"
"Very true," replied Mr. Seagrave, "William, dear, bring me the Bible."
Chapter XLII
They were all up early the next morning, and breakfasted at an early
hour. The knapsacks and guns, and the other requisites for the journey,
were all prepared; William and Ready rose from the table, and taking an
affectionate leave of Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave, they started on their
journey. The sun was shining brilliantly, and the weather had become
warm; the ocean in the distance gleamed brightly, as its waters danced,
and the cocoa-nut trees moved their branches gracefully to the breeze.
They set off in high spirits, and having called the two shepherd dogs,
and driven back Vixen, who would have joined the party, they passed the
storehouse, and ascending the hill on the other side, they got their
hatchets ready to blaze the trees; and Ready having set his course by
his pocket compass, they were fairly on their way. For some time they
continued to cut the bark of the trees with their hatchets, without
speaking, and then Ready stopped again to look at his compass.
"I think the wood is thicker here than ever, Ready," observed William.
"Yes, sir, it is; but I suspect we are now in the thickest part of it,
right in the middle of the island; however, we shall soon see.
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