irst job will be to haul up the boat and secure her
from harm; we will half-dock her in the sand, and cover her over, for I
do not think it will be safe to go in her now to the other side of the
island, where the sea will always be rough."

"There I perfectly agree with you. Now what is the next?"

"Why, sir, we must not leave the tents where they are, but take them
down, and as soon as they are dry, stow them away, for we may want them
by and by; then, sir, we must build a large outhouse for our stores and
provisions, with a thatched roof, and a floor raised about four feet
from the ground; and then, under the floor, the sheep and goats will
have a protection from the weather. Then there is the fish-pond to
make, and also a salt-pan to cut out of the rock. Then we have two more
long jobs. One is, to go through the woods and examine the stores we
have left on the other side of the island, sort and arrange them all
ready for bringing here after the rains are over; and we must also
explore the island a little, and find out what it produces; for at
present we know nothing of it: we may find a great many things useful to
us, a great many trees and fruits, and I hope and trust we may be able
to find some more grass for our live stock."

"I agree with you in all you say, Ready," replied Mr Seagrave; "now how
shall we divide our strength?"

"We will not divide at present, sir, if you please. Juno has plenty to
do indoors with Mrs Seagrave; William, and you, and I, will first
secure the boat and stow away the tents and gear; after that, we will
set about the outbuilding, and work at it when we can. If Juno has any
time to spare, she had better collect the cocoa-nut leaves, and pile
them up for fuel; and Tommy will, I dare say, go with her, and show her
how to draw them along."

"Yes, I'll show her," said Tommy, getting on his feet.

"Not just now, Tommy," said Ready, "but as soon as your mamma can spare
her to go with you. Come, sir, a few hours of weather like this is not
to be lost," continued Ready; "we shall have more rain before the day is
over, I expect. I will first go to the tent for the shovels; then I
will haul the boat round to the beach and meet you there. You and
William can take some cord, tie up a large bundle of cocoa-nut boughs,
sling it to the wheels, and draw it down to the beach and meet me."

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

As so many cocoa-nut trees had been cut down to build the house, there
we