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Masterman Ready by Frederick Marryat
page 54 of 358 (15%)

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. He 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,
frying-pans and other cooking utensils, and a variety of other
articles. He then showed Juno how to fill up the ends of the first tent
with the canvas and sails he had brought on shore, so as to inclose it
all round; Juno took the needle and twine, and worked very well. Ready,
satisfied that she would be able to get on without them, now said: "Mr.
Seagrave, we have but two hours more daylight, and it is right that
Mrs. Seagrave should come on shore now; so, if you please, we'll go off
and fetch her and the children. I think we shall be able to do very
well for the first night; and if it pleases God to give us fine
weather, we may do a great deal more to-morrow."

As soon as they arrived on board, Mr. Seagrave went down to his wife to
propose her going on shore. She was much agitated, and very weak from
her illness, but she behaved courageously notwithstanding, and,
supported by her husband, gained the deck, William following with the
baby, and his little sister Caroline carried by Ready. With some
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