o crawl in if I can."

William caught up the barrico of water, and took it in; he then hastened
to Ready, who was on his knees. Mr Seagrave, hearing the musket fired,
had run out, and finding the stockade door open, followed William, and
seeing him endeavouring to support Ready, caught hold of his other arm,
and they led him tottering into the stockade; the door was then
immediately secured, and they went to his assistance.

"Are you hurt, Ready?" said William.

"Yes, dear boy, yes; hurt to death, I fear: his spear went through my
breast. Water, quick, water!"

"Alas! that we had some," said Mr Seagrave.

"We have, papa," replied William; "but it has cost us dearly."

William ran for a pannikin, and taking out the bung, poured some water
out of the barrico and gave it to Ready, who drank it with eagerness.

"Now, William, lay me down on these cocoa-nut boughs; go and give some
water to the others, and when you have all drunk, then come to me again.
Don't tell Mrs Seagrave that I'm hurt. Do as I beg of you."

"Papa, take the water--do pray," replied William; "I cannot leave
Ready."

"I will, my boy," replied Mr Seagrave; "but first drink yourself."

William, who was very faint, drank off the pannikin of water, which
immediately revived him, and then, while Mr Seagrave hastened with some
water to the children and women, occupied himself with old Ready, who
breathed heavily, but did not speak.

CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE.

After returning twice for water, to satisfy those in the house, Mr
Seagrave came to the assistance of William, who had been removing
Ready's clothes to ascertain the nature of the wound he had received.

"We had better move him to where the other cocoa-nut boughs lie; he will
be more comfortable there," said William.

Ready whispered, "More water." William gave him some more and then,
with the assistance of his father, Ready was removed to a more
comfortable place. As soon as they laid him there, Ready turned on his
side, and threw up a quantity of blood.

"I am better now," said he in a low voice; "bind up the wound, William;
an old man like me has not much blood to spare."

Mr Seagrave and William then examined the wound; the spear had gone
deep into the lungs. William threw off his shirt, tore it up into
strips, and then bound up the wound so as to stop the effusion of blood.

Ready, who at first appeared much exhausted with being moved about,
gradually recovered so as to be able