ade everything as comfortable there as we can, I think we may then
leave Mrs Seagrave and the children in the tents, and work here. As we
before agreed, let us abandon the house in which we live at present, and
fit out the outhouse which is concealed in the cocoa-nut grove, as a
dwelling-house, and fortify it so as to be secure against any sudden
attack of the savages: for, return here we must, to live, as we cannot
remain in the tents after the rainy season sets in."

"How do you propose to fortify it, Ready?" said Mr Seagrave; "I hardly
know."

"That I will explain to you by and by, sir. Then, if the savages come
here, at all events we should be able to defend ourselves with
fire-arms; one man behind a stockade is better than twenty who have no
other arms but spears and clubs; and we may, with the help of God, beat
them off."

"I think your plan is excellent, Ready," said Mr Seagrave, "and that
the sooner we begin, the better."

"That there is no doubt of, sir. Now, the first job is for William and
me to try for the passage through this side of the reef with the boat,
and then we will look for the little harbour which we discovered; as
soon as that is done, we will return and take the tents and all we
require round in the boat, and when we have pitched the tents and all is
arranged, Mrs Seagrave and the children can walk through the wood with
us, and take possession."

"Let us not lose an hour, Ready; we have lost too much time already,"
replied Mr Seagrave. "What shall we do to-day?"

"After breakfast, William and I will take the boat, and try for the
passage. You can remain here, packing up the tents and such articles as
must first be carried round. We shall be back, I hope, by dinner-time."

They then rose, and walked towards the house; all felt relieved in their
minds, after they had made this arrangement, satisfied that they would
be using all human endeavours to ward off the danger which threatened
them, and might then put their confidence in that Providence who would,
if he thought fit, protect them in their need.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

The subject was introduced to Mrs Seagrave, while they were at
breakfast, and as she perceived how much more secure they would be, she
cheerfully consented. In less than an hour afterwards, William and
Ready had prepared the boat, and were pulling out among the rocks of the
reef to find a passage, which, after a short time, and by keeping two or
three cables