"
"I believe that you are right there, Ready; but at all events I would
not attempt to do it before daylight, as there may be some of them
still lurking underneath the stockade."
"Certainly there may be, sir, and therefore until daylight we will not
begin."
Mr. Seagrave then went into the house; Ready desired William to lie
down and sleep for two or three hours, as he would watch. In the
morning, when Mr Seagrave came out, he would have a little sleep
himself.
"I can't sleep, Ready. I'm mad with thirst," replied William.
"Yes, sir; it's very painful - I feel it myself very much, but what
must those poor children feel? I pity them most."
"I pity my mother most, Ready," replied William; "it must be agony to
her to witness their sufferings, and not be able to relieve them."
"Yes, indeed, it must be terrible, William, to a mother's feelings; but
perhaps these savages will be off to-morrow, and then we shall forget
our privations."
"I trust in God that they may, Ready, but they seem very determined."
"Yes, sir; iron is gold to them, and what will civilized men not do for
gold?"
In the meantime, Mr. Seagrave had gone into the house. He found the
children still crying for water, notwithstanding the coaxing and
soothing of Mrs.
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