s under the notched cocoa-nut trees, and, calling the dogs, set off
on their journey back again to the cove.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

Guided by the marks made on the trees, William and Ready made rapid
progress in their return, and in less than two hours found themselves
almost clear of the wood which had taken them nearly eight hours to
force their way through the day before.

"I feel the wind now, Ready," observed William, "and we must be nearly
through the wood; but it appears to me to be very dark."

"I was just thinking the same," replied Ready. "I should not wonder if
there is a storm brewing up; and if so, the sooner we are back again the
better."

As they proceeded, the rustling and waving of the boughs of the trees,
and ever and anon a gust of wind, followed by a moaning and creaking
sound, proved that such was the fact; and as they emerged from the
grove, they perceived that the sky, as it became visible to them, was of
one dark leaden hue, and no longer of the brilliant blue which it
usually had presented to their sight.

"There is indeed a gale coming on," said Ready, as they cleared the
wood: "let us go on to the tents as fast as possible, for we must see
that all is as secure as we can make it."

The dogs now bounded forward; and at their appearance at the tents Mr
Seagrave and Juno came out, and seeing Ready and William advancing, made
known the welcome tidings to Mrs Seagrave, who, with the children, had
remained within. In a moment more William was pressed in his mother's
arms.

"I am glad that you are come back, Ready," said Mr Seagrave, shaking
him by the hand after he had embraced William, "for I fear that bad
weather is coming on."

"I am sure of it," replied Ready, "and we must expect a blusterous
night. This will be one of the storms which are forerunners of the
rainy season. However, we have good news for you, and must only take
this as a warning to hasten our departure as soon as possible. We shall
have fine weather after this for a month or so, although we must expect
a breeze now and then. But we must work hard and do our best; and now,
if you please, you and Juno, William and I, will go and haul up the boat
as far from the beach as we possibly can, for the waves will be high and
run a long way up, and our boat will be our main dependence soon."

The four went down as soon as Ready had sawed the ends of the spars
which had been cut off, into three rollers, to fix under the ke