e eat our
breakfast: now, my dear, if you please." Mrs Seagrave then read a
chapter from the Bible, and afterwards they all knelt down while Mr
Seagrave offered up a prayer.

While they were at breakfast, William told Ready how they had gone on
board, and what they had brought on shore, and he also mentioned how
Juno had dipped all the children in the sea.

"But Juno must not do that again," replied Ready, "until I have made all
safe; you know that there are plenty of sharks about these islands, and
it is very dangerous to go into the water."

"Oh, what an escape they have had!" cried Mrs Seagrave, shuddering.

"It's very true," continued Ready; "but they don't keep so much to the
windward of the islands where we are at present; but still that smooth
cove is a very likely place for them to come into; so it's just as well
not to go in again, Juno, until I have time to make a place for you to
bathe in in safety. As soon as we can get as much as we want from the
ship, we must decide whether we shall stay here or not."

"Stay here or not, Ready!--what do you mean?"

"Why, we have not yet found any water, and that is the first necessary
of life--if there is no water on this side of the island, we must pitch
our tents somewhere else."

"That's very true," replied Mr Seagrave; "I wish we could find time to
explore a little."

"So we can, sir; but we must not lose this fine weather to get a few
things from the ship. We had better go now. You and William can remain
on board to collect the things, and I will land them on the beach for
Juno to bring up."

The whole day was spent in landing every variety of article which they
thought could be useful. All the small sails, cordage, twine, canvas,
small casks, saws, chisels, and large nails, and elm and oak plank, were
brought on shore before dinner. After they had taken a hearty dinner,
the cabin tables and chairs, all their clothes, some boxes of candles,
two bags of coffee, two of rice, two more of biscuits, several pieces of
beef and pork and bags of flour, some more water, the grindstone, and
Mrs Seagrave's medicine-chest were landed. When Ready came off again,
he said, "Our poor boat is getting very leaky, and will not take much
more on shore without being repaired; and Juno has not been able to get
half the things up--they are too heavy for one person. I think we shall
do pretty well now, Mr Seagrave; and we had better, before it is dark,
get all the animals