It was decided that the following day should be passed in packing up
and getting on board their luggage, and that the day after the family
should embark. William then mentioned the wish of poor old Ready as to
his burial. The commander of the schooner immediately gave directions
for a coffin to be made, and for his men to dig the grave at the spot
that William should point out.
Chapter LXVII
The hurry and bustle of preparing for their departure from the island,
and the rapid succession of events which had been crowded together
within so very few days, had not allowed time for much thought or
reflection to Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave and William; at length, however,
every preparation had been made, and they were no longer urged by the
commander of the schooner to hasten their packing up and arrangements;
for everything had been sent on board during the afternoon, and it was
proposed that they should sail on the following day.
Now they had time to feel, and bitterly did they lament the loss of
their old friend, and deplore that he had not survived to sail with
them to Sydney. They had always indulged the hope that one day they
should be taken off the island, and in that hope they had ever looked
forward to old Ready becoming a part of their future household.
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