urpose; the water being shallow, so that at the part
farthest from the shore there would not be more than three feet.

"Now, sir," said Ready, "this is a very simple job; all we have to do is
to collect small rocks and stones, pile them up wall-fashion inside, and
with a slope outside, so as to break the force of the waves when the
water is a little rough; of course, the water will find its way through
the stones, and will be constantly changed. It's very true, that we can
at most times catch fish when we want them, but it is not always that we
can spare the time, so it's just as well to have always a certain
quantity at hand, to take out at a moment's warning; and we can, of
course, catch them and put them in here when we have nothing else to do.
Juno will be able to come down and take them out with a spear, when we
are away and she wants something for dinner."

"But there are few stones about here, Ready; we shall have to fetch them
a long way," said William.

"Well, then, William, let us get the wheels down here, and then we can
carry a quantity at a time."

"But how shall we carry them, Ready?"

"We will sling a tub on the axle; I will go up and get that ready and
bring it down; in the meantime, you and Mr Seagrave can collect all the
stones which are near at hand."

Ready soon returned with the wheels, and the tub slung with rope on the
axle, and by that means they found that they could collect the stones
very fast; Mr Seagrave and William bringing them, and Ready in the
water, building up the wall.

"We have quite forgot another job which we must put in hand, sir,"
observed Ready; "but the fish-pond reminds me of it."

"What is that, Ready?"

"A bathing-place for the children, and indeed for us all; we shall want
it when the hot weather comes on, but we will put it off till then. I
can tell you, sir, that although I don't mind building this wall in the
shallow water, I shall be very careful when the water is up to my knees,
for you don't know how bold the sharks are in these latitudes. When I
was at St. Helena, not very long ago, we had a melancholy proof of it."

"Tell us the story, Ready."

"Well, two soldiers were standing on the rocks at St. Helena; the rocks
were out of the water, but the swell just broke over them. Two sharks
swam up to them, and one of them, with a blow of his tail, turning round
the same way, tripped one of them into the water, which was very deep.
His comrade was very muc