sugar, the little which they had saved having been melted away.

"That's unfortunate, sir."

"We cannot expect to get things here, as though we were a hundred yards
from a grocer's shop. Now let us go to where we covered up the other
articles with sand."

The sand was shovelled up, and the barrels of beef and pork and the deal
boards found in good order, but many other things were quite spoilt.
About noon they had finished, and as they had plenty of time, Mr
Seagrave took the bearings of the different points of land with the
compasses. They then shouldered their muskets, and set off on their
return.

They gained the house in the bay, and having rested a little while at
the storehouse, they proceeded on their way to the tents in the meadow.
They had about half a mile to go, when Ready heard a noise, and made a
sign to Mr Seagrave to stop. Ready, whispering to Mr Seagrave that
the pigs were all close to them, loaded his musket; Mr Seagrave did the
same, and they walked very softly to where they now heard their
grunting; they did not see them till they were within twenty yards, and
then they came upon the whole herd; the pigs raised their heads; the old
ones gave a loud grunt, and then, just as Ready fired his musket, they
all set off at full speed. Mr Seagrave had no opportunity of firing,
but Ready had shot one, which lay kicking and struggling under a
cocoa-nut tree.

"A piece of fresh pork will be quite a treat, Mr Seagrave," said Ready,
as they walked up to where the animal was lying.

"It will, indeed, Ready," replied Mr Seagrave; "we must contrive to
carry the beast home between us."

"We will sling it on the musket, sir, and it will not be very heavy. It
is one of those born on the island, and a very fine fellow for his age."

The pig was soon slung, and they carried it between them. As they
cleared the wood, they perceived Mrs Seagrave and William, who had
heard the report of the musket, and had come out to meet them.

William took the load from his father, who walked on with Mrs Seagrave.

"Well, William, what news have you?" said Ready.

"Why, very good, Ready. Yesterday evening, when I was tired of work, I
thought I would take the boat, and try if there was any fish to be
caught on this side of the island in the deep water, and I caught three
large ones, quite different from those we took among the reefs. We had
one for breakfast and dinner to-day, and it was excellent."

"Did you go out