have, will char a long while, but not burn easily when
standing upright; and the fire, when the faggots are kindled, although
it will be fierce, will not last long."

"But suffering as we are now, Ready, for want of water, how can we
possibly keep up our strength to meet them in a suffocating smoke and
flame? we must drop with sheer exhaustion."

"We must hope for the best, and do our best, Mr Seagrave," replied
Ready; "and recollect that should anything happen to me during the
conflict, and if there is any chance of your being overpowered, you must
take advantage of the smoke to escape into the woods, and find your way
to the tents. I have no doubt that you will be able to do that; of
course the attack will be to windward if they use fire, and you must try
and escape to leeward; I have shown William how to force a palisade if
necessary. The savages, if they get possession, will not think of
looking for you at first, and, perhaps, when they have obtained all that
the house contains, not even afterwards."

"Why do you say if any accident happens to you, Ready?" said William.

"Because, William, if they place the faggots so as to be able to walk to
the top of the palisades, I may be wounded or killed, and so may you."

"Of course," replied William; "but they are not in yet, and they shall
have a hard fight for it."

Ready then told Mr Seagrave that he would keep the watch, and call him
at twelve o'clock. During these two days, they had eaten very little; a
turtle had been killed, and pieces fried, but eating only added to their
thirst, and even the children refused the meat. The sufferings were now
really dreadful, and poor Mrs Seagrave was almost frantic.

As soon as Mr Seagrave had gone into the house, Ready called William,
and said, "William, water we must have. I cannot bear to see the agony
of the poor children, and the state of mind which your poor mother is
in; and more, without water we never shall be able to beat off the
savages to-morrow. We shall literally die of choking in the smoke, if
they use fire. Now, William, I intend to take one of the seven-gallon
barricos, and go down to the well for water. I may succeed, and I may
not, but attempt it I must, and if I fall it cannot be helped."

"Why not let me go, Ready?" replied William.

"For many reasons, William," said Ready; "and the chief one is that I do
not think you would succeed so well as I shall. I shall put on the
war-cloak and feathers