, he again crossed the water, where it was now
spread wide over the sandy beach, until he came to the other point where
he had moored his boat, both by the head and stern, with a rope, and a
heavy stone made fast to it, as an anchor.

From this point, as usual, he surveyed the horizon with his telescope;
not that he thought that there was a chance of a vessel arriving among
these islands; but, still, as it was possible, he took the trouble; but
never except when he went out in the morning alone, as he was aware that
the very circumstance of his so doing would make Mr Seagrave melancholy
and unsettled. As usual, he dropped the telescope on his arm, after his
survey, saying to himself, "Little use doing that."

The gale having blown offshore, the boat had dragged her moorings, and
was so far out that Ready could not get at her.

"Here's a puzzle," said the old man; "how foolish of me not to have made
a line fast to the shore! I'll not trust myself to John Shark by
swimming to the boat."

"Let me see." Ready took the halyards and sheets belonging to the
boat's sails, which he had left on the beach, and bent one on to the
other until he had sufficient length of rope. He then made a piece of
wood, about two feet long, fast by the middle to the end of the rope,
and, after one or two attempts, contrived to throw it into the boat.
The piece of wood caught under one of the thwarts, and this enabled him
to draw the boat to the shore.

Having baled out the water which had fallen into her during the storm,
he then landed again and examined the garden.

"Now to find the sheep and goats," said Ready, "and then my morning's
walk is over. Now, Romulus, now, Remus, boys, find them out," continued
he; and the dogs, who appeared to know what he was in search of, went
away in pursuit, and soon found the sheep and two of the goats, but the
third goat was not with them.

"Why, where can Black Nanny be?" muttered Ready, stopping a little
while; at last he heard a bleat, in a small copse of brushwood, to which
he directed his steps, followed by the dogs. "I thought as much," said
he, as he perceived Nanny lying down in the copse with two new-born kids
at her side. "Come, my little fellows, we must find some shelter for
you," said he, taking one up under each arm. "Come, Nanny."

Ready walked back to the house, and brought in the kids, followed by
Nanny. He found Mr and Mrs Seagrave and the children all dressed.
Caroline and T