"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.