must keep a good look-out even now. I don't
want to fret your father and Mrs Seagrave with my fears on the subject,
but I tell you what I really think, and what we ought to do."

"I agree with you, Ready, and I will take care to be up before daybreak,
and examine very carefully with the spy-glass as soon as the day dawns.
You take the night part, and I will do the morning part of the
watching."

CHAPTER FIFTY EIGHT.

For nearly a fortnight, the work upon the stockade continued without any
intermission, when a circumstance occurred which created the greatest
alarm and excitement. One day, as the party returned to dinner, Mrs
Seagrave said with surprise, "Why, was not Tommy with you?"

"No," replied Mr Seagrave; "he has not been near us all day; he went
with us after breakfast, but did not remain a quarter of an hour."

"No, Missy; I tell Massa Tommy to help carry cocoa-nut leaves, and then
he go away directly."

"Goodness! where can he be?" exclaimed Mrs Seagrave, alarmed.

"I dare say he is picking up shells on the beach, ma'am," replied Ready,
"or perhaps he is in the garden. I will go and see."

"I see him--oh, mercy!--I see him," said Juno, pointing with her finger;
"he in the boat, and boat go to sea!"

It was but too true: there was Tommy in the boat, and the boat had
drifted from the beach, and was now a cable's length away from it, among
the breakers.

William ran off like the wind, followed close by Mr Seagrave and Ready,
and at a distance by Mrs Seagrave and Juno; indeed, there was no time
to be lost, for the wind was off the shore, and in a short time the boat
would have been out to sea.

William, as soon as he arrived at the beach, threw off his hat and
jacket and dashed into the water. He was already up to his middle, when
old Ready, who had followed him, caught him by the arm and said:

"William, go back immediately. I insist upon it. Your going can do no
good, as you do not understand the thing so well as I do; and go I will,
so there will be double risk for nothing. Mr Seagrave, order him back.
He will obey you. I insist upon it, sir."

"William," said Mr Seagrave, "come back immediately, I command you."

William obeyed, but before he was clear of the water Ready had swam
across to the first rocks on the reef, and was now dashing through the
pools between the rocks, towards the boat.

"Oh, father!" said William, "if that good old man is lost, I shall never
forgive myself. L