iam, for it is very
valuable to us. Now we will take them all up, and that will be
sufficient for to-day; to-morrow, if we can, we will make two trips."

"We can, if we start early," replied William; "but now let us have our
dinner, and carry the remainder of the things up afterwards."

As they were eating their dinner, and William was giving the bones to
the dog, Ready said, "Pray, William, what was the idea in your head
which made you bring Remus with you?"

"I will tell you, Ready; I mean him to carry a letter to mamma; you know
that he always goes back when he is ordered, and now I wish to see if he
will not go back to the tents, if he is told. I have brought a piece of
paper and pencil with me."

William then wrote on the paper:

"Dear Mamma:--We are quite well, and just returned with the first cargo
quite safe. Your affectionate son, WILLIAM."

William tied the paper round the dog's neck with a piece of twine, and
then calling him out of the house, said to him, "Remus, go back, sir--go
back, sir;" the dog looked wistfully at William, as if not sure of what
he was to do, but William took up a stone, and pretended to throw it at
the dog, who ran away a little distance, and then stopped.

"_Go back_, Remus--_go back_, sir." William again pretended to throw
the stone, repeating the order, and then the dog set off as fast as his
legs could carry him through the cocoa-nut grove.

"He is gone at all events," said William; "I think he will go home."

"We shall see, sir," replied Ready; "and now that we have finished our
dinner, we will bring up the things, and put them in the storehouse."

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE.

As soon as they had carried up the whole of the cargo, they secured the
boat, and went up to the house to sleep. Just as they went in, Remus
came bounding up to them with a letter round his neck.

"Here's the dog, William," said Ready; "he won't go home after all."

"How provoking! I made sure he would go back; I really am disappointed.
We will give him nothing to eat, and then he will; but, dear me, Ready!
this is not the paper I tied round his neck. I think not. Let me see."
William took the paper, opened it, and read--

"Dear William:--Your letter arrived safe, and we are glad you are well.
Write every day, and God bless you; it was very clever of you and Remus.
Your affectionate mother, SELINA SEAGRAVE."

"Well, it is clever," said Ready; "I'm sure I had no idea he had gone;
and his