at they had hoisted a flag with the name Pacific worked on it。
Captain Osborn； hearing this； went to the master of the brig； and questioned him。 He found the latitude and longitude of the island to be not far from that of the ship when she was deserted； and he was now convinced that； by some miracle； the Seagrave family had been preserved。 He therefore went to the Governor of New South Wales； and made him acquainted with the facts which had been established； and the Governor instantly replied； that the government armed schooner was at his service； if he would himself go in quest of his former shipmates。 Inconvenient as the absence at that time was to Captain Osborn； he at once acquiesced； and in a few days the schooner sailed for her destination。 She arrived off the island on the same morning that the fleet of canoes with the savages effected their landing； and when William made the remark to Ready as they were hastening into the stockade； that there was another vessel under sail off the garden…point； had Ready had time to put his eye to the telescope； he would have discovered that it was the schooner。
The schooner stood in to the reefs； and then hauled off again； that she might send her boat in to sound for an anchorage。 The boat； when sounding； perceived the canoes and the savages； and afterwards heard the report of firearms on the first attack。 On her return on board the schooner； they stated what they had seen and heard； and their idea that the white people on the island were being attacked by the savages。 As the boat did not return on board till near dusk； they had not time to canvas； the question when the night attack was made； and they again heard the firing of the muskets。 This made Captain Osborn most anxious to land as soon as possible； but as the savages were in such numbers； and the crew of the schooner did not consist of more than twenty…five men； the commander considered it was rash to make the attempt。 He did； however； show the utmost anxiety to bring his schooner to an anchor； so as to protect his men； and then agreed that they should land。
The boat had reported deep water and good anchorage close to the garden…point； and every preparation was made for running at daylight on the following morning； but unfortunately； it fell calm for the best part of the day； and it was not until the morning after； just as the savages were making their last attack upon the stockade； that she could get in。 As soon as she did； she opened the fire of her carronades； and the result is already known。
My readers must； if they can； imagine the joy of Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave when they beheld their old friend Captain Osborn。 All danger was now over； the party who had landed with him went out under the command of the mate； to ascertain if there were any more of the savages to be found； but； except the dead and dying； all had escaped in some of the smaller canoes。 Captain Osborn remained with the Seagraves； and they informed him of the state of poor old Ready； whom William had gone to attend as soon as Captain Osborn was engaged with his father and mother。 Captain Osborn hurried out to see him； Ready knew his voice； for his eyes were already so dim that he could not see。
〃That is Captain Osborn； I know；〃 said Ready in a faint voice。 〃You have come in good time； sir； I knew you would come； and I always said so： you have the thanks of a dying man。〃
〃I hope it is not so bad as that； Ready； we have a surgeon on board； and I will send for him at once。〃
〃No surgeon can help me； sir；〃 replied Ready； 〃another hour of time will not pass before I shall be in Eternity。〃
The old man then joined his hands across his breast； and remained for some time in silent prayer。 Then he bade them farewell in a faint voice； which at last was changed to a mere whisper。 They still remained； in silence and in tears； standing round him； William only kneeling and holding his hand； when the old man's head fell back； and he was no more！
〃It is all over；〃 said Mr。 Seagrave mournfully； 〃and he has； I have no doubt； gone to receive the reward of a good and just man。 ‘Happy are those who die in the Lord。'〃
Mr。 Seagrave then led away his wife and children； leaving Juno and William。 William closed his eyes； and Juno went and fetched the ship's ensign； which they laid over the body； after which they joined the rest of the party in the house。
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。 Now that their wishes had been granted … so much was the feeling of joy and gratitude mingled with regret … that could he have been restored to them； they felt as if they would have gladly remained on the island。
Captain Osborn； the commander； and the crew of the schooner had taken leave of them for the night； and had gone on board； having made arrangements for the interment of Ready； previous to their sailing； on the following day。 The children had been put to bed； and Juno had quitted the house； Mr。 and Mrs。 Seagrave and William were sitting together in their now half…dismantled room； when Juno entered； the poor girl had evidently been weeping。
〃Well； Juno；〃 observed Mr。 Seagrave； with a view to break the silence which had continued for some time previous to her entrance； 〃are you not glad to leave the island？〃
〃One time I think I would be very glad； but now I not care much；〃 replied Juno。 〃Island very nice place； all very happy till savage come。 Suppose they not kill old Ready； I not care。〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 said Mrs。 Seagrave； 〃it is a sad blow to us all； I did hope to have fostered the good old man； and to have been able to have shown him our gratitude； but〃
〃It is the will of Heaven that it should be otherwise；〃 continued Mr。 Seagrave； 〃I would give half that I am possessed of； that he had not perished。〃
〃Oh； Massa！〃 said Juno； 〃I sit by him just now； I take off the flag and look at his face； so calm； look so happy； so good； I almost tink he smile at me； and then I cry。 Oh！ Massa Tommy； all because you idle boy。〃
〃It adds much to my regret；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃that his life should have been sacrificed through the thoughtlessness of one of my own children； what a lesson it will be to Tommy when he is old enough to comprehend the consequences of his conduct。〃
〃That he must not know； papa；〃 said William； who had been leaning mournfully over the table； 〃one of Ready's last injunctions was that Tommy was never to be told of it。〃
〃His last wishes shall be religiously attended to； my dear boy；〃 replied Mr。 Seagrave； 〃for what do we not owe to that good old man？ When others deserted us and left us to perish； he remained with us to share our fate。 By his skill we were saved and landed in safety。 He provided for our wants； added to our comforts； instructed us how to make the best use of our means。 Without his precautions we should have perished by the spears of the savages。 What an example of Christian fortitude and humility did he ever show us！ and indeed； I may truly say； that by his example； sinful as I must ever be； I have become； I trust； a better man。 Would that he were now sitting by us； … but the Lord's will be done！〃
〃I feel as if I had lost a stay or prop；〃 replied Mrs。 Seagrave。 〃So accustomed have I been to look to him for advice since we have been on this island。 Had he not been thus snatched from us … had he been spared to us a few years； and had we been permitted to surround his death…bed； and close his eyes in peace〃 and Mrs。 Seagrave wept upon the shoulder of her husband。
After a time； Mrs。 Seagrave recovered herself； but silence ensued； only broken by an occasional sob from poor Juno。 William's heart was too full； he could not for a long while utter a word； at last he said in a low voice：
〃I feel that； next to my dear father and mother； I have lost my best friend。 I cannot forgive myself for allowing him to go for the water； it was my duty to go； and I ought to have gone。〃
〃And yet we could have ill spared you； my dear boy； you might have perished；〃 replied Mrs。 Seagrave。
〃It would have been as God willed；〃