salt meat and biscuit,
ma'am," said Ready, as they sat down to their meal; "but when we are all
safe on the other side of the island we hope to feed you better. At
present it is hard work and hard fare."

"As long as the children are well, I care very little about it; but I
must say that, after the last gale, I am as anxious as you to be on the
other side of the island, especially after the account William has given
me of it. It must be a paradise! When do we set off?"

"Not till the day after to-morrow, ma'am, I should think; for you see I
must have another trip for the cooking utensils and the bundles which
you have made up. If you will spare Juno to walk through the wood with
William to-morrow, we will then have the tent ready for you and the
children."

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.

Old Ready had his boat loaded and had made sail for the other side of
the island long before the family were up; indeed, before they were
dressed he had landed his whole cargo on the beach, and was sitting down
quietly taking his breakfast. As soon as he had eaten the beef and
biscuit which he had taken with him, he carried up the things which he
had brought, and commenced arrangements for setting up the tent,
intending to await the arrival of William and Juno, that they might
assist him in getting up the spars and canvas over it.

About ten o'clock William made his appearance, leading one of the goats
by a string, followed by the others. Juno came after with the sheep,
also holding one with a cord; the rest had very quietly joined the
procession. "Here we are at last!" said William laughing; "we have had
terrible work in the woods, for Nanny would run on one side of a tree
when I went on the other, and then I had to let go the string. We fell
in with the pigs again, and Juno gave such a squall!"

"I tink 'em wild beast," said Juno. "Ah! what a nice place! Missis
will like to live here."

"Yes, it is a very nice place, Juno; and you'll be able to wash here,
and never mind about saving the water."

"I am thinking," said William, "how we are to get the fowls here; they
are not very wild, but still we cannot catch them."

"I'll bring them with me to-morrow, William."

"But how will you catch them?"

"Wait till they are gone to roost, and then you may catch them when you
please."

"And I suppose the pigeons and the pigs must run wild?"

"The best thing we can do with them."

"Then we shall have to shoot them, I suppos