtle-soup; we are very hungry, and shall do justice to Juno's cooking. Why, Tommy, what's the matter with you?"

"Tommy and I are at variance," replied Mrs. Seagrave. "I had my thimble this morning, and had commenced my sewing, when I was

called out by Juno, and Caroline

and Tommy was left in the house.

went with me,

When I came

back I found him outside, and on going back to my work, there was no thimble to be found; I asked him if he had touched it, and his answer was that he would look for it. He did look, and said he could not find it; I have asked him several