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diff --git a/11703-0.txt b/11703-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..26fb8a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/11703-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12216 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11703 *** + +[Illustration: “Our first care was to kneel down and thank God, to whom +we owed our lives.”] + + + + +THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON; + +OR, ADVENTURES IN A DESERT ISLAND. + + +WITH EIGHT ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOHN GILBERT. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Many years ago, an English translation of the first part of this +charming tale appeared; and few books have obtained such deserved +popularity. The gradual progress of the family from utter destitution +and misery, to happiness and abundance, arising from their own labour, +perseverance, and obedience, together with the effect produced on the +different characters of the sons by the stirring adventures they met +with, created a deep and absorbing interest. Every young reader +patronized either the noble Fritz, the studious Ernest, or the generous +Jack, and regarded him as a familiar personal acquaintance. The book had +but one defect—the death of the talented author left it unfinished, and +every reader regretted its abrupt termination. + +This conclusion was happily supplied by one of the most accomplished and +elegant writers of her day, the Baroness de Montolieu; and, sanctioned +and approved by the son of the lamented author, the entire work was +published in France, and has for many years held a distinguished rank in +the juvenile libraries there. For the gratification of a little family +circle, this now appears in English; and as, on examining the first part +in the original, it was found, that “some new discoveries might be +made,” it was thought best to re-translate it, subduing the tone of the +whole to English taste. The unanimous voices of the beloved circle, for +whom the pleasant task was undertaken, have pronounced the result to be +eminently successful, and they generously wish, that the whole of the +juvenile public of England should share in their satisfaction, and +possess _a complete Swiss Robinson_. + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +It is very well known that, some years ago, Counsellor Horner, a Swiss, +made a voyage round the world in the Russian vessel _Le Podesda_, +commanded by Capt. Krusenstern. They discovered many islands, and, +amongst others, one very large and fertile, till then unknown to +navigators, to the S.W. of Java, near the coast of New Guinea. They +landed here, and to the great surprise of Mr. Horner, he was received by +a family who spoke to him in German. They were a father and mother, and +four robust and hardy sons. + +Their history was very interesting. The father was a Swiss clergyman, +who, in the Revolution of 1798, had lost all his fortune, and had +determined to emigrate, in order to seek elsewhere the means of +supporting his family. He went first to England, with his wife and +children, consisting of four sons, between the ages of twelve and five. +He there undertook the office of missionary to Otaheite; not that he +intended to remain on that uncivilized island, but he wished to proceed +from thence to Port Jackson as a free colonist. He invested his little +capital in seeds of every description, and some cattle, to take out with +him. They had a prosperous voyage till they were near the coast of New +Guinea, when they were overtaken by a frightful storm. At this period he +commenced his journal, which he afterwards committed to the care of Mr. +Horner, to be forwarded to his friends in Switzerland. + +Some time before, a boat from an English vessel, the _Adventurer_, had +visited them, and the father had sent the first part of his journal by +Lieut. Bell to the captain, who remained in the vessel. A violent +tempest arose, which continued some days, and drove the _Adventurer_ +from the coast. The family concluded the ship was lost; but this was not +the case, as will be seen in the conclusion. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +The tempest had raged for six days, and on the seventh seemed to +increase. The ship had been so far driven from its course, that no one +on board knew where we were. Every one was exhausted with fatigue and +watching. The shattered vessel began to leak in many places, the oaths +of the sailors were changed to prayers, and each thought only how to +save his own life. “Children,” said I, to my terrified boys, who were +clinging round me, “God can save us if he will. To him nothing is +impossible; but if he thinks it good to call us to him, let us not +murmur; we shall not be separated.” My excellent wife dried her tears, +and from that moment became more tranquil. We knelt down to pray for the +help of our Heavenly Father; and the fervour and emotion of my innocent +boys proved to me that even children can pray, and find in prayer +consolation and peace. + +We rose from our knees strengthened to bear the afflictions that hung +over us. Suddenly we heard amid the roaring of the waves the cry of +“Land! land!” At that moment the ship struck on a rock; the concussion +threw us down. We heard a loud cracking, as if the vessel was parting +asunder; we felt that we were aground, and heard the captain cry, in a +tone of despair, “We are lost! Launch the boats!” These words were a +dagger to my heart, and the lamentations of my children were louder than +ever. I then recollected myself, and said, “Courage, my darlings, we are +still, above water, and the land is near. God helps those who trust in +him. Remain here, and I will endeavour to save us.” + +I went on deck, and was instantly thrown down, and wet through by a huge +sea; a second followed. I struggled boldly with the waves, and succeeded +in keeping myself up, when I saw, with terror, the extent of our +wretchedness. The shattered vessel was almost in two; the crew had +crowded into the boats, and the last sailor was cutting the rope. I +cried out, and prayed them to take us with them; but my voice was +drowned in the roar of the tempest, nor could they have returned for us +through waves that ran mountains high. All hope from their assistance +was lost; but I was consoled by observing that the water did not enter +the ship above a certain height. The stern, under which lay the cabin +which contained all that was dear to me on earth, was immovably fixed +between two rocks. At the same time I observed, towards the south, +traces of land, which, though wild and barren, was now the haven of my +almost expiring hopes; no longer being able to depend on any human aid. +I returned to my family, and endeavoured to appear calm. “Take courage,” +cried I, “there is yet hope for us; the vessel, in striking between the +rocks, is fixed in a position which protects our cabin above the water, +and if the wind should settle to-morrow, we may possibly reach +the land.” + +This assurance calmed my children, and as usual, they depended on all I +told them; they rejoiced that the heaving of the vessel had ceased, as, +while it lasted, they were continually thrown against each other. My +wife, more accustomed to read my countenance, discovered my uneasiness; +and by a sign, I explained to her that I had lost all hope. I felt great +consolation in seeing that she supported our misfortune with truly +Christian resignation. + +“Let us take some food,” said she; “with the body, the mind is +strengthened; this must be a night of trial.” + +Night came, and the tempest continued its fury; tearing away the planks +from the devoted vessel with a fearful crashing. It appeared absolutely +impossible that the boats could have out-lived the storm. + +My wife had prepared some refreshment, of which the children partook +with an appetite that we could not feel. The three younger ones retired +to their beds, and soon slept soundly. Fritz, the eldest, watched with +me. “I have been considering,” said he, “how we could save ourselves. If +we only had some cork jackets, or bladders, for mamma and my brothers, +you and I don’t need them, we could then swim to land.” + +“A good thought,” said I, “I will try during the night to contrive some +expedient to secure our safety.” We found some small empty barrels in +the cabin, which we tied two together with our handkerchiefs, leaving a +space between for each child; and fastened this new swimming apparatus +under their arms. My wife prepared the same for herself. We then +collected some knives, string, tinder-box, and such little necessaries +as we could put in our pockets; thus, in case the vessel should fall to +pieces during the night, we hoped we might be enabled to reach land. + +At length Fritz, overcome with fatigue, lay down and slept with his +brothers. My wife and I, too anxious to rest, spent that dreadful night +in prayer, and in arranging various plans. How gladly we welcomed the +light of day, shining through an opening. The wind was subsiding, the +sky serene, and I watched the sun rise with renewed hope. I called my +wife and children on deck. The younger ones were surprised to find we +were alone. They inquired what had become of the sailors, and how we +should manage the ship alone. + +“Children,” said I, “one more powerful than man has protected us till +now, and will still extend a saving arm to us, if we do not give way to +complaint and despair. Let all hands set to work. Remember that +excellent maxim, God helps those who help themselves. Let us all +consider what is best to do now.” + +“Let us leap into the sea,” cried Fritz, “and swim to the shore.” + +“Very well for you,” replied Ernest, “who can swim; but we should be all +drowned. Would it not be better to construct a raft and go all +together?” + +“That might do,” added I, “if we were strong enough for such a work, and +if a raft was not always so dangerous a conveyance. But away, boys, +look about you, and seek for anything that may be useful to us.” + +We all dispersed to different parts of the vessel. For my own part I +went to the provision-room, to look after the casks of water and other +necessaries of life; my wife visited the live stock and fed them, for +they were almost famished; Fritz sought for arms and ammunition; Ernest +for the carpenter’s tools. Jack had opened the captain’s cabin, and was +immediately thrown down by two large dogs, who leaped on him so roughly +that he cried out as if they were going to devour him. However, hunger +had rendered them so docile that they licked his hands, and he soon +recovered his feet, seized the largest by the ears, and mounting his +back, gravely rode up to me as I was coming from the hold. I could not +help laughing; I applauded his courage; but recommended him always to be +prudent with animals of that kind, who are often dangerous when hungry. + +My little troop began to assemble. Fritz had found two fowling-pieces, +some bags of powder and shot, and some balls, in horn flasks. Ernest was +loaded with an axe and hammer, a pair of pincers, a large pair of +scissors, and an auger showed itself half out of his pocket. + +Francis had a large box under his arm, from which he eagerly produced +what he called little pointed hooks. His brothers laughed at his prize. +“Silence,” said I, “the youngest has made the most valuable addition to +our stores. These are fish-hooks, and may be more useful for the +preservation of our lives than anything the ship contains. However, +Fritz and Ernest have not done amiss.” + +“For my part,” said my wife, “I only contribute good news; I have +found a cow, an ass, two goats, six sheep, and a sow with young. I have +fed them, and hope we may preserve them.” + +“Very well,” said I to my little workmen, “I am satisfied with all but +Master Jack, who, instead of anything useful, has contributed two great +eaters, who will do us more harm than good.” + +“They can help us to hunt when we get to land,” said Jack. + +“Yes,” replied I, “but can you devise any means of our getting there?” + +“It does not seem at all difficult,” said the spirited little fellow; +“put us each into a great tub, and let us float to shore. I remember +sailing capitally that way on godpapa’s great pond at S—.” + +“A very good idea, Jack; good counsel may sometimes be given even by a +child. Be quick, boys, give me the saw and auger, with some nails, we +will see what we can do.” I remembered seeing some empty casks in the +hold. We went down and found them floating. This gave us less difficulty +in getting them upon the lower deck, which was but just above the water. +They were of strong wood, bound with iron hoops, and exactly suited my +purpose; my sons and I therefore began to saw them through the middle. +After long labour, we had eight tubs all the same height. We refreshed +ourselves with wine and biscuit, which we had found in some of the +casks. I then contemplated with delight my little squadron of boats +ranged in a line; and was surprised that my wife still continued +depressed. She looked mournfully on them. “I can never venture in one of +these tubs,” said she. + +“Wait a little, till my work is finished,” replied I, “and you will see +it is more to be depended on than this broken vessel.” + +I sought out a long flexible plank, and arranged eight tubs on it, close +to each other, leaving a piece at each end to form a curve upwards, like +the keel of a vessel. We then nailed them firmly to the plank, and to +each other. We nailed a plank at each side, of the same length as the +first, and succeeded in producing a sort of boat, divided into eight +compartments, in which it did not appear difficult to make a short +voyage, over a calm sea. + +But, unluckily, our wonderful vessel proved so heavy, that our united +efforts could not move it an inch. I sent Fritz to bring me the +jack-screw, and, in the mean time, sawed a thick round pole into pieces; +then raising the fore-part of our work by means of the powerful machine, +Fritz placed one of these rollers under it. + +Ernest was very anxious to know how this small machine could accomplish +more than our united strength. I explained to him, as well as I could, +the power of the lever of Archimedes, with which he had declared he +could move the world, if he had but a point to rest it on; and I +promised my son to take the machine to pieces when we were on shore, and +explain the mode of operation. I then told them that God, to compensate +for the weakness of man, had bestowed on him reason, invention, and +skill in workmanship. The result of these had produced a science which, +under the name of _Mechanics_, taught us to increase and extend our +limited powers incredibly by the aid of instruments. + +Jack remarked that the jack-screw worked very slowly. + +“Better slowly, than not at all,” said I. “It is a principle in +mechanics, that what is gained in time is lost in power. The jack is not +meant to work rapidly, but to raise heavy weights; and the heavier the +weight, the slower the operation. But, can you tell me how we can make +up for this slowness?” + +“Oh, by turning the handle quicker, to be sure!” + +“Quite wrong; that would not aid us at all. Patience and Reason are the +two fairies, by whose potent help I hope to get our boat afloat.” + +I quickly proceeded to tie a strong cord to the after-part of it, and +the other end to a beam in the ship, which was still firm, leaving it +long enough for security; then introducing two more rollers underneath, +and working with the jack, we succeeded in launching our bark, which +passed into the water with such velocity, that but for our rope it would +have gone out to sea. Unfortunately, it leaned so much on one side, that +none of the boys would venture into it. I was in despair, when I +suddenly remembered it only wanted ballast to keep it in equilibrium. I +hastily threw in anything I got hold of that was heavy, and soon had my +boat level, and ready for occupation. They now contended who should +enter first; but I stopped them, reflecting that these restless children +might easily capsize our vessel. I remembered that savage nations made +use of an out-rigger, to prevent their canoe oversetting, and this I +determined to add to my work. I fixed two portions of a topsail-yard, +one over the prow, the other across the stern, in such a manner that +they should not be in the way in pushing off our boat from the wreck. I +forced the end of each yard into the bunghole of an empty brandy-cask, +to keep them steady during our progress. + +It was now necessary to clear the way for our departure. I got into the +first tub, and managed to get the boat into the cleft in the ship’s +side, by way of a haven; I then returned, and, with the axe and saw, cut +away right and left all that could obstruct our passage. Then we secured +some oars, to be ready for our voyage next day. + +The day had passed in toil, and we were compelled to spend another night +on the wreck, though we knew it might not remain till morning. We took a +regular meal, for during the day we had scarcely had time to snatch a +morsel of bread and a glass of wine. More composed than on the preceding +night, we retired to rest. I took the precaution to fasten the swimming +apparatus across the shoulders of my three younger children and my wife, +for fear another storm might destroy the vessel, and cast us into the +sea. I also advised my wife to put on a sailor’s dress, as more +convenient for her expected toils and trials. She reluctantly consented, +and, after a short absence, appeared in the dress of a youth who had +served as a volunteer in the vessel. She felt very timid and awkward in +her new dress; but I showed her the advantage of the change, and, at +last, she was reconciled, and joined in the laughter of the children at +her strange disguise. She then got into her hammock, and we enjoyed a +pleasant sleep, to prepare us for new labours. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +At break of day we were awake and ready, and after morning prayer, I +addressed my children thus: “We are now, my dear boys, with the help of +God, about to attempt our deliverance. Before we go, provide our poor +animals with food for some days: we cannot take them with us, but if our +voyage succeed, we may return for them. Are you ready? Collect what you +wish to carry away, but only things absolutely necessary for our actual +wants.” I planned that our first cargo should consist of a barrel of +powder, three fowling-pieces, three muskets, two pair of pocket pistols, +and one pair larger, ball, shot, and lead as much as we could carry, +with a bullet-mould; and I wished each of my sons, as well as their +mother, should have a complete game-bag, of which there were several in +the officers’ cabins. We then set apart a box of portable soup, another +of biscuit, an iron pot, a fishing-rod, a chest of nails, and one of +carpenter’s tools, also some sailcloth to make a tent. In fact my boys +collected so many things, we were compelled to leave some behind, though +I exchanged all the useless ballast for necessaries. + +When all was ready, we implored the blessing of God on our undertaking, +and prepared to embark in our tubs. At this moment the cocks crowed a +sort of reproachful farewell to us; we had forgotten them; I immediately +proposed to take our poultry with us, geese, ducks, fowls and pigeons, +for, as I observed to my wife, if we could not feed them, they would, at +any rate, feed us. We placed our ten hens and two cocks in a covered +tub; the rest we set at liberty, hoping the geese and ducks might reach +the shore by water, and the pigeons by flight. + +We waited a little for my wife, who came loaded with a large bag, which +she threw into the tub that contained her youngest son. I concluded it +was intended to steady him, or for a seat, and made no observation on +it. Here follows the order of our embarkation. In the first division, +sat the tender mother, the faithful and pious wife. In the second, our +amiable little Francis, six years old, and of a sweet disposition. + +In the third, Fritz, our eldest, fourteen or fifteen years old, a +curly-headed, clever, intelligent and lively youth. + +In the fourth, the powder-cask, with the fowls and the sailcloth. + +Our provisions filled the fifth. + +In the sixth, our heedless Jack, ten years old, enterprising, bold, and +useful. + +In the seventh, Ernest, twelve years of age, well-informed and rational, +but somewhat selfish and indolent. In the eighth, myself, an anxious +father, charged with the important duty of guiding the vessel to save my +dear family. Each of us had some useful tools beside us; each held an +oar, and had a swimming apparatus at hand, in case we were unfortunately +upset. The tide was rising when we left, which I considered might assist +my weak endeavours. We turned our out-riggers length-ways, and thus +passed from the cleft of the ship into the open sea. We rowed with all +our might, to reach the blue land we saw at a distance, but for some +time in vain, as the boat kept turning round, and made no progress. At +last I contrived to steer it, so that we went straight forward. + +As soon as our dogs saw us depart, they leaped into the sea, and +followed us; I could not let them get into the boat, for fear they +should upset it. I was very sorry, for I hardly expected they would be +able to swim to land; but by occasionally resting their forepaws on our +out-riggers, they managed to keep up with us. Turk was an English dog, +and Flora of a Danish breed. + +We proceeded slowly, but safely. The nearer we approached the land, the +more dreary and unpromising it appeared. The rocky coast seemed to +announce to us nothing but famine and misery. The waves, gently rippling +against the shore, were scattered over with barrels, bales, and chests +from the wreck. Hoping to secure some good provisions, I called on Fritz +for assistance; he held a cord, hammer, and nails, and we managed to +seize two hogsheads in passing, and fastening them with cords to our +vessel, drew them after us to the shore. + +As we approached, the coast seemed to improve. The chain of rock was not +entire, and Fritz’s hawk eye made out some trees, which he declared were +the cocoa-nut tree; Ernest was delighted at the prospect of eating these +nuts, so much larger and better than any grown in Europe. I was +regretting not having brought the large telescope from the captain’s +cabin, when Jack produced from his pocket a smaller one, which he +offered me with no little pride. + +This was a valuable acquisition, as I was now enabled to make the +requisite observations, and direct my course. The coast before us had a +wild and desert appearance,—it looked better towards the left; but I +could not approach that part, for a current which drove us towards the +rocky and barren shore. At length we saw, near the mouth of a rivulet, a +little creek between the rocks, towards which our geese and ducks made, +serving us for guides. This opening formed a little bay of smooth water, +just deep enough for our boat. I cautiously entered it, and landed at a +place where the coast was about the height of our tubs, and the water +deep enough to let us approach. The shore spread inland, forming a +gentle declivity of a triangular form, the point lost among the rocks, +and the base to the sea. + +All that were able leaped on shore in a moment. Even little Francis, who +had been laid down in his tub, like a salted herring, tried to crawl +out, but was compelled to wait for his mother’s assistance. The dogs, +who had preceded us in landing, welcomed us in a truly friendly manner, +leaping playfully around us; the geese kept up a loud cackling, to which +the yellow-billed ducks quacked a powerful bass. This, with the clacking +of the liberated fowls, and the chattering of the boys, formed a perfect +Babel; mingled with these, were the harsh cries of the penguins and +flamingoes, which hovered over our heads, or sat on the points of the +rocks. They were in immense numbers, and their notes almost deafened us, +especially as they did not accord with the harmony of our civilized +fowls. However I rejoiced to see these feathered creatures, already +fancying them on my table, if we were obliged to remain in this +desert region. + +Our first care, when we stepped in safety on land, was to kneel down +and thank God, to whom we owed our lives; and to resign ourselves wholly +to his Fatherly kindness. + +We then began to unload our vessel. How rich we thought ourselves with +the little we had saved! We sought a convenient place for our tent, +under the shade of the rocks. We then inserted a pole into a fissure in +the rock; this, resting firmly on another pole fixed in the ground, +formed the frame of the tent. The sailcloth was then stretched over it, +and fastened down at proper distances, by pegs, to which, for greater +security, we added some boxes of provision; we fixed some hooks to the +canvas at the opening in front, that we might close the entrance during +the night. I sent my sons to seek some moss and withered grass, and +spread it in the sun to dry, to form our beds; and while all, even +little Francis, were busy with this, I constructed a sort of +cooking-place, at some distance from the tent, near the river which was +to supply us with fresh water. It was merely a hearth of flat stones +from the bed of the stream, fenced round with some thick branches. I +kindled a cheerful fire with some dry twigs, put on the pot, filled with +water and some squares of portable soup, and left my wife, with Francis +for assistant, to prepare dinner. He took the portable soup for glue, +and could not conceive how mamma could make soup, as we had no meat, and +there were no butchers’ shops here. + +Fritz, in the mean time, had loaded our guns. He took one to the side of +the river; Ernest declined accompanying him, as the rugged road was not +to his taste; he preferred the sea-shore. Jack proceeded to a ridge of +rocks on the left, which ran towards the sea, to get some mussles. I +went to try and draw the two floating hogsheads on shore, but could not +succeed, for our landing-place was too steep to get them up. Whilst I +was vainly trying to find a more favourable place, I heard my dear Jack +uttering most alarming cries. I seized my hatchet, and ran to his +assistance. I found him up to the knees in a shallow pool, with a large +lobster holding his leg in its sharp claws. It made off at my approach; +but I was determined it should pay for the fright it had given me. +Cautiously taking it up, I brought it out, followed by Jack, who, now +very triumphant, wished to present it himself to his mother, after +watching how I held it. But he had hardly got it into his hands, when it +gave him such a violent blow on the cheek with its tail, that he let it +fall, and began to cry again. I could not help laughing at him, and, in +his rage, he seized a stone, and put an end to his adversary. I was +grieved at this, and recommended him never to act in a moment of anger, +showing him that he was unjust in being so revengeful; for, if he had +been bitten by the lobster, it was plain he would have eaten his foe if +he had conquered him. Jack promised to be more discreet and merciful in +future, and obtained leave to bear the prize to his mother. + +“Mamma,” said he, proudly, “a lobster! A lobster, Ernest! Where is +Fritz! Take care it does not bite you, Francis!” They all crowded round +in astonishment. “Yes,” added he, triumphantly, “here is the impertinent +claw that seized me; but I repaid the knave,” + +“You are a boaster,” said I. “You would have got indifferently on with +the lobster, if I had not come up; and have you forgotten the slap on +the cheek which compelled you to release him? Besides, he only defended +himself with his natural arms; but you had to take a great stone. You +have no reason to be proud, Jack.” + +Ernest wished to have the lobster added to the soup to improve it; but +his mother, with a spirit of economy, reserved it for another day. I +then walked to the spot where Jack’s lobster was caught, and, finding it +favourable for my purpose, drew my two hogsheads on shore there, and +secured them by turning them on end. + +On returning, I congratulated Jack on being the first who had been +successful in foraging. Ernest remarked, that he had seen some oysters +attached to a rock, but could not get at them without wetting his feet, +which he did not like. + +“Indeed, my delicate gentleman!” said I, laughing, “I must trouble you +to return and procure us some. We must all unite in working for the +public good, regardless of wet feet. The sun will soon dry us.” + +“I might as well bring some salt at the same time,” said he; “I saw +plenty in the fissures of the rock, left by the sea, I should +think, papa?” + +“Doubtless, Mr. Reasoner,” replied I; “where else could it have come +from? the fact was so obvious, that you had better have brought a +bagful, than delayed to reflect about it. But if you wish to escape +insipid soup, be quick and procure some.” + +He went, and returned with some salt, so mixed with sand and earth, that +I should have thrown it away as useless; but my wife dissolved it in +fresh water, and, filtering it through a piece of canvas, managed to +flavour our soup with it. + +Jack asked why we could not have used sea-water; and I explained to him +that the bitter and nauseous taste of sea-water would have spoiled our +dinner. My wife stirred the soup with a little stick, and, tasting it, +pronounced it very good, but added, “We must wait for Fritz. And how +shall we eat our soup without plates or spoons? We cannot possibly raise +this large boiling pot to our heads, and drink out of it.” + +It was too true. We gazed stupified at our pot, and, at last, all burst +into laughter at our destitution, and our folly in forgetting such +useful necessaries. + +“If we only had cocoa-nuts,” said Ernest, “we might split them, and make +basins and spoons.” + +“_If_!” replied I—“but we have none! We might as well wish for a dozen +handsome silver spoons at once, if wishes were of any use.” + +“But,” observed he, “we can use oyster-shells.” + +“A useful thought, Ernest; go directly and get the oysters; and, +remember, gentlemen, no complaints, though the spoons are without +handles, and you should dip your fingers into the bowl.” + +Off ran Jack, and was mid-leg in the water before Ernest got to him. He +tore down the oysters, and threw them to his idle brother, who filled +his handkerchief, taking care to put a large one into his pocket for his +own use; and they returned with their spoil. + +Fritz had not yet appeared, and his mother was becoming uneasy, when we +heard him cheerfully hailing us at a distance. He soon came up, with a +feigned air of disappointment, and his hands behind him; but Jack, who +had glided round him, cried out, “A sucking pig! a sucking pig!” And he +then, with, great pride and satisfaction, produced his booty, which I +recognized, from the description of travellers, to be the _agouti_, +common in these regions, a swift animal, which burrows in the earth, and +lives on fruits and nuts; its flesh, something like that of the rabbit, +has an unpleasant flavour to Europeans. + +All were anxious to know the particulars of the chase; but I seriously +reproved my son for his little fiction, and warned him never to use the +least deceit, even in jest. I then inquired where he had met with the +agouti. He told me he had been on the other side of the river, “a very +different place to this,” continued he. “The shore lies low, and you can +have no idea of the number of casks, chests, planks, and all sorts of +things the sea has thrown up; shall we go and take possession of them? +And to-morrow, father, we ought to make another trip to the vessel, to +look after our cattle. We might, at least, bring away the cow. Our +biscuit would not be so hard dipped in milk.” + +“And very much nicer,” added the greedy Ernest. + +“Then,” continued Fritz, “beyond the river there is rich grass for +pasturage, and a shady wood. Why should we remain in this barren +wilderness?” + +“Softly!” replied I, “there is a time for all things. To-morrow, and the +day after to-morrow will have their work. But first tell me, did you see +anything of our shipmates?” + +“Not a trace of man, living or dead, on land or sea; but I saw an animal +more like a hog than this, but with feet like a hare; it leaped among +the grass, sometimes sitting upright, and rubbing its mouth with its +forepaws; sometimes seeking for roots, and gnawing them like a +squirrel. If I had not been afraid it would escape me, I would have +tried to take it alive, it seemed so very tame.” + +As we were talking, Jack had been trying, with many grimaces, to force +an oyster open with his knife. I laughed at his vain endeavours, and +putting some on the fire, showed him them open of themselves. I had no +taste for oysters myself; but as they are everywhere accounted a +delicacy, I advised my sons to try them. They all at first declined the +unattractive repast, except Jack, who, with great courage, closed his +eyes, and desperately swallowed one as if it had been medicine. The rest +followed his example, and then all agreed with me that oysters were not +good. The shells were soon plunged into the pot to bring out some of the +good soup; but scalding their fingers, it was who could cry out the +loudest. Ernest took his large shell from his pocket, cautiously filled +it with a good portion of soup, and set it down to cool, exulting in his +own prudence. “You have been very thoughtful, my dear Ernest,” said I; +“but why are your thoughts always for yourself; so seldom for others? As +a punishment for your egotism, that portion must be given to our +faithful dogs. We can all dip our shells into the pot, the dogs cannot. +Therefore, they shall have your soup, and you must wait, and eat as we +do.” My reproach struck his heart, and he placed his shell obediently on +the ground, which the dogs emptied immediately. We were almost as +hungry as they were, and were watching anxiously till the soup began to +cool; when we perceived that the dogs were tearing and gnawing Fritz’s +agouti. The boys all cried out; Fritz was in a fury, took his gun, +struck the dogs, called them names, threw stones at them, and would have +killed them if I had not held him. He had actually bent his gun with +striking them. As soon as he would listen to me, I reproached him +seriously for his violence, and represented to him how much he had +distressed us, and terrified his mother; that he had spoiled his gun, +which might have been so useful to us, and had almost killed the poor +animals, who might be more so. “Anger,” said I, “leads to every crime. +Remember Cain, who killed his brother in a fit of passion.” “Oh, +father!” said he, in a voice of terror; and, acknowledging his error, he +asked pardon, and shed bitter tears. + +Soon after our repast the sun set, and the fowls gathered round us, and +picked up the scattered crumbs of biscuit. My wife then took out her +mysterious bag, and drew from it some handfuls of grain to feed her +flock. She showed me also many other seeds of useful vegetables. I +praised her prudence, and begged her to be very economical, as these +seeds were of great value, and we could bring from the vessel some +spoiled biscuit for the fowls. + +Our pigeons now flew among the rocks, the cocks and hens perched on the +frame of the tent, and the geese and ducks chose to roost in a marsh, +covered with bushes, near the sea. We prepared for our rest; we loaded +all our arms, then offered up our prayers together, thanking God for +his signal mercy to us, and commending ourselves to his care. When the +last ray of light departed, we closed our tent, and lay down on our +beds, close together. The children had remarked how suddenly the +darkness came on, from which I concluded we were not far from the +equator; for I explained to them, the more perpendicularly the rays of +the sun fall, the less their refraction; and consequently night comes on +suddenly when the sun is below the horizon. + +Once more I looked out to see if all was quiet, then carefully closing +the entrance, I lay down. Warm as the day had been, the night was so +cold that we were obliged to crowd together for warmth. The children +soon slept, and when I saw their mother in her first peaceful sleep, my +own eyes closed, and our first night on the island passed comfortably. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +At break of day I was waked by the crowing of the cock. I summoned my +wife to council, to consider on the business of the day. We agreed that +our first duty was to seek for our shipmates, and to examine the country +beyond the river before we came to any decisive resolution. + +My wife saw we could not all go on this expedition, and courageously +agreed to remain with her three youngest sons, while Fritz, as the +eldest and boldest, should accompany me. I begged her to prepare +breakfast immediately, which she warned me would be scanty, as no soup +was provided. I asked for Jack’s lobster; but it was not to be found. +Whilst my wife made the fire, and put on the pot, I called the children, +and asking Jack for the lobster, he brought it from a crevice in the +rock, where he had hidden it from the dogs, he said, who did not despise +anything eatable. + +“I am glad to see you profit by the misfortunes of others,” said I; “and +now will you give up that large claw that caught your leg, and which I +promised you, to Fritz, as a provision for his journey?” All were +anxious to go on this journey, and leaped round me like little kids. But +I told them we could not all go. They must remain with their mother, +with Flora for a protector. Fritz and I would take Turk; with him and a +loaded gun I thought we should inspire respect. I then ordered Fritz to +tie up Flora, and get the guns ready. + +Fritz blushed, and tried in vain to straighten his crooked gun. I let +him go on for some time, and then allowed him to take another; for I saw +he was penitent. The dogs, too, snarled, and would not let him approach +them. He wept, and begged some biscuit from his mother, declaring he +would give up his own breakfast to make his peace with the dogs. He fed +them, caressed them, and seemed to ask pardon. The dog is always +grateful; Flora soon licked his hands; Turk was more unrelenting, +appearing to distrust him. “Give him a claw of the lobster,” said Jack; +“for I make you a present of the whole for your journey.” + +“Don’t be uneasy about them,” said Ernest, “they will certainly meet +with cocoa-nuts, as Robinson did, very different food to your wretched +lobster. Think of an almond as big as my head, with a large cup full of +rich milk.” + +“Pray, brother, bring me one, if you find any,” said Francis. + +We began our preparation; we each took a game-bag and a hatchet. I gave +Fritz a pair of pistols in addition to his gun, equipped myself in the +same way, and took care to carry biscuit and a flask of fresh water. The +lobster proved so hard at breakfast, that the boys did not object to our +carrying off the remainder; and, though the flesh is coarse, it is very +nutritious. + +I proposed before we departed, to have prayers, and my thoughtless Jack +began to imitate the sound of church-bells—“Ding, dong! to prayers! to +prayers! ding, dong!” I was really angry, and reproved him severely for +jesting about sacred things. Then, kneeling down, I prayed God’s +blessing on our undertaking, and his pardon for us all, especially for +him who had now so grievously sinned. Poor Jack came and kneeled by me, +weeping and begging for forgiveness from me and from God. I embraced +him, and enjoined him and his brothers to obey their mother. I then +loaded the guns I left with them, and charged my wife to keep near the +boat, their best refuge. We took leave of our friends with many tears, +as we did not know what dangers might assail us in an unknown region. +But the murmur of the river, which we were now approaching, drowned the +sound of their sobs, and we bent our thoughts on our journey. + +The bank of the river was so steep, that we could only reach the bed at +one little opening, near the sea, where we had procured our water; but +here the opposite side was guarded by a ridge of lofty perpendicular +rocks. We were obliged to ascend the river to a place where it fell over +some rocks, some fragments of which having fallen, made a sort of +stepping-stones, which enabled us to cross with some hazard. We made our +way, with difficulty, through the high grass, withered by the sun, +directing our course towards the sea, in hopes of discovering some +traces of the boats, or the crew. We had scarcely gone a hundred yards, +when we heard a loud noise and rustling in the grass, which was as tall +as we were. We imagined we were pursued by some wild beast, and I was +gratified to observe the courage of Fritz, who, instead of running away, +calmly turned round and presented his piece. What was our joy when we +discovered that the formidable enemy was only our faithful Turk, whom we +had forgotten in our distress, and our friends had doubtless dispatched +him after us! I applauded my son’s presence of mind; a rash act might +have deprived us of this valuable friend. + +We continued our way: the sea lay to our left; on our right, at a short +distance, ran the chain of rocks, which were continued from our +landing-place, in a line parallel to the sea; the summits clothed with +verdure and various trees. Between the rocks and the sea, several little +woods extended, even to the shore, to which we kept as close as +possible, vainly looking out on land or sea for any trace of our crew. +Fritz proposed to fire his gun, as a signal to them, if they should be +near us; but I reminded him that this signal might bring the ravages +round us, instead of our friends. + +[Illustration: “We rested in the shade, near a clear stream, and took +some refreshment.”] + +He then inquired why we should search after those persons at all, who +so unfeelingly abandoned us on the wreck. + +“First,” said I, “we must not return evil for evil. Besides, they may +assist us, or be in need of our assistance. Above all, remember, they +could save nothing but themselves. We have got many useful things which +they have as much right to as we.” + +“But we might be saving the lives of our cattle,” said he. + +“We should do our duty better by saving the life of a man,” answered I; +“besides, our cattle have food for some days, and the sea is so calm +there is no immediate danger.” + +We proceeded, and entering a little wood that extended to the sea, we +rested in the shade, near a clear stream, and took some refreshment. We +were surrounded by unknown birds, more remarkable for brilliant plumage +than for the charm of their voice. Fritz thought he saw some monkeys +among the leaves, and Turk began to be restless, smelling about, and +barking very loud. Fritz was gazing up into the trees, when he fell over +a large round substance, which he brought to me, observing that it might +be a bird’s nest. I thought it more likely to be a cocoa-nut. The +fibrous covering had reminded him of the description he had read of the +nests of certain birds; but, on breaking the shell, we found it was +indeed a cocoa-nut, but quite decayed and uneatable. + +Fritz was astonished; where was the sweet milk that Ernest had talked +of? + +I told him the milk was only in the half-ripe nuts; that it thickened +and hardened as the nut ripened, becoming a kernel. This nut had +perished from remaining above ground. If it had been in the earth, it +would have vegetated, and burst the shell. I advised my son to try if he +could not find a perfect nut. + +After some search, we found one, and sat down to eat it, keeping our own +provision for dinner. The nut was somewhat rancid; but we enjoyed it, +and then continued our journey. We were some time before we got through +the wood, being frequently obliged to clear a road for ourselves, +through the entangled brushwood, with our hatchets. At last we entered +the open plain again, and had a clear view before us. The forest still +extended about a stone’s throw to our right, and Fritz, who was always +on the look-out for discoveries, observed a remarkable tree, here and +there, which he approached to examine; and he soon called me to see this +wonderful tree, with wens growing on the trunk. + +On coming up, I was overjoyed to find this tree, of which there were a +great number, was the gourd-tree, which bears fruit on the trunk. Fritz +asked if these were sponges. I told him to bring me one, and I would +explain the mystery. + +“There is one,” said he, “very like a pumpkin, only harder outside.” + +“Of this shell,” said I, “we can make plates, dishes, basins, and +flasks. We call it the gourd-tree.” + +Fritz leaped for joy. “Now my dear mother will be able to serve her soup +properly.” I asked him if he knew why the tree bore the fruit on its +trunk, or on the thick branches only. He immediately replied, that the +smaller branches would not bear the weight of the fruit. He asked me if +this fruit was eatable. “Harmless, I believe,” said I; “but by no means +delicate. Its great value to savage nations consists in the shell, which +they use to contain their food, and drink, and even cook in it.” Fritz +could not comprehend how they could cook in the shell without burning +it. I told him the shell was not placed on the fire; but, being filled +with cold water, and the fish or meat placed in it, red-hot stones are, +by degrees, introduced into the water, till it attains sufficient heat +to cook the food, without injuring the vessel. We then set about making +our dishes and plates. I showed Fritz a better plan of dividing the +gourd than with a knife. I tied a string tightly round the nut, struck +it with the handle of my knife till an incision was made, then tightened +it till the nut was separated into two equally-sized bowls. Fritz had +spoiled his gourd by cutting it irregularly with his knife. I advised +him to try and make spoons of it, as it would not do for basins now. I +told him I had learnt my plan from books of travels. It is the practice +of the savages, who have no knives, to use a sort of string, made from +the bark of trees, for this purpose. “But how can they make bottles,” +said he. “That requires some preparation,” replied I. “They tie a +bandage round the young gourd near the stalk, so that the part at +liberty expands in a round form, and the compressed part remains narrow. +They then open the top, and extract the contents by putting in pebbles +and shaking it. By this means they have a complete bottle.” + +We worked on. Fritz completed a dish and some plates, to his great +satisfaction, but we considered, that being so frail, we could not +carry them with us. We therefore filled them with sand, that the sun +might not warp them, and left them to dry, till we returned. + +As we went on, Fritz amused himself with cutting spoons from the rind of +the gourd, and I tried to do the same with the fragments of the +cocoa-nut; but I must confess my performances were inferior to those I +had seen in the museum in London, the work of the South Sea islanders. +We laughed at our spoons, which would have required mouths from ear to +ear to eat with them. Fritz declared that the curve of the rind was the +cause of that defect: if the spoons had been smaller, they would have +been flat; and you might as well eat soup with an oyster-shell as with +a shovel. + +While we talked, we did not neglect looking about for our lost +companions, but in vain. At last, we arrived at a place where a tongue +of land ran to some distance into the sea, on which was an elevated +spot, favourable for observation. We attained the summit with great +labour, and saw before us a magnificent prospect of land and water; but +with all the aid our excellent telescope gave us, we could in no +direction discover any trace of man. Nature only appeared in her +greatest beauty. The shore enclosed a large bay, which terminated on the +other side in a promontory. The gentle rippling of the waves, the varied +verdure of the woods, and the multitude of novelties around us, would +have filled us with delight, but for the painful recollection of those +who, we now were compelled to believe, were buried beneath that +glittering water. We did not feel less, however, the mercy of God, who +had preserved us, and given us a home, with a prospect of subsistence +and safety. We had not yet met with any dangerous animals, nor could we +perceive any huts of savages. I remarked to my son that God seemed to +have destined us to a solitary life in this rich country, unless some +vessel should reach these shores. “And His will be done!” added I; “it +must be for the best. Now let us retire to that pretty wood to rest +ourselves, and eat our dinner, before we return.” + +We proceeded towards a pleasant wood of palm-trees; but before reaching +it, had to pass through an immense number of reeds, which greatly +obstructed our road. We were, moreover, fearful of treading on the +deadly serpents who choose such retreats. We made Turk walk before us to +give notice, and I cut a long, thick cane as a weapon of defence. I was +surprised to see a glutinous juice oozing from the end of the cut cane; +I tasted it, and was convinced that we had met with a plantation of +sugar-canes. I sucked more of it, and found myself singularly refreshed. +I said nothing to Fritz, that he might have the pleasure of making the +discovery himself. He was walking a few paces before me, and I called to +him to cut himself a cane like mine, which he did, and soon found out +the riches it contained. He cried out in ecstasy, “Oh, papa! papa! syrup +of sugar-cane! delicious! How delighted will dear mamma, and my brothers +be, when I carry some to them!” He went on, sucking pieces of cane so +greedily, that I checked him, recommending moderation. He was then +content to take some pieces to regale himself as he walked home, loading +himself with a huge burden for his mother and brothers. We now entered +the wood of palms to eat our dinner, when suddenly a number of monkeys, +alarmed by our approach, and the barking of the dog, fled like lightning +to the tops of the trees; and then grinned frightfully at us, with loud +cries of defiance. As I saw the trees were cocoa-palms, I hoped to +obtain, by means of the monkeys, a supply of the nuts in the half-ripe +state, when filled with milk. I held Fritz’s arm, who was preparing to +shoot at them, to his great vexation, as he was irritated against the +poor monkeys for their derisive gestures; but I told him, that though no +patron of monkeys myself, I could not allow it. We had no right to kill +any animal except in defence, or as a means of supporting life. Besides, +the monkeys would be of more use to us living than dead, as I would show +him. I began to throw stones at the monkeys, not being able, of course, +to reach the place of their retreat, and they, in their anger, and in +the spirit of imitation, gathered the nuts and hurled them on us in such +quantities, that we had some difficulty in escaping from them. We had +soon a large stock of cocoa-nuts. Fritz enjoyed the success of the +stratagem, and, when the shower subsided, he collected as many as he +wished. We then sat down, and tasted some of the milk through the three +small holes, which we opened with our knives. We then divided some with +our hatchets, and quenched our thirst with the liquor, which has not, +however, a very agreeable flavour. We liked best a sort of thick cream +which adheres to the shells, from which we scraped it with our spoons, +and mixing it with the juice of the sugar-cane, we produced a delicious +dish. Turk had the rest of the lobster, which we now despised, with +some biscuit. + +We then got up, I tied some nuts together by their stems, and threw +them over my shoulder. Fritz took his bundle of canes, and we set out +homewards. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Fritz groaned heavily under the weight of his canes as we travelled on, +and pitied the poor negroes, who had to carry such heavy burdens of +them. He then, in imitation of me, tried to refresh himself by sucking a +sugar-cane, but was surprised to find he failed in extracting any of the +juice. At last, after some reflection, he said, “Ah! I remember, if +there is no opening made for the air, I can get nothing out.” I +requested him to find a remedy for this. + +“I will make an opening,” said he, “above the first knot in the cane. If +I draw in my breath in sucking, and thus make a vacuum in my mouth, the +outer air then forces itself through the hole I have made to fill this +vacuum, and carries the juice along with it; and when this division of +the cane is emptied, I can proceed to pierce above the next knot. I am +only afraid that going on this way we shall have nothing but empty canes +to carry to our friends.” I told him, that I was more afraid the sun +might turn the syrup sour before we got our canes home; therefore we +need not spare them. + +“Well, at any rate,” said he, “I have filled my flask with the milk of +the cocoa-nut to regale them.” + +I told him I feared another disappointment; for the milk of the +cocoa-nut, removed from the shell, spoiled sooner than the sugar-cane +juice. I warned him that the milk, exposed to the sun in his tin flask, +was probably become vinegar. + +He instantly took the bottle from his shoulder and uncorked it; when the +liquor flew out with a report, foaming like champaign. + +I congratulated him on his new manufacture, and said, we must beware of +intoxication. + +“Oh, taste, papa!” said he, “it is delicious, not at all like vinegar, +but capital new, sweet, sparkling wine. This will be the best treat, if +it remains in this state.” + +“I fear it will not be so,” said I. “This is the first stage of +fermentation. When this is over, and the liquor is cleared, it is a sort +of wine, or fermented liquor, more or less agreeable, according to the +material used. By applying heat, a second, and slower fermentation +succeeds, and the liquor becomes vinegar. Then comes on a third stage, +which deprives it of its strength, and spoils it. I fear, in this +burning climate, you will carry home only vinegar, or something still +more offensive. But let us drink each other’s health now, but prudently, +or we shall soon feel the effects of this potent beverage.” Perfectly +refreshed, we went on cheerfully to the place where we had left our +gourd utensils. We found them quite dry, and hard as bone; we had no +difficulty in carrying them in our game-bags. We had scarcely got +through the little wood where we had breakfasted, when Turk darted +furiously on a troop of monkeys, who were sporting about, and had not +perceived him. He immediately seized a female, holding a young one in +her arms, which impeded her flight, and had killed and devoured the poor +mother before we could reach him. The young one had hidden itself among +the long grass, when Fritz arrived; he had run with all his might, +losing his hat, bottle, and canes, but could not prevent the murder of +the poor mother. + +The little monkey no sooner saw him than it leaped upon his shoulders, +fastening its paws in his curls, and neither cries, threats, nor shaking +could rid him of it. I ran up to him laughing, for I saw the little +creature could not hurt him, and tried in vain to disengage it. I told +him he must carry it thus. It was evident the sagacious little creature, +having lost its mother, had adopted him for a father. + +I succeeded, at last, in quietly releasing him, and took the little +orphan, which was no bigger than a cat, in my arms, pitying its +helplessness. The mother appeared as tall as Fritz. + +I was reluctant to add another mouth to the number we had to feed; but +Fritz earnestly begged to keep it, offering to divide his share of +cocoa-nut milk with it till we had our cows. I consented, on condition +that he took care of it, and taught it to be obedient to him. + +Turk, in the mean time, was feasting on the remains of the unfortunate +mother. Fritz would have driven him off, but I saw we had not food +sufficient to satisfy this voracious animal, and we might ourselves be +in danger from his appetite. + +We left him, therefore, with his prey, the little orphan sitting on the +shoulder of his protector, while I carried the canes. Turk soon overtook +us, and was received very coldly; we reproached him with his cruelty, +but he was quite unconcerned, and continued to walk after Fritz. The +little monkey seemed uneasy at the sight of him, and crept into Fritz’s +bosom, much to his inconvenience. But a thought struck him; he tied the +monkey with a cord to Turk’s back, leading the dog by another cord, as +he was very rebellious at first; but our threats and caresses at last +induced him to submit to his burden. We proceeded slowly, and I could +not help anticipating the mirth of my little ones, when they saw us +approach like a pair of show-men. + +I advised Fritz not to correct the dogs for attacking and killing +unknown animals. Heaven bestows the dog on man, as well as the horse, +for a friend and protector. Fritz thought we were very fortunate, then, +in having two such faithful dogs; he only regretted that our horses had +died on the passage, and only left us the ass. + +“Let us not disdain the ass,” said I; “I wish we had him here; he is of +a very fine breed, and would be as useful as a horse to us.” + +In such conversations, we arrived at the banks of our river before we +were aware. Flora barked to announce our approach, and Turk answered so +loudly, that the terrified little monkey leaped from his back to the +shoulder of its protector, and would not come down. Turk ran off to meet +his companion, and our dear family soon appeared on the opposite shore, +shouting with joy at our happy return. We crossed at the same place as +we had done in the morning, and embraced each other. Then began such a +noise of exclamations. “A monkey! a real, live monkey! Ah! how +delightful! How glad we are! How did you catch him?” + +“He is very ugly,” said little Francis, who was almost afraid of him. + +“He is prettier than you are,” said Jack; “see how he laughs! how I +should like to see him eat!” + +“If we only had some cocoa-nuts,” said Ernest. “Have you found any, and +are they good?” + +“Have you had any unpleasant adventures?” asked my wife. + +It was in vain to attempt replying to so many questions and +exclamations. + +At length, when we got a little peace, I told them that, though I had +brought them all sorts of good things, I had, unfortunately, not met +with any of our companions. + +“God’s will be done!” said my wife; “let us thank Him for saving us, and +again bringing us together now. This day has seemed an age. But put down +your loads, and let us hear your adventures; we have not been idle, but +we are less fatigued than you. Boys, assist your father and brother.” + +Jack took my gun, Ernest the cocoa-nuts, Francis the gourd-rinds, and my +wife the game-bag. Fritz distributed his sugar-canes, and placed the +monkey on Turk’s back, to the amusement of the children. He begged +Ernest to carry his gun, but he complained of being overloaded with the +great bowls. His indulgent mother took them from him, and we proceeded +to the tent. + +Fritz thought Ernest would not have relinquished the bowls, if he had +known what they contained, and called out to tell him they were +cocoa-nuts. + +“Give them to me,” cried Ernest. “I will carry them, mamma, and the gun +too.” + +His mother declined giving them. + +“I can throw away these sticks,” said he, “and carry the gun in my +hand.” + +“I would advise you not,” observed Fritz, “for the sticks are +sugar-canes.” + +“Sugar-canes!” cried they all, surrounding Fritz, who had to give them +the history, and teach them the art of sucking the canes. + +My wife, who had a proper respect for sugar in her housekeeping, was +much pleased with this discovery, and the history of all our +acquisitions, which I displayed to her. Nothing gave her so much +pleasure as our plates and dishes, which were actual necessaries. We +went to our kitchen, and were gratified to see preparations going on for +a good supper. My wife had planted a forked stick on each side the +hearth; on these rested a long thin wand, on which all sorts of fish +were roasting, Francis being intrusted to turn the spit. On the other +side was impaled a goose on another spit, and a row of oyster-shells +formed the dripping-pan: besides this, the iron pot was on the fire, +from which arose the savoury odour of a good soup. Behind the hearth +stood one of the hogsheads, opened, and containing the finest Dutch +cheeses, enclosed in cases of lead. All this was very tempting to hungry +travellers, and very unlike a supper on a desert island. I could not +think my family had been idle, when I saw such a result of their +labours; I was only sorry they had killed the goose, as I wished to be +economical with our poultry. + +“Have no uneasiness,” said my wife, “this is not from our poultry-yard, +it is a wild goose, killed by Ernest.” + +“It is a sort of penguin, I believe,” said Ernest, “distinguished by +the name of _booby_, and so stupid, that I knocked it down with a stick. +It is web-footed, has a long narrow beak, a little curved downwards. I +have preserved the head and neck for you to examine; it exactly +resembles the penguin of my book of natural history.” + +I pointed out to him the advantages of study, and was making more +inquiries about the form and habits of the bird, when my wife requested +me to defer my catechism of natural history. + +“Ernest has killed the bird,” added she; “I received it; we shall eat +it. What more would you have? Let the poor child have the pleasure of +examining and tasting the cocoa-nuts.” + +“Very well,” replied I, “Fritz must teach them how to open them; and we +must not forget the little monkey, who has lost his mother’s milk.” + +“I have tried him,” cried Jack, “and he will eat nothing.” + +I told them he had not yet learnt to eat, and we must feed him with +cocoa-nut milk till we could get something better. Jack generously +offered all his share, but Ernest and Francis were anxious to taste the +milk themselves. + +“But the monkey must live,” said Jack, petulantly. + +“And so must we all,” said mamma. “Supper is ready, and we will reserve +the cocoa-nuts for dessert.” + +We sat down on the ground, and the supper was served on our gourd-rind +service, which answered the purpose admirably. My impatient boys had +broken the nuts, which they found excellent, and they made themselves +spoons of the shell. Jack had taken care the monkey had his share; they +dipped the corner of their handkerchiefs in the milk, and let him suck +them. They were going to break up some more nuts, after emptying them +through the natural holes, but I stopped them, and called for a saw. I +carefully divided the nuts with this instrument, and soon provided us +each with a neat basin for our soup, to the great comfort of my dear +wife, who was gratified by seeing us able to eat like civilized beings. +Fritz begged now to enliven the repast by introducing his champaign. I +consented; requesting him, however, to taste it himself before he served +it. What was his mortification to find it vinegar! But we consoled +ourselves by using it as sauce to our goose; a great improvement also to +the fish. We had now to hear the history of our supper. Jack and Francis +had caught the fish at the edge of the sea. My active wife had performed +the most laborious duty, in rolling the hogshead to the place and +breaking open the head. + +The sun was going down as we finished supper, and, recollecting how +rapidly night succeeded, we hastened to our tent, where we found our +beds much more comfortable, from the kind attention of the good mother, +who had collected a large addition of dried grass. After prayers, we all +lay down; the monkey between Jack and Fritz, carefully covered with moss +to keep him warm. The fowls went to their roost, as on the previous +night, and, after our fatigue, we were all soon in a profound sleep. + +We had not slept long, when a great commotion among the dogs and fowls +announced the presence of an enemy. My wife, Fritz, and I, each seizing +a gun, rushed out. + +By the light of the moon, we saw a terrible battle going on: our brave +dogs were surrounded by a dozen jackals, three or four were extended +dead, but our faithful animals were nearly overpowered by numbers when +we arrived. I was glad to find nothing worse than jackals; Fritz and I +fired on them; two fell dead, and the others fled slowly, evidently +wounded. Turk and Flora pursued and completed the business, and then, +like true dogs, devoured their fallen foes, regardless of the bonds of +relationship. + +All being quiet again, we retired to our beds; Fritz obtaining leave to +drag the jackal he had killed towards the tent, to save it from the +dogs, and to show to his brothers next morning. This he accomplished +with difficulty, for it was as big as a large dog. + +We all slept peacefully the remainder of the night, till the crowing of +the cock awoke my wife and myself to a consultation on the business +of the day. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +“Well, my dear,” I began, “I feel rather alarmed at all the labours I +see before me. A voyage to the vessel is indispensable, if we wish to +save our cattle, and many other things that may be useful to us; on the +other hand, I should like to have a more secure shelter for ourselves +and our property than this tent.” + +“With patience, order, and perseverance, all may be done,” said my good +counsellor; “and whatever uneasiness your voyage may give me, I yield to +the importance and utility of it. Let it be done to-day; and have no +care for the morrow: sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, as our +blessed Lord has said.” + +It was then agreed that the three youngest children should remain with +my wife; and Fritz, the strongest and most active, should accompany me. + +I then arose, and woke my children for the important duties of the day. +Fritz jumped up the first, and ran for his jackal, which had stiffened +in the cold of the night. He placed it on its four legs, at the entrance +of the tent, to surprise his brothers; but no sooner did the dogs see it +erect, than they flew at it, and would have torn it to pieces, if he had +not soothed them and called them off. However, their barking effectually +roused the boys, who rushed out to see the cause. Jack issued first with +the monkey on his shoulder; but no sooner did the little creature see +the jackal, than he sprang into the tent, and hid himself among the +moss, till only the tip of his nose was visible. All were astonished to +see this large yellow animal standing; Francis thought it was a wolf; +Jack said it was only a dead dog, and Ernest, in a pompous tone, +pronounced it to be a golden fox. + +Fritz laughed at the learned professor, who knew the agouti immediately, +and now called a jackal a golden fox! + +“I judged by the peculiar characteristics,” said Ernest, examining it +carefully. + +“Oh! the characteristics!” said Fritz, ironically, “don’t you think it +may be a golden wolf?” + +“Pray don’t be so cross, brother,” said Ernest, with tears in his eyes, +“perhaps you would not have known the name, if papa had not told you.” + +I reproved Fritz for his ridicule of his brother, and Ernest for so +easily taking offence; and, to reconcile all, I told them that the +jackal partook of the nature of the wolf, the fox, and the dog. This +discussion terminated, I summoned them to prayers, after which we +thought of breakfast. We had nothing but biscuit, which was certainly +dry and hard. Fritz begged for a little cheese with it; and Ernest, who +was never satisfied like other people, took a survey of the unopened +hogshead. He soon returned, crying “If we only had a little butter with +our biscuit, it would be so good, papa!” + +I allowed it would be good, but it was no use thinking of such a thing. + +“Let us open the other cask,” said he, displaying a piece of butter he +had extracted through a small crack on the side. + +“Your instinct for good things has been fortunate for us,” said I. +“Come, boys, who wants bread and butter?” + +We began to consider how we should come at the contents of the hogshead, +without exposing the perishable matter to the heat of the sun. Finally, +I pierced a hole in the lower part of the cask, large enough for us to +draw out the butter as we wanted it, by means of a little wooden shovel, +which I soon made. We then sat down to breakfast with a cocoa-nut basin +filled with good salt Dutch butter. We toasted our biscuit, buttered it +hot, and agreed that it was excellent. Our dogs were sleeping by us as +we breakfasted; and I remarked that they had bloody marks of the last +night’s fray, in some deep and dangerous wounds, especially about the +neck; my wife instantly dressed the wounds with butter, well washed in +cold water; and the poor animals seemed grateful for the ease it gave +them. Ernest judiciously remarked, that they ought to have spiked +collars, to defend them from any wild beasts they might encounter. + +“I will make them collars,” said Jack, who never hesitated at anything. +I was glad to employ his inventive powers; and, ordering my children, +not to leave their mother, during our absence, but to pray to God to +bless our undertaking, we began our preparations for the voyage. + +While Fritz made ready the boat, I erected a signal-post, with a piece +of sailcloth for a flag, to float as long as all was going on well; but +if we were wanted, they were to lower the flag, and fire a gun three +times, when we would immediately return; for I had informed my dear wife +it might be necessary for us to remain on board all night; and she +consented to the plan, on my promising to pass the night in our tubs, +instead of the vessel. We took nothing but our guns and ammunition; +relying on the ship’s provisions. Fritz would, however, take the monkey, +that he might give it some milk from the cow. + +We took a tender leave of each other, and embarked. When we had rowed +into the middle of the bay, I perceived a strong current formed by the +water of the river which issued at a little distance, which I was glad +to take advantage of, to spare our labour. It carried us three parts of +our voyage, and we rowed the remainder; and entering the opening in the +vessel, we secured our boat firmly, and went on board. + +The first care of Fritz was to feed the animals, who were on deck, and +who all saluted us after their fashion, rejoiced to see their friends +again, as well as to have their wants supplied. We put the young monkey +to a goat, which he sucked with extraordinary grimaces, to our infinite +amusement. We then took some refreshment ourselves, and Fritz, to my +great surprise, proposed that we should begin by adding a sail to our +boat. He said the current which helped us to the vessel, could not carry +us back, but the wind which blew so strongly against us, and made our +rowing so fatiguing, would be of great service, if we had a sail. + +I thanked my counsellor for his good advice, and we immediately set to +the task. I selected a strong pole for a mast, and a triangular sail, +which was fixed to a yard. We made a hole in a plank, to receive the +mast, secured the plank on our fourth tub, forming a deck, and then, by +aid of a block used to hoist and lower the sails, raised our mast. +Finally, two ropes fastened by one end to the yard, and by the other to +each extremity of the boat, enabled us to direct the sail at pleasure. +Fritz next ornamented the top of the mast with a little red streamer. He +then gave our boat the name of the _Deliverance_, and requested it might +henceforward be called the little vessel. To complete its equipment, I +contrived a rudder, so that I could direct the boat from either end. + +After signalling to our friends that we should not return that night, we +spent the rest of the day in emptying the tubs of the stones we had used +for ballast, and replacing them with useful things. Powder and shot, +nails and tools of all kinds, pieces of cloth; above all, we did not +forget knives, forks, spoons, and kitchen utensils, including a +roasting-jack. In the captain’s cabin we found some services of silver, +pewter plates and dishes, and a small chest filled with bottles of +choice wines. All these we took, as well as a chest of eatables, +intended for the officers’ table, portable soup, Westphalian hams, +Bologna sausages, &c.; also some bags of maize, wheat, and other seeds, +and some potatoes. We collected all the implements of husbandry we could +spare room for, and, at the request of Fritz, some hammocks and +blankets; two or three handsome guns, and an armful of sabres, swords, +and hunting-knives. Lastly, I embarked a barrel of sulphur, all the cord +and string I could lay my hands on, and a large roll of sailcloth. The +sulphur was intended to produce matches with. Our tubs were loaded to +the edge; there was barely room left for us to sit, and it would have +been dangerous to attempt our return if the sea had not been so calm. + +Night arrived, we exchanged signals, to announce security on sea and +land, and, after prayers for the dear islanders, we sought our tubs, not +the most luxurious of dormitories, but safer than the ship. Fritz slept +soundly; but I could not close my eyes, thinking of the jackals. I was, +however, thankful for the protection they had in the dogs. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +As soon as day broke, I mounted on deck, to look through the telescope. +I saw my wife looking towards us; and the flag, which denoted their +safety, floating in the breeze. Satisfied on this important point, we +enjoyed our breakfast of biscuit, ham, and wine, and then turned our +thoughts to the means of saving our cattle. Even if we could contrive a +raft, we could never get all the animals to remain still on it. We might +venture the huge sow in the water, but the rest of the animals we found +would not be able to swim to shore. At last Fritz suggested the swimming +apparatus. We passed two hours in constructing them. For the cow and ass +it was necessary to have an empty cask on each side, well bound in +strong sailcloth, fastened by leather thongs over the back and under +each animal. For the rest, we merely tied a piece of cork under their +bodies; the sow only being unruly, and giving us much trouble. We then +fastened a cord to the horns or neck of each animal, with a slip of wood +at the end, for a convenient handle. Luckily, the waves had broken away +part of the ship, and left the opening wide enough for the passage of +our troop. We first launched the ass into the water, by a sudden push; +he swam away, after the first plunge, very gracefully. The cow, sheep, +and goats, followed quietly after. The sow was furious, and soon broke +loose from us all, but fortunately reached the shore long before +the rest. + +We now embarked, fastening all the slips of wood to the stern of the +boat, thus drawing our train after us; and the wind filling our sail, +carried us smoothly towards the shore. Fritz exulted in his plan, as we +certainly could never have rowed our boat, loaded as we were. I once +more took out my telescope, and was remarking that our party on shore +seemed making ready for some excursion, when a loud cry from Fritz +filled me with terror. “We are lost! we are lost! see, what a monstrous +fish!” Though pale with alarm, the bold boy had seized his gun, and, +encouraged by my directions, he fired two balls into the head of the +monster, as it was preparing to dart on the sheep. It immediately made +its escape, leaving a long red track to prove that it was +severely wounded. + +Being freed from our enemy, I now resumed the rudder, and we lowered the +sail and rowed to shore. The animals, as soon as the water became low +enough, walked out at their own discretion, after we had relieved them +from their swimming girdles. We then secured our boat as before, and +landed ourselves, anxiously looking round for our friends. + +We had not long to wait, they came joyfully to greet us; and, after our +first burst of pleasure, we sat down to tell our adventures in a regular +form. My wife was overjoyed to see herself surrounded by these valuable +animals; and especially pleased that her son Fritz had suggested so +many useful plans. We next proceeded to disembark all our treasures. I +noticed that Jack wore a belt of yellow skin, in which were placed a +pair of pistols, and inquired where he had got his brigand costume. + +“I manufactured it myself,” said he; “and this is not all. Look at the +dogs!” + +The dogs wore each a collar of the same skin as his belt, bristling with +long nails, the points outwards—a formidable defence. + +“It is my own invention,” said he; “only mamma helped me in the sewing.” + +“But where did you get the leather, the needle and thread?” inquired I. + +“Fritz’s jackal supplied the skin,” said my wife, “and my wonderful bag +the rest. There is still more to come from it, only say what you want.” + +Fritz evidently felt a little vexation at his brother’s unceremonious +appropriation of the skin of the jackal, which displayed itself in the +tone in which he exclaimed, holding his nose, “Keep at a distance, Mr. +Skinner, you carry an intolerable smell about with you.” + +I gave him a gentle hint of his duty in the position of eldest son, and +he soon recovered his good humour. However, as the body as well as the +skin of the jackal was becoming offensive, they united in dragging it +down to the sea, while Jack placed his belt in the sun to dry. + +As I saw no preparation for supper, I told Fritz to bring the ham; and, +to the astonishment and joy of all, he returned with a fine Westphalian +ham, which we had cut into in the morning. + +“I will tell you,” said my wife, “why we have no supper prepared; but +first, I will make you an omelet;” and she produced from a basket a +dozen turtle’s eggs. + +“You see,” said Ernest, “they have all the characteristics of those +Robinson Crusoe had in his island. They are white balls, the skin of +which resembles moistened parchment.” + +My wife promised to relate the history of the discovery after supper, +and set about preparing her ham and omelet, while Fritz and I proceeded +in unloading our cargo, assisted by the useful ass. + +Supper was now ready. A tablecloth was laid over the butter-cask, and +spread with the plates and spoons from the ship. The ham was in the +middle, and the omelet and cheese at each end; and we made a good meal, +surrounded by our subjects,—the dogs, the fowls, the pigeons, the +sheep, and the goats, waiting for our notice. The geese and ducks were +more independent, remaining in their marsh, where they lived in plenty +on the small crabs which abounded there. + +After supper, I sent Fritz for a bottle of the captain’s Canary wine, +and then requested my wife to give us her recital. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +“I will spare you the history of the first day,” said my good Elizabeth, +“spent in anxiety about you, and attending to the signals; but this +morning, being satisfied that all was going right, I sought, before the +boys got up, a shady place to rest in, but in vain; I believe this +barren shore has not a single tree on it. Then I began to consider on +the necessity of searching for a more comfortable spot for our +residence; and determined, after a slight repast, to set out with my +children across the river, on a journey of discovery. The day before, +Jack had busied himself in skinning the jackal with his knife, sharpened +on the rock; Ernest declining to assist him in his dirty work, for which +I reproved him, sorry that any fastidiousness should deter him from a +labour of benefit to society. + +“Jack proceeded to clean the skin as well as he was able; then procured +from the nail-chest some long flat-headed nails, and inserted them +closely through the long pieces of skin he had cut for collars; he then +cut some sailcloth, and made a double lining over the heads of the +nails; and finished by giving me the delicate office of sewing them +together, which I could not but comply with. + +“His belt he first stretched on a plank, nailing it down, and exposing +it to the sun, lest it should shrink in drying. + +“Now for our journey: we took our game-bags and some hunting-knives. The +boys carried provisions, and I had a large flask of water. I took a +small hatchet, and gave Ernest a carbine, which might be loaded with +ball; keeping his light gun for myself. I carefully secured the opening +of the tent with the hooks. Turk went before, evidently considering +himself our guide; and we crossed the river with some difficulty. + +“As we proceeded, I could not help feeling thankful that you had so +early taught the boys to use fire-arms properly, as the defence of my +youngest boy and myself now depended on the two boys of ten and twelve +years of age. + +“When we attained the hill you described to us, I was charmed with the +smiling prospect, and, for the first time since our shipwreck, ventured +to hope for better things. I had remarked a beautiful wood, to which I +determined to make our way, for a little shade, and a most painful +progress it was, through grass that was higher than the children’s +heads. As we were struggling through it, we heard a strange rustling +sound among the grass, and at the same moment a bird of prodigious size +rose, and flew away, before the poor boys could get their guns ready. +They were much mortified, and I recommended them always to have their +guns in readiness, for the birds would not be likely to wait till they +loaded them. Francis thought the bird was so large, it must be an eagle; +but Ernest ridiculed the idea, and added that he thought it must be of +the bustard tribe. We went forward to the spot from which it had arisen, +when suddenly another bird of the same kind, though still larger, sprung +up, close to our feet, and was soon soaring above our heads. I could not +help laughing to see the look of astonishment and confusion with which +the boys looked upwards after it. At last Jack took off his hat, and, +making a low bow, said, ‘Pray, Mr. Bird, be kind enough to pay us +another visit, you will find us very good children!’ We found the large +nest they had left; it was rudely formed of dry grass, and empty, but +some fragments of egg-shells were scattered near, as if the young had +been recently hatched; we therefore concluded that they had escaped +among the grass. + +“Doctor Ernest immediately began a lecture. ‘You observe, Francis, these +birds could not be eagles, which do not form their nests on the ground. +Neither do their young run as soon as they are hatched. These must be of +the _gallinaceous_ tribe, an order of birds such as quails, partridges, +turkeys, &c.; and, from the sort of feathered moustache which I observed +at the corner of the beak, I should pronounce that these were bustards.’ + +“But we had now reached the little wood, and our learned friend had +sufficient employment in scrutinizing, and endeavouring to classify, the +immense number of beautiful, unknown birds, which sung and fluttered +about us, apparently regardless of our intrusion. + +“We found that what we thought a wood was merely a group of a dozen +trees, of a height far beyond any I had ever seen; and apparently +belonging rather to the air than the earth; the trunks springing from +roots which formed a series of supporting arches. Jack climbed one of +the arches, and measured the trunk of the tree with a piece of +packthread. He found it to be thirty-four feet. I made thirty-two steps +round the roots. Between the roots and the lowest branches, it seemed +about forty or fifty feet. The branches are thick and strong, and the +leaves are of a moderate size, and resemble our walnut-tree. A thick, +short, smooth turf clothed the ground beneath and around the detached +roots of the trees, and everything combined to render this one of the +most delicious spots the mind could conceive. + +“Here we rested, and made our noon-day repast; a clear rivulet ran near +us, and offered its agreeable waters for our refreshment. Our dogs soon +joined us; but I was astonished to find they did not crave for food, but +laid down to sleep at our feet. For myself, so safe and happy did I +feel, that I could not but think that if we could contrive a dwelling on +the branches of one of these trees, we should be in perfect peace and +safety. We set out on our return, taking the road by the sea-shore, in +case the waves had cast up anything from the wreck of the vessel. We +found a quantity of timber, chests, and casks; but all too heavy to +bring. We succeeded in dragging them, as well as we could, out of the +reach of the tide; our dogs, in the mean time, fishing for crabs, with +which they regaled themselves, much to their own satisfaction and to +mine, as I now saw they would be able to provide their own food. As we +rested from our rough labour, I saw Flora scratching in the sand, and +swallowing something with great relish. Ernest watched, and then said, +very quietly, ‘They are turtles’ eggs.’ We drove away the dog, and +collected about two dozen, leaving her the rest as a reward for her +discovery. + +“While we were carefully depositing our spoil in the game-bags, we were +astonished at the sight of a sail. Ernest was certain it was papa and +Fritz, and though Francis was in dread that it should be the savages who +visited Robinson Crusoe’s island, coming to eat us up, we were soon +enabled to calm his fears. We crossed the river by leaping from stone to +stone, and, hastening to the landing-place, arrived to greet you on +your happy return.” + +“And I understand, my dear,” said I, “that you have discovered a tree +sixty feet high, where you wish we should perch like fowls. But how are +we to get up?” + +“Oh! you must remember,” answered she, “the large lime-tree near our +native town, in which was a ball-room. We used to ascend to it by a +wooden staircase. Could you not contrive something of the sort in one of +these gigantic trees, where we might sleep in peace, fearing neither +jackals nor any other terrible nocturnal enemy.” + +I promised to consider this plan, hoping at least that we might make a +commodious and shady dwelling among the roots. To-morrow we were to +examine it. We then performed our evening devotions, and retired +to rest. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +“Now, my dear Elizabeth,” said I, waking early next morning, “let us +talk a little on this grand project of changing our residence; to which +there are many objections. First, it seems wise to remain on the spot +where Providence has cast us, where we can have at once means of support +drawn from the ship, and security from all attacks, protected by the +rock, the river, and the sea on all sides.” + +My wife distrusted the river, which could not protect us from the +jackals, and complained of the intolerable heat of this sandy desert, of +her distaste for such food as oysters and wild geese; and, lastly, of +her agony of mind, when we ventured to the wreck; willingly renouncing +all its treasures, and begging we might rest content with the blessings +we already had. + +“There is some truth in your objections,” said I, “and perhaps we may +erect a dwelling under the roots of your favourite tree; but among these +rocks we must have a storehouse for our goods, and a retreat in case of +invasion. I hope, by blowing off some pieces of the rock with powder, to +be able to fortify the part next the river, leaving a secret passage +known only to ourselves. This would make it impregnable. But before we +proceed, we must have a bridge to convey our baggage across the river. + +“A bridge,” said she, in a tone of vexation; “then when shall we get +from here? Why cannot we ford it as usual? The cow and ass could carry +our stores.” + +I explained to her how necessary it was for our ammunition and provision +to be conveyed over without risk of wetting, and begged her to +manufacture some bags and baskets, and leave the bridge to me and my +boys. If we succeeded, it would always be useful; as for fear of danger +from lightning or accident, I intended to make a powder-magazine among +the rocks. + +The important question was now decided. I called up my sons, and +communicated our plans to them. They were greatly delighted, though +somewhat alarmed, at the formidable project of the bridge; besides, the +delay was vexatious; they were all anxious for a removal into the _Land +of Promise_, as they chose to call it. + +We read prayers, and then thought of breakfast. The monkey sucked one of +the goats, as if it had been its mother. My wife milked the cow, and +gave us boiled milk with biscuit for our breakfast; part of which she +put in a flask, for us to take on our expedition. We then prepared our +boat for a voyage to the vessel, to procure planks and timber for our +bridge. I took both Ernest and Fritz, as I foresaw our cargo would be +weighty, and require all our hands to bring it to shore. + +We rowed vigorously till we got into the current, which soon carried us +beyond the bay. We had scarcely reached a little isle at the entrance, +when we saw a vast number of gulls and other sea-birds, fluttering with +discordant cries over it. I hoisted the sail, and we approached rapidly; +and, when near enough, we stepped on shore, and saw that the birds were +feasting so eagerly on the remains of a huge fish, that they did not +even notice our approach. We might have killed numbers, even with our +sticks. This fish was the shark which Fritz had so skilfully shot +through the head the night before. He found the marks of his three +balls. Ernest drew his ramrod from his gun, and struck so vigorously +right and left among the birds, that he killed some, and put the rest to +flight. We then hastily cut off some pieces of the skin of the monster, +which I thought might be useful, and placed them in our boat. But this +was not the only advantage we gained by landing. I perceived an immense +quantity of wrecked timber lying on the shore of the island, which +would spare us our voyage to the ship. We selected such planks as were +fit for our purpose; then, by the aid of our _jack-screw_ and some +levers we had brought with us, we extricated the planks from the sand, +and floated them; and, binding the spars and yards together with cords, +with the planks above them, like a raft, we tied them to the stern of +our boat, and hoisted our sail. + +Fritz, as we sailed, was drying the shark’s skin, which I hoped to +convert into files. And Ernest, in his usual reflective manner, observed +to me, “What a beautiful arrangement of Providence it is, that the mouth +of the shark should be placed in such a position that he is compelled to +turn on his back to seize his prey, thus giving it a chance of escape; +else, with his excessive voracity, he might depopulate the ocean.” + +At last, we reached our landing-place, and, securing our boat, and +calling out loudly, we soon saw our friends running from the river; each +carried a handkerchief filled with some new acquisition, and Francis had +over his shoulder a small fishing-net. Jack reached us first, and threw +down before us from his handkerchief some fine crawfish. They had each +as many, forming a provision for many days. + +Francis claimed the merit of the discovery. Jack related, that Francis +and he took a walk to find a good place for the bridge. + +“Thank you, Mr. Architect,” said I; “then you must superintend the +workmen. Have you fixed on your place?” + +“Yes, yes!” cried he; “only listen. When we got to the river, Francis, +who was looking about, called out, ‘Jack! Jack! Fritz’s jackal is +covered with crabs! Come!—come!’ I ran to tell mamma, who brought a net +that came from the ship, and we caught these in a few minutes, and could +have got many more, if you had not come.” + +I commanded them to put the smaller ones back into the river, reserving +only as many as we could eat. I was truly thankful to discover another +means of support. + +We now landed our timber. I had looked at Jack’s site for the bridge, +and thought my little architect very happy in his selection; but it was +at a great distance from the timber. I recollected the simplicity of the +harness the Laplanders used for their reindeer. I tied cords to the +horns of the cow—as the strength of this animal is in the head—and +then fastened the other ends round the piece of timber we wanted moving. +I placed a halter round the neck of the ass, and attached the cords to +this. We were thus enabled, by degrees, to remove all our wood to the +chosen spot, where the sides of the river were steep, and appeared of +equal height. + +It was necessary to know the breadth of the river, to select the proper +planks; and Ernest proposed to procure a ball of packthread from his +mother, to tie a stone to one end of the string, and throw it across the +river, and to measure it after drawing it back. This expedient succeeded +admirably. We found the breadth to be eighteen feet; but, as I proposed +to give the bridge strength by having three feet, at least, resting on +each shore, we chose some planks of twenty-four feet in length. How we +were to get these across the river was another question, which we +prepared to discuss during dinner, to which my wife now summoned us. + +Our dinner consisted of a dish of crawfish, and some very good +rice-milk. But, before we began, we admired her work. She had made a +pair of bags for the ass, sewed with packthread; but having no large +needles, she had been obliged to pierce holes with a nail, a tedious and +painful process. Well satisfied with her success, we turned to our +repast, talking of our bridge, which the boys, by anticipation, named +the _Nonpareil_. We then went to work. + +There happened to be an old trunk of a tree standing on the shore. To +this I tied my main beam by a strong cord, loose enough to turn round +the trunk. Another cord was attached to the opposite end of the beam, +long enough to cross the river twice. I took the end of my rope over the +stream, where we had previously fixed the block, used in our boat, to a +tree, by the hook which usually suspended it. I passed my rope, and +returned with the end to our own side. I then harnessed my cow and ass +to the end of my rope, and drove them forcibly from the shore. The beam +turned slowly round the trunk, then advanced, and was finally lodged +over the river, amidst the shouts of the boys; its own weight keeping it +firm. Fritz and Jack leaped on it immediately to run across, to my +great fear. + +We succeeded in placing four strong beams in the same way; and, by the +aid of my sons, I arranged them at a convenient distance from each +other, that we might have a broad and good bridge. We then laid down +planks close together across the beams; but not fixed, as in time of +danger it might be necessary rapidly to remove the bridge. My wife and I +were as much excited as the children, and ran across with delight. Our +bridge was at least ten feet broad. + +Thoroughly fatigued with our day of labour, we returned home, supped, +and offered thanks to God, and went to rest. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +The next morning, after prayers, I assembled my family. We took a solemn +leave of our first place of refuge. I cautioned my sons to be prudent, +and on their guard; and especially to remain together during our +journey. We then prepared for departure. We assembled the cattle: the +bags were fixed across the backs of the cow and the ass, and loaded with +all our heavy baggage; our cooking utensils; and provisions, consisting +of biscuits, butter, cheese, and portable soup; our hammocks and +blankets; the captain’s service of plate, were all carefully packed in +the bags, equally poised on each side the animals. + +All was ready, when my wife came in haste with her inexhaustible bag, +requesting a place for it. Neither would she consent to leave the +poultry, as food for the jackals; above all, Francis must have a place; +he could not possibly walk all the way. I was amused with the exactions +of the sex; but consented to all, and made a good place for Francis +between the bags, on the back of the ass. + +The elder boys returned in despair,—they could not succeed in catching +the fowls; but the experienced mother laughed at them, and said she +would soon capture them. + +“If you do,” said my pert little Jack, “I will be contented to be +roasted in the place of the first chicken taken.” + +“Then, my poor Jack,” said his mother, “you will soon be on the spit. +Remember, that intellect has always more power than mere bodily +exertion. Look here!” She scattered a few handfuls of grain before the +tent, calling the fowls; they soon all assembled, including the pigeons; +then throwing more down inside the tent, they followed her. It was now +only necessary to close the entrance; and they were all soon taken, tied +by the wings and feet, and, being placed in baskets covered with nets, +were added to the rest of our luggage on the backs of the animals. + +Finally, we conveyed inside the tent all we could not carry away, +closing the entrance, and barricading it with chests and casks, thus +confiding all our possessions to the care of God. We set out on our +pilgrimage, each carrying a game-bag and a gun. My wife and her eldest +son led the way, followed by the heavily-laden cow and ass; the third +division consisted of the goats, driven by Jack, the little monkey +seated on the back of its nurse, and grimacing, to our great amusement; +next came Ernest, with the sheep; and I followed, superintending the +whole. Our gallant dogs acted as _aides-de-camp_, and were continually +passing from the front to the rear rank. + +Our march was slow, but orderly, and quite patriarchal. “We are now +travelling across the deserts, as our first fathers did,” said I, “and +as the Arabs, Tartars, and other nomade nations do to this day, followed +by their flocks and herds. But these people generally have strong camels +to bear their burdens, instead of a poor ass and cow. I hope this may be +the last of our pilgrimages.” My wife also hoped that, once under the +shade of her marvellous trees, we should have no temptation to +travel further. + +We now crossed our new bridge, and here the party was happily augmented +by a new arrival. The sow had proved very mutinous at setting out, and +we had been compelled to leave her; she now voluntarily joined us, +seeing we were actually departing; but continued to grunt loudly her +disapprobation of our proceedings. After we had crossed the river, we +had another embarrassment. The rich grass tempted our animals to stray +off to feed, and, but for our dogs, we should never have been able to +muster them again. But, for fear of further accident, I commanded my +advanced guard to take the road by the coast, which offered no +temptation to our troops. + +We had scarcely left the high grass when our dogs rushed back into it, +barking furiously, and howling as if in combat; Fritz immediately +prepared for action, Ernest drew near his mother, Jack rushed forward +with his gun over his shoulder, and I cautiously advanced, commanding +them to be discreet and cool. But Jack, with his usual impetuosity, +leaped among the high grass to the dogs; and immediately returned, +clapping his hands, and crying out, “Be quick, papa! a huge porcupine, +with quills as long as my arm!” + +When I got up, I really found a porcupine, whom the dogs were warmly +attacking. It made a frightful noise, erecting its quills so boldly, +that the wounded animals howled with pain after every attempt to seize +it. As we were looking at them Jack drew a pistol from his belt, and +discharged it directly into the head of the porcupine, which fell dead. +Jack was very proud of his feat, and Fritz, not a little jealous, +suggested that such a little boy should not be trusted with pistols, as +he might have shot one of the dogs, or even one of us. I forbade any +envy or jealousy among the brothers, and declared that all did well who +acted for the public good. Mamma was now summoned to see the curious +animal her son’s valour had destroyed. Her first thought was to dress +the wounds made by the quills which had stuck in the noses of the dogs +during their attack. In the mean time, I corrected my son’s notions on +the power of this animal to lance its darts when in danger. This is a +popular error; nature has given it a sufficient protection in its +defensive and offensive armour. + +As Jack earnestly desired to carry his booty with him, I carefully +imbedded the body in soft grass, to preserve the quills; then packed it +in strong cloth, and placed it on the ass behind Francis. + +At last, we arrived at the end of our journey,—and, certainly, the size +of the trees surpassed anything I could have imagined. Jack was certain +they were gigantic walnut-trees; for my own part, I believed them to be +a species of fig-tree—probably the Antilles fig. But all thanks were +given to the kind mother who had sought out such a pleasant home for us; +at all events, we could find a convenient shelter among the roots. And, +if we should ever succeed in perching on the branches, I told her we +should be safe from all wild beasts. I would defy even the bears of our +native mountains to climb these immense trunks, totally destitute +of branches. + +We released our animals from their loads, tying their fore legs +together, that they might not stray; except the sow, who, as usual, did +her own way. The fowls and pigeons we released, and left to their own +discretion. We then sat down on the grass, to consider where we should +establish ourselves. I wished to mount the tree that very night. +Suddenly we heard, to our no slight alarm, the report of a gun. But the +next moment the voice of Fritz re-assured us. He had stolen out +unnoticed, and shot a beautiful tiger-cat, which he displayed in +great triumph. + +“Well done, noble hunter!” said I; “you deserve the thanks of the fowls +and pigeons; they would most probably have all fallen a sacrifice +to-night, if you had not slain their deadly foe. Pray wage war with all +his kind, or we shall not have a chicken left for the pot.” + +Ernest then examined the animal with his customary attention, and +declared that the proper name was the _margay_, a fact Fritz did not +dispute, only requesting that Jack might not meddle with the skin, as he +wished to preserve it for a belt. I recommended them to skin it +immediately, and give the flesh to the dogs. Jack, at the same time, +determined to skin his porcupine, to make dog-collars. Part of its +flesh went into the soup-kettle, and the rest was salted for the next +day. We then sought for some flat stones in the bed of the charming +little river that ran at a little distance from us, and set about +constructing a cooking-place. Francis collected dry wood for the fire; +and, while my wife was occupied in preparing our supper, I amused myself +by making some packing-needles for her rude work from the quills of the +porcupine. I held a large nail in the fire till it was red-hot, then, +holding the head in wet linen, I pierced the quills, and made several +needles, of various sizes, to the great contentment of our indefatigable +workwoman. + +Still occupied with the idea of our castle in the air, I thought of +making a ladder of ropes; but this would be useless, if we did not +succeed in getting a cord over the lower branches, to draw it up. +Neither my sons nor myself could throw a stone, to which I had fastened +a cord, over these branches, which were thirty feet above us. It was +necessary to think of some other expedient. In the mean time, dinner was +ready. The porcupine made excellent soup, and the flesh was well-tasted, +though rather hard. My wife could not make up her mind to taste it, but +contented herself with a slice of ham and some cheese. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +After dinner, as I found we could not ascend at present, I suspended our +hammocks under the arched roots of our tree, and, covering the whole +with sailcloth, we had a shelter from the dew and the insects. + +While my wife was employed making harness for the cow and ass, I went +with my sons to the shore, to look for wood fit for our use next day. We +saw a great quantity of wreck, but none fit for our purpose, till Ernest +met with a heap of bamboo canes, half buried in sand and mud. These were +exactly what I wanted. I drew them out of the sand, stripped them of +their leaves, cut them in pieces of about four or five feet long, and my +sons each made up a bundle to carry home. I then set out to seek some +slender stalks to make arrows, which I should need in my project. + +We went towards a thick grove, which appeared likely to contain +something for my purpose. We were very cautious, for fear of reptiles or +other dangerous animals, allowing Flora to precede us. When we got near, +she darted furiously among the bushes, and out flew a troop of beautiful +flamingoes, and soared into the air. Fritz, always ready, fired at them. +Two fell; one quite dead, the other, slightly wounded in the wing, made +use of its long legs so well that it would have escaped, if Flora had +not seized it and held it till I came up to take possession. The joy of +Fritz was extreme, to have this beautiful creature alive. He thought at +once of curing its wound, and domesticating it with our own poultry. + +“What splendid plumage!” said Ernest; “and you see he is web-footed, +like the goose, and has long legs like the stork; thus he can run as +fast on land as he can swim in the water,” + +“Yes,” said I, “and fly as quickly in the air. These birds are +remarkable for the power and strength of their wings. Few birds have so +many advantages.” + +My boys occupied themselves in binding their captive and dressing his +wound; while I sought some of the canes which had done flowering, to cut +off the hard ends, to point my arrows. These are used by the savages of +the Antilles. I then selected the highest canes I could meet with, to +assist me in measuring, by a geometrical process, the height of the +tree. Ernest took the canes, I had the wounded flamingo, and Fritz +carried his own game. Very loud were the cries of joy and astonishment +at our approach. The boys all hoped the flamingo might be tamed, of +which I felt no doubt; but my wife was uneasy, lest it should require +more food than she could spare. However, I assured her, our new guest +would need no attention, as he would provide for himself at the +river-side, feeding on small fishes, worms, and insects. His wounds I +dressed, and found they would soon be healed; I then tied him to a +stake, near the river, by a cord long enough to allow him to fish at his +pleasure, and, in fact, in a few days, he learned to know us, and was +quite domesticated. Meantime, my boys had been trying to measure the +tree with the long canes I had brought, and came laughing to report to +me, that I ought to have got them ten times as long to reach even the +lowest branches. “There is a simpler mode than that,” said I, “which +geometry teaches us, and by which the highest mountains can be +measured.” + +I then showed the method of measuring heights by triangles and imaginary +lines, using canes of different lengths and cords instead of +mathematical instruments. My result was thirty feet to the lowest +branches. This experiment filled the boys with wonder and desire to +become acquainted with this useful, exact science, which, happily, I was +able to teach them fully. + +I now ordered Fritz to measure our strong cord, and the little ones to +collect all the small string, and wind it. I then took a strong bamboo +and made a bow of it, and some arrows of the slender canes, filling them +with wet sand to give them weight, and feathering them from the dead +flamingo. As soon as my work was completed, the boys crowded round me, +all begging to try the bow and arrows. I begged them to be patient, and +asked my wife to supply me with a ball of thick strong thread. The +enchanted bag did not fail us; the very ball I wanted appeared at her +summons. This, my little ones declared, must be magic; but I explained +to them, that prudence, foresight, and presence of mind in danger, such +as their good mother had displayed, produced more miracles than magic. + +I then tied the end of the ball of thread to one of my arrows, fixed it +in my bow, and sent it directly over one of the thickest of the lower +branches of the tree, and, falling to the ground, it drew the thread +after it. Charmed with this result, I hastened to complete my ladder. +Fritz had measured our ropes, and found two of forty feet each,—exactly +what I wanted. These I stretched on the ground at about one foot +distance from each other; Fritz cut pieces of cane two feet long, which +Ernest passed to me. I placed these in knots which I had made in the +cords, at about a foot distance from each other, and Jack fastened each +end with a long nail, to prevent it slipping. In a very short time our +ladder was completed; and, tying it to the end of the cord which went +over the branch, we drew it up without difficulty. All the boys were +anxious to ascend; but I chose Jack, as the lightest and most active. +Accordingly, he ascended, while his brothers and myself held the ladder +firm by the end of the cord. Fritz followed him, conveying a bag with +nails and hammer. They were soon perched on the branches, huzzaing to +us. Fritz secured the ladder so firmly to the branch, that I had no +hesitation in ascending myself. I carried with me a large pulley fixed +to the end of a rope, which I attached to a branch above us, to enable +us to raise the planks necessary to form the groundwork of our +habitation. I smoothed the branches a little by aid of my axe, sending +the boys down to be out of my way. After completing my day’s work, I +descended by the light of the moon, and was alarmed to find that Fritz +and Jack were not below; and still more so, when I heard their clear, +sweet voices, at the summit of the tree, singing the evening hymn, as if +to sanctify our future abode. They had climbed the tree, instead of +descending, and, filled with wonder and reverence at the sublime view +below them, had burst out into the hymn of thanksgiving to God. + +I could not scold my dear boys, when they descended, but directed them +to assemble the animals, and to collect wood, to keep up fires during +the night, in order to drive away any wild beasts that might be near. + +My wife then displayed her work,—complete harness for our two beasts +of burden, and, in return, I promised her we would establish ourselves +next day in the tree. Supper was now ready, one piece of the porcupine +was roasted by the fire, smelling deliciously; another piece formed a +rich soup; a cloth was spread on the turf; the ham, cheese, butter, and +biscuits, were placed upon it. + +My wife first assembled the fowls, by throwing some grain to them, to +accustom them to the place. We soon saw the pigeons fly to roost on the +higher branches of the trees, while the fowls perched on the ladder; the +beasts we tied to the roots, close to us. Now, that our cares were over, +we sat down to a merry and excellent repast by moonlight. Then, after +the prayers of the evening, I kindled our watch-fires, and we all lay +down to rest in our hammocks. The boys were rather discontented, and +complained of their cramped position, longing for the freedom of their +beds of moss; but I instructed them to lie, as the sailors do, +diagonally, and swinging the hammock, and told them that brave Swiss +boys might sleep as the sailors of all nations were compelled to sleep. +After some stifled sighs and groans, all sank to rest except myself, +kept awake by anxiety for the safety of the rest. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +My anxiety kept me awake till near morning, when, after a short sleep, I +rose, and we were soon all at work. My wife, after milking the cow and +goats, harnessed the cow and ass, and set out to search for drift-wood +for our use. In the mean time, I mounted the ladder with Fritz, and we +set to work stoutly, with axe and saw, to rid ourselves of all useless +branches. Some, about six feet above our foundation, I left, to suspend +our hammocks from, and others, a little higher, to support the roof, +which, at present, was to be merely sailcloth. My wife succeeded in +collecting us some boards and planks, which, with her assistance, and +the aid of the pulley, we hoisted up. We then arranged them on the level +branches close to each other, in such a manner as to form a smooth and +solid floor. I made a sort of parapet round, to prevent accidents. By +degrees, our dwelling began to assume a distinct form; the sailcloth was +raised over the high branches, forming a roof; and, being brought down +on each side, was nailed to the parapet. The immense trunk protected the +back of our apartment, and the front was open to admit the breeze from +the sea, which was visible from this elevation. We hoisted our hammocks +and blankets by the pulley, and suspended them; my son and I then +descended, and, as our day was not yet exhausted, we set about +constructing a rude table and some benches, from the remainder of our +wood, which we placed beneath the roots of the tree, henceforward to be +our dining-room. The little boys collected the chips and pieces of wood +for fire-wood; while their mamma prepared supper, which we needed much +after the extraordinary fatigues of this day. + +The next day, however, being Sunday, we looked forward to as a day of +rest, of recreation, and thanksgiving to the great God who had +preserved us. + +Supper was now ready, my wife took a large earthen pot from the fire, +which contained a good stew, made of the flamingo, which Ernest had told +her was an old bird, and would not be eatable, if dressed any other way. +His brothers laughed heartily, and called him the cook. He was, however, +quite right, the stew, well seasoned, was excellent, and we picked the +very bones. Whilst we were thus occupied, the living flamingo, +accompanying the rest of the fowls, and free from bonds, came in, quite +tame, to claim his share of the repast, evidently quite unsuspicious +that we were devouring his mate; he did not seem at all inclined to quit +us. The little monkey, too, was quite at home with the boys, leaping +from one to another for food, which he took in his forepaws, and ate +with such absurd mimicry of their actions, that he kept us in continual +convulsions of laughter. To augment our satisfaction, our great sow, who +had deserted us for two days, returned of her own accord, grunting her +joy at our re-union. My wife welcomed her with particular distinction, +treating her with all the milk we had to spare; for, as she had no dairy +utensils to make cheese and butter, it was best thus to dispose of our +superfluity. I promised her, on our next voyage to the ship, to procure +all these necessaries. This she could not, however, hear of, without +shuddering. + +The boys now lighted the fires for the night. The dogs were tied to the +roots of the tree, as a protection against invaders, and we commenced +our ascent. My three eldest sons soon ran up the ladder, my wife +followed, with more deliberation, but arrived safely; my own journey was +more difficult, as, besides having to carry Francis on my back, I had +detached the lower part of the ladder from the roots, where it was +nailed; in order to be able to draw it up during the night. We were thus +as safe in our castle as the knights of old, when their drawbridge was +raised. We retired to our hammocks free from care, and did not wake till +the sun shone brightly in upon us. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Next morning, all awoke in good spirits; I told them that on this, the +Lord’s day, we would do no work. That it was appointed, not only for a +day of rest, but a day when we must, as much as possible, turn our +hearts from the vanities of the world, to God himself; thank him, +worship him, and serve him. Jack thought we could not do this without a +church and a priest; but Ernest believed that God would hear our prayers +under his own sky, and papa could give them a sermon; Francis wished to +know if God would like to hear them sing the beautiful hymns mamma had +taught them, without an organ accompaniment. + +“Yes, my dear children,” said I, “God is everywhere; and to bless him, +to praise him in all his works, to submit to his holy will, and to obey +him,—is to serve him. But everything in its time. Let us first attend +to the wants of our animals, and breakfast, and we will then begin the +services of the day by a hymn.” + +We descended, and breakfasted on warm milk, fed our animals, and then, +my children and their mother seated on the turf, I placed myself on a +little eminence before them, and, after the service of the day, which I +knew by heart, and singing some portions of the 119th Psalm, I told them +a little allegory. + +“There was once on a time a great king, whose kingdom was called the +Land of _Light_ and _Reality_, because there reigned there constant +light and incessant activity. On the most remote frontier of this +kingdom, towards the north, there was another large kingdom, equally +subject to his rule, and of which none but himself knew the immense +extent. From time immemorial, an exact plan of this kingdom had been +preserved in the archives. It was called the Land of Obscurity, or +_Night_, because everything in it was dark and inactive. + +“In the most fertile and agreeable part of the empire of Reality, the +king had a magnificent residence, called _The Heavenly City_, where he +held his brilliant court. Millions of servants executed his +wishes—still more were ready to receive his orders. The first were +clothed in glittering robes, whiter than snow—for white was the colour +of the Great King, as the emblem of purity. Others were clothed in +armour, shining like the colours of the rainbow, and carried flaming +swords in their hands. Each, at his master’s nod, flew like lightning to +accomplish his will. All his servants—faithful, vigilant, bold, and +ardent—were united in friendship, and could imagine no happiness +greater than the favour of their master. There were some, less elevated, +who were still good, rich, and happy in the favours of their sovereign, +to whom all his subjects were alike, and were treated by him as +his children. + +“Not far from the frontiers, the Great King possessed a desert island, +which he desired to people and cultivate, in order to make it, for a +time, the abode of those of his subjects whom he intended to admit, by +degrees, into his _Heavenly City_—a favour he wished to bestow on the +greatest number possible. + +“This island was called _Earthly Abode_; and he who had passed some time +there, worthily, was to be received into all the happiness of the +heavenly city. To attain this, the Great King equipped a fleet to +transport the colonists, whom he chose from the kingdom of _Night_, to +this island, where he gave them light and activity—advantages they had +not known before. Think how joyful their arrival would be! The island +was fertile when cultivated; and all was prepared to make the time pass +agreeably, till they were admitted to their highest honours. + +“At the moment of embarkation, the Great King sent his own son, who +spoke thus to them in His name:— + +“‘My dear children, I have called you from inaction and insensibility to +render you happy by feeling, by action, by life. Never forget I am your +king, and obey my commands, by cultivating the country I confide to you. +Every one will receive his portion of land, and wise and learned men are +appointed to explain my will to you. I wish you all to acquire the +knowledge of my laws, and that every father should keep a copy, to read +daily to his children, that they may never be forgotten. And on the +first day of the week you must all assemble, as brothers, in one place, +to hear these laws read and explained. Thus it will be easy for every +one to learn the best method of improving his land, what to plant, and +how to cleanse it from the tares that might choke the good seed. All may +ask what they desire, and every reasonable demand will be granted, if it +be conformable to the great end. + +“‘If you feel grateful for these benefits, and testify it by increased +activity, and by occupying yourself on this day in expressing your +gratitude to me, I will take care this day of rest shall be a benefit, +and not a loss. I wish that all your useful animals, and even the wild +beasts of the plains, should on this day repose in peace. + +“‘He who obeys my commands in _Earthly Abode_, shall receive a rich +reward in the _Heavenly City;_ but the idle, the negligent, and the +evil-disposed, shall be condemned to perpetual slavery, or to labour in +mines, in the bowels of the earth. + +“‘From time to time, I shall send ships, to bring away individuals, to +be rewarded or punished, as they have fulfilled my commands. None can +deceive me; a magic mirror will show me the actions and thoughts +of all,’ + +“The colonists were satisfied, and eager to begin their labour. The +portions of land and instruments of labour were distributed to them, +with seeds, and useful plants, and fruit-trees. They were then left to +turn these good gifts to profit. + +“But what followed? Every one did as he wished. Some planted their +ground with groves and gardens, pretty and useless. Others planted wild +fruit, instead of the good fruit the Great King had commanded. A third +had sowed good seed; but, not knowing the tares from the wheat, he had +torn up all before they reached maturity. But the most part left their +land uncultivated; they had lost their seeds, or spoiled their +implements. Many would not understand the orders of the great king; and +others tried, by subtlety, to evade them. + +“A few laboured with courage, as they had been taught, rejoicing in the +hope of the promise given them. Their greatest danger was in the +disbelief of their teachers. Though every one had a copy of the law, few +read it; all were ready, by some excuse, to avoid this duty. Some +asserted they knew it, yet never thought on it: some called these the +laws of past times; not of the present. Other said the Great King did +not regard the actions of his subjects, that he had neither mines nor +dungeons, and that all would certainly be taken to the _Heavenly City_. +They began to neglect the duties of the day dedicated to the Great King. +Few assembled; and of these, the most part were inattentive, and did not +profit by the instruction given them. + +“But the Great King was faithful to his word. From time to time, +frigates arrived, bearing the name of some disease. These were followed +by a large vessel called _The Grave_, bearing the terrible flag of the +Admiral _Death_; this flag was of two colours, green and black; and +appeared to the colonists, according to their state, the smiling colour +of _Hope_, or the gloomy hue of _Despa’r._ + +“This fleet always arrived unexpectedly, and was usually unwelcome. The +officers were sent out, by the admiral, to seize those he pointed out: +many who were unwilling were compelled to go; and others whose land was +prepared, and even the harvest ripening, were summoned; but these went +joyfully, sure that they went to happiness. The fleet being ready, +sailed for the _Heavenly City_. Then the Great King, in his justice, +awarded the punishments and recompenses. Excuses were now too late; the +negligent and disobedient were sent to labour in the dark mines; while +the faithful and obedient, arrayed in bright robes, were received into +their glorious abodes of happiness. + +“I have finished my parable, my dear children; reflect on it, and profit +by it. Fritz, what do you think of it?” + +“I am considering the goodness of the Great King, and the ingratitude of +his people,” answered he. + +“And how very foolish they were,” said Ernest, “with a little prudence, +they might have kept their land in good condition, and secured a +pleasant life afterwards.” + +“Away with them to the mines!” cried Jack, “they richly deserved such a +doom.” + +“How much I should like,” said Francis, “to see those soldiers in their +shining armour!” + +“I hope you will see them some day, my dear boy, if you continue to be +good and obedient.” I then explained my parable fully, and applied the +moral to each of my sons directly. + +“You, Fritz, should take warning from the people who planted wild fruit, +and wished to make them pass for good fruit. Such are those who are +proud of natural virtues, easy to exercise,—such as bodily strength, +or physical courage; and place these above the qualities which are only +attained by labour and patience. + +“You, Ernest, must remember the subjects who laid out their land in +flowery gardens; like those who seek the pleasures of life, rather than +the duties. And you, my thoughtless Jack, and little Francis, think of +the fate of those who left their land untilled, or heedlessly sowed +tares for wheat. These are God’s people who neither study nor reflect; +who cast to the winds all instruction, and leave room in their minds for +evil. Then let us all be, like the good labourers of the parable, +constantly cultivating our ground, that, when Death comes for us, we may +willingly follow him to the feet of the Great King, to hear these +blessed words: ‘Good and faithful servants! enter into the joy of +your Lord!’” + +This made a great impression on my children. We concluded by singing a +hymn. Then my good wife produced from her unfailing bag, a copy of the +Holy Scripture, from which I selected such passages as applied to our +situation; and explained them to my best ability. My boys remained for +some time thoughtful and serious, and though they followed their +innocent recreations during the day, they did not lose sight of the +useful lesson of the morning, but, by a more gentle and amiable manner, +showed that my words had taken effect. + +The next morning, Ernest had used my bow, which I had given him, very +skilfully; bringing down some dozens of small birds, a sort of ortolan, +from the branches of our tree, where they assembled to feed on the figs. +This induced them all to wish for such a weapon. I was glad to comply +with their wishes, as I wished them to become skilful in the use of +these arms of our forefathers, which might be of great value to us, when +our ammunition failed. I made two bows; and two quivers, to contain +their arrows, of a flexible piece of bark, and, attaching a strap to +them, I soon armed my little archers. + +Fritz was engaged in preparing the skin of the margay, with more care +than Jack had shown with that of the jackal. I showed him how to clean +it, by rubbing it with sand in the river, till no vestige of fat or +flesh was left; and then applying butter, to render it flexible. + +These employments filled up the morning till dinner-time came. We had +Ernest’s ortolans, and some fried ham and eggs, which made us a +sumptuous repast. I gave my boys leave to kill as many ortolans as they +chose, for I knew that, half-roasted, and put into casks, covered with +butter, they would keep for a length of time, and prove an invaluable +resource in time of need. As I continued my work, making arrows, and a +bow for Francis, I intimated to my wife that the abundant supply of figs +would save our grain, as the poultry and pigeons would feed on them, as +well as the ortolans. This was a great satisfaction to her. And thus +another day passed, and we mounted to our dormitory, to taste the sweet +slumber that follows a day of toil. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The next morning, all were engaged in archery: I completed the bow for +Francis, and at his particular request made him a quiver too. The +delicate bark of a tree, united by glue, obtained from our portable +soup, formed an admirable quiver; this I suspended by a string round the +neck of my boy, furnished with arrows; then taking his bow in his hand, +he was as proud as a knight armed at all points. + +After dinner, I proposed that we should give names to all the parts of +our island known to us, in order that, by a pleasing delusion, we might +fancy ourselves in an inhabited country. My proposal was well received, +and then began the discussion of names. Jack wished for something +high-sounding and difficult, such as _Monomotapa_ or _Zanguebar_; very +difficult words, to puzzle any one that visited our island. But I +objected to this, as _we_ were the most likely to have to use the names +ourselves, and we should suffer from it. I rather suggested that we +should give, in our own language, such simple names as should point out +some circumstance connected with the spot. I proposed we should begin +with the bay where we landed, and called on Fritz for his name. + +“_The Bay of Oysters_” said he,—“we found so many there.” + +“Oh, no!” said Jack, “let it be _Lobster Bay_; for there I was caught by +the leg.” + +[Illustration: MAP OF THE HAPPY ISLAND. + +A. Tent House. +B. First Grotto. +C. Second Grotto. +D. Falcon’s Nest. +E. Farm. +F. Family Bridge. +G. Bears. +H. Cascades. +I. Shark’s Island. +J. Cabbage Palms. +K. Rice Marsh. +L. Arcadia. +M. Marsh. +N. Bamboos. +O. Sugar-Canes. +P. Gourd Wood. +Q. Acorn Wood. +R. Monkey Wood. +S. Sand Hills. +T. Coral Reefs. +U. Cotton Wood. +V. Flamingo Marsh. +W. Palm Cocoa Wood. +X. Potatoe Plantation.] + +“Then we ought to call it the _Bay of Tears_,” said Ernest, “to +commemorate those you shed on the occasion.” + +“My advice,” said my wife, “is, that in gratitude to God we should name +it _Safety Bay_.” + +We were all pleased with this name, and proceeded to give the name of +_Tent House_ to our first abode; _Shark Island_, to the little island in +the bay, where we had found that animal; and, at Jack’s desire, the +marshy spot where we had cut our arrows was named _Flamingo Marsh_. +There the height from which we had vainly sought traces of our +shipmates, received the name of _Cape Disappointment_. The river was to +be _Jackal River_, and the bridge, _Family Bridge_. The most difficult +point was, to name our present abode. At last we agreed on the name of +_Falcon’s Nest_ (in German _Falken-hoist)_. This was received with +acclamations, and I poured out for my young nestlings each a glass of +sweet wine, to drink Prosperity to _Falcon’s Nest_. We thus laid the +foundation of the geography of our new country, promising to forward it +to Europe by the first post. + +After dinner, my sons returned to their occupation as tanners, Fritz to +complete his belt, and Jack to make a sort of cuirass, of the formidable +skin of the porcupine, to protect the dogs. He finished by making a sort +of helmet from the head of the animal, as strange as the cuirasses. + +The heat of the day being over, we prepared to set out to walk to Tent +House, to renew our stock of provisions, and endeavour to bring the +geese and ducks to our new residence; but, instead of going by the +coast, we proposed to go up the river till we reached the chain of +rocks, and continue under their shade till we got to the cascade, where +we could cross, and return by Family Bridge. + +This was approved, and we set out. Fritz, decorated with his beautiful +belt of skin, Jack in his porcupine helmet. Each had a gun and game-bag; +except Francis, who, with his pretty fair face, his golden hair, and his +bow and quiver, was a perfect Cupid. My wife was loaded with a large +butter-pot for a fresh supply. Turk walked before us with his coat of +mail, and Flora followed, peeping at a respectful distance from him, for +fear of the darts. _Knips_, as my boys called the monkey, finding this +new saddle very inconvenient, jumped off, with many contortions, but +soon fixed on Flora, who, not being able to shake him off, was compelled +to become his palfrey. + +The road by the river was smooth and pleasant. When we reached the end +of the wood, the country seemed more open; and now the boys, who had +been rambling about, came running up, out of breath; Ernest was holding +a plant with leaves and flowers, and green apples hanging on it. + +“Potatoes!” said he; “I am certain they are potatoes!” + +“God be praised,” said I; “this precious plant will secure provision for +our colony.” + +“Well,” said Jack, “if his superior knowledge discovered them, I will be +the first to dig them up;” and he set to work so ardently, that we had +soon a bag of fine ripe potatoes, which we carried on to Tent House. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +We had been much delighted with the new and lovely scenery of our road: +the prickly cactus, and aloe, with its white flowers; the Indian fig; +the white and yellow jasmine; the fragrant vanilla, throwing round its +graceful festoons. Above all, the regal pineapple grew in profusion, +and we feasted on it, for the first time, with avidity. + +Among the prickly stalks of the cactus and aloes, I perceived a plant +with large pointed leaves, which I knew to be the _karata_. I pointed +out to the boys its beautiful red flowers; the leaves are an excellent +application to wounds, and thread is made from the filaments, and the +pith of the stem is used by the savage tribes for tinder. + +When I showed the boys, by experiment, the use of the pith, they thought +the _tinder-tree_ would be almost as useful as the potatoes. + +“At all events,” I said, “it will be more useful than the pine-apples; +your mother will be thankful for thread, when her enchanted bag is +exhausted.” + +“How happy it is for us,” said she, “that you have devoted yourself to +reading and study. In our ignorance we might have passed this treasure, +without suspecting its value.” + +Fritz inquired of what use in the world all the rest of these prickly +plants could be, which wounded every one that came near. + +“All these have their use, Fritz,” said I; “some contain juices and +gums, which are daily made use of in medicine; others are useful in the +arts, or in manufactures. The Indian fig, for instance, is a most +interesting tree. It grows in the most arid soil. The fruit is said to +be sweet and wholesome.” + +In a moment, my little active Jack was climbing the rocks to gather some +of these figs; but he had not remarked that they were covered with +thousands of slender thorns, finer than the finest needles, which +terribly wounded his fingers. He returned, weeping bitterly and dancing +with pain. Having rallied him a little for his greediness, I extracted +the thorns, and then showed him how to open the fruit, by first cutting +off the pointed end, as it lay on the ground; into this I fixed a piece +of stick, and then pared it with my knife. The novelty of the expedient +recommended it, and they were soon all engaged eating the fruit, which +they declared was very good. + +In the mean time, I saw Ernest examining one of the figs very +attentively. “Oh! papa!” said he, “what a singular sight; the fig is +covered with a small red insect. I cannot shake them off. Can they be +the _Cochineal_?” I recognized at once the precious insect, of which I +explained to my sons the nature and use. “It is with this insect,” said +I, “that the beautiful and rich scarlet dye is made. It is found in +America, and the Europeans give its weight in gold for it.” + +Thus discoursing on the wonders of nature, and the necessity of +increasing our knowledge by observation and study, we arrived at Tent +House, and found it in the same state as we left it. + +We all began to collect necessaries. Fritz loaded himself with powder +and shot, I opened the butter-cask, and my wife and little Francis +filled the pot. Ernest and Jack went to try and secure the geese and +ducks; but they had become so wild that it would have been impossible, +if Ernest had not thought of an expedient. He tied pieces of cheese, for +bait, to threads, which he floated on the water. The voracious creatures +immediately swallowed the cheese and were drawn out by the thread. They +were then securely tied, and fastened to the game-bags, to be carried +home on our backs. As the bait could not be recovered, the boys +contented themselves with cutting off the string close to the beak, +leaving them to digest the rest. + +Our bags were already loaded with potatoes, but we filled up the spaces +between them with salt; and, having relieved Turk of his armour, we +placed the heaviest on his back. I took the butter-pot; and, after +replacing everything, and closing our tent, we resumed our march, with +our ludicrous incumbrances. The geese and ducks were very noisy in their +adieu to their old marsh; the dogs barked; and we all laughed so +excessively, that we forgot our burdens till we sat down again under our +tree. My wife soon had her pot of potatoes on the fire. She then milked +the cow and goat, while I set the fowls at liberty on the banks of the +river. We then sat down to a smoking dish of potatoes, a jug of milk, +and butter and cheese. After supper we had prayers, thanking God +especially for his new benefits; and we then sought our repose among +the leaves. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +I had observed on the shore, the preceding day, a quantity of wood, +which I thought would suit to make a sledge, to convey our casks and +heavy stores from Tent House to Falcon’s Nest. At dawn of day I woke +Ernest, whose inclination to indolence I wished to overcome, and leaving +the rest asleep, we descended, and harnessing the ass to a strong branch +of a tree that was lying near, we proceeded to the shore. I had no +difficulty in selecting proper pieces of wood; we sawed them the right +length, tied them together, and laid them across the bough, which the +patient animal drew very contentedly. We added to the load a small chest +we discovered half buried in the sand, and we returned homewards, Ernest +leading the ass, and I assisted by raising the load with a lever when we +met with any obstruction. My wife had been rather alarmed; but seeing +the result of our expedition, and hearing of the prospect of a sledge, +she was satisfied. I opened the chest, which contained only some +sailors’ dresses and some linen, both wetted with sea-water; but likely +to be very useful as our own clothes decayed. I found Fritz and Jack had +been shooting ortolans; they had killed about fifty, but had consumed so +much powder and shot, that I checked a prodigality so imprudent in our +situation. I taught them to make snares for the birds of the threads we +drew from the karata-leaves we had brought home. My wife and her two +younger sons busied themselves with these, while I, with my two elder +boys, began to construct the sledge. As we were working, we heard a +great noise among the fowls, and Ernest, looking about, discovered the +monkey seizing and hiding the eggs from the nests; he had collected a +good store in a hole among the roots, which Ernest carried to his +mother; and Knips was punished by being tied up, every morning, till the +eggs were collected. + +Our work was interrupted by dinner, composed of ortolans, milk, and +cheese. After dinner, Jack had climbed to the higher branches of the +trees to place his snares, and found the pigeons were making nests. I +then told him to look often to the snares, for fear our own poor birds +should be taken; and, above all, never in future to fire into the tree. + +“Papa,” said little Francis, “can we not sow some gunpowder, and then we +shall have plenty?” This proposal was received with shouts of laughter, +which greatly discomposed the little innocent fellow. Professor Ernest +immediately seized the opportunity to give a lecture on the composition +of gunpowder. + +At the end of the day my sledge was finished. Two long curved planks of +wood, crossed by three pieces, at a distance from each other, formed the +simple conveyance. The fore and hind parts were in the form of horns, to +keep the load from falling off. Two ropes were fastened to the front, +and my sledge was complete. My wife was delighted with it, and hoped I +would now set out immediately to Tent House for the butter-cask. I made +no objection to this; and Ernest and I prepared to go, and leave Fritz +in charge of the family. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +When we were ready to set out, Fritz presented each of us with a little +case he had made from the skin of the margay. They were ingeniously +contrived to contain knife, fork, and spoon, and a small hatchet. We +then harnessed the ass and the cow to the sledge, took a flexible bamboo +cane for a whip, and, followed by Flora, we departed, leaving Turk to +guard the tree. + +We went by the shore, as the better road for the sledge, and crossing +Family Bridge, were soon at Tent House. After unharnessing the animals, +we began to load. We took the cask of butter, the cheese, and the +biscuit; all the rest of our utensils, powder, shot, and Turk’s armour, +which we had left there. These labours had so occupied us, that we had +not observed that our animals, attracted by the pasturage, had crossed +the bridge, and wandered out of sight. I sent Ernest to seek them, and +in the mean time went to the bay, where I discovered some convenient +little hollows in the rock, that seemed cut out for baths. I called +Ernest to come, and till he arrived, employed myself in cutting some +rushes, which I thought might be useful. When my son came, I found he +had ingeniously removed the first planks from the bridge, to prevent the +animals straying over again. We then had a very pleasant bath, and +Ernest being out first, I sent him to the rock, where the salt was +accumulated, to fill a small bag, to be transferred to the large bags on +the ass. He had not been absent long, when I heard him cry out, “Papa! +papa! a huge fish! I cannot hold it; it will break my line.” I ran to +his assistance, and found him lying on the ground on his face, tugging +at his line, to which an enormous salmon was attached, that had nearly +pulled him into the water. I let it have a little more line, then drew +it gently into a shallow, and secured it. It appeared about fifteen +pounds weight; and we pleased ourselves with the idea of presenting this +to our good cook. Ernest said, he remembered having remarked how this +place swarmed with fish, and he took care to bring his rod with him; he +had taken about a dozen small fishes, which he had in his handkerchief, +before he was overpowered by the salmon. I cut the fishes open, and +rubbed the inside with salt, to preserve them; then placing them in a +small box on the sledge, and adding our bags of salt, we harnessed our +animals, and set off homewards. + +When we were about half-way, Flora left us, and, by her barking, raised +a singular animal, which seemed to leap instead of run. The irregular +bounds of the animal disconcerted my aim, and, though very near, I +missed it. Ernest was more fortunate; he fired at it, and killed it. It +was an animal about the size of a sheep, with the tail of a tiger; its +head and skin were like those of a mouse, ears longer than the hare; +there was a curious pouch on the belly; the fore legs were short, as if +imperfectly developed, and armed with strong claws, the hind legs long, +like a pair of stilts. After Ernest’s pride of victory was a little +subdued, he fell back on his science, and began to examine his spoil. + +“By its teeth,” said he, “it should belong to the family of _rodentes_, +or gnawers; by its legs, to the _jumpers_; and by its pouch, to the +opossum tribe.” + +This gave me the right clue. “Then,” said I, “this must be the animal +Cook first discovered in New Holland, and it is called the _kangaroo_.” + +We now tied the legs of the animal together, and, putting a stick +through, carried it to the sledge very carefully, for Ernest was anxious +to preserve the beautiful skin. Our animals were heavily laden; but, +giving them a little rest and some fresh grass, we once more started, +and in a short time reached Falcon’s Nest. + +My wife had been employed during our absence in washing the clothes of +the three boys, clothing them in the mean time from the sailor’s chest +we had found a few days before. Their appearance was excessively +ridiculous, as the garments neither suited their age nor size, and +caused great mirth to us all; but my wife had preferred this disguise to +the alternative of their going naked. + +We now began to display our riches, and relate our adventures. The +butter and the rest of the provisions were very welcome, the salmon +still more so, but the sight of the kangaroo produced screams of +admiration. Fritz displayed a little jealousy, but soon surmounted it by +an exertion of his nobler feelings; and only the keen eye of a father +could have discovered it. He congratulated Ernest warmly, but could not +help begging to accompany me next time. + +“I promise you that,” said I, “as a reward for the conquest you have +achieved over your jealousy of your brother. But, remember, I could not +have given you a greater proof of my confidence, than in leaving you to +protect your mother and brothers. A noble mind finds its purest joy in +the accomplishment of its duty, and to that willingly sacrifices its +inclination. But,” I added, in a low tone, lest I should distress my +wife, “I propose another expedition to the vessel, and you must +accompany me.” + +We then fed our tired animals, giving them some salt with their grass, a +great treat to them. Some salmon was prepared for dinner, and the rest +salted. After dinner, I hung up the kangaroo till next day, when we +intended to salt and smoke the flesh. Evening arrived, and an excellent +supper of fish, ortolans, and potatoes refreshed us; and, after thanks +to God, we retired to rest. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +I rose early, and descended the ladder, a little uneasy about my +kangaroo, and found I was but just in time to save it, for my dogs had +so enjoyed their repast on the entrails, which I had given them the +night before, that they wished to appropriate the rest. They had +succeeded in tearing off the head, which was in their reach, and were +devouring it in a sort of growling partnership. As we had no store-room +for our provision, I decided to administer a little correction, as a +warning to these gluttons. I gave them some smart strokes with a cane, +and they fled howling to the stable under the roots. Their cries roused +my wife, who came down; and, though she could not but allow the +chastisement to be just and prudent, she was so moved by compassion, +that she consoled the poor sufferers with some remains of last +night’s supper. + +I now carefully stripped the kangaroo of his elegant skin, and washing +myself, and changing my dress after this unpleasant operation, I joined +my family at breakfast. I then announced my plan of visiting the vessel, +and ordered Fritz to make preparations. My wife resigned herself +mournfully to the necessity. When we were ready to depart, Ernest and +Jack were not to be found; their mother suspected they had gone to get +potatoes. This calmed my apprehension; but I charged her to reprimand +them for going without leave. We set out towards Tent House, leaving +Flora to protect the household, and taking our guns as usual. + +We had scarcely left the wood, and were approaching Jackal River, when +we heard piercing cries, and suddenly Ernest and Jack leaped from a +thicket, delighted, as Jack said, in having succeeded in their plan of +accompanying us, and, moreover, in making us believe we were beset with +savages. They were, however, disappointed. I gave them a severe reproof +for their disobedience, and sent them home with a message to their +mother that I thought we might be detained all night, and begged she +would not be uneasy. + +They listened to me in great confusion, and were much mortified at +their dismissal; but I begged Fritz to give Ernest his silver watch, +that they might know how the time passed; and I knew that I could +replace it, as there was a case of watches in the ship. This reconciled +them a little to their lot, and they left us. We went forward to our +boat, embarked, and, aided by the current, soon reached the vessel. + +My first care was to construct some more convenient transport-vessel +than our boat. Fritz proposed a raft, similar to those used by savage +nations, supported on skins filled with air. These we had not; but we +found a number of water-hogsheads, which we emptied, and closed again, +and threw a dozen of them into the sea, between the ship and our boat. +Some long planks were laid on these, and secured with ropes. We added a +raised edge of planks to secure our cargo, and thus had a solid raft, +capable of conveying any burden. This work occupied us the whole day, +scarcely interrupted by eating a little cold meat from our game-bags. +Exhausted by fatigue, we were glad to take a good night’s rest in the +captain’s cabin on an elastic mattress, of which our hammocks had made +us forget the comfort. Early next morning we began to load our raft. + +We began by entirely stripping our own cabin and that of the captain. We +carried away even the doors and windows. The chests of the carpenter and +the gunner followed. There were cases of rich jewellery, and caskets of +money, which at first tempted us, but were speedily relinquished for +objects of real utility. I preferred a case of young plants of European +fruits, carefully packed in moss for transportation. I saw, with +delight, among these precious plants, apple, pear, plum, orange, +apricot, peach, almond, and chesnut trees, and some young shoots of +vines. How I longed to plant these familiar trees of home in a foreign +soil. We secured some bars of iron and pigs of lead, grindstones, +cart-wheels ready for mounting, tongs, shovels, plough-shares, packets +of copper and iron wire, sacks of maize, peas, oats, and vetches; and +even a small hand-mill. The vessel had been, in fact, laden with +everything likely to be useful in a new colony. We found a saw-mill in +pieces, but marked, so that it could be easily put together. It was +difficult to select, but we took as much as was safe on the raft, adding +a large fishing-net and the ship’s compass. Fritz begged to take the +harpoons, which he hung by the ropes over the bow of our boat; and I +indulged his fancy. We were now loaded as far as prudence would allow +us; so, attaching our raft firmly to the boat, we hoisted our sail, and +made slowly to the shore. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +The wind was favourable, but we advanced slowly, the floating mass that +we had to tug retarding us. Fritz had been some time regarding a large +object in the water; he called me to steer a little towards it, that he +might see what it was. I went to the rudder, and made the movement; +immediately I heard the whistling of the cord, and felt a shock; then a +second, which was followed by a rapid motion of the boat. + +“We are going to founder!” cried I. “What is the matter?” + +“I have caught it,” shouted Fritz; “I have harpooned it in the neck. It +is a turtle.” + +I saw the harpoon shining at a distance, and the turtle was rapidly +drawing us along by the line. I lowered the sail, and rushed forward to +cut the line; but Fritz besought me not to do it. He assured me there +was no danger, and that he himself would release us if necessary. I +reluctantly consented, and saw our whole convoy drawn by an animal whose +agony increased its strength. As we drew near the shore, I endeavoured +to steer so that we might not strike and be capsized. I saw after a few +minutes that our conductor again wanted to make out to sea; I therefore +hoisted the sail, and the wind being in our favour, he found resistance +vain, and, tugging as before, followed up the current, only taking more +to the left, towards Falcon’s Nest, and landing us in a shallow, rested +on the shore. I leaped out of the boat, and with a hatchet soon put our +powerful conductor out of his misery. + +Fritz uttered a shout of joy, and fired off his gun, as a signal of our +arrival. All came running to greet us, and great was their surprise, not +only at the value of our cargo, but at the strange mode by which it had +been brought into harbour. My first care was to send them for the +sledge, to remove some of our load without delay, and as the ebbing tide +was leaving our vessels almost dry on the sand, I profited by the +opportunity to secure them. By the aid of the jack-screw and levers, we +raised and brought to the shore two large pieces of lead from the raft. +These served for anchors and, connected to the boat and raft by strong +cables, fixed them safely. + +As soon as the sledge arrived, we placed the turtle with some difficulty +on it, as it weighed at least three hundredweight. We added some lighter +articles, the mattresses, some small chests, &c., and proceeded with our +first load to Falcon’s Nest in great spirits. As we walked on, Fritz +told them of the wondrous cases of jewellery we had abandoned for things +of use; Jack wished Fritz had brought him a gold snuff-box, to hold +curious seeds; and Francis wished for some of the money to buy +gingerbread at the fair! Everybody laughed at the little simpleton, who +could not help laughing himself, when he remembered his distance from +fairs. Arrived at home, our first care was to turn the turtle on his +back, to get the excellent meat out of the shell. With my hatchet I +separated the cartilages that unite the shells: the upper shell is +convex, the lower one nearly flat. + +We had some of the turtle prepared for dinner, though my wife felt great +repugnance in touching the green fat, notwithstanding my assurance of +its being the chief delicacy to an epicure. + +We salted the remainder of the flesh, and gave the offal to the dogs. +The boys were all clamorous to possess the shell; but I said it belonged +to Fritz, by right of conquest, and he must dispose of it as he +thought best. + +“Then,” said he, “I will make a basin of it, and place it near the +river, that my mother may always keep it full of fresh water.” + +“Very good,” said I, “and we will fill our basin, as soon as we find +some clay to make a solid foundation.” + +“I found some this morning,” said Jack,—“a whole bed of clay, and I +brought these balls home to show you.” + +“And I have made a discovery too,” said Ernest. “Look at these roots, +like radishes; I have not eaten any, but the sow enjoys them very much.” + +“A most valuable discovery, indeed,” said I; “if I am not mistaken, this +is the root of the _manioc_, which with the potatoes will insure us from +famine. Of this root they make in the West Indies a sort of bread, +called cassava bread. In its natural state it contains a violent poison, +but by a process of heating it becomes wholesome. The nutritious tapioca +is a preparation from this root.” + +By this time we had unloaded, and proceeded to the shore to bring a +second load before night came on. We brought up two chests of our own +clothes and property, some chests of tools, the cart-wheels, and the +hand-mill, likely now to be of use for the cassava. After unloading, we +sat down to an excellent supper of turtle, with potatoes, instead of +bread. After supper, my wife said, smiling, “After such a hard day, I +think I can give you something to restore you.” She then brought a +bottle and glasses, and filled us each a glass of clear, amber-coloured +wine. I found it excellent Malaga. She had been down to the shore the +previous day, and there found a small cask thrown up by the waves. This, +with the assistance of her sons, she had rolled up to the foot of our +tree, and there covered it with leaves to keep it cool till our arrival. + +We were so invigorated by this cordial, that we set briskly to work to +hoist up our mattresses to our dormitory, which we accomplished by the +aid of ropes and pulleys. My wife received and arranged them, and after +our usual evening devotions, we gladly lay down on them, to enjoy a +night of sweet repose. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +I rose before daylight, and, leaving my family sleeping, descended, to +go to the shore to look after my vessels. I found all the animals +moving. The dogs leaped about me; the cocks were crowing; the goats +browsing on the dewy grass. The ass alone was sleeping; and, as he was +the assistant I wanted, I was compelled to rouse him, a preference which +did not appear to flatter him. Nevertheless, I harnessed him to the +sledge, and, followed by the dogs, went forward to the coast, where I +found my boat and raft safe at anchor. I took up a moderate load and +came home to breakfast; but found all still as I left them. I called my +family, and they sprung up ashamed of their sloth; my wife declared it +must have been the good mattress that had charmed her. + +I gave my boys a short admonition for their sloth. We then came down to +a hasty breakfast, and returned to the coast to finish the unloading the +boats, that I might, at high water, take them round to moor at the usual +place in the Bay of Safety. I sent my wife up with the last load, while +Fritz and I embarked, and, seeing Jack watching us, I consented that he +should form one of the crew, for I had determined to make another visit +to the wreck before I moored my craft. When we reached the vessel, the +day was so far advanced that we had only time to collect hastily +anything easy to embark. My sons ran over the ship. Jack came trundling +a wheelbarrow, which he said would be excellent for fetching the +potatoes in. + +But Fritz brought me good news: he had found, between decks, a beautiful +pinnace (a small vessel, of which the prow is square), taken to pieces, +with all its fittings, and even two small guns. I saw that all the +pieces were numbered, and placed in order; nothing was wanting. I felt +the importance of this acquisition; but it would take days of labour to +put it together; and then how could we launch it? At present, I felt I +must renounce the undertaking. I returned to my loading. It consisted of +all sorts of utensils: a copper boiler, some plates of iron, +tobacco-graters, two grindstones, a barrel of powder, and one of flints. +Jack did not forget his wheelbarrow; and we found two more, which we +added to our cargo, and then sailed off speedily, to avoid the +land-wind, which rises in the evening. + +As we drew near, we were astonished to see a row of little creatures +standing on the shore, apparently regarding us with much curiosity. They +were dressed in black, with white waistcoats, and thick cravats; their +arms hung down carelessly; but from time to time they raised them as if +they wished to bestow on us a fraternal embrace. + +“I believe,” said I, laughing, “this must be the country of pigmies, +and they are coming to welcome us.” + +“They are the Lilliputians, father,” said Jack; “I have read of them; +but I thought they had been less.” + +“As if Gulliver’s Travels was true!” said Fritz, in a tone of derision. + +“Then are there no pigmies?” asked he. + +“No, my dear boy,” said I; “all these stories are either the invention +or the mistakes of ancient navigators, who have taken troops of monkeys +for men, or who have wished to repeat something marvellous. But the +romance of Gulliver is an allegory, intended to convey great truths.” + +“And now,” said Fritz, “I begin to see our pigmies have beaks and +wings.” + +“You are right,” said I; “they are penguins, as Ernest explained to us +some time since. They are good swimmers; but, unable to fly, are very +helpless on land.” + +I steered gently to the shore, that I might not disturb them; but Jack +leaped into the water up to his knees, and, dashing among the penguins, +with a stick struck right and left, knocking down half a dozen of the +poor stupid birds before they were aware. Some of these we brought away +alive. The rest, not liking such a reception, took to the water, and +were soon out of sight. I scolded Jack for his useless rashness, for the +flesh of the penguin is by no means a delicacy. + +We now filled our three wheelbarrows with such things as we could +carry, not forgetting the sheets of iron and the graters, and trudged +home. Our dogs announced our approach, and all rushed out to meet us. A +curious and merry examination commenced. They laughed at my graters; but +I let them laugh, for I had a project in my head. The penguins I +intended for our poultry-yard; and, for the present, I ordered the boys +to tie each of them by a leg to one of our geese or ducks, who opposed +the bondage very clamorously; but necessity made them submissive. + +My wife showed me a large store of potatoes and manioc roots, which she +and her children had dug up the evening before. We then went to supper, +and talked of all we had seen in the vessel, especially of the pinnace, +which we had been obliged to leave. My wife did not feel much regret on +this account, as she dreaded maritime expeditions, though she agreed she +might have felt less uneasiness if we had had a vessel of this +description. I gave my sons a charge to rise early next morning, as we +had an important business on hand; and curiosity roused them all in very +good time. After our usual preparations for the day, I addressed them +thus: “Gentlemen, I am going to teach you all a new business,—that of a +baker. Give me the plates of iron and the graters we brought yesterday.” +My wife was astonished; but I requested her to wait patiently and she +should have bread, not perhaps light buns, but eatable flat cakes. But +first she was to make me two small bags of sailcloth. She obeyed me; +but, at the same time, I observed she put the potatoes on the fire, a +proof she had not much faith in my bread-making. I then spread a cloth +over the ground, and, giving each of the boys a grater, we began to +grate the carefully-washed manioc roots, resting the end on the cloth. +In a short time we had a heap of what appeared to be moist white +sawdust; certainly not tempting to the appetite; but the little workmen +were amused with their labour, and jested no little about the cakes made +of scraped radishes. + +“Laugh now, boys,” said I; “we shall see, after a while. But you, +Ernest, ought to know that the manioc is one of the most precious of +alimentary roots, forming the principal sustenance of many nations of +America, and often preferred by Europeans, who inhabit those countries, +to wheaten bread.” + +When all the roots were grated, I filled the two bags closely with the +pollard, and my wife sewed the ends up firmly. It was now necessary to +apply strong pressure to extract the juice from the root, as this juice +is a deadly poison. I selected an oak beam, one end of which we fixed +between the roots of our tree; beneath this I placed our bags on a row +of little blocks of wood; I then took a large bough, which I had cut +from a tree, and prepared for the purpose, and laid it across them. We +all united then in drawing down the opposite end of the plank over the +bough, till we got it to a certain point, when we suspended to it the +heaviest substances we possessed; hammers, bars of iron, and masses of +lead. This acting upon the manioc, the sap burst through the cloth, and +flowed on the ground copiously. When I thought the pressure was +complete, we relieved the bags from the lever, and opening one, drew out +a handful of the pollard, still rather moist, resembling coarse +maize-flour. + +“It only wants a little heat to complete our success,” said I, in great +delight. I ordered a fire to be lighted, and fixing one of our iron +plates, which was round in form, and rather concave, on two stones +placed on each side of the fire, I covered it with the flour which we +took from the bag with a small wooden shovel. It soon formed a solid +cake, which we turned, that it might be equally baked. + +It smelled so good, that they all wished to commence eating immediately; +and I had some difficulty in convincing them that this was only a trial, +and that our baking was still imperfect. Besides, as I told them there +were three kinds of manioc, of which one contained more poison than the +rest, I thought it prudent to try whether we had perfectly extracted it, +by giving a small quantity to our fowls. As soon, therefore, as the cake +was cold, I gave some to two chickens, which I kept apart; and also some +to Master Knips, the monkey, that he might, for the first time, do us a +little service. He ate it with so much relish, and such grimaces of +enjoyment, that my young party were quite anxious to share his feast; +but I ordered them to wait till we could judge of the effect, and, +leaving our employment, we went to our dinner of potatoes, to which my +wife had added one of the penguins, which was truly rather tough and +fishy; but as Jack would not allow this, and declared it was a dish fit +for a king, we allowed him to regale on it as much as he liked. During +dinner, I talked to them of the various preparations made from the +manioc; I told my wife we could obtain an excellent starch from the +expressed juice; but this did not interest her much, as at present she +usually wore the dress of a sailor, for convenience, and had neither +caps nor collars to starch. + +The cake made from the root is called by the natives of the Antilles +_cassava_, and in no savage nation do we find any word signifying +_bread_; an article of food unknown to them. + +We spoke of poisons; and I explained to my sons the different nature and +effects of them. Especially I warned them against the _manchineel_, +which ought to grow in this part of the world. I described the fruit to +them, as resembling a tempting yellow apple, with red spots, which is +one of the most deadly poisons: it is said that even to sleep under the +tree is dangerous. I forbade them to taste any unknown fruit, and they +promised to obey me. + +On leaving the table, we went to visit the victims of our experiment. +Jack whistled for Knips, who came in three bounds from the summit of a +high tree, where he had doubtless been plundering some nest; and his +vivacity, and the peaceful cackling of the fowls, assured us our +preparation was harmless. + +“Now, gentlemen,” said I, laughing, “to the bakehouse, and let us see +what we can do.” I wished them each to try to make the cakes. They +immediately kindled the fire and heated the iron plate. In the mean +time, I broke up the grated cassava, and mixed it with a little milk; +and giving each of them a cocoa-nut basin filled with the paste, I +showed them how to pour it with a spoon upon the plate, and spread it +about; when the paste began to puff up, I judged it was baked on one +side, and turned it, like a pancake, with a fork; and after a little +time, we had a quantity of nice yellow biscuits, which, with a jug of +milk, made us a delicious collation; and determined us, without delay, +to set about cultivating the manioc. + +The rest of the day was employed in bringing up the remainder of our +cargo, by means of the sledge and the useful wheelbarrows. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +The next morning I decided on returning to the wreck. The idea of the +pinnace continually haunted my mind, and left me no repose. But it was +necessary to take all the hands I could raise, and with difficulty I got +my wife’s consent to take my three elder sons, on promising her we would +return in the evening. We set out, taking provision for the day, and +soon arrived at the vessel, when my boys began to load the raft with all +manner of portable things. But the great matter was the pinnace. It was +contained in the after-hold of the vessel, immediately below the +officers’ berths. My sons, with all the ardour of their age, begged to +begin by clearing a space in the vessel to put the pinnace together, and +we might afterwards think how we should launch it. Under any other +circumstances I should have shown them the folly of such an undertaking; +but in truth, I had myself a vague hope of success, that encouraged me, +and I cried out, “To work! to work!” The hold was lighted by some chinks +in the ship’s side. We set diligently to work, hacking, cutting, and +sawing away all obstacles, and before evening we had a clear space round +us. But now it was necessary to return, and we put to sea with our +cargo, purposing to continue our work daily. On reaching the Bay of +Safety, we had the pleasure of finding my wife and Francis, who had +established themselves at Tent House, intending to continue there till +our visits to the vessel were concluded; that they might always keep us +in sight, and spare us the unnecessary labour of a walk after our +day’s work. + +I thanked my wife tenderly for this kind sacrifice, for I knew how much +she enjoyed the cool shade of Falcon’s Nest; and in return I showed her +the treasures we had brought her from the vessel, consisting of two +barrels of salt butter, three hogsheads of flour, several bags of +millet, rice, and other grains, and a variety of useful household +articles, which she conveyed with great delight to our storehouse in +the rocks. + +For a week we spent every day in the vessel, returning in the evening to +enjoy a good supper, and talk of our progress; and my wife, happily +engrossed with her poultry and other household cares, got accustomed to +our absence. With much hard labour, the pinnace was at last put +together. Its construction was light and elegant, it looked as if it +would sail well; at the head was a short half-deck; the masts and sails +were like those of a brigantine. We carefully caulked all the seams with +tow dipped in melted tar; and we even indulged ourselves by placing the +two small guns in it, fastened by chains. + +And there stood the beautiful little bark, immovable on the stocks. We +admired it incessantly; but what could we do to get it afloat? The +difficulty of forcing a way through the mighty timbers lined with +copper, that formed the side of the ship, was insurmountable. + +Suddenly, suggested by the excess of my despair, a bold but dangerous +idea presented itself to me, in which all might be lost, as well as all +gained. I said nothing about this to my children, to avoid the vexation +of a possible disappointment, but began to execute my plan. + +I found a cast-iron mortar, exactly fitted for my purpose, which I +filled with gunpowder. I then took a strong oak plank to cover it, to +which I fixed iron hooks, so that they could reach the handles of the +mortar. I cut a groove in the side of the plank, that I might introduce +a long match, which should burn at least two hours before it reached the +powder. I placed the plank then over the mortar, fastened the hooks +through the handles, surrounded it with pitch, and then bound some +strong chains round the whole, to give it greater solidity. I proceeded +to suspend this infernal machine against the side of the ship near our +work, taking care to place it where the recoil from the explosion should +not injure the pinnace. When all was ready, I gave the signal of +departure, my sons having been employed in the boat, and not observing +my preparations. I remained a moment to fire the match, and then hastily +joined them with a beating heart, and proceeded to the shore. + +As soon as we reached our harbour, I detached the raft, that I might +return in the boat as soon as I heard the explosion. We began actively +to unload the boat, and while thus employed, a report like thunder was +heard. All trembled, and threw down their load in terror. + +“What can it be?” cried they. “Perhaps a signal from some vessel in +distress. Let us go to their assistance.” + +“It came from the vessel,” said my wife. “It must have blown up. You +have not been careful of fire; and have left some near a barrel of +gunpowder.” + +“At all events,” said I, “we will go and ascertain the cause. Who’ll go +with me?” + +By way of reply, my three sons leaped into the boat, and consoling the +anxious mother by a promise to return immediately, away we rowed. We +never made the voyage so quickly. Curiosity quickened the movements of +my sons, and I was all impatience to see the result of my project. As we +approached, I was glad to see no appearance of flames, or even smoke. +The position of the vessel did not seem altered. Instead of entering the +vessel as usual, we rounded the prow, and came opposite the other side. +The greater part of the side of the ship was gone. The sea was covered +with the remains of it. In its place stood our beautiful pinnace, quite +uninjured, only leaning a little over the stocks. At the sight I cried +out, in a transport that amazed my sons, “Victory! victory! the charming +vessel is our own; it will be easy now to launch her.” + +“Ah! I comprehend now,” said Fritz. “Papa has blown up the ship; but how +could you manage to do it so exactly?” + +I explained all to him, as we entered through the broken side of the +devoted vessel. I soon ascertained that no fire remained; and that the +pinnace had escaped any injury. We set to work to clear away all the +broken timbers in our way, and, by the aid of the jack-screw and +levers, we moved the pinnace, which we had taken care to build on +rollers, to the opening; then attaching a strong cable to her head, and +fixing the other end to the most solid part of the ship, we easily +launched her. It was too late to do any more now, except carefully +securing our prize. And we returned to the good mother, to whom, wishing +to give her an agreeable surprise, we merely said, that the side of the +vessel was blown out with powder; but we were still able to obtain more +from it; at which she sighed, and, in her heart, I have no doubt, wished +the vessel, and all it contained, at the bottom of the sea. + +We had two days of incessant labour in fitting and loading the pinnace; +finally, after putting up our masts, ropes, and sails, we selected a +cargo of things our boats could not bring. When all was ready, my boys +obtained permission, as a reward for their industry, to salute their +mamma, as we entered the bay, by firing our two guns. Fritz was captain, +and Ernest and Jack, at his command, put their matches to the guns, and +fired. My wife and little boy rushed out in alarm; but our joyful shouts +soon re-assured them; and they were ready to welcome us with +astonishment and delight. Fritz placed a plank from the pinnace to the +shore, and, assisting his mother, she came on board. They gave her a new +salute, and christened the vessel _The Elizabeth_, after her. + +My wife praised our skill and perseverance, but begged we would not +suppose that Francis and she had been idle during our long absence. We +moored the little fleet safely to the shore, and followed her up the +river to the cascade, where we saw a neat garden laid out in beds +and walks. + +“This is our work,” said she; “the soil here, being chiefly composed of +decayed leaves, is light and easy to dig. There I have my potatoes; +there manioc roots: these are sown with peas, beans and lentils; in this +row of beds are sown lettuces, radishes, cabbages, and other European +vegetables. I have reserved one part for sugar-canes; on the high ground +I have transplanted pine-apples, and sown melons. Finally, round every +bed, I have sown a border of maize, that the high, bushy stems may +protect the young plants from the sun.” + +I was delighted with the result of the labour and industry of a delicate +female and a child, and could scarcely believe it was accomplished in so +short a time. + +“I must confess I had no great hope of success at first,” said my wife, +“and this made me averse to speaking of it. Afterwards, when I suspected +you had a secret, I determined to have one, too, and give you a +surprise.” + +After again applauding these useful labours, we returned to discharge +our cargo; and as we went, my good Elizabeth, still full of +horticultural plans, reminded me of the young fruit-trees we had brought +from the vessel. I promised to look after them next day, and to +establish my orchard near her kitchen-garden. + +We unloaded our vessels; placed on the sledge all that might be useful +at Falcon’s Nest; and, arranging the rest under the tent, fixed our +pinnace to the shore, by means of the anchor and a cord fastened to a +heavy stone; and at length set out to Falcon’s Nest, where we arrived +soon, to the great comfort of my wife, who dreaded the burning plain at +Tent House. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +After our return to Falcon’s Nest, I requested my sons to continue their +exercises in gymnastics. I wished to develope all the vigour and energy +that nature had given them; and which, in our situation, were especially +necessary. I added to archery, racing, leaping, wrestling, and climbing +trees, either by the trunks, or by a rope suspended from the branches, +as sailors climb. I next taught them to use the _lasso_, a powerful +weapon, by aid of which the people of South America capture savage +animals. I fixed two balls of lead to the ends of a cord about a fathom +in length. The Patagonians, I told them, used this weapon with wonderful +dexterity. Having no leaden balls, they attach a heavy stone to each end +of a cord about thirty yards long. If they wish to capture an animal, +they hurl one of the stones at it with singular address. By the peculiar +art with which the ball is thrown, the rope makes a turn or two round +the neck of the animal, which remains entangled, without the power of +escaping. In order to show the power of this weapon, I took aim at the +trunk of a tree which they pointed out. My throw was quite successful. +The end of the rope passed two or three times round the trunk of the +tree, and remained firmly fixed to it. If the tree had been the neck of +a tiger, I should have been absolute master of it. This experiment +decided them all to learn the use of the lasso. Fritz was soon skilful +in throwing it, and I encouraged the rest to persevere in acquiring the +same facility, as the weapon might be invaluable to us when our +ammunition failed. + +The next morning I saw, on looking out, that the sea was too much +agitated for any expedition in the boats; I therefore turned to some +home employments. We looked over our stores for winter provision. My +wife showed me a cask of ortolans she had preserved in butter, and a +quantity of loaves of cassava bread, carefully prepared. She pointed +out, that the pigeons had built in the tree, and were sitting on their +eggs. We then looked over the young fruit-trees brought from Europe, and +my sons and I immediately laid out a piece of ground, and planted them. + +The day passed in these employments; and as we had lived only on +potatoes, cassava bread, and milk for this day, we determined to go off +next morning in pursuit of game to recruit our larder. At dawn of day we +all started, including little Francis and his mother, who wished to take +this opportunity of seeing a little more of the country. My sons and I +took our arms, I harnessed the ass to the sledge which contained our +provision for the day, and was destined to bring back the products of +the chase. Turk, accoutred in his coat of mail, formed the advanced +guard; my sons followed with their guns; then came my wife with Francis +leading the ass; and at a little distance I closed the procession, with +Master Knips mounted on the patient Flora. + +We crossed Flamingo Marsh, and there my wife was charmed with the +richness of the vegetation and the lofty trees. Fritz left us, thinking +this a favourable spot for game. We soon heard the report of his gun, +and an enormous bird fell a few paces from us. I ran to assist him, as +he had much difficulty in securing his prize, which was only wounded in +the wing, and was defending itself vigorously with its beak and claws. I +threw a handkerchief over its head, and, confused by the darkness, I had +no difficulty in binding it, and conveying it in triumph to the sledge. +We were all in raptures at the sight of this beautiful creature, which +Ernest pronounced to be a female of the bustard tribe. My wife hoped +that the bird might be domesticated among her poultry, and, attracting +some more of its species, might enlarge our stock of useful fowls. We +soon arrived at the Wood of Monkeys, as we called it, where we had +obtained our cocoa-nuts; and Fritz related the laughable scene of the +stratagem to his mother and brothers. Ernest looked up wistfully at the +nuts, but there were no monkeys to throw them down. + +“Do they never fall from the trees?” and hardly had he spoken, when a +large cocoa-nut fell at his feet, succeeded by a second, to my great +astonishment, for I saw no animal in the tree, and I was convinced the +nuts in the half-ripe state, as these were, could not fall of +themselves. + +“It is exactly like a fairy tale,” said Ernest; “I had only to speak, +and my wish was accomplished.” + +“And here comes the magician,” said I, as, after a shower of nuts, I saw +a huge land-crab descending the tree quietly, and quite regardless of +our presence. Jack boldly struck a blow at him, but missed, and the +animal, opening its enormous claws, made up to its opponent, who fled in +terror. But the laughter of his brothers made him ashamed, and recalling +his courage, he pulled off his coat, and threw it over the back of the +crab; this checked its movements, and going to his assistance, I killed +it with a blow of my hatchet. + +They all crowded round the frightful animal, anxious to know what it +was. I told them it was a land-crab—which we might call the _cocoa-nut +crab_, as we owed such a store to it. Being unable to break the shell of +the nut, of which they are very fond, they climb the tree, and break +them off, in the unripe state. They then descend to enjoy their feast, +which they obtain by inserting their claw through the small holes in the +end, and abstracting the contents. They sometimes find them broken by +the fall, when they can eat them at pleasure. + +The hideousness of the animal, and the mingled terror and bravery of +Jack, gave us subject of conversation for some time. We placed our booty +on the sledge, and continued to go on through the wood. Our path became +every instant more intricate, from the amazing quantity of creeping +plants which choked the way, and obliged us to use the axe continually. +The heat was excessive, and we got on slowly, when Ernest, always +observing, and who was a little behind us, cried out, “Halt! a new and +important discovery!” We returned, and he showed us, that from the stalk +of one of the creepers we had cut with our axe, there was issuing clear, +pure water. It was the _liane rouge_, which, in America, furnishes +the hunter such a precious resource against thirst. Ernest was much +pleased; he filled a cocoa-nut cup with the water, which flowed from the +cut stalks like a fountain, and carried it to his mother, assuring her +she might drink fearlessly; and we all had the comfort of allaying our +thirst, and blessing the Gracious Hand who has placed this refreshing +plant in the midst of the dry wilderness for the benefit of man. + +[Illustration: “Suddenly we saw Ernest running to us, in great terror, +crying, ‘A wild boar, papa! a great wild boar!’”] + +We now marched on with more vigour, and soon arrived at the Gourd Wood, +where my wife and younger sons beheld with wonder the growth of this +remarkable fruit. Fritz repeated all the history of our former attempts, +and cut some gourds to make his mother some egg-baskets, and a large +spoon to cream the milk. But we first sat down under the shade, and took +some refreshment; and afterwards, while we all worked at making baskets, +bowls, and flasks, Ernest, who had no taste for such labour, explored +the wood. Suddenly we saw him running to us, in great terror, crying, “A +wild boar! Papa; a great wild boar!” Fritz and I seized our guns, and +ran to the spot he pointed out, the dogs preceding us. We soon heard +barking and loud grunting, which proved the combat had begun, and, +hoping for a good prize, we hastened forward; when, what was our +vexation, when we found the dogs holding by the ears, not a wild boar, +but our own great sow, whose wild and intractable disposition had +induced her to leave us, and live in the woods! We could not but laugh +at our disappointment, after a while, and I made the dogs release the +poor sow, who immediately resumed her feast on a small fruit, which had +fallen from the trees, and, scattered on the ground, had evidently +tempted the voracious beast to this part. I took up one of these apples, +which somewhat resembled a medlar, and opening it, found the contents of +a rich and juicy nature, but did not venture to taste it till we had put +it to the usual test. We collected a quantity—I even broke a loaded +branch from the tree, and we returned to our party. Master Knips no +sooner saw them than he seized on some, and crunched them up with great +enjoyment. This satisfied me that the fruit was wholesome, and we +regaled ourselves with some. My wife was especially delighted when I +told her this must be the guava, from which the delicious jelly is +obtained, so much prized in America. + +“But, with all this,” said Fritz, “we have a poor show of game. Do let +us leave mamma with the young ones, and set off, to see what we can +meet with.” + +I consented, and we left Ernest with his mother and Francis, Jack +wishing to accompany us. We made towards the rocks at the right hand, +and Jack preceded us a little, when he startled us by crying out, “A +crocodile, papa!—a crocodile!” + +“You simpleton!” said I, “a crocodile in a place where there is not a +drop of water!” + +“Papa!—I see it!” said the poor child, his eyes fixed on one spot; “it +is there, on this rock, sleeping. I am sure it is a crocodile!” + +As soon as I was near enough to distinguish it, I assured him his +crocodile was a very harmless lizard, called the _iguana_, whose eggs +and flesh were excellent food. Fritz would immediately have shot at this +frightful creature, which was about five feet in length. I showed him +that his scaly coat rendered such an attempt useless. I then cut a +strong stick and a light wand. To the end of the former I attached a +cord with a noose; this I held in my right hand, keeping the wand in my +left. I approached softly, whistling. The animal awoke, apparently +listening with pleasure. I drew nearer, tickling him gently with the +wand. He lifted up his head, and opened his formidable jaws. I then +dexterously threw the noose round his neck, drew it, and, jumping on his +back, by the aid of my sons, held him down, though he succeeded in +giving Jack a desperate blow with his tail. Then, plunging my wand up +his nostrils, a few drops of blood came, and he died apparently +without pain. + +We now carried off our game. I took him on my back, holding him by the +fore-claws, while my boys carried the tail behind me; and, with shouts +of laughter, the procession returned to the sledge. + +Poor little Francis was in great dismay when he saw the terrible monster +we brought, and began to cry; but we rallied him out of his cowardice, +and his mother, satisfied with our exploits, begged to return home. As +the sledge was heavily laden, we decided to leave it till the next day, +placing on the ass, the iguana, the crab, our gourd vessels, and a bag +of the guavas, little Francis being also mounted. The bustard we loosed, +and, securing it by a string tied to one of its legs, led it with us. + +We arrived at home in good time. My wife prepared part of the iguana for +supper, which was pronounced excellent. The crab was rejected as tough +and tasteless. Our new utensils were then tried, the egg-baskets and the +milk-bowls, and Fritz was charged to dig a hole in the earth, to be +covered with boards, and serve as a dairy, till something better was +thought of. Finally, we ascended our leafy abode, and slept in peace. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +I projected an excursion with my eldest son, to explore the limits of +our country, and satisfy ourselves that it was an island, and not a part +of the continent. We set out, ostensibly, to bring the sledge we had +left the previous evening. I took Turk and the ass with us, and left +Flora with my wife and children, and, with a bag of provisions, we left +Falcon’s Nest as soon as breakfast was over. + +In crossing a wood of oaks, covered with the sweet, eatable acorn, we +again met with the sow; our service to her in the evening did not seem +to be forgotten, for she appeared tamer, and did not run from us. A +little farther on, we saw some beautiful birds. Fritz shot some, among +which I recognized the large blue Virginian jay, and some different +kinds of parrots. As he was reloading his gun, we heard at a distance a +singular noise, like a muffled drum, mingled with the sound made in +sharpening a saw. It might be savages; and we plunged into a thicket, +and there discovered the cause of the noise in a brilliant green bird, +seated on the withered trunk of a tree. It spread its wings and tail, +and strutted about with strange contortions, to the great delight of its +mates, who seemed lost in admiration of him. At the same time, he made +the sharp cry we heard, and, striking his wing against the tree, +produced the drum-like sound. I knew this to be the _ruffed grouse_, one +of the greatest ornaments of the forests of America. My insatiable +hunter soon put an end to the scene; he fired at the bird, who fell +dead, and his crowd of admirers, with piercing cries, took to flight. + +I reprimanded my son for so rashly killing everything we met with +without consideration, and for the mere love of destruction. He seemed +sensible of his error, and, as the thing was done, I thought it as well +to make the best of it, and sent him to pick up his game. + +“What a creature!” said he, as he brought it; “how it would have figured +in our poultry-yard, if I had not been in such a hurry.” + +We went on to our sledge in the Gourd Wood, and, as the morning was not +far advanced, we determined to leave all here, and proceed in our +projected excursion beyond the chain of rocks. But we took the ass with +us to carry our provisions, and any game or other object we should meet +with in the new country we hoped to penetrate. Amongst gigantic trees, +and through grass of a prodigious height, we travelled with some labour, +looking right and left to avoid danger, or to make discoveries. Turk +walked the first, smelling the air; then came the donkey, with his grave +and careless step; and we followed, with our guns in readiness. We met +with plains of potatoes and of manioc, amongst the stalks of which were +sporting tribes of agoutis; but we were not tempted by such game. + +We now met with a new kind of bush covered with small white berries +about the size of a pea. On pressing these berries, which adhered to my +fingers, I discovered that this plant was the _Myrica cerifera_, or +candle-berry myrtle, from which a wax is obtained that may be made into +candles. With great pleasure I gathered a bag of these berries, knowing +how my wife would appreciate this acquisition; for she often lamented +that we were compelled to go to bed with the birds, as soon as the +sun set. + +We forgot our fatigue, as we proceeded, in contemplation of the wonders +of nature, flowers of marvellous beauty, butterflies of more dazzling +colours than the flowers, and birds graceful in form, and brilliant in +plumage. Fritz climbed a tree, and succeeded in securing a young green +parrot, which he enveloped in his handkerchief, with the intention of +bringing it up, and teaching it to speak. And now we met with another +wonder: a number of birds who lived in a community, in nests, sheltered +by a common roof, in the formation of which they had probably laboured +jointly. This roof was composed of straw and dry sticks, plastered with +clay, which rendered it equally impenetrable to sun or rain. Pressed as +we were for time, I could not help stopping to admire this feathered +colony. This leading us to speak of natural history, as it relates to +animals who live in societies, we recalled in succession the ingenious +labours of the beavers and the marmots; the not less marvellous +constructions of the bees, the wasps, and the ants; and I mentioned +particularly those immense ant-hills of America, of which the masonry is +finished with such skill and solidity that they are sometimes used for +ovens, to which they bear a resemblance. + +We had now reached some trees quite unknown to us. They were from forty +to sixty feet in height, and from the bark, which was cracked in many +places, issued small balls of a thick gum. Fritz got one off with +difficulty, it was so hardened by the sun. He wished to soften it with +his hands, but found that heat only gave it the power of extension, and +that by pulling the two extremities, and then releasing them, it +immediately resumed its first form. + +Fritz ran to me, crying out, “I have found some India-rubber!” + +“If that be true,” said I, “you have made a most valuable discovery.” + +He thought I was laughing at him, for we had no drawing to rub out here. + +I told him this gum might be turned to many useful purposes; among the +rest we might make excellent shoes of it. This interested him. How could +we accomplish this? + +“The caoutchouc,” said I, “is the milky sap which is obtained from +certain trees of the _Euphorbium_ kind, by incisions made in the bark. +It is collected in vessels, care being taken to agitate them, that the +liquid may not coagulate. In this state they cover little clay bottles +with successive layers of it, till it attains the required thickness. It +is then dried in smoke, which gives it the dark brown colour. Before it +is quite dry, it is ornamented by lines and flowers drawn with the +knife. Finally, they break the clay form, and extract it from the mouth; +and there remains the India-rubber bottle of commerce, soft and +flexible. Now, this is my plan for shoemaking; we will fill a stocking +with sand, cover it with repeated layers of the gum till it is of the +proper thickness; then empty out the sand, and, if I do not deceive +myself, we shall have perfect boots or shoes.” + +Comfortable in the hope of new boots, we advanced through an +interminable forest of various trees. The monkeys on the cocoa-nut trees +furnished us with pleasant refreshment, and a small store of nuts +besides. Among these trees I saw some lower bushes, whose leaves were +covered with a white dust. I opened the trunk of one of these, which had +been torn up by the wind, and found in the interior a white farinaceous +substance, which, on tasting, I knew to be the sago imported into +Europe. This, as connected with our subsistence, was a most important +affair, and my son and I, with our hatchets, laid open the tree, and +obtained from it twenty-five pounds of the valuable sago. + +This occupied us an hour; and, weary and hungry, I thought it prudent +not to push our discoveries farther this day. We therefore returned to +the Gourd Wood, placed all our treasures on the sledge, and took our way +home. We arrived without more adventures, and were warmly greeted, and +our various offerings gratefully welcomed, especially the green parrot. +We talked of the caoutchouc, and new boots, with great delight during +supper; and, afterwards, my wife looked with exceeding content at her +bag of candle-berries, anticipating the time when we should not have to +go to bed, as we did now, as soon as the sun set. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The next morning my wife and children besought me to begin my +manufacture of candles. I remembered having seen the chandler at work, +and I tried to recall all my remembrances of the process. I put into a +boiler as many berries as it would hold, and placed it over a moderate +fire: the wax melted from the berries, and rose to the surface, and this +I carefully skimmed with a large flat spoon and put in a separate vessel +placed near the fire; when this was done, my wife supplied me with some +wicks she had made from the threads of sailcloth; these wicks were +attached, four at a time, to a small stick; I dipped them into the wax, +and placed them on two branches of a tree to dry; I repeated this +operation as often as necessary to make them the proper thickness, and +then placed them in a cool spot to harden. But we could not forbear +trying them that very night; and, thought somewhat rude in form, it was +sufficient that they reminded us of our European home, and prolonged our +days by many useful hours we had lost before. + +This encouraged me to attempt another enterprise. My wife had long +regretted that she had not been able to make butter. She had attempted +to beat her cream in a vessel, but either the heat of the climate, or +her want of patience, rendered her trials unsuccessful. I felt that I +had not skill enough to make a churn; but I fancied that by some simple +method, like that used by the Hottentots, who put their cream in a skin +and shake it till they produce butter, we might obtain the same result. +I cut a large gourd in two, filled it with three quarts of cream, then +united the parts, and secured them closely. I fastened a stick to each +corner of a square piece of sailcloth, placed the gourd in the middle, +and, giving a corner to each of my sons, directed them to rock the cloth +with a slow, regular motion, as you would a child’s cradle. This was +quite an amusement for them; and at the end of an hour, my wife had the +pleasure of placing before us some excellent butter. I then tried to +make a cart, our sledge being unfitted for some roads; the wheels I had +brought from the wreck rendered this less difficult; and I completed a +very rude vehicle, which was, nevertheless, very useful to us. + +While I was thus usefully employed, my wife and children were not idle. +They had transplanted the European trees, and thoughtfully placed each +in the situation best suited to it. I assisted with my hands and +counsels. The vines we planted round the roots of our trees, and hoped +in time to form a trellis-work. Of the chesnut, walnut, and +cherry-trees, we formed an avenue from Falcon’s Nest to Family Bridge, +which, we hoped, would ultimately be a shady road between our two +mansions. We made a solid road between the two rows of trees, raised in +the middle and covered with sand, which we brought from the shore in our +wheelbarrows. I also made a sort of tumbril, to which we harnessed the +ass, to lighten this difficult labour. + +We then turned our thoughts to Tent House, our first abode, and which +still might form our refuge in case of danger. Nature had not favoured +it; but our labour soon supplied all deficiencies. We planted round it +every tree that requires ardent heat; the citron, pistachio, the almond, +the mulberry, the Siamese orange, of which the fruit is as large as the +head of a child, and the Indian fig, with its long prickly leaves, all +had a place here. These plantations succeeding admirably, we had, after +some time, the pleasure of seeing the dry and sandy desert converted +into a shady grove, rich in flowers and fruit. As this place was the +magazine for our arms, ammunition, and provisions of all sorts; we made +a sort of fortress of it, surrounding it with a high hedge of strong, +thorny trees; so that not only to wild beasts, but even to human +enemies, it was inaccessible. Our bridge was the only point of approach, +and we always carefully removed the first planks after crossing it. We +also placed our two cannon on a little elevation within the enclosure; +and, finally, we planted some cedars, near our usual landing-place, to +which we might, at a future time, fasten our vessels. These labours +occupied us three months, only interrupted by a strict attention to the +devotions and duties of the Sunday. I was most especially grateful to +God for the robust health we all enjoyed, in the midst of our +employments. All went on well in our little colony. We had an abundant +and certain supply of provisions; but our wardrobe, notwithstanding the +continual repairing my wife bestowed on it, was in a most wretched +state, and we had no means of renewing it, except by again visiting the +wreck, which I knew still contained some chests of clothes, and bales +of cloth. This decided me to make another voyage; besides I was rather +anxious to see the state of the vessel. + +We found it much in the same condition we had left it, except being much +more shattered by the winds and waves. + +We selected many useful things for our cargo; the bales of linen and +woollen cloth were not forgotten; some barrels of tar; and everything +portable that we could remove; doors, windows, tables, benches, locks +and bolts, all the ammunition, and even such of the guns as we could +move. In fact we completely sacked the vessel; carrying off, after +several days’ labour, all our booty, with the exception of some weighty +articles, amongst which were three or four immense boilers, intended for +a sugar-manufactory. These we tied to some large empty casks, which we +pitched completely over, and hoped they would be able to float in +the water. + +When we had completed our arrangements, I resolved to blow up the ship. +We placed a large barrel of gunpowder in the hold, and arranging a long +match from it, which would burn some hours, we lighted it, and proceeded +without delay to Safety Bay to watch the event. I proposed to my wife to +sup on a point of land where we could distinctly see the vessel. Just as +the sun was going down, a majestic rolling, like thunder, succeeded by a +column of fire, announced the destruction of the vessel, which had +brought us from Europe, and bestowed its great riches on us. We could +not help shedding tears, as we heard the last mournful cry of this sole +remaining bond that connected us with home. We returned sorrowfully to +Tent House, and felt as if we had lost an old friend. + +We rose early next morning, and hastened to the shore, which we found +covered with the wreck, which, with a little exertion, we found it easy +to collect. Amongst the rest, were the large boilers. We afterwards used +these to cover our barrels of gunpowder, which we placed in a part of +the rock, where, even if an explosion took place, no damage could ensue. + +My wife, in assisting us with the wreck, made the agreeable discovery, +that two of our ducks, and one goose, had hatched each a brood, and were +leading their noisy young families to the water. This reminded us of all +our poultry and domestic comfort, at Falcon’s Nest, and we determined to +defer, for some time, the rest of our work at Tent House, and to return +the next day to our shady summer home. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +As we went along the avenue of fruit-trees, I was concerned to see my +young plants beginning to droop, and I immediately resolved to proceed +to Cape Disappointment the next morning, to cut bamboos to make props +for them. It was determined we should all go, as, on our arrival at +Falcon’s Nest, we discovered many other supplies wanting. The candles +were failing: we must have more berries, for now my wife sewed by +candlelight, while I wrote my journal. She wanted, also, some +wild-fowls’ eggs to set under her hens. Jack wanted some guavas, and +Francis wished for some sugar-canes. So we made a family tour of it, +taking the cart, with the cow and ass, to contain our provision, and a +large sailcloth, to make a tent. The weather was delightful, and we set +out singing, in great spirits. + +We crossed the potato and manioc plantations, and the wood of guavas, on +which my boys feasted to their great satisfaction. The road was rugged, +but we assisted to move the cart, and rested frequently. We stopped to +see the bird colony, which greatly delighted them all, and Ernest +declared they belonged to the species of _Loxia gregaria_, the sociable +grosbeak. He pointed out to us their wonderful instinct in forming their +colony in the midst of the candle-berry bushes, on which they feed. We +filled two bags with these berries, and another with guavas, my wife +proposing to make jelly from them. + +We then proceeded to the caoutchouc-tree, and here I determined to rest +awhile, to collect some of the valuable gum. I had brought some large +gourd-shells with me for the purpose. I made incisions in the trees, and +placed these bowls to receive the gum, which soon began to run out in a +milky stream, and we hoped to find them filled on our return. We turned +a little to the left, and entered a beautiful and fertile plain, bounded +on one side by the sugar-canes, behind which rose a wood of palms, on +the other by the bamboos; and before us was Cape Disappointment, backed +by the ocean—a magnificent picture. + +We at once decided to make this our resting-place; we even thought of +transferring our residence from Falcon’s Nest to this spot; but we +dismissed the thought, when we reflected on the perfect security of our +dear castle in the air. We contented ourselves with arranging to make +this always our station for refreshment in our excursions. We loosed our +animals, and allowed them to graze on the rich grass around us. We +arranged to spend the night here, and, taking a light repast, we +separated on our several employments—some to cut sugar-canes, others +bamboos, and, after stripping them, to make them into bundles, and place +them in the cart. This hard work made the boys hungry; they refreshed +themselves with sugar-canes, but had a great desire to have some +cocoa-nuts. Unfortunately, there were neither monkeys nor crabs to +bestow them, and the many attempts they made to climb the lofty, bare +trunk of the palm ended only in disappointment and confusion. I went to +their assistance. I gave them pieces of the rough skin of the shark, +which I had brought for the purpose, to brace on their legs, and showing +them how to climb, by the aid of a cord fastened round the tree with a +running noose, a method practised with success by the savages, my little +climbers soon reached the summit of the trees; they then used their +hatchets, which they had carried up in their girdles, and a shower of +cocoa-nuts fell down. These furnished a pleasant dessert, enlivened by +the jests of Fritz and Jack, who, being the climbers, did not spare +Doctor Ernest, who had contented himself with looking up at them; and +even now, regardless of their banter, he was lost in some new idea. +Rising suddenly, and looking at the palms, he took a cocoa-nut cup, and +a tin flask with a handle, and gravely addressed us thus:— + +“Gentlemen and lady! this exercise of climbing is really very +disagreeable and difficult; but since it confers so much honour on the +undertakers, I should like also to attempt an adventure, hoping to do +something at once glorious and agreeable to the company.” + +He then bound his legs with the pieces of shark’s skin, and with +singular vigour and agility sprung up a palm which he had long been +attentively examining. His brothers laughed loudly at his taking the +trouble to ascend a tree that had not a single nut on it. Ernest took no +notice of their ridicule, but, as soon as he reached the top, struck +with his hatchet, and a tuft of tender yellow leaves fell at our feet, +which I recognized as the product of the cabbage-palm, a delicate food, +highly valued in America. His mother thought it a mischievous act, to +destroy the tree thus; but he assured her his prize was worth many +cocoa-nuts. But our hero did not descend; and I asked him if he wanted +to replace the cabbage he had cut off? + +“Wait a little,” said he; “I am bringing you some wine to drink my +health; but it comes slower than I could wish.” + +He now descended, holding his cocoa-cup, into which he poured from the +flask a clear rose-coloured liquor, and, presenting it to me, begged me +to drink. It was, indeed, the true palm-wine, which is as pleasant as +champaign, and, taken moderately, a great restorative. + +We all drank; and Ernest was praised and thanked by all, till he forgot +all the scoffs he had received. + +As it was getting late, we set about putting up our tent for the night, +when suddenly our ass, who had been quietly grazing near us, began to +bray furiously, erected his ears, kicking right and left, and, plunging +into the bamboos, disappeared. This made us very uneasy. I could not +submit to lose the useful animal; and, moreover, I was afraid his +agitation announced the approach of some wild beast. The dogs and I +sought for any trace of it in vain; I therefore, to guard against any +danger, made a large fire before our tent, which I continued to watch +till midnight, when, all being still, I crept into the tent, to my bed +of moss, and slept undisturbed till morning. + +In the morning we thanked God for our health and safety, and then began +to lament our poor donkey, which, I hoped, might have been attracted by +the light of our fire, and have returned; but we saw nothing of him, and +we decided that his services were so indispensable, that I should go, +with one of my sons, and the two dogs, in search of him, and cross the +thickets of bamboo. I chose to take Jack with me, to his great +satisfaction, for Fritz and Ernest formed a better guard for their +mother in a strange place. We set out, well armed, with bags of +provisions on our back, and after an hour’s fruitless search among the +canes, We emerged beyond them, in an extensive plain on the borders of +the great bay. We saw that the ridge of rocks still extended on the +right till it nearly reached the shore, when it abruptly terminated in a +perpendicular precipice. A considerable river flowed into the bay here, +and between the river and the rock was a narrow passage, which at high +water would be overflowed. We thought it most likely that our ass had +passed by this defile; and I wished to see whether these rocks merely +bordered or divided the island; we therefore went forward till we met +with a stream, which fell in a cascade from a mass of rocks into the +river. We ascended the stream till we found a place shallow enough to +cross. Here we saw the shoe-marks of our ass, mingled with the footsteps +of other animals, and at a distance we saw a herd of animals, but could +not distinguish what they were. We ascended a little hill, and, through +our telescope, saw a most beautiful and fertile country, breathing peace +and repose. To our right rose the majestic chain of rocks that divided +the island. On our left a succession of beautiful green hills spread to +the horizon. Woods of palms and various unknown trees were scattered +over the scene. The beautiful stream meandered across the valley like a +silver ribbon, bordered by rushes and other aquatic plants. There was no +trace of the footstep of man. The country had all the purity of its +first creation; no living creatures but some beautiful birds and +brilliant butterflies appeared. + +But, at a distance, we saw some specks, which I concluded were the +animals we had first seen, and I resolved to go nearer, in hopes our ass +might have joined them. We made towards the spot, and, to shorten the +road, crossed a little wood of bamboos, the stalks of which, as thick as +a man’s thigh, rose to the height of thirty feet. I suspected this to be +the giant reed of America, so useful for the masts of boats and canoes. +I promised Jack to allow him to cut some on our return; but at present +the ass was my sole care. When we had crossed the wood, we suddenly came +face to face on a herd of buffaloes, not numerous certainly, but +formidable in appearance. At the sight, I was absolutely petrified, and +my gun useless. Fortunately the dogs were in the rear, and the animals, +lifting their heads, and fixing their large eyes on us, seemed more +astonished than angry—we were the first men probably they had +ever seen. + +We drew back a little, prepared our arms, and endeavoured to retreat, +when the dogs arrived, and, notwithstanding our efforts to restrain +them, flew at the buffaloes. It was no time now to retreat; the combat +was begun. The whole troop uttered the most frightful roars, beat the +ground with their feet, and butted with their horns. Our brave dogs were +not intimidated, but marched straight upon the enemy, and, falling on a +young buffalo that had strayed before the rest, seized it by the ears. +The creature began to bellow, and struggle to escape; its mother ran to +its assistance, and, with her, the whole herd. At that moment,—I +tremble as I write it, I gave the signal to my brave Jack, who behaved +with admirable coolness, and at the same moment we fired on the herd. +The effect was wonderful: they paused a moment, and then, even before +the smoke was dissipated, took to flight with incredible rapidity, +forded the river, and were soon out of sight. My dogs still held their +prize, and the mother, though wounded by our shot, tore up the ground in +her fury, and was advancing on the dogs to destroy them; but I stepped +forward, and discharging a pistol between the horns, put an end to +her life. + +We began to breathe. We had looked death in the face,—a most horrible +death; and thanked God for our preservation. I praised Jack for his +courage and presence of mind; any fear or agitation on his part would +have unnerved me, and rendered our fate certain. The dogs still held the +young calf by the ears, it bellowed incessantly, and I feared they would +either be injured or lose their prize. I went up to their assistance. I +hardly knew how to act. I could easily have killed it; but I had a great +desire to carry it off alive, and try to tame it, to replace our ass, +whom I did not intend to follow farther. A happy idea struck Jack: he +always carried his lasso in his pocket; he drew it out, retired a +little, and flung it so dexterously that he completely wound it round +the hind legs of the calf, and threw it down. I now approached; I +replaced the lasso by a stronger cord, and used another to bind his fore +legs loosely. Jack cried victory, and already thought how his mother and +brothers would be delighted, when we presented it; but that was no easy +matter. At last I thought of the method used in Italy to tame the wild +bulls, and I resolved to try it, though it was a little cruel. + +I began by tying to the foot of a tree the cords that held the legs; +then making the dogs seize him again by the ears, I caught hold of his +mouth, and with a sharp knife perforated the nostril, and quickly passed +a cord through the opening. This cord was to serve as my rein, to guide +the animal. The operation was successful; and, as soon as the blood +ceased to flow, I took the cord, uniting the two ends, and the poor +suffering creature, completely subdued, followed me without resistance. + +I was unwilling to abandon the whole of the buffalo I had killed, as it +is excellent meat; I therefore cut out the tongue, and some of the best +parts from the loin, and covered them well with salt, of which we had +taken a provision with us. I then carefully skinned the four legs, +remembering that the American hunters use these skins for boots, being +remarkably soft and flexible. We permitted the dogs to feast on the +remainder; and while they were enjoying themselves, we washed ourselves, +and sat down under a tree to rest and refresh ourselves. But the poor +beasts had soon many guests at their banquet. Clouds of birds of prey +came from every part; an incessant combat was kept up; no sooner was one +troop of brigands satisfied, than another succeeded; and soon all that +remained of the poor buffalo was the bones. I noticed amongst these +ravenous birds the royal vulture, an elegant bird, remarkable for a +brilliant collar of down. We could easily have killed some of these +robbers, but I thought it useless to destroy for mere curiosity, and I +preferred employing our time in cutting, with a small saw we had +brought, some of the gigantic reeds that grew round us. We cut several +of the very thick ones, which make excellent vessels when separated at +the joints; but I perceived that Jack was cutting some of small +dimensions, and I inquired if he was going to make a Pandean pipe, to +celebrate his triumphal return with the buffalo. + +“No,” said he; “I don’t recollect that Robinson Crusoe amused himself +with music in his island; but I have thought of something that will be +useful to mamma. I am cutting these reeds to make moulds for +our candles.” + +“An excellent thought, my dear boy!” said I; “and if even we break our +moulds in getting out the candles, which I suspect we may, we know where +they grow, and can come for more.” + +We collected all our reeds in bundles, and then set out. The calf, +intimidated by the dogs, and galled by the rein, went on tolerably well. +We crossed the narrow pass in the rocks, and here our dogs killed a +large jackal which was coming from her den in the rock. The furious +animals then entered the den, followed by Jack, who saved, with +difficulty, one of the young cubs, the others being immediately worried. +It was a pretty little gold-coloured creature, about the size of a cat. +Jack petitioned earnestly to have it to bring up; and I made him happy +by granting his request. + +In the mean time I had tied the calf to a low tree, which I discovered +was the thorny dwarf palm, which grows quickly, and is extremely useful +for fences. It bears an oblong fruit, about the size of a pigeon’s egg, +from which is extracted an oil which is an excellent substitute for +butter. I determined to return for some young plants of this palm to +plant at Tent House. + +It was almost night when we joined our family; and endless were the +questions the sight of the buffalo produced, and great was the boasting +of Jack the dauntless. I was compelled to lower his pride a little by an +unvarnished statement, though I gave him much credit for his coolness +and resolution; and, supper-time arriving, my wife had time to tell me +what had passed while we had been on our expedition. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +My wife began by saying they had not been idle in my absence. They had +collected wood, and made torches for the night. Fritz and Ernest had +even cut down an immense sago-palm, seventy feet high, intending to +extract its precious pith; but this they had been unable to accomplish +alone, and waited for my assistance. But while they were engaged in this +employment, a troop of monkeys had broken into the tent and pillaged and +destroyed everything; they had drunk or overturned the milk, and carried +off or spoiled all our provisions; and even so much injured the palisade +I had erected round the tent, that it took them an hour, after they +returned, to repair the damage. Fritz had made also a beautiful capture, +in a nest he had discovered in the rocks at Cape Disappointment. It was +a superb bird, and, though very young, quite feathered. Ernest had +pronounced it to be the eagle of Malabar, and I confirmed his assertion; +and as this species of eagle is not large, and does not require much +food, I advised him to train it as a falcon, to chase other birds. I +took this opportunity to announce that henceforward every one must +attend to his own live stock, or they should be set at liberty, mamma +having sufficient to manage in her own charge. + +We then made a fire of green wood, in the smoke of which we placed the +buffalo-meat we had brought home, leaving it during the night, that it +might be perfectly cured. We had had some for supper, and thought it +excellent. The young buffalo was beginning to graze, and we gave him a +little milk to-night, as well as to the jackal. Fritz had taken the +precaution to cover the eyes of his eagle, and tying it fast by the leg +to a branch, it rested very tranquilly. We then retired to our mossy +beds, to recruit our strength for the labours of another day. + +At break of day we rose, made a light breakfast, and I was about to give +the signal of departure, when my wife communicated to me the difficulty +they had had in cutting down the palm-tree, and the valuable provision +that might be obtained from it with a little trouble. I thought she was +right, and decided to remain here another day; for it was no trifling +undertaking to split up a tree seventy feet long. I consented the more +readily, as I thought I might, after removing the useful pith from the +trunk, obtain two large spouts or channels to conduct the water from +Jackal River to the kitchen-garden. + +Such tools as we had we carried to the place where the tree lay. We +first sawed off the head; then, with the hatchet making an opening at +each end, we took wedges and mallets, and the wood being tolerably soft, +after four hours’ labour, we succeeded in splitting it completely. When +parted, we pressed the pith with our hands, to get the whole into one +division of the trunk, and began to make our paste. At one end of the +spout we nailed one of the graters, through which we intended to force +the paste, to form the round seeds. My little bakers set vigorously to +work, some pouring water on the pith, while the rest mixed it into +paste. When sufficiently worked, I pressed it strongly with my hand +against the grater; the farinaceous parts passed easily through the +holes, while the _ligneous_ part, consisting of splinters of wood, &c., +was left behind. This we threw into a heap, hoping mushrooms might +spring from it. My wife now carefully spread the grains on sailcloth, in +the sun, to dry them. I also formed some vermicelli, by giving more +consistence to the paste, and forcing it through the holes in little +pipes. My wife promised with this, and the Dutch cheese, to make us a +dish equal to Naples maccaroni. We were now contented; we could at any +time obtain more sago by cutting down a tree, and we were anxious to get +home to try our water-pipes. We spent the rest of the day in loading the +cart with our utensils and the halves of the tree. We retired to our hut +at sunset, and slept in peace. + +The next morning the whole caravan began to move at an early hour. The +buffalo, harnessed to the cart, by the side of his nurse, the cow, took +the place of our lost ass, and began his apprenticeship as a beast of +draught. We took the same road on our return, that we might carry away +the candle-berries and the vessels of India-rubber. The vanguard was +composed of Fritz and Jack, who pioneered our way, by cutting down the +underwood to make a road for the cart. Our water-pipes, being very long, +somewhat impeded our progress; but we happily reached the candle-berry +trees without accident, and placed our sacks on the cart. We did not +find more than a quart of the caoutchouc gum; but it would be +sufficient for our first experiment, and I carried it off. + +In crossing the little wood of guavas, we suddenly heard our dogs, who +were before us with Fritz and Jack, uttering the most frightful +howlings. I was struck with terror lest they should have encountered a +tiger, and rushed forward ready to fire. The dogs were endeavouring to +enter a thicket, in the midst of which Fritz declared he had caught a +glimpse of an animal larger than the buffalo, with a black, bristly +skin. I was just about to discharge my gun into the thicket, when Jack, +who had lain down on the ground, to look under the bushes, burst into a +loud laugh. “It is another trick of that vexatious animal, our old sow! +she is always making fools of us,” cried he. Half merry and half angry, +we made an opening into the thicket, and there discovered the lady +lying, surrounded by seven little pigs, only a few days old. We were +very glad to see our old friend so attended, and stroked her. She seemed +to recognize us, and grunted amicably. We supplied her with some +potatoes, sweet acorns, and cassava bread; intending, in return, to eat +her young ones, when they were ready for the spit, though my dear wife +cried out against the cruelty of the idea. At present we left them with +her, but proposed afterwards to take away two, to be brought up at home, +and leave the rest to support themselves on acorns in the woods, where +they would become game for us. At length we arrived at Falcon’s Nest, +which we regarded with all the attachment of home. Our domestic animals +crowded round us, and noisily welcomed us. We tied up the buffalo and +jackal, as they were not yet domesticated. Fritz fastened his eagle to +a branch by a chain long enough to allow it to move freely, and then +imprudently uncovered its eyes; it immediately raised its head, erected +its feathers, and struck on all sides with its beak and claws; our fowls +took to flight, but the poor parrot fell in his way, and was torn to +pieces before we could assist it. Fritz was very angry, and would have +executed the murderer; but Ernest begged he would not be so rash, as +parrots were more plentiful than eagles, and it was his own fault for +uncovering his eyes; the falconers always keeping their young birds +hooded six weeks, till they are quite tamed. He offered to train it, if +Fritz would part with it; but this Fritz indignantly refused. I told +them the fable of the dog in the manger, which abashed Fritz; and he +then besought his brother to teach him the means of training this noble +bird, and promised to present him with his monkey. + +Ernest then told him that the Caribs subdue the largest birds by making +them inhale tobacco smoke. Fritz laughed at this; but Ernest brought a +pipe and some tobacco he had found in the ship, and began to smoke +gravely under the branch where the bird was perched. It was soon calm, +and on his continuing to smoke it became quite motionless. Fritz then +easily replaced the bandage, and thanked his brother for his +good service. + +The next morning we set out early to our young plantation of +fruit-trees, to fix props to support the weaker plants. We loaded the +cart with the thick bamboo canes and our tools, and harnessed the cow to +it, leaving the buffalo in the stable, as I wished the wound in his +nostrils to be perfectly healed before I put him to any hard work. I +left Francis with his mother, to prepare our dinner, begging them not to +forget the maccaroni. + +We began at the entrance of the avenue to Falcon’s Nest, where all the +trees were much bent by the wind. We raised them gently by a crowbar; I +made a hole in the earth, in which one of my sons placed the bamboo +props, driving them firmly down with a mallet, and we proceeded to +another, while Ernest and Jack tied the trees to them with a long, +tough, pliant plant, which I suspected was a species of _llana_. As we +were working, Fritz inquired if these fruit-trees were wild. + +“A pretty question!” cried Jack. “Do you think that trees are tamed like +eagles or buffaloes? You perhaps could teach them to bow politely, so +that we might gather the fruit!” + +“You fancy you are a wit,” said I, “but you speak like a dunce. We +cannot make trees bow at our pleasure; but we can make a tree, which by +nature bears sour and uneatable fruit, produce what is sweet and +wholesome. This is effected by grafting into a wild tree a small branch, +or even a bud, of the sort you wish. I will show you this method +practically at some future time, for by these means we can procure all +sorts of fruit; only we must remember, that we can only graft a tree +with one of the same natural family; thus, we could not graft an apple +on a cherry-tree, for one belongs to the apple tribe, and the other to +the plum tribe.” + +“Do we know the origin of all these European fruits?” asked the +inquiring Ernest. + +“All our shell fruits,” answered I, “such as the nut, the almond, and +the chesnut, are natives of the East; the peach, of Persia; the orange +and apricot, of Armenia; the cherry, which was unknown in Europe sixty +years before Christ, was brought by the proconsul Lucullus from the +southern shores of the Euxine; the olives come from Palestine. The first +olive-trees were planted on Mount Olympus, and from thence were spread +through the rest of Europe; the fig is from Lydia; the plums, your +favourite fruit, with the exception of some natural sorts that are +natives of our forests, are from Syria, and the town of Damascus has +given its name to one sort, the _Damascene_, or Damson. The pear is a +fruit of Greece; the ancients called it the fruit of Peloponnesus; the +mulberry is from Asia; and the quince from the island of Crete.” + +Our work progressed as we talked thus, and we had soon propped all our +valuable plants. It was now noon, and we returned to Falcon’s Nest very +hungry, and found an excellent dinner prepared, of smoked beef, and the +tender bud of the cabbage-palm, the most delicious of vegetables. + +After dinner, we began to discuss a plan I had long had in my head; but +the execution of it presented many difficulties. It was, to substitute a +firm and solid staircase for the ladder of ropes, which was a source of +continual fear to my wife. It is true, that we only had to ascend it to +go to bed; but bad weather might compel us to remain in our apartment; +we should then have frequently to ascend and descend, and the ladder was +very unsafe. But the immense height of the tree, and the impossibility +of procuring beams to sustain a staircase round it, threw me into +despair. However, looking at the monstrous trunk of the tree, I +thought, if we cannot succeed outside, could we not contrive to mount +within? + +“Have you not said there was a swarm of bees in the trunk of the tree?” +I inquired of my wife. “Yes,” said little Francis, “they stung my face +dreadfully the other day, when I was on the ladder. I was pushing a +stick into the hole they came out of, to try how deep it was.” + +“Now, then,” cried I, “I see through my difficulties. Let us find out +how far the tree is hollow; we can increase the size of the tunnel, and +I have already planned the sort of staircase I can construct.” I had +hardly spoken, when the boys leaped like squirrels, some upon the arched +roots, some on the steps of the ladder, and began to strike with sticks +and mallets to sound the tree. This rash proceeding had nearly been +fatal to Jack, who, having placed himself just before the opening, and +striking violently, the whole swarm, alarmed at an attack, which +probably shook their palace of wax, issued forth, and revenged +themselves amply on all the assailants. Nothing was heard but cries and +stamping of feet. My wife hastened to cover the stings with moist earth, +which rather relieved them; but it was some hours before they could open +their eyes. They begged me to get them the honey from their foes, and I +prepared a hive, which I had long thought of—a large gourd, which I +placed on a board nailed upon a branch of our tree, and covered with +straw to shelter it from the sun and wind. But it was now bedtime, and +we deferred our attack on the fortress till next day. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +An hour before day, I waked my sons to assist me in removing the bees to +the new abode I had prepared for them. I commenced by plastering up the +entrance to their present dwelling with clay, leaving only room to admit +the bowl of my pipe. This was necessary, because I had neither masks nor +gloves, as the regular bee-takers have. I then began to smoke briskly, +to stupify the bees. At first we heard a great buzzing in the hollow, +like the sound of a distant storm: the murmur ceased by degrees, and a +profound stillness succeeded, and I withdrew my pipe without a single +bee appearing. Fritz and I then, with a chisel and small axe, made an +opening about three feet square, below the bees’ entrance. Before we +detached this, I repeated the fumigation, lest the noise and the fresh +air should awake the bees; but there was no fear of such a thing,—they +were quite stupified. We removed the wood, and through this opening +beheld, with wonder and admiration, the work of this insect nation. +There was such a store of wax and honey, that we feared we should not +have vessels to contain it. The interior of the tree was filled with the +honeycombs; I cut them carefully, and placed them in the gourds the boys +brought me. As soon as I had made a little space, I placed the upper +comb, on which the bees were hanging in clusters, in the new hive, and +put it on the plank prepared for it; I then descended with the rest of +the honeycomb, and filled a cask with it, which I had previously washed +in the stream; this we covered with sailcloth and planks, lest the +bees, attracted by the smell, should come to claim their own. We left +out some comb for a treat at dinner, and my wife carefully put by +the rest. + +To prevent the bees returning to their old abode, we placed some burning +tobacco in the hollow, the smell and fumes of which drove them from the +tree, when they wished to enter; and, finally, they settled in the new +hive, where the queen bee, doubtless, had fixed herself. + +We now began our work; we emptied the cask of honey into a large boiler, +except a little reserved for daily use; we added a little water, placed +the boiler on a slow fire, and reduced it to a liquid mass; this was +strained through a bag into the cask, and left standing all night to +cool. The next morning the wax had risen to the top, and formed a hard +and solid cake, which we easily removed; and beneath was the most pure +and delicious honey. The barrel was then carefully closed, and placed in +a cool place. We now proceeded to examine the interior of the tree. I +took a long pole, and tried the height from the window I had made; and +tied a stone to a string to sound the depth. To my surprise, the pole +penetrated without resistance to the very branches where our dwelling +was, and the stone went to the roots. It was entirely hollow, and I +thought I could easily fix a winding staircase in this wide tunnel. It +would seem, that this huge tree, like the willow of our country, is +nourished through the bark, for it was flourishing in luxuriant beauty. + +We began by cutting a doorway, on the side facing the sea, of the size +of the door we had brought from the captain’s cabin, with its +framework, thus securing ourselves from invasion on that side. We then +cleansed, and perfectly smoothed the cavity, fixing in the middle the +trunk of a tree about ten feet high, to serve for the axis of the +staircase. We had prepared, the evening before, a number of boards from +the staves of a large barrel, to form our steps. By the aid of the +chisel and mallet, we made deep notches in the inner part of our tree, +and corresponding notches in the central pillar; I placed my steps in +these notches, riveting them with large nails; I raised myself in this +manner step after step, but always turning round the pillar, till we got +to the top. We then fixed on the central pillar another trunk of the +same height, prepared beforehand, and continued our winding steps. Four +times we had to repeat this operation, and, finally, we reached our +branches, and terminated the staircase on the level of the floor of our +apartment. I cleared the entrance by some strokes of my axe. To render +it more solid, I filled up the spaces between the steps with planks, and +fastened two strong cords from above, to each side of the staircase, to +hold by. Towards different points, I made openings; in which were placed +the windows taken from the cabin, which gave light to the interior, and +favoured our observations outside. + +The construction of this solid and convenient staircase occupied us +during a month of patient industry; not that we laboured like slaves, +for we had no one to constrain us; we had in this time completed several +works of less importance; and many events had amused us amidst our toil. + +A few days after we commenced, Flora produced six puppies; but the +number being too large for our means of support, I commanded that only a +male and female should be preserved, that the breed might be +perpetuated; this was done, and the little jackal being placed with the +remainder, Flora gave it the same privileges as her own offspring. Our +goats also, about this time, gave us two kids; and our sheep some lambs. +We saw this increase of our flock with great satisfaction; and for fear +these useful animals should take it into their heads to stray from us, +as our ass had done, we tied round their necks some small bells we had +found on the wreck, intended to propitiate the savages, and which would +always put us on the track of the fugitives. + +The education of the young buffalo was one of the employments that +varied our labour as carpenters. Through the incision in his nostrils, I +had passed a small stick, to the ends of which I attached a strap. This +formed a kind of bit, after the fashion of those of the Hottentots; and +by this I guided him as I chose; though not without much rebellion on +his part. It was only after Fritz had broken it in for mounting, that we +began to make it carry. It was certainly a remarkable instance of +patience and perseverance surmounting difficulties, that we not only +made it bear the wallets we usually placed on the ass, but Ernest, Jack, +and even little Francis, took lessons in _horsemanship_, by riding him, +and, henceforward, would have been able to ride the most spirited horse +without fear; for it could not be worse than the buffalo they had +assisted to subdue. + +In the midst of this, Fritz did not neglect the training of his young +eagle. The royal bird began already to pounce very cleverly on the dead +game his master brought, and placed before him; sometimes between the +horns of the buffalo, sometimes on the back of the great bustard, or the +flamingo; sometimes he put it on a board, or on the end of a pole, to +accustom it to pounce, like the falcon, on other birds. He taught it to +settle on his wrist at a call, or a whistle; but it was some time before +he could trust it to fly, without a long string attached to its leg, for +fear its wild nature should carry it from us for ever. Even the indolent +Ernest was seized with the mania of instructing animals. He undertook +the education of his little monkey, who gave him sufficient employment. +It was amusing to see the quiet, slow, studious Ernest obliged to make +leaps and gambols with his pupil to accomplish his instruction. He +wished to accustom Master Knips to carry a pannier, and to climb the +cocoa-nut trees with it on his back; Jack and he wove a small light +pannier of rushes, and fixed it firmly on his back with three straps. +This was intolerable to him at first; he ground his teeth, rolled on the +ground, and leaped about in a frantic manner, trying in vain to release +himself. They left the pannier on his back night and day, and only +allowed him to eat what he had previously put into it. After a little +time, he became so accustomed to it, that he rebelled if they wished to +remove it, and threw into it everything they gave him to hold. He was +very useful to us, but he obeyed only Ernest, who had very properly +taught him equally to love and fear him. + +Jack was not so successful with his jackal; for, though he gave him the +name of _“The Hunter,”_ yet, for the first six months, the carnivorous +animal chased only for himself, and, if he brought anything to his +master, it was only the skin of the animal he had just devoured; but I +charged him not to despair, and he continued zealously his instructions. + +During this time I had perfected my candle manufacture; by means of +mixing the bees’ wax with that obtained from the candle-berry, and by +using cane moulds, which Jack first suggested to me, I succeeded in +giving my candles the roundness and polish of those of Europe. The wicks +were for some time an obstacle. I did not wish to use the small quantity +of calico we had left, but my wife happily proposed to me to substitute +the pith of a species of elder, which answered my purpose completely. + +I now turned myself to the preparation of the caoutchouc, of which we +had found several trees. I encouraged the boys to try their ingenuity in +making flasks and cups, by covering moulds of clay with the gum, as I +had explained to them. For my part, I took a pair of old stockings, and +filled them with sand for my mould, which I covered with a coating of +mud, and left to dry in the sun. I cut out a pair of soles of buffalo +leather, which I first hammered well, and then fastened with small tacks +to the sole of the stocking, filling up the spaces left with the gum, so +as to fix it completely. Then, with a brush of goats hair, I covered it +with layer upon layer of the elastic gum, till I thought it sufficiently +thick. It was easy after this to remove the sand, the stocking, and the +hardened mud, to shake out the dust, and I had a pair of waterproof +boots, without seam, and fitting as well as if I had employed an English +shoemaker. My boys were wild with joy, and all begged for a pair; but I +wished first to try their durability, compared with those of buffalo +leather. I began to make a pair of boots for Fritz, using the skin drawn +from the legs of the buffalo we had killed; but I had much more +difficulty than with the caoutchouc. I used the gum to cover the seams, +so that the water might not penetrate. They were certainly not elegant +as a work of art, and the boys laughed at their brother’s awkward +movements in them; but their own productions, though useful vessels, +were not models of perfection. + +We then worked at our fountain, a great source of pleasure to my wife +and to all of us. We raised, in the upper part of the river, a sort of +dam, made with stakes and stones, from whence the water flowed into our +channels of the sago-palm, laid down a gentle declivity nearly to our +tent, and there it was received into the shell of the turtle, which we +had raised on some stones of a convenient height, the hole which the +harpoon had made serving to carry off the waste water through a cane +that was fitted to it. On two crossed sticks were placed the gourds that +served us for pails, and thus we had always the murmuring of the water +near us, and a plentiful supply of it, always pure and clean, which the +river, troubled by our water-fowl and the refuse of decayed leaves, +could not always give us. The only inconvenience of these open channels +was, that the water reached us warm and unrefreshing; but this I hoped +to remedy in time, by using bamboo pipes buried in the earth. In the +mean time, we were grateful for this new acquisition, and gave credit to +Fritz, who had suggested the idea. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +One morning, as we were engaged in giving the last finish to our +staircase, we were alarmed at hearing at a distance strange, sharp, +prolonged sounds, like the roars of a wild beast, but mingled with an +unaccountable hissing. Our dogs erected their ears, and prepared for +deadly combat. I assembled my family; we then ascended our tree, closing +the lower door, loaded our guns, and looked anxiously round, but nothing +appeared. I armed my dogs with their porcupine coats of mail and +collars, and left them below to take care of our animals. + +The horrible howlings seemed to approach nearer to us; at length, Fritz, +who was leaning forward to listen as attentively as he could, threw down +his gun, and bursting into a loud laugh, cried out, “It is our fugitive, +the ass, come back to us, and singing his song of joy on his return!” We +listened, and were sure he was right, and could not but feel a little +vexation at being put into such a fright by a donkey. Soon after, we had +the pleasure of seeing him appear among the trees; and, what was still +better, he was accompanied by another animal of his own species, but +infinitely more beautiful. I knew it at once to be the onagra, or wild +ass, a most important capture, if we could make it; though all +naturalists have declared it impossible to tame this elegant creature, +yet I determined to make the attempt. + +I went down with Fritz, exhorting his brothers to remain quiet, and I +consulted with my privy counsellor on the means of taking our prize. I +also prepared, as quickly as possible, a long cord with a noose, kept +open by a slight stick, which would fall out as soon as the animal’s +head entered, while any attempt to escape would only draw the noose +closer; the end of this cord was tied to the root of a tree. I took then +a piece of bamboo, about two feet long, and splitting it up, tied it +firmly at one end, to form a pair of pincers for the nose of the animal. +In the mean time, the two animals had approached nearer, our old Grizzle +apparently doing the honours to his visitor, and both grazing very +comfortably. + +By degrees we advanced softly to them, concealed by the trees; Fritz +carrying the lasso, and I the pincers. The onagra, as soon as he got +sight of Fritz, who was before me, raised his head, and started back, +evidently only in surprise, as it was probably the first man the +creature had seen. Fritz remained still, and the animal resumed his +browsing. Fritz went up to our old servant, and offered him a handful of +oats mixed with salt; the ass came directly to eat its favourite treat; +its companion followed, raised its head, snuffed the air, and came so +near, that Fritz adroitly threw the noose over its head. The terrified +animal attempted to fly, but that drew the cord so tight as almost to +stop his respiration, and he lay down, his tongue hanging out. I +hastened up and relaxed the cord, lest he should be strangled. I threw +the halter of the ass round his neck, and placed the split cane over +his nose, tying it firmly below with a string. I subdued this wild +animal by the means that blacksmiths use the first time they shoe a +horse. I then took off the noose, and tied the halter by two long cords +to the roots of two separate trees, and left him to recover himself. + +In the mean time, the rest of the family had collected to admire this +noble animal, whose graceful and elegant form, so superior to that of +the ass, raises it almost to the dignity of a horse. After a while it +rose, and stamped furiously with its feet, trying to release itself; but +the pain in its nose obliged it to lie down again. Then my eldest son +and I, approaching gently, took the two cords, and led or dragged it +between two roots very near to each other, to which we tied the cords so +short, that it had little power to move, and could not escape. We took +care our own donkey should not stray again, by tying his fore-feet +loosely, and putting on him a new halter, and left him near the onagra. + +I continued, with a patience I had never had in Europe, to use every +means I could think of with our new guest, and at the end of a month he +was so far subdued, that I ventured to begin his education. This was a +long and difficult task. We placed some burdens on his back; but the +obedience necessary before we could mount him, it seemed impossible to +instil into him. At last, I recollected the method they use in America +to tame the wild horses, and I resolved to try it. In spite of the +bounds and kicks of the furious animal, I leaped on his back, and +seizing one of his long ears between my teeth, I bit it till the blood +came. In a moment he reared himself almost erect on his hind-feet, +remained for a while stiff and motionless, then came down on his +fore-feet slowly, I still holding on his ear. At last I ventured to +release him; he made some leaps, but soon subsided into a sort of trot, +I having previously placed loose cords on his fore legs. From that time +we were his masters; my sons mounted him one after another; they gave +him the name of Lightfoot, and never animal deserved his name better. As +a precaution, we kept the cords on his legs for some time; and as he +never would submit to the bit, we used a snaffle, by which we obtained +power over his head, guiding him by a stick, with which we struck the +right or left ear, as we wished him to go. + +During this time, our poultry-yard was increased by three broods of +chickens. We had at least forty of these little creatures chirping and +pecking about, the pride of their good mistress’s heart. Part of these +were kept at home, to supply the table, and part she allowed to colonize +in the woods, where we could find them when we wanted them. “These,” she +said, “are of more use than your monkeys, jackals, and eagles, who do +nothing but eat, and would not be worth eating themselves, if we were in +need.” However, she allowed there was some use in the buffalo, who +carried burdens, and Lightfoot, who carried her sons so well. The fowls, +which cost us little for food, would be always ready, she said, either +to supply us with eggs or chickens, when the rainy season came on—the +winter of this climate. + +This reminded me that the approach of that dreary season permitted me no +longer to defer a very necessary work for the protection of our +animals. This was to construct, under the roots of the trees, covered +houses for them. We began by making a kind of roof above the vaulted +roots of our tree. We used bamboo canes for this purpose; the longer and +stouter were used for the supports, like columns, the slighter ones +bound together closely formed the roof. The intervals we filled up with +moss and clay, and spread over the whole a coating of tar. The roof was +so firm, that it formed a platform, which we surrounded with a railing; +and thus we had a balcony, and a pleasant promenade. By the aid of some +boards nailed to the roots, we made several divisions in the interior, +each little enclosure being appropriated to some useful purpose; and +thus, stables, poultry-houses, dairy, larder, hay-house, store-room, +&c., besides our dining-room, were all united under one roof. This +occupied us some time, as it was necessary to fill our store-room before +the bad weather came; and our cart was constantly employed in bringing +useful stores. + +One evening, as we were bringing home a load of potatoes on our cart, +drawn by the ass, the cow, and the buffalo, I saw the cart was not yet +full; I therefore sent home the two younger boys with their mother, and +went on with Fritz and Ernest to the oak wood, to collect a sack of +sweet acorns—Fritz mounted on his onagra, Ernest followed by his +monkey, and I carrying the bag. On arriving at the wood, we tied +Lightfoot to a tree, and all three began to gather the dropped acorns, +when we were startled by the cries of birds, and a loud flapping of +wings, and we concluded that a brisk combat was going on between Master +Knips and the tenants of the thickets, from whence the noise came. +Ernest went softly to see what was the matter, and we soon heard him +calling out, “Be quick! a fine heath-fowl’s nest, full of eggs! Knips +wants to suck them, and the mother is beating him.” + +Fritz ran up, and secured the two beautiful birds, who fluttered, and +cried out furiously, and returned, followed by Ernest, carrying a large +nest filled with eggs. The monkey had served us well on this occasion; +for the nest was so hidden by a bush with long leaves, of which Ernest +held his hand full, that, but for the instinct of the animal, we could +never have discovered it. Ernest was overjoyed to carry the nest and +eggs for his dear mamma, and the long, pointed leaves he intended for +Francis, to serve as little toy-swords. + +We set out on our return, placing the sack of acorns behind Fritz on +Lightfoot; Ernest carried the two fowls, and I charged myself with the +care of the eggs, which I covered up, as I found they were warm, and I +hoped to get the mother to resume her brooding when we got to Falcon’s +Nest. We were all delighted with the good news we should have to carry +home, and Fritz, anxious to be first, struck his charger with a bunch of +the pointed leaves he had taken from Ernest: this terrified the animal +so much, that he took the bit in his teeth, and flew out of sight like +an arrow. We followed, in some uneasiness, but found him safe. Master +Lightfoot had stopped of himself when he reached his stable. My wife +placed the valuable eggs under a sitting hen, the true mother refusing +to fulfil her office. She was then put into the cage of the poor +parrot, and hung in our dining-room, to accustom her to society. In a +few days the eggs were hatched, and the poultry-yard had an increase of +fifteen little strangers, who fed greedily on bruised acorns, and soon +became as tame as any of our fowls, though I plucked the large feathers +out of their wings when they were full-grown, lest their wild nature +should tempt them to quit us. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + +Francis had soon become tired of playing with the long leaves his +brother had brought him, and they were thrown aside. Fritz happened to +take some of the withered leaves up, which were soft and flexible as a +ribbon, and he advised Francis to make whiplashes of them, to drive the +goats and sheep with, for the little fellow was the shepherd. He was +pleased with the idea, and began to split the leaves into strips, which +Fritz platted together into very good whiplashes. I remarked, as they +were working, how strong and pliant these strips seemed, and, examining +them closely, I found they were composed of long fibres, or filaments, +which made me suspect it to be _Phormium tenax_, or New Zealand flax, a +most important discovery to us, and which, when I communicated it to my +wife, almost overwhelmed her with joy. “Bring me all the leaves you can +without delay,” cried she, “and I will make you stockings, shirts, +coats, sewing-thread, cords—in fact, give me but flax and work-tools, +and I can manage all.” I could not help smiling at the vivacity of her +imagination, roused at the very name of flax; but there was still great +space between the leaves lying before us and the linen she was already +sewing in idea. But my boys, always ready to second the wishes of their +beloved mother, soon mounted their coursers, Fritz on Lightfoot, and +Jack on the great buffalo, to procure supplies. + +Whilst we waited for these, my wife, all life and animation, explained +to me all the machines I must make, to enable her to spin and weave, and +make linen to clothe us from head to foot; her eyes sparkled with +delight as she spoke, and I promised her all she asked. + +In a short time, our young cavaliers returned from their foraging +expedition, conveying on their steeds huge bundles of the precious +plant, which they laid at the feet of their mother. She gave up +everything to begin her preparation. The first operation necessary was +to steep the flax, which is usually done by exposing it in the open air +in the rain, the wind, and the dew, so as, in a certain degree, to +dissolve the plant, rendering the separation of the fibrous and ligneous +parts more easy. It can then be cleaned and picked for spinning. But, as +the vegetable glue that connects the two parts is very tenacious, and +resists for a long time the action of moisture, it is often advisable to +steep it in water, and this, in our dry climate, I considered most +expedient. + +My wife agreed to this, and proposed that we should convey it to +Flamingo Marsh; and we spent the rest of the day in tying up the leaves +in bundles. Next morning, we loaded our cart, and proceeded to the +marsh: we there untied our bundles, and spread them in the water, +pressing them down with stones, and leaving them till it was time to +take them out to dry. We could not but admire here the ingenious nests +of the flamingo; they are of a conical form, raised above the level of +the marsh, having a recess above, in which the eggs are deposited, out +of the reach of danger, and the female can sit on them with her legs in +the water. These nests are of clay, and so solid, that they resist the +water till the young are able to swim. + +In a fortnight the flax was ready to be taken out of the water; we +spread it in the sun, which dried it so effectually, that we brought it +to Falcon’s Nest the same evening, where it was stored till we were +ready for further operations. At present we laboured to lay up provision +for the rainy season, leaving all sedentary occupations to amuse us in +our confinement. We brought in continually loads of sweet acorns, +manioc, potatoes, wood, fodder for the cattle, sugar-canes, fruit, +indeed everything that might be useful during the uncertain period of +the rainy season. We profited by the last few days to sow the wheat and +other remaining European grains, that the rain might germinate them. We +had already had some showers; the temperature was variable, the sky +became cloudy, and the wind rose. The season changed sooner than we +expected; the winds raged through the woods, the sea roared, mountains +of clouds were piled in the heavens. They soon burst over our heads, and +torrents of rain fell night and day, without intermission; the rivers +swelled till their waters met, and turned the whole country around us +into an immense lake. Happily we had formed our little establishment on +a spot rather elevated above the rest of the valley; the waters did not +quite reach our tree, but surrounded us about two hundred yards off, +leaving us on a sort of island in the midst of the general inundation. +We were reluctantly obliged to descend from our aërial abode; the rain +entered it on all sides, and the hurricane threatened every moment to +carry away the apartment, and all that were in it. We set about our +removal, bringing down our hammocks and bedding to the sheltered space +under the roots of the trees that we had roofed for the animals. We were +painfully crowded in the small space; the stores of provisions, the +cooking utensils, and especially the neighbourhood of the animals, and +the various offensive smells, made our retreat almost insupportable. We +were choked with smoke if we lighted a fire, and inundated with rain if +we opened a door. For the first time since our misfortune, we sighed for +the comforts of our native home; but action was necessary, and we set +about endeavouring to amend our condition. + +The winding staircase was very useful to us; the upper part was crowded +with things we did not want, and my wife frequently worked in the lower +part, at one of the windows. We crowded our beasts a little more, and +gave a current of air to the places they had left. I placed outside the +enclosure the animals of the country, which could bear the inclemency of +the season; thus I gave a half-liberty to the buffalo and the onagra, +tying their legs loosely, to prevent them straying, the boughs of the +tree affording them a shelter. We made as few fires as possible, as, +fortunately it was never cold, and we had no provisions that required a +long process of cookery. We had milk in abundance, smoked meat, and +fish, the preserved ortolans, and cassava cakes. As we sent out some of +our animals in the morning, with bells round their necks, Fritz and I +had to seek them and bring them in every evening, when we were +invariably wet through. This induced my ingenious Elizabeth to make us a +sort of blouse and hood out of old garments of the sailors, which we +covered with coatings of the caoutchouc, and thus obtained two capital +waterproof dresses; all that the exhausted state of our gum permitted +us to make. + +The care of our animals occupied us a great part of the morning, then we +prepared our cassava, and baked our cakes on iron plates. Though we had +a glazed door to our hut, the gloominess of the weather, and the +obscurity caused by the vast boughs of the tree, made night come on +early. We then lighted a candle, fixed in a gourd on the table, round +which we were all assembled. The good mother laboured with her needle, +mending the clothes; I wrote my journal, which Ernest copied, as he +wrote a beautiful hand; while Fritz and Jack taught their young brother +to read and write, or amused themselves with drawing the animals or +plants they had been struck with. We read the lessons from the Bible in +turns, and concluded the evening with devotion. We then retired to rest, +content with ourselves and with our innocent and peaceful life. Our kind +housekeeper often made us a little feast of a roast chicken, a pigeon, +or a duck, and once in four or five days we had fresh butter made in the +gourd churn; and the delicious honey which we ate to our cassava bread +might have been a treat to European epicures. + +The remains of our repast was always divided among our domestic animals. +We had four dogs, the jackal, the eagle, and the monkey, who relied on +their masters, and were never neglected. But if the buffalo, the onagra, +and the sow had not been able to provide for themselves, we must have +killed them, for we had no food for them. + +We now decided that we would not expose ourselves to another rainy +season in such an unsuitable habitation; even my gentle Elizabeth got +out of temper with the inconveniences, and begged we would build a +better winter house; stipulating, however, that we should return to our +tree in summer. We consulted a great deal on this matter; Fritz quoted +Robinson Crusoe, who had cut a dwelling out of the rock, which sheltered +him in the inclement season; and the idea of making our home at Tent +House naturally came into my mind. It would probably be a long and +difficult undertaking, but with time, patience, and perseverance, we +might work wonders. We resolved, as soon as the weather would allow us, +to go and examine the rocks at Tent House. + +The last work of the winter was, at my wife’s incessant request, a +beetle for her flax, and some carding-combs. The beetle was easily made, +but the combs cost much trouble. I filed large nails till they were +round and pointed, I fixed them, slightly inclined, at equal distances, +in a sheet of tin, and raised the edge like a box; I then poured melted +lead between the nails and the edge, to fix them more firmly. I nailed +this on a board, and the machine was fit for use, and my wife was all +anxiety to begin her manufacture. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + +I cannot describe our delight when, after long and gloomy weeks, we saw +at length the sky clear, and the sun, dispersing the dark clouds of +winter, spread its vivifying rays over all nature; the winds were +lulled, the waters subsided, and the air became mild and serene. We went +out, with shouts of joy, to breathe the balmy air, and gratified our +eyes with the sight of the fresh verdure already springing up around us. +Nature seemed in her youth again, and amidst the charms that breathed on +every side, we forgot our sufferings, and, like the children of Noah +coming forth from the ark, we raised a hymn of thanksgiving to the Giver +of all good. + +All our plantations and seeds had prospered. The corn was springing, and +the trees were covered with leaves and blossoms. The air was perfumed +with the odour of countless beautiful flowers; and lively with the songs +and cries of hundreds of brilliant birds, all busy building their nests. +This was really spring in all its glory. + +We began our summer occupation by cleaning and putting in order our +dormitory in the tree, which the rain and the scattered leaves had +greatly deranged; and in a few days we were able to inhabit it again. My +wife immediately began with her flax; while my sons were leading the +cattle to the pasture, I took the bundles of flax into the open air, +where I constructed a sort of oven of stone, which dried it completely. +We began that very evening to strip, beat, and comb it; and I drew out +such handfuls of soft, fine flax, ready for spinning, that my wife was +overjoyed, and begged me to make her a wheel, that she might commence. + +I had formerly had a little taste for turning, and though I had now +neither lathe nor any other of the tools, yet I knew how a +spinning-wheel and reel should be made, and, by dint of application, I +succeeded in completing these two machines to her satisfaction. She +began to spin with so much earnestness, that she would hardly take a +walk, and reluctantly left her wheel to make dinner ready. She employed +Francis to reel off the thread as she spun it, and would willingly have +had the elder boys to take her place when she was called off; but they +rebelled at the effeminate work, except Ernest, whose indolent habits +made him prefer it to more laborious occupation. + +In the mean time we walked over to Tent House to see the state of +things, and found that winter had done more damage there than at +Falcon’s Nest. The storm had overthrown the tent, carried away some of +the sailcloth, and injured our provisions so much, that great part was +good for nothing, and the rest required to be immediately dried. +Fortunately our beautiful pinnace had not suffered much,—it was still +safe at anchor, and fit for use; but our tub boat was entirely +destroyed. + +Our most important loss was two barrels of gunpowder, which had been +left in the tent, instead of under the shelter of the rock, and which +the rain had rendered wholly useless. This made us feel still more +strongly the necessity of securing for the future a more suitable +shelter than a canvas tent, or a roof of foliage. Still I had small hope +from the gigantic plan of Fritz or the boldness of Jack. I could not be +blind to the difficulties of the undertaking. The rocks which surrounded +Tent House presented an unbroken surface, like a wall without any +crevice, and, to all appearance, of so hard a nature as to leave little +hopes of success. However, it was necessary to try to contrive some sort +of cave, if only for our gunpowder. I made up my mind, and selected the +most perpendicular face of the rock as the place to begin our work. It +was a much pleasanter situation than our tent, commanding a view of the +whole bay, and the two banks of Jackal River, with its picturesque +bridge. I marked out with chalk the dimension of the entrance I wished +to give to the cave; then my sons and I took our chisels, pickaxes, and +heavy miner’s hammers, and began boldly to hew the stone. + +Our first blows produced very little effect; the rock seemed +impenetrable, the sun had so hardened the surface; and the sweat poured +off our brows with the hard labour. Nevertheless, the efforts of my +young workmen did not relax. Every evening we left our work advanced, +perhaps, a few inches; and every morning returned to the task with +renewed ardour. At the end of five or six days, when the surface of the +rock was removed, we found the stone become easier to work; it then +seemed calcarious, and, finally, only a sort of hardened clay, which we +could remove with spades; and we began to hope. After a few days’ more +labour, we found we had advanced about seven feet. Fritz wheeled out the +rubbish, and formed a sort of terrace with it before the opening; while +I was working at the higher part, Jack, as the least, worked below. One +morning he was hammering an iron bar, which he had pointed at the end, +into the rock, to loosen the earth, when he suddenly cried out— + +“Papa! papa! I have pierced through!” + +“Not through your hand, child?” asked I. + +“No, papa!” cried he; “I have pierced through the mountain! Huzza!” + +Fritz ran in at the shout, and told him he had better have said at once +that he had pierced through the earth! But Jack persisted that, however +his brother might laugh, he was quite sure he had felt his iron bar +enter an empty space behind. I now came down from my ladder, and, moving +the bar, I felt there was really a hollow into which the rubbish fell, +but apparently very little below the level we were working on. I took a +long pole and probed the cavity, and found that it must be of +considerable size. My boys wished to have the opening enlarged and to +enter immediately, but this I strictly forbade; for, as I leaned forward +to examine it through the opening, a rush of mephitic air gave me a sort +of vertigo. “Come away, children,” cried I, in terror; “the air you +would breathe there is certain death.” I explained to them that, under +certain circumstances, carbonic acid gas was frequently accumulated in +caves or grottoes, rendering the air unfit for respiration; producing +giddiness of the head, fainting, and eventually death. I sent them to +collect some hay, which I lighted and threw into the cave; this was +immediately extinguished; we repeated the experiment several times with +the same result. I now saw that more active means must be resorted to. + +We had brought from the vessel a box of fireworks, intended for signals; +I threw into the cave, by a cord, a quantity of rockets, grenades, &c., +and scattered a train of gunpowder from them; to this I applied a long +match, and we retired to a little distance. This succeeded well; a great +explosion agitated the air, a torrent of the carbonic acid gas rushed +through the opening, and was replaced by the pure air; we sent in a few +more rockets, which flew round like fiery dragons, disclosing to us the +vast extent of the cave. A shower of stars, which concluded our +experiment, made us wish the duration had been longer. It seemed as if a +crowd of winged genii, carrying each a lamp, were floating about in that +enchanted cavern. When they vanished, I threw in some more lighted hay, +which blazed in such a lively manner, that I knew all danger was over +from the gas; but, for fear of deep pits, or pools of water, I would not +venture in without lights. I therefore despatched Jack, on his buffalo, +to report this discovery to his mother, and bring all the candles she +had made. I purposely sent Jack on the errand, for his lively and poetic +turn of mind would, I hoped, invest the grotto with such charms, that +his mother would even abandon her wheel to come and see it. + +[Illustration: “This succeeded well; a great explosion agitated the +air—a torrent of the carbonic acid gas rushed through the opening.”] + +Delighted with his commission, Jack leaped upon his buffalo, and, waving +his whip, galloped off with an intrepidity that made my hair stand on +end. During his absence, Fritz and I enlarged the opening, to make it +easy of access, removed all the rubbish, and swept a road for mamma. We +had just finished, when we heard the sound of wheels crossing the +bridge, and the cart appeared, drawn by the cow and ass, led by Ernest. +Jack rode before on his buffalo, blowing through his hand to imitate a +horn, and whipping the lazy cow and ass. He rode up first, and alighted +from his huge courser, to help his mother out. + +I then lighted our candles, giving one to each, with a spare candle and +flint and steel in our pockets. We took our arms, and proceeded in a +solemn manner into the rock. I walked first, my sons followed, and their +mother came last, with Francis. We had not gone on above a few steps, +when we stopped, struck with wonder and admiration; all was glittering +around us; we were in a grotto of diamonds! From the height of the lofty +vaulted roof hung innumerable crystals, which, uniting with those on the +walls, formed colonnades, altars, and every sort of gothic ornament of +dazzling lustre, creating a fairy palace, or an illuminated temple. + +When we were a little recovered from our first astonishment, we advanced +with more confidence. The grotto was spacious, the floor smooth, and +covered with a fine dry sand. From the appearance of these crystals, I +suspected their nature, and, on breaking off a piece and tasting it, I +found, to my great joy, that we were in a grotto of rock salt, which is +found in large masses in the earth, usually above a bed of gypsum, and +surrounded by fossils. We were charmed with this discovery, of which we +could no longer have a doubt. What an advantage this was to our cattle, +and to ourselves! We could now procure this precious commodity without +care or labour. The acquisition was almost as valuable as this brilliant +retreat was in itself, of which we were never tired of admiring the +beauty. My wife was struck with our good fortune in opening the rock +precisely at the right spot; but I was of opinion, that this mine was of +great extent, and that we could not well have missed it. Some blocks of +salt were scattered on the ground, which had apparently fallen from the +vaulted roof. I was alarmed; for such an accident might destroy one of +my children; but, on examination, I found the mass above too solid to be +detached spontaneously, and I concluded that the explosion of the +fireworks had given this shock to the subterranean palace, which had not +been entered since the creation of the world. I feared there might yet +be some pieces loosened; I therefore sent out my wife and younger sons. +Fritz and I remained, and, after carefully examining the suspected +parts, we fired our guns, and watched the effect; one or two pieces +fell, but the rest remained firm, though we struck with long poles as +high as we could reach. We were now satisfied of the security of our +magnificent abode, and began to plan our arrangements for converting it +into a convenient and pleasant habitation. The majority were for coming +here immediately, but the wiser heads determined that, for this year, +Falcon’s Nest was to continue our home. There we went every night, and +spent the day at Tent House, contriving and arranging our future +winter dwelling. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + +The last bed of rock, before we reached the cave which Jack had pierced, +was so soft, and easy to work, that we had little difficulty in +proportioning and opening the place for our door; I hoped that, being +now exposed to the heat of the sun, it would soon become as hard as the +original surface. The door was that we had used for the staircase at +Falcon’s Nest; for as we only intended to make a temporary residence of +our old tree, there was no necessity for solid fittings; and, besides, I +intended to close the entrance of the tree by a door of bark, more +effectually to conceal it, in case savages should visit us. I then laid +out the extent of the grotto at pleasure, for we had ample space. We +began by dividing it into two parts; that on the right of the entrance +was to be our dwelling; on the left were, first, our kitchen, then the +workshop and the stables; behind these were the store-rooms and the +cellar. In order to give light and air to our apartments, it was +necessary to insert in the rock the windows we had brought from the +ship; and this cost us many days of labour. The right-hand portion was +subdivided into three rooms: the first our own bedroom; the middle, the +common sitting-room, and beyond the boys’ room. As we had only three +windows, we appropriated one to each bedroom, and the third to the +kitchen, contenting ourselves, at present, with a grating in the +dining-room. I constructed a sort of chimney in the kitchen, formed of +four boards, and conducted the smoke thus, through a hole made in the +face of the rock. We made bur work-room spacious enough for us to carry +on all our manufactures, and it served also for our cart-house. Finally, +all the partition-walls were put up, communicating by doors, and +completing our commodious habitation. These various labours, the removal +of our effects, and arranging them again, all the confusion of a change +when it was necessary to be at once workmen and directors, took us a +great part of summer; but the recollection of the vexations we should +escape in the rainy season gave us energy. + +We passed nearly all our time at Tent House, the centre of our +operations; and, besides the gardens and plantations which surrounded +it, we found many advantages which we profited by. Large turtles often +came to deposit their eggs in the sand, a pleasant treat for us; but we +raised our desires to the possession of the turtles themselves, living, +to eat when we chose. As soon as we saw one on the shore, one of my sons +ran to cut off its retreat. We then hastened to assist, turned the +creature on its back, passed a long cord through its shell, and tied it +firmly to a post close to the water. We then placed it on its legs, when +of course it made for the water, but could only ramble the length of its +cord; it seemed, however, very content, and we had it in readiness when +we wanted it. The lobsters, crabs, mussles, and every sort of fish which +abounded on the coast, plentifully supplied our table. One morning, we +were struck with an extraordinary spectacle: a large portion of the sea +appeared in a state of ebullition, and immense flocks of marine birds +were hovering over it, uttering piercing cries, and plunging into the +waves. From time to time the surface, on which the rising sun now shone, +seemed covered with little flames, which rapidly appeared and vanished. +Suddenly, this extraordinary mass advanced to the bay; and we ran down, +fall of curiosity. We found, on our arrival, that this strange +phenomenon was caused by a shoal of herrings. These shoals are so dense, +that they are often taken for sand-banks, are many leagues in extent, +and several feet in depth: they spread themselves over the seas, +carrying to barren shores the resources that nature has denied them. + +These brilliant, scaly creatures had now entered the bay, and my wife +and children were lost in admiration of the wonderful sight; but I +reminded them, that when Providence sends plenty, we ought to put forth +our hands to take it. I sent immediately for the necessary utensils, and +organized my fishery. Fritz and Jack stood in the water, and such was +the thickness of the shoal, that they filled baskets, taking them up as +you would water in a pail; they threw them on the sand; my wife and +Ernest cut them open, cleaned them, and rubbed them with salt; I +arranged them in small barrels, a layer of herrings and a layer of salt; +and when the barrel was full, the ass, led by Francis, took them up to +the storehouse. This labour occupied us several days, and at the end of +that time we had a dozen barrels of excellent salt provision against the +winter season. + +The refuse of this fishery, which we threw into the sea, attracted a +number of sea-dogs; we killed several for the sake of the skin and the +oil, which would be useful to burn in lamps, or even as an ingredient +in soap, which I hoped to make at some future time. + +At this time I greatly improved my sledge, by placing it on two small +wheels belonging to the guns of the ship, making it a light and +commodious carriage, and so low, that we could easily place heavy +weights on it. Satisfied with our labours, we returned very happy to +Falcon’s Nest, to spend our Sunday, and to thank God heartily for all +the blessings he had given us. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + +We went on with our labours but slowly, as many employments diverted us +from the great work. I had discovered that the crystals of salt in our +grotto had a bed of gypsum for their base, from which I hoped to obtain +a great advantage. I was fortunate enough to discover, behind a +projecting rock, a natural passage leading to our store-room, strewed +with fragments of gypsum. I took some of it to the kitchen, and by +repeated burnings calcined it, and reduced it to a fine white powder, +which I put into casks, and carefully preserved for use. My intention +was, to form our partition-walls of square stones, cemented with the +gypsum. I employed my sons daily to collect this, till we had amassed a +large quantity; using some, in the first place, effectually to cover our +herring-barrels. Four barrels were salted and covered in this way; the +rest my wife smoked in a little hut of reeds and branches, in the midst +of which the herrings were laid on sticks, and exposed to the smoke of +a fire of green moss kindled below. This dried them, and gave them the +peculiar flavour so agreeable to many. + +We were visited by another shoal of fish a month after that of the +herrings. Jack first discovered them at the mouth of Jackal River, where +they had apparently come to deposit their eggs among the scattered +stones. They were so large, that he was sure they must be whales. I +found them to be pretty large sturgeons, besides salmon, large trout, +and many other fishes. Jack immediately ran for his bow and arrows, and +told me he would kill them all. He fastened the end of a ball of string +to an arrow, with a hook at the end of it; he tied the bladders of the +dog-fish at certain distances to the string; he then placed the ball +safe on the shore, took his bow, fixed the arrow in it, and aiming at +the largest salmon, shot it in the side; the fish tried to escape; I +assisted him to draw the cord; it was no easy task, for he struggled +tremendously; but at length, weakened by loss of blood, we drew him to +land, and despatched him. + +The other boys came running up to congratulate the young fisherman on +his invention, and as it was to be feared that the rest, alarmed by this +attack, might take their departure, we determined to abandon everything +for the fishery. Fritz threw his harpoon, and landed, by means of the +reel, some large salmon; Ernest took his rod, and caught trout; and I, +armed like Neptune with an iron trident, succeeded in striking, amongst +the stones, some enormous fish. The greatest difficulty was to land our +booty; Fritz had struck a sturgeon at least eight feet long, which +resisted our united efforts, till my wife brought the buffalo, which we +harnessed to the line, and made ourselves masters of this immense prize. + +We had a great deal of labour in opening and cleaning all our fish: some +we dried and salted; some my wife boiled in oil, as they preserve the +tunny. The spawn of the sturgeon, a huge mass, weighing not less than +thirty pounds, I laid aside to prepare as _caviare_, a favourite dish in +Holland and Russia. I carefully cleansed the eggs from the skin and +fibres that were mixed with them, washed them thoroughly in sea-water, +slightly sprinkled them with salt, then put them in a gourd pierced with +small holes to let the water escape, and placed weights on them to press +them completely for twenty-four hours. We then removed the caviare in +solid masses, like cheeses, took it to the smoking-hut to dry, and in a +few days had this large addition to our winter provision. + +My next employment was the preparation of the valuable isinglass. I took +the air-bladder and sounds of the fish, cut them in strips, twisted them +in rolls, and dried them in the sun. This is all that is necessary to +prepare this excellent glue. It becomes very hard, and, when wanted for +use, is cut up in small pieces, and dissolved over a slow fire. The glue +was so white and transparent, that I hoped to make window-panes from it +instead of glass. + +After this work was finished, we began to plan a boat to replace our tub +raft. I wished to try to make one of bark, as the savage nations do, and +I proposed to make an expedition in search of a tree for our purpose. +All those in our own neighbourhood were too precious to destroy; some +for their fruits, others for their shade. We resolved to search at a +distance for trees fit for our purpose, taking in our road a survey of +our plantations and fields. Our garden at Tent House produced abundantly +continual successions of vegetables in that virgin soil, and in a +climate which recognized no change of season. The peas, beans, lentils, +and lettuces were flourishing, and only required water, and our channels +from the river brought this plentifully to us. We had delicious +cucumbers and melons; the maize was already a foot high, the sugar-canes +were prospering, and the pine-apples on the high ground promised us a +rich treat. + +We hoped our distant plantations were going on as well, and all set out +one fine morning to Falcon’s Nest, to examine the state of things there. +We found my wife’s corn-fields were luxuriant in appearance, and for the +most part ready for cutting. There were barley, wheat, oats, beans, +millet, and lentils. We cut such of these as were ready, sufficient to +give us seeds for another year. The richest crop was the maize, which +suited the soil. But there were a quantity of gatherers more eager to +taste these new productions than we were; these were birds of every +kind, from the bustard to the quail, and from the various establishments +they had formed round, it might be presumed they would not leave +much for us. + +After our first shock at the sight of these robbers, we used some +measures to lessen the number of them. Fritz unhooded his eagle, and +pointed out the dispersing bustards. The well-trained bird immediately +soared, and pounced on a superb bustard, and laid it at the feet of its +master. The jackal, too, who was a capital pointer, brought to his +master about a dozen little fat quails, which furnished us with an +excellent repast; to which my wife added a liquor of her own invention, +made of the green maize crushed in water, and mingled with the juice of +the sugar-cane; a most agreeable beverage, white as milk, sweet and +refreshing. + +We found the bustard, which the eagle had struck down, but slightly +wounded; we washed his hurts with a balsam made of wine, butter, and +water, and tied him by the leg in the poultry-yard, as a companion to +our tame bustard. + +We passed the remainder of the day at Falcon’s Nest, putting our summer +abode into order, and thrashing out our grain, to save the precious seed +for another year. The Turkey wheat was laid by in sheaves, till we +should have time to thrash and winnow it; and then I told Fritz that it +would be necessary to put the hand-mill in order, that we had brought +from the wreck. Fritz thought we could build a mill ourselves on the +river; but this bold scheme was, at present, impracticable. + +The next day we set out on an excursion in the neighbourhood. My wife +wished to establish colonies of our animals at some distance from +Falcon’s Nest, at a convenient spot, where they would be secure, and +might find subsistence. She selected from her poultry-yard twelve young +fowls; I took four young pigs, two couple of sheep, and two goats. These +animals were placed in the cart, in which we had previously placed our +provisions of every kind, and the tools and utensils we might need, not +forgetting the rope ladder and the portable tent; we then harnessed the +buffalo, the cow, and the ass, and departed on our tour. + +Fritz rode before on Lightfoot, to reconnoitre the ground, that we +might not plunge into any difficulties; as, this time, we went in a new +direction, exactly in the midst between the rocks and the shore, that we +might get acquainted with the whole of the country that stretched to +Cape Disappointment. We had the usual difficulty, at first, in getting +through the high grass, and the underwood embarrassed our road, till we +were compelled to use the axe frequently. I made some trifling +discoveries that were useful, while engaged in this labour; amongst +others, some roots of trees curved like saddles, and yokes for beasts of +draught. I cut away several of these, and placed them on the cart. When +we had nearly passed the wood, we were struck with the singular +appearance of a little thicket of low bushes, apparently covered with +snow. Francis clapped his hands with joy, and begged to get out of the +cart that he might make some snowballs. Fritz galloped forward, and +returned, bringing me a branch loaded with this beautiful white down, +which, to my great joy, I recognized to be cotton. It was a discovery of +inestimable value to us, and my wife began immediately to enumerate all +the advantages we should derive from it, when I should have constructed +for her the machines for spinning and weaving the cotton. We soon +gathered as much as filled three bags, intending afterwards to collect +the seeds of this marvellous plant, to sow in the neighbourhood of +Tent House. + +After crossing the plain of the cotton-trees, we reached the summit of a +hill, from which the eye rested on a terrestrial paradise. Trees of +every sort covered the sides of the hill, and a murmuring stream +crossed the plain, adding to its beauty and fertility. The wood we had +just crossed formed a shelter against the north winds, and the rich +pasture offered food for our cattle. We decided at once that this should +be the site of our farm. + +We erected our tent, made a fireplace, and set about cooking our dinner. +While this was going on, Fritz and I sought a convenient spot for our +structure; and we met with a group of beautiful trees, at such a +distance one from another, as to form natural pillars for our dwelling; +we carried all our tools here; but as the day was far advanced, we +delayed commencing our work till next day. We returned to the tent, and +found my wife and her boys picking cotton, with which they made some +very comfortable beds, and we slept peacefully under our canvass roof. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + +The trees which I had chosen for my farmhouse were about a foot in +diameter in the trunk. They formed a long square; the long side facing +the sea. The dimensions of the whole were about twenty-four feet by +sixteen. I cut deep mortices in the trees, about ten feet distant from +the ground, and again ten feet higher, to form a second story; I then +placed in them strong poles: this was the skeleton of my house—solid, +if not elegant; I placed over this a rude roof of bark, cut in squares, +and placed sloping, that the rain might run off. We fastened these with +the thorn of the acacia, as our nails were too precious to be lavished. +While procuring the bark, we made many discoveries. The first was that +of two remarkable trees,—the _Pistacia terebinthus_ and the _Pistacia +atlantica;_ the next, the thorny acacia, from which we got the +substitute for nails. + +The instinct of my goats led us also to find out, among the pieces of +bark, that of the cinnamon, not perhaps equal to that of Ceylon, but +very fragrant and agreeable. But this was of little value, compared to +the turpentine and mastic I hoped to procure from the pistachios, to +compose a sort of pitch to complete our intended boat. + +We continued our work at the house, which occupied us several days. We +formed the walls of thin laths interwoven with long pliant reeds for +about six feet from the ground; the rest was merely a sort of light +trellis-work, to admit light and air. The door opened on the front to +the sea. The interior consisted simply of a series of compartments, +proportioned to the guests they were to contain. One small apartment was +for ourselves, when we chose to visit our colony. On the upper story was +a sort of hayloft for the fodder. We projected plastering the walls with +clay; but these finishing touches we deferred to a future time, +contented that we had provided a shelter for our cattle and fowls. To +accustom them to come to this shelter of themselves, we took care to +fill their racks with the food they liked best, mingled with salt; and +this we proposed to renew at intervals, till the habit of coming to +their houses was fixed. We all laboured ardently, but the work proceeded +slowly, from our inexperience; and the provisions we had brought were +nearly exhausted. I did not wish to return to Falcon’s Nest till I had +completed my new establishment, and therefore determined to send Fritz +and Jack to look after the animals at home, and bring back a fresh stock +of provisions. Our two young couriers set out, each on his favourite +steed, Fritz leading the ass to bring back the load, and Jack urging the +indolent animal forward with his whip. + +During their absence, Ernest and I made a little excursion, to add to +our provision—if we could meet with them, some potatoes and cocoa-nuts. +We ascended the stream for some time, which led us to a large marsh, +beyond which we discovered a lake abounding with water-fowl. This lake +was surrounded by tall, thick grass, with ears of a grain, which I found +to be a very good, though small, sort of rice. As to the lake itself, it +is only a Swiss, accustomed from his infancy to look on such smooth, +tranquil waters, that can comprehend the happiness we felt on looking +upon this. We fancied we were once more in Switzerland, our own dear +land; but the majestic trees and luxuriant vegetation soon reminded us +we were no longer in Europe, and that the ocean separated us from our +native home. + +In the mean time, Ernest had brought down several birds, with a skill +and success that surprised me. A little after, we saw Knips leap off the +back of his usual palfrey, Flora, and, making his way through the rich +grass, collect and carry rapidly to his mouth something that seemed +particularly to please his palate. We followed him, and, to our great +comfort, were able to refresh ourselves with that delicious strawberry +called in Europe the Chili or pineapple strawberry. We ate plentifully +of this fruit, which was of enormous size; Ernest especially enjoyed +them, but did not forget the absent; he filled Knips’s little pannier +with them, and I covered them with large leaves, which I fastened down +with reeds, lest he should take a fancy to help himself as we went home. +I took, also, a specimen of rice, for the inspection of our good +housekeeper, who would, I knew, rejoice in such an acquisition. + +We proceeded round the lake, which presented a different scene on every +side. This was one of the most lovely and fertile parts we had yet seen +of this country. Birds of all kinds abounded; but we were particularly +struck with a pair of black swans, sailing majestically on the water. +Their plumage was perfectly black and glossy, except the extremity of +the wings, which was white. Ernest would have tried his skill again, but +I forbade him to disturb the profound tranquillity of this +charming region. + +But Flora, who probably had not the same taste for the beauties of +nature that I had, suddenly darted forward like an arrow, pounced upon a +creature that was swimming quietly at the edge of the water, and brought +it to us. It was a most curious animal. It resembled an otter in form, +but was web-footed, had an erect bushy tail like the squirrel, small +head, eyes and ears almost invisible. A long, flat bill, like that of a +duck, completed its strange appearance. We were completely puzzled—even +Ernest, the naturalist, could not give its name. I boldly gave it the +name of the beast with a bill. I told Ernest to take it, as I wished to +stuff and preserve it. + +“It will be,” said the little philosopher, “the first natural object for +our museum.” + +“Exactly,” replied I; “and, when the establishment is fully arranged, +we will appoint you curator.” + +But, thinking my wife would grow uneasy at our protracted absence, we +returned by a direct road to the tent. Our two messengers arrived about +the same time, and we all sat down together to a cheerful repast. Every +one related his feats. Ernest dwelt on his discoveries, and was very +pompous in his descriptions, and I was obliged to promise to take Fritz +another time. I learnt, with pleasure, that all was going on well at +Falcon’s Nest, and that the boys had had the forethought to leave the +animals with provisions for ten days. This enabled me to complete my +farmhouse. We remained four days longer, in which time I finished the +interior, and my wife arranged in our own apartment the cotton +mattresses, to be ready for our visits, and put into the houses the +fodder and grain for their respective tenants. We then loaded our cart, +and began our march. The animals wished to follow us, but Fritz, on +Lightfoot, covered our retreat, and kept them at the farm till we were +out of sight. + +We did not proceed directly, but went towards the wood of monkeys. These +mischievous creatures assaulted us with showers of the fir-apples; but a +few shots dispersed our assailants. + +Fritz collected some of these new fruits they had flung at us, and I +recognized them as those of the stone Pine, the kernel of which is good +to eat, and produces an excellent oil. We gathered a bag of these, and +continued our journey till we reached the neighbourhood of Cape +Disappointment. There we ascended a little hill, from the summit of +which we looked upon rich plains, rivers, and woods clothed with verdure +and brilliant flowers, and gay birds that fluttered among the bushes. +“Here, my children,” cried I, “here we will build our summer house. This +is truly Arcadia.” Here we placed our tent, and immediately began to +erect a new building, formed in the same manner as the Farm House, but +now executed more quickly. We raised the roof in the middle, and made +four sloped sides. The interior was divided into eating and sleeping +apartments, stables, and a store-room for provisions; the whole was +completed and provisioned in ten days; and we had now another mansion +for ourselves, and a shelter for new colonies of animals. This new +erection received the name of Prospect Hill, to gratify Ernest, who +thought it had an English appearance. + +However, the end for which our expedition was planned was not yet +fulfilled. I had not yet met with a tree likely to suit me for a boat. +We returned then to inspect the trees, and I fixed on a sort of oak, the +bark of which was closer than that of the European oak, resembling more +that of the cork-tree. The trunk was at least five feet in diameter, and +I fancied its coating, if I could obtain it whole, would perfectly +answer my purpose. I traced a circle at the foot, and with a small saw +cut the bark entirely through; Fritz, by means of the rope ladder we had +brought with us, and attached to the lower branches of the tree, +ascended, and cut a similar circle eighteen feet above mine. We then cut +out, perpendicularly, a slip the whole length, and, removing it, we had +room to insert the necessary tools, and, with wedges, we finally +succeeded in loosening the whole. The first part was easy enough, but +there was greater difficulty as we advanced. We sustained it as we +proceeded with ropes, and then gently let it down on the grass. I +immediately began to form my boat while the bark was fresh and flexible. +My sons, in their impatience, thought it would do very well if we nailed +a board at each end of the roll; but this would have been merely a heavy +trough, inelegant and unserviceable; I wished to have one that would +look well by the side of the pinnace; and this idea at once rendered my +boys patient and obedient. We began by cutting out at each end of the +roll of bark a triangular piece of about five feet long; then, placing +the sloping parts one over the other, I united them with pegs and strong +glue, and thus finished the ends of my boat in a pointed form. This +operation having widened it too much in the middle, we passed strong +ropes round it, and drew it into the form we required. We then exposed +it to the sun, which dried and fixed it in the proper shape. + +As many things were necessary to complete my work, I sent Fritz and Jack +to Tent House for the sledge, to convey it there, that we might finish +it more conveniently. I had the good fortune to meet with some very +hard, crooked wood, the natural curve of which would be admirably +suitable for supporting the sides of the boat. We found also a resinous +tree, which distilled a sort of pitch, easy to manage, and which soon +hardened in the sun. My wife and Francis collected sufficient of it for +my work. It was almost night when our two messengers returned. We had +only time to sup and retire to our rest. + +We were all early at work next morning. We loaded the sledge, placing on +it the canoe, the wood for the sides, the pitch, and some young trees, +which I had transplanted for our plantation at Tent House, and which we +put into the boat. But, before we set out, I wished to erect a sort of +fortification at the pass of the rock, for the double purpose of +securing us against the attacks of wild beasts or of savages, and for +keeping enclosed, in the savannah beyond the rocks, some young pigs, +that we wished to multiply there, out of the way of our fields and +plantations. + +As we crossed the sugar-cane plantation, I saw some bamboos larger than +any I had ever met with, and we cut down one for a mast to our canoe. We +now had the river to our left, and the chain of rocks to our right, +which here approached the river, leaving only a narrow pass. At the +narrowest part of this we raised a rampart before a deep ditch, which +could only be crossed by a drawbridge we placed there. Beyond the +bridge, we put a narrow gate of woven bamboos, to enable us to enter the +country beyond, when we wished. We planted the side of the rampart with +dwarf palms, India fig, and other thorny shrubs, making a winding path +through the plantation, and digging in the midst a hidden pitfall, known +to ourselves by four low posts, intended to support a plank bridge when +we wished to cross it. After this was completed, we built a little +_chalet_ of bark in that part of the plantation that faced the stream, +and gave it the name of the Hermitage, intending it for a +resting-place. After several days of hard labour, we returned to +Prospect Hill, and took a little relaxation. The only work we did was to +prepare the mast, and lay it on the sledge with the rest. + +The next morning we returned to Tent House, where we immediately set to +work on our canoe with such diligence that it was soon completed. It was +solid and elegant, lined through with wood, and furnished with a keel. +We provided it with brass rings for the oars, and stays for the mast. +Instead of ballast, I laid at the bottom a layer of stones covered with +clay, and over this a flooring of boards. The benches for the rowers +were laid across, and in the midst the bamboo mast rose majestically, +with a triangular sail. Behind I fixed the rudder, worked by a tiller; +and I could boast now of having built a capital canoe. + +Our fleet was now in good condition. For distant excursions we could +take the pinnace, but the canoe would be invaluable for the +coasting service. + +Our cow had, in the mean time, given us a young male calf, which I +undertook to train for service, as I had done the buffalo, beginning by +piercing its nostrils; and the calf promised to be docile and useful; +and, as each of the other boys had his favourite animal to ride, I +bestowed the bull on Francis, and intrusted him with its education, to +encourage him to habits of boldness and activity. He was delighted with +his new charger, and chose to give him the name of Valiant. + +We had still two months before the rainy season, and this time we +devoted to completing the comforts of our grotto. We made all the +partitions of wood, except those which divided us from the stables, +which we built of stone, to exclude any smell from the animals. We soon +acquired skill in our works; we had a plentiful supply of beams and +planks from the ship; and by practice we became very good plasterers. We +covered the floors with a sort of well-beaten mud, smoothed it, and it +dried perfectly hard. We then contrived a sort of felt carpet. We first +covered the floor with sailcloth; we spread over this wool and goats’ +hair mixed, and poured over it isinglass dissolved, rolling up the +carpet, and beating it well. When this was dry, we repeated the process, +and in the end had a felt carpet. We made one of these for each room, to +guard against any damp that we might be subject to in the rainy season. + +The privations we had suffered the preceding winter increased the +enjoyment of our present comforts. The rainy season came on; we had now +a warm, well lighted, convenient habitation, and abundance of excellent +provision for ourselves and our cattle. In the morning, we could attend +to their wants without trouble, for the rain-water, carefully collected +in clean vessels, prevented the necessity of going to the river. We then +assembled in the dining-room to prayers. After that we went to our +work-room. My wife took her wheel, or her loom, which was a rude +construction of mine, but in which she had contrived to weave some +useful cloth of wool and cotton, and also some linen, which she had made +up for us. Everybody worked; the workshop was never empty. I contrived, +with the wheel of a gun, to arrange a sort of lathe, by means of which +I and my sons produced some neat furniture and utensils. Ernest +surpassed us all in this art, and made some elegant little things for +his mother. + +After dinner, our evening occupations commenced; our room was lighted up +brilliantly; we did not spare our candles, which were so easily +procured, and we enjoyed the reflection in the elegant crystals above +us. We had partitioned off a little chapel in one corner of the grotto, +which we had left untouched, and nothing could be more magnificent than +this chapel lighted up, with its colonnades, portico, and altars. We had +divine service here every Sunday. I had erected a sort of pulpit, from +which I delivered a short sermon to my congregation, which I endeavoured +to render as simple and as instructive as possible. + +Jack and Francis had a natural taste for music. I made them flageolets +of reeds, on which they acquired considerable skill. They accompanied +their mother, who had a very good voice; and this music in our lofty +grotto had a charming effect. + +We had thus made great steps towards civilization; and, though +condemned, perhaps, to pass our lives alone on this unknown shore, we +might yet be happy. We were placed in the midst of abundance. We were +active, industrious, and content; blessed with health, and united by +affection, our minds seemed to enlarge and improve every day. We saw +around us on every side traces of the Divine wisdom and beneficence; and +our hearts overflowed with love and veneration for that Almighty hand +which had so miraculously saved, and continued to protect us. I humbly +trusted in Him, either to restore us to the world, or send some beings +to join us in this beloved island, where for two years we had seen no +trace of man. To Him we committed our fate. We were happy and tranquil, +looking with resignation to the future. + +END OF THE FIRST PART OF THE JOURNAL. + + * * * * * + +POSTSCRIPT BY THE EDITOR. + +It is necessary to explain how this first part of the journal of the +Swiss pastor came into my hands. + +Three or four years after the family had been cast on this desert coast, +where, as we see, they lived a happy and contented life, an English +transport was driven by a storm upon the same shore. This vessel was the +_Adventurer_, Captain Johnson, and was returning from New Zealand to the +eastern coast of North America, by Otaheite, to fetch a cargo of furs +for China, and then to proceed from Canton to England. A violent storm, +which lasted several days, drove them out of their course. For many days +they wandered in unknown seas, and the ship was so injured by the storm, +that the captain looked out for some port to repair it. They discovered +a rocky coast, and, as the violence of the wind was lulled, ventured to +approach the shore. At a short distance they anchored, and sent a boat +to examine the coast. Lieutenant Bell, who went with the boat, knew a +little German. They were some time before they could venture to land +among the rocks which guarded the island, but, turning the promontory, +they saw Safety Bay, and entering it, were astonished to see a handsome +pinnace and boat at anchor, near the strand a tent, and in the rock +doors and windows, like those of a European house. + +They landed, and saw a middle-aged man coming to meet them, clothed in +European fashion, and well armed. After a friendly salutation, they +first spoke in German and then in English. This was the good father; the +family were at Falcon’s Nest, where they were spending the summer. He +had seen the vessel in the morning through his telescope, but, unwilling +to alarm, or to encourage hopes that might be vain, he had not spoken of +it, but come alone towards the coast. + +After much friendly conference, the party were regaled with all +hospitality at Tent House, the good Swiss gave the Lieutenant this first +part of his journal for the perusal of Captain Johnson, and, after an +hour’s conversation, they separated, hoping to have a pleasant +meeting next day. + +But Heaven decreed it otherwise. During the night, another fearful storm +arose; the _Adventurer_ lost its anchor, and was driven out to sea; and, +after several days of anxiety and danger, found itself so far from the +island, and so much shattered, that all thoughts of returning were given +up for that time, and Captain Johnson reluctantly relinquished the hope +of rescuing the interesting family. + +Thus it happened that the first part of this journal was brought to +England, and from thence sent to me, a friend of the family, in +Switzerland, accompanied by a letter from the Captain, declaring, that +he could have no rest till he found, and became acquainted with, this +happy family; that he would search for the island in his future voyages, +and either bring away the family, or, if they preferred to remain, he +would send out from England some colonists, and everything that might be +necessary to promote their comfort. A rough map of the island is added +to the journal, executed by Fritz, the eldest son. + + * * * * * + + +CONTINUATION OF THE JOURNAL. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + +I left the reader at the moment in which I had placed the first part of +my journal in the hands of Lieutenant Bell, to deliver to Captain +Johnson, of the English vessel the _Adventurer_, expecting him to return +the next day with Lieutenant Bell. We separated in this hope, and I +thought it necessary to inform my family of this expected visit, which +might decide their future lot. My wife and elder sons might wish to +seize this only occasion that might occur to revisit their native +country—to quit their beloved island, which would doubtless cost them +much sorrow at the last moment, but was necessary to their future +comfort. I could not help feeling distressed at the prospect of my dear +children’s solitary old age, and I determined, if they did not wish to +return with Captain Johnson, to request him to send some colonists out +to people our island. + +It will be remembered that I had left home alone, and at an early hour, +having perceived a vessel from the top of our tree with my telescope. I +had set out without breakfast, without giving my sons their tasks, or +making any arrangements for the labours of the day. My conference with +Lieutenant Bell had been long; it was now past noon, and knowing how +prompt my wife was to alarm herself, I was surprised that I did not +meet her, nor any of my sons. I began to be uneasy, and on my arrival I +hastily mounted the tree, and found my faithful partner extended on her +bed, surrounded by her four sons, and apparently in great pain. I +demanded, with a cry of grief, what had happened; all wished to speak at +once, and it was with some difficulty I learned, that my dear wife, in +descending the staircase, had been seized with a giddiness in her head, +and had fallen down and injured herself so much, that she was unable to +rise without assistance; she was now enduring great pain in her right +leg and in her left foot. “Ernest and I,” added Fritz, “carried her +without delay to her bed, though not without difficulty, for the +staircase is so narrow; but she continued to get worse, and we did not +know what to do.” + +_Jack_. I have rubbed her foot continually, but it swells more and more, +as well as her leg, which I dare not touch, it hurts her so much. + +_Ernest_. I remember, father, that of the chests that we brought from +the ship there is one unopened, which is marked “_medicines_,”—may it +not contain something that will relieve mamma? + +_Father_. Perhaps it may, my son. You did well to remember it; we will +go to Tent House for it. Fritz, you shall accompany me to assist in +bringing it. + +I wished to be alone with Fritz, to consult him about the English +vessel, and was glad of this opportunity. Before I left my wife, I +intended to examine her leg and foot, which were exceedingly painful. +When I was preparing to enter the Church, I had studied medicine and +practical surgery, in order to be able to administer to the bodily +afflictions of my poor parishioners, as well as to their spiritual +sorrows. I knew how to bleed, and could replace a dislocated limb. I had +often made cures; but since my arrival at the island I had neglected my +medical studies, which happily had not been needed. I hoped now, +however, to recall as much of my knowledge as would be sufficient to +cure my poor wife. I examined her foot first, which I found to be +violently sprained. She begged me then to look at her leg, and what was +my distress when I saw it was fractured above the ankle; however, the +fracture appeared simple, without splinters, and easy to cure. I sent +Fritz without delay to procure me two pieces of the bark of a tree, +between which I placed the leg, after having, with the assistance of my +son, stretched it till the two pieces of broken bone united; I then +bound it with bandages of linen, and tied the pieces of bark round the +leg, so that it might not be moved. I bound the sprained foot very +tightly, till I could procure the balsam which I expected to find in the +chest. I felt assured, that the giddiness of the head, which had caused +her fall, proceeded from some existing cause, which I suspected, from +the pulse and the complexion, must be a fulness of blood; and it +appeared to be necessary to take away some ounces, which I persuaded her +to allow me to do, when I should have brought my medicine-chest and +instruments from Tent House. I left her, with many charges, to the care +of my three younger sons, and proceeded to Tent House with Fritz, to +whom I now related my morning adventure, and consulted him how we should +mention it to his mother. Fritz was astonished. I saw how his mind was +employed; he looked round on our fields and plantations, increasing and +prospering. + +“We must not tell her, father,” said he. “I will be at Tent House early +in the morning; you must give me some commission to execute; I will +await the arrival of the Captain, and tell him that my dear mother is +ill,—and that he may return as he came.” + +“You speak rashly, Fritz,” answered I. “I have told you that this ship +has suffered much from the storm, and needs repairs. Have you not often +read the golden rule of our divine Master, _Do unto others as you would +have others do unto you?_ Our duty is to receive the Captain into our +island, and to assist him in repairing and refitting his vessel.” + +“And he will find,” said he, “we know something of that kind of work. +Did you show him our beautiful pinnace and canoe? But can such a large +vessel enter our Bay of Safety?” + +“No,” replied I; “I fear there will not be sufficient water; but we will +show the captain the large bay at the other end of the island, formed by +Cape Disappointment; he will find there a beautiful harbour.” + +“And he and his officers may live at the farm, and we can go over every +day to assist in repairing their vessel,” continued Fritz. + +“Very well,” said I; “and when it is finished, he will, in return, give +us a place in it to return to Europe.” + +“To return to Europe, father!” cried he; “to leave our beautiful winter +dwelling, Tent House, and our charming summer residence, Falcon’s Nest; +our dear, good animals; our crystals of salt; our farms; so much that is +our own, and which nobody covets, to return into Europe to poverty, to +war, to those wicked soldiers who have banished us! We want nothing. +Dear father, can you consent to leave our beloved island?” + +“You are right, my dear son,” said I. “Would to God we might always +remain here happily together; but we are of different ages, and by the +law of nature we must one day be separated. Consider, my dear son, if +you should survive your brothers, how cheerless it would be to live +quite alone on this desert island, without any one to close your eyes. +But let us look at these trees; I see they are tamarind-trees; their +fruit contains a pulp which is very useful in medicine, and which will +suit your mother, I think, as well as the juice of the orange or lemon. +We shall find some of the latter at our plantation near Tent House; but, +in the mean time, do you climb the tamarind-tree, and gather some of +those pods which resemble those of beans, fill one side of the bag with +them, the other we will reserve for the oranges and lemons. Not to lose +any time, I will go on to Tent House to seek for the two chests, and you +can follow me.” + +Fritz was up the tamarind-tree in a moment. I crossed Family Bridge, and +soon reached the grotto. I lighted a candle, which I always kept ready, +entered the magazine, and found the two chests, labelled. + +They were neither large nor heavy, and, having tied cords round them for +the convenience of carrying them, I proceeded to visit the orange and +lemon trees, where I found the fruit sufficiently ripe for lemonade. +Fritz came to meet me, with a good supply of tamarinds. We filled the +other end of his sack with oranges and lemons. He threw it over his +shoulder, and, neither of us being overloaded, we pursued our way +homewards very quickly, notwithstanding the heat, which was excessively +oppressive, though the sun was hidden under the thick clouds, which +entirely concealed the sea from us. Nothing was to be seen but the waves +breaking against the rocks. Fritz expressed his fears that a storm was +coming on, which might prove fatal to the vessel, and wished to take out +the pinnace and endeavour to assist Captain Johnson. Delighted as I felt +with his fearless humanity, I could not consent; I reminded him of the +situation of his mother. “Forgive me, dear father,” said he; “I had +forgotten everything but the poor vessel. But the captain may do as we +did, leave his ship between the rocks, and come, with all in the vessel, +to establish themselves here. We will give them up a corner of our +islands; and if there should be any ladies amongst them, how pleasant it +would be for mamma to have a friend!” + +The rain now fell in torrents, and we proceeded with great difficulty. +After crossing the bridge, we saw at a distance a very extraordinary +figure approaching us; we could not ascertain what species of animal it +was. It appeared taller than any of the monkeys we had seen, and much +larger, of a black or brown colour. We could not distinguish the head, +but it seemed to have two thick and moveable horns before it. We had +fortunately taken no gun with us, or Fritz would certainly have fired +at this singular animal. But as it rapidly approached us, we soon +recognized the step, and the cry of pleasure which hailed us. “It is +Jack,” we exclaimed; and in fact it was he, who was hurrying to meet us +with my large cloak and waterproof caoutchouc boots. I had neglected to +take them, and my dear little fellow had volunteered to bring them to +Tent House. To protect himself on the way, he had put the cloak on, +covering his head with the hood, and my boots being too large for him, +he had put one on each arm, which he held up to secure the hood. +Conceive what a singular figure he made. Notwithstanding our uneasiness, +and our wretched condition, for we were wet to the skin, we could not +but laugh heartily at him. I would not consent to use the coverings he +had brought; neither Fritz nor I could be worse for the distance we had +to go, and Jack was younger and more delicate; I obliged him therefore +to retain his curious protection; and asked how he had left his mother. +“Very uneasy,” said he, “about you; else I think she must be much +better, for her cheeks are very red, and her eyes very bright, and she +talks incessantly. She would have come herself to seek you, but could +not rise; and when I told her I would come, she bid me be very quick; +but when I was coming down stairs, I heard her call me back for fear of +the rain and the thunder; I would not hear her, but ran as fast as I +could, hoping to reach Tent House. Why did you come back so soon?” + +“To spare you half your journey, my brave little man,” said I, hastening +on; for Jack’s account of his mother made me uneasy. I perceived she +must be labouring under fever, and the blood ascending to her head. My +children followed me, and we soon reached the foot of our castle in +the air. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + +We entered our apartment literally as if we had come out of the sea, and +I found my poor Elizabeth much agitated. “Heaven be praised!” said she; +“but where is Jack, that rash little fellow?” + +“Here I am, mamma,” said he, “as dry as when I left you. I have left my +dress below, that I might not terrify you; for if Mr. Fritz had had his +gun, I might have been shot as a _rhinoceros_, and not been here to tell +you my story.” + +The good mother then turned her thoughts on Fritz and me, and would not +suffer us to come near her till we had changed our drenched garments. To +oblige her, we retired to a little closet I had contrived between two +thick branches at the top of the staircase, which was used to contain +our chests of linen, our dresses, and our provisions. Our dress was soon +changed; we hung up the wet garments, and I returned to my companion, +who was suffering from her foot, but still more from a frightful +headache. She had a burning fever. I concluded that bleeding was +urgently needed, but commenced by assuaging her thirst with some +lemonade. I then opened my box of surgical instruments, and approached +the opening to the east which served us for a window, and which we +could close by means of a curtain, that was now entirely raised to give +air to our dear invalid, and to amuse my children, who were watching the +storm. The mighty waves that broke against the rocks, the vivid +lightning bursting through the castles of murky clouds, the majestic and +incessant rolling of the thunder, formed one of those enchanting +spectacles to which they had been from infancy accustomed. As in the +Swiss mountains we are liable to frightful storms, to which it is +necessary to familiarize oneself, as one cannot avoid them, I had +accustomed my wife and children, by my own example, to behold, not only +without fear, but even with admiration, these great shocks of the +elements,—these convulsions of nature. + +I had opened the chest, and my children had directed their attention to +the instruments it contained; the first were a little rusty, and I +handed them to Ernest, who, after examining them, placed them on a table +inside the window. I was searching for a lancet in good condition, when +a clap of thunder, such as I had never heard in my life, terrified us +all so much, that we nearly fell down. This burst of thunder had not +been preceded by any lightning, but was accompanied by two immense +forked columns of fire, which seemed to stretch from the sky to our very +feet. We all cried out, even my poor wife; but the silence of terror +succeeded, and seemed to be the silence of death. I flew to the bedside, +and found my dear patient in a state of total insensibility. I was +convinced that she was dead, and I was dumb with despair. I was roused +from my stupor by the voice of my children. I then remembered that I +had not lost all: there still remained duties to fulfil, and affection +to console me. “My children,” cried I, extending my arms to them, “come +and comfort your unfortunate father: come and lament with him the best +of wives and mothers.” Terrified at the appearance of their mother, they +surrounded her bed, calling on her in piercing accents. At that moment I +saw my little Francis was missing, and my grief was augmented by the +fear that he had been killed by the lightning. I hastily turned to the +window, expecting to find my child dead, and our dwelling in flames. +Fortunately, all was safe; but, in my distraction, I scarcely thanked +God for His mercy, at the very moment even when he graciously restored +to me my lost treasures. Francis, frightened by the storm, had hidden +himself in his mother’s bed, and fallen asleep; awaked by the thunder, +he had not dared to move, fearing it announced the arrival of the +savages; but at last, the cries of his brothers roused him, and raising +his pretty fair head, supposing his mother sleeping, he flung his arms +round her neck, saying, “Wake, mamma, we are all here,—papa, my +brothers, and the storm, too, which is very beautiful, but frightens me. +Open your eyes, mamma; look at the bright lightning, and kiss your +little Francis.” Either his sweet voice, or the cries of her elder +children, restored her faculties: she gradually recovered, and called me +to her. The excess of my joy threatened to be almost as fatal as my +grief. With difficulty I controlled my own feelings and those of my +boys; and, after I had sent them from the bed, I ascertained that she +was not only really living, but much better. The pulse was calm, and +the fever had subsided, leaving only a weakness that was by no means +alarming. I relinquished, joyfully, the intention of bleeding her, the +necessity of which I had trembled to contemplate, and contented myself +with employing the boys to prepare a cooling mixture, composed of the +juice of the lemon, of barley, and tamarinds, which they completed to +the great satisfaction of their mother. I then ordered Fritz to descend +to the yard, to kill a fowl, pluck and boil it, to make broth,—a +wholesome and light nourishment for our dear invalid. I told one of his +brothers to assist him, and Jack and Francis, frequently employed under +their mother, were ready in a moment. Ernest alone remained quietly on +his seat, which I attributed to his usual indolence, and tried to make +him ashamed of it. “Ernest,” said I, “you are not very anxious to oblige +your mother; you sit as if the thunderbolt had struck you.” + +“It has, indeed, rendered me unfit to be of any service to my good +mother,” said he, quietly; and, drawing his right hand from under his +waistcoat, he showed it to me, most frightfully black and burnt. + +This dear child, who must have suffered very much, had never uttered a +complaint, for fear of alarming his mother; and even now he made a sign +to me to be silent, lest she should hear, and discover the truth. She +soon, however, fell into a sleep, which enabled me to attend to poor +Ernest, and to question him about the accident. I learned that a long +and pointed steel instrument, which he was examining near the large +window, stooping over it to see it better, had attracted the lightning, +which, falling partly on the hand in which he held it, had caused the +misfortune. There were traces on his arm of the electric fire, and his +hair was burnt on one side. By what miracle the electric fluid had been +diverted, and how we, dwelling in a tree, had been preserved from a +sudden and general conflagration, I knew not. My son assured me he had +seen the fire run along the instrument he held, and from thence fall +perpendicularly to the earth, where it seemed to burst with a second +explosion. I was impatient to examine this phenomenon, and to see if any +other traces were left, except those on the hand of my son, which it was +necessary, in the first place, to attend to. I remembered frequently to +have applied with success in burns the most simple and easy of remedies, +which everybody can command: this is, to bathe the hand affected in cold +water, taking care to renew it every eight or ten minutes. I placed +Ernest between two tubs of cold water, and, exhorting him to patience +and perseverance, I left him to bathe his hand, and approached the +opening, to try and discover what had preserved us, by averting the +direction of the lightning, which one might have expected would have +killed my son, and destroyed our dwelling. I saw only some light traces +on the table; but, on looking more attentively, I found that the greater +part of the surgical instruments which Ernest had placed upon it were +either melted or much damaged. In examining them separately, I remarked +one much longer than the rest, which projected beyond the edge of the +table, and was much marked by the fire. I could not easily take it up; +it had adhered somewhat in melting, and, in endeavouring to disengage +it, I saw that the point, which was beyond the opening, touched a thick +wire, which seemed to be suspended from the roof of our tent. All was +now explained to me; except that I could in no way account for this +wire, placed expressly to serve as a conductor for the lightning. It +seemed to be the work of magic. The evening was too far advanced for me +to distinguish how it was fastened, and what fixed it below; therefore, +enjoining Ernest to call loudly if he needed me, I hastened down. I saw +my three cooks very busy, as I passed through, preparing the broth for +their mother—they assured me it would be excellent. Fritz boasted that +he had killed the fowl with all speed, Jack that he had plucked it +without tearing it much, and Francis that he had lighted and kept up the +fire. They had nothing to employ them just then, and I took them with me +to have some one to talk to on the phenomenon of the lightning. Below +the window I found a large packet of iron wire, which I had brought from +Tent House some days before, intending on some leisure day to make a +sort of grating before our poultry-yard. By what chance was it here, and +hooked by one end to the roof of our house? Some time before I had +replaced our cloth canopy by a sort of roof covered with bark nailed +upon laths; the cloth still enclosed the sides and front; all was so +inflammable, that, but for the providential conductor, we must have been +in flames in an instant. I thanked God for our preservation; and little +Francis, seeing me so happy, said— + +“Is it quite true, papa, that this wire has preserved us?” + +“Yes, it is true, my darling; and I wish to know what good genius has +placed it there, that I may be thankful,” said I. + +“Ah! father,” said my little fellow, “embrace me, but do not thank me; +for I did not know that I was doing good.” + +Astonished at this information, I requested my boy to tell me why and +how he had fixed the wire? + +“I wanted to reach some figs,” said he, “when you and Fritz were at Tent +House, and Jack and Ernest were nursing mamma; I wished to do some good +for her. I thought she would like some of our sweet figs; but there were +none in my reach, and I had no stick long enough to beat them down. I +went below, and found that great roll of wire. I tried to break a piece +off, but could not; and I then determined to carry the whole up to our +dwelling, and to bend one end into a hook, by which I might catch some +of the branches, and bring them near me to gather the figs. I was very +successful at first, and secured one or two figs. I had my packet of +wire on the table by the window, and stood near it myself. I thought I +could reach a branch that hung over our roof, loaded with fruit. I +leaned forward, and extended my hook to the branch; I felt I had secured +it, and joyfully began to pull. You know, papa, they bend, and don’t +break; but it remained immovable, as well as my hook, which was held by +one of the laths of the roof. I pulled with all my strength, and, in my +efforts, I struck my foot against the roll of wire, which fell down to +the ground without detaching the hook. You may judge how firm it is, for +it is no trifling leap from our house to the ground.” + +“A good work, indeed, my boy,” said I, “is yours, for it has saved us. +God has inspired you, and has made use of the hand of a child for our +preservation. Your conductor shall remain where you have so happily +placed it; we may still have need of it. The sky still looks very +threatening; let us return to your mother, and take a light with us.” + +I had contrived a sort of portable lantern, made of isinglass, which +lighted us in our offices. Moreover, a calibash pierced with small +holes, with a candle inside, was placed at the top of the winding +staircase, and lighted it entirely, so that we were able to descend +without danger by night as w ell as by day. I was, however, uneasy about +the way we should bring my wife down, if we found it necessary to remove +her during her sickness; I named it to Fritz. + +“Have no uneasiness, father,” said he, “Ernest and I are very strong +now, and we can carry mamma like a feather.” + +“You and I might, my dear boy,” said I; “but Ernest cannot be of much +assistance to us at present.” + +I then related his misfortune to them. They were distressed and +astonished, not comprehending the cause, which I promised to explain. +They wished now, however, to see their brother. Fritz then requested, in +a low tone of voice, that he might go to Tent House, to see if the +vessel and the captain had arrived. Seeing his brothers listening with +curiosity, I thought it best to tell them the affair, requesting them, +however, not to name it to their mother at present. Jack, who was now +about fourteen years of age, listened with the most intense interest, +his eyes sparkling with joy and surprise. + +“A vessel!—people from Europe! Do you think they have come to seek us? +Perhaps they are our relations and friends.” + +“How glad should I be,” said Francis, “if my good grandmamma were there; +she loved me so much, and was always giving me sweetmeats.” This was the +mother of my dear wife, from whom she had parted with extreme regret; I +knew that a single word from the child would have revived all her +sorrows, and would in her present state be dangerous. I therefore +forbade him naming such a thing to his mother, even if we mentioned +the vessel. + +We ascended, and found our dear patient awake, with Ernest at her side, +his hand tied up, and somewhat relieved; though, from not having applied +the water immediately, there were several blisters, which he requested +me to open. It was necessary to tell his mother he had had a burn; she +named several remedies, and I was hesitating which to use, when Fritz, +giving me a significant glance, said, “Don’t you think, father, that the +leaves of the karata, which cured Jack’s leg so well, would be as +serviceable to Ernest’s hand?” + +“I have no doubt of it,” said I; “but we have none here.” + +“I know very well where they grow,” said he. “Come, Jack, we shall soon +be there; we shall have a little rain, but what of that? we shall not be +melted, and we can have a bath.” + +My wife was divided between her desire to relieve Ernest, and her fear +of the boys venturing out in such a stormy night. She agreed at last, +provided Jack had my cloak, and Fritz the boots, and that they should +take the lantern. Thus equipped, they set out; I accompanied them +outside the tree; Fritz assuring me they would be back in three hours, +at most. He intended to proceed along the rocks towards Tent House, to +make what observations he could; for, as he told me, he could not get +the poor captain and his vessel out of his head. It was now seven +o’clock; I gave them my blessing, and left them with injunctions to be +prudent, and returned with an anxious heart to my invalids. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + +On entering, I found Francis sitting on his mother’s bed, telling her +the story of the lightning, of the wire which was called _a conductor_, +of the figs that he was going to gather for her, and that papa had +called him—little Francis—_the preserver of the whole family_. Having +briefly explained to them the results of Francis’s fortunate device, I +procured some raw potato to apply to Ernest’s hand, which still gave him +great pain, and bathed my wife’s foot with some _eau d’arquebusade_, +which I procured from my medicine-chest; here I also met with some +laudanum, a few drops of which I infused into the lemonade, wishing her +to sleep till her sons returned. She soon was in a sweet slumber; the +boys followed her example, and I was left alone with my anxieties; +happy, however, to see them at rest after such an evening of agitation. +The hours passed, still my children returned not. I was continually at +the window, listening for their steps or the sound of their voices; I +heard only the rain falling in torrents, the waves breaking against the +rocks, and the wind howling frightfully. I could not help thinking of +the danger they ran, having twice to cross the river, which was +doubtless swollen by the rain. I was not so much alarmed for Fritz, a +strong, bold youth of nineteen years of age, and a determined hunter: as +for poor Jack, bold even to rashness, and having neither strength nor +experience to secure him, I could not help fancying him carried away by +the stream, and his brother not daring to return without him. My wife +occasionally awoke, but the narcotic stupified her; she did not perceive +the absence of her sons. Francis slept tranquilly; but when Ernest +awoke, and heard the tempest so terribly augmented, he was almost +distracted; all his selfishness, all his indolence disappeared. He +entreated me to allow him to go in search of his brothers, and with +difficulty I detained him. To convince him that he was not the sole +cause of the danger of Fritz and Jack, I related to him, for the first +time, the history of the boat and the vessel, and assured him that the +great cause of their anxiety to go over to Tent House, was to search for +some traces of the unfortunate seamen and their vessel, exposed to that +furious sea. + +“And Fritz, also, is exposed to that sea,” cried Ernest. “I know it; I +am sure that he is at this moment in his canoe, struggling against +the waves!” + +“And Jack, my poor Jack!” sighed I, infected with his fears. + +“No, father,” added Ernest; “be composed; Fritz will not be so +imprudent; he will have left Jack in our house at the rock; and, +probably, seeing the hopelessness of his undertaking, he is returned +himself now, and is waiting there till the stream subsides a little; do +allow me to go, dear father; you have ordered me cold water for my burnt +hand, and it will certainly cure it to get well wet.” + +I could not consent to expose my third son to the tempest, which was now +become frightful; the sailcloth which covered our window was torn into a +thousand pieces, and carried away; the rain, like a deluge, forced +itself into our dwelling, even to the bed where my wife and child were +lying. I could neither make up my mind to leave them myself in this +perilous situation, nor to spare my boy, who could not even be of any +use to his brothers. I commanded him to remain, succeeded in persuading +him of their probable safety, and induced him to lie down to rest. Now, +in my terrible solitude, I turned to Him, “who tempers the wind to the +shorn lamb;” who forbids us not to address Him in the trials he sends +us, to beseech Him to soften them, or to give us strength to bear them. +Kneeling down, I dared to supplicate Him to restore me my children, +submissively adding, after the example of our blessed Saviour, “Yet, not +my will, but thine be done, O Lord.” + +My prayers appeared to be heard; the storm gradually abated, and the day +began to break. I awoke Ernest, and having dressed his wounded hand, he +set out for Tent House, in search of his brothers. I followed him with +my eyes as far as I could see; the whole country appeared one vast lake, +and the road to Tent House was like the bed of a river; but, protected +by his good gaiters of buffalo-skin, he proceeded fearlessly, and was +soon out of my sight. + +I was recalled from the window by the voice of my wife, who was awake, +and anxiously inquiring for her sons. + +“They are gone,” said I, “to gather the leaves of the karata for +Ernest’s burnt hand, and he wished to go too.” + +Her deep sleep had entirely chased from her memory all the events of the +previous evening, and I was glad to allow Francis to repeat his little +tale of the burn and his _conductor_ in order to gain time. She was +astonished and uneasy to hear of Ernest’s accident, and was afraid they +would _get wet_ in searching for the karata, little aware of the hours +of anguish I had endured waiting and watching for those she believed had +only just left home. At that moment, the dear and well-known voices were +heard under the great window. + +“Father, I am bringing back my brothers,” cried Ernest. + +“Yes, papa, we are all alive, and as wet as fishes,” added the sweet +voice of Jack. + +“But not without having had our troubles,” said the manly voice of +Fritz. + +I rushed down the staircase to meet them, and, embracing them, I led +them, trembling with emotion, to the bed of their mother, who could not +comprehend the transport of joy I expressed. + +“Dear Elizabeth,” said I, “here are our sons; God has given them to us a +second time.” + +“Have we then been in any danger of losing them?” said she. “What is the +meaning of this?” + +They saw their mother was unconscious of their long absence, and +assured her it was only the storm which had so completely wetted them, +that had alarmed me. I hastened to get them to change their clothes, and +go to bed a little while to rest themselves; as, however anxious I was +myself, I wished to prepare my wife for their recital, and also to tell +her of the vessel. Jack would not go till he had produced his bundle of +the karata-leaves. + +“There is enough for six-and-thirty thunderstorms,” said he; “and I will +prepare them. I have had some experience with my own, and I know the +best method.” + +He soon divided one of the leaves with his knife, after cutting away the +triangular thorn from the end, and applied it to his brother’s hand, +binding it with his handkerchief. Having completed this dressing, he +threw off his clothes, and, jumping into his bed, he and his brothers +were sound asleep in ten minutes. + +I then sat down by my wife, and began my tale; from my first view of the +vessel, and my anxious watching for intercourse with it, in order that +we might take the opportunity to return to Europe. + +“But why should we return to Europe?” said she; “we want nothing here +now, since I have got flax, cotton, and a wheel. Our children lead an +active, healthy, and innocent life, and live _with us_, which they might +not do in the world. For four years we have been happy here, and what +shall we find in Europe to compensate us for what we leave +here?—poverty, war, and none of those things which we have here +abundantly.” + +“But we should find grandmamma,” said little Francis; and stopped, +recollecting my prohibition. + +He had, however, said sufficient to bring tears to his mother’s eyes. + +“You are right, my darling,” said she, “that is my sole regret; but my +dear parent was aged and infirm, in all probability I should no longer +find her in this world; and if removed to Heaven, she watches over us in +this island, as well as if we were in Europe.” + +After my dear wife had subdued the agitation this remembrance caused +her, I pursued the conversation as follows:— + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + +“I see, my dear wife,” said I, “that you, as well as the rest of my +family, are contented to remain on this island, where it seems it is the +will of God for us to dwell, as it is improbable that in such a tempest +Captain Johnson would risk approaching the island, if indeed it has not +been already fatal to him. I am impatient to learn if Fritz has any +tidings of him; for it was on the shore near Tent House that he and Jack +passed the night.” + +“Well done, my good and courageous boys!” said their mother; “they might +at any rate have given assistance to them if wrecked.” + +“You are more courageous than I am, my dear Elizabeth,” answered I; “I +have passed the whole night mourning for my children, and you think only +of the good they might have done to their fellow-creatures.” + +My sons were awake by this time, and I eagerly inquired if they had +discovered any traces of the vessel. Fritz said they had not; but he +feared it would never be able to resist the fury of the tempest. + +“No, indeed,” said Jack; “those mountains of waves, which were not +fixtures like other mountains, came full gallop to swallow up Fritz the +great, Jack the little, and their fine canoe.” + +My wife nearly fainted when she heard they had ventured on that terrible +sea; and I reminded Fritz that I had forbidden him to do this. + +“But you have often said to me, papa,” said he, “do unto others as you +would they should do unto you; and what a happiness it would have been +to us, when our vessel was wrecked, if we had seen a canoe!” + +“With two bold men coming to our assistance,” said Jack;—“but go on +with your story, Fritz.” + +Fritz continued: “We proceeded first to the rocks, and, with some +difficulty, and not until Jack had shed some blood in the cause, we +secured the karata-leaves, with their ugly thorns at the end. When our +sack was full, we proceeded along the rocks towards Tent House. From +this height I tried to discover the ship, but the darkness obscured +everything. Once I thought I perceived at a great distance a fixed +light, which was neither a star nor the lightning, and which I lost +sight of occasionally. We had now arrived at the cascade, which, from +the noise, seemed much swollen by the rain—our great stones were quite +hidden by a boiling foam. I would have attempted to cross, if I had been +alone; but, with Jack on my shoulders, I was afraid of the risk. I +therefore prepared to follow the course of the river to Family Bridge. +The wet ground continually brought us on our knees, and with great +difficulty we reached the bridge. But judge of our consternation! the +river had risen so much that the planks were covered, and, as we +conceived, the whole was destroyed. I then told Jack to return to +Falcon’s Nest with the karata-leaves, and I would swim across the river. +I returned about a hundred yards up the stream to find a wider and less +rapid part, and easily crossed. Judge of my surprise when I saw a human +figure approaching to meet me; I had no doubt it was the captain of the +vessel, and—” + +“And it was Captain Jack, _sans peur et sans reproche_,” said the bold +little fellow. “I was determined not to return home a poltroon who was +afraid of the water.” When Fritz was gone, I tried the bridge, and soon +found there was not sufficient water over it to risk my being drowned. I +took off my boots, which might have made me slip, and my cloak, which +was too heavy, and, making a dart, I ran with all my strength across, +and reached the other side. I put on my boots, which I had in my hands, +and advanced to meet Fritz, who called out, as soon as he saw me, “Is it +you, captain?” I tried to say, “Yes, certainly,” in a deep tone, but my +laughter betrayed me. + +“To my great regret;” said Fritz, “I should truly have preferred meeting +Captain Johnson; but I fear he and his people are at the bottom of the +sea. After meeting with Jack, we proceeded to Tent House, where we +kindled a good fire, and dried ourselves a little. We then refreshed +ourselves with some wine which remained on the table where you had +entertained the captain, and proceeded to prepare a signal to inform the +vessel we were ready to receive them. We procured a thick bamboo cane +from the magazine; I fixed firmly to one end of it the large lantern of +the fish’s bladder you gave us to take; I filled the lamp with oil, and +placed in it a thick cotton-wick, which, when lighted, was very +brilliant. Jack and I then placed it on the shore, at the entrance of +the bay. We fixed it before the rock, where the land-wind would not +reach it, sunk it three or four feet into the ground, steadied it with +stones, and then went to rest over our fire, after this long and +difficult labour. After drying ourselves a little, we set out on our +return, when, looking towards the sea, we were startled by the +appearance of the same light we had noticed before; we heard, at the +same time, the distant report of a gun, which was repeated three or four +times at irregular intervals. We were persuaded that it was the vessel +calling to us for aid, and, remembering the command of our Saviour, we +thought you would forgive our disobedience if we presented to you in the +morning the captain, the lieutenant, and as many as our canoe would +contain. We entered it then without any fear, for you know how light and +well-balanced it is; and, rowing into the bay, the sail was spread to +the wind, and we had no more trouble. I then took the helm; my own +signal-light shone clearly on the shore; and, _except_ for the rain +which fell in torrents, the waves which washed over our canoe, and +uneasiness about the ship and about you, and our fear that the wind +might carry us into the open sea, we should have had a delightful +little maritime excursion. When we got out of the bay, I perceived the +wind was driving us towards Shark’s Island, which, being directly before +the bay, forms two entrances to it. I intended to go round it, and +disembark there, if possible, that I might look out for some trace of +the ship, but we found this impossible; the sea ran too high; besides, +we should have been unable to moor our canoe, the island not affording a +single tree or anything we could lash it to, and the waves would soon +have carried it away. We had now lost sight of the light, and hearing no +more signals, I began to think on your distress when we did not arrive +at the hour we promised. I therefore resolved to return by the other +side of the bay, carefully avoiding the current, which would have +carried us into the open sea. I lowered the sail by means of the ropes +you had fixed to it, and we rowed into port. We carefully moored the +canoe, and, without returning to Tent House, took the road home. We +crossed the bridge as Jack had done, found the waterproof cloak and bag +of karata-leaves where he had left them, and soon after met Ernest. As +it was daylight, I did not take him for the captain, but knew him +immediately, and felt the deepest remorse when I heard from him in what +anxiety and anguish you had passed the night. Our enterprise was +imprudent, and altogether useless; but we might have saved life, which +would have been an ample remuneration. I fear all is hopeless. What do +you think, father, of their fate?” + +“I hope they are far from this dangerous coast,” said I; “but if still +in our neighbourhood, we will do all we can to assist them. As soon as +the tempest is subsided, we will take the pinnace and sail round the +island. You have long urged me to this, Fritz; and who knows but on the +opposite side we may find some traces of our own poor sailors,—perhaps +even meet with them?” + +The weather gradually clearing, I called my sons to go out with me. My +wife earnestly besought me not to venture on the sea; I assured her it +was not sufficiently calm, but we must examine our plantations, to +ascertain what damage was done, and at the same time we might look out +for some traces of the wreck; besides, our animals were becoming +clamorous for food; therefore, leaving Ernest with her, we descended to +administer in the first place to their wants. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + +Our animals were impatiently expecting us; they had been neglected +during the storm, and were ill-supplied with food, besides being +half-sunk in water. The ducks and the flamingo liked it well enough, and +were swimming comfortably in the muddy water; but the quadrupeds were +complaining aloud, each in his own proper language, and making a +frightful confusion of sounds. _Valiant_, especially,—the name Francis +had bestowed on the calf I had given him to bring up,—bleated +incessantly for his young master, and could not be quieted till he came. +It is wonderful how this child, only twelve years old, had tamed and +attached this animal; though sometimes so fierce, with him he was mild +as a lamb. The boy rode on his back, guiding him with a little stick, +with which he just touched the side of his neck as he wished him to +move; but if his brothers had ventured to mount, they would have been +certainly thrown off. A pretty sight was our cavalry: Fritz on his +handsome onagra, Jack on his huge buffalo, and Francis on his young +bull. There was nothing left for Ernest but the donkey, and its slow and +peaceful habits suited him very well. + +Francis ran up to his favourite, who showed his delight at seeing him as +well as he was able, and at the first summons followed his master from +the stable. Fritz brought out _Lightfoot_ Jack his buffalo, and I +followed with the cow and the ass. We left them to sport about at +liberty on the humid earth, till we removed the water from their stable, +and supplied them with fresh food. We then drove them in, considering it +advisable to pursue our expedition on foot, lest the bridge should still +be overflowed. Francis was the superintendent of the fowls, and knew +every little chicken by name; he called them out and scattered their +food for them, and soon had his beautiful and noisy family fluttering +round him. + +After having made all our animals comfortable, and given them their +breakfast, we began to think of our own. Francis made a fire and warmed +some chicken broth for his mother; for ourselves, we were contented with +some new milk, some salt herrings, and cold potatoes. I had often +searched in my excursions for the precious _bread-fruit_ tree, so highly +spoken of by modern travellers, which I had hoped might be found in our +island, from its favourable situation; but I had hitherto been +unsuccessful. We were unable to procure the blessing of _bread_, our +ship biscuit had long been exhausted, and though we had sown our +European corn, we had not yet reaped any. + +After we had together knelt down to thank God for his merciful +protection through the terrors of the past night, and besought him to +continue it, we prepared to set out. The waves still ran high, though +the wind had subsided, and we determined merely to go along the shore, +as the roads still continued impassable from the rain, and the sand was +easier to walk on than the wet grass; besides, our principal motive for +the excursion was to search for any traces of a recent shipwreck. At +first we could discover nothing, even with the telescope; but Fritz, +mounting a high rock, fancied he discovered something floating towards +the island. He besought me to allow him to take the canoe, which was +still where he left it the preceding night. As the bridge was now easy +to cross, I consented, only insisting on accompanying him to assist in +managing it. Jack, who was much afraid of being left behind, was the +first to leap in and seize an oar. There was, however, no need of it; I +steered my little boat into the current, and we were carried away with +such velocity as almost to take our breath. Fritz was at the helm, and +appeared to have no fear; I will not say that his father was so +tranquil. I held Jack, for fear of accidents, but he only laughed, and +observed to his brother that the canoe galloped better than Lightfoot. +We were soon in the open sea, and directed our canoe towards the object +we had remarked, and which we still had in sight. We were afraid it was +the boat upset, but it proved to be a tolerably large cask, which had +probably been thrown overboard to lighten the distressed vessel; we saw +several others, but neither mast nor plank to give us any idea that the +vessel and boat had perished. Fritz wished much to have made the circuit +of the island, to assure ourselves of this, but I would not hear of it; +I thought of my wife’s terror; besides, the sea was still too rough for +our frail bark, and we had, moreover, no provisions. If my canoe had not +been well built, it would have run great risk of being overset by the +waves, which broke over it. Jack, when he saw one coming, lay down on +his face, saying he preferred having them on his back rather than in his +mouth; he jumped up as soon as it passed, to help to empty the canoe, +till another wave came to fill it again; but, thanks to my out-riggers, +we preserved our balance very well, and I consented to go as far as +_Cape Disappointment_, which merited the name a second time, for we +found no trace here of the vessel, though we mounted the hill, and thus +commanded a wide extent of view. As we looked round the country, it +appeared completely devastated: trees torn up by the roots, plantations +levelled with the ground, water collected into absolute lakes,—all +announced desolation; and the tempest seemed to be renewing. The sky was +darkened, the wind arose, and was unfavourable for our return; nor could +I venture the canoe on the waves, every instant becoming more +formidable. We moored our bark to a large palm-tree we found at the foot +of the hill, near the shore, and set out by land to our home. We crossed +the Gourd Wood and the Wood of Monkeys, and arrived at our farm, which +we found, to our great satisfaction, had not suffered much from the +storm. The food we had left in the stables was nearly consumed; from +which we concluded that the animals we had left here had sheltered +themselves during the storm. We refilled the mangers with the hay we had +preserved in the loft, and observing the sky getting more and more +threatening, we set out without delay for our house, from which we were +yet a considerable distance. To avoid _Flamingo Marsh_, which was +towards the sea, and _Rice Marsh_, towards the rock, we determined to go +through _Cotton Wood_, which would save us from the wind, which was +ready to blow us off our feet. I was still uneasy about the ship, which +the lieutenant had told me was out of repair; but I indulged a hope that +they might have taken refuge in some bay, or found anchorage on some +hospitable shore, where they might get their vessel into order. + +Jack was alarmed lest they should fall into the hands of the +_anthropophagi_, who eat men like hares or sheep, of whom he had read in +some book of travels, and excited the ridicule of his brother, who was +astonished at his ready belief of travellers’ tales, which he asserted +were usually false. + +“But Robinson Crusoe would not tell a falsehood,” said Jack, +indignantly; “and there were cannibals came to his island, and were +going to eat Friday, if he had not saved him.” + +“Oh! Robinson could not tell a falsehood,” said Fritz, “because he never +existed. The whole history is a romance—is not that the name, father, +that is given to works of the imagination?” + +“It is,” said I; “but we must not call Robinson Crusoe a romance; though +Robinson himself, and all the circumstances of his history are probably +fictitious, the details are all founded on truth—on the adventures and +descriptions of voyagers who may be depended on, and unfortunate +individuals who have actually been wrecked on unknown shores. If ever +our journal should be printed, many may believe that it is only a +romance—a mere work of the imagination.” + +My boys hoped we should not have to introduce any savages into our +romance, and were astonished that an island so beautiful had not tempted +any to inhabit it; in fact, I had often been myself surprised at this +circumstance; but I told them many voyagers had noticed islands +apparently fertile, and yet uninhabited; besides, the chain of rocks +which surrounded this might prevent the approach of savages, unless they +had discovered the little _Bay of Safety_ where we had landed. Fritz +said he anxiously desired to circumnavigate the island, in order to +ascertain the size of it, and if there were similar chains of rocks on +the opposite side. I promised him, as soon as the stormy weather was +past, and his mother well enough to remove to Tent House, we would take +our pinnace, and set out on our little voyage. + +We now approached the marsh, and he begged me to let him go and cut some +canes, as he projected making a sort of carriage for his mother. As we +were collecting them, he explained his scheme to me. He wished to weave +of these reeds, which were very strong, a large and long sort of +pannier, in which his mother might sit or recline, and which might be +suspended between two strong bamboo canes by handles of rope. He then +purposed to yoke two of our most gentle animals, the cow and the ass, +the one before and the other behind, between these shafts, the leader to +be mounted by one of the children as director; the other would follow +naturally, and the good mother would thus be carried, as if in a litter, +without any danger of jolting. I was pleased with this idea, and we all +set to work to load ourselves each with a huge burden of reeds. They +requested me not to tell my wife, that they might give her an agreeable +surprise. It needed such affection as ours to induce us to the +undertaking in such unpropitious weather. It rained in torrents, and the +marsh was so soft and wet, that we were in danger of sinking at every +step. However, I could not be less courageous than my sons, whom nothing +daunted, and we soon made up our bundles, and, placing them on our +heads, they formed a sort of umbrella, which was not without its +benefits. We soon arrived at Falcon’s Nest. Before we reached the tree, +I saw a fire shine to such a distance, that I was alarmed; but soon +found it was only meant for our benefit by our kind friends at home. +When my wife saw the rain falling, she had instructed her little +assistant to make a fire in our usual cooking-place, at a little +distance from the tree, and protected by a canopy of waterproof cloth +from the rain. The young cook had not only kept up a good fire to dry us +on our return, but had taken the opportunity of roasting two dozen of +those excellent little birds which his mother had preserved in butter, +and which, all ranged on the old sword which served us for a spit, were +just ready on our arrival, and the fire and feast were equally grateful +to the hungry, exhausted, and wet travellers, who sat down to +enjoy them. + +However, before we sat down to our repast, we went up to see our +invalids, whom we found tolerably well, though anxious for our return. +Ernest, with his sound hand, and the assistance of Francis, had +succeeded in forming a sort of _rampart_ before the opening into the +room, composed of the four hammocks in which he and his brothers slept, +placed side by side, on end. This sufficiently protected them from the +rain, but excluded the light, so that they had been obliged to light a +candle, and Ernest had been reading to his mother in a book of voyages +that had formed part of the captain’s small library. It was a singular +coincidence, that while we were talking of the savages on the way home, +they were also reading of them; and I found my dear wife much agitated +by the fears these accounts had awakened in her mind. After soothing her +terrors, I returned to the fire to dry myself, and to enjoy my repast. +Besides the birds, Francis had prepared fresh eggs and potatoes for us. +He told me that his mamma had given up her office of cook to him, and +assured me that he would perform the duties to our satisfaction, +provided he was furnished with materials. Fritz was to hunt, Jack to +fish, I was to order dinner, and he would make it ready. “And when we +have neither game nor fish,” said Jack, “we will attack your +poultry-yard.” This was not at all to the taste of poor little Francis, +who could not bear his favourites to be killed, and who had actually +wept over the chicken that was _slaughtered_ to make broth for his +mother. We were obliged to promise him that, when other resources +failed, we would apply to our barrels of salt-fish. He, however, gave us +leave to dispose as we liked of the ducks and geese, which were too +noisy for him. + +After we had concluded our repast, we carried a part of it to our +friends above, and proceeded to give them an account of our expedition. +I then secured the hammocks somewhat more firmly, to save us from the +storm that was still raging, and the hour of rest being at hand, my sons +established themselves on mattresses of cotton, made by their kind +mother, and in spite of the roaring of the winds, we were soon in +profound repose. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + +The storm continued to rage the whole of the following day, and even the +day after, with the same violence. Happily our tree stood firm, though +several branches were broken; amongst others, that to which Francis’s +wire was suspended. I replaced it with more care, carried it beyond our +roof, and fixed at the extremity the pointed instrument which had +attracted the lightning. I then substituted for the hammocks before the +window, strong planks, which remained from my building, and which my +sons assisted me to raise with pulleys, after having sawed them to the +proper length. Through these I made loop-holes, to admit the light and +air. In order to carry off the rain, I fixed a sort of spout, made of +the wood of a tree I had met with, which was unknown to me, though +apparently somewhat like the elder. The whole of the tree, almost to +the bark, was filled up with a sort of pith, easily removed. From this +tree I made the pipes for our fountain, and the remainder was now useful +for these rain-spouts. I employed those days in which I could not go +out, in separating the seeds and grain, of which I saw we should have +need, and in mending our work-tools; my sons, in the mean time, nestled +under the tree among the roots, were incessantly employed in the +construction of the carriage for their mother. The karatas had nearly +completed the cure of Ernest’s hand, and he was able to assist his +brothers preparing the canes, which Fritz and Jack wove between the flat +wooden wands, with which they had made the frame of their pannier; they +succeeded in making it so strong and close, that they might have carried +liquids in it. My dear wife’s foot and leg were gradually improving; and +I took the opportunity of her confinement, to reason with her on her +false notion of the dangers of the sea, and to represent to her the +gloomy prospect of our sons, if they were left alone in the island. She +agreed with me, but could not resolve to leave it; she hoped God would +send some vessel to us, which might leave us some society; and after +all, if our sons were left, she pointed out to me, that they had our +beautiful pinnace, and might at any time, of their own accord, leave +the island. + +“And why should we anticipate the evils of futurity, my dear friend?” +said she. “Let us think only of the present. I am anxious now to know if +the storm has spared my fine kitchen-garden.” + +“You must wait a little,” said I. “I am as uneasy as you, for my +maize-plantations, my sugar-canes, and my corn-fields.” + +At last, one night, the storm ceased, the clouds passed away, and the +moon showed herself in all her glory. How delighted we were! My wife got +me to remove the large planks I had placed before the opening, and the +bright moonbeams streamed through the branches of the tree into our +room; a gentle breeze refreshed us, and so delighted were we in gazing +on that sky of promise, that we could scarcely bear to go to bed, but +spent half the night in projects for the morrow; the good mother alone +said, that she could not join in our excursions. Jack and Francis smiled +at each other, as they thought of their litter, which was now +nearly finished. + +A bright sun awoke us early next morning. Fritz and Jack had requested +me to allow them to finish their carriage; so, leaving Ernest with his +mother, I took Francis with me to ascertain the damage done to the +garden at Tent House, about which his mother was so anxious. We easily +crossed the bridge, but the water had carried away some of the planks; +however, my little boy leaped from one plank to another with great +agility, though the distance was sometimes considerable. He was so proud +of being my sole companion, that he scarcely touched the ground as he +ran on before me; but he had a sad shock when he got to the garden; of +which we could not find the slightest trace. All was destroyed; the +walks, the fine vegetable-beds, the plantations of pines and melons—all +had vanished. Francis stood like a marble statue, as pale and still; +till, bursting into tears, he recovered himself. + +“Oh! my good mamma,” said he; “what will she say when she hears of this +misfortune? But she need not know it, papa,” added he, after a pause; +“it would distress her too much; and if you and my brothers will help +me, we will repair the damage before she can walk. The plants may not be +so large; but the earth is moist, and they will grow quickly, and I will +work hard to get it into order.” + +I embraced my dear boy, and promised him this should be our first work. +I feared we should have many other disasters to repair; but a child of +twelve years old gave me an example of resignation and courage. We +agreed to come next day to begin our labour, for the garden was too well +situated for me to abandon it. It was on a gentle declivity, at the foot +of the rocks, which sheltered it from the north wind, and was +conveniently watered from the cascade. I resolved to add a sort of bank, +or terrace, to protect it from the violent rains; and Francis was so +pleased with the idea, that he began to gather the large stones which +were scattered over the garden, and to carry them to the place where I +wished to build my terrace. He would have worked all day, if I would +have allowed him; but I wanted to look after my young plantations, my +sugar-canes, and my fields, and, after the destruction I had just +witnessed, I had everything to fear. I proceeded to the avenue of +fruit-trees that led to Tent House, and was agreeably surprised. All +were half-bowed to the ground, as well as the bamboos that supported +them, but few were torn up; and I saw that my sons and I, with the +labour of two or three days, could restore them. Some of them had +already begun to bear fruit, but all was destroyed for this year. This +was, however, a trifling loss, compared with what I had anticipated; +for, having no more plants of European fruits, I could not have replaced +them. Besides, having resolved to inhabit Tent House at present, +entirely,—being there defended from storms,—it was absolutely +necessary to contrive some protection from the heat. My new plantations +afforded little shade yet, and I trembled to propose to my wife to come +and inhabit these burning rocks. Francis was gathering some of the +beautiful unknown flowers of the island for his mother, and when he had +formed his nosegay, bringing it to me,— + +“See, papa,” said he, “how the rain has refreshed these flowers. I wish +it would rain still, it is so dreadfully hot here. Oh! if we had but a +little shade.” + +“That is just what I was thinking of, my dear,” said I; “we shall have +shade enough when my trees are grown; but, in the mean time—” + +“In the mean time, papa,” said Francis, “I will tell you what you must +do. You must make a very long, broad colonnade before our house, covered +with cloth, and open before, so that mamma may have air and shade +at once.” + +I was pleased with my son’s idea, and promised him to construct a +gallery soon, and call it the _Franciade_ in honour of him. My little +boy was delighted that his suggestion should be thus approved, and +begged me not to tell his mamma, as he wished to surprise her, as much +as his brothers did with their carriage; and he hoped the _Franciade_ +might be finished before she visited Tent House. I assured him I would +be silent; and we took the road hence, talking about our new colonnade. +I projected making it in the most simple and easy way. A row of strong +bamboo canes planted at equal distances along the front of our house, +and united by a plank of wood at the top cut into arches between the +canes; others I would place sloping from the rock, to which I would +fasten them by iron cramps; these were to be covered with sailcloth, +prepared with the elastic gum, and well secured to the plank. This +building would not take much time, and I anticipated the pleasure of my +wife when she found out that it was an invention of her little +favourite, who, of a mild and reflecting disposition, was beloved by us +all. As we walked along, we saw something approaching, that Francis soon +discovered to be his brothers, with their new carriage; and, concluding +that his mamma occupied it, he hastened to meet them, lest they should +proceed to the garden. But on our approach, we discovered that Ernest +was in the litter, which was borne by the cow before, on which Fritz was +mounted, and by the ass behind, with Jack on it. Ernest declared the +conveyance was so easy and delightful that he should often take his +mother’s place. + +“I like that very much,” said Jack; “then I will take care that we will +harness the onagra and the buffalo for you, and they will give you a +pretty jolting, I promise you. The cow and ass are only for mamma. Look, +papa, is it not complete? We wished to try it as soon as we finished +it, so we got Ernest to occupy it, while mother was asleep.” + +Ernest declared it only wanted two cushions, one to sit upon, the other +to recline against, to make it perfect; and though I could not help +smiling at his love of ease, I encouraged the notion, in order to delay +my wife’s excursion till our plans were completed. I then put Francis +into the carriage beside his brother; and ordering Fritz and Jack to +proceed with their equipage to inspect our corn-fields, I returned to my +wife, who was still sleeping. On her awaking, I told her the garden and +plantations would require a few days’ labour to set them in order, and I +should leave Ernest, who was not yet in condition to be a labourer, to +nurse her and read to her. My sons returned in the evening, and gave me +a melancholy account of our corn-fields; the corn was completely +destroyed, and we regretted this the more, as we had very little left +for seed. We had anticipated a feast of _real bread_, but we were +obliged to give up all hope for this year, and to content ourselves with +our cakes of cassava, and with potatoes. The maize had suffered less, +and might have been a resource for us, but the large, hard grain was so +very difficult to reduce to flour fine enough for dough. Fritz often +recurred to the necessity of building a mill near the cascade at Tent +House; but this was not the work of a moment, and we had time to +consider of it; for at present we had no corn to grind. As I found +Francis had let his brothers into all our secrets, it was agreed that I, +with Fritz, Jack, and Francis, should proceed to Tent House next +morning. Francis desired to be of the party, that he might direct the +laying out of the garden, he said, with an important air, as he had been +his mother’s assistant on its formation. We arranged our bag of +vegetable-seeds, and having bathed my wife’s foot with a simple +embrocation, we offered our united prayers, and retired to our beds to +prepare ourselves for the toils of the next day. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + +We rose early; and, after our usual morning duties, we left our invalids +for the whole day, taking with us, for our dinner, a goose and some +potatoes, made ready the evening before. We harnessed the bull and the +buffalo to the cart, and I sent Fritz and Jack to the wood of bamboos, +with orders to load the cart with as many as it would contain; and, +especially, to select some very thick ones for my colonnade; the rest I +intended for props for my young trees; and this I proposed to be my +first undertaking. Francis would have preferred beginning with the +_Franciade_, or the garden, but he was finally won over by the thoughts +of the delicious fruits, which we might lose by our neglect; the +peaches, plums, pears, and, above all, the cherries, of which he was +very fond. He then consented to assist me in holding the trees whilst I +replaced the roots; after which he went to cut the reeds to tie them. +Suddenly I heard him cry, “Papa, papa, here is a large chest come for +us; come and take it.” I ran to him, and saw it was the very chest we +had seen floating, and which we had taken for the boat at a distance; +the waves had left it in our bay, entangled in the reeds, which grew +abundantly here. It was almost buried in the sand. We could not remove +it alone, and, notwithstanding our curiosity, we were compelled to wait +for the arrival of my sons. We returned to our work, and it was pretty +well advanced when the tired and hungry party returned with their +cart-load of bamboos. We rested, and sat down to eat our goose. Guavas +and sweet acorns, which had escaped the storm, and which my sons +brought, completed our repast. Fritz had killed a large bird in the +marsh, which I took at first for a young flamingo; but it was a young +cassowary, the first I had seen in the island. This bird is remarkable +for its extraordinary size, and for its plumage, so short and fine that +it seems rather to be hair than feathers. I should have liked to have +had it alive to ornament our poultry-yard, and it was so young we might +have tamed it; but Fritz’s unerring aim had killed it at once. I wished +to let my wife see this rare bird, which, if standing on its webbed +feet, would have been four feet high; I therefore forbade them to +meddle with it. + +[Illustration: “Fritz, with a strong hatchet forced the chest open, and +we all eagerly crowded to see the contents.”] + +As we ate, we talked of the chest, and our curiosity being stronger +than our hunger, we swallowed our repast hastily, and then ran down +to the shore. We were obliged to plunge into the water up to the +waist, and then had some difficulty to extricate it from the weed +and slime, and to push it on shore. No sooner had we placed it in +safety than Fritz, with a strong hatchet, forced it open, and we all +eagerly crowded to see the contents. Fritz hoped it would be powder +and fire-arms; Jack, who was somewhat fond of dress, and had notions +of elegance, declared in favour of clothes, and particularly of linen, +finer and whiter than that which his mother wove; if Ernest had been +there, books would have been his desire; for my own part, there was +nothing I was more anxious for than European seeds, particularly corn; +Francis had a lingering wish that the chest might contain some of +those gingerbread cakes which his grandmamma used to treat him with +in Europe, and which he had often regretted; but he kept this wish to +himself, for fear his brothers should call him “little glutton,” and +assured us that he should like a little pocket-knife, with a small +saw, better than anything in the world; and he was the only one who +had his wish. The chest was opened, and we saw that it was filled with +a number of trifling things likely to tempt savage nations, and to +become the means of exchange,—principally glass and iron ware, coloured +beads, pins, needles, looking-glasses, children’s toys, constructed as +models, such as carts, and tools of every sort; amongst which we found +some likely to be useful, such as hatchets, saws, planes, gimlets, +&c.; besides a collection of knives, of which Francis had the choice; +and scissors, which were reserved for mamma, her own being nearly worn +out. I had, moreover, the pleasure of finding a quantity of nails of +every size and kind, besides iron hooks, staples, &c., which I needed +greatly. After we had examined the contents, and selected what we +wanted immediately, we closed up the chest, and conveyed it to our +magazine at Tent House. We had spent so much time in our examination, +that we had some difficulty to finish propping our trees, and to arrive +at home before it was dark. We found my wife somewhat uneasy at our +lengthened absence, but our appearance soon calmed her. “Mother,” said +I, “I have brought back all your chickens to crowd under your wing.” + +“And we have not come back empty-handed,” said Jack. “Look, mamma; here +are a beautiful pair of scissors, a large paper of needles, another of +pins, and a thimble! How rich you are now! And when you get well, you +can make me a pretty waistcoat and a pair of trousers, for I am in great +want of them.” + +“And I, mamma,” said Francis, “have brought you a mirror, that you may +arrange your cap; you have often been sorry papa did not remember to +bring one from the ship. This was intended for the savages, and I will +begin with you.” + +“I believe I rather resemble one now,” said my good Elizabeth, arranging +the red and yellow silk handkerchief which she usually wore on her head. + +“Only, mamma,” said Jack, “when you wear the comical pointed bonnet +which Ernest made you.” + +“What matters it,” said she, “whether it be pointed or round? It will +protect me from the sun, and it is the work of my Ernest, to whom I am +much obliged.” + +Ernest, with great ingenuity and patience, had endeavoured to plait his +mother a bonnet of the rice-straw; he had succeeded; but not knowing how +to form the round crown, he was obliged to finish it in a point, to the +great and incessant diversion of his brothers. + +“Mother,” said Ernest, in his usual grave and thoughtful tone, “I +should not like you to look like a savage; therefore, as soon as I +regain the use of my hand, my first work shall be to make you a bonnet, +which I will take care shall be formed with a round crown, as you will +lend me one of your large needles, and I will take, to sew the crown on, +the head of either Jack or Francis.” + +“What do you mean? My head!” said they both together. + +“Oh, I don’t mean to take it off your shoulders,” said he; “it will only +be necessary that one of you should kneel down before me, for a day +perhaps, while I use your head as a model; and you need not cry out much +if I should chance to push my needle in.” + +This time the philosopher had the laugh on his side, and his tormentors +were silenced. + +We now explained to my wife where we had found the presents we had +brought her. My offerings to her were a light axe, which she could use +to cut her fire-wood with, and an iron kettle, smaller and more +convenient than the one she had. Fritz had retired, and now came in +dragging with difficulty his huge cassowary. “Here, mamma,” said he, “I +have brought you a little chicken for your dinner;” and the astonishment +and laughter again commenced. The rest of the evening was spent in +plucking the bird, to prepare part of it for next day. We then retired +to rest, that we might begin our labour early next morning. Ernest chose +to remain with his books and his mother, for whom he formed with the +mattresses a sort of reclining chair, in which she was able to sit up in +bed and sew. Thus she endured a confinement of six weeks, without +complaint, and in that time got all our clothes put into good order. +Francis had nearly betrayed our secret once, by asking his mamma to make +him a mason’s apron. “A mason’s apron!” said she; “are you going to +build a house, child?” + +“I meant to say a gardener’s apron,” said he. + +His mamma was satisfied, and promised to comply with his request. + +In the mean time, my three sons and I laboured assiduously to get the +garden into order again, and to raise the terraces, which we hoped might +be a defence against future storms. Fritz had also proposed to me to +construct a stone conduit, to bring the water to our kitchen-garden from +the river, to which we might carry it back, after it had passed round +our vegetable-beds. This was a formidable task, but too useful an affair +to be neglected; and, aided by the geometrical skill of Fritz, and the +ready hands of my two younger boys, the conduit was completed. I took an +opportunity, at the same time, to dig a pond above the garden, into +which the conduit poured the water; this was always warm with the sun, +and, by means of a sluice, we were able to disperse it in little +channels to water the garden. The pond would also be useful to preserve +small fish and crabs for use. We next proceeded to our embankment. This +was intended to protect the garden from any extraordinary overflow of +the river, and from the water running from the rocks after heavy rains. +We then laid out our garden on the same plan as before, except that I +made the walks wider, and not so flat; I carried one directly to our +house, which, in the autumn, I intended to plant with shrubs, that my +wife might have a shady avenue to approach her garden; where I also +planned an arbour, furnished with seats, as a resting-place for her. The +rocks were covered with numerous climbing plants, bearing every variety +of elegant flower, and I had only to make my selection. + +All this work, with the enclosing the garden with palisades of bamboo, +occupied us about a fortnight, in which time our invalids made great +progress towards their recovery. After the whole was finished, Francis +entreated me to begin his gallery. My boys approved of my plan, and +Fritz declared that the house was certainly comfortable and commodious, +but that it would be wonderfully improved by a colonnade, with a little +pavilion at each end, and a fountain in each pavilion. + +“I never heard a word of these pavilions,” said I. + +“No,” said Jack, “they are our own invention. The colonnade will be +called the _Franciade_; and we wish our little pavilions to be named, +the one _Fritzia_, the other _Jackia_, if you please.” + +I agreed to this reasonable request, and only begged to know how they +would procure water for their fountains. Fritz undertook to bring the +water, if I would only assist them in completing this little scheme, to +give pleasure to their beloved mother. I was charmed to see the zeal and +anxiety of my children to oblige their tender mother. Her illness seemed +to have strengthened their attachment; they thought only how to console +and amuse her. She sometimes told me she really blessed the accident, +which had taught her how much she was valued by all around her. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + +The next day was Sunday,—our happy Sabbath for repose and quiet +conversation at home. After passing the day in our usual devotions and +sober reading, my three elder boys requested my permission to walk +towards our farm in the evening. On their return, they informed me it +would be necessary to give a few days’ labour to our plantations of +maize and potatoes. I therefore determined to look to them. + +Though I was out early next morning, I found Fritz and Jack had been +gone some time, leaving only the ass in the stables, which I secured for +my little Francis. I perceived, also, that they had dismounted my cart, +and carried away the wheels, from which I concluded that they had met +with some tree in their walk the preceding evening, suitable for the +pipes for their fountains, and that they had now returned to cut it +down, and convey it to Tent House. As I did not know where to meet with +them, I proceeded with Francis on the ass to commence his favourite +work. I drew my plan on the ground first. At the distance of twelve feet +from the rock which formed the front of our house, I marked a straight +line of fifty feet, which I divided into ten spaces of five feet each +for my colonnade; the two ends were to be reserved for the two pavilions +my sons wished to build. I was busy in my calculations, and Francis +placing stakes in the places where I wished to dig, when the cart drove +up with our two good labourers. They had, as I expected, found the +evening before a species of pine, well adapted for their pipes. They had +cut down four, of fifteen or twenty feet in length, which they had +brought on the wheels of the cart, drawn by the four animals. They had +had some difficulty in transporting them to the place; and the greatest +still remained—the boring the trunks, and then uniting them firmly. I +had neither augers nor any tools fit for the purpose. I had, certainly, +constructed a little fountain at Falcon’s Nest; but the stream was near +at hand, and was easily conveyed by cane pipes to our tortoise-shell +basin. Here the distance was considerable, the ground unequal, and, to +have the water pure and cool, underground pipes were necessary. I +thought of large bamboos, but Fritz pointed out the knots, and the +difficulty of joining the pieces, and begged me to leave it to him, as +he had seen fountains made in Switzerland, and had no fears of success. +In the mean time, all hands set to work at the arcade. We selected +twelve bamboos of equal height and thickness, and fixed them securely in +the earth, at five feet from each other. These formed a pretty +colonnade, and were work enough for one day. + +We took care to divert all inquiries at night, by discussing the +subjects which our invalids had been reading during the day. The little +library of our captain was very choice; besides the voyages and travels, +which interested them greatly, there was a good collection of +historians, and some of the best poets, for which Ernest had no little +taste. However, he requested earnestly that he might be of our party +next day, and Francis, good-naturedly, offered to stay with mamma, +expecting, no doubt, Ernest’s congratulations on the forward state of +the Franciade. The next morning Ernest and I set out, his brothers +having preceded us. Poor Ernest regretted, as we went, that he had no +share in these happy schemes for his mother. I reminded him, however, of +his dutiful care of her during her sickness, and all his endeavours to +amuse her. “And, besides,” added I, “did you not make her a +straw bonnet?” + +“Yes,” said he, “and I now remember what a frightful shape it was. I +will try to make a better, and will go to-morrow morning to choose +my straw.” + +As we approached Tent House, we heard a most singular noise, echoing at +intervals amongst the rocks. We soon discovered the cause; in a hollow +of the rocks I saw a very hot fire, which Jack was blowing through a +cane, whilst Fritz was turning amidst the embers a bar of iron. When it +was red-hot, they laid it on an anvil I had brought from the ship, and +struck it alternately with hammers to bring it to a point. + +“Well done, my young smiths,” said I; “we ought to try all things, and +keep what is good. Do you expect to succeed in making your auger? I +suppose that is what you want.” + +“Yes, father,” said Fritz; “we should succeed well enough if we only had +a good pair of bellows; you see we have already got a tolerable point.” + +Now Fritz could not believe anything was impossible. He had killed a +kangaroo the evening before, and skinned it. The flesh made us a dinner; +of the skin he determined to make a pair of bellows. He nailed it, with +the hair out, not having time to tan it, to two flat pieces of wood, +with holes in them; to this he added a reed for the pipe; he then fixed +it by means of a long cord and a post, to the side of his fire, and +Jack, with his hand or his foot, blew the fire, so that the iron was +speedily red-hot, and quite malleable. I then showed them how to twist +the iron into a screw,—rather clumsy, but which would answer the +purpose tolerably well. At one end they formed a ring, in which we +placed a piece of wood transversely, to enable them to turn the screw. +We then made a trial of it. We placed a tree on two props, and Fritz and +I managed the auger so well, that we had our tree pierced through in a +very little time, working first at one end and then at the other. Jack, +in the mean time, collected the shavings we made, which he deposited in +the kitchen for his mother’s use, to kindle the fire. Ernest, meanwhile, +was walking about, making observations, and giving his advice to his +brothers on the architecture of their pavilions, till, seeing they were +going to bore another tree, he retired into the garden to see the +embankment. He returned delighted with the improvements, and much +disposed to take some employment. He wanted to assist in boring the +tree, but we could not all work at it. I undertook this labour myself, +and sent him to blow the bellows, while his brothers laboured at the +forge, the work not being too hard for his lame hand. My young smiths +were engaged in flattening the iron to make joints to unite their pipes; +they succeeded very well, and then began to dig the ground to lay them. +Ernest, knowing something of geometry and land-surveying, was able to +give them some useful hints, which enabled them to complete their work +successfully. Leaving them to do this, I employed myself in covering in +my long colonnade. After I had placed on my columns a plank cut in +arches, which united them, and was firmly nailed to them, I extended +from it bamboos, placed sloping against the rock, and secured to it by +cramps of iron, the work of my young smiths. When my bamboo roof was +solidly fixed, the canes as close as possible, I filled the interstices +with a clay I found near the river, and poured gum over it; I had thus +an impervious and brilliant roof, which appeared to be varnished, and +striped green and brown. I then raised the floor a foot, in order that +there might be no damp, and paved it with the square stones I had +preserved when we cut the rock. It must be understood that all this was +the work of many days. I was assisted by Jack and Fritz, and by Ernest +and Francis alternately, one always remaining with his mother, who was +still unable to walk. Ernest employed his time, when at home, in making +the straw bonnet, without either borrowing his brother’s head for a +model, or letting any of them know what he was doing. Nevertheless, he +assisted his brothers with their pavilions by his really valuable +knowledge. They formed them very elegantly,—something like a Chinese +pagoda. They were exactly square, supported on four columns, and rather +higher than the gallery. The roofs terminated in a point, and resembled +_a large parasol_. The fountains were in the middle; the basins, +breast-high, were formed of the shells of two turtles from our +reservoir, which were mercilessly sacrificed for the purpose, and +furnished our table abundantly for some days. They succeeded the +cassowary, which had supplied us very seasonably: its flesh tasted like +beef, and made excellent soup. + +But to return to the fountains. Ernest suggested the idea of ornamenting +the end of the perpendicular pipe, which brought the water to the basin, +with shells; every sort might be collected on the shore, of the most +brilliant colours, and curious and varied shapes. He was passionately +devoted to natural history, and had made a collection of these, +endeavouring to classify them from the descriptions he met with in the +books of voyages and travels. Some of these, of the most dazzling +beauty, were placed round the pipe, which had been plastered with clay; +from thence the water was received into a _volute_, shaped like an +antique urn, and again was poured gracefully into the large +turtle-shell; a small channel conveyed it then out of the pavilions. The +whole was completed in less time than I could have imagined, and greatly +surpassed my expectations; conferring an inestimable advantage on our +dwelling, by securing us from the heat. All honour was rendered to +Master Francis, the inventor, and _The Franciade_ was written in large +letters on the middle arch; _Fritzia_ and _Jackia_ were written in the +same way over the pavilions. Ernest alone was not named; and he seemed +somewhat affected by it. He had acquired a great taste for rambling and +botanizing, and had communicated it also to Fritz, and now that our +labours were ended at Tent House, they left us to nurse our invalid, and +made long excursions together, which lasted sometimes whole days. As +they generally returned with some game, or some new fruit, we pardoned +their absence, and they were always welcome. Sometimes they brought a +kangaroo, sometimes an agouti, the flesh of which resembles that of a +rabbit, but is richer; sometimes they brought wild ducks, pigeons, and +even partridges. These were contributed by Fritz, who never went out +without his gun and his dogs. Ernest brought us natural curiosities, +which amused us much,—stones, crystals, petrifactions, insects, +butterflies of rare beauty, and flowers, whose colours and fragrance no +one in Europe can form an idea of. Sometimes he brought fruit, which we +always administered first to our monkey, as taster: some of them proved +very delicious. Two of his discoveries, especially, were most valuable +acquisitions,—the guajaraba, on the large leaf of which one may write +with a pointed instrument, and the fruit of which, a sort of grape, is +very good to eat; also the date-palm, every part of which is so useful, +that we were truly thankful to Heaven, and our dear boys, for the +discovery. Whilst young, the trunk contains a sort of _marrow_, very +delicious. The date-palm is crowned by a head, formed of from forty to +eighty leafy branches, which spread round the top. The dates are +particularly good about half-dried; and my wife immediately began to +preserve them. My sons could only bring the fruit now, but we purposed +to transplant some of the trees themselves near our abode. We did not +discourage our sons in these profitable expeditions; but they had +another aim, which I was yet ignorant of. In the mean time, I usually +walked with one of my younger sons towards Tent House, to attend to our +garden, and to see if our works continued in good condition to receive +mamma, who daily improved; but I insisted on her being completely +restored, before she was introduced to them. Our dwelling looked +beautiful amongst the picturesque rocks, surrounded by trees of every +sort, and facing the smooth and lovely Bay of Safety. The garden was not +so forward as I could have wished; but we were obliged to be patient, +and hope for the best. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + +One day, having gone over with my younger sons to weed the garden, and +survey our possessions, I perceived that the roof of the gallery wanted +a little repair, and called Jack to raise for me the rope ladder which I +had brought from Falcon’s Nest, and which had been very useful while we +were constructing the roof; but we sought for it everywhere; it could +not be found; and as we were quite free from _robbers_ in our island, I +could only accuse my elder sons, who had doubtless carried it off to +ascend some tall cocoa-nut tree. Obliged to be content, we walked into +the garden by the foot of the rocks. Since our arrival, I had been +somewhat uneasy at hearing a dull, continued noise, which appeared to +proceed from this side. The forge we had passed, now extinguished, and +our workmen were absent. Passing along, close to the rocks, the noise +became more distinct, and I was truly alarmed. Could it be an +earthquake? Or perhaps it announced some volcanic explosion. I stopped +before that part of the rock where the noise was loudest; the surface +was firm and level; but from time to time, blows and falling stones +seemed to strike our ears. I was uncertain what to do; curiosity +prompted me to stay, but a sort of terror urged me to remove my child +and myself. However, Jack, always daring, was unwilling to go till he +had discovered the cause of the phenomenon. “If Francis were here,” said +he, “he would fancy it was the wicked gnomes, working underground, and +he would be in a fine fright. For my part, I believe it is only people +come to collect the salt in the rock.” + +“People!” said I; “you don’t know what you are saying, Jack; I could +excuse Francis and his _gnomes_,—it would be at least a poetic fancy, +but yours is quite absurd. Where are the people to come from?” + +“But what else can it be?” said he. “Hark! you may hear them strike the +rock.” + +“Be certain, however,” said I, “there are no people.” At that moment, I +distinctly heard human voices, speaking, laughing, and apparently +clapping their hands. I could not distinguish any words; I was struck +with a mortal terror; but Jack, whom nothing could alarm, clapped his +hands also, with joy, that he had guessed right. “What did I say, papa? +Was I not right? Are there not people within the rock?—friends, I +hope.” He was approaching the rock, when it appeared to me to be +shaking; a stone soon fell down, then another. I seized hold of Jack, to +drag him away, lest he should be crushed by the fragments of rock. At +that moment another stone fell, and we saw two heads appear through the +opening,—the heads of Fritz and Ernest. Judge of our surprise and joy! +Jack was soon through the opening, and assisting his brothers to +enlarge it. As soon as I could enter, I stepped in, and found myself in +a real grotto, of a round form, with a vaulted roof, divided by a narrow +crevice, which admitted the light and air. It was, however, better +lighted by two large gourd lamps. I saw my long ladder of ropes +suspended from the opening at the top, and thus comprehended how my sons +had penetrated into this recess, which it was impossible to suspect the +existence of from the outside. But how had they discovered it? and what +were they making of it? These were my two questions. Ernest replied at +once to the last. “I wished,” said he, “to make a resting-place for my +mother, when she came to her garden. My brothers have each built some +place for her, and called it by their name. I had a desire that some +place in our island might be dedicated to Ernest, and I now present you +the _Grotto Ernestine_.” + +“And after all,” said Jack, “it will make a pretty dwelling for the +first of us that marries.” + +“Silence, little giddy-pate,” said I; “where do you expect to find a +wife in this island? Do you think you shall discover one among the +rocks, as your brothers have discovered the grotto? But tell me, Fritz, +what directed you here.” + +“Our good star, father,” said he. “Ernest and I were walking round these +rocks, and talking of his wish for a resting-place for my mother on her +way to the garden. He projected a tent; but the path was too narrow to +admit it; and the rock, heated by the sun, was like a stove. We were +considering what we should do, when I saw on the summit of the rock a +very beautiful little unknown quadruped. From its form I should have +taken it for a young chamois, if I had been in Switzerland; but Ernest +reminded me that the chamois was peculiar to cold countries, and he +thought it was a gazelle or antelope; probably the gazelle of Guinea or +Java, called by naturalists the chevrotain. You may suppose I tried to +climb the rock on which this little animal remained standing, with one +foot raised, and its pretty head turning first to one side and then to +the other; but it was useless to attempt it here, where the rock was +smooth and perpendicular; besides, I should have put the gazelle to +flight, as it is a timid and wild animal. I then remembered there was a +place near Tent House where a considerable break occurred in the chain +of rocks, and we found that, with a little difficulty, the rock might be +scaled by ascending this ravine. Ernest laughed at me, and asked me if I +expected the antelope would wait patiently till I got to it? No matter, +I determined to try, and I told him to remain; but he soon determined to +accompany me, for he fancied that in the fissure of a rock he saw a +flower of a beautiful rose-colour, which was unknown to him. My learned +botanist thought it must be an _erica_, or heath, and wished to +ascertain the fact. One helping the other, we soon got through all +difficulties, and arrived at the summit; and here we were amply repaid +by the beautiful prospect on every side. We will talk of that +afterwards, father; I have formed some idea of the country which these +rocks separate us from. But to return to our grotto. I went along, first +looking for my pretty gazelle, which I saw licking a piece of rock, +where doubtless she found some salt. I was hardly a hundred yards from +her, my gun ready, when I was suddenly stopped by a crevice, which I +could not cross, though the opening was not very wide. The pretty +quadruped was on the rock opposite to me; but of what use would it have +been to shoot it, when I could not secure it. I was obliged to defer it +till a better opportunity offered, and turned to examine the opening, +which appeared deep; still I could see that the bottom of the cavity was +white, like that of our former grotto. I called Ernest, who was behind +me, with his plants and stones, to impart to him an idea that suddenly +struck me. It was, to make this the retreat for my mother. I told him +that I believed the floor of the cave was nearly on a level with the +path that led to the garden, and we had only to make an opening in the +form of a natural grotto, and it would be exactly what he wished. Ernest +was much pleased with the idea, and said he could easily ascertain the +level by means of a weight attached to a string; but though he was +startled at the difficulty of descending to our labour every day, and +returning in the evening, he would not agree to my wish of beginning at +the outside of the rock, as we had done in our former grotto, He had +several reasons for wishing to work from within. ‘In the first place,’ +said he, ‘it will be so much cooler this summer weather; we should be +soon unable to go on labouring before the burning rock; then our path is +so narrow, that we should not know how to dispose of the rubbish; in the +interior, it will serve us to make a bench round the grotto; besides, I +should have such pleasure in completing it secretly, and unsuspected, +without any assistance or advice except yours, my dear Fritz, which I +accept with all my heart; so pray find out some means of descending and +ascending readily.’ + +“I immediately recollected your rope ladder, father; it was forty feet +long, and we could easily fasten it to the point of the rock. Ernest was +delighted and sanguine. We returned with all speed. We took first a roll +of cord and some candles; then the rope ladder, which we rolled up as +well as we could, but had great difficulty in conveying it up the rock; +once or twice, when the ascent was very difficult, we were obliged to +fasten a cord to it, and draw it up after us; but determination, +courage, and perseverance overcame all obstacles. We arrived at the +opening, and, on sounding it, we were glad to find our ladder would be +long enough to reach the bottom. We then measured the outside of the +rock, and ascertained that the floor of the grotto was near the same +level as the ground outside. We remembered your lessons, father, and +made some experiments to discover if it contained mephitic air. We first +lighted some candles, which were not extinguished; we then kindled a +large heap of sticks and dried grass, which-burned well, the smoke +passing through the opening like a chimney. Having no uneasiness about +this, we deferred our commencement till the next day. Then we lighted +the forge, and pointed some iron bars we found in the magazine; these +were to be our tools to break open the rock. We secured, also, your +chisel, as well as some hammers, and all our tools were thrown down +below; we then arranged two gourds to serve us for lamps; and when all +was ready, and our ladder firmly fixed, we descended ourselves; and we +have nothing more to tell you, except that we were very glad when we +heard your voices outside, at the very time when our work was drawing to +an end. We were sure, when we distinguished your voices so clearly, that +we must be near the external air; we redoubled our efforts, and here we +are. Now tell us, father, are you pleased with our idea? and will you +forgive us for making a mystery of it?” + +I assured them of my forgiveness, and my cordial approbation of their +manly and useful enterprise; and made Ernest happy by declaring that it +should always be called the _Grotto Ernestine_. + +“Thanks to you all, my dear children,” said I; “your dear mamma will now +prefer Tent House to Falcon’s Nest, and will have no occasion to risk +breaking a limb in descending the winding staircase. I will assist you +to enlarge the opening, and as we will leave it all the simplicity of a +natural grotto, it will soon be ready.” + +We all set to work; Jack carried away the loosened stones and rubbish, +and formed benches on each side the grotto. With what had fallen +outside, he also made two seats in the front of the rock, and before +evening all was complete. Fritz ascended to unfasten the ladder, and to +convey it by an easier road to Tent House; he then rejoined us, and we +returned to our castle in the air, which was henceforward only to be +looked on as a pleasure-house. We resolved, however, to establish here, +as we had done at our farm, a colony of our cattle, which increased +daily: we had now a number of young cows, which were most useful for our +support. We wished, however, for a female buffalo, as the milk of that +animal makes excellent cheese. Conversing on our future plans, we soon +reached home, and found all well. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + + +In a few days we completed the _Grotto Ernestine_. It contained some +stalactites; but not so many as our former grotto. We found, however, a +beautiful block of salt, which resembled white marble, of which Ernest +formed a sort of altar, supported by four pillars, on which he placed a +pretty vase of citron-wood, which he had turned himself, and in which he +arranged some of the beautiful _erica_ which had been the cause of his +discovering the grotto. It was one of those occasions when his feelings +overcame his natural indolence, when he became for a time the most +active of the four, and brought forward all his resources, which were +many. This indolence was merely physical; when not excited by any sudden +circumstance, or by some fancy which soon assumed the character of a +passion, he loved ease, and to enjoy life tranquilly in study. He +improved his mind continually, as well by his excellent memory, as by +natural talent and application. He reflected, made experiments, and was +always successful. He had at last succeeded in making his mother a very +pretty bonnet. He had also composed some verses, which were intended to +celebrate her visit to Tent House; and this joyful day being at last +fixed, the boys all went over, the evening before, to make their +preparations. The flowers that the storm had spared were gathered to +ornament the fountains, the altar, and the table, on which was placed an +excellent cold dinner, entirely prepared by themselves. Fritz supplied +and roasted the game,—a fine bustard, the flesh of which resembles a +turkey, and a brace of partridges. Ernest brought pines, melons, and +figs; Jack should have supplied the fish, but was able only to procure +oysters, crabs, and turtles’ eggs. Francis had the charge of the +dessert, which consisted of a dish of strawberries, honeycomb, and the +cream of the cocoa-nut. I had contributed a bottle of Canary wine, that +we might drink mamma’s health. All was arranged on a table in the middle +of the _Franciade_, and my sons returned to accompany the +expedition next day. + +The morning was beautiful, and the sun shone brightly on our emigration. +My wife was anxious to set out, expecting she should have to return to +her aërial dwelling. Though her leg and foot were better, she still +walked feebly, and she begged us to harness the cow and ass to the cart, +and to lead them as gently as possible. + +“I will only go a little way the first day,” said she, “for I am not +strong enough to visit Tent House yet.” + +We felt quite convinced she would change her opinion when once in her +litter. I wished to carry her down the staircase; but she declined, and +descended very well with the help of my arm. When the door was opened, +and she found herself once more in the open air, surrounded by her +children, she thanked God, with tears of gratitude, for her recovery, +and all his mercies to us. Then the pretty osier carriage arrived. They +had harnessed the cow and young bull to it; Francis answering for the +docility of Valiant, provided he guided him himself. Accordingly, he was +mounted before, his cane in his hand, and his bow and quiver on his +back, very proud to be mamma’s charioteer. My other three boys mounted +on their animals, were ready before, to form the advanced guard, while I +proposed to follow, and watch over the whole. My wife was moved even to +tears, and could not cease admiring her new carriage, which Fritz and +Jack presented to her as their own work. Francis, however, boasted that +he had carded the cotton for the soft cushion on which she was to sit, +and I, that I had made it. I then lifted her in, and as soon as she was +seated Ernest came to put her new bonnet on her head, which greatly +delighted her; it was of fine straw, and so thick and firm that it might +even defend her from the rain. But what pleased her most was, that it +was the shape worn by the Swiss peasants in the Canton of Vaud, where my +dear wife had resided some time in her youth. She thanked all her dear +children, and felt so easy and comfortable in her new conveyance, that +we arrived at Family Bridge without her feeling the least fatigue. Here +we stopped. + +“Would you like to cross here, my dear?” said I; “and as we are very +near, look in at your convenient Tent House, where you will have no +staircase to ascend. And we should like to know, too, if you approve of +our management of your garden,” + +“As you please,” said she; “in fact, I am so comfortable in my carriage, +that if it were necessary, I could make the tour of the island. I +should like to see my house again; but it will be so very hot at this +season, that we must not stay long.” + +“But you must dine there, my dear mother,” said Fritz; “it is too late +to return to dinner at Falcon’s Nest; consider, too, the fatigue it +would occasion you.” + +“I would be very glad, indeed, my dear,” said she; “but what are we to +dine on? We have prepared no provision, and I fear we shall all +be hungry.” + +“What matter,” said Jack, “provided you dine with us? You must take your +chance. I will go and get some oysters, that we may not die with +hunger;” and off he galloped on his buffalo. Fritz followed him, on some +pretence, on Lightfoot. Mamma wished she had brought a vessel to carry +some water from the river, for she knew we could get none at Tent House. +Francis reminded her we could milk the cow, and she was satisfied, and +enjoyed her journey much. At last we arrived before the colonnade. My +wife was dumb with wonder for some moments. + +“Where am I, and what do I see?” said she, when she could speak. + +“You see the _Franciade_, mamma,” said her little boy; “this beautiful +colonnade was my invention, to protect you from the heat; stay, read +what is written above: _Francis to his dear mother. May this colonnade, +which is called the Franciade, be to her a temple of happiness._ Now +mamma, lean on me, and come and see my brothers’ gifts—much better than +mine;” and he led her to Jack’s pavilion, who was standing by the +fountain. He held a shell in his hand, which he filled with water, and +drank, saying, “To the health of the Queen of the Island; may she have +no more accidents, and live as long as her children! Long live Queen +Elizabeth, and may she come every day to _Jackia_, to drink her son +Jack’s health.” + +I supported my wife, and was almost as much affected as herself. She +wept and trembled with joy and surprise. Jack and Ernest then joined +their hands, and carried her to the other pavilion, where Fritz was +waiting to receive her, and the same scene of tenderness ensued. “Accept +this pavilion, dear mother,” said he; “and may _Fritzia_ ever make you +think on Fritz.” + +The delighted mother embraced them all, and observing Ernest’s name was +not commemorated by any trophy, thanked him again for her beautiful +bonnet. She then drank some of the delicious water of the fountain, and +returned to seat herself at the repast, which was another surprise for +her. We all made an excellent dinner; and at the dessert, I handed my +Canary wine round in shells; and then Ernest rose and sung us very +prettily, to a familiar air, some little verses he had composed:— + + On this festive happy day, + Let us pour our grateful lay; + Since Heaven has hush’d our mother’s pain, + And given her to her sons again. + Then from this quiet, lovely home + Never, never, may we roam. + All we love around us smile: + Joyful is our desert isle. + + When o’er our mother’s couch we bent, + Fervent prayers to Heaven we sent, + And God has spared that mother dear, + To bless her happy children here. + Then from this quiet, lovely home, + Never, never, may we roam; + All we love around us smile, + Joyful is our desert isle. + +We all joined in the chorus, and none of us thought of the ship, of +Europe, or of anything that was passing in the world. The island was our +universe, and Tent House was a palace we would not have exchanged for +any the world contained. This was one of those happy days that God +grants us sometimes on earth, to give us an idea of the bliss of Heaven; +and most fervently did we thank Him, at the end of our repast, for all +his mercies and blessings to us. + +After dinner, I told my wife she must not think of returning to Falcon’s +Nest, with all its risks of storms and the winding staircase, and she +could not better recompense her sons for their labours than by living +among them. She was of the same opinion, and was very glad to be so near +her kitchen and her stores, and to be able to walk alone with the +assistance of a stick in the colonnade, which she could do already; but +she made me promise to leave Falcon’s Nest as it was. It would be a +pretty place to walk to, and besides, this castle in the air was her own +invention. We agreed that this very evening she should take possession +of her own pretty room, with the good felt carpet, on which she could +walk without fear; and that the next day, I should go with my elder sons +and the animals to bring the cart, such utensils as we needed, and above +all, the poultry. Our dogs always followed their masters, as well as +the monkey and jackal, and they were so domesticated, we had no trouble +with them. + +I then prevailed on my wife to go into her room and rest for an hour, +after which we were to visit the garden. She complied, and after her +repose found her four sons ready to carry her in her litter as in a +sedan-chair. They took care to bring her straight to the grotto, where I +was waiting for her. This was a new surprise for the good mother. She +could not sufficiently express her astonishment and delight, when Jack +and Francis, taking their flageolets, accompanied their brothers, who +sung the following verse, which Ernest had added to his former attempt. + + Dear mother, let this gift be mine, + Accept the Grotto Ernestine. + May all your hours be doubly blest + Within this tranquil place of rest. + Then from this quiet, lovely home + Never, never may we roam; + All we love around us smile. + Joyful is our desert isle! + +What cause had we to rejoice in our children! we could not but shed +tears to witness their affection and perfect happiness. + +Below the vase of flowers, on the block of salt, Ernest had written:— + + Ernest, assisted by his brother Fritz, + Has prepared this grotto, + As a retreat for his beloved mother, + When she visits her garden. + +Ernest then conducted his mother to one of the benches, which he had +covered with soft moss, as a seat for her, and there she rested at her +ease to hear the history of the discovery of the grotto. It was now my +turn to offer my present; the garden, the embankment, the pond, and the +arbour. She walked, supported by my arm, to view her little empire, and +her delight was extreme; the pond, which enabled her to water her +vegetables, particularly pleased her, as well as her shady arbour, under +which she found all her gardening tools, ornamented with flowers, and +augmented by two light _watering-pans_, constructed by Jack and Francis, +from two gourds. They had canes for spouts, with the gourd bottles at +the end, pierced with holes, through which the water came in the manner +of a watering-pan. The embankment was also a great surprise; she +proposed to place plants of pines and melon on it, and I agreed to it. +Truly did she rejoice at the appearance of the vegetables, which +promised us some excellent European provision, a great comfort to her. +After expressing her grateful feelings, she returned to the grotto, and +seating herself in her sedan-chair, returned to Tent House, to enjoy the +repose she needed, after such a day of excitement. We did not, however, +lie down before we had together thanked God for the manifold blessings +he had given us, and for the pleasure of that day. + +“If I had been in Europe,” said my dear wife, “on the festival of my +recovery, I should have received a nosegay, a ribbon, or some trinket; +here I have had presented a carriage, a colonnade, pavilions, ornamental +fountains, a large grotto, a garden, a pond, an arbour, and a +straw bonnet!” + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + + +The next and following days were spent in removing our furniture and +property, particularly our poultry, which had multiplied greatly. We +also constructed a poultry-yard, at a sufficient distance from our house +to save our sleep from disturbance, and still so near that we could +easily tend them. We made it as a continuation of the colonnade, and on +the same plan, but enclosed in the front by a sort of wire trellis-work, +which Fritz and Jack made wonderfully well. Fritz, who had a turn for +architecture and mechanics, gave me some good hints, especially one, +which we put into execution. This was to carry the water from the basin +of the fountain through the poultry-yard, which enabled us also to have +a little pond for our ducks. The pigeons had their abode above the +hen-roosts, in some pretty baskets, which Ernest and Francis made, +similar to those made by the savages of the Friendly Isles, of which +they had seen engravings in Cook’s Voyages. When all was finished, my +wife was delighted to think that even in the rainy season she could +attend to her feathered family and collect their eggs. + +“What a difference,” said she, admiring the elegance of our +buildings,—“what a difference between this Tent House and the original +dwelling that suggested the name to us, and which was our only shelter +four years ago. What a surprising progress luxury has made with us in +that time! Do you remember, my dear, the barrel which served us for a +table, and the oyster-shells for spoons, the tent where we slept, +crowded together on dried leaves, and without undressing, and the river +half a mile off, where we were obliged to go to drink if we were +thirsty? Compared to what we were then, we are now great _lords_” + +“Kings, you mean, mamma,” said Jack, “for all this island is ours, and +it is quite like a kingdom.” + +“And how many millions of subjects does Prince Jack reckon in the +kingdom of his august father?” said I. + +Prince Jack declared he had not yet counted the parrots, kangaroos, +agoutis, and monkeys. The laughter of his brothers stopped him. I then +agreed with my wife that our luxuries had increased; but I explained to +her that this was the result of our industry. All civilized nations have +commenced as we did; necessity has developed the intellect which God has +given to man alone, and by degrees the arts have progressed, and +knowledge has extended more perhaps than is conducive to happiness. What +appeared luxury to us now was still simplicity compared with the luxury +of towns, or even villages, among civilized nations. My wife declared +she had everything she wished for, and should not know what more to ask +for, as we now had only to rest and enjoy our happiness. + +I declared against spending our time in rest and indolence, as the sure +means of ending our pleasure; and I well knew my dear wife was, like +myself, an enemy to idleness; but she dreaded any more laborious +undertakings. + +“But, mamma,” said Fritz, “you must let me make a mill under the +cascade; it will be so useful when our corn grows, and even now for the +maize. I also think of making an oven in the kitchen, which will be +very useful for you to bake your bread in.” + +“These would indeed be useful labours,” said the good mother, smiling; +“but can you accomplish them?” + +“I hope so,” said Fritz, “with the help of God and that of my dear +brothers.” + +Ernest promised his best aid, in return for his brother’s kind services +in forming his grotto, only requesting occasional leisure for his +natural history collections. His mother did not see the utility of these +collections, but, willing to indulge her kind and attentive Ernest, she +offered, till she could walk well, to assist him in arranging and +labelling his plants, which were yet in disorder, and he gratefully +consented. In procuring her some paper for the purpose, of which I had +brought a large quantity from the vessel, I brought out an unopened +packet, amongst which was a piece of some fabric, neither paper nor +stuff apparently. We examined it together, and at length remembered it +was a piece of stuff made at Otaheite, which our captain had bought of a +native at an island where we had touched on our voyage. Fritz appearing +much interested in examining this cloth, Ernest said gravely, “I can +teach you how to make it;” and immediately bringing _Cook’s Voyages_, +where a detailed description is given, he proceeded to read it. Fritz +was disappointed to find it could only be made of the bark of three +trees—of these our island produced only one. These trees were the +mulberry-tree, the bread-fruit, and the wild fig. We had the last in +abundance, but of the two former we had not yet discovered a single +plant. Fritz was not, however, discouraged. “They ought to be here,” +said he, “since they are found in all the South Sea Islands. Perhaps we +may find them on the other side of the rocks, where I saw some superb +unknown trees from the height where we discovered the grotto; and who +knows but I may find my pretty gazelle there again. The rogue can leap +better than I can over those rocks. I had a great wish to descend them, +but found it impossible; some are very high and perpendicular; others +have overhanging summits; I might, however, get round as you did by the +pass, between the torrent and the rocks at the Great Bay.” + +Jack offered to be his guide, even with his eyes shut, into that rich +country where he conquered and captured his buffalo; and Ernest begged +to be of the party. As this was an expedition I had long projected, I +agreed to accompany them next day, their mother being content to have +Francis left with her as a protector. I cautioned Fritz not to fire off +his gun when we approached the buffaloes, as any show of hostility might +render them furious; otherwise the animals, unaccustomed to man, have no +fear of him, and will not harm him. “In general,” added I, “I cannot +sufficiently recommend to you to be careful of your powder; we have not +more than will last us a year, and there may be a necessity to have +recourse to it for our defence.” + +“I have a plan for making it,” said Fritz, who never saw a difficulty in +anything. “I know it is composed of charcoal, saltpetre, and +sulphur—and we ought to find all these materials in the island. It is +only necessary to combine them, and to form it into little round +grains. This is my only difficulty; but I will consider it over; and I +have my mill to think on first. I have a confused recollection of a +powder manufactory at Berne: there was some machinery which went by +water; this machinery moved some hammers, which pounded and mixed the +ingredients—was not this the case, father?” + +“Something like it,” said I; “but we have many things to do before +making powder. First, we must go to sleep; we must set out before +daybreak, if we intend to return to-morrow evening.” We did indeed rise +before the sun, which would not rise for us. The sky was very cloudy, +and shortly we had an abundant and incessant rain, which obliged us to +defer our journey, and put us all in bad humour, but my wife, who was +not sorry to keep us with her, and who declared this gracious rain would +water her garden, and bring it forward. Fritz was the first who consoled +himself; he thought on nothing but building mills, and manufacturing +gunpowder. He begged me to draw him a mill; this was very easy, so far +as regards the exterior,—that is, the wheel, and the waterfall that +sets it in motion; but the interior,—the disposition of the wheels, the +stones to bruise the grain, the sieve, or bolter, to separate the flour +from the bran; all this complicated machinery was difficult to explain; +but he comprehended all, adding his usual expression,—“I will try, and +I shall succeed.” Not to lose any time, and to profit by this rainy day, +he began by making sieves of different materials, which he fastened to a +circle of pliant wood, and tried by passing through them the flour of +the cassava; he made some with sailcloth, others with the hair of the +onagra, which is very long and strong, and some of the fibres of bark. +His mother admired his work, which he continued to improve more and +more; she assured him the sieve would be sufficient for her; it was +useless to have the trouble of building a mill. + +“But how shall we bruise the grain, mamma?” said he; “it would be +tedious and hard work.” + +“And you think there will be no hard work in building your mill?” said +Jack. “I am curious to see how you will contrive to form that huge +stone, which is called the millstone.” + +“You shall see,” said Fritz; “only find me the stone, and it shall soon +be done. Do you think, father, that of our rock would be suitable?” + +I told him I thought it would be hard enough, but it would be difficult +to cut from the rock a piece large enough for the purpose. He made his +usual reply,—“_I will try_. Ernest and Jack will assist me; and +perhaps you, papa.” + +I declared my willingness, but named him the _master-mason;_ we must +only be his workmen. Francis was impatient to see the mill in operation. +“Oh!” said Jack, “you shall soon have that pleasure. It is a mere +trifle; we only want stone, wood, tools, and science.” + +At the word “_science_,” Ernest, who was reading in a corner, without +listening to us, raised his head suddenly, saying,—“What science are +you in need of?” + +“Of one you know nothing of, Mr. Philosopher,” said Jack. “Come, tell +us, do you know how to build a mill?” + +“A mill?” answered Ernest; “of what description? There are many sorts. +I was just looking in my dictionary for it. There are corn-mills, and +powder-mills, oil-mills, wind-mills, water-mills, hand-mills, and +saw-mills; which do you want?” + +Fritz would have liked them all. + +“You remind me,” said I, “that we brought from the vessel a hand-mill +and a saw-mill, taken to pieces, to be sure, but numbered and labelled, +so that they could be easily united: they should be in the magazine, +where you found the anvil and iron bars; I had forgotten them.” + +“Let us go and examine them,” said Fritz, lighting his lantern; “I shall +get some ideas from them.” + +“Rather,” said his mother, “they will spare you the trouble of thinking +and labouring.” + +I sent them all four to seek these treasures, which, heaped in an +obscure corner of the store-room, had escaped my recollection. When we +were alone, I seriously besought my wife not to oppose any occupations +our children might plan, however they might seem beyond their power; the +great point being, to keep them continually occupied, so that no evil or +dangerous fancies might fill their minds. “Let them,” I said, “cut +stone, fell trees, or dig fountains, and bless God that their thoughts +are so innocently directed.” She understood me, and promised not to +discourage them, only fearing the excessive fatigue of these +undertakings. + +Our boys returned from the magazine, delighted with what they had found, +and loaded with work-tools. Those of the masons,—the chisel, the short +hammer, and the trowel, were not to be found, and rarely are taken out +to sea; but they had collected a great number of carpenters’ +tools,—saws, planes, rules, &c. And now that Fritz was a smith, he had +no difficulty in making any tool he wanted. He was loaded on each +shoulder, and in each hand he brought a specimen of gunpowder; one sort +was in good condition, and they had found a barrel of it; the other was +much damaged by the water. Jack and Francis were also bending under the +weight of various articles; among which I saw some pieces of the +hand-mill Fritz wished to examine. Ernest, always rather idle, came +proudly on, with a leather belt across his shoulders, to which was +suspended a large tin box for plants, and a leather portmanteau for +stones, minerals, and shells. His brothers, even Francis, rallied him +unmercifully on his immense burden; one offered to help him, another to +go and bring the ass; he preserved his grave and thoughtful air, and +extended himself on a seat near his mother, who was occupied with his +specimens of natural history. Jack deposited his load in a corner, and +ran out; we soon saw him return with a huge screw-machine on his head, +which he placed before Ernest, saying, with an air of respect,— + +“I have the honour to bring for his Highness the Prince of the Idle +Penguins, the press for his august plants, which his Highness doubtless +found too heavy; and, truly, it is no little weight.” + +Ernest did not know whether to thank him or to be angry, but he decided +to join in the jest, and, therefore, answered gravely that he was +distressed that his Highness the Prince of the Monkeys should have taken +so much trouble to oblige him, that he ought to have employed some of +his docile subjects to do it; after all, he confessed that the press, +which he had not noticed, gave him great pleasure, and he placed some +plants in it immediately, which he had collected the evening before. + +The rain ceasing for a short time, I went with Fritz and Jack to examine +our embankment, and to open the sluices of the pond. We found all right, +and our garden looking beautiful after the rain. On our return, we +looked in at the _Grotto Ernestine_, which we found inundated from the +opening above. We proposed to make a trench, or little channel, to carry +off the rain-water from it. We returned home, and retired to bed, in +hopes of being able to set out next morning. We were, however, again +disappointed, and for a longer period than we expected. The rain +continued some days, and the country was again a complete lake; we had, +however, no storm or wind, and our possessions did not suffer; so we +resolved to wait patiently till the weather would permit us to go. My +wife was delighted to be in her comfortable abode, and to have us round +her; neither did we waste the time. Ernest finished the arrangement of +his collection with his mother and Francis. Fritz and Jack prepared the +tools that would be wanted in their great undertaking—the first attempt +was to be a saw-mill. In order to prepare the planks they wished, a very +large saw, which they had found amongst the tools, would serve their +purpose; but it was necessary to set it in motion by water, and here was +the difficulty. Fritz made several models from the thin wood of our +chests, and the wheels of our guns, but they were too small. In the +mean time, the mind of my young mechanic was exercised, his ideas were +enlarged and improved; and, as this science was so necessary in our +situation, I allowed him to go on with his experiments. Notwithstanding +the rain, protected by my cloak, he went several times to the cascade to +look out for a place where he should place his mills to the best +advantage, and have a constant supply of water. Ernest assisted him by +his advice, and promised his labour when it should be needed. Jack and +Francis were helping their mother to card cotton, of which she had made +a large collection, intending to spin it for our clothing; and I +exercised my mechanical talents in turning a large wheel for her, which +it was necessary should revolve very easily, her leg being still stiff; +and a reel, by which four bobbins were filled at once by turning +a handle. + +These different occupations aided us to pass the rainy season, which +visited us earlier this year, and did not remain so long. My wife knew +something of dyeing cloth; and, some of the plants she had helped Ernest +to dry having left their colour on the papers, she made some +experiments, and succeeded in obtaining a very pretty blue to dye our +clothes with; and, with the cochineal from our fig-tree, a beautiful red +brown, with which she had dyed for herself a complete dress. + +Thus passed several weeks. Ernest read to us from some amusing or +instructive work every evening; and, when his collections were all put +in order, he worked at his lathe, or at the business of weaving. At last +the sun appeared; we spent some days enjoying it in our delightful +colonnade. We went to visit the grotto and the garden, where all was +going on well—the embankment had prevented the inundation. Satisfied +with our work, we now fixed our departure for the next day, once more +hoping the rain would not come again to disappoint us. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + + +The next day the weather was delightful. We rose before daybreak. My +eldest sons took their work-tools, which we might want, and their guns +also, but under the condition that they should not use them till I gave +the word, “Fire!” I carried the bag of provisions. Our flock of sheep +had increased so much at the farm, that we allowed ourselves to kill +one, and my wife had roasted a piece for us the preceding evening; to +this we added a cake of cassava, and for our dessert we depended on the +fruits of the trees we might discover. But, previous to our departure, +while I was taking leave of my wife and Francis, I heard a dispute in +the colonnade, which I hastened to learn the cause of. I found it was a +question between Fritz and Jack, whether we should make the tour of the +island by sea or land; and each was anxious for my support. Fritz +complained that, since their two expeditions in the canoe, Jack believed +himself the first sailor in the world, and that they had given him the +name of Lord of the Waves, because he was constantly saying—“When I was +under the waves—when the waves were washing over me, do you think that +they left me dry?” + +“No, Mr. Sportsman,” said Jack, “you got enough of them, and that’s the +reason you don’t wish to try them again. For my part, I love the waves, +and I sing, ‘The sea! the sea! it was the sea that brought us here!’” + +“What a boaster you are,” said Fritz: “it was only yesterday you said to +me, ‘I will guide you; I know the way by the rocks; I got my buffalo +there, and I intend to have another.’ Was it in the pinnace you intended +to pass the defile, and pursue buffaloes?” + +“No, no! I meant on foot,” said Jack; “but I thought we should be only +two then. But, as we are four—papa at the helm, and three bold rowers, +why should we fatigue ourselves in making the tour of the island on our +legs, when we have a good vessel to carry us? What says Mr. Philosopher, +the prince of idlers, to it?” + +“For my part,” said Ernest, quietly, “I am quite indifferent whether I +use my legs in walking, or my arms in rowing, it is equally fatiguing; +but walking gives me more chance of filling my plant-box and my +game-bag.” + +“And does he think,” added Fritz, “that the mulberry and bread-fruit +trees, which we shall certainly find on the other side, grow on the sea? +without naming my gazelle, which does not run over the waves.” + +“No, it is waiting, without moving, for you to shoot it,” said Jack; +“and Ernest, perhaps you may find on the sea some of those curious +things half plants, half animals, which you were showing me in a book.” + +“The zoophytes, or polypi; for they are the same family, though there +are more than a thousand species,” said Ernest, charmed to display his +knowledge; but I stopped him by saying: “We will dispense with the +thousand names at present. After hearing all your arguments, attend to +mine; even Jack must yield to them. Our principal aim now being to +search for the trees we are in need of, and to examine the productions +of the island, our most sensible plan will be to walk.” + +Jack still contended that we might land occasionally; but I showed him +the danger of this, the island being, in all probability, surrounded by +reefs, which might extend so far into the sea as to take us out of the +sight of the island; this I intended to ascertain some day; and in the +mean time I proposed to them that we should endeavour to find a pass +round the rocks on our side, from whence we could walk to the defile at +the other end, take our canoe, which we had left at anchor near the +Great Bay, and return to Tent House. + +Jack was in ecstasies; he declared the pass must be very well concealed +that escaped his search, and, seizing his lasso and his bow, rushed out +the first, singing “The sea! the sea!” + +“There goes a sailor formed by nature,” thought I, as we followed the +course of the chain of rocks to the left of our dwelling. It conducted +us first to the place of our landing, that little uncultivated plain of +triangular form, of which the base was washed by the sea, and the point +was lost among the rocks. I found here some traces of our first +establishment; but how wretched all appeared, compared with our present +comforts! We tried here in vain to find a passage to cross the +rocks—the chain was everywhere like an impenetrable wall. We arrived at +the ravine Fritz and Ernest had scaled when they discovered their +grotto; and, truly, nothing but the courage and rashness of youth could +have undertaken this enterprise, and continued it daily for three weeks. +It appeared to me almost impossible; Fritz offered to ascend, to show me +how they accomplished it; but I would not consent, as it could serve no +useful purpose. I thought it better for us to proceed to the border of +the island, where it was not impossible there might be a small space on +the strand between the rocks and the sea, round which we could pass; +from my sons being able to distinguish from the summit the country on +the other side, it was evident the chain of rocks could not be very +broad. Suddenly Fritz struck his forehead, and, seizing Ernest by the +arm—“Brother,” said he, “what fools we have been!” + +Ernest inquired what folly they had been guilty of. + +“Why did we not,” said Fritz, “when we were working within our grotto, +attempt to make the opening on the other side? We should not have had +much difficulty, I am persuaded, and if our tools had not been +sufficient, a little powder would have opened us a door on the other +side. Only consider, father, the convenience of bringing the cart loaded +with the trees we wanted through our grotto, and to be able to go +a-hunting without having I don’t know how many miles to go.” + +“Well, we can still do that,” said Ernest, in his usual calm, grave +manner; “if we do not find another passage, we will make one through the +Grotto Ernestine, with mamma’s permission, as it is her property.” + +This idea of my son appeared good. It was quite certain, from our +experience at Tent House and in the grotto, that the cavity in the rocks +was of very great extent, and it did not appear difficult to pierce +through to the other side; but some other chain of rocks, some gigantic +tree, some hill, at the end of our tunnel, might render all our labour +useless. I proposed that we should defer our work till we had examined +the nature of the ground on the other side; my sons agreed, and we +proceeded with renewed courage, when we were suddenly checked by the +sight of the sea beating against a perpendicular rock of terrific +height, which terminated our island on this side, and did not give us a +chance of going on. I saw the rock did not extend far; but how to get +round it, I could not devise. I did not conceive we could get the +pinnace round, as the coast seemed surrounded by reefs; masses of rock +stood up in the sea, and the breakers showed that more were hidden. +After much consideration and many plans, Ernest proposed that we should +swim out to the uncovered rocks, and endeavour to pass round. Fritz +objected, on account of his arms and ammunition; but Ernest suggested +that the powder should be secured in the pockets of his clothes, which +he might carry on his head, holding his gun above the water. + +With some difficulty we arranged our incumbrances, and succeeded in +reaching the range of outer rocks, without swimming, as the water was +not above our shoulders. We rested here awhile, and, putting on some of +our clothes, we commenced our walk over sharp stones, which wounded our +feet. In many places, where the rocks lay low, we were up to the waist +in the water. Ernest, the proposer of the plan, encouraged us, and led +the way for some time; but at last he fell behind, and remained so long, +that I became alarmed, and calling aloud, for I had lost sight of him, +he answered me, and at last I discovered him stretched on the rock, +endeavouring to separate a piece from it with his knife. + +“Father,” said he, “I am now certain that this bed of rocks, over which +we are walking, and which we fancied was formed of stone or flints, is +nothing but the work of those remarkable zoophytes, called coral +insects, which form coral and many other extraordinary things; they can +even make whole islands. Look at these little points and hollows, and +these stars of every colour and every form; I would give all the world +to have a specimen of each kind.” + +He succeeded in breaking off a piece, which was of a deep orange-colour +inside; he collected also, and deposited in his bag, some other pieces, +of various forms and colours. These greatly enriched his collection; +and, idle as he was, he did not complain of any difficulty in obtaining +them. He had given his gun to Jack, who complained much of the +ruggedness of our road. Our march was truly painful, and I repented more +than once of having yielded to the idea; besides the misery of walking +along these shelly rocks, which presented points like the sharp teeth of +a saw, tearing our shoes and even our skin, the sea, in some of the +lower places, was so high as to bar our passage, and we were obliged, in +the interval between two waves, to rush across, with the water to our +chins. We had some difficulty to avoid being carried away. I trembled +especially for Jack; though small and light, he preferred facing the +wave to avoiding it. I was several times obliged to catch hold of him, +and narrowly escaped destruction along with him. Happily, our march was +not above half a mile, and we gained the shore at last without any +serious accident, but much fatigued and foot-sore; and we made a +resolution never more to cross the coral reefs. + +After dressing ourselves, resting, and taking a slight refreshment on +the beach, we resumed our march more at our ease into the interior of +the island; but though the long grass was not so sharp as the coral, it +was almost as troublesome, twisting round our legs, and threatening to +throw us down every step we took. Ernest, loaded with his bag of +fragments of rock, coral, and zoophytes, had given his gun to Jack; and, +fearing an accident among the long grass, I thought it prudent to +discharge it. In order to profit by it, I fired at a little quadruped, +about the size of a squirrel, and killed it. It appeared to me to be the +animal called by naturalists the palm-squirrel, because it climbs the +cocoa and date-palms, hooks itself by its tail, which is very long and +flexible, to the upper branches, and feeds at pleasure on the fruit, of +which it is very fond. We amused ourselves by details of the habits of +this animal, occasionally separating to make more discoveries, but +agreeing on a particular call, which was to assemble us when +necessary,—a precaution by no means useless, as it turned out. + +Fritz, with his head raised, went on examining all the trees, and +occasionally giving a keen look after his gazelle. Ernest, stooping +down, examined plants, insects, and, occasionally pursuing rare and +beautiful butterflies, was filling his bag and plant-box with various +curiosities. Jack, with his lasso in his hand, prepared himself to fling +it round the legs of the first buffalo he met with, and was vexed that +he did not see any. For my own part, I was engaged in surveying the +chain of rocks, in order to discover that which contained the Grotto +Ernestine. It was easy to recognize it, from its summit cleft in two; +and I wished to ascertain, as nearly as possible, if the cleft extended +to the base of the rock, as this would render our work much easier. This +side of the island did not resemble that near the Great Bay, with which +Jack and I had been so much charmed. The island was much narrower here, +and instead of the wide plain, crossed by a river, divided by delightful +woods, giving an idea of paradise on earth; we were journeying through a +contracted valley, lying between the rocky wall which divided the +island, and a chain of sandy hills, which hid the sea and sheltered the +valley from the wind. Fritz and I ascended one of these hills, on which +a few pines and broom were growing, and perceived beyond them a barren +tract, stretching to the sea, where the coral reefs rose to the level of +the water, and appeared to extend far into the sea. Any navigators, +sailing along these shores, would pronounce the island inaccessible and +entirely barren. This is not the fact; the grass is very thick, and the +trees of noble growth; we found many unknown to us, some loaded with +fruit; also, several beautiful shrubs covered with flowers; the dwarf +orange-tree, the elegant melaleuca, the nutmeg-tree, and the Bengal rose +blending its flowers with the fragrant jasmine. I should never finish, +if I were to try and name all the plants found in this shady valley, +which might be called the botanic garden of Nature. Ernest was in +ecstasies; he wished to carry away everything, but he did not know how +to dispose of them. + +“Ah!” said he, “if only our grotto were open to this side!” + +At this moment Fritz came running out of breath, crying out, “The +bread-fruit tree! I have found the bread-fruit tree! Here is the +fruit,—excellent, delicious bread. Taste it, father; here, Ernest; +here, Jack;” and he gave us each a part of an oval fruit, about the size +of an ordinary melon, which really seemed very good and nourishing. + +“There are many of these trees,” continued he, “loaded with fruit. Would +that we had our grotto opened, that we might collect a store of them, +now that they are ripe.” + +My boys pointed out to me exactly the situation of the grotto, judging +from the rock above, and longed for their tools, that they might +commence the opening directly. We proceeded to make our way through a +border of trees and bushes, that separated us from the rock, that we +might examine it, and judge of the difficulties of our undertaking. Jack +preceded us, as usual, after giving Ernest his gun; Fritz followed him, +and suddenly turning to me, said,— + +“I believe kind Nature has saved us much trouble; the rock appears to be +divided from top to bottom; at the foot I see a sort of cave, or grotto, +already made.” + +[Illustration: “We saw at the entrance of the cave two large brown +bears.”] + +At this moment Jack uttered a piercing cry, and came running to us, +his lasso in his hand: “Two monstrous beasts!” cried he. “Help! help!” +We rushed forward, our guns ready, and saw at the entrance of the cave +two large brown bears. The black bear, whose fur is most valued, is +only found in cold and mountainous countries; but the brown prefers +the south. It is a carnivorous animal, considered very ferocious. The +black bear lives only on vegetables and honey. Of these, the one I +judged to be the female seemed much irritated, uttering deep growls, +and furiously gnashing her teeth. As I knew something of these animals, +having met with them on the Alps, I remembered having heard that a +sharp whistling terrifies and checks them. I therefore whistled as long +and loudly as I could, and immediately saw the female retire backwards +into the cave, while the male, raising himself on his hind legs, stood +quite still, with his paws closed. My two elder sons fired into his +breast: he fell down, but being only wounded, turned furiously on +us. I fired a third shot at him, and finished him. We then hastened +to load our guns again, to be ready to receive his companion. Jack +wished to use his lasso; but I explained to him that the legs of the +bear were too short and thick for such a measure to be successful. He +related to us, that having entered the cave, he saw something moving +at the bottom; he took up a stone, and threw it with all his strength +at the object; immediately he heard a frightful growling, and saw two +large beasts coming towards him; he had barely time to escape and call +for help, and then to hide himself behind a tree. To save ourselves +from the other bear, it was necessary that we should take some prompt +measures; we therefore advanced, and formed a line of battle before +the entrance of the cave, I then gave the word—Fire! and we all three +fired off our pieces at the same moment. A ferocious roar made us hope +the bullets had taken effect but to make sure, and to prevent the +escape of the animal if it was still living, we gathered a large heap +of dried branches and leaves before the opening, to which I set fire. +As soon as it blazed, we saw by the light the bear laid motionless +on its side, but it is well known that this animal is crafty enough +sometimes to feign itself dead till its enemy approaches near enough to +be in its power, when it seizes him in its enormous paws and strangles +him. We took a lighted branch, and approached with great precaution. +The cave did not extend far; the animal was lying on a heap of dried +leaves prepared for its young ones. I ascertained that it was really +dead. I then, with the assistance of my sons, drew it out of the +cave which was too dark for work, and I wished to secure the rich +and beautiful skins which might be useful to us in winter. We set to +work, and, as the animals were still warm, we succeeded more easily +than I could have expected, but the skins were so heavy it was almost +impossible to remove them. We therefore left them in the cave, the +bottom of which was sandy, closing the entrance with boughs that no +animal might enter to devour them, and abandoned the two bodies, only +regretting the abundance of fat which would have been useful for many +domestic purposes. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + + +We resumed our search, thanking God for our preservation from this +danger, in which my dear Jack at any rate, might have perished. As a +proof and trophy of our adventure, we cut off the fore paws of the +animal, to carry to my wife. It is said that these form a very delicious +dish, fit for the table of a king. The valley now began to expand, and +presented a more varied appearance. It was intersected with beautiful +plains or savannas, of which the grass had evidently been eaten, and +with more extensive woods, through which we had great difficulty in +forcing a passage; so thick and entangled were the lianas and underwood. +We succeeded in passing them by keeping at the borders, where we also +felt in greater safety from the wild beasts and reptiles, of which we +saw many species that had their abode at the foot of the rocks. Besides +the fatigue of our journey, we were tormented with thirst, never having +seen any water since we left the sea. The soil was so moist, that I was +of opinion we might have found water by digging; but having been +compelled to leave our spades when we came along the reef, we had no +tools suitable for the purpose. We were also impatient to wash ourselves +after the butchery of the bears, when, to our great satisfaction, we +heard the murmur of waters, which I concluded was the river Jack and I +had seen in our former expedition. He had frequently inquired about it, +and we had foolishly thought it had extended along the whole valley, +which could not be. It was a gentle stream, gushing from a perpendicular +rock, which reminded me of the source of the river Orbe, in the Canton +of Vaud; it issued forth in its full width, rolling at first over a +rocky bed; then forming a graceful bend, it took its course towards the +great bay, and fell in a cascade into the sea. We remained some time +here to fill our gourds, drinking moderately, and taking a bath, which +refreshed us all greatly. + +The evening was approaching, and we began to fear we should not reach +home before night. I had warned my wife that there was a possibility +that we might be delayed, though I could not then anticipate the cause +of our delay. We endeavoured, however, by walking as quickly as we +could, and resting no more, to reach our farm at any rate. We followed +the course of the river, on the opposite shore of which rose a wide +plain, where we saw the herd of buffaloes quietly grazing, ruminating, +and drinking, without paying the slightest attention to us. We thought +we distinguished some other quadrupeds amongst them, which Fritz was +certain were zebras or onagras; but certainly not his dear gazelle, for +which he had incessantly looked round. Jack was in despair that the +river separated us from the buffaloes, so that he could not cast his +lasso round the legs of one of them, as he had promised Ernest. He even +wished to swim across the stream, to have a hunt; but I forbade him, +encouraging him to hope that perhaps a single buffalo might cross to our +side, and throw itself in the way of his lasso. I was far from wishing +such a thing myself, for we had no time to lose, nor any means to +secure and lead it home, should we succeed in capturing one, not having +any cords with us; and moreover, intending to return from the bay in the +canoe. When we arrived at the bay, the night, which comes on rapidly in +equinoctial countries, had almost closed. We were scarcely able to see, +without terror, the changes that the late storm had occasioned; the +narrow pass which led from the other side of the island, between the +river and a deep stream that flowed from the rocks, was entirely +obstructed with rocks and earth fallen upon it; and to render our +passage practicable, it was necessary to undertake a labour that the +darkness now prevented, and which would at any time be attended by +danger. We were obliged then to spend the night in the open air, and +separated from our dear and anxious friends at Tent House. Fortunately, +Fritz had collected a store of bread-fruit for his mother, with which he +had filled his own pockets and those of his brothers. These, with water +from the river, formed our supper; for we had nothing but the bone of +our leg of mutton left. We turned back a little way, to establish +ourselves under a clump of trees, where we were in greater safety; we +loaded our muskets, we kindled a large fire of dry branches, and +recommending ourselves to the protection of God, we lay ourselves down +on the soft moss to wait for the first rays of light. With the exception +of Jack, who from the first slept as if he had been in his bed, we none +of us could rest. The night was beautiful; a multitude of stars shone +over our heads in the ethereal vault. Ernest was never tired of gazing +on them. After some questions and suppositions on the plurality of +worlds, their courses and their distances, he quitted us to wander on +the borders of the river, which reflected them in all their brilliancy. +From this night his passion for astronomy commenced, a passion which he +carried beyond all others. This became his favourite and continual +study, nor did he fall far short of Duval, whose history he had read. +Whilst he was engaged in contemplation, Fritz and I conversed on our +projects for tunnelling to the grotto, and on the utility of such a +passage, as this side of the island was quite lost to us, from the +difficulty in reaching it. “And yet,” said I, “it is to this difficulty +we owe the safety we have enjoyed. Who can say that the bears and the +buffaloes may not find the way through the grotto? I confess I am not +desirous of their visits, nor even of those of the onagras. Who knows +but they might persuade your favourite Lightfoot to return and live +amongst them? Liberty has many charms. Till now, we have been very happy +on our side of the island, without the productions of this. My dear boy, +there is a proverb, ‘Let _well_ alone,’ Let us not have too much +ambition,—it has ruined greater states than ours.” + +Fritz seemed grieved to give up his plan, and suggested that he could +forge some strong bars of iron to place before the opening, which could +be removed at will. + +“But,” said I, “they will not prevent the snakes from passing +underneath. I have noticed some with terror, as they are animals I have +a great antipathy to; and if your mother saw one crawl into her grotto, +she would never enter it again; even if she did not die of fright.” + +“Well, we must give it up,” said Fritz; “but it is a pity. Do you +think, father, there are more bears in the island than those we killed?” + +“In all probability,” said I; “it is scarcely to be supposed that there +should only be two. I cannot well account for their being here. They can +swim very well, and perhaps the abundance of fruit in this part of the +island may have attracted them.” I then gave my son a short account of +their manners and habits, from the best works on the history of +these animals. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + + +Whilst we continued to talk and to admire the beauty of the stars, they +at length began to fade away before the first light of morning. Ernest +returned to us, and we awoke Jack, who had slept uninterruptedly, and +was quite unconscious where he was. We returned to the pass, which now, +by the light of day, seemed to us in a more hopeless state than in the +dusk of evening. I was struck with consternation: it appeared to me that +we were entirely enclosed at this side; and I shuddered to think of +crossing the island again, to pass round at the other end, of the risk +we should run of meeting wild beasts, and of the painful and perilous +passage along the coral reefs. At that moment I would gladly have +consented to open a passage through the grotto, at the hazard of any +visitors, in order to get through myself, that I might relieve the +anxious feelings of my dear wife and boy. The thoughts of their agony +unnerved me, and took away all courage for the commencement of a labour +which seemed impossible, our only utensils being a small saw, and a +little dibble for taking up plants, which Ernest had been unwilling to +leave behind us. The path by which Jack and I had passed was covered +with rocks and masses of soil, which obstructed even the course of the +stream; we could not discover the place we had forded, the river had +opened itself a wider course, far beyond its former one. + +“It is impossible,” said Fritz, gazing on the ruins, “that we can remove +all these immense stones without proper tools; but, perhaps, with a +little courage, we may cross over them, the rivulet being widened cannot +be very deep. At all events, it cannot be worse than the coral reefs.” + +“Let us try; but I fear it will be impossible, at least for _him_,” said +I, pointing to Jack. + +“_Him_, indeed, papa, and why not?” said the bold fellow; “_he_ is +perhaps as strong, and more active, than some of _them_; ask Fritz what +he thinks of his workman. Shall I go the first to show you the way?” + +And he was advancing boldly, but I checked him, and said, that before we +undertook to scale these masses of rock, absolutely bare, where we had +nothing to support us, or to hold by, it would be as well to examine if, +by descending lower, we could not find a less dangerous road. We +descended to the narrow pass, and found our drawbridge, plantation, all +our fortification that my boys were so proud of, and where, at Fritz’s +request, I had even planted a small cannon, all, all destroyed; the +cannon swallowed up with the rest. My boys deplored their +disappointment; but I showed them how useless such a defence must ever +be. Nature had provided us with a better fortification than we could +construct, as we just now bitterly experienced. + +We had descended several yards lower with incredible difficulty, plunged +in a wet, heavy soil, and obliged to step across immense stones, when +Fritz, who went first, cried out, joyfully— + +“The roof, papa! the roof of our _chalet_! it is quite whole; it will be +a bridge for us if we can only get to it.” + +“What roof? What chalet?” said I, in astonishment. + +“The roof of our little hermitage,” said he, “which we had covered so +well with stones, like the Swiss _chalets_.” + +I then recollected that I had made this little hut, after the fashion of +the Swiss chalet, of bark, with a roof nearly flat and covered with +stones, to secure it against the winds. It was this circumstance, and +its situation, that had saved it in the storm. I had placed it opposite +the cascade, that we might see the fall in all its beauty, and, +consequently, a little on one side of the passage filled up by the fall +of the rocks. Some fragments reached the roof of the hut, and we +certainly could not have entered it; but the chalet was supported by +this means, and the roof was still standing and perfectly secure. We +contrived to slide along the rock which sustained it; Jack was the first +to stand on the roof and sing victory. It was very easy to descend on +the other side, holding by the poles and pieces of bark, and we soon +found ourselves safe in our _own_ island. Ernest had lost his gun in +the passage: not being willing to resign his bag of curiosities, he had +dropped the gun into the abyss. + +“You may take the gun I left in the canoe,” said Fritz; “but, another +time, throw away your stones, and keep your gun—you will find it a good +friend in need.” + +“Let us embark in our canoe,” cried Jack. “The sea! the sea! Long live +the waves! they are not so hard as the stones.” + +I was very glad to have the opportunity of conveying my canoe back to +the port of Tent House; our important occupations had prevented me till +now, and everything favoured the plan: the sea was calm, the wind +favourable, and we should arrive at home sooner, and with less fatigue, +than by land. We skirted the great Bay to the Cabbage-palm Wood. I had +moored the canoe so firmly to one of the palms, that I felt secure of it +being there. We arrived at the place, and no canoe was there! The mark +of the cord which fastened it was still to be seen round the tree, but +the canoe had entirely disappeared. Struck with astonishment, we looked +at each other with terror, and without being able to articulate a word. +What was become of it? + +“Some animal,—the jackals; a monkey, perhaps,—might have detached it,” +said Jack; “but they could not have eaten the canoe.” And we could not +find a trace of it, any more than of the gun Fritz had left in it. + +This extraordinary circumstance gave me a great deal of thought. +Savages, surely, had landed on our island, and carried off our canoe. We +could no longer doubt it when we discovered on the sands the print of +naked feet! It is easy to believe how uneasy and agitated I was. I +hastened to take the road to Tent House, from which we were now more +than three leagues distant. I forbade my sons to mention this event, or +our suspicions, to their mother, as I knew it would rob her of all peace +of mind. I tried to console myself. It was possible that chance had +conducted them to the Bay, that they had seen our pretty canoe, and +that, satisfied with their prize, and seeing no inhabitants, they might +not return. Perhaps, on the contrary, these islanders might prove kind +and humane, and become our friends. There was no trace of their +proceedings further than the shore. We called at _The Farm_, on purpose +to examine. All appeared in order; and certainly, if they had reached +here, there was much to tempt them: our cotton mattresses, our osier +seats, and some household utensils that my wife had left here. Our geese +and fowls did not appear to have been alarmed, but were pecking about as +usual for worms and insects. I began to hope that we might get off with +the loss of our canoe,—a loss which might be repaired. We were a +sufficient number, being well armed, not to be afraid of a few savages, +even if they penetrated further into the island, and showed hostile +intentions. I exhorted my sons to do nothing to irritate them; on the +contrary, to meet them with kindness and attention, and to commit no +violence against them unless called on to defend their lives. I also +recommended them to select from the wrecked chest, some articles likely +to please the savages, and to carry them always about with them. “And I +beseech you, once more,” added I, “not to alarm your mother.” They +promised me; and we continued our road unmolested to Falcon’s Nest. Jack +preceded us, delighted, he said, to see our castle again, which he hoped +the savages had not carried away. Suddenly, we saw him return, running, +with terror painted on his countenance. + +“They are there!” said he; “they have taken possession of it; our +dwelling is full of them. Oh! how frightful they are! What a blessing +mamma is not there; she would have died of fright to see them enter.” + +I confess I was much agitated; but, not wishing to expose my children to +danger before I had done all in my power to prevent it, I ordered them +to remain behind till I called them. I broke a branch from a tree +hastily, which I held in one hand, and in the other some long nails, +which I found by chance in the bottom of my pocket; and I advanced thus +to my Tree-Castle. I expected to have found the door of my staircase +torn open and broken, and our new guests ascending and descending; but I +saw at once it was closed as I had left it; being of bark, it was not +easily distinguished. How had these savages reached the dwelling, forty +feet from the ground? I had placed planks before the great opening; they +were no longer there; the greater part of them had been hurled down to +the ground, and I heard such a noise in our house, that I could not +doubt Jack’s report. I advanced timidly, holding up in the air the +branch and my offerings, when I discovered, all at once, that I was +offering them to a troop of monkeys, lodged in the fortress, which they +were amusing themselves by destroying. We had numbers of them in the +island; some large and mischievous, against whom we had some difficulty +in defending ourselves when crossing the woods, where they principally +dwelt. The frequent report of fire-arms round our dwelling had kept them +aloof till now, when, emboldened by our absence, and enticed by the figs +on our tree, they had come in crowds. These vexatious animals had got +through the roof, and, once in, had thrown down the planks that covered +the opening; they made the most frightful grimaces, throwing down +everything they could seize. + +Although this devastation caused me much vexation, I could not help +laughing at their antics, and at the humble and submissive manner in +which I had advanced to pay homage to them. I called my sons, who +laughed heartily, and rallied “_the prince of the monkeys_” without +mercy, for not knowing his own subjects. Fritz wished much to discharge +his gun amongst them, but I forbade him. I was too anxious to reach Tent +House, to be able to turn my thoughts on these depredators just now. + +We continued our journey—but I pause here; my heart is oppressed. My +feelings when I reached home require another chapter to describe them, +and I must summon courage for the task. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + + +We soon arrived at Family Bridge, where I had some hopes of meeting +Francis, and perhaps his mother, who was beginning to walk very well; +but I was disappointed—they were not there. Yet I was not uneasy, for +they were neither certain of the hour of our return, nor of the way we +might take. I expected, however, to find them in the colonnade—they +were not there. I hastily entered the house; I called aloud, “Elizabeth! +Francis! where are you?” No one answered. A mortal terror seized me—and +for a moment I could not move. + +“They will be in the grotto,” said Ernest. + +“Or in the garden,” said Fritz. + +“Perhaps on the shore,” cried Jack; “my mother likes to watch the waves, +and Francis may be gathering shells.” + +These were possibilities. My sons flew in all directions in search of +their mother and brother. I found it impossible to move, and was obliged +to sit down. I trembled, and my heart beat till I could scarcely +breathe. I did not venture to dwell on the extent of my fears, or, +rather, I had no distinct notion of them. I tried to recover myself. I +murmured, “Yes—at the grotto, or the garden—they will return +directly.” Still, I could not compose myself. I was overwhelmed with a +sad presentiment of the misfortune which impended over me. It was but +too soon realized. My sons returned in fear and consternation. They had +no occasion to tell me the result of their search; I saw it at once, +and, sinking down motionless, I cried, “Alas! they are not there!” + +Jack returned the last, and in the most frightful state; he had been at +the sea-shore, and, throwing himself into my arms, he sobbed out— + +“The savages have been here, and carried away my mother and Francis; +perhaps they have devoured them; I have seen the marks of their +horrible feet on the sands, and the print of dear Francis’s boots.” + +This account at once recalled me to strength and action. + +“Come, my children, let us fly to save them. God will pity our sorrow, +and assist us. He will restore them. Come, come!” + +They were ready in a moment. But a distracting thought seized me. Had +they carried off the pinnace? if so, every hope was gone. Jack, in his +distress, had never thought of remarking this; but, the instant I named +it, Fritz and he ran to ascertain the important circumstance, Ernest, in +the mean time, supporting me, and endeavouring to calm me. + +“Perhaps,” said he, “they are still in the island. Perhaps they may have +fled to hide themselves in some wood, or amongst the reeds. Even if the +pinnace be left, it would be prudent to search the island from end to +end before we leave it. Trust Fritz and me, we will do this; and, even +if we find them in the hands of the enemy, we will recover them. Whilst +we are off on this expedition, you can be preparing for our voyage, and +we will search the world from one end to the other, every country and +every sea, but we will find them. And we shall succeed. Let us put our +whole trust in God. He is our Father, he will not try us beyond our +strength.” + +I embraced my child, and a flood of tears relieved my overcharged heart. +My eyes and hands were raised to Heaven; my silent prayers winged their +flight to the Almighty, to him who tries us and consoles us. A ray of +hope seemed to visit my mind, when I heard my boys cry out, as they +approached— + +“The pinnace is here! they have not carried that away!” + +I fervently thanked God—it was a kind of miracle; for this pretty +vessel was more tempting than the canoe. Perhaps, as it was hidden in a +little creek between the rocks, it had escaped their observation; +perhaps they might not know how to manage it; or they might not be +numerous enough. No matter, it was there, and might be the means of our +recovering the beloved objects those barbarians had torn from us. How +gracious is God, to give us hope to sustain us in our afflictions! +Without hope, we could not live; it restores and revives us, and, even +if never realized below, accompanies us to the end of our life, and +beyond the grave! + +I imparted to my eldest son the idea of his brother, that they might be +concealed in some part of the island; but I dared not rely on this sweet +hope. Finally, as we ought not to run the risk of abandoning them, if +they were still here, and perhaps in the power of the savages, I +consented that my two eldest sons should go to ascertain the fact. +Besides, however impatient I was, I felt that a voyage such as we were +undertaking into unknown seas might be of long duration, and it was +necessary to make some preparations—I must think on food, water, arms, +and many other things. There are situations in life which seize the +heart and soul, rendering us insensible to the wants of the body—this +we now experienced. We had just come from a painful journey, on foot, of +twenty-four hours, during which we had had little rest, and no sleep. +Since morning we had eaten nothing but some morsels of the bread-fruit; +it was natural that we should be overcome with fatigue and hunger. But +we none of us had even thought of our own state—we were supported, if I +may use the expression, by our despair. At the moment that my sons were +going to set out, the remembrance of their need of refreshment suddenly +occurred to me, and I besought them to rest a little, and take +something; but they were too much agitated to consent. I gave Fritz a +bottle of Canary, and some slices of roast mutton I met with, which he +put in his pocket. They had each a loaded musket, and they set out, +taking the road along the rocks, where the most hidden retreats and most +impenetrable woods lay; they promised me to fire off their pieces +frequently to let their mother know they were there, if she was hidden +among the rocks—they took also one of the dogs. Flora we could not +find, which made us conclude she had followed her mistress, to whom she +was much attached. + +As soon as my eldest sons had left us, I made Jack conduct me to the +shore where he had seen the footmarks, that I might examine them, to +judge of their number and direction. I found many very distinct, but so +mingled, I could come to no positive conclusion. Some were near the sea, +with the foot pointing to the shore; and amongst these Jack thought he +could distinguish the boot-mark of Francis. My wife wore very light +boots also, which I had made for her; they rendered stockings +unnecessary, and strengthened her ankles. I could not find the trace of +these; but I soon discovered that my poor Elizabeth had been here, from +a piece torn from an apron she wore, made of her own cotton, and dyed +red. I had now not the least doubt that she was in the canoe with her +son. It was a sort of consolation to think they were together; but how +many mortal fears accompanied this consolation! Oh! was I ever to see +again these objects of my tenderest affection! + +Certain now that they were not in the island, I was impatient for the +return of my sons, and I made every preparation for our departure. The +first thing I thought of was the wrecked chest, which would furnish me +with means to conciliate the savages, and to ransom my loved ones. I +added to it everything likely to tempt them; utensils, stuffs, trinkets; +I even took with me gold and silver coin, which was thrown on one side +as useless, but might be of service to us on this occasion. I wished my +riches were three times as much as they were, that I might give all in +exchange for the life and liberty of my wife and son. I then turned my +thoughts on those remaining to me: I took, in bags and gourds, all that +we had left of cassava bread, manioc roots, and potatoes; a barrel of +salt-fish, two bottles of rum, and several jars of fresh water. Jack +wept as he filled them at his fountain, which he perhaps might never see +again, any more than his dear Valiant, whom I set at liberty, as well as +the cow, ass, buffalo, and the beautiful onagra. These docile animals +were accustomed to us and our attentions, and they remained in their +places, surprised that they were neither harnessed nor mounted. We +opened the poultry-yard and pigeon-cote. The flamingo would not leave +us, it went and came with us from the house to the pinnace. We took +also oil, candles, fuel, and a large iron pot to cook our provisions in. +For our defence, I took two more guns, and a small barrel of powder, all +we had left. I added besides some changes of linen, not forgetting some +for my dear wife, which I hoped might be needed. The time fled rapidly +while we were thus employed; night came on, and my sons returned not. My +grief was inconceivable; the island was so large and woody, that they +might have lost themselves, or the savages might have returned and +encountered them. After twenty hours of frightful terror, I heard the +report of a gun—alas! only _one_ report! it was the signal agreed on if +they returned alone; _two_ if they brought their mother; _three_ if +Francis also accompanied them; but I expected they would return alone, +and I was still grateful. I ran to meet them; they were overcome with +fatigue and vexation. + +They begged to set out immediately, not to lose one precious moment; +they were now sure the island did not contain those they lamented, and +they hoped I would not return without discovering them, for what would +the island be to us without our loved ones? Fritz, at that moment, saw +his dear Lightfoot capering round him, and could not help sighing as he +caressed him, and took leave of him. + +“May I find thee here,” said he, “where I leave thee in such sorrow; and +I will bring back thy young master,” added he, turning to the bull, who +was also approaching him. + +He then begged me again to set out, as the moon was just rising in all +her majesty. + +“The queen of night,” said Ernest; “will guide us to the queen of our +island, who is perhaps now looking up to her, and calling on us to +help her.” + +“Most assuredly,” said I, “she is thinking on us; but it is on God she +is calling for help. Let us join her in prayer, my dear children, for +herself and our dear Francis.” + +They fell on their knees with me, and I uttered the most fervent and +earnest prayer that ever human heart poured forth; and I rose with +confidence that our prayers were heard. I proceeded with new courage to +the creek that contained our pinnace, where Jack arranged all we had +brought; we rowed out of the creek, and when we were in the bay, we held +a council to consider on which side we were to commence our search. I +thought of returning to the great bay, from whence our canoe had been +taken; my sons, on the contrary, thought that these islanders, content +with their acquisition, had been returning homewards, coasting along the +island, when an unhappy chance had led their mother and brother to the +shore, where the savages had seen them, and carried them off. At the +most, they could but be a day before us; but that was long enough to +fill us with dreadful anticipations. I yielded to the opinion of my +sons, which had a great deal of reason on its side, besides the wind was +favourable in that direction; and, abandoning ourselves in full +confidence to Almighty God, we spread our sails, and were soon in +the open sea. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + + +A gentle wind swelled our sails, and the current carried us rapidly into +the open sea. I then seated myself at the helm, and employed the little +knowledge I had gained during our voyage from Europe in directing our +bark, so that we might avoid the rocks and coral banks that surrounded +our island. My two oldest sons, overcome with fatigue, had no sooner +seated themselves on a bench, than they fell into a profound sleep, +notwithstanding their sorrows. Jack held out the best; his love of the +sea kept him awake, and I surrendered the helm to him till I took a +momentary slumber, my head resting against the stern. A happy dream +placed me in the midst of my family in our dear island; but a shout from +Ernest awoke me, he was calling on Jack to leave the helm, as he was +contriving to run the vessel among the breakers on the coast. I seized +the helm, and soon set all right, determined not to trust my giddy +son again. + +Jack, of all my sons, was the one who evinced most taste for the sea; +but being so young when we made our voyage, his knowledge of nautical +affairs was very scanty. My elder sons had learnt more. Ernest, who had +a great thirst for knowledge of every kind, had questioned the pilot on +all he had seen him do. He had learned a great deal in theory, but of +practical knowledge he had none. The mechanical genius of Fritz had +drawn conclusions from what he saw; this would have induced me to place +much trust in him in case of that danger which I prayed Heaven might be +averted. What a situation was mine for a father! Wandering through +unknown and dangerous seas with my three sons, my only hope, in search +of a fourth, and of my beloved helpmate; utterly ignorant which way we +should direct our course, or where to find a trace of those we sought. +How often do we allay the happiness granted us below by vain wishes! I +had at one time regretted that we had no means of leaving our island; +now we had left it, and our sole wish was to recover those we had lost, +to bring them back to it, and never to leave it more. I sometimes +regretted that I had led my sons into this danger. I might have ventured +alone; but I reflected that I could not have left them, for Fritz had +said, “If the savages had carried off the pinnace, I would have swum +from isle to isle till I had found them.” My boys all endeavoured to +encourage and console me. Fritz placed himself at the rudder, observing +that the pinnace was new and well built, and likely to resist a tempest. +Ernest stood on the deck silently watching the stars, only breaking his +silence by telling me he should be able by them to supply the want of +the compass, and point out how we should direct our course. Jack climbed +dexterously up the mast to let me see his skill; we called him the +cabin-boy, Fritz was the pilot, Ernest the astronomer, and I was the +captain and commander of the expedition. Daybreak showed us we had +passed far from our island, which now only appeared a dark speck. I, as +well as Fritz and Jack, was of opinion that it would be advisable to go +round it, and try our fortune on the opposite coast; but Ernest, who +had not forgotten his telescope, was certain he saw land in a direction +he pointed out to us. We took the glass, and were soon convinced he was +right. As day advanced, we saw the land plainly, and did not hesitate to +sail towards it. + +As this appeared the land nearest to our island, we supposed the savages +might have conveyed their captives there. But more trials awaited us +before we arrived there. It being necessary to shift the sail, in order +to reach the coast in view, my poor cabin-boy, Jack, ran up the mast, +holding by the ropes; but before he reached the sail, the rope which he +held broke suddenly; he was precipitated into the sea, and disappeared +in a moment; but he soon rose to the surface, trying to swim, and +mingling his cries with ours. Fritz, who was the first to see the +accident, was in the water almost as soon as Jack, and seizing him by +the hair, swam with the other hand, calling on him to try and keep +afloat, and hold by him. When I saw my two sons thus struggling with the +waves, that were very strong from a land-wind, I should, in my despair, +have leaped in after them; but Ernest held me, and implored me to remain +to assist in getting them into the pinnace. He had thrown ropes to them, +and a bench which he had torn up with the strength of despair. Fritz had +contrived to catch one of the ropes and fasten it round Jack, who still +swam, but feebly, as if nearly exhausted. Fritz had been considered an +excellent swimmer in Switzerland; he preserved all his presence of mind, +calling to us to draw the rope gently, while he supported the poor boy, +and pushed him towards the pinnace. At last I was able to reach and +draw him up; and when I saw him extended, nearly lifeless, at the bottom +of the pinnace, I fell down senseless beside him. How precious to us now +was the composed mind of Ernest! In the midst of such a scene, he was +calm and collected; promptly disengaging the rope from the body of Jack, +he flung it back to Fritz, to help him in reaching the pinnace, +attaching the other end firmly to the mast. This done, quicker than I +can write it, he approached us, raised his brother so that he might +relieve himself from the quantity of water he had swallowed; then +turning to me, restored me to my senses by administering to me some +drops of rum, and by saying, “Courage, father! you have saved Jack, and +I will save Fritz. He has hold of the rope; he is swimming strongly; he +is coming; he is here!” + +He left me to assist his brother, who was soon in the vessel, and in my +arms. Jack, perfectly recovered, joined him; and fervently did I thank +God for granting me, in the midst of my trials, such a moment of +happiness. We could not help fancying this happy preservation was an +augury of our success in our anxious search, and that we should bring +back the lost ones to our island. + +“Oh, how terrified mamma would have been,” said Jack, “to see me sink! I +thought I was going, like a stone, to the bottom of the sea; but I +pushed out my arms and legs with all my strength, and up I rose.” + +He as well as Fritz was quite wet. I had by chance brought some changes +of clothes, which I made them put on, after giving each a little rum. +They were so much fatigued, and I was so overcome by my agitation, that +we were obliged to relinquish rowing, most unwillingly, as the skies +threatened a storm. We gradually began to distinguish clearly the island +we wished to approach; and the land-birds, which came to rest on our +sails, gave us hopes that we should reach it before night; but, +suddenly, such a thick fog arose, that it hid every object from us, even +the sea itself, and we seemed to be sailing among the clouds. I thought +it prudent to drop our anchor, as, fortunately, we had a tolerably +strong one; but there appeared so little water, that I feared we were +near the breakers, and I watched anxiously for the fog to dissipate, and +permit us to see the coast. It finally changed into a heavy rain, which +we could with difficulty protect ourselves from; there was, however, a +half-deck to the pinnace, under which we crept, and sheltered ourselves. +Here, crowded close together, we talked over the late accident. Fritz +assured me he was never in any danger, and that he would plunge again +into the sea that moment, if he had the least hope that it would lead +him to find his mother and Francis. We all said the same; though Jack +confessed that his friends, the waves, had not received his visit very +politely, but had even beat him very rudely. + +“But I would bear twice as much,” said he, “to see mamma and dear +Francis again. Do you think, papa, that the savages could ever hurt +them? Mamma is so good, and Francis is so pretty! and then, poor mamma +is so lame yet; I hope they would pity her, and carry her.” + +Alas! I could not hope as my boy did; I feared that they would force her +to walk. I tried to conceal other horrible fears, that almost threw me +into despair. I recalled all the cruelties of the cannibal nations, and +shuddered to think that my Elizabeth and my darling child were perhaps +in their ferocious hands. Prayer and confidence in God were the only +means, not to console, but to support me, and teach me to endure my +heavy affliction with resignation. I looked on my three sons, and +endeavoured, for their sakes, to hope and submit. The darkness rapidly +increased, till it became total; we concluded it was night. The rain +having ceased, I went out to strike a light, as I wished to hang the +lighted lantern to the mast, when Ernest, who was on deck, called out +loudly, “Father! brothers! come! the sea is on fire!” And, indeed, as +far as the eye could reach, the surface of the water appeared in flames; +this light, of the most brilliant, fiery red, reached even to the +vessel, and we were surrounded by it. It was a sight at once beautiful, +and almost terrific. Jack seriously inquired, if there was not a volcano +at the bottom of the sea; and I astonished him much by telling him, that +this light was caused by a kind of marine animals, which in form +resembled plants so much, that they were formerly considered such; but +naturalists and modern voyagers have entirely destroyed this error, and +furnished proofs that they are organized beings, having all the +spontaneous movements peculiar to animals. They feel when they are +touched, seek for food, seize and devour it; they are of various kinds +and colours, and are known under the general name of zoophytes. + +“And this which glitters in such beautiful colours on the sea, is called +_pyrosoma_,” said Ernest. “See, here are some I have caught in my hat; +you may see them move. How they change colour—orange, green, blue, like +the rainbow; and when you touch them, the flame appears still more +brilliant; now they are pale yellow.” + +They amused themselves some time with these bright and beautiful +creatures, which appear to have but a half-life. They occupied a large +space on the water, and their astonishing radiance, in the midst of the +darkness of the atmosphere, had such a striking and magnificent effect, +that for a few moments we were diverted from our own sad thoughts; but +an observation from Jack soon recalled them. + +“If Francis passed this way,” said he, “how he would be amused with +these funny creatures, which look like fire, but do not burn; but I know +he would be afraid to touch them; and how much afraid mamma would be, as +she likes no animals she does not know. Ah! how glad I shall be to tell +her all about our voyage, and my excursion into the sea, and how Fritz +dragged me by the hair, and what they call these fiery fishes; tell me +again, Ernest; py—py—” + +“Pyrosoma, Mr. Peron calls them,” said Ernest. “The description of them +is very interesting in his voyage, which I have read to mamma; and as +she would recollect it, she would not be afraid.” + +“I pray to God,” replied I, “that she may have nothing more to fear than +the pyrosoma, and that we may soon see them again, with her +and Francis.” + +We all said Amen; and, the day breaking, we decided to weigh the anchor, +and endeavour to find a passage through the reefs to reach the island, +which we now distinctly saw, and which seemed an uncultivated and rocky +coast. I resumed my place at the helm, my sons took the oars, and we +advanced cautiously, sounding every minute. What would have become of us +if our pinnace had been injured! The sea was perfectly calm, and, after +prayer to God, and a slight refreshment, we proceeded forward, looking +carefully round for any canoe of the savages—it might be, even our own; +but, no! we were not fortunate enough to discover any trace of our +beloved friends, nor any symptom of the isle being inhabited; however, +as it was our only point of hope, we did not wish to abandon it. By dint +of searching, we found a small bay, which reminded us of our own. It was +formed by a river, broad and deep enough for our pinnace to enter. We +rowed in; and having placed our vessel in a creek, where it appeared to +be secure, we began to consider the means of exploring the whole island. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + + +I did not disembark on this unknown shore without great emotion: it +might be inhabited by a barbarous and cruel race, and I almost doubted +the prudence of thus risking my three remaining children in the +hazardous and uncertain search after our dear lost ones. I think I could +have borne my bereavement with Christian resignation, if I had seen my +wife and child die in my arms; I should then have been certain they were +happy in the bosom of their God; but to think of them in the power of +ferocious and idolatrous savages, who might subject them to cruel +tortures and death, chilled my very blood. I demanded of my sons, if +they felt courage to pursue the difficult and perilous enterprise we had +commenced. They all declared they would rather die than not find their +mother and brother. Fritz even besought me, with Ernest and Jack, to +return to the island, in case the wanderers should come back, and be +terrified to find it deserted; and to leave him the arms, and the means +of trafficking with the savages, without any uneasiness about his +prudence and discretion. + +I assured him I did not distrust his courage and prudence, but I showed +him the futility of hoping that the savages would voluntarily carry back +their victims, or that they could escape alone. And should he meet with +them here, and succeed, how could he carry his recovered treasures to +the island? + +“No, my children,” said I, “we will all search, in the confidence that +God will bless our efforts.” + +“And perhaps sooner than we think,” said Ernest. “Perhaps they are in +this island.” + +Jack was running off immediately to search, but I called my little +madcap back, till we arranged our plans. I advised that two of us should +remain to watch the coast, while the other two penetrated into the +interior. The first thing necessary to ascertain was if the island was +inhabited, which might easily be done, by climbing some tree that +overlooked the country, and remarking if there were any traces of the +natives, any huts, or fires lighted, &c. Those who made any discovery +were immediately to inform the rest, that we might go in a body to +recover our own. If nothing announced that the island was inhabited, we +were to leave it immediately, to search elsewhere. All wished to be of +the party of discovery. At length, Ernest agreed to remain with me, and +watch for any arrivals by sea. Before we parted, we all knelt to invoke +the blessing of God on our endeavours. Fritz and Jack, as the most +active, were to visit the interior of the island, and to return with +information as soon as possible. To be prepared for any chance, I gave +them a game-bag filled with toys, trinkets, and pieces of money, to +please the savages; I also made them take some food. Fritz took his gun, +after promising me he would not fire it, except to defend his life, lest +he should alarm the savages, and induce them to remove their captives. +Jack took his lasso, and they set out with our benedictions, accompanied +by the brave Turk, on whom I depended much to discover his mistress and +his companion Flora, if she was still with her friends. + +As soon as they were out of sight, Ernest and I set to work to conceal +as much as possible our pinnace from discovery. We lowered the masts, +and hid with great care under the deck the precious chest with our +treasure, provisions, and powder. We got our pinnace with great +difficulty, the water being low, behind a rock, which completely +concealed it on the land-side, but it was still visible from the sea. +Ernest suggested that we should entirely cover it with branches of +trees, so that it might appear like a heap of bushes; and we began to +cut them immediately with two hatchets we found in the chest, and which +we speedily fitted with handles. We found also a large iron staple, +which Ernest succeeded, with a hammer and pieces of wood, in fixing in +the rock to moor the pinnace to. We had some difficulty in finding +branches within our reach; there were many trees on the shore, but their +trunks were bare. We found, at last, at some distance, an extensive +thicket, composed of a beautiful shrub, which Ernest recognized to be a +species of mimosa. The trunk of this plant is knotty and stunted, about +three or four feet high, and spreads its branches horizontally, clothed +with beautiful foliage, and so thickly interwoven, that the little +quadrupeds who make their dwellings in these thickets are obliged to +open covered roads out of the entangled mass of vegetation. + +At the first blow of the hatchet, a number of beautiful little creatures +poured forth on all sides. They resembled the kangaroos of our island, +but were smaller, more elegant, and remarkable for the beauty of their +skin, which was striped like that of the zebra. + +“It is the striped kangaroo,” cried Ernest, “described in the voyages of +Peron. How I long to have one. The female should have a pouch to contain +her young ones.” + +He lay down very still at the entrance of the thicket, and soon had the +satisfaction of seizing two, which leaped out almost into his arms. This +animal is timid as the hare of our country. They endeavoured to escape, +but Ernest held them fast. One was a female, which had her young one in +her pouch, which my son took out very cautiously. It was an elegant +little creature, with a skin like its mother, only more brilliant—it +was full of graceful antics. The poor mother no longer wished to escape; +all her desire seemed to be to recover her offspring, and to replace it +in its nest. At last, she succeeded in seizing and placing it carefully +in security. Then her desire to escape was so strong, that Ernest could +scarcely hold her. He wished much to keep and tame her, and asked my +permission to empty one of the chests for a dwelling for her, and to +carry her off in the pinnace; but I refused him decidedly. I explained +to him the uncertainty of our return to the island, and the imprudence +of adding to our cares, and, “certainly,” added I, “you would not wish +this poor mother to perish from famine and confinement, when your own +mother is herself a prisoner?” + +His eyes filled with tears, and he declared he would not be such a +savage as to keep a poor mother in captivity. “Go, pretty creature,” +said he, releasing her, “and may my mother be as fortunate as you.” She +soon profited by his permission, and skipped off with her treasure. + +We continued to cut down the branches of the mimosa; but they were so +entangled, and the foliage so light, that we agreed to extend our search +for some thicker branches. + +As we left the shore, the country appeared more fertile: we found many +unknown trees, which bore no fruit; but some covered with delicious +flowers. Ernest was in his element, he wanted to collect and examine +all, to endeavour to discover their names, either from analogy to other +plants, or from descriptions he had read. He thought he recognized the +_melaleuca_, several kinds of _mimosa_, and the Virginian pine, which +has the largest and thickest branches. We loaded ourselves with as much +as we could carry, and, in two or three journeys, we had collected +sufficient to cover the vessel, and to make a shelter for ourselves, if +we were obliged to pass the night on shore. I had given orders to my +sons that both were to return before night, at all events; and if the +least hope appeared, one was to run with all speed to tell us. All my +fear was that they might lose their way in this unknown country: they +might meet with lakes, marshes, or perplexing forests; every moment I +was alarmed with the idea of some new danger, and never did any day seem +so long. Ernest endeavoured, by every means in his power, to comfort and +encourage me; but the buoyancy of spirit, peculiar to youth, prevented +him dwelling long on one painful thought. He amused his mind by turning +to search for the marine productions with which the rocks were covered: +sea-weed, mosses of the most brilliant colours, zoophytes of various +kinds, occupied his attention. He brought them to me, regretting that he +could not preserve them. + +“Oh! if my dear mother could see them,” said he, “or if Fritz could +paint them, how they would amuse Francis!” + +This recalled our sorrows, and my uneasiness increased. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER L. + + +All was so still around us, and our pinnace was so completely hidden +with its canopy of verdure, that I could not help regretting that I had +not accompanied my sons. It was now too late, but my steps +involuntarily turned to the road I had seen them take, Ernest remaining +on the rocks in search of natural curiosities; but I was suddenly +recalled by a cry from Ernest— + +“Father, a canoe! a canoe!” + +“Alas! is it not ours?” I said, rushing to the shore, where, indeed, I +saw beyond the reefs a canoe, floating lightly, apparently filled with +the islanders, easy to distinguish from their dark complexion. This +canoe did not resemble ours; it was longer, narrower, and seemed to be +composed of long strips of bark, quite rough, tied together at each end, +which gave somewhat of a graceful form to it, though it evidently +belonged to the infancy of the art of navigation. It is almost +inconceivable how these frail barks resist the slightest storm; but +these islanders swim so well, that even if the canoe fills, they jump +out, empty it, and take their places again. When landed, one or two men +take up the canoe and carry it to their habitation. This, however, +appeared to be provided with out-riggers, to preserve the equilibrium, +and six savages, with a sort of oars, made it fly like the wind. When it +passed the part of the island where we were, we hailed it as loudly as +we could; the savages answered by frightful cries, but showed no +intention of approaching us or entering the bay; on the contrary, they +went on with great rapidity, continuing their cries. I followed them +with my eyes as far as I could in speechless emotion; for either my +fancy deceived me, or I faintly distinguished a form of fairer +complexion than the dark-hued beings who surrounded him—features or +dress I could not see; on the whole, it was a vague impression, that I +trembled alike to believe or to doubt. Ernest, more active than I, had +climbed a sand-bank, and, with his telescope, had commanded a better +view of the canoe. He watched it round a point of land, and then came +down almost as much agitated as myself. I ran to him and said— + +“Ernest, was it your mother?” + +“No, papa; I am certain it was not my mother,” said he. “Neither was it +Francis.” + +Here he was silent: a cold shuddering came over me. + +“Why are you silent?” said I; “what do you think?” + +“Indeed, papa, I could distinguish nothing,” said he, “even with the +telescope, they passed so quickly. Would that it were my mother and +brother, we should then be sure they were living, and might follow them. +But a thought strikes me: let us free the pinnace, and sail after the +canoe. We can go quicker than they with the sail; we shall overtake them +behind the cape, and then we shall at least be satisfied.” + +I hesitated, lest my sons should come back; but Ernest represented to me +that we were only fulfilling the wishes of Fritz; besides, we should +return in a short time; he added, that he would soon disencumber +the pinnace. + +“Soon,” cried I, “when we have been at least two hours in covering it.” + +“Yes,” said he; “but we had a dozen journeys to make to the trees then; +I will have it ready in less than half an hour.” + +I assisted him as actively as I could, though not with good heart, for I +was uneasy about abandoning my sons. I would have given worlds to see +them arrive before our departure; to have their assistance, which was of +much consequence in the pinnace, and to know they were safe. I often +left off my work to take a glance into the interior of the island, +hoping to see them. Frequently I mistook the trees in the twilight, +which was now coming on, for moving objects. At last, I was not +deceived, I saw distinctly a figure walking rapidly. + +“They are here!” I cried, running forward, followed by Ernest; and we +soon saw a dark-coloured figure approaching. I concluded it was a +savage, and, though disappointed, was not alarmed, as he was alone. I +stopped, and begged Ernest to recollect all the words he had met with in +his books, of the language of the savages. The black man approached; and +conceive my surprise when I heard him cry, in my own language— + +“Don’t be alarmed, father, it is I, your son Fritz.” + +“Is it possible,” said I; “can I believe it? and Jack? What have you +done with my Jack? Where is he? Speak....” + +Ernest did not ask. Alas! he knew too well; he had seen with his +telescope that it was his dear brother Jack that was in the canoe with +the savages; but he had not dared to tell me. I was in agony. Fritz, +harassed with fatigue, and overwhelmed with grief, sunk down on +the ground. + +“Oh father!” said he, sobbing, “I dread to appear before you without my +brother! I have lost him. Can you ever forgive your unfortunate Fritz?” + +“Oh yes, yes; we are all equally unfortunate,” cried I, sinking down +beside my son, while Ernest seated himself on the other side to support +me. I then besought Fritz to tell me if the savages had murdered my dear +boy. He assured me that he was not killed, but carried off by the +savages; still he hoped he was safe. Ernest then told me he had seen him +seated in the canoe, apparently without clothes, but not stained black +as Fritz was. + +“I earnestly wish he had been,” said Fritz; to that I attribute my +escape. But I am truly thankful to God that you have seen him, Ernest. +“Which way have the monsters gone?” + +Ernest pointed out the cape, and Fritz was anxious that we should embark +without delay, and endeavour to snatch him from them. + +“And have you learned nothing of your mother and Francis?” said I. + +“Alas! nothing,” said he; “though I think I recognized a handkerchief, +belonging to dear mamma, on the head of a savage. I will tell you all my +adventure as we go. You forgive me, dear father?” + +“Yes, my dear son,” said I; “I forgive and pity you; but are you sure my +wife and Francis are not on the island?” + +“Quite sure,” said he. “In fact the island is entirely uninhabited; +there is no fresh water, nor game, and no quadrupeds whatever, but rats +and kangaroos; but plenty of fruit. I have filled my bag with +bread-fuit, which is all we shall need: let us go.” + +We worked so hard, that in a quarter of an hour the branches were +removed, and the pinnace ready to receive us. The wind was favourable +for carrying us towards the cape the savages had turned; we hoisted our +sail, I took my place at the helm; the sea was calm, and the moon +lighted our way. After recommending ourselves to the protection of God, +I desired Fritz to commence his melancholy recital. + +“It will be melancholy, indeed,” said the poor boy, weeping; “if we do +not find my dear Jack, I shall never forgive myself for not having +stained his skin before my own; then he should have been with you now—” + +“But I have you, my dear son, to console your father,” said I. “I can do +nothing myself, in my sorrow. I depend on you, my two eldest, to restore +to me what I have lost. Go on, Fritz.” + +“We went on,” continued he, “with courage and hope; and as we proceeded, +we felt that you were right in saying we ought not to judge of the +island by the borders. You can form no idea of the fertility of the +island, or of the beauty of the trees and shrubs we met with at every +step, quite unknown to me; some were covered with fragrant flowers, +others with tempting fruits; which, however, we did not venture to +taste, as we had not Knips to try them.” + +“Did you see any monkeys?” asked Ernest. + +“Not one,” replied his brother, “to the great vexation of Jack; but we +saw parrots, and all sorts of birds of the most splendid plumage. Whilst +we were remarking these creatures, I did not neglect to look carefully +about for any trace that might aid our search. I saw no hut, no sort of +dwelling, nor anything that could indicate that the island was +inhabited, and not the slightest appearance of fresh water; and we +should have been tormented with thirst if we had not found some +cocoa-nuts containing milk, and an acid fruit, full of juice, which we +have in our own island—Ernest calls it the _carambolier_; we quenched +our thirst with this, as well as with the plant, which we also have, and +which contains water in the stem. The country is flat and open, and its +beautiful trees stand at such a distance from each other, that no one +could hide amongst them. But if we found no dwellings, we often +discovered traces of the savages,—extinguished fires, remains of +kangaroos and of fish, cocoa-nut shells, and even entire nuts, which we +secured for ourselves; we remarked, also, footmarks on the sand. We both +wished anxiously to meet with a savage, that we might endeavour to make +him comprehend, by signs, whom we were in search of, hoping that natural +affection might have some influence even with these untaught creatures. +I was only fearful that my dress and the colour of my skin might terrify +them. In the mean time, Jack, with his usual rashness, had climbed to +the summit of one of the tallest trees, and suddenly cried out, ‘Fritz, +prepare your signs, the savages are landing. Oh! what black ugly +creatures they are, and nearly naked! you ought to dress yourself like +them, to make friends with them. You can stain your skin with these,’ +throwing me down branches of a sort of fruit of a dark purple colour, +large as a plum, with a skin like the mulberry. ‘I have been tasting +them, they are very nauseous, and they have stained my fingers black; +rub yourself well with the juice of this fruit, and you will be a +perfect savage,’ + +“I agreed immediately. He descended from the tree while I undressed, and +with his assistance I stained myself from head to foot, as you see me; +but don’t be alarmed, a single dip in the sea will make me a European +again. The good-natured Jack then helped to dress me in a sort of tunic +made of large leaves, and laughed heartily when he looked at me, calling +me _Omnibou_, of whom he had seen a picture, which he declared I exactly +resembled. I then wished to disguise him in the same way, but he would +not consent; he declared that, when he met with mamma and Francis, he +should fly to embrace them, and that he should alarm and disgust them in +such a costume. He said I could protect him if the savages wished to +devour him: they were now at hand, and we went forward, Jack following +me with my bundle of clothes under his arm. I had slung my kangaroo-skin +bag of powder and provision on my shoulders, and I was glad to see that +most of the savages wore the skin of that animal, for the most part +spread out like a mantle over their shoulders; few of them had other +clothes, excepting one, who appeared to be the chief, and had a tunic of +green rushes, neatly woven. I tried to recollect all the words of savage +language I could, but very few occurred to me. I said at first ‘_tayo, +tayo_’. I don’t know whether they comprehended me, but they paid me +great attention, evidently taking me for a savage; only one of them +wished to seize my gun; but I held it firmly, and on the chief speaking +a word to him, he drew back. They spoke very rapidly, and I saw by their +looks they spoke about us; they looked incessantly at Jack, repeating, +‘_To maiti tata_.’ Jack imitated all their motions, and made some +grimaces which seemed to amuse them. I tried in vain to attract their +attention. I had observed a handkerchief twisted round the head of him +who seemed the chief, that reminded me much of the one my mother usually +wore. I approached him, touched the handkerchief, saying expressively, +‘_Metoua aîné mère, et tata frère_;’ I added, pointing to the sea, ‘_pay +canot_.’ But, alas! they did not appear to understand my words. The +chief thought I wished to rob him of his handkerchief, and repelled me +roughly. I then wished to retire, and I told Jack to follow me; but four +islanders seized him, opened his waistcoat and shirt, and cried out +together, ‘_Alea téa tata_.’ In an instant he was stripped, and his +clothes and mine were put on in a strange fashion by the savages. Jack, +mimicking all their contortions, recovered his shirt from one of them, +put it on, and began to dance, calling on me to do the same, and, in a +tone as if singing, repeated, ‘Make your escape, Fritz, while I am +amusing them; I will then run off and join you very soon,’ As if I could +for a moment think of leaving him in the hands of these barbarians! +However, I recollected at that moment the bag you had given me of toys +and trinkets; we had thoughtlessly left it under the great tree where I +had undressed. I told Jack, in the same tone, I would fetch it, if he +could amuse the savages till I returned, which he might be certain would +be very soon. I ran off with all speed, and without opposition arrived +at the tree, found my bag well guarded, indeed, father; for what was my +surprise to find our two faithful dogs, Turk and Flora, sitting +over it.” + +“Flora!” cried I, “she accompanied my dear wife and child into their +captivity; they must be in this island—why have we left it!” + +“My dear father,” continued Fritz, “depend on it, they are not there; +but I feel convinced that the wretches who have carried off Jack, hold +dear mamma and Francis in captivity; therefore we must, at all events, +pursue them. The meeting between Flora and me was truly joyful, for I +was now convinced that my mother and Francis were not far off, though +certainly not on the same island, or their attached friend would not +have quitted them. I concluded that the chief who had taken my mamma’s +handkerchief had also taken her dog, and brought her on this excursion, +and that she had here met with her friend Turk, who had rambled from us. + +“After caressing Flora, and taking up my bag, I ran off full speed to +the spot where my dear Jack was trying to divert the barbarians. As I +approached, I heard cries,—not the noisy laughter of the savages, but +cries of distress from my beloved brother,—cries for help, addressed to +me. I did not walk—I flew till I reached the spot, and I then saw him +bound with a sort of strong cord, made of gut; his hands were fastened +behind his back, his legs tied together, and these cruel men were +carrying him towards their canoe, while he was crying out, ‘Fritz, +Fritz, where are you?’ I threw myself desperately on the six men who +were bearing him off. In the struggle, my gun, which I held in my hand, +caught something, and accidentally went off, and—O, father, it was my +own dear Jack that I wounded! I cannot tell how I survived his cry of +‘You have killed me!’ And when I saw his blood flow, my senses forsook +me, and I fainted. When I recovered, I was alone; they had carried him +off. I rose, and following the traces of his blood, arrived fortunately +at the shore just as they were embarking. God permitted me to see him +again, supported by one of the savages, and even to hear his feeble +voice cry, ‘Console yourself, Fritz, I am not dead; I am only wounded in +the shoulder; it is not your fault; go, my kind brother, as quick as +possible to papa, and you will both’—the canoe sailed away so swiftly, +that I heard no more; but I understood the rest—‘_you will both come +and rescue me_.’ But will there be time? Will they dress his wound? Oh! +father, what have I done! Can you forgive me?” + +Overwhelmed with grief, I could only hold out my hand to my poor boy, +and assure him I could not possibly blame him for this distressing +accident. + +Ernest, though greatly afflicted, endeavoured to console his brother; he +told him a wound in the shoulder was not dangerous, and the savages +certainly intended to dress his wound, or they would have left him to +die. Fritz, somewhat comforted, begged me to allow him to bathe, to +divest himself of the colouring, which was now become odious to him, as +being that of these ruthless barbarians. I was reluctant to consent; I +thought it might still be useful, in gaining access to the savages; but +he was certain they would recognize him in that disguise as the bearer +of _the thunder_, and would distrust him. I now recollected to ask what +had become of his gun, and was sorry to learn that they had carried it +off whilst he lay insensible; he himself considered that it would be +useless to them, as they had fortunately left him the bag of ammunition. +Ernest, however, regretted the loss to ourselves, this being the third +we had lost—the one we had left in the canoe being also in the +possession of the savages. The dogs we missed, too, and Fritz could give +no account of them; we concluded they had either followed the savages, +or were still in the island. This was another severe sorrow; it seemed +as if every sort of misfortune was poured out upon us. I rested on the +shoulder of Ernest in my anguish. Fritz took advantage of my silence, +and leaped out of the pinnace to have a bath. I was alarmed at first; +but he was such an excellent swimmer, and the sea was so calm, that I +soon abandoned my fears for him. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER LI. + + +Fritz was now swimming far before us, and appeared to have no idea of +turning, so that I was at once certain he projected swimming on to the +point where we had lost sight of the savages, to be the first to +discover and aid his brother. Although he was an excellent swimmer, yet +the distance was so great, that I was much alarmed; and especially for +his arrival by night in the midst of the savages. This fear was much +increased by a very extraordinary sound, which we now heard gradually +approaching us; it was a sort of submarine tempest. The weather was +beautiful; there was no wind, the moon shone in a cloudless sky, yet the +waves were swollen as if by a storm, and threatened to swallow us; we +heard at the same time a noise like violent rain. Terrified at these +phenomena, I cried out aloud for Fritz to return; and though it was +almost impossible my voice could reach him, we saw him swimming towards +us with all his strength. Ernest and I used all our power in rowing to +meet him, so that we soon got to him. The moment he leaped in, he +uttered in a stifled voice, pointing to the mountains of waves, “They +are enormous marine monsters! whales, I believe! such an immense shoal! +They will swallow us up!” + +“No,” said Ernest, quietly; “don’t be alarmed; the whale is a gentle and +harmless animal, when not attacked. I am very glad to see them so near. +We shall pass as quietly through the midst of these colossal creatures, +as we did through the shining zoophytes: doubtless the whales are +searching for them, for they constitute a principal article of +their food.” + +They were now very near us, sporting on the surface of the water, or +plunging into its abysses, and forcing out columns of water through +their nostrils to a great height, which occasionally fell on us, and +wetted us. Sometimes they raised themselves on their huge tail, and +looked like giants ready to fall on us and crush us; then they went down +again into the water, which foamed under their immense weight. Then they +seemed to be going through some military evolutions, advancing in a +single line, like a body of regular troops, one after another swimming +with grave dignity; still more frequently they were in lines of two and +two. This wonderful sight partly diverted us from our own melancholy +thoughts. Fritz had, however, seized his oar, without giving himself +time to dress, whilst I, at the rudder, steered as well as I could +through these monsters, who are, notwithstanding their appearance, the +mildest animals that exist. They allowed us to pass so closely, that we +were wetted with the water they spouted up, and might have touched them; +and with the power to overturn us with a stroke of their tail, they +never noticed us; they seemed to be satisfied with each other’s society. +We were truly sorry to see their mortal enemy appear amongst them, the +sword-fish of the south, armed with its long saw, remarkable for a sort +of _fringe_ of nine or ten inches long, which distinguishes it from the +sword-fish of the north. They are both terrible enemies to the whale, +and next to man, who wages an eternal war with them, its most formidable +foes. The whales in our South Seas had only the sword-fish to dread; as +soon as they saw him approach, they dispersed, or dived into the depths +of the ocean. One only, very near us, did not succeed in escaping, and +we witnessed a combat, of which, however, we could not see the event. +These two monsters attacked each other with equal ferocity; but as they +took an opposite direction to that we were going, we soon lost sight of +them, but we shall never forget our meeting with these wonderful giants +of the deep. + +We happily doubled the promontory behind which the canoe had passed, and +found ourselves in an extensive gulf, which narrowed as it entered the +land, and resembled the mouth of a river. We did not hesitate to follow +its course. We went round the bay, but found no traces of man, but +numerous herds of the amphibious animal, called sometimes the sea-lion, +the sea-dog, or the sea-elephant, or trunked phoca: modern voyagers give +it the last name. These animals, though of enormous size, are gentle and +peaceful, unless roused by the cruelty of man. They were in such numbers +on this desert coast, that they would have prevented our approach if we +had intended it. They actually covered the beach and the rocks, opening +their huge mouths, armed with very sharp teeth, more frightful than +dangerous. As it was night when we entered the bay, they were all +sleeping, but they produced a most deafening noise with their breathing. +We left them to their noisy slumber; for us, alas! no such comfort +remained. The continual anxiety attending an affliction like ours +destroys all repose, and for three days we had not slept an hour. Since +the new misfortune of Jack’s captivity, we were all kept up by a kind of +fever. Fritz was in a most incredible state of excitement, and declared +he would never sleep till he had rescued his beloved brother. His bath +had partially removed the colouring from his skin, but he was still dark +enough to pass for a savage, when arrayed like them. The shores of the +strait we were navigating were very steep, and we had yet not met with +any place where we could land; however, my sons persisted in thinking +the savages could have taken no other route, as they had lost sight of +their canoe round the promontory. As the strait was narrow and shallow, +I consented that Fritz should throw off the clothes he had on, and swim +to reconnoitre a place which seemed to be an opening in the rocks or +hills that obstructed our passage, and we soon had the pleasure of +seeing him standing on the shore, motioning for us to approach. The +strait was now so confined, that we could not have proceeded any further +with the pinnace; we could not even bring it to the shore. Ernest and I +were obliged to step into the water up to the waist; but we took the +precaution to tie a long and strong rope to the prow, and when we were +aided by the vigorous arm of Fritz, we soon drew the pinnace near enough +to fix it by means of the anchor. + +There were neither trees nor rocks on that desert shore to which we +could fasten the pinnace; but, to our great delight and encouragement, +we found, at a short distance from our landing-place, a bark canoe, +which my sons were certain was that in which Jack had been carried off. +We entered it, but at first saw only the oars; at last, however, Ernest +discovered, in the water which half filled the canoe, part of a +handkerchief, stained with blood, which they recognized as belonging to +Jack. This discovery, which relieved our doubts, caused Fritz to shed +tears of joy. We were certainly on the track of the robbers, and might +trust that they had not proceeded farther with their barbarity. We found +on the sand, and in the boat, some cocoa-nut shells and fish-bones, +which satisfied us of the nature of their repasts. We resolved to +continue our search into the interior of the country, following the +traces of the steps of the savages. We could not find any traces of +Jack’s foot, which would have alarmed us, if Fritz had not suggested +that they had carried him, on account of his wound. We were about to set +out, when the thoughts of the pinnace came over us; it was more than +ever necessary for us to preserve this, our only means of return, and +which moreover contained our goods for ransom, our ammunition, and our +provisions, still untouched, for some bread-fruit Fritz had gathered, +some mussles, and small, but excellent, oysters, had been sufficient for +us. It was fortunate that we had brought some gourds of water with us, +for we had not met with any. We decided that it would be necessary to +leave one of our party to guard the precious pinnace, though this would +be but an insufficient and dangerous defence, in case of the approach of +the natives. My recent bereavements made me tremble at the idea of +leaving either of my sons. I cannot yet reflect on the agony of that +moment without horror—yet it was the sole means to secure our vessel; +there was not a creek or a tree to hide it, and the situation of the +canoe made it certain the savages must return there to embark. My +children knew my thoughts, by the distracted glances with which I +alternately regarded them and the pinnace, and, after consulting each +other’s looks, Ernest said— + +“The pinnace must not remain here unguarded, father, to be taken, or, at +any rate, pillaged by the natives, who will return for their canoe. +Either we must all wait till they come, or you must leave me to defend +it. I see, Fritz, that you could not endure to remain here.” + +In fact, Fritz impatiently stamped with his foot, saying— + +“I confess, I cannot remain here; Jack may be dying of his wound, and +every moment is precious. I will seek him—find him—and save him! I +have a presentiment I shall; and if I discover him, as I expect, in the +hands of the savages, I know the way to release him, and to prevent +them carrying off our pinnace.” + +I saw that the daring youth, in the heat of his exasperation, exposed +alone to the horde of barbarians, might also become their victim. I saw +that my presence was necessary to restrain and aid him; and I decided, +with a heavy heart, to leave Ernest alone to protect the vessel. His +calm and cool manner made it less dangerous for him to meet the natives. +He knew several words of their language, and had read of the mode of +addressing and conciliating them. He promised me to be prudent, which +his elder brother could not be. We took the bag of toys which Fritz had +brought, and left those in the chest, to use if necessary; and, praying +for the blessing of Heaven on my son, we left him. My sorrow was great; +but he was no longer a child, and his character encouraged me. Fritz +embraced his brother, and promised him to bring Jack back in safety. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER LII. + + +After having traversed for some time a desert, sandy plain without +meeting a living creature, we arrived at a thick wood, where we lost the +traces we had carefully followed. We were obliged to direct our course +by chance, keeping no fixed road, but advancing as the interwoven +branches permitted us. The wood was alive with the most beautiful birds +of brilliant and varied plumage; but, in our anxious and distressed +state, we should have been more interested in seeing a savage than a +bird. We passed at last through these verdant groves, and reached an +arid plain extending to the shore. We again discovered numerous +footsteps; and, whilst we were observing them, we saw a large canoe pass +rapidly, filled with islanders: and this time I thought that, in spite +of the distance, I could recognize the canoe we had built, and which +they had robbed us of. Fritz wished to swim after them, and was +beginning to undress himself, and I only stopped him by declaring that +if he did, I must follow him, as I had decided not to be separated from +him. I even proposed that we should return to Ernest, as I was of +opinion that the savages would stop at the place where we had +disembarked, to take away the boat they had left, and we might then, by +means of the words Ernest had acquired, learn from them what had become +of my wife and children. Fritz agreed to this, though he still persisted +that the easiest and quickest mode of return would have been by +swimming. We were endeavouring to retrace our road, when, to our great +astonishment, we saw, at a few yards’ distance, a man clothed in a long +black robe advancing towards us, whom we immediately recognized as +a European. + +“Either I am greatly deceived,” said I, “or this is a missionary, a +worthy servant of God, come into these remote regions to make Him known +to the wretched idolators.” + +We hastened to him. I was not wrong. He was one of those zealous and +courageous Christians who devote their energies and their lives to the +instruction and eternal salvation of men born in another hemisphere, of +another colour, uncivilized, but not less our brothers. I had quitted +Europe with the same intention, but Providence had ordered it +otherwise; yet I met with joy one of my Christian brethren, and, unable +to speak from emotion, I silently embraced him. He spoke to me in +English—a language I had fortunately learned myself, and taught to my +children—and his words fell on my soul like the message of the angel to +Abraham, commanding him to spare his son. + +“You are the person I am seeking,” said he, in a mild and tender tone, +“and I thank Heaven that I have met with you. This youth is Fritz, your +eldest son, I conclude; but where have you left your second +son, Ernest?” + +“Reverend man,” cried Fritz, seizing his hands, “you have seen my +brother Jack. Perhaps my mother? You know where they are. Oh! are +they living?” + +“Yes, they are living, and well taken care of,” said the missionary; +“come, and I will lead you to them.” + +It was, indeed, necessary to lead me; I was so overcome with joy, that I +should have fainted, but the good missionary made me inhale some +volatile salts which he had about him; and supported by him and my son, +I managed to walk. My first words were a thanksgiving to God for his +mercy; then I implored my good friend to tell me if I should indeed see +my wife and children again. He assured me that an hour’s walk would +bring me to them; but I suddenly recollected Ernest, and refused to +present myself before the beloved ones while he was still in danger. The +missionary smiled, as he told me he expected this delay, and wished to +know where we had left Ernest. I recounted to him our arrival in the +island, and the purpose for which we had left Ernest; with our intention +of returning to him as soon as we saw the canoe pass, hoping to obtain +some intelligence from the savages. + +“But how could you have made yourselves understood?” said he; “are you +acquainted with their language?” + +I told him Ernest had studied the vocabulary of the South Sea islanders. + +“Doubtless that of Tahiti, or the Friendly Islands,” said he; “but the +dialect of these islanders differs much from theirs. I have resided here +more than a year, and have studied it, so may be of use to you; let us +go. Which way did you come?” + +“Through that thick wood,” replied I; “where we wandered a long time; +and I fear we shall have some difficulty in finding our way back.” + +“You should have taken the precaution to notch the trees as you came,” +said our worthy friend; “without that precaution, you were in danger of +being lost; but we will find my marks, which will lead us to the brook, +and following its course we shall be safe.” + +“We saw no brook,” remarked Fritz. + +“There is a brook of excellent water, which you have missed in crossing +the forest; if you had ascended the course of the stream, you would have +reached the hut which contains your dear friends; the brook runs +before it.” + +Fritz struck his forehead with vexation. + +“God orders all for the best,” said I to the good priest; “we might not +have met with you; we should have been without Ernest; you might have +sought us all day in vain. Ah! good man, it is under your holy auspices +that our family ought to meet, in order to increase our happiness. Now +please to tell me”— + +“But first,” interrupted Fritz, “pray tell me how Jack is? He was +wounded, and”— + +“Be composed, young man,” said the calm man of God; “the wound, which he +confesses he owes to his own imprudence, will have no evil consequences; +the savages had applied some healing herbs to it, but it was necessary +to extract a small ball, an operation which I performed yesterday +evening. Since then he suffers less; and will be soon well, when his +anxiety about you is relieved.” + +Fritz embraced the kind missionary, entreating his pardon for his +rashness, and adding, “Did my brother talk to you of us, sir?” + +“He did,” answered his friend; “but I was acquainted with you before; +your mother talked continually of her husband and children. What mingled +pain and delight she felt yesterday evening when the savages brought to +her dear Jack, wounded! I was fortunately in the hut to comfort her, and +assist her beloved boy.” + +“And dear Francis,” said I, “how rejoiced he would be to see his brother +again!” + +“Francis,” said the missionary, smiling, “will be the protector of you +all. He is the idol of the savages now; an idolatry permitted by +Christianity.” + +We proceeded through the wood as we conversed, and at last reached the +brook. I had a thousand questions to ask, and was very anxious to know +how my wife and Francis had been brought to this island, and how they +met with the missionary. The five or six days we had been separated +seemed to me five or six months. We walked too quickly for me to get +much information. The English minister said little, and referred me to +my wife and son for all details. On the subject of his own noble mission +he was less reserved. + +“Thank God,” said he, “I have already succeeded in giving this people +some notions of humanity. They love their _black friend_, as they call +me, and willingly listen to my preaching, and the singing of some hymns. +When your little Francis was taken, he had his reed flageolet in his +pocket, and his playing and graceful manners have so captivated them +that I fear they will with reluctance resign him. The king is anxious to +adopt him. But do not alarm yourself, brother; I hope to arrange all +happily, with the divine assistance. I have gained some power over them, +and I will avail myself of it. A year ago, I could not have answered for +the life of the prisoners; now I believe them to be in safety. But how +much is there yet to teach these simple children of nature, who listen +only to her voice, and yield to every impression! Their first impulse is +good, but they are so unsteady that affection may suddenly change to +hatred; they are inclined to theft, violent in their anger, yet generous +and affectionate. You will see an instance of this in the abode where a +woman, more unfortunate than your wife, since she has lost her husband, +has found an asylum.” + +He was silent, and I did not question him farther on this subject. We +were approaching the arm of the sea where we had left our pinnace, and +my heart, at ease about the rest, became now anxious solely for Ernest. +Sometimes the hills concealed the water from us; Fritz climbed them, +anxious to discover his brother, at last I heard him suddenly cry out +“Ernest, Ernest....” + +He was answered by shouts, or rather howls, amongst which I could not +distinguish the voice of my son. Terror seized me. + +“These are the islanders,” said I to the missionary; “and these +frightful cries....” + +“Are cries of joy,” said he, “which will be increased when they see you. +This path will conduct us to the shore. Call Fritz; but I do not see +him; he will, doubtless, have descended the hill, and joined them. Have +no fears; recommend your sons to be prudent. The _black friend_ will +speak to his black friends, and they will hear him.” + +We proceeded towards the shore, when, at some distance, I perceived my +two sons on the deck of the pinnace, which was covered with the +islanders, to whom they were distributing the treasures of the chest, at +least those we had put apart in the bag; they had not been so imprudent +as to open the chest itself, which would soon have been emptied; it +remained snugly below the deck, with the powder-barrel. At every new +acquisition, the savages uttered cries of joy, repeating _mona, mona_ +signifying _beautiful_. The mirrors were at first received with the most +delight, but this soon changed into terror; they evidently conceived +there was something magical about them, and flung them all into the sea. +The coloured glass beads had then the preference, but the distribution +caused many disputes. Those who had not obtained any, wished to deprive +the rest of them by force. The clamour and quarrelling were increasing, +when the voice of the missionary was heard, and calmed them as if by +enchantment. All left the pinnace, and crowded round him; he harangued +them in their own language, and pointed me out to them, naming me, _me +touatane_, that is, _father_, which they repeated in their turn. Some +approached me, and rubbed their noses against mine, which, the pastor +had informed me, was a mark of respect. In the mean time, Fritz had +informed Ernest that his mother and brothers were found, and that the +man who accompanied us was a European. Ernest received the intelligence +with a calm joy; it was only by the tears in his eyes you could discover +how much his heart was affected; he leaped from the pinnace and came to +thank the missionary. I had my share of his gratitude too, for coming to +seek him, before I had seen the dear lost ones. + +We had now to think of joining them. We unanimously decided to proceed +by water; in the first place, that we might bring our pinnace as near as +possible to my dear Elizabeth, who was still suffering from her fall, +her forced voyage, and, above all, from her anxiety; besides, I confess +that I felt a little fatigue, and should have reluctantly set out to +cross the wood a third time; but, in addition to this, I was assured +that it was the promptest mode of reaching our friends, and this alone +would have decided me. The pinnace was then loosened, the sail set, and +we entered with thankfulness. Dreading the agitation of my wife if she +saw us suddenly, I entreated our new friend to precede us, and prepare +her. He consented; but, as he was coming on board, he was suddenly +stopped by the natives, and one of them addressed him for some time. The +missionary listened till he had concluded, with calmness and dignity; +then, turning to me, he said— + +“You must answer for me, brother, the request which _Parabéry_ makes: he +wishes me, in the name of the whole, to wait a few moments for their +chief, to whom they give the title of king. _Bara-ourou_, as he is +called, has assembled them here for a ceremony, at which all his +warriors must assist. I have been anxious to attend, fearing it might be +a sacrifice to their idols, which I have always strongly opposed, and +wishing to seize this occasion to declare to them the one true God. +Bara-ourou is not wicked, and I hope to succeed in touching his heart, +enlightening his mind, and converting him to Christianity; his example +would certainly be followed by the greatest part of his subjects, who +are much attached to him. Your presence, and the name of God uttered by +you, with the fervour and in the attitude of profound veneration and +devotion, may aid this work of charity and love. Have you sufficient +self-command to delay, for perhaps a few hours, the meeting with your +family? Your wife and children, not expecting you, will not suffer from +suspense. If you do not agree to this, I will conduct you to them, and +return, I hope in time, to fulfil my duty. I wait your decision to reply +to Parabéry, who is already sufficiently acquainted with the truth, to +desire that his king and his brethren should know it also.” + +Such were the words of this true servant of God; but I cannot do justice +to the expression of his heavenly countenance. Mr. Willis, for such was +his name, was forty-five or fifty years of age, tall and thin; the +labours and fatigues of his divine vocation had, more than years, left +their traces on his noble figure and countenance; he stooped a little, +his open and elevated forehead was slightly wrinkled, and his thin hair +was prematurely grey; his clear blue eyes were full of intelligence and +kindness, reading your thoughts, and showing you all his own. He usually +kept his arms folded over his breast, and was very calm in speaking; but +when his extended hand pointed to heaven, the effect was irresistible; +one might have thought he saw the very glory he spoke of. His simple +words to me seemed a message from God, and it would have been impossible +to resist him. It was indeed a sacrifice; but I made it without +hesitation. I glanced at my sons, who had their eyes cast down; but I +saw Fritz knitting his brows. “I shall stay with you, father,” said I, +“happy if I can assist you in fulfilling your sacred duties.” + +“And you, young people,” said he, “are you of the same opinion?” + +Fritz came forward, and frankly said, “Sir, it was, unfortunately, I who +wounded my brother Jack; he has been generous enough to conceal this; +you extracted the ball which I discharged into his shoulder; I owe his +life to you, and mine is at your disposal; I can refuse you nothing; +and, however impatient, I must remain with you.” + +“I repeat the same,” said Ernest; “you protected our mother and +brothers, and, by God’s permission, you restore them to us. We will all +remain with you; you shall fix the time of our meeting, which will not, +I trust, be long delayed.” + +I signified my approbation, and the missionary gave them his hand, +assuring them that their joy on meeting their friends would be greatly +increased by the consciousness of this virtuous self-denial. + +We soon experienced this. Mr. Willis learned from Parabéry, that they +were going to fetch their king in our pretty canoe when we saw it pass. +The royal habitation was situated on the other side of the promontory, +and we soon heard a joyful cry, that they saw the canoe coming. While +the savages were engaged in preparing to meet their chief, I entered the +pinnace, and descending beneath the deck, I took from the chest what I +judged most fitting to present to his majesty. I chose an axe, a saw, a +pretty, small, ornamented sabre, which could not do much harm, a packet +of nails, and one of glass beads. I had scarcely put aside these +articles, when my sons rushed to me in great excitement. + +“Oh! father,” cried they, at once, “look! look! summon all your +fortitude; see! there is Francis himself in the canoe; oh! how curiously +he is dressed!” + +[Illustration: “Two savages took Francis on their shoulders, and two +others took the king in the same way.”] + +I looked, and saw, at some distance, our canoe ascending the strait; it +was decorated with green branches, which the savages, who formed the +king’s guard, held in their hand; others were rowing vigorously; and the +chief, wearing a red and yellow handkerchief, which had belonged to my +wife, as a turban, was seated at the stern, and a pretty, little, +blooming, flaxen-haired boy was placed on his right shoulder. With what +delight did I recognize my child. He was naked above the waist, and wore +a little tunic of woven leaves, which reached to his knees, a necklace +and bracelets of shells, and a variety of coloured feathers mingled +with his bright curls; one of these fell over his face, and doubtless +prevented him from seeing us. The chief seemed much engaged with him, +and continually took some ornament from his own dress to decorate him. +“It is my child!” said I, in great terror, to Mr. Willis, “my dearest +and youngest! They have taken him from his mother. What must be her +grief! He is her Benjamin—the child of her love. Why have they taken +him? Why have they adorned him in this manner? Why have they brought +him here?” + +“Have no fear,” said the missionary; “they will do him no harm. I +promise you they shall restore him, and you shall take him back to his +mother. Place yourselves at my side, with these branches in your hands.” + +He took some from Parabéry, who held a bundle of them, and gave us each +one; each of the savages took one also. They were from a tree which had +slender, elegant leaves, and rich scarlet flowers—species of _mimosa_; +the Indians call it the tree of peace. They carry a branch of it when +they have no hostile intentions; in all their assemblies, when war is +proclaimed, they make a fire of these branches, and if all are consumed, +it is considered an omen of victory. + +While Mr. Willis was explaining this to us, the canoe approached. Two +savages took Francis on their shoulders, two others took the king in the +same way, and advanced gravely towards us. What difficulty I had to +restrain myself from snatching my child from his bearers, and embracing +him! My sons were equally agitated; Fritz was darting forward, but the +missionary restrained him. Francis, somewhat alarmed at his position, +had his eyes cast down, and had not yet seen us. When the king was +within twenty yards of us, they stopped, and all the savages prostrated +themselves before him; we alone remained standing. Then Francis saw us, +and uttered a piercing cry, calling out, “Papa! dear brothers!” He +struggled to quit the shoulders of his bearers, but they held him too +firmly. It was impossible to restrain ourselves longer; we all cried +out, and mingled our tears and lamentations. I said to the good +missionary,—a little too harshly, perhaps,—“Ah! if you were a father!” + +“I am,” said he, “the father of all this flock, and your children are +mine; I am answerable for all. Command your sons to be silent; request +the child to be composed, and leave the rest to me.” + +I immediately took advantage of the permission to speak. “Dear Francis,” +said I, holding out my arms, “we are come to seek you and your mother; +after all our dangers, we shall soon meet again, to part no more. But be +composed, my child, and do not risk the happiness of that moment by any +impatience. Trust in God, and in this good friend that He has given us, +and who has restored to me the treasures without which I could not +live.” We then waved our hands to him, and he remained still, but wept +quietly, murmuring our names: “Papa, Fritz, Ernest,—tell me about +mamma,” said he, at last, in an inquiring tone. + +“She does not know we are so near her,” said I. “How did you leave her?” + +“Very much grieved,” said he, “that they brought me away; but they have +not done me any harm,—they are so kind; and we shall soon all go back +to her. Oh! what joy for her and our friends!” + +“One word about Jack,” said Fritz; “how does his wound go on?” + +“Oh, pretty well,” answered he; “he has no pain now, and Sophia nurses +him and amuses him. How little Matilda would weep when the savages +carried me off! If you knew, papa, how kind and good she is!” + +I had no time to ask who Sophia and Matilda were. They had allowed me to +speak to my son to tranquillize him, but the king now commanded silence, +and, still elevated on the shoulders of his people, began to harangue +the assembly. He was a middle-aged man, with striking features; his +thick lips, his hair tinged with red paint, his dark brown face, which, +as well as his body, was tattooed with white, gave him a formidable +aspect; yet his countenance was not unpleasant, and announced no +ferocity. In general, these savages have enormous mouths, with long +white teeth; they wear a tunic of reeds or leaves from the waist to the +knees. My wife’s handkerchief, which I had recognized at first, was +gracefully twisted round the head of the king; his hair was fastened up +high, and ornamented with feathers, but he had nearly removed them all +to deck my boy. He placed him at his side, and frequently pointed him +out during his speech. I was on thorns. As soon as he had concluded, the +savages shouted, clapped their hands, and surrounded my child, dancing, +and presenting him fruit, flowers, and shells, crying out, _Ouraki_! a +cry in which the king, who was now standing, joined also. + +“What does the word _Ouraki_ mean?” said I to the missionary. + +“It is the new name of your son,” answered he; “or rather of the son of +_Bara-ourou_, who has just adopted him.” + +“Never!” cried I, darting forward. “Boys, let us rescue your brother +from these barbarians!” We all three rushed towards Francis, who, +weeping, extended his arms to us. The savages attempted to repulse us; +but at that moment the missionary pronounced some words in a loud voice; +they immediately prostrated themselves on their faces, and we had no +difficulty in securing the child. We brought him to our protector, who +still remained in the same attitude in which he had spoken, with his +eyes and his right hand raised towards heaven. He made a sign for the +savages to rise, and afterwards spoke for some time to them. What would +I have given to have understood him! But I formed some idea from the +effect of his words. He frequently pointed to us, pronouncing the word +_éroué_, and particularly addressed the king, who listened motionless to +him. At the conclusion of his speech, Bara-ourou approached, and +attempted to take hold of Francis, who threw himself into my arms, where +I firmly held him. + +“Let him now go,” said Mr. Willis, “and fear nothing.” + +I released the child; the king lifted him up, pressed his own nose to +his; then, placing him on the ground, took away the feathers and +necklace with which he had decked him, and replaced him in my arms, +rubbing my nose also, and repeating several words. In my first emotion, +I threw myself on my knees, and was imitated by my two sons. + +“It is well!” cried the missionary, again raising his eyes and hands. +“Thus should you offer thanks to heaven. The king, convinced it is the +will of God, restores your child, and wishes to become your friend: he +is worthy to be so, for he adores and fears your God. May he soon learn +to know and believe all the truths of Christianity! Let us pray together +that the time may come when, on these shores, where paternal love has +triumphed, I may see a temple rise to the Father of all,—the God of +peace and love.” + +He kneeled down, and the king and all his people followed his example. +Without understanding the words of his prayer, I joined in the spirit of +it with all my heart and soul. + +I then presented my offerings to the king, increasing them considerably. +I would willingly have given all my treasures in exchange for him he had +restored to me. My sons also gave something to each of the savages, who +incessantly cried _tayo, tayo_. I begged Mr. Willis to tell the king I +gave him my canoe, and hoped he would use it to visit us in our island, +to which we were returning. He appeared pleased, and wished to accompany +us in our pinnace, which he seemed greatly to admire; some of his people +followed him on board to row, the rest placed themselves in the canoes. +We soon entered the sea again, and, doubling the second point, we came +to an arm of the sea much wider, and deep enough for our pinnace, and +which conducted us to the object of our dearest hopes. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER LIII. + + +We were never weary with caressing our dear Francis. We were very +anxious to learn from him all the particulars of the arrival of the +savages in our island, the seizure of his mother and himself, their +voyage, and their residence here, and who were the friends they had met +with: but it was impossible, his tawny majesty never left us for a +moment, and played with the boy as if he had been a child himself. +Francis showed him all the toys from our chest; he was extremely amused +with the small mirrors, and the dolls. A painted carriage, driven by a +coachman who raised his whip when the wheels turned, appeared miraculous +to him. He uttered screams of delight as he pointed it out to his +followers. The ticking of my watch also charmed him; and as I had +several more, I gave him it, showing him how to wind it up. But the +first time he tried to do it, he broke the spring, and when it was +silent he cared no longer for it, but threw it on one side. However, as +the gold was very glittering, he took it up again, and suspending it +from the handkerchief that was wound round his head, it hung over his +nose, and formed a striking ornament. Francis showed him his face in a +mirror, which royal amusement made him laugh heartily. He asked the +missionary if it was the invisible and Almighty God who had made all +these wonderful things. Mr. Willis replied, that it was he who gave men +the power to make them. I do not know whether Bara-ourou comprehended +this, but he remained for some time in deep thought. I profited by this +to ask the missionary what were the words which had terrified them so +when they wished to keep my son from me, and which had compelled them to +surrender him? + +“I told them,” answered he, “that the Almighty and unseen God, of whom I +spoke to them daily, ordered them, by my voice, to restore a son to his +father; I threatened them with his anger if they refused, and promised +them his mercy if they obeyed; and they did obey. The first step is +gained, they know the duty of adoring and obeying God; every other truth +proceeds from this, and I have no doubt that my savages will one day +become good Christians. My method of instruction is suited to their +limited capacity. I prove to them that their wooden idols, made by their +own hands, could neither create, hear them, nor protect them. I have +shown them God in his works, have declared him to be as good as he is +powerful, hating evil, cruelty, murder, and cannibalism, and they have +renounced all these. In their late wars they have either released or +adopted their prisoners. If they carried off your wife and son, they +intended it for a good action, as you will soon understand.” + +I could not ask Francis any questions, as Bara-ourou continued playing +with him, so turning to Ernest, I asked him what passed when the savages +joined him? + +“When you left me,” said he, “I amused myself by searching for shells, +plants, and zoophytes, with which the rocks abound, and I have added a +good deal to my collection. I was at some distance from the pinnace, +when I heard a confused sound of voices, and concluded that the savages +were coming; in fact, ten or a dozen issued from the road you had +entered, and I cannot comprehend how you missed meeting them. Fearing +they would attempt to take possession of my pinnace, I returned +speedily, and seized a loaded musket, though I determined to use it only +to defend my own life, or the pinnace. I stood on the deck in an +attitude as bold and imposing as I could command; but I did not succeed +in intimidating them. They leaped, one after the other, on deck, and +surrounded me, uttering loud cries. I could not discover whether they +were cries of joy or of fury; but I showed no fear, and addressed them +in a friendly tone, in some words from Capt. Cook’s vocabulary; but they +did not seem to comprehend me, neither could I understand any of theirs +except _écroué_ (father), which they frequently repeated, and +_tara-tauo_ (woman). One of them had Fritz’s gun, from which I concluded +they were of the party that had carried off Jack. I took it, and showing +him mine, endeavoured to make him understand that it also belonged to +me. He thought I wished to exchange, and readily offered to return it, +and take mine. This would not have suited me; Fritz’s gun was +discharged, and I could not let them have mine loaded. To prevent +accident, surrounded as I was, I decided to give them a fright, and +seeing a bird flying above us, I took aim so correctly, that my shot +brought down the bird, a blue pigeon. They were for a moment stupified +with terror; then immediately all left the pinnace, except Parabéry; he +seemed to be pleased with me, often pointing to the sky, saying _mété_, +which means _good_, I believe. His comrades were examining the dead +bird. Some touched their own shoulders, to try if they were wounded as +well as the bird and Jack had been, which convinced me they had carried +him off. I tried to make Parabéry understand my suspicion, and I think I +succeeded, for he made me an affirmative sign, pointing to the interior +of the island, and touching his shoulder with an air of pity. I took +several things from the chest, and gave them to him, making signs that +he should show them to the others, and induce them to return to me. He +comprehended me very well, and complied with my wishes. I was soon +surrounded by the whole party, begging of me. I was busy distributing +beads, mirrors, and small knives when you came, and we are now excellent +friends. Two or three of them returned to the wood, and brought me +cocoa-nuts and bananas. But we must be careful to hide our guns, of +which they have a holy horror. And now, dear father, I think we ought +not to call these people _savages_. They have the simplicity of +childhood; a trifle irritates them, a trifle appeases them; they are +grateful and affectionate. I find them neither cruel nor barbarous. They +have done me no harm, when they might easily have killed me, thrown me +into the sea, or carried me away.” + +“We must not,” said I, “judge of all savage people by these, who have +had the benefit of a virtuous teacher. Mr. Willis has already cast into +their hearts the seeds of that divine religion, which commands us to do +unto others as we would they should do unto us, and to pardon and love +our enemies.” + +While we were discoursing, we arrived at a spot where the canoes had +already landed; we were about to do the same, but the king did not seem +inclined to quit the pinnace, but continued speaking to the missionary. +I was still fearful that he wished to keep Francis, to whom he seemed to +be more and more attached, holding him constantly on his knee; but at +last, to my great joy, he placed him in my arms. + +“He keeps his word with you,” said Mr. Willis. “You may carry him to his +mother; but, in return, he wishes you to permit him to go in your +pinnace to his abode on the other side of the strait, that he may show +it to the women, and he promises to bring it back; perhaps there would +be danger in refusing him.” + +I agreed with him; but still there was a difficulty in granting this +request. If he chose to keep it, how should we return? Besides, it +contained our only barrel of powder, and all our articles of traffic, +and how could we expect it would escape pillage? + +Mr. Willis confessed he had not yet been able to cure their fondness for +theft, and suggested, as the only means of security, that I should +accompany the king, and bring the pinnace back, which was then to be +committed to the charge of Parabéry, for whose honesty he would be +responsible. + +Here was another delay; the day was so far advanced, that I might not, +perhaps, be able to return before night. Besides, though my wife did +not know we were so near her, she knew they had carried away Francis, +and she would certainly be very uneasy about him. Bara-ourou looked very +impatient, and as it was necessary to answer him, I decided at once; I +resigned Francis to the missionary, entreating him to take him to his +mother, to prepare her for our approach, and to relate the cause of our +delay. I told my sons, it was my desire they should accompany me. Fritz +agreed rather indignantly, and Ernest with calmness. Mr. Willis told the +king, that in gratitude to him, and to do him honour, I and my sons +wished to accompany him. He appeared much flattered at this, made my +sons seat themselves on each side of him, endeavoured to pronounce their +names, and finished by exchanging names as a token of friendship, +calling Fritz, _Bara_; Ernest, _Ourou_; and himself, Fritz-Ernest. Mr. +Willis and Francis left us; our hearts were sad to see them go where all +our wishes centred; but the die was cast. The king gave the signal to +depart; the canoes took the lead, and we followed. In an hour we saw the +royal palace. It was a tolerably large hut, constructed of bamboos and +palm-leaves, very neatly. Several women were seated before it, busily +employed in making the short petticoats of reeds which they all wore. +Their hair was very carefully braided in tufts on the crown of the head; +none were good-looking, except two daughters of the king, about ten and +twelve years old, who, though very dark, were graceful: these, no doubt, +he intended for wives for my Francis. We disembarked about a hundred +yards from the hut. The women came to meet us, carrying a branch of the +mimosa in each hand; they then performed a singular kind of dance, +entwining their arms and shaking their feet, but never moving from the +spot; this they accompanied with a wild chant, which was anything but +musical. The king seemed pleased with it; and, calling his wives and +daughters, he showed them his _tayo, Bara_ and _Ourou_, calling himself +Fritz-Ernest; he then joined in the dance, dragging my sons with him, +who managed it pretty well. As for me, he treated me with great respect, +always calling me _écroué_—father, and made me sit down on a large +trunk of a tree before his house; which was, doubtless, his throne, for +he placed me there with great ceremony, rubbing his royal nose against +mine. After the dance was concluded, the women retired to the hut, and +returned to offer us a collation, served up in the shells of cocoa-nuts. +It was a sort of paste, composed, I believe, of different sorts of +fruit, mixed up with a kind of flour and the milk of the cocoa-nut. This +mixture was detestable to me; but I made up for it with some kernel of +cocoa-nuts and the bread-fruit. Perceiving that I liked these, +Bara-ourou ordered some of them to be gathered, and carried to +the pinnace. + +The hut was backed by a wood of palms and other trees, so that our +provision was readily made. Still there was time for my sons to run to +the pinnace, attended by Parabéry, and bring from the chest some beads, +mirrors, scissors, needles and pins, to distribute to the ladies. When +they brought the fruit they had gathered, I made a sign to Bara-ourou to +take them to see the pinnace; he called them, and they followed him +timidly, and submitting to his wishes in everything, They carried the +fruit two and two, in a sort of baskets, very skilfully woven in rushes, +which appeared to have a European form. They had no furniture in their +dwelling but mats, which were doubtless their beds, and some trunks of +trees, serving for seats and tables. Several baskets were suspended to +the bamboo which formed the walls, and also lances, slings, clubs, and +other similar weapons; from which I concluded they were a nation of +warriors. I did not observe much, however, for my thoughts were in the +future, and I was very impatient for our departure. I hastened to the +pinnace, and my sons distributed their gifts to the females, who did not +dare to express their delight; but it was evident in their countenances. +They immediately began to adorn themselves with their presents, and +appeared to value the mirrors much more than their husbands had done. +They soon understood their use, and employed them to arrange with taste +the strings of beads round their necks, heads, and arms. + +At last the signal was given for our departure; I rubbed my nose against +that of the king. I added to my presents a packet of nails, and one of +gilt buttons, which he seemed to covet. I went on board my pinnace, and, +conducted by the good Parabéry, we took our way to that part of the +coast where the dear ones resided whom I so anxiously desired to see. +Some of the savages accompanied us in their own canoe; we should have +preferred having only our friend Parabéry, but we were not the masters. + +Favoured by the wind, we soon reached the shore we had formerly +quitted, and found our excellent missionary waiting for us. + +“Come,” said he, “you are now going to receive your reward. Your wife +and children impatiently expect you; they would have come to meet you, +but your wife is still weak, and Jack suffering—your presence will soon +cure them.” + +I was too much affected to answer. Fritz gave me his arm, as much to +support me as to restrain himself from rushing on before. Ernest did the +same with Mr. Willis; his mildness pleased the good man, who also saw +his taste for study, and tried to encourage it. After half an hour’s +walk, the missionary told us we were now near our good friends. I saw no +sign of a habitation, nothing but trees and rocks; at last I saw a light +smoke among the trees, and at that moment Francis, who had been +watching, ran to meet us. + +“Mamma is expecting you,” said he, showing us the way through a grove of +shrubs, thick enough to hide entirely the entrance into a kind of +grotto; we had to stoop to pass into it. It resembled much the entrance +of the bear’s den, which we found in the remote part of our island. A +mat of rushes covered the opening, yet permitted the light to penetrate +it. Francis removed the matting, calling— + +“Mamma, here we are!” + +A lady, apparently about twenty-seven years of age, of mild and +pleasing appearance, came forward to meet me. She a clothed in a rob +made of palm-leaves tied together, which reached from her throat to her +feet, leaving her beautiful arms uncovered. Her light hair was braided +and fastened up round her head. + +“You are welcome,” said she, taking my hand; “you will be my poor +friend’s best physician.” + +We entered, and saw my dear wife seated on a bed of moss and leaves; she +wept abundantly, pointing out to me our dear boy by her side. A little +nymph of eleven or twelve years old was endeavouring to raise him. + +“Here are your papa and brothers, Jack,” said she; “you are very happy +in having what I have not: but your papa will be mine, and you shall be +my brother.” + +Jack thanked her affectionately. Fritz and Ernest, kneeling beside the +couch, embraced their mother. Fritz begged her to forgive him for +hurting his brother; and then tenderly inquired of Jack after his wound. +For me, I cannot describe my gratitude and agitation; I could scarce +utter a word to my dear wife, who, on her part, sunk down quite overcome +on her bed. The lady, who was, I understood, named Madame Hirtel, +approached to assist her. When she recovered, she presented to me Madame +Hirtel and her two daughters. The eldest, Sophia, was attending on Jack; +Matilda, who was about ten or eleven years of age, was playing with +Francis; while the good missionary, on his knees, thanked God for having +re-united us. + +“And for life,” cried my dear wife. “My dear husband, I well knew you +would set out to seek me; but how could I anticipate that you would ever +succeed in finding me? We will now separate no more; this beloved friend +has agreed to accompany us to the Happy Island, as I intend to call it, +if I ever have the happiness to reach it again with all I love in the +world. How graciously God permits us to derive blessings from our +sorrows. See what my trial has produced me: a friend and two dear +daughters, for henceforward we are only one family,” + +We were mutually delighted with this arrangement, and entreated Mr. +Willis to visit us often, and to come and live in the Happy Island when +his mission was completed. + +“I will consent,” said he, “if you will come and assist me in my duties; +for which purpose you and your sons must acquire the language of these +islanders. We are much nearer your island than you think, for you took a +very circuitous course, and Parabéry, who knows it, declares it is only +a day’s voyage with a fair wind. And, moreover, he tells me, that he is +so much delighted with you and your sons, that he cannot part with you, +and wishes me to obtain your permission to accompany you, and remain +with you. He will be exceedingly useful to you: will teach the language +to you all, and will be a ready means of communication between us.” + +I gladly agreed to take Parabéry with us as a friend; but it was no time +yet to think of departing, as Mr. Willis wished to have Jack some days +longer under his care; we therefore arranged that I and my two sons +should become his guests, as his hut was but a short distance off. We +had many things to hear; but, as my wife was yet too weak to relate her +adventures, we resolved first to have the history of Madame Hirtel. +Night coming on, the missionary lighted a gourd lamp, and, after a +light collation of bread-fruit, Madame Hirtel began her story. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER LIV. + + +“My life,” she began, “passed without any remarkable events, till the +misfortune occurred which brought me to this island. I was married, when +very young, to Mr. Hirtel, a merchant at Hamburg, an excellent man, +whose loss I have deeply felt. I was very happy in this union, arranged +by my parents, and sanctioned by reason. We had three children, a son +and two daughters, in the first three years of our marriage; and M. +Hirtel, seeing his family increase so rapidly, wished to increase his +income. An advantageous establishment was offered him in the Canary +Islands; he accepted it, and prevailed on me to settle there, with my +family, for some years. My parents were dead, I had no tie to detain me +in Europe. I was going to see new regions, those fortunate isles I had +heard so much of, and I set out joyfully with my husband and children, +little foreseeing the misfortunes before me. + +“Our voyage was favourable; the children, like myself, were delighted +with the novelties of it. I was then twenty-three years old; Sophia, +seven; Matilda, six; and Alfred, our pretty, gentle boy, not yet five. +Poor child! he was the darling and the plaything of all the crew.” + +She wept bitterly for a few moments, and then resumed her narration. + +“He was as fair as your own Francis, and greatly resembled him. We +proceeded first to Bourdeaux, where my husband had a correspondent, with +whom he had large dealings; by his means my husband was enabled to raise +large sums for his new undertaking. We carried with us, in fact, nearly +his whole fortune. We re-embarked under the most favourable +auspices—the weather delightful, and the wind fair; but we very soon +had a change; we were met by a terrible storm and hurricane, such as the +sailors had never witnessed. For a week our ship was tossed about by +contrary winds, driven into unknown seas, lost all its rigging, and was +at last so broken, that the water poured in on all sides. All was lost, +apparently; but, in this extremity, my husband made a last attempt to +save us. He tied my daughters and myself firmly to a plank, taking the +charge of my boy himself, as he feared the additional weight would be +too much for our raft. His intention was to tie himself to another +plank, to fasten this to ours, and, taking his son in his arms, to give +us a chance of being carried to the shore, which did not appear far off. +Whilst he was occupied in placing us, he gave Alfred to the care of a +sailor who was particularly attached to him. I heard the man say, ‘Leave +him with me, I will take care to save him.’ On this, M. Hirtel insisted +on his restoring him, and I cried out that he should be given to me. At +that moment the ship, which was already fallen on its side, filled +rapidly with water, plunged, and disappeared with all on board. The +plank on which I and my daughters were fixed alone floated, and I saw +nothing but death and desolation round me.” + +Madame Hirtel paused, almost suffocated by the remembrance of that awful +moment. + +“Poor woman!” said my wife, weeping, “it is five years since this +misfortune. It was at the same time as our shipwreck, and was doubtless +caused by the same storm. But how much more fortunate was I! I lost none +that were dear to me, and we even had the vessel left for our use. But, +my dear, unfortunate friend, by what miracle were you saved?” + +“It was He who only can work miracles,” said the missionary, “who cares +for the widow and the orphan, and without whose word not a hair of the +head can perish, who at that moment gave courage to the +Christian mother.” + +“My strength,” continued she, “was nearly exhausted, when, after being +tossed about by the furious waves, I found myself thrown upon what I +supposed to be a sand-bank with my two children. I envied the state of +my husband and son. If I had not been a mother, I should have wished to +have followed them; but my two girls lay senseless at my side, and I was +anxious, as I perceived they still breathed, to recover them. At the +moment M. Hirtel pushed the raft into the water, he threw upon it a box +bound with iron, which I grasped mechanically, and still held, when we +were left on shore. It was not locked, yet it was with some difficulty, +in my confined position, that I succeeded in opening it. It contained a +quantity of gold and bank-notes, which I looked upon with contempt, and +regret. But there was something useful in the box. In the morocco +portfolio which contained the bank-notes, there were the usual little +instruments—a knife, scissors, pencils, stiletto, and also a small +bottle of Eau de Cologne, which was particularly serviceable in +restoring my children. I began by cutting the cords that tied us. I then +rubbed my dear children with the Eau de Cologne, made them inhale it, +and even swallow a little. The wind was still blowing, but the clouds +began to break, and the sun appeared, which dried and warmed us. My poor +children opened their eyes, and knew me, and I felt I was not utterly +comfortless; but their first words were to ask for their father and +brother. I could not tell them they were no more. I tried to deceive +myself, to support my strength, by a feeble and delusive hope. M. Hirtel +swam well, the sailor still better; and the last words I had heard still +rung in my ears—‘Do not be uneasy, I will save the child.’ If I saw +anything floating at a distance, my heart began to beat, and I ran +towards the water; but I saw it was only wreck, which I could not even +reach. Some pieces were, however, thrown on shore, and with these and +our own raft I was enabled to make a sort of shelter, by resting them +against a rock. My poor children, by crouching under this, sheltered +themselves from the rain, or from the rays of the sun. I had the good +fortune to preserve a large beaver hat, which I wore at the time, and +this protected me; but these resources gave me little consolation; my +children were complaining of hunger, and I felt only how much we were in +want of. I had seen a shell-fish on the shore, resembling the oyster, +or muscle. I collected some, and, opening them with my knife, we made a +repast on them, which sufficed for the first day. Night came—my +children offered up their evening prayer, and I earnestly besought the +succour of the Almighty. I then lay down beside my babes on our raft, as +conveniently as we could, and they soon slept. The fearful thoughts of +the past, and dreadful anticipations of the future, prevented me from +sleeping. My situation was indeed melancholy; but I felt, as a mother, I +ought not to wish for death. + +“As soon as day broke, I went close to the shore, to seek some +shell-fish for our breakfast. In crossing the sand, I nearly plunged my +foot into a hole, and fancied I heard a crash. I stooped, and putting my +hand into the opening, found it was full of eggs; I had broken two or +three, which I tasted, and thought very good. From the colour, form, and +taste, I knew them to be turtle’s eggs; there were at least sixty, so I +had no more care about food. I carried away in my apron as many as I +could preserve from the rays of the sun: this I endeavoured to effect by +burying them in the sand, and covering them with one end of our plank, +and succeeded very well. Besides these, there were as many to be found +on the shore as we required; I have sometimes found as many as ninety +together. These were our sole support while we remained there: my +children liked them very much. I forgot to add, that I was fortunate +enough to discover a stream of fresh water, running into the sea; it was +the same which runs past this house, and which conducted me here. The +first day we suffered greatly from thirst, but on the second we met +with the stream which saved us. I will not tire you by relating day by +day our sad life; every one was the same, and took away by degrees every +hope from me. As long as I dared to indulge any, I could not bear to +leave the shore; but at last it became insupportable to me. I was worn +out with gazing continually on that boundless horizon, and that moving +crystal which had swallowed up my hopes. I pined for the verdure and +shade of trees. Although I had contrived to make for my daughters little +hats of a marine rush, they suffered much from the extreme heat,—the +burning rays of a tropical sun. I decided at last to abandon that sandy +shore; to penetrate, at all risks, into the country, in order to seek a +shady and cooler abode, and to escape from the view of that sea which +was so painful to me. I resolved not to quit the stream which was so +precious to us, for, not having any vessel to contain water, I could not +carry it with us. Sophia, who is naturally quick, formed, from a large +leaf, a sort of goblet, which served us to drink from; and I filled my +pockets with turtles’ eggs, as provision for a few days. I then set off +with my two children, after praying the God of all mercy to watch over +us; and, taking leave of the vast tomb which held my husband and my son, +I never lost sight of the stream; if any obstacle obliged me to turn a +little way from it, I soon recovered my path. My eldest daughter, who +was very strong and robust, followed me stoutly, as I took care not to +walk too far without resting; but I was often compelled to carry my +little Matilda on my shoulders. Both were delighted with the shade of +the woods, and were so amused with the delightful birds that inhabited +them, and a pretty little sportive green monkey, that they became as +playful as ever. They sang and prattled; but often asked me if papa and +Alfred would not soon return to see these pretty creatures, and if we +were going to seek them. These words rent my heart, and I thought it +best then to tell them they would meet no more on earth, and that they +were both gone to heaven, to that good God to whom they prayed morning +and evening. Sophia was very thoughtful, and the tears ran down her +cheeks: ‘I will pray to God more than ever,’ said she, ‘that he may make +them happy, and send them back to us,’ ‘Mamma,’ said Matilda, ‘have we +left the sea to go to heaven? Shall we soon be there? And shall we see +beautiful birds like these?’ We walked on very slowly, making frequent +rests, till night drew on, and it was necessary to find a place for +repose. I fixed on a sort of thick grove, which I could only enter by +stooping; it was formed of one tree, whose branches, reaching the +ground, take root there, and soon produce other stems, which follow the +same course, and become, in time, an almost impenetrable thicket. Here I +found a place for us to lie down, which appeared sheltered from wild +beasts or savages, whom I equally dreaded. We had still some eggs, which +we ate; but I saw with fear that the time approached when we must have +more food, which I knew not where to find. I saw, indeed, some fruits on +the trees, but I did not know them, and feared to give them to my +children, who wished to have them. I saw also cocoa-nuts, but quite out +of my reach; and even if I could have got them, I did not know how to +open them. The tree under whose branches we had found protection was, I +conjectured, an American fig-tree; it bore a quantity of fruit, very +small and red, and like the European fig. I ventured to taste them, and +found them inferior to ours,—insipid and soft,—but, I thought, quite +harmless. I remarked that the little green monkeys ate them greedily, so +I had no more fear, and allowed my children to regale themselves. I was +much more afraid of wild beasts during the night; however, I had seen +nothing worse than some little quadrupeds resembling the rabbit or +squirrel, which came in numbers to shelter themselves during the night +under our tree. The children wished to catch one, but I could not +undertake to increase my charge. We had a quiet night, and were early +awaked by the songs of the birds. How delighted I was to have escaped +the noise of the waves, and to feel the freshness of the woods, and the +perfume of the flowers, with which my children made garlands, to +decorate my head and their own! These ornaments, during this time of +mourning and bereavement, affected me painfully, and I was weak enough +to forbid them this innocent pleasure; I tore away my garland, and threw +it into the rivulet. ‘Gather flowers,’ said I, ‘but do not dress +yourselves in them; they are no fitting ornaments for us; your father +and Alfred cannot see them.’ They were silent and sad, and threw their +garlands into the water, as I had done. + +“We followed the stream, and passed two more nights under the trees. We +had the good fortune to find more figs; but they did not satisfy us, and +our eggs were exhausted. In my distress I almost decided to return to +the shore, where we might at least meet with that nourishment. As I sat +by the stream, reflecting mournfully on our situation, the children, who +had been throwing stones into the water, cried out, ‘Look, mamma, what +pretty fishes!’ I saw, indeed, a quantity of small salmon-trout in the +river; but how could I take them? I tried to seize them with my hands, +but could not catch them; necessity, however, is the mother of +invention. I cut a number of branches with my knife, and wove them +together to make a kind of light hurdle, the breadth of the stream, +which was very narrow just here. I made two of these; my daughters +assisted me, and were soon very skilful. We then undressed ourselves, +and took a bath, which refreshed us much. I placed one of my hurdles +upright across the rivulet, and the second a little lower. The fishes +who remained between attempted to pass, but the hurdles were woven too +close. We watched for them attempting the other passage; many escaped +us, but we captured sufficient for our dinner. We threw them out upon +the grass, at a distance from the stream, so that they could not leap +back. My daughters had taken more than I; but the sensible Sophia threw +back those we did not require, to give them pleasure, she said, and +Matilda did the same, to see them leap. We then removed our hurdles, +dressed ourselves, and I began to consider how I should cook my fish; +for I had no fire, and had never kindled one myself. However, I had +often seen Mr. Hirtel, who was a smoker, light his pipe by means of the +flint and steel; they were in the precious morocco case, together with +tinder and matches. I tried to strike a light, and after some +difficulty succeeded. I collected the fragments of the branches used for +the hurdles, the children gathered some dry leaves, and I had soon a +bright, lively fire, which I was delighted to see, notwithstanding the +heat of the climate. I scraped the scales from the fish with my knife, +washed them in the rivulet, and then placed them on the fire to broil; +this was my apprenticeship in the art of cookery. I thought how useful +it would be to give young ladies some knowledge of the useful arts; for +who can foresee what they may need? Our European dinner delighted us as +much as the bath and the fishing which had preceded it. I decided to fix +our residence at the side of the rivulet, and beneath the fig-trees; my +only objection being the fear of missing some passing vessel which might +carry us back to Europe. But can you understand my feelings, when I +confess to you that, although overcome by sorrow and desolation, having +lost husband, son, and fortune, knowing that in order to support myself +and bring up my children I must depend upon my friends, and to attain +this having to hazard again the dangers of the sea, the very thought of +which made me shudder, I should prefer to remain where Providence had +brought me, and live calmly without obligation to any one? I might +certainly have some difficulty in procuring the means of supporting a +life which was dear to me for the sake of my children; but even this was +an employment and an amusement. My children would early learn to bear +privations, to content themselves with a simple and frugal life, and to +labour for their own support. I might teach them all that I knew would +be useful to them in future, and above all, impress upon their young +minds the great truths of our holy religion. By bringing this constantly +before their unsophisticated understanding, I might hope they would draw +from it the necessary virtues of resignation and contentment. I was only +twenty-three years of age, and might hope, by God’s mercy, to be spared +to them some time, and in the course of years who knew what might +happen? Besides we were not so far from the sea but that I might visit +it sometimes, if it were only to seek for turtles’ eggs. I remained then +under our fig-tree at night, and by day on the borders of the stream.” + +“It was under a fig-tree, also,” said my wife, “that I have spent four +happy years of my life. Unknown to each other, our fate has been +similar; but henceforward I hope we shall not be separated.” + +Madame Hirtel embraced her kind friend, and observing that the evening +was advanced, and that my wife, after such agitation, needed repose, we +agreed to defer till next day the conclusion of the interesting +narrative. My elder sons and myself followed the missionary to his hut, +which resembled the king’s _palace_, though it was smaller; it was +constructed of bamboos, bound together, and the intervals filled with +moss and clay; it was covered in the same way, and was tolerably solid. +A mat in one corner, without any covering, formed his bed; but he +brought out a bear’s skin, which he used in winter, and which he now +spread on the ground for us. I had observed a similar one in the grotto, +and he told us we should hear the history of these skins next day, in +the continuation of the story of Emily, or _Mimi_, as she was +affectionately called by all. We retired to our couch, after a prayer +from Mr. Willis; and for the first time since my dear wife was taken +from me, I slept in peace. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER LV. + + +We went to the grotto early in the morning, and found our two invalids +much improved: my wife had slept better, and Mr. Willis found Jack’s +wound going on well. Madame _Mimi_ told her daughters to prepare +breakfast: they went out and soon returned, with a native woman and a +boy of four or five years old, carrying newly-made rush baskets filled +with all sorts of fruit: figs, guavas, strawberries, cocoa-nuts, and the +bread-fruit. + +“I must introduce you,” said Emily, “to the rest of my family: this is +Canda, the wife of your friend Parabéry, and this is their son, +_Minou-minou_, whom I regard as my own. Your Elizabeth is already +attached to them, and bespeaks your friendship for them. They will +follow us to the Happy Island.” + +“Oh, if you knew,” said Francis, “what a well-behaved boy Minou is! He +can climb trees, run, and leap, though he is less than I am. He must be +my friend.” + +“And Canda,” said Elizabeth, “shall be our assistant and friend.” + +She gave her hand to Canda, I did the same, and caressed the boy, who +seemed delighted with me, and, to my great surprise, spoke to me in very +good German—the mother, too, knew several words of the language. They +busied themselves with our breakfast: opened the cocoa-nuts, and poured +the milk into the shells, after separating the kernel; they arranged the +fruits on the trunk of a tree, which served for a table, and did great +credit to the talent of their instructress. + +“I should have liked to have offered you coffee,” said Madame Hirtel, +“which grows in this island, but having no utensils for roasting, +grinding, or preparing it, it has been useless to me, and I have not +even gathered it.” + +“Do you think, my dear, that it would grow in our island?” said my wife +to me, in some anxiety. + +I then recollected, for the first time, how fond my wife was of coffee, +which, in Europe, had always been her favourite breakfast. There would +certainly be in the ship some bags, which I might have brought away; but +I had never thought of it, and my unselfish wife, not seeing it, had +never named it, except once wishing we had some to plant in the garden. +Now that there was a probability of obtaining it, she confessed that +coffee and bread were the only luxuries she regretted. I promised to try +and cultivate it in our island; foreseeing, however, that it would +probably not be of the best quality, I told her she must not expect +Mocha; but her long privation from this delicious beverage had made her +less fastidious, and she assured me it would be a treat to her. After +breakfast, we begged Madame Hirtel to resume her interesting narrative. +She continued: + +“After the reflections on my situation, which I told you of last night, +I determined only to return to the sea-shore, when our food failed us in +the woods; but I acquired other means of procuring it. Encouraged by +the success of my fishing, I made a sort of net from the filaments of +the bark of a tree and a plant resembling hemp. With these I succeeded +in catching some birds: one, resembling our thrush, was very fat, and of +delicious flavour. I had the greatest difficulty in overcoming my +repugnance to taking away their life; nothing but the obligation of +preserving our own could have reconciled me to it. My children plucked +them; I then spitted them on a slender branch and roasted them before +the fire. I also found some nests of eggs, which I concluded were those +of the wild ducks which frequented our stream. I made myself acquainted +with all the fruits which the monkeys and parroquets eat, and which were +not out of my reach. I found a sort of acorn which had the flavour of a +nut. The children also discovered plenty of large strawberries, a +delicious repast; and I found a quantity of honeycomb in the hollow of a +tree, which I obtained by stupifying the bees with a smoking brand. + +“I took care to mark down every day on the blank leaves of my +pocket-book. I had now marked thirty days of my wandering life on the +border of the river, for I never strayed beyond the sound of its waters. +Still I kept continually advancing towards the interior of the island. I +had yet met with nothing alarming, and the weather had been most +favourable; but we were not long to enjoy this comfort. The rainy season +came on: and one night, to my great distress, I heard it descend in +torrents. We were no longer under our fig-tree, which would have +sheltered us for a considerable time. The tree under which we now were +had tempted me by having several cavities between the roots, filled with +soft moss, which formed natural couches, but the foliage was very thin, +and we were soon drenched completely. I crept near my poor children to +protect them a little, but in vain; our little bed was soon filled with +water, and we were compelled to leave it. Our clothes were so heavy with +the rain that we could scarcely stand; and the night was so dark that we +could see no road, and ran the risk of falling, or striking against some +tree, if we moved. My children wept, and I trembled for their health, +and for my own, which was so necessary to them. This was one of the most +terrible nights of my pilgrimage. My children and I knelt down, and I +prayed to our Heavenly Father for strength to bear this trial, if it was +his will to continue it. I felt consolation and strength from my +prayers, and rose with courage and confidence; and though the rain +continued unabated, I waited with resignation the pleasure of the +Almighty. I reconciled my children to our situation; and Sophia told me +she had asked her father, who was near the gracious God, to entreat Him +to send no more rain, but let the sun come back. I assured them God +would not forget them; they began to be accustomed to the rain, only +Sophia begged they might take off their clothes, and then it would be +like a bath in the brook. I consented to this, thinking they would be +less liable to suffer than by wearing their wet garments. + +“The day began to break, and I determined to walk on without stopping, +in order to warm ourselves by the motion; and to try to find some cave, +some hollow tree, or some tree with thick foliage, to shelter us the +next night. + +“I undressed the children, and made a bundle of their clothes, which I +would have carried myself, but I found they would not be too heavy for +them, and I judged it best to accustom them early to the difficulties, +fatigue, and labour, which would be their lot; and to attend entirely on +themselves; I, therefore, divided the clothes into two unequal bundles, +proportioned to their strength, and having made a knot in each, I passed +a slender branch through it, and showed them how to carry it on their +shoulders. + +“When I saw them walking before me in this savage fashion, with their +little white bodies exposed to the storm, I could not refrain from +tears. I blamed myself for condemning them to such an existence, and +thought of returning to the shore, where some vessel might rescue us; +but we were now too far off to set about it. I continued to proceed with +much more difficulty than my children, who had nothing on but their +shoes and large hats. I carried the valuable box, in which I had placed +the remains of our last night’s supper, an act of necessary prudence, as +there was neither fishing nor hunting now. + +“As the day advanced, the rain diminished, and even the sun appeared +above the horizon. + +“‘Look, my darlings,’ said I, ‘God has heard us, and sent his sun to +warm and cheer us. Let us thank him,’ + +“‘Papa has begged it of him!’ said Matilda. ‘Oh! mamma, let us pray him +to send Alfred back!’ + +“My poor little girl bitterly regretted the loss of her brother. Even +now she can scarcely hear his name without tears. When the savages +brought Francis to us, she at first took him for her brother. ‘Oh, how +you have grown in heaven!’ cried she; and, after she discovered he was +not her brother, she often said to him, ‘How I wish your name +was Alfred!’ + +“Forgive me for dwelling so long on the details of my wretched journey, +which was not without its comforts, in the pleasure I took in the +development of my children’s minds, and in forming plans for their +future education. Though anything relating to science, or the usual +accomplishments, would be useless to them, I did not wish to bring them +up like young savages; I hoped to be able to communicate much useful +knowledge to them, and to give them juster ideas of this world and +that to come. + +“As soon as the sun had dried them, I made them put on their dresses, +and we continued our walk by the brook, till we arrived at the grove +which is before this rock. I removed the branches to pass through it, +and saw beyond them the entrance to this grotto. It was very low and +narrow; but I could not help uttering a cry of joy, for this was the +only sort of retreat that could securely shelter us. I was going to +enter it without thought, not reflecting there might be in it some +ferocious animal, when I was arrested by a plaintive cry, more like that +of a child than a wild beast; I advanced with more caution, and tried to +find out what sort of an inhabitant the cave contained. It was indeed a +human being!—an infant, whose age I could not discover; but it seemed +too young to walk, and was, besides, tied up in leaves and moss, +enclosed in a piece of bark, which was much torn and rent. The poor +infant uttered the most piteous cries, and I did not hesitate a moment +to enter the cave, and to take the innocent little creature in my arms; +it ceased its cries as soon as it felt the warmth of my cheek; but it +was evidently in want of food, and I had nothing to give it but some +figs, of which I pressed the juice into its mouth; this seemed to +satisfy it, and, rocking it in my arms, it soon went to sleep. I had +then time to examine it, and to look round the cave. From the size and +form of the face, I concluded it might be older than I had first +thought; and I recollected to have read that the savages carried their +children swaddled up in this way, even till they could walk. The +complexion of the child was a pale olive, which I have since discovered +is the natural complexion of the natives, before the exposure to the +heat of the sun gives them the bronze hue you have seen; the features +were good, except that the lips were thicker and the mouth larger than +those of the Europeans. My two girls were charmed with it, and caressed +it with great joy. I left them to rock it gently in its cradle of bark, +till I went round this cave, which I intended for my palace, and which I +have never quitted. You see it—the form is not changed; but, since +Heaven has sent me a friend,” looking at the missionary, “it is adorned +with furniture and utensils which have completed my comforts. But +to return. + +“The grotto was spacious, and irregular in form. In a hollow I found, +with surprise, a sort of bed, carefully arranged with moss, dry leaves, +and small twigs. I was alarmed. Was this grotto inhabited by men or by +wild beasts? In either case, it was dangerous to remain here. I +encouraged a hope, however, that, from the infant being here, the mother +must be the inhabitant, and that, on her return, finding me nursing her +child, she might be induced to share her asylum with us. I could not, +however, reconcile this hope with the circumstance of the child being +abandoned in this open cave. + +“As I was considering whether I ought to remain, or leave the cave, I +heard strange cries at a distance, mingled with the screams of my +children, who came running to me for protection, bringing with them the +young savage, who fortunately was only half awaked, and soon went to +sleep again, sucking a fig. I laid him gently on the bed of leaves, and +told my daughters to remain near him in a dark corner; then, stepping +cautiously, I ventured to look out to discover what was passing, without +being seen. The noise approached nearer, to my great alarm, and I could +perceive, through the trees, a crowd of men armed with long pointed +lances, clubs, and stones; they appeared furious, and the idea that they +might enter the cave froze me with terror. I had an idea of taking the +little native babe, and holding it in my arms, as my best shield; but +this time my fears were groundless. The whole troop passed outside the +wood, without even looking on the same side as the grotto; they appeared +to follow some traces they were looking out for on the ground. I heard +their shouts for some time, but they died away, and I recovered from my +fears. Still, the dread of meeting them overcame even hunger. I had +nothing left in my box but some figs, which I kept for the infant, who +was satisfied with them, and I told my daughters we must go to bed +without supper. The sleeping infant amused them so much, that they +readily consented to give up the figs. He awoke smiling, and they gave +him the figs to suck. In the mean time, I prepared to release him from +his bondage to make him more comfortable; and I then saw that the outer +covering of bark was torn by the teeth of some animal, and even the skin +of the child slightly grazed. I ventured to carry him to the brook, into +which I plunged him two or three times, which seemed to give him +great pleasure. + +“I ran back to the cave, which is, you see, not more than twenty yards +distant, and found Sophia and Matilda very much delighted at a treasure +they had found under the dry leaves in a corner. This was a great +quantity of fruits of various kinds, roots of some unknown plant, and a +good supply of beautiful honey, on which the little gluttons were +already feasting. They came directly to give some on their fingers to +their little doll, as they called the babe. This discovery made me very +thoughtful. Was it possible that we were in a bear’s den! I had read +that they sometimes carried off infants and that they were very fond of +fruits and of honey, of which they generally had a hoard. I remarked on +the earth, and especially at the entrance, where the rain had made it +soft, the impression of large paws which left me no doubt. The animal +would certainly return to his den, and we were in the greatest danger; +but where could we go? The sky, dark with clouds, threatened a return of +the storm; and the troop of savages might still be wandering about the +island. I had not courage, just as night set in, to depart with my +children; nor could I leave the poor infant, who was now sleeping +peacefully, after his honey and figs. His two nurses soon followed his +example; but for me there was no rest; the noise of the wind among the +trees, and of the rain pattering on the leaves,—the murmur of the +brook,—the light bounds of the kangaroo,—all made my heart beat with +fear and terror; I fancied it was the bear returning to devour us. I had +cut and broken some branches to place before the entrance; but these +were but a weak defence against a furious and probably famished animal; +and if he even did no other harm to my children, I was sure their terror +at the sight of him would kill them. I paced backwards and forwards, +from the entrance to the bed, in the darkness, envying the dear sleepers +their calm and fearless rest; the dark-skinned baby slept soundly, +nestled warmly between my daughters, till day broke at last, without +anything terrible occurring. Then my little people awoke, and cried out +with hunger. We ate of the fruits and honey brought us by our unknown +friend, feeding, also, our little charge, to whom my daughters gave the +pet name of _Minou_, which he still keeps. + +“I busied myself with his _toilette_. There was no need to go to the +brook for a bath, for the rain came down incessantly. I then folded +Matilda’s apron round him, which pleased her greatly. The rain ceased +for a while, and they set off for flowers to amuse him. They were +scarcely gone when I heard the cries of the savages again; but this +time they seemed rather shouts of joy and triumph; they sung and +chaunted a sort of chorus; but were still at such distance that I had +time to recall my daughters, and withdrew them out of sight. I took +_Minou_ with me as a mediator, and placed myself in an angle of the +rock, where I could see without being seen. They passed, as before, +beyond the wood, armed, and two of them bore at the end of their +lances something very large and dark, which I could not distinguish, +but thought might be some wild beast they had destroyed; afterwards, +I flattered myself it might be the bear, whose return I so greatly +dreaded. Following the train was a woman, naked, with her hair hanging +down, uttering loud cries, and tearing her face and breast. No one +attempted to soothe her; but occasionally one of the bearers of the +black mass pointed it out to her; she then became furious, threw +herself on it, and tried to tear it with her teeth and nails. I was +quite overcome with horror and pity. + +“That woman, my friends, was Canda, whom you have just seen. Canda, +usually so mild and gentle, was rendered frantic by the loss of her +child,—her first-born,—whom she believed was devoured by the bear. +Parabéry, her husband, tried to console her, but was himself in great +sorrow. These bears, as I have since learnt, for there were two of them, +had come from a mountain, at the foot of which was Parabéry’s hut. They +had only this son, and Canda, according to the custom of the country, +tying it in a piece of bark, carried it on her back. One morning, after +having bathed him in the stream, which has its source near their abode, +she placed him on the turf a few moments, while she was employed in +some household duties. She soon heard his cries, mingled with a sort of +growl; she ran to the spot, and saw a frightful beast holding her child +in its mouth, and running off with it. It was then more than twenty +yards off; her cries brought her husband; she pointed to the horrible +animal, and darted after it, determined to save her child or perish. Her +husband only stopped to seize his javelin, and followed her, but did not +overtake her till fatigue and the heat of the day made her fall, almost +senseless, on the ground. Stopping for a moment to raise and encourage +her, he lost sight of the bear, and could not recover the track. All the +night,—that dreadful night of rain, when I was weeping and murmuring, +thinking myself the most unfortunate of women,—was Canda exposed, +without clothes, to that frightful storm, hopelessly seeking her only +child, and not even feeling that it did rain. Parabéry, not less +afflicted, but more composed, went to relate his misfortune to his +neighbours, who, arming themselves, set out, with Parabéry at their +head, following the track of the animal over the wet ground. They +discovered it next morning with another bear, so busy devouring a swarm +of bees and their honey, that the savages were able to draw near them. +Parabéry pierced one with his spear, and despatched him with a blow of +his club; one of his comrades killed the other, and Parabéry tasted the +truly savage joy of vengeance. But the poor mother could not be so +comforted. After wandering through the rain all night, she reached the +party as they were skinning the bear and dividing the flesh. Parabéry +only asked and obtained the skins, to recompense him for the loss of his +son. They returned home in triumph, Canda following them with bitter +cries, tearing her face with a shark’s tooth. From observation of these +circumstances, I concluded that Canda must be the mother of my little +_protégé_. My heart sympathized with her, and I even made some steps +forward to restore him; but the sight of the savage crowd, with their +tattooed bodies, filled me with such terror, that I retreated +involuntarily to the grotto, where my children, alarmed by the noise, +were hiding themselves. + +“‘Why do the people cry out so?’ said Sophia, ‘they frighten me. Don’t +let them come here, mamma, or they may carry Minou away,’ + +“‘Certainly,’ said I; ‘and I should have no right to forbid them. I +think they are his friends who are distressed at losing him; I wish I +could restore him to them.’ + +“‘Oh, no! mamma,’ said Matilda. ‘Pray don’t give him back; we like him +so much, and we will be his little mammas. He will be far happier with +us than with those ugly savages, who tied him up like a parcel in the +bark, with the moss which pricked him so much; he is much more +comfortable in my apron. How he moves his legs as if he wanted to walk; +Sophia and I will teach him. Do let us keep him, mimi.’ + +“Even if I had decided, it was now too late; the savages had passed on +to some distance. I, however, explained to Matilda the beauty of the +divine precept, ‘Do unto others as you would they should do unto you,’ +asking her how she would have liked to be detained by the savages, and +what, then, would be the suffering of her own mamma? She was thoughtful +for a moment, and then, embracing Minou and me, ‘You are right, mamma +mimi; but if she loves her baby, let her come and seek him,’ said the +little rebel. In the mean time, Sophia had been out, and returned with +some brilliant flowers, fresh after the rain, with which they made +garlands to dress up the infant. ‘Oh! if his mamma saw him, she would be +glad to let us have him,’ said Matilda. She then explained to her sister +who this mamma was, and Sophia shed tears to think of the sorrow of the +poor mother. ‘But how do you know, mamma, that she was Minou’s mother?’ +demanded she. This question proved that her judgment was forming, and I +took the opportunity of teaching her what information one may derive +from observation. She understood me very well; and when I told her on +what I had founded my idea, she trembled to think he had been brought +here by a bear, and asked me if the bear would have eaten him. + +“‘I cannot answer for it,’ said I, ‘if it had been pressed by hunger; +they tell us, that the bear does no harm to man unless attacked, and is +especially fond of children. But, notwithstanding this, I should not +like to trust it. At all events, the poor babe would have died, if we +had not found him.’ + +“‘Poor babe, he shall not die of hunger now,’ said she. ‘Let us give him +some figs; but these are not good; we must go and seek some more.’ + +“The rain having ceased, I consented, passing through the grove, where +there are no fig-trees, to search farther. My daughters had fed the +child with honey and water; it appeared quite reconciled to us, and had +ceased to cry. I judged it might be about eight months old. We soon +found some trees covered with the violet-coloured figs. Whilst I +gathered them, the girls made a pretty bed of moss, adorned with +flowers, for their little favourite, and fed him with the fresh fruit, +which he enjoyed much; and with their fair hair and rosy faces, and the +little negro between them, with his arch, dark countenance, they formed +a charming picture, which affected me greatly.” + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER LVI. + + +“We had been more than an hour under the tree, when I heard cries again; +but this time I was not alarmed, for I distinguished the voice of the +disconsolate mother, and I knew that I could comfort her. Her grief +brought her back to the spot where she thought her child had been +devoured; she wished, as she afterwards told us, when we could +understand her, to search for some remains of him,—his hair, his bones, +or even a piece of the bark that bound him; and here he was, full of +life and health. She advanced slowly, sobbing, and her eyes turned to +the ground. She was so absorbed in her search, that she did not see us +when we were but twenty yards from her. Suddenly, Sophia darted like an +arrow to her, took her hand, and said, ‘Come, Minou is here.’ + +“Canda neither knew what she saw nor what she heard; she took my +daughter for something supernatural, and made no resistance, but +followed her to the fig-tree. Even then she did not recognize the +little creature, released from his bonds, half-clothed, covered with +flowers, and surrounded by three divinities, for she took us for such, +and wished to prostrate herself before us. She was still more convinced +of it when I took up her son, and placed him in her arms: she recognized +him, and the poor little infant held out his arms to her. I can never +express to you the transport of the mother; she screamed, clasped her +child till he was half-suffocated, rapidly repeating words which we +could not understand, wept, laughed, and was in a delirium of delight +that terrified Minou. He began to cry, and held out his arms to Sophia, +who, as well as Matilda, was weeping at the sight. Canda looked at them +with astonishment; she soothed the child, and put him to her breast, +which he rejected at first, but finally seized it, and his mother was +happy. I took the opportunity to try and make her comprehend, that the +great animal had brought him here; that we had found him, and taken care +of him; and I made signs for her to follow me, which she did without +hesitation, till we reached the grotto, when, without entering, she fled +away with her infant with such rapidity, that it was impossible to +overtake her, and was soon out of sight. + +“I had some difficulty in consoling my daughters for the loss of Minou; +they thought they should see him no more, and that his mother was very +ungrateful to carry him off, without even letting them take leave of +him. They were still weeping and complaining, when we saw the objects of +our anxiety approaching; but Canda was now accompanied by a man, who was +carrying the child. They entered the grotto, and prostrated themselves +before us. You know Parabéry; his countenance pleased and tranquillized +us. As a relation of the king, he was distinguished by wearing a short +tunic of leaves; his body was tattooed and stained with various colours; +but not his face, which expressed kindness and gratitude, united with +great intelligence. He comprehended most of my signs. I did not succeed +so well in understanding him; but saw he meant kindly. In the mean time +my daughters had a more intelligible conversation with Canda and Minou; +they half-devoured the latter with caresses, fed him with figs and +honey, and amused him so much, that he would scarcely leave them. Canda +was not jealous of this preference, but seemed delighted with it; she, +in her turn, caressed my daughters, admired their glossy hair and fair +skin, and pointed them out to her husband; she repeated Minou after +them, but always added another _Minou_, and appeared to think this name +beautiful. After some words with Parabéry, she placed Minou-Minou in +Sophia’s arms, and they both departed, making signs that they would +return; but we did not see them for some time after. Sophia and Matilda +had their full enjoyment of their favourite; they wished to teach him to +walk and to speak, and they assured me he was making great progress. +They were beginning to hope his parents had left him entirely, when they +came in sight, Parabéry bending under the weight of two bear-skins, and +a beautiful piece of matting to close the entrance to my grotto; Canda +carried a basket on her head filled with fine fruit; the cocoa, the +bread-fruit (which they call _rima_), pine-apples, figs, and, finally, +a piece of bear’s flesh, roasted at the fire, which I did not like; but +I enjoyed the fruits and the milk of the cocoa-nut, of which Minou-Minou +had a good share. They spread the bear-skins in the midst of the grotto; +Parabéry, Canda, and the infant, between them, took possession of one +without ceremony, and motioned to us to make our bed of the other. But +the bears having only been killed the evening before, these skins had an +intolerable smell. I made them comprehend this, and Parabéry immediately +carried them off and placed them in the brook, secured by stones. He +brought us in exchange a heap of moss and leaves, on which we slept +very well. + +“From this moment we became one family. Canda remained with us, and +repaid to my daughters all the care and affection they bestowed on +Minou-Minou. There never was a child had more indulgence; but he +deserved it, for his quickness and docility. At the end of a few months +he began to lisp a few words of German, as well as his mother, of whom I +was the teacher, and who made rapid progress. Parabéry was very little +with us, but he undertook to be our purveyor, and furnished us +abundantly with everything necessary for our subsistence. Canda taught +my daughter to make beautiful baskets,—some, of a flat form, served for +our plates and dishes. Parabéry made us knives from sharp stones. My +daughters, in return, taught Canda to sew. At the time of our shipwreck +we had, each of us, in her pocket, a morocco housewife, with a store of +needles and thread. By means of these we had mended our linen, and we +now made dresses of palm-leaves. The bear-skins, washed in the stream, +and thoroughly dried in the burning sun, have been very useful to us in +the cold and rainy season. Now that we had guides, we made, in the fine +season, excursions to different parts of the island. Minou-Minou soon +learned to walk, and being strong, like all these islanders, would +always accompany us. We went one day to the sea-shore. I shuddered at +the sight, and Canda, who knew that my husband and child had perished in +the sea, wept with me. We now spoke each other’s language well enough to +converse. She told me that a _black friend_ (Emily bowed to Mr. Willis) +had arrived in a neighbouring island, to announce to them that there was +a Being, almighty and all-merciful, who lived in Heaven, and heard all +they said. Her comprehension of this truth was very confused, and I +endeavoured to make it more clear and positive. + +“‘I see very well,’ said she, ‘that you know him. Is it to Him that you +speak every morning and evening, kneeling as we do before our king +Bara-ourou?’ + +“‘Yes, Canda,’ said I, ‘it is before Him who is the King of Kings, who +gave us our life, who preserves it, and bestows on us all good, and who +promises us still more when this life is past.’ + +“‘Was it he who charged you to take care of Minou-Minou, and to restore +him to me?’ asked she. + +“‘Yes, Canda; all that you or I do that is good, is put into our hearts +by Him.’ + +“I thus tried to prepare the simple mind of Canda for the great truths +that Mr. Willis was to teach her.” + +“You left me little to do,” said Mr. Willis. “I found Parabéry and +Canda prepared to believe, with sincere faith, the holy religion I came +to teach—the God of the white people was the only one they adored. I +knew Parabéry, he had come to hunt seals in the island where I was +established, and I was struck by his appearance. What was my +astonishment to find, that when I spoke to him of the one true God, he +was no stranger to the subject. He had even some ideas of a Saviour, and +of future rewards and punishments. + +“‘It was the white lady,’ said he, ‘who taught me this; she teaches +Canda and Minou-minou, whose life she saved, and whom she is bringing up +to be good like herself.’ + +“I had a great desire,” continued Mr. Willis, “to become acquainted with +my powerful assistant in the great work of my mission. I told Parabéry +this, who offered to bring me here in his canoe; I came and found, in a +miserable cave, or rather in a bear’s den, all the virtues of mature age +united to the charms of youth; a resigned and pious mother, bringing up +her children, as women should be brought up, in simplicity, forbearance, +and love of industry; teaching them, as the best knowledge, to love God +with all their heart, and their neighbour as themselves. Under the +inspection of their mother, they were educating the son of Parabéry. +This child, then four years and a half old, spoke German well, and knew +his alphabet, which Madame Hirtel traced on the floor of the grotto; in +this way she taught her daughters to read; they taught Minou-minou, who, +in his turn, teaches his parents. Parabéry often brings his friends to +the grotto, and Madame Hirtel, having acquired the language, casts into +their hearts the good seed, which I venture to hope will not be +unfruitful. + +“Finding these people in such a good state, and wishing to enjoy the +society of a family, like myself, banished to a remote region, I decided +to take up my abode in this island. + +“Parabéry soon built me a hut in the neighbourhood of the grotto; Madame +Hirtel compelled me to take one of her bear-skins. I have by degrees +formed my establishment, dividing with my worthy neighbour the few +useful articles I brought from Europe, and we live a tranquil and +happy life. + +“And now comes the time that brought about our meeting. Some of our +islanders, in a fishing expedition, were driven by the wind on your +island. At the entrance of a large bay, they found a small canoe of +bark, carefully moored to a tree. Either their innate propensity for +theft, or the notion that it had no owner, prevailed over them, and they +brought it away. I was informed of this, and was curious to see it; I +recognized at once that it was made by Europeans: the careful finish, +the neat form, the oars, rudder, mast, and triangular sail, all showed +that it had not been made by savages. The seats of the rowers were made +of planks, and were painted, and what further convinced me was, that I +found in it a capital gun, loaded, and a horn of powder in a hole under +one of the seats. I then made particular inquiries about the island from +whence they had brought the canoe; and all their answers confirmed my +idea that it must be inhabited by a European, from whom they had +perhaps taken his only means of leaving it. + +“Restless about this fancy, I tried to persuade them to return and +discover if the island was inhabited. I could not prevail on them to +restore the canoe; but, seeing me much agitated, they resolved secretly +to procure me a great pleasure as they thought, by returning to the +island and bringing away any one they could meet with, whether he would +or not. Parabéry, always the leader in perilous enterprises, and who was +so attached to me, would not be left out in one which was to produce me +such pleasure. They set out, and you know the result of their +expedition. I leave it to your wife to tell you how she was brought +away, and pass on to the time of their arrival. My people brought them +to me in triumph, and were vexed that they had only found one woman and +a child, whom I might give to the white lady. This I did promptly. Your +wife was ill and distressed, and I carried her immediately to the +grotto. There she found a companion who welcomed her with joy; Francis +replaced her own lost Alfred, and the two good mothers were soon +intimate friends. But, notwithstanding this solace, your Elizabeth was +inconsolable at the separation from her husband and children, and +terrified at the danger to which you would expose yourself in searching +for her. We were even afraid she would lose her reason, when the king +came to take away Francis. He had seen him on his arrival, and was much +taken with his appearance; he came again to see him, and resolved to +adopt him as his son. You know what passed on this subject; and now you +are once more united to all those who are dear to you. + +“Bless God, brother, who knows how to produce good from what we think +evil, and acknowledge the wisdom of his ways. You must return all +together to your island; I am too much interested in the happiness of +Emily to wish to detain her; and if God permits me, when my missions are +completed, I will come to end my days with you, and to bless your +rising colony.” + +I suppress all our reflections on this interesting history, and our +gratitude for the termination of our trials, and hasten to the recital, +which, at my particular entreaty, my wife proceeded to give us. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHAPTER LVII. + + +“My story,” she began, “will not be long. I might make it in two +words,—_you have lost me, and you have found me_. I have every reason +to thank Heaven for a circumstance, which has proved to me how dear I am +to you, and has given me the happiness of gaining a friend and two dear +daughters. Can one complain of an event which has produced such +consequences, even though it was attended with some violence? But I +ought to do the savages justice,—this violence was as gentle as it +could be. I need only tell you Parabéry was there, to convince you I was +well treated, and it was solely the sorrow of being parted from you that +affected my health. I shall be well now, and as soon as Jack can walk, +I shall be ready to embark for our happy island. I will now tell you how +I was brought away. + +“When you and our three sons left, to make the tour of the island, I was +very comfortable; you had told me you might return late, or probably not +till next day, and when the evening passed away without seeing you, I +was not uneasy. Francis was constantly with me; we went together to +water the garden, and rested in the Grotto Ernestine; then I returned to +the house, took my wheel, and placed myself in my favourite colonnade, +where I should be the first to see your return. Francis, seeing me at +work, asked if he might go as far as the bridge to meet you; to which I +readily consented. He set out, and I was sitting, thinking of the +pleasure I should have in seeing you again, and hearing you relate your +voyage, when I saw Francis running, crying out, ‘Mamma! mamma! there is +a canoe on the sea; I know it is ours; it is full of men, +perhaps savages.’ + +“‘Silly little fellow!’ said I, ‘it is your father and brothers; if they +are in the canoe, there can be no doubt of it. Your father told me he +would bring it, and they would return by water; I had forgotten this +when I let you go. Now you can go and meet them on the shore; give me +your arm, and I will go too,’ and we set off very joyfully to meet our +captors. I soon, alas! saw my error; it was, indeed, our canoe, but, +instead of my dear ones, there were in it six half-naked savages, with +terrible countenances, who landed and surrounded us. My blood froze with +fright, and if I had wished to flee, I was unable. I fell on the shore, +nearly insensible; still, I heard the cries of my dear Francis, who +clung to me, and held me with all his strength; at last my senses quite +failed me, and I only recovered to find myself lying at the bottom of +the canoe. My son, weeping over me, was trying to recover me, assisted +by one of the savages, of less repulsive appearance than his companions, +and who seemed the chief; this was Parabéry. He made me swallow a few +drops of a detestable fermented liquor, which, however, restored me. I +felt, as I recovered, the extent of my disaster, and your grief, my +dears, when you should find me missing. I should have been wholly +disconsolate, but that Francis was left to me, and he was continually +praying me to live for his sake. I received some comfort from a vague +notion that as this was our canoe, the savages had already carried you +off, and were taking us to you. + +“I was confirmed in this hope, when I saw that the savages, instead of +making to sea, continued to coast the island, till they came to the +Great Bay. I had then no doubt but that we should meet with you; but +this hope was soon destroyed. Two or three more of the savages were +waiting there on the shore; they spoke to their friends in the canoe; +and I understood from their gestures, that they were saying they could +not find anybody there. I have since learnt from Canda, that part of +them landed at the Great Bay, with instructions to search that side of +the island for inhabitants, whilst the rest proceeded with the canoe to +examine the other side, and had succeeded but too well. The night came +on, and they were anxious to return, which, doubtless, prevented them +pillaging our house. I believe, moreover, that none of them could have +reached Tent House, defended by our strong palisade, and hidden by +the rocks amidst which it is built; and the other party, finding us on +the shore, would not penetrate further. + +[Illustration: “Six savages with terrible countenances, landed and +surrounded us.”] + +“When all had entered the canoe, they pushed off, by the light of the +stars, into the open sea. I think I must have sunk under my sorrow, but +for Francis, and, I must confess it, my dear dog Flora, who had never +left me. Francis told me, that she had tried to defend me, and flew at +the savages; but one of them took my apron, tore it, and tied it over +her mouth like a muzzle, bound her legs, and then threw her into the +canoe, where the poor creature lay at my feet, moaning piteously. She +arrived with us in this island, but I have not seen her since; I have +often inquired of Parabéry, but he could not tell me what had become +of her.” + +“But I know,” said Fritz, “and have seen her. We brought Turk with us, +and the savages had carried Flora to that desert part of the island, +from whence Jack was carried off; so the two dogs met. When I had the +misfortune to wound Jack, I quite forgot them; they were rambling off, +in chase of kangaroos; we left them, and no doubt they are there still. +But we must not abandon the poor beasts; if my father will permit me, I +will go and seek them in Parabéry’s canoe.” + +As we were obliged to wait a few days for Jack’s recovery, I consented, +on condition that Parabéry accompanied them, and the next day was fixed +for the expedition. Ernest begged to be of the party, that he might see +the beautiful trees and flowers they had described. I then requested the +narration might be continued, which had been interrupted by this +episode of the two dogs. Francis resumed it where his mother had +left off. + +“We had a favourable passage—the sea was calm, and the boat went so +smoothly, that both mamma and I went to sleep. You must have come a much +longer round than necessary, papa, as your voyage lasted three days, and +we arrived here the day after our departure. Mamma was then awake, and +wept constantly, believing she should never more see you or my brothers. +Parabéry seemed very sorry for her, and tried to console her; at last, +he addressed to her two or three words of German, pointing to heaven. +His words were very plain—_Almighty God, good_; and then _black +friend_, and _white lady_; adding the words _Canda, bear_, and +_Minou-minou_. We did not understand what he meant; but he seemed so +pleased at speaking these words, that we could not but be pleased too; +and to hear him name God in German gave us confidence, though we could, +not comprehend where or how he had learnt the words. ‘Perhaps,’ said +mamma, ‘he has seen your papa and brothers,’ I thought so too; still, it +appeared strange that, in so short a time, he could acquire and remember +these words. However it might be, mamma was delighted to have him near +her, and taught him to pronounce the words _father, mother_, and _son_, +which did not seem strange to him, and he soon knew them. She pointed to +me and to herself, as she pronounced the words, and he readily +comprehended them, and said to us, with bursts of laughter, showing his +large ivory teeth, _Canda, mother; Minou-minou, son; Parabéry, father; +white lady, mother_. Mamma thought he referred to her, but it was to +Madame Emily. He tried to pronounce this name and two others, but could +not succeed; at last, he said, _girls, girls_, and almost convinced us +he must know some Europeans, which was a great comfort to us. + +“When I saw mamma more composed, I took out my flageolet to amuse her, +and played the air to Ernest’s verses. This made her weep again very +much, and she begged me to desist; the savages, however, wished me to +continue, and I did not know whom to obey. I changed the air, playing +the merriest I knew. They were in ecstasies; they took me in their arms +one after the other, saying, _Bara-ourou, Bara-ourou_. I repeated the +word after them, and they were still more delighted. But mamma was so +uneasy to see me in their arms, that I broke from them, and returned +to her. + +“At last we landed. They carried mamma, who was too weak to walk. About +a hundred yards from the shore, we saw a large building of wood and +reeds, before which there was a crowd of savages. One who was very tall +came to receive us. He was dressed in a short tunic, much ornamented, +and wore a necklace of pierced shells. He was a little disfigured by a +white bone passed through his nostrils. But you saw him, papa, when he +wanted to adopt me; it was Bara-ourou, the king of the island. I was +presented to him, and he was pleased with me, touched the end of my nose +with his, and admired my hair very much. My conductors ordered me to +play on the flageolet. I played some lively German airs, which made them +dance and leap, till the king fell down with fatigue, and made a sign +for me to desist. He then spoke for some time to the savages, who stood +in a circle round him. He looked at mamma, who was seated in a corner, +near her protector Parabéry. He called the latter, who obliged mamma to +rise, and presented her to the king. Bara-ourou looked only at the red +and yellow India handkerchief which she wore on her head; he took it +off, very unceremoniously, and put it on his own head, saying, _miti_, +which means beautiful. He then made us re-embark in the canoe with him, +amusing himself with me and my flageolet, which he attempted to play by +blowing it through his nose, but did not succeed. After turning round a +point which seemed to divide the island into two, we landed on a sandy +beach. Parabéry and another savage proceeded into the interior, carrying +my mother, and we followed. We arrived at a hut similar to the king’s, +but not so large. There we were received by Mr. Willis, whom we judged +to be the _black friend_, and from that time we had no more fears. He +took us under his protection, first speaking to the king and to Parabéry +in their own language. He then addressed mamma in German, mixed with a +few English words, which we understood very well. He knew nothing of you +and my brothers; but, from what mamma told him, he promised to have you +sought for, and brought as soon as possible to the island. In the mean +time, he offered to lead us to a friend who would take care of us, and +nurse poor mamma, who looked very ill. She was obliged to be carried to +the grotto; but, after that, her cares were over, and her pleasure +without alloy; for the _black friend_ had promised to seek you. The +_white lady_ received us like old friends, and Sophia and Matilda took +me at first for their own brother, and still love me as if I was. We +only wished for you all. Madame Mimi made mamma lie down on the +bear-skin, and prepared her a pleasant beverage from the milk of the +cocoa-nut. Sophia and Matilda took me to gather strawberries, and figs, +and beautiful flowers; and we caught fish in the brook, between two +osier hurdles. We amused ourselves very well with Minou-minou, while +Canda and Madame Emily amused mamma. + +“The king came the next day to see his little favourite; he wished me to +go with him to another part of the island, where he often went to hunt; +but I would not leave mamma and my new friends. I was wrong, papa; for +you were there, and my brothers; it was there Jack was wounded and +brought away. I might have prevented all that, and you would then have +returned to us. How sorry I have been for my obstinacy! It was I, more +than Fritz, who was the cause of his being wounded. + +“Bara-ourou returned in the evening to the grotto; and think, papa, of +our surprise, our delight, and our distress, when he brought us poor +Jack, wounded and in great pain, but still all joy at finding us again! +The king told Mr. Willis he was sure Jack was my brother, and he made us +a present of him, adding, that he gave him in exchange for mamma’s +handkerchief. Mamma thanked him earnestly, and placed Jack beside her. +From him she learned all you had done to discover us. He informed Mr. +Willis where he had left you, and he promised to seek and bring you to +us. He then examined the wound, which Jack wished him to think he had +himself caused with Fritz’s gun; but this was not probable, as the ball +had entered behind, and lodged in the shoulder. Mr. Willis extracted it +with some difficulty, and poor Jack suffered a good deal; but all is now +going on well. What a large party we shall be, papa, when we are all +settled in our island; Sophia and Matilda, Minou-Minou, Canda, Parabéry, +you, papa, and two mammas, and Mr. Willis!” + +My wife smiled as the little orator concluded. Mr. Willis then dressed +Jack’s wound, and thought he might be removed in five or six days. + +“Now, my dear Jack,” said I, “it is your turn to relate your history. +Your brother left off where you were entertaining the savages with your +buffooneries; and certainly they were never better introduced. But how +did they suddenly think of carrying you away?” + +“Parabéry told me,” said Jack, “that they were struck with my +resemblance to Francis as soon as I took my flageolet. After I had +played a minute or two, the savage who wore mamma’s handkerchief, whom I +now know to be the king, interrupted me by crying out and clapping his +hands. He spoke earnestly to the others, pointing to my face, and to my +flageolet, which he had taken; he looked also at my jacket of blue +cotton, which one of them had tied round his shoulders like a mantle; +and doubtless he then gave orders for me to be carried to the canoe. +They seized upon me; I screamed like a madman, kicked them and scratched +them; but what could I do against seven or eight great savages? They +tied my legs together, and my hands behind me, and carried me like a +parcel. I could then do nothing but cry out for Fritz; and the knight of +the gun came rather too soon. In attempting to defend me, some way or +other, off went his gun, and the ball took up its abode in my shoulder. +I can assure you an unpleasant visitor is that same ball; but here he +is, the scoundrel! Father Willis pulled him out by the same door as that +by which he went in; and since his departure, all goes on well. + +“Now for my story. When poor Fritz saw that I was wounded, he fell +down as if he had been shot at the same time. The savages, thinking he +was dead, took away his gun, and carried me into the canoe. I was in +despair more for the death of my brother than from my wound, which I +almost forgot, and was wishing they would throw me into the sea, when +I saw Fritz running at full speed to the shore; but we pushed off, and +I could only call out some words of consolation. The savages were very +kind to me, and one of them held me up seated on the out-rigger; they +washed my wound with sea-water, sucked it, tore my pocket-handkerchief +to make a bandage, and as soon as we landed, squeezed the juice of +some herb into it. We sailed very quickly, and passed the place where +we had landed in the morning. I knew it again, and could see Ernest +standing on a sand-bank; he was watching us, and I held out my arms +to him. I thought I also saw you, papa, and heard you call; but the +savages yelled, and though I cried with all my strength, it was in +vain. I little thought they were taking me to mamma. As soon as we had +disembarked, they brought me to this grotto; and I thought I must have +died of surprise and joy when I was met by mamma and Francis, and then +by Sophia, Matilda, mamma Emily, and Mr. Willis, who is a second father +to me. This is the end of my story. And a very pretty end it is, that +brings us all together. What matters it to have had a little vexation +for all this pleasure? I owe it all to you, Fritz; if you had let me +sink to the bottom of the sea, instead of dragging me out by the hair, +I should not have been here so happy as I am; I am obliged to the gun, +too; thanks to it, I was the first to reach mamma, and see our new +friends.” + +The next day, Fritz and Ernest set out on their expedition with +Parabéry, in his canoe, to seek our two valued dogs. The good islander +carried his canoe on his back to the shore. I saw them set off, but not +without some dread, in such a frail bark, into which the water leaked +through every seam. But my boys could swim well; and the kind, skilful, +and bold Parabéry undertook to answer for their safety. I therefore +recommended them to God, and returned to the grotto, to tranquillize my +wife’s fears. Jack was inconsolable that he could not form one of the +party; but Sophia scolded him for wishing to leave them, to go upon the +sea, which had swallowed up poor Alfred. + +In the evening we had the pleasure of seeing our brave dogs enter the +grotto. They leaped on us in a way that terrified the poor little girls +at first, who took them for bears; but they were soon reconciled to them +when they saw them fawn round us, lick our hands, and pass from one to +the other to be caressed. My sons had had no difficulty in finding them; +they had run to them at the first call, and seemed delighted to see +their masters again. + +The poor animals had subsisted on the remains of the kangaroos, but +apparently had met with no fresh water, for they seemed dying with +thirst, and rushed to the brook as soon as they discovered it, and +returned again and again. Then they followed us to the hut of the good +missionary, who had been engaged all day in visiting the dwellings of +the natives, and teaching them the truths of religion. I had accompanied +him, but, from ignorance of the language, could not aid him. I was, +however, delighted with the simple and earnest manner in which he spoke, +and the eagerness with which they heard him. He finished by a prayer, +kneeling, and they all imitated him, lifting up their hands and eyes to +heaven. He told me he was trying to make them celebrate the Sunday. He +assembled them in his tent, which he wished to make a temple for the +worship of the true God. He intended to consecrate it for this purpose, +and to live in the grotto, after our departure. + +The day arrived at last. Jack’s shoulder was nearly healed, and my +wife, along with her happiness, recovered her strength. The pinnace had +been so well guarded by Parabéry and his friends that it suffered no +injury. I distributed among the islanders everything I had that could +please them, and made Parabéry invite them to come and see us in our +island, requesting we might live on friendly terms. Mr. Willis wished +much to see it, and to complete our happiness he promised to accompany +and spend some days with us; and Parabéry said he would take him back +when he wished it. + +We embarked, then, after taking leave of Bara-ourou, who was very +liberal in his presents, giving us, besides fruits of every kind, a +whole hog roasted, which was excellent. + +We were fourteen in number; sixteen, reckoning the two dogs. The +missionary accompanied us, and a young islander, whom Parabéry had +procured to be his servant, as he was too old and too much occupied with +his mission to attend to his own wants. This youth was of a good +disposition and much attached to him. Parabéry took him to assist in +rowing when he returned. + +Emily could not but feel rather affected at leaving the grotto, where +she had passed four tranquil, if not happy years, fulfilling the duties +of a mother. Neither could she avoid a painful sensation when she once +more saw the sea that had been so fatal to her husband and son; she +could scarcely subdue the fear she had of trusting all she had left to +that treacherous element. She held her daughters in her arms, and prayed +for the protection of Heaven. Mr. Willis and I spoke to her of the +goodness of God, and pointed out to her the calmness of the water, the +security of the pinnace, and the favourable state of the wind. My wife +described to her our establishment, and promised her a far more +beautiful grotto than the one she had left, and at last she became more +reconciled. + +After seven or eight hours’ voyage, we arrived at Cape Disappointment, +and we agreed the bay should henceforth be called the Bay of the +Happy Return. + +The distance to Tent House from hence was much too great for the ladies +and children to go on foot. My intention was to take them by water to +the other end of the island near our house; but my elder sons had +begged to be landed at the bay, to seek their live stock, and take them +home. I left them there with Parabéry; Jack recommended his buffalo to +them, and Francis his bull, and all were found. We coasted the island, +arrived at Safety Bay, and were soon at Tent House, where we found all, +as we had left it, in good condition. + +Notwithstanding the description my wife had given them, our new guests +found our establishment far beyond their expectation. With what delight +Jack and Francis ran up and down the colonnade with their young friends! +What stories they had to tell of all the surprises they had prepared for +their mother! They showed them _Fritzia, Jackia_, the _Franciade_, and +gave their friends water from their beautiful fountain. Absence seemed +to have improved everything; and I must confess I had some difficulty to +refrain from demonstrating my joy as wildly as my children. Minou-minou, +Parabéry, and Canda, were lost in admiration, calling out continually, +_miti_! beautiful! My wife was busied in arranging a temporary lodging +for our guests. The work-room was given up to Mr. Willis; my wife and +Madame Emily had our apartment, the two little girls being with them, to +whom the hammocks of the elder boys were appropriated. Canda, who knew +nothing about beds, was wonderfully comfortable on the carpet. Fritz, +Ernest, and the two natives, stowed themselves wherever they wished, in +the colonnade, or in the kitchen; all was alike to them. I slept on moss +and cotton in Mr. Willis’s room, with my two younger sons. Every one was +content, waiting till our ulterior arrangements were completed. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + +I must conclude my journal here. We can scarcely be more happy than we +are, and I feel no cares about my children. Fritz is so fond of the +chase and of mechanics, and Ernest of study, that they will not wish to +marry; but I please myself by hoping at some time to see my dear Jack +and Francis happily united to Sophia and Matilda. What remains for me to +tell? The details of happiness, however sweet in enjoyment, are often +tedious in recital. + +I will only add, that after passing a few days with us, Mr. Willis +returned to his charge, promising to visit us, and eventually to join +us. The Grotto Ernestine, fitted up by Fritz and Parabéry, made a pretty +abode for Madame Hirtel and her daughters, and the two islanders. +Minou-minou did not leave his young mammas, and was very useful to them. +I must state, also, that my son Ernest, without abandoning the study of +natural history, applied himself to astronomy, and mounted the large +telescope belonging to the ship; he acquired considerable knowledge of +this sublime science, which his mother, however, considered somewhat +useless. The course of the other planets did not interest her, so long +as all went on well in that which she inhabited; and nothing now was +wanting to her happiness, surrounded as she was by friends. + +The following year we had a visit from a Russian vessel, the _Neva_, +commanded by Captain Krusenstern, a countryman and distant relation of +mine. The celebrated Horner, of Zurich, accompanied him as astronomer. +Having read the first part of our journal, sent into Europe by Captain +Johnson, he had come purposely to see us. Delighted with our +establishment, he did not advise us to quit it. Captain Krusenstern +invited us to take a passage in his vessel; we declined his offer; but +my wife, though she renounced her country for ever, was glad of the +opportunity of making inquiries about her relations and friends. As she +had concluded, her good mother had died some years before, blessing her +absent children. My wife shed some tears, but was consoled by the +certainty of her mother’s eternal felicity, and the hope of their +meeting in futurity. + +One of her brothers was also dead; he had left a daughter, to whom my +wife had always been attached, though she was very young when we left. +Henrietta Bodmer was now sixteen, and, Mr. Horner assured us, a most +amiable girl. My wife wished much to have her with us. + +Ernest would not leave Mr. Horner a moment, he was so delighted to meet +with one so eminently skilful in his favourite science. Astronomy made +them such friends, that Mr. Horner petitioned me to allow him to take my +son to Europe, promising to bring him back himself in a few years. This +was a great trial to us, but I felt that his taste for science required +a larger field than our island. His mother was reluctant to part with +him, but consoled herself with a notion, that he might bring his cousin +Henrietta back with him. + +Many tears were shed at our parting; indeed, the grief of his mother was +so intense, that my son seemed almost inclined to give up his +inclination; but Mr. Horner made some observations about the transit of +Venus, so interesting that Ernest could not resist. He left us, +promising to bring us back everything we wished for. In the mean time +Captain Krusenstern left us a good supply of powder, provisions, seeds, +and some capital tools, to the great delight of Fritz and Jack. They +regretted their brother greatly, but diverted their minds from sorrow by +application to mechanics, assisted by the intelligent Parabéry. They +have already succeeded in constructing, near the cascade, a corn-mill +and a saw-mill, and have built a very good oven. + +We miss Ernest very much. Though his taste for study withdrew him a good +deal from us, and he was not so useful as his brothers, we found his +calm and considerate advice often of value, and his mildness always +spread a charm over our circle, in joy or in trouble. + +Except this little affliction, we are very happy. Our labours are +divided regularly. Fritz and Jack manage the Board of Works. They have +opened a passage through the rock which divided us from the other side +of the island; thus doubling our domain and our riches. At the same +time, they formed a dwelling for Madame Hirtel near our own, from the +same excavation in the rock. Fritz took great pains with it; the windows +are made of oiled paper instead of glass; but we usually assemble in our +large work-room, which is very well lighted. + +Francis has the charge of our flocks and of the poultry, all greatly +increased. For me, I preside over the grand work of agriculture. The two +mothers, their two daughters, and Canda, manage the garden, spin, +weave, take care of our clothes, and attend to household matters. Thus +we all work, and everything prospers. Several families of the natives, +pupils of Mr. Willis, have obtained leave, through him, to join us, and +are settled at Falcon’s Nest, and at the Farm. These people assist us in +the cultivation of our ground, and our dear missionary in the +cultivation of our souls. Nothing is wanting to complete our happiness +but the return of dear Ernest. + + + + +POSTSCRIPT TWO YEARS AFTER. + + +We are now as happy as we can desire,—our son is returned. According to +my wishes, he had made out Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Bell, our +first visitors, whom the storm had driven from us, but who were still +determined to see us again. My son found them preparing for another +voyage to the South Seas. He at once seized the opportunity of +accompanying them, impatiently desirous to revisit the island, and to +bring to us Henrietta Bodmer, now become his wife. She is a simple, +amiable Swiss girl, who suits us well, and who is delighted to see once +more her kind aunt, now become her mother. + +My wife is overjoyed; this is her first daughter-in-law, but Jack and +Francis, as well as Sophia and Matilda, are growing up; and moreover, my +dear wife, who has great ideas of married happiness, hopes to induce +Emily to consent to be united to Fritz at the same time as her daughters +are married. Fritz would feel all the value of this change; his +character is already softened by her society, and though she is a few +years older than he is, she is blessed with all the vivacity of youth. +Mr. Willis approves of this union, and we hope he will live to solemnize +the three marriages. Ernest and Henrietta inhabit the Grotto Ernestine, +which his brothers fitted up as a very tasteful dwelling. They had even, +to gratify their brother, raised on the rock above the grotto a sort of +observatory, where the telescope is mounted, to enable him to make his +astronomical observations. Yet I perceive his passion for exploring +distant planets is less strong, since he has so much to attach him +to this. + +I give this conclusion of my journal to Captain Johnson, to take into +Europe, to be added to the former part. If any one of my readers be +anxious for further particulars respecting our colony and our mode of +life, let him set out for the Happy Island; he will be warmly welcomed, +and may join with us in Ernest’s chorus, which we now sing with +additional pleasure,— + + All we love around us smile, + Joyful is our Desert Isle. + + + + +DECEMBER, 1850. + +CHRISTMAS +PRESENTS AND GIFT-BOOKS, +IN NEW AND ELEGANT BINDINGS, +PUBLISHED OR SOLD BY +GEORGE ROTJTLEDGE AND CO., +36, SOHO SQUARE, LONDON. + + * * * * * + +Edited by the Rev. J. 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By F. Guizot. + +HISTORY OF AMERICA, Vol. I. By Bancroft. + +LETTERS FROM PALMYRA. By Ware. + +WESTERN CLEARINGS. By Mrs. Kirkland. + +LIFE OF SIR ROBERT PEEL. With portrait by Harvey. + +THE BERBER. By Dr. Mayo. + +KALOOLAH; an Autobiography. By Dr. Mayo. + +ELDORADO; or, The Gold Regions. Two Vols. By Bayard Taylor. + +TYPEE; a Residence in the Marquesas. By Herman Melville. + +OMOO; or, Adventures in the South Seas. By Herman Melville. + +REPRESENTATIVE MEN. By R.W. Emerson. + +and + +Washington Irving’s Complete Works, + +consisting of + +LIFE AND VOYAGES OF COLUMBUS. Two Vols. By Washington +Irving. + +CONQUEST OF GRANADA. By Washington Irving. + +TALES OF A TRAVELLER. By Washington Irving. + +TOUR ON THE PRAIRIES, Abbotsford, and Newstead Abbey. By +Washington Irving. + +THE SKETCH-BOOK. By Washington Irving. + +KNICKERBOCKER’S History of New York. By Washington Irving. + +BONNEVILLE’S (Capt.) ADVENTURES. By Washington Irving. + +TALES OF THE ALHAMBRA, and Legends of Spain. By Washington +Irving. + +ASTORIA. By Washington Irving. + +COMPANIONS OF COLUMBUS. By Washington Irving. + +OLIVER GOLDSMITH; an Autobiography. By Washington Irving. + +LIFE OF MAHOMET. By Washington Irving. + +BRACEBRIDGE HALL. By Washington Irving. + +LIVES OF SUCCESSORS OF MAHOMET. By Washington Irving. + +SALMAGUNDI. By Washington Irving. + + * * * * * + +Also, the above Works, bound in Eight Volumes, cloth lettered, + +forming the + +Complete Edition of Washington Irving’s Works, 20s. + +PRINTED BY COX (BROTHERS) AND WYMAN, GREAT QUEEN STREET. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 11703 *** |