“Yes; and then you have to load them,” replied Mrs Seagrave. “Juno and I can do that at all events, ready for you to fire them.”
“An excellent idea, madam,” replied Ready.
In half an hour six turtles were brought up by Juno and William, and then Ready followed them into the stockade.
They then rolled the casks, and upheaded them by the sides of the stockade, and fixed up deal planks to stand upon, just high enough to enable them to see over the top of the palisades, and to fire at the enemy. Mrs Seagrave had been shown how to load a musket, and Juno was now taught the same.
“Now, sir, we are all prepared,” said Ready, “and Madam and Juno can go and look a little after the children, and get breakfast.”
As soon as the children were dressed, Mr Seagrave called Ready, who was outside, watching the canoes, and they went to their morning devotions, and prayed heartily for succour in this time of need. They then breakfasted in haste; for, as may be supposed, they were almost too anxious to eat.
“This suspense is worse than all,” said Mrs Seagrave. “I wish now that they were come.”
“Shall I go to Ready and hear his report, my dear?—I will not be away three minutes.”
In a short time Mr Seagrave returned, saying that the canoes were close to the beach, that the savages evidently had a knowledge of the passages through the reefs, as they had steered right in, and had lowered their sails; that Ready and William were on the look-out, but concealed behind the cocoa-nut trees.
“I hope they will not stay out too long.”