登陆注册
5228500000047

第47章 Chapter XXX(1)

When they all rose up the next morning, the clouds had cleared off, and the sun was shining bright. Ready and Juno were the first out of the house - Ready with the telescope under his arm, which he always took with him when he went his rounds, as he termed it, in the morning.

"Well, Juno," said Ready, "this is a fine morning after the rain."

"Yes, Massa Ready, very fine morning; but how I get fire light, and make kittle boil for breakfast, I really don't know - stick and cocoa-nut trash all so wet."

"Before I went to bed last night, Juno, I covered up the embers with ashes, put some stones over them, and then some cocoa-nut branches, so I think you will find some fire there yet. I was going my morning's round, but I will stay a little and help you."

"Tank you, Massa Ready; plenty rain fell last night."

"Yes, not a little, Juno; you must not expect to find the water at the well very clear this morning; indeed, I doubt if you will see the well at all. Here's some stuff which is not very wet."

"I got plenty of fire, too," replied Juno, who had removed the branches and stones, and was now on her knees blowing up the embers.

"You'll do very well now, Juno," said Ready; "besides, William will be out directly - so I'll leave you."

Ready whistled to the dogs, who came bounding out, and then set off on his round of inspection. He first directed his steps to the well in the ravine; but, instead of the gushing spring and the limpid clear water, with which the cask sunk for a well had been filled, there was now a muddy torrent, rushing down the ravine, and the well was covered with it, and not to be distinguished.

"I thought as much," said Ready, musing over the impetuous stream;

"well, better too much water than too little." Ready waded through, as he wished to examine the turtle-pond, which was on the other side of the stream. Finding all right, he again crossed the water, where it was now spread wide over the sandy beach, until he came to the other point where he had moored his boat, both by the head and stern, with a rope, and a heavy stone made fast to it, as an anchor.

From this point, as usual, he surveyed the horizon with his telescope; not that he thought that there was a chance of a vessel arriving among these islands; but, still, as it was possible, he took the trouble; but never except when he went out in the morning alone, as he was aware that the very circumstance of his so doing would make Mr. Seagrave melancholy and unsettled. As usual, he dropped the telescope on his arm, after his survey, saying to himself, "Little use doing that."

The gale having blown offshore, the boat had dragged her moorings, and was so far out that Ready could not get at her.

"Here's a puzzle," said the old man; "how foolish of me not to have made a line fast to the shore! I'll not trust myself to John Shark by swimming to the boat."

"Let me see." Ready took the halyards and sheets belonging to the boat's sails, which be had left on the beach, and bent one on to the other until he had sufficient length of rope. He then made a piece of wood, about two feet long, fast by the middle to the end of the rope, and, after one or two attempts, contrived to throw it into the boat.

The piece of wood caught under one of the thwarts, and this enabled him to draw the boat to the shore.

Having baled out the water which had fallen into her during the storm, he then landed again and examined the garden.

"Now to find the sheep and goats," said Ready, "and then my morning's walk is over. Now, Romulus, now, Remus, boys, find them out," continued he; and the dogs, who appeared to know what he was in search of, went away in pursuit, and soon found the sheep and two of the goats, but the third goat was not with them.

"Why, where can Black Nanny be?" muttered Ready, stopping a little while; at last he heard a bleat, in a small copse of brush wood, to which he directed his steps, followed by the dogs. "I thought as much," said he, as be perceived Nanny lying down in the copse with two new-born kids at her side. "Come, my little fellows, we must find some shelter for you," said he, taking one up under each arm. "Come, Nanny."

Ready walked back to the house, and brought in the kids, followed by Nanny. He found Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave and the children all dressed.

Caroline and Tommy gave a scream of delight when they saw the little kids, and even little Albert clapped his hands. As soon as Ready put them down on the ground, Tommy and Caroline had each their arms round one.

同类推荐
  • 太上洞玄灵宝真文要解上经

    太上洞玄灵宝真文要解上经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Discourse of Coin and Coinage

    A Discourse of Coin and Coinage

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说黑氏梵志经

    佛说黑氏梵志经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 万病回春

    万病回春

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 洞玄灵宝千真科

    洞玄灵宝千真科

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 事变

    事变

    这一切,是为了告诉人们,世界曾经是这样的,历史曾经是这样的。如果我们善良的眼睛看不到这一切,未来的世界和未来的历史还会这样重现。——作者一王宏章笔直地站立在一张长方形桌前,手里的烟灰掉在桌子上。接受国民革命军新编22军军长李昌莆的一番指令后,他说了一声:“是。”不是很响亮,听得出他接受的有些勉强,他咽了一口嘴里的唾液,很大的喉节上下滑动了一下。他没有立即坐下,心里想,你李昌莆这不是诚心要我死吗?要我的老婆当寡妇吗?屋里很静,弥漫着皖北土地上生长的那种干燥呛人的烟草气味,坐在身后的两个女机要员不时发出细嫩的咳嗽声。
  • 献花岩志

    献花岩志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孩儿他爸

    孩儿他爸

    望父成龙,望母成凤这都是为了孩子啊。。。。 2020年,5G元年,首款世界级VR游戏的第一名玩家,姜小北,被两个亲生奶娃带着拯救世界的故事。。。。
  • 刀疤丑后

    刀疤丑后

    此书原名:《玲珑珏》为何别人穿越要不是绝世美女皇后公主?要不就是小家碧玉大富人家的千金?可我呢?借尸还魂投身于刀疤女就罢了,无可奈何就认命了,可是为何偏偏投身于已卖身的奴隶?呜!奴隶也罢了,为何还要做为狼口中的诱饵?上天对我太不公平了!乞求老天爷你来个英雄救美,结果呢?你给我送只黑熊?来个黑熊救美,史无前例?晕~~~~还好黑熊也有人性,更添来小孩,这一人一兽成为我的打劫赌场的工具,可是,得了钱财,丢了熊,值得不?不值,扮鬼救它去也~~~台风过境,上天不给我休闲片刻,乖乖!好好的游个泳,竟被河底受伤的男人拉住,连死也要找我垫背……好不容易从河底得以解脱,而他却求我救他?呸,没门且没窗……看他要死不活,那就死马当活马医吧,歪打正着,我成了他的救命恩人,从此被牵扯上,他不仅不知恩图报,竟敢对我大呼小叫“丑女人”?踹他一脚再说!刀剑无眼,跋山涉险,终于与他分道扬镖,各走各的路,哈,终于自由了,一个得意,怎料破坏一个风流男人的好事,最终被他追着跑,杀我灭口?不要!人家说倒霉连喝凉水也会被呛死,一朝圣旨,我竟上演麻雀变凤凰,飞上枝头的戏码?我不稀罕啦,逃了再说……那迦逻说:我虽风流,但那是以前,我对你绝对专一……我呸,鬼才信。慕容涤尘说:谁叫你吃了我的豆腐?敢不负责任?……我晕,因为救他被迫做人工呼吸就叫吃他豆腐?慕容涤轩说:飞儿,你不丑,这个世上你是独一无二的……呵呵,这句我爱听!纪飒言说:飞儿,我们私奔吧!……私奔好像很刺激喔?此文纯属恶搞,轻松搞笑,天马行空。剧情有用以毒攻毒的案例,请勿模仿使用!喜欢者点击——收藏——投票一步到位,谢谢!非花推荐自己的长篇:穿越之富婆皇后处女作,小白轻松,已完结,打折后仅需2.5元。古董女佣反穿文,已完结,打折后仅需2.5元。画骨又一新作,后宫文,虐心虐肺
  • Maid Marian

    Maid Marian

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 流向远方的水

    流向远方的水

    本文收录了作者的一些散文随笔,简单的文字中透露出作者深刻的内涵以及对诗词的理解,对诗词有兴趣的读者,可以阅读一番。
  • 法神的逍遥都市生活

    法神的逍遥都市生活

    宁川莫名其妙多了一位三千年法神的记忆........变聪明药剂,吃了更聪明,学渣从此变学神!体力不好?吃强身药剂,爽歪歪!一个瞬间移动,从此全球通!没事修修魔法,养几头魔兽,种种花草,日子悠然幸福。
  • 山西民居与饮食

    山西民居与饮食

    山西民居和饮食生活是中华民族民俗文化的重要组成部分,也是黄河文化中有代表性的特定地区文化类型之一,展现着别具一格的地方味道和风情。
  • 幸福密码:改变千万人命运的幸福法则

    幸福密码:改变千万人命运的幸福法则

    《幸福密码》是一本畅销百年的励志图书。希恩用清楚易懂的文字和许多实证小故事,尤其是《圣经》中的故事,缓缓道出宇宙真理及简单实用的生活方法。《幸福密码》阐述正面的态度与肯定的思想,让人们得以主宰人生,运用心灵法则让富足自然降临,成为生命的赢家。
  • 放光般若波罗蜜经

    放光般若波罗蜜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。