The next morning the sun shone bright - the air was fresh and bracing;
but a slight breeze rippled the waters, and there was little or no
surf. The various fragments of the wreck were tossed by the little surf
that still remained; many things were lying on the beach which had
landed during the night, and many more required but a little trouble to
secure them. There appeared to be a sort of in draught into the cove,
as all the articles which had been floating out at sea were now
gradually coming on shore in that direction. Ready and Mr. Seagrave
worked till breakfast-time, and had by that time saved a great many
casks and packages.
After breakfast they went down again to the beach and resumed their
labours. "Look, Ready; what is that?" said William, who was with them,
as he pointed to a white-looking mass floating in the cove.
"That, sir, is the poor cow; and if you look again, you will see the
sharks are around, making a feast of her: don't you see them?"
"Yes, I do - what a quantity!"
"Yes, there's no want of them, William; so be very careful how you get
into the water, and never let Tommy go near it, for they don't care how
shallow it is when they see their food. But now, sir," said Ready, "I
must leave you and William to do what you can in saving any more of the
wreck, while I set to and put the boat in proper repair."
Ready left them at their own employment, and went away for his tools.
During this time Mr. Seagrave and William occupied themselves in
collecting the different articles thrown on shore, and rolling up the
casks as far as they could.
As it would take some days for Ready to put the boat into proper order,
Mr. Seagrave determined that he would go to the other side of the
island with William, that he might examine it himself; and, as Mrs.
Seagrave had no objection to be left with Ready and Juno, on the third
day after the gale they set off. William led the way, guiding his
footsteps through the grove by the blazing of the cocoa-nut trees; and
in two hours they reached their destination.
"Is not this beautiful, father?" said William.
"Yes, indeed it is, my dear boy," replied Mr. Seagrave. "I fancied that
nothing could be more beautiful than the spot where we reside, but this
surpasses it, not only in variety, but in extent."
"And now let us examine the spring, father," said William, leading the
way to the ravine.
The spring was full and flowing, and the water excellent. They then
directed their steps towards the sandy beach, and, having walked some
time, sat down upon a coral rock.
"Who would have ever imagined, William," said Mr. Seagrave, "that this
island, and so many more which abound in the Pacific Ocean, could have
been raised by the work of little insects not bigger than a pin's
head?"
"Insects, father?" replied William.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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