ning, William and Ready went away in the boat, as
before, to bring round the various articles from the cove. It had been
arranged that they were not to return till the Saturday evening, and
that the dog Remus was to bring intelligence of them and their welfare
every afternoon. They worked hard during the week, and on Saturday they
had completed their task; with the exception of a portion of the timbers
of the ship, everything had been brought round, but had not been carried
up to the storehouse, as that required more time.

On Saturday morning, they went for the last time to the cove, and Ready
selected some heavy oak timber out of the quantity which was lying on
the beach, part of which they put into the boat, and the remainder they
towed astern. It was a heavy load, and although the wind was fair to
sail back again to the bay, the boat went but slowly through the water.

"Well, William," said Ready, "we have done a good week's work, and I
must say it is high time that it is done; for the boat is in rather a
crazy condition, and I must contrive to patch her up by and by, when
there is time."

"We shall not want to use her very much after this, Ready," replied
William; "a few trips round to the little harbour will be all that will
be required before we come back again to our old quarters."

"That's true, William; but she leaks very much, and at all events I'll
give her a coat of pitch as soon as possible. For a slight-built little
thing as she is, she has done hard duty."

"Pray, Ready, why, when you speak of a ship or boat, do you always call
it she?"

"Well, William, I don't know why, but it is certain that we sailors
always do so. I believe it is because a sailor loves his ship. His
ship is his wife, is a very common saying with us; and then you see,
Master William, a vessel is almost a thing of life in appearance. I
believe that's the reason, and of course if a vessel is she, a little
boat must be a she also."

"Well, I think you have explained it very well, Ready. I suppose on
Monday we shall set to at the storehouse, and alter it for our future
residence?"

"Can't begin too soon, William," replied Ready; "I don't doubt but Mr
Seagrave has finished the hedge and ditch round the yams by this time,
and if so, I expect Madam will not like to be left in the tents alone
with Juno and the children, and so we shall all move back to the house
again until we have altered the storehouse; I must say that I wo