The fireplace could not be made at once, as they
had either to find clay, or to burn shells into lime and build it up
with rocks and mortar; but a space was left for it. For three weeks
they worked very hard: as soon as the sides were up, they got on the
whole of the roof and rafters; and then, with the broad leaves of the
cocoa-nut trees which had been cut down, Ready thatched it very strong
and securely. At the end of the three weeks the house was secure from
the weather; and it was quite time, for the weather had begun to
change, the clouds now gathered thick, and the rainy season was
commencing.
"We have no time to lose, sir," said Ready to Mr. Seagrave. "We have
worked hard, but we must for a few days work harder still. We must fit
up the inside of the house, so as to enable Madam to get into it as
soon as possible."
The earth in the inside of the house was then beaten down hard, so as
to make a floor; and a sort of bedstead, about two feet from the
ground, running the whole length of the house, was raised on each side
of the interior: these were fitted with canvas screens to let down by
night. And then Ready and William took the last trip in the boat to
fetch the chairs and tables, which they did just before the coming on
of the first storm of the season.
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