ood lesson, Ready," said Mr Seagrave.

"It is; not that I repine at my lot, even while I regret the errors that
led to it. An all-wise and gracious God disposes of us as he thinks
best; and I can now say with perfect sincerity, `Thy will, not mine, be
done'."

"Your misfortunes have, however, proved an incalculable benefit to us,
Ready," observed Mrs Seagrave; "for had you not gone to sea, and been
on board the ship when the crew deserted us, what would have become of
us?"

"Well, madam, it is some comfort to think that a worn-out old seaman
like myself has been of some use."

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

The bleating of the kids woke them the next morning earlier than usual.
The weather was again fine, and the sun shining brightly, and Ready
turned out Nanny and her progeny. They had an excellent breakfast of
fried fish, and then Mr Seagrave, Ready, and William went out to their
work: the two first took down the tents, and spread the canvas on the
ground, that it might be well dried, while William went in pursuit of
the fowls, which had not been seen for a day or two. After
half-an-hour's search in the cocoa-nut grove, he heard the cock crow,
and soon afterwards found them all. He threw them some split peas,
which he had brought with him. They were hungry enough and followed him
home to the house, where he left them and went to join Ready and his
father.

"William," said Ready, "I think, now that we have spread out the tents,
we will, if Mr Seagrave approves, all set to at once and knock up a
fowl-house; it won't be more than a day's job, and then the creatures
will have a home. There are four very thick cocoa-nut trees close to
the house; we will build it under them; it will be a good job over."
Mr Seagrave assented, and they set immediately to work. There were
many thin poles left, the tops of the cocoa-nut trees which had been cut
down to build the house; these they nailed to the trunks of the four
trees, so as to make a square, and then they ran up rafters for a
pitched roof.

"Now, sir, this is only rough work; we will first put up a perch or two
for them, and then close in the side, and thatch the roof with cocoa-nut
branches; but there's Juno taking in the dinner, so we'll finish it
afterwards."

After their meal the work was renewed; Mr Seagrave collected the
branches while William and Ready worked upon the sides and roof, and
before the evening closed in, the fowl-house was complete. William
en