"
"They have pulled down the house to obtain the iron nails, I have no
doubt," replied Ready. "Did you see any of their dead?"
"No; I did not look about very much, but I will go up again directly. I
came down because my hands were jarred with hammering, and the hammer
was so heavy to carry. In a minute or two I shall go up light enough.
My lips are burning, Ready, and swelled; the skin is peeling off. I had
no idea that want of water would have been so dreadful. I was in hopes
of finding a cocoa-nut or two on the tree, but there was not one."
"And if you had found one, it would not have had any milk in it at this
season of the year. However, William, if the savages do not go away
to-day, something must be done. I wish now that you would go up again,
and see if they are not stirring."
William again mounted to the top of the tree, and remained up for some
minutes; when he came down, he said, "They are all up now, and swarming
like bees. I counted 260 of the men in their war-cloaks and feather
head-dresses; the women are passing to and fro from the well with
water; there is nobody at the canoes except eight or ten women, who are
beating their heads, I think, or doing something of the kind.
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