Chapter X

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 canvas, a new topgallant sail which was there,
and a palm and 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 Tommy sitting on the
ground crying very lustily. It appeared that, while Mr Seagrave and
Juno were employed, 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. Mr. 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.

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

"Do, pray," replir. Seagrave.