The second day was passed in keeping a look-out upon the savages, and
awaiting a fresh attack. They could perceive from the top of the
cocoa-nut tree that the savages held a council of war in the forenoon,
sitting round in a large circle, while one got up in the centre and made
a speech, flourishing his club and spear while he spoke. In the
afternoon the council broke up, and the savages were observed to be very
busy in all directions, cutting down the cocoa-nut trees, and collecting
all the brushwood.
Ready watched them for a long while, and at last came down a little
before sunset. "Mr Seagrave," said he, "we shall have, in my opinion,
no attack this night, but to-morrow we must expect something very
serious; the savages are cutting down the trees, and making large
faggots; they do not get on very fast, because their hatchets are made
of stone and don't cut very well, but perseverance and numbers will
effect everything, and I dare say that they will work all night till
they have obtained as many faggots as they want."
"But what do you imagine to be their object, Ready, in cutting down
trees, and making the faggots?"
"Either, sir, to pile them up outside the palisades, so large as to be
able to walk up upon them, or else to pile them up to set fire to them,
and burn us out."
"Do you think they will succeed?"
"Not without very heavy loss; perhaps we may best them off, but it will
be a hard fight; harder than any we have had yet. We must have the
women to load the muskets, so that we may fire as fast as we can. I
should not think much of their attempt to burn us, if it were not for
the smoke. Cocoa-nut wood, especially with the bark on, as our
palisades have, will char a long while, but not burn easily when
standing upright; and the fire, when the faggots are kindled, although
it will be fierce, will not last long."
"But suffering as we are now, Ready, for want of water, how can we
possibly keep up our strength to meet them in a suffocating smoke and
flame? we must drop with sheer exhaustion."
"We must hope for the best, and do our best, Mr Seagrave," replied
Ready; "and recollect that should anything happen to me during the
conflict, and if there is any chance of your being overpowered, you must
take advantage of the smoke to escape into the woods, and find your way
to the tents. I have no doubt that you will be able to do that; of
course the attack will be to windward if they use fire, and you must try
and escape to leeward; I have shown William how to force a palisade if
necessary. The savages, if they get possession, will not think of
looking for you at first, and, perhaps, when they have obtained all that
the house contains, not even afterwards."
"Why do you say if any accident happens to you, Ready?" said William.
"Because, William, if they place the faggots so as to be able to walk to
the top of the palisades, I may be wounded or killed, and so may you."
"Of course," replied William; "but they are not in yet, and they shall
have a hard fight for it."
Ready then told Mr Seagrave that he would keep the watch, and call him
at twelve o'clock. During these two days, they had eaten very little; a
turtle had been killed, and pieces fried, but eating only added to their
thirst, and even the children refused the meat. The sufferings were now
really dreadful, and poor Mrs Seagrave was almost frantic.
As soon as Mr Seagrave had gone into the house, Ready called William,
and said, "William, water we must have. I cannot bear to see the agony
of the poor children, and the state of mind which your poor mother is
in; and more, without water we never shall be able to beat off the
savages to-morrow. We shall literally die of choking in the smoke, if
they use fire. Now, William, I intend to take one of the seven-gallon
barricos, and go down to the well for water. I may succeed, and I may
not, but attempt it I must, and if I fall it cannot be helped."
"Why not let me go, Ready?" replied William.
"For many reasons, William," said Ready; "and the chief one is that I do
not think you would succeed so well as I shall. I shall put on the
war-cloak and feathers of the savage who fell dead inside of the
stockade, and that will be a disguise, but I shall take no arms except
his spear, as they would only be in my way, and increase the weight I
have to carry. Now observe, you must let me out of the door, and when I
am out, in case of accident put one of the poles across it inside; that
will keep the door fast, if they attack it, until you can secure it with
the others. Watch my return, and be all ready to let me in. Do you
understand me?"
"Yes, perfectly, Ready; but I am now, I must confess, really frightened;
if anything was to happen to you, what a misery it would be!"
"There is no help for it, William. Water must, if possible, be
procured, and now is a better time to make the attempt than later, when
they may be more on the watch; they have left off their work, and are
busy eating; if I meet any one, it will only be a woman."
Ready went for the barrico, a little cask, which held six or seven
gallons of water. He put on the head-dress and war-cloak of the savage;
and, taking the barrico on his shoulder, and the spear in his hand, the
poles which barred the door were softly removed by William, and after
ascertaining that no one was concealed beneath the palisades, Ready
pressed William's hand, and set off across the cleared space outside of
the stockade, and gained the cocoa-nut trees. William, as directed,
closed the door, passed one pole through the inner door-posts for
security, and remained on the watch. He was in an awful state of
suspense, listening to the slightest noise, even the slight rustling by
the wind of the cocoa-nut boughs above him made him start; there he
continued for some minutes, his gun ready cocked by his side.
It is time that he returned, thought William; the distance is not 100
yards, and yet I have heard no noise. At last he thought he heard
footsteps coming very softly. Yes, it was so. Ready was returning, and
without any accident. William had his hand upon the pole, to slip it on
one side and open the door, when he heard a scuffle and a fall close to
the door. He immediately threw down the pole, and opened it just as
Ready called him by name. William seized his musket and sprang out; he
found Ready struggling with a savage, who was uppermost, and with his
spear at Ready's breast. In a second William levelled and fired, and
the savage fell dead.
"Take the water in quick, William," said Ready in a faint voice. "I
will contrive to 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.