As he was thus
occupied, William came down to him.
"William," said Ready, "I fear those island women have escaped in their
canoe. Run up, and see if they are in the outhouse, or anywhere else,
and let me know as soon as you can."
William in a few minutes returned, breathless, stating that the women
were not to be found, and that they had evidently carried away with
them a quantity of the large nails and other pieces of iron which were
in the small kegs in the storehouse.
"This is bad, William; this is worse than the vessel not coming back."
"Why, we can do without them, Ready."
"Yes; but when they get back to their own people, and show them the
iron they have brought with them, and describe how much more there is
to be had, depend upon it, we shall have a visit from them in numbers,
that they may obtain more. I ought to have known better than to leave
the canoe here. We must go and consult with Mr. Seagrave, for the
sooner we begin to work now, the better."
They communicated the intelligence to Mr. Seagrave when they were
outside. He at once perceived their danger, so they held a council, and
came to the following resolutions:--
That it would be necessary that they should immediately stockade the
storehouse, so as to render it impossible for any one to get in; and
that, as soon as the fortification was complete, the storehouse should
be turned into their dwelling-house; and such stores as could not be
put within the stockade should be removed to their present house, or
concealed in the cocoa-nut grove.
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