"Well, then, William shall go with you, Ready; - that point's settled,"
observed Mr. Seagrave: "what is the next?"

"The next is to prepare for our journey. We must take some provisions
and water with us, a gun and some ammunition, a large axe for me, and
one of the hatchets for William; and, if you please, Romulus and Remus
had better come with us. Juno, put a piece of beef and a piece of pork
into the pot. William, will you fill four quart bottles with water,
while I sew up a knapsack out of canvas for each of us?"

"And what shall I do, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave.

"Why, sir, if you will sharpen the axe and the hatchet on the
grindstone, it would be of great service, and Tommy can turn it, he is
so fond of work."

Tommy jumped up directly; he was quite strong enough to turn the
grindstone, but he was much fonder of play than work; but as Ready had
said that he was fond of it, he wished to prove that such was the case,
and worked very hard. Before they went to prayers and retired for the
night, the axe was sharpened, the knapsacks made, and everything else
ready.

"When do you intend to start, Ready?" said Mr. Seagrave.

"Why, sir, I should like to get off at the dawn of day, when the heat
is not so great."

"And when do you intend to come back?" said Mrs. Seagrave.