Hitherto I have only been a clog and an incumbrance to
you; but I trust I shall soon behave better, and make myself useful. If
you think, then, that it would be better that you should go instead of
William, I am quite content. Go, then, with Ready, and may Heaven
protect you both!"
"No, ma'am," replied Ready, "William will do just as well. Indeed, I
would go by myself with pleasure; but we know not what the day may
bring forth. I might be taken ill - I might hurt myself - I am an old
man, you know; and then I was thinking that if any accident was to
happen to me, you might miss me - that's all."
"Pardon me," replied Mrs Seagrave; "a mother is foolish at times."
"Over-anxious, ma'am, perhaps, but not foolish," replied Ready.
"Well, then, William shall go with you, Ready; - that point's settled,"
observed Mr. Seagrave: "what is the next?"
"The next is to prepare for our journey. We must take some provisions
and water with us, a gun and some ammunition, a large axe for me, and
one of the hatchets for William; and, if you please, Romulus and Remus
had better come with us. Juno, put a piece of beef and a piece of pork
into the pot. William, will you fill four quart bottles with water,
while I sew up a knapsack out of canvas for each of us?"
"And what shall I do, Ready?" said Mr.
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