the heart sick."

"It is a severe trial, Mr Seagrave; but we must submit when we are
chastened. We had better get these poor creatures up to the house, and
let them recover themselves."

Ready then beckoned to them to get on their feet, which they both did,
although with some difficulty. He then went in advance, making a sign
for them to follow; they understood him, and made the attempt, but were
so weak, that they would have fallen if they had not been supported by
Mr Seagrave and William.

It required a long time for them to arrive at the house. Mrs Seagrave,
who knew what had happened, received them very kindly, and Juno had a
mess ready, which she put before them. They ate a little and then lay
down, and were soon sound asleep.

"It is fortunate for us that they are women," observed Mr Seagrave: "we
should have had great difficulty had they been men."

"Yes, sir," replied Ready; "but still we must not trust women too much
at first, for they are savages."

"Where shall we put them to-night, Ready?"

"Why, sir, I have been thinking about that. I wish we had a shed close
to us; but as we have not, we must let them sleep in the storehouse."

We must now pass over a space of fifteen days, in which there was
nothing done. The expectation of the vessel returning was still alive,
although each day decreased these hopes. Every morning Ready and
William were at the beach with the telescope, and the whole of the day
was passed in surmises, hopes, and fears. In fact, the appearance of
the vessel and the expectation of leaving the island had completely
overturned all the regularity and content of our island party. No other
subject was broached--not any of the work proposed was begun, as it was
useless to do anything if they were to leave the island. After the
first week had passed, they felt that every day their chances were more
adverse, and at the end of the fortnight all hopes were very unwillingly
abandoned.

The Indian women had, in the meantime, recovered their fatigues, and
appeared to be very mild and tractable. Whatever they were able to do,
they did cheerfully, and had already gained a few words of English. The
party to explore was again talked over, and arranged for the following
Monday, when a new misfortune fell on them, which disconcerted all their
arrangements.

On the Saturday morning, when Ready, as usual, went his rounds, as he
walked along the beach, he perceived that the Indian canoe w