Masterman Ready, Or, the Wreck of the "Pacific"

(11 *iiii<!i: fireM.;. THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID MASTERMAN READY OR THE WRECK OF THE "PACIFIC" ROUTLEDGE'S EDITIONS Masterman Ready* MASTEKMAIST READY THE WRECK OF THE "PACIFIC" WRITTEN FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY CAPTAIN MARRYAT LONDON GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, Limited BROADWAY HOUSE, CARTER LANE, E.C. Printed by Ballantynk, Hanson &* Co. At the Ballantyne Press, Edinburgh ;: PREFACE I PROMISED my children to write a book for them. It was a hasty promise, for I never considered whether I was capable of so doing. On my requesting to know what kind of a book they would prefer, they said that they wished me to continue a work called the e< Swiss Family Robinson/' which had never been completed, and which appeared peculiarly to interest them. I sent for the work and read it it was originally written in German, translated into French, and from French into English,—a very fair evidence of its merits as amusing to children ; but I found difficulties which were to me insurmountable, and which decided me not to continue that work, but to write another in the same style and I mention this more with a view to prevent any accusa- tion of plagiarism, than with any intent to depreciate the work referred to. I have said that it is very amusing ; but the fault which I find in it is, that it does not adhere to the probable, or even the possible, which should ever be the case in a book, even if fictitious, when written for children. I pass over the seamanship, or rather the want of it, which occasions impossibilities to be performed on board of the wreck, as that is not a matter of any consequence : as in the comedy, where, when people did not understand Greek, Irish did just as well, so it is with a large portion of the seamanship displayed in naval writings. But what compelled me to abandon the task was, that much ignorance, or care- lessness, had been displayed in describing the vegetable and M313599 ; PREFACE animal productions of the island on which the family had been wrecked. The island is supposed to be far to the south- ward, near to Van Diemen's Land ; yet, in these temperate latitudes, we have not only plants, but animals, introduced which could only be found in the interior of Africa or the torrid zone, mixed up with those really indigenous to the climate. This was an error which I could not persuade myself to follow up. It is true that it is a child's book but I consider, for that very reason, it is necessary that the author should be particular in what may appear to be trifles, but which really are not, when it is remembered how strong the impressions are upon the juvenile mind. Fiction, when written for young people, should, at all events, be based upon truth ; and I could not continue a narrative under the objections which I have stated. Whether I have succeeded or not in the construction of my own, is another question. I shall, however, take the opinions of the children, rather than of the critics, on this point. My idea is, to show the practical man in Ready and the theoretical in the father of the family ; and, as the work advances, to enter more deeply into questions which may induce children to think, or, by raising their curiosity, stimulate them to seek for information. — CONTENTS PAGB Preface v Plan xvii Note xix CHAPTER I Ship before the wind— Stormy petrels—Character of Ready—De- scription of the ship and her crew . .... 1 CHAPTER II Some account of William and his parents—A calm—Accidents during the gale—Shepherds' dogs, Romulus and Remus Nearing the land 4 CHAPTER III Ship in Table Bay—Table Mountain—Going on shore—Botanic Gardens—Secretary birds—Den of lions —Tommy in danger, and much frightened—Return on board 8 CHAPTER IV A dead calm—Albatross—Symptoms of a storm—Preparations for a storm—Dreadful storm—Struck by lightning—Terrible wreck and loss of life 12 CHAPTER V Sailors never discouraged—Anxiety of the captain—Storm re- newed—Pride of man humbled—Ready's foreboding— Uncer- tainty of life— Naval profession considered . .16 — CONTENTS CHAPTER VI PAOB Confusion in the cabin—Captain struck senseless—Symptoms of insubordination — Mackintosh's advice — Preparations for quitting ship—Distress of Mr. Seagrave—Noble conduct of Ready—Departure of the crew 21 CHAPTER VII Despair of Mr. Seagrave—Mr. Seagrave comforted by Ready Exertions of William and Ready—Signs of land—Gloomy prospects—Hope restored—Discovery of land—Steer for land —Ship on coral rocks 27 CHAPTER VIII Alarm of Mrs. Seagrave—Mr. Seagrave repines, and is rebuked by Ready—Recovers his self-possession—Inventory of live stock—Preparations for landing 34 CHAPTER IX Getting out the boat—Mr. Seagrave and Ready land and re- connoitre the island—Return on board—Delight of Tommy —Removal to the island—Erection of a tent—Ready returns to the ship . .38 CHAPTER X Tommy in mischief—Tommy mounts guard—Mrs. Seagrave is landed—Arrival at the tent—Exhaustion of Ready—Thanks- giving to Providence 42 CHAPTER XI Mr. Seagrave's gratitude—How to produce fire—Return to the vessel—Unloading the vessel—Preparation for breakfast . 46 CHAPTER XII Ready taken by surprise—Assembled at breakfast—Danger of sharks—Landing useful articles—Pig and shark—Prognos- tics of the weather—Value of the cocoa-nut tree —Brotherly feeling 49 — CONTENTS CHAPTER XIII PAGE Exploring party formed—Mrs. Seagrave's anxiety— Ready's dis- interestedness—Preparations for the journey—Tommy at the grindstone—The parting 55 CHAPTER XIV Commencement of journey—Novel way-marks—Anxiety about water—Sudden alarm—Prepare for the worst—Pigs in the grove—Change of scene—They discover the sea ... 58 CHAPTER XV A beautiful scene—Sea anemones—A turtle—An important discovery—The hour of rest 63 CHAPTER XVI Search for water—Sagacity of dogs—Water discovered— Site for a new house—A shark—Bonettas—Return to the cove . 67 CHAPTER XVII Symptoms of an approaching storm—Hauling up the boat Threatening appearances—Ready exposed to the storm—All for the worst 71 CHAPTER XVIII Furious storms—Tents blown down—Morning after the storm Fine weather prophesied—Ready's plans for the day . 74 CHAPTER XIX Collecting the stores — Cow devoured by sharks—Abundance of water— Coral insects—Formation and growth of coral rocks —Wonders of nature 77 ix — CONTENTS CHAPTER XX PAG! Preparations for removing—A trip in the boat—Visit to the spring—Mrs. Seagrave's anticipations 81 CHAPTER XXI Ready lands the cargo on the beach—Arrival of William and Juno—Proposal to build a house, and make a garden and pond—Ready's age and habits—Arrangements for cooking Ready finds a turtle 84 CHAPTER XXII The tents taken down—Depart for the new residence—Arrival of Mrs. Seagrave—Ready's congratulations and plans for the future—Dine off turtle-soup—Gratitude to God ... 88 CHAPTER XXIII Ready's mode of sinking a well—Mr. and Mrs. Seagrave rejoice in their new abode—Ready uses the gimlet and sinks the cask 92 CHAPTER XXIV Plan of operations—Trees to be cut down—Spot for a garden and a turtle-pond—Juno and William at work .... 95 CHAPTER XXV Ready's plans as to the future garden—Tommy very naughty He makes himself ill by eating castor-oil beans . .198 CHAPTER XXVI Tommy makes a garden, and gets some useful advice—Tommy and the goat—Cocoa-nuts—Progress of operations—Turtle- pond .101 x —— CONTENTS CHAPTER XXVII PAGH Turning turtles—On fishing—Pond finished— Spaniards and Portu- guese—Colonies—On the mother -country and her colonies Rise and fall of nations—History of the Moors in Spain . 104 CHAPTER XXVIII Preparing for fishing—Fortunate escape— Successful fishing Ready reproves William—William's fish—Felling cocoa-nut trees 110 CHAPTER XXIX Building the house—Rainy season—Gratitude to God for His mercies 113 CHAPTER XXX Juno and Ready—Going the rounds—The boat drifted—Sheep and goats—The kids—Council held—Man-of-war discipline —Boat to be secured—Arrangements 115 CHAPTER XXXI Boat secured — Fishing — Storm — Arranging house—Ready's History—Consolation—To bed 120 CHAPTER XXXII Finds the fowls—Fowl-house—Ready's history .... 129 CHAPTER XXXIII Turtle-soup— Speculations—Commence out-house—Tommy in dis- grace—Thimble found—Tommy forgiven—Ready's history . 133 CHAPTER XXXIV House struck with lightning—Juno stunned—Goat killed—Thanks for preservation—Lightning conductor—Ready's narrative Fishing 140 — CONTENTS CHAPTER XXXV PAGE Building store-house—On the beach—Employment happiness Tommy killing beetles — Creation — The heavens — Chris- tianity 149 CHAPTER XXXVI Stacking fuel—Salt-pan—Chance of relief—Women—Ready's narrative 155 CHAPTER XXXVII Fish-pond—Wheeling stones—Alligator—Shark—Pigs—Dogs Ready's narrative 162 CHAPTER XXXVIII William taken ill—Ready bleeds him—William in a fever—Out of danger—Recovering—Ready's narrative 169 CHAPTER XXXIX South Sea Islands—Andaman Isles—Typhoon and monsoon Trade-winds—Gulf Stream—Land and sea breezes—Ready's narrative 178 CHAPTER XL Tommy wants some eggs—Eggs missing —Tommy caught in a trap—Tommy in prison —Ready's narrative . .186 CHAPTER XLI Survey agreed upon—Remarks of Ready—Anticipations and wishes 193 CHAPTER XLII Set off on survey—Steering by compass through the wood Mummy—Clearing the wood—Rainy season unhealthy—Dis- covery—Banana—Pepper—Prickly pear—Guava—Parrots Yams—Pigs— Sea-birds' nests—Harbour for boat—Crawfish and oysters—Return home—Hemp—Wild grape—Projected work 197 xii — — CONTENTS CHAPTER XLIII PAGE Vessel in sight—William and Ready—The telescope—Flagstaff— Air bedding—Hoist ensign and flag Jot of the party—Hopes and fears—Vessel hauls off—Disappointment ...

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