"Only once, father. I saw a flight a long way off. Ready was not with me, and I could not tell what they were; but they were large birds, as big as pigeons, I should think. There is Ready coming round the point," continued William. "How fast that little boat sails! It is a long pull, though, for the old man when he goes to the cove."
"Let us go down and help Ready carry up some of the things before dinner," said Mrs. Seagrave.
They did so; and William rolled up the empty water-cask which Ready had brought with him.
The turtle-steaks were as much approved of as the turtle-soup; indeed, after having been so long on salt meat, a return to fresh provisions was delightful.
"And now to finish our well," said William, as soon as dinner was over.
"How hard you do work, William!" said his mother.
"So I ought, mother. I must learn to do everything now."
"And that you will very soon," said Ready.
They rolled the cask to the spring, and, to their astonishment, found the great hole which they had dug not two hours before quite full of water.
"Oh dear," said William, "we shall have to throw all the water out to get the cask down."