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ERECTION OF A TENT.

Why, sir, we can manage that by first lashing a spar as high as we can conveniently reach, and then standing on that while we lash the other in its proper place. I shall bring another spar on shore, that we may do the same when we set up the other tent."

Having by this plan succeeded in lashing the spar high enough, and throwing the sail over the spar, Ready and Mr. Seagrave spread it out, and found that it made a very good-sized tent.

"Now, sir, I'll return on board; in the meantime if you can cut pegs from the brushwood to fasten the sail down to the ground, and then with the shovel cover the bottom of it with sand to keep it down, it will be close enough when it is all finished. There's my knife, sir, if you hav'n't got one."

"I shall do very well," replied Mr. Seagrave; "Juno can help me to pull the canvass out tight when I am ready."

"Yes; and in the meantime, Juno, take a shovel and level the inside of the tent nice and smooth, and throw out all those old cocoa-nut leaves, and look if you see any vermin lurking among them. Master Tommy, you must not run away; and you must not touch the axes, they will cut you if you

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do. It may be as well to say, Mr. Seagrave, that should anything happen, and you require my assistance, you had better fire off the gun, and I will come on shore to you immediately. But that's not very likely," continued Ready, who then walked down to the beach, and stepping into the boat, pulled on board of the ship.

WHEN Ready returned on board, he first went down into the cabin to acquaint Mrs. Seagrave and William with what they had done. Mrs. Seagrave naturally felt anxious about her husband being on shore alone, and Ready informed her that they had agreed that, if anything should occur, Mr. Seagrave would fire the musket. He then went down into the sail-room to get some canvass, a new top-gallant sail which was there, and a palm and

TOMMY IN MISCHIEF.

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needles with twine. Scarcely had he got them out, and at the foot of the ladder, when the report of the musket was heard, and Mrs. Seagrave rushed out of the cabin in the greatest alarm; Ready seized another musket, jumped into the boat, and pulled on shore as fast as he could. On his arrival, quite out of breath, for as he pulled on shore he had his back towards it, and could see nothing, he found Mr. Seagrave and Juno busy with the tent, and Master Tommy sitting on the ground crying very lustily. It appeared that, while Mr. Seagrave and Juno were employed, Master Tommy had crept away to where the musket was placed up on end against a cocoa-nut tree, and, after pulling it about some little while, had touched the trigger. The musket went off; and, as the muzzle was pointed upwards, the charge had brought down two large cocoa-nuts, which fell close to where Tommy was under the tree, and, had they hit him, would certainly have killed him. Seagrave, who was aware what an alarm this would produce on board the vessel, had been scolding him soundly, and now Master Tommy was crying to prove how very penitent he was.

Mr.

"I had better return on board immediately, sir, and tell Mrs. Seagrave," said Ready.

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grave.

TOMMY MOUNTS GUARD.

Do, pray, my good fellow," replied Mr. Sea

Ready then returned to the ship, and explained matters, and then recommenced his labour.

Having put into the boat the sailmaker's bag with palm and needles, two mattresses, and blankets from the captain's state room, the saucepan with the beef and pork, and a spar which he towed astern, Ready found that he had as much as he could carry; but, as there was nobody but himself in it, he came on shore very well. Having, with the assistance of Mr. Seagrave and Juno, got all the things up to the knoll, Ready lashed the spar up for the second tent, and then leaving them to fix it up like the other, he returned again on board. Juno had cleaned the tent out very nicely, and said that she had not found any animals or insects among the leaves.

gave Tommy a stick, and

Before he went, Ready told him to watch the

beef and pork, and not allow the dogs to eat it all up, and Tommy, who was on his good behaviour, stood sentry over it as grave as a judge. Ready made two other trips to the ship, bringing with him more bedding, a bag of ship's biscuits, another of potatoes, plates, knives and forks, spoons, fryingpans and other cooking utensils, and a