The ship is fast enough, and will not move until some violent
gales come on and break her up; but of that there is no fear at
present: the little wind that there is, is going down, and we shall
have a calm before morning."
"I grant that there is no immediate danger, Ready; but how are we to
get on shore? - and, when on shore, how are we to exist?"
"I have thought of that too, sir, and I must have your assistance, and
even that of Master William, to get the little boat on board to repair
her: her bottom is stove in, it is true, but I am carpenter enough for
that, and with some well-tarred canvas I can make her sufficiently
water-tight to land us all in safety. We must set to at daylight."
"And when we get on shore?"
"Why, Mr. Seagrave, where there are cocoa-nut trees in such plenty as
there are on that island, there is no fear of starvation, even if we
had not the ship's provisions. I expect a little difficulty with regard
to water, for the island is low and small; but we cannot expect to find
everything exactly as we wish."
"I am thankful to the Almighty for our preservation, Ready; but still
there are feelings which I cannot get over. Here we are cast away upon
a desolate island, which perhaps no ship may ever come near, so that
there is little chance of our being taken off.
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