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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/78017-0.txt b/78017-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25e9860 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12660 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78017 *** + + [Illustration: “The morning dawned upon us without a prospect of + hope.”] + FRONTISPIECE + + + + + THE + SWISS FAMILY + ROBINSON + + ILLUSTRATED BY + T. H. ROBINSON + + + GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. + GARDEN CITY NEW YORK + + + + PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I A SHIPWRECK, AND PREPARATIONS FOR DELIVERANCE 15 + + II A LANDING, AND CONSEQUENT OCCUPATIONS 28 + + III VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 39 + + IV RETURN FROM THE VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY--A + NOCTURNAL ALARM 49 + + V RETURN TO THE WRECK 56 + + VI A TROOP OF ANIMALS IN CORK JACKETS 66 + + VII SECOND JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY PERFORMED BY + THE MOTHER OF THE FAMILY 74 + + VIII CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE 80 + + IX CHANGE OF ABODE 87 + + X CONSTRUCTION OF A LADDER 95 + + XI THE SETTLING IN THE GIANT TREE 101 + + XII THE SABBATH AND THE PARABLE 105 + + XIII CONVERSATION, AND A WALK 114 + + XIV CONTINUATION OF PRECEDING CHAPTER--DISCOVERIES 119 + + XV HOPES OF A SLEDGE--SOME SHORT LESSONS + IN USEFUL THINGS 124 + + XVI BATHING, FISHING, AND A KANGAROO 127 + + XVII MORE STORES FROM THE WRECK 132 + + XVIII THE TORTOISE HARNESSED 135 + + XIX ANOTHER TRIP TO THE WRECK--BAKING 140 + + XX THE CRACKER AND THE PINNACE 144 + + XXI GYMNASTIC EXERCISES--VARIOUS DISCOVERIES-- + SINGULAR ANIMALS, ETC. 153 + + XXII EXCURSION INTO UNKNOWN TRACTS 163 + + XXIII USEFUL OCCUPATIONS AND LABOURS--EMBELLISHMENTS--A + PAINFUL BUT NATURAL SENTIMENT 169 + + XXIV A NEW DOMAIN--THE TROOP OF BUFFALOES--THE + VANQUISHED HERO 175 + + XXV THE MALABAR EAGLE--SAGO MANUFACTORY--BEES 184 + + XXVI TREATMENT OF BEES--STAIRCASE--TRAINING + OF VARIOUS ANIMALS--MANUFACTURES, ETC. 194 + + XXVII THE WILD ASS--DIFFICULTY IN BREAKING + IT--THE HEATH FOWL’S NEST 201 + + XXVIII FLAX, AND THE RAINY SEASON 208 + + XXIX SPRING--SPINNING--SALT MINE 215 + + XXX HOUSE IN THE SALT ROCK--TURTLES 222 + + XXXI NEW FISHERY--NEW EXPERIMENTS--NEW DISCOVERIES, + AND HOUSE 226 + + XXXII COMPLETION OF TWO FARMHOUSES--A + LAKE--A BOAT 235 + + XXXIII ANNIVERSARY OF OUR DELIVERANCE--MOTIVES + FOR THANKFULNESS 244 + + XXXIV GOURD PLANTATION--MONKEY-ROOT OR GINSENG--BIRD + SNARES 250 + + XXXV THE DOVE-COT AND ITS MANAGEMENT 257 + + XXXVI JACK’S ADVENTURE AND NARROW ESCAPE--A + FOUNTAIN 264 + + XXXVII THE APPROACH OF WINTER AND WET SEASON--INVENTION + OF A NEW LIGHT--LITERARY ACQUISITIONS 268 + + XXXVIII CLOSE OF THE RAINY SEASON--A WHALE--CORAL 273 + + XXXIX THE WHALE, ITS DISSECTION--USES OF THE + DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WHALE 276 + + XL THE BOAT-PROPELLER OR ROWING MACHINE--A + TURTLE DRIVE 279 + + XLI WEAVING-MACHINE--BASKET-MAKING--THE + ALARM--A DANGEROUS VISITOR--THE + ASS FALLS A VICTIM 286 + + XLII DISCOVERY OF A CRYSTAL GROTTO--FURTHER + EXPLORATION 295 + + XLIII THE PIG HUNT--THE SUPPLY--THE + OTAHEITAN ROAST--HAM SMOKING 304 + + XLIV EXCURSION INTO THE SAVANNA--TWO HORSEMEN--THE + OSTRICH HUNT--THE NEST--THE LAND TURTLES 309 + + XLV BEARS! BEARS!--NARROW ESCAPE--THE COMBAT--DISCOVERY + OF PORCELAIN EARTH 316 + + XLVI PREPARATION OF THE BEARS’ FLESH--CUPS OUT OF + OSTRICH EGGS--ANGORA RABBITS AND ANTELOPES 319 + + XLVII OSTRICHES AGAIN--A HUNT AND A CAPTURE--ACQUISITION + OF TREASURE--EUPHORBIA--VANILLA 325 + + XLVIII PROGRESS IN OSTRICH DISCIPLINE--EFFICACY + OF TOBACCO SMOKE--HYDROMEL--THE NEW HAT--POTTERY 331 + + XLIX RETURN OF THE RAINY SEASON--A NEW WANT--THE CAJACK 339 + + L RETURN OF THE BOYS--THEIR ADVENTURES--HARVESTING-- + PARTRIDGES AND QUAILS 345 + + LI TRIAL OF THE CAJACK--THE ALARM--ADVENTURE WITH + SEA COWS--THE DRAWBRIDGE 350 + + LII TAMING OF ANTELOPES--SUGAR PRESS--COMBAT WITH A + HYENA--A FLYING COURIER--THE WILD HORSE AND THE + ELEPHANT 357 + + LIII THE REDOUBT--VALUABLE DISCOVERIES--THE CACAO + TREE--THE BANANA--CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS--TEA + PLANT--ARTILLERY, AND FORTIFICATION OF SHARK ISLAND 369 + + LIV A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE COLONY AFTER TEN YEARS OF + ESTABLISHMENT 376 + + LV EXCURSION OF FRITZ--STARTLING COMMUNICATION--DISCOVERY + OF PEARLS--INTELLIGENCE OF A FELLOW CREATURE--FRITZ’S + RETURN, AND ACCOUNT OF HIS WONDERFUL DISCOVERIES 384 + + LVI EDIBLE BIRDS’ NESTS--PEARL FISHERY--POOR + JACK IS “KILLED”--DISCOVERY OF TRUFFLES 393 + + LVII COTTON NUTS--TERRIFIC ENCOUNTER WITH LION AND + LIONESS--A SAVAGE--PARLEY, AND RECOGNITION OF A + FRIEND 398 + + LVIII ADVENTURES OF FRITZ--SIR EDWARD MONTROSE--OUR ADOPTED + SISTER--ATTACK OF WOLVES--PREPARATIONS FOR RETURN 406 + + LIX THE LIMEKILN--FRITZ’S STORY 414 + + LX EMILY’S OWN STORY--RETURN TO FELSENHEIM WITH MILITARY + HONOURS--THE WINTER SEASON ONCE MORE 421 + + LXI CONCLUSION 427 + + + + + COLOR PLATES + + + “The morning dawned upon us without a prospect + of hope” _Frontispiece_ + + FACING PAGE + + “The Vandals themselves could not have made a + more complete pillage than we had done” 62 + + “I proceeded more cautiously in my pursuit of the + wounded bird” 94 + + “He accordingly fell into the track of the current, + and drew us straight towards our usual place of + landing” 138 + + “Thus we entered the rock in solemn procession” 218 + + “Francis remained with his mother” 310 + + “With one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back” 334 + + “I felt so frightened at the apparition” 374 + + + + + THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON + + + + + THE SWISS FAMILY + ROBINSON + + + + + CHAPTER I + + A Shipwreck, and Preparations for Deliverance + + +Already the tempest had continued six days; on the seventh its fury +seemed still increasing; and the morning dawned upon us without a +prospect of hope, for we had wandered so far from the right track, +and were so forcibly driven toward the southeast, that none on +board knew where we were. The ship’s company were exhausted by +labour and watching, and the courage which had sustained them was +now sinking. The shivered masts had been cast into the sea; several +leaks appeared, and the ship began to fill. The sailors forbore from +swearing; many were at prayer on their knees; while others offered +miracles of future piety and goodness, as the condition of their +release from danger. “My beloved children,” said I to my four boys, +who clung to me in their fright, “God can save us, for nothing is +impossible to Him. We must however hold ourselves resigned, and, +instead of murmuring at His decree, rely that what He sees fit to do +is best, and that should He call us from this earthly scene, we shall +be near Him in heaven, and united through eternity. Death may be well +supported when it does not separate those who love.” + +My excellent wife wiped the tears which were falling on her cheeks, +and from this moment became more tranquil: she encouraged the +youngest children who were leaning on her knees; while I, who owed +them an example of firmness, was scarcely able to resist my grief +at the thought of what would most likely be the fate of beings so +tenderly beloved. We all fell on our knees, and supplicated the God +of Mercy to protect us; and the emotion and fervour of the innocent +creatures are a convincing proof that even in childhood devotion may +be felt and understood, and that tranquillity and consolation, its +natural effects, may at that season be no less certainly experienced. +Fritz, my eldest son, implored, in a loud voice, that God would deign +to save his dear parents and his brothers, generously unmindful of +himself: the boys rose from their posture with a state of mind so +improved that they seemed forgetful of the impending danger. I myself +began to feel my hopes increase, as I beheld the affecting group. +Heaven will surely have pity on them, thought I, and will save their +parents to guard their tender years! + +At this moment a cry of “Land, land!” was heard through the roaring +of the waves, and instantly the vessel struck against a rock with so +violent a motion as to drive every one from his place; a tremendous +cracking succeeded, as if the ship were going to pieces; the sea +rushed in, in all directions; we perceived that the vessel had +grounded, and could not long hold together. The captain called out +that all was lost, and bade the men lose not a moment in putting out +the boats. The sounds fell on my heart like a thrust from a dagger: +“We are lost!” I exclaimed, and the children broke out into piercing +cries. I then recollected myself, and, addressing them again, +exhorted them to courage, by observing that the water had not yet +reached us, that the ship was near land, and that Providence would +assist the brave. “Keep where you are,” added I, “while I go and +examine what is best to be done.” + +I now went on the deck. A wave instantly threw me down, and wetted me +to the skin; another followed, and then another. I sustained myself +as steadily as I could; and looking around, a scene of terrific +and complete disaster met my eyes: the ship was shattered in all +directions, and on one side there was a complete breach. The ship’s +company crowded into the boats till they could contain not one man +more, and the last who entered were now cutting the ropes to move +off. I called to them with almost frantic entreaties to stop and +receive us also, but in vain; for the roaring of the sea prevented my +being heard, and the waves, which rose to the height of mountains, +would have made it impossible to return. All hope from this source +was over, for, while I spoke, the boats, and all they contained, were +driving out of sight. My best consolation now was to observe that +the slanting position the ship had taken would afford us present +protection from the water; and that the stern, under which was the +cabin that enclosed all that was dear to me on earth, had been driven +upwards between two rocks, and seemed immovably fixed. At the same +time, in the distance southward, I descried through clouds and rain, +several nooks of land, which, though rude and savage in appearance, +were the objects of every hope I could form in this distressing +moment. + +Sunk and desolate from the loss of all chance of human aid, it was +yet my duty to appear serene before my family: “Courage, dear ones,” +cried I on entering their cabin, “let us not desert ourselves: I will +not conceal from you that the ship is aground; but we are at least +in greater safety than if she were beating upon the rocks; our cabin +is above water; and should the sea be more calm to-morrow, we may yet +find means to reach the land in safety.” + +What I had just said appeased their fears; for my family had the +habit of confiding in my assurances. They now began to feel the +advantage of the ship’s remaining still; for its motion had been +most distressing, by jostling them one against another, or whatever +happened to be nearest. My wife, however, more accustomed than +the children to read my inmost thoughts, perceived the anxiety +which devoured me. I made her a sign which conveyed an idea of the +hopelessness of our situation; and I had the consolation to see that +she was resolved to support the trial with resignation. “Let us take +some nourishment,” said she; “our courage will strengthen with our +bodies; we shall perhaps need this comfort to support a long and +melancholy night,” + +Soon after night set in; the fury of the tempest had not abated; +the planks and beams of the vessel separated in many parts with a +horrible crash. We thought of the boats, and feared that all they +contained must have sunk under the foaming surge. + +My wife had prepared a slender meal, and the four boys partook of it +with an appetite to which their parents were strangers. They went to +bed, and, exhausted by fatigue, soon were snoring soundly. Fritz, the +eldest, sat up with us. “I have been thinking,” said he, after a long +silence, “how it may be possible to save ourselves. If we had some +bladders or cork-jackets for my mother and my brothers, you and I, +father, would soon contrive to swim to land.” + +“That is a good thought,” said I; “we will see what can be done.” + +Fritz and I looked about for some small empty firkins; these we tied +two and two together with handkerchiefs or towels, leaving about a +foot distance between them, and fastened them as swimming-jackets +under the arms of each child, my wife at the same time preparing one +for herself. We provided ourselves with knives, some string, some +turfs, and other necessaries which could be put into the pocket, +proceeding upon the hope, that if the ship went to pieces in the +night, we should either be able to swim to land, or be driven thither +by the waves. + +Fritz, who had been up all night, and was fatigued with his laborious +occupations, now lay down near his brothers, and was soon asleep; +but their mother and I, too anxious to close our eyes, kept watch, +listening to every sound that seemed to threaten a further change in +our situation. We passed this awful night in prayer, in agonizing +apprehensions, and in forming various resolutions as to what we +should next attempt. We hailed with joy the first gleam of light +which shot through a small opening of the window. The raging of +the winds had begun to abate, the sky was become serene, and hope +throbbed in my bosom, as I beheld the sun already tinging the +horizon. Thus revived, I summoned my wife and the boys to the deck +to partake of the scene. The youngest children, half forgetful of +the past, asked with surprise, why we were there alone, and what had +become of the ship’s company? I led them to the recollection of our +misfortune, and then added, “Dearest children, a Being more powerful +than man has helped us, and will, no doubt, continue to help us, if +we do not abandon ourselves to a fruitless despair. Observe, our +companions, in whom we had so much confidence, have deserted us, and +that Divine Providence, in its goodness, has given us protection! +But, my dear ones, let us show ourselves willing in our exertions, +and thus deserve support from heaven. Let us not forget this useful +maxim, and let each labour according to his strength.” + +Fritz advised that we should all throw ourselves into the sea, while +it was calm, and swim to land.--“Ah! that may be well enough for +you,” said Ernest, “for you can swim; but we others should soon be +drowned. Would it not be better to make a float of rafts, and get to +land all together upon it?” + +“Vastly well,” answered I, “if we had the means for contriving such a +float, and if, after all, it were not a dangerous sort of conveyance. +But come, my boys, look each of you about the ship, and see what can +be done to enable us to reach the land.” + +They now all sprang from me with eager looks, to do as I desired. +I, on my part, lost no time in examining what we had to depend upon +as to provisions and fresh water. My wife and the youngest boy +visited the animals, whom they found in a pitiable condition, nearly +perishing with hunger and thirst. Fritz repaired to the ammunition +room; Ernest to the carpenter’s cabin; and Jack to the apartment of +the captain; but scarcely had he opened the door, when two large +dogs sprang upon him, and saluted him with such rude affection that +he roared for assistance, as if they had been killing him. Hunger, +however, had rendered the poor creatures so gentle that they licked +his hands and face, uttering all the time a low sort of moan, and +continuing their caresses till he was almost suffocated. Poor Jack +exerted all his strength in blows to drive them away: at last he +began to understand, and to sympathize in their joyful movements, and +put himself upon another footing. He got upon his legs, and gently +taking the largest dog by the ears, sprang upon his back, and with +great gravity presented himself thus mounted before me, as I came out +of the ship’s hold. I could not refrain from laughing, and I praised +his courage; but I added a little exhortation to be cautious, and not +go too far with animals of this species, who, in a state of hunger, +might be dangerous. + +By and by my little company were again assembled round me, and each +boasted of what he had to contribute. Fritz had two fowling-pieces, +some powder and small-shot, contained in horn flasks, and some +bullets in bags. + +Ernest produced his hat filled with nails, and held in his hands a +hatchet and a hammer; in addition, a pair of pincers, a pair of large +scissors, and an auger, peeped out at his pocket-hole. + +Even the little Francis carried under his arm a box of no very small +size, from which he eagerly produced what he called some little +sharp-pointed hooks. His brothers smiled scornfully. “Vastly well, +gentlemen,” said I; “but let me tell you that the youngest has +brought the most valuable prize, and this is often the case in the +world; the person who least courts the smiles of Fortune, and in the +calm of his heart is scarcely conscious of her existence, is often he +to whom she most readily presents herself. These little sharp-pointed +hooks, as Francis calls them, are fishing-hooks, and will probably be +of more use in preserving our lives than all we may find besides in +the ship. In justice, however, I must confess, that what Fritz and +Ernest have contributed will also afford essential service.” + +“I, for my part,” said my wife, “have brought nothing; but I have +some tidings to communicate which I hope will secure my welcome: I +have found on board a cow and an ass, two goats, six sheep, and a sow +big with young: I have just supplied them with food and water, and I +reckon on being able to preserve their lives.” + +“All this is admirable,” said I to my young labourers; “and there is +only master Jack, who, instead of thinking of something useful, has +done us the favour to present us two personages, who, no doubt, will +be principally distinguished by being willing to eat more than we +shall have to give them.” + +“Ah!” replied Jack, “but if we can once get to land, you will see +that they will assist us in hunting and shooting.” + +“True enough,” said I, “but be so good as to tell us how we are to +get to land, and whether you have contrived the means?” + +“I am sure it cannot be very difficult,” said Jack, with an arch +motion of his head. “Look here at these large tubs. Why cannot each +of us get into one of them, and float to the land? I remember I +succeeded very well in this manner on the water, when I was visiting +my godfather at S----” + +“Every one’s thought is good for something,” cried I, “and I begin to +believe that what Jack has suggested is worth a trial: quick, then, +boy! give me the saw, the auger, and some nails; we will see what is +to be done.” I recollected having seen some empty casks in the ship’s +hold: we went down, and found them floating in the water which had +got into the vessel; it cost us but little trouble to hoist them up, +and place them on the lower deck, which was at this time scarcely +above water. We saw, with joy, that they were all sound, well guarded +by iron hoops, and in every respect in good condition; they were +exactly suited for the object; and, with the assistance of my sons, +I instantly began to saw them in two. In a short time I had produced +eight tubs, of equal size, and of the proper height. We now allowed +ourselves some refreshment of wine and biscuit. I viewed with delight +my eight little tubs, ranged in a line. I was surprised to see that +my wife did not partake our eagerness; she sighed deeply as she +looked at them. “Never, never,” cried she, “can I venture to get into +one of these.” + +“Do not decide so hastily, my dear,” said I; “my plan is not yet +complete; and you will see presently that it is more worthy of our +confidence than this shattered vessel, which cannot move from its +place.” + +I then sought for a long pliant plank, and placed my eight tubs upon +it, leaving a piece at each end reaching beyond the tubs, which, bent +upward, would present an outline like the keel of a vessel; we next +nailed all the tubs to the plank, and then the tubs to each other, as +they stood, side by side, to make them the firmer, and afterwards two +other planks, of the same length as the first, on each side of the +tubs. When all this was finished, we found we had produced a kind of +narrow boat, divided into eight compartments, which I had no doubt +would be able to perform a short course in calm water. + +But now we discovered that the machine we had contrived was so heavy, +that, with the strength of all united, we were not able to move +it an inch from its place. I bade Fritz fetch me a crow, who soon +returned with it: in the meanwhile I sawed a thick round pole into +several pieces, to make some rollers. I then, with the crow, easily +raised the foremost part of my machine, while Fritz placed one of the +rollers under it. + +“How astonishing,” cried Ernest, “that this engine, which is smaller +than any of us, can do more than our united strength was able to +effect! I wish I could know how it is constructed.” + +I explained to him as well as I could the power of Archimedes’ lever, +with which he said he could move the world, if you would give him a +point from which his mechanism might act, and promised to explain the +nature of the operation of the crow when we should be safe on land. + +One of the points of my system of education for my sons was to awaken +their curiosity by interesting observations, to leave time for the +activity of the imagination, and then to correct any error they +might fall into. I contented myself now, however, with this general +remark, that God sufficiently compensated the natural weakness of +man by the gifts of reason, of invention, and the adroitness of the +hands; and that human meditation and skill had produced a science, +called mechanics, the object of which was, to teach us how to make +our own natural strength act to an incredible distance, and with +extraordinary force, by the intervention of instruments. + +Jack here remarked that the action of the crow was very slow. + +“Better slow than never, Jack,” replied I. “Experience has ever +taught, and mechanical observations have established as a principle, +that what is gained in speed is lost in strength: the purpose of the +crow is not to enable us to raise anything rapidly, but to raise what +is exceedingly heavy; and the heavier the thing we would move, the +slower is the mechanical operation. But are you aware what we have at +our command, to compensate for this slowness?” + +“Yes, it is turning the handle quicker.” + +“Your guess is wrong; that would be no compensation: the true remedy, +my boy, is to call in the assistance of patience and reason: with +the aid of these two fairy powers I am in hopes to set my machine +afloat.” As I said this, I tied a long cord to its stern, and the +other end of it to one of the timbers of the ship, which appeared +to be still firm, so that the cord being left loose would serve to +guide and restrain it when launched. We now put a second and a third +roller under, and applying the crow, to our great joy our machine +descended into the water with such a velocity that, if the rope had +not been well fastened, it would have gone far out to sea. But now a +new difficulty presented itself: the boat leaned so much on one side +that the boys all exclaimed they could not venture to get into it. I +was for some moments in the most painful perplexity; but it suddenly +occurred to me that ballast only was wanting to set it straight. I +drew it near, and threw all the useless things I could find into the +tubs, so as to make weight on the light side. By degrees the machine +became quite straight and firm in the water, seeming to invite us to +take refuge in its protection. All now would get into the tubs, and +the boys began to dispute which should be first. I drew them back, +and seeking a remedy for this kind of obstacle, I recollected that +savage nations make use of a paddle for preventing their canoes from +upsetting. I once more set to work to make one of these. + +I took two poles of equal length, upon which the sails of the vessel +had been stretched, and having descended into the machine, fixed one +of them at the head, and the other at the stern, in such a manner as +to enable us to turn them at pleasure to right or left, as should +best answer the purpose of guiding and putting it out to sea. I +stuck the end of each pole, or paddle, into the bung-hole of an empty +brandy-keg, which served to keep the paddles steady, and to prevent +any interruption in the management of our future enterprise. + +There remained nothing more to do, but to find in what way I could +clear out from the incumbrance of the wreck. I got into the first +tub, and steered the head of the machine so as to make it enter +the cleft in the ship’s side, where it could remain quiet. I then +remounted the vessel, and sometimes with the saw, and sometimes with +the hatchet, I cleared away, to right and left, everything that could +obstruct our passage; and, that being effected, we next secured some +oars for the voyage we resolved on attempting. + +We had spent the day in laborious exertions; it was already late; and +as it would not have been possible to reach the land that evening, +we were obliged to pass a second night in the wrecked vessel, which +at every instant threatened to fall to pieces. We next refreshed +ourselves by a regular meal; for, during the day’s work, we had +scarcely allowed ourselves to take a bit of bread, or a glass of +wine. Being now in a more tranquil and unapprehensive state of mind +than the day before, we all abandoned ourselves to sleep; not, +however, till I had taken the precaution of tying the swimming +apparatus round my three youngest boys and my wife, in case the storm +should again come on. I also advised my wife to dress herself in the +clothes of one of the sailors which were so much more convenient for +swimming, or any other exertions she might be compelled to engage +in. She consented, but not without reluctance, and left us to look +for some that might best suit her size. In a quarter of an hour she +returned, dressed in the clothes of a young man who had served as +volunteer on board the ship, and I soon found means to reconcile her +to the change, by representing the many advantages it gave her, till +at length she joined in the merriment her dress occasioned, and one +and all crept into our separate hammocks, where a delicious repose +prepared us for the renewal of our labours. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + A Landing, and Consequent Occupations + + +By break of day we were all awake and alert, for hope as well as +grief is unfriendly to lengthened slumbers. When we had finished our +morning prayer, I said, “We now, my best beloved, with the assistance +of Heaven, must enter upon the work of our deliverance. The first +thing to be done is to give to each poor animal on board a hearty +meal; we will then put food enough before them for several days; we +cannot take them with us; but we will hope it may be possible, if our +voyage succeeds, to return and fetch them. Are you now all ready? +Bring together whatever is absolutely necessary for our wants. It is +my wish that our first cargo should consist of a barrel of gunpowder, +three fowling-pieces, and three carbines, with as much small-shot +and lead, and as many bullets as our boat will carry; two pairs of +pocket-pistols, and one of large ones, not forgetting a mould to +cast balls in; each of the boys, and their mother also, should have +a bag to carry game in; you will find plenty of these in the cabins +of the officers.” We added a chest containing cakes of portable soup, +another full of hard biscuits, an iron pot, a fishing-rod, a chest +of nails, and another of different utensils, such as hammers, saws, +pincers, hatchets, augers, etc., and lastly, some sailcloth to make +a tent. Indeed the boys brought so many things that we were obliged +to reject some of them, though I had already exchanged the worthless +ballast for articles of use in the question of our subsistence. + +When all was ready we stepped bravely each into a tub. At the moment +of our departure the cocks and hens began to cluck, as if conscious +that we had deserted them, yet were willing to bid us a sorrowful +adieu. This suggested to me the idea of taking the geese, ducks, +fowls, and pigeons with us; observing to my wife that, if we could +not find means to feed them, at least they would feed us. + +We accordingly executed this plan. We put ten hens and an old and a +young cock into one of the tubs, and covered it with planks; we set +the rest of the poultry at liberty, in the hope that instinct would +direct them towards the land, the geese and the ducks by water, and +the pigeons by the air. + +We were waiting for my wife, who had the care of this last part of +our embarkation, when she joined us loaded with a large bag, which +she threw into the tub that already contained her youngest son. I +imagined that she intended it for him to sit upon, or perhaps to +confine him so as to prevent his being tossed from side to side. I +therefore asked no more questions concerning it. The order of our +departure was as follows: + +In the first tub, at the boat’s head, my wife, the most tender and +exemplary of her sex, placed herself. In the second, our little +Francis, a lovely boy, six years old, remarkable for the sweetest and +happiest temper, and for his affection to his parents. In the third, +Fritz, our eldest boy, between fourteen and fifteen years of age, a +handsome, curl-pated youth, full of intelligence and vivacity. In +the fourth was the barrel of gunpowder, with the cocks and hens, and +the sail-cloth. In the fifth, the provisions of every kind. In the +sixth, our third son, Jack, a light-hearted, enterprising, audacious, +generous lad, about ten years old. In the seventh, our second son, +Ernest, a boy of twelve years old, of a rational, reflecting temper, +well informed for his age, but somewhat disposed to indolence and +pleasure. In the eighth, a father, to whose paternal care the task +of guiding the machine for the safety of his beloved family was +entrusted. Each of us had useful implements within reach; the hand +of each held an oar, and near each was a swimming apparatus, in +readiness for what might happen. The tide was already at half its +height when we left the ship, and I had counted on this circumstance +as favourable to our want of strength. We held the two paddles +longways, and thus we passed without accident through the cleft of +the vessel into the sea. The boys devoured with their eyes the blue +land they saw at a distance. We rowed with all our strength, but long +in vain, to reach it: the boat only turned round and round. At length +I had the good fortune to steer in such a way that it proceeded in +a straight line. The two dogs, perceiving we had abandoned them, +plunged into the sea and swam to the boat; they were too large for us +to think of giving them admittance, and I dreaded lest they should +jump in and upset us. Turk was an English dog, and Flora a bitch of +the Danish breed. I was in great uneasiness on their account, for I +feared it would not be possible for them to swim so far. The dogs, +however, managed the affair with perfect intelligence. When fatigued, +they rested their fore-paws on one of the paddles, and thus with +little effort proceeded. + +Jack was disposed to refuse them this accommodation, but he soon +yielded to my argument that it was cruel and unwise to neglect +creatures thrown on our protection, and who indeed might hereafter +protect us in their turn, by guarding us from harm, and assisting in +our pursuit of animals for food. “Besides,” added I, “God has given +the dog to man to be his faithful companion and friend.” + +Our voyage proceeded securely, though slowly; but the nearer we +approached the land, the more gloomy and unpromising its aspect +appeared. The coast was clothed with barren rocks, which seemed to +offer nothing but hunger and distress. The sea was calm; the waves, +gently agitated, washed the shore, and the sky was serene in every +direction; we perceived casks, bales, chests, and other vestiges of +shipwrecks, floating round us. In the hope of obtaining some good +provisions, I determined on endeavouring to secure some of the casks. +I bade Fritz have a rope, a hammer, and some nails ready, and to try +to seize them as we passed. He succeeded in laying hold of two, and +in such a way that we could draw them after us to the shore. Now +that we were close on land, its rude outline was much softened; the +rocks no longer appeared one undivided chain; Fritz, with his hawk’s +eye, already descried some trees, and exclaimed that they were palm +trees. Ernest expressed his joy that he should now get much larger +and better cocoa-nuts than he had ever seen before. I, for my part, +was venting audibly my regret that I had not thought of bringing a +telescope that I knew was in the captain’s cabin, when Jack drew a +small one from his pocket, and with a look of triumph presented it to +me. + +On applying it to my eye, I remarked that the shore before us had a +desert and savage aspect, but that towards the left the scene was +more agreeable; but when I attempted to steer in that direction, a +current carried me irresistibly towards the coast that was rocky and +barren. By and by we perceived a little opening between the rocks, +near the mouth of a creek, towards which all our geese and ducks +betook themselves; and I, relying on their sagacity, followed in +the same course. This opening formed a little bay; the water was +tranquil, and neither too deep nor too shallow to receive our boat. I +entered it, and cautiously put on shore to a spot where the coast was +about the same height above the water as our tubs, and where, at the +same time, there was a quantity sufficient to keep us afloat. + +All that had life in the boat jumped eagerly on land. The dogs, who +had swum on shore, received us, as if appointed to do the honours +of the place, jumping round us with every demonstration of joy; +the geese kept up a loud cackling, to which the ducks, from their +broad yellow beaks, contributed a perpetual thorough bass; the cocks +and hens, which we had already set at liberty, clucked; the boys +chattering all at once, produced altogether an overpowering confusion +of sounds: to this was added the disagreeable scream of some penguins +and flamingoes, which we now perceived; the latter flying over our +heads, the others sitting on the points of the rocks at the entrance +to the bay. + +The first thing we did on finding ourselves safe on _terra firma_, +was to fall on our knees, and return thanks to the Supreme Being, +who had preserved our lives, and to recommend ourselves with entire +resignation to the care of his paternal kindness. + +We next employed our whole attention in unloading the boat. We looked +about for a convenient place to set up a tent under the shade of the +rocks; and having all consulted and agreed upon a place, we set to +work. We drove one of our poles firmly into a fissure of the rock; +this rested upon another pole, which was driven perpendicularly +into the ground, and formed the ridge of our tent. A frame for a +dwelling was thus made secure. We next threw some sail-cloth over +the ridge, and stretching it to a convenient distance on each side, +fastened its extremities to the ground with stakes. Lastly, I fixed +some tenter-hooks along the edge of one side of the sail-cloth in +front, that we might be able to enclose the entrance during night, +by hooking in the opposite edge. The chests of provisions, and other +heavy matters, we had left on the shore. The next thing was to desire +my sons to look about for grass and moss, to be spread and dried in +the sun, to serve us for beds. During this occupation, I erected near +the tent a kind of little kitchen. A few flat stones I found in the +bed of a fresh-water river, served for a hearth. I got a quantity of +dry branches: with the largest I made a small enclosure round it; +and with the little twigs, added to some of our turf, I made a brisk +cheering fire. We put some of the soup-cakes, with water, into our +iron pot, and placed it over the flame; and my wife, with my little +Francis for a scullion, took charge of preparing the dinner. + +In the meanwhile, Fritz had been reloading the guns, with one of +which he had wandered along the side of the river. He had proposed to +Ernest to accompany him; but Ernest replied that he did not like a +rough, stony walk, and that he should go to the seashore. Jack took +the road towards a chain of rocks which jutted out into the sea, with +the intention of gathering some of the mussels which grew upon them. + +My own occupation was now an endeavour to draw the two floating +casks on shore, but in which I could not succeed; for our place of +landing, though convenient enough for our machine, was too steep for +the cask. While I was looking about to find a more favourable spot, +I heard loud cries proceeding from a short distance, and recognized +the voice of my son Jack. I snatched my hatchet, and ran anxiously +to his assistance. I soon perceived him up to his knees in water in +a shallow, and that a large lobster had fastened its claws in his +leg. The poor boy screamed pitiably, and made useless efforts to +disengage himself. I jumped instantly into the water; and the enemy +was no sooner sensible of my approach, than he let go his hold, and +would have scampered out to sea, but that I indulged the fancy of a +little malice against him for the alarm he had caused us. I turned +quickly upon him, and took him up by the body, and carried him off, +followed by Jack, who shouted our triumph all the way. He begged me +at last to let him hold the animal in his own hand, that he might +himself present so fine a booty to his mother. Accordingly, having +observed how I held it to avoid the gripe, he laid his own hand upon +it in exactly the same manner; but scarcely had he grasped it, than +he received a violent blow on the face from the lobster’s tail, which +made him loose his hold, and the animal fell to the ground. Jack +again began to bawl out, while I could not refrain from laughing +heartily. In his rage he took up a stone, and killed the lobster with +a single blow. + +Ernest, ever prompted by his savoury tooth, bawled out that the +lobster had better be put into the soup, which would give it an +excellent flavour: but this his mother opposed, observing, that we +must be more economical of our provisions than that, for the lobster +of itself would furnish a dinner for the whole family. I now left +them, and walked again to the scene of this adventure, and examined +the shallow: I then made another attempt upon my two casks, and at +length succeeded in getting them into it, and in fixing them there +securely on their bottoms. + +On my return, I complimented Jack on his being the first to procure +an animal that might serve for subsistence. + +“Ah; but _I_ have seen something too, that is good to eat,” said +Ernest; “and I should have got it if it had not been in the water, so +that I must have wetted my feet----” + +“Oh, that is a famous story,” cried Jack: “I can tell you what he +saw,--some nasty mussels: why, I would not eat one of them for the +world.--Think of my lobster!” + +“That is not true, Jack; for they were oysters, and not mussels, that +I saw: I am sure of it, for they stuck to the rock, and I know they +must be oysters.” + +“Fortunate enough, my dainty gentleman,” interrupted I, addressing +myself to Ernest; “since you are so well acquainted with the place +where such food can be found, you will be so obliging as to return +and procure us some. In such a situation as ours, every member of the +family must be actively employed for the common good; and, above all, +none must be afraid of so trifling an inconvenience as wet feet.” + +“I will do my best, with all my heart,” answered Ernest; “and at the +same time I will bring home some salt, of which I have seen immense +quantities in the holes of the rocks, where I have reason to suppose +it is dried by the sun. I tasted some of it, and it was excellent.” + +He set off, and soon returned: what he brought had the appearance +of sea-salt, but was so mixed with earth and sand, that I was on +the point of throwing it away; but my wife prevented me, and by +dissolving, and afterwards filtering some of it through a piece of +muslin, we found it admirably fit for use. + +“Why could we not have used some sea-water,” asked Jack, “instead of +having all this trouble?” + +“So we might,” answered I, “if it had not a somewhat sickly taste.” +While I was speaking, my wife tasted the soup with a little stick +with which she had been stirring it, and pronounced that it was +all the better for the salt, and now quite ready. “But,” said she, +“Fritz is not come in. And then, how shall we manage to eat our soup +without spoons or dishes? Why did we not remember to bring some from +the ship?”--“Because, my dear, one cannot think of everything at +once. We shall be lucky if we have not forgotten even more important +things.”--“But, indeed,” said she, “this is a matter which cannot +easily be set to rights. How will it be possible for each of us to +raise this large boiling pot to his lips?” + +I soon saw that my wife was right. We all cast our eyes upon the pot +with a sort of stupid perplexity, and looked a little like the fox in +the fable, when the stork desires him to help himself from a vessel +with a long neck. Silence was at length broken, by all bursting into +a hearty laugh at our want of every kind of utensil, and at the +thought of our own folly, in not recollecting that spoons and forks +were things of absolute necessity. + +Ernest observed that if we could but get some of the nice cocoa-nuts +he often thought about, we might empty them, and use the pieces of +the shells for spoons. + +“Yes, yes,” replied I; “_if we could but get_,--but we have them not; +and if wishing were to any purpose, I had as soon wish at once for a +dozen silver spoons; but, alas! of what use is wishing?” + +“But at least,” said the boy, “we can use some oyster-shells for +spoons.” + +“Why, this is well, Ernest,” said I, “and is what I call a useful +thought. Run then quickly for some of them.” + +Jack ran first, and was up to his knees in the water before Ernest +could reach the place. Jack tore off the fish with eagerness, and +threw them to slothful Ernest, who put them into his handkerchief. + +Fritz not having yet returned, his mother was beginning to be uneasy, +when we heard him shouting to us from a small distance, to which we +answered by similar sounds. In a few minutes he was among us, his +two hands behind him, and with a sort of would-be melancholy air, +which none of us could well understand.--“What have you brought?” +asked his brothers; “let us see your booty, and you shall see +ours.”--“Ah! I have unfortunately nothing.”--“What! nothing at all?” +said I.--“Nothing at all,” answered he. But now, on fixing my eye +upon him, I perceived a smile of proud success through his assumed +dissatisfaction. At the same instant Jack, having stolen behind him, +exclaimed, “A sucking pig! a sucking pig!” Fritz, finding his trick +discovered, now proudly displayed his prize, which I immediately +perceived, from the description I had read in different books of +travels, was an agouti, an animal common in that country, and not a +sucking pig, as the boys had supposed. + +Fritz related that he had passed over to the other side of the +river. “Ah!” continued he, “it is quite another thing from this +place; the shore is low, and you can have no notion of the quantity +of casks, chests, and planks, and different sorts of things washed +there by the sea. Ought we not to go and try to obtain some of +these treasures?”--“We will consider of it soon,” answered I, “but +first we have to make our voyage to the vessel, and fetch away the +animals: at least you will all agree, that of the cow we are pretty +much in want.”--“If our biscuit were soaked in milk, it would not +be so hard,” observed our dainty Ernest.--“I must tell you too,” +continued Fritz, “that over on the other side there is as much +grass for pasturage as we can desire: and besides, a wood, in the +shade of which we could repose. Why then should we remain on this +barren desert side?”--“Patience,” replied I; “there is a time for +everything, friend Fritz: we shall not be without something to +undertake to-morrow, and even after to-morrow. But, above all, I am +eager to know if you discovered, in your excursion, any traces of our +ship companions?”--“Not the smallest trace of man, dead or alive, on +land or water,” replied Fritz. + +Soon after we had taken our meal, the sun began to sink into the +west. Our little flock of fowls assembled round us, pecking here and +there what morsels of our biscuit had fallen on the ground.--Just at +this moment my wife produced the bag she had so mysteriously huddled +into the tub. Its mouth was now opened; it contained the various +sorts of grain for feeding poultry--barley, peas, oats, etc., and +also different kinds of seeds and roots of vegetables for the table. +In the fulness of her kind heart she scattered several handfuls at +once upon the ground, which the fowls began eagerly to seize. Our +pigeons sought a roosting-place among the rocks; the hens, with the +two cocks at their head, ranged themselves in a line along the ridge +of the tent; and the geese and ducks betook themselves in a body, +cackling and quacking as they proceeded, to a marshy bit of ground +near the sea, where some thick bushes afforded them shelter. + +A little later, we began to follow the example of our winged +companions, by beginning our preparations for repose. First, we +loaded our guns and pistols, and laid them carefully in the tent; +next, we assembled together and joined in offering up our thanks +to the Almighty for the succour afforded us, and supplicating his +watchful care for our preservation. With the last ray of the sun we +entered our tent, and, after drawing the sail-cloth over the hooks, +to close the entrance, we laid ourselves down close to each other on +the grass and moss we had collected in the morning. + + + + + CHAPTER III + + Voyage of Discovery + + +I was roused at the dawn of day by the crowing of the cocks. I awoke +my wife, and we consulted together as to the occupations we should +engage in. We agreed that we should seek for traces of our late ship +companions, and at the same time examine the nature of the soil on +the other side of the river, before we determined on a fixed place +of abode.--My wife easily perceived that such an excursion could not +be undertaken by all the members of the family; and she courageously +consented to my proposal of leaving her with the three youngest boys, +and proceeding myself with Fritz on a journey of discovery. + +The children were soon roused; even our slothful Ernest submitted to +the hard fate of rising so early in the morning. + +We now prepared for our departure: we took each a bag for game, and +a hatchet: I put a pair of pistols in the leather band round Fritz’s +waist, in addition to the gun, and provided myself with the same +articles, not forgetting a stock of biscuit and a flask of fresh +river water. My wife now called us to breakfast, when all attacked +the lobster; but its flesh proved so hard, that there was a great +deal left when our meal was finished, and we packed it for our +journey without further regret from any one. + +In about an hour we had completed the preparations for our journey. +I had loaded the guns we left behind, and I now enjoined my wife to +keep by day as near the boat as possible, which in case of danger +was the best and most speedy means of escape. My next concern was to +shorten the moment of separation, judging by my own feelings those of +my dear wife; for neither could be without painful apprehensions of +what new misfortune might occur on either side during the interval. +We all melted into tears:--I seized this instant for drawing Fritz +away, and in a few moments the sobs and often repeated adieus of +those we left behind died away in the noise of the waves which we +now approached, and which turned our thoughts upon ourselves and the +immediate object of our journey. + +The banks of the river were everywhere steep and difficult, excepting +at one narrow slip near the mouth on our side, where we had drawn +our fresh water. The other side presented an unbroken line of sharp, +high, perpendicular rocks. We therefore followed the course of the +river till we arrived at a cluster of rocks at which the stream +formed a cascade: a few paces beyond, we found some large fragments +of rock which had fallen into the bed of the river: by stepping upon +these, and making now and then some hazardous leaps, we contrived +to reach the other side. We proceeded a short way along the rock +we ascended in landing, forcing ourselves a passage through tall +grass, which twined with other plants, and was rendered more capable +of resistance by being half dried by the sun. Perceiving, however, +that walking on this kind of surface in so hot a sun would exhaust +our strength, we looked for a path to descend and proceed along the +river, where we hoped to meet with fewer obstacles, and perhaps to +discover traces of our ship companions. + +When we had walked about a hundred paces, we heard a loud noise +behind us, as if we were pursued, and perceived a rustling motion +in the grass, which was almost as tall as ourselves. I was a good +deal alarmed, thinking that it might be occasioned by some frightful +serpent, a tiger, or other ferocious animal. Our alarm was, however, +short; for what was our joy on seeing rush out, not an enemy, but +our faithful Turk, whom in the distress of the parting scene we had +forgotten, and whom no doubt our anxious relatives had sent on to us! + +We again pursued our way. On our left was the sea, and on our right +the continuation of the ridge of rocks which began at the place of +our landing, and ran along the shore, the summit everywhere adorned +with fresh verdure and a great variety of trees. We were careful +to proceed in a course as near the shore as possible, casting our +eyes alternately upon its smooth expanse and upon the land in all +directions to discover our ship companions, or the boats which had +conveyed them from us; but our endeavours were in vain. + +When we had gone about two leagues, we entered a wood situated a +little further from the sea: here we threw ourselves on the ground, +under the shade of a tree, by the side of a clear running stream, +and took out some provisions and refreshed ourselves. We heard the +chirping, singing, and motion of birds in the trees, and observed, as +they now and then came out to view, that they were more attractive +by their splendid plumage than by any charm of note. Fritz assured +me that he had caught a glimpse of some animals like apes among the +bushes, and this was confirmed by the restless movements of Turk, who +began to smell about him, and to bark so loud that the wood resounded +with the noise. Fritz stole softly about to be sure, and presently +stumbled on a small round body which lay on the ground: he brought +it to me, observing that it must be the nest of some bird.--“What +makes you of that opinion?” said I. “It is, I think, much more like a +cocoa-nut.” + +“But I have read that there are some kinds of birds which build their +nests quite round: and look, father, how the outside is crossed and +twined.” + +“But do you not perceive that what you take for straws crossed and +twined by the beak of a bird, is in fact a coat of fibres formed +by the hand of Nature? Do you not remember to have read that the +cocoa-nut is enclosed within a round, fibrous covering, which again +is surrounded by a skin of a thin and fragile texture? I see that in +the one you hold in your hand, this skin has been destroyed by time, +which is the reason that the twisted fibres (or inner covering) are +so apparent: but now let us break the shell, and you will see the nut +inside.” + +We soon accomplished this; but the nut, alas! from lying on the +ground, had perished, and appeared but little different from a bit of +dried skin, and not the least inviting to the palate. + +A little later we had the good luck to meet with another nut. We +opened it, and finding it sound, we sat down and ate it for our +dinner, by which means we were enabled to husband the provisions +we had brought. The nut, it is true, was a little oily and rancid; +yet, as this was not a time to be nice, we made a hearty meal, and +then continued our route. We did not quit the wood, but pushed our +way across it, being often obliged to cut a path through the bushes +overrun by creeping plants, with our hatchet. At length we reached +a plain, which afforded a more extensive prospect, and a path less +perplexed and intricate. + +We next entered a forest to the right, and soon observed that +some of the trees were of a singular kind. Fritz, whose sharp eye +was continually on a journey of discovery, went up to examine them +closely. “Oh, heavens! father, what odd trees, with wens growing all +about their trunks!” I had soon the surprise and satisfaction of +assuring him that they were bottle gourds, the trunks of which bear +fruit. Fritz, who had never heard of such a plant, could not conceive +the meaning of what he saw, and asked me if the fruit was a sponge or +a wen.--“We will see,” I replied, “if I cannot unravel the mystery. +Try to get down one of them, and we will examine it minutely.” + +“I have got one,” cried Fritz, “and it is exactly like a gourd, only +the rind is thicker and harder.” + +“It then, like the rind of that fruit, can be used for making various +utensils,” observed I; “plates, dishes, basins, flasks. We will give +it the name of the gourd-tree.” + +Fritz jumped for joy.--“How happy my mother will be!” cried he in +ecstasy; “she will no longer have the vexation of thinking, when she +makes soup, that we shall all scald our fingers.” + +We accordingly proceeded to the manufacture of our plates and dishes. +I taught my son how to divide the gourd with a bit of string, which +would cut more equally than a knife; I tied the string round the +middle of the gourd as tight as possible, striking it pretty hard +with the handle of my knife, and I drew it tighter and tighter +till the gourd fell apart, forming two regular-shaped bowls or +vessels; while Fritz, who had used a knife for the same operation, +had entirely spoiled his gourd by the irregular pressure of his +instrument. I recommended his making some spoons with the spoiled +rind, as it was good for no other purpose. I, on my part, had soon +completed two dishes of convenient size, and some smaller ones to +serve as plates. + +Fritz was in the utmost astonishment at my success. “I cannot +imagine, father,” said he, “how this way of cutting the gourd could +occur to you!” + +“I have read the description of such a process,” replied I, “in books +of travels; and also that such of the savages as have no knives, and +who make a sort of twine from the bark of trees, are accustomed to +use it for this kind of purpose.” + +“And the flasks, father; in what manner are they made?” + +“For this branch of their ingenuity they make preparation a long time +beforehand. If a negro wishes to have a flask, or bottle with a neck, +he binds a piece of string, linen, or bark of a tree, or anything +he can get, round the part nearest the stalk of a very young gourd; +he draws this bandage so tight that the part at liberty soon forms +itself to a round shape, while the part which is confined contracts, +and remains ever after narrow. By this method it is that they obtain +flasks or bottles of a perfect form.” + +Our conversation and our labour thus went on together. Fritz had +completed some plates, and was not a little proud of the achievement. +“Ah, how delighted my mother will be to eat upon them!” cried he. +“But how shall we convey them to her? They will not, I fear, bear +travelling well.” + +“We must leave them here on the sand for the sun to dry them +thoroughly; this will be accomplished by the time of our return this +way, and we can then carry them with us; but care must be taken to +fill them with sand, that they may not shrink or warp in so ardent a +heat.” My boy did not dislike this task; for he had no great fancy +for the idea of carrying such a load on our journey of further +discovery. Our sumptuous service of porcelain was accordingly spread +upon the ground, and for the present abandoned to its fate. + +We amused ourselves, as we proceeded, in endeavouring to fashion some +spoons from the fragments of the gourd-rinds. I had the fancy to try +my skill upon a piece of cocoa-nut; but I must needs confess that +what we produced had not the least resemblance to those I had seen in +the Museum at London, and which were shown there as the work of some +of the islanders of the Southern Seas. + +Meanwhile, we had not neglected the great object of our pursuit,--the +making every practicable search for our ship companions. But our +endeavours, alas! were all in vain. + +After a walk of about four leagues in all, we arrived at a spot +where a slip of land reached far out into the sea, on which we +observed a rising piece of ground or hill. On a moment’s reflection +we determined to ascend it, concluding we should obtain a clear view +of all adjacent parts, which would save us the fatigue of further +rambles. We accordingly accomplished the design. + +We did not reach the top of the hill without many efforts and a +plentiful perspiration: but when there, we beheld a scene of wild and +solitary beauty, comprehending a vast extent of land and water. It +was however in vain that we used our telescope in all directions; no +trace of man appeared. A truly embellished nature presented herself; +and we were in the highest degree sensible of her thousand charms. +The shore, rounded by a bay of some extent, the bank of which ended +in a promontory on the farther side; the agreeable blue tint of its +surface; the sea, gently agitated by waves in which the rays of +the sun were reflected; the woods, of variegated hues and verdure, +formed altogether a picture of such magnificence, of such new and +exquisite delight, that, if the recollection of our unfortunate +companions, engulfed perhaps in this very ocean, had not intruded +to depress our spirits, we should have yielded to the ecstasy the +scene was calculated to inspire. In reality, from this moment we +began to lose even the feeble hope we had entertained, and sadness +stole involuntarily into our hearts. We, however, became but the +more sensible of the goodness of the Divine Being, in the special +protection afforded to ourselves, in conducting us to a home where +there was no present cause for fear of danger from without, where we +had not experienced the want of food, and where there was a prospect +of future safety for us all. + +We descended the hill, and made our way to a wood of palms: our +path was clothed with reeds, entwined with other plants, which +greatly obstructed our march. We advanced slowly and cautiously, +fearing at every step to receive a mortal bite from some serpent +that might be concealed among them. We made Turk go before, to give +us timely notice of anything dangerous. I also cut a reed-stalk of +uncommon length and thickness, for my defence against any enemy. It +was not without surprise that I perceived a glutinous sap proceed +from the divided end of the stalk. Prompted by curiosity, I tasted +this liquid, and found it sweet and of a pleasant flavour, so that +not a doubt remained that we were passing through a plantation of +sugar-canes. I again applied the cane to my lips, and sucked it for +some moments, and felt singularly refreshed and strengthened. I +determined not to tell Fritz immediately of the fortunate discovery +I had made, preferring that he should find it out for himself. As he +was at some distance before me, I called out to him to cut a reed for +his defence. This he did, and without any remark, used it simply for +a stick, striking lustily with it on all sides to clear a passage. +The motion occasioned the sap to run out abundantly upon his hand, +and he stopped to examine so strange a circumstance. He lifted it up, +and still a larger quantity escaped. He now tasted what was on his +fingers. Oh! then for the exclamations--“Father, father, I have found +some sugar!--some syrup! I have a sugar-cane in my hand! Run quickly, +father!”--We were soon together, jointly partaking of the pleasure we +had in store for his dear mother and the younger brothers. + +Fritz cut at least a dozen of the largest canes, tore off their +leaves, tied them together, and putting them under his arm, dragged +them, as well as he was able, through thick and thin to the end of +the plantation. We regained the wood of palms without accident; here +we stretched our limbs in the shade, and finished our repast. We were +scarcely settled, when a great number of large monkeys, terrified by +the sight of us and the barking of Turk, stole so nimbly, and yet +so quietly up the trees, that we scarcely perceived them till they +had reached the topmost parts. From this height they fixed their +eyes upon us, grinding their teeth, making horrible grimaces, and +saluting us with screams of hostile import.--Being now satisfied that +the trees were palms, bearing cocoa-nuts, I conceived the hope of +obtaining some of this fruit in a milky state, through the monkeys. +Fritz, on his part, prepared to shoot at them instantly. He threw his +burdens on the ground, and it was with difficulty I, by pulling his +arm, could prevent him from firing. + +I now began to throw some stones at the monkeys; and though I could +not make them reach to half the height at which they had taken +refuge, they showed every mark of excessive anger. With their +accustomed trick of imitation, they furiously tore off, nut by nut, +all that grew upon the trunk near them, to hurl them down upon us; +so that it was with difficulty we avoided the blows; and in a short +time a great number of cocoa-nuts lay on the ground round us. Fritz +laughed heartily at the excellent success of our stratagem; and as +the shower of cocoa-nuts began to subside, we set about collecting +them. We chose a place where we could repose at our ease, to feast +on this rich harvest. We opened the shells with a hatchet, but first +enjoyed the sucking of some of the milk through the three small +holes, where we found it easy to insert the point of a knife. The +milk of the cocoa-nut has not a pleasant flavour; but it is excellent +for quenching thirst. What we liked best was a kind of solid cream +which adheres to the shell, and which we scraped off with our spoons. +We mixed with it a little of the sap of our sugar-canes, and it made +a delicious repast. + +Our meal being finished, we prepared to leave the wood of palms. I +tied all the cocoa-nuts which had stalks together, and threw them +across my shoulder. Fritz resumed his bundle of sugar-canes. We +divided the rest of the things between us, and continued our way +towards home. + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + Return from the Voyage of Discovery--A Nocturnal + Alarm + + +My poor boy now began to complain of fatigue; the sugar-canes galled +his shoulders, and he was obliged to shift them often. At last he +stopped to take breath.--“No,” cried he, “I never could have thought +that a few sugar-canes could be so heavy. How sincerely I pity the +poor negroes who carry heavy loads of them! Yet how glad I shall be +when my mother and Ernest are tasting them!” + +“I am not without my apprehensions, that of our acquisition we +shall carry them only a few sticks for firewood; for the juice of +the sugar-cane is apt to turn sour soon after cutting, and the more +certainly in such heat as we now experience; we may suck them, +therefore, without compunction at the diminution of their numbers.” + +When we reached the place where we had left our gourd utensils upon +the sands, we found them perfectly dry, as hard as bone, and not the +least misshapen. We now, therefore, could put them into our game-bags +conveniently enough, and this done, we continued our way. Scarcely +had we passed through the little wood in which we breakfasted, when +Turk sprang away to seize upon a troop of monkeys, who were skipping +about and amusing themselves without observing our approach. They +were thus taken by surprise; and before we could get to the spot, +our ferocious Turk had already seized one of them; it was a female +who held a young one in her arms, which she was caressing almost +to suffocation, and which incumbrance deprived her of the power of +escaping. The poor creature was killed, and afterwards devoured; +the young one hid himself in the grass, and looked on, grinding his +teeth. Fritz flew like lightning to make Turk let go his hold. He +lost his hat, threw down his tin bottle, canes, etc., but all in +vain; he was too late to prevent the death of the interesting mother. + +The next scene that presented itself was of a different nature, and +comical enough. The young monkey sprang nimbly on Fritz’s shoulders, +and fastened his feet in the stiff curls of his hair; nor could the +squalls of Fritz, nor all the shaking he gave him, make him let go +his hold. I ran to them, laughing heartily, for I saw that the animal +was too young to do him any injury, while the panic visible in the +features of the boy made a ludicrous contrast with the grimaces of +the monkey, whom I endeavoured to disengage. + +With a little gentleness and management I succeeded. I took the +creature in my arms as one would an infant, nor could I help pitying +and caressing him. He was not larger than a kitten, and quite unable +to help himself; its mother was at least as tall as Fritz. + +“What shall I do with thee, poor orphan?” cried I; “and how, in our +condition, shall I be able to maintain thee? We have already more +mouths to fill than food to put into them, and our workmen are too +young to afford us much hope from their exertions.” + +“Father,” cried Fritz, “do let me have this little animal to myself. +I will take the greatest care of him; I will give him all my share of +the milk of the cocoa-nuts, till we get our cows and goats; and who +knows? his monkey instinct may one day assist us in discovering some +wholesome fruits.” + +“I have not the least objection,” answered I. “You have conducted +yourself throughout this tragi-comic adventure like a lad of courage +and sensibility, and I am well satisfied with every circumstance of +your behaviour. It is therefore but just that the little protégé +should be given up to your management and discretion.” + +We now thought of resuming our journey. The little orphan jumped +again on the shoulders of his protector, while I on my part relieved +my boy of the bundle of canes. Scarcely had we proceeded a quarter +of a league when Turk overtook us full gallop. The young monkey +appeared uneasy from seeing him so near, and passed round and fixed +himself on his protector’s bosom, who did not long bear so great an +inconvenience without having recourse to his invention for a remedy. +He tied some string round Turk’s body in such a way, as to admit +of the monkey’s being fastened on his back with it, and then in a +tone of genuine pity, he said, “Now, Mr. Turk, since you had the +cruelty to destroy the mother, it is for you to take care of her +child.” At first the dog was restive, and resisted; but by degrees, +partly by menaces, and partly by caresses, we succeeded in gaining +his good-will, and he quietly consented to carry the little burden; +and the young monkey, who also had made some difficulties, at length +found himself perfectly accommodated. Fritz put another string round +Turk’s neck, by which he might lead him, a precaution he used to +prevent him from going out of sight. + +Thus proceeding, we soon found ourselves on the bank of the river, +and near our family, before we were aware. Flora from the other side +announced our approach by a violent barking, and Turk replied so +heartily, that his motions unseated his little burden, who in his +fright jumped the length of his string from his back to Fritz’s +shoulder, which he could not afterwards be prevailed upon to leave. +Turk, who began to be acquainted with the country, ran off to meet +his companion, and shortly after, our much-loved family appeared in +sight, with demonstrations of unbounded joy at our safe return. + +I gave my wife an account of our journey and our new acquisitions, +which I exhibited one after the other for her inspection. No one of +them afforded her more pleasure than the plates and dishes, because, +to persons of decent habits, they were articles of indispensable +necessity. We now adjourned to our kitchen, and observed with +pleasure the preparations for an excellent repast. On one side of +the fire was a turnspit, which my wife had contrived by driving two +forked pieces of wood into the ground, and placing a long even stick, +sharpened at one end, across them. By this invention she was enabled +to roast fish, or other food, with the help of little Francis, who +was intrusted with the care of turning it round from time to time. +On the occasion of our return, she had prepared us the treat of a +goose, the fat of which ran down into some oyster-shells placed there +to serve the purpose of a dripping-pan. There was, besides, a dish +of fish, which the little ones had caught; and the iron pot was upon +the fire, provided with a good soup, the odour of which increased our +appetite. By the side of these most exhilarating preparations stood +one of the casks which we had recovered from the sea, the head of +which my wife had knocked out, so that it exposed to our view a cargo +of the finest sort of Dutch cheeses, contained in round tins. + +We seated ourselves on the ground: my wife had placed each article of +the repast in one of our new dishes, the neat appearance of which +exceeded all our expectations. My sons had not patience to wait, +but had broken the cocoa-nuts, and already convinced themselves of +their delicious flavour; and then they fell to making spoons with the +fragments of the shells. + +The boys were preparing to break some more of the nuts with the +hatchet, after having drawn out the milk through the three little +holes, when I pronounced the word _halt_, and bade them bring me a +saw;--the thought had struck me, that by dividing the nuts carefully +with this instrument, the two halves, when scooped, would remain +in the form of tea-cups or basins already made to our hands. Jack, +who was on every occasion the most active, brought me the saw. I +performed my undertaking in the best manner I could, and in a short +time each of us was provided with a convenient receptacle for food. + +By the time we had finished our meal, the sun was retiring from our +view; and recollecting how quickly the night would fall upon us, +we were in great haste to regain our place of rest. My wife had +considerately collected a tenfold quantity of dry grass, which she +had spread in the tent, so that we anticipated with joy the prospect +of stretching our limbs on a substance somewhat approaching to the +quality of mattresses, while, the night before, our bodies seemed +to touch the ground. Our flock of fowls placed themselves as they +had done the preceding evening: we said our prayers, and, with an +improved serenity of mind, lay down in the tent, taking the young +monkey with us, who was become the little favourite of all. We all +lay down upon the grass, in the order of the night before, myself +remaining last to fasten the sail-cloth in front of the tent; when, +heartily fatigued by the exertions of the day, I, as well as the +rest, soon fell into a profound and refreshing sleep. + +But I had not long enjoyed this pleasing state, when I was awakened +by the motion of the fowls on the ridge of the tent, and by a violent +barking of our vigilant safeguards, the dogs. I was instantly on my +legs: my wife and Fritz, who had also been alarmed, got up also: we +each took a gun, and sallied forth. + +The dogs continued barking with the same violence, and at intervals +even howled. We had not proceeded many steps from the tent, when, +to our surprise, we perceived by the light of the moon a terrible +combat. At least a dozen of jackals had surrounded our brave dogs, +who defended themselves with the stoutest courage. Already the +fierce champions had laid three or four of their adversaries on the +ground, while those which remained began a timid kind of moan, as +if imploring pity and forbearance. Meanwhile they did not the less +endeavour to entangle and surprise the dogs, thus thrown off their +guard, and so secure to themselves the advantage. But our watchful +combatants were not so easily deceived: they took good care not to +let the enemy approach them too nearly. + +I, for my part, had apprehended something worse than jackals.--“We +shall soon manage to set these gentlemen at rest,” said I. “Let us +fire both together, my boy; but let us take care how we aim, for +fear of killing the dogs; mind how you fire, that you may not miss, +and I shall do the same.” We fired, and two of the intruders fell +instantly dead upon the sands. The others made their escape; but we +perceived it was with great difficulty, in consequence, no doubt, of +being wounded. Turk and Flora afterwards pursued them, and put the +finishing stroke to what we had begun; and thus the battle ended. + +The body of one of the jackals was left on the rock, by the side +of the tent in which were the little sleepers, who had not once +awaked during the whole of the scene which had been passing. Having, +therefore, nothing further to prevent us, we lay down by their side +till day began to break, and till the cocks, with their shrill +morning salutation, awoke us both. The children being still asleep, +this afforded us an excellent opportunity to consult together +respecting the plan we should pursue for the ensuing day. + + + + + CHAPTER V + + Return to the Wreck + + +I broke a silence of some moments, with observing to my wife that +I could not but view with alarm the many cares and exertions to be +made:--“In the first place, a journey to the vessel. This is of +absolute necessity; at least, if we would not be deprived of the +cattle and other useful things, all of which from moment to moment we +risk losing by the first heavy sea. What ought we to resolve upon? +For example, should not our very first endeavour be the contriving +a better sort of habitation, and a more secure retreat from wild +beasts, also a separate place for our provisions? I own I am at a +loss what to begin first.” + +“All will fall into the right order by degrees,” observed my wife; +“patience and regularity in our plans will go as far as actual +labour. I cannot, I confess, help shuddering at the thought of +this voyage to the vessel; but if you judge it to be of absolute +necessity, it cannot be undertaken too soon. In the meanwhile, +nothing that is immediately under my own care shall stand still, I +promise you. Let us not be over-anxious about to-morrow: sufficient +unto the day is the evil thereof. These were the words of the true +Friend of mankind, and let us use so wise a counsel for our own +benefit.” + +“I will follow your advice,” said I, “and without further loss of +time. You shall stay here with the three youngest boys; and Fritz, +being so much stronger and more intelligent than the others, shall +accompany me in the undertaking.” + +At this moment I started from my bed, crying out loudly and briskly, +“Get up, children, get up; it is almost light, and we have some +important projects for to-day; it would be a shame to suffer the sun +to find us still sleeping, we who are to be the founders of a new +colony!” + +At these words Fritz sprang nimbly out of the tent, while the +young ones began to gape and rub their eyes, to get rid of their +sleepiness. Fritz ran to visit his jackal, which during the night +had become cold and perfectly stiff. He fixed him upon his legs, and +placed him like a sentinel at the entrance of the tent, joyously +anticipating the wonder and exclamations of his brothers at so +unexpected an appearance. But no sooner had the dogs caught sight of +him, than they began a howl, and set themselves in motion to fall +upon him instantly, thinking he was alive. Fritz had enough to do to +restrain them, and succeeded only by dint of coaxing and perseverance. + +In the meantime, their barking had awaked the younger boys, and they +ran out of the tent, curious to know what could be the occasion. Jack +was the first who appeared, with the young monkey on his shoulders; +but when the little creature perceived the jackal, he sprang away in +terror, and hid himself at the furthest extremity of the grass which +composed our bed, and covered himself with it so completely, that +scarcely could the tip of his nose be seen. + +The children were much surprised at the sight of a yellow-coloured +animal standing without motion at the entrance of the tent.--“Oh, +heavens!” exclaimed Francis, stepping back a few paces for fear, +“it is a wolf!”--“No, no,” said Jack, going near the jackal, and +taking one of his paws, “it is a yellow dog, and he is dead; he does +not move at all.”--“It is neither a dog nor a wolf,” interrupted +Ernest in a consequential tone: “do you not see that it is the golden +fox?”--“Best of all, most learned professor!” now exclaimed Fritz. +“So you can tell an agouti when you see him, but you cannot tell a +jackal; for jackal is the creature you see before you, and I killed +him myself in the night.” + +_Ernest._--In the night, you say, Fritz? In your sleep, I suppose---- + +_Fritz._--No, Mr. Ernest; not in my sleep, as you so good-naturedly +suppose, but broad awake, and on the watch to protect you from wild +beasts! But I cannot wonder at this mistake in one who does not know +the difference between a jackal and a golden fox! + +_Ernest._--You would not have known it either, if papa had not told +you---- + +“Come, come, my lads, I will have no disputes,” interrupted I. +“Fritz, you are to blame in ridiculing your brother for the mistake +he made. Ernest, you are also to blame for indulging that little +peevishness of yours. But as to the animal, you all are right and +all are wrong; for he partakes at once of the nature of the dog, the +wolf, and the fox.” The boys in an instant became friends; and then +followed questions, answers, and wonder in abundance.--“And now, my +boys, let me remind you, that he who begins the day without first +addressing the Almighty ought to expect neither success nor safety +in his undertakings. Let us therefore acquit ourselves of this duty +before we engage in other occupations.” + +Having finished our prayers, the next thing thought of was +breakfast; for the appetites of young boys open with their eyes. +To-day their mother had nothing to give them for their morning +meal but some biscuit, which was so hard and dry, that it was with +difficulty we could swallow it. Fritz asked for a piece of cheese to +eat with it, and Ernest cast some searching looks on the second cask +we had drawn out of the sea, to discover whether it also contained +Dutch cheeses. In a minute he came up to us, joy sparkling in his +eyes. “Father,” said he, “if we had but a little butter spread upon +our biscuit, do you not think it would improve it?” + +“That indeed it would; but--_if_--_if_; these never-ending _ifs_ are +but a poor dependence. For my part, I had rather eat a bit of cheese +with my biscuit at once, than think of _ifs_, which bring us so +meagre a harvest.” + +_Ernest._--Perhaps, though, the _ifs_ may be found to be worth +something, if we were to knock out the head of this cask. + +_Father._--What cask, my boy? and what are you talking of? + +_Ernest._--I am talking of this cask, which is filled with excellent +salt butter. I made a little opening in it with a knife; and see, I +got out enough to spread nicely upon this piece of biscuit. + +“That glutton instinct of yours for once is of some general use,” +answered I. “But now let us profit by the event. Who will have some +butter on his biscuit?” The boys surrounded the cask in a moment, +while I was in some perplexity as to the best method of getting at +the contents. Fritz was for taking off the topmost hoop, and thus +loosening one of the ends. But this I objected to, observing that +the great heat of the sun would not fail to melt the butter, which +would then run out, and be wasted. The idea occurred to me, that I +would make a hole in the bottom of the cask, sufficiently large +to take out a small quantity of butter at a time; and I set about +manufacturing a little wooden shovel to use for the purpose. All this +succeeded vastly well, and we sat down to breakfast, some biscuits +and a cocoa-nut shell full of salt butter being placed upon the +ground, round which we all assembled. We toasted our biscuit, and, +while it was hot, applied the butter, and contrived to make a hearty +breakfast. + +“One of the things we must not forget to look for in the vessel,” +said Fritz, “is a spiked collar or two for our dogs, as a protection +to them should they again be called upon to defend themselves from +wild beasts, which I fear will probably be the case.” + +“Oh!” says Jack, “I can make spiked collars, if my mother will give +me a little help.” + +“That I will, most readily, my boy; for I should like to see what new +fancy has come into your head,” cried she. + +“Yes, yes,” pursued I, “as many new inventions as you please; you +cannot better employ your time; and if you produce something useful, +you will be rewarded with the commendations of all. But now for work. +You, Mr. Fritz, who, from your superior age and discretion, enjoy +the high honour of being my privy-counsellor, must make haste and +get yourself ready, and we will undertake to-day our voyage to the +vessel, to bring away whatever may be possible. You younger boys +will remain here, under the wing of your kind mother: I hope I need +not mention, that I rely on your perfect obedience to her will, and +general good behaviour.” + +While Fritz was getting the boat ready, I looked about for a pole, +and tied a piece of white linen to the end of it: this I drove into +the ground, in a place where it would be visible from the vessel; +and I concerted with my wife, that in case of any accident that +should require my prompt assistance, they should take down the pole +and fire a gun three times as a signal of distress, in consequence +of which I would immediately turn back. But I gave her notice, that +there being so many things to accomplish on board the vessel, it was +probable that we should not, otherwise, return at night; in which +case I, on my part, also promised to make signals. + +We embarked in silence, casting anxious looks on the beloved objects +we were quitting. Fritz rowed steadily, and I did my best to second +his endeavours, by rowing from time to time, on my part, with the +oar which served me for a rudder. When we had gone some distance, I +remarked a current which was visible a long way. To take advantage +of this current, and to husband our strength by means of it, was +my first care. Little as I knew of the management of sea affairs, +I succeeded in keeping our boat in the direction in which it ran, +by which means we were drawn gently on, till at length the gradual +diminution of its force obliged us again to have recourse to our +oars; but our arms having now rested for some time, we were ready for +new exertions. A little afterwards we found ourselves safely arrived +at the cleft of the vessel, and fastened our boat securely to one of +its timbers. + +Fritz the first thing went to the main deck, where he found all the +animals we had left on board assembled. I followed him, well pleased +to observe the generous impatience he showed to relieve the wants +of the poor abandoned creatures, who, one and all, now saluted us +by the sounds natural to their species. We examined the food and +water of the animals, taking away what was half spoiled, and adding +a fresh supply, that no anxiety on their account might interrupt our +enterprise. Nor did we neglect the care of renewing our own strength +by a plentiful repast. + +While we were seated, and appeasing the calls of hunger, Fritz +and I consulted what should be our first occupation; when, to my +surprise, the advice he gave was, that we should contrive a sail +for our boat.--“In the name of Heaven,” cried I, “what makes you +think of this at so critical a moment, when we have so many things +of indispensable necessity to arrange?”--“True, father,” said Fritz; +“but let me confess that I found it very difficult to row for so +long a time, though I assure you I did my best, and did not spare +my strength. I observed that, though the wind blew strong against +us, the current still carried us on. Now, as the current will be of +no use in our way back, I was thinking that we might make the wind +supply its place. Our boat will be very heavy when we have loaded it +with all the things we mean to take away, and I am afraid I shall +not be strong enough to row to land; so do you not think that a sail +would be a good thing just now?” + +“Ah--ha, Mr. Fritz! You wish to spare yourself a little trouble, do +you? But seriously, I perceive much good sense in your argument, and +feel obliged to my privy-counsellor for his good advice. The best +thing we can do is to take care and not overload the boat, and thus +avoid the danger of sinking, or of being obliged to throw some of our +stores overboard. We will, however, set to work upon your sail; it +will give us a little trouble. But come, let us begin.” + +I assisted Fritz to carry a pole strong enough for a mast, and +another not so thick for a sailyard. I directed him to make a hole +in a plank with a chisel, large enough for the mast to stand upright +in it. I then went to the sail-room, and cut a large sail down to a +triangular shape: I made holes along the edges, and passed cords +through them. We then got a pulley, and with this and some cords, and +some contrivance in the management of our materials, we produced a +sail. + +[Illustration: “The Vandals themselves could not have made a more +complete pillage than we had done.”] + +“But now, father,” said Fritz, “as you have eased me of the labour of +rowing, it is _my_ turn to take care of _you_. I am thinking to make +you a better contrived rudder; one that would enable you to steer the +boat both with greater ease and greater safety.”--“Your thought would +be a very good one,” said I, “but that I am unwilling to lose the +advantage of being able to proceed this way and that, without being +obliged to veer. I shall therefore fix our oars in such a manner as +to enable me to steer the raft from either end.” Accordingly I fixed +bits of wood to the stem and stern of the machine, in the nature of +grooves, which were calculated to spare us a great deal of trouble. + +During these exertions the day advanced, and I saw that we should +be obliged to pass the night in our tubs, without having made much +progress in our task of emptying the vessel. + +We employed the remnant of the day in emptying the tubs of the +useless ballast of stones, and putting in their place what would be +of service, such as nails, pieces of cloth, and different kinds of +utensils, etc., etc. The Vandals themselves could not have made a +more complete pillage than we had done. The prospect before us of +an entire solitude made us devote our attention to the securing as +much powder and shot as we could, as a means of catching animals +for food, and of defending ourselves against wild beasts to the +latest moment possible. Utensils for every kind of workmanship, of +which there was a large provision in the ship, were also objects of +incalculable value to us. The vessel, which was now a wreck, had +been sent out as a preparation for the establishment of a colony in +the South Seas, and had been provided with a variety of stores not +commonly included in the loading of a ship. Among the rest, care had +been taken to have on board considerable numbers of European cattle: +but so long a voyage had proved unfavourable to the oxen and the +horses, the greatest part of which had died, and the others were +in so bad a condition, that it had been found necessary to destroy +them. The quantity of useful things which presented themselves in +the store-chambers made it difficult for me to select among them, +and I much regretted that circumstances compelled me to leave some +of them behind. Fritz, however, already meditated a second visit; +but we took good care not to lose the present occasion for securing +knives and forks, and spoons, and a complete assortment of kitchen +utensils. In the captain’s cabin we found some services of silver, +dishes and plates of high-wrought metal, and a little chest filled +with bottles of many sorts of excellent wine. Each of these we put +into our boat. We next descended to the kitchen, which we stripped +of gridirons, kettles, pots of all kinds, a small roasting-jack, +etc. Our last prize was a chest of choice eatables, intended for the +table of the officers, containing Westphalia hams, Bologna sausages, +and other savoury food. I took good care not to forget some little +sacks of maize, of wheat, and other grain, and some potatoes. We +next added such implements for husbandry as we could find; shovels, +hoes, spades, rakes, harrows, etc. Fritz reminded me that we had +found sleeping on the ground both cold and hard, and prevailed upon +me to increase our cargo by some hammocks, and a certain number of +blankets; and as guns had hitherto been the source of his pleasures, +he added such as he could find of a particular costliness or +structure, together with some sabres and clasp-knives. The last +articles we took were a barrel of sulphur, a quantity of ropes, some +small string, and a large roll of sail-cloth. The vessel appeared to +us to be in so wretched a condition, that the least tempest must make +her go to pieces. It was then quite uncertain whether we should be +able to approach her any more. + +Our cargo was so large, that the tubs were filled to the very brim, +and no inch of the boat’s room was lost. The first and last of the +tubs were reserved for Fritz and me to seat ourselves in and row +the boat, which sank so low in the water, that if the sea had not +been quite calm, we should have been obliged to ease her of some +of the loading: we, however, used the precaution of putting on our +swimming-jackets, for fear of any misfortune. + +It will easily be imagined that the day had been laboriously +employed. Night suddenly surprised us, and we lost all hope of +returning to our family the same evening. A large blazing fire on +the shore soon after greeted our sight,--the signal agreed upon for +assuring us that all was well, and to bid us close our eyes in peace. +We returned the compliment, by tying four lanterns, with lights in +them, to our mast-head. This was answered, on their part, by the +firing of two guns; so that both parties had reason to be satisfied +and easy. + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + A Troop of Animals in Cork Jackets + + +Early the next morning, though it was scarcely light, I mounted the +vessel, hoping to gain a sight of our beloved companions through a +telescope. Fritz prepared a substantial breakfast of biscuit and +ham; but, before we sat down, we recollected that in the captain’s +cabin we had seen a telescope of a much superior size and power, +and we speedily conveyed it to the deck. While this was doing, the +brightness of the day had come on. I fixed my eye to the glass, and +discovered my wife coming out of the tent, and looking attentively +towards the vessel, and at the same moment perceived the motion of +the flag upon the shore. A load of anxiety was thus taken from my +heart; for I had the certainty that all were in good health, and had +escaped the dangers of the night.--“Now that I have had a sight of +your mother,” said I to Fritz, “my next concern is for the animals on +board; let us endeavour to save the lives of some of them at least, +and to take them with us.” + +“Would it be possible to make a raft, to get them all upon it, and in +this way get them to shore?” asked Fritz. + +“But what a difficulty in making it! and how could we induce a cow, +an ass, and a sow, either to get upon a raft, or, when there, to +remain motionless and quiet? The sheep and goats one might perhaps +find means to remove, they being of a more docile temper: but for the +larger animals, I am at a loss how to proceed.” + +“My advice, father, is to tie a long rope round the sow’s neck, and +throw her without ceremony into the sea: her immense bulk will be +sure to sustain her above water; and we can draw her after the boat.” + +“Your idea is excellent: but unfortunately it is of no use but for +the pig; and she is the one I care the least about preserving.” + +“Then here is another idea, father: let us tie a swimming-jacket +round the body of each animal, and contrive to throw one and all into +the water; you will see that they will swim like fish, and we can +draw them after us in the same manner.” + +“Right, very right, my boy; your invention is admirable: let us +therefore not lose a moment in making the experiment.” + +We hastened to the execution of our design: we fixed a jacket on +one of the lambs, and threw it into the sea; and full of anxious +curiosity, I followed the poor beast with my eyes. He sank at first, +and I thought him drowned; but he soon reappeared, shaking the water +from his head, and in a few seconds he had learned completely the art +of swimming. After another interval, we observed that he appeared +fatigued, gave up his efforts, and suffered himself to be borne along +by the course of the water, which sustained and conducted him to our +complete satisfaction.--“Victory!” exclaimed I, hugging my boy with +delight: “these useful animals are all our own; let us lose not a +moment in adopting the same means with those that remain; but take +care not to lose our little lamb.” Fritz now would have jumped into +the water to follow the poor creature, who was still floating safely +on the surface; but I stopped him till I had seen him tie on a +swimming-jacket. He took with him a rope, first making a slip-knot in +it, and soon overtaking the lamb, threw it round his neck, and drew +him back to our boat: and then took him out of the water. + +We next got four small water-butts. I emptied them, and then +carefully closed them again. I united them with a large piece of +sail-cloth, nailing one end to each cask. I strengthened this with +a second piece of sail-cloth, and this contrivance I destined to +support the cow and the ass, two casks to each, the animal being +placed in the middle, with a cask on either side. I added a thong of +leather, stretching from the casks across the breast and haunches of +the animal, to make the whole secure; and thus, in less than an hour, +both my cow and my ass were equipped for swimming. + +It was next the turn of the smaller animals: of these, the sow gave +us the most trouble: we were first obliged to put a muzzle on her +to prevent her biting; and then we tied a large piece of cork under +her body. The sheep and goats were more accommodating, and we had +soon accoutred them for our adventure. And now we had succeeded +in assembling our whole company on the deck, in readiness for the +voyage: we tied a cord to either the horns or the neck of each +animal, and to the other end of the cord a piece of wood similar +to the mode used for making nets, that it might be easy for us to +take hold of the ropes, and so draw the animal to us if it should +be necessary. We began our experiment with the ass, by conducting +him as near as possible to the brink of the vessel, and then +suddenly shoving him off. He fell into the water, and for a moment +disappeared; but we soon saw him rise, and in the action of swimming +between his two barrels, with a grace which really merited our +commendation. + +Next came the cow’s turn: and as she was infinitely more valuable +than the ass, my fears increased in due proportion. The ass had swum +so courageously, that he was already at a considerable distance from +the vessel, so that there was sufficient room for our experiment on +the cow. We had more difficulty in pushing her overboard; but she +reached the water in as much safety as the ass had done before; she +did not sink so low in it, and was no less perfectly sustained by the +empty barrels; and she made her way with gravity, and, if I may so +express it, a sort of dignified composure. According to this method +we proceeded with our whole troop, throwing them one by one into the +water, where by and by they appeared in a group floating at their +ease, and seemingly well content. The sow was the only exception: she +became quite furious, set up a loud squalling, and struggled with so +much violence in the water, that she was carried to a considerable +distance, but fortunately in a direction towards the landing-place we +had in view. We had now not a moment to lose. Our last act was to put +on our cork jackets; and then we descended without accident through +the cleft, took our station in the boat, and were soon in the midst +of our troop of quadrupeds. We carefully gathered all the floating +bits of wood, and fastened them to the stern of the machine, and thus +drew them after us. When everything was adjusted, and our company in +order, we hoisted our sail, which, soon filling with a favourable +wind, bore us towards the land. + +Proud of the success of so extraordinary a feat, we were in high +spirits, and seated ourselves in the tubs, where we made an excellent +dinner. I was occupied in thinking of those I had left on land, +when a sudden exclamation from Fritz filled me with alarm.--“Oh, +heavens!” cried he, “we are lost! a fish of an enormous size is +coming up to the boat.”--“And why lost?” said I, half angry, and yet +half partaking of his fright. “Be ready with your gun, and the moment +he is close upon us we will fire upon him.” He had nearly reached +the boat, and with the rapidity of lightning had seized the foremost +sheep: at this instant Fritz aimed his fire so skilfully, that the +balls of the gun were lodged in the head of the monster, which was an +enormous shark. The fish half turned himself round in the water and +hurried off to sea, leaving us to observe the lustrous smoothness of +his belly, and that as he proceeded he stained the water red, which +convinced us he had been severely wounded. + +The animal being now out of sight, and our fears appeased, I resumed +the rudder; and as the wind drove us straight towards the bay, I took +down the sail, and continued rowing till we reached a convenient spot +for our cattle to land. I had then only to untie the end of the cords +from the boat, and they stepped contentedly on shore. Our voyage thus +happily concluded, we followed their example. + +Ernest and Jack now ran to the boat, and began to shout their +admiration of the mast, the sail, and the flag, desiring their +brother to explain to them how all the things they saw had been +effected, and what he himself did of them. In the meantime we began +to unpack our cargo, while Jack stole aside and amused himself with +the animals, took off the jackets from the sheep and goats, bursting +from time to time into shouts of laughter at the ridiculous figure +of the ass, who stood before them adorned with his two casks and his +swimming apparatus, and braying loud enough to make us deaf. + +By and by I perceived, with surprise, that Jack had round his waist +a belt of metal covered with yellow skin, in which were fixed two +pistols. “In the name of Heaven,” exclaimed I, “where did you procure +this curious costume, which gives you the look of a smuggler?” + +“From my own manufactory,” replied he; “and if you cast your eyes +upon the dogs, you will see more of my specimens.” + +Accordingly I looked at them, and perceived that each had on a collar +similar to the belt round Jack’s waist, with, however, the exception +of the collars being armed with nails, the points of which were +outwards, and exhibited a formidable appearance. “And is it you, Mr. +Jack,” cried I, “who have invented and executed these collars and +your belt?” + +“Yes, father, they are indeed my invention, with a little of my +mother’s assistance when it was necessary to use the needle.” + +“But where did you get the leather and the thread and the needle?” + +“Fritz’s jackal furnished the first,” answered my wife; “and as +to the last, a good mother of a family is always provided with +them. Then have I not an enchanted bag, from which I draw out such +articles as I stand in need of? So if you have a particular fancy for +anything, you have only to acquaint me with it.” I tenderly embraced +her, to express my thanks for this effort to amuse by so agreeable a +raillery, and Jack too came in for his share both of the caresses and +our hearty commendations. + +Perceiving that no preparations were making for supper, I told Fritz +to bring us the Westphalia ham. The eyes of all were now fixed upon +me with astonishment, believing that I could only be in jest; when +Fritz returned, displaying with exultation a large ham, which we +had begun to cut in the morning. “A ham!” cried one and all; “a ham! +and ready dressed! What a nice supper we shall have!” said they, +clapping their hands to give a hearty welcome to the bearer of so +fine a treat.--“It comes quite in the nick of time too,” interrupted +I; “for, to judge by appearances, a certain careful steward I could +name seems to have intended to send us supperless to bed, little +thinking, I suppose, that a long voyage by water is apt to increase +the appetite.” + +“I will tell you presently,” replied my wife, “what it was that +prevented me from providing a supper for you all at an early hour: +your ham, however, makes you ample amends; and I have something in my +hand with which I shall make a pretty side-dish; in the twinkling of +an eye you shall see it make its entrance.” She now showed us about a +dozen of turtles’ eggs, and then hurried away to make an omelette of +some of them. + +“Look, father,” said Ernest, “if they are not the very same which +Robinson Crusoe found in his island! See, they are like white balls, +covered with a skin like wetted parchment! We found them upon the +sands along the shore.” + +“Your account is perfectly just, my dear boy,” said I: “by what +means did you make so useful a discovery?”--“Oh, that is part of our +history,” interrupted my wife; “for I also have a history to relate, +when you will be so good as to listen to it.” + +“Hasten then, my love, and get your pretty side-dish ready, and we +will have the history for the dessert. In the meantime I will relieve +the cow and the ass from their jackets. Come along, boys, and give me +your help.”--I got up, and they all followed me gaily to the shore. +We were not long in effecting our purpose with the cow and the ass, +who were animals of a quiet and kind temper; but when it was the +sow’s turn, our success was neither so easy nor so certain; for no +sooner had we untied the rope than she escaped from us, and ran so +fast that none of us could catch her. The idea occurred to Ernest of +sending the two dogs after her, who caught at her ears, and sent her +back, while we were half deafened with the hideous noise she made; +at last she suffered us to take off her cork jacket. We now laid the +accoutrements across the ass’s back, and returned to the kitchen; our +slothful Ernest highly delighted that we were likely in future to +have our loads carried by a servant. + +In the meanwhile, the kind mother had prepared the omelette, and +spread a tablecloth on the end of the cask of butter, upon which +she had placed some of the plates and silver spoons we had brought +from the ship. The ham was in the middle, and the omelette and the +cheese opposite to each other; and altogether made a figure not +to be despised by the inhabitants of a desert island. By and by +the two dogs, the fowls, the pigeons, the sheep, and the goats had +all assembled round us, which gave us something like the air of +sovereigns of the country. + +When we had finished our repast, I bade Fritz present our company +with a bottle of Canary wine, which we had brought from the captain’s +cabin, and I desired my wife to indulge us with the promised history. + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + Second Journey of Discovery Performed by the + Mother of the Family + +“You pretend,” said my wife, with a little malicious smile, “to be +curious about my history, yet you have not let me speak a single word +in all this time: but the longer a torrent is pent up, the longer +it flows when once let loose. Now, then, that you are in the humour +to listen, I shall give vent to a certain little movement of vanity +which is fluttering at my heart. Not, however, to intrude too long +upon your patience, we will skip the first day of your absence, in +the course of which nothing new took place. But this morning, when I +was made happy by the sight of your signal, and had set up mine in +return, I looked about, before the boys were up, in hopes to find a +shady place where we might now and then retire from the heat of the +sun; but I found not a single tree. This made me reflect a little +seriously on our situation. It will be impossible, said I to myself, +to remain in this place with no shelter but a miserable tent, under +which the heat is even more excessive than without. Courage, then! +pursued I; my husband and my eldest son are at this moment employed +for the general good; why should not I be active and enterprising +also? why not undertake, with my youngest sons, to do something that +shall add some one comfort to our existence? I will pass over with +them to the other side of the river, and with my own eyes examine +the country respecting which my husband and Fritz have related such +wonders. I will try to find out some well shaded agreeable spot, in +which we may all be settled. + +“I assembled the boys round me, and informed them of my plans for +an excursion; and you may believe I heard nothing like a dissenting +voice. They lost not a moment in preparing themselves; they examined +their arms, their game-bags, looked out the best clasp-knives, and +cheerfully undertook to carry the provision-bags; while I, for my +share, was loaded with a large flask of water and a hatchet, for +which I thought it likely we might find a use. I also took the light +gun which belongs to Ernest, and gave him in return a carbine, which +might be loaded with several balls at once. We took some refreshment, +and then sallied forth, attended by the two dogs for our escort. +We arrived at the place at which you had crossed the river, and +succeeded in passing over, though not without difficulty. After +having filled my flask with river water, we proceeded on our way till +we had reached to the top of the hill which you described to us as so +enchanting, and where I partook of the pleasure you had experienced. + +“In casting my eyes over the vast extent before me, I had observed +a small wood of the most inviting aspect. I had so long sighed for +a little shade, that I resolved to bend our course towards it; for +this, however, it was necessary to go a long way through a strong +kind of grass, which reached above the heads of the little boys; an +obstacle which, on trial, we found too difficult to overcome. We +therefore resolved to walk along the river, and turn at last upon the +wood. We found traces of your footsteps, and took care to follow them +till we had come to a place which seemed to lead directly to it; but +here again we were interrupted by the height and thickness of the +grass, which nothing but the most exhausting endeavours could have +enabled us to get through. + +“On a sudden we perceived a large bird rising from the thickest part +of the grass, and mounting in the air. Each of the boys prepared to +fire, but before they could be ready, the bird was out of the reach +of shot. Ernest was bitterly disappointed, and instantly exchanged +the gun for the carbine I had given him, crying, ‘What a pity! If I +had but had the lightest gun! if the bird had not got away so fast, I +would lay any wager I should have killed him.’ + +“‘The mischief was, no doubt, that you did not let him know +beforehand that it was your pleasure he should wait till you could be +quite ready,’ observed I, laughing. + +“‘But, mother, how could I possibly suppose that the bird could fly +away in less than the twinkling of an eye? Ah, if one would but come +at this very moment!’ + +“‘A good sportsman, Ernest, always holds himself in readiness, this +being, as I understand, one of his great arts; but as the opportunity +is gone, let us look for the place in the grass from which he +mounted; we may judge at least of his size by the mark he will have +left there.’ The boys all scampered away to the place, when suddenly +a second bird, exactly like the first, except that he was a little +larger, rushed out with a great noise and mounted above their heads. + +“The boys remained stupid with astonishment, following him with their +eyes and open mouths without speaking a word, while for my own part +I could not help laughing heartily. ‘Oh! such fine sportsmen as we +have here!’ cried I: ‘they will never let us be in want of game, I +plainly perceive.’ _Ah! if one would but come at this very moment!_” +We now minutely examined the place from which the birds had mounted, +and found a kind of large nest formed of dry plants, of clumsy +workmanship; the nest was empty, with the exception of some broken +shells of eggs. I inferred from this that their young had lately been +hatched; and observing at this moment a rustling motion among some +plants of shorter growth, at some distance from the spot on which we +stood, I concluded that the young covey were scampering away in that +direction; but as the motion soon ceased, we had no longer a guide to +conduct us to their retreat. + +“We next reached a little wood. A prodigious quantity of unknown +birds were skipping and warbling on the branches of the trees, +without betraying the least alarm at our vicinity. The boys wanted +to fire on them; but this I absolutely forbade, and with the less +scruple, as the trees were of so enormous a height as to be out of +gun-shot reach. No, my dear husband, you cannot possibly form an idea +of the trees we now beheld! You must somehow have missed this wood; +or so extraordinary a sight could not have escaped your observation. +What appeared to us at a distance to be a wood was only a group of +about fourteen of them, the trunks of which seemed to be supported +in their upright position by arches on each side, these arches being +formed by the roots of the tree. + +“Jack climbed with considerable trouble upon one of these arch-formed +roots, and with a pack-thread in his hand measured the actual +circumference of the tree itself. He found that it measured more +than fifteen braches.[1] I made thirty-two steps in going round one +of those giant productions at the roots; and its height from the +ground to the place where the branches begin to shoot may be about +thirty-six braches. The twigs of the tree are strong and thick; +its leaves moderately large in size, and bearing some resemblance +to the hazel tree of Europe; but I was unable to discover that it +bore any fruit. The large breadth of shade which presented itself +seemed to invite us to make this spot the place of our repose: and my +predilection for it grew so strong that I resolved to go no further, +but to enjoy its delicious coolness till it should be time to return. +I sat down in this verdant elysium with my three sons around me. We +took out our provision-bags: a charming stream, formed to increase +the coolness and beauty of the scene, flowed at our feet, and +supplied us with a fresh and salutary beverage. It occurred to me, +that if we could but contrive a kind of tent that could be fixed in +one of the trees, we might safely come and make our abode here. I had +found nothing in any other direction that suited us so well in every +respect; and I resolved to look no further. When we had shared our +dinner among us, and well rested from our fatigue, we set out on our +return, again keeping close to the river, half expecting to see along +the shore some of the pieces or other vestiges of the vessel, which +the waves might have washed up. + +“As I expected, we found there pieces of timber, poles, large and +small chests, and other articles, which I knew had come from the +vessel. None of us, however, were strong enough to bring them away; +we therefore contented ourselves with dragging all we could reach to +the dry sands, beyond the reach of the waves at high water. + +“We now suddenly cast our eyes on Flora, whom we perceived employed +in turning over a round substance she had found in the sands, +some pieces of which she swallowed from time to time. Ernest also +perceived her motions, and did us the favour, with his usual +composure, to pronounce just these words:--‘They are turtles’ eggs.’ +We found it difficult to make Flora leave the eggs, to which she had +taken a great fancy. At length, however, we succeeded in collecting +near two dozen of them, which we secured in our provision-bags. When +we had concluded this affair, we by accident cast our eyes upon the +sea, and to our astonishment perceived a sail, which seemed to be +joyfully approaching towards the land. I knew not what to imagine; +but Ernest exclaimed that it was you and Fritz; and we soon had the +happiness of being convinced that it was indeed our well-beloved! We +ran eagerly towards the river, and soon arrived at the place of your +landing, when we had nothing further to do but to throw ourselves +into your arms!” + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [1] The brache is equal to twenty-two inches and a half. + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + Construction of a Bridge + + +When my wife and I awaked the next morning, we resumed the question +of our change of abode. I observed to her that it was a matter of +difficulty, and that we might have reason to repent such a step. +“My own opinion is,” said I, “that we had better remain here, where +Providence seems to have conducted us; the place is favourable to our +personal safety, and is near the vessel, from which we may continue +to enrich ourselves: we are on all sides protected by the rocks; it +is an asylum inaccessible but by sea, or by the passage of the river, +which is not easily accomplished. Let us then have patience yet a +little longer at least, till we have got all that can be removed, or +that would be useful to us, from the ship.” + +My wife replied, that the intense heat of the sands was +insupportable; that by remaining, we lost all hope of procuring +fruits of any kind, and must live on oysters, or on wild birds. + +“As for the safety you boast of,” pursued she, “the rocks did not +prevent our receiving a visit from the jackals; nor is it improbable +that tigers or other animals might follow their example. Lastly, +as to the treasures we might continue to draw from the vessel, I +renounce them with all my heart. We are already in possession of +provisions and other useful things: and, to say the truth, my heart +is always filled with distressing apprehensions, when you and Fritz +are exposed to the danger of that perfidious element the sea.” + +“We will then think seriously of the matter; but let us have a +well-digested scheme of operation before we leave this spot for your +favourite wood. First, we must contrive a store-house among the +rocks for our provisions and other things, and to which, in case +of invasion in the wood, we can retreat and defend ourselves. This +agreed, the next thing is to throw a bridge across the river, if we +are to pass it with all our family and baggage.” + +“A bridge!” exclaimed my wife: “can you possibly think of such a +thing? If we stay while you build a bridge, we may consider ourselves +as fixed for life. Why should we not cross the river as we did +before? The ass and the cow will carry all we possess upon their +backs.” + +“But do you recollect, that to keep what they carry dry, they must +not perform their journey as they did from the vessel? For this +reason, then, if for no other, we must contrive a bridge. We shall +want also some sacks and baskets to contain our different matters; +you may therefore set about making these, and I will undertake +the bridge, which, the more I consider, the more I find to be of +indispensable necessity.” + +Thus, then, we decided the important question of removing to a new +abode; after which we fixed upon a plan of labour for the day, and +then awaked the boys. Their delight on hearing of our project may +easily be conceived, but they expressed their fear that it would be a +long while before a bridge could be built. + +We now began to look about for breakfast. My wife undertook to +milk the cow, and afterwards gave some of the milk to each of the +children: with a part of what remained she made a sort of sop with +biscuits, and the rest she put into one of the flasks, to accompany +us in our expedition. During this time, I was preparing the boat for +another journey to the vessel, to bring away a sufficient quantity of +planks and timbers for the bridge. After breakfast we set out; and +now I took with me Ernest as well as Fritz, that we might accomplish +our object in a shorter time. + +We rowed stoutly till we reached the current, which soon drew us on +beyond the bay; but scarcely had we passed a little islet, lying to +one side of us, than we perceived a prodigious quantity of sea-gulls +and other birds. I had a curiosity to discover what could be the +reason of such an assemblage of these creatures. I steered for the +spot; but finding that the boat made but little way, I hoisted my +sail. + +I approached near enough to step upon the land, and after bringing +the boat to an anchor with a heavy stone, we stole softly up to the +birds. We soon perceived that the object which attracted them was in +reality an enormous fish, which had been thrown there by the sea. +So eagerly were they occupied with the feast, that not one of them +attempted to fly off. We observed with astonishment the extreme +voracity of this plumed group: each bird was so intent upon its prey +that we might have killed great numbers of them with our sticks +alone. Fritz did not cease to express his wonder at the monstrous +size of the animal, and asked me by what means it could have got +there? + +“I believe,” answered I, “you were yourself the means; there is every +appearance that it is the very shark you wounded yesterday. See, here +are the two balls which you discharged at its head.” + +“Yes, yes, it is the very same,” said my young hero, skipping about +for joy: “I well remember I had two balls in my gun, and here they +are, lodged in its head.” + +Ernest drew out the iron ramrod from his gun, and by striking with +it to right and left among the birds, soon dispersed them. Fritz and +I then advanced and cut several long strips of the skin from the +head of the shark, with which we were proceeding to our boat, when +I observed, lying on the ground, some planks and timbers which had +recently been cast by the sea on this little island. On measuring +the longest, we perceived they would answer our purpose; and with +the assistance of the crow and a lever which we had brought with +us, found means to get them into the boat, and thus spare ourselves +the trouble of proceeding to the vessel. With great exertion of our +strength, we contrived to bind the timbers together, with the planks +upon them, in the manner of a raft, and tied them to the end of the +boat; so that, through this adventure, we were ready to return in +four hours from the time of departure, and might boast of having done +a good day’s work. + +We were once more landed safely on our shore, but no one of our +family appeared. We called to them as loud as we could, which was +answered by the same sounds in return, and in a few minutes my wife +appeared between her two little boys returning from the river, a +rising piece of ground having concealed her from our sight: each +carried a handkerchief in hand, which appeared filled with some new +prize: and little Francis had a small fishing-net formed like a bag +and strung upon a stick, which he carried on his shoulder. No sooner +did they hear our voices, than they flew to meet us, surprised at +our quick return. Jack reached us before the rest; and his first act +was to open the handkerchief he held, and pour out a large number of +lobsters at our feet: their mother and little Francis produced each +as many more, forming all together a prodigious heap, and all alive; +so that we were sure of excellent dinners for some days at least. + +After we had given an account of our voyage, my wife set about +dressing some of the lobsters, and in the meantime Fritz and I +employed ourselves in untying the raft of timbers and planks, and +in moving them from the boat. I then imitated the example of the +Laplanders, in harnessing their reindeer for drawing their sledges. +Instead of traces, halters, etc., I put a piece of rope, with a +running knot at the end, round the neck of the ass, and passed the +other end between its legs, to which I tied the piece of wood which I +wished to be removed. The cow was harnessed in the same manner, and +we were thus enabled to carry our materials, piece by piece, to the +spot which had been chosen at the river as the most eligible for our +bridge. It was a place where the shore on each side was steep, and of +equal height; there was even on our side an old trunk of a tree lying +on the ground, which I foresaw would have its use. + +“Now then, boys,” said I, “the first thing is to see if our timbers +are long enough to reach to the other side: by my eye, I should think +they are; but if I had a surveyor’s plane, we might be quite sure, +instead of working at a venture.” + +“But my mother has some balls of packthread, with which she measured +the height of the giant tree,” interrupted Ernest, “and nothing would +be more easy than to tie a stone to the end of one of them, and throw +it to the other side of the river; then we could draw it to the very +brink, and thus obtain the exact length that would be required for +our timbers.” + +“Your idea is excellent,” cried I; “run quickly and fetch the +packthread.” He returned without loss of time; the stone was tied +to its end, and thrown across as we had planned; we drew it gently +back to the river edge, marking the place where the bridge was to +rest: we next measured the string, and found that the distance from +one side to the other was eighteen feet. It appeared to me, that to +give a sufficient solidity to the timbers, I must allow three feet +of extra length at each end for fixing them, making therefore in all +twenty-four; and I was fortunate enough to find that many of those we +had brought did not fall short of this length. There now remained the +difficulty of carrying one end across the stream; but we determined +to discuss this part of the subject while we ate our dinner, which +had been waiting for us more than an hour. + +We hurried through our meal, each being deeply interested in the work +we were about to undertake, and thinking only of the part which might +be assigned him towards the execution of the _Nonsuch_; for this, for +mutual encouragement, was the name we gave our bridge, even before it +was in existence. + +Having consulted as to the means of laying our timbers across the +river, the first thing I did was to attach one of them to the trunk +of the tree, of which I have already spoken, by a strong cord, long +enough to turn freely round the trunk; I then fastened a second cord +to the other end of the timber, and tying a stone to its extremity, +flung it to the opposite bank. I next passed the river as I had done +before, furnished with a pulley, which I secured to a tree: I passed +my second cord through the pulley, and recrossing the river with this +cord in my hand, I contrived to harness the ass and cow to the end of +the cord. I next drove the animals from the bank of the river: they +resisted at first, but I made them go by force of drawing. I first +fixed one end of the beam firmly to the trunk of the tree, and then +they drew along the other end, so as gradually to advance over the +river: presently, to my great joy, I saw it touch the other side, and +at length become fixed and firm by its own weight. In a moment Fritz +and Jack leaped upon the timber, and, in spite of my paternal fears, +crossed the stream with a joyful step upon this narrow but effective +bridge. + +The first timber being thus laid, the difficulty was considerably +diminished; a second and a third were fixed in succession, and with +the greatest ease. Fritz and I, standing on opposite sides of the +river, placed them at such distances from each other as was necessary +to form a broad and handsome bridge: what now remained to be done was +to lay some short planks across them quite close to each other, which +we executed so expeditiously, that our construction was completed in +a much shorter time than I should have imagined possible. Our labour, +however, had occasioned us so much fatigue, that we found ourselves +unable for that day to enter upon new exertions; and the evening +beginning to set in, we returned to our home, where we partook +heartily of an excellent supper, and went to bed. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + Change of Abode + + +As soon as we were up and had breakfasted the next morning, I +assembled all the members of my family together, to take with them a +solemn farewell of this our first place of reception from the awful +disaster of the shipwreck. I directed my sons to assemble our whole +flock of animals, and to leave the ass and the cow to me, that I +might load them with the sacks which my wife had made; I had filled +these, and made a slit longways in the middle of each, and to each +side of the slits I tied several long pieces of cord, which crossing +each other, and being again brought round and fastened, served to +hold the sacks firmly on the back of the animal. We next began to put +together all the things we should stand most in need of for the two +or three first days in our new abode: working implements, kitchen +utensils, the captain’s service of plate, and a small provision of +butter, etc., etc. I put these articles into the two ends of each +sack, taking care that the sides should be equally heavy, and then +fastened them on. I afterwards added our hammocks to complete the +load, and we were about to begin to march, when my wife stopped +me.--“We must not,” said she, “leave our fowls behind, for fear they +should become the prey of the jackals. We must contrive a place for +them among the luggage, and also one for our little Francis, who +cannot walk so far, and would interrupt our speed. There is also my +enchanted bag, which I recommend to your particular care,” said she, +smiling, “for who can tell what may yet pop out of it for your good +pleasure?” + +I now placed the child on the ass’s back, fixing the enchanted bag in +such a way as to support him, and I tied them together with so many +cords, that the animal might even have galloped without danger of his +falling off. + +We packed and placed in the tent everything we were to leave, and for +greater security, fastened down the ends of the sail-cloth, at the +entrance, by driving stakes through them into the ground. We ranged +a number of vessels, both full and empty, round the tent, to serve +as a rampart, and thus we confided to the protection of Heaven our +remaining treasures. At length, we set ourselves in motion: each of +us, great and small, carried a gun upon his shoulder, and a game-bag +at his back. My wife led the way with her eldest son, the cow and the +ass immediately behind them; the goats, conducted by Jack, came next; +the little monkey was seated on the back of his nurse, and made a +thousand grimaces. After the goats came Ernest, conducting the sheep, +while I, in my capacity of general superintendent, followed behind, +and brought up the rear; the dogs for the most part pranced backwards +and forwards, like adjutants to a troop of soldiers. Our march was +slow, and there was something solemn and patriarchal in the spectacle +we exhibited; I fancied we must resemble our forefathers journeying +in the deserts, accompanied by their families and their possessions. + +On the other side of the river we experienced an inconvenience wholly +unexpected. The tempting aspect of the grass, which grew here in +profusion, drew off our animals, who strayed from us to feed upon +it; so that, without the dogs, we should not have been able to bring +them back to the line of our procession. The active creatures were +of great use to us on this occasion; and when everything was restored +to proper order, we were able to continue our journey. For fear, +however, of a similar occurrence, I directed our march to the left, +along the seaside, where the produce of the soil was not of a quality +to attract them. + +But scarcely had we advanced a few steps on the sands, when our two +dogs, which had strayed behind among the grass, set up a sort of +howl, as if engaged in an encounter with some formidable animal. +Fritz in an instant raised his gun to his cheek, and was ready to +fire; Ernest, always somewhat timid, drew back to his mother’s side; +Jack ran bravely after Fritz with his gun upon his shoulder; while +I, fearing the dogs might be attacked by some dangerous wild beast, +prepared myself to advance to their assistance. But youth is always +full of ardour: and in spite of my exhortations to proceed with +caution, the boys, eager for the event, made but three jumps to the +place from which the noise proceeded. In an instant Jack had turned +to meet me, clapping his hands, and calling out, “Come quickly, +father, come quickly, here is a monstrous porcupine!” + +I soon reached the spot, and perceived that it was really as he said, +bating a little exaggeration. The dogs were running to and fro with +bleeding noses about the animal; and when they approached too near +him, he made a frightful noise, and pierced them with his quills so +deeply and suddenly that the pain the wounds occasioned made them +howl violently. + +While we were looking on, Jack determined on an attack, which +succeeded well. He took one of the pistols which he carried in his +belt, and aimed it so exactly at the head of the porcupine, that he +fell dead the instant he fired, and before we had a notion of what he +was about. We now all got round the extraordinary animal, on whom +nature has bestowed a strong defence by arming his body all over with +long spears. The boys were at a loss what means to use for carrying +away his carcass. They thought of dragging it along the ground; +but as often as they attempted to take hold, there was nothing but +squalling, and running to show the marks made by his quills on their +hands.--“We must leave him behind,” said they, “but it is a great +pity.” + +While the boys were talking, my wife and I had hastened to relieve +the dogs, by examining the wounds which had been inflicted by the +quills. Fritz had run on before with his gun, hoping he should meet +with some animal of prey. We followed him at our leisure, taking +care not to expose our health by unnecessary fatigue; till at last, +without further accident or adventure, we arrived at the place of +the giant trees. Such indeed we found them, and our astonishment +exceeded all description.--“Good heavens! what trees! what a height! +what trunks! I never heard of any so prodigious!” exclaimed one and +all.--“Nothing can be more rational than your admiration,” answered +I, measuring them with my eyes as I spoke. “I must confess I had +not myself formed an idea of the reality. To you be all the honour, +my dear wife, of the discovery of this agreeable abode, in which we +shall enjoy so many comforts and advantages. The great point we have +to gain is the fixing a tent large enough to receive us all in one +of these trees, by which means we shall be perfectly secure from the +invasion of wild beasts. I defy even one of the bears, who are so +famous for mounting trees, to climb up by a trunk so immense, and so +destitute of branches.” + +We began now to release our animals from their burdens, having first +thrown our own on the grass. We next used the precaution of tying +their two fore-legs together with a cord, that they might not go far +away or lose themselves. We restored the fowls to liberty; and then +seating ourselves upon the grass, we held a family council on the +subject of our future establishment. I was myself somewhat uneasy +on the question of our safety during the ensuing night; for I was +ignorant of the nature of the extensive country I beheld around me, +and what chance there might be of our being attacked by different +kinds of wild beasts. I accordingly observed to my wife, that I would +make an endeavour for us all to sleep in the tree that very night. +While I was deliberating with her on the subject, Fritz had stolen +away to a short distance, and we heard the report of a gun. This +would have alarmed me, if at the same moment we had not recognized +Fritz’s voice crying out, “I touched him! I touched him!” and in +a moment we saw him running towards us, holding a dead animal of +uncommon beauty by the paws.--“Father, father, look, here is a superb +tiger-cat,” said he, proudly raising it in the air, to show it to +the best advantage.--“Bravo! bravo!” cried I: “bravo, Nimrod the +undaunted! Your exploit will call forth the gratitude of our cocks, +hens, and pigeons, for you have rendered them what they cannot fail +to think an important service. If you had not killed this animal, +he would no doubt have demolished in one night our whole stock of +poultry. One idea occurs to me: skin the animal carefully, so as +not to injure it, particularly the parts which cover the fore-legs +and the tail. You may then make yourself a belt with it, like your +brother Jack’s. The odd pieces will serve to make some cases to +contain our utensils for the table, such as knives, forks and spoons. +Go then, boy, and put away its head, and we will see how to set about +preparing the skin.” + +The boys left me no moment of repose till I had shown them how +to take off the skins of the animals without tearing them. In +the meanwhile Ernest looked about for a flat stone as a sort of +foundation for a fireplace, and little Francis collected some pieces +of dry wood for his mother to light a fire. Ernest was not long in +finding what he wanted, and then he ran to join us, and give us his +assistance, or rather to reason, right or wrong, on the subject of +skinning animals; and then on that of trees, making various comments +and inquiries respecting the real name of those we intended to +inhabit.--“It is my opinion,” said he, “that they are, really and +simply, enormously large hazel trees; see if the leaf is not of +exactly the same form.”--“But that is no proof,” interrupted I; “for +many trees bear leaves of the same shape, but nevertheless are of +different kinds.” + +Presently little Francis came running, with his mouth crammed full of +something, and calling out, “Mamma, mamma! I have found a nice fruit +to eat, and I have brought you home some of it!” + +“Little glutton!” replied his mother, quite alarmed, “what have you +got there? For Heaven’s sake, do not swallow, in this imprudent +manner, the first thing that falls in your way; for by this means +you may be poisoned, and then you would die.” She made him open his +mouth, and took out with her finger what he was eating with so keen a +relish. With some difficulty she drew out the remains of a fig.--“A +fig!” exclaimed I: “where did you get this fig?” + +_Francis._--I got it among the grass, papa; and there are a great +many more. I thought it must be good to eat, for the fowls and the +pigeons, and even the pig, came to the place, and ate them in large +quantities. + +_Father._--“You see then, my dear,” said I to my wife, “that our +beautiful trees are fig-trees, at least the kind which are thus +named at the Antilles.” I took this occasion to give the boys another +lesson on the necessity of being cautious, and never to venture +on tasting anything they met with, till they had seen it eaten by +birds and monkeys. At the word monkeys, they all ran to visit the +little orphan, whom they found seated on the root of a tree, and +examining with the oddest grimaces the half-skinned tiger-cat, +which lay near him. Francis offered him a fig, which he first +turned round and round, then smelled at it, and concluded by eating +it voraciously.--“Bravo! bravo! Mr. Monkey,” exclaimed the boys, +clapping their hands; “so then these figs are good to eat!” + +In the meanwhile my wife had been busy in making a fire, putting on +the pot, and preparing for our dinner. The tiger-cat was bestowed +upon the dogs, who waited impatiently to receive it. While our dinner +was dressing, I employed my time in making some packing-needles with +some of the quills of the porcupine, which the boys had contrived to +draw from his skin, and bring home. I put the point of a large nail +into the fire till it was red-hot; then taking hold of it with some +wet linen in my hand, by way of guard, I with great ease perforated +the thick end of the quills with it. I had soon the pleasure of +presenting my wife with a large packet of long, stout needles, which +were the more valuable in her estimation as she had formed the +intention of contriving some better harness for our animals, and had +been perplexed how to set about it without some larger needles. + +I had singled out the highest fig-tree; and while we were waiting +for dinner, I made the boys try how high they could throw a stick or +stone into it. I also tried myself; but the lowest branches were so +far from the ground, that none of us could touch them. I perceived, +therefore, that we should want some new inventions for fastening the +ends of my ladder to them. I allowed a short pause to my imagination, +during which I assisted Jack and Fritz in carrying the skin of the +tiger-cat to a near rivulet, where we confined it under water with +some large stones. After this we returned and dined heartily on some +slices of ham and bread and cheese, under the shade of our favourite +trees. + +[Illustration: “I proceeded more cautiously in my pursuit of the +wounded bird.”] + + + + + CHAPTER X + + Construction of a Ladder + + +Our repast ended, I observed to my wife that we should be obliged +to pass the night on the ground. I desired her to begin preparing +the harness for the animals, that they might go to the seashore, and +fetch pieces of wood, or other articles which might be useful to us. +I, in the meantime, set about suspending our hammocks to some of +the arched roots of the trees. I next spread a piece of sail-cloth +large enough to cover them, to preserve us from the dew, and from the +insects. I then hastened with the two eldest boys to the seashore, to +choose out such pieces of wood as were most proper for the steps of +my ladder. Ernest was so lucky as to discover some bamboo canes in a +sort of bog. I took them out, and, with his assistance, completely +cleared them from the dirt; and stripping off their leaves, I found, +to my great joy, that they were precisely what I wanted. I then +instantly began to cut them with my hatchet, in pieces of four or +five feet long; the boys bound them together in faggots, and we +prepared to return with them to our place of abode. I next secured +some of the straight and most slender of the stalks, to make some +arrows with, of which I knew I should stand in need. At some distance +from the place where we stood, I perceived a sort of thicket, in +which I hoped to find some young pliant twigs, which I thought might +also be useful to me: we proceeded to the spot; but apprehending it +might be the retreat of some dangerous reptile or animal, we held +our guns in readiness. Flora, who had accompanied us, went before. +We had hardly reached the thicket before she made several jumps, and +threw herself furiously into the middle of the bushes; when a troop +of large-sized flamingoes sprang out, and with a loud rustling noise +mounted into the air. Fritz fired, when two of the birds fell among +the bushes: one of them was quite dead; the other was only slightly +wounded in the wing, and finding that he could not fly, he ran so +fast towards the water, that we were afraid he would escape us. +Fritz, in the joy of his heart, plunged up to his knees in the water, +to pick up the flamingo he had killed, and with great difficulty was +able to get out again; while I, warned by his example, proceeded +more cautiously in my pursuit of the wounded bird. Flora came to +my assistance, and running on before, caught hold of the flamingo, +and held him fast till I reached the spot, and took him into my +protection. All this was effected with considerable trouble; for the +bird made a stout resistance, flapping its wing with violence for +some time. But at last I succeeded in securing him. + +Fritz was not long in extricating himself from the swamp; he now +appeared holding the dead flamingo by the feet: but I had more +trouble in the care of mine, as I had a great desire to preserve +him alive. I had tied his feet and his wings with my handkerchief; +notwithstanding which, he still continued to flutter about to a +distressing degree, and tried to make his escape. I held the flamingo +under my left arm, and my gun in my right hand. I made the best jumps +I was able to get to the boys, but the risk of sinking every moment +in the mud, which was extremely deep, and from which it would have +been difficult to release me. + +I now selected some of the oldest of the stalks of bamboo, and cut +from them their hard pointed ends, to serve for the tips of my +arrows. Lastly, I looked for two of the longest canes, which I cut, +for the purpose of measuring the height of our giant tree, about +which I felt so deep an interest. When I told my sons the use I +intended to make of the two longest canes, they indulged themselves +in a hearty laugh at me, and maintained that, though I should lay +ten such canes up the trunk of the tree, the last would not reach +even the lowest branch. I requested they would oblige me by having a +little patience. We now thought of returning. Ernest took the charge +of the canes; Fritz carried the dead flamingo, and I resumed the care +of the living one. + +We at length arrived once more at our giant trees, and were received +with a thousand expressions of interest and kindness. All were +delighted at the sight of our new captures. My wife, with her usual +anxiety about the means for subsisting, asked where we should get +food enough for all the animals we brought home?--“You should +consider,” said I, “that some of them feed us, instead of being fed; +and the one we have now brought need not give you much uneasiness, +if, as I hope, he proves able to find food for himself.” I now began +to examine his wound, and found that only one wing was injured by the +ball, but that the other had also been slightly wounded by the dog +laying hold of him. I applied some ointment to both, which seemed +immediately to ease the pain. I next tied him by one of his legs, +with a long string, to a stake I had driven into the ground, quite +near to the river, that he might go in and wash himself when he +pleased. + +In the meantime, my little railers had tied the two longest canes +together, and were endeavouring to measure the tree with them; +but when they found that they reached no further than the top of +the arch formed by the roots, they all burst into immoderate fits +of laughter, assuring me, that if I wished to measure the tree, I +must think of some other means. I however sobered them a little by +recalling to Fritz’s memory some lessons in land-surveying he had +received in Europe, and that the measure of the highest mountains, +and their distance from each other, may be ascertained by the +application of triangles and supposed lines. I instantly proceeded +to this kind of operation, fixing my canes in the ground, and making +use of some string, which Fritz guided according to my directions. +I found that the height of the lower branches of our tree was forty +feet; a particular I was obliged scrupulously to ascertain before I +could determine the length of my ladder. I now set Fritz and Ernest +to work, to measure our stock of thick ropes, of which I wanted +no less than eighty feet for the two sides of the ladder; the two +youngest I employed in collecting all the small string we had used +for measuring, and carrying it to their mother. For my part, I sat +down on the grass, and began to make some arrows with a piece of the +bamboo, and the short sharp points of the canes I had taken such +pains to secure. As the arrows were hollow, I filled them with moist +sand, to give them a little weight; and lastly, I tipped them with a +bit of feather from the flamingo, to make them fly straight. + +Just at this moment Fritz joined us, having finished measuring the +ropes: he brought me the welcome tidings, that our stock, in all, was +about five hundred fathoms, which I knew to be more than sufficient +for my ladder. I now tied the end of a ball of strong thread to an +arrow, and fixing it to the bow, I shot it off in such a direction +as to make the arrow pass over one of the largest branches of the +tree, and fall again to the ground. By this method I lodged my thread +securely, while I had the command of the end and the ball below. It +was now easy to tie a piece of rope to the end of the thread, and +draw it upwards, till the knot should reach the same branch. Having +thus made quite sure of being able to raise my ladder, we all set to +work with increased zeal and confidence. The first thing I did was to +cut a length of about one hundred feet from my parcel of ropes, an +inch thick; this I divided into two equal parts, which I stretched +along on the ground in two parallel lines, at the distance of a foot +from each other. I then directed Fritz to cut portions of sugar-cane, +each two feet in length. Ernest handed them to me, one after another; +and as I received them, I inserted them into my cords at the distance +of twelve inches respectively, fixing them with knots in the cord, +while Jack, by my order, drove into each a long nail at the two +extremities, to hinder it from slipping out again. Thus, in a very +short time, I had formed a ladder of forty rounds in length, and, in +point of execution, firm and compact, and which we all beheld with a +sort of joyful astonishment. I now tied it with strong knots to the +end of the rope which hung from the tree, and pulled it by the other, +till our ladder reached the branch, and seemed to rest so well upon +it, that the joyous exclamations of the boys and my wife resounded +from all sides. All the boys wished to be the first to ascend upon +it; but I decided that it should be Jack, he being the nimblest and +of the lightest figure among them. Accordingly, I and his brothers +held the ends of the rope and of the ladder with all our strength, +while our young adventurer tripped up the rounds with perfect ease, +and presently took his post upon the branch; but I observed that he +had not strength enough to tie the rope firmly to the tree. Fritz +now interfered, assuring me that he could ascend as safely as his +brother; but as he was much heavier, I was not altogether without +apprehension. I fastened the end of the ladder with forked stakes +to the ground, and then gave him instructions how to step in such a +way as to divide his weight, by occupying four rounds of the ladder +at the same time with his feet and hands. It was not long before we +saw him side by side with Jack, forty feet above our heads, and both +saluting us with cries of exultation. Fritz set to work to fasten the +ladder, by passing the rope round and round the branch; and this he +performed with so much skill and intelligence, that I felt sufficient +reliance to determine me to ascend myself, and well conclude the +business he had begun. But first I tied a large pulley to the end of +the rope, and carried it with me. When I was at the top, I fastened +the pulley to a branch which was within my reach, that by this means +I might be able the next day to draw up the planks and timbers I +might want for building my aërial castle. I executed all this by the +light of the moon, and felt the satisfaction of having done a good +day’s work. I now gently descended my rope ladder, and joined my wife +and children. + +My wife presented me with the day’s work she had performed: it was +some traces, and a breast leather each for the cow and the ass. I +promised her, as a reward for her zeal and exertion, that we should +all be completely settled in the tree the following day, and we then +assembled to supper. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + The Settling in the Giant Tree + + +The next morning we took our breakfast, and fell to work. My wife, +having finished her daily occupation of milking the cow, and +preparing the breakfast, set off with Ernest, Jack and Francis, +attended by the ass, to the seashore: they had no doubt of finding +some more pieces of wood, and they thought it would be prudent to +replenish our exhausted store. In her absence, I ascended the tree +with Fritz, and made the necessary preparations for my undertaking, +for which I found it in every respect convenient; for the branches +grew close to each other, and in an exactly horizontal direction. +Such as grew in a manner to obstruct my design, I cut off either with +the saw or hatchet, leaving none but what presented me with a sort of +foundation for my work. I left those which spread themselves evenly +upon the trunk, and had the largest circuit, as a support for my +floor. Above these, at the height of forty-six feet, I found others, +upon which to suspend our hammocks; and higher still, there was a +further series of branches, destined to receive the roof of my tent, +which for the present was to be formed of nothing more than a large +surface of sail-cloth. + +The progress of these preparations was considerably slow. It was +necessary to raise certain beams to this height of forty feet, that +were too heavy for my wife and her little assistants to lift from +the ground. I had, however, the resource of my pulley, which served +to excellent purpose, and Fritz and I contrived to draw them up to +the elevation of the tent, one by one. When I had already placed +two beams upon the branches, I hastened to fix my planks upon them; +and I made my floor double, that it might have sufficient solidity +if the beams should be warped from their places. I then formed a +wall of staves of wood like a park-paling, all round for safety. +This operation, and a third journey to the seashore to collect the +timber necessary, filled our morning so completely, that not one of +us had thought about dinner. For this once we contented ourselves +with a bit of ham and some milk, which we ate, and returned to finish +our aërial palace, which began to make an imposing appearance. We +unhooked our hammocks from the projecting roots, and by means of +my pulley contrived to hoist them up the tree. The sail-cloth roof +was supported by the thick branches above; and as it was of great +compass, and hung down on every side, the idea occurred to me of +nailing it to the paling on two sides, thus getting not only a roof, +but two walls also; the immense trunk of the tree forming a third +side, while in the fourth was the entrance to our apartment: and +in this I left a large aperture, both as a means of seeing what +passed without, and admitting a current of air to cool us in this +burning temperature. The hammocks were soon hung on the branches, +and everything was ready for our reception that very evening. Well +satisfied with the execution of my plan, I descended with Fritz, who +had assisted me throughout the whole; and as the day was not far +advanced, and I observed we had still some planks remaining, we set +about contriving a large table, to be placed between the roots of the +tree, and surrounded with benches; and this place we said should be +called our dining-parlour. + +Exhausted by the fatigues of the day, I threw myself on a bank, and +my wife having seated herself near me, I thanked her for the tender +care she was ever imposing on herself; and then I observed to her, +that the many blessings we enjoyed led the thoughts naturally to the +beneficent Giver of them all; and to-morrow being a Sabbath day, we +would rest from work, in obedience to His command, and otherwise +keep it holy. We now assembled round our table to supper, my wife +holding in her hand an earthen pot, which we had before observed +upon the fire, and the contents of which we were all curious to be +informed of. She took off the cover, and with a fork drew out of +it the flamingo which Fritz had killed. She informed us that she +had preferred dressing it this way to roasting, because Ernest had +assured her that it was an old bird, which would prove hard and +tough, and advised her to improve it by stewing. We rallied our +glutton boy on this foible of his character, and his brothers gave +him the name of the _cook_. We, however, had soon reason to know +that he had conferred upon us an important obligation; for the bird, +which, roasted, we perhaps should not have been able to touch, now +appeared excellent, and was eaten up to the very bones. + +The boys now, by my direction, lighted one of the heaps of wood. I +tied long ropes loosely round the necks of our dogs, purposing to +mount to our tent with the ends in my hand, that I might be able to +let them lose upon the enemy at the first barking I should hear. +Every one was eager to retire to rest, and the signal for ascending +the ladder was given. The three eldest boys were up in an instant; +then came their mother’s turn, who proceeded slowly and cautiously, +and arrived in perfect safety. My own ascension was last, and the +most difficult; for I carried little Francis on my back, and the end +of the ladder had been loosened at the bottom, that I might be able +to draw it up in the tent during the night; every step, therefore, +was made with the greatest difficulty, in consequence of its swinging +motion. At last, however, I got to the top, and drew the ladder +after me. It appeared to them that we were in one of the strong +castles of the ancient cavaliers, in which, when the drawbridge is +raised, the inhabitants are secured from every attack of the enemy. +Notwithstanding this apparent safety, I kept our guns in readiness +for whatever event might require their use. We now abandoned +ourselves to repose; our hearts experienced a full tranquillity; +and the fatigue we had all undergone induced so sound a sleep, that +daylight shone full in the front of our habitation before our eyes +had opened. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + The Sabbath and the Parable + + +The next morning we descended the ladder, and breakfasted on warm +milk: we served the animals also with their meal and then we all sat +down on the tender grass; the boys full of impatient curiosity; their +mother absorbed in silent reflection; while I was penetrated with the +most lively desire to impress upon the young minds of my children a +subject I considered of the highest importance for their well-being, +both in this world and in that which is to come. + +All now standing up, I repeated aloud the church service, +which I knew by heart, and we sang some verses from the +hundred-and-nineteenth Psalm, which the boys had before learned; +after which we sat down, and I began as follows:-- + +“My dear children, there was once a Great King, whose kingdom was +called The Country of Light and Reality, because the purest and +softest light of the sun reigned there continually, which caused the +inhabitants to be in a perpetual state of activity. On the farthest +borders of this kingdom, northward, there was another country which +also belonged to the Great King, and the immense extent of which was +unknown to all but himself. From time immemorial, a plan the most +exact of this country had been preserved in the royal archives. The +second kingdom was called The Kingdom of Obscurity, or of Night, +because everything in it was gloomy and inactive. + +“In the most fertile and agreeable part of his empire of Reality, +this great King had a residence called the Heavenly City, in which +he lived and kept his court, which was the most brilliant that the +imagination can form an idea of. Millions of guards, and servants +high in dignity, remained for ever round him, and a still larger +number held themselves in readiness to receive his commands. All were +happy to be admitted into his presence: their faces shone with the +mildest joy: there was but one heart and one soul among them: the +sentiment of paternal concord so united these beings, that no envy +or jealousy ever rose among them. Among the rest of the inhabitants +of the Heavenly City, there were some less close in their attendance +upon the Great King, but they were all virtuous, all happy, all had +been enriched by the beneficence of the monarch, and, what is of +still higher price, had received constant marks of his paternal care; +for his subjects were all equal in his eyes, and he loved them, and +treated them as if they had been his children. + +“The Great King had, besides the two kingdoms I have been describing, +an uninhabited island of considerable extent: it was his wish to +people and cultivate this island, for all within it was a kind of +chaos: he destined it to be for some years the abode of such future +citizens as he intended to receive finally into his residence, +to which only such of his subjects were admitted as had rendered +themselves worthy by their conduct. This island was called Earthly +Abode: he who should have passed some time in it, and by his virtue, +his application to labour, and the cultivation of the land, should +have rendered himself worthy of reward, was afterwards to be received +into the Heavenly City, and made one of its happy inhabitants. + +“To effect this end, the Great King caused a fleet to be equipped, +which was to transport the new colonists to this island. These he +chose from the kingdom of Night, and for his first gift bestowed +upon them the enjoyment of light, and the view of the lovely face +of Nature, of which they had been deprived in their gloomy and +unknown abode. It will easily be imagined that they arrived joyful +and happy, at least they became so when they had been for a short +time accustomed to the multitude of new objects which struck their +feeble sight. The island was rich and fertile when cultivated. The +beneficent King provided each individual who was disembarked upon it +with all the things he could want in the time he had fixed for their +stay in it, and all the means for obtaining the certainty of being +admitted as citizens of his magnificent abode, when they should leave +the Earthly Island. All that was required to entitle them to this +benefit was that they should occupy themselves unceasingly in useful +labour, and strictly obey the commands of the Great King, which he +made known to them. He sent to them his only son, who addressed them +from his father in the following terms:-- + +“‘My dear children, I have called you from the kingdom of Night +and Insensibility, to render you happy by the gifts of life, of +sentiment, and of activity. But your happiness for the most part will +depend upon yourselves. You will be happy if you wish to be so. If +such is your sincere desire, you must never forget that I am your +good King, your tender father; and you must faithfully fulfil my will +in the cultivation of the country I have confided to your care. Each +of you shall receive, on his arriving at the island, the portion of +land which is intended for him; and my further commands respecting +your conduct will be soon communicated to you. I shall send you wise +and learned men, who will explain to you my commands; and that you +may of yourselves seek after the light necessary for your welfare, +and remember my laws at every instant of your lives, it is my will +that each father of a family shall keep an exact copy of them in his +house, and read them daily to all the persons who belong to him. +Further, each first day of the week I require to be devoted to my +service. In each colony, all the people shall assemble together as +brothers in one place, where shall be read and explained to them the +laws contained in my archives. The rest of this day shall be employed +in making serious reflections on the duties and destination of the +colonists, and on the best means to fulfil the same. + +“‘He who, in his Earthly Abode, shall most strictly have observed my +will, who shall have best fulfilled the duties of a brother towards +his fellow-inhabitants, who shall have preserved his land in the +best order, and shall show the largest produce from it, shall be +recompensed for his deeds, and shall become an inhabitant of my +magnificent residence in the Heavenly City. But the neglectful and +the idle man, and the wicked man, who shall have spent their time +in interrupting the useful labours of others, shall be condemned to +pass their lives in slavery, or, according to the degree of their +wickedness, shall be condemned to live in subterraneous mines, in the +bowels of the earth.’ + +“All the colonists were well satisfied with the discourse of the +Great King, and made him the most sacred promises. After a short +time allowed for repose from the fatigue of the voyage, a portion +of land, and the proper instruments for labour, were distributed to +each of the strangers. They received also seeds, and useful plants, +and young trees, for producing them refreshing fruits. Each was then +left at liberty to act as he pleased, and increase the value of +what was confided to his care. But what happened? After some time, +each followed the suggestions of his fancy: one planted his land +with arbours, flowery banks, and sweet-smelling shrubs; all pleasing +to the sight, but which brought forth nothing. Another planted +wild apple-trees, instead of the good fruit, as the Great King had +commanded; contenting himself with giving high-sounding names to the +worthless fruit he had caused to be brought forth. A third had indeed +sown good grain; but not knowing how to distinguish the tares that +grew up along with it, he pulled up the good plants before they were +mature, and left only the tares in his ground. But the greater part +let their land lie fallow, and bestowed no labour upon it, having +spoiled their implements, or lost their seed, either from negligence +or idleness, or liking better to amuse themselves than to labour. + +“From habit they continued to celebrate the first day of the week, +but by far the smallest part of it was consecrated to the honour of +the Great King. Great numbers of them dispensed with going to the +general assembly, either from idleness, or to employ themselves in +occupations which had been expressly forbidden. By far the greater +part of the people considered this day of repose as intended for +pleasure, and thought of nothing but adorning and amusing themselves +as soon as daylight appeared. The Great King, however, observed +unalterably the laws he had laid down. From time to time, some +frigates appeared on their coasts, each bearing the name of some +disastrous malady; and these were followed by a large ship of the +line, named the Grave, on board of which, the admiral, whose name +was Death, caused his flag of two colours, green and black, to be +constantly floating in the air. He showed the colonists, according to +the situation in which he found them, either the smiling colour of +Hope, or the gloomy colour of Despair. + +“This fleet always arrived without being announced, and seldom gave +any pleasure to the inhabitants. The admiral sent the captains of his +frigates to seize the persons he was ordered to bring back with him. +Many who had not the smallest inclination were suddenly embarked, +while others who had prepared everything for the harvest, and whose +land was in the best condition, were also seized. But these last took +their departure cheerfully, and without alarm; well knowing that +nothing but happiness awaited them. It was those who were conscious +they had neglected to cultivate their land, who felt the most regret. +It was even necessary to employ force to bring them under subjection. +When the fleet was ready for departure, the admiral sailed for the +port of the Royal Residence; and the Great King, who was present on +their arrival, executed with strict justice both the rewards and +punishments which had been promised to them. All the excuses alleged +by those who had been idle, were of no avail. They were sent to the +mines and to the galleys, while those who had obeyed the Great King, +and well cultivated their land, were admitted into the Heavenly +City, clothed in robes of brilliant colours, one exceeding the other +according to the degree of merit.--Here, my dear children, ends my +parable. May you have thoroughly understood its meaning, and may +you reap the advantage it is capable of affording you! Make it the +subject of your reflections the whole of this day.” + +I then put different questions to my little congregation, and +explained what they had not perfectly comprehended; and, after a +short review of the principal parts of my discourse, I concluded by a +moral application. + +“Human creatures,” said I, “are the colonists of God; we are +required to perform the business of probation for a certain period, +and, sooner or later, are destined to be taken hence. Our final +destination is Heaven, and a perfect happiness with the spirits of +just men made perfect, and in the presence of the bountiful Father +of us all. The piece of land entrusted to each is the soul; and +according as he cultivates and ennobles it, or neglects or depraves +it, will be his future reward or punishment. For ourselves, one and +all, we will adopt the model of the good and zealous labourers; and +should our exertions be a little painful, we shall think of the +reward which awaits us, when we shall have adorned our souls with all +that is good, just and praiseworthy. Thus, when death, which cannot +fail to come at last, shall summon us, we may follow him with joy to +the throne of the Good and Great King, to hear him pronounce these +sweet and consoling words: ‘O good and faithful servant! thou hast +been tried and found faithful in many things; enter thou into the joy +of thy Lord,’”--With these words, and a short prayer of benediction, +I concluded the solemnity of our Sunday. + +The next morning the boys assembled round me with a petition that I +would show them how to use arrows. We accordingly sat down on the +grass; I took out my knife, and, with the remains of a bamboo cane, +began to make a bow. I was well satisfied to observe them one and +all take a fancy to shooting with an arrow, having been desirous +to accustom them to this exercise, which constituted the principal +defence of the warriors of old, and might possibly become our only +means of protection and subsistence: our provision of powder must at +last be exhausted; we might even, from moment to moment, be deprived +of it by accident; it therefore was of the utmost importance to us to +acquire some other means of killing animals, or attacking our enemies. + +While I was silently reflecting on the subject, employed in finishing +a bow, Ernest, who had been observing me for some time, slipped +suddenly away; and Fritz coming up at the same moment, with the +wetted skin of the tiger-cat in his hand, I paid no attention to the +circumstance. I began my instructions to my eldest boy respecting +the trade of a tanner. I told him the method of getting rid of the +fat of the skin, by rubbing it over with sand, and placing it in +running water till it had no longer any appearance of flesh, or any +smell; next to rub it with soft butter, to make it supple, and then +to stretch the skin in different directions; and also to make use +of some eggs in the operation, if his mother could spare them. “You +will not at first produce such excellent workmanship as I have seen +of this kind from England; but with a little patience, regretting +neither your time nor your labour, you will have completed some +decent-looking cases, which will give you the more pleasure, from +being the work of your own hands.” + +At this moment we heard the firing of a gun, which proceeded from our +tent in the tree, and two birds at the same time fell dead at our +feet. We were at once surprised and alarmed, and all eyes were turned +upward to the place. There we saw Ernest standing outside the tent, a +gun in his hand, and heard him triumphantly exclaiming, “Catch them! +Catch them there! I have hit them; and you see I did not run away for +nothing.” He descended the ladder joyfully, and ran with Francis to +take up the two birds; while Fritz and Jack mounted to our castle, +hoping to meet with the same luck. + +One of the dead birds proved to be a sort of thrush, and the other +was a very small kind of pigeon, very fat, and of a delicious taste. +We now observed for the first time that the wild figs began to ripen, +and that they attracted these birds. I foresaw, in consequence, that +we were about to have our table furnished with a dish which even a +nobleman might envy us. I gave the boys leave to kill as many of them +as they liked. I knew that, half-roasted, and put into barrels with +melted butter thrown over them, they would keep a long time, and +might prove an excellent resource. My wife set about stripping off +the feathers of the birds, to dress them for our dinner. I seated +myself by her side, and proceeded in my work of arrow-making. + +Thus finished another day. Supper ended, and prayers said, we +ascended the ladder in procession; and each got into his hammock to +taste the sweets of a tranquil sleep. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + Conversation, and a Walk + + +Jack had finished the trial of his arrows: they flew to admiration; +and he practised his new art incessantly. Little Francis waited with +impatience for the moment when he should try also, and followed with +his eyes every stroke I made. But when I had finished my bow, and +prepared some little arrows for him, I must next undertake to make +him a quiver. I took some bark from the branch of a tree, which came +off in a round form; and folding the edges over each other, I stuck +them together with some glue produced from our soup-cakes. I next +stuck on a round piece to serve for the bottom; and then tied to it +a loop of string which I hung round his neck. He put his arrows into +it: and, quite happy, took his bow in his hand, and ran to try his +skill by the side of his brother. Fritz had also cleaned and prepared +his materials for the cases, when his mother summoned us to dinner. +We cheerfully placed ourselves under the shade of our tree, round +the table I had manufactured. At the end of the repast, I made the +following proposition to the boys, which I was sure would give them +pleasure. + +“What think you, my good friends,” said I, “of giving a name to the +place of our abode, and to the different parts of the country which +are known to us? I do not mean a general name to the whole islands, +but to the objects we are most concerned with.” + +They all exclaimed, joyfully, that the idea was excellent. + +_Father._--We shall naturally begin with the bay by which we entered +this country. What shall we call it? What say you, Fritz? You must +speak first, for you are eldest. + +_Fritz._--Let us call it _Oyster Bay_: you remember what quantity of +oysters we found in it. + +_Jack._--Oh, no; let it rather be called _Lobster Bay_: for you +cannot have forgotten what a large one it was that caught hold of my +leg, and which I carried home to you. + +_My Wife._--My advice would be, that, out of gratitude to God, who +conducted us hither in safety, we ought to call it _Providence Bay_, +or the _Bay of Safety_. + +_Father._--These words are both appropriate and sonorous, and please +me extremely. But what name shall we give to the spot where we first +set up our tent? + +_Fritz._--Let us simply call it _Tent House_. + +_Father._--That will do very well. And the little islet at the +entrance of _Providence Bay_, in which we found so many planks and +beams that enabled us to make our bridge, how shall it be named? + +_Ernest._--It may be called _Sea-Gull Island_, or _Shark Island_; for +it was here we saw those animals. + +_Father._--I am for the last of these names, _Shark Island_; for it +was the shark that was the cause of the sea-gulls being there; and +thus we shall also have a means of commemorating the courage and the +triumph of Fritz, who killed the monster. + +_Jack._--For the same reason, we will call the marsh, in which you +cut the canes for our arrows, _Flamingo Marsh_. + +_Father._--Quite right, I think. But now comes the great question: +What name shall we give to our present abode? + +_Ernest._--It ought to be called simply _Tree Castle_. + +_Fritz._--No, no, that will not do at all; that is the same as if, +when we wanted to name a town, we called it _The Town_. Let us invent +a more noble name. + +_Jack._--Yes, so we will. I say _Fig Town_. + +_Fritz._--Ha, ha, ha! a noble name, it must be confessed! Let us +call it the _Eagle’s Nest_, which I am sure has a much better sound. +Besides, our habitation in the tree is really much more like a nest +than a town, and the eagle cannot but ennoble it, since he is the +king of birds. + +_Father._--Will you let me decide the question for you? I think our +abode should be called _The Falcon’s Nest_; for you are not arrived +at the dignity of eagles, but are, too truly, poor simple birds of +prey: and like the falcon, you also are, I trust, obedient, docile, +active and courageous. Ernest can have no objection to this; for, as +he knows, falcons make their nests in large trees. + +All exclaimed, clapping their hands, “Yes, yes; we will have it _The +Falcon’s Nest_! the sound is quite chivalrous; so health to _Falcon’s +Nest Castle_!” cried they, all looking up to the tree, and making +low bows. I poured out a small quantity of sweet wine, and presented +it to each, to solemnize our baptism. “Now then,” said I, “for the +promontory, where Fritz and I in vain wearied our eyes in search of +our companions of the vessel;--I think it may properly be called +_Cape Disappointment_.” + +_All._--Yes, this is excellent. And the river with the bridge---- + +_Father._--If you wish to commemorate one of the greatest events +of our history, it ought to be called _The Jackal’s River_; for +these animals crossed it when they came and attacked us, and it was +there that one of them was killed. The bridge I should name _Family +Bridge_, because we were all employed in its construction, and all +crossed it together on our way to this place. Let me ask you all, +if it will not be a great pleasure to converse about the country we +inhabit, now that we have instituted names as if everything belonged +to us? + +_Ernest._--It will be just as if we had farms and country houses, all +dependent upon our castle. + +In this pleasing kind of chat, the time of dinner passed agreeably +away. We settled the basis of a geography of this our new country; +and amused ourselves with saying it must go by the first post to +Europe. + +As the evening advanced, and the intense heat of the day began to +diminish, I invited all my family to take a walk. “Leave your work +for this time, my boys,” said I, “and let us make a short excursion; +let us seek, in the beautiful face of nature, the traces of the +wisdom and goodness of the Creator. Which way shall we direct our +steps?” + +_Fritz._--Let us go to Tent House, father; we are in want of powder +and shot for the little consumers of our figs; nor must we miss our +dinner for to-morrow, or forget that we are to secure a supply for +winter. + +_My Wife._--I too vote for Tent House; my butter is nearly gone, for +Fritz took an unreasonable share for his new trade of tanning. + +_Father._--To Tent House, then, we will go; but we will not take our +accustomed road along the seashore, but rather vary our pleasure, by +trying to explore some other way. We will keep along our own little +stream as far as the wall of rocks; it will be easy for us to cross +it by jumping from stone to stone, and so to get to Tent House: +we will return with our provisions by the road of Family Bridge, +and along the seashore. This new route may possibly furnish some +additional discoveries. + +My idea was highly applauded, and all was soon arranged for our +setting out. Our route along the stream was at first extremely +agreeable, being sheltered by the shade of large trees, while the +ground under our feet was a short and soft kind of grass. To prolong +the pleasure of our walk, we proceeded slowly, amusing ourselves with +looking about us to the right and left; the eldest boys made frequent +escapes on before, so that we sometimes lost sight of them. In this +manner we reached the end of the wood; but the country now appearing +to be less open, we thought it would be prudent to bring our whole +company together. + +On looking forward, we saw the boys approaching us full gallop, and +this time, for a wonder, the grave Ernest was first. He reached me +panting for breath, and so full of joy and eagerness that he could +not pronounce a single word distinctly: the rest soon came up, and +our expedition was resumed. + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + Continuation of Preceding Chapter--Discoveries + + +Conversing on different subjects, we reached the long chain of rocks, +over which our pretty Falcon’s Stream made its escape in a cascade, +delighting at once the eye and the ear in its progress. We thus +reached Jackal’s River, and from thence proceeded to Tent House, +having with difficulty pushed through the high grass which presented +itself. Our fatigue, however, was relieved by the beauty of the +scenery around: on the right hand was a boundless sea: on the left, +the island, with the bay by which it was accessible, and the chain +of rocks, forming altogether an assemblage of the picturesque, equal +to what the liveliest fancy could desire. We distinguished different +families of grasses, many of them of the thorn-leaved species, and +stronger than those cultivated in the green-houses of Europe. There +was also in abundance the Indian fig, with its large broad leaf; +aloes of different forms and colours; the superb prickly candle, +or cactus, bearing straight stalks, taller than a man, and crowned +with long straight branches, forming a sort of star; while that +which pleased us best, and which was found there in great abundance, +was the king of fruits, both for figure and relish, the crowned +pineapple, of which we all partook with avidity. + +Soon after, I was fortunate enough to discover among the multitude of +plants which grew either at the foot or in the clefts of the rocks, +the karata, many of which were now in blossom. As I was acquainted +with the properties of this useful plant, the pith of which is used +for tinder by the negroes, who also make a strong kind of thread +from the fibres of its leaves, I was not less satisfied with this +discovery than I had been with any we had previously made. Wishing to +exhibit one of its uses to my children, I desired Ernest to take out +my flint and steel. + +I took a dried stalk of the tree, stripped off the bark, and there +appeared a kind of dry spongy substance, which I laid upon the flint; +and then striking it with a steel, it instantly caught fire. The +boys looked on with astonishment, and soon began to caper about, +exclaiming, “Long live the tinder-tree!” + +“Here, then,” said I, “we have an article of greater usefulness than +if it served merely to gratify the appetite. Your mother will next +inform us what materials she will use for sewing your clothes, when +her provision of thread from the enchanted bag is exhausted.” + +_My Wife._--I have long been uneasy upon this very subject, and would +willingly exchange our greatest luxury for some hemp or flax. + +_Father._--And your wish shall be accomplished. If you examine, +you will find some excellent thread under the leaves of this +extraordinary plant, where all-provident nature has placed a +storehouse of this valuable article, though the lengths of thread +will be found not longer than the leaf. I accordingly drew out of one +of the leaves a strong piece of thread of a red colour, which I gave +to my wife. “How fortunate it is for us,” said she, “that you have +had the habit of reading and of study! None of us would have had a +thought about this plant, or have conceived that it could be of any +use:--but will it not be difficult to draw out the lengths of thread +through the prickles that surround them?” + +_Father._--Not in the least; we shall put the leaves to dry, either +in the sun, or by a gentle fire. The useless part of the leaf will +then separate by being beaten, and the mass of thread will remain. + +_Fritz._--I see clearly, father, that we ought not to trust to +appearances; but one may, I suppose, assert that there are no good +qualities in the prickly plants, which are growing here in all +directions, and wounding the persons who go near them: of what use +can they possibly be? + +_Father._--The greatest part of these possess medicinal virtues; +great use is made in pharmacy of the aloe, which produces such +abundance of beautiful flowers: in green-houses in Europe some have +been seen to bear more than three thousand blossoms. But look--here, +too, is the Indian fig, or prickly pear, a vegetable of no common +interest; it grows in the poorest soils, and, as you see, upon the +rocks: the poorer the soil, the more luxuriant and succulent its +leaves. I should be tempted to believe that it was nourished by the +air rather than by the earth. The plant bears a kind of fig, which is +said to be sweet and palatable when ripened in its native sun, and +it is a salutary and refreshing food. This, then, is another plant +of great utility. I next instructed them how to gather this prickly +fruit without injury to their fingers. I threw up a stone, and +brought down a fig, which I caught upon my hat; I cut off one end, +and was thus enabled to hold it on a knife while I peeled off the +skin. I then resigned it to the curiosity of my young companions. + +In the meantime, I perceived Ernest holding a leaf upon the end of +his knife, turning it about in all directions, and bringing it close +to his eye with a look of curious inquiry.--“I wish I could know,” +said at length our young observer, “what little animals these are on +the leaf, which feed so eagerly upon it, and are of quite a scarlet +colour.” + +_Father._--Ha, ha! this too will perhaps turn out a new discovery, +and an additional source of usefulness. Let me look at your leaf: I +will wager that it is the insect called the cochineal. + +_Jack._--The cochineal! what a droll name! What is the cochineal, +father? + +_Father._--It is an insect of the kind called _suckers_, or _kermes_. +It lives by sucking the juice of the leaves of the Indian fig, which, +no doubt, is the cause of its beautiful colour, so much esteemed in +dyeing; for nothing else produces so fine a scarlet. + +We reached Jackal’s River, which we crossed, stepping with great care +from stone to stone, and shortly arrived at our old habitation, where +we found everything as we had left it; and each went in pursuit of +what he intended to take away. Fritz loaded himself with powder and +shot: I and my wife and Francis employed ourselves in filling our pot +with butter. Ernest and Jack looked about for the geese and ducks; +but as they were become somewhat savage, the boys could not succeed +in catching one of them. The idea then occurred to Ernest of taking +a small bit of cheese, and tying it to the end of a piece of string, +and holding it to float in the water. The voracious animals hastened +eagerly to seize it. In this way Ernest drew them towards him, one by +one, with the cheese in its mouth, till he had caught the whole: each +bird was then tied in a pocket-handkerchief, leaving the head at +liberty, and fastened one to each game-bag, so that all had a share +in carrying them. + +We now set out loaded on our return. The ducks and geese, with their +heads and necks stretching out at our shoulders, cackling with all +their might, gave us a truly singular and ludicrous appearance; and +we could not help laughing immoderately as we passed the bridge, one +after another, accoutred in so strange a fashion. Our mutual jokes, +and the general good humour which prevailed, served to shorten the +length of the walk, and none complained of fatigue, till seated under +our tree at Falcon’s Stream. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + Hopes of a Sledge--Some Short Lessons in + Useful Things + + +I had observed along the shore many pieces of wood, of which I +thought I could make a kind of conveyance for our cask of butter and +other provisions from Tent House to Falcon’s Stream, and had secretly +determined to go early the next morning, before my family should +be awake, to the spot. I had fixed upon Ernest for my assistant, +thinking that his indolent temper required to be stimulated to +exertion. I made him feel as a great favour the preference I gave +him, and he promised to be ready at a very early hour. + +At the first dawn of morning I quietly awoke Ernest. He got up, and +we descended the ladder without being perceived by the rest, who +continued to sleep soundly. We roused the ass, and I made him draw +some large branches of a tree, which I wanted for my undertaking. + +We were not long in finding the pieces of wood, and set to work to +cut them the proper length, and we then laid them cross-ways on the +branches, which we thus converted into a kind of vehicle. We added +to the load a little chest, which we found half-buried in the sands, +quite close to the waves, and then we set out on our return to +Falcon’s Stream. When we reached our abode, the chest we had brought +was soon opened by a strong hatchet; for all were eager to see what +was within. It contained only some sailors’ dresses and some linen, +and both were wet with the sea. + +We then sat down tranquilly to breakfast; and I next inspected the +booty of the young sportsmen, who had shot, in all, no less than +fifty ortolans and thrushes, and had used so large a quantity of +powder and shot, that when they were about to resume their sport, +my wife and I stopped them, recommending a more frugal use of those +valuable materials. I taught them how to make some snares, to be +suspended from the branches of the fig-tree, and advised them to use +the thread of the karata, which is as strong as horse-hair, for the +purpose. + +Jack, who had got up into the tree, and had suspended some of the +snares to the branches, came down again to bring us the acceptable +intelligence that our pigeons had made a sort of nest there of some +dry grass, and that it already contained several eggs. I therefore +forbade the boys from firing any more in the tree, for fear of +alarming or wounding these gentle creatures. I also directed that the +snares should be frequently examined, to see that the pigeons were +not caught in them, as they might be strangled in their efforts to +get loose. + +Meanwhile the boys and I had been busily employed: our work was +completed. Two bent pieces of wood, the segments of a circle, which +I fixed in their places by a straight piece of wood placed across, +and firmly fixed to the bent pieces in the middle and at the rear, +formed the outline of my machine. I then fastened two ropes in front; +and here was a sledge as perfect as could be desired. As I had not +raised my eyes from my work, I did not know what my wife and the two +youngest boys had been about. On looking up, I perceived that they +had been stripping off the feathers from a quantity of birds which +the boys had killed, and that they afterwards spitted them on an +officer’s sword, which Fritz had fancied and brought from the ship, +and which my wife had turned into this useful kitchen utensil. I +approved of the idea; but I blamed her profusion in dressing more +birds at once than we could eat. She reminded me that I had myself +advised her to half-roast the birds before putting them into the +butter, to be preserved for future use. She was in hopes, she said, +that as I had now a sledge, I should not fail of going to Tent House +after dinner to fetch the cask of butter, and in the meanwhile she +was endeavouring to be ready with the birds. I had no objection to +this, and determined on going to Tent House the same day, requesting +my wife to hasten the dinner for that purpose. She replied that this +was already her intention, as she also had a little project in her +head, which I should be informed of at my return. I, for my part, +had one too, which was to refresh myself, after the heat and fatigue +of my laborious occupations, by a plunge into the sea. I wished that +Ernest, who was to accompany me, should bathe also; while Fritz was +to remain at home for the protection of the family. + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + Bathing, Fishing and a Kangaroo + + +We had harnessed the ass and the cow to our sledge; and, resting +our guns upon our shoulders, began our journey. We bade adieu to +our companions, and put our animals in motion. We took the road by +the seashore, where the sands afforded better travelling for our +vehicle than the thick wild grass. We reached Family Bridge, on +Jackal’s River, and arrived at Tent House without either obstacle or +adventure, and unharnessed the animals to let them graze, while we +set to work to load the sledge with the cask of butter, the cask of +cheese, a small barrel of gunpowder, different instruments, small +ball and some shot. These exertions had so occupied our thoughts, +that it was late when we first observed that our animals, attracted +by the excellent quality of the grass on the other side of the river, +had repassed the bridge, and wandered so far as to be out of sight. +I was in hopes they would be easily found, and directed Ernest to go +with Flora and bring them back, intending in the meantime to look for +a convenient place on the other side of Tent House to bathe in. In a +short time I found myself at the extremity of Providence Bay, which +ended, as I now perceived, in a marsh, producing some fine bulrushes; +and further on was a chain of steep rocks, advancing somewhat into +the sea, and forming a kind of creek, as if expressly contrived for +bathing. + +I desired Ernest to fill a small bag with some of the salt he had +formerly observed here, and then to empty it into the large one for +the ass to carry; and to take care to fill equally on each side. +“During this time I will take the refreshment of bathing; and then it +will be your turn to bathe, and mine to take care of the animals.” + +I returned to the rocks, and was not disappointed in my expectation +of an enjoyment the most delicious. When I had dressed myself, I +returned to Ernest to see if his work had advanced: presently I heard +his voice calling out, “Father, father, a fish! a fish of monstrous +size! Run quickly, father: I can hardly hold him; he is eating up +the string of my line!” I ran to the place from which the voice +proceeded, and found Ernest lying along the ground on his face, upon +the extremity of a point of land, and pulling in his line, to which +a large fish was hanging, and struggling to get loose. I ran hastily +and snatched the rod out of his hand, for I feared the weight and +activity of the fish might pull him into the water. I gave the line +length, to calm the fish, and then contrived to draw him gently +along into a shallow, from which he could no longer escape, and +thus he was effectually secured. We examined him thoroughly, and he +appeared to weigh not less than fifteen pounds; so that our capture +was magnificent, and would afford the greatest pleasure to our good +steward of provisions at Falcon’s Stream. + +While Ernest went to the rocks and bathed, I had time to fill some +more bags with salt. We then harnessed and loaded our animals, and +resumed the road to Falcon’s Stream. + +When we had proceeded about half way, Flora, who was before us, +suddenly sprang off, and by her barking gave notice that she scented +some game. We soon after saw her pursuing an animal which seemed +endeavouring to escape, and made the most extraordinary jumps +imaginable. The dog continued to follow; the creature, in trying +to avoid him, passed within gun-shot of the place where I stood. I +fired, but its flight was so rapid that I did not hit. Ernest, who +was at a small distant behind, hearing the report of my gun, prepared +his own, and fired it off at the instant the singular animal was +passing near him, seeking to hide itself among the tall herbage +just by: he had fired so skilfully that the animal fell dead at the +same instant. I ran with extreme curiosity to ascertain what kind +of quadruped it might be. It was as large as a sheep, with the tail +resembling that of a tiger; but its snout and hair were like those +of a mouse, and its teeth were like a hare’s, but much larger; the +fore-legs resembled those of the squirrel, and were extremely short; +but to make up for this, its hind-legs were as long as a pair of +stilts, and of a form strikingly singular. We examined the creature +a long time in silence. I could not be sure that I had ever seen an +engraving or description of it in any natural history, or book of +travels. Ernest at length, clapping his hands together, joyously +exclaimed, “And have I really killed this wonderful animal? What do +you think is its name, father? I would give all the world to know.” + +_Father._--And so would I, my boy; but I am as ignorant as you. One +thing, however, is certain, that this is your lucky day. Let us again +examine this interesting stranger, that we may be certain to what +family of quadrupeds it belongs: this will perhaps throw a light upon +its name. + +_Ernest._--I think it can hardly be named a quadruped; for the little +fore-legs look much more like hands, as is the case with monkeys. + +_Father._--They are notwithstanding legs, I can assure you. Let us +look for its name among the animals who give suck: on this point we +cannot be mistaken. Now let us examine its teeth. + +_Ernest._--Here are the four incisory teeth, like the squirrel. + +_Father._--Thus we see that it belongs to the order of Nibblers. Now +let us look for some names of animals of this kind. + +_Ernest._--Besides squirrels, I recollect only mice, marmots, hares, +beavers, porcupines, and jumpers. + +_Father._--Jumpers! That short word furnishes the necessary clue; +the animal is completely formed like the jerboa, or jumping hare, +except that it is twice the size of those of which I have read a +description.... Wait a moment--an idea strikes me: I will wager that +our animal is one of the large jumpers, called kangaroos. To the best +of my knowledge, this animal has never been seen but on the coast of +New Holland, where it was first observed by the celebrated navigator, +Captain Cook. You may then be highly flattered with your adventure of +killing an animal at once so rare and so remarkable. But now let us +see how we shall manage to drag him to the sledge. Ernest requested +that I would rather assist him to carry it, as he was afraid of +spoiling its beautiful mouse-coloured skin by dragging it on the +ground. I therefore tied the fore-legs of the kangaroo together; and +by means of two canes, we, with considerable trouble, contrived to +carry it to the sledge, upon which it was securely fastened. + +We at length arrived happily, though somewhat late, at Falcon’s +Stream, having heard from a great distance the salutations of our +family. We concluded the day with our ordinary occupations. I gave +some salt to each of our animals, to whom it was an acceptable +treat. We then skinned our kangaroo, and put it carefully aside +till the next day, when we intended to cut it to pieces, and +lay such parts in salt as we could not immediately consume. We +made an excellent supper on our little fish, to which we added +some vegetables; nor were our faithful companions Turk and Flora +neglected. The labours of the day had more than usually disposed us +all to seek repose; we therefore said our prayers at an early hour, +mounted our ladder, and were soon asleep. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + More Stores from the Wreck + + +I rose with the first crowing of the cock, descended the ladder, +and set about skinning the kangaroo, taking care not to deface its +beautiful smooth coat; but I advanced so slowly in the business, that +my family were assembled about me, and calling out Famine! before I +had finished my work. Breakfast over, I ordered Fritz to get ready +for Tent House, where we should prepare the boat, and again proceed +to the vessel. + +We took Ernest and Jack a little way with us, and then I sent them +back with a message to their mother, which I had not the resolution +to deliver myself--that we might be forced to pass the night on board +the vessel, and not return till the evening of the following day. It +was most essential to get out of it, if yet afloat, all that could be +saved, as a moment might complete its destruction. + +We got into the boat, and, gaining the current, quickly cleared +Safety Bay, and reached the vessel, whose open side offered us an +ample space to get on board. When we had fastened our boat, our first +care was to select fit materials to construct a raft. Our boat of +staves had neither room nor solidity enough to carry a considerable +burden; we therefore looked about, and found a sufficient number of +water-casks, which appeared to me proper for my new enterprise. +We emptied them, replaced the bungs carefully, and threw the casks +overboard, after securing them with ropes and cramps, so as to keep +them together at the vessel’s side: this completed, we placed a +sufficient number of planks upon them to form a firm and commodious +platform, or deck, to which we added a gun-wale of a foot in depth +all round, to secure the lading. Thus we contrived a handsome raft, +in which we could stow thrice as much as in our boat. This laborious +task had taken up the whole day; we scarcely allowed ourselves a +minute to eat some cold meat we had provided, that we might not +lose any time in looking for the provisions on board the vessel. +In the evening, Fritz and I were so weary, that it would have been +impossible for us to row back to land; so having taken all due +precaution in case of a storm, we lay down in the captain’s cabin, on +a good elastic mattress, which induced such sound repose, that our +prudent design to watch in turn, for fear of accident, was forgotten, +and we both slept heavily, side by side, till broad daylight opened +our eyes. We rose, and actively set to work to load our raft. + +We began with stripping the cabin of its doors and windows, with +their appendages; next we secured the carpenter’s and gunner’s +chests, containing all their tools and implements: those we could +remove with levers and rollers were put entire upon the raft, and +we took out of the others what rendered them too heavy. One of the +captain’s chests was filled with costly articles, which, no doubt, he +meant to dispose of to the opulent planters of Port Jackson, or among +the savages. In the collection were several gold and silver watches, +snuff-boxes of all descriptions, buckles, shirt-buttons, necklaces, +rings; in short, an abundance of all the trifles of European luxury. +But the discovery that delighted me most was a chest containing some +dozens of young plants of every species of European fruits, which +had been carefully packed in moss for transportation. I perceived +pear, plum, almond, peach, apple, apricot, chestnut trees, and vine +shoots. We discovered a number of bars of iron, and large pigs of +lead, grinding-stones, cart-wheels ready for mounting, a complete +set of farrier’s instruments, tongs, shovels, ploughshares, rolls +of iron and copper wire, sacks full of maize, pease, oats, vetches, +and even a little handmill. The vessel had been freighted with +everything likely to be useful in an infant colony so distant. We +found a saw-mill in a separated state, but each piece numbered, and +so accurately fitted that nothing was easier than to put it together +for use. + +We with difficulty and hard labour finished our loading, having added +a large fishing-net, quite new, and the vessel’s great compass. With +the net, Fritz found two harpoons and a rope-windlass, such as they +use in the whale-fishery. He asked me to let him place the harpoons, +tied to the end of the rope, over the bow of our tub-boat, and thus +be in readiness in case of seeing any large fish; and I indulged him +in his fancy. + +Having completely executed our undertaking, we stepped into +the tub-boat, and pushed out for the current, drawing our raft +triumphantly after us with a stout rope, which we had been careful to +fasten securely at its head. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + The Tortoise Harnessed + + +The wind was favourable, and briskly swelled our sail. The sea was +calm, and we advanced at a considerable rate. Fritz had for some time +fixed his eyes on something of a large size which was floating on +the water, and he now desired me to take the glass, and see what it +could be. I soon perceived that it was a tortoise, which had fallen +asleep in the sun on the surface of the water. No sooner had Fritz +learned this, than he entreated me to steer softly within view of so +extraordinary a creature. I readily consented; but as his back was +towards me, and the sail between us, I did not observe his motions, +till a violent jerk of the boat, a sudden turning of the windlass, +and then a second jerk, accompanied by a rapid motion of the boat, +gave me the necessary explanation. “For Heaven’s sake, what are you +about, Fritz?” exclaimed I, somewhat alarmed. + +“I have caught him!--I touched him!” cried Fritz, without hearing one +word I had been saying.--“The tortoise is ours; it cannot escape, +father! Is not this, then, a valuable prize, for it will furnish +dinners for us all for many weeks?” + +I soon perceived that the harpoon had caught the animal, which, +feeling itself wounded, thus agitated the vessel in its endeavours +to get away. I quickly pulled down the sail, and seizing a hatchet, +sprang to the boat’s head to cut the rope, and let the harpoon and +the tortoise go; but Fritz caught hold of my arm, conjuring me to +wait a moment, and not so hastily bring upon him the mortification of +losing, at one stroke, the harpoon, the rope, and the tortoise: he +proposed watching himself, with the hatchet in his hand, to cut the +rope suddenly should any sign of danger appear; and I yielded to his +entreaties. + +Thus, then, drawn along by the tortoise, we proceeded with a +hazardous rapidity. I soon observed that the creature was making +for the sea; I therefore again hoisted the sail; and as the wind +was to the land, and very brisk, the tortoise found resistance of +no avail; he accordingly fell into the track of the current, and +drew us straight towards our usual place of landing, and, by good +fortune, without striking upon any of the rocks. We, however, did not +disembark without one difficult adventure. The state of the tide was +such as to throw us upon a sand-bank; we were at this time within +a gun-shot of the shore; the boat, though driven with violence, +remained upright in the sand. I stepped into the water, which did +not reach far above my knees, for the purpose of conferring upon our +conductor his just reward for the alarm he had caused us, when he +suddenly gave a plunge, and then disappeared. Following the rope, I +presently saw the tortoise stretched at length at the bottom of the +water, where it was so shallow that I soon found means to put an end +to his pain, by cutting off his head with the hatchet. Being now near +Tent House, Fritz gave a halloo, and fired a gun, to apprise our +relatives that we were not only arrived, but arrived in triumph. This +soon produced the desired effect: the mother and her three young ones +soon appeared, running towards us; upon which Fritz jumped out of the +boat, placed the head of our sea-prize on the muzzle of his gun, and +walked to shore, which I reached at the same moment. + +I requested my wife to go with two of the younger boys to Falcon’s +Stream, and fetch the sledge and the beasts of burden, that we might +see at least a part of our booty from the ship put safely under +shelter the same evening. A tempest, or even the tide, might sweep +away the whole during the night. We took every precaution in our +power against the latter danger, by fixing the boat and the raft, +now, at the time of its reflux, as securely as we could without an +anchor. + +While we were employed on this scheme, the sledge arrived, and we +placed the tortoise upon it, and also some articles of light weight, +such as mattresses, pieces of linen, etc. Our first concern, on +reaching our abode, was the tortoise, which we immediately turned on +his back, that we might strip off the shell, and make use of some +of the flesh while it was fresh. Taking my hatchet, I separated +the upper and under shell all round, which were joined together by +cartilages. The upper shell of the tortoise is extremely convex; the +under, on the contrary, is nearly flat. I cut away as much of the +flesh of the animal as was sufficient for a meal, and laid the rest +carefully on the under shell, which served as a dish, recommending +to my wife to cook what I had cut off, on the other shell, with no +other seasoning than a little salt, and pledged myself that she would +produce a luxurious dish. + +_Fritz._--I thought, father, of cleaning the shell thoroughly, and +fixing it by the side of our river, and keeping it always full of +pure water for my mother’s use, when she has to wash the linen, or +cook our victuals. + +_Father._--Excellent, excellent, my boy! all honour to the founder of +the _pure water-tub_! This is what I call _thinking for the general +good_. And we will take care to execute the idea as soon as we can +prepare some clay, as a solid foundation for its bottom. + +_Ernest._--When the water-tub is complete, I will put some roots I +have found to soak a little in it, for they are now extremely dry. +I do not exactly know what they are: they look something like the +radish, or horse-radish; but the plant from which I took them was +almost the size of a bush. + +_Father._--If my suspicion is right, you have made a beneficial +discovery, which, with the assistance of our own wild roots, may +furnish us the means of existence as long as we may remain in this +island! I think your roots are _manioc_, of which the natives of the +West Indies make a sort of bread or cake which they call _cassava_. +But we must first carry the production through a certain preparation, +without which it possesses pernicious properties. Try to find the +same place, and bring a sufficient quantity for our first experiment. + +We had finished unloading the sledge, and I bade the three eldest +boys accompany me to fetch another load before it should be dark. +Having reached the raft, we took from it as many effects as the +sledge could hold, or the animals draw along. One object of my +attention was to secure two chests which contained the clothes of +my family. I reckoned also on finding in one of the chests some +books on interesting subjects, and principally a large handsomely +printed Bible. I added to these, four cart-wheels and a hand-mill for +grinding; which, now that we had discovered the manioc, I considered +of signal importance. These and a few other articles completed our +present load. + +[Illustration: “He accordingly fell into the track of the current, +and drew us straight towards our usual place of landing.”] + +On our return to Falcon’s Nest, we found my wife looking anxiously +for our arrival, and ready with the welcome she had promised of an +ample and agreeable repast. Before she had well examined our new +stores, she drew me, with one of her sweetest smiles, by the arm. +“Step this way,” said she, and leading to the shade of a tree,--“this +is the work I performed in your absence,” pointing to a large cask +half sunk in the ground, and the rest covered over with branches of +trees. She then applied a small corkscrew to the side, and filling +the shell of a cocoa-nut with the contents, presented it to me. I +found the liquor equal to the best canary I had ever tasted. “How +then,” said I, “have you performed this new miracle? I cannot believe +the enchanted bag produced it.” “Not exactly,” replied she; “for this +time it was an obliging white wave which threw it on shore. I took a +little ramble in your absence yesterday, to see what I could find, +and well my trouble was rewarded! The boys ran for the sledge, and +had but little difficulty in getting the cask to Falcon’s Stream, +where we dug this place in the earth to keep it cool.” + +My wife now proposed that all should be regaled with some of the +delicious beverage. My own share so invigorated me, that I found +myself able to complete my day’s work, by drawing up the mattresses +we had brought from the ship, to our chamber in the tree, by means +of a pulley. When I had laid them along to advantage, they looked so +inviting that I could scarcely resist my desire of at once committing +myself to the kind relief they seemed to offer to my exhausted +strength. + +But now the savoury smell of the tortoise laid claim to my attention. +I hastened down, and we all partook heartily of the luxurious treat. +We returned thanks to God, and speedily retired to taste the blessing +of sound repose upon the said mattresses. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + Another Trip to the Wreck--Baking + + +After breakfast the next morning we returned to the seaside to +complete the unloading of the raft, that it might be ready for sea +on the flowing of the tide. We were not long in taking two cargoes +to Falcon’s Stream. At our last trip the water was nearly up to our +craft. I sent back my wife and the boys, and remained with Fritz +till we were quite afloat; when observing Jack still loitering near, +I guessed at his wish, and consented to his embarking with us. +Shortly after, the tide was high enough for us to row off. Instead +of steering for Safety Bay to moor our vessels there securely, I was +tempted by a fresh sea-breeze to go out again to the wreck; but it +was too late to undertake much, and I was unwilling to cause my dear +partner uneasiness by passing another night on board. I therefore +determined to bring away only what could be obtained with ease and +speed: we searched hastily through the ship for any trifling articles +that might be readily removed. Jack was up and down everywhere, at a +loss what to select; and when I saw him again, he drew a wheelbarrow +after him, shouting that he had found a vehicle for carrying our wild +roots. + +But Fritz next disclosed still better news, which was, that he had +discovered, behind the bulkhead amidship, a pinnace (i.e. a small +craft, the fore part of which is square), taken to pieces, with +all its appurtenances, and even two small guns for its defence. +This intelligence so delighted me, that I quitted everything else +to run to the bulkhead, when I was convinced of the truth of the +lad’s assertion: but I instantly perceived that to put it together, +and launch it, would be an Herculean task. I collected various +utensils, a copper boiler, some plates of iron, tobacco-graters, two +grinding-stones, a small barrel of gunpowder, and another full of +flints, which I much valued. Jack’s barrow was not forgotten; two +more were afterwards found and added, with straps belonging to them. +All these articles were hurried into the boat, and we re-embarked +with speed, to avoid the land wind that rises in the evening. + +Arrived at Falcon’s Stream, my wife exhibited a good store of +tuberous roots, which she had got in during our absence, and a +quantity of the roots I had taken for manioc, and in which I was not +mistaken. + +“But now,” said I, “for some supper and repose; and if my little +workmen should be industriously inclined to-morrow, I shall reward +them with the novelty of a new trade to be learned.” This did not +fail to excite the curiosity of all; but I kept my word, and made +them wait till the following day for the explanation I had to give. + +I waked the boys very early, reminding them that I had promised to +teach them a new trade. + +“What is it? What is it?” exclaimed they, all at once, springing +suddenly out of bed, and hurrying on their clothes. + +_Father._--It is the art of the baker, my boys. Hand me those +iron plates that we brought yesterday from the vessel, and the +tobacco-graters also, and we will make our experiment. Ernest, bring +hither the roots you found; but first, my dear, I must request you +to make me a small bag of a piece of strong wrapper cloth. + +My wife set instantly to work to oblige me; but having no great +confidence in my talents for making either bread or cakes, she +first filled a copper boiler with roots, and put it on the fire, +that we might not be without something to eat at dinner-time: in +the meanwhile I spread a piece of coarse linen on the ground, and +assembled my young ones round me: I gave each of the boys a grater, +and showed him at the same time how to rest it on the linen, and then +to grate the roots of manioc: in a short time each had produced a +considerable heap of a substance somewhat resembling pollard. + +By this time my wife had completed the bag. I had it well filled with +what we called our pollard, and she closed it securely by sewing +up the end. I was now to contrive a kind of press: I cut a long, +straight, stout branch, from a neighbouring tree, and stripped it +of the bark; I then placed a plank across the table we had fixed +between the arched roots of our tree, and which was exactly the right +height for my purpose, and on this I laid the bag; I put other planks +again upon the bag, and then covered all with the large branch, the +thickest extremity of which I inserted under an arch, while to the +other, which projected beyond the planks, I suspended all sorts +of heavy substances, such as lead, our largest hammers, and bars +of iron, which, acting with great force as a press on the bag of +manioc, caused the sap it contained to issue in streams, which flowed +plentifully on the ground. + +We then opened the bag, and took out a small quantity of the pollard, +which already was dry enough: we stirred the rest about with a stick, +and then replaced it under the press. The next thing was to fix one +of our iron plates, which was of a round form, and a little hollow, +so as to rest upon two blocks of stone at a distance from each +other; under this we lighted a large fire, and when the iron plate +was completely heated, we placed a portion of the dough upon it with +a wooden spade. As soon as the cake began to be brown underneath, it +was turned, that the other side might be baked also. + +When the cake was cold, we broke some of it into crumbs, and gave it +to two of the fowls, and a larger piece to the monkey, who nibbled it +with a perfect relish, making all the time a thousand grimaces, while +the boys stood by envying the preference he enjoyed. + +The first thing after dinner was to visit our fowls. Those which had +eaten the manioc were in excellent condition, and no less so was the +monkey. “Now then to the bakehouse, young ones,” said I, “as fast as +you can scamper.” The grated manioc was soon emptied out of the bag, +a large fire was quickly lighted, and I placed the boys where a flat +surface had been prepared for them, and gave to each a plate of iron +and the quantity of a cocoa-nut full to make a cake apiece, and they +were to try who could succeed the best. They were ranged in a half +circle round me, that they might observe how I proceeded, and adopt +the same method for themselves. The result was not discouraging for +a first experiment, though it must be confessed we were now and then +so unlucky as to burn a cake; but there was not a greater number of +these than served to feed the pigeons and the fowls, which hovered +round us to claim their share of the treat. + +The rest of the day was employed by the boys in making several turns +with their wheelbarrows, and by myself in different arrangements, +in which the ass and our sledge had a principal share, both being +employed in drawing to Tent House the remaining articles we had +brought from the ship. + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + The Cracker and the Pinnace + + +From the time of discovering the pinnace, my desire of returning to +the vessel grew every moment more irresistible; but one thing I saw +was absolutely necessary, which was, to collect all my hands to get +her out from the situation where we had found her. + +After breakfast, then, we prepared for setting out. The boys were gay +and on the alert, in the expectation of the pleasure that awaited +them. We took with us an ample provision of boiled roots and cassava; +and in addition, arms and weapons of every kind. We reached Safety +Bay without any remarkable event: here we thought it prudent to put +on our cork jackets; we then scattered some food for the geese and +ducks which had taken up their abode there, and soon after stepped +gaily into our tub-raft, at the same time fastening the new boat by a +rope to her stern, so that she could be drawn along. We put out for +the current, though not without considerable fear of finding that +the wreck had disappeared. We soon, however, perceived that it still +remained firm between the rocks. + +Having got on board, all repaired, on the wings of curiosity and +ardour, to that part of the vessel called the bulk-head, which +contained the enviable prize, the pinnace. On further observation, +it appeared to me that the plan we had formed was subject to at +least two alarming difficulties; the one was the situation of the +pinnace in the ship; and the other was the size and weight it +would necessarily acquire when put together. The enclosure which +contained the pinnace was in the interior of the ship, and timbers +of prodigious bulk and weight separated it from the breach, and in +this part of the deck there was not sufficient space for us to put +the pinnace together, or to give her room when done. The breach also +was too narrow and too irregular to admit of her being launched from +this place, as we had done with our tub-raft. In short, the separate +pieces of the pinnace were too heavy for the possibility of our +removing them even with the assistance of our united strength. What +therefore was to be done? + +The cabinet which contained the pinnace was lighted by several small +fissures in the timbers, which, after standing in the place a few +minutes to accustom the eye, enabled one to see sufficiently to +distinguish objects. I discovered, with pleasure, that all the pieces +of which she was composed were so accurately arranged and numbered, +that without too much presumption I might flatter myself with the +hope of being able effectually to collect and put them together, if I +could be allowed the necessary time, and could procure a convenient +place. I therefore, in spite of every disadvantage, decided on +the undertaking; and we immediately set about it. We proceeded at +first so slowly as to have produced discouragement, if the desire +of possessing so admirable a little vessel had not at every moment +inspired us with new strength and ardour. + +We passed an entire week in this arduous undertaking. I embarked +every morning with my three sons, and returned every evening, +and never without some small addition to our stores. We were now +so accustomed to this manner of proceeding, that my wife bade us +good-bye without concern, and we, on our parts, left Tent House +without anxiety. + +At length the pinnace was completed, and in a condition to be +launched: the question now was, how to manage this remaining +difficulty. She was an elegant little vessel, perfect in every part: +she had a small neat deck; and her masts and sails were no less exact +and perfect than those of a little brig. It was probable she would +sail well, from the lightness of her construction, and in consequence +drawing but little water. We had pitched and towed all the seams, +that nothing might be wanting for her complete appearance: we had +even taken the pains of further embellishing, by mounting her with +two small cannon of about a pound weight; and, in imitation of larger +vessels, had fastened them to the deck with chains. But in spite of +the delight we felt in contemplating a work, as it were, of our own +industry, the great difficulty still remained: the said commodious, +charming little vessel still stood fast, enclosed within four +walls: nor could I conceive a mode of getting her out. To effect a +passage through the outer side of the vessel, by means of our united +industry in the use of all the utensils we had secured, seemed to +present a prospect of exertions beyond the reach of man, even if not +attended with dangers the most alarming. We examined if it might +be practicable to cut away all intervening timbers, to which, from +the nature of the breach, we had easier access: but should we even +succeed in this attempt, the upper timbers being, in consequence of +the inclined position of the ship, on a level with the water, our +labour would be unavailing: besides we had neither strength nor time +for such a proceeding; from one moment to another, a storm might +arise and engulf the ship, timbers, pinnace, ourselves, and all. +Despairing, then, of being able to find means consistent with the +sober rules of art, my impatient fancy inspired the thought of a +project, which could not however be tried without hazards and dangers +of a tremendous nature. + +I had found on board a strong iron mortar, such as is used in +kitchens. I took a thick oak plank, and nailed to different parts +of it some large iron hooks: with a knife I cut a groove along +the middle of the plank. I sent the boys to fetch some match-wood +from the hold, and I cut a piece sufficiently long to continue +burning at least two hours. I placed this train in the groove of my +plank: I filled the mortar with gunpowder, and then laid the plank +thus furnished upon it, having previously pitched the mortar all +round; and, lastly, I made the whole fast to the spot with strong +chains, crossed by means of the hooks in every direction. Thus I +accomplished a sort of cracker, from which I expected to effect a +happy conclusion. I hung this machine of mischief to the side of the +bulkhead next to the sea, having taken previous care to choose a spot +in which its action could not affect the pinnace. When the whole +was arranged, I set fire to the match, the end of which projected +far enough beyond the plank to allow us sufficient time to escape. +I now hurried on board the raft, into which I had previously sent +the boys before applying a light to the match; and who, though they +had assisted in forming the cracker, had no suspicion of the use for +which it was intended, believing all the while it concealed some +subject of amusement for their next trip to the vessel. + +On our arrival at Tent House, I immediately put the raft in a certain +order, that she might be in readiness to return speedily to the wreck +when the noise produced by the cracker should have informed me that +my scheme had taken effect. We set busily to work in emptying her; +and during the occupation, our ears were assailed with the noise of +an explosion of such violence, that my wife and the boys, who were +ignorant of the cause, were so dreadfully alarmed as instantly to +abandon their employment. “What can it be?--what is the matter?--what +can have happened?”--cried all at once. “It must be cannon. It is +perhaps the captain and the ship’s company who have found their +way hither! Or can it be some vessel in distress? Can we go to its +relief?” + +The boys lost not a moment in jumping into their tubs, whither I +soon followed them, after having whispered a few words to my wife, +somewhat tending to explain, but still more to tranquilize her mind +during the trip we had now to engage in. + +We rowed out of the bay with more rapidity than on any former +occasion; curiosity gave strength to our arms. When the vessel was +in sight, I observed with pleasure that no change had taken place +in the part of her which faced Tent House, and that no sign of +smoke appeared: we advanced, therefore, in excellent spirits; but +instead of rowing, as usual, straight to the breach, we proceeded +round to the side, on the inside of which we had placed the cracker. +The horrible scene of devastation we had caused now broke upon our +sight. The greater part of the ship’s side was shattered to pieces; +innumerable splinters covered the surface of the water; the whole +exhibited a scene of terrible destruction, in the midst of which +presented itself our elegant pinnace, entirely free from injury! We +entered by the new breach, and had soon reason to be assured that the +pinnace had wholly escaped injury, and that the fire was entirely +extinguished. The mortar, however, and pieces of the chain, had been +driven forcibly into the opposite side of the enclosure. + +I then examined the breach we had thus effected, and next the +pinnace. I perceived that it would be easy, with the help of the +crow and the lever, to lower her into the water. In putting her +together, I had used the precaution of placing her keel on rollers, +that we might not experience the same difficulty as we had formerly +done in launching our tub-raft. Before letting her go, however, I +fastened the end of a long thick rope to her head, and the other +end to the most solid part of the wreck, for fear of her being +carried out too far. We put our whole ingenuity and strength to this +undertaking, and soon enjoyed the pleasure of seeing our pinnace +descend gracefully into the sea. + +Two whole days more were spent in completely equipping and loading +the beautiful little barge we had now secured. When she was ready +for sailing, I found it impossible to resist the earnest importunity +of the boys, who, as a recompense for the industry and discretion +they had employed, claimed my permission to salute their mother, on +their approach to Tent House, with two discharges of cannon. These +accordingly were loaded, and the two youngest placed themselves, +with a lighted match in hand, close to the touch-holes, to be in +readiness. Fritz stood at the mast, to manage the ropes and cables, +while I took my station at the rudder. These matters being adjusted, +we put off with sensations of lively joy, which was demonstrated by +loud huzzas and suitable gesticulation. The wind was favourable, and +so brisk that we glided with the rapidity of a bird along the mirror +of the waters; and while my young ones were transported with pleasure +by the velocity of the motion, I could not myself refrain from +shuddering at the thought of some possible disaster. + +Our old friend the tub-raft had been deeply loaded, and fastened +to the pinnace, and it now followed as an accompanying boat to a +superior vessel. We took down our large sail as soon as we found +ourselves at the entrance of Safety Bay, to have the greater command +in steering the pinnace; and soon the smaller ones were lowered +one by one, that we might the more securely avoid being thrown +with violence upon the rocks so prevalent along the coast: thus, +proceeding at a slower rate, we had greater facilities for managing +the important affair of the discharge of the cannon. Arrived within a +certain distance--“_Fire!_” cried Commander Fritz. The rocks behind +Tent House returned the sound. “_Fire!_” said Fritz again. Ernest and +Jack obeyed, and the echoes again majestically replied. Fritz at the +same moment had discharged his two pistols, and all joined instantly +in three loud huzzas. + +“Welcome! welcome! dear ones,” was the answer from the anxious +mother, almost breathless with astonishment and joy. “Welcome!” cried +also little Francis, with his feeble voice, as he stood clinging to +her side, and not well knowing whether he was to be sad or merry. We +now tried to push to shore with our oars in a particular direction, +that we might have the protection of a projecting mass of rocks, and +my wife and little Francis hastened to the spot to receive us. + +Fritz now invited his mother to get on board, and gave her his +assistance. When they had all stepped upon the deck, they entreated +the permission to salute, by again discharging the cannon, and at the +same moment to confer on the pinnace the name of their mother--_The +Elizabeth_. + +My wife was particularly gratified by these our late adventures; +she applauded our skill and perseverance: “But,” said she, “we have +not, I assure you, remained idle while the rest were so actively +employed for the common benefit. No, not so; little Francis and his +mother found means to be doing something also, though not at this +moment prepared to furnish such unquestionable proofs as you, by your +salutations of cannon, etc.; but wait a little, good friends, and +our proofs shall hereafter be apparent in some dishes of excellent +vegetables which we shall be able to regale you with. It depends, to +say the truth, only on yourselves, dear ones, to go with me and see +what we have done.” + +We did not hesitate to comply, and jumped briskly out of the pinnace +for the purpose. Taking her little coadjutor Francis by the hand, +she led the way, and we followed in the gayest mood imaginable. She +conducted us up an ascent of one of our rocks, and stopping at the +spot where the cascade is formed from Jackal’s River, she displayed +to our astonished eyes a handsome kitchen-garden, laid out properly +in beds and walks, and, as she told us, everywhere sowed with the +seed of useful plants. + +“This,” said she, “is the pretty exploit we have been engaged in, if +you will kindly think so of it. In this spot the earth is so light, +being principally composed of decayed leaves, that Francis and I had +no difficulty in working in it, and then dividing it into different +compartments: one for potatoes, one for manioc, and other smaller +shares for lettuces of various kinds, not forgetting to leave a +due proportion to receive some plants of the sugar-cane. You, dear +husband, and Fritz, will easily find means to conduct sufficient +water hither from the cascade, by means of pipes of bamboo, to keep +the whole in health and vigour.” + +I stood transported in the midst of so perfect an exhibition of the +kind zeal and persevering industry of this most amiable of women! +I could only exclaim, that I should never have believed in the +possibility of such a labour in so short a time, and particularly +with so much privacy as to leave me wholly unsuspicious of the +existence of such a project. + +The pinnace was anchored on the shore, and fastened with a rope, by +her head, to a stake. When all our stores were disposed of, we began +our journey to Falcon’s Stream, but not empty-handed; we took with us +everything that seemed to be absolutely wanted for comfort; and when +brought together, it was really so much, that both ourselves and our +beasts of burden had no easy task to perform. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + Gymnastic Exercises--Various Discoveries--Singular + Animals, etc. + + +I recommended to my sons to resume the exercise of the shooting of +arrows; for I had an extreme solicitude about their preserving and +increasing their bodily strength and agility. On this occasion, I +added the exercises of running, jumping, getting up trees, both by +means of climbing by the trunk, or by a suspended rope, as sailors +are obliged to do to get to the masthead. We began at first by making +knots in the rope, at a foot distance from each other; then we +reduced the number of knots, and before we left off we contrived to +succeed without any. I next taught them an exercise of a different +nature, which was to be effected by means of two balls of lead, +fastened one to each end of a string about a fathom in length. While +I was preparing this machinery, all eyes were fixed upon me. + +“I am endeavouring,” said I, “to imitate the arms used by the +Patagonians, inhabitants of the most southern point of America; but, +instead of balls, which they are not able to procure, they tie two +heavy stones, one at each end of a cord, but considerably longer +than the one I am working with: every Patagonian is armed with this +simple instrument, which they used with singular dexterity. If they +desire to kill or wound an enemy, or an animal, they fling one of +the ends of this cord at him, and begin instantly to draw it back +by the other, which they keep carefully in their hand, to be ready +for another throw, if necessary: but if they wish to take an animal +alive, and without hurting it, they possess the singular art of +throwing it in such a way as to make it run several times round the +neck of the prey, occasioning a perplexing tightness; they then throw +the second stone, and with so certain an aim, that they scarcely ever +miss their object: the operation of the second is, the so twisting +itself about the animal as to impede his progress, even though he +were at full gallop. The stones continue turning, carrying with them +the cord: the poor animal is at length so entangled, that he can +neither advance nor retire, and thus falls a prey to the enemy.” + +This description was heard with much interest by the boys, who +now all entreated I would that instant try the effect of my own +instrument upon a small trunk of a tree which we saw at a certain +distance. My throws entirely succeeded; and the string with the balls +at the end so completely surrounded the tree, that the skill of the +Patagonian huntsmen required no further illustration. Each of the +boys must then needs have a similar instrument; and in a short time +Fritz became quite an expert in the art. + +The next morning, as I was dressing, I remarked from my window in the +tree, that the sea was violently agitated, and the waves swelled with +the wind. I rejoiced to find myself in safety in my home, and that +the day had not been destined for out-of-door occupation. We now fell +to a more minute examination than I had hitherto had time for, of all +our various possession at Falcon’s Stream. My wife showed me many +things she had herself found means to add to them during my repeated +absences from home: among these was a pair of young pigeons, which +had been lately hatched, and were already beginning to try their +wings, while their mother was again sitting on her eggs. From these +we passed to the fruit trees we had laid in earth to be planted, and +which were in real need of our assistance. I immediately set myself +to prevent so important an injury. I had promised the boys, the +evening before, to go all together to the wood of gourds, to provide +ourselves with vessels of different sizes to keep our provisions in: +they were enchanted with the idea, but I bargained that they must +first assist me to plant all the young trees: which was no sooner +said than set about. + +When we had finished, the evening was too far advanced for so long a +walk. By sunrise the next morning all were on foot, and we set out, +full of good-humour and high spirits, from Falcon’s Stream. Turning +round Flamingo Marsh, we soon reached the pleasant spot which before +had so delighted us. Fritz took a direction a little further from the +seashore; and sending Turk into the tall grass, he followed himself, +and both disappeared. Soon, eager for sport, we heard Turk barking +loud; a large bird sprang up, and almost at the same moment a shot +from Fritz brought it down: but though wounded it was not killed: it +raised itself, and got off with incredible swiftness, not by flying, +but by running. Turk followed, and seizing the bird, held it fast +till Fritz came up. Now a different scene succeeded from that which +took place at the capture of the flamingo. The legs of that bird are +long and weak, and it was able to make but a poor resistance. The +present captive was large in size, and strong; it struck the dogs, +or whoever came near, with its legs, with so much force, that Fritz, +who had received a blow or two, dared not again approach the enemy. +Fortunately I reached the spot in time to give assistance, and was +pleased to see that it was a female bustard of the largest size. + +To secure the bird without injuring it, I threw my +pocket-handkerchief over the head of the bustard; it could not +disengage itself, and its efforts served only to entangle it the +more. As it could not now see me, I got near enough to pass a string +with a running knot over its legs, which, for the present, I drew +tight, to prevent further mischief from such powerful weapons. I +gently released its wing from Turk’s mouth, and tied it, with its +fellow, close to the bird’s body. In short, the bustard was our own. + +As we advanced, I was frequently obliged to use the hatchet to make a +free passage for the ass in the tall grass. The heat also increased, +and we were all complaining of thirst, when Ernest, whose discoveries +were generally of a kind to be of use, made one of a most agreeable +nature. He found a kind of hollow stalk, of some height, which grew +at the foot of trees, and entangled our feet in walking. He cut one +of them, and was surprised to see a drop of pure fresh water issue at +the place where the knife had been applied: he showed it to us, put +it to his lips, and found it pure, and felt much regret that there +was no more. I then fell to examining the phenomenon myself, and soon +perceived that the want of air prevented a more considerable issue +of water. I made some more incisions, and presently water flowed out +as if from a small conduit. I tried the experiment of dividing the +plants longways, and they soon gave out water enough to supply even +the ass, the monkey, and the bustard. + +We were still compelled to fight our way through thick bushes, till +at length, arrived at the wood of gourds, we were not long in finding +the spot where Fritz and I had once before enjoyed so agreeable a +repose. My wife now gave us notice that she should want some vessels +to contain milk, a large flat spoon to cut out butter by pieces, and +next, some pretty plates for serving it at table, made from the gourd +rinds. + +I made the boys gather or collect the gourds, till we were in +possession of a sufficient number. We now began our work: some had +to cut; others to saw, scoop out, and model into agreeable forms. It +was a real pleasure to witness the activity exhibited in this our +manufacture of porcelain; each tried what specimens he could present +for the applause of his companions. For my own part, I made a pretty +basket, large enough to carry eggs, with one of the gourds, leaving +an arch at the top to serve as a cover. I likewise accomplished a +certain number of vessels, also with covers, fit to hold our milk, +and then some spoons to skim the cream. My next attempt was some +bottles large enough to hold fresh water, and these occasioned me +more trouble than all the rest. It was necessary to empty the gourd +through the small opening of the size of one’s finger, which I had +cut in it; I was obliged, after loosening the contents with a stick, +to get them out by friction with shot and water well shaken on the +inside. Lastly, to please my wife, I undertook the labour of a set +of plates for her use. Fritz and Jack engaged to make hives for +the bees, and nests for the pigeons and hens. For this last object +they took the largest gourds, and cut a hole in front, the size of +the animal for whose use it was intended. The pigeons’ nests were +intended to be tied to the branches of our tree; those for the hens, +the geese, and the ducks, were to be placed between its roots, or on +the seashore, and to represent a sort of hencoop. + +Our work, added to the heat of the day, had made us all thirsty; +but we found nothing on this spot like our _fountain_ plants, as we +had named them. The boys entreated me to go with them in different +directions, and try to find some water, not daring by themselves to +venture further into the wood. + +Ernest with great eagerness proposed relieving me of this trouble, +and putting himself in my place. It was not long before we heard him +calling loudly to us, and saw him returning in great alarm.--“Run +quick, father,” said he, “here is an immense wild boar.” + +I then cried out to the boys to call the dogs quickly. “Halloo, here, +Turk! Flora!” The dogs arrived full gallop. Ernest was our leader, +and conducted us to the place where he saw the boar; but it was gone, +and we saw nothing but a plot of roots which appeared to have been +ransacked by the animal. We soon heard the cry of the dogs; for they +had overtaken the runaway, and soon after the most hideous growling +assailed our ears from the same quarter. We advanced with caution, +holding our guns in readiness to fire together the instant the animal +should be within the proper distance. Presently the spectacle of the +two brave creatures attacking him on the right and left presented +itself; each held one of his ears between its teeth. But it was not +a boar, but our own sow which had run away and so long been lost! +After the first surprise we could not resist a hearty laugh; and then +we hastened to disencumber our old friend of the teeth of her two +adversaries. But here the attention of all was attracted to a kind +of small potato which we observed lying thick on the grass around +us, and which had fallen from some trees which appeared loaded with +the same production: our sow devoured them greedily, thus consoling +herself for the pain and fright the dogs had occasioned her. + +The fruit was of different colours, and extremely pleasing to the +eye. Fritz expressed his apprehension that it was the poisonous apple +called the mancenilla; but the sow ate them with so much eagerness, +and the tree which bore them having neither the form nor foliage +ascribed by naturalists to the mancenilla, that I doubted the truth +of his idea. I desired my sons to put some of the fruit in their +pockets, to make an experiment with them upon the monkey. We now +again, from extreme thirst, began to recollect our want of water, and +determined to seek for some in every direction. Jack sprang off, and +sought among the rocks, hoping that he should discover some little +stream: but scarcely had he left the wood than he bawled to us that +he had found a crocodile. + +“A crocodile!” cried I, with a hearty laugh; “you have a fine +imagination, my boy! Who ever saw a crocodile on such scorching rocks +as these, and with not a drop of water near? Now, Jack, you are +surely dreaming....” + +“Not so much of a dream as you may think, father,” answered Jack, +trying to speak in a low voice; “fortunately he is asleep; he lies +here on a stone at his full length; do, father, step here, and look +at it; it does not stir in the least.” + +We stole softly to the place where the animal lay; but instead +of a crocodile, I saw before me a large sort of lizard, named by +naturalists _Leguana_, or _Yguana_, an animal by nature of a mild +character, and excellent as food. Instantly all were for seizing him, +and presenting so rare a prize to their mother. Fritz was already +taking aim with his gun: but I prevented him, observing that the +animal being protected by a coat of scales, it might be difficult to +destroy him, and that he is known to be dangerous, if approached, +when angry. “Let us try,” said I, “another sort of experiment; as he +is asleep, we need not be in a hurry.” + +I cut a stout stick from a bush, to the extremity of which I tied a +string with a running knot. I guarded my other hand simply with a +little switch, and thus with cautious steps approached the creature. +When I was very near to him, I began to whistle a lively air, taking +care to make the sounds low at first, and to increase in loudness +till the lizard was awaked. The creature appeared entranced with +pleasure as the sounds fell upon his ear; he raised his head to +receive them still more distinctly, and looked round on all sides to +discover from whence they came. I now advanced by a step at a time, +without a moment’s interval in the music, which fixed him like a +statue to the place. At length I was near enough to reach him with +my switch, with which I tickled him gently, still continuing to +whistle, one after the other, the different airs I could recollect. +The lizard was bewildered by the charms of the music: the attitudes +he threw himself into were expressive of a delirious voluptuousness; +he stretched himself at full length, made undulating motions with +his long tail, threw his head about, raised it up, and by this sort +of action disclosed the formidable range of his sharp-pointed teeth, +which were capable of tearing us to pieces if we had excited his +hostility. I dexterously seized the moment of his raising his head, +to throw my noose over him. When this was accomplished, the boys +drew near also, and wanted instantly to draw it tight and strangle +him at once; but this I positively forbade, being unwilling to cause +the poor animal so unmerited a suffering. I had used the noose only +to make sure of him, in case it should happen that a milder mode of +killing him, which I intended to try, failed of success, in which +case I should have looked to the noose for protection; but this +was rendered unnecessary. Continuing to whistle my most affecting +melodies, I seized a favorable moment to plunge my switch into one of +his nostrils. The blood flowed in abundance, and soon deprived him of +life, without his exhibiting the least appearance of being in pain; +on the contrary, to the last moment, he seemed to be still listening +to the music. + +We had now to consider of the best way for transporting to Falcon’s +Stream so large and valuable a booty. After a moment of reflection, +I perceived that I had better come at once to the determination +of carrying him across my shoulders; and the figure I made with so +singular an animal on my back, with his tail dragging on the ground, +was not the least amusing circumstance of the adventure. + +We were proceeding in our return, when we distinguished the voices +of my wife and little Francis calling loudly upon my name. Our long +absence had alarmed them: we had forgotten on this occasion to give +them notice of our approach by firing our gun, and they had imagined +some terrible disaster must have befallen us. We had so many things +to tell, that, till reminded by my wife, we forgot to mention that we +had failed of procuring any water. My sons had taken out some of the +unknown apples from their pockets, and they lay on the ground by our +sides. Knips soon scented them, and came slily up and stole several, +and fell to chewing them with great eagerness. I myself threw one or +two to the bustard, who also ate them without hesitation. Being now +convinced that the apples were not of a poisonous nature, I announced +to the boys, who had looked on with envy all the time, that they +also might begin to eat them, and I myself set the example. We found +them excellent in quality, and I began to suspect that they might +be the sort of fruit called _guava_, which is much esteemed in such +countries. This regale of the apples had in some measure relieved our +thirst; but on the other hand, they had increased our hunger; and +as we had not time for preparing a portion of the lizard, we were +obliged to content ourselves with the cold provisions we had brought +with us. + +We had scarcely finished, before my wife earnestly entreated we would +begin our journey home, and it appeared to me, as the evening was so +far advanced, that it would be prudent to return this once without +the sledge, which was heavy laden, and the ass could have drawn it +but slowly. I therefore determined to leave it on the spot till the +following day, when I could return and fetch it, contenting myself +with loading the ass, for the present, with the bags which contained +our new sets of porcelain; the lizard, which I feared might not keep +fresh so long; and our little Francis, who began to complain of being +tired. I took these arrangements upon myself, and left to my wife and +Fritz the care of confining the bustard in such a manner that she +could walk before us without danger of escaping. + +When these preparations were complete, our little caravan was put in +motion, taking the direction of a straight line to Falcon’s Stream. +The course of our route now lay along a wood of majestic oaks, and +the ground was covered with acorns. My young travellers could not +refrain from tasting them; and finding them both sweet and mild to +the palate, I had the pleasure of reckoning them as a new means of +support. + +We arrived shortly at Falcon’s Stream, and had time to employ +ourselves in some trifling arrangements before it was completely +dark. We concluded the exertions of the day with a plain repast, and +the contriving a comfortable bed for the bustard by the side of the +flamingo, and then stretched our weary limbs upon the homely couch, +rendered by fatigue luxurious, in the giant tree. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + Excursion into Unknown Tracts + + +My first thought, the next morning, was to fetch the sledge from +the wood. I had a double motive for leaving it there, which I had +refrained from explaining to my wife, to avoid giving her uneasiness. +I had formed a wish to penetrate a little farther into the land, and +ascertain whether anything useful would present itself beyond the +wall of rocks. I was, besides, desirous to be better acquainted with +the extent, the form, and general productions of our island: I wished +Fritz only, who was stronger and more courageous than his brothers, +and Turk, to accompany me. We set out very early in the morning, and +drove the ass before us for the purpose of drawing home the sledge. + +As we were picking up some acorns, different birds of exquisite +plumage flitted about us; for this once, I could not refuse Fritz the +pleasure of firing upon them, that we might learn their species. He +brought down three. I recognized one to be the great blue Virginia +jay, and the other two were parrots. One of the two was a superb red +parrot: the other was green and yellow. + +We soon arrived at the guava trees, and a little after at the spot +where we had left the sledge, when we found our treasures in the +best possible condition; but as the morning was not far advanced, we +entered upon our intended project of penetrating beyond the wall of +rocks. + +We pursued our way in a straight line at the foot of these massy, +solid productions of nature, every moment expecting to reach their +extremity, or to find some turn, or breach, or passage through +them, that should conduct us into the interior of the island, if, +as I presumed, it was not terminated by these rocks. We walked on, +continually looking about, that nothing might escape us worthy of +notice, and to anticipate and avoid such dangers as should threaten. + +We next entered a pretty little grove, the trees of which were +unknown to us. Their branches were loaded with large quantities of +berries of an extraordinary quality, being entirely covered with +a minute meal or farina. I knew of a sort of bush, the berries of +which, when boiled, yield a viscous scum resembling wax: it grows in +America, and is named by botanists _Myrica cerifera_, or candleberry +tree; this plant resembled it much, and the discovery gave me great +pleasure. + +A short time after, another object presented itself with equal claims +to our attention; it was the singular modes of behaviour of a kind +of bird scarcely larger than a chaffinch, and clothed in feathers of +a common brown colour. These birds appeared to exist as a republic, +there being among them one common nest, inhabited at pleasure by all +their tribes. We saw one of these nests in a tree, in a somewhat +retired situation; it was formed of plaited straws and bulrushes +intermixed; it enclosed great numbers of inhabitants, and was built +round the trunk of a tree; it had a kind of roof formed of roots and +bulrushes, carefully knit together. We observed in the sides small +apertures, seemingly intended as doors and windows to each particular +cell of this general receptacle; from a few of these apertures issued +some small branches, which served the birds as points of rest for +entering and returning: the external appearance of the whole excited +the image of an immensely large open sponge. + +While we were attentively examining this interesting little colony, +we perceived numbers of a very small kind of parrot hovering about +the nest. Their gilded green wings, and the variety of their colours, +produced a beautiful effect; they seemed to be perpetually disputing +with the colonists, and not infrequently endeavoured to prevent their +entrance into the building; they attacked them fiercely, and even +tried to peck at us, if we but advanced our hand to the structure. +Fritz, who was well trained in the art of climbing trees, was +earnestly desirous to take a nearer view of them, and to secure if +possible a few individuals. He threw his burden down, and climbed +to the nest: he then tried to introduce his hand into one of the +apertures, and to seize whatever living creature it should touch in +that particular cell; what he most desired, was to find a female +brooding, and to carry both her and the eggs away. Several of the +cells were empty, but by perseverance he found one in the situation +he wished; but he received so violent a peck from an invisible bird, +that his only care was now to withdraw his hand; presently, however, +he ventured a second time to pass his hand into the nest, and +succeeded in seizing his prey, which he laid hold of, and in spite of +the bird’s resistance, he drew it through the aperture, and squeezed +it into the pocket of his waistcoat, and buttoning it securely, he +slided down the tree, and reached the ground in safety. The signals +of distress sent forth by the prisoner collected a multitude of birds +from their cells, who all surrounded him, uttering loud cries, and +attacking him with their beaks, till he had made good his retreat. He +now released the prisoner, and we discovered him to be a beautiful +green parrot,[2] which Fritz entreated he might be allowed to +preserve, and make a present of to his brothers, who would make a +cage to keep him in, and would then tame him and teach him to speak. + +On the road home, we observed to each other, that from the +circumstance of this young bird’s nesting within the structure, +it appeared probable that the true right of property was in this +species, and that the brown-coloured birds we at first observed were +intruders endeavouring to deprive them of it. + +We reached a wood, the trees of which, in a small degree, resembled +the wild fig-tree; at least the fruit they bore, like the fig, was +round in form, and contained a soft juicy substance full of small +grains. Their height was from forty to sixty feet; the bark of the +trunk was scaly, like the pineapple, and wholly bare of branches, +except at the very top. The leaves of these trees are very thick; in +substance tough, like leather; and their upper and under surfaces are +different in colour. But what surprised us the most was a kind of gum +which issued in a liquid state from the trunk of the tree, and became +immediately hardened by the air. This discovery awakened Fritz’s +attention: in Europe he had often made use of the gum produced +by cherry trees, either as a cement or varnish, in his youthful +occupations: and the thought struck him, that he could do the same +with what he now saw. + +As he walked, he frequently looked at his gum, which he tried to +soften with his breath, but without success: he now discovered a +still more singular property in the substance: that of stretching on +being pulled at the extremities, and, on being let go, of reducing +itself instantly, by the power of an elastic principle. He was struck +with surprise, and sprang towards me, repeating the experiment +before my eyes, and exclaiming, “Look, father! if this is not the +very thing we formerly used to rub out bad strokes in our drawings.” + +“Ah! what do you tell me?” cried I with joy; “such a discovery would +be valuable indeed. The best thanks of all will be due to you, if it +is the true _caoutchouc_ tree which yields the Indian rubber. Quick, +hand it here, that I may examine it.”--Having satisfied myself of our +good fortune, I had now to explain that caoutchouc is a kind of milky +sap, which runs from its tree, in consequence of incisions made in +the bark. “This liquid is received in vessels placed expressly for +the purpose: it is afterwards made to take the form of dark-coloured +bottles, of different sizes, such as we have seen them, in the +following manner. Before the liquid has time to coagulate, some small +earthen bottles are dipped into it a sufficient number of times +to form the thickness required. These vessels are then hung over +smoke, which completely dries them, and gives them a dark colour. +The concluding part of the operation is to break the mould, and to +get out the pieces by the passage of the neck, when there remains +the complete form of a bottle. In the same way we may be able to +make shoes and boots without seams, if we can add the assistance of +earthen moulds of the size of the leg or foot to be fitted. We must +consider of some means of restoring masses of the caoutchouc to its +liquid form, for spreading upon the moulds; and if we should not +succeed, we must endeavour to draw it in sufficient quantities, in +its liquid state, from the trees themselves.” + +We now began to consider how much farther we would go: the thick +bushes of bamboo, through which it was impossible to pass, seemed +to furnish a natural conclusion to our journey. We were, therefore, +unable to ascertain whether or not we should have found a passage +beyond the wall of rocks: we perceived then no better resource than +to turn to the left towards Cape Disappointment, where the luxurious +plantations of sugar-canes now again drew our attention. That we +might not return empty-handed to Falcon’s Stream, and might deserve +forgiveness for so long an absence, we each took the pains to cut a +large bundle of the canes, which we threw across the ass’s back, not +forgetting the ceremony of reserving one apiece to refresh ourselves +with along the road. We soon arrived on the well-known shore of the +sea, which at length afforded an open and a shorter path; we next +reached the wood of gourds, where we found our sledge loaded as we +had left it the night before; we took the sugar-canes from the ass, +and fastened them to the sledge, and then we harnessed the ass, and +the patient animal began to draw towards home. + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [2] _Tuiete._ This is the smallest kind of Brazilian + parrot. There is an infinite variety in their + plumage. + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + Useful Occupations and Labours--Embellishments--A + Painful but Natural Sentiment + + +On the following day, my wife and the boys importuned me to begin my +manufactory of candles: I therefore set myself to recollect all I had +read on the subject. I soon perceived that I should be at a loss for +a little fat to mix with the wax I had procured from the berries, +for making the light burn clearer; but I was compelled to proceed +without. I put as many berries into a vessel as it would contain, and +set it on a moderate fire; my wife in the meantime employed herself +in making some wicks with the threads of sail-cloth. When we saw an +oily matter, of a pleasing smell and light green colour, rise to the +top of the liquid the berries had yielded, we carefully skimmed it +off and put it into a separate vessel, taking care to keep it warm. +We continued this process till the berries were exhausted, and had +produced a considerable quantity of wax; we next dipped the wicks one +by one into it, while it remained liquid, and then hung them on the +bushes to harden: in a short time we dipped them again, and repeated +the operation till the candles were increased to the proper size, and +they were then put in a place and kept till sufficiently hardened +for use. We, however, were all eager to judge of our success that +very evening, by burning one of the candles, with which we were well +satisfied. + +Our success in this last enterprise encouraged us to think of +another, the idea of which had long been cherished by our kind +steward of provisions; it was to make fresh butter of the cream +we every day skimmed from the milk, and which was frequently, to +her great vexation, spoiled and given to the animals. The utensil +we stood in need of was a churn to turn the cream in. Having +earnestly applied my thoughts as to the best manner of conquering +the difficulty, I suddenly recollected what I had read in a book of +travels, of the method used by the Hottentots for making butter; but +instead of a sheep-skin sewed together at its extremities, I emptied +a large gourd, washed it clean, filled it again with cream, and +stopped it close with the piece I had cut from the top. I placed my +vase of cream on a piece of sail-cloth with four corners, and tied to +each corner a stake: I placed one boy midway between each stake, and +directed them to shake the cloth briskly, but with a steady measure, +for a certain time. This exercise, which seemed like children’s play, +pleased them mightily, and they called it rocking the cradle. They +performed their office, singing and laughing all the time, and in +an hour, on taking off the cover, we had the satisfaction of seeing +some excellent butter. I had now to propose to my sons a work of a +more difficult nature than we had hitherto accomplished: it was the +construction of a cart, for the conveyance of our effects from place +to place, to supersede the sledge, which caused us so much fatigue +to load and draw. I tried earnestly and long to accomplish such a +machine; but it did not entirely succeed to my wishes, and I wasted +in the attempt both time and timber: I however produced what from +courtesy we called a cart, and it answered the purpose for which it +was designed. + +By this time we had nearly exhausted our stock of clothes, and we +were compelled once more to have recourse to the vessel, which we +knew still contained some chests fit for our use. To this motive +we added an earnest desire to take another look at her, and, if +practicable, to bring away a few pieces of cannon. + +The first fine day I assembled my three eldest sons, and put my +design into execution. We reached the wreck without any striking +adventure, and found her still fixed between the rocks, but somewhat +more shattered than when we had last seen her. We secured the chests +of clothes, and whatever remained of ammunition stores: powder, shot, +and even such pieces of cannon as we could remove, while those that +were too heavy we stripped of their wheels, which might be extremely +useful. + +But to effect our purpose, it was necessary to spend several days in +visits to the vessel, returning constantly in the evening, enriched +with everything of a portable nature which the wreck contained; +doors, windows, locks, bolts--nothing escaped our grasp: so that +the ship was now entirely emptied, with the exception of the large +cannon, and three or four immense copper caldrons. We by degrees +contrived to tie the heaviest articles to two or three empty casks +well pitched, which would thus be sustained above water. I supposed +that the wind and tide would convey the beams and timbers ashore, +and thus with little pains we should be possessed of a sufficient +quantity of materials for erecting a building at some future +time. When these measures were taken, I came to the resolution of +blowing up the wreck, by a process similar to that which had so +well succeeded with the pinnace. We accordingly prepared a cask of +gunpowder, which we left on board for the purpose: we rolled it to +the place most favourable for our views: we made a small opening +in its side, and on quitting the vessel, we inserted a piece of +match-wood, which we lighted at the last moment, as before. We then +sailed with all possible expedition for Safety Bay, where we arrived +in a short time. + +About the time of nightfall, a majestic rolling sound like thunder, +accompanied by a column of fire and smoke, announced that the ship +so awfully concerned with our peculiar destiny, which had brought us +to our present abode in a desert, and furnished us there with such +vast supplies for general comfort, was that instant annihilated, and +withdrawn for ever from the face of man! At this moment, love for the +country that gave us birth, that most powerful sentiment of the human +heart, sank with a new force into ours. The ship had disappeared for +ever! Could we then form a hope ever to behold that country more? +We had made a sort of jubilee of witnessing the spectacle: the boys +had clapped their hands and skipped about in joyful expectation; but +the noise was heard; the smoke and sparks were seen; and the sudden +change which took place in our minds could be compared only to the +rapidity of these effects of our concerted scheme against the vessel. +We all observed a mournful silence, and all rose, as it were by an +impulse of mutual condemnation, and took the road to Tent House. + +A night’s repose had in some measure relieved the melancholy of +the preceding evening, and I went rather early in the morning with +the boys, to make further observations as to the effects of this +remarkable event. We perceived in the water, and along the shore, +abundant vestiges of the departed wreck; and amongst the rest, at a +certain distance, the empty casks, caldrons, and cannon, all tied +together and floating in a large mass upon the water. We jumped +instantly into the pinnace, with the tub-boat fastened to it, and +made a way towards them through the numberless pieces of timber, +etc., that intervened, and in a little time reached the object +of our search, which from its great weight moved slowly upon the +waves. Fritz, with his accustomed readiness, flung some rope round +two four-pounders, and contrived to fasten them to our barge; after +which he secured also an enormous quantity of poles, laths, and other +useful articles. With this rich booty we returned to land. + +We performed three more trips for the purpose of bringing away more +cannon, caldrons, fragments of masts, etc., all of which we deposited +for present convenience in Safety Bay; and now began our most +fatiguing operations--the removing such numerous and heavy stores +from the boats to the Tent House. We separated the cannon and the +caldrons from the tub-raft, and from each other, and left them in a +place which was accessible for the sledge and the beasts of burden. +With the help of the crow we succeeded in getting the caldrons upon +the sledge, and in replacing the four wheels we had before taken from +the cannon; and now found it easy to make the cow and the ass draw +them. + +The largest of the boilers or copper caldrons we found of the most +essential use. We brought out all our barrels of gunpowder, and +placed them on their ends in three separate groups, at a short +distance from our tent; we dug a little ditch round the whole, to +draw off the moisture from the ground, and then put one of the +caldrons turned upside down upon each, which completely answered the +purpose of an outhouse. The cannon were covered with sail-cloth, +and upon this we laid heavy branches of trees; the larger casks of +gunpowder we prudently removed under a projecting piece of rock, and +covered them with planks till we should have leisure for executing +the plan of an ammunition store-house, about which we had all become +extremely earnest. + +My wife, in taking a survey of these our labours, made the agreeable +discovery that two of our ducks and one of the geese had been +brooding under a large bush, and at the time were conducting their +little families to the water. The news produced general rejoicings; +and the sight of the little creatures so forcibly carried our +thoughts to Falcon’s Stream, that we all conceived the ardent desire +of returning to the society of the numerous old friends we had left +there. We therefore fixed the next day for our departure, and set +about the necessary preparations. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + A New Domain--The Troop of Buffaloes--The + Vanquished Hero + + +On entering our plantation of fruit-trees forming the avenue to +Falcon’s Stream, we observed that they had not a vigorous appearance, +and that they inclined to curve a little in the stalk: we therefore +resolved to support them with sticks, and I proposed to walk to the +vicinity of Cape Disappointment for the purpose of cutting some +bamboos. I had no sooner pronounced the words, than the three eldest +boys and their mother exclaimed, at once, that they would accompany +me. + +We accordingly fixed the following morning, and set out in +full procession. For myself, I had a great desire to explore +more thoroughly this part of our island. I therefore made some +preparations for sleeping, should we find the day too short for all +we might have to accomplish. I took the cart instead of the sledge, +having fixed some planks across it for Francis and his mother to sit +upon when they should be tired: I was careful to be provided with +the different implements we might want; some rope machinery I had +contrived for rendering the climbing of trees more easy; and lastly, +some provisions, some water in a gourd-flask, and one bottle of wine +from the captain’s store. + +It was not without much difficulty that we conducted the cart through +the thick entangled bushes, the most intricate of which I everywhere +cut down, and we helped to push it along with all our strength. We +soon arrived at the caoutchouc, or gum-elastic trees. I thought we +could not do better than to halt here, and endeavour to collect a +sufficient quantity of the sap to make the different utensils and +the impenetrable boots and shoes, as I had before proposed. It was +with this design that I had taken care to bring with me several of +the most capacious of the gourd rinds. I made deep incisions in the +trunks, and fixed some large leaves of trees, partly doubled together +lengthways, to the place, to serve as a sort of channel to conduct +the sap to the vessels I had kept in readiness to receive it. We had +not long begun this process before we perceived the sap begin to run +out as white as milk, and in large drops, so that we were not without +hopes, by the time of our return, to find the vessels full, and thus +to have obtained a sufficient quantity of the ingredient for a first +experiment. + +We left the sap running, and pursued our way, which led us to +the wood of cocoa-trees: from thence we passed to the left, and +stopped halfway between the bamboos and the sugar-canes, intending +to furnish ourselves with a provision of each. We aimed our course +so judiciously, that on clearing the skirts of the wood, we found +ourselves in an open plain with the sugar-cane plantations on our +left, and on our right those of bamboo, interspersed with various +kinds of palm-trees, and, in front, the magnificent bay formed by +Cape Disappointment, which stretched far out into the sea. + +The prospect that now presented itself to our view was of such +exquisite beauty, that we determined to choose it for our +resting-place, and to make it the central point of every excursion +we should in future make; we were even more than half disposed to +desert our pretty Falcon’s Stream, and transport our possessions +hither; a moment’s reflection, however, betrayed the folly of +quitting the thousand comforts we had there, with almost incredible +industry, assembled; and we dismissed the thought with promising +ourselves to include this ravishing spot evermore in our projects for +excursions. + +It was now evening; and as we had determined to pass the night +in this enchanting spot, we began to think of forming some large +branches of trees into a sort of hut, as is practised by the hunters +in America, to shelter us from the dew and the coolness of the air. +While we were thus engaged, we were suddenly roused by the loud +braying of the ass, which we had left to graze at a distance but a +short time before. On going to the place, we saw him throwing his +head in the air, and kicking and prancing about; and while we were +thinking what could be the matter, he set off at a full gallop. +Unfortunately, Turk and Flora, whom we sent after him, took the fancy +of entering the plantation of the sugar-canes, while the ass had +preferred the direction of the bamboos on the right. + +The following morning we breakfasted on some milk from the cow, some +boiled roots, and a small portion of Dutch cheese, and formed, during +our meal, the plan of the business for the day. It was decided that +one of the boys and myself, attended by the two dogs, should seek the +ass through the bamboo plantation. I took with me the agile Jack, who +was almost beside himself with joy at this determination. + +We soon reached the bamboo plantation, and found means to force +ourselves along its intricate entanglements. After great fatigue, +and when we were on the point of relinquishing all further hope, +we discovered the print of the ass’s hoofs on the soil, which +inspired us with new ardour in the pursuit. After spending a whole +hour in further endeavours, we at length, on reaching the skirts +of the plantation, perceived the sea in the distance, and soon +after found ourselves in an open space, which bounded the great +bay. A considerable river flowed into the bay at this place, and we +perceived that the ridge of rocks, which we had constantly seen, +extended to the shore, and terminated in a perpendicular precipice, +leaving only a narrow passage between the rocks and the river, which, +during every flux of the tide, must necessarily be under water, but +which at that moment was dry and passable. The probability that the +ass would prefer passing by this narrow way, to the hazard of the +water, determined us to follow in the same path: we had also some +curiosity to ascertain what might be found on the other side of the +rocks, for as yet we were ignorant whether they formed a boundary to +our island, or divided it into two portions; whether we should see +there land or water. We continued to advance, and at length reached +a stream which issued foaming from a large mass of rock, and fell in +a cascade into the river. The bed of this stream was so deep, and +its course so rapid, that we were a long time finding a part where +it might be most practicable for us to cross. When we had got to the +other side, we found the soil again sandy, and mixed with a fertile +kind of earth: in this place we no longer saw naked rock; but the +print of the ass’s hoofs were again visible on the ground. + +By observing closely, we saw with astonishment the prints of the feet +of other animals, much larger and different in many respects from +those of the ass. Our curiosity was so strongly excited, that we +resolved to follow the traces; and they conducted us to a plain at a +great distance, which presented to our wondering eyes a terrestrial +paradise. We ascended a hill, which partly concealed from our view +this delicious scene, and then, with the assistance of a glass, we +beheld an extensive range of country, exhibiting every kind of rural +beauty, and in which a profound tranquillity had seemed to take up +its abode. + +By straining our eyes, however, as far as we could see, we thought we +perceived at a great distance some specks upon the land, that seemed +to be in motion. We hastened towards the spot; and as we drew nearer, +to our inexpressible surprise, beheld a pretty numerous group of +animals, which in the assemblage presented something like the outline +of a troop of horses or of cows. I observed them sometimes run up +to each other, and then suddenly stoop to graze. Though we had not +lately met with farther traces of the ass, I was not entirely without +the hope of finding him among these animals. On a nearer approach, +we perceived they were wild buffaloes. My alarm was so great that I +remained for a few moments fixed to the spot like a statue. By good +luck the dogs were far behind us, and the buffaloes gave no sign of +fear or of displeasure at our approach: they stood perfectly still, +with their large round eyes fixed upon us in vacant surprise: those +which were lying down got up slowly, but not one among them seemed +to have any hostile disposition towards us. The circumstance of the +dogs’ absence was most likely, on this occasion, the means of our +safety; as it was, we had time to draw back quietly, and prepare +our firearms. It was not, however, my intention to make use of them +in any way but for defence, being sensible that we were unequal to +the encounter, and recollecting also to have read that the sound +of a gun drives the buffalo to a state of desperation. I therefore +thought only of retreating; and with my poor Jack, for whom I was +more alarmed than for myself, was proceeding in this way, when +unfortunately Turk and Flora ran up to us, and we could see were +noticed by the buffaloes. The animals instantly, and all together, +set up such a roar as to make our nerves tremble; they struck their +horns and their hoofs upon the ground, which they tore up by pieces +and scattered in the air. Our brave Turk and Flora, fearless of +danger, ran, in spite of all our efforts, into the midst of them, +and, according to their manner of attacking, laid hold of the ears of +a young buffalo, which happened to be standing a few paces nearer to +us than the rest; and, though the creature began a tremendous roar +and motion with his hoofs, they held him fast, and were dragging him +towards us. Our every hope seemed now to be in the chance of the +terror the buffaloes would feel at the noise of our musketry, which, +perhaps, for the first time would assail their organs, and most +likely excite them to flight. With, I must confess, a palpitating +heart and trembling hands, we fired both at the same moment: the +buffaloes, terrified by the sound and by the smoke, remained for an +instant motionless, as if struck by a thunderbolt, and then one and +all betook themselves to flight with such incredible rapidity, that +they were soon beyond the reach of our sight. We heard their loud +roaring from a considerable distance, which by degrees subsided into +silence, and we were left with only one of their terrific species +near us; this one, a female, was no doubt the mother of the young +buffalo which the dogs had seized; she had drawn near on hearing +its cries, and had been wounded by our guns, but not killed; the +creature was in a furious state: after a moment’s pause, she took +aim at the dogs, and with her head on the ground, as if to guide her +by the scent, was advancing in her rage, and would have torn them +in pieces, if I had not prevented her by firing upon her with my +double-barrelled gun, and thus putting an end to her existence. + +The young buffalo still remained a prisoner, with his ears in the +mouths of the dogs, and the pain occasioned him to be so furious, +that I was fearful he might do them some injury; I therefore +determined to advance and give them what assistance I might find +practicable. To say the truth, I scarcely knew in what way to effect +this. The buffalo, though young, was strong enough to revenge himself +if I were to give the dogs a sign to let go his ears. I had the +power of killing him with a pistol at a stroke; but I had a great +desire to preserve him alive, and to tame him, that he might be a +substitute for the ass, which we had but little hope of recovering. I +found myself in a perplexing state of indecision, when Jack suddenly +interposed an effective means for accomplishing my wishes. He had his +string with balls in his pocket; he drew it out hastily, and making +a few steps backward, he threw it so skilfully as to entangle the +buffalo completely, and throw him down. As I could then approach him +safely, I tied his legs two and two together with a very strong cord; +the dogs released his ears, and from this moment we considered the +buffalo as our own. + +The question was now, how we were to get the buffalo home: having +reflected, I conceived that the best way would be to tie his two +fore-legs together so tight that he could not run, yet loose enough +for him to walk; “and,” pursued I, “we will next adopt the method +practised in Italy; you will think it somewhat cruel, but the success +will be certain; and it shall afterwards be our study to make him +amends by the kindest care and treatment. Hold you the cord which +confines his legs with all your strength, that he may not be able to +move.” I then called Turk and Flora, and made each again take hold +of the ears of the animal; I took from my pocket a sharp-pointed +knife, and taking hold of the snout, I made a hole in the nostril, +into which I quickly inserted a string, which I immediately tied so +closely to a tree that the animal was prevented from the least motion +of the head, which might have inflamed the wound and increased his +pain. I drew off the dogs the moment the operation was performed. +The creature, thus rendered furious, would have run away, but the +stricture of the legs and the pain in the nostril prevented it. The +first attempt I made to pull the cord found him docile and ready to +accommodate his motions to our designs, and I perceived that we might +now begin our march. + +I was unwilling to leave so fine a prey as the dead buffalo behind +us: I therefore, after considering what was to be done, began by +cutting out the tongue, which I sprinkled with some of the salt we +had in our provision-bag. I next took off the skin from the four +feet, taking care not to tear it in the operation. I remembered that +the Americans use these skins, which are of a soft and flexible +quality, as boots and shoes, and I considered them as precious +articles. I lastly cut some of the flesh of the animal with the +skin on, and salted it, and abandoned the rest to the dogs, as a +recompense for their behaviour. I then repaired to the river, to wash +myself, after which we sat down under the shade of a large tree, and +ate the rest of our provisions. + +As we were not disposed to leave the spot in a hurry, I desired Jack +to take the saw and cut down a small quantity of the reeds, which +from their enormous size might be of use to us. We set to work, but +I observed that he took pains to choose the smallest. “What shall +we do,” said I, “with these small-sized reeds? You are thinking, +I presume, of a bagpipe, to announce a triumphal arrival to our +companions!” + +“You are mistaken, father,” answered Jack; “I am thinking of some +candlesticks for my mother, who will set so high a value on them!” + +“This is a good thought,” said I; “I am pleased both with the +kindness and the readiness of your invention, and I will assist you +to empty the reeds without breaking them; if we should not succeed, +at least we know where to provide ourselves with more.” + +We had so many and such heavy articles to remove, that I dismissed +for that day all thoughts of looking further for the ass. I began +now to think of untying the young buffalo; and on approaching him +perceived with pleasure that he was asleep, which afforded me a proof +that his wound was not extremely painful. As I began to pull him +gently with the string, he gave a start; but he afterwards followed +me without resistance. + +We repassed the river in safety, and, accompanied by the agreeable +sounds of its foaming cascades, we regained the narrow pass at the +turn of the rocks. We proceeded with caution, and when safe on the +other side, we thought of quickening our pace to arrive the sooner at +the hut. + +The first solicitudes about health and safety being answered, we +entered upon the narrative of our adventures; when question after +question was so rapidly proposed to us, that we, on our parts, were +obliged to ask for the necessary time for our replies. All agreed +that our success with the buffalo was the most extraordinary of our +achievements: all longed for the morning, when they might take their +fill of looking at the spirited creature we had brought with us. The +day concluded with supper, and sound repose. + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + The Malabar Eagle--Sago Manufactory--Bees + + +My wife next morning began the conversation. She told me that +the boys had been good and diligent; that they had ascended Cape +Disappointment with her, and had gathered wood, and made some torches +for the night; and, what seemed almost incredible, had ventured to +fell and bring down an immense palm-tree. It lay prostrate on the +ground, and covered a space of at least seventy feet in length. To +effect their purpose, Fritz had got up the tree with a long rope, +which he fastened tight to the top of it. As soon as he had come +down again, he and Ernest worked with the axe and saw to cut it +through. When it was nearly divided, they carefully managed its fall +with the rope, and in this manner they succeeded. Fritz was in high +spirits too on another account: he brought me on his wrist a young +bird of prey, of the most beauteous plumage; he had taken it from +the nest in one of the rocks near Cape Disappointment. Very young as +the bird was, it had already all its feathers, though they had not +yet received their full colouring: it answered to the description +I had read of the beautiful eagle of Malabar, and I viewed it with +the admiration it was entitled to: meeting with one of these birds +is thought a lucky omen; and it being neither large nor expensive in +its food, I was desirous to keep it and train it like a falcon, to +pursue smaller birds. Fritz had already covered its eyes, and tied +a string to its foot: and I advised him to hold it often, and for a +length of time, on his hand, and to tame it with hunger, as falconers +do. + +When all the narratives were concluded, I ordered a fire to be +lighted, and a quantity of green wood to be put on it, for the +purpose of raising a thick smoke, over which I meant to hang the +buffalo meat I had salted, to dry and preserve it for our future use. +The young buffalo was beginning to browse, and we gave him also a +little of the cow’s milk; and in a few days we fed him with a heap of +sliced roots, which he greedily devoured; and this led us to conclude +that the pains from the wound in his nose had subsided, and that he +would soon become tame. + +The morning of this day was spent in again talking over our late +extraordinary adventures; we left our meat suspended over the smoke +of the fires during our sleep; we tied the young buffalo by the side +of the cow, and were pleased to see them agree and bid fair to live +in peace together. At night the dogs were set upon the watch. The +time of repose elapsed so calmly that none of us awoke to keep in +the torchlights, which now for the first time the industry of the +boys had supplied us with, and we did not get up till after sunrise. +After a moderate breakfast, I chanted the accustomed summons for our +setting out; but my young ones had some projects in their heads, and +neither they nor their mother were just then in the humour to obey me. + +“Let us reflect a little first,” said my wife: “as we had so much +difficulty in felling the palm-tree, would it not be a pity to lose +our labour, by leaving it in this place? Ernest assures me it is a +sago-tree; if so, the pith would be an excellent ingredient for our +soups. Do, my dear, examine it, and let us see if in any way we can +turn it to account.” + +I found she was in the right; but in that case it was necessary to +employ a day in the business; since to lay open from one end to the +other a tree of such a length and substance, was no trivial task. +I however consented; as, independent of the use of the farinaceous +pith, I could, by emptying it, obtain two handsome and large troughs +for the conveyance of water from Jackal’s River to my wife’s kitchen +garden at Tent House, and thence to my new plantations of trees. + +I now desired them to bring me the graters they had used for the +manioc, and observed that they had to assist me in raising the +palm-tree from the ground, which must be done, continued I, by fixing +at each end two small cross pieces or props to support it; to split +it open as it lies would be a work of too much labour: this done, I +shall want several wooden wedges to keep the cleft open while I am +sawing it, and afterwards a sufficient quantity of water. “There is +the difficulty,” said my wife; “our Falcon’s Stream is too far off, +and we have not yet discovered any spring in the neighbourhood of +this place.” + +_Ernest._--That is of no consequence, mother; I have seen hereabouts +so great an abundance of plants which contain water, that we need not +be at a loss; for they will fully supply us if I could only contrive +to get vessels enough to hold it. + +We now produced the enormous reeds we had brought home, which, being +hollow, would answer the purpose of vessels; and as some time was +required to draw off the water from such small tubes, he and Francis +at once set to work: they cut a number of the plants, which they +placed slantingly over the brim of a vessel, and whilst that was +filling, they were preparing another. The rest of us got round the +tree, and with our united strength we soon succeeded in raising the +heavy trunk, and the top of it was then sawn off. We next began to +split it through the whole length, and this the softness of the wood +enabled us to effect with little trouble. We soon reached the pith +or marrow that fills up the middle of the trunk the whole of its +length. When divided, we laid one half on the ground, and we pressed +the pith together with our hands, so as to make temporary room for +the pith of the other half of the trunk, which rested still on the +props. We wished to empty it entirely, that we might employ it as a +kneading-trough, leaving merely enough of the pith at both ends to +prevent a running-out; and then we proceeded to form our paste. + +My young manufacturers fell joyfully to work: they brought water, +and poured it gradually into the trough, whilst we mixed it with the +flour. In a short time the paste appeared sufficiently fermented; I +then made an aperture at the bottom of the grater on its outside, +and pressed the paste strongly with my hand: the farinaceous parts +passed with ease through the small holes of the grater, and the +ligneous parts which did not pass were thrown aside in a heap, in +the hope that mushrooms, etc., might spring from them. My boys were +in readiness to receive in reed vessels what fell from the grater, +and conveyed it directly to their mother, whose business was to +spread out the small grains in the sun upon sail-cloth, for the +purpose of drying them. Thus we procured a good supply of a wholesome +and pleasant food. The paste which remained was thrown upon the +mushroom-bed, and watered well to promote a fermentation. + +We next employed ourselves in loading the cart with our tools and +the two halves of the tree. Night coming on, we retired to our hut, +where we enjoyed our usual repose, and early next morning were ready +to return to Falcon’s Stream. Our buffalo now commenced his service, +yoked with the cow; he supplied the want of the ass, and was very +tractable: it is true, I led him by the cord in his nose, and thus +restrained him whenever he was disposed to deviate from his duty. + +We returned the same way as we came, in order to load the cart with a +provision of berries, wax and elastic gum. I sent forward Fritz and +Jack as a vanguard, with one of the dogs: they were to cut an ample +road through the bushes for our cart. The two water-conductors, which +were very long, produced numerous difficulties, and somewhat impeded +our progress. We reached the wax and gum-trees with tolerable speed, +and without any accident, and halted to place our sacks of berries +in the cart. The elastic gum had not yielded as much as I expected, +from the too rapid thickening caused by an ardent sun. We obtained, +however, about a quart, which sufficed for the experiment of the +impenetrable boots I had so long desired. + +We set out again, still preceded by our pioneers, who cleared the +way for us through the little wood of guavas. Suddenly we heard a +dreadful noise, which came from our vanguard, and beheld Fritz and +Jack hastening towards us. I began now to fear a tiger or panther +was near at hand, or had perhaps attacked them. Turk began to bark +so frightfully, and Flora joined in so hideous a yell, that I +prepared myself for a conflict. I advanced at the head of my troop +to the assistance of my high-mettled dogs, who ran furiously up to a +thicket, where they stopped, and with their noses to the ground, and +almost breathless, strove to enter it. I had no doubt some terrible +animal was lurking there; and Fritz, who had seen it through the +leaves, confirmed my suspicion; he said it was about the size of +the young buffalo, and that his hair was black and shaggy. I was +going to fire promiscuously into the thicket, when Jack, who had +thrown himself on his face on the ground to have a better view of +the animal, got up in a fit of laughter. “It is only,” exclaimed he, +“our old sow, who is never tired of playing off her tricks upon us.” +Half vexed, half laughing, we broke into the midst of the thicket, +where in reality we found our old companion stretched supinely on +the earth, but by no means in a state of dreary solitude; she had +round her seven little creatures, which had been littered a few days, +and were sprawling about, contending with each other for the best +place near their mother for a hearty meal. This discovery gave us +considerable satisfaction, and we all greeted the good matron, who +seemed to recollect and welcome us with a sociable kind of grunting, +while she licked her young without any ceremony or show of fear. And +now a general consultation took place: should this new family be left +where we found it, or conveyed to Falcon’s Stream? Opinions being at +variance, it was decided that for the present the sow and her young +should keep quiet possession of their retreat. + +We then, so many adventures ended, pursued our road, and arrived at +Falcon’s Stream in safety, experiencing what is so generally true, +that home is always dear and sacred to the heart, and anticipated +with delight. All was in due order, and our animals welcomed our +return in their own jargon and manner, but which did not fail to be +expressive of their satisfaction at seeing us again. We threw them +some of the food they were most partial to, which they greedily +accepted, and then voluntarily went back to their usual stand. It +was necessary to practise a measure dictated by prudence, which was +to tie up the buffalo again, to inure it by degrees to confinement; +and the handsome Malabar eagle shared the same fate: Fritz chose to +place it near the parrot, on the root of a tree; he fastened it with +a piece of packthread, of sufficient length to allow it free motion, +and uncovered its eyes: till then the bird had been tolerably quiet: +but the instant it was restored to light it fell into a species of +rage that surprised us; it proudly raised its head, its feathers +became ruffled, and its eyeballs seemed to whirl in their orbits, and +dart out vivid lightnings. All the poultry were terrified and fled; +but the poor luckless parrot was too near the sanguinary creature to +escape. Before we were aware of the danger, it was seized and mangled +by the formidable hooked beak of the eagle. Fritz vented his anger +in loud and passionate reproaches; he would have killed the murderer +on the spot, had not Ernest run up and entreated him to spare its +life: “Parrots,” said he, “we shall find in plenty, but never perhaps +so beauteous, so magnificent a bird as this eagle, which, as father +observes, we may train for hawking. You may too blame only yourself +for the parrot’s death;--why did you uncover his eyes? I could have +told you that falconers keep them covered six weeks, till they are +completely tamed. But now, brother, let me have the care of him; let +me manage the unruly fellow; he shall soon, in consequence of the +methods I shall use, be as tractable and submissive as a new-born +puppy.” + +Fritz refused to part with his eagle, and Ernest did not long oppose +giving him the information he wanted:--“I have read,” said he, +“somewhere, that the Caribs puff tobacco smoke into the nostrils of +the birds of prey and of the parrots they catch, until they are giddy +and almost senseless;--this stupefaction over, they are no longer +wild and untractable.” + +Fritz resolved on the experiment; he took some tobacco and a pipe, +of which we had plenty in the sailors’ chests, and began to smoke, +at the same time gradually approaching the unruly bird. As soon as +it was somewhat composed, he replaced the fillet over the eyes, +and smoked close to its beak and nostrils so effectually, that it +became motionless on the spot, and had the exact air of a stuffed +bird. Fritz thought it dead, and was inclined to be angry with his +brother; but I told him it would not hold on the perch if it were +lifeless, and that its head alone was affected;--and so it proved. +The favourite came to itself by degrees, and made no noise when its +eyes were unbound; it looked at us with an air of surprise, but void +of fury, and grew tamer and calmer every day. + +We next began a business which I and my wife had been thinking of +for some time: she found it difficult, and even dangerous, to ascend +and descend our tree with a rope ladder. We never went there but on +going to bed, and each time felt an apprehension that one of the +children, who scrambled up like cats, might make a false step, and +perhaps be lame for ever: bad weather might come on, and compel us +for a long time together to seek an asylum in our aërial apartment, +and consequently to ascend and descend oftener. + +My wife had repeatedly applied to me to remedy this evil, and my own +anxiety had often made me reflect if the thing were really possible. +A staircase on the outside was not to be thought of; the considerable +height of the tree rendered that impracticable, as I had nothing to +rest it on, and should be at a loss to find beams to sustain it; +but I had for some time formed the idea of constructing winding +stairs within the immense trunk of the tree, if it should happen to +be hollow, or I could contrive to make it so. I had heard the boys +talking of a hollow in our tree, and of a swarm of bees issuing from +it, and I now, therefore, went to examine whether the cavity extended +to the roots, or what its circumference might be. The boys seized +the idea with ardour; they sprang up, and climbed to the tops of the +roots like squirrels, to strike at the trunk with axes, and to judge +from the sound how far it was hollow; but they soon paid dearly for +their attempt; the whole swarm of bees, alarmed at the noise made +against their dwelling, issued forth, buzzing with fury, attacked +the little disturbers, began to sting them, stuck to their hair and +clothes, and soon put them to flight, uttering lamentable cries. My +wife and I had some trouble to stop the course of their uproar, and +cover their wounds with fresh earth to allay the smart. Jack, whose +temper was on all occasions rash, had struck fiercely upon the bees’ +nest, and was more severely attacked by them than the rest: it was +necessary, so serious was the injury, to cover the whole of his face +with linen. The less active Ernest got up the last, and was the first +to run off when he saw the consequences, and thus avoided any further +injury than a sting or two; but some hours elapsed before the other +boys could open their eyes, or be in the least relieved from the +acute pain that had been inflicted. When they grew a little better, +the desire of being revenged of the insects that had so roughly used +them had the ascendant in their minds: they teased me to hasten the +measures for getting everything in readiness for obtaining possession +of their honey. The bees in the meantime were still buzzing furiously +round the tree. I prepared tobacco, a pipe, some clay, chisels, +hammers, etc. I took the large gourd long intended for a hive, and +fitted a place for it, by nailing a piece of board on a branch of +the tree; I made a straw roof for the top, to screen it from the +sun and rain; and as all this took up more time than I was aware of, +we deferred the attack of the fortress to the following day, and +got ready for a sound sleep, which completed the cure of my wounded +patients. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVI + + Treatment of Bees--Staircase--Training of + Various Animals--Manufactures, etc. + + +Next morning, almost before dawn, all were up and in motion; the +bees had returned to their cells, and I stopped the passages with +clay, leaving only a sufficient aperture for the tube of my pipe. I +then smoked as much as was requisite to stupefy, without killing, +the little warlike creatures. Not having a cap with a mask, such +as bee-catchers usually wear, nor even gloves, this precaution +was necessary. At first a humming was heard in the hollow of the +tree, and a noise like the gathering tempest, which died away by +degrees. All was become calm, and I withdrew my tube without the +appearance of a single bee. Fritz had got up by me: we then began +with a chisel and a small axe to cut out of the tree, under the bees’ +hole of entrance, a piece three feet square. Before it was entirely +separated, I repeated the fumigation, lest the stupefaction produced +by the first smoking should have ceased, or the noise we had been +just making revived the bees. As soon as I supposed them lulled +again, I separated from the trunk the piece I had cut out, producing +as it were the aspect of a window, through which the inside of the +tree was laid open to view; and we were filled at once with joy and +astonishment on beholding the immense and wonderful work of this +colony of insects. There was such a stock of wax and honey, that we +feared our vessels would be insufficient to contain it. The whole +interior of the tree was lined with fine honeycombs. I cut them off +with care, and put them in the gourds the boys constantly supplied +me with. When I had somewhat cleared the cavity, I put the upper +combs, in which the bees had assembled in clusters and swarms, into +the gourd which was to serve as a hive, and placed it on the plank +I had purposely raised. I came down, bringing with me the rest of +the honeycombs, with which I filled a small cask, previously well +washed in the stream. Some I kept out for a treat at dinner; and +had the barrel carefully covered with cloths and planks, that the +bees, when attracted by the smell, might be unable to get at it. We +assembled round the table, and regaled ourselves plentifully with the +delicious treat. My wife then put by the remainder; and I proposed +to my sons to go back to the tree, to prevent the bees from swarming +again there on being roused from their stupor, as they would not +have failed to do but for the precaution I took of placing a board +at the aperture, and burning a few handfuls of tobacco on it, the +smell and smoke of which drove them back whenever they attempted to +return. At length they desisted, and became gradually reconciled to +their new residence, where their queen no doubt had settled herself. +I now advised that all should watch during the night over the whole +provision of honey obtained while the bees were torpid, who, when +recovered, would not fail to be troublesome, and come in legions +to get back to their property; and to this end we threw ourselves +on our beds, in our clothes, to take an early doze. On awakening +about nightfall, we found the bees quiet in the gourd, or settled in +clusters upon near branches, so we went expeditiously to business. +The cask of honey was emptied into a kettle, except a few prime +combs, which we kept for daily consumption; the remainder, mixed with +a little water, was set over a gentle fire, and reduced to a liquid +consistence, strained and squeezed through a bag, and afterwards +poured back into the cask, which was left upright and uncovered all +night to cool. In the morning the wax was entirely separated, and had +risen to the surface in a compact and solid cake, that was easily +removed: beneath was the purest, most beautiful and delicate honey +that could be seen; the cask was then carefully headed again, and put +into cool ground near our wine-vessels. This task accomplished, I +mounted to revisit the hive, and found everything in order; the bees +going forth in swarms, and returning loaded with wax, from which I +judged they were forming fresh edifices in their new dwelling-place. +I had been surprised that the numbers occupying the trunk of the tree +should find room in the gourd, till I perceived the clusters upon +the branches, and I thence concluded a young queen was among each of +them. In consequence, I procured another gourd, into which I shook +them, and placed it by the former; thus I had the satisfaction of +obtaining at an easy rate two fine hives of bees in activity. + +Soon after these operations we proceeded to examine the inside of +the tree. I sounded it with a pole from the opening I had made; and +a stone fastened to a string served us to sound the bottom, and +thus to ascertain the height and depth of the cavity. To my great +surprise, the pole penetrated without any resistance to the branches +on which our dwelling rested, and the stone descended to the roots. +The trunk, it appeared, had wholly lost its pith, and most of its +wood internally. It seems that this species of tree, like the willow +in our climates, receives nourishment through the bark; for it did +not look decayed, and its far-extended branches were luxuriant and +beautiful in the extreme. I determined to begin our construction +in its capacious hollow that very day. The undertaking appeared at +first beyond our powers; but intelligence, patience, time, and a firm +resolution vanquished all obstacles. + +We began to cut into the side of the tree, towards the sea, a doorway +equal in dimensions to the door of the captain’s cabin, which we had +removed with all its framework and windows. We next cleared away from +the cavity all the rotten wood, and rendered the interior even and +smooth, leaving sufficient thickness for cutting out resting-places +for the winding stairs, without injuring the bark. I then fixed in +the centre the trunk of a tree about twenty feet in length, and a +foot thick, completely stripped of its branches, in order to carry +my winding staircase round it. On the outside of this trunk, and +the inside of the cavity of our own tree, we formed grooves, so +calculated as to correspond with the distances at which the boards +were to be placed to form the stairs. These were continued till I had +got to the height of the trunk round which they turned. I made two +more apertures at suitable distances, and thus completely lighted the +whole ascent. I also effected an opening near our room, that I might +more conveniently finish the upper part of the staircase. A second +trunk was fixed upon the first, and firmly sustained with screws and +transverse beams. It was surrounded, like the other, with stairs cut +slopingly; and thus we happily effected the stupendous undertaking of +conducting it to the level of our bed-chamber. Here I made another +door directly into it. To render it more solid and agreeable, I +closed the spaces between the stairs with plank. I then fastened two +strong ropes, the one descending the length of the central trunk, +the other along the inside of our large tree, to assist in case of +slipping. I fixed the sash windows taken from the captain’s cabin in +the apertures we had made to give light to the stairs; and I then +found I could add nothing further to my design. + +I have now to relate some occurrences that took place during the +construction of our staircase. + +A few days after the commencement of our undertaking, our brave Flora +whelped us six young puppies, all healthy, and likely to live. The +number was so alarming, that I was under the necessity of drowning +all but a male and female to keep up the breed. A few days later, the +two she-goats gave us two kids, and our ewes five lambs: so that we +now saw ourselves in possession of a pretty flock. + +Next to the winding stairs, my chief occupation was the management +of the young buffalo, whose wound in the nose was quite healed, so +that I could lead it at will with a cord or stick passed through +the orifice, as the Caffrarians do. I preferred the stick, which +answered the purpose of a bit, and I resolved to break in this +spirited beast for riding as well as drawing. It was already used to +the shafts, and very tractable in them; but I had more trouble in +inuring him to a rider, and to wearing a girth, having made one out +of the old buffalo’s hide. I formed a sort of saddle with sail-cloth, +and tacked it to the girth. Upon this I fixed a burden, which I +increased progressively. I was indefatigable in the training of the +animal, and soon brought it to carry, patiently, large bags of roots, +salt, and other articles in the place of the ass. The monkey was +his first rider, who stuck so close to the saddle, that in spite of +the plunging and kicking of the buffalo, it was not thrown. Francis +was then tried, as the lightest of the family; but throughout his +excursion I led the beast with a halter, that it might not throw him +off. Jack now showed some impatience to mount the animal in his +turn. I next passed the stick through the buffalo’s nose, and tied +strong packthread at each end of it, bringing them together over the +neck of the animal, and put this new-fangled bridle into the hands +of the young rider, directing him how to use it. For a time the lad +kept his saddle, notwithstanding the unruly gestures of the creature; +at length a side jolt threw him on the sand, without his receiving +much injury. Ernest, Fritz, and lastly myself, got on successively, +with more or less effect. His trotting shook us to the very centre, +the rapidity of his gallop turned us giddy, and our lessons in +horsemanship were reiterated many days before the animal was tamed, +and could be ridden with either safety or pleasure. At last, however, +we succeeded without any serious accident; and the strength and +swiftness of our saddled buffalo were prodigious. It seemed to sport +with the heaviest loads. My three eldest boys mounted it together now +and then, and it ran with them with the swiftness of lightning. + +We now began to think of manufacturing our impenetrable boots without +seams, of the caoutchouc, or elastic-gum. I began with a pair for +myself; and I encouraged my children to afford a specimen of their +industry, by trying to form some flasks and cups that could not +break. They began by making some clay moulds, which they covered +with layers of gum, agreeably to the instructions I had given them. +In the meanwhile I filled a pair of stockings with sand, and covered +them with a layer of clay, which I first dried in the shade, and +afterwards in the sun. I then took a sole of buffalo leather, well +beaten, and studded round with tacks, which served me to fix it under +the foot of the stocking; after this I poured the liquid gum into all +the interstices, which, on drying, produced a close adhesion between +the leather and stocking sole. I next proceeded to smear the whole +with a coat of resin of a tolerable thickness; and as soon as this +layer was dried on, I put on another, and so on till I had applied a +sufficiency with my brush. After this I emptied the sand, drew out +the stocking, removed the hardened clay, shook off the dust, and thus +obtained a pair of seamless boots, as finished as if made by the best +English workman, being pliant, warm, soft, smooth, and completely +waterproof. + +We had also been engaged in the construction of our fountain, which +afforded a perpetual source of pleasure to my wife, and indeed to +all of us. In the upper part of the stream we built with stakes and +stones a kind of dam, that raised the water sufficiently to convey +it into the palm-tree troughs; and afterwards, by means of a gentle +slope, to glide on contiguous to our habitation, where it fell +into the tortoiseshell basin, which we had elevated on stones to a +certain height for our convenience; and it was so contrived that +the redundant water passed off through a cane pipe fitted to it. I +placed two sticks athwart each other for the gourds, that served +as pales, to rest on; and we thus produced, close to our abode, an +agreeable fountain, delighting with its rill, and supplying us with +a pure crystal fluid, such as we frequently could not get when we +drew our water from the bed of the river, which was often encumbered +with the leaves and earth fallen into it, or rendered turbid by our +water-fowls. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVII + + The Wild Ass--Difficulty in breaking it--The + Heath Fowl’s Nest + + +We were scarcely up one morning, and had just got to work in putting +the last hand to our winding staircase, when we heard at a distance +two strange kinds of voices, that resembled the howlings of wild +beasts mixed with hissings and sounds of some creature at its last +gasp; and I was not without uneasiness: our dogs too pricked up their +ears, and seemed to whet their teeth for a sanguinary combat with a +dangerous enemy. + +From their looks we judged it prudent to put ourselves in a state of +defence; we loaded our guns and pistols, placed them together within +our castle in the tree, and repaired to repel vigorously any hostile +attack from that quarter. The howlings having ceased an instant, I +descended from our citadel, well armed, and put on our two faithful +guardians their spiked collars and side-guards; I assembled our +cattle about the tree to have them in sight, and I then re-ascended +to look around for the enemy’s approach. + +At this instant the howlings were renewed, and almost close to us. +Fritz got as near the spot as he could, listened attentively, and +with eager looks, then threw down his gun, and burst into a loud +laughter, exclaiming, “Father, it is our ass! the deserter comes back +to us, chanting the hymn of return: listen! do you not hear his +melodious brayings in all the varieties of the gamut?” I listened, +and a fresh roar, in sounds unquestionable, raised loud peals of +laughter amongst us. Shortly after we had the satisfaction of seeing +among the trees our old friend Grizzle, moving towards us leisurely, +and stopping now and then to browse; but, to our great joy, he was +accompanied by one of his own species, of very superior beauty; and +when it was nearer, I knew it to be a fine onagra, or wild ass, which +I conceived a strong desire to possess, though at the same time aware +of the extreme difficulty there would be in taming and rendering +him subject to the use of man. Without delay I descended the ladder +with Fritz, desiring his brothers to keep still; and I consulted my +privy-counsellor on the means of surprising and taking the stranger +captive. + +I got ready, as soon as possible, a long cord with a running knot, +one end of which I tied fast to the root of a tree; the noose was +kept open with a little stick slightly fixed in the opening, so as to +fall of itself on the cord being thrown round the neck of the animal, +whose efforts to escape would draw the knot closer. I also prepared a +piece of bamboo about two feet long, which I split at the bottom, and +tied fast at top, to serve as nippers. Fritz attentively examined my +contrivance, without seeing the use of it. Prompted by the impatience +of youth, he took the ball-sling, and proposed aiming at the wild ass +with it, which he said was the shortest way of proceeding. I declined +adopting this Patagonian method, fearing the attempt might fail, +and the beautiful creature avail itself of its natural velocity to +evade us beyond recovery; I therefore told him my project of catching +it in the noose, which I gave him to manage, as being nimbler and +more expert than myself. The two asses drew nearer and nearer to +us. Fritz, holding in his hand the open noose, moved softly on from +behind the tree where we were concealed, and advanced as far as the +length of the rope allowed him. The onagra started on perceiving a +human figure; it sprang some paces backward, then stopped, as if to +examine the unknown form; but as Fritz now remained quite still, +the animal resumed its composure, and continued to browse. Soon +after he approached the old ass, hoping that the confidence that +would be shown by it would raise a similar feeling in the stranger; +he held out a handful of oats mixed with salt. Our ass instantly +ran up to take its favourite food, and greedily devoured it: this +was quickly perceived by the other. It drew near, raised its head, +breathed strongly, and came up so close, that Fritz, seizing the +opportunity, succeeded in throwing the rope round its neck; but the +motion and stroke so affrighted the beast that it instantly sprang +off. It was soon checked by the cord, which, in compressing the +neck, almost stopped its breath: it could go no farther, and, after +many exhausting efforts, it sank panting for breath upon the ground. +I hastened to loosen the cord, and prevent its being strangled. I +then quickly threw our ass’s halter over its head; I fixed the nose +in my split cane, which I secured at the bottom with packthread. +Thus I succeeded in subduing the first alarm of this wild animal, +as farriers shoe a horse for the first time. I wholly removed the +noose that seemed to bring the creature into a dangerous situation; +I fastened the halter with two long ropes to two roots near us, on +the right and left, and let the animal recover itself, noticing its +actions, and devising the best way to tame it in the completest +manner. + +In a few moments the onagra got up again, struck furiously with its +foot, and seemed resolved to free itself from all bonds; but the +pain of its nose, which was grasped and violently squeezed in the +bamboo, forced it to lie down again. Fritz and I now gently undid +the cords, and half led, half dragged it, between two roots closely +connected, to which we fastened it afresh, so as to give the least +scope for motion, and thus render its escape impracticable, whilst +it enabled us to approach securely, and examine the valuable capture +we had made. We also guarded against master Grizzle playing truant +again, and tied him fast with a new halter, confining its fore legs +with a rope. I then fastened it and the wild ass side by side, and +put before both plenty of good provender to solace their impatience +of captivity. + +We had now the additional occupation of training the onagra for our +service or our pleasure, as might turn out to be most practicable: +my boys exulted in the idea of riding it, and we repeatedly +congratulated each other on the good fortune which had thus resulted +from the flight of our ass. + +During the training of the onagra, which we named _Lightfoot_, a +triple brood of our hens had given us a crowd of little feathered +beings; forty of these at least were chirping and hopping about us, +to the great satisfaction of my wife, whose zealous care of them +sometimes made me smile. Some of these we kept near us, while others +were sent in small colonies to feed and breed in the desert, where we +could find them as they were wanted for our use. + +This increase of our poultry reminded us of an undertaking we had +long thought of, and was not in prudence to be deferred any longer; +this was the building between the roots of our great tree covered +sheds for all our bipeds and quadrupeds. The rainy season, which is +the winter of these countries, was drawing near; and to avoid losing +most of our stock, it was requisite to shelter it. + +We began by forming a kind of roof above the arched roots of our +tree, and employed bamboo canes for the purpose; the longest and +strongest supported the roofing in the place of columns, the smaller +more closely united and composed the roof itself. I filled up the +interstices with moss and clay, and I spread over the whole a thick +coat of tar. By these means I formed a compact and solid covering, +capable of bearing pressure. I then made a railing round it, which +gave the appearance of a balcony, under which, between the roots, +were various stalls, sheltered from rain and sun, that could be +easily shut and separated from each other by means of planks nailed +upon the roots: part of them were calculated to serve as a stable and +yard, part as an eating-house, a store-room, etc., and as a hay-loft, +to keep our hay and provisions dry in. This work was soon completed; +but afterwards it was necessary to fill these places with stores of +every kind for our supply throughout the wet season. In this task we +engaged diligently, and went daily here and there with our cart to +collect everything useful, and that might give us employment when the +weather prevented our going far. + +One evening, on our return from digging up roots, as our cart, +loaded with bags, drawn by the buffalo, ass, and cow, was gently +rolling along, seeing still a vacant place in the vehicle, I advised +my wife to go home with the two youngest boys, whilst I went round +by the wood of oaks with Ernest and Fritz, to gather as many sweet +acorns as we could find room for. We had still some empty sacks. +Ernest was accompanied by his monkey, who seldom left him; and +Fritz, horsemanlike, was on the onagra, which he had appropriated to +himself, inasmuch as he had helped to take and tame it, and indeed +because he knew how to manage it better than his brothers. Ernest +was too lazy, and preferred walking at ease with the monkey on his +shoulder, and the more so because it spared him the trouble of +gathering fruit. + +When we reached the oaks, Lightfoot was tied to a bush, and we +set actively to work to gather the acorns that had dropped from +the trees. While all were busily employed, the monkey quitted its +master’s shoulder, and skipped unperceived into an adjoining bush. It +had been there some time, when we heard on that side loud cries of +birds and flapping of wings, and this assured us a sharp conflict was +going on betwixt master Knips and the inhabitants of the bushes. I +dispatched Ernest to reconnoitre. He went stoutly towards the place, +and in an instant we heard him exclaim, “Come quickly, father! A fine +heath-fowl’s nest, full of eggs.” + +Fritz ran up directly, and in a few moments brought out alive the +male and female heath-fowl, both very beautiful. I was rejoiced at +this discovery, and helped my son to prevent their escape, by tying +their wings and feet, and hold them while he returned to the bush for +the eggs. And now Ernest came forward, driving the monkey before him, +and carrying his hat with the utmost care. He had stuck his girdle +full of narrow sharp-pointed leaves, in shape like a knife-blade, +which reminded me of the production named sword-grass; but I did not +pay much attention, as I was too busily engaged in our egg-hunt. On +coming up to me he uncovered his hat, and gave it me in a transport +of joy, crying out, “Here, father, are some heath-fowl’s eggs. I +found them in a nest so well concealed under these long leaves, +that I should not have observed them had not the hen, in defending +herself against the monkey, scattered them about. I am going to +take them home, they will please my mother; and these leaves will +amuse Francis, for they are like swords, and he will like them for +a plaything.” It was now time to think of moving homeward: my two +sons filled the bags with acorns, and put them on Lightfoot. Fritz +mounted, Ernest carried the eggs, I took charge of the hen, and we +proceeded to Falcon’s Stream, followed by our train-waggon. When +arrived, our first care was to examine the eggs: the female bird +was too frightened and wild to sit upon them; fortunately we had a +hen that was hatching: her eggs were immediately removed, and the +new ones put in their place: the female heath-fowl was put into +the parrot’s cage, and hung up in the room, to accustom it to our +society. In less than three days all the chickens were hatched; they +kept close to their foster-mother, and ate greedily a mixture of +sweet acorns bruised in milk, such as we gave our tame poultry. As +they grew up I plucked out the large feathers of their wings, lest +they should naturally take flight; but they and their real parent +gradually became so domesticated, that they daily accompanied our +feathered stock in search of food, and regularly came back at night +to the roost I had prepared for them, and in which this little new +colony of feathered beings seemed to delight. + + + + + CHAPTER XXVIII + + Flax, and the Rainy Season + + +Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves, +and then, like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he +grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside. Fritz picked up some +of them that were quite soft and withered; holding up one which was +pliable as a riband in his hand, “Francis,” said he, “you can make +whips of your sword-grass, and they will be of use in driving your +goats and sheep.” It had been lately decided that it should be the +business of Francis to lead these to pasture. Fritz accordingly sat +down to help him to divide the leaves, and afterwards plait them into +whipcords. As they were working, I saw with pleasure the flexibility +and strength of the bands: I examined them more closely, and found +they were composed of long fibres, or filaments; and this discovery +led me to surmise that this supposed sword-grass might be a very +different thing, and not improbably the flax plant of New Zealand. +This was a valuable discovery in our situation: I knew how much my +wife wished for the production, and that it was the article she +felt the most the want of; I therefore hastened to communicate the +intelligence to her, and she expressed the liveliest joy. “This,” +said she, “is the most useful thing you have found; lose not a moment +in searching for more of these leaves, and bring me the most you +can of them; I will make you stockings, shirts, clothes, thread, +ropes;--in short, give me flax, looms, and frames, and I shall be +at no loss in the employment of it.” I could not help smiling at +the scope she gave to her imagination on the bare mention of flax, +though so much was to be done between the gathering the leaves and +having the cloth she was already sewing in idea. Fritz whispered a +word in Jack’s ear; both went to the stable, and, without asking my +leave, one mounted Lightfoot, the other the buffalo, and galloped off +towards the wood, so fast that I had no time to call them back: they +were already out of sight. Their eagerness to oblige their mother in +this instance pleaded their forgiveness, and I suffered them to go on +without following them, purposing to proceed and bring them back if +they did not soon return. + +In a quarter of an hour our deserters came back; like true hussars, +they had foraged the woods, and heavily loaded their cattle with +the precious plant, which they threw at their mother’s feet with +joyful shouts. It was next proposed that all should assist her in +preparations for the work she was to engage in, and previously in +steeping the flax. + +Next morning the ass was put to the small light car, loaded with +bundles of leaves; Francis and the monkey sat on them, and the +remainder of the family gaily followed with shovels and pickaxes. We +stopped at Flamingo Marsh, divided our large bundles into smaller, +which we placed in the water, pressing them down with stones, and +leaving them in this state till it was time to remove and set them in +the sun to dry, and thus render the stems soft and easy to peel. + +In a fortnight we took the flax out of the water, and spread it on +the grass in the sun, where it dried so rapidly that we were able +to load it on our cart the same evening, and carry it to Falcon’s +Stream, where it was put by till we had time to make the beetles, +wheels, reels, carding-combs, etc., required by our chief for the +manufacture. It was thought best to reserve this task for the rainy +season, and to employ the present time in collecting a competent +stock of provisions for ourselves and for all the animals. Occasional +slight showers, the harbingers of winter, had already come on; the +temperature, which hitherto had been warm and serene, became gloomy +and variable; the sky was often darkened with clouds, the stormy +winds were heard, and warned us to avail ourselves of the favorable +moment to get all that might be wanted ready. + +Our first care was to dig up a full supply of yams and other roots +for bread, with plenty of cocoa-nuts and some bags of sweet acorns. +It occurred to us, while digging, that, the ground being thus +opened and manured with the leaves of plants, we might sow in it to +advantage the remainder of our European corn. Notwithstanding all the +delicacies this stranger land afforded us, the force of habit still +caused us to long for the bread we had been fed with from childhood. +We had not yet laid ourselves out for regular tillage, and I was +inclined to attempt the construction of a plough of some sort as +soon as we had a sufficient stock of corn for sowing. For this time, +therefore, we committed it to the earth with little preparation: the +season, however, was proper for sowing and planting, as the ensuing +rain would moisten and swell the embryo grain, which otherwise would +perish in an arid burning soil. We accordingly expedited the planting +of the various palm-trees we had discovered in our excursions at Tent +House, carefully selecting the smallest and the youngest. In the +environs we formed a large handsome plantation of sugar-canes, so as +to have hereafter everything useful and agreeable around us, and thus +be dispensed from the usual toil and loss of time in procuring them. + +Unfortunately, the weather changed sooner than we had expected, and +than, with all our care, we could be prepared for: before we had +completed our winter establishment, the rain fell in such heavy +torrents that I could not refrain from painful apprehension in +surmising how we should resist such a body of water, that seemed to +change the whole face of the country into a lake. + +The first thing to be done was to remove our aërial abode, and to +fix our residence at the bottom of the tree, between the roots and +under the tarred roof I had erected: for it was no longer possible to +remain above, on account of the furious winds that threatened to bear +us away, and deluged our beds with rain through the large opening in +front, our only protection here being a piece of sail-cloth, which +was soon dripping wet and rent to pieces. In this condition we were +forced to take down our hammocks, mattresses, and every article +that could be injured by the rain; and most fortunate did we deem +ourselves in having made the winding stairs, which sheltered us +during the operation of the removal. The stairs served afterwards for +a kind of lumber-room; we kept all in it we could dispense with, and +most of our culinary vessels, which my wife fetched as she happened +to want them. Our little sheds between the roots, constructed for +the poultry and the cattle, could scarcely contain us all; and the +first days we passed in this manner were painfully embarrassing, +crowded all together, and hardly able to move in these almost dark +recesses, which the fœtid smell from the close adjoining animals +rendered almost insupportable: in addition, we were half stifled with +smoke whenever we kindled a fire, and drenched with rain when we +opened the doors. For the first time since our disaster, we sighed +for the comfortable houses of our dear country:--but what was to +be done? We were not there, and losing our courage and our temper +would only increase the evil. I strove to raise the spirits of my +companions, and obviate some of the inconveniences. We confined our +live stock to a smaller number, and gave them a freer current of air, +dismissing from the stalls those animals that, from their properties, +and being natives of the country, would be at no loss in providing +for themselves. That we might not lose them altogether, we tied bells +round their necks; Fritz and I sought and drove them in every evening +when they did not spontaneously return. + +As to the smoke, our only remedy was to open the door when we made +a fire; and we did without fire as much as we could, living on milk +and cheese, and never making one but to bake our cakes: we then used +the occasion to boil a quantity of our favourite roots and salt meat +enough to last us a number of days. Our dry wood was also nearly +expended, and we thanked Heaven the weather was not very cold; for +had this been the case, our other trials would have much increased. +A more serious concern was our not having provided sufficient hay +and leaves for our European cattle, which we kept housed to avoid +losing them. The cow, the ass, the sheep, and the goats, the two +last of which were increased in number, required a large quantity of +provender, so that we were ere long forced to give them our tuberous +roots and sweet acorns, which, by the bye, they found very palatable, +and we remarked that they imparted a delicate flavour to their milk; +the cow, the goats, and even the sheep, amply supplied us with that +precious article. Milking, cleaning the animals, and preparing their +food, occupied us most of the morning, after which we were usually +employed in making flour of the manioc root, with which we filled the +large gourds, previously placed in rows. The gloom of the atmosphere +and our low windowless habitation sensibly abridged our daylight; +fortunately we had laid in a huge store of candles, and felt no +want of that article. When darkness obliged us to light up, we got +round the table, where a large taper fixed on a gourd gave us an +excellent light, which enabled my wife to pursue her occupation with +the needle, while I on my part was forming a journal, and recording +what the reader has perused of the narrative of our shipwreck and +residence in this island, assisted from time to time by my sons and +their admirable mother, who did not cease to remind me of various +incidents belonging to the story. To Ernest, who wrote a fine hand, +was entrusted the care of writing off my pages in a clear legible +character; Fritz and Jack amused themselves by drawing from memory +the plants and animals which had most struck their observation; while +one and all contributed to teach little Francis to read and write. +We concluded the day with a devotional reading in the Holy Bible, +performed by each in turn, and we then retired to rest, happy in +ourselves and in the innocent and peaceful course of our existence. + +It was unanimously resolved on, however, that we would not +pass another rainy season exposed to the same evils; even my +gentle-tempered and most beloved consort was a little ruffled now +and then with our inconvenient situation, and insisted more than +any of us on the plan of building elsewhere a more spacious winter +residence; she wished, however, to return to our castle in the tree +every summer, and we all joined with her in that desire. The choice +of a fresh abode now engrossed our attention, and Fritz in the midst +of consultation came forward triumphantly with a book he had found +in the bottom of our clothes chest. “Here,” said he, “is our best +counsellor and model, _Robinson Crusoe_; since Heaven has destined us +to a similar fate, whom better can we consult? As far as I remember, +he cut himself a habitation out of the solid rock: let us see how he +proceeded; we will do the same, and with greater ease, for he was +alone; we are six in number, and four of us able to work.” This idea +of Fritz was hailed by all. We assembled, and read the famous history +with an ardent interest; it seemed, though so familiar, quite new to +us; we entered earnestly into every detail, and derived considerable +information from it, and never failed to feel lively gratitude +towards God, who had rescued us all together, and not permitted one +only of us to be cast, a solitary being, on the island. + +Francis expressed his wish to have a _Man Friday_; Fritz thought it +better to be without such a companion, and to have no savages to +contend with. Jack was for the savages, warfare, and encounters. +The final result of our deliberations was to go and survey the +rocks round Tent House, and to examine whether any of them could be +excavated for our purpose. + +Our last job for the winter, undertaken at my wife’s solicitation, +was a beetle for her flax, and some carding combs. I filed large +nails till they were even, round, and pointed; I fixed them at +equal distances in a sheet of tin, and raised the side of it like a +box; I then poured melted lead between the nails and the sides to +give firmness to their points, which came out four inches. I nailed +this tin on a board, and the machine was fit to work. My wife was +impatient to use it; and the drying, peeling, and spinning her flax, +became from this time a source of inexhaustible delight. + + + + + CHAPTER XXIX + + Spring--Spinning--Salt Mine + + +I can hardly describe our joy, when, after many tedious and gloomy +weeks of rain, the sky began to brighten, the sun to dart its benign +rays on the humid earth, the winds to be lulled, and the state of +the air became mild and serene. We issued from our dreary hovels +with joyful shouts, and walked round our habitation breathing +the enlivening balmy ether, while our eyes were regaled with the +beauteous verdure beginning to shoot forth on every side. + +Our summer occupations commenced by arranging and thoroughly +cleaning Falcon’s Nest, the order and neatness of which the rain +and dead leaves blown by the wind had disturbed; in other respects, +however, it was not injured, and in a few days we rendered it fit +for our reception; the stairs were cleared, the rooms between the +roots reoccupied, and we were left with leisure to proceed to other +employments. My wife lost not a moment in resuming the process of her +flax. Our sons hastened to lead the cattle to the fresh pastures; +whilst it was my task to carry the bundles of flax into the open air, +where, by heaping stones together, I contrived an oven sufficiently +commodious to dry it well. The same evening, we all set to work to +peel, and afterwards to beat it and strip off the bark; and lastly to +comb it with my carding machine, which fully answered the purpose. I +took this laborious task on myself, and drew out such distaffs full +of long soft flax ready for spinning, that my enraptured wife ran to +embrace me, to express her thankfulness, requesting me to make her a +wheel without delay, that she might enter upon her favourite work. + +At an early period of my life I had practised turnery for my +amusement; now, however, I was unfortunately destitute of the +requisite utensils; but as I had not forgotten the arrangement +and component parts of a spinning-wheel and reel, I by repeated +endeavours found means to accomplish those two machines to her +satisfaction; and she fell so eagerly to spinning, as to allow +herself no leisure even for a walk, and scarcely time to dress our +dinners. + +Our first visit was to Tent House, and here we found the ravages of +winter more considerable than even at Falcon’s Stream; the tempest +and rain had beaten down the tent, carried away a part of the +sail-cloth, and made such havoc among our provisions, that by far the +largest portion was spotted with mildew, and the remainder could be +only saved by drying it instantly. Luckily our handsome pinnace had +been for the most part spared; it was still at anchor, ready to serve +us in case of need; but our tub-boat was in too shattered a state to +be of any further service. + +In looking over the stores, we were grieved to find the gunpowder, +of which I had left three barrels in the tent, the most damaged. +The contents of two were rendered wholly useless. I thought myself +fortunate in finding the remaining one in tolerable condition, and +derived from this great and irreparable loss a cogent motive to fix +upon winter quarters where our stores, our only wealth, would not be +exposed to such cruel dilapidations. + +Fritz and Jack were constant in their endeavours to make me undertake +the excavation of the rock, but I had no hopes of success. Robinson +Crusoe found a spacious cavern that merely required arrangement: +no such cavity was apparent in our rock, which bore the aspect of +extreme solidity and impenetrableness; so that with our limited +powers, three or four summers would scarcely suffice to execute the +design. Still, the earnest desire of a more substantial habitation, +to defend us from the elements, perplexed me incessantly, and I +resolved to make at least the attempt of cutting out a recess that +should protect the gunpowder, the most valuable of all our treasures. +I accordingly set off one day, accompanied by my two boys, leaving +their mother at her spinning with Ernest and Francis. We took with us +pickaxes, chisels, hammers, and iron levers, to try what impression +we could make on the rock. I chose a part nearly perpendicular, and +much better situated than our tent: the view from it was enchanting, +for it embraced the whole range of Safety Bay, the banks of Jackal’s +River, and Family Bridge, and many of the picturesque projections +of the rocks. I marked out with charcoal the opening we wished to +make, and we began the heavy toil of piercing the quarry. We made +so little progress the first day, that, in spite of our courage, we +were tempted to relinquish the undertaking; we persevered, however, +and my hope was somewhat revived as I perceived the stone was of a +softer texture as we penetrated deeper. I concluded from this, that +the ardent rays of the sun striking upon the rock had hardened the +external layer, and that the stone within would increase in softness +as we advanced. When I had cut about a foot in depth, we could loosen +it with a spade like dried mud; this determined me to proceed with +double ardour, and my boys assisted me with a spirit and zeal beyond +their years. + +After a few days of assiduous labour, we measured the opening, and +found we had already advanced seven feet into the rock. Fritz removed +the fragments in a barrow, and discharged them in a line before the +place, to form a sort of terrace; I applied my own labour to the +upper part, to enlarge the aperture; Jack, the smallest of the three, +was able to get in and cut away below. He had with him a long iron +bar sharpened at the end, which he drove in with a hammer to loosen +a piece at a time. Suddenly he bawled out, “It is pierced through, +father! Fritz, I have pierced it through!” + +“Hah, hah, Master Jack at his jokes again!--But let us hear, what +have you pierced? Is it the mountain? Not peradventure your hand or +foot, Jack?” cried I. + +_Jack._--No, no, it is the mountain (the rocks resounding with his +usual shout of joy); huzza, huzza! I have pierced the mountain! + +Fritz now ran to him. “Come, let us see then: it is no doubt the +globe at least you have pierced,” said he, in a bantering tone: “you +should have pushed on your tool boldly, till you reached Europe, +which they say is under our feet; I should have been glad to peep +into that hole.” + +_Jack._--Well, then, peep you may, but I hardly know what you will +see; come and look how far the iron is gone in, and tell me if it is +all my boasting. + +[Illustration: “Thus we entered the rock in solemn procession.”] + +“Come hither, father,” said Fritz, “this is really extraordinary: +his iron bar seems to have got to a hollow place; see, it can be +moved in every direction.” I approached, thinking the incident worth +attention: I took hold of the bar, which was still in the rock, and +working it about, I made a sufficient aperture for one of my sons +to pass, and I observed that in reality the rubbish fell within +the cavity, which I judged, from the falling of the stones, was not +much deeper than the part we stood on. My two lads offered to go +in together and examine it: this, however, I forbade. I even made +them remove from the opening, as I smelled the foul air that issued +abundantly from it, and began myself to feel giddiness in consequence +of having gone too near; so that I was compelled to withdraw quickly, +and inhale a purer air. + +Under my direction the boys now hastened to gather some dry moss, +which they made into bundles; they then struck a light and set +fire to them, and threw the moss blazing into the opening; but, as +I had foreseen, the fire was extinguished at the very entrance, +thus proving that the air within was highly mephitic. I now saw +that it was to be rarefied by another and more effectual method. I +recollected that we had brought from the vessel a chest that was full +of grenades, rockets, and other fireworks, which had been shipped for +the purpose of making signals, as well as for amusement. I sought it +hastily, and took some of these, together with an iron mortar for +throwing; out of it I laid a train of gunpowder and set fire to the +end, which reached to where we stood. A general explosion took place, +and an awful report reverberated through the dark recess: the lighted +grenades flew about on all sides like brilliant meteors, rebounding +and bursting with a terrific sound. We then sent in the rockets, +which had also a full effect. They hissed in the cavity like flying +dragons, disclosing to our astonished view its vast extent. We beheld +too, as we thought, numerous dazzling bodies that sparkled suddenly, +as if by magic, and disappeared with the rapidity of lightning, +leaving the place in total darkness. + +After having played off our fireworks, I tried lighted straw; to our +great satisfaction, the bundles thrown in were entirely consumed; we +could then reasonably hope nothing was to be feared from the air; but +there still remained the danger of plunging into some abyss, or of +meeting with a body of water. From these considerations, I deemed it +more prudent to defer our entrance into this unknown recess till we +had lights to guide us through it. I dispatched Jack on the buffalo +to Falcon’s Stream to tell his mother and brothers of our discovery, +directing him to return with them, and bring all the tapers that were +left: my intention was to tie them together to the end of a stick, +and proceed with it lighted to examine the cavity. + +In three or four hours we saw them coming up in our car of state. I +immediately lighted some of the tapers; but not together, as I had +intended: I preferred each taking one in his right hand, an implement +in his left, another taper in his pocket, flint and steel; and thus +we entered the rock in solemn procession. The most beautiful and +magnificent spectacle presented itself. The sides of the cavern +sparkled like diamonds, the light from our tapers was reflected from +all parts, and had the effect of a grand illumination. Innumerable +crystals of every length and shape hung from the top of the vault, +which, uniting with those of the sides, formed pillars, altars, +entablatures, and a variety of other figures, composing the most +splendid masses. We might have fancied ourselves in the palace of a +fairy, or an illuminated temple. + +The floor was level, covered with a white and very fine sand, as if +purposely strewed, and so dry that I could not see the least mark of +humidity anywhere. All this led me to hope the spot would be healthy, +convenient, and eligible for our proposed residence. I now formed +a particular conjecture as to the nature of the crystallizations +shooting out on all sides, and especially from the arch-roof. They +could scarcely be of that species of rock-crystals produced by +the slow filtering of water falling in drops, and coagulating in +succession, and seldom found in excavations exhibiting so dry a +nature, nor even with so many of the crystals perpendicular and +perfectly smooth. I was impatient to evince the truth or falsehood +of this idea by an experiment, and discovered with great joy, +on breaking a portion of one of them, that I was in a grotto of +_sal-gem_, that is, fossil, or rock salt, found in the earth in +solid crystallized masses, generally above a bed of spar or gypsum, +and surrounded by layers of fossils or rock. The discovery of this +fact, which no longer admitted a doubt, pleased us all exceedingly. +The shape of the crystals, their little solidity, and finally their +saline taste, were decisive evidences. + +Many schemes were formed for converting this magnificent grotto into +a convenient and agreeable mansion for our abode. We had possession +of the most eligible premises: the sole business was to turn them to +the best account; and how to effect this was our unceasing theme. +Some voted for our immediate establishment there, but they were +opposed by more sagacious counsel, and it was resolved that Falcon’s +Stream should still be our headquarters till the end of the year. + + + + + CHAPTER XXX + + House in the Salt Rock--Turtles + + +The lucky discovery of a previously existing cavern in the rock had, +as must be supposed, considerably lessened our labour; excavation +was no longer requisite. I had more room than was wanted for the +construction of our dwelling: to render it habitable was the present +object, and to do this did not seem a difficult task. The upper bed +of the rock, in front of the cavern, through which my little Jack had +dug so easily, was of a soft nature, and to be worked with moderate +effort. I hoped also that, being now exposed to the air and heat of +the sun, it would become by degrees as hard and compact as the first +layer that had given me so much trouble. From this consideration I +began, while it retained its soft state, to make openings for the +doors and windows of the front. This I regulated by the measurement +of those I had fixed in my winding stair-case, which I had removed +for the purpose of placing them in our winter tenement. I had +previously marked out the openings to be cut for the frames, which +were received into grooves for greater convenience and solidity. I +took care not to break the stone taken from the apertures, or at +least to preserve it in large pieces, and these I cut with the saw +and chisel into oblongs an inch and a half in thickness, to serve +as tiles. I laid them in the sun, and was gratified in seeing they +hardened quickly; I then removed them, and my sons placed them in +order against the side of the rock, till they were wanted for our +internal arrangements. + +When I could enter the cavern freely with a good doorway, and it was +sufficiently lighted by the windows, I erected a partition, for the +distribution of our apartments and other conveniences. The extent +of the place afforded ample room for my design, and even allowed +me to leave several spaces in which salt and other articles could +be stored. I laid out the interior in the following manner: A very +considerable space was first partitioned off in two divisions; the +one on the right was appropriated to our residence, that on the +left was to contain the kitchen, stables, and work-room. At the +end of the second division, where windows could not be placed, the +cellar and store-room were to be formed; the whole separated by +partition-boards, with doors of communication, so as to give us a +pleasant and comfortable abode. + +The side we designed to lodge in was divided into three apartments; +the first, next the door, was the bedroom for my wife and me, the +second a dining-parlour, and the last a bedroom for the boys. As we +had only three windows, we put one in each sleeping-room; the third +was fixed in the kitchen, where my wife would often be. A grating +for the present fell to the lot of our dining-room, which when too +cold was to be exchanged for one of the other apartments. I contrived +a good fireplace in the kitchen near the window; I pierced the +rock a little above, and four planks nailed together, and passing +through this opening, answered the purpose of a chimney. We made +the work-room near the kitchen of sufficient dimensions for the +performance of undertakings of some magnitude; it served also to keep +our cart and sledge in. Lastly, the stables, which were formed into +four compartments, to separate the different species of animals, +occupied all the bottom of the cavern on this side; on the other were +the cellar and magazine. + +The long stay we made at Tent House, during these employments, +furnished us an opportunity of perceiving several advantages we had +not reckoned upon. Immense turtles were often seen on the shore, +where they deposited their eggs in the sand, and they regaled us +with a rich treat; but, extending our wishes, we thought of getting +possession of the turtles themselves for livestock, and of feasting +on them whenever we pleased. As soon as we saw one on the sands, +one of my boys was despatched to cut off its retreat; meanwhile we +approached the animal, and quietly, without doing it any injury, +turned it on its back, then passed a long cord through the shell, +and tied the end of it to a stake, which we fixed close to the edge +of the water. This done, we set the prisoner on its legs again; it +hastened into the sea, but could not go beyond the end of the cord; +apparently it was all the happier, finding food with more facility +along shore than out at sea; and we enjoyed the idea of being able to +take it when wanted. + +A number of sea-dogs came into Safety Bay, and ascended the river in +search of prey, sporting in the water along shore, without evincing +any fear of us. The fish presented no attraction to the palate, but +its skin, tanned and dressed, makes excellent leather. I was in great +need of it for straps and harness, to make saddles for Fritz and +Jack to ride the onagra and buffalo, and in short for our own use to +cut up into soles, belts, and pantaloons, of which articles we much +wanted a fresh supply; besides, I knew the fat yielded good lamp oil, +that might be substituted for tapers in the long evenings of winter; +and that it would be further useful in tanning and rendering the +leather pliant. + +At this time I likewise made some improvements in our sledge, to +facilitate the carrying of stores from Falcon’s Stream to our +dwelling in the rock at Tent House. I raised it on two beams, +on axle-trees, at the extremities of which I put on the four +gun-carriage wheels I had taken off the cannon from the vessel; +by this alteration I obtained a light and convenient vehicle, of +moderate height, on which boxes and casks could be placed. Pleased +with the operations of the week, we set out all together with +cheerful hearts for Falcon’s Stream, to pass our Sunday there, +and once more offer our pious thanks to the Almighty, for all the +benefits He had bestowed upon His defenceless creatures. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXI + + New Fishery--New Experiments--New + Discoveries, and House + + +The enterprise of our dwelling went on, sometimes as a principal, +sometimes as an intermediate occupation, according to the greater or +less importance of other concerns; but though we advanced thus with +moderate rapidity, the progress was such as to afford the hope of our +being settled within it by the time of the rainy season. + +From the moment I discovered gypsum to be the basis of the crystal +salt in our grotto, I foresaw some great advantages I should derive +from it; but to avoid enlarging the dimensions of our house by +digging further, I tried to find a place in the continuation of the +rock, which I might be able to blow up. I had soon the good fortune +to meet with a narrow slip between the projections of the rock, which +I could easily, by the means I proposed, convert into a passage that +should terminate in our work-room. I found also on the ground a +quantity of fragments of gypsum, and removed a great number of them +to the kitchen, where we did not fail to bake a few of the pieces at +a time when we made a fire for cooking, which, thus calcined, rubbed +into a powder when cold; we obtained a considerable quantity of it, +which I put carefully into casks for use when the time should come +for finishing the interior of our dwelling. My notion was to form the +walls, for separating the apartments, of the squares of stone I had +already provided, and to unite them together with a cement of this +new ingredient, which would be the means, both of sparing the timber, +and increasing the beauty and solidity of the work. + +One day as Jack and I were walking near the mouth of Jackal’s +River, we perceived immense quantities of a large fish moving +slowly towards the banks. As they came nearer, I distinguished the +largest to resemble sturgeons, a fish found in higher latitudes, +while the smallest I pronounced to be salmon. Jack now strutted +about in ecstasies. “What say you now, father?” said he; “this is +nothing like your little paltry fry! A single fish of this troop +would fill a tub!”--“No doubt,” answered I; and with great gravity I +added,--“Pr’ythee, Jack, step into the river, and fling them to me +one by one, that I may take them home to salt and dry.” + +He looked at me for a moment with a sort of vacant doubt if I could +possibly be in earnest: then seizing suddenly a new idea--“Wait a +moment, father,” cried he, “and I will do so”: and he sprang off +like lightning towards the cavern, from whence he soon returned +loaded with a bow and arrows, the bladders of the sea-dogs, and a +ball of string, to catch, as he assured me, every one of the fishes. +I looked on with interest and curiosity to mark what was next to +happen, while the animation of his countenance, the promptitude and +boyish gracefulness of his motions, and the firm determination of his +manner, afforded me the highest amusement. He tied the bladders round +at certain distances with a long piece of string, to the end of which +he fastened an arrow and a small iron hook; he placed the large ball +of string in a hole in the ground at a sufficient distance from the +water’s edge, and then he shot off an arrow, which the next instant +stuck in one of the largest fishes. My young sportsman uttered a +shout of joy. At the same moment Fritz joined us, and witnessed this +unexpected feat without the least symptom of jealousy. “Well done, +brother Jack,” cried he; “but let me, too, have my turn.”--Saying +this, he ran back and fetched the harpoon and the windlass, and +returned to us accompanied by Ernest. We were well pleased with +their opportune arrival, for the salmon Jack had pierced struggled +so fiercely, that all our endeavours to hold the string were +insufficient, and we dreaded at every throw to see it break, and the +animal make good its escape. By degrees, however, its strength was +exhausted, and, aided by Fritz and Ernest, we succeeded in drawing it +to a bank, where I put an end to its existence. + +This fortunate beginning of a plan for a fishery inspired us all with +hope and emulation. Fritz eagerly seized his harpoon and windlass; +I, for my part, like Neptune, wielded a trident; Ernest prepared +the large fishing-rod; and Jack his arrow, with the same apparatus +as before, not forgetting the bladders, which were so effectual +in preventing the fish from sinking when struck. We were now more +than ever sensible of our loss in the destruction of the tub-boat, +with which we could have pursued the creatures in the water, and +have been spared much pains and difficulty; but, on the other hand, +such numbers of fishes presented themselves at the mouth of the +river, that we had only to choose among them. Jack’s arrow, after +missing twice, struck the third time a large sturgeon, which was so +untractable, that we had great difficulty in securing him. I too had +caught two of the same fish, and had been obliged to go up to the +middle in the water to manage my booty. Ernest, with his rod and +line and a hook, had also taken two smaller ones. Fritz, with his +harpoon, had struck a sturgeon at least eight feet in length, and +the skill and strength of our whole company were found necessary to +conduct him safe to shore, where we harnessed the buffalo to him with +strong cords to draw him to Tent House. + +When these various concerns were complete, we began to meditate a +plan for constructing a small boat as a substitute for the tub-raft, +to come close in to shore. I had a great desire to make it, as the +savages do, of the rind of a tree; but the difficulty was to fix +on one of sufficient bulk for my purpose; for though many were to +be found in our vicinity, yet each was on some account or other of +too much value to be spared. We therefore resolved to make a little +excursion in search of a tree of capacious dimensions, and in a +situation where it was not likely to yield us fruit, to refresh us +with its shade, or to adorn the landscape round our dwelling. + +We arrived at Falcon’s Stream, where we intended to pass the +night. We visited the ground my wife had so plentifully sowed with +grain, which had sprung up with an almost incredible rapidity and +luxuriance, and was now nearly ready for reaping. We cut down what +was fairly ripe, bound it together in bundles, and conveyed it to a +place where it would be secure from the attacks of more expert grain +consumers than ourselves, of which thousands hovered round the booty. +We reaped barley, wheat, rye, oats, pease, millet, lentils--only +a small quantity of each, it is true, but sufficient to enable us +to sow again plentifully at the proper season. The plant that had +yielded the most was maize, a proof that it best loved the soil. It +had already shown itself in abundance in our garden at Tent House; +but here there was a surface of land, the size of an ordinary field, +entirely covered with its splendid golden ears, which still more +than the other plants attracted the voracity of the feathered race. +The moment we drew near, a dozen at least of large bustards sprang up +with a loud rustling noise, which awakened the attention of the dogs; +they plunged into the thickest parts, and routed numerous flocks of +birds of all kinds and sizes, who took hastily to flight. Among the +fugitives were some quails, who escaped by running; and lastly some +kangaroos, whose prodigious leaps enabled them to elude the pursuit +of the dogs. + +We were so overcome by the surprise such an assemblage of living +creatures occasioned, as to forget the resource we had in our guns; +we stood as it were stupid with amazements during the first moments, +and before we came to ourselves, the prey was beyond our reach, and +for the most part out of sight. Fritz was the first to perceive and +to feel with indignation the silly part we had been playing, and to +consider in what way we could repair the mischief. Without further +loss of time, he took the bandage from his eagle’s eyes (for the bird +always accompanied him perched upon his game-bag), and showed him +with his hand the bustards still flying, and at no great distance. +The eagle took a rapid flight. Fritz jumped like lightning on the +back of his onagra, and galloped over everything that intervened, in +the direction the bird had taken, and we soon lost sight of him. + +We now beheld a spectacle which in the highest degree excited our +curiosity and interest: the eagle had soon his prey in view; he +mounted above one of the bustards in a direct line, without losing +sight of it for an instant, and then darted suddenly down; the +bustards flew about in utter confusion, now seeking shelter in the +bushes, then crossing each other in every direction, in the attempt +to evade the common enemy; but the eagle remained steady in pursuit +of the bird he had fixed upon for his prey, and disregarded all the +rest: he alighted on the unlucky bustard, fixed his claws and his +beak in its back, till Fritz, arriving full gallop, got down from the +onagra, replaced the bandage on the eagle’s eyes, seated him once +more upon the game-bag, and having relieved the poor bustard from his +persecutor, he shouted to us to come and witness his triumph. We ran +speedily to the place. + +At the conclusion of this adventure, we hastened forward to Falcon’s +Stream, and dressed the wounds of the bustard. We perceived with +pleasure that it was a male, and foresaw the advantage of giving him +for a companion to our solitary female of the same species, which was +completely tamed. I threw a few more bundles of maize into the cart, +and without further delay we arrived at our tree. + +The rest of the day was employed in picking the grains of the +different sorts of corn from the stalks; we put what we wished to +keep for sowing into some gourd-shells, and the Turkey wheat was +laid carefully aside in sheaves till we should have time to beat and +separate it. Fritz observed that we should also want to grind it; and +I reminded him of the hand-mill we had secured from our departed ally +the wrecked vessel. + +_Fritz._--But, father, the hand-mill is so small, and so subject to +be put out of order:--why should we not contrive a water-mill, as +they do in Europe? We have surely rapid streams of water in abundance. + +_Father._--This is true; but such a mechanism is more difficult than +you imagine. The wheel alone, I conceive, would be an undertaking far +beyond our strength or our capacity. I am, however, well pleased with +the activity and zeal which prompted your idea; and we will hereafter +consider whether it may be worth while to bestow upon it further +attention. We have abundance of time before us, for we shall not +want a water-mill till our harvests are such as to produce plentiful +crops of corn. In the meantime, let us be thinking of our proposed +excursion for to-morrow; for we should set out at least by sunrise. + +We began our preparations accordingly. My wife chose some hens and +two fine cocks, with the intention of taking them with us, and +leaving them at large to produce a colony of their species at a +considerable distance from our dwelling-places. I, with the same +view, visited our beasts, and selected four young pigs, four sheep, +two kids, and one male of each species; our numbers having so much +increased that we could well afford to spare these individuals for +the experiment. If we succeeded in thus accustoming them to the +natural temperature and productions of our island, we should have +eased ourselves of the burden of their support, and should always be +able to find them at pleasure. + +We took this time a new direction, which was straight forward between +the rocks and the shore, that we might make ourselves acquainted with +everything contained in the island we seemed destined for ever to +inhabit. We found, as usual, much difficulty in pushing through the +tall tough grass, and alternately through the thick prickly bushes +which everywhere obtruded themselves. We were often obliged to turn +aside, while I cut a passage with my hatchet: but these accidents +seldom failed to reward my toil by the discovery of different small +additions to our general comfort; among others, some roots of trees +curved by nature to serve both for saddles and yokes for our beasts +of burden. I took care to secure several, and put them in the cart. + +In about an hour we found ourselves at the extremity of the wood, +and a most singular phenomenon presented itself to our view: a +small plain, or rather a grove of low bushes, to appearance almost +covered with flakes of snow, lay extended before us. Suddenly a +suspicion crossed my mind, and was soon confirmed by Fritz, who +had darted forward on his onagra, and now returned with one hand +filled with tufts of a most excellent species of cotton, so that +the whole surface of low bushes was in reality a plantation of that +valuable article. The pods had burst from ripeness, and the winds +had scattered around their flaky contents; the ground was strewed +with them, they had gathered in tufts on the bushes, and they floated +gently in the air. + +The joy of this discovery was almost too great for utterance. We +collected as much cotton as our bags would hold, and my wife filled +her pockets with the seed, to raise it in our garden at Tent House. + +It was now time to proceed: and we took a direction towards a point +of land which skirted the wood of gourds, and being high, commanded +a view of the adjacent country. I conceived a wish to remove our +establishment to the vicinity of the cotton plantation and the +gourd wood, which furnished so many of the utensils for daily use +throughout the family. I pleased myself in idea, with the view of +the different colonies of animals I had imagined, both winged and +quadruped; and in this elevation of my fancy, I even thought it might +be practicable to erect a sort of farmhouse on the soil, which we +might visit occasionally, and be welcomed by the agreeable sounds +of the cackling of our feathered subjects, which would so forcibly +remind us of the customs of our forsaken but ever-cherished country. + +We accordingly soon reached the high ground, which I found in all +respects favourable to my design. My plan for a building was +approved by all, and we lost no time in pitching our tent, and +forming temporary accommodations for cooking our victuals. When we +had refreshed ourselves with a meal, I, for my part, resolved to look +about in all directions, that I might completely understand what +we should have to depend upon in this place, in point of safety, +salubrity, and general accommodation. I had also to find a tree that +would suit for the proposed construction of a boat; and lastly, to +meet, if possible, with a group of trees, at such fit distances from +each other as would assist me in my plan of erecting a farmhouse. I +was fortunate enough in no long time to find in this last respect +exactly what I wanted, and quite near to the spot we on many accounts +had felt to be so enviable. I returned to my companions, whom I found +busily employed in preparing excellent beds of the cotton, upon +which, at an earlier hour than usual, we all retired to rest. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXII + + Completion of Two Farmhouses--A Lake--A + Boat + + +The trees that I had chosen for the construction of my farmhouse +embellishments were for the most part one foot in diameter in the +trunk; they presented the form of a tolerably regular parallelogram, +with its longest side to the sea, the length twenty-four feet, and +the breadth sixteen. I cut little hollow places or mortises in the +trunks, at the distance of ten feet, one above the other, to form +two stories. The upper one I made a few inches shorter before than +behind, that the roof might be in some degree shelving; I then +inserted beams five inches in diameter respectively in the mortises, +and thus formed the skeleton of my building. We next nailed some +laths from tree to tree, at equal distances from each other, to form +the roof, and placed on them, in mathematical order, a covering +composed of pieces of the bark of trees, cut into the shape of tiles, +and in a sloping position, for the rain to run off in the wet season. +As we had no great provision of iron nails, we used for the purpose +the strong pointed thorn of the acacia, which we had discovered the +day before. We cut down a quantity of them, and laid them in the +sun to dry, when they became as hard as iron, and were of essential +service to our undertaking. + +After our next meal we resumed with ardour our undertaking of the +farmhouse, which we continued without interruption for several days. +We formed the walls with matted reeds interwoven with pliant laths to +the height of six feet; the remaining space to the roof was enclosed +with only a simple grating, that the air and light might be admitted. +A door was placed in the middle of the front. We next arranged the +interior with as much convenience as the shortness of the time and +our reluctance to use all our timber would allow; we divided it +half-way up by a partition wall into two unequal parts; the largest +was intended for the sheep and goats, and the smallest for ourselves, +when we should wish to pass a few days here. At the further end of +the stable we fixed a house for the fowls, and above it a sort of +hay-loft for the forage. Before the door of entrance we placed two +benches, contrived as well as we could of laths and odd pieces of +wood, that we might rest ourselves under the shade of the trees, and +enjoy the exquisite prospect which presented itself on all sides. Our +own apartment was provided with a couple of the best bedsteads we +could make of twigs of trees, raised upon four legs, two feet from +the ground, and these were destined to receive our cotton mattresses. +Our aim was to content ourselves for the present with these slight +hints of a dwelling, and to consider hereafter what additions either +of convenience or ornament could be made, such as plastering, etc. + +I had imagined we should accomplish what we wished at the farm in +three or four days; but we found in the experiment that a whole week +was necessary, and our victuals fell short before our work was done. +We began to consider what remedy we could apply to so embarrassing a +circumstance; I could not prevail upon myself to return to Falcon’s +Stream before I had completed my intentions at the farm, and the +other objects of my journey. I had even come to the determination +of erecting another building upon the site of Cape Disappointment; I +therefore decided that on this trying occasion I would invest Fritz +and Jack with the important mission. They were accordingly despatched +to Falcon’s Stream, and to Tent House, to fetch new supplies of +cheese, ham, potatoes, dried fish, manioc bread, for our subsistence, +and also to distribute fresh food to the numerous animals we had left +there. + +During the absence of our purveyors I rambled with Ernest about +the neighbouring soil, to make what new discoveries I could, and +to procure, if possible, additions to our store of provisions. We +followed the winding of a river towards the middle of the wall of +rocks: our course was interrupted by a marsh which bordered a small +lake, the aspect of which was enchantingly picturesque. I perceived, +with joyful surprise, that the whole surface of the swampy soil +was covered with a kind of wild rice, ripe on the stalk, and which +attracted the voracity of large flocks of birds. As we approached, a +loud rustling was heard, and we distinguished on the wing, bustards, +Canada heath-fowl, and great numbers of smaller birds. We succeeded +in bringing down five or six of them; and I was pleased to remark in +Ernest a justness of aim that promised well for the future. + +Presently we saw Master Knips jump from Flora’s back, and smell +along the ground among some thick growing plants, then pluck off +something with his two paws, and eat of it voraciously. We ran to +the spot to see what it could be, when, to the relief of our parched +palates, we found he had discovered there the largest and finest +kind of strawberry, which is called in Europe the _Chili_, or _pine +strawberry_. + +Pursuing our way a little further along the marsh, we reached the +lake, which we had descried with so much pleasure from a distance, +and whose banks, being overgrown with thick underwood, were +necessarily concealed from the momentary view we had leisure to take +of surrounding objects, particularly as the lake was situated in a +deep and abrupt valley. No one who is not a native of Switzerland can +conceive the emotion which trembled at my heart, as I contemplated +this limpid, azure, undulating body of water, the faithful miniature +of so many grand originals, which I had probably lost sight of +for ever. My eyes swam with tears! Alas! a single glance upon the +surrounding picture, the different characters of the trees, the vast +ocean in the distance, destroyed the momentary illusion, and brought +back my ideas to the painful reality, that I and mine were--strangers +in a desert island! + +Another sort of object now presented itself to confirm the certainty +that we were no longer inhabitants of Europe: it was the appearance +of a quantity of swans gliding over the surface of the lake; but +their colour, instead of white, like those of our country, was a +jetty black, and their plumage had so high a gloss as to produce, +reflected on the water, the most astonishing effect. The six large +feathers of the wings of this bird are white, exhibiting a singular +contrast to the rest of the body: in other respects these birds were +remarkable, like those of Europe, for the haughty gracefulness of +their motions, and the voluptuous ease of their nature. + +We now began to look for the shortest path for returning to the farm, +which we reached at the same time with Fritz and Jack, who had well +performed the object of their journey. We, on our part, produced +our offering of strawberries and our specimen of rice, which were +welcomed with shouts of pleasure and surprise. We filled the stable +with forage, laid a large provision of grain for the fowls within +their house, and began arrangements for our departure. + +The following day we took a silent leave of our animals, and +directed our course towards the eminence in the vicinity of Cape +Disappointment; we ascended it, and found it in every respect adapted +to our wishes. From this eminence we had a view over the country +which surrounded Falcon’s Stream in one direction, and in others of +a richly diversified extent of landscape, comprehending sea, land, +and rocks. When we had paused for a short time upon the exhaustless +beauties of the scene, we agreed with one voice, that it should be +on this spot we would build our second cottage. A spring of the +clearest water issued from the soil near the summit, and flowed over +its sloping side, forming agreeable cascades in its rapid course; in +short, every feature of the picture contributed to form a landscape +worthy the homage of a taste the most delicate and refined. I +presented my children with an appropriate word.--“Let us build here,” +exclaimed I, “and call the spot--_Arcadia_;” to which my wife and all +agreed. + +We lost no time in again setting to work; our experience at the farm +enabled us to proceed with incredible rapidity, and our success was +in every respect more complete. The building contained a dining-room, +two bed-chambers, two stables, and a store-room for preserving all +kinds of provisions for man and beast. We formed the roof square, +with four sloped sides, and the whole had really the appearance of an +European cottage, and was finished in the short space of six days. +What now remained to be done, was to fix on a tree fit for my project +of a boat. After much search, I at length found one of prodigious +size, and in most respects suitable to my views. + +It was, however, no very encouraging prospect I had before me, being +nothing less than the stripping off a piece of the bark that should +be eighteen feet in length, and five in diameter; and now I found +my rope ladder of signal service: we fastened it by one end to the +nearest branches, and it enabled us to work with the saw as might be +necessary at any height from the ground. Accordingly we cut quite +round the trunk in two places, and then took a perpendicular slip +from the whole length between the circles; by this means we could +introduce the proper utensils for raising the rest by degrees, till +it was entirely separated. We toiled with increasing anxiety, at +every moment dreading that we should not be able to preserve it from +breaking, or uninjured by our tools. When we had loosened about half, +we supported it by means of cords and pulleys; and when all was at +length detached, we let it down gently, and with joy beheld it lying +safe on the grass. Our business was next to mould it to our purpose, +while the substance continued moist and flexible. + +The boys observed that we had now nothing more to do than to nail a +plank at each end, and our boat would be as complete as those used +by the savages; but for my own part, I could not be contented with a +mere roll of bark for a boat; and when I reminded them of the paltry +figure it would make following the pinnace, I heard not another word +about the further pains and trouble, and they asked eagerly for my +instructions. I made them assist me to saw the bark in the middle of +the two ends, the length of several feet, these two parts I folded +over till they ended in a point; I kept them in this form by the help +of the strong glue I had before made from fish-bladders, and pieces +of wood nailed fast over the whole. This operation tended to widen +the boat in the middle, and thus render it of too flat a form; but +this we counteracted by straining a cord all round, which again +reduced it to the due proportion, and in this state we put it in the +sun, to harden and fix. + +Before our departure for Tent House, we collected several new plants +for our kitchen-garden; and lastly, we made another trip to the +narrow strait at the end of the wall of rocks, resolved to plant +there a sort of fortification of trees, which should produce the +double effect of discouraging the invasion of savages, and allowing +us to keep our pigs on the other side, and thus secure our different +plantations from the chance of injury. We accomplished all these +intentions to our entire satisfaction, and, in addition, we placed a +slight drawbridge across the river beyond the narrow pass, which we +could let down or take up at pleasure on our side. We now hastened +our return to Arcadia, and after a night’s repose we loaded the +sledge with the boat and other matters, and returned to Tent House. + +As soon as we had despatched some necessary affairs, we resumed the +completion of the boat: in two days she had received the addition of +a keel, a neat lining of wood, a small flat floor, benches, a small +mast and triangular sail, a rudder, and a thick coat of pitch on the +outside, so that the first time we saw her in the water, we were all +in ecstasies at the charming appearance she made. + +We had still two months in prospect before the rainy season, and we +employed them for completing our abode the grotto, with the exception +of such ornaments as we might have time to think of during the long +days of winter. We made the internal divisions of planks and that +which separated us from the stables of stone, to protect us from the +offensive smell occasioned by the animals. Our task was difficult, +but from habit it became easier every day. We took care to collect or +manufacture a sufficient quantity of all sorts of materials, such +as beams and planks, reeds, and twigs for matting, pieces of gypsum +for plaster, etc., etc. At length the time of the rainy season was +near at hand, and we thought of it with pleasure, as it would put us +in possession of the enjoyments we had procured by such unremitting +industry and fatigue. + +We plastered over the walls of the principal apartments on each side +with the greatest care, finishing them by pressure with a flat smooth +board, and lastly a wash of size, in the manner of the plasterers in +Europe. This ornamental portion of our work amused us all so much, +that we began to think we might venture a step further in European +luxury, and agreed that we would attempt to make some carpets with +the hair of our goats. To this effect we smoothed the ground in +the rooms we intended to distinguish with great care; then spread +over it some sail-cloth, which my wife had joined in breadths, and +fitted exactly; we next strewed the goats’ hair, mixed with wool +obtained from the sheep, over the whole; on this surface we threw +some hot water, in which a strong cement had been dissolved; the +whole was then rolled up, and was beaten for a considerable time +with hard sticks; the sail-cloth was now unrolled, and the inside +again sprinkled, rolled, and beaten as before; and this process was +continued till the substance had become a sort of felt, which could +be separated from the sail-cloth, and was lastly put in the sun +to harden. We thus produced a very tolerable substitute for that +enviable article of European comfort, a carpet; of these we completed +two, one for our parlour, and the other for our drawing-room, as +we jocosely named them: both of which were completely fit for our +reception by the time the rains had set in. + +Thus, as will be perceived, we had made the first steps towards +a condition of civilization; separated from society, condemned, +perhaps, to pass the remainder of life in this desert island, we +yet possessed the means of happiness; we had abundance of all the +necessaries, and many of the comforts, desired by human beings. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIII + + Anniversary of Our Deliverance--Motives for + Thankfulness + + +One morning, having arisen earlier than the rest of my young family, +I occupied myself by counting up the time that had passed away since +our shipwreck. I calculated the dates with the utmost exactness, and +I found that the next day would be the anniversary of that event. It +was just two years since the hand of God had been extended over us to +save us from a watery grave. I felt my mind filled with thanksgiving, +and I resolved to celebrate the day with all the pomp our situation +would permit. + +As I had not yet fixed upon the arrangements for our holiday, I said +nothing about it to my family. Breakfast over, we proceeded to our +different employments, and it was not until we were seated at supper +that I announced, in a pompous manner, the holiday for the morrow. + +“Be ready,” said I to my sons, “to celebrate the anniversary of the +morrow; let each one prepare himself as is proper for so great a day.” + +These last words, joined to the announcement of a holiday, surprised +and overjoyed my children. Their mother was not less astonished than +they were to find that they had been on the island two years. + +On the morrow we rose and dressed as decently as our scanty means +afforded, and proceeded to breakfast. After our daily prayer I +announced to my family that the amusements of the day would conclude +with the exercises which always terminated our holidays. + +“You have practised for some time,” said I, “in wrestling, running, +slinging, and horsemanship; the time has come when you shall receive +the reward for your labours. You shall this day contend, before your +mother and me, and the crown shall be given to the victor. Come, +champions,” I added, elevating my voice, “the barrier is open, enter +the lists; and you, trumpets, sound the horn of combat.” As I said +these last words, I turned to the little inlet where our geese and +ducks were feeding, and the whole troop, frightened by my gestures, +and the tone of my voice, commenced a most deafening clamour, and +furnished my sons with a good joke to excite their risible faculties. + +I then organized the different combats which were to take place. +First came firing at a mark; the materials for this were soon +arranged by fixing in the ground a rudely-shaped piece of wood, +with two bits of leather at each side of the top, which we called a +kangaroo. Jack did wonders, either by chance or skill: he shot away +one of the ears of our pretended kangaroo! Fritz just grazed the +head, and Ernest lodged his ball in the middle of the body. The three +shots were all worthy of praise. Another proof of skill was then +made; it consisted in firing at a ball of cork which I threw up in +the air. Ernest had the advantage here: he cut the ball to pieces. +Fritz also shot well, but Jack could not hit it. We then tried +the same thing with pistols, shortening the distance, and again I +complimented my boys upon the progress they had made since last year. + +Slinging succeeded to the pistol exercise. Fritz carried off +the prize. After that came archery; and here all--even little +Francis--distinguished themselves. Next came the races; and I gave +them for a course the distance between Family Bridge and Falcon’s +Nest. + +“The one that arrives first,” said I to the runners, who gathered +about me, “will bring me, as proof of his victory, my knife, which +I left on the table, under the tree.” I then gave the signal, by +clapping my hands three times. My three sons set out, Jack and +Fritz with all the impetuosity that marked their character; on the +contrary, Ernest, who never did anything without reflecting, set off +slowly at first, but gradually augmented his pace. I perceived that +he had his elbows pressed firmly against his body, and I augured well +from this little mark of prudence. + +The runners were absent about three-quarters of an hour. Jack +returned first; but he was mounted on his buffalo, and the onagra and +the ass followed him. + +“How now,” said I, “is this what you call racing? It was your legs, +and not those of the buffalo, that I wished to exercise.” + +“Bah!” cried he, jumping from the back of his courser; “I knew I +would never get there, so I left the course; and, as the trial of +horsemanship comes next, I thought that, as I was near Falcon’s Nest, +I would bring our coursers back with me.” + +Fritz came next, all out of breath and covered with sweat; but he had +not the knife, and it was Ernest who brought it me. + +“How came you to have the knife,” said I, “when Fritz got here before +you?” + +“The thing is simple,” answered Ernest; “in going, he could not long +keep up the pace he started with, and soon stopped to breathe, while +I ran on and got the knife; but in coming back, Fritz had learned a +lesson; he pressed his arms against his sides, and held his mouth +shut, as he had seen me do, and then the victory depended upon our +relative strength: Fritz is 16, while I am but 13, and of course he +arrived first.” + +I praised the two boys for their skill, and declared Ernest conqueror. + +But now Jack, mounted on his buffalo, demanded that the equestrian +exercises should commence, and he be allowed to repair the injury his +reputation had sustained. + +“To the saddle, to the saddle, my lads,” he bellowed with all his +force, “and you shall then see who can best manage a courser; we +shall then know whether you can sit your horse as well as you can +exercise your legs.” + +I hastened to comply with the request of the little braggart: Fritz +mounted his onagra, and Ernest took the ass; but although they tried +all their skill, Jack distanced them both. I was frightened myself +to see with what boldness the boy abandoned himself to the powerful +animal that bore him. To stop, charge, and turn was but a trifle to +him; a practised groom could not have managed a thoroughbred horse +with more ease and grace than he did his bull. Just as I had declared +the contest over, and was about to proclaim Jack victor, the little +Francis rode into the arena, mounted on his young bull “Broumm,” who +was not more than three or four months old; my wife had made him a +saddle of kangaroo-skin, with stirrups adjusted to his little legs, +and there he sat, a whip in his right hand, and the bridle of his +animal in the left. + +“Gentlemen,” said the little cavalier, saluting us with a gracious +bend, “I have not contended with you thus far in any of the exercises +of the day; will you now permit Milo of Crotona to make a trial of +his horsemanship before you?” + +The assembly loudly applauded this little harangue, and the cavalier +commenced to manœuvre his courser. The boy was more cool and calm +than those of his age are apt to be. But what I admired most was the +docility of the animal. My wife looked on with maternal pride to see +the success of her dear pupil, and Francis was unanimously proclaimed +an excellent horseman. + +After the horsemanship, the swimming occupied some time; they also +climbed the trees; and, after we had finished our gymnastics, I +announced that the rewards would now be distributed, and that the +crowns would shade the brows of the victors. + +Every one hastened to the grotto, which had been lighted up with +all the torches we possessed; my wife, as queen of the day, was +pompously installed in an elevated seat, decorated with flowers, and +I called up the laureates to receive the rewards, which their mother +distributed to each one as she impressed a tender kiss upon his +forehead. + +Fritz--conqueror at shooting and swimming--received a superb English +rifle,[3] and a hunting-knife, which he had long wished for. Ernest +had for the reward of the race a splendid gold watch. Jack--the +cavalier--obtained a magnificent pair of steel spurs and a whip of +whalebone. Little Francis received a pair of stirrups and a box of +colours as a reward for the industry he had displayed in educating +his bull. + +When this distribution was finished, I rose, and, turning to my +wife, presented her with a beautiful English work-box, in which was +contained all those little things that add so much to the comfort of +an industrious woman, such as pins, needles, scissors, etc. + +“Receive,” said I, “my excellent companion, also a reward; for your +services and endurance during the year well deserve one, even though +the tender love of myself and children may be in itself a sufficient +reward.” + +The day was finished as it had begun--with songs and expressions +of joy; we were all happy, all contented: we all enjoyed that pure +felicity which a life free from reproach had given us; and we all +thanked in our hearts the Lord who had been so merciful toward us. + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [3] These articles were portion of the property brought + from the wreck. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIV + + Gourd Plantation--Monkey Root or Ginseng--Bird + Snares + + +We all remembered the bountiful provision we had derived from the +blackbirds and ortolans that had settled upon our giant tree at +Falcon’s Nest the preceding year. The time had now arrived for their +reappearance, and we resolved to leave the grotto, which had become +our established residence, and remove nearer to the spot, where I +intended to secure as many as possible of this delicious provision +for the coming winter. + +The provision of India-rubber which we had collected on our last +excursion was exhausted; we had made waterproof boots of it, and, +before I set out, I wished to give them a new coat of it. I sent +Fritz and Jack to the wood of india-rubber trees, where I thought +they would find, ready drawn, a sufficient quantity of the gum, as +we had made large incisions in the trees, and placed calabashes +under them to receive it; and as experience had taught us that the +sun hardens it immediately, we had protected our calabashes from its +rays, by surrounding them with green branches. + +Our two messengers were lost to our view when my wife suddenly +exclaimed, “Stupid woman that I am, I have forgotten to give the boys +a calabash in which they might put the gum, for they cannot bring it +home in the flat dishes we put there. I mean to go directly, and see +whether my gourds are ripe.” + +I tranquillized my good wife by assuring her that they would not be +at a loss to find something; and then, returning to the last word she +had spoken, asked her what she meant by saying “my gourds.” + +She then informed me that she possessed a superb plantation of +gourds, the seeds of which she had found among our European grains, +and which she had planted in her kitchen-garden. She led the way +there; and we found, among many other plants, a quantity of those +bottle-shaped gourds that the peasants in our country carry to the +field. Some were ripe, some just formed, and others in full bloom. We +selected the ripest, and those the form of which could be useful to +us, and we commenced to empty them out. We made bottles, and plates, +and saucers, using alternately the knife and the saw. But Ernest, my +aid and companion, had very little taste for such work, and he could +scarcely contain his joy when he heard me say we had done enough. + +We now anxiously expected our young messengers back, for the sun had +already begun to decline. Ernest kept a good lookout on the side +his brothers were expected from, and he soon perceived them rapidly +approaching, the one mounted on the onagra, and the other on the +buffalo. + +“Well,” said I, “have you made out well?” + +“Oh, yes, very well,” said Fritz, in a singular tone, as they +leaped from their coursers, and showed us what they had brought, +which consisted of a root of anise that Jack had brought in his +buffalo-pouch; a root wrapped up in leaves, which they called “monkey +root”; two calabashes of india-rubber, and another half full of +turpentine; a sack full of wax berries, and a crane, which Fritz’s +eagle had killed. But while they were exhibiting their treasures, +they talked so fast and so rambling that I was obliged to make them +preserve a little order in their recital. + +Jack then commenced telling us how he had obtained the anise and the +turpentine. Of these two things, one was, at least, superfluous; but +the other might be of some advantage, as I could use it instead of +oil in making my snares for the birds. I then asked them concerning +the “monkey root” they had brought; Fritz answered as follows:-- + +“I do not know of what importance this root may be to us; but I can +assure you that it far surpasses manioc, both in smell and savour. We +discovered it close by the farmhouse, where a company of monkeys were +regaling themselves on it. You would have laughed to see the manner +in which the ugly animals pulled out the roots. They made use of a +process which the labourers of Europe had no idea of--they pulled +them up by turning somersets.” + +“By turning somersets!” cried we; “why, how wonderful!” + +“Yes, somersets,” replied Fritz. “Every monkey, after having buried +his teeth as far as possible in the root, turns himself violently +over, backward, and repeats the exercise until his reiterated efforts +have drawn the precious root from the ground.” + +The monkey root, or ginseng, made its appearance at supper, and was +pronounced excellent; but as its aromatic nature made it more of a +medicine than an article of food, I forbade its frequent use, while I +enjoined my wife to plant a few roots in our garden. + +The next morning I took a certain quantity of the liquid +india-rubber, which I mixed with the turpentine, and placed the +mixture over the fire; and, while the glue was thickening, I sent +the boys into the copse to gather a quantity of little twigs which +I needed. They soon brought me a large quantity, which I made them +dip in the glue and fasten to the branches of the fig-trees, the +fruit of which I observed was very much liked by the ortolans,[4] +thrushes, and beccafigoes,[5] who frequented the place. I discovered +that we had but seen the last of the season the preceding year, as +at present the birds were so numerous that a blind man firing into +the tree could not have failed to bring down a large number of them. +The abundance of game suggested another idea to my mind; I thought +that if the ortolans were so numerous during the day they would +not be less so at night, and I resolved to try, an imitation of +the Americans in Virginia, the experiment of a hunt with torches, +persuaded that it would be more expeditious and successful than +taking the birds by snares. + +But my boys, while employed at making the snares, had been taken +in their own trap. Hands, faces and clothes were all covered with +glue, and one could not touch them without getting besmeared. They +were all in great consternation, and their good mother also, for she +had but very little clean linen to spare them. I calmed their fears +by assuring them that some ashes and water would remedy all the +disorder, and wash out all the stains. + +I rallied them a little on their awkwardness. “I knew very well,” +said I, “that my glue would trap the birds; but I had no idea it +would catch little boys.” + +I then taught them how to avoid the inconveniences of gluing their +fingers, by plunging a packet of five or six twigs, by the aid of a +pair of pincers, into the glue, instead of dipping them in singly. +They adopted the plan, which succeeded perfectly. When I had made +a sufficient quantity, Jack and Fritz climbed into the tree, and +placed the branches of fig-trees, covered with the snares, among the +limbs of the tree; and it was not long before we saw the unfortunate +ortolans falling to the ground in numbers, their legs and wings stuck +fast in the glue. But, although the fowling was so abundant, the +labour was very fatiguing, for the branches to which Fritz and Jack +had to climb were as much as sixty or seventy feet from the ground. +I placed a great deal of confidence in my torches, and I arranged +the materials for making them, in which turpentine was a powerful +auxiliary. + +While I was thus occupied, Jack brought me a beautiful bird, much +larger than an ortolan, which had been taken in the snare. + +“I am very certain,” said Ernest, who had approached, and who, with +his observing eye, had already recognized the bird, “I am very sure +that it is one of our European pigeons, one of the young ones from +those who built their nests last year in the branches of the tree.” + +I took the bird from Jack’s hands, and recognized with pleasure that +Ernest’s conjecture was true. I rubbed the ends of his wings and his +feet with ashes to clean them from the glue, and I put him in a cage +with the intention of adding a dove-cot to our domestic property. We +captured others, and at night we had in our possession two fine pairs +of wood-pigeons. + +But, notwithstanding our hard labour during the day, we were not able +to fill more than one barrel. I enjoined my sons to take notice of +the trees on which the ortolans roosted during the night. The bark of +two or three of the fig-trees which were covered with the excrements +of the birds decided the matter; and, after supper, and a few minutes +of rest, I commenced my preparations. These were few in number, and +consisted of two or three long bamboo canes, two bags, torches of +resin, and some sugar-canes. Fritz, my grand huntsman, regarded me +with a look of incredulity. He could not understand how, with these +strange instruments, I could realize the prodigies I prophesied. + +We set out; and the night--which succeeds immediately to the day in +these climates--soon overshadowed the earth. Arrived at the foot of +the trees that we had chosen, I lighted up my torches, and scarcely +had the flame begun to burn, than a cloud of ortolans fell down +around us, and began to fly wildly around the flickering flames. + +“Well, gentlemen,” said I to my sons, “you see that my stratagem has +proved not to be a bad idea. Now is your time; I have placed the game +within your reach; you have but to extend your hand, and you are +masters.” + +I then armed each one with a bamboo cane, and set them an example +by striking right and left among the mass of ortolans. They fell +as thick and fast as rain, and we soon filled two large bags. Our +flambeaux, however, would only last long enough to light us back to +Falcon’s Nest; and as the sacks were too heavy for me alone to carry, +we placed them crosswise on the bamboo poles, and thus carried them +very easily. + +We arrived safely at Falcon’s Nest, and, before we retired to rest, +looked over our game, and terminated the sufferings of those poor +birds that had not been killed by the blows. The next day, every one +put his hand to the work of cleaning and preparing our game--a very +disagreeable, although necessary, task. We filled two barrels with +ortolans, half roasted, and packed down in butter. + + +FOOTNOTES: + + [4] _Ortolan_, not unlike the yellow-hammer. + + [5] _Beccafigo_, or _Fig-eater_, about the size of a + linnet; both these birds feed on fruits and berries, + and are much prized for the delicacy of their flesh; + a very large trade is carried on from the island of + Cyprus with the former. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXV + + The Dove-Cot and its Management + + +My wife took care of my pigeons, and approved of the plan of a +dove-cot; consequently the waggon was immediately loaded with +provisions, and all that was necessary for an excursion of some days, +and we set out for the grotto. As soon as we arrived, I chose that +part of the rock next our grotto as the situation of our dove-cot; +and as the rock, after the outside layer was pierced, became softer, +we soon made an excavation ten feet high, and large enough to +contain twenty pairs of pigeons; two perches ran through the whole +length, and, projecting out in front, with a board nailed across, +formed a platform, which we protected by a slight roof; a door with +a hole to admit light closed the front; and a rope ladder suspended +from one of the perches enabled us to mount up, and look after the +inhabitants. It cost us several weeks of constant labour to finish +the construction, fix the boards strongly in their places, cover the +inside with a coat of plaster, to prevent humidity, and arrange the +perches, the nests, etc. + +“There is the edifice,” said I to Fritz; “but where are the +inhabitants? We must call into action all our knowledge to find a way +to force our wild stranger pigeons to dwell in the new habitation +we have provided for them; and, besides, they must not only remain +themselves, but must bring their companions with them.” + +“It appears to me, father, that nothing short of sorcery will do it.” + +“Sorcery or not, difficult as it appears, I am going to try it; +and I have strong hopes of succeeding, with the assistance you can +afford me. It is to a pigeon merchant that I owe the secret which I +am about to put into practice. I will not warrant its success, for +I have never tried it; but it consists in perfuming a new dove-cot +with anise. The pigeons, it is said, are so fond of the odour of this +plant that they will return themselves every night to respire its +perfume; and it is in this manner that they insensibly change their +country life for that of the pigeon-house.” + +“Nothing can be easier,” replied Fritz. “The plant of anise that Jack +brought will do the business. We can break the seeds on a stone; and +if the oil is not as pure as that of the chemists, it will not be +less useful or less aromatic.” + +“I think as you do,” I answered; “and I am very glad that I permitted +Jack to plant a root that appeared to me to be so valueless.” + +We then proceeded to make the oil of anise. I rubbed the door of +the dove-cot, the perches, and every place where the pigeons could +touch either feet or wings with it. I then mixed a sort of dough +with anise, salt, and clay, and, after having placed it in the +middle of the dove-cot, we put in the pigeons, which we had kept in +willow-baskets while their habitation was building. We shut them up, +with provision for two days, and then left them to enjoy at their +leisure the odour of the anise. + +When our boys had returned from our kitchen-garden at the end of +that time, we formally announced to them that the pigeons had taken +possession of their new abode. In a moment they flew to the ladder, +in eager haste to get a sight of the new inhabitants. The two +windows of isinglass which I had placed in the door were raised +by the curious, and I saw with pleasure that, instead of being +frightened at the new objects that surrounded them, our prisoners +appeared to have become quite tame; and when I entered, they took no +more notice of me than a domestic pigeon would have done. + +Two days more passed away, and I became curious myself to know the +result of my _sorcery_. + +On the morning of the third day I awoke Fritz very early, and +commanded him to rub anew with anise the door, which was made to +rise up and down by means of a pulley. He did it, and we then went, +without saying anything about our preparations, to awake the still +sleeping family. I then announced that the day of liberty for our +prisoners had arrived, and now they were to be free. + +All now took their stations. I gave the cord of the door into Jack’s +hands; and, scarcely able to keep my countenance, I described a +magic circle with a wand, and, after having murmured a pretended +conjuration, I ordered Jack to pull up the cord. + +The pigeons poked their heads cautiously out of the hole, then +advanced on the platform, and suddenly soared up to such a height +that they were lost to our sight. But in a few moments they again +flew down, and settled, tranquilly, upon the platform they had just +quitted. + +This incident, which I did not expect, gave new proofs of my dealings +in magic, and I cried out, in the most serious manner, “I knew very +well, when they flew up in the clouds, that they were not lost.” + +“How could you possibly know that?” said Ernest. + +“Because my charms have attached them to the dove-cot,” was my answer. + +“Charms!” cried Jack; “are you, then, a sorcerer, papa?” + +“Simpleton!” replied Ernest; “who ever _heard_ of sorcerers?” + +At that moment the pigeons, who had been quietly picking on the +ground, attracted our attention. The two Molucca pigeons suddenly +quitted their European brothers, and flew off in the direction of +Falcon’s Nest, with such rapidity that soon they were lost to our +view. + +“Adieu, gentlemen,” cried Jack, as they darted away, taking his hat +off and making a thousand faces; “adieu, a pleasant trip to you.” + +My wife and Francis commenced to deplore the loss of our two handsome +pigeons, while I, preserving as serious a look as possible, stretched +out my hands, and, turning to the direction in which the pigeons +flew, I murmured, half aloud, the following words: + +“Fly, little ones, fly far, far away; till to-morrow you may stay; +but then, return with your companions.” + +I then turned toward my family, who stood stupefied with +astonishment, not knowing what to make out of my serious address to +the departed pigeons. + +As for the other pigeons, they did not seem disposed to follow +their companions, but appeared completely tamed: they had found the +dove-cot of Europe with its shelter, and there they gladly remained. + +We passed the rest of the day in the neighbourhood of the dove-cot, +conversing on sorcery and the question of the pigeons; we often +strained our eyes in the direction of Falcon’s Nest, but nothing +appeared. The evening came, and the European pigeons slept alone +in their palace. We supped gaily, and retired to rest in anxious +expectation of the morrow, which must establish either my defeat or +my triumph. + +We renewed, the next day, our habitual occupations; and though I felt +a little doubtful about the return of the birds, I said nothing, but +anxiously awaited the evening; when, about noon, we saw Jack running +furiously toward us, clapping his hands, and screaming out: + +“He has returned! he has returned!” + +“Who? who?” was eagerly asked. + +“The blue pigeon!” he answered, “the blue pigeon! Quick! quick! come +and see him!” + +We ran to the dove-cot, and, besides the blue pigeon, we found with +him, on one of the exterior perches of the house, his mate, whom he +was endeavouring to persuade to venture into the interior. He would +put in his head, and then return to her, until at last he prevailed, +and we had the satisfaction of seeing her enter the pigeon-house. + +My sons would have immediately closed the door, but I prevented them, +saying that some time or other it must be opened; “and besides,” I +added, “how are the other pigeons to enter if we close the door?” + +“I begin to think,” said my wife, at last, “that there is something +extraordinary in this; and, unless you have used some enchantment, I +cannot comprehend it.” + +“It is chance--pure chance,” interrupted Ernest. + +“Chance!” replied I, laughing; “that will do very well for one time, +but when the other pigeon returns this evening, with his mate, will +you think _that_ chance?” + +“Impossible!” answered he; “the same phenomenon could not happen +twice in a day.” + +While we were thus speaking, Fritz suddenly interrupted us: his eagle +eyes had perceived the birds we were expecting. + +“What do you say now, my little doctor?” said I to Ernest: “both +pairs of pigeons have now returned.” + +“I do not know what to say,” he answered seriously; “it certainly +appears very extraordinary; but as for any sorcery or magic being +employed, I will not believe it.” + +“It gives me pleasure to see that you are not credulous; but if a +third pair of Molucca pigeons should visit us to-day, would you call +that chance also?” + +Ernest did not answer; but his silence showed that he was far from +being convinced. + +We returned to our occupations, leaving Francis and his mother to +provide a dinner for us. We had worked about two hours, when we saw +our little Francis come running towards us. When he came near he drew +up his little form, and, bowing haughtily, commenced the following +speech: + +“Most high and mighty lords, I am here to invite you, on the part of +my good mother, to come and behold the prince of pigeons, who, with +his noble spouse, has come to take possession of the magnificent +palace you have provided for him.” + +“You are welcome for your good news, Mr. Messenger,” was the +universal answer. + +We hastened to the dove-cot, where my wife, after cautioning us to +make no noise, pointed out to us two superb birds, whom those in the +interior were endeavouring to persuade to enter. + +“I give up,” said Ernest, at last; “my little knowledge cannot +comprehend it. I beg of you, papa, to explain all.” + +I explained to him, in detail, all that we had done. Jack laughed +heartily on hearing that his plant of anise had been the charm which +had so puzzled them; and I tried to persuade him to follow the +example of Ernest, and not believe everything so readily. + +The following days were devoted to bringing our dove-cot as near +as possible to perfection; and we saw, with joy, that the new +inhabitants were permanently settled, and had already begun to +construct their nests. I observed among the articles they gathered +for that purpose, a sort of long, grey moss, which I had seen hanging +from the branches of old trees. I recognized it as being the same +thing as is exported from India as a substitute for horse-hair, in +the manufacture of mattresses. The Spaniards make cords also of it, +which are so light that a piece twenty feet in length, if suspended +from a pole, will float, like a flag, in the air. + +I made this discovery known to my good wife, and one can easily +imagine my news was well received; for it added another treasure to +our domestic riches, and afforded promise of some fine mattresses. + +We found, from time to time, in the soil of the dove-cot, nutmegs, +which, doubtless, the pigeons of Molucca had brought over. We washed +them, and, although they were deprived of their silky covering, +we committed them to the earth, without much hope of their ever +germinating. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXVI + + Jack’s Adventure and Narrow Escape--A + Fountain + + +An adventure of which Master Jack was the hero diverted the monotony +of our existence, divided as it was between new constructions and +provisioning our habitation for winter. + +Jack had one day set off on an expedition, the intent and purpose of +which nobody but himself had any knowledge of; but his absence was +not long, for we soon saw him returning, covered from head to foot +with a thick, black mud, and dragging after him a bundle of Spanish +rushes, likewise covered with mud. + +“Where have you been,” said I, “to dirty yourself so?” + +“In Flamingo Marsh.” + +“Why, what in the name of common sense were you doing there?” + +“Alas!” answered the poor boy, as he heaved a deep sigh, “I wanted to +get some Spanish osiers to make nests for the pigeons.” + +“A praiseworthy intention,” said I. “It was not your fault that the +enterprise did not succeed well.” + +“Oh, no; and if it had not been for these bundles of rushes I should +certainly have lost my life. I wanted some thin, flexible rushes; +those on the borders of the swamp were too large, and I advanced +farther into the marsh, jumping from hummock to hummock, until I +came to a spot where the only footing was a mass of soft, black +mud; my feet slipped in, and I found myself up to my knees in the +compound; and, gradually sinking deeper, I commenced screaming at +the top of my voice; but nobody heard me, except my jackal, who came +running up to me, and tried to assist me by howling with all his +might.” + +“But why,” said Ernest, “did you not try to swim? you excel all of us +in swimming.” + +“Fine advice, truly; I would like to see you swimming in a swamp, up +to your neck in mud, and surrounded by a thick forest of willows. +When I perceived that neither my cries nor those of the jackal +produced any good, I endeavoured to draw myself out; for I was +sinking fast, and had no time to lose. I took my knife from my +pocket, and cut, from the willows that surrounded me, two large +bundles, and, placing one under each arm, they served me as a sort +of hold. I then exerted all my strength, and, by moving my body, my +arms, and my legs, I managed to raise myself up a little. All this +time my jackal stood on the edge of the marsh, howling with all his +might. I whistled him to me, and, grasping hold of his tail at last, +with great difficulty, I reached terra firma.” + +“God be praised, my poor child,” said I, “that you have been +preserved to us! but the risk was great, and you may thank your +jackal that you are alive.” + +His mother hastened to wash and clean the poor adventurer: his entire +suit was put to soak in the Jackal’s River, and we also washed the +rushes, as I intended to make use of them. In their present condition +they were too long and hard, and we were obliged to cut them in +several strips. + +I profited by the willows that Jack had brought, to commence the +construction of a machine that my wife had long expected of me, viz., +a weaving-machine. + +Two rushes, split lengthwise, and wound round with packthread, so +that they would dry without bending, formed four bars to make that +part of the machine called the “combs.” I made my sons cut me a +quantity of little pieces of wood, to make the teeth for the combs; +and when I had procured these first materials for my construction, +I put them aside, saying nothing to anybody concerning their +destination, as I wished the machine to be a surprise to my wife, +and I proved insensible to all the ridicule showered upon my little +sticks, which Ernest facetiously called _tooth-picks_. + +“What are you going to make with all those sticks?” asked my wife, +with womanish curiosity. + +“Oh, nothing but a whim of mine,” I answered, laughing. “I intend to +make you a superb instrument of music, such as the Hottentots have +called a _gom-gom_. Let me alone, and I promise you, you shall be the +first to dance to its melodious sounds.” + +About this time, our onagra gave birth to a beautiful little ass of +its species. It was received with pleasure, for it not only added +to our number of useful animals, but also afforded us a courser, +that in future time would make quite a figure in our cavalcades. I +gave it the name of “Rapid,” as I designed him particularly for the +saddle; and we saw with pleasure that his limbs were all beautifully +proportioned. + +The approach of the rainy season and the remembrance of the trouble +we had had in collecting our animals last year, induced us to invent +a method to render the service less painful; it was to accustom them +to return to their homes at the sound of a conch, in which I had +placed a bit of wood, like a flute. The pigs were the only ones that +we could not manage. They were unruly and loved their liberty too +much to be confined; we willingly abandoned them, as the dogs could +easily bring them together if desired. + +Among the embellishments and comforts with which we had surrounded +our winter habitation, we yet wanted a reservoir of pure water, which +we were obliged to bring from the Jackal’s River. The distance was +too great in winter, and I wished to remedy the inconvenience before +the rains came on. I conceived the idea of bringing a stream of water +from the river to the grotto, and to establish a fountain, as we had +done at Falcon’s Nest. Bamboo canes, fitted into one another, served +us for canals; we rested them on crutches of wood, and a barrel sunk +in the ground performed the office of a basin. + +We proposed, when time permitted us, to give to this construction the +elegance and perfection it wanted. But such as it was, it answered +our purpose; and my wife assured me she was just as contented with +the little fountain as if it had been built of marble, and surrounded +by dolphins and naiads, spouting water from their mouths. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXVII + + The Approach of Winter and Wet Season--Invention + of a New Light--Literary + Acquisitions + + +The season of rains was fast approaching, and we used all possible +expedition to get in everything necessary. The grain, the fruits of +all sorts which surrounded our habitation, potatoes, rice, guavas, +sweet acorns, pineapples, anise, manioc, bananas, nothing in short +was forgotten. We sowed our seeds as we had done the year before, +hoping that the European sorts would sprout quicker and more easily +on account of the moisture of the atmosphere. + +My wife made us sacks of canvas which we filled, and by the aid of +our patient beasts carried to the magazines, where they were emptied +into large hogsheads prepared for them. But these labours were not +accomplished without much trouble; for as we had planted our corn +and wheat at different times, we were obliged to choose out the ripe +stalks from a whole field--a work of no small difficulty. I resolved +to devise some plan for a more regular cultivation the next year. +We had a pair of buffaloes for all the labour that would have to be +done; and all that was required, in addition to our present stock +of harness, was a double yoke, which I intended to make during our +winter seclusion. + +But the rains had already commenced; several times we had been +visited by heavy showers, which hastened our remaining occupations. +By degrees the horizon became covered with thick clouds, the winds +swept fearfully along the coast, the billows rose, and for the space +of fifteen days we were witnesses of a scene of whose majesty and +terrific grandeur man cannot form an idea. Nature seemed overturned, +the trees bent to the terrible blasts, the lightning and the +thunder were mingled with the wind and the storm; in one word, it +was a concert of Nature’s many voices, where the deep tones of the +thunder served for the bass, and harmoniously blended with the sharp +whistlings of the storm. It seemed to us that the storm of last year +had been nothing in comparison to it. Nevertheless, the winds began +to calm, and the rain, instead of beating down upon us in torrents, +began to fall with that despair-inspiring uniformity, which we felt +would last for twelve long weeks. The first moments of our seclusion +were sad enough, but necessity reconciled us to our situation, and +we began as cheerfully as possible to arrange the interior of our +subterranean habitation. + +We devoted our attention first to a crowd of minor wants which we +only discovered by occupation, but yet were of primary necessity. I +have said that our apartments were all on one floor; but the ground +had not been carefully levelled, and we set to work to fill up the +cavities and cut away the projections, so as to prevent any of us +from breaking our necks. The fountain I had made did not answer the +purpose, and the one great necessity of a good supply of water was +as yet unprovided for. We also made tables and chairs, prepared for +all the exigencies of our position, and endeavoured to render our +long confinement as supportable as possible. But there was yet an +inconvenience. We had not imagined we wanted light. There were but +three openings in the grotto, besides the door: one in the kitchen, +one in the work-room, and a third in my sleeping-chamber. The boys’ +room, and all the rest of our habitation, was plunged in the most +complete darkness. The light never penetrated into the recesses +of the grotto. I discovered that three or four more windows were +necessary; but they could not be made before the return of fine +weather, and I devised the following remedy for the defect. + +Among the bamboos that I had procured as leaders for the water, was +one of great size, which I had preserved. This bamboo I found by +chance was just the height of our grotto. I trimmed it, and planted +it in the ground about a foot deep, surrounding it with props to +make it steady. I then gave Jack a hammer, a pulley, and a rope, +and, appealing to his agility, I asked him to climb the pole. In a +moment he was at the top, and, after having driven the pulley into +the roof of the grotto, and thrown the cord over it, he descended +safely to the ground. I then suspended to one end of the cord a +large lantern which we found in the ship. Francis and my wife were +officially charged with its supervision, and, thanks to the thousand +reflectors which lined the sides of the rock, our grotto was as light +as if it had been broad day. The light was an immense benefit to us, +and enabled us to carry on our different occupations with zeal and +comfort. + +Ernest and Francis charged themselves with the task of arranging +our library, and disposing, in its different shelves, the works we +had saved from the wreck. Jack aided his mother in the kitchen; and +Fritz, being stronger than his brothers, assisted me in the work-room. + +We arranged there, by the window, a superb English turning-lathe, +with all its equipments. I had often amused myself by turning in my +younger days, and I now could put my knowledge of the art to some +use. We also constructed a forge; anvils were fixed in large blocks +of wood, and all the tools of the wheelwright and the cooper were +laid out in long array on the racks I had put up next the wall. Our +shop began to assume a business-like appearance, of which I was +proud; and often did I congratulate myself that I had sufficiently +acquainted myself, in youth, with mechanics to prevent their being +entirely new to me. + +The grotto every day grew more agreeable, and we were enabled to +wait without ennui for the welcome light of the sun. We had our +work-room, our dining-room, and our library, where we could refresh +our minds after the fatigues of the body; for the cases we had saved +from the ship contained a quantity of books which had belonged to +the captain and officers. Besides Bibles and books of devotion, we +found works on history, botany, philosophy, voyages, and travels, +some enriched with engravings, which were a real treasure to us. We +had also maps, several mathematical and astronomical instruments, a +portable globe--an English invention, which blew up like a balloon; +but the sort of works which prevailed were grammars and dictionaries +of different nations: they generally form the chief stock of ship +libraries. + +We all knew a little of French, for this is as much in use as +German throughout Switzerland. Fritz and Ernest had commenced to +learn English at Zurich, and I had myself paid some attention to +the language, in order to superintend their education. I now urged +them to continue their studies, as English was the language of the +sea, and there were very few ships that did not contain some one +who understood it. Jack, who knew nothing at all, began to pay some +attention to Spanish and Italian, the pomp and melody of these two +languages according with his character. As for myself, I laboured +hard to master the Malay tongue; for the inspection of charts and +maps convinced me that we were in the neighbourhood of these people. + +Our grotto grew every day so comfortable that the children could +not think of any name suitable to call it by: some wanted it called +The Fairy Palace, others The Resplendent Grotto; but after a long +discussion, we came to the conclusion that it should be called simply +“Felsenheim,” or the dwelling in the rock. Time rolled away so +rapidly in all these occupations, that two months of the rainy season +had elapsed, and I had not yet found time to make my double yokes, or +a new pair of carding-combs, that my wife had teased me for a long +time. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXVIII + + Close of the Rainy Season--A Whale--Coral + + +The end of the month of August was marked by a renewal of the bad +weather. The rain, the winds, the thunder redoubled with new fury. +How happy we were in the habitation we had made. What would have +become of us in our aërial palace at Falcon’s Nest? and our tent, how +could that have withstood the storm? But at last the weather became +more settled; the clouds dissipated; the rain ceased; and we were +able to venture out from our grotto, to see whether the world yet +remained firm. + +We promenaded upon the belt of rocks that extended all along the +coast; and, as we had need of liberty and exercise, we took pleasure +in scaling the highest peaks, and looking over the plain which was +spread out beneath us. Fritz, always daring, and whose eye almost +rivalled that of his eagle, was standing upon the peak of rocks, when +he perceived, upon the little island in Flamingo Bay, a black spot, +the nature and form of which he could not determine; but he thought +it was a shipwrecked vessel. Ernest, who mounted after him, took +it for a sea-lion, such as Admiral Anson speaks of in his voyages. +I determined to go and inspect it myself. We walked down to the +sea-shore, emptied the rain-water from the canoe, and all set off. + +The nearer we approached, the more rapidly one conjecture followed +another. At last, when we were near enough to distinguish it, what +was our surprise to see an enormous whale, lying on his side upon the +strand. + +Being ignorant whether he was dead or sleeping, I did not think it +prudent to approach without precaution; consequently we turned around +and steered for the other side of the island, which consisted of +nothing more than a sand-bank elevated above the waves; but a rank +growth of herbs and plants covered it, and it was the resort of +numbers of sea-birds, whose nests and eggs we found in abundance. + +There were two roads to choose, by which to reach the whale: one +by climbing over the rocks, which rendered it laborious; the other +longer, but far the less fatiguing. I took the first path, and +commanded the boys to take the other, as I wished to examine fully +this little island, which wanted but trees to render it charming. +From this elevation I could see the whole coast, from Tent House to +Falcon’s Nest, which spectacle made me almost forget the whale; and +when I reached the side where my children were, they came running +toward me, screaming with joy, and carrying their hats full of shells +and coral, which they had picked up on the beach. “Look, papa,” said +they, “what beautiful shells we have found; what can have brought +them here?” + +“It is the sea, my children,” I answered; “the sea has thrown them up +from its abyss, and it appears to be little cause for astonishment +that she should bring such frail, light things as these shells, when +she has thrown upon our shores a monster whose bulk is so immense.” + +On the return journey I related to my sons the phenomena of +the existence of coral; and, while talking, we arrived at our +destination, where my wife and son were ready to receive us. She +admired the beauty of our coral, but observed that it was of no use +in the household affairs; and when I had told her my resolution to +return to the whale that afternoon, she cheerfully declared that +she would accompany me. I was enchanted at this resolution, and we +hastened to prepare the necessary provisions and articles for a stay +of two days; for, perhaps, we might be detained on the island, and I +thought it best to make preparations accordingly. + + + + + CHAPTER XXXIX + + The Whale, its dissection--Uses of the different + parts of the Whale + + +After dinner, which we partook of an hour earlier than usual, I made +a search for some barrels in which to put the blubber of the whale, +I did not want to take the empty barrels we had at Falcon’s Nest +and Felsenheim, as I knew that it would be impossible to remove the +disagreeable smell of oil. My wife reminded me that we yet had four +tubs in our boat, which would answer my purpose very well. I fastened +them to the stern of the canoe; and, after having armed my sons with +knives, and hatchets, and saws, and all the cutting-instruments I +could find, we weighed anchor, and directed our course toward the +island where the whale lay. + +Our whale looked like those of Greenland: the back was greenish +black, the stomach yellowish, the fins and tail black. I immediately +measured it, and I found that it was between sixty and seventy feet +long, and about forty in diameter, which is about the ordinary size +of these monsters of the deep. My children were astonished at the +proportions of the head, which formed a third of the whole creature; +its mouth was immense; and its jaws, which were full twelve feet in +length were furnished with flexible appendages called “dewlaps,”[6] +and which in Europe form an article of commerce. One thing which +struck Fritz was the smallness of the monster’s eye, which was not +larger than that of an ox; and the opening by which his immense mouth +communicated with his throat, was scarcely the diameter of my arm. + +Fritz and Jack entered the head of the whale, and working with the +hatchet and the saw, cut out the “dewlaps,” which Francis and his +mother carried to the boat; we cut out more than two hundred pieces +of different sizes. While this was going on, Ernest and I cut several +feet deep into the fat which covered the sides of the animal; we +literally swam in grease, for walls of solid fat rose on each side +of us. But we were not long the only claimants for the whale. A +multitude of winged robbers surrounded us, eager to associate in +our work. They flew round and round our heads; then, gradually +approaching, they were so bold as to snatch pieces of fat from our +hands. The birds were very troublesome; but my wife having made the +remark that their down would be of use to her, I knocked down some +with a club, and threw them into the boat. I cut from the back of the +whale a long and large band of skin, out of which I wanted to make a +harness for the ass and the two buffaloes. It was a difficult task, +the skin was so thick, and so hard to cut. The tubs were placed in +the canoe, and we set out for the coast with the new cargo we had +acquired. It was for us a precious treasure, but far from agreeably +obtained. + +The next morning we again embarked in the canoe; but this time +Francis and his mother were left behind, as they could have been +of no use in the work I intended, which was to penetrate into the +interior of the whale, and, if possible, to procure some parts of its +immense intestines. A fresh wind was blowing, and we soon arrived +at the island, which we found covered with gulls and other marine +birds, who, in spite of the canvas with which the pieces that had +been cut from the whale were covered, had made a plentiful meal. It +was necessary to have recourse to fire-arms to drive away this horde +of pillagers. + +We took care, before commencing our work, to strip off every article +of clothing, excepting our pantaloons; then, like true butchers, we +opened the animal, selected from the mass of entrails those which +would best suit our purpose; I cut them in pieces of from six to +twelve feet long, and, after having turned them inside out, washed +them, and well rubbed them with sand; they were then placed in the +boat. + +We abandoned the rest of our prey to the voracious birds; and, after +having loaded our boat with a new cargo of whale blubber, we set sail +for Felsenheim. + +The reason that I had taken so much trouble to obtain the whale’s +intestines was, that I wished to use them as vessels to contain the +oil. + +When we arrived at home, we found my wife anxiously expecting us; +but the sight of our greasy habiliments almost frightened her, and +she anticipated the labour of washing them with no very pleasurable +sensations; but I consoled her by promising miracles from the rich +treasures of whale oil, and the entrails we had brought home. We +washed ourselves completely, and, after an entire change of clothing, +set out for Felsenheim. + + +FOOTNOTE: + + [6] Whalebone. + + + + CHAPTER XL + + The Boat-propeller or Rowing Machine--A + Turtle Drive + + +The day had scarcely dawned when we were all up and ready for work. +The four tubs of fat were raised from the ground, and, a strong +pressure being applied, we squeezed out as much of the oil as +possible; and as this was the finest and purest, we filled one or two +of the entrails with it. + +The rest was emptied into a large iron kettle, and, a slow fire being +applied, it was soon reduced to a liquid state. A large iron spoon, +which we had saved from the wreck, and which had been originally +intended for the sugar factory, served us to empty the oil into +the entrails from the kettle. All these works were carried on at +a distance from Felsenheim, as we did not wish to perfume the air +around our habitation with the fœtid odour of whale oil. + +While we were occupied in our manufacture of oil, my wife made me +a proposition which met my hearty approbation: it was to establish +a new colony on the island of the whale. “We will put some fowls +there,” said she; “they will be safe from their two great plagues, +the monkeys and the jackals.” + +I liked the project of my wife very much; and the children were so +enchanted that they wanted to start immediately, and put it into +execution. But it was now too late, and I calmed their ardour by +mentioning an idea I had conceived of fitting a propelling machine to +the canoe. + +“Oh,” cried Jack, “the canoe will go along without any rowing; how +fine it will be!” + +“Stop, stop,” said I; “not so fast. All that I can do will be to save +your arms some labour, and quicken our speed.” + +I immediately commenced the work. All my materials consisted of the +wheel of a smoke-jack and an iron-toothed axle upon which it turned. +The machine that I constructed was not a masterpiece of execution; +but it answered the purpose very well. A handle attached to the wheel +put the machine in motion, and two large flat pieces of whalebone, +nailed together in the form of a cross, and fixed at each end of +the axle, resembled the wheels of a steamboat. When the handle was +turned, the wings of whalebone beat against the surface of the water, +and drove the canoe forward. Its velocity was in proportion to the +power imparted to the wheel. + +I will not attempt to describe the transports of joy that my children +evinced when they saw the canoe gliding over the surface of the +water. I was astonished myself at the rapidity of our course. We +had scarcely touched the land, when every one was in the boat, and +begging me to make an excursion to the island of the whale. But the +day was too far advanced to admit of such a thing, and I promised +them that we would make, on the morrow, a grand trial of our vessel +by an excursion, by sea, to the farmhouse at Prospect Hill, for the +purpose of inspecting our colony there. + +My proposition was well received, and we immediately began to +prepare our arms and provisions, so that we could start early on the +morrow. + +At the first dawning of the day everybody was ready. We did not +forget provisions; and my wife put up, in a double envelope of fresh +leaves, a piece of the whale’s tongue, which, by the recommendation +of doctor Ernest, she had cooked and spiced as a delicate viand. + +We gaily quitted the shore, and the strong current of the Jackal’s +River soon brought us into the sea; the breeze was good, and +everything promised a favourable sail. We soon perceived Shark +Island, the bank of sand where the whale had been stranded; and so +well did our machine work, that in a short time we found ourselves in +sight of Prospect Hill. I had kept at some distance from the coast, +as I was afraid that there might be some hidden rocks inshore, which +might destroy our frail bark. + +When we had arrived opposite the “Wood of Monkeys,” I ran the +boat into a little creek, and landed, to replenish our stock of +cocoa-nuts. It was with feelings of the keenest pleasure that we +heard the crowing of the cocks through the woods, announcing the +neighbourhood of the farmhouse. We re-embarked and rapidly neared +Prospect Hill, and could plainly distinguish the bleating of our +little herd. We landed, and directed our course toward the farmhouse. + +Everything was in order; but what greatly astonished us was the +wildness of the sheep and goats, who fled on all sides at our +approach. My sons began to run after them; but as the long-bearded +ladies were far more agile than they were, they soon grew tired of +the chase, and, drawing from their pockets the strings with balls +attached, they soon captured three or four of the fugitives. We +distributed some potatoes and a handful of salt among them, in +return for which they yielded us several bowls of most delicious milk. + +We dined at Prospect Hill. The cold meats we had brought had composed +our repast; but the whale’s tongue was unanimously pronounced most +detestable and only fit for a sailor. We gave it to Jack’s jackal, +the only one of our domestic animals who had followed us. + +I left my wife to make the preparations for our departure, and +started out with Fritz to gather some sugar-cane. I also dug up some +roots of this precious article to plant on Whale Island. + +We weighed anchor, or, at least, we pulled up the stone that secured +us, and coasted along in the direction of Cape Disappointment, which +I wished to double; but the cape still justified its name, and a +long bank of sand stretching out prevented our progress, and we were +obliged to turn back. I hoisted the sail, we redoubled our labours at +the wheel, and, thanks to a little breeze that sprang up, were soon +in sight of Whale Island. + +On landing, my first care was to plant the roots I had brought from +Prospect Hill; but my companions, on whose assistance I had counted, +did not think the plantation of sufficient consequence for them, and +ran off to the beach to gather shells. My good wife supplied their +places, and we two began our labours. We had scarcely commenced when +Jack came running up to us, all out of breath. “Papa, papa,” cried +he, “come here--quick, I have discovered the skeleton of a mammoth!” + +I burst into a laugh, and informed my little boy that his skeleton +was nothing more than the carcass of our whale. + +“No, no,” replied he; “they are not fish bones, but those of some +immense animal; and, besides, they lie a great deal farther up on the +sand than the whale did.” + +Jack implored and entreated so earnestly that I consented at last to +go; but another voice soon stopped my progress. + +“Run, run--this way,” screamed Fritz, from some distance, waving his +hand to hasten my arrival. “Quick--a monstrous turtle that we are +not strong enough to turn.” I caught up two handspikes and ran, as +fast as possible, to the spot, where I found Ernest struggling with +a monstrous turtle, which he held by one leg, but which, despite all +his efforts, had reached the border of the sea. I arrived just in +time; and, throwing one of the spikes to Fritz, we were able to turn +the enormous animal on its back. + +It really was of prodigious size, about eight feet and a half in +length, and could not possibly weigh less than five hundred pounds. +I did not know how we should be able to carry it away; however, the +position in which we had placed it gave us time for reflection. + +But Jack had not forgotten his mammoth, and continued teasing me to +go and see it. I soon perceived that it really was our whale; but the +birds of prey had not left a morsel of flesh on the bones, which had +blanched in the sun. I showed him our footprints in the sand, and +some morsels of whalebone which we had forgotten. + +“Can we not,” said Fritz, in considering the skeleton of a whale, +“draw from this mountain of bones some utility?” + +“I do not know,” said I, “what use we can make of them; the +Hollanders make palings of them, and also rustic chairs, which +produce a fine effect; and we will one day, when we have leisure, +make a philosophical chair for our museum.” Discussing in this +manner, we arrived at our plantation. I perceived that it was +too late to finish our work that night. We buried the roots, +yet unplanted, in the ground, and deferred till another day this +important occupation. The giant turtle was now our grand object: +I brought the boat round to where he lay extended on his back, +and, forming a circle around him, we debated as to the means of +transporting him. + +“Zounds! gentlemen,” said I, striking my forehead, “we need not +embarrass ourselves _much_; instead of carrying this monster, let him +conduct _us_ back to Felsenheim. A turtle makes an excellent equipage +on the sea: Fritz and I have tried the experiment.” + +My idea was a happy one, and every one was glad. I commenced by +emptying out the barrel of water we had brought; then, turning the +turtle over on his feet, we fastened the barrel to his back, so that +it was impossible for him to sink and draw us with him; a cord, +passed through a hole which we broke in the upper shell, served me +for reins; and without losing time we all embarked for home. I placed +myself in the prow of the canoe, with a hatchet to cut the cord in +case of need. + +Our course was accomplished rapidly and safely: a handspike that I +held in my hand served me for a whip, and a blow well applied would +rectify any deviation from the track. Master Ernest, the professor, +compared us to Neptune gliding over the waves drawn by dolphins. + +We arrived safely at Felsenheim, and our first care was to secure +our turtle, and to replace the empty barrel by strong ropes. But as +we could not keep him long in this way, we finished his life the +next morning, and his enormous shell was destined to serve as a +basin to our fountain in the grotto. The work cost some trouble and +time, as it was very difficult to detach the flesh from the shell. +It was a superb piece of meat, full six feet by three, and afforded +us material for many a delicious pot of soup. We inquired into all +our works on natural history, and we came to the conclusion (the +professor and I) that our turtle was the giant green turtle, the +largest of all. + + + + + CHAPTER XLI + + Weaving Machine--Basket making--The Alarm--A + Dangerous Visitor--The Ass Falls + a Victim + + +We had had so much trouble in harvesting our crops the last season +that we had resolved, instead of trusting them to the ground without +any order or regularity, to prepare a field which could receive them +all at the same time, and where they could ripen together. But as our +animals were not yet sufficiently accustomed to the yoke to warrant +our undertaking the task, I was obliged to defer it till some future +period. + +In the meantime, I employed myself in constructing a weaving-machine +for my wife: our garments had become so tattered and torn that the +machine was of incalculable benefit to us. It was neither perfect nor +handsome, and nothing more could be expected. As we had none of the +wheat flour that the weavers use to make paste, which they employ +in hardening the warp, and preventing the threads from tangling, I +substituted the glue of fish; and I may confess, without self-praise, +that my composition was better than that of the weavers, for the +fish-glue preserves a humidity that the ordinary glue does not, +and by employing it one can weave in a dry situation, instead of +descending into cellars, where the weavers from time immemorial have +been obliged to confine themselves. From this fish-glue I also made +window-panes, not well calculated, it is true, for windows exposed to +the rain; but they answered for ours, which, on account of their deep +embrasures, were protected from storm. + +These two successes encouraged me, and I resolved to try my hand +at another thing, or, to speak poetically, “add another flower to +my wreath.” My little cavaliers had long tormented me to make them +saddles and bridles, and our beasts had need of yokes and other +harness. I commenced my work and established myself as saddler; +kangaroos and sea-dogs furnished me with the necessary leather, and I +used for wadding the moss that the Molucca pigeons had discovered to +us. But as this moss would have matted together, and grown hard under +the rider, I employed my sons in twisting it into cords, in which +state it was left some time, and then untwisted; by that means we +obtained frizzed hair, as elastic as that of horses. In a short time +we had saddles and stirrups, bits and bridles, yokes and collars, +each adapted to the strength of the animal for which it was intended. + +But this sedentary course of life did not suit the restless minds of +my young people, and they earnestly begged me to take them hunting +in the country. I put the matter off, and took in hand another sort +of work, the want of which we felt sensibly. I speak of the making +of baskets, a number of which articles we needed to carry our rice, +roots, grain, etc. Our first attempts were clumsy enough, and we +reserved them for our potato baskets. We gradually improved, and when +I thought we were skilful enough, I ventured to use those Spanish +rushes that had cost Jack so dear, and we made a number of fine +baskets; they were not as finished workmanship as more skilful hands +would have effected, but they were light and strong, and that was all +we cared for. + +My sons had made a large basket to put manioc roots in, and, in a fit +of mischief, Jack and Ernest had passed a bamboo cane through the +handles, and, putting little Francis in the basket, set off on a full +run, while the poor fellow endeavoured in vain to stop them. + +Fritz, who had been looking at them, turned to me, saying, “An idea +has struck me, papa; why cannot we make a litter of rushes for mamma, +and then she will be able to accompany us in our distant excursions?” + +“Really,” I replied, “a litter would be much more convenient than the +back of the ass, and much easier than the cart: we will try what can +be done.” + +My children were delighted at the plan; but my wife laughingly +observed, “that she would make but a poor figure seated in a wicker +basket.” + +“Never fear,” said I, “we will make you a fine palanquin such as are +used in Persia and Hindostan.” + +We immediately put the design into execution: the buffalo and the +bull were brought out; two poles, which supported a large basket, +were suspended by cords on each side, and Ernest jumped in to make +the first trial. Jack mounted Storm, who was placed at the head, and +Francis Broumm, who supported the hinder part, and they set off. The +first steps answered admirably; the basket, balanced between the +poles, resembled a luxurious carriage on its springs of steel. But it +was not exactly a pleasant carriage-drive that Ernest enjoyed; for, +at a given signal agreed on by his coachmen, they whipped up their +beasts, and set off at full gallop, subjecting Ernest to a punishment +as novel as it was ridiculous, which consisted in forcing him to +perform a sort of _basket-dance_ at each jump of his conductors. The +fun was violent, but it was harmless, and we could not help laughing +to see the phlegmatic Ernest so tossed about. + +We then all returned to our basket-making; but we had scarcely +recommenced, when Fritz, whose eagle eye was always making +discoveries, suddenly started up as if frightened at a cloud of dust +which had arisen on the other side of the river, in the direction of +Falcon’s Nest. + +“There is some large animal there,” said he, “to judge from the dust +it has raised; besides, it is plainly coming in this direction.” + +“I cannot imagine what it is,” I answered; “our large animals are in +the stable, resting themselves after the experiment of the palanquin.” + +“Probably two or three sheep, or, perhaps, our sow, frolicking in the +sand,” observed my wife. + +“No, no,” replied Fritz, quickly; “it is some singular animal: +I can perceive its movements: it rolls and unrolls itself +alternately; I can see the rings of which it is formed. See, it +is raising itself up, and looks like a huge mast in the dust; it +advances--stops--marches on; but I cannot distinguish either feet or +legs.” + +I ran for the spy-glass we had saved from the wreck, and directed it +toward the dust. + +“I can see it plainly,” said Fritz; “it has a greenish-coloured body. +What do you think of it, papa?” + +“That we must fly as fast as possible, and entrench ourselves in the +grotto.” + +“What do you think it is?” + +“A serpent--a huge serpent, advancing directly for us.” + +“Shall I run for the guns, to be ready to receive him?” + +“Not here. The serpent is too powerful to permit of our attacking +him, unless we are ourselves in a place of safety.” + +We hastened to gain the interior of the grotto, and prepared to +receive our enemy. It was a boa-constrictor, and he advanced so +quickly that it was too late to take up the boards on Family Bridge. + +We watched all his movements, and saw him stretching out his enormous +length along the bank of the river. From time to time the reptile +would raise up the forepart of his body twenty feet from the ground, +and turn his head gently from right to left, as if seeking for his +prey, while he darted a triple-barbed tongued from his half-open +jaws. He crossed the bridge, and directed his course straight for +the grotto: we had barricaded the door and the windows as well as we +were able, and ascended into the dove-cot, to which we had made an +interior entrance; we passed our muskets through the holes in the +door, and waited silently for the enemy--it was the silence of terror. + +But the boa, in advancing, had perceived the traces of man’s +handiwork, and he came on hesitatingly, until at last he stopped, +about thirty paces directly in front of our position. He had scarcely +advanced thus far when Ernest, more through fear than through any +war-like ardour, discharged his gun, and thus gave a false signal. +Jack and Francis followed his example; and my wife, whom the danger +had rendered bold, also discharged her gun. + +The monster raised his head; but either because none of the shots +had touched him, or because the scales of his skin were impenetrable +to balls, he appeared to have received no wound. Fritz and I then +fired, but without any effect, and the serpent glided away with +inconceivable rapidity toward the marsh which our ducks and geese +inhabited, and disappeared in the rushes. + +The neighbourhood of the boa threw me into the most unenviable state +of mind; for I could think of no way to rid ourselves of him, and our +united forces were as nothing against such an enemy. I expressly +commanded my whole family to remain in the grotto, and forbade them +opening the door without my permission. + +The fear of our terrible neighbour kept us shut up three days in our +retreat--three long days of anguish and alarm--during which time I +suffered no one to break the rule I had established; the interior +service of the grotto was the only consideration that could induce +me to break it, and even then I allowed no one to go beyond the +reservoir of the fountain. + +The monster had given us no signs of his presence, and we would have +supposed him departed, either by traversing the marsh, or by some +unknown passage in the rock, if the agitation which reigned among our +aquatic animals had not assured us of his presence. Every evening the +whole colony of ducks and geese would direct their course to the bay, +making a terrible noise, and sail away for Whale Island, where they +found a safe asylum. + +My embarrassment daily increased; and the immovability of the enemy +rendered our position very painful. I was afraid that a direct attack +might cost us the lives of one or more of our little family. Our dogs +could do nothing against such a foe; and to have exposed any one of +our beasts of burden would have been certain destruction to it. On +the other hand, our provisions daily diminished, as the season was +not yet far enough advanced for us to have laid in any winter stores. +In a word, we were in a most deplorable situation, when Heaven came +to our aid. The instrument that effected our deliverance was our poor +old jackass, the companion of our wanderings, and faithful servant. + +The fodder that we happened to have in the grotto had diminished +frightfully: it was necessary to nourish the cow, as she contributed +in great part to our subsistence, and some must be taken from the +other animals. In this dilemma I resolved to set them at liberty, +and let them provide for their own nourishment. As inconvenient as +this measure was, it was better than to see us all dying of hunger, +shut up in the grotto. I thought that if we could get them on the +other side of the river they would find a plentiful supply of food, +and be in safety as long as the boa remained buried in the rushes. I +was afraid to cross Family Bridge, lest I should arouse the monster, +and I decided to ford at the spot where our first crossing was made. +My plan was to attach the animals together. Fritz, mounted on his +onagra, would direct the front of the procession, while I would take +care that the marsh was effected in good order. I recommended to my +son, at the first sign of the serpent’s presence, to fly, as fast as +his beast would carry him, to Falcon’s Nest. As to our animals, I +left to Providence the care of watching over and saving them. For my +part, I proposed to post myself on a rock that overlooked the marsh, +and in case of an attack on the part of the serpent, retreat to the +grotto, where a well-directed discharge of firearms would rid us of +him. + +I then loaded all our arms; my sons were placed as videttes in +the dove-cot, with orders to observe the movements of the enemy, +while Fritz and I arranged our beasts as aforesaid. But a little +misunderstanding put an end to all my plans. My wife, who had charge +of the door, did not wait for the signal, and opened it before the +animals were attached together. The ass, who had grown very lively, +considering his age, by his three days’ rest and good feed, no sooner +saw a ray of light than he shot out of the door like an arrow, and +was away in the open plain before we could stop him. It was a comical +sight to see him kicking his heels in the air; and Fritz would have +mounted his onagra, and ridden out after him, but I restrained him, +and contented myself by trying every manner of persuasion to induce +the poor animal to come back. We called him by his name; we made +use of our cow-horn; but all was useless--the unruly fellow exulted +in his liberty, and, as if urged on by some fatality, he advanced +direct to the marsh. But what horror froze our veins when, suddenly, +we saw the horrid serpent emerging from the rushes! He elevated his +head about ten feet from the ground, darted out his forked tongue, +and crawled swiftly on toward the ass. The poor fellow soon saw his +danger, and began to run, braying with all his might; but neither his +cries nor his legs could save him from his terrible enemy, and in a +moment he was seized, enveloped, and crushed in the monstrous rings +that the serpent threw around him. + +My wife and sons uttered a cry of terror, and we fled in haste to the +grotto, from whence we could view the horrible combat between the boa +and the ass. My children wanted to fire, and deliver, said they, the +poor jackass; but I forbade them to do it. + +“What can you do,” said I, “with firearms? The boa is too much +occupied with his prey to abandon it, and, besides, if you wound +him, perhaps we may become the victims of his fury.” The loss of our +ass was great, it was true, but I hoped that it would save us from a +greater. + +The boa proceeded with horrible avidity to his repast. The ass was +dead; we had heard his last bray stifled by the pressure of the +boa, and we could now distinctly hear the cracking of his bones. +The monster, to give himself more power, had wound his tail about a +piece of rock, which gave it the force of a lever. When the monster +judged his preparation sufficient, he commenced to swallow the prey +he had secured. We observed that as he advanced the animal lost his +strength; and when all had been swallowed he remained perfectly +torpid and insensible. + +I saw that the time had now arrived, and I exclaimed, “Now, my +children, now the serpent is in our power!” + +I then set out from the grotto, carrying my loaded gun in my hand; +Fritz followed close by my side; Jack came next, but the more timid +Ernest lingered behind. On approaching the reptile, I found that +my suppositions were right, and that it was the giant boa of the +naturalists. The serpent raised its head, and darting on me a look of +powerless anger, again let it fall. + +Fritz and I fired together, and both our shots entered the skull +of the animal; but they did not produce death, and the eyes of the +serpent sparkled with rage. We advanced nearer, and, firing our +pistols directly through the eye, we saw its rings contract, a slight +quiver ran through its body, and it lay dead upon the sand before us, +stretched out like the mast of a ship. + + + + + CHAPTER XLII + + Discovery of a Crystal Grotto--Further + Exploration + + +We had nothing more to fear from the neighbourhood of the boa; but +I was afraid it might have either left its mate (it was a female) +behind it, or else a nest of little ones, which in time would spread +terror through the land. I resolved, in consequence, to undertake two +expeditions--the one through the marsh, the other toward Falcon’s +Nest, through the passage in the rock, where I supposed the boa had +got through. + +We set out loaded with our hunting equipage. We carried, besides our +arms, some boards, and the bladders of sea-dogs, to sustain us on the +water if necessary. The boards we wanted to assist us in our march; +for, by placing one before the other, and taking them up, we made a +solid walk of wood. This was a great convenience, and enabled us to +search the marsh thoroughly. We easily recognized traces of the boa; +the rushes were bent down where it had passed through, and there were +deep spiral impressions in the wet ground where it had rested its +enormous rings. But we discovered nothing that induced us to believe +that the boa had a companion: we found neither eggs, nor little +ones--nothing but a nest of dried rushes, and I did not think that +the boa had constructed even that. Arrived at the end of the marsh, +we made an interesting discovery; it was that of a new grotto, which +opened out of the rock, and out of which flowed a little stream that +passed on among the rushes of the marsh. + +The grotto was hung with stalactites, which rose in immense columns +on each side, as if to sustain the vault, and formed themselves into +singular and beautiful designs. We remained some time in admiration +of this miracle of nature, and as we walked on, I remarked that the +ground upon which we trod was composed of an extremely fine and white +sort of earth, which, after examining it, I recognized as being +“fullers’ clay.” I immediately gathered some handfuls, and carefully +placed them in my pocket-handkerchief. + +“Here,” said I to my sons, who were regarding me with astonishment, +“here is a discovery that will be very welcome to your mother; +and henceforth, if we bring her dirty clothes, we will bring her +something to wash them with, for here is soap.” + +“I thought,” said Ernest, “that soap was the result of human +industry, and not a production of the earth.” + +“You thought right; the soap that is ordinarily used is composed of +a certain salt, the acidity of which is corrected by the addition +of grease and so forth, which weakens its power greatly. But this +fabrication is tedious and costly, and men have been so fortunate as +to find a sort of earth in which is united certain qualities of the +soap; it is this we have found, and it is called ‘fullers’ clay,’ +because it is used to clean woollen goods.” + +We had approached the source of the spring while conversing; and +Fritz, who was a little in advance, cried out that the rock had a +large opening on one side. We ran forward, and soon found ourselves +in a new cavern. We fired off a pistol, and we were able to judge +by the echo that the grotto extended to a great distance. We then +lighted two candles, with which our knapsacks were provided; they +burned without obstacle, and the pure light assured us of the +salubrity of the air. Having left the others behind, Fritz and I +continued to advance, when suddenly we saw our torches reflected from +every side of the rock. + +“Ah, papa,” cried Fritz, in a transport of joy, “see! see! a salt +grotto! look at the enormous blocks of salt lying at our feet.” + +“You are very much mistaken, indeed,” I answered; “these masses are +not salt; if they were, the water which drips from the rock would +have melted them long ago; instead of salt it is crystal: we are +really in a palace of rock-crystal.” + +“Better yet--a palace of crystal! what an immense treasure for us!” + +“Yes; such a treasure as the gold mine was to Robinson Crusoe.” + +When we reappeared at the entrance of the grotto, we found Jack +alone. He conducted us to the border of the swamp, where we found +Ernest tranquilly employed in making a rush basket such as fishermen +use, consisting of a frame of long stalks, terminated at the end by a +funnel, through which the fish passed, but could not return. + +“Quick, quick!” he cried, when he saw us approaching, “I have killed +a young boa.” + +We had been talking so much of serpents, etc., that the poor boy +had mistaken a superb eel, four feet in length, for a snake; he had +walked straight up to it, hit it two or three blows on the head with +his gun, with as much courage as would have sufficed to kill a dozen +boas. + +The examination that I made of the snake humbled the pride of the +victor; but the eel was a great treat for us, and we returned home to +Felsenheim. + +I had as yet only half accomplished my design, and there remained +all the country about the farmhouse yet unexplored; and besides, I +wished, if it were possible, by fortifying the passages in the rock, +to keep out all such visitors as the one we had lately received. +I made sure, before we set out, against any accident that might +happen: we took plenty of provisions, arms, vessels of all sorts, +torches to scare away all intruders on our night encampments, in +short, everything that would render our excursion safer and less +disagreeable. + +We advanced in good order along the avenue of Falcon’s Nest, and +discovered the marks of the boa’s progress half effaced by the wind. +We found everything in good order at the Nest; the harvest and the +fruit-trees gave promise of an abundant crop. The goats and sheep +received us joyfully, and came up of their own accord to receive some +salt we threw them in passing. We did not stop, as the Lake farmhouse +was the object of our expedition; and we wished to arrive as soon as +possible, in order to gather, before night, cotton enough to make +some pillows and mattresses that might render our slumbers more +agreeable. + +The farther we advanced, the fewer traces we found of the serpent. We +could not see a single monkey in the cocoa-wood; and the crowing of +our cocks, mingled with the bleating of our herds, gave promise of +good order at the farmhouse; and we were not disappointed. As soon as +we arrived, our good housekeeper set about procuring us some dinner, +while we went to gather the cotton. + +After dinner I announced that we would immediately commence our +search, and we divided into three parties, each one charged to +explore a part of the country. Ernest and his mother had, for their +division, the guard of the provisions and the collection of all the +ripe blades in the rice-field; to defend them we left our brave dog +Billy. Fritz and Jack, accompanied by Turk and the jackal, took the +right bank of the lake, while I followed the left, with Francis, and +his two young dogs. It was the first time that the little fellow +had shared in any of our expeditions, or had had a gun entrusted to +him; he marched along with his head up, and as proud as a new-made +officer; and he burned with ardour to make trial of his new weapon. +But the noise of our steps among the dried rushes frightened only +some herons, and they flew so suddenly and quickly that it was +impossible to shoot them. Francis began to grow despairing at his +ill success, when suddenly we found ourselves in presence of an +innumerable quantity of wild geese and black swans, which covered the +waters in all directions. Frank was just about to fire into the mass, +when suddenly a sort of deep, prolonged cry, like a bellow, issued +from the middle of the rushes. We stopped, astonished, and a second +after the cry was repeated. + +“I am sure,” said Francis, “that it is the little onagra.” + +“Impossible,” said I; “he would not leave his mother; and, besides, +we must have heard him as he passed along. It is more likely to be a +swamp-bird, called a bittern.” + +I called the dogs to my side, and, setting them in the rushes, +presently heard the report of Francis’s gun. But, instead of firing +in the air, he had discharged his gun right into the thickest part of +the rushes, and I saw the birds that the dogs had disturbed flying +away safe and sound. + +“You awkward fellow,” said I; “you have let your game escape you.” + +“On the contrary, papa, I have him! I have him!” repeated he, with +passionate emotion. “Look!” + +So saying, he pulled out of the rushes an animal resembling an +agouti, and which the little hunter had already christened by that +name. + +I examined it with attention, and discovered that there was much +difference between it and the agouti. + +This one was about two feet in length, had incisor teeth like the +rabbit, webbed feet, long snout, but no tail at all. + +“You have killed a rare and curious beast,” said I to my little boy. +“It is an inhabitant of South America, of the same family as the +agouti and peccaries, but much rarer. It is a cabiai, and what is +more, a cabiai of the largest size.” + +“And what sort of an animal is this cabiai? I have never heard of him +before.” + +“Oh, yes; you heard him bray just now; for it was his cry that I +attributed to the bittern. This animal profits by the darkness of +night to provide his food: he runs fast, can swim well, and has the +power of remaining a long time under water; he eats seated on his +hind legs; and as to his cry, it sounds exactly like the braying of +an ass.” + +But it was now time to return home, and Francis rejoiced at the +prospect of his triumph over his brothers. He took up his cabiai, +threw it over his shoulder, and although I saw that it was much too +heavy for him, I thought I would let him have the merit of the whole +affair. + +We found, on returning, Master Ernest tranquilly seated on the bank +of the river, and surrounded by a prodigious number of enormous rats +which he had killed. The phlegmatic philosopher then recounted to us +the history of this massacre. + +“We were occupied,” said he, “my mother and I, in collecting the +ripe rice-blades, when I discovered, at a little distance, a sort +of high, solid causeway, which looked like a road constructed in +the middle of the swamp. I immediately set off to discover what it +was, and Master Knips with me. But we had scarcely advanced one step +when he darted from my side in pursuit of an animal that quickly +disappeared in a sort of hole bored in the causeway. I remarked, on +advancing, that the two sides of the bank were pierced all along +with these holes, all of the same form and size. I was curious to +know what they contained, and I introduced into the opening a long +bamboo cane that I had in my hand. I had scarcely drawn it out when +there issued forth a legion of animals similar to the first. Knips +ran after them; but the rice grew so thick that he could not get +along. An idea then occurred to me to place my rice-sack over the +hole. I did so; and beating the top of the causeway with a stick, a +great number ran into the sack. I then began to beat the bag with my +stick, so as to kill the prisoners. But imagine my surprise when I +found myself assailed by a whole army of rats who emerged from every +side, and began to run up my pantaloons. Knips made most desperate +attempts. I could do nothing with my stick, and I cannot tell what +might have happened if Billy had not heard my voice, and come to my +assistance. He rushed bravely upon the army of rats, and made so +terrible a slaughter that the enemy fled in terror. Those that you +behold fell victims to my stick and the formidable teeth of Billy; +the rest of the army took refuge in their holes.” + +The narration of Ernest excited my curiosity, and I wished to see for +myself the causeway with its inhabitants, and I recognized a series +of works similar to those of the beaver, with the single difference, +that they were not so extensive. I made my sons observe the +conformity that existed between these animals and the beaver of the +north; both had the same membrane at the feet to facilitate swimming; +both had the flat tail, and both were provided with two little bags +of musk. + +Fritz and Jack returned during these conversations; they brought back +a ruffled moor-hen and a nest of eggs: we placed them under one of +our hens that happened to be sitting at the time. We then all united +around a savoury mess of rice that my good wife had prepared. She had +cooked a small piece of the cabiai; but it was detestable, and we +abandoned it to our dogs, who would not taste the flesh of the rats +on account of the smell of musk. + +The repast was a merry one. We were all delighted to have found +no traces of the boa; and my mischievous boys showered a flood of +epigrams upon the “Conqueror of Rats,” as they called poor Ernest. + +The conversation naturally turned upon what we should do with our +rat-skins; and it was determined upon to make a carpet of them, to +preserve the floor of our house dry. Our first care was to clean them +with sand and ashes, as we were accustomed to do. + +Presently Jack and Francis ran to their knapsacks. + +“Look here, sir!” said the youngest, as he threw some pine cones +before the philosopher. + +“Look here, sir!” said Jack, placing on the table some little shining +apples, of a pale green, which exhaled a strong odour of cinnamon. + +A general cry of admiration greeted them. + +“Stop!” cried I. “Before tasting this fruit, Master Knips must +undergo the customary trial, for I am afraid these are the fruit of +the manchineel tree; and the manchineel apples produce most terrible +colics.” + +I then opened one of the fruit, and discovered that I had been +deceived by the appearance. The manchineel apple has a nut, and these +had very small seeds, like the common apple. While I was showing this +difference to my children, Master Knips snatched one of the apples +from the table and commenced to eat it, smacking his lips as if it +were something excellent. This determined the matter. I distributed +the fruit, and on tasting them we declared them most excellent. Fritz +wished to know their name. + +“They are,” said I, “cinnamon apples; I think you gathered them from +a low shrub; did you not, Jack?” + +“Oh, yes, yes--shrub--cinnamon. I am falling asleep,” stammered out +the stupid fellow. + +I then gave the signal for retiring. We took all necessary +precautions for safety during the night, and we sought, on our +mattresses of cotton, the repose that the fatigues of the day had +rendered necessary. + + + + + CHAPTER XLIII + + The Pig Hunt--The Supply--The Otaheitan + Roast--Ham Smoking + + +The next morning, at break of day, we renewed our search. We directed +our course to the sugar-cane plantation, where I had built a hut of +branches, but we found it all blown down; and setting up our tent, we +resolved to pass the forenoon there. + +While my wife was making preparations for dinner, we explored the +sugar-canes, as I thought it would be a natural retreat for the +serpents, if there yet remained any in this part of the country. +Happily, our investigation was without any result; and we were +turning to quit the sugar-canes, when suddenly our dogs began to +bark, as if they had taken some dangerous animal. We could perceive +nothing; but as it was not prudent to venture among the canes, I +ordered my sons to direct their course toward the plain, and we soon +found ourselves clear of the canes. At the same time there emerged +from them a troop of pigs of quite respectable size and strength. I +at first thought it was the young family of our old sow; but their +number, the grey colour of their skin, and the singular manner in +which they walked, soon banished that idea. They trotted one after +the other with a precision and regularity that would have done +honour to a troop on parade. I took good aim, fired both barrels of +my gun, and two of the animals fell. The loss did not seem to make +much impression on the rest of the troop, who trotted on as before. +It was a singular spectacle to see the whole family marching along +the borders of the sugar-canes, with an imperturbable tranquillity; +every one followed exactly in his place, without any pushing for +precedence; and, on examining them more closely, we found that there +was but one footstep in the sand, so regularly did they march. + +But Jack and Fritz, who were a little in advance, could not let them +pass unheeded. Bang, bang, went their pistols, and two more animals +bit the dust; the dogs also had their part in the victory, and each +one strangled a victim. + +I immediately recognized them as being a sort of hog, and as I knew +that one part, if not immediately removed, would render the meat +uneatable, I immediately set about the operation, and my sons gladly +aided me, so rejoiced were they at such a splendid booty; for we had +six pigs, each, on an average, three feet in length. + +While we were thus occupied, I heard the reports of two other guns +in the distance; I conjectured them to have come from Ernest and +Francis, who had overtaken the pigs. I was right; and Ernest, who +soon returned with the waggon for which I had sent Fritz, confirmed +me in my conjecture. We thus had in possession three more pigs, for +Billy had also done his duty. + +The arrival of the doctor naturally provoked a discussion on the +name of our game. Fritz thought that these were the Otaheitan pigs +of which Captain Cook speaks. Ernest was of another opinion, and +maintained that they were peccaries. This animal is very common in +Guiana and South America. Before loading the waggon we resolved +to clean our game to diminish the weight. Although we worked as +diligently as possible, the work was not yet finished at dinner-time, +and we were glad to find in the sugar-cane a cordial that refreshed +and nourished us. We set out for the tent; but my boys were so +proud of our chase that they determined to convert our convoy into +a triumphal march: they cut some green boughs and decorated our +equipage; they adorned their caps and guns with flowers, and we made +our entrance chanting a song of victory. + +“You have kept me waiting long enough, gentlemen,” said my wife; +“your dinner is all spoiled; but, bless me! what a quantity of meat! +Why should you abuse the provision nature has so liberally provided +by killing more than we require?” + +We justified ourselves as well as we were able, and my children +offered their mother the sugar-canes they had brought home. + +Fritz proposed to regale the family with an Otaheitan roast. We +received his proposition, but it was put off till the morrow, as the +preparation of our pigs precluded all thoughts of anything else. + +I sent the two smaller boys to gather a quantity of green branches +and leaves, with which to smoke our pork, and we then set to work. +Ernest skinned the pigs. Fritz and I cut them up, and my wife salted +the pieces. I piled the hams all together, so that the salt would +penetrate every part, and we also poured salted water over them and +allowed them to remain until the hut for smoking was constructed. As +for the heads and bones, they were abandoned to the dogs. + +The next morning, Fritz recalled to my memory the promise I had made +to allow him to serve us for dinner an Otaheitan roast. He began +by digging a deep trench; he then took the pig he had reserved for +the purpose, washed it with care, rubbed the interior with salt, +and filled it with a sort of stuffing made of meat, potatoes, and +different roots. + +When the trench was full of combustibles, Fritz set it on fire, and +from time to time the boys threw in, by the direction of their elder +brother, a quantity of pebbles, which soon became red hot. + +My wife observed all these particulars with a look of incredulity. + +“Beautiful cookery you will make,” said she, “with an entire pig, +some ashes, and a hole in the ground--delicious eating I do not +doubt!” + +Nevertheless, notwithstanding her sarcasms, she could not help giving +the boys some advice, and she aided Fritz in giving his pig the +graceful turn that roast pigs should always have to taste good. + +When these preparations were finished, our cook-in-chief enveloped +his “roast” in leaves and pieces of bark; a hole was made in the +burning cinders large enough to receive it, and it was then covered +with red-hot stones, and the hole filled up with earth to prevent the +air from penetrating. + +Fritz let his “roast” cook for about two hours; and it was not +without astonishment that, after having taken off the triple layer +of earth, cinders, and stones, the most delicious odour saluted our +olfactories. I scarcely expected anything eatable, and we had before +us meat cooked to a nicety, combined with a spicy perfume that would +have done honour to a Parisian cook. Fritz triumphed: his good mother +avowed that she was conquered, and every one proceeded, without +delay, to prove the pig. Some ashes which had fallen on it were +carefully removed, and the meat was pronounced delicious. + +During the three days while our meat was being smoked, I had every +day, with my sons, explored the country. These excursions discovered +to us no traces of the boa; but they very seldom ended without our +bringing home some little addition to our comforts and luxuries. + +One day we directed our course toward the wood of bamboo, and +returned home loaded with cups of all dimensions, formed from rushes, +which we sawed apart at every knot; some of them were very large, +twenty inches in diameter. We also made another discovery the same +day: it was that each knot of the rushes distilled a sugary matter +which crystallized in the sun, and resembled candied sugar. These +rushes also furnished us a quantity of long, strong thorns, which +filled the place of nails admirably. + +We also made an excursion to Prospect Hill; but we found every thing +there in the greatest disorder: the walls of the farmhouse were +pulled down, and the cattle gone. The monkeys had passed that way, +and left unequivocal traces of their progress. + +We then surrounded the hut, where our hams were suspended, with a +rampart of earth, and fortified it with branches and stones, so as +effectually to keep out all intruders; and we arranged everything so +that we might be ready to set off on the morning of the fourth day, +and commence our explorations beyond the defile that had been the +barrier between the district we had inhabited for nearly three years, +and an unknown land, which we had but once entered, and then were +nearly destroyed by a troop of buffaloes. + + + + + CHAPTER XLIV + + Excursion into the Savanna--Two Horsemen--The + Ostrich Hunt--The Nest--The Land + Turtles + + +We began our march at daylight, and, after having journeyed on for +about two hours, I gave the signal for a halt, as about gunshot from +the defile which separated the two countries appeared to me to be a +favourable spot for our encampment. It was situated on an elevated +point that commanded a far extended prospect, and was defended on one +side by a thick pine forest. + +Fritz wanted me, before quitting the place, to leave, as a mark +of our passage, a fortress, after the manner of the Kamschatkans, +which is simply composed of some boards, elevated by stones at each +corner, to a height sufficient to keep out all savage animals. Before +commencing this work, we made an investigation of the forest round +about; but we discovered nothing but two “margays,” or wild cats, who +fled into the forest before we could level a gun at them. + +The rest of the morning was devoted to the fortification of our +encampment. We then dined; but the heat was so powerful that we were +obliged to postpone our excursion into the savanna until the morrow. + +Nothing troubled the repose of the night. We were up at daylight, +and in a few moments our preparations were complete. I took with me +my three eldest sons, as I wished to be in force on entering into a +country as yet unknown. Francis remained with his mother to take care +of the baggage; and, after breakfast, we packed some provisions, and +took leave of our good mother, who saw us depart without uneasiness. + +We passed through the defile, at the extremity of which we had +erected a palisade of bamboo and thorny palm; but it had all been +torn down, and we could easily trace on the sand the spiral imprints +of the boa, clearly demonstrating that he had come from savanna +through this passage. I intended to erect a solid rampart here, that +should be proof against the attack of any animal; but I was obliged +to defer the execution of the plan until some other time. + +We had now ventured into a country we had entered but once before. +Jack recognized the place where we had taken the buffalo; the river +which divided the plain was bordered by a rich line of vegetation. +We followed its course for some time, and arrived at the grotto +where my son had taken the young jackal; but the farther we advanced +vegetation disappeared, and we soon found ourselves in the middle of +an immense plain, only bounded by the horizon. The sun beat right +down on our heads, the sand burned our feet--in one word, it was a +desert--a desert without a single tree--a desert of sand, the only +green things being a few withered geraniums and some sort of grass +that contrasted strangely with the aridity of the soil. On crossing +the river, we had filled our gourds with fresh water, but the sun had +heated it so that we could not drink it, and we were obliged to throw +it away. + +[Illustration: “Francis remained with his mother.”] + +After two hours of painful journeying we arrived at the foot of a +hill that we had perceived afar off: it was a rock that elevated +itself in the middle of the desert, and afforded us a refuge +against the rays of the sun. We were too fatigued to climb the +rock and reconnoitre the country: we could scarcely stand against +the overpowering rays of the sun, and our dogs were as tired as +ourselves; we were isolated in the middle of the desert, and could +see the river in the distance, like a silver thread, winding through +its green banks. It was like the Nile, beheld from a mountain under +the burning sun of Nubia. + +We had scarcely been seated five minutes when Master Knips, who had +accompanied us, suddenly disappeared over the rock, having probably +scented some brother monkeys in the neighbourhood; our dogs, also, +and the jackal deserted us; but we were too tired to call them back. + +I brought out some morsels of sugar-cane and distributed them among +the boys, for our thirst was terrible. This refreshment restored our +appetites, and some rounds of roast peccary furnished us with an +excellent repast. + +Suddenly Fritz, whose excellent sight was always making discoveries, +cried out, + +“What do I see! There are two horsemen galloping up towards us. +There, a third has joined them--doubtless they are Arabs of the +desert.” + +“Arabs!” said Ernest! “Bedouins you mean.” + +“Bedouins are but one division of the great family of Arabs, and your +brother was right,” said I; “but take my spy-glass, Fritz; your news +astonishes me.” + +“Oh, I see now a number of waggons loaded with hay; but they are so +distant I can scarcely distinguish anything; something extraordinary +is certainly going on.” + +“Let me have the glass,” cried Jack, impatiently; and he declared he +saw a crowd of cavaliers who carried little lances, with banners at +the point. + +“Come, give me the glass now,” said I; “your imaginations are too +poetic to be relied upon.” + +I applied the glass to my eye, and, after having looked some time +attentively-- + +“Well,” said I to Jack, “your Arabs, your cavaliers with lances, your +hay-carts, what do you think they have been transformed into?” + +“Camelopards, perhaps.” + +“No; although not a bad idea, yet they are ostriches, and chance +has thrown a splendid chase into our hands; and if you will take my +advice, we will not let these beautiful inhabitants of the desert +pass us by without measuring our strength with theirs.” + +The ostriches were rapidly approaching, and it was time to think of +some mode of capturing them. It seemed to me that the best way would +be to wait until they came up, and then attack them by surprise. I +ordered Fritz and Jack to go in search of the dogs, whilst Ernest +and I sought some shelter to conceal us from the ostriches. We threw +ourselves down behind some large tufts of a plant that grew among +the rocks, and which I recognized as the euphorbia, commonly called +wolf’s milk, and the juice of which is one of the most active poisons +in the world. + +Jack and Fritz now returned with our faithful companions, whom, +from their wet skins, we easily judged to have been taking a bath +somewhere. + +The ostriches were now within eyesight, and I could distinguish that +the family was composed of three females and a male, who was easily +recognized by the long white feathers of his tail. We crouched closer +to the ground, and held our dogs close to our sides, for fear lest +their impatience should defeat our stratagem. + +I now perceived that the ostriches were aware of our presence--they +appeared to hesitate in their march; but, as we remained immovable, +they at last seemed reassured, and were advancing directly to us, +when our dogs, whom we could not keep quiet, suddenly sprang out upon +them. Away went the timid birds, with a rapidity that can be compared +to nothing else but the wind driving before it a bundle of feathers. +Their feet did not appear to touch the ground, their half-extended +wings had the appearance of sails, and the wind greatly accelerated +their velocity. I then ordered Fritz to unhood his eagle; he did +so, and the noble bird soon lit upon the head of the male ostrich, +and, attacking his eyes, brought him to the ground. The dogs and +the jackal ran up, and when we arrived the gigantic bird was just +expiring under the numerous wounds that the ferocious animals had +inflicted. + +We were greatly disappointed at this issue of our chase; but, as the +evil was without remedy, we contented ourselves with preserving the +lifeless corpse. The eagle and jackal were immediately taken away, as +being the most ferocious. We then deprived the unfortunate animal of +the white plumes in the tail, and we placed them proudly in our hats. +The rich and sumptuous feathers contrasted strangely with our old +worn-out beavers; but they were an excellent protection against the +rays of the sun. + +“What a pity,” said Fritz, as we examined the gigantic proportions +of the bird, “what a pity to have put such a magnificent bird to +death!--how beautiful it would have looked stalking among our +domestic animals!” + +While we were talking, Jack and Ernest, who had followed the jackal, +made some great discovery, and we soon saw them waving their plumed +hats in the air, and shouting to us to hurry on, + +“A nest!” they cried, “an ostrich’s nest!--Quick--quick!” + +We hurried on, and found the two boys standing over a large +ostrich-nest--if we can dignify a hole dug in the ground by the name +of nest--in which were symmetrically arranged from twenty-five to +thirty eggs, each as large as a child’s head. + +My sons wanted to carry away the ostrich-eggs; they would hatch them, +they said, by exposing them in the daytime to the rays of the sun, +and wrapping them up as warm as possible at night. + +I observed to Fritz, who made the proposal, that each of these +eggs weighed about three pounds, and the whole number about one +hundred pounds, and that, having neither equipage nor beast, it +would be impossible to transport them across a desert, through which +we could hardly drag our arms and knapsacks; besides, I doubted +whether artificial heat could replace the natural influence. But +the children had got the idea into their heads, and they agreed +that each one should take one egg, which he should carry in his +pocket-handkerchief. The little boys soon repented of their +agreement, and they changed their burden from hand to hand, with +all the signs of ennui and fatigue. I came to their assistance, and +advised them to cut some branches from a low sort of pine that grew +about the rocks, and make a basket to carry their eggs, as the Dutch +milk-women carry their milk-pots. My plan succeeded admirably, and my +boys began their march without the slightest complaint. + +We then arrived at the borders of a swamp that seemed to be formed +by the confluence of several springs that flowed from the rocks; +we could trace the marks of the dogs and the monkey, and recognized +this as the place where they had wet themselves. We could perceive, +in the distance, troops of buffaloes, monkeys, and antelopes, but so +far from us that we took no further notice of them; nothing, however, +indicated to us the presence of a boa, or that such animals resided +here. We halted at this marsh, and refreshed ourselves with some +provisions; and then, filling our empty gourds with water, prepared +to depart, when we perceived the jackal had made a discovery. It +was a round object which he had dug out of the sand with his paws; +it resembled a mass of moist earth, and I threw it into the water +to clean it, when, what was my astonishment to see it move! I took +it out, and, on examining it, discovered it to be a turtle of the +smallest kind, scarcely as large as an apple. + +“How is this?” said Fritz. “I thought that turtles inhabited the sea +only.” + +“Who knows?” said Ernest; “perhaps there has been a shower of turtles +here, as the Romans formerly had a shower of frogs.” + +“Stop there,” said I to the philosopher; “your irony does not show +your learning. Perhaps you do not know that there are land as well as +sea-turtles. They are not only found in swamps, but even in gardens, +where they subsist on snails, caterpillars, and all sorts of insects.” + +“Well, then,” replied Ernest, “let us carry some home to mamma. She +would like them to put in her garden; we will also put one in our +cabinet of natural history.” + + + + + CHAPTER XLV + + Bears! Bears!--Narrow Escape--The Combat--Discovery + of Porcelain Earth + + +We quitted the borders of the swamp; but, instead of directing our +steps through the desert, we followed a little stream of water that +led us to the rock where we had reposed on our first excursion into +the savanna. It was a delicious route in comparison with our painful +journey of the morning. We found trees, grass--in short, it was a +little oasis in the desert, and we named it “Green Valley.” + +We were yet distant about half an hour’s journey from the jackal’s +grotto; Jack and Fritz had stopped a moment to adjust their burdens, +and I also stopped with them, while Ernest marched forward, followed +by Folb. + +“The philosopher is in a hurry to get home,” said Jack, laughing; “he +runs that he may be rested first.” + +But scarcely had the fellow finished his sentence, when we heard a +cry of distress; it was the voice of Ernest, followed by two terrible +howls, mingled with the barking of the dog. A moment after, Ernest +reappeared; he was running at full speed, his face deadly pale, and +he cried out in a voice stifled with fear-- + +“Bears! bears! they are following me”; and the poor boy fell into my +arms more dead than alive. I had not time to reassure him, and I felt +myself seized with a sudden shiver, as an enormous bear appeared, +immediately followed by a second. + +“Courage, children,” was all I could say. I seized my gun, and +prepared to receive the enemy. Fritz did the same; and, with a +courage and coolness far above his years, he took his place by my +side. Jack also took his gun, but remained in the rear; while Ernest, +who had no arms--for in his fright he had let his gun fall--took to +his heels and ran away. + +But our dogs were already at the attack, and they had commenced +to measure themselves with their terrible adversaries. We fired +together; and, although our shots did not bring down the enemy, they +nevertheless told well: one of the bears had a jaw broken, the other +a shoulder fractured. But the combat was not yet finished: they were +only partially disabled. Our faithful servants did prodigies of +valour; they fought most desperately, rolling in the dust with their +enemies, while their blood poured in streams on the sand. We would +have fired again, but we were afraid that we should kill the dogs, it +being impossible, during the changing contest, to take any aim. We +resolved to advance nearer, and, at about four paces from the bears, +we discharged our pistols direct at their heads. The huge animals +gave a groan that caused us to shudder, and then fell back motionless +on the sand. + +It was too late to meddle with the animals, and we took the +precaution, before leaving, to draw the two carcasses into the +jackal’s cave, and cover them with thorn-bushes, to keep off all +carnivorous beasts and birds of prey; we also buried our ostrich-eggs +in the sand, as their weight retarded our march greatly, and we could +leave them here until the morrow. + +The sun was set when we rejoined my dear companion and our little +Francis. A good fire and a well-cooked supper refreshed our weary +bodies, and my little heroes commenced a long narration of the +exploits of the day, Master Jack making up for the small share he had +had in our victory by boasting and swaggering enough for all. + +My wife and Francis had not been idle during our absence; they had +discovered on the banks of a stream a sort of greasy, white earth, +which appeared to me to be fine pipeclay. They had also collected +water enough for the use of our domestic animals, and, by the +force of industry and perseverance, had amassed, at the entrance +of the defile, a quantity of materials necessary for my projected +fortification. + +I thanked my good wife for the pains she had taken. We then lighted a +large fire to guard us through the night, and our dogs, whose wounds +my wife had washed and dressed with fresh butter, lay down beside it. +I wished, before retiring for the night, to make a trial of the earth +my wife had found, for I suspected that it was porcelain. I made two +roughly-shaped bowls from it, and threw them into a furnace of hot +cinders, and we then all retired to the tent, where sweet sleep soon +sealed our eyelids. The next morning it required a strong effort to +tear us from our beds, so wearied out had we been the preceding day. +I found my two bowls hardened by the heat; they were, as I supposed, +porcelain, rather coarse-grained, but well enough for our purposes. +We breakfasted in haste; the beasts were harnessed to the cart, and, +after a pleasant little ride, we arrived safe and sound at the cavern +of the bears. + + + + + CHAPTER XLVI + + Preparation of the Bears’ Flesh--Cups out of + Ostrich Eggs--Angora Rabbits and + Antelopes + + +We devoted a whole day to the preparation of the bears’ flesh. After +having skinned them with the utmost care and precaution, I cut off +the hams, and then divided the rest of the meat into long strips, +about an inch in thickness, and we exposed the whole to a good +current of smoke, as the ancient buccaneers used to do. The grease +was collected in bamboo canes, and carefully preserved; for, besides +its use in the kitchen, my wife said it was excellent on bread in +lieu of butter. We had about a hundred pounds of fat, together with +that which the peccaries had afforded us a few days before; we +abandoned the carcasses to our dogs, and they, aided by the birds of +prey, soon picked the bones so clean, that there remained nothing +but two perfectly white, dry skeletons, which we carried home with +us for our museum. As for the skins, they were carefully washed with +salt water, and rubbed with sand and ashes; and although our talents +in the art of currying were poor enough, we rendered the skins +sufficiently soft for all purposes. + +Our labours had been too peaceful for the restless, turbulent +character of my boys. I could see that they were tired and fretful, +and I thought that the best plan would be to diversify our work with +some amusement. I proposed to them to make an excursion alone in the +desert; my proposition, as one may suppose, was joyfully received, +and the perspective of an unchecked course rallied the flagging +spirits of my little companions. Ernest refused to accompany them, +preferring to remain at home with us. On the other hand, Francis was +so eager to accompany his brothers, that I at last permitted him to +go. + +My wife and I resumed our domestic labours, and Ernest, tranquilly +seated on the sand, occupied himself in making cups from ostrich +eggs; for we had discovered, by putting our eggs into hot water, +that the principle of life was exhausted. Ernest had read of a plan +somewhere to separate the eggs by surrounding them with a string +steeped in strong vinegar. The action of the acid on the lime +contained in the shell forms a circular line, which gradually eats +through; but the lining membrane of the egg was so hard, that it +was necessary to cut it with a knife; it had all the elasticity of +parchment. + +We soon quitted this occupation to undertake another. While examining +a small cavern which we had discovered near the tent, I found +several minerals, among others, a piece of amianth, known as being +incombustible; and also a superb block of talc, as transparent as +glass, and which I resolved to fashion into window panes. Ernest +aided me as much as he was able, and we soon detached a splendid +piece, about two feet in length, and the same in thickness. My +wife, who received everything that could recall Europe to her mind +with pleasure, was overjoyed at our new discovery, especially when +I informed her that this mineral could be divided into leaves no +thicker than paper. + +We had been thus occupied the best part of the day, and, as evening +approached, we gathered around our hearth, where our good housewife +was cooking two bear’s paws, which had been well soaked in brine, +and the smell of which, as it escaped from the pot, promised us +a delicious supper; and we sat down to while away the time in +conversation until our huntsmen returned. We did not wait long, for +the galloping of their steeds was soon heard, and in another moment +they were at our sides. + +Jack and Francis each carried a little kid on his back, with the feet +tied together, and the game-bag of Fritz appeared to me to be pretty +full. + +“A fine chase, papa!” cried Jack. “Storm carried me through the +desert like a flash of lightning. Fritz has two magnificent Angora +rabbits in his pouch, and also a complaisant cuckoo, who led us to +one of the finest hives I have ever seen; we shall be able to get +plenty of honey.” + +“Jack has not told all,” said Fritz: “we have taken a whole troop of +antelopes prisoners, and have driven them into our domains, where we +can hunt them and tame them just when we please.” + +Turning towards Jack, whose face seemed very much swollen, I said, +“What is the matter with your cheeks? have your adventures been +dangerous in any way?” + +Fritz interrupted his answer, and began the following narration. + +“After quitting you, we took the direction of the valley and, finding +a narrow place where two or three trees had fallen down, we took +advantage of this natural bridge, and crossed to the other side of +the river. We rode on some time without perceiving anything, our +coursers going at full speed, and the sun not being high enough to +be unpleasant. At last we discovered, in the distance, two herds of +small animals, of what kind we could not distinguish, but I thought +they were either antelopes or gazelles. Our first care was to call +our dogs together, and keep them close by our sides, as we knew +the animals were more afraid of them than of us. I then divided my +forces: I gave Francis the line of the river as his position; Jack +occupied the middle, while I, mounted on the onagra, sustained the +right wing, and endeavoured to drive the animals to the centre. We +effected this movement, and one of the herds passed the river as +quietly as if the act had been voluntary. The other herd did not seem +to perceive us until we were close to them, when suddenly they raised +themselves from the grass where they had been lying, and, stretching +out their long necks and little heads, surmounted by short, pointed +ears, set off at full speed; and now our chase commenced. We urged +our coursers onward, and, giving our dogs their liberty, we soon +forced the entire troop over the river, and drove them into the +defile which separated us from the savanna. After we had secured them +in our dominions, the next thing was to keep them there. Several +plans were proposed, but at last the following was chosen. We +stretched a long cord from one side of the defile to the other, and +fastened to it every light thing we could find, the continual motion +of which frightened the animals away whenever they approached it; the +ostrich-plumes in our hats, our handkerchiefs, etc., furnished us +with materials.” + +“Admirable!” said I, as the boy stopped as if to see how his +stratagem was received, “admirable! The only thing is, in the night +it cannot be seen; but it truly was a bright thought for such a boy. +But about the rabbits,” added I, “what do you intend to do with them? +If they should happen to get in your mother’s vegetable garden, there +would not be much of it left.” + +“No, no; but I thought that one of our two islands would make a good +home for them; for instance, Shark Island would make a magnificent +warren, and furnish us many a good dish, and fine furs to make caps +out of.” + +“But how did you come to take them alive?” + +“The honour of the capture is due to my eagle; he pounced down upon +a troop of rabbits that were flying before us, and carried off two +in his talons. I rescued them before he had injured them, and he +consoled himself by killing another, which he soon devoured.” + +I could see that Jack was watching every opportunity to put in a +word, and I laughingly requested the poor fellow to speak. + +“In my turn!” said he, “in my turn! I galloped on with Francis while +Fritz was chasing the rabbits; the dogs followed us, and suddenly we +saw them jump forward, and run after two little animals about the +size of a hare, that fled with incredible rapidity. Away we all went, +and, after a hot chase of a quarter of an hour, we captured the two +fugitives. There they are,” continued the young narrator, throwing +down before us two beautiful little animals; “I think they are young +fawns.” + +“And I think,” said I, “that they are antelopes.” + +“Well, whatever they may be,” continued Jack, “our dogs behaved +admirably, and so, I can say, did their masters. But that was nothing +to what happened afterwards. We had scarcely commenced our progress +when a sort of cuckoo began to fly before us, singing away as if +to defy us. I had already levelled my gun, when Fritz requested me +to recollect that it was loaded with ball, and that I should only +waste the charge. I accordingly slung my gun on my back, and we rode +on, the cuckoo flying on before us, when suddenly he stopped just +over a bees’ nest, artfully concealed in the ground. We now held a +council of war about the nest, and discussed the plan of attack. +Francis begged to be excused, recalling to our memories the former +attack at Falcon’s Nest. Fritz was willing to do all the advising +part, but would rather leave the execution to somebody else; so you +see, at last, the whole affair devolved upon me. Armed with some +sulphur matches that I found in my knapsack, I advanced and tried to +suffocate the bees by throwing the lighted matches down the hole, +when suddenly a rumbling noise was heard, and, in a second, a swarm +of bees emerged, attacking me on all sides. My hands and face were +violently treated, and it was with the greatest difficulty that I +mounted my buffalo and rode away, bearing with me the honourable +marks of the conflict. I could scarcely believe,” said Jack, as he +finished his recital, “that so small an animal could cause so much +pain.” + +I reflected long upon what Jack had told me concerning the strange +bird that had shown them the nest of bees. I easily recognized it +as being the “cuckoo-indicator” of naturalists; “But,” thought I, +“how, if this coast is uninhabited, could the bird have known that +human beings liked honey, and would be willing to share the discovery +with him? Is not such conduct a sign that we are not the first men +who have trod this soil? May not the interior of the country be +inhabited?” These considerations were of the highest importance to +us, and I was convinced that it would not be prudent to advance into +the interior, unless with the greatest caution. I also resolved to +build a fortress on one side of the coast, and I chose Shark Island +as its situation, as it appeared to me that a strong fortification +that would command the coast of Felsenheim, and fortified by our two +cannons, would enable us to defend ourselves against all attack from +the interior, if any ever took place. + + + + + CHAPTER XLVII + + Ostriches Again--A Hunt and a Capture--Acquisition + of Treasure--Euphorbia--Vanilla + + +At the break of day I was up, and awoke my sons; our labours were +almost done--our bears’ meat was smoked, our fat all run out into +bamboo vessels; and the rainy season, which was rapidly approaching, +warned us to return to our home in the grotto. Nevertheless, I wished +to make another excursion into the desert, to see whether a second +visit to the nest of ostrich eggs would not succeed better than +the first, and I likewise wanted to gather some of the gum of the +euphorbia. + +As we wished to accomplish this excursion as rapidly as possible, +it was resolved to go on horseback. We took with us Turk and Billy, +and set off, following the direction of the Green Valley, tracing +over again all the places rendered illustrious by some remembrance +of our last excursion--the spot where we had encountered the bears, +the turtle-marsh, and, at last, the rock from which Fritz discovered +the ostriches. To this rock we gave the name of “Arab’s Tower,” in +allusion to the mistake he had made in thinking the ostriches to be +Arabs of the desert. + +Jack and Francis galloped off at full speed, and, as the plain was +so level that they could not escape from my eye, I let them go on. I +retained Fritz by my side to aid me in gathering the euphorbia which +had congealed in the sun. I had provided myself with a vessel to put +it in, and I soon filled it with the little drops of hardened gum. + +This gum is one of the most violent and subtle poisons, and my son +asked me why I took so much pains to collect it. + +“I intend to use it,” said I, “to destroy the monkeys--a cruel means, +I will allow, but necessity drives us to adopt it. We can also employ +the euphorbia in preparing the skins of birds and other animals; it +will preserve them from corruption, and keep out all insects. To +whatever use, however, we may apply it, the greatest precaution must +be observed, as it is capable of producing the most dreadful results.” + +During our work, the two cavaliers had almost disappeared in the +savanna, and it was with great difficulty that our eyes could follow +them, surrounded as they were by a cloud of dust. They had passed far +beyond the ostrich nest, to which we directed our course, wishing to +see whether the eggs had been abandoned or not. + +We had scarcely come in sight of the nest when we saw four noble +ostriches rise from the sand and advance toward us. Fritz’s first +care was to prepare his eagle for the conflict; and, to prevent it +from renewing the former scene of carnage, he fastened its beak so +strongly that it was almost harmless. Our dogs were also muzzled, +and we stood still, in order that we might not frighten the birds. +On they came, with half-extended wings, gliding over the ground with +inconceivable rapidity. They seemed to think us inanimate objects, +for they came on directly for us until they had arrived within +pistol-shot; they were three females and a male--the last a little +in advance, with his beautiful tail-feathers floating behind him. +The moment of attack was come; I seized my string with balls, and, +calling up all my sleight-of-hand, I launched it against the male +ostrich. Unfortunately, however, instead of catching him around the +legs, as I intended, the balls of my string took a turn round his +body, and I only fastened his wings to his sides. It diminished his +speed somewhat, but the victory was not complete; and the frightened +bird turned round, and, using his long legs, endeavoured to escape: +away we dashed after him, I on the onagra, and Fritz on the colt. +But we were nearly exhausted, when, happily, Jack and Francis rode +up, and cut off his further retreat. Fritz then unhooded his eagle, +and, pointing out the ostrich to him, he immediately pounced upon his +prey; and now commenced an arduous chase. Jack and Francis on one +side, and Fritz and I on the other, tormented him, and harassed him +without ceasing; but the most useful combatant was the eagle. The +presence of this new enemy troubled the ostrich greatly; he felt him +on his head, and heard the flapping of his wings, while, on the other +hand, the eagle, furious at finding his beak strongly fastened by a +ligature of cotton, was so violent that, by a vigorous stroke of his +wings, the ostrich fairly tottered. Jack then threw his string and +balls so skilfully that the noble bird bit the sand of the desert. +A cry of joy burst from the huntsmen, the eagle was recalled and +hoodwinked, and we hastened to our prize in order to prevent his +breaking the bonds that confined him; for he was so very violent, +and struggled so vigorously, that I hardly dared to approach him. I +imagined that by depriving him of light I might reduce his fury, and +I threw my hunting-sack, my vest and handkerchief, over his head. +I had discovered the secret: no sooner were his eyes covered than +he became as quiet as a lamb. I approached, passed a large band of +seadog-skin around his body, two other bands were attached as reins +to each side, and his legs were fastened with strong cords, long +enough to allow him to walk, but which confined him sufficiently to +prevent his escape. + +I then attached our two coursers before and behind the ostrich with +strong cords; and when all was ready, my two cavaliers jumped into +their saddles, and I pulled the covering from the head of the ostrich. + +The bird remained some time immovable, as if astonished at the return +of light. It soon made a start; but the ropes pulled it roughly back, +and it fell down on its knees; again it made the attempt, and again +it was foiled. It tried to fly, but its wings were tightly fastened +by the band I had passed around them: its legs were also restrained: +it threw itself from side to side with the utmost violence, but the +patient buffaloes did not pay the least attention to the pulling and +hauling. At last the bird appeared convinced of the inutility of its +efforts, and, submitting to its two companions, set off with them at +full gallop. They dashed gallantly on for half an hour, until the +buffalo and the bull, less accustomed to the sands of the savanna +than the ostrich, forced it to abate its rapid pace, and adopt a +slower system of movement. + +While the two young cavaliers were thus occupied, Fritz and I set +out in search of the ostrich nest. The cross of willows which we had +planted in the ground near it, at our last visit, still remained, +and, as we approached, a female bird rose up off the nest and fled +rapidly away into the desert. Her presence appeared to us a good +augury, as it assured us that the eggs still retained the principle +of life. I had taken care to bring with me a sack and a quantity +of cotton. I now took out six of the eggs, and, enveloping them as +carefully as possible in the cotton, placed them in the sack, leaving +the others in the nest, in hopes the mother would not discover the +theft. + +We traversed the Green Valley without perceiving anything uncommon, +and soon arrived at the tent, where Ernest and his mother received us +with an astonishment they could not find words to express. + +I fastened the ostrich securely between two trees, and the rest of +the day was devoted to preparations for our departure on the morrow. +We had a number of new riches to collect, and I wished to leave +nothing behind us. + +The next day we set off early. The ostrich took his place between the +bull and the buffalo, as before; he was, at first, inclined to be +refractory, and threw himself from right to left, but all in vain: +his two conductors were like immovable masses, against which all +resistance was unavailing. + +Fritz mounted the young colt Rapid, and I the onagra, while Ernest +directed the car, in the middle of which my wife sat in all her +majesty, among the provisions. Our march was slow, but it was very +picturesque, as may be imagined. + +We halted at the entrance of the defile where my sons had suspended +the cord with the feathers attached, to keep back the antelopes and +gazelles. In the place of the cord, we erected a solid palisade of +bamboo, high enough to keep out all animals that do not climb. We +planted a row of thorn bushes on each side, and sprinkled a layer of +sand all around, so that we could discover what sort of animals might +frequent it. During the construction of this fence we made a new +discovery; it was that of the Vanilla bean, which I recognized by its +brown pods and balsamic odour. + +Our labours at the defile detained us a long time, and it was +night when we arrived at the cabin of the Hermitage. We found +our smoking-hut the same as before, and our provision of peccary +untouched. We lighted a fire, and, after a frugal repast, extended +ourselves on our sacks of cotton, and courted balmy sleep. + +The next day, we discovered a new treasure: our henhouse had received +an addition of twenty young chicks--the product of the eggs Jack had +brought home in his hat. My wife was enchanted at this discovery, and +caught several pairs to take home with her. + +We were so anxious to return to our dear Felsenheim, and to resume +all our comforts and luxuries, that we resolved not to stop again +until we arrived there. It was long after noon when our weary journey +was finished. We were worn out with fatigue; the sun’s rays had been +pouring down on our heads all day, and our strength was so exhausted +we could scarcely give our animals their evening food. + + + + + CHAPTER XLVIII + + Progress in Ostrich Discipline--Efficacy of + Tobacco Smoke--Hydromel--The New + Hat--Pottery + + +The day after our arrival at Felsenheim, my wife commenced “cleaning +house.” Windows were opened, beds aired, and all swept and garnished. +While she and the two younger boys were thus employed, I, with the +two elder, unpacked and distributed the riches we had brought home. + +We had tied the ostrich, at first, under a tree, and securely +fastened his feet; but we changed his situation, and tied him to one +of the strong bamboo columns that supported the gallery. + +We next visited the eggs, and they were, like the first, submitted +to the trial of warm water. Several of them fell heavily to the +bottom; but three or four moved slightly when immersed in the water, +and these were carefully preserved, in order that we might try the +experiment of hatching them by cotton and artificial heat. For this +purpose I constructed an oven, in which I took care to maintain that +degree of heat which the thermometer marked as being the natural heat +of the hen. + +We then installed our Angora rabbits on Shark Island; we constructed +a burrow in the ground, similar to those of Europe, and, before +putting them in, we combed them, and removed all the superfluous +hair. We also fixed wooden combs over the entrance of each burrow, so +that the rabbits, when passing in or out, would be deprived of some +part of their fine wool, which I intended to manufacture into hats. + +The two antelopes were also transported to Shark Island. We should +have liked very much to keep these charming little creatures about +us, but the fear of the dogs and beasts of prey forced us to condemn +the timid creatures to confinement. In order to render their exile as +agreeable as possible, I erected a hut in the middle of the island, +to shelter them, and we took good care to provide them with plenty of +provisions. + +I wished, before the rains came on, to prepare a field to receive +the seeds we had hitherto confided to the earth without any order +or regularity. It was a difficult enterprise, and we felt in all +its reality the force of that law which condemned man to gain his +bread by the sweat of his brow. Our faithful animals were of much +assistance to us; but the sun was so intense that the slightest +labour utterly exhausted them. We could work but four hours in +the day: two in the morning and two in the evening; we were able, +however, to prepare at last about two acres of land, which would +furnish us an ample harvest of maize, potatoes, and manioc-root. + +During the intervals of our fatiguing field labours, we occupied +ourselves by beginning the education of the ostrich. It was an +enterprise as difficult as it was novel; but I had read that it could +be accomplished, and I was resolved to try it. + +Our pupil began by putting himself in a terrible passion; he +struggled, snapped at us with his beak, and cut up all sorts of +capers; but we could find no better remedy for such conduct than to +treat him as we had treated Fritz’s eagle, that was, by burning +tobacco under his nose. This had the desired effect, and we soon saw +the majestic bird totter and fall insensible to the ground. We had +recourse to this plan several times. Little by little we relaxed +the cord which fastened it to the bamboo post, and gave it room to +wander about the doorway. A litter of rushes was provided for him; +calabashes filled with sweet nuts, rice, maize, and guavas were +placed every day before the animal; in a word, we neglected nothing +that we thought would consort with the fellow’s taste. + +During three days all our cares were in vain: our choice dishes were +regarded with great disdain, the beautiful captive would not eat, and +it carried its obstinacy so far that at last I was seriously afraid +of the consequences. At last an idea occurred to my wife, which +relieved us from all embarrassment. It was to poke down the throat of +the bird, willy nilly, balls of maize and butter. The ostrich made +horrible faces at first, but when it got a taste of the balls, all +trouble on that point was over, and the delicacies we placed before +it were quickly devoured, the guavas, by the bye, being especially +favoured. + +The natural savageness of the bird disappeared more and more every +day; it would let us approach it without striking at us, and after +some days we thought we could, without much risk, unfasten it, to +take a short lesson in the art of walking. We placed it between the +buffalo and the bull, and put it through all the exercises of the +stable--to trot, to gallop, stop short, trot again, walk slow, etc. +I cannot say that the poor bird relished his first lesson very much, +but the tobacco pipe and the whip were two admirable instructors, and +when he was disposed to become unruly a whiff of tobacco would set +all to rights. + +At the end of the month its education was complete, and it had so +well succeeded that I now seriously thought of making our new +conquest of general usefulness. I wished it to associate with our +domestic animals, to submit like them to regular movements, and to +stop and march as we wished. The first thing that was to be thought +of was a bit; but how could I contrive a bit for a beak? I had never +seen one, and I must confess that I felt greatly embarrassed; at last +I achieved my task. I had remarked that the absence of light had a +very direct influence upon the ostrich; it would stop short when +blindfolded, and could not be induced to move until its eyes were +uncovered. This discovery was the basis of the new invention that +I constructed. I made, with the skin of a sea-dog, a sort of hood, +like the one we had made for the eagle, which covered the head, being +fastened about the neck. I made two openings in the side of this +hood, one opposite each eye, and covered each of these holes with one +of our little turtle-shells, attached to a whale-bone spring, fixed +in such a manner that it would open and shut. Reins were fastened to +these springs, so that, by their action, we could admit the light +or shut it out, just as we pleased. When the two shells were open, +the ostrich galloped straight on; when one was opened, it went in a +direction corresponding with the eye that received light, and when +both shells were shut, it would stop short. The most fully trained +horse could not have obeyed better than our ostrich did under his +novel head-dress. + +My children thought that the education of our captive was now +complete; but I was of a different opinion. The ostrich is a very +robust animal, and capable of supporting a great deal of fatigue. +I wished it to learn to carry burdens, to draw a carriage, and be +adapted for horsemanship; I began, consequently, to make harness +for each of these occupations. We had a great deal of difficulty in +making the ostrich submit to our wishes; our hardest task was +to make it submit to our mounting it; but I knew that patience and +perseverance are the two first elements of success in imparting +education. I was not, therefore, discouraged, and at last we had the +satisfaction to see our new courser galloping between Felsenheim and +Falcon’s Nest with one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back. + +[Illustration: “With one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back.”] + +The artificial nest of ostrich eggs, which we had enveloped in +cotton, and placed in a stove, had succeeded; that is to say, +out of six eggs, three had hatched. The young ostriches were the +drollest-looking animals that could be imagined: they looked like +ducks, mounted on long legs, and they tottered awkwardly about on +their slender stilts. One died the day after its birth; the two +others survived, and we endeavoured to preserve them by taking all +possible care for their comfort. Maize, acorns, boiled rice, milk, +and cassava, were set before them in rich profusion. + +We had had nothing to drink but water since our arrival on the +island, if I except the barrel of Cape wine that we had saved from +the shipwreck; but that had long ago been exhausted, and I now +determined to make some sort of drink for the winter. + +I had often heard of the hydromel of the Russians; we had the primary +material, honey, from our hives, and I determined to make the +experiment. We boiled some honey in a sufficient quantity of water, +and after having filled two barrels with the fluid, I threw in a +large cake of sour corn bread, to make the liquor ferment; when that +process was finished, we tasted it, and found it was of a pleasant +flavour, agreeably acid, and a great resource for our long winter +days. We placed the two tuns in our cellar, or, to speak more justly, +in the hole we had dignified by that name. We then set to work and +made a choicer drink than the first: to our honey and water we added +nutmegs, ravensara, and, in short, a collection of all the aromatic +plants we could find. This drink was reserved for extraordinary +occasions, such as holiday banquets, anniversaries, etc. + +When all our provisions were gathered in, and we felt sure that +we could get through the winter without famine overtaking us, we +commenced our manufacture of hats. It was a labour as difficult as +novel for us. The first question that presented itself was the form +of our hats; each one gave in his opinion, but necessity came into +the council, and obliged us to give our new manufacture the form most +in unison with our means of execution. It was extremely simple: I cut +a wooden head, which divided into two parts, and on which we spread +a thick layer of soft paste, composed of rat-skin and the glue of +fishes. We let it dry, and as it took the exact impress of the mould, +we obtained a sort of cap, of which my readers can form some idea of +the shape. + +It had cost us a great deal of trouble to produce even this +ill-looking affair. My sons were scarcely less satisfied with it than +I was; but our European hats were so dilapidated that it became a +matter of necessity to procure something to replace them. + +I now had recourse to the cochineal, and I soon gave to our beaver a +beautiful brilliant purple tint. The hat looked better; I adorned it +with a couple of ostrich-plumes, and it looked better still; my wife +passed a ribbon round it, which she had found in her enchanted sack, +and the disdain with which my poor beaver had been received, was +changed into anxious requests for its possession. + +But its destination had been fixed beforehand: it belonged to Francis +by right, as he had lost his old hat a few days before. + +Our success in the manufacture of hats emboldened us to try our hand +at other things. We were much in want of kitchen utensils, and I was +obliged to pass from the art of hat-making to that of potter. + +I did not understand much about pottery; and what puzzled me most was +the way in which the earth was to be prepared before using it; and I +began my experiments with very little hope of their ever succeeding. + +I constructed, in one corner of the grotto, a large stove, divided +into compartments, destined to receive the different articles; +earthen pipes were conducted all around, so as to equalize the heat +as much as possible. These preparations occupied me a long time, as +I had no idea how the thing should be done, and I can safely say I +invented rather than imitated a furnace for pottery. + +I next took a certain quantity of the porcelain earth, which very +much resembled fine white sand. I carefully removed all foreign +particles, such as bits of stone, etc., as I was afraid they would +cut our hands while working the porcelain. I also mixed a quantity +of the talc we had brought home for window-panes, thinking, perhaps, +it would render the mixture more firm and solid. When all was well +worked up together, I left it a little while to dry, while I set +to work to invent a machine for turning our utensils on. The wheel +of one of our cannon carriages, fixed horizontally on a pivot and +surmounted by another wheel, united to it by an axle and turning with +it, formed my machine. I first turned out some plates and dishes, +cups and saucers, bowls, and other things. I exposed these articles +to a very strong heat: a great many broke in pieces, but I completed +about half. When baked they were perfectly transparent and of the +most beautiful grain. My wife saw her kitchen apparatus enriched with +utensils of all sorts, and, overwhelmed with joy, she promised us, +in exchange, numberless good dainties, which, for want of a suitable +utensil, she had hitherto been unable to make. + + + + + CHAPTER XLIX + + Return of the Rainy Season--A New + Want--The Cajack + + +The rainy season was now rapidly approaching, and we were soon +obliged to give up our excursions. The winds and the rain commenced; +the sky that had so long been clear became dark with storm-clouds; +terrible tempests announced the approach of winter; and we closed the +door of our grotto, happy in having such a comfortable shelter. + +The turning-wheel was continually in motion. We improved the quality +of our fabrications more and more, and we manufactured utensils that +at the outset we had despaired of ever possessing. + +We had preserved the shells of the ostrich-eggs, and having divided +them by means of a string steeped in vinegar, we converted the halves +into elegant vases. I turned some wooden pedestals on which they were +placed, and we thus obtained drinking-cups and vases for flowers in +summer. + +But these labours were much more interesting to me than to my young +family, and I feared that the inactivity to which I saw them reduced +would render them indolent. Ernest found occupation enough in his +books; but his brothers never entered the library unless when driven +by necessity. I felt the urgency of providing some active occupation +for them, and one more to their taste than literature; but I could +not think of anything, when Fritz came to my assistance. + +“We have,” said he, “in the person of our ostrich, a splendid +post-horse, with which to travel the highways of our kingdom; we have +carts to transport our provisions; a pinnace, and a canoe, which are +riding majestically at anchor in Safety Bay; but one thing is yet +wanting: we have need of an equipage that will glide over the surface +of the water, as the ostrich does over the sand. I have read that +the Greenlanders have a sort of vessel which they call ‘cajack,’ and +which I must have. Why cannot we construct one? We have constructed a +canoe--why should we, civilized Europeans, not succeed in that which +barbarous savages have attempted?” + +I joyfully received the proposition of my son. The cajack, the only +vessel of the Greenlander, is a sort of canoe in the form of a shell; +and a piece of walrus-skin, with three or four strips of whalebone, +are almost the only requisites for its construction. It is extremely +light, and the navigator who has glided in it over the surface of the +wave can easily carry it on his shoulder when he has arrived at land. + +The strips of whalebone, bamboo-cane, and Spanish rushes, with some +sea-dog skin, were the materials that we employed in making our +cajack. Two arched strips of whalebone fastened at each end, and +separated in the middle by a piece of bamboo fixed transversely +across, formed the two sides of our canoe; other pieces of whalebone, +woven in with rushes and moss, well covered with pitch, formed the +skeleton. + +When the skeleton was finished, and the interior covered with a coat +of gum and moss, we commenced the construction of an envelope. For +this I took the two entire skins of sea-calves, fastened one at each +end of the canoe, and then drew them down under it, where they were +strongly sewed together, and covered with a gum elastic coat, to +render them impervious to water. I also cut out oars of bamboo, and +fastened bladders to one end, so that they might be useful in case of +accident. I also constructed, in the bow, a place to receive a sail, +in case we should decide, at a future period, to put one there. + +There was yet an important thing wanting in the completion of our +Greenland boat: it was the equipment of him who was to manage it. I +had often heard of a sort of apparel well known to those who dwell +near the sea, and which consisted in enveloping a person in an +airtight dress, lighter than the volume of liquid his body displaced. +I described this apparel to my sons, narrated to them how the head +of the swimmer was covered with a hood, furnished with a pipe +intended to let in air when it was necessary to breathe under water. +My description of the costume and the air-chimney fairly turned +the boys’ heads, and they would not rest, night or day, until they +persuaded me to ask their mother to construct such a suit for them. + +My good Elizabeth, to whom our desires were as laws, kindly undertook +the work; and so nimbly did her needle ply, that in a few days she +had made a complete swimming-costume for Fritz. + +A jacket of the skin of the whale’s entrails, hermetically sealed and +sewed round the borders, so that the air could not possibly escape, +was furnished with a flexible pipe, closed with a valve, so that it +could be inflated or exhausted at the pleasure of its wearer. + +The winter had glided insensibly away: reading, the study of +languages, and other literary pursuits had been mingled with our +domestic avocations, and helped to render the gloomy days we passed +in the grotto more pleasant and agreeable. But our emancipation +from the grotto was approaching: the wind calmed, the sea resumed +its wonted placidity, the grass sprang up under our feet, and we +revisited Falcon’s Nest, with its giant trees and its rich harvest of +springing grain. + +The swimming-costume was the last thing that we had made, and Fritz +was anxious to make a trial of it; consequently, one fine afternoon, +dinner over, he put on his jacket, which was drawn close round his +neck; then his hood, with its pipe for air, was fitted to the jacket, +and two pieces of talc inserted in such a manner as to enable him to +see. + +Our first movement, on seeing him thus accoutred, was to burst into a +fit of laughter; but Fritz plunged gravely into the water, and struck +out for Shark Island. We followed him in the canoe, and arrived about +the same time. We unfastened his hood, and found that not a particle +of water had penetrated it; every one was rejoiced at the success of +the experiment, and we all persuaded our kind mother to make us one +each. + +We then set off to explore the island, and endeavour to discover what +had become of the colony we had planted there. Our first visit was to +the antelopes. They fled at our approach; but we saw with pleasure +that they had devoured all the provisions we had provided them +with. We strewed some rushes in their little hut, for a litter; and +after renewing the stock of provisions, left the spot, so that the +timid animals could return. My sons and I wandered over the island, +gathering pieces of coral and beautiful shells to adorn our museum. + +A second excursion to Shark Island gave us leisure to examine the +different plantations we had made: they had succeeded admirably, and +we found several young trees already some feet above the ground. +Our rabbits had also prospered, and the family had increased to an +enormous extent. + +We made, too, a short excursion to Whale Island; our plantations +here had also succeeded--all was prosperity around us. Our maritime +possessions and those on terra firma afforded a most agreeable +spectacle to the eyes of the proprietors. Abundance, richness, and a +luxuriant vegetation gave promise of an excellent harvest. + +One day, when I was occupied by my domestic cares in the interior of +the grotto, three of my sons disappeared without saying anything; +they carried with them their arms, provisions, and a number +of rat-traps. The latter easily explained the secret of their +expedition; they had gone for rat-skins in order to make some new +hats. I wished them good luck, and thought nothing more of the matter. + +Ernest, always fond of home, had remained reading in the library: +my wife was occupied in the kitchen; and I resolved to imitate my +sons, and attempt an excursion alone. I had need of some large blocks +of wood with which to grind the grain we had gathered; but I would +not cut down one of the trees around our habitation for fear of +disfiguring our residence. I went to the stable for a horse; but all +except the buffalo had disappeared, and I was obliged to be content +with him. I soon fastened him to the sledge, and we set off in +company in the direction of the Jackal’s River. I took with me Folb +and Braun; the faithful Billy remained with Ernest, and Turk had gone +off in the morning with his young masters. + +My intention in choosing the river road was that in passing I might +take a look at our plantations of manioc and potatoes which extended +along its bank. I had not seen this land, which we had prepared +with a great deal of trouble, for four months prior, and I expected +to find an abundant harvest preparing for us. Judge, then, of my +surprise, on approaching, to find the whole plantation a scene of +ruin: the roots that had just begun to sprout were all trodden +under foot, or scattered over the ground--in a word, it was a scene +of utter desolation. I thought at first that perhaps my sons had +gathered the harvest; but the prints in the moist earth soon revealed +the authors of this devastation: it had been done either by the wild +pigs, or else by the family of our old sow. + +My brave companions, Folb and Braun, had gone off in search of the +despoilers; and they soon returned, driving before them a whole herd +of pigs, at the head of which trotted our old sow, grunting most +melodiously. I was so irritated at the unlucky animals, that almost +instinctively I raised my gun, and by a single shot brought down two +young porkers. The others took to flight, and the dogs would have +pursued them, but I called them back, and, cutting off the heads of +the two pigs, gave them to them. I then placed the bodies on the +sledge, and having marked with a hatchet the trees I had chosen, +so that I should know them again, I set off for Felsenheim, with a +saddened heart at the devastation I had witnessed. + + + + + CHAPTER L + + Return of the Boys--Their Adventures--Harvesting--Partridges + and Quails + + +Toward evening we began to grow anxious about the return of the +boys, when suddenly Jack appeared in the distance. He arrived at +full gallop on his ostrich, having left his brothers far behind. +He brought nothing with him, pretending that his courser would +receive no other burden than himself. Fritz and Francis coming up, +we discovered that each of them carried before him a sack full of +game, the products of the chase, in which they had been extremely +fortunate; and they had brought back with them four of those beasts +whom we had christened “beasts with a bill,” twenty ondatras, one +monkey, a kangaroo, and two varieties of the musk-rat, which they had +found in the swamp. + +During supper, each one recounted his adventures, Fritz describing +their passage through the valley, the attack of the ondatras and the +beavers. “We also,” said he, “then saw those ‘beasts with a bill’ +coming out of the swamp to partake of a repast not intended for them. +We then caught a fish or two in the lake; and relieving our dinner +with a plate of ginseng cooked in the ashes, sat down to our humble +meal.” + +“Pooh, pooh!” cried Jack the boaster; “who cares for rats and +fishes? It is to my courser and me that you owe this royal prize, +this noble kangaroo.” + +“Oh, yes,” added Francis, “a prize very easy to take, as it remained +quiet until you came up and shot it.” + +“For my part,” continued Fritz, “I have brought home nothing but +a plant: but it is of more value than the kangaroo. Examine these +thistles, I beg of you; see their hard, sharp points. Will they not +be excellent to card the hair in manufacturing our hats?” + +Each one of our young adventurers had a thousand different stories to +relate, each one vaunting his own prowess and extolling his share in +the events of the day. I had no time to listen to their boastings, +and I turned to examine the products of the expedition and determine +their use. The thistles of Fritz, which I recognized as being the +“carding-thistle,” were received by me as a precious discovery--one +more instrument added to our resources. My sons had also brought +home some cuttings of sweet potatoes and cinnamon: their good mother +received them with joy; and the next morning they were carefully +planted in the kitchen garden. + +The grain that we had sown before the rainy season, I perceived, +had now come to maturity, although it was not more than five months +since we had confided it to the earth. We now had our hands full of +business. The herrings would soon arrive, then the sea-dogs would +come; and my dear Elizabeth lamented piteously while she enumerated +all the labour we yet had to perform. There was the manioc to dig up, +the potatoes to gather and sow--in short, a thousand cares to attend +to, a thousand labours to undertake, that would occupy more time than +the year has days. + +I tranquillized my good companion as well as I was able, assuring her +that the manioc would not be injured by remaining in the ground; and +as to the potatoes, I informed her that she had nothing to fear for +this precious fruit, as our soil was warm and sandy, and they would +keep a great while in the earth. + +I decided that our labours should commence with the grain, the chief +and best of our resources; but wishing to effect the harvest in +the shortest possible time, and with the smallest expenditure of +strength, I resolved to adopt the Italian method rather than the +Swiss. + +I commenced by levelling a large space before the grotto, to serve +as a threshing-floor. We then, after having well watered it, beat +the earth for a long time with clubs. When the sun had dried it +up, the operation was repeated, and we continued it until we +obtained a solid, flat surface, without a crack in it, and almost as +impenetrable to water as to the sun’s rays. + +On arriving at the field we were about to reap, my wife asked me +where I would find anything with which to tie up the blades into +sheaves. + +“We will need nothing of the sort,” said I; “everything is to be done +according to the Italian method. Those people, naturally averse to +labour, never use sheaves, as being too heavy to carry.” + +“How, then,” asked Fritz, “do they manage to carry their harvest +home?” + +“You will soon see,” said I. + +At the same time I gathered up in my left hand all the stalks it +could contain, and taking a long knife in my right hand, I cut off +the stalks about six inches below the head. I then threw the handful +into a basket. “There,” said I, laughing, to Fritz, “there is the +first act of an Italian harvest.” + +My children thought it was an admirable plan; and in a short time the +plain presented but an unequal surface, bristling with decapitated +stalks, here and there dotted with a forgotten blade. + +We now hastened to the grotto, taking with us the grain we had cut. +When we arrived there, Ernest and his mother received orders to +sprinkle the blades over the threshing-floor I had prepared, while my +three cavaliers stood by their coursers’ sides, laughing at our new +invention for threshing grain. + +When everything was prepared, “To the saddle!” cried I, “to the +saddle!” and I told them they had nothing to do but display their +horsemanship among the grain. I leave the screams, the shouts of +laughter to the imagination of readers; the bull, the onagra, and the +ostrich rivalled each other in swiftness; my wife, Ernest, and I, +each one armed with a pitchfork, followed after them, throwing the +grain under the feet of the animals. + +When the grain was all threshed, we set to work to clear it of the +straws and dirt that had become mixed with it. This was the most +difficult and the most painful part of all the labour. We laid the +grain on close hurdles, and with wooden flails we endeavoured to +disengage the dirt; but this was not to be effected, except at the +expense of our eyes, mouth, or nose. The poor little workmen coughed +terribly, and we were obliged to desist every few moments to clear +our throats. + +We were several days engaged in these works, and we wished to see +exactly how much we possessed. We found ourselves rich enough to +defy all attacks of famine; we had sixty bushels of barley, eighty +of wheat, and more than a hundred of maize, from which I concluded +that the soil was more favourable to this last than to the barley +and the other European grains we had sown at the same time. We had +not prepared the maize as we had the other grains; but after having +dried the stalks, we detached the grains by beating them with long, +flexible whips; we took this care because we wanted its soft and +elastic leaves to stuff our mattresses. + +I had not lost sight of my intention of obtaining a second harvest +before the end of the season, and we now set to work to clear our +fields of the straw; but we had scarcely commenced when we beheld an +innumerable swarm of quails and partridges start up from the dried +stalks, where they had been enticed by the few blades of grain we had +left behind. As we were unprepared for them, they all escaped, save +one quail, which Fritz brought down with a stone; but the presence of +these birds after the harvest was a precious discovery for following +years, and we anticipated with pleasure the superb chase of quails +and partridges we should have after our harvests. + +When the land was all cleared I sowed it anew; but remembering what I +had learned in Europe, not to exhaust the soil, I varied my original +mode of operation, and contented myself by sowing, for the second +crop, wheat and oats. + +Our agricultural labours were scarcely finished, when the bank of +herrings appeared off Safety Bay. Our winter provisions being so +abundant, we did not take as many as customary of these; and we +contented ourselves with preparing two barrels, one of salted and one +of smoked herrings; we also preserved some of the fish alive, which +we put in the Jackal’s River, so that at any time we could obtain +them. + + + + + CHAPTER LI + + Trial of the Cajack--The Alarm--Adventure + with Sea-Cows--The Drawbridge + + +The trial of the cajack was a grand holiday fête; all were anxious to +join in it: and when Fritz appeared, clad in his maritime costume, +he was formally invited to take his place in his boat of skin. I +had forgotten to say before, that the cajack was furnished with two +little wheels of copper, so that it could be used as well on land +as on sea. This advantage enabled my sons to arrange the ceremony +with all possible pomp. Fritz was installed upon his bench, as proud +as Neptune or any other marine god setting off on a distant voyage. +The form of the cajack was not a bad resemblance of those immense +shells that fable has assigned to the sea-gods, as having been used +for chariots. I untied the canoe and held myself ready to start at +a moment’s notice, if any real danger should threaten our Greenland +sailor. When all these precautions were taken--“To the sea!” cried I +to Fritz; “to the sea!” “Good-bye!” repeated his brothers; and the +cajack glided into the water with inconceivable rapidity. The surface +of the bay was calm and tranquil, and soon the Greenlander was +dancing gaily over the waves: then, like a skilful actor, he began +executing a series of evolutions, each more adroit or more audacious +than the other. Sometimes he would shoot off far out of our sight; +then suddenly he would disappear in a cloud of foam, to the great +terror of his mother; in another moment we saw his head above the +floods, and an oar that he had elevated to signalize his triumph. + +The address and the audacity of our young sailor provoked, as one +can easily imagine, loud and frequent applause on our part: on his +part, not content with acting on the surface of the bay, he turned +his frail bark toward the Jackal’s River, and attempted to mount the +current; but this proved too strong for him, and threw him back so +violently that he disappeared from our sight. To jump into the canoe +and fly to the assistance of the poor Greenlander, was the affair +of an instant. Jack and Ernest went with me. The wheel of the canoe +appeared to us too slow; and while I exerted all my force in turning +it, my two sons took each an oar. We scarcely touched the surface +of the water, yet we could not perceive anything; our cries had no +echo but the rocks, and our sight was lost in the foaming waves that +boiled up around us. I felt my heart beating violently, and I had +not the courage to express my uneasiness to my sons; when suddenly, +in the direction of a rock just visible through the foam, I saw a +light cloud of smoke issuing forth, and putting my hand on my pulse, +I counted its beat four times before that smoke was followed by a +report. + +“He is saved!” cried I, “he is saved! Fritz is there in the direction +of the smoke: before a quarter of an hour he will rejoin us.” + +I then fired my pistol, which was instantly answered by another +report in the same direction. Ernest drew out his watch. After a hard +row we perceived Fritz, and in a quarter of an hour we reached him. + +We found the young hero of the sea established on the rocks. Before +him lay a walrus, or sea-cow, which he had killed with his harpoon. I +commenced by reproving my son for his imprudence. + +“My dear father,” answered he, “it was the current that swept me away +in spite of myself: my oars were like straws before the impetuosity +of the Jackal’s River; and I found myself thrown back into the sea, +at such a distance as to lose sight of land altogether. But I had no +time to fear: a company of sea-cows passed along, almost under my +nose. To throw my harpoon and strike one of these animals was the +work of an instant; but the wound I had inflicted was not mortal, and +instead of weakening him, it seemed, on the contrary, to inspire him +with new strength. He dived down; but the traces of blood he left +behind, and the bladder of air fastened to the end of the rope of +the harpoon, served as guides to follow him. The second time I was +more successful, and I launched a second harpoon direct in his side. +This last blow was decisive, and, after some struggles, the monster +extended himself on this rock. Remembering our precaution with the +boa, I fired two pistols at the head of the animal, and probably +those were the reports you heard.” + +“You have achieved a truly heroic action, and the combat was a +perilous one. The walrus is a redoubtable monster; and instead of +flying, he would have turned upon you, and God knows, my poor child, +what would have become of you if your frail boat of leather had been +torn by the terrible teeth of the walrus. But, God be praised, you +are safe, and that is better than the capture of ten such animals, +which are not very precious game. I do not know what use this will be +to us, notwithstanding it is near ten feet long.” + +“Well, then, if it is good for nothing,” answered Fritz, “I will keep +the head myself: I will prepare it and fasten it to the bow of my +cajack: its long, white teeth will have a fine effect, and I will now +call my cajack ‘The Walrus.’” + +“The teeth of the walrus,” said I, “are the only things worth +preserving. They are as white and hard as ivory. But make haste, for +the sky gives sure token of a storm.” + +I wished to take Fritz and his cajack into our canoe, but he refused, +and dashed on, saying he would announce our return to his mother. I +let him proceed, and he soon passed us. + +The storm came on quicker than I had anticipated. We had scarcely +accomplished a third of our course, when the thick, black clouds that +brooded over the horizon burst forth in torrents of rain. The wind, +the lightning, the waves, were confounded in horrible confusion. +Fritz was too far from us to allow of his joining us, and I repented +of not having taken him into the boat with us. I desired Jack and +Ernest to put on their swimming corsets, which we were always careful +to take with us, and to lash themselves fast to the ropes of the +canoe, so that they would not be carried away by the waves that +occasionally broke over us. + +The tempest increased, and my anxiety increased with it; the waves +elevated themselves like mountains: at one moment we would be high +in air, and at another precipitated to the bottom of an abyss, where +it would seem we were lost for ever. But the violence of the tempest +prevented its lasting a great while. The waves subsided, and after a +hurricane of a quarter of an hour, the wind fell, and the storm for a +time was over, although black and angry clouds rolled over our heads. + +We redoubled our efforts at the oars and the wheel, and soon arrived +within sight of Safety Bay. We entered the well-known harbour, and +the first objects which greeted our sight were Fritz, Francis, +and their mother, kneeling on the beach: they were praying for our +preservation. The heart of my poor Elizabeth was almost broken with +anxiety, and she needed to put all her trust in Him who alone can +comfort. + +We leaped from our canoe, amid the cries of joy and the embraces of +the dear ones who rushed to our arms. My wife had not strength to +articulate a single word of reproach for the great imprudence we had +displayed: her only thought was a feeling of thankfulness to our +Almighty Preserver. + +We all united in prayer, and retired to the grotto, to exchange our +dripping garments for dry ones. + +“At last,” said Fritz, who then spoke, “we are again united. I had +given up all hopes of ever seeing you again, when a huge wave swept +over my little barque; but I held my breath, and the wave passed on, +and I found myself still alive. But it was not my exertions that +brought me to the shore: there was a stronger hand than mine that +sustained my cajack among the waves--the hand of God,” added the +young man; “and to Him have I rendered homage.” + +The rain had been so abundant that the Jackal’s River had overflowed +its banks and damaged some of our constructions, which demanded +instant restoration. We therefore employed ourselves in building +protections against any other storms that might visit the coast of +Felsenheim. During our labours we received the visit of a superb +company of salmon. We captured a number, which were salted and smoked +according to the customary manner; we preserved some alive by passing +a strong cord through the gills and fastening them to stakes. + +We had resumed the peaceable course of our domestic avocations, when, +one clear moonlight night, I was suddenly awakened by barks and +cries, as if all the jackals of the country, the bears and tigers of +the savanna, had made an invasion into our domain. I rose in a great +fright, and arming myself with a gun, I walked to the door of the +grotto, which we generally left open on account of the fresh air. +Fritz had also heard the noise, and I found him half dressed, ready +to face the danger. + +“What do you think it is, papa?” said he; “a new invasion of jackals?” + +I dissembled the real fear I entertained, and assured my son that +doubtless it was our pigs, who were making us a nocturnal visit. I +did not think my supposition would be true. We ran out, and found +that our dogs and the jackal had captured three large hogs. Our first +movement was to laugh; we tried to call off our dogs, but in vain; +they had the poor pigs by the ears, and they would not let them go, +and we were forced to open their mouths with our hands. The pigs +never waited to see who were their liberators, but scampered away and +were soon across the river. + +I attributed this invasion to negligence on our part, and thought we +had forgotten to take up the planks from Family Bridge; but, upon +examination, I found that they had been all removed, and that the +audacious pigs had come across on the beams of the bridge. + +This occurrence convinced me that Family Bridge was not sufficient +for our security: instead of a barrier, it was only a means of +entering our domains. I had long contemplated the erection of a +drawbridge, and now appeared the proper time for constructing it. To +be sure, a drawbridge was not a little thing to undertake; but after +having constructed two vessels, attempted and executed a thousand +other things which required more skill than the simple art of +carpentering, we could not recoil before the idea of constructing a +drawbridge. + +I understood the turning-bridges; but as I had neither vice nor +windlass, I was obliged to adopt the simplest kind of drawbridge. I +constructed, between two high stakes, a sweep that could be easily +moved, and by the means of two ropes, a lever, and a counterpoise, +we had a bridge which could be easily raised and lowered. It would +only ensure us against the invasion of animals, the river being too +shallow to oppose any obstacle to a more serious attack. Whatever it +was, our domains were enriched with a new masterpiece, and my young +people exerted themselves in a thousand gymnastic exercises about the +stakes of the drawbridge: it was lowered, and raised, and for a few +days it was a great source of amusement for them. + + + + + CHAPTER LII + + Taming of Antelopes--Sugar Press--Combat + with a Hyena--A Flying Courier--The + Wild Horse and the Elephant + + +The drawbridge suffered the fate of all new inventions, admiration +evaporates so quickly! and at the end of several days, if any one +climbed the stakes, it was that he might have the pleasure of seeing +the antelopes and gazelles bounding over the plain of Falcon’s Nest. + +“Behold,” said one, “how graceful and light those animals are! they +scarcely touch the earth. What a pity we cannot tame them; or, at +least, approach them without scattering the whole flock, as the wind +does the dust!” + +“To take them,” said Ernest, “you will have to adopt the plan +resorted to by the Georgians in capturing buffaloes.” + +“Tut, tut,” said Jack, “cannot you find an example nearer home than +Georgia?” + +“For the world of thought,” replied the professor, gravely, “there is +no limitation; and it would be as well to become acquainted with the +Georgian method before rejecting Georgia as being too distant.” + +“Well, then, doctor, give us a lesson.” + +The professor, who willingly forgot the sarcasms and pleasantries +that were showered upon him, whenever he availed himself of an +opportunity to display his scientific knowledge, now began to explain +this former remark. + +“In the savannas of North America, in some places beds of marl are +found which contain salt, of which the animals are very fond: the +buffaloes especially flock in great numbers to this luxury which +Nature has provided for them. The natives of the country lie in +ambush for them there, and numbers fall victims to their avidity. In +the absence of salt marl,” continued the professor, “we can, if we +wish, prepare artificially a substitute for it, where the graceful +antelopes will fall into the snare. We can, for that purpose, mix +together the porcelain clay and some salt.” + +“Adopted! adopted!” responded all the little boys unanimously. +“Long live philosopher Ernest, first professor of the academy of +Falsenheim, doctor, librarian, manager of the museum, naturalist and +so forth!” + +To plan an excursion and ask my permission was the work of an +instant, and my harebrained youngsters promised themselves so much +pleasure that I had not the disposition to deny them. + +“Oh do, do, papa!” was the general cry; “an excursion is much more +fun than constructing bridges.” + +“I will make some pemmican,” said Fritz; “we have bear’s meat enough +left for it.” + +“And I,” said Jack, with a mysterious air, “I will take two pigeons +with me. I have got an idea in my head.” + +“And I,” added little Francis, “will take care of the coursers; and +if Fritz will take my advice, he will take the cajack along--it will +sail so nicely on the lake; and perhaps we can capture some of the +black swans. Oh, how beautiful a pair of those swans would look in +the basin of Falcon’s Nest!” + +The weather was calm and serene, and everything promised a pleasant +excursion to the adventurers. + +The making of pemmican was commenced immediately, under the +inspection of Fritz. The meat was pounded and crushed, until, after +two days of hard work, it was reduced to half its former size. I +tasted the meat of which Fritz boasted so much, and I did not think +it bad. + +Baskets, sacks, and all utensils necessary for the excursion were +collected together; even our old sledge was brought down, and it +was mounted on cannon-wheels, and loaded with all that the young +adventurers intended to carry with them. The cajack, arms, provision +for the mouth and for war--nothing was forgotten; anything that came +into their heads they piled on, and a caravan in the desert could not +have made more preparation. + +The morning of departure arrived. Every one was awake before day; and +Jack, without saying a word to anybody, climbed up into the dove-cot, +and took out several pairs of pigeons. + +“How is this?” said I, as I saw the youngster placing his pigeons in +a basket. “It appears that you gentlemen take precautions to provide +a variety for yourselves. I am only afraid that those old pigeons +will be pretty tough eating.” + +The fellow looked at me knowingly for a moment, but did not answer. +When they were about to set off, I saw him conversing mysteriously +with Ernest; but I could discover nothing, and I contented myself +with waiting a surprise of some kind, as I knew they intended one. + +At last they were ready to set out. My wife enjoined my sons to be +prudent; we embraced them, and they soon disappeared in a cloud +of dust, with the coursers and the sledge. Ernest alone remained +with his mother and me, and we employed ourselves in constructing a +sugar-cane press, which my wife had much need of. The machine, which +was composed of three cylinders, placed upright, differed very little +from the ordinary presses, with the exception that it was arranged so +as to be moved by animals. + +Meanwhile our young adventurers were pursuing their course toward the +savanna. I will relate their adventures here as they were recounted +to us on the return of the party. + +They had passed over the tract of land that separated Family Bridge +from the country which we had called Waldegg, or the Hermitage, +and where they intended to pass the day, when, on approaching the +farmhouse, they heard cries like that of a person in distress. It +was a sort of wild, maniacal laugh; and the animals stopped in +terror; the dogs barked and howled fearfully; and the ostrich, more +frightened than the others, fled in the direction of the Lake of +Swans with such rapidity that all the efforts of its master could not +check it. The bull and the onagra trembled so violently that Fritz +and his brother were obliged to dismount. + +Francis seized his gun, put two pistols in his belt, called Folb and +Braun, and calmly walked on in the direction of the strange laugh. He +had not gone more than thirty paces when he perceived, through the +bushes, an enormous hyena, who, after having killed one of our sheep, +was devouring it; while ever and anon that strange laugh of joy would +echo from its blood-stained lips. The presence of the little hunter +did not disturb the monster in his horrid repast. While rolling his +flaming eyes, he tore the poor sheep in pieces. But Francis wanted +neither courage nor presence of mind: he placed himself behind a +tree, and taking good aim, he discharged both barrels of his gun, +and was so fortunate as to break both the fore-legs and pierce the +breast of the hyena. The dogs then rushed on; their terror changed +into rage. The most terrible combat now ensued between them and the +furious monster; growls and cries resounded through the air, and the +blood flowed in torrents. + +Fritz, who had succeeded in attaching the onagra and the bull to a +tree, now ran up at the sound of the double explosion and the noise +of the dogs. They would have fired again and terminated the combat, +but the dogs were so close to the hyena that they were afraid of +hitting them, so that they were obliged to await the issue of the +combat. Folb took the hyena by the throat, and Braun by the muzzle, +and there they held him until he dropped down dead. My sons uttered +a cry of joy; and calling off the dogs, dressed the wounds they had +received by rubbing them with hydromel and bears’ grease, which they +had brought with them to eat. + +When my sons had established their tent, etc., at Waldegg, they set +off with the sledge to bring the hyena thither. The following day was +entirely devoted to skinning the animal and preparing the hide. While +they were thus employed, we were calmly conversing under the vault of +the grotto. + +“I wonder where my brothers are,” said Ernest. “I think we shall very +soon have news from them.” + +“What put that idea into your head?” said his mother. + +“Oh! I dreamed it,” said Ernest. + +“Bah! A great confidence your dreams will induce!” replied my wife. + +While we were thus talking, a bird, whose genus we could not discover +on account of the obscurity, fluttered in at the open door of the +dove-cot. + +“Shut it, shut it!” cried Ernest; “to-morrow morning we will inspect +our new guest. Who knows! perhaps it is a courier from New Holland, +and bears despatches under its wing from Sydney, Port Jackson and so +forth.” + +“Why, how is it your thoughts run on despatches and news this +evening, Ernest?” + +“Ah, it is nothing,” answered he, with indifference; “only the +arrival of that pigeon recalled to my mind something I have been +reading to-day, concerning the correspondence the ancient Greeks and +Romans carried on by means of carrier-pigeons.” + +The next morning, Ernest rose before me, and paid a visit to the +dove-cot; I said nothing; and after breakfast I saw him coming +in, holding in his hand a piece of paper, folded and sealed like +a government letter, which he presented to me on bended knees, +saying as he did so, “Noble and gracious lord of these lands, I beg +you to excuse the postmaster of Felsenheim for the delay that the +despatches from Sydney and New Holland have experienced; the packet +was retarded, and did not arrive till very late last evening.” + +His mother and I burst into a laugh at this ridiculous speech. + +“Well,” replied I, continuing the jest, “what are our subjects in +Sydney and New Holland engaged in? Will the secretary open and read +the despatches?” + +At these words, Ernest broke the seal of the paper, and, elevating +his voice, commenced-- + + “_The Governor-General of New Holland, to the Governor of + Felsenheim, Falcon’s Nest, Waldegg, the Field of the + Sugar-Canes, and the surrounding country._ + + “GREETING, + + “Noble and faithful ally! We learn with displeasure that + three men, whom we suppose to be part of your colony, are + making inroads into our savannas, and doing much damage + to the animals of the province; we have also learned that + frightful hyenas have broken through the limits of our + quarter, and killed many of the domestic animals of our + colonists. We therefore beg you, on one part, to call back + your starving huntsmen; on the other, to provide measures + to purge the country of the hyenas and other ferocious + beasts that infest it. Especially I pray God, my Lord + Governor, that He will keep you under His holy protection. + + “Done under our hand and seal at Sydney Cove, Port Jackson, + the twelfth day of the eighth month of the thirty-fourth + year of the colony. + “PHILIP PHILLIPSON, _Governor_.” + +Ernest stopped in laughter at the effect the letter produced on us. +I felt that there was some mystery, and I was anxious to get at the +bottom of it. Ernest enjoyed my evident embarrassment, and, jumping +up and down as children do, he let fall a new paper from his pocket. +I caught it up, and was going to read it, when he laid his hand on my +arm, saying-- + +“Those also are despatches; they came from Waldegg, and, although +less pompous than General Phillipson’s, perhaps they are more +truthful. Listen, then, to a letter from Waldegg----” + +“Oh, do explain to us,” said I, “this prolonged enigma. Did your +brothers leave a letter before they went? Is the news of the hyena +true? Did they act so rashly as to attack the animal?” + +“Here is a letter from Fritz,” replied Ernest; “my pigeon brought it +to me last night.” + +He opened the paper and read the following words-- + + “DEAR PARENTS, and you, my good ERNEST,--I will inform you + of our arrival at Waldegg; we there found a hyena, who had + devoured several of our sheep. Francis alone has all the + honour of having killed the monster, and he deserves much + praise for his intrepidity: we have passed the whole day in + preparing the skin, which is very fine, and will be very + useful. The pemmican is the most detestable stuff I ever + tasted. Adieu! we embrace you tenderly in spirit. + “FRITZ.” + +“A true hunter’s letter,” cried I. “But this hyena, how could it have +found its way into our domains? Has the palisade been overturned?” + +“We shall probably receive another letter this evening,” said Ernest, +“and that will give us further details of the expedition.” + +After dinner a new pigeon was seen to enter the dove-cot. Ernest, +who had not remained quiet one moment during the day, immediately +shut the door of the dove-cot, removed from the wing of the aërial +messenger the despatch he had brought, and delivered it to us; it +read as follows-- + + “The night has been fine--the weather beautiful--excursion + in cajack on lake--capture of some black swans--several new + animals--apparition and sudden flight of an aquatic beast, + entirely unknown to us--to-morrow at Prospect Hill. + + “Be of good cheer; + “Your sons, + “FRITZ, JACK, and FRANCIS.” + +“It is almost a telegraphic despatch,” said I, laughing; “it could +not be more concise. Our huntsmen would rather fire a gun than write +a sentence; nevertheless, their letter tranquillizes me; but I really +hope that the hyena which they killed is the only one in the country.” + +We received other letters at intervals; but they were so concise that +I will continue here the narration the boys made on their return. + +Delivered from the terrible neighbourhood of the hyena, they had +undertaken to explore the marsh around the Lake of Swans. Fritz +embarked in the cajack, and his brothers followed, as near as +possible to him, along the shore. The black swans afforded a fine +chase to our young huntsmen. A loop of wire fastened to a long bamboo +was the means they employed; but they captured only three young +swans, the old ones being too strong, and defending themselves with +their powerful wings. + +After the swans came a bird of a new kind, which, by his majestic +walk and noble appearance, seemed the king of birds. The boys threw +the wire loop over his head, and, drawing him to the shore, fastened +his feet and wings, and laid him alongside the swans. + +While they were occupied in examining their magnificent prey, which +Ernest afterward pronounced to be the “heron royal,” an extraordinary +animal rushed out from the weeds, and passing close to their sides, +struck them with terror. It was an animal about the size of a young +foal, of a form like that of the rhinoceros, only it had not the horn +on the nose which that animal has; the upper lip was very prominent, +and the whole body of a very dark brown colour. My three huntsmen +were not very distinguished naturalists, and the best name they could +find for the beast was the Tapir or Anta of South America, + +Fritz began to pursue it in his cajack; but the tapir swam away so +rapidly that he was soon obliged to desist. During this time Jack and +Francis had set out for the hut, carrying with them the black swans +and the beautiful heron royal. In their way thither they encountered +a flock of cranes, which hovered around their heads, uttering +piercing cries. A great number were soon brought down, not by +firearms, but by the bows which the boys carried. These were provided +with long, triangular-pointed arrows. + +Fritz, on rejoining his brothers, felt a little piqued when he +perceived, from their trophies, the fine chase that they had made; +and, on the other hand, his unsuccessful pursuit of the tapir made +him a little ashamed. He wished to retrieve his honour and repair +the damage which his reputation as a good hunter had sustained; so, +calling the dogs to him, and accompanied by his eagle, he directed +his course toward the wood of guavas. He had not been there more +than a quarter of an hour before his dogs started a flock of the +most beautiful birds Fritz had ever seen. He cast off his eagle, and +while it was pursuing one, a second fell down from fright into his +hands. He also captured a third, which had become entangled in a +shrub. This last was a magnificent one. Its tail was more than two +feet in length, and two of the feathers were longer than the others, +and glowed with the most beautiful shades of gold, green, and brown, +terminated at the end by a spot of black, exactly like velvet. Ernest +recognized it afterward as being the Bird of Paradise, the _manu +cordiata_, which is the most elegant in form and plumage of all the +birds of New Holland. + +Our huntsmen, after all their exertions, had acquired a most +ferocious appetite; and although their repast was frugal, yet they +did it ample justice. The cold meat of the peccary, guavas, cinnamon +apples, and potatoes cooked in the ashes, were all devoured with +thankfulness. The pemmican alone was disdained, and declared unworthy +of its reputation. + +And now another despatch arrived, which filled me with anxiety. It +contained the following words-- + + “The palisade of the defile which leads to the savanna is + destroyed; the sugar-canes have been all trampled down, + and we have discovered large footprints, like those of + the elephant, in the sand. There are also the prints of + the hoofs of wild horses. Come quickly to our aid, dear + parents; there is much to do for the safety of the colony. + Lose not an instant, we beg of you.” + +I leave it to the reader to imagine the inquietude into which this +letter threw me. I saddled the onagra without losing a moment, and, +leaving Ernest and his mother to follow me on the next day, I set off +for the defile. There was a distance of six leagues between my sons +and me; but I accomplished it in three hours. + +My children were surprised to see me arrive so promptly, and they +received me with transports of joy. The idea I had entertained of +the devastation was but faint in comparison with the reality. The +sugar-canes were irretrievably lost: they had been trampled down, and +the leaves torn off, by some animal that I was sure must have been an +elephant. All our trouble in erecting the palisade had been wasted; +the stakes had been all torn up, the trees near by deprived of their +bark, the bamboos had been treated no better than the sugar-canes, +and every young shrub I had planted had been torn up. I examined +attentively the footprints in the sand, and was convinced that the +larger ones were those of the elephant, and the smaller ones those +of a hippopotamus; but I could discover no traces of the hyena. +I surrounded our tent with dry branches, and amassed an abundant +provision of combustibles, so that we might keep off any beasts by +fires at night. + +Ernest and his mother arrived after dinner, bringing with them +the waggon, the cow, the ass, and all necessary utensils for our +encampment, which was likely to last a good while. + +We immediately began the construction of a solid fortification across +the defile, one that would effectually keep out all intruders. I will +spare my readers the details of this tiresome work, which occupied +us constantly for more than a month. My good Elizabeth shared in our +toils, and inspired her sons with ardour and perseverance. Sometimes +we would relax from our labours; Fritz would make excursions in his +cajack, and the other boys would wander off, and always bring us home +something useful. + + + + + CHAPTER LIII + + The Redoubt--Valuable Discoveries--The + Cacao Tree--The Banana--Crocodiles and + Alligators--Tea Plant--Artillery and + Fortification of Shark Island + + +Our next labour was to construct some sort of a fort to shelter us +whenever we might visit the defile. We had not strength enough to +build a regular fort; and besides, our knowledge of fortification was +very limited. At last Fritz thought of a plan of a Kamschatdale fort, +which he had read of somewhere, and which I thought, with a little +improvement, would answer admirably. + +The Kamschatdale fort simply consists of four high stones, upon which +are laid planks and boards, forming a platform upon which a hut of +bark or branches is constructed--not a very formidable fortress +certainly; but yet capable of defending us in case of an attack from +wild beasts. + +Instead of four stones for the foundation, we chose out four trees +to answer the same purpose. We did not cut the branches off close, +but left them as rests for the beams of our platform. We surrounded +our platform with a high and strong network of rushes and branches, +leaving an opening for entrance; and we covered the roof with the +waterproof leaves of the Talipot palm. These leaves grow so large +that ten men can be covered by one of them. Our fort bore a strong +resemblance to Falcon’s Nest; and, surrounded as it was by green +trees and flourishing verdure, it did not look much like a military +construction. + +To ascend to the platform, we employed one of the simplest means I +could imagine: it was by a beam which descended perpendicularly to +the ground, and notched deeply into steps. We also arranged this so +that it could be raised and lowered at pleasure. + +Fritz and Jack promised themselves wonders from our new fort, which +overlooked the savanna for a great distance, and we could see the +river running like a silver thread through the immense plain; and by +means of spy-glasses we could discern troops of buffaloes and other +animals feeding around the brink. + +Our labours at the fort were diversified by some important +discoveries. One day Fritz made an excursion to the river of the +savanna, and found among the rich vegetation there some unknown +shrubs, of which he brought me specimens to examine. One kind bore, +in large clusters, a beautiful green fruit, tipped at the end with +violet, and shaped like a large gherkin; the others were covered with +quantities of small flowers, interspersed with large fruits like +cucumbers. On examination, I recognized them as being two of the +most precious productions of the tropics: the largest of the fruits +was the cacao-bean, of which chocolate is made; the other was the +banana, that forms an article of food for the inhabitants of several +countries in America. + +We tasted these far-famed fruits, but did not find them very +excellent. The beans of the cacao are filled with a sort of viscous +matter, like thick cream, but of an insipid taste and an odour like +that of an over-ripe pear. + +My wife, who had opened several bananas, sought in vain for some +seeds which she might take home to plant in her kitchen-garden. +I told her that the banana contained no seeds, and was always +propagated from cuttings, which will easily grow if planted in rich, +wet earth. My wife also wished to plant some of the cacao-beans in +her garden: but she was obliged to renounce her project, as Ernest +told her that unless the seeds were put in when the fruit was +gathered they would be useless. It was resolved, in consequence, that +Fritz should set out the next day in his cajack, and go in search of +the elements necessary for the reproduction of these two precious +plants. My wife never forgot her kitchen-garden; and whenever she +came across a useful addition, she immediately planted a specimen +there. + +The next day Fritz embarked; and fearing that his cajack would not be +large enough to hold the cargo he intended to bring home, he fastened +a raft of rushes behind it. He was ashamed, he said, to go for some +banana cuttings only, and he intended to bring home something else. +We occupied ourselves during the day in preparing to set out for +Felsenheim; and Fritz did not return till late in the evening, when +we saw him coming toward us, the cajack and the raft loaded down to +the water’s edge. + +“Bravo! bravo!” cried his brothers, as they saw Fritz advancing, +laden with green branches. The cargo was soon unloaded, and dragged +up to the hut with as much contentment as if it had been the galleons +of silver that Admiral Anson captured. + +Fritz now came up, holding in his hand a superb bird, the feet and +wings of which he had fastened, and which he presented to us as the +principal booty of the day. + +It was the Sultan Cock of Buffon, the king of water-fowls, so called +from its beauty of form, and the brilliancy of its plumage. I easily +recognized its long red legs, and its beautiful green and violet +plumage, with a red spot in the forehead. My wife wished to add it +to the inhabitants of the farmyard; and as it was very gentle, it +soon became as tame as the rest of our domestic fowls, who appeared +jealous of the new-comer. + +Fritz now recounted to us the details of the day. He informed us that +he had ascended the river for a great distance, and that he had been +astonished at the majestic forests which bordered it, and threw a +sombre shade over its waters. He had encountered several families of +turkeys, pintadoes, and peacocks, whose cries and screams imparted an +air of life to the sombre river. Farther on the scene had changed: +there were enormous elephants feeding along the bank, in troops of +twenty or thirty; some were playing in the water, and squirting the +cooling fluid over the heated bodies of their companions; tigers +and panthers, too, lay sleeping in the sun, their magnificent fur +contrasting strangely with the green bank upon which they reclined; +but not one of these animals paid the least attention to the young +navigator. + +“I felt my inability and weakness,” said Fritz, “on finding myself +face to face with these terrible enemies; my gun, my balls, and my +skill would have been of little use, and I thought I had better +retrace my steps. I commenced to turn my cajack round, when what was +my surprise to see, at about the distance of two gun-shots before me, +a long and large mouth, armed with rows of formidable teeth, and the +whole apparatus moving directly toward me. I cannot say how I found +strength enough to escape, I felt so frightened at the apparition. I +took a lesson then in natural history that I have no desire soon to +repeat.” + +“What animal was it,” asked Francis, “the mouth and teeth of which +Fritz saw coming out of the water?” + +“An alligator, probably,” said Ernest; “or, if you would prefer using +a name more familiar to you, a crocodile.” + +We finished our preparations for departure, and set off at break of +day the next morning for Felsenheim. Fritz asked my permission to +allow him to make the journey by water, in his cajack, and to return +home by doubling Cape Disappointment. I readily consented, as the +ease with which he managed his little boat gave me nothing to fear, +and besides, I was anxious to know more about the cape. + +We both set out at the same time, and both arrived home safely. The +sailor, in doubling the cape, had made two new discoveries: among the +bushes which covered the rock he remarked two shrubs, one of which +was covered with very highly-scented, rose-coloured flowers, and had +long, narrow leaves; the other had numerous small white flowers, and +in its whole appearance very much resembled the myrtle. He brought +home to us specimens of these two shrubs, one of which my wife +recognized as the caper-tree, used in pickling; the other was a sort +of Chinese tea-plant, which was received with marked distinction. + +When we were a little rested from our fatigue, my wife recalled +to mind Falcon’s Nest and its aërial chateau, which we had almost +forgotten since our discovery of the salt cavern. + +“It is wrong,” said she, “to let that beautiful habitation go to +ruin. Although Felsenheim offers us a sure protection in winter, yet +Falcon’s Nest, with its gigantic branches and pleasant verdure, is +the most agreeable habitation we could possess.” + +My wife spoke reasonably, and I promised her that I would do as +she wished. We left Felsenheim and took up our residence in our +old habitation. The roof that we had made over the roots was now +plastered with gum and resin; the staircase was repaired: we +substituted a bark roof for the old linen one over our chamber in the +tree; we made a balcony all around it, and repaired everything, so +that it was a clean, agreeable habitation. + +[Illustration: “I felt so frightened at the apparition.”] + +But the embellishments at Falcon’s Nest were but a prelude to more +considerable and difficult works. Fritz had conceived the idea of +fortifying Shark Island, and making that a sort of rallying point in +case of danger. He teased me so about it, and his head was so full +of plans and projects, that it was impossible to resist him, and the +work was at length begun. One can easily conceive how great were the +obstacles that a man and four boys had to contend with, in order to +convey two cannons to the island, and level them on a platform more +than fifty feet in height. It cost us immense labour even to effect +the transport of the cannons. I then placed on the platform we had +built a large capstan; and, to shorten the time and reduce the labour +in passing round the rock, I let down a rope, made into loops, so +that we could easily ascend and descend. The cannons were attached by +strong ropes, and then hauled up by the capstan. This work cost us a +whole day of hard labour; but at last the cannons were landed on the +platform, and established with their mouths toward the sea. We placed +a long pole in the rock, with a string and pulley, so that we could +hoist up a flag at any time. How glad we felt when our work was done, +and how proud we were of our ingenuity! When we had crowned this +military construction with a flag, a cry of joy was uttered; and, as +economical as I felt we must be in powder, six times we fired our +cannons, and the rocks repeated the echo over a vast extent of ocean. + + + + + CHAPTER LIV + + A General Review of the Colony after Ten Years + of Establishment + + +It is with dismay that I cast my eyes over the number of pages I have +filled, and which every day grow more numerous. + +Although I should like to mention the minutest details of our +domestic life, yet I have some consideration for my readers, who +would throw down the book in disgust and grow weary of the monotony +of the design; therefore, I must content myself with merely +describing our principal occupations. + +Ten years have passed away since we were thrown on this coast, each +year resembling the preceding one in the similarity of its works: +we had our fields to sow, our harvests to gather, and our domestic +cares to attend to. These formed the almost unbroken circle of our +existence. My only desire is, that the end I intended in writing this +journal may be fulfilled, and that my readers, if I ever have any, +may learn how, with God’s blessing, to provide for their necessities +when thrown, as we have been, entirely on their own resources. + +Providence had willed that the land of our exile should be in one of +the most favoured quarters of the globe, and every day we offered up +our thanks to Him for His goodness and beneficent kindness toward us. + +The ten years we had passed were but years of conquest and +establishment. We had constructed three habitations, built a solid +wall across the defile, which would secure us against invasion from +the wild beasts which infested the savanna. The part of the country +in which we dwelt was defended by high mountains on one side, and the +ocean on the other; we had traversed the whole extent, and rested +in perfect surety that no enemy lurked within it. Our principal +habitations were beautiful, commodious, and especially very healthy. +Felsenheim was a safe retreat for us during the storms of winter, +while Falcon’s Nest was our summer residence and country villa; +Waldegg, Prospect Hill, and even the establishment at the defile, +were like the quiet farmhouses that the traveller finds in the +mountains of our own dear Switzerland. + +The remembrance of our native land is never obliterated from the +mind; the love of one’s birthplace is a love that survives youth, and +exists in all its ardour in the bosom of the old man. + +Of all our resources, the bees had prospered most; experience had +taught me how to manage them, and the only trouble that I had was +to provide new hives each year for the increasing swarms; and, in +truth, so great was the number of our hives that they attracted a +considerable flock of those birds called _merops_, or bee-eaters, who +are extremely fond of these insects. + +We finished the gallery which extended along the front of our grotto: +a roof was made to the rock above it, and it rested on fourteen +columns of light bamboo, which gave it an elegant and picturesque +appearance; large pillars supported the gallery, around which twined +the aromatic vines of the vanilla and the pepper, and each end of +the gallery was terminated by a little cabinet with elevated roofs, +having the appearance of Chinese pavilions, surrounded by flowers +and foliage. A flight of steps led up into the gallery, which we had +paved with a sort of stone so soft when dug out as to be cut with a +chisel, but hardening rapidly in the sun. + +The environs of our habitation were rich and agreeable; our +plantations had perfectly succeeded; and between the grotto and the +bay was a grove of trees and shrubs, planted in tasteful confusion, +which gave the spot the aspect of an English garden. + +Shark Island no longer was an arid bank of sand: palm and pine-apple +trees had been planted everywhere, and the earth was covered with a +carpet of vivid green; while far above the trees towered a staff, +upon the top of which the Swiss flag floated gaily in the breeze. + +Our European trees had grown with a strength and rapidity of +vegetation almost incredible; but their fruits had lost their +flavour; and whether because the soil or the air was unfavourable, +the apples and pears became black and withered, the plums and +apricots were nothing but hard kernels surrounded by a tough +skin. On the other hand, the indigenous productions, multiplied a +hundred-fold: the bananas, the figs, the guavas, the oranges and +the citron, made our corner of the island a complete terrestrial +paradise, where all the riches of vegetation were assembled. But +the abundance of fruit brought on another plague: multitudes of +pillagers, in the shape of birds, flocked to the spot. We kept our +bird-snares always ready, and it sometimes happened that an unknown +animal would be taken in the trap; for example, the great squirrel +of Canada, remarkable for its beautiful tufted tail and lustrous +red skin, attracted hither probably by our almonds and chestnuts; +parroquets, in all their diversity of colours, would sometimes be +caught; blue jays, thrushes, yellow loriots, abounded plentifully, +to the great prejudice of our cherries, figs, and native grapes. +Besides the birds by day, there were other destroyers by night, and +we had a great deal of trouble to dislodge a nest of flying squirrels +that had taken up their residence in the topmost branches of one of +our finest trees. + +Our beautiful flowers also attracted numerous guests: these were the +humming birds; and it was one of our greatest amusements to watch +these little birds flying around us, sparkling like precious stones, +and hardly perceptible by the quickness of their motions; it was an +amusing spectacle to see these passionate, choleric little fellows +attack others twice their size, and drive them away from their nests, +and at other times they would tear in pieces the unlucky flower that +had deceived their expectations of a rich feast. These little scenes +diverted us, and we endeavoured to induce the birds to remain in +our neighbourhood by fixing little pots of honey on the branches, +and planting the flowers we observed they preferred. Our cares were +recompensed; several couples suspended their little nests, lined with +soft cotton, to the branches of the vanilla which wound around the +columns of the gallery, or on the vines of the pepper, the perfume of +which is very enticing to the humming-bird. + +The making of sugar was an object of our special attention, and +we gradually improved our manufacture; not that I can say we +crystallized it as done in the refineries, but we obtained a very +satisfactory result. We had saved from the wreck of the ship many +articles intended for a sugar factory; among others, three metal +cylinders with which to press the sugar-cane, three great kettles to +boil the liquid in, and ladles and skimmers in abundance. The press +was fixed under a perpendicular screw, working in connection with the +cylinders, the whole turned by a lever passed horizontally through +the screw, and moved by one of our beasts of burden. + +Whale Island had not been neglected: we embellished it with trees and +shrubs; but it was here that we always performed our less cleanly +avocations, such as the preparation of fish, the melting of fat, the +tannery, and the candle-making. The materials for these works were +kept under an overhanging rock, which protected them from the sun and +storm. + +Our cares were divided between these different establishments, +without neglecting those that were more distant from us, and which +we called our colonies. At Waldegg we transformed the swamp into a +superb rice-field, which repaid our labour by plentiful harvests; we +also planted cinnamon, which yielded us an ample return. Prospect +Hill also had its share of attention; for each year, when the capers +were ripe, we made an excursion thither, and gathered a large +quantity, which my wife preserved in spice and vinegar; and when +the tea-plant began to put forth its leaves, again we set out, and +gathering enough for our use; we took it home to my wife, who, with +her youngest son, occupied herself in rolling, drying, and preparing +it for use. + +We made, from time to time, an excursion to the defile of the +savanna, so that we might see whether any elephants, or other hurtful +beasts, had penetrated into our plantations. Fritz then made an +excursion in his cajack up the river of the savanna, and brought back +to us a rich cargo of ginseng, cacao, and bananas. + +As Fritz had discovered in the woods near the defile traces of birds +which, from their noise and form, he judged to be heath-cocks, we +resolved one day to have a grand hunt, after the manner of the Cape +colonists. For this purpose we constructed a large quadrangle of the +enormous bamboo-canes I have spoken of, piled upon one another until +the edifice was ten feet long and six high, and exactly resembled +an enormous bird-cage; the top was covered with a lattice of canes, +and the door formed of the same. To induce the birds to enter, we +dug a deep ditch, which led, like a mine under a city wall, into +the centre of the edifice; we covered this ditch with sticks and +earth, and placed in the exterior entrance, all along the passage, +different sorts of grain. We then retired, and the birds precipitated +themselves on the food; the more they ate the deeper they buried +themselves in the ditch, until at last, when they arrived at the end, +they found themselves captured, and in vain they beat their heads +against the trellis-work. We entered and soon took them all prisoners. + +The family of Turk and Flora had each year been increased by a +certain number of young dogs, which, notwithstanding the brilliant +qualities they displayed, we were obliged to throw into the water, as +to have allowed them to live would have been our own destruction. To +this rule there was but one exception, and on the earnest entreaty of +Jack, I permitted the canine family to retain one new member, which +we called _Coco_, “because,” said Jack, “the vowel _o_ is the most +sonorous, and will sound so fine in the forests.” + +The female buffalo and the cow had each year produced us a scion +from their race; but we had only raised one heifer and a second +bull. We had called the cow _Blanche_, on account of her pale yellow +colour, and the bull _Thunder_, as his voice was so powerful. We +also possessed two more asses, which we named _Arrow_ and _Alert_ on +account of the swiftness of their course. + +Our pigs were as wild as ever. The old sow had been dead many +years; but she had bequeathed to her posterity a spirit of savage +independence that all our exertions could not modify. Our other +beasts had multiplied in the same proportion, so that we could often +kill one without any fear of impoverishing ourselves. Such was +the state of the colony ten years after our arrival on the coast: +our resources had multiplied as our industry increased; abundance +reigned around us; we were as familiar with our part of the island +as a farmer with his farm. It was a perfect paradise. It would have +been an Eden, but there was one great void--oh! if we could but have +looked upon men, our brothers! + +For ten years had we watched both by sea and land for some traces of +man’s existence, but all in vain; and yet we hoped on, hoped ever, +and still gathered up all our treasures of cotton, and spices, and +ostrich-plumes, etc., in earnest hope that some day we might again +see the blessed face of man. + +My sons were no longer children. Fritz had become a strong and +vigorous man; although not tall, yet his limbs had been developed by +exercise: he was twenty-four years of age. + +Ernest was twenty-three, and although of a good constitution, he was +not so strong as his brother; his reflective mind had ripened; reason +now aided his studious disposition; he had conquered his habit of +idleness, and was, in a word, a well-informed young man, of a sound +judgment, and unquestionably the light of the family. + +Jack had but little changed: he was as headlong at twenty as at ten; +but he excelled in corporeal exercises. + +Francis was eighteen: he was stout and tall; his character, without +any predominant trait, was estimable. He was reflective, without +being as deep as Ernest; agile and skilful, but without surpassing +Jack or Fritz. In general my sons were good and honest men, with +sound principles, and a deep sense of religion. + +My dear Elizabeth had not grown very old. As for me, my hair had +become whitened by age, or, to speak more justly, there were but a +few scattering locks left; the heat of the climate and excessive +fatigue had taken them all away, although I still felt young and +vigorous. + +There was one bitter, sad thought that always haunted my mind; and +turning my eyes to heaven, I would often say, “My God, who didst save +us from shipwreck, and hast surrounded us with so many blessings, +still watch over us, I pray thee, and do not let those perish in +solitude whom thy hand has saved.” + + + + + CHAPTER LV + + Excursion of Fritz--Startling Communication--Discovery + of Pearls--Intelligence of a Fellow + Creature--Fritz’s Return, and Account of + his Wonderful Discoveries + + +One can easily imagine that my young family was not so easy to govern +now as it was during the first few years of our stay. + +My children would often absent themselves whole days, hunting in +the forest, or clambering over the rocks; but when they returned at +evening, fatigued and wearied, if I had intended to reproach them for +their wandering life, they would have so much to tell me concerning +the rare and curious things that they had seen, that I never had +resolution enough to scold them. + +Fritz one day went off in this manner, and caused us the greatest +disquietude. He had taken with him some provisions, and--as if the +land was not large enough for him--also his cajack, and gone out to +sea. He had set out before daylight, and night was approaching, but +nothing could be seen of him. My wife was in a state of the greatest +suspense; and, to alleviate her distress, I launched the canoe, and +we set out for Shark Island. There, from the top of the flag-staff, +we displayed our flag and fired an alarm-cannon. A few moments after, +we saw a black spot in the far distance, and, by the aid of a +spy-glass, we discovered our beloved Fritz. He advanced slowly toward +us, beating the sea with his oars, as if his canoe were charged with +a double load. + +“Fire!” cried Ernest, in his capacity as commander of the fort, +“fire!” and Jack touched off the cannon. We descended to the shore, +and were soon in the arms of our adventurer Fritz. His boat was +loaded with different things; and something heavy and dark, which +looked like the head of a large animal, was towing behind. + +“It appears,” said I, “my dear Fritz, that your day has not been an +unprofitable one; and blessed be God that He has returned you safe +and sound.” + +“Yes,” replied Fritz, “blessed be God; for, besides the booty which +you see, I think I have made a discovery which is worth more to us +than all the treasures of the earth.” + +These words, half-whispered in my ear, excited my curiosity, but +I thought I would say nothing until the voyager had taken breath. +When we had brought on shore his sack, filled with large oysters, +as it appeared to me, and the marine monster which served as a +counterpoise, we drew the little cajack, with its master seated in +triumph in it, up to the grotto. The boys then returned to obtain +the remainder of the cargo, while we sat down quietly in the gallery +to listen to Fritz’s narrative. He commenced the recital of his +adventures by begging us to pardon him for running away, as he had +resolved to visit the eastern part of our country, of which we as yet +knew nothing. + +“I had long ago intended to make this expedition,” said he. “This +morning, before you awoke, I softly arose and ran, as is my custom, +to the borders of the sea. The weather was so beautiful, the waves +so tranquil, that I could not resist the temptation. I called my +eagle, and seizing a hatchet, jumped into the cajack, and falling +into the current of Jackal’s River, was hurried out toward the shoals +where our vessel was wrecked. I directed my course toward the eastern +coast, among shoals and rocks covered with the nests of sea-birds, +who flew around me uttering piercing cries. Whenever the rocks +offered any surface, you would see great marine monsters extended +in the sun, while others were playing and bellowing frightfully in +the neighbouring waters. There were sea-lions, and elephants, and +walruses of all sorts, who, holding on to the rocks by their long +teeth, let their hinder parts rest in the water. It seemed that this +was the general rendezvous of these monsters; for I saw, in coasting +along the shore, several places strewed with their bones and ivory +teeth. + +“I must confess,” said Fritz, “that when I saw myself encompassed +by these monsters, I did not feel very safe; and I endeavoured, as +far as I was able, to pass through the shoals unperceived, which I +effected after a hard row of an hour and a half. I stopped my course +before a magnificent portico of rocks, which nature seemed to have +fashioned into the most imposing forms: it was like the arch of an +immense bridge, under which the sea flowed in like a canal, while the +rock on each side of the entrance advanced out into the sea, like an +immense promontory. I did not hesitate to enter this sombre vault, +from the other extremity of which issued a feeble light. A delicious +coolness filled the cavern. On all sides numbers of the little +coast-swallows were flying about; and on my entrance into the cavern, +a swarm of these birds surrounded me, uttering piercing cries, as if +they wished to prohibit my farther approach. I tied my skiff to an +angular stone in the cavern, and began to examine the inhabitants. I +found I was mistaken in considering these birds swallows: they were +about the size of wrens, their breast of a pure white colour, their +wings of a light grey, the back of a lustrous black. Their nests +appeared like those of other birds, made of feathers and dry leaves; +but they were placed on a singular sort of a support, resembling a +long spoon, made of greyish, polished wax. Some of these nests were +empty; and having examined them with more attention, I discovered +that they were made of a substance resembling fish-glue. I disengaged +a few of them to bring home to you, and I now beg you will examine +them, and see whether they are good for anything.” + +“Certainly they are, my son. If we carried on commerce with China or +India, we could sell these nests for their weight in gold; for they +eat them by millions, and esteem them one of the greatest delicacies.” + +A general cry of disgust burst forth from my wife and children, +at the idea of eating birds’ nests. I explained to them that the +feathers and moss lining the inside were not eaten, but only the +covering, which is carefully cleaned and cooked with spices, making a +transparent, savoury jelly. + +“I advanced boldly through the passage,” said Fritz, “and came out +into a magnificent bay, whose low and fertile shores stretched out +into a savanna of vast extent; trees and shrubs everywhere varied +the beauty of the scene: on the right, a vast mass of rocks rose up, +being a prolongation of those that I had passed through; on the left +rolled a calm and limpid river; and beyond this was a thick swamp, +which terminated in a dense forest of cedars. While I was coasting +along the shores of the bay, I perceived at the bottom of the +transparent waters beds of shells resembling large oysters. ‘Here,’ +said I to myself, ‘is something that is much better than our little +oysters at Felsenheim; if they taste good, I will take some home +with me.’ I detached some with my hook and threw them on the sand, +without getting out of my canoe, and set to work to obtain more. When +I returned with a new load, I found that the oysters I had first +deposited on the sand were opened, and the sun had already begun to +corrupt them. I took up one or two; but instead of finding the nice +fat oyster I expected, I found nothing but a hard, gritty meat. In +trying to detach this from the shell, I felt some little round, hard +stones, like peas, under my knife; I took them out, and found them so +brilliant that I filled a little box with them which I happened to +have with me. Do you not think, my father,” added Fritz, “that they +are really pearls?” + +I took the box in my hand. “They are really pearls,” cried I, +“oriental pearls of the greatest beauty. You have, in truth, +discovered a treasure, my son, which one day will be, I hope, of +immense value to us. We will pay a visit to this rich bay as soon as +possible; but continue your story.” + +“I pursued my course,” resumed Fritz, “along the coast, indented with +creeks, and covered with verdure and flowers. I came up to the mouth +of the river, the calm waters of which floated on tranquilly toward +the sea; its surface, overgrown with aquatic plants, resembled a +verdant prairie covered with different sorts of birds. I gave to this +river the name of St. John, as it put me in mind of the description +I had read of a river of that name in Florida. Having renewed my +provision of fresh water, I then directed my course towards the other +promontory, opposite the arch by which I had entered. I endeavoured +to leave the bay; but the tide had risen so high that it filled the +vault, and I was obliged to await its ebb. I stepped on shore, as I +saw on all sides, popping up out of the water, the heads of marine +animals, which appeared about the size of a calf, and they plunged +and frisked about in such a manner that I was afraid they would +overset my cajack; so I secured it to a point in the rock, and, +taking my eagle in my hand, I stood ready to attack the first game +that came near me; for I wished to procure one of the animals, which +resembled a stuffed valise, as I thought its thick skin might be of +use to me. A company of them soon came, plunging and diving, close to +the shore. I cast off my eagle, who seized on the largest and best, +and soon blinded him; I jumped on a projecting rock, and, catching +hold of the animal with my boat-hook, drew it to the shore. All the +others fled as if by enchantment. I had to remove the entrails of the +animal, as the weight was too heavy for my little skiff; but, while I +was thus occupied, a prodigious number of sea-birds clustered around +me: gulls, sea-swallows, frigates, and half a dozen other kinds. +They came up so close that I whirled my staff around to keep them +off, and in doing so knocked down a very large bird, an albatross, +I think. After this operation was finished, I fastened my sea-otter +to the stern of my boat; and, taking a sack full of oysters, made +preparations for my return. I soon passed through the arch, and +sailed quietly along, until I saw your flag and heard the report of +the cannon.” + +After this narrative, and while my wife and the younger boys had +gone to the cajack, my son drew me aside and confided to my ear an +important secret. + +“A very singular circumstance,” said he, “happened on my voyage. In +examining the albatross which I had knocked down, judge my surprise +when I saw a piece of linen around one of its feet. I untied it, and +read the following words written upon it in good English: ‘_Save the +poor shipwrecked sailor on the smoking rock._’ I cannot express to +you, my father, what I felt on seeing this linen. I read and re-read +the line to assure myself that it was not an optical illusion. I +cried aloud to the Almighty that it might but be true. From this +moment my only thought shall be to search the coast in quest of +the smoking rock, to save the sufferer--my brother--my friend. Oh! +once more perhaps I may see a human being. An idea occurred to me +to attach the linen again to the foot of the albatross, and to +write upon a second piece, which I fastened to the other foot, the +following sentence in English: ‘_Have confidence in God: succour is +near._’ If the bird returns to the place from whence it came, thought +I, the person can read the answer: at all events there will be no +harm in trying this experiment. The albatross had been stunned, and I +poured some hydromel down its throat to reanimate it. I attached my +note to its foot, and let it go, earnestly praying that its mission +might be successful. The bird flew up, hesitated for a moment, and +then darted rapidly away in an easterly direction, which decided +me to take that route in my search. And now, my father,” continued +Fritz with emotion, “what do you think of this event? If we could +find a new friend, a new brother--for certainly we will go in search +of the stranger, oh yes, we will go--what joy! what happiness! But, +alas! what despair if we should not succeed! The reason I did not +communicate this to my brothers and my mother was to spare them the +agonies of a hope which, after all, might never be realized.” + +My son pronounced these last words with sadness. + +“You have acted very prudently,” said I, “and I am glad that you have +sufficient strength of mind to resist the temptation of immediately +flying to the assistance of the sufferer. As for the result of any +expedition of discovery, I cannot say much; the albatross is a +traveller-bird, and it flies extremely swiftly: the linen might have +been put on its foot thousands of miles from here; and even if near, +perhaps years ago, and now succour may be too late. But continue to +keep the secret, and I will try to imagine whether some way cannot be +devised to save the poor unfortunate, if in our vicinity.” + +The pearls were too important an object to be forgotten, and my sons +importuned me to start immediately for the newly-discovered fishery. + +“Softly,” said I; “before riding, you must saddle your horse; and if +you wish that your enterprise should succeed, you must take with you +the necessary implements. Let each one of you try to invent something +useful for our purpose, and then we will start.” + +This proposition was received with joyous acclamations, and each +member of the party set his ingenuity to work. I forged for myself +two large iron rakes and two small hooks of the same metal; I +fixed wooden handles to the first-named, with iron rings attached, +so that I could fasten them to the boat and drag them over the +banks of oysters; with the hooks I intended to loosen the oysters, +which the rakes were insufficient to detach. Ernest made a sort of +butterfly-net with scissors attached, intended to receive the birds’ +nests. Jack constructed a kind of ladder, made by piercing a long +bamboo at regular distances, and fixing in sticks crosswise; the +machine looked like the stick in a parrot’s cage. To the top the +young man fixed a hook of iron, and a spike at the bottom, so that it +should rest firmly in the rocks. Francis, very adroit in making nets, +made several very strong ones to hold our oysters. + +During this time, Fritz worked in silence at his cajack, endeavouring +to construct a second seat in it. I alone knew his intention; but I +dared not encourage him by evincing my knowledge of his object. + +We next prepared our provisions for the voyage: two hams were +cooked, cassava cakes, barley-bread, rice, nuts, almonds, and other +dry fruits; and for drink we took a barrel of water, and one of +hydromel. These stores, with our tools and finishing implements, +loaded down the boat. + + + + + CHAPTER LVI + + Edible Birds’ Nests--Pearl-Fishery--Poor Jack + is “Killed”--Discovery of Truffles + + +We had spent an entire day in preparing our cargo. A fresh and +favourable breeze and a slightly ruffled sea induced us to embark +immediately. Francis and his mother were left to guard the shore, and +we gaily put off, amid their prayers and wishes for our safe return. +We took with us some of our domestics: young Knips, the successor +of our good old monkey, Jack’s jackal, Flora, Braun, and Folb, all +found a place in the boat. Jack occupied the second seat in Fritz’s +cajack. Ernest and I conducted the canoe loaded with our provisions +and animals. + +The cajack led the way, and we followed, steering our course through +the shoals and rocks with the greatest difficulty. We did not +encounter any marine monsters; but the rocks were covered with the +whitened bones of walruses and sea-horses, and Ernest made us stop +several times, at the risk of bruising our boat against the rocks, +in order that he might collect some of these osseous remains for our +museum of natural history. + +We soon attained the promontory, behind which, Fritz said, was the +Bay of Pearls. This promontory was singular and imposing. Arch +rose above arch, column above column; in a word, it resembled the +front of one of those old Gothic cathedrals, embellished with a +thousand grotesque carvings and antiquated decorations, with the +only difference that, instead of a pavement of marble, we had the +blue sea, and the columns were washed by the waves. It struck us +as a temple elevated to the Eternal, in the midst of immensity. We +penetrated into the vault; it was sombre and gloomy, like an old +cathedral, and only lighted by a few apertures in the rock. + +The noise of our oars frightened the peaceable salanganes, and they +flew about in such numbers as almost to render it impossible to guide +the boat; but when our eyes became habituated to the darkness, we +saw with pleasure that every niche and corner was filled with their +nests. These nests resembled white cups, were as transparent as horn, +and filled, like the nests of other birds, with feathers, and dry +sticks of some sort of perfumed wood. + +The trial which we had made of this substance, after boiling it with +salt and spices, convinced us that it was a delicate and wholesome +food; besides, we knew how highly it was valued in China, and we were +so possessed with the idea that, some day or other, a vessel would +arrive on our shores, with which we could trade, that I resolved +to gather a considerable number of these nests, only taking care +to leave those which contained eggs or young ones. Fritz and Jack +climbed like cats along the rocks and detached the nests, which +they gave to Ernest and me, who placed them in a large sack we had +brought. It was soon filled, and I was glad of it, as the boys were +tired, and I could not bear to see them suspended on the ladder over +the water. + +I now gave the order for departure. Fritz had assured me that +the canal which flowed through the vault was navigable, and that +by following the passage, we should soon arrive at the bay. The +flood-tide carried us rapidly forward toward the other extremity of +the cavern, and we could not help admiring the magnificence of the +passage: the roof was covered with stalactites wrought by the hand +of nature into a thousand fantastic forms. At length we issued into +a beautiful bay; we were struck with surprise, and remained resting +on our oars in silent admiration. The water was so calm and pure that +we could see the fish far below us. I recognized the white fish, the +shining scales of which are used as false pearls. I showed them to +my sons; but they could not understand how a little stone would be +worth so much more than the fish-scales, when the latter were full as +brilliant as the former. + +“It is not the object itself,” said I; “it is the difficulty in +procuring it which costs so much. If every river in Europe abounded +in pearls, they would be worth nothing.” + +The day was too far advanced to commence our pearl-fishing, and we +appeased our hungry stomachs with some slices of ham, fried potatoes, +and some cassava cakes; and, after having lighted up fires along the +coast, to keep off wild beasts, we left the dogs on shore and went +on board the canoe, Knips being installed on the mast as vidette. +We drew the sail over our heads, and, wrapping ourselves in our +bear-skins, soon sank to rest. + +We rose at daylight, and, after a frugal breakfast, commenced our +labours in the pearl-fishery, and, with the aid of the rakes, hooks, +nets, and poles, soon brought in a large quantity of the precious +oysters: we heaped them all up in a pile on the shore, so that the +heat of the sun would cause them to open. + +Toward evening the coast appeared so beautiful, and the vegetation +so rich and glowing, that it was impossible for us to resist the +temptation of making an excursion to a little wood, where we had +heard turkeys gobbling all day. Each took with him one of our +faithful servants, and we separated. Ernest entered first into the +wood, accompanied by Folb; Jack soon followed him, while Fritz and I +remained a moment to fix our guns. A few moments after, we heard a +report, then a scream from Jack, followed by another report. Fritz +unhooded his eagle, I snatched up my gun, and we ran in the direction +of Jack, who was screaming, “Papa! papa! quick! I am killed! quick! +come!” + +The poor boy had exaggerated matters a little, for he was not even +wounded; but there he lay face to face with an enormous boar, with +formidable tusks, who had knocked him down so rudely that he thought +himself lost. + +His brothers ran quickly up, and two shots well fired freed him from +his terrible enemy. Ernest recounted to me the manner in which this +affair happened. “I had entered into the little wood,” said he, “with +Folb, when suddenly the brave dog quitted me, and set off in pursuit +of a wild boar, who had come out of the forest, and was sharpening +his tusks against the tree with a terrible noise. At that moment Jack +came up; his jackal, perceiving the boar, sprang furiously upon him, +while Folb attacked him on the other side. I approached cautiously, +by passing from one tree to another, until I was near enough to fire; +the jackal, however, had received such a terrible blow from the +boar’s foot that he lay senseless on the grass. Jack then fired, but +missed; and the boar, turning round, set off in pursuit of his new +assailant, who fled like a Hottentot before him. Without doubt, he +would have soon escaped if a projecting root had not tripped him up. +Down he fell; I fired, but missed, and the boar began to butt poor +Jack with his head. He, however, had not time to do him much harm, +as Braun and Flora rushed in, and, seizing the animal by his ears, +held him so firmly that he could not stir. Fritz’s eagle now joined +the fray, and, flying on the head of the boar, who fairly frothed +with rage, began picking at his eyes. Fritz now fired, and hit the +animal directly in the throat; it fell right across Jack’s body, who +could not disengage himself. I then ran up and helped him; he groaned +dreadfully, and at first I thought he was seriously wounded; but I +found that I was mistaken. He took Fritz’s arm and walked away, while +I remained by the boar. It was not without some surprise that I saw +master Knips with some large black tubercles, with which the ground +was covered; I gathered two or three which I put in my game-bag. Look +at them.” + +So saying, the young naturalist presented me with six tubercles +resembling potatoes, the odour of which was very penetrating. I +opened one, and, having tasted it, I discovered that they were +excellent truffles, of a perfumed, delicate flesh, marbled with white. + +“It appears,” said I to my son, congratulating him on his discovery, +“that the boar, who is very fond of these things, was eating them +when he was disturbed.” + +While talking in this way, night came on, and it was necessary to +seek repose. We lighted our watch-fires, swallowed a morsel of meat, +and then retired to our canoe: the dogs were again left on shore. +We were soon asleep, and dreaming of the absent ones at our beloved +Felsenheim. + + + + + CHAPTER LVII + + Cotton Nuts--Terrific Encounter with Lion and + Lioness--A Savage--Parley, and Recognition + of a Friend + + +Our first care, on rising the next morning, was to set about the +preparation of the boar. Jack had recovered from his fear, and, +accompanied by the dogs, we set out to look for the dead boar. He +was enormous--between a boar and a buffalo in size, and his head was +indeed frightfully large. + +“I fear,” said I, “that the flesh of this old African is not better +than a European boar. My advice is, that instead of dragging the +immense carcass away, we cut off what we want, and let the rest +alone.” + +My sons agreed with me, and we began to cut off the hams and head of +the wild boar. Some branches of trees furnished us with sleds to put +the pieces on, and we made the dogs draw them to the shore. + +While we were occupied in disposing of our hams, chance made known +to us an important discovery. Ernest remarked on the branches we had +cut to make our sleds a sort of nut; he opened one, but, instead of +a kernel, it contained a beautiful fine cotton, of a deep yellow, +which I recognized as being the real Nankin cotton. This cotton owes +its name to a province of China, where it grows abundantly, and is +cultivated with much care. We made a large provision of these nuts, +and dug up two young trees to carry to Felsenheim. + +Jack shrank with fright from the head of his terrible enemy, +and appeared quite overjoyed that it was going to figure in our +museum; but, on the observation of Ernest that it would be very +difficult to prepare, and having heard that boar’s head was very +fine eating, we resolved to cook it with truffles, in the Otaheitan +manner; consequently Fritz and Ernest set to work, and dug a deep +ditch, while I cleaned the head and heated some stones. When these +preparations were finished, we placed the head, stuffed with +truffles, and seasoned with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, in a ditch, and +covered it with red-hot stones and a thick layer of earth. While our +supper was cooking, we suspended the hams over the smoke of the fire, +and tranquilly sat down to talk over the events of the day, when +suddenly a deep, prolonged cry rang through the forest. It was the +first time we had ever heard such unearthly tones: the rocks echoed +it, and we felt seized with sudden terror; the dogs and the jackal +also commenced howling horribly. + +“What a diabolical concert!” said Fritz, jumping up and seizing his +gun; “some danger must be near. Build up the fire,” continued he, +“and while I try to discover the danger in my cajack, you retire to +the canoe.” + +This plan appeared the best we could pursue, and I adopted it. We +threw on the fire all the wood we could find ready cut, and, without +losing time, we regained the canoe. Fritz jumped into the cajack, and +was soon lost in the obscurity. + +During all this time the roarings continued, and they appeared to +approach nearer to us. Our dogs gathered around the fire, uttering +plaintive moans. Our poor little monkey seemed to suffer painfully +from fear. I imagined that it was a leopard or a panther, which had +been attracted by the remains of the wild boar in the wood. My doubts +did not last long, for we soon discovered by the pale light of our +fires a terrible lion, considerably larger and stronger than those I +had seen in the royal menageries of Europe. In two or three leaps he +bounded over the space which separated the wood from the shore; he +stood immovable for a moment, and then commenced lashing his flanks +with his tail, and roaring furiously, every moment crouching down +as if to spring on us. This frightful pantomime did not last long: +every moment he would run to the stream, lap up some water, and then +return. I remarked with mortal anguish that the animal came nearer +and nearer to the shore; and at length he lay crouched down, his +flaming eyes fixed directly on us. Half in fear, half in despair, I +raised my gun, and was about to fire, when suddenly I heard a report; +the animal bounded up, gave a tremendous yell, and fell lifeless on +the earth. + +“’Tis Fritz,” murmured my poor Ernest, pale with terror. “O God! +protect my brother.” + +“Yes, it is he,” I cried, “our brave Fritz: he has saved us from a +terrible death; let us go to him.” In two strokes of the oars we were +on shore; but our dogs, with an admirable instinct, began to bark +terribly. I did not neglect this indication; we threw more wood on +the fire, and again jumped into the boat. It was time; for scarcely +were we secure, when a second enemy rushed from the forest: it was +not so large as the first, but its roar was frightful. This time it +was a lioness, probably the companion of the superb animal which +we had just killed. How grateful I felt that both had not appeared +together; what could we have done? The lioness ran straight up to +the corpse of her late partner, smelled it, and licked up the blood, +which had flowed from the wound; and when she was convinced that +he no longer lived, she set up a howl of rage that pen could not +describe; she lashed her sides and opened her enormous mouth, as if +she would devour us all. + +Again Fritz fired, and the shot, less fortunate than the first, only +broke the shoulder of the animal. The wounded lioness commenced +rolling on the sand, foaming with rage; but all three of our dogs +rushed upon her. Braun and Folb seized the animal in the flanks, and +Flora caught hold of the throat. Another shot would have put an end +to the combat, but I was afraid of wounding the dogs; so I jumped +from the boat, and, running up to the animal, who was held fast by +the dogs, I plunged my hunting-knife direct to her heart: the blood +spouted out, and the lioness fell; but the victory had cost us dear, +for there lay our poor Flora, dead under the terrible wounds she had +received from the fangs of the monster. + +Fritz now ran up and threw himself into my arms, as did Ernest and +poor Jack, who trembled with mortal agony. We lighted our torches, +and directed our course toward the field of battle; we found poor +Flora, with her teeth yet clutching the throat of her enemy, while +the royal couple lay majestically extended on the sand, and we could +hardly suppress a sentiment of fear which struck us as we gazed on +the terrific beasts. + +“What a terrible range of teeth!” said Ernest, as he raised up the +head of the lion. + +“Yes, and what frightful claws!” said Jack; “wouldn’t they make nice +holes in your skin?” + +“Yes, my friends,” observed I, “let us thank God that He has saved us +from the danger; thank Him for the wisdom with which He has endowed +men, so that they may be able to conquer such terrible beasts.” + +“Poor Flora!” said Fritz, as he detached the dead body of our dear +dog from that of the lioness; “she has done for us to-day what our +old ass did in the case of the boa. Come, Ernest, see if you cannot +induce your muse to fabricate an epitaph.” + +“Ah! my muse, I must confess, has been too terribly frightened to +make any rhymes.” + +“Tush! go and meditate while we dig the grave of our poor hunter, and +be sure to be ready when we are done.” + +Flora received the honours of a funeral by torchlight; we dug a +grave, and silently placed in it the remains of the faithful animal, +and a flat stone served to mark her resting-place. Ernest composed +the following legend, which he read to us, saying that he was too +frightened for poetry, and Flora must be contented with prose: + + Here Lies + FLORA, A DOG + remarkable + for her courage and devotion. + She died + under the claws of a lion, + on whom + she also inflicted death. + +“Admirable,” said Fritz. “It must be confessed, Ernest, you write +full as good prose as poetry.” + +At sunrise next morning we were up, and our first care was to +deprive our noble prey of their superb furs. Jack wanted to make a +mantle of the lion’s skin, such as Hercules wore after his victory +in the Nemæan forest; but I adjourned all arrangements about their +appropriation till a more convenient time. + +The heat of the sun had commenced to corrupt the oysters heaped upon +the bank, and the effluvia which they exhaled induced us to return +to Felsenheim, and early in the morning we set sail. Fritz set off +before us, as if to serve as pilot; but when he had conducted us +through the vault, and over the shoals, he rowed up to our canoe, +and, handing me a paper, shot off again like an arrow. I opened the +paper quickly, and imagine my surprise when I found that, instead of +having forgotten the albatross and the smoking rock, he informed me +in the letter that he was going in search of the unfortunate being! I +had a thousand objections to make to this romantic project; but Fritz +rowed so fast, I could barely halloo through the speaking-trumpet, +“Return soon, and be prudent,” before he was out of sight. We gave +to the cape where he left us the name of the “Adieu Cape.” We prayed +that our adventurer might return safe, and I begged my rowers +to redouble their endeavours, so that we could arrive early at +Felsenheim, for I suspected that my good Elizabeth would be worried +at our long absence of three days. + +We finally arrived without accident, and the different treasures we +had brought were joyfully received; the truffles, the lion-skins, the +pearls, the Nankin, became the objects of a thousand questions, but +they could not drive away the thoughts of Fritz; and my wife said she +would willingly give up all our cargo of pearls, etc., if she could +only see her beloved son. + +I had not yet spoken to my wife concerning the reason of Fritz’s +absence, as I did not wish to give rise to hopes which were so +unlikely to be realized; but now I thought that it was my duty to do +so. I therefore confided to her the secret of the albatross; and the +dear woman, to my surprise, was calm and resigned; she only prayed +with me that he might be successful. + +Five days had thus passed away and still Fritz had not returned, and +his mother was so anxious and worried that I proposed to launch the +pinnace and make a new excursion to the Bay of Pearls. We lost no +time; the pinnace was prepared, and early the next day we bade adieu +to Felsenheim, and soon were in sight of the promontory of the bay, +when suddenly the vessel ran against a black mass, and was nearly +thrown over by the shock. My wife and sons uttered a cry of terror; +but the boat soon righted, and I perceived that the obstacle was not +a point of rock, as I had thought, but a marine monster of the family +of blowers, for we soon saw him throw up into the air two spouts of +water mingled with blood. I instantly pointed the cannons of the +pinnace, and a discharge of artillery prevented the huge monster +from overturning us, which he certainly would have done if the blow +had not stunned him. We saw with pleasure that the waves carried the +enormous body to a sand-bank a little distance from the shore, and +there it lay like a stranded ship. + +Suddenly Ernest uttered a loud scream. “A man! a savage!” said he, +and he pointed out to us in the distance a sort of canoe dancing over +the waves. The person who conducted it seemed to have perceived us, +for he advanced and then made towards a projecting point, as if to +communicate his discovery to his companions. I leave our sensations +to the imagination of the reader. I had not the slightest doubt that +we had fallen in with a band of savages, and we began to fortify our +boat against their arrows, by making a bulwark of the stalks of maize +and corn we had brought with us. We loaded our cannons, guns, and +pistols, and, everything arranged, we stood ready behind our rampart, +resolved to defend it as long as we were able. We dared not advance, +for there was the savage; and Ernest, growing tired of the pantomime, +observed that, if we used the speaking-trumpet, possibly our savage +might understand some words of the half-dozen languages we were +familiar with. + +The advice appeared good. I took up the speaking-trumpet and bellowed +out with all my force some words of Malay; but still the canoe +remained immovable, as if its master had not comprehended us. + +“Instead of Malay,” said Jack, “suppose we try English.” So saying, +he caught up the trumpet, and in his clear, loud tone pronounced some +common sailor-phrases, well known to all who have ever been on board +ship. The device succeeded, and we saw the savage advancing toward +us, holding a green branch in his hand. Nearer and nearer he came, +and at last we recognized in the painted savage our own dear Fritz. + + + + + CHAPTER LVIII + + Adventures of Fritz--Sir Edward Montrose--Our + Adopted Sister--Attack of Wolves--Preparations + for Return + + +When we had freed Fritz from our oft-repeated embraces, we commenced +asking him all manner of questions; and, speaking all together, the +poor fellow was so confused he did not know what to do. I demanded +an answer on two points only--whether his excursion had been +satisfactory, and why he had played this farce of dressing himself +like a savage, and causing us such anxiety. + +“As to the purpose of my excursion,” said he, with a joy he could +scarcely conceal, “I have attained it”; and the young man, as he +said these words, pressed my hand, which he held in his. “As for my +costume, I mistook you for a tribe of Malays, or some other nation, +and, in the fear that you were enemies, I endeavoured to disguise +myself by painting the upper part of my body with powder, soaked in +water. The two reports of the cannon that I heard convinced me more +and more that you were enemies; the Malay words that you addressed to +me confirmed me, and I should still have been endeavouring to deceive +you, and you would still have been in fear of me, if Jack had not +bawled out those sailor-phrases in his unmistakable voice.” + +We all began to laugh over the farce we had been enacting; and Fritz, +drawing me aside, said, in an eager, joyous tone, “I have succeeded, +papa: the hand of God conducted me to the dwelling-place of the poor +shipwrecked girl--for it was a woman that had written those lines. +Three years has she lived on that smoking rock, all alone, destitute +of everything! Can you believe it, but the poor girl has conjured me +not to betray her sex, except to you and my mother. I have brought +her with me: she is near by, on a little island just beyond the Bay +of Pearls; come and see her. Oh! do not say anything to my brothers. +I want to enjoy their surprise when they find I have brought them +back a sister, for I am sure she will allow them to call her so.” + +I consented to the wish of my son, and, without saying anything to +the rest of the family, I ordered them to hoist the sails, weigh +anchor, and make ready to depart. Fritz, who had changed his dress +and washed off his disguise, flew about, hastening his less eager +brothers; then, jumping into his cajack, he piloted us through the +shoals and reefs that were scattered along the coast. After an hour’s +sailing he turned off, and directed his course toward a shady island +not far from the Bay of Pearls; we sailed close up to the shore, +and fastened the pinnace to the trunk of a fallen tree. Fritz, +however, was quicker than we, and he was on shore, and had entered +a little wood in the middle of the island before we had yet landed. +We followed him into the wood, and soon found ourselves in the +vicinity of a hut, built like those of the Hottentots, with a fire +burning before it, on which some fish were cooking in a large shell. +Fritz uttered a peculiar kind of halloo, and what was our surprise +to see, descending from a large tree, a young and handsome sailor, +who, turning his timid eyes on us, stood still, as if he dared not +approach! + +It was such a long time since we had seen a man--ten years!--society +had become so strange a thing to us, that we remained stupefied; our +hearts felt for the young stranger, but our tongues remained dumb. + +The silence was broken by Fritz, who, taking the young sailor by +the hand, advanced toward us. “My father, my mother, and you, my +brothers,” said he, in a voice broken by emotion, “behold a friend--a +brother--that I present you, a new companion in misfortune--Sir +Edward Montrose, who, like ourselves, has been shipwrecked on the +coast.” + +“He is welcome among us,” was the general cry; and, approaching the +young sailor, whom I easily recognized as being a woman, and taking +her by the hand, I comforted and encouraged her, assuring the seeming +man, that among us he would always find food and sustenance; my wife +and myself would be his parents, and my sons his brothers. My wife, +moved by compassion, opened her arms, and the young sailor rushed +into them, bursting into a flood of tears, as he thanked us for our +kindness. The most lively joy now reigned in our little circle, and +his brothers poured question after question upon Fritz, who joyfully +replied, “I will tell you all afterward; let us attend now to our new +brother.” Supper was served, and my wife brought out a bottle of her +spiced hydromel to add to the feast. Everybody spoke at once, and my +sons addressed their new companion with such vivacity as to embarrass +the timid stranger: my wife saw his distress, and, as it was late, +she gave the signal for retirement, taking the sailor with her on the +pinnace where she said she intended to provide a bed for him that +would amply console him for the uncomfortable nights he had hitherto +passed. We then separated, my wife and the stranger retiring to +the boat, while my sons and I stopped to light and arrange our +watch-fires. + +The new-comer naturally became the subject of conversation, and Fritz +recounted to his brothers the whole history of the albatross. He +spoke of his thoughts and actions, but he became so excited in his +narration, that he forgot himself and the secret he had to keep. A +word escaped him, and he called the young sailor “Emily.” + +“Emily!--Emily!” repeated his brothers, who had begun to doubt +the mystery; “Emily!--Fritz has deceived us, and Sir Edward is a +girl!--our adopted brother turned into a sister!” + +I leave to the imagination to picture the embarrassment of Fritz when +he discovered his imprudence. In vain he endeavoured to bring back +his words: it would not do, and the girl could no longer hide her sex +by the hat and pantaloons. + +The next morning it was a comic sight to see the embarrassment and +awkwardness with which my sons approached one whom they had the day +before embraced as a companion and a brother. My poor boys were +not acquainted with the usages of polite society and the ease it +inspires, and they appeared to a great disadvantage by the side of +the beautiful English girl. The name of sister was substituted for +that of brother, but pronounced with reserve and embarrassment. As +for Emily, she was very much astonished at the discovery the young +men had made, and she retreated, as if for protection, to the arms of +my wife; but a moment after, recovering herself, she advanced, and +extending her hand to each one of the boys, gracefully demanded for +the sister the friendship they had extended to the brother. Gaiety +was re-established, and we sat down to breakfast, which was composed +of fruits, cold meat, and chocolate of our own making, which was a +great treat to my new daughter, and recalled her native land to her +mind. After breakfast I proposed to weigh anchor and return to the +Bay of Pearls, where the cachalot stranded on the shore offered us a +magnificent prey. Arrived there, we debated in what manner we could +carry away the oily substance with which the head and dorsal bone of +this animal is filled. Unfortunately we had no barrels in which we +could gather the precious product. Emily rescued us from our dilemma, +by mentioning a process she had seen employed in India, which was, to +put the half-liquid substance in wet linen bags. The idea appeared +excellent, and we immediately put it into practice. I gathered all +the sacks I could find, and dipping them in the sea-water, stretched +them open with pieces of branches. We were two hours engaged in these +preparations. The tide was not yet high enough to allow the pinnace +to approach the bank, where the whale lay; but we took the canoe and +the cajack and set off, leaving the two women under the safeguard of +Turk, and taking with us Folb, Braun, and the jackal. The monster lay +extended like a huge wall; our dogs ran up to it, and a moment after +we heard some animals howling dreadfully. We hastened up, and found +our brave dogs valiantly contending with a troop of black wolves, who +were devouring the whale. Two of their number were already stretched +on the sand, two others were yet engaged with the dogs, and the rest +fled at our approach toward a little wood. + +Our dogs acquitted themselves bravely: four wolves lay stretched upon +the sand, but the noble animals had paid dearly for their victory; +the blood streamed from all parts of their bodies, and the ears of +Folb especially were dreadfully torn. Jack dressed their wounds with +some hydromel, while Fritz and Francis aided me in another work. The +former, after having armed his feet with cramp-irons, climbed like a +cat up the back of the monster, and cut open the enormous head of the +cachalot with a hatchet, and then with a ladle dipped the spermaceti +out of the head, and emptied it into one of the sacks which I held +ready, while Francis covered the outside with wet sand and mortar, +forming a solid crust through which none of the grease could escape. +Our sacks were soon full, for as fast as Fritz emptied the head the +cavity was filled by a fresh supply from the backbone. The operation +was very fatiguing, and I was glad when it was over. We then cut a +quantity of willows, and wove them into little pointed caps, with +which we covered the sacks, in order to shield them from the sun and +the birds of prey, who were fast assembling in great numbers. + +We now thought of returning. The tide was high, but the load was too +heavy for the boat; we therefore were obliged to leave it and return +to the verdant little island, which we had named “Good Rencounter,” +because there we had first found Emily. The appearance of the sacks +ranged on the sand was very droll; they exactly resembled little +Chinese with their pointed hats, and we could not help laughing +heartily at the sight. + +After having recounted our adventures, and shown our four fine +black wolves, with their superb skins, we were invited by our dear +housekeepers to sit down to an excellent dinner, enriched by a new +dish--a sauce after the manner of the Caribbees, made with eggs of +land-crabs, with which the island abounded. I was undecided as to +what means I should adopt to transport the spermaceti to the island, +for the pinnace could not approach the bank near enough, without risk +of running aground, and our other boats were not large enough. Every +one gave his advice; when it came to Emily’s turn, she observed, in +her soft, silvery tone, “If you are willing, my dear papa”--for +already she had accustomed herself to address me by that endearing +name--“if you are willing, while you and my brothers are engaged in +that disgusting tannery, I will promise to bring over your sacks.” + +The next morning, before my sons were awake, Emily prepared for +her expedition; she took a bladder of fresh water, a basket of +provisions, and lightly descending the ladder of the pinnace, she +seated herself in Fritz’s cajack, untied it, and rowed off with a +grace and ease that surprised me. I would have called her back, but +the little vixen gaily kissed her hand, and soon was far on her way +toward the bank of sand. She had chosen just the right time; the tide +was rising, and had just commenced to wet the bottom of the sacks. +The adventurous girl jumped on shore, fastened all the sacks by cords +to a rope which she had with her, and tied the rope to the cajack, +and again embarking, drew after her all the sacks, the contents of +which, being light, floated like bladders on the water. + +It was now full noon; we sat down to table, and, after dinner, began +our preparations for setting out for Felsenheim, where we desired to +instal our new companion. We packed up everything we had, including +Emily’s treasures, both those she had saved from shipwreck and those +she had made herself. Fritz had made her a box which held them all, +and they really were very curious, consisting of clothes, ornaments, +domestic utensils, and all sorts of articles which she had made in +her exile, out of the scanty material she had at her disposal. + +Emily now bade adieu to the island that had received her, and the +trees that had sheltered her, during her short sojourn. We could not +leave the place without giving it a name, so we called the bay in +which we anchored “Happy Bay,” in allusion to the joyful meeting we +had had there. We now took the direction of the Bay of Pearls, where +we were obliged to make a short stay before returning to Felsenheim, +to which we were impatient to introduce our new companion. + + + + + CHAPTER LIX + + The Limekiln--Fritz’s Story + + +Fritz, seated in his cajack, served as pilot to assist us in +penetrating safely through the rocks and shoals into the bay, where +at last we all arrived in safety. Everything was found just as we +had left it--the table and benches yet standing, our fireplace +undestroyed, and, what was more, the air was purified; and, the +oysters, having all been dried up by the sun, had lost their +unpleasant odour. The dead bodies of the lions and the wild boar were +but heaps of whitened bones, the birds of prey having completely +stripped them of every particle of flesh. + +We wished to go direct to Felsenheim immediately; but an unexpected +discovery detained us a longer time than we intended. I had noticed +among the stones which strewed the shore, a sort of rock which +it appeared to me could be easily converted into lime. It was a +discovery too precious to be neglected, and I resolved to establish a +limekiln without delay on the beach. It did not take us long to make +one to suit our purpose; but the calcination of the stones occupied +us much longer, and we were obliged to sit up a great part of the +night. During this time we made some barrels of pieces of pine bark, +circled with strong withs of willow; a round piece of bark served +for the bottom, and another for the cover. To enliven our labour, +and to abridge the length of the evening, I persuaded Fritz to give +us a more complete account than he had hitherto done of the manner +in which he had found our new sister, and the details of his voyage. +It was the best way in which to employ our remaining time, and the +curiosity of my sons was so excited that they formed a circle about +Fritz, who thus commenced his narration. + +“You all remember,” said he to his brothers, “the manner in which +I left you, after having given my father a letter which contained +an account of my intended excursion. The sea was calm; but I had +scarcely passed the Bay of Pearls, when suddenly a violent wind +arose, gradually increasing to a perfect hurricane; the rising waves, +the rain, the thunder and lightning, all confounded in horrible +confusion. My little bark was not strong enough to resist the +tremendous sea, and all that I could do was to abandon myself to the +current. + +“After several hours the wind fell and the air calmed, and my canoe +again found its equilibrium upon the surface of the waters. I was +far from all the places that we were acquainted with; the tempest +had thrown me on a coast entirely new to my eyes; the conformation +of the rocks, the gigantic cliffs which seemed to lose themselves in +the clouds, the vegetation, the animals I perceived on the coast, the +birds which flew about me, all announced a new world. My first care +was to look carefully around and see whether some light smoke did not +rise behind the rocks; for, as you know, the Smoking Rock was my only +thought. I could perceive nothing as yet; but full of hope, I rowed +along the coast. Night came on, and I passed it in the cajack, after +having made a miserable supper on pemmican. + +“The next morning I continued my journey, and the farther I advanced, +the more the coast appeared to change its aspect. I encountered, from +time to time, majestic rivers, which flowed silently on and mingled +with the sea. The mouth of one of them resembled an immense bay, and +I decided to ascend it some little distance; its banks were covered +with large trees, willows, and vines, so thickly woven together, that +they resembled a huge mat, covered with birds, monkeys, and even +squirrels. + +“Toward the middle of the day the heat became so unsupportable, that +it was impossible to resist the desire of seeking some shade under +the trees. After being slightly refreshed, I pursued my route, and +sailed on a long time without being able to land; the rivers and +shores were both defended by guards I had little desire to come in +contact with, for I recognized elephants, lions, panthers--in one +word, a complete reunion of all the ferocious animals of creation. +After travelling several leagues farther, the appearance of the coast +suddenly changed, and, as if the ferocious animals had had their +district marked out to them, I ceased to perceive any. The shore +appeared peaceable, but desolate; the breeze which murmured among the +vines, and the song of some inoffensive birds were the only noises +which broke the calm stillness, and I felt reassured, and resolved +to land and procure a repast. I accordingly fastened my cajack as +strongly as possible, and jumped lightly to the shore; and being +hungry, I lighted my fire, and began to prepare a juicy dinner from a +fat goose which I had shot while landing, and a dozen of oysters. + +“I rose long before daylight next morning and resumed my voyage. +The country through which I now sailed was of an aspect entirely +different from any I had ever yet seen. There were beautiful green +plains, dotted over with clumps of towering palms; little lakes +surrounded with osiers, upon the borders of which sported herds of +elephants; thick tufts of cactus of all sorts, loaded with flowers +and fruits, which the enormous rhinoceros seemed to devour without +paying any attention to the thorns; beautiful clumps of the mimosa, +the high tops of which the towering giraffe devoured with as much +facility as a goat would a small shrub. + +“On I sailed, and, once more seduced by the picturesque appearance +of a river which lost itself in a tranquil bay, I resolved to +ascend it. The water slipped gently under the prow of my little +cajack--nothing appeared to indicate any danger; there were no +serpents on the bank, no horrid beasts in the forests, and I floated +tranquilly on, enjoying the fresh breeze and the cool shade of the +overhanging trees, when suddenly there appeared before me a long +throat, armed with rows of strong sharp teeth; it was distended to +its full capacity as if it would take in at one mouthful myself, +the cajack, and the oars. I instantly comprehended the extent of my +danger, and, seizing one of the oars, I drove it with all my strength +direct into the yawning mouth of the monster, who disappeared in +an instant, leaving a long trace of blood behind him, showing that +the wound I had made was of some importance. I did not remain long +on this river; two other monsters of the same nature as the first +rose up to the surface of the water. They were alligators, the most +terrible kind among these animals, but whose tremendous voracity is +happily balanced by a natural laziness, which retains them always +near the spot where they were born. I had escaped from one danger +only to fall into another. At a little distance from the River of +Alligators, while coasting along a little wood, I observed that the +trees were loaded with the rarest and most beautiful of birds, among +which were lyras, paroquets, humming-birds, and birds of paradise--in +one word, a complete assemblage of all that array of beautiful +plumage which decorates the forests of the New World, and I could +not resist the desire of attacking them. I landed, attached my cajack +to the bank and walked up to the wood, holding my eagle unhooded in +my hand. I cast him off, and he returned with a superb paroquet, +whose flame-coloured feathers sparkled in the sun’s rays. While I was +occupied in examining him, I heard behind me a light rustling on the +sand, which I thought was merely caused by a little land-turtle, or +some such animal, and I turned carelessly round. It was well I did +so; for not twelve paces from me there was a splendid royal tiger +with open mouth, crouched down as if about to spring upon me. I stood +as if struck with stupor; a mist came over my eyes, and scarcely +could I raise my gun, so much had horror paralysed my strength, when +suddenly my brave eagle, comprehending my danger, flew boldly at the +advancing tiger, and began to pick at his eyes. This timely succour +saved me; for it enabled me to collect my senses, and levelling my +gun, I discharged its contents into the right flank of my enemy, and +then two pistol-balls lodged in the throat completed my victory. The +tiger lay dead; but alas! my victory had cost me dear, for my poor +eagle fell at the same time with his conquered enemy, who had seized +him in his claws and had torn him in pieces. I picked him up, weeping +bitterly over my loss, and carried him to the cajack, hoping some day +to have him stuffed and placed in our museum. + +“I quitted the shore with a sorrowing mind, and again I prayed to +my heavenly Father that He would give me strength to continue my +voyage. I doubled a little cape, and, suddenly, from the summit of +the grey rocks which bordered the coast, I perceived a light cloud of +smoke rising in the air. I turned my canoe in the direction of the +long-sought-for signal. The irregularities of the rocks along the +coast were the only difficulties I had to encounter, and it appeared +to me that I should never get through them. At last I landed, and, +with infinite difficulty, scrambled up the rocks until I arrived +at a platform on which I perceived a human creature. At the noise +which I made in approaching, the individual, who was arranging the +fire, rose, perceived me, uttered a cry of surprise and joy, then, +joining his hands, stood still, as if waiting for me to speak. +Notwithstanding the midshipman’s dress she wore, her exclamation, +and the delicate contour of her features, convinced me that I was +in the presence of a female. I stopped about ten paces from her, +and calling to my memory all I knew of English, I said in a subdued +tone, ‘I am the liberator whom God has sent you. I have received +the message of the albatross.’ I must have pronounced these words +very badly, as Emily did not at first comprehend them; I repeated +them, however, and after a few moments we understood each other +well enough to make a mutual interchange of our feelings. Gestures, +looks, accents all filled up the blank that words had left vacant. +I spoke to my new sister about the castle of Felsenheim, Falcon’s +Nest, our shipwreck, and ten years’ sojourn on the coast, where we +lived in almost European luxury; on her part, she recounted to me the +history of her childhood, her shipwreck, and existence on the Island +of the Smoking Rock, making a fine story for my papa to write out +in the long winter evenings. Emily graciously invited me to supper, +after which we passed the remainder of the night, I in my cajack, +she in the branches of a tree, where she always slept from the fear +of wild beasts. The next morning we again met. Emily had already +prepared breakfast, which consisted of fruit and broiled fish. The +repast being over, the sea looked so calm that I thought we had +better start; so, after packing up all her curiosities, and putting +them on board the cajack, we took our seats and set off. We sailed +on a long time; but an accident happened to my little barque, and +I was obliged to put in at the little island which you have called +‘Good Rencounter,’ in memory of our meeting; it was there I left my +new-found sister, who, doubtful of her reception in a strange family, +begged me to go on and ask permission of my father to bring her among +them. I consented; and my canoe having been repaired, I took the +well-known route home: it was then that I encountered you, and from +fear that you were pirates, I disguised myself, and played you such a +trick.” + +“Oh! I am so sorry it is done,” cried Jack, as Fritz finished his +story; “but you must now tell us the history of our sister.” + +Fritz was about to commence a new narration, of greater interest than +the former, but I stopped him, and advised him to take a little rest +before he talked any more. + + + + + CHAPTER LX + + Emily’s own Story--Return to Felsenheim with + Military Honours--The Winter Season + Once More + + +The story of Fritz had detained us longer than I had anticipated, +as upon looking at my watch, I discovered that it was midnight. The +audience were not at all sleepy, however, but as we had to execute +labours on the morrow, which would require strength and agility, I +thought that if they sat up all night they would be over-wearied the +next day; I therefore deemed it necessary to cut short the narration, +deferring its completion till a more convenient time. This decision +was received with a very bad grace; but it was positive, so each +one sought his accustomed resting-place, either on shore or in the +pinnace. + +The next morning, when all the family were assembled for breakfast, +the enterprise and courage of Fritz became the subject of +conversation; this naturally brought on the story of last night, and +I was obliged to consent that Emily’s history should open the day. I +wanted the dear girl herself to tell it; but she was so timid, though +at the same time so lively, busied in her domestic occupations, that +I could do nothing with her. Fritz was therefore entreated to act as +her proxy, and resume his recital. + +“As soon as I was able to understand my new sister,” said he, “I +asked her by what course of events she had been thrown on the desert +coast where I now found her. + +“She told me that she was born in India, of English parents, and +that her father, after having served as major in a British regiment, +obtained the command of an important English colony. The commandant, +Montrose, for that was the name of Emily’s father, had the misfortune +to lose his wife only three years after his marriage; and, profoundly +afflicted by this loss, all his affections centred in their only +child. He took charge of her education, and devoted all the time he +could spare from his official duties, in developing the precious +qualities which nature had endowed his dear daughter with. Not +content with providing her with every means for mental improvement, +he endeavoured to make her a strong, healthy woman, capable of facing +and resisting danger. Such was Emily’s education up to the age of +sixteen; she managed a fowling-piece as well as a needle, and rode +as gracefully and firmly as the best cavalry officer, and shone +resplendent in her father’s brilliant saloons. + +“Major Montrose, having been appointed colonel, was ordered to return +with part of his regiment to England. This circumstance forced him to +separate himself from his daughter, as naval discipline did not allow +women on board a line-of-battle ship in time of war. It was arranged, +however, that she should sail the same day that he did, in another +ship, the captain of which was an old friend of her father’s, and who +would take every care of his daughter. The voyage at its commencement +was prosperous and agreeable, but before many days a terrible tempest +arose. The ship was thrown off her course, and a furious wind drove +her down upon our rocky coast; two shallops were launched upon the +angry waves, and a chance of safety offered to the shipwrecked. Emily +found a place in the smallest--the captain was in the other. The +storm continuing, the boats were soon separated, and the one that +contained Emily was broken in pieces, and the poor girl alone, of all +the crew, was fortunate enough to escape death. The waves carried +her, half fainting, to the foot of the rock where I discovered her. +She crawled under the shade of a projecting rock, and, sinking on +the sand, slept for four-and-twenty hours. There she passed several +days, abandoned to dark despair, with no nourishment but some birds’ +eggs, which she found on the rocks. At the end of that time, the sun +reappearing and the sea growing calm, the poor castaway thought of +the crew in the large shallop and, in the hope that they might see +her, she resolved to establish signals of distress. As she wore a +midshipman’s uniform on board ship, by order of her father, she had +a box in her pocket containing a flint, knife, and other articles. +She picked up some pieces of wood which the sea had thrown on the +sand, carried them to the summit of the rock, and there kindled a +fire, which she never allowed to go out. You can easily imagine how +drearily passed the first days of Emily’s exile; she had to contend +against all the horrors of hunger and the desert. How thankful she +felt for the semi-masculine education that her father had given her: +it had endowed her with courage and resolution far beyond her sex. +She comprehended the whole extent of her situation, and turning to +heaven, she placed her trust in God and hoped on. She built a hut, +fished, hunted, tamed birds--among others a cormorant, which she +taught to catch fish--in one word, she lived alone, with no earthly +succour, for three long dreary years.” + +Fritz stopped; his eyes fell upon the heroine of his story, who could +hardly conceal her embarrassment. + +“My child,” said I, “you are but another proof that God never +withholds His aid from those who desire it. That which you have done +for three years a poor Swiss family have done for ten, and heavenly +aid has never been withheld from them.” + +I allowed some little time for commentaries on Emily’s history; +but, as I had resolved that the day should be an active one, I soon +gave the signal for work. The manufacture of lime had succeeded. I +submitted some pieces to the proof of water, and found it excellent. + +Toward evening the pinnace was laden with all that we could carry +away, and we talked seriously of returning to Felsenheim. The +poetic description we had given concerning the salt grotto, and +our aërial palace at Falcon’s Nest, had rendered Emily exceedingly +curious to judge for herself concerning all these wonders. The next +day we weighed anchor just as dawn was breaking; the sail of the +pinnace fluttered gaily in the fresh breeze, and Fritz’s cajack, +containing himself and Francis, went before us as pilots. When we +hove in sight of Prospect Hill, I proposed to stop and take a look +at the farmhouse; but Fritz and his brother asked permission of me +to go on home, so that they could have all things prepared for us. I +consented, and they set out. + +From Prospect Hill we sailed to Shark Island, where we secured, in +passing, a fine quantity of the soft wool of the Angora rabbits. From +Shark Island we directed our course toward Felsenheim, and we could +just distinguish it when a salute of ten guns greeted our ears. This +produced a very good effect, doctor Ernest only regretting that the +salute was not composed of an odd number of guns. “An even number,” +said he, “is entirely contrary to general usage.” + +We returned the polite salute of our two artillerymen by a salvo of +eleven guns, the execution of which was undertaken and performed +by Jack and Ernest in a style that would have done honour to a +practised cannoneer. Soon after we saw Fritz and Francis coming +toward us in their canoe; they received us at the entrance of the +bay, and followed us to the shore. They landed before us, and the +moment Emily’s foot touched the sand, a hurrah resounded through the +air, and Fritz, springing forward, presented her his hand, like a +gallant cavalier, and led her up to the portico of the grotto. There +a new spectacle awaited us: a table was spread in the middle of the +gallery, and loaded with all the fruits that the country produced. +Bananas, figs, guavas, oranges, rose up in perfumed heaps upon flat +calabashes. All the vases, cocoa-nut cups and ostrich-eggs mounted on +turned wooden pedestals, urns of painted porcelain, all were filled +with hydromel and milk; while a large dish of fried fish, and a huge +roast turkey, stuffed with truffles, formed the solid part of the +repast. A double festoon of flowers surrounded the canopy above the +table, sustaining a large medallion on which was inscribed, “Welcome, +fair Emily Montrose!” It was a complete holiday, and as pompous a +reception as our means would allow. Emily sat down to table between +my wife and myself; Ernest and Jack also took their places; while the +two caterers of the feast, each with a napkin on his arm, did the +honours of the table. + +We passed from the table to the interior of the grotto, and our young +companion had the apartment next ours for her use. She could not +restrain her admiration at the effects our industry had accomplished; +she was astonished that a man and four children could have effected +so much. The chateau in the tree at Falcon’s Nest next received a +visit; it had fallen into decay, from neglect, and we passed a whole +week in fitting it up. We then set out for Waldegg to gather our rice +and other grains, for the season was advancing, and some violent +showers already warned us to hasten our preparations for the coming +winter. Emily gave proof, during these labours, of an intelligence +and good will which rendered her assistance very valuable; and she +inspired everybody with such zeal and industry, that when the winter +set in we were all prepared for it. Ten years had accustomed us to +the terrible winters, and we calmly listened to the wind and storm as +it raged furiously without. We had reserved for the winter several +sedentary occupations, in which our new companion proved her skill +and industry; she excelled in weaving and plaiting straw, osiers, +etc.; and, under her direction, we made some light straw hats for +summer, some elegant baskets, and conveniently arranged game-bags. +My wife was delighted with her adopted daughter, and Ernest found +a companion, whose fine education rendered her a conversable and +intelligent woman. In fact, Emily had become to my wife and myself a +fifth child, and a beloved sister for my sons. + + + + + CHAPTER LXI + + Conclusion + + +It is with a thousand different sensations that I write the word +_conclusion_. It recalls to my mind all that has passed. God is good! +God is merciful! is the reigning sentiment in my heart: I have so +many reasons for heartfelt gratitude to a gracious Providence, that I +hope the reader will pardon me for the disorder in which I finish my +story. + +It was toward the end of the rainy season, the wind had lost its +violence, and a patch of blue sky could now and then be seen; our +pigeons had quitted the dove-cot, and we ourselves ventured to open +the door of the grotto, and taste the fresh air. + +Our first care was for our gardens, which had suffered injury; we +took account of the damage as well as we were able, and then set out +for our more distant possessions. Fritz and Jack proposed to make an +excursion to Shark Island, to inspect our fort and colony there. I +consented, and they set off in the cajack. + +My sons, on their arrival, having examined the interior of the fort, +and assured themselves that nothing of importance was damaged, began +to look round and see if anything appeared on the horizon, but all +was blank. Wishing to see whether the cannons were in good order, +they began firing away, as if they had all the powder in the world +at their command. But what was their astonishment and emotion when, +a moment after, they heard distinctly three reports of a cannon in +the distance! They could not be mistaken, for a faint light toward +the east preceded each report. After a short consultation as to what +should be done, the two brothers resolved to hasten home and recount +their adventure to us. + +We had heard the reports of the cannons they had fired, and we could +not imagine why they were hurrying back so fast. I called out, as +loud as I could, “Halloo, there! what is the matter?” On they came, +and, jumping on shore, fell into my arms, faintly articulating, “Oh, +papa, papa, did you not hear them?” + +“Hear what?” said I. “We have heard nothing but the noise your waste +of powder made.” + +“You have not heard three other reports in the distance?” + +“No.” + +“Why, we heard them plainly and distinctly.” + +“It was the echo,” said Ernest. + +This remark nettled Jack a little, and he replied rather sharply-- + +“No, Mr. Doctor, it wasn’t the echo; I think I have fired cannons +enough in my lifetime to know whether that was an echo or not. We +distinctly heard three reports of a cannon, and we are certain that +some ship is sailing in this part of the world.” + +“If there is really a ship on our coasts,” said I, “who knows whether +it is manned by Europeans or by Malay pirates--who knows whether +we ought to rejoice or be sorry at its presence, and that, instead +of preparing for deliverance, we should not make preparations for +defence?” + +My first resolution was to organize a system of defence, and provide +for our safety. We watched alternately under the gallery of the +grotto, so that we could be ready in case of surprise; but the night +passed quietly away, and in the morning the rain commenced, and +continued so violently during two long days that it was impossible +for us to go out. + +On the third day the sun reappeared. Fritz and Jack, full of +impatience, resolved to return to Shark Island, and try a new signal. +I consented; but, instead of the cajack, we took the canoe, and I +went with them. On arriving at the fort we hoisted our flag, while +Jack, ever impatient, loaded a cannon and fired it; but scarcely had +the report died away in the distance, when we distinctly heard a +louder answering report in the direction of Cape Disappointment. + +Jack could not contain himself for joy. “Men, men,” cried he, dancing +about us; “men, papa; are you sure of it now?” And his enthusiasm +communicating itself to us, we hoisted another and a larger flag on +our flag-staff. Six other reports followed the first one we had heard. + +Overpowered with emotion, we hastened to our boat, and were soon in +the presence of the family. They had not heard the seven reports, but +they had seen our two flags flying, and they were eagerly waiting for +circumstantial news. + +I ordered that everything in the grotto should be put in a place +of safety. My three youngest sons, my wife and Emily, set off for +Falcon’s Nest with our cattle, and I embarked in the cajack with +Fritz, to reconnoitre. It was near midday when we set out; we +coasted along without discovering anything, and the illusion of the +moment began to dissipate. On more calm reflection, however, the +certainty that we had heard the seven reports of the cannon kept up +our courage; when suddenly, on doubling a little promontory which +had hitherto concealed it from us, we beheld a fine European ship +majestically reposing at anchor, with a long-boat at the side, and an +English flag floating at the masthead. + +I seek in vain to find words that will express the sentiments which +filled our souls. We elevated our hands and eyes toward heaven, and +thus returned our thanks to God for His great beneficence. If I +had permitted it, Fritz would have thrown himself into the sea and +swum off to the ship; but I was afraid that, notwithstanding the +English flag, the vessel before us might be a Malay corsair, which +had assumed false colours in order to deceive other vessels. We +remained at a distance, not liking to venture nearer without being +more certain what it was. We could see all that was passing on board +the vessel. Two tents had been raised on the shore, tables were laid +for dinner, quarters of meat were roasting before blazing fires, men +were running to and fro, and the whole scene had the appearance of an +organized encampment. Two sentinels were on the deck of the vessel, +and when they perceived us they spoke to the officer on duty who +stood near, and who turned his telescope toward us. + +“They are Europeans,” cried Fritz; “you can easily judge from the +face of the officer. Malays certainly would be more dusky than that.” + +Fritz’s remark was true; but yet I did not like to go too near. We +remained in the bay, manœuvring our canoe with all the dexterity of +which we were capable. We sang a Swiss mountain song, and when we +had finished I cried out through my speaking-trumpet these three +words, _Englishmen, good men!_ But no answer was returned: our song, +our cajack, and more than all our costume, I expect, marked us for +savages, from the officer making signs to us to approach, and holding +up knives, scissors, and glass beads, for which the savages of the +New World are generally so desirous. This mistake made us laugh; but +we did not approach, as we wished to present ourselves before them +in better trim. We contented ourselves with exclaiming once more, +_Englishmen_, and then darted off as fast as our boat could carry us. + +We passed a whole day in preparing the pinnace, and loading it with +presents for the captain, as we wished him to see that those whom +he had taken for savages were beings far advanced in the arts of +civilization. We set off at sunrise; the weather was magnificent, and +we sailed gallantly along, Fritz preceding us as pilot. + +When we could clearly distinguish the ship, a sensation of vivid +joy was experienced by us all: my sons were dumb with pleasure and +eagerness. + +“Hoist the English flag,” cried I in the voice of a Stentor; and a +second after, a flag similar to the one on the ship fluttered from +our masthead. + +If we were filled with extraordinary emotions on seeing a European +ship, the English were not less astonished to see a little boat with +flowing sails coming toward them. Guns were now fired from the ship +and answered from our pinnace, and joining Fritz in his cajack, we +approached the English ship to welcome the captain to our shores. + +The captain received us with that frankness and cordiality that +always distinguish sailors; and conducted us to the cabin, where a +flask of Cape wine cemented the alliance between us. + +I recounted to the captain, as briefly as possible, the history of +our shipwreck, and our sojourn of ten years on this coast. I spoke +to him of Emily, and asked him if he had ever heard of her father, +Sir Edward Montrose. The captain not only knew him, but it was a +part of his instructions to explore these latitudes, where, three +years before, the ship _Dorcas_, which had on board the daughter +of Commander Montrose, was supposed to have been wrecked, and to +try to discover whether any tidings of the vessel or crew could be +ascertained. In consequence, he manifested the greatest desire to see +her, and assure her that her father was alive. He informed us that a +tempest of four days’ duration had thrown him off the course which he +followed for Sydney and New Holland; and thus he had been driven on +this coast, where he had renewed his wood and water. “It was then,” +added he, “that we heard the reports of cannon, which we answered; +on the third day new discharges convinced us that we were not alone +on the coast, and we resolved to wait until, by some means or other, +we discovered who were our companions in misfortune. But we find an +organized colony, and a maritime power, whose alliance I solicit in +the name of the sovereign of Great Britain.” + +This last sally made us laugh, and we cordially pressed the hand +which Captain Littleton extended to us. + +The rest of the family were waiting some distance off in the pinnace. +We took leave of the captain, who, ordering his gig to be manned, +arrived on board our vessel almost as soon as we did. We received him +with every demonstration of joy and friendship, and Emily was half +wild with happiness at the sight of a fellow-countryman, and one who +brought intelligence of her father. + +The captain brought with him an English family, whom the fatigues +of the passage had rendered ill, consisting of Mr. Wolston, a +distinguished machinist, his wife, and two daughters. My wife offered +Mrs. Wolston her assistance, and promised her that her family should +find every comfort and convenience at Felsenheim if they would return +with us. They gladly consented, and we set out with them, taking +leave of the captain, who did not like to pass the night away from +his ship. + +My readers can form an idea of the astonishment which was evinced +by the Wolston family on seeing all our establishments. We +ostentatiously pointed out to them Felsenheim with its rocky vault, +the giant-tree of Falcon’s Nest, Prospect Hill, and all the marvels +which were comprised in our domains. A frugal repast in the evening +united both families under the gallery of the grotto, and my wife +prepared, in the interior, apartments and beds to receive the +new-comers. + +The next morning Mr. Wolston came up to me, and tenderly stretching +out his hand, spoke as follows-- + +“Sir,” said he, “I cannot express all the admiration that I feel on +regarding the wonders with which you are surrounded. The hand of +God has been with you, and here you live happily, far away from the +strife of the world, among the works of creation, alone with your +family. I came from England to seek repose: where can I find it +better than here? and I shall esteem myself the happiest of men if +you will allow me to establish myself in a corner of your domains.” + +This proposition of Mr. Wolston filled me with joy, and I immediately +assured him that I would willingly share with him the half of my +patriarchal empire. + +Mr. Wolston hastened to communicate to his wife the success of his +application, and the morning was devoted to the joy and pleasure that +this news caused. But considerations of a painful nature occupied +my mind: the ship which now presented itself was the second only we +had seen in ten years, and probably as long a period might elapse +before another appeared, should we let Captain Littleton and his +ship leave us without any addition to his crew. These questions +affected the dearest interests of our family. My wife did not wish +to return to Europe; I was myself too much attached to my new life +to leave it, and we were both at an age when hazards and dangers +have no attraction, and ambition has resolved itself into a desire +for repose. But our children were young, their life was but just +commencing, and I did not think it right to deprive them of the +advantages which civilization and a contact with the world presented; +and then again, Emily, since she had heard that her father was in +England, did not conceal her desire to return; and although we +regretted losing this amiable girl, yet it was impossible to detain +her. So at last I decided to call my children together, and ascertain +their sentiments. I spoke to them of civilized Europe, of the +resources of every kind which society offered to its members, and I +asked them if they would depart with Captain Littleton, or be content +to pass the remainder of their lives upon this coast. + +Jack and Ernest declared that they would rather remain. Ernest, the +philosopher, had no need of the world to interrupt his studies; and +Jack, the hunter, found the domain of Falcon’s Nest large enough for +his excursions. Fritz was silent, but I saw by his countenance that +he had decided to go. I encouraged him to speak; he confessed that +he had a great desire to return to Europe, and his younger brother, +Francis, declared that he would willingly accompany him. + +Mr. Wolston also dismembered his family: he kept but one of +his daughters; the other went on to New Holland. These family +arrangements were very painful, and when they were finished I +hastened to inform the captain of the _Unicorn_. He readily consented +to take our three passengers. + +“I resign three persons,” said he, “Mr. and Mrs. Wolston and one of +their daughters; I take three more, and my complement will not be +affected.” + +The _Unicorn_ remained eight days at anchor, and we employed them +in preparing the cargo which was to be the fortune of our voyagers +on arriving in Europe. All the riches that we had amassed--pearls, +ivory, spices, furs, and all our rare productions, were carefully +packed and put on board the ship, which we also furnished with meat +and fruits. + +On the eve of their departure, after having exhausted myself in a +last conversation, in which I advised my sons always to carry out +the principles in which they had been instructed, and so to live +in this world that we might, through the merits of our Saviour, be +united in the next, I gave Fritz this narration of our shipwreck and +establishment on the desert coast, enjoining him expressly to have +it published as soon after his arrival as he possibly could; and +this desire on my part, exempt from all vanity of authorship, had +for its only object and hope that it might be useful to others as a +lesson of morality, patience, courage, perseverance, and of Christian +submission to the will of God. Perhaps some day a father may take +courage from the manner in which we supported our tribulations; +perhaps some young person will see, in the course of this narrative, +the value of a varied education and the importance of becoming +acquainted with first principles. + +I have not written this as a learned man would have done, and all my +results may not have been arrived at according to the correct theory; +but we were in an extraordinary position, and were obliged to depend +on our own resources. We placed our entire trust in the mercy of God; +and He ever watched over and protected us. + +We none of us slept much during the last night. At the dawn of day +the cannon of the ship announced the order to go on board. We +conducted our children to the shore; there they received our last +embraces and benedictions. + + * * * * * + +The anchor has been weighed, the sails unfurled, the flag run up to +the mast-head, and a rapid wind promises speedily to separate us from +our children. + +I will not attempt to paint the grief of my dear Elizabeth--it is the +grief of a mother, silent and profound. Jack and Ernest are weeping +bitterly, and my own grief and heartfelt sorrow is, I must confess, +but badly concealed. + +I finish these few lines whilst the ship’s boat is waiting. My sons +will thus receive my last blessing. May God ever be with you. Adieu, +Europe! adieu, dear Switzerland! Never shall I see you again! May +your inhabitants be always happy, pious, and free! + + + THE END + + + + +Transcriber’s Note: + +Words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent +hyphenation. Obsolete and archaic spelling was not changed. Nine +misspelled words were corrected. + +Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like +this_. Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and were moved to the +end of the chapter. Missing and excess punctuation was corrected. +Duplicate letters at line endings were removed; unprinted letters were +added. Words duplicated over line breaks were deleted. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78017 *** diff --git a/78017-h/78017-h.htm b/78017-h/78017-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b7daa2 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/78017-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15284 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + The Swiss family Robinson | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +/* Heading Styles */ + h1,h2,h3 { + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + clear: both; + font-weight: bold; + page-break-before: avoid;} + +h1 { /* use for book title */ + margin: 1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 180%;} +h2 { /* use for chapter headings */ + margin:1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 150%;} +h3 { margin: 1em 5% 1em; + font-size: 120%;} + +.h1head {clear: both; + display: block; + text-indent: 0em; 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+ line-height:0.85em; +} +.x-ebookmaker p.drop-cap:first-letter +{ margin: 0.25em 0.1em 0em 0em; + float: left; + margin: 0; + font-size: 200%; +} + +/* Tables */ +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.tdr {text-align: right;} +.tdh {vertical-align: top; /* hanging indent for TOC*/ + text-align: left; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-left: 3em;} +.vlb {vertical-align: bottom; padding-left: 2em;} +.vlt {vertical-align: top;} + +/* Page numbers */ +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: 50%; + text-align: right; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; + text-indent: 0; + color: #444;} + +/* Footnotes and Anchors */ +.footnotes {border: 1px dashed;} + +.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em; text-decoration: none;} + +.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + +.fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; + white-space: nowrap; +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowp53 {width: 53%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp53 {width: 100%;} +.illowp100 {width: 100%;} + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78017 ***</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_1"></a><a id="Page_2"></a> </span></p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="endpaper" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/endpaper.jpg" alt="endpaper"> +</figure> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus002" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus002.jpg" alt="Frontispiece"> + <figcaption> + “The morning dawned upon us without a prospect of hope.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p class="p0 right"> + <span class="smcap">Frontispiece</span> +</p> +</div> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_3"> </span></p> + +<h1 class="ls"> +<span class="small">THE</span><br> +SWISS FAMILY<br> +ROBINSON +</h1> + +<p class="p2 center"> +<span class="allsmcap">ILLUSTRATED BY</span><br> +T. H. ROBINSON +</p> + +<p class="p4 center">GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.</p> + +<p class="center"><span class="justl">GARDEN CITY</span> <span class="justr">NEW YORK</span></p> +</div> +<hr class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_4"> </span></p> +<p class="p4 center allsmcap"> +PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA +</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg v]</span></p> +<h2> +CONTENTS +</h2> +</div> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class="tdr xxs">CHAPTER</td> +<td></td> +<td class="tdr xxs">PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="One">I</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">A Shipwreck, and Preparations for Deliverance</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_15">15</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Two">II</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">A Landing, and Consequent Occupations</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Three">III</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Voyage of Discovery</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_39">39</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Four">IV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Return from the Voyage of Discovery—A Nocturnal Alarm</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Five">V</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Return to the Wreck</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Six">VI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">A Troop of Animals in Cork Jackets</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Seven">VII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Second Journey of Discovery Performed by the Mother of the Family</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Eight">VIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Construction of a Bridge</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_80">80</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Nine">IX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Change of Abode</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Ten">X</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Construction of a Ladder</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_95">95</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Eleven">XI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Settling in the Giant Tree</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twelve">XII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Sabbath and the Parable</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirteen">XIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Conversation, and a Walk</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fourteen">XIV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Continuation of Preceding Chapter—Discoveries</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifteen">XV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Hopes of a Sledge—Some Short Lessons in Useful Things</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Sixteen">XVI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Bathing, Fishing, and a Kangaroo</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Seventeen">XVII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">More Stores from the Wreck</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_132">132</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Eighteen">XVIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Tortoise Harnessed</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_135">135</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Nineteen">XIX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Another Trip to the Wreck—Baking</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_140">140</a><span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg vi]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty">XX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Cracker and the Pinnace</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_144">144</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-one">XXI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Gymnastic Exercises—Various Discoveries—Singular Animals, etc.</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-two">XXII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Excursion into Unknown Tracts</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_163">163</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-three">XXIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Useful Occupations and Labours—Embellishments—A Painful but Natural Sentiment</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-four">XXIV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">A New Domain—The Troop of Buffaloes—The Vanquished Hero</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-five">XXV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Malabar Eagle—Sago Manufactory—Bees</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-six">XXVI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Treatment of Bees—Staircase—Training of Various Animals—Manufactures, etc.</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-seven">XXVII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Wild Ass—Difficulty in Breaking It—The Heath Fowl’s Nest</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-eight">XXVIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Flax, and the Rainy Season</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_208">208</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Twenty-nine">XXIX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Spring—Spinning—Salt Mine</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_215">215</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty">XXX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">House in the Salt Rock—Turtles</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-one">XXXI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">New Fishery—New Experiments—New +Discoveries, and House</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-two">XXXII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Completion of Two Farmhouses—A Lake—A Boat</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-three">XXXIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Anniversary of Our Deliverance—Motives for Thankfulness</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_244">244</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-four">XXXIV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Gourd Plantation—Monkey-root or Ginseng—Bird Snares</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-five">XXXV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Dove-cot and Its Management</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-six">XXXVI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Jack’s Adventure and Narrow Escape—A Fountain</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_264">264</a> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg vii]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-seven">XXXVII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Approach of Winter and Wet Season—Invention of a New Light—Literary Acquisitions</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_268">268</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-eight">XXXVIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Close of the Rainy Season—A Whale—Coral</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_273">273</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Thirty-nine">XXXIX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Whale, Its Dissection—Uses of the Different Parts of the Whale</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_276">276</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty">XL</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Boat-propeller or Rowing Machine—A Turtle Drive</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-one">XLI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Weaving-machine—Basket-making—The Alarm—A Dangerous Visitor—The Ass Falls a Victim</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_286">286</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-two">XLII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Discovery of a Crystal Grotto—Further Exploration</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_295">295</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-three">XLIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Pig Hunt—The Supply—The Otaheitan Roast—Ham Smoking</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-four">XLIV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Excursion into the Savanna—Two Horsemen—The Ostrich Hunt—The Nest—The Land Turtles</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_309">309</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-five">XLV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Bears! Bears!—Narrow Escape—The Combat—Discovery of Porcelain Earth</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-six">XLVI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Preparation of the Bears’ Flesh—Cups Out of Ostrich Eggs—Angora Rabbits and Antelopes</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-seven">XLVII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Ostriches Again—A Hunt and a Capture—Acquisition of Treasure—Euphorbia—Vanilla</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_325">325</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-eight">XLVIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Progress in Ostrich Discipline—Efficacy of Tobacco Smoke—Hydromel—The New Hat—Pottery</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_331">331</a> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg viii]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Forty-nine">XLIX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Return of the Rainy Season—A New Want—The Cajack</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty">L</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Return of the Boys—Their Adventures—Harvesting—Partridges and Quails</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_345">345</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-one">LI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Trial of the Cajack—The Alarm—Adventure with Sea Cows—The Drawbridge</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-two">LII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Taming of Antelopes—Sugar Press—Combat with a Hyena—A Flying Courier—The Wild Horse and the Elephant</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_357">357</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-three">LIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Redoubt—Valuable Discoveries—The Cacao Tree—The Banana—Crocodiles and Alligators—Tea Plant—Artillery, and Fortification of Shark Island</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_369">369</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-four">LIV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">A General Review of the Colony After Ten Years of Establishment</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_376">376</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-five">LV</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Excursion of Fritz—Startling Communication—Discovery of Pearls—Intelligence of a Fellow Creature—Fritz’s Return, and Account of His Wonderful Discoveries</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_384">384</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-six">LVI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Edible Birds’ Nests—Pearl Fishery—Poor Jack Is “Killed”—Discovery of Truffles</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_393">393</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-seven">LVII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Cotton Nuts—Terrific Encounter with Lion and Lioness—A Savage—Parley, and Recognition of a Friend</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_398">398</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-eight">LVIII</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Adventures of Fritz—Sir Edward Montrose—Our Adopted Sister—Attack of Wolves—Preparations for Return</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_406">406</a> +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg ix]</span></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Fifty-nine">LIX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Limekiln—Fritz’s Story</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_414">414</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Sixty">LX</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Emily’s Own Story—Return to Felsenheim with Military Honours—The Winter Season Once More</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_421">421</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> +<td class="tdr vlt"><abbr title="Sixty-one">LXI</abbr></td> +<td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Conclusion</span></td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#Page_427">427</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_10"></a><a id="Page_11"></a>[Pg xi]</span></p> +<h2> +COLOR PLATES +</h2> +</div> + +<table> +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“The morning dawned upon us without a prospect + of hope”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus002"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt"></td> <td class="tdr xxs">FACING<br>PAGE</td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“The Vandals themselves could not have made a + more complete pillage than we had done”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus063">62</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“I proceeded more cautiously in my pursuit of the wounded bird”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus097">94</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“He accordingly fell into the track of the current, and drew us straight towards our usual place of +landing”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus143">138</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“Thus we entered the rock in solemn procession”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus225">218</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“Francis remained with his mother”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus319">310</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“With one of our young cavaliers mounted on his + back”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus345">334</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td class="tdh vlt">“I felt so frightened at the apparition”</td> +<td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#illus387">374</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_12"></a><a id="Page_13"></a>[Pg 13]</span></p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="h1head"> +THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON +</p> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a id="Page_14"></a><a id="Page_15"></a>[Pg 15]</span></p> +<p class="center xxl"> +THE SWISS FAMILY<br> +ROBINSON +</p> +<h2 class="nobreak">CHAPTER <abbr title="One">I</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>A Shipwreck, and Preparations for Deliverance +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Already</span> the tempest had continued six days; +on the seventh its fury seemed still increasing; +and the morning dawned upon us without a prospect +of hope, for we had wandered so far from the right +track, and were so forcibly driven toward the southeast, +that none on board knew where we were. The +ship’s company were exhausted by labour and watching, +and the courage which had sustained them was now +sinking. The shivered masts had been cast into the sea; +several leaks appeared, and the ship began to fill. The +sailors forbore from swearing; many were at prayer on +their knees; while others offered miracles of future piety +and goodness, as the condition of their release from +danger. “My beloved children,” said I to my four +boys, who clung to me in their fright, “God can save +us, for nothing is impossible to Him. We must however +hold ourselves resigned, and, instead of murmuring +at His decree, rely that what He sees fit to do is best, +and that should He call us from this earthly scene, we +shall be near Him in heaven, and united through eternity. +Death may be well supported when it does not +separate those who love.”</p> + +<p>My excellent wife wiped the tears which were falling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span>on her cheeks, and from this moment became more +tranquil: she encouraged the youngest children who were +leaning on her knees; while I, who owed them an example +of firmness, was scarcely able to resist my grief +at the thought of what would most likely be the fate of +beings so tenderly beloved. We all fell on our knees, +and supplicated the God of Mercy to protect us; and +the emotion and fervour of the innocent creatures are +a convincing proof that even in childhood devotion +may be felt and understood, and that tranquillity and +consolation, its natural effects, may at that season be +no less certainly experienced. Fritz, my eldest son, +implored, in a loud voice, that God would deign to +save his dear parents and his brothers, generously unmindful +of himself: the boys rose from their posture +with a state of mind so improved that they seemed forgetful +of the impending danger. I myself began to +feel my hopes increase, as I beheld the affecting group. +Heaven will surely have pity on them, thought I, and +will save their parents to guard their tender years!</p> + +<p>At this moment a cry of “Land, land!” was heard +through the roaring of the waves, and instantly the +vessel struck against a rock with so violent a motion +as to drive every one from his place; a tremendous +cracking succeeded, as if the ship were going to pieces; +the sea rushed in, in all directions; we perceived +that the vessel had grounded, and could not long +hold together. The captain called out that all was +lost, and bade the men lose not a moment in putting +out the boats. The sounds fell on my heart like a +thrust from a dagger: “We are lost!” I exclaimed, +and the children broke out into piercing cries. I then +recollected myself, and, addressing them again, exhorted +them to courage, by observing that the water +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span>had not yet reached us, that the ship was near land, +and that Providence would assist the brave. “Keep +where you are,” added I, “while I go and examine what +is best to be done.”</p> + +<p>I now went on the deck. A wave instantly threw +me down, and wetted me to the skin; another followed, +and then another. I sustained myself as steadily as I +could; and looking around, a scene of terrific and complete +disaster met my eyes: the ship was shattered +in all directions, and on one side there was a complete +breach. The ship’s company crowded into the boats till +they could contain not one man more, and the last who +entered were now cutting the ropes to move off. I +called to them with almost frantic entreaties to stop +and receive us also, but in vain; for the roaring of the +sea prevented my being heard, and the waves, which +rose to the height of mountains, would have made it +impossible to return. All hope from this source was +over, for, while I spoke, the boats, and all they contained, +were driving out of sight. My best consolation now +was to observe that the slanting position the ship had +taken would afford us present protection from the water; +and that the stern, under which was the cabin that +enclosed all that was dear to me on earth, had been +driven upwards between two rocks, and seemed immovably +fixed. At the same time, in the distance southward, +I descried through clouds and rain, several nooks +of land, which, though rude and savage in appearance, +were the objects of every hope I could form in this distressing +moment.</p> + +<p>Sunk and desolate from the loss of all chance of +human aid, it was yet my duty to appear serene before +my family: “Courage, dear ones,” cried I on entering +their cabin, “let us not desert ourselves: I will not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span>conceal from you that the ship is aground; but we are at +least in greater safety than if she were beating upon the +rocks; our cabin is above water; and should the sea be +more calm to-morrow, we may yet find means to reach +the land in safety.”</p> + +<p>What I had just said appeased their fears; for my +family had the habit of confiding in my assurances. +They now began to feel the advantage of the ship’s +remaining still; for its motion had been most distressing, +by jostling them one against another, or whatever happened +to be nearest. My wife, however, more accustomed +than the children to read my inmost thoughts, perceived +the anxiety which devoured me. I made her a sign +which conveyed an idea of the hopelessness of our situation; +and I had the consolation to see that she was resolved +to support the trial with resignation. “Let us take +some nourishment,” said she; “our courage will strengthen +with our bodies; we shall perhaps need this comfort to +support a long and melancholy night,”</p> + +<p>Soon after night set in; the fury of the tempest had +not abated; the planks and beams of the vessel separated +in many parts with a horrible crash. We thought of +the boats, and feared that all they contained must have +sunk under the foaming surge.</p> + +<p>My wife had prepared a slender meal, and the four +boys partook of it with an appetite to which their parents +were strangers. They went to bed, and, exhausted by +fatigue, soon were snoring soundly. Fritz, the eldest, +sat up with us. “I have been thinking,” said he, after +a long silence, “how it may be possible to save ourselves. +If we had some bladders or cork-jackets for my mother +and my brothers, you and I, father, would soon contrive +to swim to land.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> +<p>“That is a good thought,” said I; “we will see what +can be done.”</p> + +<p>Fritz and I looked about for some small empty firkins; +these we tied two and two together with handkerchiefs +or towels, leaving about a foot distance between +them, and fastened them as swimming-jackets under the +arms of each child, my wife at the same time preparing +one for herself. We provided ourselves with knives, +some string, some turfs, and other necessaries which +could be put into the pocket, proceeding upon the hope, +that if the ship went to pieces in the night, we +should either be able to swim to land, or be driven thither +by the waves.</p> + +<p>Fritz, who had been up all night, and was fatigued +with his laborious occupations, now lay down near his +brothers, and was soon asleep; but their mother and +I, too anxious to close our eyes, kept watch, listening +to every sound that seemed to threaten a further change +in our situation. We passed this awful night in prayer, +in agonizing apprehensions, and in forming various +resolutions as to what we should next attempt. We +hailed with joy the first gleam of light which shot +through a small opening of the window. The raging of +the winds had begun to abate, the sky was become serene, +and hope throbbed in my bosom, as I beheld the +sun already tinging the horizon. Thus revived, I summoned +my wife and the boys to the deck to partake +of the scene. The youngest children, half forgetful of +the past, asked with surprise, why we were there alone, +and what had become of the ship’s company? I led +them to the recollection of our misfortune, and then +added, “Dearest children, a Being more powerful than +man has helped us, and will, no doubt, continue to help +us, if we do not abandon ourselves to a fruitless despair. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span>Observe, our companions, in whom we had so much +confidence, have deserted us, and that Divine Providence, +in its goodness, has given us protection! But, my dear +ones, let us show ourselves willing in our exertions, and +thus deserve support from heaven. Let us not forget +this useful maxim, and let each labour according to his +strength.”</p> + +<p>Fritz advised that we should all throw ourselves into +the sea, while it was calm, and swim to land.—“Ah! that +may be well enough for you,” said Ernest, “for you can +swim; but we others should soon be drowned. Would it +not be better to make a float of rafts, and get to land +all together upon it?”</p> + +<p>“Vastly well,” answered I, “if we had the means for +contriving such a float, and if, after all, it were not a +dangerous sort of conveyance. But come, my boys, look +each of you about the ship, and see what can be done to +enable us to reach the land.”</p> + +<p>They now all sprang from me with eager looks, to +do as I desired. I, on my part, lost no time in examining +what we had to depend upon as to provisions and +fresh water. My wife and the youngest boy visited +the animals, whom they found in a pitiable condition, +nearly perishing with hunger and thirst. Fritz repaired +to the ammunition room; Ernest to the carpenter’s +cabin; and Jack to the apartment of the captain; but +scarcely had he opened the door, when two large dogs +sprang upon him, and saluted him with such rude affection +that he roared for assistance, as if they had been +killing him. Hunger, however, had rendered the poor +creatures so gentle that they licked his hands and face, +uttering all the time a low sort of moan, and continuing +their caresses till he was almost suffocated. Poor Jack +exerted all his strength in blows to drive them away: at +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span>last he began to understand, and to sympathize in their +joyful movements, and put himself upon another footing. +He got upon his legs, and gently taking the largest dog by +the ears, sprang upon his back, and with great gravity +presented himself thus mounted before me, as I came +out of the ship’s hold. I could not refrain from laughing, +and I praised his courage; but I added a little +exhortation to be cautious, and not go too far with +animals of this species, who, in a state of hunger, might +be dangerous.</p> + +<p>By and by my little company were again assembled +round me, and each boasted of what he had to contribute. +Fritz had two fowling-pieces, some powder and small-shot, +contained in horn flasks, and some bullets in bags.</p> + +<p>Ernest produced his hat filled with nails, and held +in his hands a hatchet and a hammer; in addition, a pair +of pincers, a pair of large scissors, and an auger, peeped +out at his pocket-hole.</p> + +<p>Even the little Francis carried under his arm a box +of no very small size, from which he eagerly produced +what he called some little sharp-pointed hooks. His +brothers smiled scornfully. “Vastly well, gentlemen,” +said I; “but let me tell you that the youngest has brought +the most valuable prize, and this is often the case +in the world; the person who least courts the smiles of +Fortune, and in the calm of his heart is scarcely conscious +of her existence, is often he to whom she most readily +presents herself. These little sharp-pointed hooks, as +Francis calls them, are fishing-hooks, and will probably +be of more use in preserving our lives than all we may +find besides in the ship. In justice, however, I must confess, +that what Fritz and Ernest have contributed will +also afford essential service.”</p> + +<p>“I, for my part,” said my wife, “have brought nothing; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span>but I have some tidings to communicate which I +hope will secure my welcome: I have found on board +a cow and an ass, two goats, six sheep, and a sow big +with young: I have just supplied them with food and +water, and I reckon on being able to preserve their +lives.”</p> + +<p>“All this is admirable,” said I to my young labourers; +“and there is only master Jack, who, instead of thinking +of something useful, has done us the favour to present +us two personages, who, no doubt, will be principally +distinguished by being willing to eat more than we shall +have to give them.”</p> + +<p>“Ah!” replied Jack, “but if we can once get to +land, you will see that they will assist us in hunting and +shooting.”</p> + +<p>“True enough,” said I, “but be so good as to tell us +how we are to get to land, and whether you have contrived +the means?”</p> + +<p>“I am sure it cannot be very difficult,” said Jack, +with an arch motion of his head. “Look here at these +large tubs. Why cannot each of us get into one of them, +and float to the land? I remember I succeeded very well +in this manner on the water, when I was visiting my +godfather at S⁠——”</p> + +<p>“Every one’s thought is good for something,” cried +I, “and I begin to believe that what Jack has suggested +is worth a trial: quick, then, boy! give me the saw, the +auger, and some nails; we will see what is to be done.” +I recollected having seen some empty casks in the ship’s +hold: we went down, and found them floating in the +water which had got into the vessel; it cost us but little +trouble to hoist them up, and place them on the lower +deck, which was at this time scarcely above water. We +saw, with joy, that they were all sound, well guarded by +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span>iron hoops, and in every respect in good condition; they +were exactly suited for the object; and, with the assistance +of my sons, I instantly began to saw them in two. +In a short time I had produced eight tubs, of equal size, +and of the proper height. We now allowed ourselves some +refreshment of wine and biscuit. I viewed with delight +my eight little tubs, ranged in a line. I was surprised +to see that my wife did not partake our eagerness; she +sighed deeply as she looked at them. “Never, never,” +cried she, “can I venture to get into one of these.”</p> + +<p>“Do not decide so hastily, my dear,” said I; “my +plan is not yet complete; and you will see presently that +it is more worthy of our confidence than this shattered +vessel, which cannot move from its place.”</p> + +<p>I then sought for a long pliant plank, and placed my +eight tubs upon it, leaving a piece at each end reaching +beyond the tubs, which, bent upward, would present an +outline like the keel of a vessel; we next nailed all the +tubs to the plank, and then the tubs to each other, as +they stood, side by side, to make them the firmer, and +afterwards two other planks, of the same length as the +first, on each side of the tubs. When all this was +finished, we found we had produced a kind of narrow +boat, divided into eight compartments, which I had no +doubt would be able to perform a short course in calm +water.</p> + +<p>But now we discovered that the machine we had +contrived was so heavy, that, with the strength of all +united, we were not able to move it an inch from its +place. I bade Fritz fetch me a crow, who soon returned +with it: in the meanwhile I sawed a thick round pole +into several pieces, to make some rollers. I then, with +the crow, easily raised the foremost part of my machine, +while Fritz placed one of the rollers under it.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span></p> +<p>“How astonishing,” cried Ernest, “that this engine, +which is smaller than any of us, can do more than our +united strength was able to effect! I wish I could know +how it is constructed.”</p> + +<p>I explained to him as well as I could the power of +Archimedes’ lever, with which he said he could move +the world, if you would give him a point from which his +mechanism might act, and promised to explain the +nature of the operation of the crow when we should be +safe on land.</p> + +<p>One of the points of my system of education for my +sons was to awaken their curiosity by interesting observations, +to leave time for the activity of the imagination, +and then to correct any error they might fall into. +I contented myself now, however, with this general +remark, that God sufficiently compensated the natural +weakness of man by the gifts of reason, of invention, +and the adroitness of the hands; and that human +meditation and skill had produced a science, called +mechanics, the object of which was, to teach us how to +make our own natural strength act to an incredible distance, +and with extraordinary force, by the intervention +of instruments.</p> + +<p>Jack here remarked that the action of the crow was +very slow.</p> + +<p>“Better slow than never, Jack,” replied I. “Experience +has ever taught, and mechanical observations +have established as a principle, that what is gained in +speed is lost in strength: the purpose of the crow is not +to enable us to raise anything rapidly, but to raise what +is exceedingly heavy; and the heavier the thing we +would move, the slower is the mechanical operation. +But are you aware what we have at our command, to +compensate for this slowness?”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span></p> +<p>“Yes, it is turning the handle quicker.”</p> + +<p>“Your guess is wrong; that would be no compensation: +the true remedy, my boy, is to call in the assistance +of patience and reason: with the aid of these two +fairy powers I am in hopes to set my machine afloat.” +As I said this, I tied a long cord to its stern, and the other +end of it to one of the timbers of the ship, which appeared +to be still firm, so that the cord being left loose would +serve to guide and restrain it when launched. We now +put a second and a third roller under, and applying the +crow, to our great joy our machine descended into the +water with such a velocity that, if the rope had not been +well fastened, it would have gone far out to sea. But +now a new difficulty presented itself: the boat leaned +so much on one side that the boys all exclaimed they +could not venture to get into it. I was for some moments +in the most painful perplexity; but it suddenly +occurred to me that ballast only was wanting to set it +straight. I drew it near, and threw all the useless +things I could find into the tubs, so as to make weight +on the light side. By degrees the machine became quite +straight and firm in the water, seeming to invite +us to take refuge in its protection. All now would get +into the tubs, and the boys began to dispute which should +be first. I drew them back, and seeking a remedy +for this kind of obstacle, I recollected that savage nations +make use of a paddle for preventing their canoes from +upsetting. I once more set to work to make one of +these.</p> + +<p>I took two poles of equal length, upon which the sails +of the vessel had been stretched, and having descended +into the machine, fixed one of them at the head, and the +other at the stern, in such a manner as to enable us to +turn them at pleasure to right or left, as should best +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span>answer the purpose of guiding and putting it out to sea. +I stuck the end of each pole, or paddle, into the bung-hole +of an empty brandy-keg, which served to keep the +paddles steady, and to prevent any interruption in the +management of our future enterprise.</p> + +<p>There remained nothing more to do, but to find in +what way I could clear out from the incumbrance of the +wreck. I got into the first tub, and steered the head of +the machine so as to make it enter the cleft in the ship’s +side, where it could remain quiet. I then remounted +the vessel, and sometimes with the saw, and sometimes +with the hatchet, I cleared away, to right and left, +everything that could obstruct our passage; and, that +being effected, we next secured some oars for the voyage +we resolved on attempting.</p> + +<p>We had spent the day in laborious exertions; it was +already late; and as it would not have been possible +to reach the land that evening, we were obliged to pass +a second night in the wrecked vessel, which at every +instant threatened to fall to pieces. We next refreshed +ourselves by a regular meal; for, during the day’s work, +we had scarcely allowed ourselves to take a bit of bread, +or a glass of wine. Being now in a more tranquil and +unapprehensive state of mind than the day before, we +all abandoned ourselves to sleep; not, however, till I had +taken the precaution of tying the swimming apparatus +round my three youngest boys and my wife, in case +the storm should again come on. I also advised my +wife to dress herself in the clothes of one of the sailors +which were so much more convenient for swimming, +or any other exertions she might be compelled to engage +in. She consented, but not without reluctance, and left +us to look for some that might best suit her size. In a +quarter of an hour she returned, dressed in the clothes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span>of a young man who had served as volunteer on board +the ship, and I soon found means to reconcile her to the +change, by representing the many advantages it gave +her, till at length she joined in the merriment her dress +occasioned, and one and all crept into our separate hammocks, +where a delicious repose prepared us for the +renewal of our labours.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER <abbr title="Two">II</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>A Landing, and Consequent Occupations +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">By</span> break of day we were all awake and alert, for +hope as well as grief is unfriendly to lengthened +slumbers. When we had finished our morning prayer, +I said, “We now, my best beloved, with the assistance +of Heaven, must enter upon the work of our +deliverance. The first thing to be done is to give to each +poor animal on board a hearty meal; we will then put +food enough before them for several days; we cannot take +them with us; but we will hope it may be possible, if our +voyage succeeds, to return and fetch them. Are you now +all ready? Bring together whatever is absolutely necessary +for our wants. It is my wish that our first cargo should +consist of a barrel of gunpowder, three fowling-pieces, and +three carbines, with as much small-shot and lead, and as +many bullets as our boat will carry; two pairs of pocket-pistols, +and one of large ones, not forgetting a mould +to cast balls in; each of the boys, and their mother also, +should have a bag to carry game in; you will find plenty +of these in the cabins of the officers.” We added a chest +containing cakes of portable soup, another full of hard +biscuits, an iron pot, a fishing-rod, a chest of nails, and +another of different utensils, such as hammers, saws, pincers, +hatchets, augers, etc., and lastly, some sailcloth to +make a tent. Indeed the boys brought so many things +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span>that we were obliged to reject some of them, though I +had already exchanged the worthless ballast for articles +of use in the question of our subsistence.</p> + +<p>When all was ready we stepped bravely each into +a tub. At the moment of our departure the cocks and +hens began to cluck, as if conscious that we had deserted +them, yet were willing to bid us a sorrowful adieu. This +suggested to me the idea of taking the geese, ducks, fowls, +and pigeons with us; observing to my wife that, if we +could not find means to feed them, at least they would +feed us.</p> + +<p>We accordingly executed this plan. We put ten hens +and an old and a young cock into one of the tubs, and +covered it with planks; we set the rest of the poultry at +liberty, in the hope that instinct would direct them towards +the land, the geese and the ducks by water, and the pigeons +by the air.</p> + +<p>We were waiting for my wife, who had the care of this +last part of our embarkation, when she joined us loaded +with a large bag, which she threw into the tub that already +contained her youngest son. I imagined that she intended +it for him to sit upon, or perhaps to confine him so as to +prevent his being tossed from side to side. I therefore +asked no more questions concerning it. The order of +our departure was as follows:</p> + +<p>In the first tub, at the boat’s head, my wife, the most +tender and exemplary of her sex, placed herself. In the +second, our little Francis, a lovely boy, six years old, remarkable +for the sweetest and happiest temper, and for +his affection to his parents. In the third, Fritz, our eldest +boy, between fourteen and fifteen years of age, a handsome, +curl-pated youth, full of intelligence and vivacity. +In the fourth was the barrel of gunpowder, with the +cocks and hens, and the sail-cloth. In the fifth, the provisions +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span>of every kind. In the sixth, our third son, Jack, +a light-hearted, enterprising, audacious, generous lad, +about ten years old. In the seventh, our second son, Ernest, +a boy of twelve years old, of a rational, reflecting +temper, well informed for his age, but somewhat disposed +to indolence and pleasure. In the eighth, a father, to +whose paternal care the task of guiding the machine for +the safety of his beloved family was entrusted. Each +of us had useful implements within reach; the hand of +each held an oar, and near each was a swimming apparatus, +in readiness for what might happen. The tide was +already at half its height when we left the ship, and I had +counted on this circumstance as favourable to our want +of strength. We held the two paddles longways, and +thus we passed without accident through the cleft of the +vessel into the sea. The boys devoured with their eyes +the blue land they saw at a distance. We rowed with all +our strength, but long in vain, to reach it: the boat only +turned round and round. At length I had the good fortune +to steer in such a way that it proceeded in a straight +line. The two dogs, perceiving we had abandoned them, +plunged into the sea and swam to the boat; they were too +large for us to think of giving them admittance, and I +dreaded lest they should jump in and upset us. Turk +was an English dog, and Flora a bitch of the Danish breed. +I was in great uneasiness on their account, for I feared it +would not be possible for them to swim so far. The dogs, +however, managed the affair with perfect intelligence. +When fatigued, they rested their fore-paws on one of the +paddles, and thus with little effort proceeded.</p> + +<p>Jack was disposed to refuse them this accommodation, +but he soon yielded to my argument that it was cruel and +unwise to neglect creatures thrown on our protection, +and who indeed might hereafter protect us in their turn, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span>by guarding us from harm, and assisting in our pursuit +of animals for food. “Besides,” added I, “God has given +the dog to man to be his faithful companion and friend.”</p> + +<p>Our voyage proceeded securely, though slowly; but +the nearer we approached the land, the more gloomy and +unpromising its aspect appeared. The coast was clothed +with barren rocks, which seemed to offer nothing but +hunger and distress. The sea was calm; the waves, gently +agitated, washed the shore, and the sky was serene in every +direction; we perceived casks, bales, chests, and other +vestiges of shipwrecks, floating round us. In the hope of +obtaining some good provisions, I determined on endeavouring +to secure some of the casks. I bade Fritz have a +rope, a hammer, and some nails ready, and to try to seize +them as we passed. He succeeded in laying hold of two, +and in such a way that we could draw them after us to the +shore. Now that we were close on land, its rude outline +was much softened; the rocks no longer appeared one undivided +chain; Fritz, with his hawk’s eye, already descried +some trees, and exclaimed that they were palm trees. +Ernest expressed his joy that he should now get much +larger and better cocoa-nuts than he had ever seen before. +I, for my part, was venting audibly my regret that I had +not thought of bringing a telescope that I knew was in the +captain’s cabin, when Jack drew a small one from his +pocket, and with a look of triumph presented it to me.</p> + +<p>On applying it to my eye, I remarked that the shore +before us had a desert and savage aspect, but that towards +the left the scene was more agreeable; but when I attempted +to steer in that direction, a current carried me +irresistibly towards the coast that was rocky and barren. +By and by we perceived a little opening between the rocks, +near the mouth of a creek, towards which all our geese and +ducks betook themselves; and I, relying on their sagacity, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span>followed in the same course. This opening formed a little +bay; the water was tranquil, and neither too deep nor too +shallow to receive our boat. I entered it, and cautiously +put on shore to a spot where the coast was about the same +height above the water as our tubs, and where, at the +same time, there was a quantity sufficient to keep us afloat.</p> + +<p>All that had life in the boat jumped eagerly on land. +The dogs, who had swum on shore, received us, as if appointed +to do the honours of the place, jumping round +us with every demonstration of joy; the geese kept up +a loud cackling, to which the ducks, from their broad yellow +beaks, contributed a perpetual thorough bass; the +cocks and hens, which we had already set at liberty, +clucked; the boys chattering all at once, produced altogether +an overpowering confusion of sounds: to this was +added the disagreeable scream of some penguins and flamingoes, +which we now perceived; the latter flying over +our heads, the others sitting on the points of the rocks at +the entrance to the bay.</p> + +<p>The first thing we did on finding ourselves safe on +<i lang="la">terra firma</i>, was to fall on our knees, and return thanks +to the Supreme Being, who had preserved our lives, and +to recommend ourselves with entire resignation to the +care of his paternal kindness.</p> + +<p>We next employed our whole attention in unloading +the boat. We looked about for a convenient place to set +up a tent under the shade of the rocks; and having all +consulted and agreed upon a place, we set to work. We +drove one of our poles firmly into a fissure of the rock; +this rested upon another pole, which was driven perpendicularly +into the ground, and formed the ridge of our +tent. A frame for a dwelling was thus made secure. +We next threw some sail-cloth over the ridge, and stretching +it to a convenient distance on each side, fastened its +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span>extremities to the ground with stakes. Lastly, I fixed +some tenter-hooks along the edge of one side of the sail-cloth +in front, that we might be able to enclose the entrance +during night, by hooking in the opposite edge. The chests +of provisions, and other heavy matters, we had left on the +shore. The next thing was to desire my sons to look about +for grass and moss, to be spread and dried in the sun, to +serve us for beds. During this occupation, I erected near +the tent a kind of little kitchen. A few flat stones I found +in the bed of a fresh-water river, served for a hearth. I +got a quantity of dry branches: with the largest I made a +small enclosure round it; and with the little twigs, added +to some of our turf, I made a brisk cheering fire. We +put some of the soup-cakes, with water, into our iron pot, +and placed it over the flame; and my wife, with my little +Francis for a scullion, took charge of preparing the dinner.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, Fritz had been reloading the guns, +with one of which he had wandered along the side of the +river. He had proposed to Ernest to accompany him; +but Ernest replied that he did not like a rough, stony +walk, and that he should go to the seashore. Jack took +the road towards a chain of rocks which jutted out into +the sea, with the intention of gathering some of the mussels +which grew upon them.</p> + +<p>My own occupation was now an endeavour to draw +the two floating casks on shore, but in which I could +not succeed; for our place of landing, though convenient +enough for our machine, was too steep for the cask. While +I was looking about to find a more favourable spot, I +heard loud cries proceeding from a short distance, and +recognized the voice of my son Jack. I snatched my +hatchet, and ran anxiously to his assistance. I soon perceived +him up to his knees in water in a shallow, and that +a large lobster had fastened its claws in his leg. The +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span>poor boy screamed pitiably, and made useless efforts to +disengage himself. I jumped instantly into the water; +and the enemy was no sooner sensible of my approach, +than he let go his hold, and would have scampered out to +sea, but that I indulged the fancy of a little malice against +him for the alarm he had caused us. I turned quickly +upon him, and took him up by the body, and carried him +off, followed by Jack, who shouted our triumph all the +way. He begged me at last to let him hold the animal +in his own hand, that he might himself present so fine a +booty to his mother. Accordingly, having observed how +I held it to avoid the gripe, he laid his own hand upon it +in exactly the same manner; but scarcely had he grasped +it, than he received a violent blow on the face from the +lobster’s tail, which made him loose his hold, and the animal +fell to the ground. Jack again began to bawl out, +while I could not refrain from laughing heartily. In his +rage he took up a stone, and killed the lobster with a single +blow.</p> + +<p>Ernest, ever prompted by his savoury tooth, bawled +out that the lobster had better be put into the soup, which +would give it an excellent flavour: but this his mother +opposed, observing, that we must be more economical of +our provisions than that, for the lobster of itself would +furnish a dinner for the whole family. I now left them, +and walked again to the scene of this adventure, and examined +the shallow: I then made another attempt upon +my two casks, and at length succeeded in getting them into +it, and in fixing them there securely on their bottoms.</p> + +<p>On my return, I complimented Jack on his being the +first to procure an animal that might serve for subsistence.</p> + +<p>“Ah; but <em>I</em> have seen something too, that is good to +eat,” said Ernest; “and I should have got it if it had not +been in the water, so that I must have wetted my feet⁠——”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, that is a famous story,” cried Jack: “I can tell +you what he saw,—some nasty mussels: why, I would not +eat one of them for the world.—Think of my lobster!”</p> + +<p>“That is not true, Jack; for they were oysters, and not +mussels, that I saw: I am sure of it, for they stuck to +the rock, and I know they must be oysters.”</p> + +<p>“Fortunate enough, my dainty gentleman,” interrupted +I, addressing myself to Ernest; “since you are so +well acquainted with the place where such food can be +found, you will be so obliging as to return and procure +us some. In such a situation as ours, every member of +the family must be actively employed for the common +good; and, above all, none must be afraid of so trifling an +inconvenience as wet feet.”</p> + +<p>“I will do my best, with all my heart,” answered +Ernest; “and at the same time I will bring home some +salt, of which I have seen immense quantities in the holes +of the rocks, where I have reason to suppose it is dried +by the sun. I tasted some of it, and it was excellent.”</p> + +<p>He set off, and soon returned: what he brought had the +appearance of sea-salt, but was so mixed with earth and +sand, that I was on the point of throwing it away; but my +wife prevented me, and by dissolving, and afterwards filtering +some of it through a piece of muslin, we found it +admirably fit for use.</p> + +<p>“Why could we not have used some sea-water,” asked +Jack, “instead of having all this trouble?”</p> + +<p>“So we might,” answered I, “if it had not a somewhat +sickly taste.” While I was speaking, my wife tasted the +soup with a little stick with which she had been stirring it, +and pronounced that it was all the better for the salt, and +now quite ready. “But,” said she, “Fritz is not come in. +And then, how shall we manage to eat our soup without +spoons or dishes? Why did we not remember to bring +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span>some from the ship?”—“Because, my dear, one cannot +think of everything at once. We shall be lucky if we +have not forgotten even more important things.”—“But, +indeed,” said she, “this is a matter which cannot easily be +set to rights. How will it be possible for each of us to +raise this large boiling pot to his lips?”</p> + +<p>I soon saw that my wife was right. We all cast our +eyes upon the pot with a sort of stupid perplexity, and +looked a little like the fox in the fable, when the stork desires +him to help himself from a vessel with a long neck. +Silence was at length broken, by all bursting into a hearty +laugh at our want of every kind of utensil, and at the +thought of our own folly, in not recollecting that spoons +and forks were things of absolute necessity.</p> + +<p>Ernest observed that if we could but get some of the +nice cocoa-nuts he often thought about, we might empty +them, and use the pieces of the shells for spoons.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes,” replied I; “<em>if we could but get</em>,—but we +have them not; and if wishing were to any purpose, I +had as soon wish at once for a dozen silver spoons; but, +alas! of what use is wishing?”</p> + +<p>“But at least,” said the boy, “we can use some oyster-shells +for spoons.”</p> + +<p>“Why, this is well, Ernest,” said I, “and is what I +call a useful thought. Run then quickly for some of +them.”</p> + +<p>Jack ran first, and was up to his knees in the water +before Ernest could reach the place. Jack tore off the +fish with eagerness, and threw them to slothful Ernest, +who put them into his handkerchief.</p> + +<p>Fritz not having yet returned, his mother was beginning +to be uneasy, when we heard him shouting to us from +a small distance, to which we answered by similar sounds. +In a few minutes he was among us, his two hands behind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span>him, and with a sort of would-be melancholy air, which +none of us could well understand.—“What have you +brought?” asked his brothers; “let us see your booty, and +you shall see ours.”—“Ah! I have unfortunately nothing.”—“What! +nothing at all?” said I.—“Nothing at all,” answered +he. But now, on fixing my eye upon him, I perceived +a smile of proud success through his assumed dissatisfaction. +At the same instant Jack, having stolen behind +him, exclaimed, “A sucking pig! a sucking pig!” +Fritz, finding his trick discovered, now proudly displayed +his prize, which I immediately perceived, from the description +I had read in different books of travels, was an +agouti, an animal common in that country, and not a sucking +pig, as the boys had supposed.</p> + +<p>Fritz related that he had passed over to the other side +of the river. “Ah!” continued he, “it is quite another +thing from this place; the shore is low, and you can have no +notion of the quantity of casks, chests, and planks, and +different sorts of things washed there by the sea. Ought +we not to go and try to obtain some of these treasures?”—“We +will consider of it soon,” answered I, “but first we +have to make our voyage to the vessel, and fetch away +the animals: at least you will all agree, that of the cow +we are pretty much in want.”—“If our biscuit were soaked +in milk, it would not be so hard,” observed our dainty Ernest.—“I +must tell you too,” continued Fritz, “that over +on the other side there is as much grass for pasturage as +we can desire: and besides, a wood, in the shade of which +we could repose. Why then should we remain on this +barren desert side?”—“Patience,” replied I; “there is a +time for everything, friend Fritz: we shall not be without +something to undertake to-morrow, and even after to-morrow. +But, above all, I am eager to know if you discovered, +in your excursion, any traces of our ship companions?”—“Not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span>the smallest trace of man, dead or alive, +on land or water,” replied Fritz.</p> + +<p>Soon after we had taken our meal, the sun began to +sink into the west. Our little flock of fowls assembled +round us, pecking here and there what morsels of our biscuit +had fallen on the ground.—Just at this moment my +wife produced the bag she had so mysteriously huddled +into the tub. Its mouth was now opened; it contained +the various sorts of grain for feeding poultry—barley, +peas, oats, etc., and also different kinds of seeds and roots +of vegetables for the table. In the fulness of her kind +heart she scattered several handfuls at once upon the +ground, which the fowls began eagerly to seize. Our +pigeons sought a roosting-place among the rocks; the hens, +with the two cocks at their head, ranged themselves in a +line along the ridge of the tent; and the geese and ducks +betook themselves in a body, cackling and quacking as +they proceeded, to a marshy bit of ground near the sea, +where some thick bushes afforded them shelter.</p> + +<p>A little later, we began to follow the example of our +winged companions, by beginning our preparations for +repose. First, we loaded our guns and pistols, and laid +them carefully in the tent; next, we assembled together +and joined in offering up our thanks to the Almighty for +the succour afforded us, and supplicating his watchful +care for our preservation. With the last ray of the sun +we entered our tent, and, after drawing the sail-cloth over +the hooks, to close the entrance, we laid ourselves down +close to each other on the grass and moss we had collected +in the morning.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER <abbr title="Three">III</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Voyage of Discovery +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">I was</span> roused at the dawn of day by the crowing of +the cocks. I awoke my wife, and we consulted +together as to the occupations we should engage in. +We agreed that we should seek for traces of our late +ship companions, and at the same time examine the +nature of the soil on the other side of the river, before +we determined on a fixed place of abode.—My wife easily +perceived that such an excursion could not be undertaken +by all the members of the family; and she courageously +consented to my proposal of leaving her with the three +youngest boys, and proceeding myself with Fritz on a +journey of discovery.</p> + +<p>The children were soon roused; even our slothful Ernest +submitted to the hard fate of rising so early in the +morning.</p> + +<p>We now prepared for our departure: we took each a +bag for game, and a hatchet: I put a pair of pistols in the +leather band round Fritz’s waist, in addition to the gun, +and provided myself with the same articles, not forgetting +a stock of biscuit and a flask of fresh river water. My +wife now called us to breakfast, when all attacked the +lobster; but its flesh proved so hard, that there was a great +deal left when our meal was finished, and we packed it +for our journey without further regret from any one.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span></p> +<p>In about an hour we had completed the preparations +for our journey. I had loaded the guns we left behind, +and I now enjoined my wife to keep by day as near the +boat as possible, which in case of danger was the best and +most speedy means of escape. My next concern was to +shorten the moment of separation, judging by my own +feelings those of my dear wife; for neither could be without +painful apprehensions of what new misfortune might +occur on either side during the interval. We all melted +into tears:—I seized this instant for drawing Fritz away, +and in a few moments the sobs and often repeated adieus +of those we left behind died away in the noise of the waves +which we now approached, and which turned our thoughts +upon ourselves and the immediate object of our journey.</p> + +<p>The banks of the river were everywhere steep and +difficult, excepting at one narrow slip near the mouth on +our side, where we had drawn our fresh water. The other +side presented an unbroken line of sharp, high, perpendicular +rocks. We therefore followed the course of the +river till we arrived at a cluster of rocks at which the +stream formed a cascade: a few paces beyond, we found +some large fragments of rock which had fallen into the +bed of the river: by stepping upon these, and making now +and then some hazardous leaps, we contrived to reach the +other side. We proceeded a short way along the rock +we ascended in landing, forcing ourselves a passage +through tall grass, which twined with other plants, and +was rendered more capable of resistance by being half +dried by the sun. Perceiving, however, that walking on +this kind of surface in so hot a sun would exhaust our +strength, we looked for a path to descend and proceed +along the river, where we hoped to meet with fewer obstacles, +and perhaps to discover traces of our ship companions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span></p> +<p>When we had walked about a hundred paces, we heard +a loud noise behind us, as if we were pursued, and perceived +a rustling motion in the grass, which was almost +as tall as ourselves. I was a good deal alarmed, thinking +that it might be occasioned by some frightful serpent, a +tiger, or other ferocious animal. Our alarm was, however, +short; for what was our joy on seeing rush out, not an +enemy, but our faithful Turk, whom in the distress of +the parting scene we had forgotten, and whom no doubt +our anxious relatives had sent on to us!</p> + +<p>We again pursued our way. On our left was the +sea, and on our right the continuation of the ridge of rocks +which began at the place of our landing, and ran along +the shore, the summit everywhere adorned with fresh verdure +and a great variety of trees. We were careful to proceed +in a course as near the shore as possible, casting our +eyes alternately upon its smooth expanse and upon the +land in all directions to discover our ship companions, or +the boats which had conveyed them from us; but our endeavours +were in vain.</p> + +<p>When we had gone about two leagues, we entered a +wood situated a little further from the sea: here we threw +ourselves on the ground, under the shade of a tree, by the +side of a clear running stream, and took out some provisions +and refreshed ourselves. We heard the chirping, +singing, and motion of birds in the trees, and observed, +as they now and then came out to view, that they were +more attractive by their splendid plumage than by any +charm of note. Fritz assured me that he had caught a +glimpse of some animals like apes among the bushes, and +this was confirmed by the restless movements of Turk, who +began to smell about him, and to bark so loud that the +wood resounded with the noise. Fritz stole softly about to +be sure, and presently stumbled on a small round body +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span>which lay on the ground: he brought it to me, observing +that it must be the nest of some bird.—“What makes you +of that opinion?” said I. “It is, I think, much more like +a cocoa-nut.”</p> + +<p>“But I have read that there are some kinds of birds +which build their nests quite round: and look, father, how +the outside is crossed and twined.”</p> + +<p>“But do you not perceive that what you take for straws +crossed and twined by the beak of a bird, is in fact a coat +of fibres formed by the hand of Nature? Do you not +remember to have read that the cocoa-nut is enclosed +within a round, fibrous covering, which again is surrounded +by a skin of a thin and fragile texture? I see that in the +one you hold in your hand, this skin has been destroyed by +time, which is the reason that the twisted fibres (or inner +covering) are so apparent: but now let us break the shell, +and you will see the nut inside.”</p> + +<p>We soon accomplished this; but the nut, alas! from +lying on the ground, had perished, and appeared but little +different from a bit of dried skin, and not the least inviting +to the palate.</p> + +<p>A little later we had the good luck to meet with another +nut. We opened it, and finding it sound, we sat +down and ate it for our dinner, by which means we were +enabled to husband the provisions we had brought. The +nut, it is true, was a little oily and rancid; yet, as this was +not a time to be nice, we made a hearty meal, and then +continued our route. We did not quit the wood, but +pushed our way across it, being often obliged to cut a path +through the bushes overrun by creeping plants, with our +hatchet. At length we reached a plain, which afforded +a more extensive prospect, and a path less perplexed and +intricate.</p> + +<p>We next entered a forest to the right, and soon observed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span>that some of the trees were of a singular kind. +Fritz, whose sharp eye was continually on a journey of +discovery, went up to examine them closely. “Oh, heavens! +father, what odd trees, with wens growing all about +their trunks!” I had soon the surprise and satisfaction +of assuring him that they were bottle gourds, the trunks +of which bear fruit. Fritz, who had never heard of such +a plant, could not conceive the meaning of what he saw, +and asked me if the fruit was a sponge or a wen.—“We +will see,” I replied, “if I cannot unravel the mystery. +Try to get down one of them, and we will examine it +minutely.”</p> + +<p>“I have got one,” cried Fritz, “and it is exactly like a +gourd, only the rind is thicker and harder.”</p> + +<p>“It then, like the rind of that fruit, can be used for +making various utensils,” observed I; “plates, dishes, basins, +flasks. We will give it the name of the gourd-tree.”</p> + +<p>Fritz jumped for joy.—“How happy my mother will +be!” cried he in ecstasy; “she will no longer have the +vexation of thinking, when she makes soup, that we shall +all scald our fingers.”</p> + +<p>We accordingly proceeded to the manufacture of our +plates and dishes. I taught my son how to divide the +gourd with a bit of string, which would cut more equally +than a knife; I tied the string round the middle of the +gourd as tight as possible, striking it pretty hard with the +handle of my knife, and I drew it tighter and tighter till +the gourd fell apart, forming two regular-shaped bowls +or vessels; while Fritz, who had used a knife for the same +operation, had entirely spoiled his gourd by the irregular +pressure of his instrument. I recommended his making +some spoons with the spoiled rind, as it was good for no +other purpose. I, on my part, had soon completed two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span>dishes of convenient size, and some smaller ones to serve +as plates.</p> + +<p>Fritz was in the utmost astonishment at my success. +“I cannot imagine, father,” said he, “how this way of cutting +the gourd could occur to you!”</p> + +<p>“I have read the description of such a process,” replied +I, “in books of travels; and also that such of the +savages as have no knives, and who make a sort of twine +from the bark of trees, are accustomed to use it for this +kind of purpose.”</p> + +<p>“And the flasks, father; in what manner are they +made?”</p> + +<p>“For this branch of their ingenuity they make preparation +a long time beforehand. If a negro wishes to have +a flask, or bottle with a neck, he binds a piece of string, +linen, or bark of a tree, or anything he can get, round the +part nearest the stalk of a very young gourd; he draws +this bandage so tight that the part at liberty soon forms +itself to a round shape, while the part which is confined +contracts, and remains ever after narrow. By this method +it is that they obtain flasks or bottles of a perfect form.”</p> + +<p>Our conversation and our labour thus went on together. +Fritz had completed some plates, and was not a +little proud of the achievement. “Ah, how delighted my +mother will be to eat upon them!” cried he. “But how +shall we convey them to her? They will not, I fear, bear +travelling well.”</p> + +<p>“We must leave them here on the sand for the sun +to dry them thoroughly; this will be accomplished by the +time of our return this way, and we can then carry them +with us; but care must be taken to fill them with sand, that +they may not shrink or warp in so ardent a heat.” My +boy did not dislike this task; for he had no great fancy +for the idea of carrying such a load on our journey of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span>further discovery. Our sumptuous service of porcelain +was accordingly spread upon the ground, and for the +present abandoned to its fate.</p> + +<p>We amused ourselves, as we proceeded, in endeavouring +to fashion some spoons from the fragments of the +gourd-rinds. I had the fancy to try my skill upon a +piece of cocoa-nut; but I must needs confess that what +we produced had not the least resemblance to those I had +seen in the Museum at London, and which were shown +there as the work of some of the islanders of the Southern +Seas.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, we had not neglected the great object of +our pursuit,—the making every practicable search for our +ship companions. But our endeavours, alas! were all in +vain.</p> + +<p>After a walk of about four leagues in all, we arrived +at a spot where a slip of land reached far out into the sea, +on which we observed a rising piece of ground or hill. On +a moment’s reflection we determined to ascend it, concluding +we should obtain a clear view of all adjacent parts, +which would save us the fatigue of further rambles. We +accordingly accomplished the design.</p> + +<p>We did not reach the top of the hill without many +efforts and a plentiful perspiration: but when there, we +beheld a scene of wild and solitary beauty, comprehending +a vast extent of land and water. It was however in +vain that we used our telescope in all directions; no trace +of man appeared. A truly embellished nature presented +herself; and we were in the highest degree sensible of her +thousand charms. The shore, rounded by a bay of some +extent, the bank of which ended in a promontory on the +farther side; the agreeable blue tint of its surface; the sea, +gently agitated by waves in which the rays of the sun +were reflected; the woods, of variegated hues and verdure, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span>formed altogether a picture of such magnificence, of such +new and exquisite delight, that, if the recollection of our +unfortunate companions, engulfed perhaps in this very +ocean, had not intruded to depress our spirits, we should +have yielded to the ecstasy the scene was calculated to inspire. +In reality, from this moment we began to lose +even the feeble hope we had entertained, and sadness stole +involuntarily into our hearts. We, however, became but +the more sensible of the goodness of the Divine Being, in +the special protection afforded to ourselves, in conducting +us to a home where there was no present cause for fear +of danger from without, where we had not experienced the +want of food, and where there was a prospect of future +safety for us all.</p> + +<p>We descended the hill, and made our way to a wood +of palms: our path was clothed with reeds, entwined with +other plants, which greatly obstructed our march. We +advanced slowly and cautiously, fearing at every step to +receive a mortal bite from some serpent that might be concealed +among them. We made Turk go before, to give +us timely notice of anything dangerous. I also cut a reed-stalk +of uncommon length and thickness, for my defence +against any enemy. It was not without surprise that I +perceived a glutinous sap proceed from the divided end +of the stalk. Prompted by curiosity, I tasted this liquid, +and found it sweet and of a pleasant flavour, so that not a +doubt remained that we were passing through a plantation +of sugar-canes. I again applied the cane to my lips, +and sucked it for some moments, and felt singularly refreshed +and strengthened. I determined not to tell Fritz +immediately of the fortunate discovery I had made, preferring +that he should find it out for himself. As he was +at some distance before me, I called out to him to cut a +reed for his defence. This he did, and without any remark, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span>used it simply for a stick, striking lustily with it on +all sides to clear a passage. The motion occasioned the +sap to run out abundantly upon his hand, and he stopped +to examine so strange a circumstance. He lifted it up, +and still a larger quantity escaped. He now tasted what +was on his fingers. Oh! then for the exclamations—“Father, +father, I have found some sugar!—some syrup! +I have a sugar-cane in my hand! Run quickly, father!”—We +were soon together, jointly partaking of the pleasure +we had in store for his dear mother and the younger +brothers.</p> + +<p>Fritz cut at least a dozen of the largest canes, tore off +their leaves, tied them together, and putting them under +his arm, dragged them, as well as he was able, through +thick and thin to the end of the plantation. We regained +the wood of palms without accident; here we stretched +our limbs in the shade, and finished our repast. We were +scarcely settled, when a great number of large monkeys, +terrified by the sight of us and the barking of Turk, +stole so nimbly, and yet so quietly up the trees, that we +scarcely perceived them till they had reached the topmost +parts. From this height they fixed their eyes upon us, +grinding their teeth, making horrible grimaces, and saluting +us with screams of hostile import.—Being now satisfied +that the trees were palms, bearing cocoa-nuts, I conceived +the hope of obtaining some of this fruit in a milky +state, through the monkeys. Fritz, on his part, prepared +to shoot at them instantly. He threw his burdens on the +ground, and it was with difficulty I, by pulling his arm, +could prevent him from firing.</p> + +<p>I now began to throw some stones at the monkeys; +and though I could not make them reach to half the height +at which they had taken refuge, they showed every mark +of excessive anger. With their accustomed trick of imitation, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span>they furiously tore off, nut by nut, all that grew +upon the trunk near them, to hurl them down upon us; so +that it was with difficulty we avoided the blows; and in a +short time a great number of cocoa-nuts lay on the +ground round us. Fritz laughed heartily at the excellent +success of our stratagem; and as the shower of cocoa-nuts +began to subside, we set about collecting them. We +chose a place where we could repose at our ease, to feast +on this rich harvest. We opened the shells with a hatchet, +but first enjoyed the sucking of some of the milk through +the three small holes, where we found it easy to insert the +point of a knife. The milk of the cocoa-nut has not a +pleasant flavour; but it is excellent for quenching thirst. +What we liked best was a kind of solid cream which adheres +to the shell, and which we scraped off with our +spoons. We mixed with it a little of the sap of our sugar-canes, +and it made a delicious repast.</p> + +<p>Our meal being finished, we prepared to leave the wood +of palms. I tied all the cocoa-nuts which had stalks together, +and threw them across my shoulder. Fritz resumed +his bundle of sugar-canes. We divided the rest +of the things between us, and continued our way towards +home.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Four">IV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Return from the Voyage of Discovery—A Nocturnal<br> +Alarm +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">My</span> poor boy now began to complain of fatigue; the +sugar-canes galled his shoulders, and he was obliged +to shift them often. At last he stopped to take breath.—“No,” +cried he, “I never could have thought that a few +sugar-canes could be so heavy. How sincerely I pity the +poor negroes who carry heavy loads of them! Yet how +glad I shall be when my mother and Ernest are tasting +them!”</p> + +<p>“I am not without my apprehensions, that of our acquisition +we shall carry them only a few sticks for firewood; +for the juice of the sugar-cane is apt to turn sour +soon after cutting, and the more certainly in such heat as +we now experience; we may suck them, therefore, without +compunction at the diminution of their numbers.”</p> + +<p>When we reached the place where we had left our +gourd utensils upon the sands, we found them perfectly +dry, as hard as bone, and not the least misshapen. We +now, therefore, could put them into our game-bags conveniently +enough, and this done, we continued our way. +Scarcely had we passed through the little wood in which +we breakfasted, when Turk sprang away to seize upon +a troop of monkeys, who were skipping about and amusing +themselves without observing our approach. They +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span>were thus taken by surprise; and before we could get to +the spot, our ferocious Turk had already seized one of +them; it was a female who held a young one in her arms, +which she was caressing almost to suffocation, and which +incumbrance deprived her of the power of escaping. The +poor creature was killed, and afterwards devoured; the +young one hid himself in the grass, and looked on, grinding +his teeth. Fritz flew like lightning to make Turk let +go his hold. He lost his hat, threw down his tin bottle, +canes, etc., but all in vain; he was too late to prevent the +death of the interesting mother.</p> + +<p>The next scene that presented itself was of a different +nature, and comical enough. The young monkey sprang +nimbly on Fritz’s shoulders, and fastened his feet in the +stiff curls of his hair; nor could the squalls of Fritz, nor all +the shaking he gave him, make him let go his hold. I ran +to them, laughing heartily, for I saw that the animal was +too young to do him any injury, while the panic visible +in the features of the boy made a ludicrous contrast with +the grimaces of the monkey, whom I endeavoured to disengage.</p> + +<p>With a little gentleness and management I succeeded. +I took the creature in my arms as one would an infant, nor +could I help pitying and caressing him. He was not +larger than a kitten, and quite unable to help himself; its +mother was at least as tall as Fritz.</p> + +<p>“What shall I do with thee, poor orphan?” cried I; +“and how, in our condition, shall I be able to maintain +thee? We have already more mouths to fill than food to +put into them, and our workmen are too young to afford +us much hope from their exertions.”</p> + +<p>“Father,” cried Fritz, “do let me have this little animal +to myself. I will take the greatest care of him; I will +give him all my share of the milk of the cocoa-nuts, till we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span>get our cows and goats; and who knows? his monkey instinct +may one day assist us in discovering some wholesome +fruits.”</p> + +<p>“I have not the least objection,” answered I. “You +have conducted yourself throughout this tragi-comic adventure +like a lad of courage and sensibility, and I am +well satisfied with every circumstance of your behaviour. +It is therefore but just that the little protégé should be +given up to your management and discretion.”</p> + +<p>We now thought of resuming our journey. The little +orphan jumped again on the shoulders of his protector, +while I on my part relieved my boy of the bundle of canes. +Scarcely had we proceeded a quarter of a league when +Turk overtook us full gallop. The young monkey appeared +uneasy from seeing him so near, and passed round +and fixed himself on his protector’s bosom, who did not +long bear so great an inconvenience without having recourse +to his invention for a remedy. He tied some string +round Turk’s body in such a way, as to admit of the monkey’s +being fastened on his back with it, and then in a tone +of genuine pity, he said, “Now, Mr. Turk, since you had +the cruelty to destroy the mother, it is for you to take +care of her child.” At first the dog was restive, and resisted; +but by degrees, partly by menaces, and partly by +caresses, we succeeded in gaining his good-will, and he +quietly consented to carry the little burden; and the young +monkey, who also had made some difficulties, at length +found himself perfectly accommodated. Fritz put another +string round Turk’s neck, by which he might lead +him, a precaution he used to prevent him from going out +of sight.</p> + +<p>Thus proceeding, we soon found ourselves on the bank +of the river, and near our family, before we were aware. +Flora from the other side announced our approach by a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span>violent barking, and Turk replied so heartily, that his +motions unseated his little burden, who in his fright +jumped the length of his string from his back to Fritz’s +shoulder, which he could not afterwards be prevailed upon +to leave. Turk, who began to be acquainted with the +country, ran off to meet his companion, and shortly after, +our much-loved family appeared in sight, with demonstrations +of unbounded joy at our safe return.</p> + +<p>I gave my wife an account of our journey and our new +acquisitions, which I exhibited one after the other for her +inspection. No one of them afforded her more pleasure +than the plates and dishes, because, to persons of decent +habits, they were articles of indispensable necessity. We +now adjourned to our kitchen, and observed with pleasure +the preparations for an excellent repast. On one side of +the fire was a turnspit, which my wife had contrived by +driving two forked pieces of wood into the ground, and +placing a long even stick, sharpened at one end, across +them. By this invention she was enabled to roast fish, +or other food, with the help of little Francis, who was intrusted +with the care of turning it round from time to time. +On the occasion of our return, she had prepared us the +treat of a goose, the fat of which ran down into some oyster-shells +placed there to serve the purpose of a dripping-pan. +There was, besides, a dish of fish, which the little +ones had caught; and the iron pot was upon the fire, provided +with a good soup, the odour of which increased our +appetite. By the side of these most exhilarating preparations +stood one of the casks which we had recovered from +the sea, the head of which my wife had knocked out, so +that it exposed to our view a cargo of the finest sort of +Dutch cheeses, contained in round tins.</p> + +<p>We seated ourselves on the ground: my wife had +placed each article of the repast in one of our new dishes, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span>the neat appearance of which exceeded all our expectations. +My sons had not patience to wait, but had broken +the cocoa-nuts, and already convinced themselves of their +delicious flavour; and then they fell to making spoons +with the fragments of the shells.</p> + +<p>The boys were preparing to break some more of the +nuts with the hatchet, after having drawn out the milk +through the three little holes, when I pronounced the word +<em>halt</em>, and bade them bring me a saw;—the thought had +struck me, that by dividing the nuts carefully with this +instrument, the two halves, when scooped, would remain +in the form of tea-cups or basins already made to our +hands. Jack, who was on every occasion the most active, +brought me the saw. I performed my undertaking in +the best manner I could, and in a short time each of us +was provided with a convenient receptacle for food.</p> + +<p>By the time we had finished our meal, the sun was +retiring from our view; and recollecting how quickly the +night would fall upon us, we were in great haste to regain +our place of rest. My wife had considerately collected a +tenfold quantity of dry grass, which she had spread in the +tent, so that we anticipated with joy the prospect of +stretching our limbs on a substance somewhat approaching +to the quality of mattresses, while, the night before, our +bodies seemed to touch the ground. Our flock of fowls +placed themselves as they had done the preceding evening: +we said our prayers, and, with an improved serenity of +mind, lay down in the tent, taking the young monkey with +us, who was become the little favourite of all. We all +lay down upon the grass, in the order of the night before, +myself remaining last to fasten the sail-cloth in front of +the tent; when, heartily fatigued by the exertions of the +day, I, as well as the rest, soon fell into a profound and +refreshing sleep.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span></p> +<p>But I had not long enjoyed this pleasing state, when +I was awakened by the motion of the fowls on the ridge +of the tent, and by a violent barking of our vigilant safeguards, +the dogs. I was instantly on my legs: my wife +and Fritz, who had also been alarmed, got up also: we +each took a gun, and sallied forth.</p> + +<p>The dogs continued barking with the same violence, +and at intervals even howled. We had not proceeded +many steps from the tent, when, to our surprise, we perceived +by the light of the moon a terrible combat. At +least a dozen of jackals had surrounded our brave dogs, +who defended themselves with the stoutest courage. Already +the fierce champions had laid three or four of their +adversaries on the ground, while those which remained +began a timid kind of moan, as if imploring pity and forbearance. +Meanwhile they did not the less endeavour to +entangle and surprise the dogs, thus thrown off their +guard, and so secure to themselves the advantage. But +our watchful combatants were not so easily deceived: they +took good care not to let the enemy approach them too +nearly.</p> + +<p>I, for my part, had apprehended something worse +than jackals.—“We shall soon manage to set these gentlemen +at rest,” said I. “Let us fire both together, my boy; +but let us take care how we aim, for fear of killing the +dogs; mind how you fire, that you may not miss, and I +shall do the same.” We fired, and two of the intruders +fell instantly dead upon the sands. The others made their +escape; but we perceived it was with great difficulty, in +consequence, no doubt, of being wounded. Turk and +Flora afterwards pursued them, and put the finishing +stroke to what we had begun; and thus the battle ended.</p> + +<p>The body of one of the jackals was left on the rock, +by the side of the tent in which were the little sleepers, who +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span>had not once awaked during the whole of the scene which +had been passing. Having, therefore, nothing further +to prevent us, we lay down by their side till day began to +break, and till the cocks, with their shrill morning salutation, +awoke us both. The children being still asleep, this +afforded us an excellent opportunity to consult together +respecting the plan we should pursue for the ensuing day.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER <abbr title="Five">V</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Return to the Wreck +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">I broke</span> a silence of some moments, with observing +to my wife that I could not but view with alarm +the many cares and exertions to be made:—“In the first +place, a journey to the vessel. This is of absolute necessity; +at least, if we would not be deprived of the +cattle and other useful things, all of which from +moment to moment we risk losing by the first heavy sea. +What ought we to resolve upon? For example, should +not our very first endeavour be the contriving a better sort +of habitation, and a more secure retreat from wild beasts, +also a separate place for our provisions? I own I am at +a loss what to begin first.”</p> + +<p>“All will fall into the right order by degrees,” observed +my wife; “patience and regularity in our plans will go as +far as actual labour. I cannot, I confess, help shuddering +at the thought of this voyage to the vessel; but if you +judge it to be of absolute necessity, it cannot be undertaken +too soon. In the meanwhile, nothing that is immediately +under my own care shall stand still, I promise +you. Let us not be over-anxious about to-morrow: sufficient +unto the day is the evil thereof. These were the +words of the true Friend of mankind, and let us use so +wise a counsel for our own benefit.”</p> + +<p>“I will follow your advice,” said I, “and without further +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span>loss of time. You shall stay here with the three +youngest boys; and Fritz, being so much stronger and +more intelligent than the others, shall accompany me in +the undertaking.”</p> + +<p>At this moment I started from my bed, crying out +loudly and briskly, “Get up, children, get up; it is almost +light, and we have some important projects for to-day; +it would be a shame to suffer the sun to find us still sleeping, +we who are to be the founders of a new colony!”</p> + +<p>At these words Fritz sprang nimbly out of the tent, +while the young ones began to gape and rub their eyes, to +get rid of their sleepiness. Fritz ran to visit his jackal, +which during the night had become cold and perfectly +stiff. He fixed him upon his legs, and placed him like a +sentinel at the entrance of the tent, joyously anticipating +the wonder and exclamations of his brothers at so unexpected +an appearance. But no sooner had the dogs +caught sight of him, than they began a howl, and set themselves +in motion to fall upon him instantly, thinking he +was alive. Fritz had enough to do to restrain them, and +succeeded only by dint of coaxing and perseverance.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, their barking had awaked the +younger boys, and they ran out of the tent, curious to +know what could be the occasion. Jack was the first who +appeared, with the young monkey on his shoulders; but +when the little creature perceived the jackal, he sprang +away in terror, and hid himself at the furthest extremity +of the grass which composed our bed, and covered himself +with it so completely, that scarcely could the tip of his +nose be seen.</p> + +<p>The children were much surprised at the sight of a yellow-coloured +animal standing without motion at the entrance +of the tent.—“Oh, heavens!” exclaimed Francis, +stepping back a few paces for fear, “it is a wolf!”—“No, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span>no,” said Jack, going near the jackal, and taking one of +his paws, “it is a yellow dog, and he is dead; he does not +move at all.”—“It is neither a dog nor a wolf,” interrupted +Ernest in a consequential tone: “do you not see that it +is the golden fox?”—“Best of all, most learned professor!” +now exclaimed Fritz. “So you can tell an agouti when +you see him, but you cannot tell a jackal; for jackal is +the creature you see before you, and I killed him myself +in the night.”</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—In the night, you say, Fritz? In your sleep, +I suppose⁠——</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—No, Mr. Ernest; not in my sleep, as you so +good-naturedly suppose, but broad awake, and on +the watch to protect you from wild beasts! But I +cannot wonder at this mistake in one who does not +know the difference between a jackal and a golden +fox!</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—You would not have known it either, if papa +had not told you⁠——</p> + +<p>“Come, come, my lads, I will have no disputes,” +interrupted I. “Fritz, you are to blame in ridiculing +your brother for the mistake he made. Ernest, you are +also to blame for indulging that little peevishness +of yours. But as to the animal, you all are right +and all are wrong; for he partakes at once of the nature +of the dog, the wolf, and the fox.” The boys in an +instant became friends; and then followed questions, +answers, and wonder in abundance.—“And now, my +boys, let me remind you, that he who begins the day +without first addressing the Almighty ought to expect +neither success nor safety in his undertakings. Let us +therefore acquit ourselves of this duty before we engage +in other occupations.”</p> + +<p>Having finished our prayers, the next thing thought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span>of was breakfast; for the appetites of young boys open +with their eyes. To-day their mother had nothing +to give them for their morning meal but some biscuit, +which was so hard and dry, that it was with difficulty +we could swallow it. Fritz asked for a piece of cheese +to eat with it, and Ernest cast some searching looks on +the second cask we had drawn out of the sea, to discover +whether it also contained Dutch cheeses. In a minute +he came up to us, joy sparkling in his eyes. “Father,” +said he, “if we had but a little butter spread upon our +biscuit, do you not think it would improve it?”</p> + +<p>“That indeed it would; but—<em>if</em>—<em>if</em>; these never-ending +<em>ifs</em> are but a poor dependence. For my part, I had +rather eat a bit of cheese with my biscuit at once, than +think of <em>ifs</em>, which bring us so meagre a harvest.”</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—Perhaps, though, the <em>ifs</em> may be found to +be worth something, if we were to knock out the head +of this cask.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—What cask, my boy? and what are you +talking of?</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—I am talking of this cask, which is filled +with excellent salt butter. I made a little opening in it +with a knife; and see, I got out enough to spread nicely +upon this piece of biscuit.</p> + +<p>“That glutton instinct of yours for once is of some +general use,” answered I. “But now let us profit by the +event. Who will have some butter on his biscuit?” The +boys surrounded the cask in a moment, while I was in +some perplexity as to the best method of getting at the +contents. Fritz was for taking off the topmost hoop, +and thus loosening one of the ends. But this I objected +to, observing that the great heat of the sun would not +fail to melt the butter, which would then run out, and +be wasted. The idea occurred to me, that I would make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span>a hole in the bottom of the cask, sufficiently large to +take out a small quantity of butter at a time; and I set +about manufacturing a little wooden shovel to use for +the purpose. All this succeeded vastly well, and we sat +down to breakfast, some biscuits and a cocoa-nut shell +full of salt butter being placed upon the ground, round +which we all assembled. We toasted our biscuit, and, +while it was hot, applied the butter, and contrived to make +a hearty breakfast.</p> + +<p>“One of the things we must not forget to look for +in the vessel,” said Fritz, “is a spiked collar or two for +our dogs, as a protection to them should they again be +called upon to defend themselves from wild beasts, which +I fear will probably be the case.”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” says Jack, “I can make spiked collars, if my +mother will give me a little help.”</p> + +<p>“That I will, most readily, my boy; for I should like +to see what new fancy has come into your head,” cried +she.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes,” pursued I, “as many new inventions as +you please; you cannot better employ your time; and +if you produce something useful, you will be rewarded +with the commendations of all. But now for work. You, +Mr. Fritz, who, from your superior age and discretion, +enjoy the high honour of being my privy-counsellor, must +make haste and get yourself ready, and we will undertake +to-day our voyage to the vessel, to bring away whatever +may be possible. You younger boys will remain here, +under the wing of your kind mother: I hope I need not +mention, that I rely on your perfect obedience to her will, +and general good behaviour.”</p> + +<p>While Fritz was getting the boat ready, I looked +about for a pole, and tied a piece of white linen to the +end of it: this I drove into the ground, in a place where +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span>it would be visible from the vessel; and I concerted with +my wife, that in case of any accident that should require +my prompt assistance, they should take down the pole +and fire a gun three times as a signal of distress, in +consequence of which I would immediately turn back. But +I gave her notice, that there being so many things to +accomplish on board the vessel, it was probable that we +should not, otherwise, return at night; in which case I, +on my part, also promised to make signals.</p> + +<p>We embarked in silence, casting anxious looks on the +beloved objects we were quitting. Fritz rowed steadily, +and I did my best to second his endeavours, by rowing +from time to time, on my part, with the oar which served +me for a rudder. When we had gone some distance, I +remarked a current which was visible a long way. To take +advantage of this current, and to husband our strength +by means of it, was my first care. Little as I knew of +the management of sea affairs, I succeeded in keeping +our boat in the direction in which it ran, by which means +we were drawn gently on, till at length the gradual diminution +of its force obliged us again to have recourse to our +oars; but our arms having now rested for some time, we +were ready for new exertions. A little afterwards we +found ourselves safely arrived at the cleft of the vessel, +and fastened our boat securely to one of its timbers.</p> + +<p>Fritz the first thing went to the main deck, where +he found all the animals we had left on board assembled. +I followed him, well pleased to observe the generous impatience +he showed to relieve the wants of the poor +abandoned creatures, who, one and all, now saluted us +by the sounds natural to their species. We examined +the food and water of the animals, taking away what was +half spoiled, and adding a fresh supply, that no anxiety +on their account might interrupt our enterprise. Nor did +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span>we neglect the care of renewing our own strength by a +plentiful repast.</p> + +<p>While we were seated, and appeasing the calls of +hunger, Fritz and I consulted what should be our first +occupation; when, to my surprise, the advice he gave +was, that we should contrive a sail for our boat.—“In +the name of Heaven,” cried I, “what makes you think of +this at so critical a moment, when we have so many things +of indispensable necessity to arrange?”—“True, father,” +said Fritz; “but let me confess that I found it very difficult +to row for so long a time, though I assure you I did my +best, and did not spare my strength. I observed that, +though the wind blew strong against us, the current still +carried us on. Now, as the current will be of no use in +our way back, I was thinking that we might make the wind +supply its place. Our boat will be very heavy when we +have loaded it with all the things we mean to take away, +and I am afraid I shall not be strong enough to row to +land; so do you not think that a sail would be a good +thing just now?”</p> + +<p>“Ah—ha, Mr. Fritz! You wish to spare yourself a +little trouble, do you? But seriously, I perceive much +good sense in your argument, and feel obliged to my +privy-counsellor for his good advice. The best thing we +can do is to take care and not overload the boat, and thus +avoid the danger of sinking, or of being obliged to throw +some of our stores overboard. We will, however, set to +work upon your sail; it will give us a little trouble. But +come, let us begin.”</p> + +<p>I assisted Fritz to carry a pole strong enough for +a mast, and another not so thick for a sailyard. I +directed him to make a hole in a plank with a chisel, large +enough for the mast to stand upright in it. I then went +to the sail-room, and cut a large sail down to a triangular +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span>shape: I made holes along the edges, and passed cords +through them. We then got a pulley, and with this and +some cords, and some contrivance in the management of +our materials, we produced a sail.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus063" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus063.jpg" alt="complete pillage"> + <figcaption> + “The Vandals themselves could not have made a more complete + pillage than we had done.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“But now, father,” said Fritz, “as you have eased +me of the labour of rowing, it is <em>my</em> turn to take care of +<em>you</em>. I am thinking to make you a better contrived rudder; +one that would enable you to steer the boat both +with greater ease and greater safety.”—“Your thought +would be a very good one,” said I, “but that I am unwilling +to lose the advantage of being able to proceed this +way and that, without being obliged to veer. I shall +therefore fix our oars in such a manner as to enable me +to steer the raft from either end.” Accordingly I fixed +bits of wood to the stem and stern of the machine, in +the nature of grooves, which were calculated to spare us +a great deal of trouble.</p> + +<p>During these exertions the day advanced, and I saw +that we should be obliged to pass the night in our tubs, +without having made much progress in our task of +emptying the vessel.</p> + +<p>We employed the remnant of the day in emptying the +tubs of the useless ballast of stones, and putting in their +place what would be of service, such as nails, pieces of +cloth, and different kinds of utensils, etc., etc. The Vandals +themselves could not have made a more complete +pillage than we had done. The prospect before us of +an entire solitude made us devote our attention to +the securing as much powder and shot as we could, as a +means of catching animals for food, and of defending +ourselves against wild beasts to the latest moment +possible. Utensils for every kind of workmanship, of +which there was a large provision in the ship, were also +objects of incalculable value to us. The vessel, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span>was now a wreck, had been sent out as a preparation +for the establishment of a colony in the South Seas, +and had been provided with a variety of stores not +commonly included in the loading of a ship. Among +the rest, care had been taken to have on board considerable +numbers of European cattle: but so long a +voyage had proved unfavourable to the oxen and the +horses, the greatest part of which had died, and the others +were in so bad a condition, that it had been found necessary +to destroy them. The quantity of useful things +which presented themselves in the store-chambers made it +difficult for me to select among them, and I much regretted +that circumstances compelled me to leave some +of them behind. Fritz, however, already meditated a +second visit; but we took good care not to lose the present +occasion for securing knives and forks, and spoons, and +a complete assortment of kitchen utensils. In the captain’s +cabin we found some services of silver, dishes and plates +of high-wrought metal, and a little chest filled with bottles +of many sorts of excellent wine. Each of these we +put into our boat. We next descended to the kitchen, +which we stripped of gridirons, kettles, pots of all kinds, +a small roasting-jack, etc. Our last prize was a chest of +choice eatables, intended for the table of the officers, containing +Westphalia hams, Bologna sausages, and other +savoury food. I took good care not to forget some little +sacks of maize, of wheat, and other grain, and some potatoes. +We next added such implements for husbandry +as we could find; shovels, hoes, spades, rakes, harrows, +etc. Fritz reminded me that we had found sleeping on +the ground both cold and hard, and prevailed upon me +to increase our cargo by some hammocks, and a certain +number of blankets; and as guns had hitherto been the +source of his pleasures, he added such as he could find +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span>of a particular costliness or structure, together with some +sabres and clasp-knives. The last articles we took were +a barrel of sulphur, a quantity of ropes, some small string, +and a large roll of sail-cloth. The vessel appeared to us +to be in so wretched a condition, that the least tempest +must make her go to pieces. It was then quite uncertain +whether we should be able to approach her any more.</p> + +<p>Our cargo was so large, that the tubs were filled +to the very brim, and no inch of the boat’s room was +lost. The first and last of the tubs were reserved for +Fritz and me to seat ourselves in and row the boat, which +sank so low in the water, that if the sea had not been +quite calm, we should have been obliged to ease her of +some of the loading: we, however, used the precaution +of putting on our swimming-jackets, for fear of any misfortune.</p> + +<p>It will easily be imagined that the day had been +laboriously employed. Night suddenly surprised us, and +we lost all hope of returning to our family the same +evening. A large blazing fire on the shore soon after +greeted our sight,—the signal agreed upon for assuring +us that all was well, and to bid us close our eyes in peace. +We returned the compliment, by tying four lanterns, with +lights in them, to our mast-head. This was answered, on +their part, by the firing of two guns; so that both parties +had reason to be satisfied and easy.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Six">VI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>A Troop of Animals in Cork Jackets +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Early</span> the next morning, though it was scarcely +light, I mounted the vessel, hoping to gain a +sight of our beloved companions through a telescope. +Fritz prepared a substantial breakfast of biscuit and +ham; but, before we sat down, we recollected that +in the captain’s cabin we had seen a telescope of a +much superior size and power, and we speedily conveyed +it to the deck. While this was doing, the brightness of +the day had come on. I fixed my eye to the glass, and +discovered my wife coming out of the tent, and looking +attentively towards the vessel, and at the same moment +perceived the motion of the flag upon the shore. A load +of anxiety was thus taken from my heart; for I had the +certainty that all were in good health, and had escaped +the dangers of the night.—“Now that I have had a sight +of your mother,” said I to Fritz, “my next concern is +for the animals on board; let us endeavour to save the +lives of some of them at least, and to take them with us.”</p> + +<p>“Would it be possible to make a raft, to get them +all upon it, and in this way get them to shore?” asked +Fritz.</p> + +<p>“But what a difficulty in making it! and how could +we induce a cow, an ass, and a sow, either to get upon +a raft, or, when there, to remain motionless and quiet? +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span>The sheep and goats one might perhaps find means to +remove, they being of a more docile temper: but for the +larger animals, I am at a loss how to proceed.”</p> + +<p>“My advice, father, is to tie a long rope round the +sow’s neck, and throw her without ceremony into the +sea: her immense bulk will be sure to sustain her above +water; and we can draw her after the boat.”</p> + +<p>“Your idea is excellent: but unfortunately it is of +no use but for the pig; and she is the one I care the least +about preserving.”</p> + +<p>“Then here is another idea, father: let us tie a swimming-jacket +round the body of each animal, and contrive +to throw one and all into the water; you will see that they +will swim like fish, and we can draw them after us in +the same manner.”</p> + +<p>“Right, very right, my boy; your invention is admirable: +let us therefore not lose a moment in making the +experiment.”</p> + +<p>We hastened to the execution of our design: we fixed +a jacket on one of the lambs, and threw it into the sea; +and full of anxious curiosity, I followed the poor beast +with my eyes. He sank at first, and I thought him +drowned; but he soon reappeared, shaking the water from +his head, and in a few seconds he had learned completely +the art of swimming. After another interval, we observed +that he appeared fatigued, gave up his efforts, and suffered +himself to be borne along by the course of the water, +which sustained and conducted him to our complete satisfaction.—“Victory!” +exclaimed I, hugging my boy with +delight: “these useful animals are all our own; let us +lose not a moment in adopting the same means with +those that remain; but take care not to lose our little +lamb.” Fritz now would have jumped into the water +to follow the poor creature, who was still floating safely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span>on the surface; but I stopped him till I had seen him +tie on a swimming-jacket. He took with him a rope, first +making a slip-knot in it, and soon overtaking the lamb, +threw it round his neck, and drew him back to our boat: +and then took him out of the water.</p> + +<p>We next got four small water-butts. I emptied them, +and then carefully closed them again. I united them +with a large piece of sail-cloth, nailing one end to each +cask. I strengthened this with a second piece of sail-cloth, +and this contrivance I destined to support the cow +and the ass, two casks to each, the animal being placed +in the middle, with a cask on either side. I added a +thong of leather, stretching from the casks across the +breast and haunches of the animal, to make the whole +secure; and thus, in less than an hour, both my cow and +my ass were equipped for swimming.</p> + +<p>It was next the turn of the smaller animals: of +these, the sow gave us the most trouble: we were first +obliged to put a muzzle on her to prevent her biting; +and then we tied a large piece of cork under her body. +The sheep and goats were more accommodating, and we +had soon accoutred them for our adventure. And now +we had succeeded in assembling our whole company on +the deck, in readiness for the voyage: we tied a cord +to either the horns or the neck of each animal, and to +the other end of the cord a piece of wood similar to the +mode used for making nets, that it might be easy for us +to take hold of the ropes, and so draw the animal to us +if it should be necessary. We began our experiment with +the ass, by conducting him as near as possible to the brink +of the vessel, and then suddenly shoving him off. He +fell into the water, and for a moment disappeared; but +we soon saw him rise, and in the action of swimming +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span>between his two barrels, with a grace which really merited +our commendation.</p> + +<p>Next came the cow’s turn: and as she was infinitely +more valuable than the ass, my fears increased in due +proportion. The ass had swum so courageously, that he +was already at a considerable distance from the vessel, +so that there was sufficient room for our experiment on +the cow. We had more difficulty in pushing her overboard; +but she reached the water in as much safety as +the ass had done before; she did not sink so low in it, and +was no less perfectly sustained by the empty barrels; and +she made her way with gravity, and, if I may so express +it, a sort of dignified composure. According to this +method we proceeded with our whole troop, throwing them +one by one into the water, where by and by they appeared +in a group floating at their ease, and seemingly well content. +The sow was the only exception: she became quite +furious, set up a loud squalling, and struggled with so +much violence in the water, that she was carried to a +considerable distance, but fortunately in a direction +towards the landing-place we had in view. We had now +not a moment to lose. Our last act was to put on our +cork jackets; and then we descended without accident +through the cleft, took our station in the boat, and were +soon in the midst of our troop of quadrupeds. We carefully +gathered all the floating bits of wood, and fastened +them to the stern of the machine, and thus drew them after +us. When everything was adjusted, and our company +in order, we hoisted our sail, which, soon filling with a +favourable wind, bore us towards the land.</p> + +<p>Proud of the success of so extraordinary a feat, we +were in high spirits, and seated ourselves in the tubs, +where we made an excellent dinner. I was occupied in +thinking of those I had left on land, when a sudden +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span>exclamation from Fritz filled me with alarm.—“Oh, +heavens!” cried he, “we are lost! a fish of an enormous +size is coming up to the boat.”—“And why lost?” said +I, half angry, and yet half partaking of his fright. +“Be ready with your gun, and the moment he is close +upon us we will fire upon him.” He had nearly reached +the boat, and with the rapidity of lightning had seized +the foremost sheep: at this instant Fritz aimed his fire +so skilfully, that the balls of the gun were lodged in +the head of the monster, which was an enormous shark. +The fish half turned himself round in the water and +hurried off to sea, leaving us to observe the lustrous +smoothness of his belly, and that as he proceeded he +stained the water red, which convinced us he had been +severely wounded.</p> + +<p>The animal being now out of sight, and our fears +appeased, I resumed the rudder; and as the wind drove +us straight towards the bay, I took down the sail, and +continued rowing till we reached a convenient spot for +our cattle to land. I had then only to untie the end of +the cords from the boat, and they stepped contentedly +on shore. Our voyage thus happily concluded, we followed +their example.</p> + +<p>Ernest and Jack now ran to the boat, and began +to shout their admiration of the mast, the sail, and the +flag, desiring their brother to explain to them how all the +things they saw had been effected, and what he himself +did of them. In the meantime we began to unpack our +cargo, while Jack stole aside and amused himself with +the animals, took off the jackets from the sheep and +goats, bursting from time to time into shouts of laughter +at the ridiculous figure of the ass, who stood before them +adorned with his two casks and his swimming apparatus, +and braying loud enough to make us deaf.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span></p> +<p>By and by I perceived, with surprise, that Jack had +round his waist a belt of metal covered with yellow skin, +in which were fixed two pistols. “In the name of +Heaven,” exclaimed I, “where did you procure this +curious costume, which gives you the look of a smuggler?”</p> + +<p>“From my own manufactory,” replied he; “and if you +cast your eyes upon the dogs, you will see more of my +specimens.”</p> + +<p>Accordingly I looked at them, and perceived that +each had on a collar similar to the belt round Jack’s +waist, with, however, the exception of the collars being +armed with nails, the points of which were outwards, and +exhibited a formidable appearance. “And is it you, Mr. +Jack,” cried I, “who have invented and executed these +collars and your belt?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, father, they are indeed my invention, with a +little of my mother’s assistance when it was necessary to +use the needle.”</p> + +<p>“But where did you get the leather and the thread +and the needle?”</p> + +<p>“Fritz’s jackal furnished the first,” answered my wife; +“and as to the last, a good mother of a family is always +provided with them. Then have I not an enchanted bag, +from which I draw out such articles as I stand in need of? +So if you have a particular fancy for anything, you +have only to acquaint me with it.” I tenderly embraced +her, to express my thanks for this effort to amuse by so +agreeable a raillery, and Jack too came in for his share +both of the caresses and our hearty commendations.</p> + +<p>Perceiving that no preparations were making for +supper, I told Fritz to bring us the Westphalia ham. +The eyes of all were now fixed upon me with astonishment, +believing that I could only be in jest; when Fritz returned, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span>displaying with exultation a large ham, which we had +begun to cut in the morning. “A ham!” cried one and +all; “a ham! and ready dressed! What a nice supper +we shall have!” said they, clapping their hands to give +a hearty welcome to the bearer of so fine a treat.—“It +comes quite in the nick of time too,” interrupted I; “for, +to judge by appearances, a certain careful steward I +could name seems to have intended to send us supperless +to bed, little thinking, I suppose, that a long voyage by +water is apt to increase the appetite.”</p> + +<p>“I will tell you presently,” replied my wife, “what +it was that prevented me from providing a supper for +you all at an early hour: your ham, however, makes +you ample amends; and I have something in my hand +with which I shall make a pretty side-dish; in the +twinkling of an eye you shall see it make its entrance.” +She now showed us about a dozen of turtles’ eggs, and +then hurried away to make an omelette of some of +them.</p> + +<p>“Look, father,” said Ernest, “if they are not the +very same which Robinson Crusoe found in his island! +See, they are like white balls, covered with a skin like +wetted parchment! We found them upon the sands along +the shore.”</p> + +<p>“Your account is perfectly just, my dear boy,” said +I: “by what means did you make so useful a discovery?”—“Oh, +that is part of our history,” interrupted my wife; +“for I also have a history to relate, when you will be +so good as to listen to it.”</p> + +<p>“Hasten then, my love, and get your pretty side-dish +ready, and we will have the history for the dessert. +In the meantime I will relieve the cow and the ass from +their jackets. Come along, boys, and give me your +help.”—I got up, and they all followed me gaily to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span>shore. We were not long in effecting our purpose with +the cow and the ass, who were animals of a quiet and +kind temper; but when it was the sow’s turn, our success +was neither so easy nor so certain; for no sooner had +we untied the rope than she escaped from us, and ran +so fast that none of us could catch her. The idea occurred +to Ernest of sending the two dogs after her, who caught +at her ears, and sent her back, while we were half deafened +with the hideous noise she made; at last she suffered +us to take off her cork jacket. We now laid the accoutrements +across the ass’s back, and returned to the kitchen; +our slothful Ernest highly delighted that we were likely +in future to have our loads carried by a servant.</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile, the kind mother had prepared the +omelette, and spread a tablecloth on the end of the cask +of butter, upon which she had placed some of the plates +and silver spoons we had brought from the ship. The +ham was in the middle, and the omelette and the cheese +opposite to each other; and altogether made a figure not +to be despised by the inhabitants of a desert island. By +and by the two dogs, the fowls, the pigeons, the sheep, +and the goats had all assembled round us, which gave us +something like the air of sovereigns of the country.</p> + +<p>When we had finished our repast, I bade Fritz present +our company with a bottle of Canary wine, which we +had brought from the captain’s cabin, and I desired my +wife to indulge us with the promised history.</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Seven">VII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Second Journey of Discovery Performed by the<br> +Mother of the Family +</h3> +</div> + +<p>“You pretend,” said my wife, with a little malicious +smile, “to be curious about my history, yet you have +not let me speak a single word in all this time: but the +longer a torrent is pent up, the longer it flows when once +let loose. Now, then, that you are in the humour to listen, +I shall give vent to a certain little movement of vanity +which is fluttering at my heart. Not, however, to intrude +too long upon your patience, we will skip the first day +of your absence, in the course of which nothing new took +place. But this morning, when I was made happy by the +sight of your signal, and had set up mine in return, I +looked about, before the boys were up, in hopes to find a +shady place where we might now and then retire from +the heat of the sun; but I found not a single tree. This +made me reflect a little seriously on our situation. It +will be impossible, said I to myself, to remain in this +place with no shelter but a miserable tent, under which +the heat is even more excessive than without. Courage, +then! pursued I; my husband and my eldest son are at +this moment employed for the general good; why should +not I be active and enterprising also? why not undertake, +with my youngest sons, to do something that shall add +some one comfort to our existence? I will pass over with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span>them to the other side of the river, and with my own eyes +examine the country respecting which my husband and +Fritz have related such wonders. I will try to find out +some well shaded agreeable spot, in which we may all be +settled.</p> + +<p>“I assembled the boys round me, and informed them +of my plans for an excursion; and you may believe I +heard nothing like a dissenting voice. They lost not a +moment in preparing themselves; they examined their +arms, their game-bags, looked out the best clasp-knives, +and cheerfully undertook to carry the provision-bags; +while I, for my share, was loaded with a large flask of +water and a hatchet, for which I thought it likely we +might find a use. I also took the light gun which belongs +to Ernest, and gave him in return a carbine, which might +be loaded with several balls at once. We took some refreshment, +and then sallied forth, attended by the two +dogs for our escort. We arrived at the place at which +you had crossed the river, and succeeded in passing over, +though not without difficulty. After having filled my +flask with river water, we proceeded on our way till we +had reached to the top of the hill which you described to +us as so enchanting, and where I partook of the pleasure +you had experienced.</p> + +<p>“In casting my eyes over the vast extent before me, +I had observed a small wood of the most inviting aspect. +I had so long sighed for a little shade, that I resolved +to bend our course towards it; for this, however, it was +necessary to go a long way through a strong kind of +grass, which reached above the heads of the little boys; +an obstacle which, on trial, we found too difficult to overcome. +We therefore resolved to walk along the river, +and turn at last upon the wood. We found traces of your +footsteps, and took care to follow them till we had come +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span>to a place which seemed to lead directly to it; but here +again we were interrupted by the height and thickness of +the grass, which nothing but the most exhausting endeavours +could have enabled us to get through.</p> + +<p>“On a sudden we perceived a large bird rising from +the thickest part of the grass, and mounting in the air. +Each of the boys prepared to fire, but before they could +be ready, the bird was out of the reach of shot. Ernest +was bitterly disappointed, and instantly exchanged the +gun for the carbine I had given him, crying, ‘What a +pity! If I had but had the lightest gun! if the bird +had not got away so fast, I would lay any wager I should +have killed him.’</p> + +<p>“‘The mischief was, no doubt, that you did not let +him know beforehand that it was your pleasure he should +wait till you could be quite ready,’ observed I, laughing.</p> + +<p>“‘But, mother, how could I possibly suppose that +the bird could fly away in less than the twinkling of an +eye? Ah, if one would but come at this very moment!’</p> + +<p>“‘A good sportsman, Ernest, always holds himself +in readiness, this being, as I understand, one of his great +arts; but as the opportunity is gone, let us look for the +place in the grass from which he mounted; we may judge +at least of his size by the mark he will have left there.’ +The boys all scampered away to the place, when suddenly +a second bird, exactly like the first, except that he was +a little larger, rushed out with a great noise and mounted +above their heads.</p> + +<p>“The boys remained stupid with astonishment, following +him with their eyes and open mouths without +speaking a word, while for my own part I could not help +laughing heartily. ‘Oh! such fine sportsmen as we have +here!’ cried I: ‘they will never let us be in want of game, I +plainly perceive.’ <em>Ah! if one would but come at this very +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span>moment!</em>” We now minutely examined the place from +which the birds had mounted, and found a kind of large +nest formed of dry plants, of clumsy workmanship; the +nest was empty, with the exception of some broken shells of +eggs. I inferred from this that their young had lately +been hatched; and observing at this moment a rustling motion +among some plants of shorter growth, at some distance +from the spot on which we stood, I concluded that the +young covey were scampering away in that direction; but +as the motion soon ceased, we had no longer a guide to +conduct us to their retreat.</p> + +<p>“We next reached a little wood. A prodigious quantity +of unknown birds were skipping and warbling on the +branches of the trees, without betraying the least alarm at +our vicinity. The boys wanted to fire on them; but this I +absolutely forbade, and with the less scruple, as the trees +were of so enormous a height as to be out of gun-shot reach. +No, my dear husband, you cannot possibly form an idea of +the trees we now beheld! You must somehow have missed +this wood; or so extraordinary a sight could not have escaped +your observation. What appeared to us at a distance +to be a wood was only a group of about fourteen of +them, the trunks of which seemed to be supported in their +upright position by arches on each side, these arches being +formed by the roots of the tree.</p> + +<p>“Jack climbed with considerable trouble upon one of +these arch-formed roots, and with a pack-thread in his hand +measured the actual circumference of the tree itself. He +found that it measured more than fifteen braches.⁠<a id="FNanchor_1_1" href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> I +made thirty-two steps in going round one of those giant +productions at the roots; and its height from the ground to +the place where the branches begin to shoot may be about +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span>thirty-six braches. The twigs of the tree are strong and +thick; its leaves moderately large in size, and bearing some +resemblance to the hazel tree of Europe; but I was unable +to discover that it bore any fruit. The large breadth of +shade which presented itself seemed to invite us to make +this spot the place of our repose: and my predilection for +it grew so strong that I resolved to go no further, but to +enjoy its delicious coolness till it should be time to return. +I sat down in this verdant elysium with my three sons +around me. We took out our provision-bags: a charming +stream, formed to increase the coolness and beauty of the +scene, flowed at our feet, and supplied us with a fresh and +salutary beverage. It occurred to me, that if we could +but contrive a kind of tent that could be fixed in one of the +trees, we might safely come and make our abode here. +I had found nothing in any other direction that suited us +so well in every respect; and I resolved to look no further. +When we had shared our dinner among us, and well rested +from our fatigue, we set out on our return, again keeping +close to the river, half expecting to see along the shore +some of the pieces or other vestiges of the vessel, which the +waves might have washed up.</p> + +<p>“As I expected, we found there pieces of timber, poles, +large and small chests, and other articles, which I knew +had come from the vessel. None of us, however, were +strong enough to bring them away; we therefore contented +ourselves with dragging all we could reach to the dry sands, +beyond the reach of the waves at high water.</p> + +<p>“We now suddenly cast our eyes on Flora, whom we +perceived employed in turning over a round substance she +had found in the sands, some pieces of which she swallowed +from time to time. Ernest also perceived her motions, +and did us the favour, with his usual composure, to pronounce +just these words:—‘They are turtles’ eggs.’ We +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span>found it difficult to make Flora leave the eggs, to which +she had taken a great fancy. At length, however, we succeeded +in collecting near two dozen of them, which we secured +in our provision-bags. When we had concluded +this affair, we by accident cast our eyes upon the sea, and +to our astonishment perceived a sail, which seemed to be +joyfully approaching towards the land. I knew not what +to imagine; but Ernest exclaimed that it was you and +Fritz; and we soon had the happiness of being convinced +that it was indeed our well-beloved! We ran eagerly +towards the river, and soon arrived at the place of your +landing, when we had nothing further to do but to throw +ourselves into your arms!”</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1" href="#FNanchor_1_1" class="label">[1]</a> The brache is equal to twenty-two inches and a half.</p></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Eight">VIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Construction of a Bridge +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">When</span> my wife and I awaked the next morning, +we resumed the question of our change of abode. +I observed to her that it was a matter of difficulty, and +that we might have reason to repent such a step. “My own +opinion is,” said I, “that we had better remain here, where +Providence seems to have conducted us; the place is favourable +to our personal safety, and is near the vessel, from +which we may continue to enrich ourselves: we are on all +sides protected by the rocks; it is an asylum inaccessible +but by sea, or by the passage of the river, which is not +easily accomplished. Let us then have patience yet a +little longer at least, till we have got all that can be removed, +or that would be useful to us, from the ship.”</p> + +<p>My wife replied, that the intense heat of the sands was +insupportable; that by remaining, we lost all hope of procuring +fruits of any kind, and must live on oysters, or on +wild birds.</p> + +<p>“As for the safety you boast of,” pursued she, “the rocks +did not prevent our receiving a visit from the jackals; nor +is it improbable that tigers or other animals might follow +their example. Lastly, as to the treasures we might continue +to draw from the vessel, I renounce them with all +my heart. We are already in possession of provisions and +other useful things: and, to say the truth, my heart is always +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span>filled with distressing apprehensions, when you and +Fritz are exposed to the danger of that perfidious element +the sea.”</p> + +<p>“We will then think seriously of the matter; but let +us have a well-digested scheme of operation before we leave +this spot for your favourite wood. First, we must contrive +a store-house among the rocks for our provisions and other +things, and to which, in case of invasion in the wood, we +can retreat and defend ourselves. This agreed, the next +thing is to throw a bridge across the river, if we are to pass +it with all our family and baggage.”</p> + +<p>“A bridge!” exclaimed my wife: “can you possibly +think of such a thing? If we stay while you build a bridge, +we may consider ourselves as fixed for life. Why should +we not cross the river as we did before? The ass and the +cow will carry all we possess upon their backs.”</p> + +<p>“But do you recollect, that to keep what they carry dry, +they must not perform their journey as they did from the +vessel? For this reason, then, if for no other, we must +contrive a bridge. We shall want also some sacks and +baskets to contain our different matters; you may therefore +set about making these, and I will undertake the bridge, +which, the more I consider, the more I find to be of indispensable +necessity.”</p> + +<p>Thus, then, we decided the important question of removing +to a new abode; after which we fixed upon a plan +of labour for the day, and then awaked the boys. Their +delight on hearing of our project may easily be conceived, +but they expressed their fear that it would be a long while +before a bridge could be built.</p> + +<p>We now began to look about for breakfast. My wife +undertook to milk the cow, and afterwards gave some of +the milk to each of the children: with a part of what remained +she made a sort of sop with biscuits, and the rest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span>she put into one of the flasks, to accompany us in our expedition. +During this time, I was preparing the boat for +another journey to the vessel, to bring away a sufficient +quantity of planks and timbers for the bridge. After +breakfast we set out; and now I took with me Ernest as +well as Fritz, that we might accomplish our object in +a shorter time.</p> + +<p>We rowed stoutly till we reached the current, which +soon drew us on beyond the bay; but scarcely had we +passed a little islet, lying to one side of us, than we perceived +a prodigious quantity of sea-gulls and other birds. +I had a curiosity to discover what could be the reason +of such an assemblage of these creatures. I steered for +the spot; but finding that the boat made but little way, +I hoisted my sail.</p> + +<p>I approached near enough to step upon the land, and +after bringing the boat to an anchor with a heavy stone, +we stole softly up to the birds. We soon perceived that +the object which attracted them was in reality an enormous +fish, which had been thrown there by the sea. So +eagerly were they occupied with the feast, that not one of +them attempted to fly off. We observed with astonishment +the extreme voracity of this plumed group: each +bird was so intent upon its prey that we might have killed +great numbers of them with our sticks alone. Fritz did not +cease to express his wonder at the monstrous size of the +animal, and asked me by what means it could have got +there?</p> + +<p>“I believe,” answered I, “you were yourself the means; +there is every appearance that it is the very shark you +wounded yesterday. See, here are the two balls which you +discharged at its head.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, it is the very same,” said my young hero, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span>skipping about for joy: “I well remember I had two +balls in my gun, and here they are, lodged in its head.”</p> + +<p>Ernest drew out the iron ramrod from his gun, and +by striking with it to right and left among the birds, soon +dispersed them. Fritz and I then advanced and cut several +long strips of the skin from the head of the shark, with +which we were proceeding to our boat, when I observed, +lying on the ground, some planks and timbers which had +recently been cast by the sea on this little island. On +measuring the longest, we perceived they would answer +our purpose; and with the assistance of the crow and a +lever which we had brought with us, found means to get +them into the boat, and thus spare ourselves the trouble +of proceeding to the vessel. With great exertion of our +strength, we contrived to bind the timbers together, with +the planks upon them, in the manner of a raft, and tied +them to the end of the boat; so that, through this adventure, +we were ready to return in four hours from the time +of departure, and might boast of having done a good day’s +work.</p> + +<p>We were once more landed safely on our shore, but +no one of our family appeared. We called to them as +loud as we could, which was answered by the same sounds +in return, and in a few minutes my wife appeared between +her two little boys returning from the river, a rising piece +of ground having concealed her from our sight: each carried +a handkerchief in hand, which appeared filled with +some new prize: and little Francis had a small fishing-net +formed like a bag and strung upon a stick, which he carried +on his shoulder. No sooner did they hear our voices, +than they flew to meet us, surprised at our quick return. +Jack reached us before the rest; and his first act was to +open the handkerchief he held, and pour out a large number +of lobsters at our feet: their mother and little Francis +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span>produced each as many more, forming all together a prodigious +heap, and all alive; so that we were sure of excellent +dinners for some days at least.</p> + +<p>After we had given an account of our voyage, my wife +set about dressing some of the lobsters, and in the meantime +Fritz and I employed ourselves in untying the raft +of timbers and planks, and in moving them from the +boat. I then imitated the example of the Laplanders, in +harnessing their reindeer for drawing their sledges. Instead +of traces, halters, etc., I put a piece of rope, with a +running knot at the end, round the neck of the ass, and +passed the other end between its legs, to which I tied the +piece of wood which I wished to be removed. The cow +was harnessed in the same manner, and we were thus +enabled to carry our materials, piece by piece, to the spot +which had been chosen at the river as the most eligible for +our bridge. It was a place where the shore on each side +was steep, and of equal height; there was even on our +side an old trunk of a tree lying on the ground, which I +foresaw would have its use.</p> + +<p>“Now then, boys,” said I, “the first thing is to see if +our timbers are long enough to reach to the other side: by +my eye, I should think they are; but if I had a surveyor’s +plane, we might be quite sure, instead of working at a +venture.”</p> + +<p>“But my mother has some balls of packthread, with +which she measured the height of the giant tree,” interrupted +Ernest, “and nothing would be more easy than to +tie a stone to the end of one of them, and throw it to the +other side of the river; then we could draw it to the very +brink, and thus obtain the exact length that would be +required for our timbers.”</p> + +<p>“Your idea is excellent,” cried I; “run quickly and +fetch the packthread.” He returned without loss of time; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span>the stone was tied to its end, and thrown across as we had +planned; we drew it gently back to the river edge, marking +the place where the bridge was to rest: we next measured +the string, and found that the distance from one side to the +other was eighteen feet. It appeared to me, that to give +a sufficient solidity to the timbers, I must allow three feet +of extra length at each end for fixing them, making therefore +in all twenty-four; and I was fortunate enough to +find that many of those we had brought did not fall short +of this length. There now remained the difficulty of carrying +one end across the stream; but we determined to discuss +this part of the subject while we ate our dinner, which +had been waiting for us more than an hour.</p> + +<p>We hurried through our meal, each being deeply interested +in the work we were about to undertake, and +thinking only of the part which might be assigned him +towards the execution of the <i>Nonsuch</i>; for this, for mutual +encouragement, was the name we gave our bridge, even +before it was in existence.</p> + +<p>Having consulted as to the means of laying our timbers +across the river, the first thing I did was to attach one +of them to the trunk of the tree, of which I have already +spoken, by a strong cord, long enough to turn freely round +the trunk; I then fastened a second cord to the other end +of the timber, and tying a stone to its extremity, flung +it to the opposite bank. I next passed the river as I had +done before, furnished with a pulley, which I secured to a +tree: I passed my second cord through the pulley, +and recrossing the river with this cord in my hand, +I contrived to harness the ass and cow to the end of the +cord. I next drove the animals from the bank of the river: +they resisted at first, but I made them go by force of drawing. +I first fixed one end of the beam firmly to the trunk +of the tree, and then they drew along the other end, so +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span>as gradually to advance over the river: presently, to my +great joy, I saw it touch the other side, and at length become +fixed and firm by its own weight. In a moment +Fritz and Jack leaped upon the timber, and, in spite of +my paternal fears, crossed the stream with a joyful step +upon this narrow but effective bridge.</p> + +<p>The first timber being thus laid, the difficulty was considerably +diminished; a second and a third were fixed in +succession, and with the greatest ease. Fritz and I, standing +on opposite sides of the river, placed them at such distances +from each other as was necessary to form a broad +and handsome bridge: what now remained to be done was +to lay some short planks across them quite close to each +other, which we executed so expeditiously, that our construction +was completed in a much shorter time than I +should have imagined possible. Our labour, however, had +occasioned us so much fatigue, that we found ourselves +unable for that day to enter upon new exertions; and the +evening beginning to set in, we returned to our home, +where we partook heartily of an excellent supper, and +went to bed.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Nine">IX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Change of Abode +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">As</span> soon as we were up and had breakfasted the next +morning, I assembled all the members of my family +together, to take with them a solemn farewell of this our +first place of reception from the awful disaster of +the shipwreck. I directed my sons to assemble our +whole flock of animals, and to leave the ass and the +cow to me, that I might load them with the sacks which +my wife had made; I had filled these, and made a slit +longways in the middle of each, and to each side of the +slits I tied several long pieces of cord, which crossing +each other, and being again brought round and fastened, +served to hold the sacks firmly on the back of the animal. +We next began to put together all the things we should +stand most in need of for the two or three first days in our +new abode: working implements, kitchen utensils, the captain’s +service of plate, and a small provision of butter, etc., +etc. I put these articles into the two ends of each sack, +taking care that the sides should be equally heavy, and +then fastened them on. I afterwards added our hammocks +to complete the load, and we were about to begin to +march, when my wife stopped me.—“We must not,” said +she, “leave our fowls behind, for fear they should become +the prey of the jackals. We must contrive a place for +them among the luggage, and also one for our little Francis, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span>who cannot walk so far, and would interrupt our speed. +There is also my enchanted bag, which I recommend to +your particular care,” said she, smiling, “for who can tell +what may yet pop out of it for your good pleasure?”</p> + +<p>I now placed the child on the ass’s back, fixing the enchanted +bag in such a way as to support him, and I tied +them together with so many cords, that the animal might +even have galloped without danger of his falling off.</p> + +<p>We packed and placed in the tent everything we were +to leave, and for greater security, fastened down the ends +of the sail-cloth, at the entrance, by driving stakes through +them into the ground. We ranged a number of vessels, +both full and empty, round the tent, to serve as a rampart, +and thus we confided to the protection of Heaven +our remaining treasures. At length, we set ourselves in +motion: each of us, great and small, carried a gun upon +his shoulder, and a game-bag at his back. My wife led the +way with her eldest son, the cow and the ass immediately +behind them; the goats, conducted by Jack, came next; +the little monkey was seated on the back of his nurse, and +made a thousand grimaces. After the goats came Ernest, +conducting the sheep, while I, in my capacity of general +superintendent, followed behind, and brought up the rear; +the dogs for the most part pranced backwards and forwards, +like adjutants to a troop of soldiers. Our march +was slow, and there was something solemn and patriarchal +in the spectacle we exhibited; I fancied we must resemble +our forefathers journeying in the deserts, accompanied by +their families and their possessions.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the river we experienced an inconvenience +wholly unexpected. The tempting aspect of the +grass, which grew here in profusion, drew off our animals, +who strayed from us to feed upon it; so that, without the +dogs, we should not have been able to bring them back +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span>to the line of our procession. The active creatures were +of great use to us on this occasion; and when everything +was restored to proper order, we were able to continue our +journey. For fear, however, of a similar occurrence, I +directed our march to the left, along the seaside, where the +produce of the soil was not of a quality to attract them.</p> + +<p>But scarcely had we advanced a few steps on the sands, +when our two dogs, which had strayed behind among the +grass, set up a sort of howl, as if engaged in an encounter +with some formidable animal. Fritz in an instant raised +his gun to his cheek, and was ready to fire; Ernest, always +somewhat timid, drew back to his mother’s side; Jack ran +bravely after Fritz with his gun upon his shoulder; while +I, fearing the dogs might be attacked by some dangerous +wild beast, prepared myself to advance to their assistance. +But youth is always full of ardour: and in spite of my exhortations +to proceed with caution, the boys, eager for +the event, made but three jumps to the place from which +the noise proceeded. In an instant Jack had turned to +meet me, clapping his hands, and calling out, “Come +quickly, father, come quickly, here is a monstrous porcupine!”</p> + +<p>I soon reached the spot, and perceived that it was really +as he said, bating a little exaggeration. The dogs were +running to and fro with bleeding noses about the animal; +and when they approached too near him, he made a frightful +noise, and pierced them with his quills so deeply and +suddenly that the pain the wounds occasioned made them +howl violently.</p> + +<p>While we were looking on, Jack determined on an attack, +which succeeded well. He took one of the pistols +which he carried in his belt, and aimed it so exactly at the +head of the porcupine, that he fell dead the instant he +fired, and before we had a notion of what he was about. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span>We now all got round the extraordinary animal, on whom +nature has bestowed a strong defence by arming his body +all over with long spears. The boys were at a loss what +means to use for carrying away his carcass. They thought +of dragging it along the ground; but as often as they +attempted to take hold, there was nothing but squalling, +and running to show the marks made by his quills on their +hands.—“We must leave him behind,” said they, “but it +is a great pity.”</p> + +<p>While the boys were talking, my wife and I had hastened +to relieve the dogs, by examining the wounds which +had been inflicted by the quills. Fritz had run on before +with his gun, hoping he should meet with some animal of +prey. We followed him at our leisure, taking care not to +expose our health by unnecessary fatigue; till at last, without +further accident or adventure, we arrived at the place +of the giant trees. Such indeed we found them, and our +astonishment exceeded all description.—“Good heavens! +what trees! what a height! what trunks! I never heard of +any so prodigious!” exclaimed one and all.—“Nothing +can be more rational than your admiration,” answered I, +measuring them with my eyes as I spoke. “I must confess +I had not myself formed an idea of the reality. To +you be all the honour, my dear wife, of the discovery of +this agreeable abode, in which we shall enjoy so many +comforts and advantages. The great point we have to +gain is the fixing a tent large enough to receive us all in +one of these trees, by which means we shall be perfectly +secure from the invasion of wild beasts. I defy even one +of the bears, who are so famous for mounting trees, to +climb up by a trunk so immense, and so destitute of +branches.”</p> + +<p>We began now to release our animals from their burdens, +having first thrown our own on the grass. We next +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span>used the precaution of tying their two fore-legs together +with a cord, that they might not go far away or lose themselves. +We restored the fowls to liberty; and then seating +ourselves upon the grass, we held a family council on +the subject of our future establishment. I was myself +somewhat uneasy on the question of our safety during the +ensuing night; for I was ignorant of the nature of the extensive +country I beheld around me, and what chance there +might be of our being attacked by different kinds of wild +beasts. I accordingly observed to my wife, that I would +make an endeavour for us all to sleep in the tree that very +night. While I was deliberating with her on the subject, +Fritz had stolen away to a short distance, and we heard +the report of a gun. This would have alarmed me, if at +the same moment we had not recognized Fritz’s voice crying +out, “I touched him! I touched him!” and in a moment +we saw him running towards us, holding a dead animal of +uncommon beauty by the paws.—“Father, father, look, +here is a superb tiger-cat,” said he, proudly raising it in +the air, to show it to the best advantage.—“Bravo! bravo!” +cried I: “bravo, Nimrod the undaunted! Your exploit +will call forth the gratitude of our cocks, hens, and pigeons, +for you have rendered them what they cannot fail to think +an important service. If you had not killed this animal, +he would no doubt have demolished in one night our whole +stock of poultry. One idea occurs to me: skin the animal +carefully, so as not to injure it, particularly the parts which +cover the fore-legs and the tail. You may then make yourself +a belt with it, like your brother Jack’s. The odd pieces +will serve to make some cases to contain our utensils for +the table, such as knives, forks and spoons. Go then, boy, +and put away its head, and we will see how to set about +preparing the skin.”</p> + +<p>The boys left me no moment of repose till I had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span>shown them how to take off the skins of the animals without +tearing them. In the meanwhile Ernest looked about +for a flat stone as a sort of foundation for a fireplace, and +little Francis collected some pieces of dry wood for his +mother to light a fire. Ernest was not long in finding +what he wanted, and then he ran to join us, and give us his +assistance, or rather to reason, right or wrong, on the subject +of skinning animals; and then on that of trees, making +various comments and inquiries respecting the real name +of those we intended to inhabit.—“It is my opinion,” said +he, “that they are, really and simply, enormously large +hazel trees; see if the leaf is not of exactly the same form.”—“But +that is no proof,” interrupted I; “for many trees +bear leaves of the same shape, but nevertheless are of different +kinds.”</p> + +<p>Presently little Francis came running, with his mouth +crammed full of something, and calling out, “Mamma, +mamma! I have found a nice fruit to eat, and I have +brought you home some of it!”</p> + +<p>“Little glutton!” replied his mother, quite alarmed, +“what have you got there? For Heaven’s sake, do not +swallow, in this imprudent manner, the first thing that +falls in your way; for by this means you may be poisoned, +and then you would die.” She made him open his mouth, +and took out with her finger what he was eating with so +keen a relish. With some difficulty she drew out the remains +of a fig.—“A fig!” exclaimed I: “where did you get +this fig?”</p> + +<p><i>Francis.</i>—I got it among the grass, papa; and there +are a great many more. I thought it must be good to eat, +for the fowls and the pigeons, and even the pig, came to +the place, and ate them in large quantities.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—“You see then, my dear,” said I to my wife, +“that our beautiful trees are fig-trees, at least the kind +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span>which are thus named at the Antilles.” I took this occasion +to give the boys another lesson on the necessity of +being cautious, and never to venture on tasting anything +they met with, till they had seen it eaten by birds and +monkeys. At the word monkeys, they all ran to visit the +little orphan, whom they found seated on the root of a +tree, and examining with the oddest grimaces the half-skinned +tiger-cat, which lay near him. Francis offered +him a fig, which he first turned round and round, then +smelled at it, and concluded by eating it voraciously.—“Bravo! +bravo! Mr. Monkey,” exclaimed the boys, clapping +their hands; “so then these figs are good to eat!”</p> + +<p>In the meanwhile my wife had been busy in making +a fire, putting on the pot, and preparing for our dinner. +The tiger-cat was bestowed upon the dogs, who waited impatiently +to receive it. While our dinner was dressing, +I employed my time in making some packing-needles with +some of the quills of the porcupine, which the boys had +contrived to draw from his skin, and bring home. I put +the point of a large nail into the fire till it was red-hot; +then taking hold of it with some wet linen in my hand, by +way of guard, I with great ease perforated the thick end +of the quills with it. I had soon the pleasure of presenting +my wife with a large packet of long, stout needles, which +were the more valuable in her estimation as she had formed +the intention of contriving some better harness for our +animals, and had been perplexed how to set about it without +some larger needles.</p> + +<p>I had singled out the highest fig-tree; and while we +were waiting for dinner, I made the boys try how high +they could throw a stick or stone into it. I also tried myself; +but the lowest branches were so far from the ground, +that none of us could touch them. I perceived, therefore, +that we should want some new inventions for fastening +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span>the ends of my ladder to them. I allowed a short pause +to my imagination, during which I assisted Jack and Fritz +in carrying the skin of the tiger-cat to a near rivulet, where +we confined it under water with some large stones. After +this we returned and dined heartily on some slices of ham +and bread and cheese, under the shade of our favourite +trees.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus097" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus097.jpg" alt="wounded bird"> + <figcaption> + “I proceeded more cautiously in my pursuit of the wounded bird.” + </figcaption> +</figure> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER <abbr title="Ten">X</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Construction of a Ladder +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Our</span> repast ended, I observed to my wife that we +should be obliged to pass the night on the ground. +I desired her to begin preparing the harness for the animals, +that they might go to the seashore, and fetch +pieces of wood, or other articles which might be +useful to us. I, in the meantime, set about suspending +our hammocks to some of the arched roots of +the trees. I next spread a piece of sail-cloth large enough +to cover them, to preserve us from the dew, and from the +insects. I then hastened with the two eldest boys to the +seashore, to choose out such pieces of wood as were most +proper for the steps of my ladder. Ernest was so lucky +as to discover some bamboo canes in a sort of bog. I took +them out, and, with his assistance, completely cleared them +from the dirt; and stripping off their leaves, I found, to +my great joy, that they were precisely what I wanted. I +then instantly began to cut them with my hatchet, in pieces +of four or five feet long; the boys bound them together +in faggots, and we prepared to return with them to our +place of abode. I next secured some of the straight and +most slender of the stalks, to make some arrows with, of +which I knew I should stand in need. At some distance +from the place where we stood, I perceived a sort of thicket, +in which I hoped to find some young pliant twigs, which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span>I thought might also be useful to me: we proceeded to the +spot; but apprehending it might be the retreat of some +dangerous reptile or animal, we held our guns in readiness. +Flora, who had accompanied us, went before. We had +hardly reached the thicket before she made several jumps, +and threw herself furiously into the middle of the bushes; +when a troop of large-sized flamingoes sprang out, and +with a loud rustling noise mounted into the air. Fritz +fired, when two of the birds fell among the bushes: one +of them was quite dead; the other was only slightly +wounded in the wing, and finding that he could not fly, +he ran so fast towards the water, that we were afraid he +would escape us. Fritz, in the joy of his heart, plunged +up to his knees in the water, to pick up the flamingo he had +killed, and with great difficulty was able to get out again; +while I, warned by his example, proceeded more cautiously +in my pursuit of the wounded bird. Flora came to my +assistance, and running on before, caught hold of the +flamingo, and held him fast till I reached the spot, and took +him into my protection. All this was effected with considerable +trouble; for the bird made a stout resistance, flapping +its wing with violence for some time. But at last +I succeeded in securing him.</p> + +<p>Fritz was not long in extricating himself from the +swamp; he now appeared holding the dead flamingo by the +feet: but I had more trouble in the care of mine, as I had +a great desire to preserve him alive. I had tied his feet +and his wings with my handkerchief; notwithstanding +which, he still continued to flutter about to a distressing +degree, and tried to make his escape. I held the flamingo +under my left arm, and my gun in my right hand. I made +the best jumps I was able to get to the boys, but the risk +of sinking every moment in the mud, which was extremely +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span>deep, and from which it would have been difficult to release +me.</p> + +<p>I now selected some of the oldest of the stalks of bamboo, +and cut from them their hard pointed ends, to serve +for the tips of my arrows. Lastly, I looked for two of +the longest canes, which I cut, for the purpose of measuring +the height of our giant tree, about which I felt so +deep an interest. When I told my sons the use I intended +to make of the two longest canes, they indulged themselves +in a hearty laugh at me, and maintained that, though I +should lay ten such canes up the trunk of the tree, the last +would not reach even the lowest branch. I requested +they would oblige me by having a little patience. We now +thought of returning. Ernest took the charge of the +canes; Fritz carried the dead flamingo, and I resumed the +care of the living one.</p> + +<p>We at length arrived once more at our giant trees, and +were received with a thousand expressions of interest and +kindness. All were delighted at the sight of our new +captures. My wife, with her usual anxiety about the +means for subsisting, asked where we should get food +enough for all the animals we brought home?—“You +should consider,” said I, “that some of them feed us, instead +of being fed; and the one we have now brought +need not give you much uneasiness, if, as I hope, he proves +able to find food for himself.” I now began to examine +his wound, and found that only one wing was injured by +the ball, but that the other had also been slightly wounded +by the dog laying hold of him. I applied some ointment +to both, which seemed immediately to ease the pain. I +next tied him by one of his legs, with a long string, to a +stake I had driven into the ground, quite near to the river, +that he might go in and wash himself when he pleased.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, my little railers had tied the two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span>longest canes together, and were endeavouring to measure +the tree with them; but when they found that they reached +no further than the top of the arch formed by the roots, +they all burst into immoderate fits of laughter, assuring +me, that if I wished to measure the tree, I must think of +some other means. I however sobered them a little by recalling +to Fritz’s memory some lessons in land-surveying +he had received in Europe, and that the measure of the +highest mountains, and their distance from each other, may +be ascertained by the application of triangles and supposed +lines. I instantly proceeded to this kind of operation, +fixing my canes in the ground, and making use of some +string, which Fritz guided according to my directions. I +found that the height of the lower branches of our tree was +forty feet; a particular I was obliged scrupulously to ascertain +before I could determine the length of my ladder. I +now set Fritz and Ernest to work, to measure our stock of +thick ropes, of which I wanted no less than eighty feet for +the two sides of the ladder; the two youngest I employed +in collecting all the small string we had used for measuring, +and carrying it to their mother. For my part, I sat +down on the grass, and began to make some arrows with +a piece of the bamboo, and the short sharp points of the +canes I had taken such pains to secure. As the arrows +were hollow, I filled them with moist sand, to give them a +little weight; and lastly, I tipped them with a bit of feather +from the flamingo, to make them fly straight.</p> + +<p>Just at this moment Fritz joined us, having finished +measuring the ropes: he brought me the welcome tidings, +that our stock, in all, was about five hundred fathoms, +which I knew to be more than sufficient for my ladder. I +now tied the end of a ball of strong thread to an arrow, +and fixing it to the bow, I shot it off in such a direction +as to make the arrow pass over one of the largest branches +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span>of the tree, and fall again to the ground. By this method +I lodged my thread securely, while I had the command of +the end and the ball below. It was now easy to tie a piece +of rope to the end of the thread, and draw it upwards, till +the knot should reach the same branch. Having thus +made quite sure of being able to raise my ladder, we all set +to work with increased zeal and confidence. The first +thing I did was to cut a length of about one hundred feet +from my parcel of ropes, an inch thick; this I divided into +two equal parts, which I stretched along on the ground +in two parallel lines, at the distance of a foot from each +other. I then directed Fritz to cut portions of sugar-cane, +each two feet in length. Ernest handed them to me, one +after another; and as I received them, I inserted them into +my cords at the distance of twelve inches respectively, fixing +them with knots in the cord, while Jack, by my order, +drove into each a long nail at the two extremities, to hinder +it from slipping out again. Thus, in a very short time, +I had formed a ladder of forty rounds in length, and, in +point of execution, firm and compact, and which we all beheld +with a sort of joyful astonishment. I now tied it +with strong knots to the end of the rope which hung from +the tree, and pulled it by the other, till our ladder reached +the branch, and seemed to rest so well upon it, that the +joyous exclamations of the boys and my wife resounded +from all sides. All the boys wished to be the first to ascend +upon it; but I decided that it should be Jack, he +being the nimblest and of the lightest figure among them. +Accordingly, I and his brothers held the ends of the rope +and of the ladder with all our strength, while our young +adventurer tripped up the rounds with perfect ease, and +presently took his post upon the branch; but I observed +that he had not strength enough to tie the rope firmly to +the tree. Fritz now interfered, assuring me that he could +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span>ascend as safely as his brother; but as he was much heavier, +I was not altogether without apprehension. I fastened +the end of the ladder with forked stakes to the ground, and +then gave him instructions how to step in such a way as +to divide his weight, by occupying four rounds of the ladder +at the same time with his feet and hands. It was not +long before we saw him side by side with Jack, forty feet +above our heads, and both saluting us with cries of exultation. +Fritz set to work to fasten the ladder, by passing +the rope round and round the branch; and this he performed +with so much skill and intelligence, that I felt +sufficient reliance to determine me to ascend myself, and +well conclude the business he had begun. But first I tied +a large pulley to the end of the rope, and carried it with +me. When I was at the top, I fastened the pulley to a +branch which was within my reach, that by this means I +might be able the next day to draw up the planks and timbers +I might want for building my aërial castle. I executed +all this by the light of the moon, and felt the satisfaction +of having done a good day’s work. I now gently +descended my rope ladder, and joined my wife and children.</p> + +<p>My wife presented me with the day’s work she had +performed: it was some traces, and a breast leather each +for the cow and the ass. I promised her, as a reward for +her zeal and exertion, that we should all be completely settled +in the tree the following day, and we then assembled +to supper.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Eleven">XI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Settling in the Giant Tree +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> next morning we took our breakfast, and fell +to work. My wife, having finished her daily occupation +of milking the cow, and preparing the breakfast, +set off with Ernest, Jack and Francis, attended +by the ass, to the seashore: they had no doubt of finding +some more pieces of wood, and they thought it would +be prudent to replenish our exhausted store. In her +absence, I ascended the tree with Fritz, and made the +necessary preparations for my undertaking, for which I +found it in every respect convenient; for the branches grew +close to each other, and in an exactly horizontal direction. +Such as grew in a manner to obstruct my design, I cut off +either with the saw or hatchet, leaving none but what presented +me with a sort of foundation for my work. I left +those which spread themselves evenly upon the trunk, and +had the largest circuit, as a support for my floor. Above +these, at the height of forty-six feet, I found others, upon +which to suspend our hammocks; and higher still, there was +a further series of branches, destined to receive the roof +of my tent, which for the present was to be formed of nothing +more than a large surface of sail-cloth.</p> + +<p>The progress of these preparations was considerably +slow. It was necessary to raise certain beams to this +height of forty feet, that were too heavy for my wife and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span>her little assistants to lift from the ground. I had, however, +the resource of my pulley, which served to excellent +purpose, and Fritz and I contrived to draw them up to the +elevation of the tent, one by one. When I had already +placed two beams upon the branches, I hastened to fix +my planks upon them; and I made my floor double, that +it might have sufficient solidity if the beams should be +warped from their places. I then formed a wall of staves +of wood like a park-paling, all round for safety. This +operation, and a third journey to the seashore to collect +the timber necessary, filled our morning so completely, +that not one of us had thought about dinner. For this once +we contented ourselves with a bit of ham and some milk, +which we ate, and returned to finish our aërial palace, which +began to make an imposing appearance. We unhooked +our hammocks from the projecting roots, and by means of +my pulley contrived to hoist them up the tree. The sail-cloth +roof was supported by the thick branches above; and +as it was of great compass, and hung down on every side, +the idea occurred to me of nailing it to the paling on two +sides, thus getting not only a roof, but two walls also; the +immense trunk of the tree forming a third side, while in +the fourth was the entrance to our apartment: and in this +I left a large aperture, both as a means of seeing what +passed without, and admitting a current of air to cool us +in this burning temperature. The hammocks were soon +hung on the branches, and everything was ready for our +reception that very evening. Well satisfied with the execution +of my plan, I descended with Fritz, who had assisted +me throughout the whole; and as the day was not +far advanced, and I observed we had still some planks remaining, +we set about contriving a large table, to be placed +between the roots of the tree, and surrounded with benches; +and this place we said should be called our dining-parlour.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span></p> +<p>Exhausted by the fatigues of the day, I threw myself +on a bank, and my wife having seated herself near me, I +thanked her for the tender care she was ever imposing on +herself; and then I observed to her, that the many blessings +we enjoyed led the thoughts naturally to the beneficent +Giver of them all; and to-morrow being a Sabbath day, we +would rest from work, in obedience to His command, and +otherwise keep it holy. We now assembled round our +table to supper, my wife holding in her hand an earthen +pot, which we had before observed upon the fire, and the +contents of which we were all curious to be informed of. +She took off the cover, and with a fork drew out of it the +flamingo which Fritz had killed. She informed us that she +had preferred dressing it this way to roasting, because Ernest +had assured her that it was an old bird, which would +prove hard and tough, and advised her to improve it by +stewing. We rallied our glutton boy on this foible of his +character, and his brothers gave him the name of the <i>cook</i>. +We, however, had soon reason to know that he had conferred +upon us an important obligation; for the bird, which, +roasted, we perhaps should not have been able to touch, +now appeared excellent, and was eaten up to the very +bones.</p> + +<p>The boys now, by my direction, lighted one of the heaps +of wood. I tied long ropes loosely round the necks of +our dogs, purposing to mount to our tent with the ends in +my hand, that I might be able to let them lose upon the +enemy at the first barking I should hear. Every one was +eager to retire to rest, and the signal for ascending the +ladder was given. The three eldest boys were up in an +instant; then came their mother’s turn, who proceeded +slowly and cautiously, and arrived in perfect safety. My +own ascension was last, and the most difficult; for I carried +little Francis on my back, and the end of the ladder +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span>had been loosened at the bottom, that I might be able to +draw it up in the tent during the night; every step, +therefore, was made with the greatest difficulty, in consequence +of its swinging motion. At last, however, I got +to the top, and drew the ladder after me. It appeared to +them that we were in one of the strong castles of the ancient +cavaliers, in which, when the drawbridge is raised, the +inhabitants are secured from every attack of the enemy. +Notwithstanding this apparent safety, I kept our guns +in readiness for whatever event might require their use. +We now abandoned ourselves to repose; our hearts experienced +a full tranquillity; and the fatigue we had all undergone +induced so sound a sleep, that daylight shone full in +the front of our habitation before our eyes had opened.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twelve">XII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Sabbath and the Parable +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> next morning we descended the ladder, and +breakfasted on warm milk: we served the animals +also with their meal and then we all sat down on the tender +grass; the boys full of impatient curiosity; their +mother absorbed in silent reflection; while I was penetrated +with the most lively desire to impress upon the +young minds of my children a subject I considered of +the highest importance for their well-being, both in this +world and in that which is to come.</p> + +<p>All now standing up, I repeated aloud the church service, +which I knew by heart, and we sang some verses from +the hundred-and-nineteenth Psalm, which the boys had +before learned; after which we sat down, and I began as +follows:—</p> + +<p>“My dear children, there was once a Great King, whose +kingdom was called The Country of Light and Reality, +because the purest and softest light of the sun reigned +there continually, which caused the inhabitants to be in +a perpetual state of activity. On the farthest borders of +this kingdom, northward, there was another country which +also belonged to the Great King, and the immense extent +of which was unknown to all but himself. From time +immemorial, a plan the most exact of this country had +been preserved in the royal archives. The second kingdom +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span>was called The Kingdom of Obscurity, or of Night, +because everything in it was gloomy and inactive.</p> + +<p>“In the most fertile and agreeable part of his empire +of Reality, this great King had a residence called the +Heavenly City, in which he lived and kept his court, which +was the most brilliant that the imagination can form an +idea of. Millions of guards, and servants high in dignity, +remained for ever round him, and a still larger number +held themselves in readiness to receive his commands. +All were happy to be admitted into his presence: their +faces shone with the mildest joy: there was but one heart +and one soul among them: the sentiment of paternal concord +so united these beings, that no envy or jealousy +ever rose among them. Among the rest of the inhabitants +of the Heavenly City, there were some less close in +their attendance upon the Great King, but they were all +virtuous, all happy, all had been enriched by the beneficence +of the monarch, and, what is of still higher price, had +received constant marks of his paternal care; for his subjects +were all equal in his eyes, and he loved them, and +treated them as if they had been his children.</p> + +<p>“The Great King had, besides the two kingdoms I +have been describing, an uninhabited island of considerable +extent: it was his wish to people and cultivate this island, +for all within it was a kind of chaos: he destined it to be +for some years the abode of such future citizens as he +intended to receive finally into his residence, to which only +such of his subjects were admitted as had rendered themselves +worthy by their conduct. This island was called +Earthly Abode: he who should have passed some time in +it, and by his virtue, his application to labour, and the +cultivation of the land, should have rendered himself +worthy of reward, was afterwards to be received into the +Heavenly City, and made one of its happy inhabitants.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span></p> +<p>“To effect this end, the Great King caused a fleet to be +equipped, which was to transport the new colonists to this +island. These he chose from the kingdom of Night, and +for his first gift bestowed upon them the enjoyment of +light, and the view of the lovely face of Nature, of which +they had been deprived in their gloomy and unknown +abode. It will easily be imagined that they arrived joyful +and happy, at least they became so when they had +been for a short time accustomed to the multitude of new +objects which struck their feeble sight. The island was +rich and fertile when cultivated. The beneficent King +provided each individual who was disembarked upon it +with all the things he could want in the time he had fixed +for their stay in it, and all the means for obtaining the +certainty of being admitted as citizens of his magnificent +abode, when they should leave the Earthly Island. All +that was required to entitle them to this benefit was that +they should occupy themselves unceasingly in useful +labour, and strictly obey the commands of the Great King, +which he made known to them. He sent to them his only +son, who addressed them from his father in the following +terms:—</p> + +<p>“‘My dear children, I have called you from the kingdom +of Night and Insensibility, to render you happy by +the gifts of life, of sentiment, and of activity. But your +happiness for the most part will depend upon yourselves. +You will be happy if you wish to be so. If such is your +sincere desire, you must never forget that I am your good +King, your tender father; and you must faithfully fulfil +my will in the cultivation of the country I have confided +to your care. Each of you shall receive, on his arriving +at the island, the portion of land which is intended for +him; and my further commands respecting your conduct +will be soon communicated to you. I shall send you wise +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span>and learned men, who will explain to you my commands; +and that you may of yourselves seek after the light necessary +for your welfare, and remember my laws at every +instant of your lives, it is my will that each father of a +family shall keep an exact copy of them in his house, and +read them daily to all the persons who belong to him. +Further, each first day of the week I require to be devoted +to my service. In each colony, all the people shall assemble +together as brothers in one place, where shall be read +and explained to them the laws contained in my archives. +The rest of this day shall be employed in making serious +reflections on the duties and destination of the colonists, +and on the best means to fulfil the same.</p> + +<p>“‘He who, in his Earthly Abode, shall most strictly +have observed my will, who shall have best fulfilled the +duties of a brother towards his fellow-inhabitants, who +shall have preserved his land in the best order, and shall +show the largest produce from it, shall be recompensed +for his deeds, and shall become an inhabitant of my magnificent +residence in the Heavenly City. But the neglectful +and the idle man, and the wicked man, who shall have +spent their time in interrupting the useful labours of others, +shall be condemned to pass their lives in slavery, or, +according to the degree of their wickedness, shall be condemned +to live in subterraneous mines, in the bowels of +the earth.’</p> + +<p>“All the colonists were well satisfied with the discourse +of the Great King, and made him the most sacred promises. +After a short time allowed for repose from the +fatigue of the voyage, a portion of land, and the proper +instruments for labour, were distributed to each of the +strangers. They received also seeds, and useful plants, +and young trees, for producing them refreshing fruits. +Each was then left at liberty to act as he pleased, and increase +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span>the value of what was confided to his care. But +what happened? After some time, each followed the suggestions +of his fancy: one planted his land with arbours, +flowery banks, and sweet-smelling shrubs; all pleasing to +the sight, but which brought forth nothing. Another +planted wild apple-trees, instead of the good fruit, as the +Great King had commanded; contenting himself with giving +high-sounding names to the worthless fruit he had +caused to be brought forth. A third had indeed sown +good grain; but not knowing how to distinguish the tares +that grew up along with it, he pulled up the good plants +before they were mature, and left only the tares in his +ground. But the greater part let their land lie fallow, and +bestowed no labour upon it, having spoiled their implements, +or lost their seed, either from negligence or idleness, +or liking better to amuse themselves than to labour.</p> + +<p>“From habit they continued to celebrate the first day +of the week, but by far the smallest part of it was consecrated +to the honour of the Great King. Great numbers +of them dispensed with going to the general assembly, +either from idleness, or to employ themselves in occupations +which had been expressly forbidden. By far the +greater part of the people considered this day of repose as +intended for pleasure, and thought of nothing but adorning +and amusing themselves as soon as daylight appeared. +The Great King, however, observed unalterably the laws +he had laid down. From time to time, some frigates appeared +on their coasts, each bearing the name of some +disastrous malady; and these were followed by a large +ship of the line, named the Grave, on board of which, the +admiral, whose name was Death, caused his flag of two +colours, green and black, to be constantly floating in the +air. He showed the colonists, according to the situation in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span>which he found them, either the smiling colour of Hope, +or the gloomy colour of Despair.</p> + +<p>“This fleet always arrived without being announced, +and seldom gave any pleasure to the inhabitants. The +admiral sent the captains of his frigates to seize the persons +he was ordered to bring back with him. Many who +had not the smallest inclination were suddenly embarked, +while others who had prepared everything for the harvest, +and whose land was in the best condition, were also seized. +But these last took their departure cheerfully, and without +alarm; well knowing that nothing but happiness awaited +them. It was those who were conscious they had neglected +to cultivate their land, who felt the most regret. +It was even necessary to employ force to bring them under +subjection. When the fleet was ready for departure, the +admiral sailed for the port of the Royal Residence; and the +Great King, who was present on their arrival, executed +with strict justice both the rewards and punishments +which had been promised to them. All the excuses alleged +by those who had been idle, were of no avail. They were +sent to the mines and to the galleys, while those who had +obeyed the Great King, and well cultivated their land, +were admitted into the Heavenly City, clothed in robes +of brilliant colours, one exceeding the other according to +the degree of merit.—Here, my dear children, ends my +parable. May you have thoroughly understood its meaning, +and may you reap the advantage it is capable of affording +you! Make it the subject of your reflections the +whole of this day.”</p> + +<p>I then put different questions to my little congregation, +and explained what they had not perfectly comprehended; +and, after a short review of the principal parts +of my discourse, I concluded by a moral application.</p> + +<p>“Human creatures,” said I, “are the colonists of God; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span>we are required to perform the business of probation for a +certain period, and, sooner or later, are destined to be +taken hence. Our final destination is Heaven, and a +perfect happiness with the spirits of just men made perfect, +and in the presence of the bountiful Father of us all. +The piece of land entrusted to each is the soul; and according +as he cultivates and ennobles it, or neglects or depraves +it, will be his future reward or punishment. For ourselves, +one and all, we will adopt the model of the good and +zealous labourers; and should our exertions be a little painful, +we shall think of the reward which awaits us, when +we shall have adorned our souls with all that is good, just +and praiseworthy. Thus, when death, which cannot fail +to come at last, shall summon us, we may follow him with +joy to the throne of the Good and Great King, to hear +him pronounce these sweet and consoling words: ‘O good +and faithful servant! thou hast been tried and found +faithful in many things; enter thou into the joy of thy +Lord,’”—With these words, and a short prayer of benediction, +I concluded the solemnity of our Sunday.</p> + +<p>The next morning the boys assembled round me with +a petition that I would show them how to use arrows. +We accordingly sat down on the grass; I took out my +knife, and, with the remains of a bamboo cane, began +to make a bow. I was well satisfied to observe them one +and all take a fancy to shooting with an arrow, having +been desirous to accustom them to this exercise, which +constituted the principal defence of the warriors of old, +and might possibly become our only means of protection +and subsistence: our provision of powder must at last be +exhausted; we might even, from moment to moment, be +deprived of it by accident; it therefore was of the utmost +importance to us to acquire some other means of killing +animals, or attacking our enemies.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span></p> +<p>While I was silently reflecting on the subject, employed +in finishing a bow, Ernest, who had been observing +me for some time, slipped suddenly away; and Fritz coming +up at the same moment, with the wetted skin of the +tiger-cat in his hand, I paid no attention to the circumstance. +I began my instructions to my eldest boy respecting +the trade of a tanner. I told him the method of +getting rid of the fat of the skin, by rubbing it over with +sand, and placing it in running water till it had no longer +any appearance of flesh, or any smell; next to rub it with +soft butter, to make it supple, and then to stretch the skin +in different directions; and also to make use of some eggs +in the operation, if his mother could spare them. “You +will not at first produce such excellent workmanship as I +have seen of this kind from England; but with a little +patience, regretting neither your time nor your labour, you +will have completed some decent-looking cases, which will +give you the more pleasure, from being the work of your +own hands.”</p> + +<p>At this moment we heard the firing of a gun, which +proceeded from our tent in the tree, and two birds at the +same time fell dead at our feet. We were at once surprised +and alarmed, and all eyes were turned upward to the place. +There we saw Ernest standing outside the tent, a gun in +his hand, and heard him triumphantly exclaiming, “Catch +them! Catch them there! I have hit them; and you see +I did not run away for nothing.” He descended the ladder +joyfully, and ran with Francis to take up the two +birds; while Fritz and Jack mounted to our castle, hoping +to meet with the same luck.</p> + +<p>One of the dead birds proved to be a sort of thrush, +and the other was a very small kind of pigeon, very fat, +and of a delicious taste. We now observed for the first +time that the wild figs began to ripen, and that they attracted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span>these birds. I foresaw, in consequence, that we +were about to have our table furnished with a dish which +even a nobleman might envy us. I gave the boys leave +to kill as many of them as they liked. I knew that, half-roasted, +and put into barrels with melted butter thrown +over them, they would keep a long time, and might prove +an excellent resource. My wife set about stripping off +the feathers of the birds, to dress them for our dinner. I +seated myself by her side, and proceeded in my work of +arrow-making.</p> + +<p>Thus finished another day. Supper ended, and prayers +said, we ascended the ladder in procession; and each +got into his hammock to taste the sweets of a tranquil sleep.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirteen">XIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Conversation, and a Walk +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Jack</span> had finished the trial of his arrows: they flew +to admiration; and he practised his new art incessantly. +Little Francis waited with impatience for +the moment when he should try also, and followed with +his eyes every stroke I made. But when I had finished +my bow, and prepared some little arrows for him, +I must next undertake to make him a quiver. I took +some bark from the branch of a tree, which came off in +a round form; and folding the edges over each other, I +stuck them together with some glue produced from our +soup-cakes. I next stuck on a round piece to serve for +the bottom; and then tied to it a loop of string which I +hung round his neck. He put his arrows into it: and, +quite happy, took his bow in his hand, and ran to try his +skill by the side of his brother. Fritz had also cleaned +and prepared his materials for the cases, when his mother +summoned us to dinner. We cheerfully placed ourselves +under the shade of our tree, round the table I had manufactured. +At the end of the repast, I made the following +proposition to the boys, which I was sure would give them +pleasure.</p> + +<p>“What think you, my good friends,” said I, “of giving +a name to the place of our abode, and to the different parts +of the country which are known to us? I do not mean a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span>general name to the whole islands, but to the objects we +are most concerned with.”</p> + +<p>They all exclaimed, joyfully, that the idea was excellent.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—We shall naturally begin with the bay by +which we entered this country. What shall we call it? +What say you, Fritz? You must speak first, for you are +eldest.</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—Let us call it <i>Oyster Bay</i>: you remember what +quantity of oysters we found in it.</p> + +<p><i>Jack.</i>—Oh, no; let it rather be called <i>Lobster Bay</i>: +for you cannot have forgotten what a large one it was +that caught hold of my leg, and which I carried home +to you.</p> + +<p><i>My Wife.</i>—My advice would be, that, out of gratitude +to God, who conducted us hither in safety, +we ought to call it <i>Providence Bay</i>, or the <i>Bay of +Safety</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—These words are both appropriate and +sonorous, and please me extremely. But what name +shall we give to the spot where we first set up our +tent?</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—Let us simply call it <i>Tent House</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—That will do very well. And the little islet +at the entrance of <i>Providence Bay</i>, in which we found so +many planks and beams that enabled us to make our +bridge, how shall it be named?</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—It may be called <i>Sea-Gull Island</i>, or <i>Shark +Island</i>; for it was here we saw those animals.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—I am for the last of these names, <i>Shark +Island</i>; for it was the shark that was the cause of the +sea-gulls being there; and thus we shall also have a means +of commemorating the courage and the triumph of Fritz, +who killed the monster.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span></p> +<p><i>Jack.</i>—For the same reason, we will call the marsh, +in which you cut the canes for our arrows, <i>Flamingo +Marsh</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—Quite right, I think. But now comes the +great question: What name shall we give to our present +abode?</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—It ought to be called simply <i>Tree Castle</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—No, no, that will not do at all; that is the +same as if, when we wanted to name a town, we called +it <i>The Town</i>. Let us invent a more noble name.</p> + +<p><i>Jack.</i>—Yes, so we will. I say <i>Fig Town</i>.</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—Ha, ha, ha! a noble name, it must be confessed! +Let us call it the <i>Eagle’s Nest</i>, which I am sure +has a much better sound. Besides, our habitation in the +tree is really much more like a nest than a town, and +the eagle cannot but ennoble it, since he is the king of +birds.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—Will you let me decide the question for you? +I think our abode should be called <i>The Falcon’s Nest</i>; +for you are not arrived at the dignity of eagles, but are, +too truly, poor simple birds of prey: and like the falcon, +you also are, I trust, obedient, docile, active and courageous. +Ernest can have no objection to this; for, as he +knows, falcons make their nests in large trees.</p> + +<p>All exclaimed, clapping their hands, “Yes, yes; we +will have it <i>The Falcon’s Nest</i>! the sound is quite +chivalrous; so health to <i>Falcon’s Nest Castle</i>!” cried they, +all looking up to the tree, and making low bows. I poured +out a small quantity of sweet wine, and presented it to +each, to solemnize our baptism. “Now then,” said I, “for +the promontory, where Fritz and I in vain wearied our +eyes in search of our companions of the vessel;—I think +it may properly be called <i>Cape Disappointment</i>.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> +<p><i>All.</i>—Yes, this is excellent. And the river with the +bridge⁠——</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—If you wish to commemorate one of the +greatest events of our history, it ought to be called <i>The +Jackal’s River</i>; for these animals crossed it when they +came and attacked us, and it was there that one of them +was killed. The bridge I should name <i>Family Bridge</i>, +because we were all employed in its construction, and all +crossed it together on our way to this place. Let me ask +you all, if it will not be a great pleasure to converse about +the country we inhabit, now that we have instituted names +as if everything belonged to us?</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—It will be just as if we had farms and country +houses, all dependent upon our castle.</p> + +<p>In this pleasing kind of chat, the time of dinner passed +agreeably away. We settled the basis of a geography of +this our new country; and amused ourselves with saying +it must go by the first post to Europe.</p> + +<p>As the evening advanced, and the intense heat of +the day began to diminish, I invited all my family to take +a walk. “Leave your work for this time, my boys,” said +I, “and let us make a short excursion; let us seek, in the +beautiful face of nature, the traces of the wisdom and +goodness of the Creator. Which way shall we direct our +steps?”</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—Let us go to Tent House, father; we are in +want of powder and shot for the little consumers of our +figs; nor must we miss our dinner for to-morrow, or forget +that we are to secure a supply for winter.</p> + +<p><i>My Wife.</i>—I too vote for Tent House; my butter is +nearly gone, for Fritz took an unreasonable share for his +new trade of tanning.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—To Tent House, then, we will go; but we +will not take our accustomed road along the seashore, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span>but rather vary our pleasure, by trying to explore some +other way. We will keep along our own little stream +as far as the wall of rocks; it will be easy for us to +cross it by jumping from stone to stone, and so to get +to Tent House: we will return with our provisions by +the road of Family Bridge, and along the seashore. This +new route may possibly furnish some additional discoveries.</p> + +<p>My idea was highly applauded, and all was soon +arranged for our setting out. Our route along the stream +was at first extremely agreeable, being sheltered by the +shade of large trees, while the ground under our feet was +a short and soft kind of grass. To prolong the pleasure +of our walk, we proceeded slowly, amusing ourselves with +looking about us to the right and left; the eldest boys +made frequent escapes on before, so that we sometimes +lost sight of them. In this manner we reached the end +of the wood; but the country now appearing to be less +open, we thought it would be prudent to bring our whole +company together.</p> + +<p>On looking forward, we saw the boys approaching +us full gallop, and this time, for a wonder, the grave +Ernest was first. He reached me panting for breath, and +so full of joy and eagerness that he could not pronounce +a single word distinctly: the rest soon came up, and our +expedition was resumed.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fourteen">XIV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Continuation of Preceding Chapter—Discoveries +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Conversing</span> on different subjects, we reached +the long chain of rocks, over which our pretty +Falcon’s Stream made its escape in a cascade, delighting +at once the eye and the ear in its progress. We +thus reached Jackal’s River, and from thence proceeded +to Tent House, having with difficulty pushed +through the high grass which presented itself. Our +fatigue, however, was relieved by the beauty of the scenery +around: on the right hand was a boundless sea: on +the left, the island, with the bay by which it was accessible, +and the chain of rocks, forming altogether an assemblage +of the picturesque, equal to what the liveliest fancy could +desire. We distinguished different families of grasses, +many of them of the thorn-leaved species, and stronger +than those cultivated in the green-houses of Europe. There +was also in abundance the Indian fig, with its large broad +leaf; aloes of different forms and colours; the superb +prickly candle, or cactus, bearing straight stalks, taller +than a man, and crowned with long straight branches, +forming a sort of star; while that which pleased us best, +and which was found there in great abundance, was the +king of fruits, both for figure and relish, the crowned pineapple, +of which we all partook with avidity.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span></p> +<p>Soon after, I was fortunate enough to discover +among the multitude of plants which grew either at the +foot or in the clefts of the rocks, the karata, many +of which were now in blossom. As I was acquainted +with the properties of this useful plant, the pith of which +is used for tinder by the negroes, who also make a strong +kind of thread from the fibres of its leaves, I was not +less satisfied with this discovery than I had been with +any we had previously made. Wishing to exhibit one +of its uses to my children, I desired Ernest to take out +my flint and steel.</p> + +<p>I took a dried stalk of the tree, stripped off the bark, +and there appeared a kind of dry spongy substance, +which I laid upon the flint; and then striking it with a +steel, it instantly caught fire. The boys looked on with +astonishment, and soon began to caper about, exclaiming, +“Long live the tinder-tree!”</p> + +<p>“Here, then,” said I, “we have an article of greater +usefulness than if it served merely to gratify the appetite. +Your mother will next inform us what materials she will +use for sewing your clothes, when her provision of thread +from the enchanted bag is exhausted.”</p> + +<p><i>My Wife.</i>—I have long been uneasy upon this very +subject, and would willingly exchange our greatest +luxury for some hemp or flax.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—And your wish shall be accomplished. If +you examine, you will find some excellent thread under +the leaves of this extraordinary plant, where all-provident +nature has placed a storehouse of this valuable article, +though the lengths of thread will be found not longer +than the leaf. I accordingly drew out of one of the +leaves a strong piece of thread of a red colour, which I +gave to my wife. “How fortunate it is for us,” said +she, “that you have had the habit of reading and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span>of study! None of us would have had a thought about +this plant, or have conceived that it could be of any +use:—but will it not be difficult to draw out the lengths +of thread through the prickles that surround them?”</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—Not in the least; we shall put the leaves to +dry, either in the sun, or by a gentle fire. The useless +part of the leaf will then separate by being beaten, and +the mass of thread will remain.</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—I see clearly, father, that we ought not to +trust to appearances; but one may, I suppose, assert that +there are no good qualities in the prickly plants, +which are growing here in all directions, and wounding +the persons who go near them: of what use can they +possibly be?</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—The greatest part of these possess medicinal +virtues; great use is made in pharmacy of the aloe, which +produces such abundance of beautiful flowers: in green-houses +in Europe some have been seen to bear more than +three thousand blossoms. But look—here, too, is the +Indian fig, or prickly pear, a vegetable of no common +interest; it grows in the poorest soils, and, as you see, +upon the rocks: the poorer the soil, the more luxuriant +and succulent its leaves. I should be tempted to believe +that it was nourished by the air rather than by the +earth. The plant bears a kind of fig, which is said to be +sweet and palatable when ripened in its native sun, and +it is a salutary and refreshing food. This, then, is another +plant of great utility. I next instructed them how +to gather this prickly fruit without injury to their fingers. +I threw up a stone, and brought down a fig, which I +caught upon my hat; I cut off one end, and was thus +enabled to hold it on a knife while I peeled off the skin. +I then resigned it to the curiosity of my young companions.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span></p> +<p>In the meantime, I perceived Ernest holding a leaf +upon the end of his knife, turning it about in all directions, +and bringing it close to his eye with a look of curious +inquiry.—“I wish I could know,” said at length our +young observer, “what little animals these are on the +leaf, which feed so eagerly upon it, and are of quite a +scarlet colour.”</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—Ha, ha! this too will perhaps turn out a +new discovery, and an additional source of usefulness. +Let me look at your leaf: I will wager that it is the +insect called the cochineal.</p> + +<p><i>Jack.</i>—The cochineal! what a droll name! What is +the cochineal, father?</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—It is an insect of the kind called <i>suckers</i>, +or <i>kermes</i>. It lives by sucking the juice of the leaves +of the Indian fig, which, no doubt, is the cause of its +beautiful colour, so much esteemed in dyeing; for nothing +else produces so fine a scarlet.</p> + +<p>We reached Jackal’s River, which we crossed, stepping +with great care from stone to stone, and shortly +arrived at our old habitation, where we found everything +as we had left it; and each went in pursuit of what he +intended to take away. Fritz loaded himself with powder +and shot: I and my wife and Francis employed ourselves +in filling our pot with butter. Ernest and Jack +looked about for the geese and ducks; but as they were +become somewhat savage, the boys could not succeed in +catching one of them. The idea then occurred to Ernest +of taking a small bit of cheese, and tying it to the end +of a piece of string, and holding it to float in the water. +The voracious animals hastened eagerly to seize it. In +this way Ernest drew them towards him, one by one, with +the cheese in its mouth, till he had caught the whole: +each bird was then tied in a pocket-handkerchief, leaving +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span>the head at liberty, and fastened one to each game-bag, +so that all had a share in carrying them.</p> + +<p>We now set out loaded on our return. The ducks +and geese, with their heads and necks stretching out at +our shoulders, cackling with all their might, gave us a +truly singular and ludicrous appearance; and we could +not help laughing immoderately as we passed the bridge, +one after another, accoutred in so strange a fashion. Our +mutual jokes, and the general good humour which prevailed, +served to shorten the length of the walk, and none +complained of fatigue, till seated under our tree at Falcon’s +Stream.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifteen">XV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Hopes of a Sledge—Some Short Lessons in Useful Things +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">I had</span> observed along the shore many pieces of +wood, of which I thought I could make a kind +of conveyance for our cask of butter and other provisions +from Tent House to Falcon’s Stream, and +had secretly determined to go early the next morning, +before my family should be awake, to the spot. I had +fixed upon Ernest for my assistant, thinking that his +indolent temper required to be stimulated to exertion. I +made him feel as a great favour the preference I gave him, +and he promised to be ready at a very early hour.</p> + +<p>At the first dawn of morning I quietly awoke Ernest. +He got up, and we descended the ladder without being +perceived by the rest, who continued to sleep soundly. +We roused the ass, and I made him draw some large +branches of a tree, which I wanted for my undertaking.</p> + +<p>We were not long in finding the pieces of wood, and +set to work to cut them the proper length, and we then +laid them cross-ways on the branches, which we thus converted +into a kind of vehicle. We added to the load a +little chest, which we found half-buried in the sands, quite +close to the waves, and then we set out on our return to +Falcon’s Stream. When we reached our abode, the chest +we had brought was soon opened by a strong hatchet; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span>for all were eager to see what was within. It contained +only some sailors’ dresses and some linen, and both were +wet with the sea.</p> + +<p>We then sat down tranquilly to breakfast; and I next +inspected the booty of the young sportsmen, who had +shot, in all, no less than fifty ortolans and thrushes, and +had used so large a quantity of powder and shot, that +when they were about to resume their sport, my wife and +I stopped them, recommending a more frugal use of those +valuable materials. I taught them how to make some +snares, to be suspended from the branches of the fig-tree, +and advised them to use the thread of the karata, which +is as strong as horse-hair, for the purpose.</p> + +<p>Jack, who had got up into the tree, and had suspended +some of the snares to the branches, came down again to +bring us the acceptable intelligence that our pigeons had +made a sort of nest there of some dry grass, and that it +already contained several eggs. I therefore forbade the +boys from firing any more in the tree, for fear of alarming +or wounding these gentle creatures. I also directed +that the snares should be frequently examined, to see +that the pigeons were not caught in them, as they might +be strangled in their efforts to get loose.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the boys and I had been busily employed: +our work was completed. Two bent pieces of wood, the +segments of a circle, which I fixed in their places by a +straight piece of wood placed across, and firmly fixed to +the bent pieces in the middle and at the rear, formed +the outline of my machine. I then fastened two ropes +in front; and here was a sledge as perfect as could be +desired. As I had not raised my eyes from my work, I +did not know what my wife and the two youngest boys +had been about. On looking up, I perceived that they +had been stripping off the feathers from a quantity of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span>birds which the boys had killed, and that they afterwards +spitted them on an officer’s sword, which Fritz had fancied +and brought from the ship, and which my wife had turned +into this useful kitchen utensil. I approved of the idea; +but I blamed her profusion in dressing more birds at +once than we could eat. She reminded me that I had +myself advised her to half-roast the birds before putting +them into the butter, to be preserved for future use. She +was in hopes, she said, that as I had now a sledge, I should +not fail of going to Tent House after dinner to fetch the +cask of butter, and in the meanwhile she was endeavouring +to be ready with the birds. I had no objection to +this, and determined on going to Tent House the same +day, requesting my wife to hasten the dinner for that +purpose. She replied that this was already her intention, +as she also had a little project in her head, which +I should be informed of at my return. I, for my part, +had one too, which was to refresh myself, after the heat +and fatigue of my laborious occupations, by a plunge +into the sea. I wished that Ernest, who was to accompany +me, should bathe also; while Fritz was to remain +at home for the protection of the family.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Sixteen">XVI</abbr></h2> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span></p> +<h3>Bathing, Fishing and a Kangaroo +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> had harnessed the ass and the cow to our sledge; +and, resting our guns upon our shoulders, began +our journey. We bade adieu to our companions, and put +our animals in motion. We took the road by the seashore, +where the sands afforded better travelling for our vehicle +than the thick wild grass. We reached Family Bridge, +on Jackal’s River, and arrived at Tent House without +either obstacle or adventure, and unharnessed the animals +to let them graze, while we set to work to load the sledge +with the cask of butter, the cask of cheese, a small barrel +of gunpowder, different instruments, small ball and some +shot. These exertions had so occupied our thoughts, that +it was late when we first observed that our animals, +attracted by the excellent quality of the grass on the +other side of the river, had repassed the bridge, and wandered +so far as to be out of sight. I was in hopes they +would be easily found, and directed Ernest to go with +Flora and bring them back, intending in the meantime to +look for a convenient place on the other side of Tent +House to bathe in. In a short time I found myself at +the extremity of Providence Bay, which ended, as I now +perceived, in a marsh, producing some fine bulrushes; and +further on was a chain of steep rocks, advancing somewhat +into the sea, and forming a kind of creek, as if expressly +contrived for bathing.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> +<p>I desired Ernest to fill a small bag with some of the +salt he had formerly observed here, and then to empty it +into the large one for the ass to carry; and to take care +to fill equally on each side. “During this time I will +take the refreshment of bathing; and then it will be your +turn to bathe, and mine to take care of the animals.”</p> + +<p>I returned to the rocks, and was not disappointed +in my expectation of an enjoyment the most delicious. +When I had dressed myself, I returned to Ernest to see +if his work had advanced: presently I heard his voice +calling out, “Father, father, a fish! a fish of monstrous +size! Run quickly, father: I can hardly hold him; he +is eating up the string of my line!” I ran to the place +from which the voice proceeded, and found Ernest lying +along the ground on his face, upon the extremity of a +point of land, and pulling in his line, to which a large +fish was hanging, and struggling to get loose. I ran +hastily and snatched the rod out of his hand, for I feared +the weight and activity of the fish might pull him into the +water. I gave the line length, to calm the fish, and then +contrived to draw him gently along into a shallow, from +which he could no longer escape, and thus he was effectually +secured. We examined him thoroughly, and he +appeared to weigh not less than fifteen pounds; so that +our capture was magnificent, and would afford the greatest +pleasure to our good steward of provisions at Falcon’s +Stream.</p> + +<p>While Ernest went to the rocks and bathed, I had +time to fill some more bags with salt. We then harnessed +and loaded our animals, and resumed the road to +Falcon’s Stream.</p> + +<p>When we had proceeded about half way, Flora, who +was before us, suddenly sprang off, and by her barking +gave notice that she scented some game. We soon after +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span>saw her pursuing an animal which seemed endeavouring +to escape, and made the most extraordinary jumps +imaginable. The dog continued to follow; the creature, +in trying to avoid him, passed within gun-shot of the place +where I stood. I fired, but its flight was so rapid that +I did not hit. Ernest, who was at a small distant behind, +hearing the report of my gun, prepared his own, and fired +it off at the instant the singular animal was passing +near him, seeking to hide itself among the tall herbage +just by: he had fired so skilfully that the animal fell +dead at the same instant. I ran with extreme curiosity to +ascertain what kind of quadruped it might be. It was as +large as a sheep, with the tail resembling that of a tiger; +but its snout and hair were like those of a mouse, and its +teeth were like a hare’s, but much larger; the fore-legs +resembled those of the squirrel, and were extremely short; +but to make up for this, its hind-legs were as long as a pair +of stilts, and of a form strikingly singular. We examined +the creature a long time in silence. I could not be sure +that I had ever seen an engraving or description of it +in any natural history, or book of travels. Ernest at +length, clapping his hands together, joyously exclaimed, +“And have I really killed this wonderful animal? +What do you think is its name, father? I would give all +the world to know.”</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—And so would I, my boy; but I am as +ignorant as you. One thing, however, is certain, that this +is your lucky day. Let us again examine this interesting +stranger, that we may be certain to what family of quadrupeds +it belongs: this will perhaps throw a light upon +its name.</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—I think it can hardly be named a quadruped; +for the little fore-legs look much more like hands, as is +the case with monkeys.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span></p> +<p><i>Father.</i>—They are notwithstanding legs, I can assure +you. Let us look for its name among the animals who +give suck: on this point we cannot be mistaken. Now +let us examine its teeth.</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—Here are the four incisory teeth, like the +squirrel.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—Thus we see that it belongs to the order of +Nibblers. Now let us look for some names of animals of +this kind.</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—Besides squirrels, I recollect only mice, +marmots, hares, beavers, porcupines, and jumpers.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—Jumpers! That short word furnishes the +necessary clue; the animal is completely formed like the +jerboa, or jumping hare, except that it is twice the size +of those of which I have read a description.... Wait +a moment—an idea strikes me: I will wager that our +animal is one of the large jumpers, called kangaroos. +To the best of my knowledge, this animal has never been +seen but on the coast of New Holland, where it was first +observed by the celebrated navigator, Captain Cook. You +may then be highly flattered with your adventure of killing +an animal at once so rare and so remarkable. But +now let us see how we shall manage to drag him to the +sledge. Ernest requested that I would rather assist him +to carry it, as he was afraid of spoiling its beautiful +mouse-coloured skin by dragging it on the ground. I +therefore tied the fore-legs of the kangaroo together; and +by means of two canes, we, with considerable trouble, contrived +to carry it to the sledge, upon which it was securely +fastened.</p> + +<p>We at length arrived happily, though somewhat late, +at Falcon’s Stream, having heard from a great distance the +salutations of our family. We concluded the day with +our ordinary occupations. I gave some salt to each of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span>our animals, to whom it was an acceptable treat. We then +skinned our kangaroo, and put it carefully aside till the +next day, when we intended to cut it to pieces, and lay +such parts in salt as we could not immediately consume. +We made an excellent supper on our little fish, to which +we added some vegetables; nor were our faithful companions +Turk and Flora neglected. The labours of the day +had more than usually disposed us all to seek repose; we +therefore said our prayers at an early hour, mounted our +ladder, and were soon asleep.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Seventeen">XVII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>More Stores from the Wreck +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">I rose</span> with the first crowing of the cock, descended +the ladder, and set about skinning the kangaroo, +taking care not to deface its beautiful smooth coat; +but I advanced so slowly in the business, that my +family were assembled about me, and calling out Famine! +before I had finished my work. Breakfast over, I ordered +Fritz to get ready for Tent House, where we should prepare +the boat, and again proceed to the vessel.</p> + +<p>We took Ernest and Jack a little way with us, and +then I sent them back with a message to their mother, +which I had not the resolution to deliver myself—that +we might be forced to pass the night on board the vessel, +and not return till the evening of the following day. It +was most essential to get out of it, if yet afloat, all that +could be saved, as a moment might complete its destruction.</p> + +<p>We got into the boat, and, gaining the current, quickly +cleared Safety Bay, and reached the vessel, whose open +side offered us an ample space to get on board. When +we had fastened our boat, our first care was to select fit +materials to construct a raft. Our boat of staves had +neither room nor solidity enough to carry a considerable +burden; we therefore looked about, and found a sufficient +number of water-casks, which appeared to me proper for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span>my new enterprise. We emptied them, replaced the bungs +carefully, and threw the casks overboard, after securing +them with ropes and cramps, so as to keep them together +at the vessel’s side: this completed, we placed a sufficient +number of planks upon them to form a firm and commodious +platform, or deck, to which we added a gun-wale +of a foot in depth all round, to secure the lading. +Thus we contrived a handsome raft, in which we could +stow thrice as much as in our boat. This laborious task +had taken up the whole day; we scarcely allowed ourselves +a minute to eat some cold meat we had provided, +that we might not lose any time in looking for the provisions +on board the vessel. In the evening, Fritz and I +were so weary, that it would have been impossible for +us to row back to land; so having taken all due precaution +in case of a storm, we lay down in the captain’s cabin, on +a good elastic mattress, which induced such sound repose, +that our prudent design to watch in turn, for fear of +accident, was forgotten, and we both slept heavily, side +by side, till broad daylight opened our eyes. We rose, +and actively set to work to load our raft.</p> + +<p>We began with stripping the cabin of its doors and +windows, with their appendages; next we secured the +carpenter’s and gunner’s chests, containing all their +tools and implements: those we could remove with +levers and rollers were put entire upon the raft, and we +took out of the others what rendered them too heavy. +One of the captain’s chests was filled with costly articles, +which, no doubt, he meant to dispose of to the opulent +planters of Port Jackson, or among the savages. In the +collection were several gold and silver watches, snuff-boxes +of all descriptions, buckles, shirt-buttons, necklaces, +rings; in short, an abundance of all the trifles of +European luxury. But the discovery that delighted me +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span>most was a chest containing some dozens of young plants +of every species of European fruits, which had been carefully +packed in moss for transportation. I perceived pear, +plum, almond, peach, apple, apricot, chestnut trees, and +vine shoots. We discovered a number of bars of iron, +and large pigs of lead, grinding-stones, cart-wheels ready +for mounting, a complete set of farrier’s instruments, +tongs, shovels, ploughshares, rolls of iron and copper wire, +sacks full of maize, pease, oats, vetches, and even a little +handmill. The vessel had been freighted with everything +likely to be useful in an infant colony so distant. We +found a saw-mill in a separated state, but each piece numbered, +and so accurately fitted that nothing was easier +than to put it together for use.</p> + +<p>We with difficulty and hard labour finished our +loading, having added a large fishing-net, quite new, and +the vessel’s great compass. With the net, Fritz found +two harpoons and a rope-windlass, such as they use in +the whale-fishery. He asked me to let him place the +harpoons, tied to the end of the rope, over the bow of +our tub-boat, and thus be in readiness in case of seeing +any large fish; and I indulged him in his fancy.</p> + +<p>Having completely executed our undertaking, we +stepped into the tub-boat, and pushed out for the current, +drawing our raft triumphantly after us with a stout rope, +which we had been careful to fasten securely at its head.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Eighteen">XVIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Tortoise Harnessed +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> wind was favourable, and briskly swelled our sail. +The sea was calm, and we advanced at a considerable +rate. Fritz had for some time fixed his eyes on something +of a large size which was floating on the water, and he now +desired me to take the glass, and see what it could be. I +soon perceived that it was a tortoise, which had fallen +asleep in the sun on the surface of the water. No sooner +had Fritz learned this, than he entreated me to steer softly +within view of so extraordinary a creature. I readily consented; +but as his back was towards me, and the sail between +us, I did not observe his motions, till a violent jerk +of the boat, a sudden turning of the windlass, and then a +second jerk, accompanied by a rapid motion of the boat, +gave me the necessary explanation. “For Heaven’s sake, +what are you about, Fritz?” exclaimed I, somewhat +alarmed.</p> + +<p>“I have caught him!—I touched him!” cried Fritz, +without hearing one word I had been saying.—“The tortoise +is ours; it cannot escape, father! Is not this, then, a +valuable prize, for it will furnish dinners for us all for +many weeks?”</p> + +<p>I soon perceived that the harpoon had caught the +animal, which, feeling itself wounded, thus agitated the +vessel in its endeavours to get away. I quickly pulled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span>down the sail, and seizing a hatchet, sprang to the boat’s +head to cut the rope, and let the harpoon and the tortoise +go; but Fritz caught hold of my arm, conjuring me to +wait a moment, and not so hastily bring upon him the +mortification of losing, at one stroke, the harpoon, the +rope, and the tortoise: he proposed watching himself, with +the hatchet in his hand, to cut the rope suddenly should +any sign of danger appear; and I yielded to his entreaties.</p> + +<p>Thus, then, drawn along by the tortoise, we proceeded +with a hazardous rapidity. I soon observed that the creature +was making for the sea; I therefore again hoisted +the sail; and as the wind was to the land, and very brisk, +the tortoise found resistance of no avail; he accordingly +fell into the track of the current, and drew us straight +towards our usual place of landing, and, by good fortune, +without striking upon any of the rocks. We, however, did +not disembark without one difficult adventure. The state +of the tide was such as to throw us upon a sand-bank; +we were at this time within a gun-shot of the shore; the +boat, though driven with violence, remained upright in +the sand. I stepped into the water, which did not reach +far above my knees, for the purpose of conferring upon +our conductor his just reward for the alarm he had caused +us, when he suddenly gave a plunge, and then disappeared. +Following the rope, I presently saw the tortoise stretched +at length at the bottom of the water, where it was so +shallow that I soon found means to put an end to his +pain, by cutting off his head with the hatchet. Being +now near Tent House, Fritz gave a halloo, and fired a +gun, to apprise our relatives that we were not only +arrived, but arrived in triumph. This soon produced +the desired effect: the mother and her three young ones +soon appeared, running towards us; upon which Fritz +jumped out of the boat, placed the head of our sea-prize +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span>on the muzzle of his gun, and walked to shore, which I +reached at the same moment.</p> + +<p>I requested my wife to go with two of the younger +boys to Falcon’s Stream, and fetch the sledge and the +beasts of burden, that we might see at least a part of our +booty from the ship put safely under shelter the same +evening. A tempest, or even the tide, might sweep away +the whole during the night. We took every precaution +in our power against the latter danger, by fixing the +boat and the raft, now, at the time of its reflux, as securely +as we could without an anchor.</p> + +<p>While we were employed on this scheme, the sledge +arrived, and we placed the tortoise upon it, and also some +articles of light weight, such as mattresses, pieces of linen, +etc. Our first concern, on reaching our abode, was the +tortoise, which we immediately turned on his back, that +we might strip off the shell, and make use of some of the +flesh while it was fresh. Taking my hatchet, I separated +the upper and under shell all round, which were joined +together by cartilages. The upper shell of the tortoise is +extremely convex; the under, on the contrary, is nearly +flat. I cut away as much of the flesh of the animal as +was sufficient for a meal, and laid the rest carefully on +the under shell, which served as a dish, recommending to +my wife to cook what I had cut off, on the other shell, +with no other seasoning than a little salt, and pledged +myself that she would produce a luxurious dish.</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—I thought, father, of cleaning the shell thoroughly, +and fixing it by the side of our river, and keeping +it always full of pure water for my mother’s use, when +she has to wash the linen, or cook our victuals.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—Excellent, excellent, my boy! all honour to +the founder of the <em>pure water-tub</em>! This is what I call +<em>thinking for the general good</em>. And we will take care to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span>execute the idea as soon as we can prepare some clay, +as a solid foundation for its bottom.</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—When the water-tub is complete, I will put +some roots I have found to soak a little in it, for they +are now extremely dry. I do not exactly know what they +are: they look something like the radish, or horse-radish; +but the plant from which I took them was almost the +size of a bush.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—If my suspicion is right, you have made +a beneficial discovery, which, with the assistance of our +own wild roots, may furnish us the means of existence +as long as we may remain in this island! I think your +roots are <i>manioc</i>, of which the natives of the West Indies +make a sort of bread or cake which they call <i>cassava</i>. +But we must first carry the production through a certain +preparation, without which it possesses pernicious properties. +Try to find the same place, and bring a sufficient +quantity for our first experiment.</p> + +<p>We had finished unloading the sledge, and I bade +the three eldest boys accompany me to fetch another load +before it should be dark. Having reached the raft, we +took from it as many effects as the sledge could hold, or +the animals draw along. One object of my attention was +to secure two chests which contained the clothes of my +family. I reckoned also on finding in one of the chests +some books on interesting subjects, and principally a +large handsomely printed Bible. I added to these, four +cart-wheels and a hand-mill for grinding; which, now that +we had discovered the manioc, I considered of signal +importance. These and a few other articles completed our +present load.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus143" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus143.jpg" alt="turtle"> + <figcaption> + “He accordingly fell into the track of the current, and drew us + straight towards our usual place of landing.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>On our return to Falcon’s Nest, we found my wife +looking anxiously for our arrival, and ready with the +welcome she had promised of an ample and agreeable +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span>repast. Before she had well examined our new stores, +she drew me, with one of her sweetest smiles, by the arm. +“Step this way,” said she, and leading to the shade of a +tree,—“this is the work I performed in your absence,” +pointing to a large cask half sunk in the ground, and the +rest covered over with branches of trees. She then applied +a small corkscrew to the side, and filling the shell of a +cocoa-nut with the contents, presented it to me. I found +the liquor equal to the best canary I had ever tasted. +“How then,” said I, “have you performed this new +miracle? I cannot believe the enchanted bag produced it.” +“Not exactly,” replied she; “for this time it was an obliging +white wave which threw it on shore. I took a little +ramble in your absence yesterday, to see what I could find, +and well my trouble was rewarded! The boys ran for +the sledge, and had but little difficulty in getting the +cask to Falcon’s Stream, where we dug this place in the +earth to keep it cool.”</p> + +<p>My wife now proposed that all should be regaled with +some of the delicious beverage. My own share so invigorated +me, that I found myself able to complete my +day’s work, by drawing up the mattresses we had brought +from the ship, to our chamber in the tree, by means of a +pulley. When I had laid them along to advantage, they +looked so inviting that I could scarcely resist my desire +of at once committing myself to the kind relief they +seemed to offer to my exhausted strength.</p> + +<p>But now the savoury smell of the tortoise laid claim +to my attention. I hastened down, and we all partook +heartily of the luxurious treat. We returned thanks to +God, and speedily retired to taste the blessing of sound +repose upon the said mattresses.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Nineteen">XIX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Another Trip to the Wreck—Baking +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">After</span> breakfast the next morning we returned +to the seaside to complete the unloading of the +raft, that it might be ready for sea on the flowing +of the tide. We were not long in taking two cargoes +to Falcon’s Stream. At our last trip the water was +nearly up to our craft. I sent back my wife and +the boys, and remained with Fritz till we were quite +afloat; when observing Jack still loitering near, I guessed +at his wish, and consented to his embarking with us. +Shortly after, the tide was high enough for us to row off. +Instead of steering for Safety Bay to moor our vessels +there securely, I was tempted by a fresh sea-breeze to go +out again to the wreck; but it was too late to undertake +much, and I was unwilling to cause my dear partner +uneasiness by passing another night on board. I therefore +determined to bring away only what could be obtained +with ease and speed: we searched hastily through the +ship for any trifling articles that might be readily removed. +Jack was up and down everywhere, at a loss what to +select; and when I saw him again, he drew a wheelbarrow +after him, shouting that he had found a vehicle for carrying +our wild roots.</p> + +<p>But Fritz next disclosed still better news, which was, +that he had discovered, behind the bulkhead amidship, a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span>pinnace (i.e. a small craft, the fore part of which is +square), taken to pieces, with all its appurtenances, and +even two small guns for its defence. This intelligence so +delighted me, that I quitted everything else to run to the +bulkhead, when I was convinced of the truth of the lad’s +assertion: but I instantly perceived that to put it together, +and launch it, would be an Herculean task. I collected +various utensils, a copper boiler, some plates of iron, tobacco-graters, +two grinding-stones, a small barrel of gunpowder, +and another full of flints, which I much valued. +Jack’s barrow was not forgotten; two more were afterwards +found and added, with straps belonging to them. +All these articles were hurried into the boat, and we re-embarked +with speed, to avoid the land wind that rises in +the evening.</p> + +<p>Arrived at Falcon’s Stream, my wife exhibited a good +store of tuberous roots, which she had got in during our +absence, and a quantity of the roots I had taken for +manioc, and in which I was not mistaken.</p> + +<p>“But now,” said I, “for some supper and repose; and +if my little workmen should be industriously inclined to-morrow, +I shall reward them with the novelty of a new +trade to be learned.” This did not fail to excite the curiosity +of all; but I kept my word, and made them wait till +the following day for the explanation I had to give.</p> + +<p>I waked the boys very early, reminding them that I +had promised to teach them a new trade.</p> + +<p>“What is it? What is it?” exclaimed they, all at once, +springing suddenly out of bed, and hurrying on their +clothes.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—It is the art of the baker, my boys. Hand +me those iron plates that we brought yesterday from the +vessel, and the tobacco-graters also, and we will make our +experiment. Ernest, bring hither the roots you found; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span>but first, my dear, I must request you to make me a small +bag of a piece of strong wrapper cloth.</p> + +<p>My wife set instantly to work to oblige me; but having +no great confidence in my talents for making either bread +or cakes, she first filled a copper boiler with roots, and put +it on the fire, that we might not be without something to eat +at dinner-time: in the meanwhile I spread a piece of coarse +linen on the ground, and assembled my young ones round +me: I gave each of the boys a grater, and showed him at +the same time how to rest it on the linen, and then to grate +the roots of manioc: in a short time each had produced a +considerable heap of a substance somewhat resembling +pollard.</p> + +<p>By this time my wife had completed the bag. I had +it well filled with what we called our pollard, and she closed +it securely by sewing up the end. I was now to contrive +a kind of press: I cut a long, straight, stout branch, from +a neighbouring tree, and stripped it of the bark; I then +placed a plank across the table we had fixed between the +arched roots of our tree, and which was exactly the right +height for my purpose, and on this I laid the bag; I put +other planks again upon the bag, and then covered all with +the large branch, the thickest extremity of which I inserted +under an arch, while to the other, which projected beyond +the planks, I suspended all sorts of heavy substances, such +as lead, our largest hammers, and bars of iron, which, acting +with great force as a press on the bag of manioc, caused +the sap it contained to issue in streams, which flowed plentifully +on the ground.</p> + +<p>We then opened the bag, and took out a small quantity +of the pollard, which already was dry enough: we stirred +the rest about with a stick, and then replaced it under the +press. The next thing was to fix one of our iron plates, +which was of a round form, and a little hollow, so as to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span>rest upon two blocks of stone at a distance from each +other; under this we lighted a large fire, and when the +iron plate was completely heated, we placed a portion of +the dough upon it with a wooden spade. As soon as the +cake began to be brown underneath, it was turned, that +the other side might be baked also.</p> + +<p>When the cake was cold, we broke some of it into +crumbs, and gave it to two of the fowls, and a larger piece +to the monkey, who nibbled it with a perfect relish, making +all the time a thousand grimaces, while the boys stood by +envying the preference he enjoyed.</p> + +<p>The first thing after dinner was to visit our fowls. +Those which had eaten the manioc were in excellent condition, +and no less so was the monkey. “Now then to the +bakehouse, young ones,” said I, “as fast as you can scamper.” +The grated manioc was soon emptied out of the +bag, a large fire was quickly lighted, and I placed the boys +where a flat surface had been prepared for them, and gave +to each a plate of iron and the quantity of a cocoa-nut full +to make a cake apiece, and they were to try who could succeed +the best. They were ranged in a half circle round +me, that they might observe how I proceeded, and adopt +the same method for themselves. The result was not discouraging +for a first experiment, though it must be confessed +we were now and then so unlucky as to burn a cake; +but there was not a greater number of these than served +to feed the pigeons and the fowls, which hovered round us +to claim their share of the treat.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day was employed by the boys in making +several turns with their wheelbarrows, and by myself +in different arrangements, in which the ass and our sledge +had a principal share, both being employed in drawing to +Tent House the remaining articles we had brought from +the ship.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty">XX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Cracker and the Pinnace +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">From</span> the time of discovering the pinnace, my desire +of returning to the vessel grew every moment more +irresistible; but one thing I saw was absolutely necessary, +which was, to collect all my hands to get her out from the +situation where we had found her.</p> + +<p>After breakfast, then, we prepared for setting out. +The boys were gay and on the alert, in the expectation of +the pleasure that awaited them. We took with us an ample +provision of boiled roots and cassava; and in addition, +arms and weapons of every kind. We reached Safety +Bay without any remarkable event: here we thought it +prudent to put on our cork jackets; we then scattered +some food for the geese and ducks which had taken up +their abode there, and soon after stepped gaily into our +tub-raft, at the same time fastening the new boat by a +rope to her stern, so that she could be drawn along. We +put out for the current, though not without considerable +fear of finding that the wreck had disappeared. We +soon, however, perceived that it still remained firm between +the rocks.</p> + +<p>Having got on board, all repaired, on the wings of +curiosity and ardour, to that part of the vessel called the +bulk-head, which contained the enviable prize, the pinnace. +On further observation, it appeared to me that the plan +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span>we had formed was subject to at least two alarming difficulties; +the one was the situation of the pinnace in the +ship; and the other was the size and weight it would necessarily +acquire when put together. The enclosure which +contained the pinnace was in the interior of the ship, and +timbers of prodigious bulk and weight separated it from +the breach, and in this part of the deck there was not sufficient +space for us to put the pinnace together, or to give +her room when done. The breach also was too narrow and +too irregular to admit of her being launched from this +place, as we had done with our tub-raft. In short, the +separate pieces of the pinnace were too heavy for the possibility +of our removing them even with the assistance of +our united strength. What therefore was to be done?</p> + +<p>The cabinet which contained the pinnace was lighted +by several small fissures in the timbers, which, after standing +in the place a few minutes to accustom the eye, enabled +one to see sufficiently to distinguish objects. I discovered, +with pleasure, that all the pieces of which she was +composed were so accurately arranged and numbered, that +without too much presumption I might flatter myself with +the hope of being able effectually to collect and put them +together, if I could be allowed the necessary time, and +could procure a convenient place. I therefore, in spite of +every disadvantage, decided on the undertaking; and we +immediately set about it. We proceeded at first so slowly +as to have produced discouragement, if the desire of possessing +so admirable a little vessel had not at every moment +inspired us with new strength and ardour.</p> + +<p>We passed an entire week in this arduous undertaking. +I embarked every morning with my three sons, and +returned every evening, and never without some small +addition to our stores. We were now so accustomed to +this manner of proceeding, that my wife bade us good-bye +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span>without concern, and we, on our parts, left Tent House +without anxiety.</p> + +<p>At length the pinnace was completed, and in a condition +to be launched: the question now was, how to manage +this remaining difficulty. She was an elegant little vessel, +perfect in every part: she had a small neat deck; and her +masts and sails were no less exact and perfect than those +of a little brig. It was probable she would sail well, from +the lightness of her construction, and in consequence drawing +but little water. We had pitched and towed all the +seams, that nothing might be wanting for her complete +appearance: we had even taken the pains of further embellishing, +by mounting her with two small cannon of about +a pound weight; and, in imitation of larger vessels, had +fastened them to the deck with chains. But in spite of the +delight we felt in contemplating a work, as it were, of +our own industry, the great difficulty still remained: the +said commodious, charming little vessel still stood fast, +enclosed within four walls: nor could I conceive a mode of +getting her out. To effect a passage through the outer +side of the vessel, by means of our united industry in the +use of all the utensils we had secured, seemed to present a +prospect of exertions beyond the reach of man, even if not +attended with dangers the most alarming. We examined +if it might be practicable to cut away all intervening timbers, +to which, from the nature of the breach, we had easier +access: but should we even succeed in this attempt, the +upper timbers being, in consequence of the inclined position +of the ship, on a level with the water, our labour would +be unavailing: besides we had neither strength nor time +for such a proceeding; from one moment to another, a +storm might arise and engulf the ship, timbers, pinnace, +ourselves, and all. Despairing, then, of being able to find +means consistent with the sober rules of art, my impatient +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span>fancy inspired the thought of a project, which could not +however be tried without hazards and dangers of a tremendous +nature.</p> + +<p>I had found on board a strong iron mortar, such +as is used in kitchens. I took a thick oak plank, and +nailed to different parts of it some large iron hooks: with +a knife I cut a groove along the middle of the plank. I +sent the boys to fetch some match-wood from the hold, and +I cut a piece sufficiently long to continue burning at least +two hours. I placed this train in the groove of my plank: +I filled the mortar with gunpowder, and then laid the +plank thus furnished upon it, having previously pitched +the mortar all round; and, lastly, I made the whole fast to +the spot with strong chains, crossed by means of the hooks +in every direction. Thus I accomplished a sort of cracker, +from which I expected to effect a happy conclusion. I +hung this machine of mischief to the side of the bulkhead +next to the sea, having taken previous care to choose +a spot in which its action could not affect the pinnace. +When the whole was arranged, I set fire to the match, the +end of which projected far enough beyond the plank to +allow us sufficient time to escape. I now hurried on board +the raft, into which I had previously sent the boys before +applying a light to the match; and who, though they had +assisted in forming the cracker, had no suspicion of the +use for which it was intended, believing all the while it +concealed some subject of amusement for their next trip +to the vessel.</p> + +<p>On our arrival at Tent House, I immediately put the +raft in a certain order, that she might be in readiness to +return speedily to the wreck when the noise produced by +the cracker should have informed me that my scheme had +taken effect. We set busily to work in emptying her; and +during the occupation, our ears were assailed with the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span>noise of an explosion of such violence, that my wife and +the boys, who were ignorant of the cause, were so dreadfully +alarmed as instantly to abandon their employment. +“What can it be?—what is the matter?—what can have +happened?”—cried all at once. “It must be cannon. It is +perhaps the captain and the ship’s company who have +found their way hither! Or can it be some vessel in distress? +Can we go to its relief?”</p> + +<p>The boys lost not a moment in jumping into their tubs, +whither I soon followed them, after having whispered a +few words to my wife, somewhat tending to explain, but +still more to tranquilize her mind during the trip we had +now to engage in.</p> + +<p>We rowed out of the bay with more rapidity than on +any former occasion; curiosity gave strength to our arms. +When the vessel was in sight, I observed with pleasure +that no change had taken place in the part of her which +faced Tent House, and that no sign of smoke appeared: +we advanced, therefore, in excellent spirits; but instead of +rowing, as usual, straight to the breach, we proceeded +round to the side, on the inside of which we had placed +the cracker. The horrible scene of devastation we had +caused now broke upon our sight. The greater part of +the ship’s side was shattered to pieces; innumerable splinters +covered the surface of the water; the whole exhibited +a scene of terrible destruction, in the midst of which presented +itself our elegant pinnace, entirely free from injury! +We entered by the new breach, and had soon reason +to be assured that the pinnace had wholly escaped injury, +and that the fire was entirely extinguished. The +mortar, however, and pieces of the chain, had been driven +forcibly into the opposite side of the enclosure.</p> + +<p>I then examined the breach we had thus effected, and +next the pinnace. I perceived that it would be easy, with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span>the help of the crow and the lever, to lower her into the +water. In putting her together, I had used the precaution +of placing her keel on rollers, that we might not experience +the same difficulty as we had formerly done in +launching our tub-raft. Before letting her go, however, +I fastened the end of a long thick rope to her head, and +the other end to the most solid part of the wreck, for fear +of her being carried out too far. We put our whole ingenuity +and strength to this undertaking, and soon enjoyed +the pleasure of seeing our pinnace descend gracefully +into the sea.</p> + +<p>Two whole days more were spent in completely equipping +and loading the beautiful little barge we had now +secured. When she was ready for sailing, I found it impossible +to resist the earnest importunity of the boys, who, +as a recompense for the industry and discretion they had +employed, claimed my permission to salute their mother, +on their approach to Tent House, with two discharges of +cannon. These accordingly were loaded, and the two +youngest placed themselves, with a lighted match in hand, +close to the touch-holes, to be in readiness. Fritz stood +at the mast, to manage the ropes and cables, while I took +my station at the rudder. These matters being adjusted, +we put off with sensations of lively joy, which was demonstrated +by loud huzzas and suitable gesticulation. The +wind was favourable, and so brisk that we glided with the +rapidity of a bird along the mirror of the waters; and while +my young ones were transported with pleasure by the +velocity of the motion, I could not myself refrain from +shuddering at the thought of some possible disaster.</p> + +<p>Our old friend the tub-raft had been deeply loaded, +and fastened to the pinnace, and it now followed as an accompanying +boat to a superior vessel. We took down our +large sail as soon as we found ourselves at the entrance of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span>Safety Bay, to have the greater command in steering the +pinnace; and soon the smaller ones were lowered one by +one, that we might the more securely avoid being thrown +with violence upon the rocks so prevalent along the coast: +thus, proceeding at a slower rate, we had greater facilities +for managing the important affair of the discharge of the +cannon. Arrived within a certain distance—“<em>Fire!</em>” +cried Commander Fritz. The rocks behind Tent House +returned the sound. “<em>Fire!</em>” said Fritz again. Ernest +and Jack obeyed, and the echoes again majestically replied. +Fritz at the same moment had discharged his two +pistols, and all joined instantly in three loud huzzas.</p> + +<p>“Welcome! welcome! dear ones,” was the answer from +the anxious mother, almost breathless with astonishment +and joy. “Welcome!” cried also little Francis, with his +feeble voice, as he stood clinging to her side, and not well +knowing whether he was to be sad or merry. We now +tried to push to shore with our oars in a particular direction, +that we might have the protection of a projecting +mass of rocks, and my wife and little Francis hastened to +the spot to receive us.</p> + +<p>Fritz now invited his mother to get on board, and gave +her his assistance. When they had all stepped upon the +deck, they entreated the permission to salute, by again +discharging the cannon, and at the same moment to confer +on the pinnace the name of their mother—<i>The Elizabeth</i>.</p> + +<p>My wife was particularly gratified by these our late +adventures; she applauded our skill and perseverance: +“But,” said she, “we have not, I assure you, remained idle +while the rest were so actively employed for the common +benefit. No, not so; little Francis and his mother found +means to be doing something also, though not at this moment +prepared to furnish such unquestionable proofs as +you, by your salutations of cannon, etc.; but wait a little, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span>good friends, and our proofs shall hereafter be apparent +in some dishes of excellent vegetables which we shall be +able to regale you with. It depends, to say the truth, only +on yourselves, dear ones, to go with me and see what we +have done.”</p> + +<p>We did not hesitate to comply, and jumped briskly out +of the pinnace for the purpose. Taking her little coadjutor +Francis by the hand, she led the way, and we followed +in the gayest mood imaginable. She conducted us up an +ascent of one of our rocks, and stopping at the spot where +the cascade is formed from Jackal’s River, she displayed +to our astonished eyes a handsome kitchen-garden, laid out +properly in beds and walks, and, as she told us, everywhere +sowed with the seed of useful plants.</p> + +<p>“This,” said she, “is the pretty exploit we have been +engaged in, if you will kindly think so of it. In this +spot the earth is so light, being principally composed of +decayed leaves, that Francis and I had no difficulty in +working in it, and then dividing it into different compartments: +one for potatoes, one for manioc, and other smaller +shares for lettuces of various kinds, not forgetting to leave +a due proportion to receive some plants of the sugar-cane. +You, dear husband, and Fritz, will easily find means to +conduct sufficient water hither from the cascade, by means +of pipes of bamboo, to keep the whole in health and +vigour.”</p> + +<p>I stood transported in the midst of so perfect an exhibition +of the kind zeal and persevering industry of this +most amiable of women! I could only exclaim, that I +should never have believed in the possibility of such a +labour in so short a time, and particularly with so much +privacy as to leave me wholly unsuspicious of the existence +of such a project.</p> + +<p>The pinnace was anchored on the shore, and fastened +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span>with a rope, by her head, to a stake. When all our stores +were disposed of, we began our journey to Falcon’s +Stream, but not empty-handed; we took with us everything +that seemed to be absolutely wanted for comfort; +and when brought together, it was really so much, that +both ourselves and our beasts of burden had no easy task +to perform.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-one">XXI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Gymnastic Exercises—Various Discoveries—Singular Animals, etc. +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">I recommended</span> to my sons to resume the exercise +of the shooting of arrows; for I had an extreme +solicitude about their preserving and increasing their +bodily strength and agility. On this occasion, I added +the exercises of running, jumping, getting up trees, both +by means of climbing by the trunk, or by a suspended +rope, as sailors are obliged to do to get to the masthead. +We began at first by making knots in the rope, +at a foot distance from each other; then we reduced the +number of knots, and before we left off we contrived to +succeed without any. I next taught them an exercise of +a different nature, which was to be effected by means of +two balls of lead, fastened one to each end of a string +about a fathom in length. While I was preparing this +machinery, all eyes were fixed upon me.</p> + +<p>“I am endeavouring,” said I, “to imitate the arms used +by the Patagonians, inhabitants of the most southern point +of America; but, instead of balls, which they are not able +to procure, they tie two heavy stones, one at each end of +a cord, but considerably longer than the one I am working +with: every Patagonian is armed with this simple instrument, +which they used with singular dexterity. If they +desire to kill or wound an enemy, or an animal, they fling +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span>one of the ends of this cord at him, and begin instantly +to draw it back by the other, which they keep carefully in +their hand, to be ready for another throw, if necessary: +but if they wish to take an animal alive, and without hurting +it, they possess the singular art of throwing it in such +a way as to make it run several times round the neck of +the prey, occasioning a perplexing tightness; they then +throw the second stone, and with so certain an aim, that +they scarcely ever miss their object: the operation of the +second is, the so twisting itself about the animal as to impede +his progress, even though he were at full gallop. The +stones continue turning, carrying with them the cord: the +poor animal is at length so entangled, that he can neither +advance nor retire, and thus falls a prey to the enemy.”</p> + +<p>This description was heard with much interest by the +boys, who now all entreated I would that instant try the +effect of my own instrument upon a small trunk of a tree +which we saw at a certain distance. My throws entirely +succeeded; and the string with the balls at the end so +completely surrounded the tree, that the skill of the Patagonian +huntsmen required no further illustration. Each +of the boys must then needs have a similar instrument; and +in a short time Fritz became quite an expert in the art.</p> + +<p>The next morning, as I was dressing, I remarked from +my window in the tree, that the sea was violently agitated, +and the waves swelled with the wind. I rejoiced to find +myself in safety in my home, and that the day had not +been destined for out-of-door occupation. We now fell +to a more minute examination than I had hitherto had time +for, of all our various possession at Falcon’s Stream. My +wife showed me many things she had herself found means +to add to them during my repeated absences from home: +among these was a pair of young pigeons, which had been +lately hatched, and were already beginning to try their +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span>wings, while their mother was again sitting on her eggs. +From these we passed to the fruit trees we had laid in earth +to be planted, and which were in real need of our assistance. +I immediately set myself to prevent so important +an injury. I had promised the boys, the evening before, +to go all together to the wood of gourds, to provide ourselves +with vessels of different sizes to keep our provisions +in: they were enchanted with the idea, but I bargained that +they must first assist me to plant all the young trees: +which was no sooner said than set about.</p> + +<p>When we had finished, the evening was too far advanced +for so long a walk. By sunrise the next morning +all were on foot, and we set out, full of good-humour and +high spirits, from Falcon’s Stream. Turning round +Flamingo Marsh, we soon reached the pleasant spot which +before had so delighted us. Fritz took a direction a little +further from the seashore; and sending Turk into the tall +grass, he followed himself, and both disappeared. Soon, +eager for sport, we heard Turk barking loud; a large bird +sprang up, and almost at the same moment a shot from +Fritz brought it down: but though wounded it was not +killed: it raised itself, and got off with incredible swiftness, +not by flying, but by running. Turk followed, and seizing +the bird, held it fast till Fritz came up. Now a different +scene succeeded from that which took place at the capture +of the flamingo. The legs of that bird are long and +weak, and it was able to make but a poor resistance. The +present captive was large in size, and strong; it struck the +dogs, or whoever came near, with its legs, with so much +force, that Fritz, who had received a blow or two, dared +not again approach the enemy. Fortunately I reached +the spot in time to give assistance, and was pleased to see +that it was a female bustard of the largest size.</p> + +<p>To secure the bird without injuring it, I threw my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span>pocket-handkerchief over the head of the bustard; it could +not disengage itself, and its efforts served only to entangle +it the more. As it could not now see me, I got near enough +to pass a string with a running knot over its legs, which, +for the present, I drew tight, to prevent further mischief +from such powerful weapons. I gently released its wing +from Turk’s mouth, and tied it, with its fellow, close to +the bird’s body. In short, the bustard was our own.</p> + +<p>As we advanced, I was frequently obliged to use the +hatchet to make a free passage for the ass in the tall grass. +The heat also increased, and we were all complaining of +thirst, when Ernest, whose discoveries were generally of a +kind to be of use, made one of a most agreeable nature. +He found a kind of hollow stalk, of some height, which +grew at the foot of trees, and entangled our feet in walking. +He cut one of them, and was surprised to see a drop +of pure fresh water issue at the place where the knife had +been applied: he showed it to us, put it to his lips, and +found it pure, and felt much regret that there was no more. +I then fell to examining the phenomenon myself, and soon +perceived that the want of air prevented a more considerable +issue of water. I made some more incisions, and +presently water flowed out as if from a small conduit. I +tried the experiment of dividing the plants longways, and +they soon gave out water enough to supply even the ass, +the monkey, and the bustard.</p> + +<p>We were still compelled to fight our way through +thick bushes, till at length, arrived at the wood of gourds, +we were not long in finding the spot where Fritz and I +had once before enjoyed so agreeable a repose. My wife +now gave us notice that she should want some vessels to +contain milk, a large flat spoon to cut out butter by pieces, +and next, some pretty plates for serving it at table, made +from the gourd rinds.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span></p> +<p>I made the boys gather or collect the gourds, till we +were in possession of a sufficient number. We now began +our work: some had to cut; others to saw, scoop out, and +model into agreeable forms. It was a real pleasure to +witness the activity exhibited in this our manufacture of +porcelain; each tried what specimens he could present +for the applause of his companions. For my own part, I +made a pretty basket, large enough to carry eggs, with +one of the gourds, leaving an arch at the top to serve as a +cover. I likewise accomplished a certain number of vessels, +also with covers, fit to hold our milk, and then some +spoons to skim the cream. My next attempt was some +bottles large enough to hold fresh water, and these occasioned +me more trouble than all the rest. It was necessary +to empty the gourd through the small opening of +the size of one’s finger, which I had cut in it; I was obliged, +after loosening the contents with a stick, to get them out +by friction with shot and water well shaken on the inside. +Lastly, to please my wife, I undertook the labour of a set +of plates for her use. Fritz and Jack engaged to make +hives for the bees, and nests for the pigeons and hens. +For this last object they took the largest gourds, and cut +a hole in front, the size of the animal for whose use it was +intended. The pigeons’ nests were intended to be tied to +the branches of our tree; those for the hens, the geese, and +the ducks, were to be placed between its roots, or on the +seashore, and to represent a sort of hencoop.</p> + +<p>Our work, added to the heat of the day, had made us +all thirsty; but we found nothing on this spot like our <em>fountain</em> +plants, as we had named them. The boys entreated me +to go with them in different directions, and try to find +some water, not daring by themselves to venture further +into the wood.</p> + +<p>Ernest with great eagerness proposed relieving me of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span>this trouble, and putting himself in my place. It was not +long before we heard him calling loudly to us, and saw +him returning in great alarm.—“Run quick, father,” said +he, “here is an immense wild boar.”</p> + +<p>I then cried out to the boys to call the dogs quickly. +“Halloo, here, Turk! Flora!” The dogs arrived full +gallop. Ernest was our leader, and conducted us to the +place where he saw the boar; but it was gone, and we saw +nothing but a plot of roots which appeared to have been +ransacked by the animal. We soon heard the cry of the +dogs; for they had overtaken the runaway, and soon after +the most hideous growling assailed our ears from the same +quarter. We advanced with caution, holding our guns in +readiness to fire together the instant the animal should +be within the proper distance. Presently the spectacle of +the two brave creatures attacking him on the right and left +presented itself; each held one of his ears between its +teeth. But it was not a boar, but our own sow which had +run away and so long been lost! After the first surprise +we could not resist a hearty laugh; and then we hastened +to disencumber our old friend of the teeth of her two adversaries. +But here the attention of all was attracted to +a kind of small potato which we observed lying thick on +the grass around us, and which had fallen from some trees +which appeared loaded with the same production: our sow +devoured them greedily, thus consoling herself for the +pain and fright the dogs had occasioned her.</p> + +<p>The fruit was of different colours, and extremely +pleasing to the eye. Fritz expressed his apprehension +that it was the poisonous apple called the mancenilla; but +the sow ate them with so much eagerness, and the tree +which bore them having neither the form nor foliage ascribed +by naturalists to the mancenilla, that I doubted the +truth of his idea. I desired my sons to put some of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span>fruit in their pockets, to make an experiment with them +upon the monkey. We now again, from extreme thirst, +began to recollect our want of water, and determined to +seek for some in every direction. Jack sprang off, and +sought among the rocks, hoping that he should discover +some little stream: but scarcely had he left the wood than +he bawled to us that he had found a crocodile.</p> + +<p>“A crocodile!” cried I, with a hearty laugh; “you have +a fine imagination, my boy! Who ever saw a crocodile on +such scorching rocks as these, and with not a drop of water +near? Now, Jack, you are surely dreaming....”</p> + +<p>“Not so much of a dream as you may think, father,” +answered Jack, trying to speak in a low voice; “fortunately +he is asleep; he lies here on a stone at his full length; +do, father, step here, and look at it; it does not stir in the +least.”</p> + +<p>We stole softly to the place where the animal lay; but +instead of a crocodile, I saw before me a large sort of +lizard, named by naturalists <i>Leguana</i>, or <i>Yguana</i>, an animal +by nature of a mild character, and excellent as food. +Instantly all were for seizing him, and presenting so rare a +prize to their mother. Fritz was already taking aim with +his gun: but I prevented him, observing that the animal +being protected by a coat of scales, it might be difficult to +destroy him, and that he is known to be dangerous, if approached, +when angry. “Let us try,” said I, “another sort +of experiment; as he is asleep, we need not be in a hurry.”</p> + +<p>I cut a stout stick from a bush, to the extremity of +which I tied a string with a running knot. I guarded my +other hand simply with a little switch, and thus with cautious +steps approached the creature. When I was very +near to him, I began to whistle a lively air, taking care to +make the sounds low at first, and to increase in loudness +till the lizard was awaked. The creature appeared entranced +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span>with pleasure as the sounds fell upon his ear; he +raised his head to receive them still more distinctly, and +looked round on all sides to discover from whence they +came. I now advanced by a step at a time, without a moment’s +interval in the music, which fixed him like a statue +to the place. At length I was near enough to reach him +with my switch, with which I tickled him gently, still continuing +to whistle, one after the other, the different airs +I could recollect. The lizard was bewildered by the +charms of the music: the attitudes he threw himself into +were expressive of a delirious voluptuousness; he stretched +himself at full length, made undulating motions with his +long tail, threw his head about, raised it up, and by this +sort of action disclosed the formidable range of his sharp-pointed +teeth, which were capable of tearing us to pieces +if we had excited his hostility. I dexterously seized the moment +of his raising his head, to throw my noose over him. +When this was accomplished, the boys drew near also, and +wanted instantly to draw it tight and strangle him at once; +but this I positively forbade, being unwilling to cause the +poor animal so unmerited a suffering. I had used the +noose only to make sure of him, in case it should happen +that a milder mode of killing him, which I intended to try, +failed of success, in which case I should have looked to the +noose for protection; but this was rendered unnecessary. +Continuing to whistle my most affecting melodies, I seized +a favorable moment to plunge my switch into one of his +nostrils. The blood flowed in abundance, and soon deprived +him of life, without his exhibiting the least appearance +of being in pain; on the contrary, to the last moment, +he seemed to be still listening to the music.</p> + +<p>We had now to consider of the best way for transporting +to Falcon’s Stream so large and valuable a booty. +After a moment of reflection, I perceived that I had better +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span>come at once to the determination of carrying him across +my shoulders; and the figure I made with so singular an +animal on my back, with his tail dragging on the ground, +was not the least amusing circumstance of the adventure.</p> + +<p>We were proceeding in our return, when we distinguished +the voices of my wife and little Francis calling +loudly upon my name. Our long absence had alarmed +them: we had forgotten on this occasion to give them +notice of our approach by firing our gun, and they had imagined +some terrible disaster must have befallen us. We +had so many things to tell, that, till reminded by my wife, +we forgot to mention that we had failed of procuring any +water. My sons had taken out some of the unknown apples +from their pockets, and they lay on the ground by +our sides. Knips soon scented them, and came slily up and +stole several, and fell to chewing them with great eagerness. +I myself threw one or two to the bustard, who also +ate them without hesitation. Being now convinced that the +apples were not of a poisonous nature, I announced +to the boys, who had looked on with envy all the time, that +they also might begin to eat them, and I myself set the +example. We found them excellent in quality, and I +began to suspect that they might be the sort of fruit called +<i>guava</i>, which is much esteemed in such countries. This +regale of the apples had in some measure relieved our +thirst; but on the other hand, they had increased our hunger; +and as we had not time for preparing a portion +of the lizard, we were obliged to content ourselves with the +cold provisions we had brought with us.</p> + +<p>We had scarcely finished, before my wife earnestly +entreated we would begin our journey home, and it appeared +to me, as the evening was so far advanced, that it +would be prudent to return this once without the sledge, +which was heavy laden, and the ass could have drawn it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span>but slowly. I therefore determined to leave it on the spot +till the following day, when I could return and fetch it, +contenting myself with loading the ass, for the present, +with the bags which contained our new sets of porcelain; +the lizard, which I feared might not keep fresh so long; +and our little Francis, who began to complain of being +tired. I took these arrangements upon myself, and left +to my wife and Fritz the care of confining the bustard in +such a manner that she could walk before us without danger +of escaping.</p> + +<p>When these preparations were complete, our little +caravan was put in motion, taking the direction of a +straight line to Falcon’s Stream. The course of our route +now lay along a wood of majestic oaks, and the ground +was covered with acorns. My young travellers could not +refrain from tasting them; and finding them both sweet +and mild to the palate, I had the pleasure of reckoning +them as a new means of support.</p> + +<p>We arrived shortly at Falcon’s Stream, and had time +to employ ourselves in some trifling arrangements before +it was completely dark. We concluded the exertions of +the day with a plain repast, and the contriving a comfortable +bed for the bustard by the side of the flamingo, and +then stretched our weary limbs upon the homely couch, +rendered by fatigue luxurious, in the giant tree.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-two">XXII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Excursion into Unknown Tracts +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">My</span> first thought, the next morning, was to fetch the +sledge from the wood. I had a double motive for +leaving it there, which I had refrained from explaining +to my wife, to avoid giving her uneasiness. I had formed +a wish to penetrate a little farther into the land, and +ascertain whether anything useful would present itself +beyond the wall of rocks. I was, besides, desirous to be +better acquainted with the extent, the form, and general +productions of our island: I wished Fritz only, who was +stronger and more courageous than his brothers, and Turk, +to accompany me. We set out very early in the morning, +and drove the ass before us for the purpose of drawing +home the sledge.</p> + +<p>As we were picking up some acorns, different birds +of exquisite plumage flitted about us; for this once, I could +not refuse Fritz the pleasure of firing upon them, that we +might learn their species. He brought down three. I +recognized one to be the great blue Virginia jay, and the +other two were parrots. One of the two was a superb red +parrot: the other was green and yellow.</p> + +<p>We soon arrived at the guava trees, and a little after +at the spot where we had left the sledge, when we found +our treasures in the best possible condition; but as the +morning was not far advanced, we entered upon our intended +project of penetrating beyond the wall of rocks.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span></p> +<p>We pursued our way in a straight line at the foot of +these massy, solid productions of nature, every moment +expecting to reach their extremity, or to find some turn, +or breach, or passage through them, that should conduct +us into the interior of the island, if, as I presumed, it was +not terminated by these rocks. We walked on, continually +looking about, that nothing might escape us worthy +of notice, and to anticipate and avoid such dangers as +should threaten.</p> + +<p>We next entered a pretty little grove, the trees of +which were unknown to us. Their branches were loaded +with large quantities of berries of an extraordinary quality, +being entirely covered with a minute meal or farina. +I knew of a sort of bush, the berries of which, when boiled, +yield a viscous scum resembling wax: it grows in America, +and is named by botanists <i lang="la">Myrica cerifera</i>, or candleberry +tree; this plant resembled it much, and the discovery gave +me great pleasure.</p> + +<p>A short time after, another object presented itself with +equal claims to our attention; it was the singular modes of +behaviour of a kind of bird scarcely larger than a chaffinch, +and clothed in feathers of a common brown colour. +These birds appeared to exist as a republic, there being +among them one common nest, inhabited at pleasure by +all their tribes. We saw one of these nests in a tree, in a +somewhat retired situation; it was formed of plaited straws +and bulrushes intermixed; it enclosed great numbers of +inhabitants, and was built round the trunk of a tree; it +had a kind of roof formed of roots and bulrushes, carefully +knit together. We observed in the sides small apertures, +seemingly intended as doors and windows to each particular +cell of this general receptacle; from a few of these apertures +issued some small branches, which served the birds +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span>as points of rest for entering and returning: the external +appearance of the whole excited the image of an immensely +large open sponge.</p> + +<p>While we were attentively examining this interesting +little colony, we perceived numbers of a very small kind +of parrot hovering about the nest. Their gilded green +wings, and the variety of their colours, produced a beautiful +effect; they seemed to be perpetually disputing with +the colonists, and not infrequently endeavoured to prevent +their entrance into the building; they attacked them +fiercely, and even tried to peck at us, if we but advanced +our hand to the structure. Fritz, who was well trained +in the art of climbing trees, was earnestly desirous to take +a nearer view of them, and to secure if possible a few individuals. +He threw his burden down, and climbed to the +nest: he then tried to introduce his hand into one of the +apertures, and to seize whatever living creature it should +touch in that particular cell; what he most desired, was to +find a female brooding, and to carry both her and the eggs +away. Several of the cells were empty, but by perseverance +he found one in the situation he wished; but he received so +violent a peck from an invisible bird, that his only care +was now to withdraw his hand; presently, however, he ventured +a second time to pass his hand into the nest, and +succeeded in seizing his prey, which he laid hold of, and +in spite of the bird’s resistance, he drew it through the +aperture, and squeezed it into the pocket of his waistcoat, +and buttoning it securely, he slided down the tree, and +reached the ground in safety. The signals of distress sent +forth by the prisoner collected a multitude of birds from +their cells, who all surrounded him, uttering loud cries, +and attacking him with their beaks, till he had made good +his retreat. He now released the prisoner, and we discovered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span>him to be a beautiful green parrot,⁠<a id="FNanchor_2_2" href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> which Fritz +entreated he might be allowed to preserve, and make a +present of to his brothers, who would make a cage to keep +him in, and would then tame him and teach him to speak.</p> + +<p>On the road home, we observed to each other, that from +the circumstance of this young bird’s nesting within the +structure, it appeared probable that the true right of +property was in this species, and that the brown-coloured +birds we at first observed were intruders endeavouring to +deprive them of it.</p> + +<p>We reached a wood, the trees of which, in a small degree, +resembled the wild fig-tree; at least the fruit they +bore, like the fig, was round in form, and contained a +soft juicy substance full of small grains. Their height +was from forty to sixty feet; the bark of the trunk was +scaly, like the pineapple, and wholly bare of branches, except +at the very top. The leaves of these trees are very +thick; in substance tough, like leather; and their upper +and under surfaces are different in colour. But what surprised +us the most was a kind of gum which issued in a +liquid state from the trunk of the tree, and became immediately +hardened by the air. This discovery awakened +Fritz’s attention: in Europe he had often made use of the +gum produced by cherry trees, either as a cement or varnish, +in his youthful occupations: and the thought struck +him, that he could do the same with what he now saw.</p> + +<p>As he walked, he frequently looked at his gum, which +he tried to soften with his breath, but without success: +he now discovered a still more singular property in the +substance: that of stretching on being pulled at the extremities, +and, on being let go, of reducing itself instantly, by +the power of an elastic principle. He was struck with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span>surprise, and sprang towards me, repeating the experiment +before my eyes, and exclaiming, “Look, father! if +this is not the very thing we formerly used to rub out bad +strokes in our drawings.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! what do you tell me?” cried I with joy; “such a +discovery would be valuable indeed. The best thanks of +all will be due to you, if it is the true <i>caoutchouc</i> tree which +yields the Indian rubber. Quick, hand it here, that I may +examine it.”—Having satisfied myself of our good fortune, +I had now to explain that caoutchouc is a kind of +milky sap, which runs from its tree, in consequence of +incisions made in the bark. “This liquid is received in vessels +placed expressly for the purpose: it is afterwards +made to take the form of dark-coloured bottles, of different +sizes, such as we have seen them, in the following manner. +Before the liquid has time to coagulate, some small +earthen bottles are dipped into it a sufficient number of +times to form the thickness required. These vessels are +then hung over smoke, which completely dries them, and +gives them a dark colour. The concluding part of the +operation is to break the mould, and to get out the pieces +by the passage of the neck, when there remains the complete +form of a bottle. In the same way we may be able +to make shoes and boots without seams, if we can add the +assistance of earthen moulds of the size of the leg or foot +to be fitted. We must consider of some means of restoring +masses of the caoutchouc to its liquid form, for spreading +upon the moulds; and if we should not succeed, we +must endeavour to draw it in sufficient quantities, in its +liquid state, from the trees themselves.”</p> + +<p>We now began to consider how much farther we would +go: the thick bushes of bamboo, through which it was impossible +to pass, seemed to furnish a natural conclusion to +our journey. We were, therefore, unable to ascertain +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span>whether or not we should have found a passage beyond +the wall of rocks: we perceived then no better resource +than to turn to the left towards Cape Disappointment, +where the luxurious plantations of sugar-canes now again +drew our attention. That we might not return empty-handed +to Falcon’s Stream, and might deserve forgiveness +for so long an absence, we each took the pains to cut +a large bundle of the canes, which we threw across the +ass’s back, not forgetting the ceremony of reserving one +apiece to refresh ourselves with along the road. We soon +arrived on the well-known shore of the sea, which at length +afforded an open and a shorter path; we next reached the +wood of gourds, where we found our sledge loaded as we +had left it the night before; we took the sugar-canes from +the ass, and fastened them to the sledge, and then we harnessed +the ass, and the patient animal began to draw +towards home.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_2_2" href="#FNanchor_2_2" class="label">[2]</a> <i>Tuiete.</i> This is the smallest kind of Brazilian parrot. There is +an infinite variety in their plumage.</p></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-three">XXIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Useful Occupations and Labours—Embellishments—A Painful but Natural Sentiment +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">On</span> the following day, my wife and the boys importuned +me to begin my manufactory of candles: +I therefore set myself to recollect all I had read on the +subject. I soon perceived that I should be at a loss for +a little fat to mix with the wax I had procured from the +berries, for making the light burn clearer; but I was +compelled to proceed without. I put as many berries +into a vessel as it would contain, and set it on +a moderate fire; my wife in the meantime employed herself +in making some wicks with the threads of sail-cloth. +When we saw an oily matter, of a pleasing smell +and light green colour, rise to the top of the liquid the berries +had yielded, we carefully skimmed it off and put it +into a separate vessel, taking care to keep it warm. We +continued this process till the berries were exhausted, and +had produced a considerable quantity of wax; we next +dipped the wicks one by one into it, while it remained +liquid, and then hung them on the bushes to harden: in a +short time we dipped them again, and repeated the operation +till the candles were increased to the proper size, and +they were then put in a place and kept till sufficiently +hardened for use. We, however, were all eager to judge +of our success that very evening, by burning one of the +candles, with which we were well satisfied.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span></p> +<p>Our success in this last enterprise encouraged us to +think of another, the idea of which had long been cherished +by our kind steward of provisions; it was to make +fresh butter of the cream we every day skimmed from +the milk, and which was frequently, to her great vexation, +spoiled and given to the animals. The utensil we stood in +need of was a churn to turn the cream in. Having earnestly +applied my thoughts as to the best manner of conquering +the difficulty, I suddenly recollected what I had +read in a book of travels, of the method used by the Hottentots +for making butter; but instead of a sheep-skin +sewed together at its extremities, I emptied a large gourd, +washed it clean, filled it again with cream, and stopped it +close with the piece I had cut from the top. I placed my +vase of cream on a piece of sail-cloth with four corners, +and tied to each corner a stake: I placed one boy midway +between each stake, and directed them to shake the cloth +briskly, but with a steady measure, for a certain time. +This exercise, which seemed like children’s play, pleased +them mightily, and they called it rocking the cradle. They +performed their office, singing and laughing all the time, +and in an hour, on taking off the cover, we had the satisfaction +of seeing some excellent butter. I had now to +propose to my sons a work of a more difficult nature than +we had hitherto accomplished: it was the construction of +a cart, for the conveyance of our effects from place to +place, to supersede the sledge, which caused us so much +fatigue to load and draw. I tried earnestly and long to +accomplish such a machine; but it did not entirely succeed +to my wishes, and I wasted in the attempt both time +and timber: I however produced what from courtesy we +called a cart, and it answered the purpose for which it +was designed.</p> + +<p>By this time we had nearly exhausted our stock of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span>clothes, and we were compelled once more to have recourse +to the vessel, which we knew still contained some chests +fit for our use. To this motive we added an earnest desire +to take another look at her, and, if practicable, to bring +away a few pieces of cannon.</p> + +<p>The first fine day I assembled my three eldest sons, +and put my design into execution. We reached the wreck +without any striking adventure, and found her still fixed +between the rocks, but somewhat more shattered than +when we had last seen her. We secured the chests of +clothes, and whatever remained of ammunition stores: +powder, shot, and even such pieces of cannon as we could +remove, while those that were too heavy we stripped of +their wheels, which might be extremely useful.</p> + +<p>But to effect our purpose, it was necessary to spend +several days in visits to the vessel, returning constantly +in the evening, enriched with everything of a portable +nature which the wreck contained; doors, windows, locks, +bolts—nothing escaped our grasp: so that the ship was now +entirely emptied, with the exception of the large cannon, +and three or four immense copper caldrons. We by degrees +contrived to tie the heaviest articles to two or three +empty casks well pitched, which would thus be sustained +above water. I supposed that the wind and tide would +convey the beams and timbers ashore, and thus with little +pains we should be possessed of a sufficient quantity of +materials for erecting a building at some future time. +When these measures were taken, I came to the resolution +of blowing up the wreck, by a process similar to that which +had so well succeeded with the pinnace. We accordingly +prepared a cask of gunpowder, which we left on board for +the purpose: we rolled it to the place most favourable for +our views: we made a small opening in its side, and on +quitting the vessel, we inserted a piece of match-wood, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span>which we lighted at the last moment, as before. We then +sailed with all possible expedition for Safety Bay, where +we arrived in a short time.</p> + +<p>About the time of nightfall, a majestic rolling sound +like thunder, accompanied by a column of fire and smoke, +announced that the ship so awfully concerned with our +peculiar destiny, which had brought us to our present +abode in a desert, and furnished us there with such vast +supplies for general comfort, was that instant annihilated, +and withdrawn for ever from the face of man! At this +moment, love for the country that gave us birth, that most +powerful sentiment of the human heart, sank with a new +force into ours. The ship had disappeared for ever! +Could we then form a hope ever to behold that country +more? We had made a sort of jubilee of witnessing the +spectacle: the boys had clapped their hands and skipped +about in joyful expectation; but the noise was heard; the +smoke and sparks were seen; and the sudden change +which took place in our minds could be compared only to +the rapidity of these effects of our concerted scheme +against the vessel. We all observed a mournful silence, +and all rose, as it were by an impulse of mutual condemnation, +and took the road to Tent House.</p> + +<p>A night’s repose had in some measure relieved the +melancholy of the preceding evening, and I went rather +early in the morning with the boys, to make further observations +as to the effects of this remarkable event. We +perceived in the water, and along the shore, abundant vestiges +of the departed wreck; and amongst the rest, at a +certain distance, the empty casks, caldrons, and cannon, all +tied together and floating in a large mass upon the water. +We jumped instantly into the pinnace, with the tub-boat +fastened to it, and made a way towards them through the +numberless pieces of timber, etc., that intervened, and in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span>a little time reached the object of our search, which from +its great weight moved slowly upon the waves. Fritz, with +his accustomed readiness, flung some rope round two four-pounders, +and contrived to fasten them to our barge; after +which he secured also an enormous quantity of poles, laths, +and other useful articles. With this rich booty we returned +to land.</p> + +<p>We performed three more trips for the purpose of +bringing away more cannon, caldrons, fragments of masts, +etc., all of which we deposited for present convenience in +Safety Bay; and now began our most fatiguing operations—the +removing such numerous and heavy stores from the +boats to the Tent House. We separated the cannon and +the caldrons from the tub-raft, and from each other, and +left them in a place which was accessible for the sledge +and the beasts of burden. With the help of the crow we +succeeded in getting the caldrons upon the sledge, and +in replacing the four wheels we had before taken from the +cannon; and now found it easy to make the cow and the ass +draw them.</p> + +<p>The largest of the boilers or copper caldrons we found +of the most essential use. We brought out all our barrels +of gunpowder, and placed them on their ends in three +separate groups, at a short distance from our tent; we +dug a little ditch round the whole, to draw off the moisture +from the ground, and then put one of the caldrons +turned upside down upon each, which completely answered +the purpose of an outhouse. The cannon were +covered with sail-cloth, and upon this we laid heavy +branches of trees; the larger casks of gunpowder we prudently +removed under a projecting piece of rock, and +covered them with planks till we should have leisure for +executing the plan of an ammunition store-house, about +which we had all become extremely earnest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span></p> +<p>My wife, in taking a survey of these our labours, made +the agreeable discovery that two of our ducks and one +of the geese had been brooding under a large bush, and +at the time were conducting their little families to the +water. The news produced general rejoicings; and the +sight of the little creatures so forcibly carried our thoughts +to Falcon’s Stream, that we all conceived the ardent desire +of returning to the society of the numerous old friends we +had left there. We therefore fixed the next day for our +departure, and set about the necessary preparations.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXIV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-four">XXIV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>A New Domain—The Troop of Buffaloes—The Vanquished Hero +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">On</span> entering our plantation of fruit-trees forming +the avenue to Falcon’s Stream, we observed that +they had not a vigorous appearance, and that they +inclined to curve a little in the stalk: we therefore resolved +to support them with sticks, and I proposed to +walk to the vicinity of Cape Disappointment for the +purpose of cutting some bamboos. I had no sooner +pronounced the words, than the three eldest boys and +their mother exclaimed, at once, that they would accompany +me.</p> + +<p>We accordingly fixed the following morning, and set +out in full procession. For myself, I had a great desire +to explore more thoroughly this part of our island. I +therefore made some preparations for sleeping, should +we find the day too short for all we might have to accomplish. +I took the cart instead of the sledge, having fixed +some planks across it for Francis and his mother to sit +upon when they should be tired: I was careful to be provided +with the different implements we might want; some +rope machinery I had contrived for rendering the climbing +of trees more easy; and lastly, some provisions, some water +in a gourd-flask, and one bottle of wine from the captain’s +store.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span></p> +<p>It was not without much difficulty that we conducted +the cart through the thick entangled bushes, the most intricate +of which I everywhere cut down, and we helped to +push it along with all our strength. We soon arrived at +the caoutchouc, or gum-elastic trees. I thought we could +not do better than to halt here, and endeavour to collect +a sufficient quantity of the sap to make the different utensils +and the impenetrable boots and shoes, as I had before +proposed. It was with this design that I had taken care +to bring with me several of the most capacious of the +gourd rinds. I made deep incisions in the trunks, and +fixed some large leaves of trees, partly doubled together +lengthways, to the place, to serve as a sort of channel to +conduct the sap to the vessels I had kept in readiness to +receive it. We had not long begun this process before we +perceived the sap begin to run out as white as milk, and in +large drops, so that we were not without hopes, by the +time of our return, to find the vessels full, and thus to +have obtained a sufficient quantity of the ingredient for a +first experiment.</p> + +<p>We left the sap running, and pursued our way, which +led us to the wood of cocoa-trees: from thence we passed +to the left, and stopped halfway between the bamboos +and the sugar-canes, intending to furnish ourselves with +a provision of each. We aimed our course so judiciously, +that on clearing the skirts of the wood, we found ourselves +in an open plain with the sugar-cane plantations on +our left, and on our right those of bamboo, interspersed +with various kinds of palm-trees, and, in front, the magnificent +bay formed by Cape Disappointment, which +stretched far out into the sea.</p> + +<p>The prospect that now presented itself to our view +was of such exquisite beauty, that we determined to +choose it for our resting-place, and to make it the central +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span>point of every excursion we should in future make; we +were even more than half disposed to desert our pretty +Falcon’s Stream, and transport our possessions hither; a +moment’s reflection, however, betrayed the folly of quitting +the thousand comforts we had there, with almost incredible +industry, assembled; and we dismissed the thought +with promising ourselves to include this ravishing spot +evermore in our projects for excursions.</p> + +<p>It was now evening; and as we had determined to pass +the night in this enchanting spot, we began to think of +forming some large branches of trees into a sort of hut, +as is practised by the hunters in America, to shelter us +from the dew and the coolness of the air. While we were +thus engaged, we were suddenly roused by the loud braying +of the ass, which we had left to graze at a distance but +a short time before. On going to the place, we saw him +throwing his head in the air, and kicking and prancing +about; and while we were thinking what could be the matter, +he set off at a full gallop. Unfortunately, Turk and +Flora, whom we sent after him, took the fancy of entering +the plantation of the sugar-canes, while the ass had preferred +the direction of the bamboos on the right.</p> + +<p>The following morning we breakfasted on some milk +from the cow, some boiled roots, and a small portion of +Dutch cheese, and formed, during our meal, the plan of +the business for the day. It was decided that one of the +boys and myself, attended by the two dogs, should seek +the ass through the bamboo plantation. I took with me +the agile Jack, who was almost beside himself with joy +at this determination.</p> + +<p>We soon reached the bamboo plantation, and found +means to force ourselves along its intricate entanglements. +After great fatigue, and when we were on the +point of relinquishing all further hope, we discovered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span>the print of the ass’s hoofs on the soil, which inspired +us with new ardour in the pursuit. After spending a +whole hour in further endeavours, we at length, on reaching +the skirts of the plantation, perceived the sea in the +distance, and soon after found ourselves in an open space, +which bounded the great bay. A considerable river +flowed into the bay at this place, and we perceived that +the ridge of rocks, which we had constantly seen, extended +to the shore, and terminated in a perpendicular precipice, +leaving only a narrow passage between the rocks and the +river, which, during every flux of the tide, must necessarily +be under water, but which at that moment was dry and +passable. The probability that the ass would prefer passing +by this narrow way, to the hazard of the water, determined +us to follow in the same path: we had also some +curiosity to ascertain what might be found on the other +side of the rocks, for as yet we were ignorant whether they +formed a boundary to our island, or divided it into two +portions; whether we should see there land or water. We +continued to advance, and at length reached a stream +which issued foaming from a large mass of rock, and +fell in a cascade into the river. The bed of this stream +was so deep, and its course so rapid, that we were a long +time finding a part where it might be most practicable for +us to cross. When we had got to the other side, we found +the soil again sandy, and mixed with a fertile kind of +earth: in this place we no longer saw naked rock; but the +print of the ass’s hoofs were again visible on the ground.</p> + +<p>By observing closely, we saw with astonishment the +prints of the feet of other animals, much larger and different +in many respects from those of the ass. Our +curiosity was so strongly excited, that we resolved to +follow the traces; and they conducted us to a plain at a +great distance, which presented to our wondering eyes a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span>terrestrial paradise. We ascended a hill, which partly +concealed from our view this delicious scene, and then, +with the assistance of a glass, we beheld an extensive +range of country, exhibiting every kind of rural beauty, +and in which a profound tranquillity had seemed to take +up its abode.</p> + +<p>By straining our eyes, however, as far as we could +see, we thought we perceived at a great distance some +specks upon the land, that seemed to be in motion. We +hastened towards the spot; and as we drew nearer, to our +inexpressible surprise, beheld a pretty numerous group of +animals, which in the assemblage presented something like +the outline of a troop of horses or of cows. I observed +them sometimes run up to each other, and then suddenly +stoop to graze. Though we had not lately met with farther +traces of the ass, I was not entirely without the hope of +finding him among these animals. On a nearer approach, +we perceived they were wild buffaloes. My alarm was so +great that I remained for a few moments fixed to the spot +like a statue. By good luck the dogs were far behind +us, and the buffaloes gave no sign of fear or of displeasure +at our approach: they stood perfectly still, with their large +round eyes fixed upon us in vacant surprise: those which +were lying down got up slowly, but not one among them +seemed to have any hostile disposition towards us. The +circumstance of the dogs’ absence was most likely, on this +occasion, the means of our safety; as it was, we had +time to draw back quietly, and prepare our firearms. +It was not, however, my intention to make use of them in +any way but for defence, being sensible that we were +unequal to the encounter, and recollecting also to have +read that the sound of a gun drives the buffalo to a +state of desperation. I therefore thought only of retreating; +and with my poor Jack, for whom I was more +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span>alarmed than for myself, was proceeding in this way, +when unfortunately Turk and Flora ran up to us, and +we could see were noticed by the buffaloes. The animals +instantly, and all together, set up such a roar as to make +our nerves tremble; they struck their horns and their +hoofs upon the ground, which they tore up by pieces and +scattered in the air. Our brave Turk and Flora, fearless +of danger, ran, in spite of all our efforts, into the midst +of them, and, according to their manner of attacking, laid +hold of the ears of a young buffalo, which happened to be +standing a few paces nearer to us than the rest; and, +though the creature began a tremendous roar and motion +with his hoofs, they held him fast, and were dragging +him towards us. Our every hope seemed now to be in the +chance of the terror the buffaloes would feel at the noise +of our musketry, which, perhaps, for the first time would +assail their organs, and most likely excite them to flight. +With, I must confess, a palpitating heart and trembling +hands, we fired both at the same moment: the buffaloes, +terrified by the sound and by the smoke, remained for +an instant motionless, as if struck by a thunderbolt, and +then one and all betook themselves to flight with such +incredible rapidity, that they were soon beyond the reach +of our sight. We heard their loud roaring from a considerable +distance, which by degrees subsided into silence, +and we were left with only one of their terrific species +near us; this one, a female, was no doubt the mother of +the young buffalo which the dogs had seized; she had +drawn near on hearing its cries, and had been wounded +by our guns, but not killed; the creature was in a furious +state: after a moment’s pause, she took aim at the dogs, +and with her head on the ground, as if to guide her by the +scent, was advancing in her rage, and would have torn +them in pieces, if I had not prevented her by firing upon +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span>her with my double-barrelled gun, and thus putting an +end to her existence.</p> + +<p>The young buffalo still remained a prisoner, with +his ears in the mouths of the dogs, and the pain occasioned +him to be so furious, that I was fearful he might +do them some injury; I therefore determined to advance +and give them what assistance I might find practicable. +To say the truth, I scarcely knew in what way to effect +this. The buffalo, though young, was strong enough to +revenge himself if I were to give the dogs a sign to let +go his ears. I had the power of killing him with a pistol +at a stroke; but I had a great desire to preserve him alive, +and to tame him, that he might be a substitute for the +ass, which we had but little hope of recovering. I found +myself in a perplexing state of indecision, when Jack +suddenly interposed an effective means for accomplishing +my wishes. He had his string with balls in his pocket; +he drew it out hastily, and making a few steps backward, +he threw it so skilfully as to entangle the buffalo completely, +and throw him down. As I could then approach +him safely, I tied his legs two and two together with a +very strong cord; the dogs released his ears, and from +this moment we considered the buffalo as our own.</p> + +<p>The question was now, how we were to get the buffalo +home: having reflected, I conceived that the best way +would be to tie his two fore-legs together so tight that he +could not run, yet loose enough for him to walk; “and,” +pursued I, “we will next adopt the method practised in +Italy; you will think it somewhat cruel, but the success +will be certain; and it shall afterwards be our study to +make him amends by the kindest care and treatment. +Hold you the cord which confines his legs with all your +strength, that he may not be able to move.” I then called +Turk and Flora, and made each again take hold of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span>ears of the animal; I took from my pocket a sharp-pointed +knife, and taking hold of the snout, I made a hole in the +nostril, into which I quickly inserted a string, which I +immediately tied so closely to a tree that the animal was +prevented from the least motion of the head, which might +have inflamed the wound and increased his pain. I drew +off the dogs the moment the operation was performed. +The creature, thus rendered furious, would have run away, +but the stricture of the legs and the pain in the nostril +prevented it. The first attempt I made to pull the cord +found him docile and ready to accommodate his motions +to our designs, and I perceived that we might now begin +our march.</p> + +<p>I was unwilling to leave so fine a prey as the dead +buffalo behind us: I therefore, after considering what +was to be done, began by cutting out the tongue, which +I sprinkled with some of the salt we had in our provision-bag. +I next took off the skin from the four feet, taking +care not to tear it in the operation. I remembered that +the Americans use these skins, which are of a soft and +flexible quality, as boots and shoes, and I considered them +as precious articles. I lastly cut some of the flesh of the +animal with the skin on, and salted it, and abandoned the +rest to the dogs, as a recompense for their behaviour. I +then repaired to the river, to wash myself, after which we +sat down under the shade of a large tree, and ate the rest +of our provisions.</p> + +<p>As we were not disposed to leave the spot in a hurry, +I desired Jack to take the saw and cut down a small quantity +of the reeds, which from their enormous size might +be of use to us. We set to work, but I observed that he +took pains to choose the smallest. “What shall we do,” +said I, “with these small-sized reeds? You are thinking, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span>I presume, of a bagpipe, to announce a triumphal arrival +to our companions!”</p> + +<p>“You are mistaken, father,” answered Jack; “I am +thinking of some candlesticks for my mother, who will +set so high a value on them!”</p> + +<p>“This is a good thought,” said I; “I am pleased both +with the kindness and the readiness of your invention, and +I will assist you to empty the reeds without breaking +them; if we should not succeed, at least we know where +to provide ourselves with more.”</p> + +<p>We had so many and such heavy articles to remove, +that I dismissed for that day all thoughts of looking +further for the ass. I began now to think of untying the +young buffalo; and on approaching him perceived with +pleasure that he was asleep, which afforded me a proof +that his wound was not extremely painful. As I began +to pull him gently with the string, he gave a start; but +he afterwards followed me without resistance.</p> + +<p>We repassed the river in safety, and, accompanied +by the agreeable sounds of its foaming cascades, we regained +the narrow pass at the turn of the rocks. We +proceeded with caution, and when safe on the other side, +we thought of quickening our pace to arrive the sooner +at the hut.</p> + +<p>The first solicitudes about health and safety being +answered, we entered upon the narrative of our adventures; +when question after question was so rapidly proposed +to us, that we, on our parts, were obliged to ask +for the necessary time for our replies. All agreed that +our success with the buffalo was the most extraordinary +of our achievements: all longed for the morning, when +they might take their fill of looking at the spirited creature +we had brought with us. The day concluded with supper, +and sound repose.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-five">XXV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Malabar Eagle—Sago Manufactory—Bees +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">My</span> wife next morning began the conversation. +She told me that the boys had been good and +diligent; that they had ascended Cape Disappointment +with her, and had gathered wood, and made +some torches for the night; and, what seemed almost +incredible, had ventured to fell and bring down an +immense palm-tree. It lay prostrate on the ground, +and covered a space of at least seventy feet in length. +To effect their purpose, Fritz had got up the tree +with a long rope, which he fastened tight to the top +of it. As soon as he had come down again, he and Ernest +worked with the axe and saw to cut it through. When +it was nearly divided, they carefully managed its fall with +the rope, and in this manner they succeeded. Fritz was in +high spirits too on another account: he brought me on +his wrist a young bird of prey, of the most beauteous +plumage; he had taken it from the nest in one of the rocks +near Cape Disappointment. Very young as the bird was, +it had already all its feathers, though they had not yet +received their full colouring: it answered to the description +I had read of the beautiful eagle of Malabar, and I +viewed it with the admiration it was entitled to: meeting +with one of these birds is thought a lucky omen; and it +being neither large nor expensive in its food, I was desirous +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span>to keep it and train it like a falcon, to pursue smaller +birds. Fritz had already covered its eyes, and tied a +string to its foot: and I advised him to hold it often, and +for a length of time, on his hand, and to tame it with hunger, +as falconers do.</p> + +<p>When all the narratives were concluded, I ordered a +fire to be lighted, and a quantity of green wood to be +put on it, for the purpose of raising a thick smoke, over +which I meant to hang the buffalo meat I had salted, to +dry and preserve it for our future use. The young buffalo +was beginning to browse, and we gave him also a little of +the cow’s milk; and in a few days we fed him with a heap +of sliced roots, which he greedily devoured; and this led us +to conclude that the pains from the wound in his nose +had subsided, and that he would soon become tame.</p> + +<p>The morning of this day was spent in again talking +over our late extraordinary adventures; we left our meat +suspended over the smoke of the fires during our sleep; +we tied the young buffalo by the side of the cow, and were +pleased to see them agree and bid fair to live in peace +together. At night the dogs were set upon the watch. +The time of repose elapsed so calmly that none of us +awoke to keep in the torchlights, which now for the first +time the industry of the boys had supplied us with, and +we did not get up till after sunrise. After a moderate +breakfast, I chanted the accustomed summons for our setting +out; but my young ones had some projects in their +heads, and neither they nor their mother were just then +in the humour to obey me.</p> + +<p>“Let us reflect a little first,” said my wife: “as we +had so much difficulty in felling the palm-tree, would +it not be a pity to lose our labour, by leaving it in this +place? Ernest assures me it is a sago-tree; if so, the +pith would be an excellent ingredient for our soups. Do, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span>my dear, examine it, and let us see if in any way we can +turn it to account.”</p> + +<p>I found she was in the right; but in that case it was +necessary to employ a day in the business; since to lay +open from one end to the other a tree of such a length +and substance, was no trivial task. I however consented; +as, independent of the use of the farinaceous pith, I could, +by emptying it, obtain two handsome and large troughs +for the conveyance of water from Jackal’s River to my +wife’s kitchen garden at Tent House, and thence to my +new plantations of trees.</p> + +<p>I now desired them to bring me the graters they had +used for the manioc, and observed that they had to assist +me in raising the palm-tree from the ground, which must +be done, continued I, by fixing at each end two small cross +pieces or props to support it; to split it open as it lies would +be a work of too much labour: this done, I shall want several +wooden wedges to keep the cleft open while I am +sawing it, and afterwards a sufficient quantity of water. +“There is the difficulty,” said my wife; “our Falcon’s +Stream is too far off, and we have not yet discovered any +spring in the neighbourhood of this place.”</p> + +<p><i>Ernest.</i>—That is of no consequence, mother; I have +seen hereabouts so great an abundance of plants which +contain water, that we need not be at a loss; for they +will fully supply us if I could only contrive to get vessels +enough to hold it.</p> + +<p>We now produced the enormous reeds we had brought +home, which, being hollow, would answer the purpose of +vessels; and as some time was required to draw off the +water from such small tubes, he and Francis at once set +to work: they cut a number of the plants, which they +placed slantingly over the brim of a vessel, and whilst +that was filling, they were preparing another. The rest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span>of us got round the tree, and with our united strength we +soon succeeded in raising the heavy trunk, and the top +of it was then sawn off. We next began to split it through +the whole length, and this the softness of the wood enabled +us to effect with little trouble. We soon reached +the pith or marrow that fills up the middle of the trunk +the whole of its length. When divided, we laid one half +on the ground, and we pressed the pith together with our +hands, so as to make temporary room for the pith of the +other half of the trunk, which rested still on the props. +We wished to empty it entirely, that we might employ it +as a kneading-trough, leaving merely enough of the pith +at both ends to prevent a running-out; and then we proceeded +to form our paste.</p> + +<p>My young manufacturers fell joyfully to work: they +brought water, and poured it gradually into the trough, +whilst we mixed it with the flour. In a short time the +paste appeared sufficiently fermented; I then made an +aperture at the bottom of the grater on its outside, and +pressed the paste strongly with my hand: the farinaceous +parts passed with ease through the small holes of the +grater, and the ligneous parts which did not pass were +thrown aside in a heap, in the hope that mushrooms, etc., +might spring from them. My boys were in readiness to +receive in reed vessels what fell from the grater, and conveyed +it directly to their mother, whose business was to +spread out the small grains in the sun upon sail-cloth, for +the purpose of drying them. Thus we procured a good +supply of a wholesome and pleasant food. The paste +which remained was thrown upon the mushroom-bed, and +watered well to promote a fermentation.</p> + +<p>We next employed ourselves in loading the cart with +our tools and the two halves of the tree. Night coming +on, we retired to our hut, where we enjoyed our usual +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span>repose, and early next morning were ready to return to +Falcon’s Stream. Our buffalo now commenced his service, +yoked with the cow; he supplied the want of the ass, +and was very tractable: it is true, I led him by the cord +in his nose, and thus restrained him whenever he was disposed +to deviate from his duty.</p> + +<p>We returned the same way as we came, in order to +load the cart with a provision of berries, wax and elastic +gum. I sent forward Fritz and Jack as a vanguard, with +one of the dogs: they were to cut an ample road through +the bushes for our cart. The two water-conductors, which +were very long, produced numerous difficulties, and somewhat +impeded our progress. We reached the wax and +gum-trees with tolerable speed, and without any accident, +and halted to place our sacks of berries in the cart. The +elastic gum had not yielded as much as I expected, from +the too rapid thickening caused by an ardent sun. We +obtained, however, about a quart, which sufficed for the +experiment of the impenetrable boots I had so long desired.</p> + +<p>We set out again, still preceded by our pioneers, who +cleared the way for us through the little wood of guavas. +Suddenly we heard a dreadful noise, which came from our +vanguard, and beheld Fritz and Jack hastening towards +us. I began now to fear a tiger or panther was near at +hand, or had perhaps attacked them. Turk began to +bark so frightfully, and Flora joined in so hideous a yell, +that I prepared myself for a conflict. I advanced at the +head of my troop to the assistance of my high-mettled +dogs, who ran furiously up to a thicket, where they +stopped, and with their noses to the ground, and almost +breathless, strove to enter it. I had no doubt some terrible +animal was lurking there; and Fritz, who had seen it +through the leaves, confirmed my suspicion; he said it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span>was about the size of the young buffalo, and that his hair +was black and shaggy. I was going to fire promiscuously +into the thicket, when Jack, who had thrown himself on +his face on the ground to have a better view of the animal, +got up in a fit of laughter. “It is only,” exclaimed he, +“our old sow, who is never tired of playing off her tricks +upon us.” Half vexed, half laughing, we broke into the +midst of the thicket, where in reality we found our old +companion stretched supinely on the earth, but by no +means in a state of dreary solitude; she had round her +seven little creatures, which had been littered a few days, +and were sprawling about, contending with each other +for the best place near their mother for a hearty meal. +This discovery gave us considerable satisfaction, and we +all greeted the good matron, who seemed to recollect and +welcome us with a sociable kind of grunting, while she +licked her young without any ceremony or show of fear. +And now a general consultation took place: should this +new family be left where we found it, or conveyed to +Falcon’s Stream? Opinions being at variance, it was decided +that for the present the sow and her young should +keep quiet possession of their retreat.</p> + +<p>We then, so many adventures ended, pursued our +road, and arrived at Falcon’s Stream in safety, experiencing +what is so generally true, that home is always dear +and sacred to the heart, and anticipated with delight. +All was in due order, and our animals welcomed our return +in their own jargon and manner, but which did not +fail to be expressive of their satisfaction at seeing us again. +We threw them some of the food they were most partial +to, which they greedily accepted, and then voluntarily +went back to their usual stand. It was necessary to practise +a measure dictated by prudence, which was to tie up +the buffalo again, to inure it by degrees to confinement; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span>and the handsome Malabar eagle shared the same fate: +Fritz chose to place it near the parrot, on the root of a +tree; he fastened it with a piece of packthread, of sufficient +length to allow it free motion, and uncovered its eyes: +till then the bird had been tolerably quiet: but the instant +it was restored to light it fell into a species of rage that +surprised us; it proudly raised its head, its feathers became +ruffled, and its eyeballs seemed to whirl in their orbits, +and dart out vivid lightnings. All the poultry were terrified +and fled; but the poor luckless parrot was too near +the sanguinary creature to escape. Before we were aware +of the danger, it was seized and mangled by the formidable +hooked beak of the eagle. Fritz vented his anger in +loud and passionate reproaches; he would have killed the +murderer on the spot, had not Ernest run up and entreated +him to spare its life: “Parrots,” said he, “we shall +find in plenty, but never perhaps so beauteous, so magnificent +a bird as this eagle, which, as father observes, we may +train for hawking. You may too blame only yourself for +the parrot’s death;—why did you uncover his eyes? I +could have told you that falconers keep them covered six +weeks, till they are completely tamed. But now, brother, +let me have the care of him; let me manage the unruly +fellow; he shall soon, in consequence of the methods I +shall use, be as tractable and submissive as a new-born +puppy.”</p> + +<p>Fritz refused to part with his eagle, and Ernest did +not long oppose giving him the information he wanted:—“I +have read,” said he, “somewhere, that the Caribs +puff tobacco smoke into the nostrils of the birds of prey +and of the parrots they catch, until they are giddy and +almost senseless;—this stupefaction over, they are no +longer wild and untractable.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span></p> +<p>Fritz resolved on the experiment; he took some tobacco +and a pipe, of which we had plenty in the sailors’ chests, +and began to smoke, at the same time gradually approaching +the unruly bird. As soon as it was somewhat composed, +he replaced the fillet over the eyes, and smoked +close to its beak and nostrils so effectually, that it became +motionless on the spot, and had the exact air of a +stuffed bird. Fritz thought it dead, and was inclined to +be angry with his brother; but I told him it would not hold +on the perch if it were lifeless, and that its head alone was +affected;—and so it proved. The favourite came to itself +by degrees, and made no noise when its eyes were unbound; +it looked at us with an air of surprise, but void +of fury, and grew tamer and calmer every day.</p> + +<p>We next began a business which I and my wife had +been thinking of for some time: she found it difficult, and +even dangerous, to ascend and descend our tree with a +rope ladder. We never went there but on going to bed, +and each time felt an apprehension that one of the children, +who scrambled up like cats, might make a false step, and +perhaps be lame for ever: bad weather might come on, +and compel us for a long time together to seek an asylum +in our aërial apartment, and consequently to ascend and +descend oftener.</p> + +<p>My wife had repeatedly applied to me to remedy this +evil, and my own anxiety had often made me reflect if +the thing were really possible. A staircase on the outside +was not to be thought of; the considerable height of the +tree rendered that impracticable, as I had nothing to rest +it on, and should be at a loss to find beams to sustain it; +but I had for some time formed the idea of constructing +winding stairs within the immense trunk of the tree, if it +should happen to be hollow, or I could contrive to make +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span>it so. I had heard the boys talking of a hollow in our tree, +and of a swarm of bees issuing from it, and I now, therefore, +went to examine whether the cavity extended to the +roots, or what its circumference might be. The boys seized +the idea with ardour; they sprang up, and climbed to the +tops of the roots like squirrels, to strike at the trunk with +axes, and to judge from the sound how far it was hollow; +but they soon paid dearly for their attempt; the whole +swarm of bees, alarmed at the noise made against their +dwelling, issued forth, buzzing with fury, attacked the +little disturbers, began to sting them, stuck to their hair +and clothes, and soon put them to flight, uttering lamentable +cries. My wife and I had some trouble to stop the +course of their uproar, and cover their wounds with fresh +earth to allay the smart. Jack, whose temper was on all +occasions rash, had struck fiercely upon the bees’ nest, and +was more severely attacked by them than the rest: it was +necessary, so serious was the injury, to cover the whole of +his face with linen. The less active Ernest got up the last, +and was the first to run off when he saw the consequences, +and thus avoided any further injury than a sting or two; +but some hours elapsed before the other boys could open +their eyes, or be in the least relieved from the acute pain +that had been inflicted. When they grew a little better, +the desire of being revenged of the insects that had so +roughly used them had the ascendant in their minds: they +teased me to hasten the measures for getting everything in +readiness for obtaining possession of their honey. The +bees in the meantime were still buzzing furiously round +the tree. I prepared tobacco, a pipe, some clay, chisels, +hammers, etc. I took the large gourd long intended for +a hive, and fitted a place for it, by nailing a piece of board +on a branch of the tree; I made a straw roof for the top, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span>to screen it from the sun and rain; and as all this took +up more time than I was aware of, we deferred the attack +of the fortress to the following day, and got ready for +a sound sleep, which completed the cure of my wounded +patients.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXVI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-six">XXVI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Treatment of Bees—Staircase—Training of Various Animals—Manufactures, etc. +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Next</span> morning, almost before dawn, all were up +and in motion; the bees had returned to their +cells, and I stopped the passages with clay, leaving +only a sufficient aperture for the tube of my pipe. +I then smoked as much as was requisite to stupefy, +without killing, the little warlike creatures. Not having +a cap with a mask, such as bee-catchers usually wear, +nor even gloves, this precaution was necessary. At +first a humming was heard in the hollow of the tree, and +a noise like the gathering tempest, which died away by +degrees. All was become calm, and I withdrew my tube +without the appearance of a single bee. Fritz had got up +by me: we then began with a chisel and a small axe to cut +out of the tree, under the bees’ hole of entrance, a piece +three feet square. Before it was entirely separated, I repeated +the fumigation, lest the stupefaction produced by +the first smoking should have ceased, or the noise we had +been just making revived the bees. As soon as I supposed +them lulled again, I separated from the trunk the piece I +had cut out, producing as it were the aspect of a window, +through which the inside of the tree was laid open to view; +and we were filled at once with joy and astonishment on +beholding the immense and wonderful work of this colony +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span>of insects. There was such a stock of wax and honey, +that we feared our vessels would be insufficient to contain +it. The whole interior of the tree was lined with fine +honeycombs. I cut them off with care, and put them in +the gourds the boys constantly supplied me with. When +I had somewhat cleared the cavity, I put the upper combs, +in which the bees had assembled in clusters and swarms, +into the gourd which was to serve as a hive, and placed it +on the plank I had purposely raised. I came down, bringing +with me the rest of the honeycombs, with which I filled +a small cask, previously well washed in the stream. Some +I kept out for a treat at dinner; and had the barrel carefully +covered with cloths and planks, that the bees, when +attracted by the smell, might be unable to get at it. We +assembled round the table, and regaled ourselves plentifully +with the delicious treat. My wife then put by the +remainder; and I proposed to my sons to go back to the +tree, to prevent the bees from swarming again there on +being roused from their stupor, as they would not have +failed to do but for the precaution I took of placing a +board at the aperture, and burning a few handfuls of +tobacco on it, the smell and smoke of which drove them +back whenever they attempted to return. At length they +desisted, and became gradually reconciled to their new +residence, where their queen no doubt had settled herself. +I now advised that all should watch during the night over +the whole provision of honey obtained while the bees were +torpid, who, when recovered, would not fail to be troublesome, +and come in legions to get back to their property; +and to this end we threw ourselves on our beds, in our +clothes, to take an early doze. On awakening about nightfall, +we found the bees quiet in the gourd, or settled in +clusters upon near branches, so we went expeditiously to +business. The cask of honey was emptied into a kettle, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span>except a few prime combs, which we kept for daily consumption; +the remainder, mixed with a little water, was +set over a gentle fire, and reduced to a liquid consistence, +strained and squeezed through a bag, and afterwards +poured back into the cask, which was left upright and uncovered +all night to cool. In the morning the wax was +entirely separated, and had risen to the surface in a compact +and solid cake, that was easily removed: beneath +was the purest, most beautiful and delicate honey that +could be seen; the cask was then carefully headed again, +and put into cool ground near our wine-vessels. This +task accomplished, I mounted to revisit the hive, and found +everything in order; the bees going forth in swarms, and +returning loaded with wax, from which I judged they +were forming fresh edifices in their new dwelling-place. +I had been surprised that the numbers occupying the trunk +of the tree should find room in the gourd, till I perceived +the clusters upon the branches, and I thence concluded +a young queen was among each of them. In consequence, +I procured another gourd, into which I shook them, and +placed it by the former; thus I had the satisfaction of +obtaining at an easy rate two fine hives of bees in activity.</p> + +<p>Soon after these operations we proceeded to examine +the inside of the tree. I sounded it with a pole from the +opening I had made; and a stone fastened to a string +served us to sound the bottom, and thus to ascertain the +height and depth of the cavity. To my great surprise, the +pole penetrated without any resistance to the branches on +which our dwelling rested, and the stone descended to the +roots. The trunk, it appeared, had wholly lost its pith, +and most of its wood internally. It seems that this species +of tree, like the willow in our climates, receives nourishment +through the bark; for it did not look decayed, and +its far-extended branches were luxuriant and beautiful +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span>in the extreme. I determined to begin our construction in +its capacious hollow that very day. The undertaking appeared +at first beyond our powers; but intelligence, patience, +time, and a firm resolution vanquished all obstacles.</p> + +<p>We began to cut into the side of the tree, towards +the sea, a doorway equal in dimensions to the door of +the captain’s cabin, which we had removed with all its +framework and windows. We next cleared away from +the cavity all the rotten wood, and rendered the interior +even and smooth, leaving sufficient thickness for cutting +out resting-places for the winding stairs, without injuring +the bark. I then fixed in the centre the trunk of a tree +about twenty feet in length, and a foot thick, completely +stripped of its branches, in order to carry my winding +staircase round it. On the outside of this trunk, and the +inside of the cavity of our own tree, we formed grooves, +so calculated as to correspond with the distances at which +the boards were to be placed to form the stairs. These +were continued till I had got to the height of the trunk +round which they turned. I made two more apertures at +suitable distances, and thus completely lighted the whole +ascent. I also effected an opening near our room, that +I might more conveniently finish the upper part of the +staircase. A second trunk was fixed upon the first, and +firmly sustained with screws and transverse beams. It +was surrounded, like the other, with stairs cut slopingly; +and thus we happily effected the stupendous undertaking +of conducting it to the level of our bed-chamber. Here +I made another door directly into it. To render it more +solid and agreeable, I closed the spaces between the stairs +with plank. I then fastened two strong ropes, the one +descending the length of the central trunk, the other along +the inside of our large tree, to assist in case of slipping. +I fixed the sash windows taken from the captain’s cabin +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span>in the apertures we had made to give light to the stairs; +and I then found I could add nothing further to my +design.</p> + +<p>I have now to relate some occurrences that took place +during the construction of our staircase.</p> + +<p>A few days after the commencement of our undertaking, +our brave Flora whelped us six young puppies, +all healthy, and likely to live. The number was so alarming, +that I was under the necessity of drowning all but a +male and female to keep up the breed. A few days later, +the two she-goats gave us two kids, and our ewes five +lambs: so that we now saw ourselves in possession of a +pretty flock.</p> + +<p>Next to the winding stairs, my chief occupation was +the management of the young buffalo, whose wound in +the nose was quite healed, so that I could lead it at will +with a cord or stick passed through the orifice, as the +Caffrarians do. I preferred the stick, which answered +the purpose of a bit, and I resolved to break in this +spirited beast for riding as well as drawing. It was +already used to the shafts, and very tractable in them; +but I had more trouble in inuring him to a rider, and to +wearing a girth, having made one out of the old buffalo’s +hide. I formed a sort of saddle with sail-cloth, and tacked +it to the girth. Upon this I fixed a burden, which I increased +progressively. I was indefatigable in the training +of the animal, and soon brought it to carry, patiently, +large bags of roots, salt, and other articles in the place +of the ass. The monkey was his first rider, who stuck so +close to the saddle, that in spite of the plunging and kicking +of the buffalo, it was not thrown. Francis was then +tried, as the lightest of the family; but throughout his excursion +I led the beast with a halter, that it might not +throw him off. Jack now showed some impatience to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span>mount the animal in his turn. I next passed the stick +through the buffalo’s nose, and tied strong packthread +at each end of it, bringing them together over the neck +of the animal, and put this new-fangled bridle into the +hands of the young rider, directing him how to use it. For +a time the lad kept his saddle, notwithstanding the unruly +gestures of the creature; at length a side jolt threw him +on the sand, without his receiving much injury. Ernest, +Fritz, and lastly myself, got on successively, with more or +less effect. His trotting shook us to the very centre, the +rapidity of his gallop turned us giddy, and our lessons in +horsemanship were reiterated many days before the animal +was tamed, and could be ridden with either safety or pleasure. +At last, however, we succeeded without any serious +accident; and the strength and swiftness of our saddled +buffalo were prodigious. It seemed to sport with the +heaviest loads. My three eldest boys mounted it together +now and then, and it ran with them with the swiftness of +lightning.</p> + +<p>We now began to think of manufacturing our impenetrable +boots without seams, of the caoutchouc, or +elastic-gum. I began with a pair for myself; and I encouraged +my children to afford a specimen of their industry, +by trying to form some flasks and cups that could not +break. They began by making some clay moulds, which +they covered with layers of gum, agreeably to the instructions +I had given them. In the meanwhile I filled a pair +of stockings with sand, and covered them with a layer of +clay, which I first dried in the shade, and afterwards in +the sun. I then took a sole of buffalo leather, well beaten, +and studded round with tacks, which served me to fix it +under the foot of the stocking; after this I poured the +liquid gum into all the interstices, which, on drying, produced +a close adhesion between the leather and stocking +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span>sole. I next proceeded to smear the whole with a coat of +resin of a tolerable thickness; and as soon as this layer was +dried on, I put on another, and so on till I had applied a +sufficiency with my brush. After this I emptied the sand, +drew out the stocking, removed the hardened clay, shook +off the dust, and thus obtained a pair of seamless boots, +as finished as if made by the best English workman, being +pliant, warm, soft, smooth, and completely waterproof.</p> + +<p>We had also been engaged in the construction of our +fountain, which afforded a perpetual source of pleasure +to my wife, and indeed to all of us. In the upper part +of the stream we built with stakes and stones a kind of +dam, that raised the water sufficiently to convey it into +the palm-tree troughs; and afterwards, by means of a +gentle slope, to glide on contiguous to our habitation, +where it fell into the tortoiseshell basin, which we had +elevated on stones to a certain height for our convenience; +and it was so contrived that the redundant water passed +off through a cane pipe fitted to it. I placed two sticks +athwart each other for the gourds, that served as pales, to +rest on; and we thus produced, close to our abode, an +agreeable fountain, delighting with its rill, and supplying +us with a pure crystal fluid, such as we frequently could +not get when we drew our water from the bed of the river, +which was often encumbered with the leaves and earth +fallen into it, or rendered turbid by our water-fowls.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXVII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-seven">XXVII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Wild Ass—Difficulty in breaking it—The Heath Fowl’s Nest +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> were scarcely up one morning, and had just got +to work in putting the last hand to our winding +staircase, when we heard at a distance two strange kinds of +voices, that resembled the howlings of wild beasts mixed +with hissings and sounds of some creature at its last gasp; +and I was not without uneasiness: our dogs too pricked up +their ears, and seemed to whet their teeth for a sanguinary +combat with a dangerous enemy.</p> + +<p>From their looks we judged it prudent to put ourselves +in a state of defence; we loaded our guns and pistols, +placed them together within our castle in the tree, and repaired +to repel vigorously any hostile attack from that +quarter. The howlings having ceased an instant, I +descended from our citadel, well armed, and put on our +two faithful guardians their spiked collars and side-guards; +I assembled our cattle about the tree to have them +in sight, and I then re-ascended to look around for the +enemy’s approach.</p> + +<p>At this instant the howlings were renewed, and almost +close to us. Fritz got as near the spot as he could, listened +attentively, and with eager looks, then threw down his +gun, and burst into a loud laughter, exclaiming, “Father, +it is our ass! the deserter comes back to us, chanting the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span>hymn of return: listen! do you not hear his melodious +brayings in all the varieties of the gamut?” I listened, and +a fresh roar, in sounds unquestionable, raised loud peals of +laughter amongst us. Shortly after we had the satisfaction +of seeing among the trees our old friend Grizzle, moving +towards us leisurely, and stopping now and then to browse; +but, to our great joy, he was accompanied by one of his +own species, of very superior beauty; and when it was +nearer, I knew it to be a fine onagra, or wild ass, which +I conceived a strong desire to possess, though at the same +time aware of the extreme difficulty there would be in +taming and rendering him subject to the use of man. +Without delay I descended the ladder with Fritz, desiring +his brothers to keep still; and I consulted my privy-counsellor +on the means of surprising and taking the stranger +captive.</p> + +<p>I got ready, as soon as possible, a long cord with a +running knot, one end of which I tied fast to the root of a +tree; the noose was kept open with a little stick slightly +fixed in the opening, so as to fall of itself on the cord +being thrown round the neck of the animal, whose efforts +to escape would draw the knot closer. I also prepared a +piece of bamboo about two feet long, which I split at the +bottom, and tied fast at top, to serve as nippers. Fritz +attentively examined my contrivance, without seeing the +use of it. Prompted by the impatience of youth, he took +the ball-sling, and proposed aiming at the wild ass with +it, which he said was the shortest way of proceeding. I +declined adopting this Patagonian method, fearing the +attempt might fail, and the beautiful creature avail itself +of its natural velocity to evade us beyond recovery; I +therefore told him my project of catching it in the noose, +which I gave him to manage, as being nimbler and more +expert than myself. The two asses drew nearer and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span>nearer to us. Fritz, holding in his hand the open noose, +moved softly on from behind the tree where we were concealed, +and advanced as far as the length of the rope +allowed him. The onagra started on perceiving a human +figure; it sprang some paces backward, then stopped, as +if to examine the unknown form; but as Fritz now remained +quite still, the animal resumed its composure, and +continued to browse. Soon after he approached the old +ass, hoping that the confidence that would be shown by +it would raise a similar feeling in the stranger; he held +out a handful of oats mixed with salt. Our ass instantly +ran up to take its favourite food, and greedily devoured +it: this was quickly perceived by the other. It drew near, +raised its head, breathed strongly, and came up so close, +that Fritz, seizing the opportunity, succeeded in throwing +the rope round its neck; but the motion and stroke +so affrighted the beast that it instantly sprang off. It +was soon checked by the cord, which, in compressing the +neck, almost stopped its breath: it could go no farther, +and, after many exhausting efforts, it sank panting for +breath upon the ground. I hastened to loosen the cord, +and prevent its being strangled. I then quickly threw +our ass’s halter over its head; I fixed the nose in my split +cane, which I secured at the bottom with packthread. +Thus I succeeded in subduing the first alarm of this wild +animal, as farriers shoe a horse for the first time. I wholly +removed the noose that seemed to bring the creature into +a dangerous situation; I fastened the halter with two long +ropes to two roots near us, on the right and left, and let +the animal recover itself, noticing its actions, and devising +the best way to tame it in the completest manner.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the onagra got up again, struck +furiously with its foot, and seemed resolved to free itself +from all bonds; but the pain of its nose, which was grasped +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span>and violently squeezed in the bamboo, forced it to lie down +again. Fritz and I now gently undid the cords, and half +led, half dragged it, between two roots closely connected, +to which we fastened it afresh, so as to give the least scope +for motion, and thus render its escape impracticable, whilst +it enabled us to approach securely, and examine the valuable +capture we had made. We also guarded against master +Grizzle playing truant again, and tied him fast with +a new halter, confining its fore legs with a rope. I then +fastened it and the wild ass side by side, and put before +both plenty of good provender to solace their impatience +of captivity.</p> + +<p>We had now the additional occupation of training the +onagra for our service or our pleasure, as might turn out +to be most practicable: my boys exulted in the idea of riding +it, and we repeatedly congratulated each other on the +good fortune which had thus resulted from the flight of +our ass.</p> + +<p>During the training of the onagra, which we named +<i>Lightfoot</i>, a triple brood of our hens had given us a crowd +of little feathered beings; forty of these at least were +chirping and hopping about us, to the great satisfaction +of my wife, whose zealous care of them sometimes made +me smile. Some of these we kept near us, while others +were sent in small colonies to feed and breed in the desert, +where we could find them as they were wanted for our use.</p> + +<p>This increase of our poultry reminded us of an undertaking +we had long thought of, and was not in prudence +to be deferred any longer; this was the building between +the roots of our great tree covered sheds for all our bipeds +and quadrupeds. The rainy season, which is the winter +of these countries, was drawing near; and to avoid losing +most of our stock, it was requisite to shelter it.</p> + +<p>We began by forming a kind of roof above the arched +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span>roots of our tree, and employed bamboo canes for the purpose; +the longest and strongest supported the roofing in +the place of columns, the smaller more closely united and +composed the roof itself. I filled up the interstices with +moss and clay, and I spread over the whole a thick coat +of tar. By these means I formed a compact and solid +covering, capable of bearing pressure. I then made a railing +round it, which gave the appearance of a balcony, +under which, between the roots, were various stalls, sheltered +from rain and sun, that could be easily shut and separated +from each other by means of planks nailed upon the +roots: part of them were calculated to serve as a stable +and yard, part as an eating-house, a store-room, etc., and +as a hay-loft, to keep our hay and provisions dry in. This +work was soon completed; but afterwards it was necessary +to fill these places with stores of every kind for our supply +throughout the wet season. In this task we engaged diligently, +and went daily here and there with our cart to +collect everything useful, and that might give us employment +when the weather prevented our going far.</p> + +<p>One evening, on our return from digging up roots, as +our cart, loaded with bags, drawn by the buffalo, ass, and +cow, was gently rolling along, seeing still a vacant place +in the vehicle, I advised my wife to go home with the two +youngest boys, whilst I went round by the wood of oaks +with Ernest and Fritz, to gather as many sweet acorns as +we could find room for. We had still some empty sacks. +Ernest was accompanied by his monkey, who seldom left +him; and Fritz, horsemanlike, was on the onagra, which +he had appropriated to himself, inasmuch as he had helped +to take and tame it, and indeed because he knew how to +manage it better than his brothers. Ernest was too lazy, +and preferred walking at ease with the monkey on his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span>shoulder, and the more so because it spared him the trouble +of gathering fruit.</p> + +<p>When we reached the oaks, Lightfoot was tied to a +bush, and we set actively to work to gather the acorns that +had dropped from the trees. While all were busily employed, +the monkey quitted its master’s shoulder, and +skipped unperceived into an adjoining bush. It had been +there some time, when we heard on that side loud cries of +birds and flapping of wings, and this assured us a sharp +conflict was going on betwixt master Knips and the inhabitants +of the bushes. I dispatched Ernest to reconnoitre. +He went stoutly towards the place, and in an +instant we heard him exclaim, “Come quickly, father! A +fine heath-fowl’s nest, full of eggs.”</p> + +<p>Fritz ran up directly, and in a few moments brought +out alive the male and female heath-fowl, both very beautiful. +I was rejoiced at this discovery, and helped my +son to prevent their escape, by tying their wings and feet, +and hold them while he returned to the bush for the eggs. +And now Ernest came forward, driving the monkey before +him, and carrying his hat with the utmost care. He +had stuck his girdle full of narrow sharp-pointed leaves, +in shape like a knife-blade, which reminded me of the +production named sword-grass; but I did not pay much +attention, as I was too busily engaged in our egg-hunt. +On coming up to me he uncovered his hat, and gave it +me in a transport of joy, crying out, “Here, father, are +some heath-fowl’s eggs. I found them in a nest so well +concealed under these long leaves, that I should not have +observed them had not the hen, in defending herself against +the monkey, scattered them about. I am going to take +them home, they will please my mother; and these leaves +will amuse Francis, for they are like swords, and he will +like them for a plaything.” It was now time to think of +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span>moving homeward: my two sons filled the bags with acorns, +and put them on Lightfoot. Fritz mounted, Ernest carried +the eggs, I took charge of the hen, and we proceeded +to Falcon’s Stream, followed by our train-waggon. +When arrived, our first care was to examine the eggs: +the female bird was too frightened and wild to sit upon +them; fortunately we had a hen that was hatching: her +eggs were immediately removed, and the new ones put in +their place: the female heath-fowl was put into the parrot’s +cage, and hung up in the room, to accustom it to our +society. In less than three days all the chickens were +hatched; they kept close to their foster-mother, and ate +greedily a mixture of sweet acorns bruised in milk, such +as we gave our tame poultry. As they grew up I plucked +out the large feathers of their wings, lest they should +naturally take flight; but they and their real parent gradually +became so domesticated, that they daily accompanied +our feathered stock in search of food, and regularly came +back at night to the roost I had prepared for them, and +in which this little new colony of feathered beings seemed +to delight.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXVIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-eight">XXVIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Flax, and the Rainy Season +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Francis</span> for a short time was highly amused with his +sword-leaves, and then, like all children, who are soon +tired of their toys, he grew weary of them, and they were +thrown aside. Fritz picked up some of them that were +quite soft and withered; holding up one which was pliable +as a riband in his hand, “Francis,” said he, “you can make +whips of your sword-grass, and they will be of use in driving +your goats and sheep.” It had been lately decided that +it should be the business of Francis to lead these to pasture. +Fritz accordingly sat down to help him to divide the leaves, +and afterwards plait them into whipcords. As they were +working, I saw with pleasure the flexibility and strength +of the bands: I examined them more closely, and found +they were composed of long fibres, or filaments; and this +discovery led me to surmise that this supposed sword-grass +might be a very different thing, and not improbably +the flax plant of New Zealand. This was a valuable discovery +in our situation: I knew how much my wife wished +for the production, and that it was the article she felt the +most the want of; I therefore hastened to communicate +the intelligence to her, and she expressed the liveliest joy. +“This,” said she, “is the most useful thing you have found; +lose not a moment in searching for more of these leaves, +and bring me the most you can of them; I will make you +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span>stockings, shirts, clothes, thread, ropes;—in short, give me +flax, looms, and frames, and I shall be at no loss in the +employment of it.” I could not help smiling at the scope +she gave to her imagination on the bare mention of flax, +though so much was to be done between the gathering the +leaves and having the cloth she was already sewing in idea. +Fritz whispered a word in Jack’s ear; both went to the +stable, and, without asking my leave, one mounted Lightfoot, +the other the buffalo, and galloped off towards the +wood, so fast that I had no time to call them back: they +were already out of sight. Their eagerness to oblige their +mother in this instance pleaded their forgiveness, and I +suffered them to go on without following them, purposing +to proceed and bring them back if they did not soon return.</p> + +<p>In a quarter of an hour our deserters came back; like +true hussars, they had foraged the woods, and heavily +loaded their cattle with the precious plant, which they +threw at their mother’s feet with joyful shouts. It was +next proposed that all should assist her in preparations +for the work she was to engage in, and previously in steeping +the flax.</p> + +<p>Next morning the ass was put to the small light car, +loaded with bundles of leaves; Francis and the monkey +sat on them, and the remainder of the family gaily followed +with shovels and pickaxes. We stopped at Flamingo +Marsh, divided our large bundles into smaller, +which we placed in the water, pressing them down with +stones, and leaving them in this state till it was time to +remove and set them in the sun to dry, and thus render +the stems soft and easy to peel.</p> + +<p>In a fortnight we took the flax out of the water, and +spread it on the grass in the sun, where it dried so rapidly +that we were able to load it on our cart the same evening, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span>and carry it to Falcon’s Stream, where it was put by till +we had time to make the beetles, wheels, reels, carding-combs, +etc., required by our chief for the manufacture. It +was thought best to reserve this task for the rainy season, +and to employ the present time in collecting a competent +stock of provisions for ourselves and for all the animals. +Occasional slight showers, the harbingers of winter, had +already come on; the temperature, which hitherto had been +warm and serene, became gloomy and variable; the sky +was often darkened with clouds, the stormy winds were +heard, and warned us to avail ourselves of the favorable +moment to get all that might be wanted ready.</p> + +<p>Our first care was to dig up a full supply of yams +and other roots for bread, with plenty of cocoa-nuts and +some bags of sweet acorns. It occurred to us, while +digging, that, the ground being thus opened and manured +with the leaves of plants, we might sow in it to advantage +the remainder of our European corn. Notwithstanding +all the delicacies this stranger land afforded us, the force +of habit still caused us to long for the bread we had been +fed with from childhood. We had not yet laid ourselves +out for regular tillage, and I was inclined to attempt the +construction of a plough of some sort as soon as we had +a sufficient stock of corn for sowing. For this time, therefore, +we committed it to the earth with little preparation: +the season, however, was proper for sowing and planting, +as the ensuing rain would moisten and swell the embryo +grain, which otherwise would perish in an arid burning +soil. We accordingly expedited the planting of the various +palm-trees we had discovered in our excursions at +Tent House, carefully selecting the smallest and the +youngest. In the environs we formed a large handsome +plantation of sugar-canes, so as to have hereafter everything +useful and agreeable around us, and thus be dispensed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span>from the usual toil and loss of time in procuring +them.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, the weather changed sooner than we +had expected, and than, with all our care, we could be +prepared for: before we had completed our winter +establishment, the rain fell in such heavy torrents that I +could not refrain from painful apprehension in surmising +how we should resist such a body of water, that seemed +to change the whole face of the country into a lake.</p> + +<p>The first thing to be done was to remove our aërial +abode, and to fix our residence at the bottom of the tree, +between the roots and under the tarred roof I had +erected: for it was no longer possible to remain above, +on account of the furious winds that threatened to bear +us away, and deluged our beds with rain through the large +opening in front, our only protection here being a piece +of sail-cloth, which was soon dripping wet and rent to +pieces. In this condition we were forced to take down +our hammocks, mattresses, and every article that could +be injured by the rain; and most fortunate did we deem +ourselves in having made the winding stairs, which +sheltered us during the operation of the removal. The +stairs served afterwards for a kind of lumber-room; we +kept all in it we could dispense with, and most of our +culinary vessels, which my wife fetched as she happened +to want them. Our little sheds between the roots, constructed +for the poultry and the cattle, could scarcely +contain us all; and the first days we passed in this +manner were painfully embarrassing, crowded all together, +and hardly able to move in these almost dark +recesses, which the fœtid smell from the close adjoining +animals rendered almost insupportable: in addition, +we were half stifled with smoke whenever we kindled a +fire, and drenched with rain when we opened the doors. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span>For the first time since our disaster, we sighed for the +comfortable houses of our dear country:—but what was +to be done? We were not there, and losing our courage +and our temper would only increase the evil. I strove +to raise the spirits of my companions, and obviate some +of the inconveniences. We confined our live stock to +a smaller number, and gave them a freer current of air, +dismissing from the stalls those animals that, from their +properties, and being natives of the country, would be +at no loss in providing for themselves. That we might +not lose them altogether, we tied bells round their +necks; Fritz and I sought and drove them in every +evening when they did not spontaneously return.</p> + +<p>As to the smoke, our only remedy was to open the +door when we made a fire; and we did without fire as +much as we could, living on milk and cheese, and never +making one but to bake our cakes: we then used the +occasion to boil a quantity of our favourite roots and +salt meat enough to last us a number of days. Our dry +wood was also nearly expended, and we thanked Heaven +the weather was not very cold; for had this been the +case, our other trials would have much increased. A +more serious concern was our not having provided +sufficient hay and leaves for our European cattle, which +we kept housed to avoid losing them. The cow, the ass, the +sheep, and the goats, the two last of which were increased +in number, required a large quantity of provender, so +that we were ere long forced to give them our tuberous +roots and sweet acorns, which, by the bye, they found +very palatable, and we remarked that they imparted a +delicate flavour to their milk; the cow, the goats, and +even the sheep, amply supplied us with that precious +article. Milking, cleaning the animals, and preparing +their food, occupied us most of the morning, after which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span>we were usually employed in making flour of the manioc +root, with which we filled the large gourds, previously +placed in rows. The gloom of the atmosphere and our +low windowless habitation sensibly abridged our daylight; +fortunately we had laid in a huge store of candles, +and felt no want of that article. When darkness obliged +us to light up, we got round the table, where a large +taper fixed on a gourd gave us an excellent light, which +enabled my wife to pursue her occupation with the +needle, while I on my part was forming a journal, and +recording what the reader has perused of the narrative +of our shipwreck and residence in this island, assisted +from time to time by my sons and their admirable mother, +who did not cease to remind me of various incidents belonging +to the story. To Ernest, who wrote a fine hand, +was entrusted the care of writing off my pages in a clear +legible character; Fritz and Jack amused themselves by +drawing from memory the plants and animals which had +most struck their observation; while one and all contributed +to teach little Francis to read and write. We +concluded the day with a devotional reading in the Holy +Bible, performed by each in turn, and we then retired +to rest, happy in ourselves and in the innocent and peaceful +course of our existence.</p> + +<p>It was unanimously resolved on, however, that we +would not pass another rainy season exposed to the same +evils; even my gentle-tempered and most beloved consort +was a little ruffled now and then with our inconvenient +situation, and insisted more than any of us on the plan of +building elsewhere a more spacious winter residence; she +wished, however, to return to our castle in the tree every +summer, and we all joined with her in that desire. The +choice of a fresh abode now engrossed our attention, and +Fritz in the midst of consultation came forward triumphantly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span>with a book he had found in the bottom of our +clothes chest. “Here,” said he, “is our best counsellor and +model, <cite>Robinson Crusoe</cite>; since Heaven has destined us to +a similar fate, whom better can we consult? As far as I +remember, he cut himself a habitation out of the solid +rock: let us see how he proceeded; we will do the same, +and with greater ease, for he was alone; we are six in +number, and four of us able to work.” This idea of Fritz +was hailed by all. We assembled, and read the famous +history with an ardent interest; it seemed, though so +familiar, quite new to us; we entered earnestly into every +detail, and derived considerable information from it, and +never failed to feel lively gratitude towards God, who had +rescued us all together, and not permitted one only of +us to be cast, a solitary being, on the island.</p> + +<p>Francis expressed his wish to have a <i>Man Friday</i>; +Fritz thought it better to be without such a companion, +and to have no savages to contend with. Jack was for +the savages, warfare, and encounters. The final result +of our deliberations was to go and survey the rocks round +Tent House, and to examine whether any of them could +be excavated for our purpose.</p> + +<p>Our last job for the winter, undertaken at my wife’s +solicitation, was a beetle for her flax, and some carding +combs. I filed large nails till they were even, round, and +pointed; I fixed them at equal distances in a sheet of +tin, and raised the side of it like a box; I then poured +melted lead between the nails and the sides to give +firmness to their points, which came out four inches. I +nailed this tin on a board, and the machine was fit to +work. My wife was impatient to use it; and the drying, +peeling, and spinning her flax, became from this time a +source of inexhaustible delight.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXIX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-nine">XXIX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Spring—Spinning—Salt Mine +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">I can</span> hardly describe our joy, when, after many +tedious and gloomy weeks of rain, the sky began +to brighten, the sun to dart its benign rays on the humid +earth, the winds to be lulled, and the state of the air +became mild and serene. We issued from our dreary +hovels with joyful shouts, and walked round our habitation +breathing the enlivening balmy ether, while our eyes were +regaled with the beauteous verdure beginning to shoot +forth on every side.</p> + +<p>Our summer occupations commenced by arranging +and thoroughly cleaning Falcon’s Nest, the order and +neatness of which the rain and dead leaves blown by the +wind had disturbed; in other respects, however, it was +not injured, and in a few days we rendered it fit for our +reception; the stairs were cleared, the rooms between +the roots reoccupied, and we were left with leisure to +proceed to other employments. My wife lost not a +moment in resuming the process of her flax. Our sons +hastened to lead the cattle to the fresh pastures; whilst +it was my task to carry the bundles of flax into the open +air, where, by heaping stones together, I contrived an +oven sufficiently commodious to dry it well. The same +evening, we all set to work to peel, and afterwards to +beat it and strip off the bark; and lastly to comb it with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span>my carding machine, which fully answered the purpose. +I took this laborious task on myself, and drew out such +distaffs full of long soft flax ready for spinning, that my +enraptured wife ran to embrace me, to express her +thankfulness, requesting me to make her a wheel without +delay, that she might enter upon her favourite work.</p> + +<p>At an early period of my life I had practised turnery +for my amusement; now, however, I was unfortunately +destitute of the requisite utensils; but as I had not forgotten +the arrangement and component parts of a spinning-wheel +and reel, I by repeated endeavours found +means to accomplish those two machines to her satisfaction; +and she fell so eagerly to spinning, as to allow herself +no leisure even for a walk, and scarcely time to dress our +dinners.</p> + +<p>Our first visit was to Tent House, and here we found +the ravages of winter more considerable than even at +Falcon’s Stream; the tempest and rain had beaten down +the tent, carried away a part of the sail-cloth, and made +such havoc among our provisions, that by far the largest +portion was spotted with mildew, and the remainder could +be only saved by drying it instantly. Luckily our handsome +pinnace had been for the most part spared; it was +still at anchor, ready to serve us in case of need; but our +tub-boat was in too shattered a state to be of any further +service.</p> + +<p>In looking over the stores, we were grieved to find +the gunpowder, of which I had left three barrels in the +tent, the most damaged. The contents of two were rendered +wholly useless. I thought myself fortunate in finding +the remaining one in tolerable condition, and derived +from this great and irreparable loss a cogent motive to +fix upon winter quarters where our stores, our only wealth, +would not be exposed to such cruel dilapidations.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span></p> +<p>Fritz and Jack were constant in their endeavours to +make me undertake the excavation of the rock, but I +had no hopes of success. Robinson Crusoe found a +spacious cavern that merely required arrangement: no +such cavity was apparent in our rock, which bore the +aspect of extreme solidity and impenetrableness; so that +with our limited powers, three or four summers would +scarcely suffice to execute the design. Still, the earnest +desire of a more substantial habitation, to defend us from +the elements, perplexed me incessantly, and I resolved +to make at least the attempt of cutting out a recess that +should protect the gunpowder, the most valuable of all +our treasures. I accordingly set off one day, accompanied +by my two boys, leaving their mother at her spinning +with Ernest and Francis. We took with us pickaxes, +chisels, hammers, and iron levers, to try what impression +we could make on the rock. I chose a part nearly +perpendicular, and much better situated than our tent: +the view from it was enchanting, for it embraced the +whole range of Safety Bay, the banks of Jackal’s River, +and Family Bridge, and many of the picturesque projections +of the rocks. I marked out with charcoal the opening +we wished to make, and we began the heavy toil of +piercing the quarry. We made so little progress the +first day, that, in spite of our courage, we were tempted +to relinquish the undertaking; we persevered, however, +and my hope was somewhat revived as I perceived the +stone was of a softer texture as we penetrated deeper. I +concluded from this, that the ardent rays of the sun striking +upon the rock had hardened the external layer, and +that the stone within would increase in softness as we +advanced. When I had cut about a foot in depth, we +could loosen it with a spade like dried mud; this determined +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span>me to proceed with double ardour, and my boys assisted +me with a spirit and zeal beyond their years.</p> + +<p>After a few days of assiduous labour, we measured +the opening, and found we had already advanced seven +feet into the rock. Fritz removed the fragments in a +barrow, and discharged them in a line before the place, +to form a sort of terrace; I applied my own labour to +the upper part, to enlarge the aperture; Jack, the smallest +of the three, was able to get in and cut away below. +He had with him a long iron bar sharpened at the end, +which he drove in with a hammer to loosen a piece at a +time. Suddenly he bawled out, “It is pierced through, +father! Fritz, I have pierced it through!”</p> + +<p>“Hah, hah, Master Jack at his jokes again!—But let +us hear, what have you pierced? Is it the mountain? +Not peradventure your hand or foot, Jack?” cried I.</p> + +<p><i>Jack.</i>—No, no, it is the mountain (the rocks resounding +with his usual shout of joy); huzza, huzza! I +have pierced the mountain!</p> + +<p>Fritz now ran to him. “Come, let us see then: it +is no doubt the globe at least you have pierced,” said +he, in a bantering tone: “you should have pushed on +your tool boldly, till you reached Europe, which they say +is under our feet; I should have been glad to peep into +that hole.”</p> + +<p><i>Jack.</i>—Well, then, peep you may, but I hardly know +what you will see; come and look how far the iron is +gone in, and tell me if it is all my boasting.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus225" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus225.jpg" alt="entered the rock"> + <figcaption> + “Thus we entered the rock in solemn procession.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>“Come hither, father,” said Fritz, “this is really extraordinary: +his iron bar seems to have got to a hollow +place; see, it can be moved in every direction.” I approached, +thinking the incident worth attention: I took +hold of the bar, which was still in the rock, and working +it about, I made a sufficient aperture for one of my sons +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span>to pass, and I observed that in reality the rubbish fell +within the cavity, which I judged, from the falling of the +stones, was not much deeper than the part we stood on. +My two lads offered to go in together and examine it: +this, however, I forbade. I even made them remove from +the opening, as I smelled the foul air that issued abundantly +from it, and began myself to feel giddiness in consequence +of having gone too near; so that I was compelled +to withdraw quickly, and inhale a purer air.</p> + +<p>Under my direction the boys now hastened to gather +some dry moss, which they made into bundles; they then +struck a light and set fire to them, and threw the moss +blazing into the opening; but, as I had foreseen, the fire +was extinguished at the very entrance, thus proving that +the air within was highly mephitic. I now saw that it +was to be rarefied by another and more effectual method. +I recollected that we had brought from the vessel a chest +that was full of grenades, rockets, and other fireworks, +which had been shipped for the purpose of making signals, +as well as for amusement. I sought it hastily, and took +some of these, together with an iron mortar for throwing; +out of it I laid a train of gunpowder and set fire to the +end, which reached to where we stood. A general explosion +took place, and an awful report reverberated +through the dark recess: the lighted grenades flew about +on all sides like brilliant meteors, rebounding and bursting +with a terrific sound. We then sent in the rockets, +which had also a full effect. They hissed in the cavity +like flying dragons, disclosing to our astonished view its +vast extent. We beheld too, as we thought, numerous +dazzling bodies that sparkled suddenly, as if by magic, +and disappeared with the rapidity of lightning, leaving +the place in total darkness.</p> + +<p>After having played off our fireworks, I tried lighted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span>straw; to our great satisfaction, the bundles thrown in +were entirely consumed; we could then reasonably hope +nothing was to be feared from the air; but there still +remained the danger of plunging into some abyss, or of +meeting with a body of water. From these considerations, +I deemed it more prudent to defer our entrance +into this unknown recess till we had lights to guide us +through it. I dispatched Jack on the buffalo to Falcon’s +Stream to tell his mother and brothers of our discovery, +directing him to return with them, and bring all the +tapers that were left: my intention was to tie them +together to the end of a stick, and proceed with it lighted +to examine the cavity.</p> + +<p>In three or four hours we saw them coming up in +our car of state. I immediately lighted some of the +tapers; but not together, as I had intended: I preferred +each taking one in his right hand, an implement in his +left, another taper in his pocket, flint and steel; and +thus we entered the rock in solemn procession. The most +beautiful and magnificent spectacle presented itself. +The sides of the cavern sparkled like diamonds, the light +from our tapers was reflected from all parts, and had the +effect of a grand illumination. Innumerable crystals of +every length and shape hung from the top of the vault, +which, uniting with those of the sides, formed pillars, +altars, entablatures, and a variety of other figures, +composing the most splendid masses. We might have +fancied ourselves in the palace of a fairy, or an illuminated +temple.</p> + +<p>The floor was level, covered with a white and very +fine sand, as if purposely strewed, and so dry that I +could not see the least mark of humidity anywhere. All +this led me to hope the spot would be healthy, convenient, +and eligible for our proposed residence. I now formed a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span>particular conjecture as to the nature of the crystallizations +shooting out on all sides, and especially from the +arch-roof. They could scarcely be of that species of +rock-crystals produced by the slow filtering of water falling +in drops, and coagulating in succession, and seldom +found in excavations exhibiting so dry a nature, nor even +with so many of the crystals perpendicular and perfectly +smooth. I was impatient to evince the truth or falsehood +of this idea by an experiment, and discovered with +great joy, on breaking a portion of one of them, that I +was in a grotto of <i>sal-gem</i>, that is, fossil, or rock salt, +found in the earth in solid crystallized masses, generally +above a bed of spar or gypsum, and surrounded by layers +of fossils or rock. The discovery of this fact, which no +longer admitted a doubt, pleased us all exceedingly. The +shape of the crystals, their little solidity, and finally their +saline taste, were decisive evidences.</p> + +<p>Many schemes were formed for converting this magnificent +grotto into a convenient and agreeable mansion +for our abode. We had possession of the most eligible +premises: the sole business was to turn them to the best +account; and how to effect this was our unceasing theme. +Some voted for our immediate establishment there, but +they were opposed by more sagacious counsel, and it was +resolved that Falcon’s Stream should still be our headquarters +till the end of the year.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty">XXX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>House in the Salt Rock—Turtles +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> lucky discovery of a previously existing cavern +in the rock had, as must be supposed, considerably +lessened our labour; excavation was no longer requisite. +I had more room than was wanted for the construction +of our dwelling: to render it habitable was the present +object, and to do this did not seem a difficult task. The +upper bed of the rock, in front of the cavern, through +which my little Jack had dug so easily, was of a soft +nature, and to be worked with moderate effort. I hoped +also that, being now exposed to the air and heat of the +sun, it would become by degrees as hard and compact as +the first layer that had given me so much trouble. From +this consideration I began, while it retained its soft state, +to make openings for the doors and windows of the front. +This I regulated by the measurement of those I had fixed +in my winding stair-case, which I had removed for the +purpose of placing them in our winter tenement. I had +previously marked out the openings to be cut for the +frames, which were received into grooves for greater convenience +and solidity. I took care not to break the stone +taken from the apertures, or at least to preserve it in +large pieces, and these I cut with the saw and chisel into +oblongs an inch and a half in thickness, to serve as tiles. +I laid them in the sun, and was gratified in seeing they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span>hardened quickly; I then removed them, and my sons +placed them in order against the side of the rock, till they +were wanted for our internal arrangements.</p> + +<p>When I could enter the cavern freely with a good +doorway, and it was sufficiently lighted by the windows, +I erected a partition, for the distribution of our apartments +and other conveniences. The extent of the place +afforded ample room for my design, and even allowed me +to leave several spaces in which salt and other articles +could be stored. I laid out the interior in the following +manner: A very considerable space was first partitioned +off in two divisions; the one on the right was appropriated +to our residence, that on the left was to contain the kitchen, +stables, and work-room. At the end of the second division, +where windows could not be placed, the cellar and store-room +were to be formed; the whole separated by partition-boards, +with doors of communication, so as to give us a +pleasant and comfortable abode.</p> + +<p>The side we designed to lodge in was divided into +three apartments; the first, next the door, was the bedroom +for my wife and me, the second a dining-parlour, +and the last a bedroom for the boys. As we had only three +windows, we put one in each sleeping-room; the third +was fixed in the kitchen, where my wife would often be. +A grating for the present fell to the lot of our dining-room, +which when too cold was to be exchanged for one +of the other apartments. I contrived a good fireplace in +the kitchen near the window; I pierced the rock a little +above, and four planks nailed together, and passing +through this opening, answered the purpose of a chimney. +We made the work-room near the kitchen of sufficient +dimensions for the performance of undertakings of some +magnitude; it served also to keep our cart and sledge in. +Lastly, the stables, which were formed into four compartments, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span>to separate the different species of animals, occupied +all the bottom of the cavern on this side; on the +other were the cellar and magazine.</p> + +<p>The long stay we made at Tent House, during these +employments, furnished us an opportunity of perceiving +several advantages we had not reckoned upon. Immense +turtles were often seen on the shore, where they +deposited their eggs in the sand, and they regaled us +with a rich treat; but, extending our wishes, we thought +of getting possession of the turtles themselves for livestock, +and of feasting on them whenever we pleased. +As soon as we saw one on the sands, one of my boys was +despatched to cut off its retreat; meanwhile we approached +the animal, and quietly, without doing it any +injury, turned it on its back, then passed a long cord +through the shell, and tied the end of it to a stake, which +we fixed close to the edge of the water. This done, we +set the prisoner on its legs again; it hastened into the +sea, but could not go beyond the end of the cord; +apparently it was all the happier, finding food with +more facility along shore than out at sea; and we enjoyed +the idea of being able to take it when wanted.</p> + +<p>A number of sea-dogs came into Safety Bay, and +ascended the river in search of prey, sporting in the +water along shore, without evincing any fear of us. The +fish presented no attraction to the palate, but its skin, +tanned and dressed, makes excellent leather. I was in +great need of it for straps and harness, to make saddles for +Fritz and Jack to ride the onagra and buffalo, and in +short for our own use to cut up into soles, belts, and +pantaloons, of which articles we much wanted a fresh +supply; besides, I knew the fat yielded good lamp oil, +that might be substituted for tapers in the long evenings +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span>of winter; and that it would be further useful in tanning +and rendering the leather pliant.</p> + +<p>At this time I likewise made some improvements in +our sledge, to facilitate the carrying of stores from +Falcon’s Stream to our dwelling in the rock at Tent +House. I raised it on two beams, on axle-trees, at the +extremities of which I put on the four gun-carriage wheels +I had taken off the cannon from the vessel; by this alteration +I obtained a light and convenient vehicle, of moderate +height, on which boxes and casks could be placed. Pleased +with the operations of the week, we set out all together with +cheerful hearts for Falcon’s Stream, to pass our Sunday +there, and once more offer our pious thanks to the Almighty, +for all the benefits He had bestowed upon His +defenceless creatures.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-one">XXXI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>New Fishery—New Experiments—New Discoveries, and House +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> enterprise of our dwelling went on, sometimes +as a principal, sometimes as an intermediate occupation, +according to the greater or less importance of +other concerns; but though we advanced thus with moderate +rapidity, the progress was such as to afford the +hope of our being settled within it by the time of the +rainy season.</p> + +<p>From the moment I discovered gypsum to be the +basis of the crystal salt in our grotto, I foresaw some +great advantages I should derive from it; but to avoid +enlarging the dimensions of our house by digging further, +I tried to find a place in the continuation of the rock, +which I might be able to blow up. I had soon the good +fortune to meet with a narrow slip between the projections +of the rock, which I could easily, by the means I +proposed, convert into a passage that should terminate +in our work-room. I found also on the ground a quantity +of fragments of gypsum, and removed a great number +of them to the kitchen, where we did not fail to +bake a few of the pieces at a time when we made a fire +for cooking, which, thus calcined, rubbed into a powder +when cold; we obtained a considerable quantity of it, +which I put carefully into casks for use when the time +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span>should come for finishing the interior of our dwelling. +My notion was to form the walls, for separating the apartments, +of the squares of stone I had already provided, +and to unite them together with a cement of this new +ingredient, which would be the means, both of sparing +the timber, and increasing the beauty and solidity of the +work.</p> + +<p>One day as Jack and I were walking near the mouth +of Jackal’s River, we perceived immense quantities of a +large fish moving slowly towards the banks. As they +came nearer, I distinguished the largest to resemble sturgeons, +a fish found in higher latitudes, while the smallest +I pronounced to be salmon. Jack now strutted about in +ecstasies. “What say you now, father?” said he; “this +is nothing like your little paltry fry! A single fish of +this troop would fill a tub!”—“No doubt,” answered I; +and with great gravity I added,—“Pr’ythee, Jack, step +into the river, and fling them to me one by one, that I +may take them home to salt and dry.”</p> + +<p>He looked at me for a moment with a sort of vacant +doubt if I could possibly be in earnest: then seizing suddenly +a new idea—“Wait a moment, father,” cried he, +“and I will do so”: and he sprang off like lightning +towards the cavern, from whence he soon returned loaded +with a bow and arrows, the bladders of the sea-dogs, and +a ball of string, to catch, as he assured me, every one of +the fishes. I looked on with interest and curiosity to mark +what was next to happen, while the animation of his +countenance, the promptitude and boyish gracefulness of +his motions, and the firm determination of his manner, +afforded me the highest amusement. He tied the bladders +round at certain distances with a long piece of string, to +the end of which he fastened an arrow and a small iron +hook; he placed the large ball of string in a hole in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span>ground at a sufficient distance from the water’s edge, and +then he shot off an arrow, which the next instant stuck +in one of the largest fishes. My young sportsman uttered +a shout of joy. At the same moment Fritz joined us, +and witnessed this unexpected feat without the least +symptom of jealousy. “Well done, brother Jack,” cried +he; “but let me, too, have my turn.”—Saying this, he +ran back and fetched the harpoon and the windlass, and +returned to us accompanied by Ernest. We were well +pleased with their opportune arrival, for the salmon Jack +had pierced struggled so fiercely, that all our endeavours +to hold the string were insufficient, and we dreaded at +every throw to see it break, and the animal make good its +escape. By degrees, however, its strength was exhausted, +and, aided by Fritz and Ernest, we succeeded in drawing +it to a bank, where I put an end to its existence.</p> + +<p>This fortunate beginning of a plan for a fishery +inspired us all with hope and emulation. Fritz eagerly +seized his harpoon and windlass; I, for my part, like +Neptune, wielded a trident; Ernest prepared the large +fishing-rod; and Jack his arrow, with the same apparatus +as before, not forgetting the bladders, which were +so effectual in preventing the fish from sinking when +struck. We were now more than ever sensible of our +loss in the destruction of the tub-boat, with which we +could have pursued the creatures in the water, and have +been spared much pains and difficulty; but, on the other +hand, such numbers of fishes presented themselves at the +mouth of the river, that we had only to choose among +them. Jack’s arrow, after missing twice, struck the third +time a large sturgeon, which was so untractable, that we +had great difficulty in securing him. I too had caught +two of the same fish, and had been obliged to go up to +the middle in the water to manage my booty. Ernest, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span>with his rod and line and a hook, had also taken two +smaller ones. Fritz, with his harpoon, had struck a sturgeon +at least eight feet in length, and the skill and strength +of our whole company were found necessary to conduct +him safe to shore, where we harnessed the buffalo to +him with strong cords to draw him to Tent House.</p> + +<p>When these various concerns were complete, we began +to meditate a plan for constructing a small boat as a +substitute for the tub-raft, to come close in to shore. I +had a great desire to make it, as the savages do, of the +rind of a tree; but the difficulty was to fix on one of sufficient +bulk for my purpose; for though many were to be +found in our vicinity, yet each was on some account or +other of too much value to be spared. We therefore +resolved to make a little excursion in search of a tree +of capacious dimensions, and in a situation where it was +not likely to yield us fruit, to refresh us with its shade, +or to adorn the landscape round our dwelling.</p> + +<p>We arrived at Falcon’s Stream, where we intended to +pass the night. We visited the ground my wife had so +plentifully sowed with grain, which had sprung up with +an almost incredible rapidity and luxuriance, and was +now nearly ready for reaping. We cut down what was +fairly ripe, bound it together in bundles, and conveyed +it to a place where it would be secure from the attacks +of more expert grain consumers than ourselves, of which +thousands hovered round the booty. We reaped barley, +wheat, rye, oats, pease, millet, lentils—only a small quantity +of each, it is true, but sufficient to enable us to sow +again plentifully at the proper season. The plant that +had yielded the most was maize, a proof that it best loved +the soil. It had already shown itself in abundance in +our garden at Tent House; but here there was a surface +of land, the size of an ordinary field, entirely covered +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span>with its splendid golden ears, which still more than the +other plants attracted the voracity of the feathered race. +The moment we drew near, a dozen at least of large +bustards sprang up with a loud rustling noise, which +awakened the attention of the dogs; they plunged into +the thickest parts, and routed numerous flocks of birds of +all kinds and sizes, who took hastily to flight. Among +the fugitives were some quails, who escaped by running; +and lastly some kangaroos, whose prodigious leaps enabled +them to elude the pursuit of the dogs.</p> + +<p>We were so overcome by the surprise such an +assemblage of living creatures occasioned, as to forget +the resource we had in our guns; we stood as it were +stupid with amazements during the first moments, and before +we came to ourselves, the prey was beyond our reach, +and for the most part out of sight. Fritz was the first +to perceive and to feel with indignation the silly part we +had been playing, and to consider in what way we could +repair the mischief. Without further loss of time, he +took the bandage from his eagle’s eyes (for the bird +always accompanied him perched upon his game-bag), +and showed him with his hand the bustards still flying, +and at no great distance. The eagle took a rapid flight. +Fritz jumped like lightning on the back of his onagra, +and galloped over everything that intervened, in the direction +the bird had taken, and we soon lost sight of him.</p> + +<p>We now beheld a spectacle which in the highest +degree excited our curiosity and interest: the eagle +had soon his prey in view; he mounted above one of +the bustards in a direct line, without losing sight of it +for an instant, and then darted suddenly down; the +bustards flew about in utter confusion, now seeking shelter +in the bushes, then crossing each other in every direction, +in the attempt to evade the common enemy; but the eagle +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span>remained steady in pursuit of the bird he had fixed upon +for his prey, and disregarded all the rest: he alighted +on the unlucky bustard, fixed his claws and his beak in +its back, till Fritz, arriving full gallop, got down from +the onagra, replaced the bandage on the eagle’s eyes, +seated him once more upon the game-bag, and having +relieved the poor bustard from his persecutor, he shouted +to us to come and witness his triumph. We ran speedily +to the place.</p> + +<p>At the conclusion of this adventure, we hastened +forward to Falcon’s Stream, and dressed the wounds of +the bustard. We perceived with pleasure that it was a +male, and foresaw the advantage of giving him for a companion +to our solitary female of the same species, which +was completely tamed. I threw a few more bundles of +maize into the cart, and without further delay we arrived +at our tree.</p> + +<p>The rest of the day was employed in picking the grains +of the different sorts of corn from the stalks; we put what +we wished to keep for sowing into some gourd-shells, and +the Turkey wheat was laid carefully aside in sheaves till +we should have time to beat and separate it. Fritz +observed that we should also want to grind it; and I reminded +him of the hand-mill we had secured from our +departed ally the wrecked vessel.</p> + +<p><i>Fritz.</i>—But, father, the hand-mill is so small, and +so subject to be put out of order:—why should we not +contrive a water-mill, as they do in Europe? We have +surely rapid streams of water in abundance.</p> + +<p><i>Father.</i>—This is true; but such a mechanism is more +difficult than you imagine. The wheel alone, I conceive, +would be an undertaking far beyond our strength or our +capacity. I am, however, well pleased with the activity +and zeal which prompted your idea; and we will hereafter +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span>consider whether it may be worth while to bestow upon it +further attention. We have abundance of time before +us, for we shall not want a water-mill till our harvests are +such as to produce plentiful crops of corn. In the meantime, +let us be thinking of our proposed excursion for +to-morrow; for we should set out at least by sunrise.</p> + +<p>We began our preparations accordingly. My wife +chose some hens and two fine cocks, with the intention +of taking them with us, and leaving them at large to +produce a colony of their species at a considerable distance +from our dwelling-places. I, with the same view, +visited our beasts, and selected four young pigs, four +sheep, two kids, and one male of each species; our numbers +having so much increased that we could well afford +to spare these individuals for the experiment. If we +succeeded in thus accustoming them to the natural temperature +and productions of our island, we should have +eased ourselves of the burden of their support, and should +always be able to find them at pleasure.</p> + +<p>We took this time a new direction, which was +straight forward between the rocks and the shore, that +we might make ourselves acquainted with everything contained +in the island we seemed destined for ever to +inhabit. We found, as usual, much difficulty in pushing +through the tall tough grass, and alternately through the +thick prickly bushes which everywhere obtruded themselves. +We were often obliged to turn aside, while I cut +a passage with my hatchet: but these accidents seldom +failed to reward my toil by the discovery of different small +additions to our general comfort; among others, some +roots of trees curved by nature to serve both for saddles +and yokes for our beasts of burden. I took care to secure +several, and put them in the cart.</p> + +<p>In about an hour we found ourselves at the extremity +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span>of the wood, and a most singular phenomenon presented +itself to our view: a small plain, or rather a grove of +low bushes, to appearance almost covered with flakes of +snow, lay extended before us. Suddenly a suspicion +crossed my mind, and was soon confirmed by Fritz, who +had darted forward on his onagra, and now returned with +one hand filled with tufts of a most excellent species of +cotton, so that the whole surface of low bushes was in +reality a plantation of that valuable article. The pods +had burst from ripeness, and the winds had scattered +around their flaky contents; the ground was strewed with +them, they had gathered in tufts on the bushes, and they +floated gently in the air.</p> + +<p>The joy of this discovery was almost too great for +utterance. We collected as much cotton as our bags would +hold, and my wife filled her pockets with the seed, to +raise it in our garden at Tent House.</p> + +<p>It was now time to proceed: and we took a direction +towards a point of land which skirted the wood of gourds, +and being high, commanded a view of the adjacent country. +I conceived a wish to remove our establishment to +the vicinity of the cotton plantation and the gourd wood, +which furnished so many of the utensils for daily use +throughout the family. I pleased myself in idea, with +the view of the different colonies of animals I had +imagined, both winged and quadruped; and in this elevation +of my fancy, I even thought it might be practicable +to erect a sort of farmhouse on the soil, which we might +visit occasionally, and be welcomed by the agreeable +sounds of the cackling of our feathered subjects, which +would so forcibly remind us of the customs of our forsaken +but ever-cherished country.</p> + +<p>We accordingly soon reached the high ground, +which I found in all respects favourable to my design. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span>My plan for a building was approved by all, and we lost +no time in pitching our tent, and forming temporary accommodations +for cooking our victuals. When we had +refreshed ourselves with a meal, I, for my part, resolved +to look about in all directions, that I might completely +understand what we should have to depend upon in +this place, in point of safety, salubrity, and general accommodation. +I had also to find a tree that would suit for +the proposed construction of a boat; and lastly, to meet, +if possible, with a group of trees, at such fit distances +from each other as would assist me in my plan of erecting +a farmhouse. I was fortunate enough in no long time +to find in this last respect exactly what I wanted, and +quite near to the spot we on many accounts had felt to +be so enviable. I returned to my companions, whom I +found busily employed in preparing excellent beds of +the cotton, upon which, at an earlier hour than usual, we +all retired to rest.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-two">XXXII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Completion of Two Farmhouses—A Lake—A Boat +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> trees that I had chosen for the construction +of my farmhouse embellishments were for the most +part one foot in diameter in the trunk; they presented +the form of a tolerably regular parallelogram, with its +longest side to the sea, the length twenty-four feet, and +the breadth sixteen. I cut little hollow places or mortises +in the trunks, at the distance of ten feet, one above the +other, to form two stories. The upper one I made a few +inches shorter before than behind, that the roof might be +in some degree shelving; I then inserted beams five inches +in diameter respectively in the mortises, and thus formed +the skeleton of my building. We next nailed some laths +from tree to tree, at equal distances from each other, to +form the roof, and placed on them, in mathematical order, +a covering composed of pieces of the bark of trees, cut +into the shape of tiles, and in a sloping position, for the +rain to run off in the wet season. As we had no great +provision of iron nails, we used for the purpose the strong +pointed thorn of the acacia, which we had discovered the +day before. We cut down a quantity of them, and laid +them in the sun to dry, when they became as hard as iron, +and were of essential service to our undertaking.</p> + +<p>After our next meal we resumed with ardour our +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span>undertaking of the farmhouse, which we continued without +interruption for several days. We formed the walls +with matted reeds interwoven with pliant laths to the +height of six feet; the remaining space to the roof was +enclosed with only a simple grating, that the air and light +might be admitted. A door was placed in the middle of +the front. We next arranged the interior with as much +convenience as the shortness of the time and our reluctance +to use all our timber would allow; we divided it half-way +up by a partition wall into two unequal parts; the largest +was intended for the sheep and goats, and the smallest for +ourselves, when we should wish to pass a few days here. +At the further end of the stable we fixed a house for +the fowls, and above it a sort of hay-loft for the forage. +Before the door of entrance we placed two benches, contrived +as well as we could of laths and odd pieces of +wood, that we might rest ourselves under the shade of the +trees, and enjoy the exquisite prospect which presented +itself on all sides. Our own apartment was provided with +a couple of the best bedsteads we could make of twigs +of trees, raised upon four legs, two feet from the ground, +and these were destined to receive our cotton mattresses. +Our aim was to content ourselves for the present with these +slight hints of a dwelling, and to consider hereafter what +additions either of convenience or ornament could be made, +such as plastering, etc.</p> + +<p>I had imagined we should accomplish what we wished +at the farm in three or four days; but we found in the +experiment that a whole week was necessary, and our +victuals fell short before our work was done. We began +to consider what remedy we could apply to so embarrassing +a circumstance; I could not prevail upon myself +to return to Falcon’s Stream before I had completed my +intentions at the farm, and the other objects of my +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span>journey. I had even come to the determination of erecting +another building upon the site of Cape Disappointment; +I therefore decided that on this trying occasion I +would invest Fritz and Jack with the important mission. +They were accordingly despatched to Falcon’s Stream, +and to Tent House, to fetch new supplies of cheese, ham, +potatoes, dried fish, manioc bread, for our subsistence, and +also to distribute fresh food to the numerous animals we +had left there.</p> + +<p>During the absence of our purveyors I rambled with +Ernest about the neighbouring soil, to make what new +discoveries I could, and to procure, if possible, additions +to our store of provisions. We followed the winding of +a river towards the middle of the wall of rocks: our course +was interrupted by a marsh which bordered a small lake, +the aspect of which was enchantingly picturesque. I perceived, +with joyful surprise, that the whole surface of +the swampy soil was covered with a kind of wild rice, ripe +on the stalk, and which attracted the voracity of large +flocks of birds. As we approached, a loud rustling was +heard, and we distinguished on the wing, bustards, Canada +heath-fowl, and great numbers of smaller birds. We succeeded +in bringing down five or six of them; and I was +pleased to remark in Ernest a justness of aim that promised +well for the future.</p> + +<p>Presently we saw Master Knips jump from Flora’s +back, and smell along the ground among some thick +growing plants, then pluck off something with his two +paws, and eat of it voraciously. We ran to the spot to +see what it could be, when, to the relief of our parched +palates, we found he had discovered there the largest +and finest kind of strawberry, which is called in Europe +the <i>Chili</i>, or <i>pine strawberry</i>.</p> + +<p>Pursuing our way a little further along the marsh, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span>we reached the lake, which we had descried with so much +pleasure from a distance, and whose banks, being overgrown +with thick underwood, were necessarily concealed +from the momentary view we had leisure to take of surrounding +objects, particularly as the lake was situated +in a deep and abrupt valley. No one who is not a native +of Switzerland can conceive the emotion which trembled +at my heart, as I contemplated this limpid, azure, undulating +body of water, the faithful miniature of so many +grand originals, which I had probably lost sight of for +ever. My eyes swam with tears! Alas! a single glance +upon the surrounding picture, the different characters of +the trees, the vast ocean in the distance, destroyed the +momentary illusion, and brought back my ideas to the +painful reality, that I and mine were—strangers in a +desert island!</p> + +<p>Another sort of object now presented itself to confirm +the certainty that we were no longer inhabitants of +Europe: it was the appearance of a quantity of swans +gliding over the surface of the lake; but their colour, instead +of white, like those of our country, was a jetty +black, and their plumage had so high a gloss as to produce, +reflected on the water, the most astonishing effect. The +six large feathers of the wings of this bird are white, +exhibiting a singular contrast to the rest of the body: in +other respects these birds were remarkable, like those of +Europe, for the haughty gracefulness of their motions, +and the voluptuous ease of their nature.</p> + +<p>We now began to look for the shortest path for +returning to the farm, which we reached at the same +time with Fritz and Jack, who had well performed the +object of their journey. We, on our part, produced our +offering of strawberries and our specimen of rice, which +were welcomed with shouts of pleasure and surprise. We +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span>filled the stable with forage, laid a large provision of grain +for the fowls within their house, and began arrangements +for our departure.</p> + +<p>The following day we took a silent leave of our +animals, and directed our course towards the eminence +in the vicinity of Cape Disappointment; we ascended it, +and found it in every respect adapted to our wishes. +From this eminence we had a view over the country which +surrounded Falcon’s Stream in one direction, and in others +of a richly diversified extent of landscape, comprehending +sea, land, and rocks. When we had paused for a short +time upon the exhaustless beauties of the scene, we agreed +with one voice, that it should be on this spot we would +build our second cottage. A spring of the clearest water +issued from the soil near the summit, and flowed over its +sloping side, forming agreeable cascades in its rapid +course; in short, every feature of the picture contributed +to form a landscape worthy the homage of a taste the most +delicate and refined. I presented my children with an +appropriate word.—“Let us build here,” exclaimed I, +“and call the spot—<i>Arcadia</i>;” to which my wife and all +agreed.</p> + +<p>We lost no time in again setting to work; our experience +at the farm enabled us to proceed with incredible +rapidity, and our success was in every respect more complete. +The building contained a dining-room, two bed-chambers, +two stables, and a store-room for preserving +all kinds of provisions for man and beast. We formed +the roof square, with four sloped sides, and the whole +had really the appearance of an European cottage, and +was finished in the short space of six days. What now +remained to be done, was to fix on a tree fit for my project +of a boat. After much search, I at length found one of +prodigious size, and in most respects suitable to my views.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span></p> +<p>It was, however, no very encouraging prospect I had +before me, being nothing less than the stripping off a +piece of the bark that should be eighteen feet in length, +and five in diameter; and now I found my rope ladder of +signal service: we fastened it by one end to the nearest +branches, and it enabled us to work with the saw as might +be necessary at any height from the ground. Accordingly +we cut quite round the trunk in two places, and +then took a perpendicular slip from the whole length +between the circles; by this means we could introduce the +proper utensils for raising the rest by degrees, till it was +entirely separated. We toiled with increasing anxiety, at +every moment dreading that we should not be able to preserve +it from breaking, or uninjured by our tools. When +we had loosened about half, we supported it by means of +cords and pulleys; and when all was at length detached, we +let it down gently, and with joy beheld it lying safe on the +grass. Our business was next to mould it to our purpose, +while the substance continued moist and flexible.</p> + +<p>The boys observed that we had now nothing more +to do than to nail a plank at each end, and our boat would +be as complete as those used by the savages; but for my +own part, I could not be contented with a mere roll of +bark for a boat; and when I reminded them of the paltry +figure it would make following the pinnace, I heard not +another word about the further pains and trouble, and +they asked eagerly for my instructions. I made them +assist me to saw the bark in the middle of the two ends, +the length of several feet, these two parts I folded over +till they ended in a point; I kept them in this form by +the help of the strong glue I had before made from fish-bladders, +and pieces of wood nailed fast over the whole. +This operation tended to widen the boat in the middle, and +thus render it of too flat a form; but this we counteracted +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span>by straining a cord all round, which again reduced it to +the due proportion, and in this state we put it in the sun, +to harden and fix.</p> + +<p>Before our departure for Tent House, we collected +several new plants for our kitchen-garden; and lastly, +we made another trip to the narrow strait at the end of +the wall of rocks, resolved to plant there a sort of +fortification of trees, which should produce the double +effect of discouraging the invasion of savages, and allowing +us to keep our pigs on the other side, and thus secure +our different plantations from the chance of injury. We +accomplished all these intentions to our entire satisfaction, +and, in addition, we placed a slight drawbridge across the +river beyond the narrow pass, which we could let down or +take up at pleasure on our side. We now hastened our +return to Arcadia, and after a night’s repose we loaded +the sledge with the boat and other matters, and returned +to Tent House.</p> + +<p>As soon as we had despatched some necessary affairs, +we resumed the completion of the boat: in two days she +had received the addition of a keel, a neat lining of wood, +a small flat floor, benches, a small mast and triangular +sail, a rudder, and a thick coat of pitch on the outside, +so that the first time we saw her in the water, we were +all in ecstasies at the charming appearance she made.</p> + +<p>We had still two months in prospect before the rainy +season, and we employed them for completing our abode +the grotto, with the exception of such ornaments as we +might have time to think of during the long days of +winter. We made the internal divisions of planks and +that which separated us from the stables of stone, to +protect us from the offensive smell occasioned by the +animals. Our task was difficult, but from habit it became +easier every day. We took care to collect or manufacture +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span>a sufficient quantity of all sorts of materials, such +as beams and planks, reeds, and twigs for matting, pieces +of gypsum for plaster, etc., etc. At length the time of +the rainy season was near at hand, and we thought of it +with pleasure, as it would put us in possession of the +enjoyments we had procured by such unremitting industry +and fatigue.</p> + +<p>We plastered over the walls of the principal apartments +on each side with the greatest care, finishing them +by pressure with a flat smooth board, and lastly a wash +of size, in the manner of the plasterers in Europe. This +ornamental portion of our work amused us all so much, +that we began to think we might venture a step further +in European luxury, and agreed that we would attempt +to make some carpets with the hair of our goats. To +this effect we smoothed the ground in the rooms we +intended to distinguish with great care; then spread over +it some sail-cloth, which my wife had joined in breadths, +and fitted exactly; we next strewed the goats’ hair, mixed +with wool obtained from the sheep, over the whole; on +this surface we threw some hot water, in which a strong +cement had been dissolved; the whole was then rolled up, +and was beaten for a considerable time with hard sticks; +the sail-cloth was now unrolled, and the inside again +sprinkled, rolled, and beaten as before; and this process +was continued till the substance had become a sort of felt, +which could be separated from the sail-cloth, and was +lastly put in the sun to harden. We thus produced a +very tolerable substitute for that enviable article of +European comfort, a carpet; of these we completed two, +one for our parlour, and the other for our drawing-room, +as we jocosely named them: both of which were completely +fit for our reception by the time the rains had +set in.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span></p> +<p>Thus, as will be perceived, we had made the first +steps towards a condition of civilization; separated from +society, condemned, perhaps, to pass the remainder of life +in this desert island, we yet possessed the means of happiness; +we had abundance of all the necessaries, and many +of the comforts, desired by human beings.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-three">XXXIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Anniversary of Our Deliverance—Motives for Thankfulness +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">One</span> morning, having arisen earlier than the rest of +my young family, I occupied myself by counting +up the time that had passed away since our shipwreck. +I calculated the dates with the utmost exactness, and I +found that the next day would be the anniversary of that +event. It was just two years since the hand of God had +been extended over us to save us from a watery grave. +I felt my mind filled with thanksgiving, and I resolved +to celebrate the day with all the pomp our situation would +permit.</p> + +<p>As I had not yet fixed upon the arrangements for +our holiday, I said nothing about it to my family. Breakfast +over, we proceeded to our different employments, and +it was not until we were seated at supper that I announced, +in a pompous manner, the holiday for the +morrow.</p> + +<p>“Be ready,” said I to my sons, “to celebrate the +anniversary of the morrow; let each one prepare himself +as is proper for so great a day.”</p> + +<p>These last words, joined to the announcement of a +holiday, surprised and overjoyed my children. Their +mother was not less astonished than they were to find +that they had been on the island two years.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span></p> +<p>On the morrow we rose and dressed as decently as +our scanty means afforded, and proceeded to breakfast. +After our daily prayer I announced to my family that +the amusements of the day would conclude with the +exercises which always terminated our holidays.</p> + +<p>“You have practised for some time,” said I, “in +wrestling, running, slinging, and horsemanship; the time +has come when you shall receive the reward for your +labours. You shall this day contend, before your mother +and me, and the crown shall be given to the victor. Come, +champions,” I added, elevating my voice, “the barrier is +open, enter the lists; and you, trumpets, sound the horn +of combat.” As I said these last words, I turned to the +little inlet where our geese and ducks were feeding, and +the whole troop, frightened by my gestures, and the tone +of my voice, commenced a most deafening clamour, and +furnished my sons with a good joke to excite their risible +faculties.</p> + +<p>I then organized the different combats which were +to take place. First came firing at a mark; the materials +for this were soon arranged by fixing in the ground a +rudely-shaped piece of wood, with two bits of leather at +each side of the top, which we called a kangaroo. Jack +did wonders, either by chance or skill: he shot away one +of the ears of our pretended kangaroo! Fritz just grazed +the head, and Ernest lodged his ball in the middle of the +body. The three shots were all worthy of praise. Another +proof of skill was then made; it consisted in firing +at a ball of cork which I threw up in the air. Ernest +had the advantage here: he cut the ball to pieces. Fritz +also shot well, but Jack could not hit it. We then tried +the same thing with pistols, shortening the distance, and +again I complimented my boys upon the progress they had +made since last year.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> +<p>Slinging succeeded to the pistol exercise. Fritz carried +off the prize. After that came archery; and here +all—even little Francis—distinguished themselves. Next +came the races; and I gave them for a course the distance +between Family Bridge and Falcon’s Nest.</p> + +<p>“The one that arrives first,” said I to the runners, +who gathered about me, “will bring me, as proof of his +victory, my knife, which I left on the table, under the +tree.” I then gave the signal, by clapping my hands +three times. My three sons set out, Jack and Fritz with +all the impetuosity that marked their character; on the +contrary, Ernest, who never did anything without reflecting, +set off slowly at first, but gradually augmented +his pace. I perceived that he had his elbows pressed firmly +against his body, and I augured well from this little mark +of prudence.</p> + +<p>The runners were absent about three-quarters of an +hour. Jack returned first; but he was mounted on his +buffalo, and the onagra and the ass followed him.</p> + +<p>“How now,” said I, “is this what you call racing? +It was your legs, and not those of the buffalo, that I +wished to exercise.”</p> + +<p>“Bah!” cried he, jumping from the back of his courser; +“I knew I would never get there, so I left the course; +and, as the trial of horsemanship comes next, I thought +that, as I was near Falcon’s Nest, I would bring our +coursers back with me.”</p> + +<p>Fritz came next, all out of breath and covered with +sweat; but he had not the knife, and it was Ernest who +brought it me.</p> + +<p>“How came you to have the knife,” said I, “when +Fritz got here before you?”</p> + +<p>“The thing is simple,” answered Ernest; “in going, +he could not long keep up the pace he started with, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span>and soon stopped to breathe, while I ran on and got the +knife; but in coming back, Fritz had learned a lesson; +he pressed his arms against his sides, and held his mouth +shut, as he had seen me do, and then the victory +depended upon our relative strength: Fritz is 16, while +I am but 13, and of course he arrived first.”</p> + +<p>I praised the two boys for their skill, and declared +Ernest conqueror.</p> + +<p>But now Jack, mounted on his buffalo, demanded that +the equestrian exercises should commence, and he be allowed +to repair the injury his reputation had sustained.</p> + +<p>“To the saddle, to the saddle, my lads,” he bellowed +with all his force, “and you shall then see who can best +manage a courser; we shall then know whether you can +sit your horse as well as you can exercise your legs.”</p> + +<p>I hastened to comply with the request of the little +braggart: Fritz mounted his onagra, and Ernest took +the ass; but although they tried all their skill, Jack distanced +them both. I was frightened myself to see with +what boldness the boy abandoned himself to the powerful +animal that bore him. To stop, charge, and turn was +but a trifle to him; a practised groom could not have +managed a thoroughbred horse with more ease and grace +than he did his bull. Just as I had declared the contest +over, and was about to proclaim Jack victor, the little +Francis rode into the arena, mounted on his young bull +“Broumm,” who was not more than three or four months +old; my wife had made him a saddle of kangaroo-skin, +with stirrups adjusted to his little legs, and there he sat, +a whip in his right hand, and the bridle of his animal in +the left.</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen,” said the little cavalier, saluting us with +a gracious bend, “I have not contended with you thus far +in any of the exercises of the day; will you now permit +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span>Milo of Crotona to make a trial of his horsemanship +before you?”</p> + +<p>The assembly loudly applauded this little harangue, +and the cavalier commenced to manœuvre his courser. +The boy was more cool and calm than those of his age are +apt to be. But what I admired most was the docility +of the animal. My wife looked on with maternal pride +to see the success of her dear pupil, and Francis was +unanimously proclaimed an excellent horseman.</p> + +<p>After the horsemanship, the swimming occupied some +time; they also climbed the trees; and, after we had finished +our gymnastics, I announced that the rewards would +now be distributed, and that the crowns would shade the +brows of the victors.</p> + +<p>Every one hastened to the grotto, which had been +lighted up with all the torches we possessed; my wife, +as queen of the day, was pompously installed in an elevated +seat, decorated with flowers, and I called up the +laureates to receive the rewards, which their mother +distributed to each one as she impressed a tender kiss +upon his forehead.</p> + +<p>Fritz—conqueror at shooting and swimming—received +a superb English rifle,⁠<a id="FNanchor_3_3" href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> and a hunting-knife, which he +had long wished for. Ernest had for the reward of the +race a splendid gold watch. Jack—the cavalier—obtained +a magnificent pair of steel spurs and a whip of whalebone. +Little Francis received a pair of stirrups and a box of +colours as a reward for the industry he had displayed in +educating his bull.</p> + +<p>When this distribution was finished, I rose, and, turning +to my wife, presented her with a beautiful English +work-box, in which was contained all those little things +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span>that add so much to the comfort of an industrious +woman, such as pins, needles, scissors, etc.</p> + +<p>“Receive,” said I, “my excellent companion, also a +reward; for your services and endurance during the year +well deserve one, even though the tender love of myself +and children may be in itself a sufficient reward.”</p> + +<p>The day was finished as it had begun—with songs +and expressions of joy; we were all happy, all contented: +we all enjoyed that pure felicity which a life free from +reproach had given us; and we all thanked in our hearts +the Lord who had been so merciful toward us.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_3_3" href="#FNanchor_3_3" class="label">[3]</a> These articles were portion of the property brought from the +wreck.</p></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXIV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-four">XXXIV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Gourd Plantation—Monkey Root or Ginseng—Bird Snares +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> all remembered the bountiful provision we had +derived from the blackbirds and ortolans that had +settled upon our giant tree at Falcon’s Nest the preceding +year. The time had now arrived for their reappearance, +and we resolved to leave the grotto, which had become our +established residence, and remove nearer to the spot, where +I intended to secure as many as possible of this delicious +provision for the coming winter.</p> + +<p>The provision of India-rubber which we had collected +on our last excursion was exhausted; we had made +waterproof boots of it, and, before I set out, I wished +to give them a new coat of it. I sent Fritz and Jack +to the wood of india-rubber trees, where I thought they +would find, ready drawn, a sufficient quantity of the gum, +as we had made large incisions in the trees, and placed +calabashes under them to receive it; and as experience had +taught us that the sun hardens it immediately, we had +protected our calabashes from its rays, by surrounding +them with green branches.</p> + +<p>Our two messengers were lost to our view when my +wife suddenly exclaimed, “Stupid woman that I am, +I have forgotten to give the boys a calabash in which +they might put the gum, for they cannot bring it home +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span>in the flat dishes we put there. I mean to go directly, +and see whether my gourds are ripe.”</p> + +<p>I tranquillized my good wife by assuring her that +they would not be at a loss to find something; and then, +returning to the last word she had spoken, asked her +what she meant by saying “my gourds.”</p> + +<p>She then informed me that she possessed a superb +plantation of gourds, the seeds of which she had found +among our European grains, and which she had planted +in her kitchen-garden. She led the way there; and we +found, among many other plants, a quantity of those +bottle-shaped gourds that the peasants in our country +carry to the field. Some were ripe, some just formed, +and others in full bloom. We selected the ripest, and +those the form of which could be useful to us, and we +commenced to empty them out. We made bottles, and +plates, and saucers, using alternately the knife and the +saw. But Ernest, my aid and companion, had very little +taste for such work, and he could scarcely contain his +joy when he heard me say we had done enough.</p> + +<p>We now anxiously expected our young messengers +back, for the sun had already begun to decline. Ernest +kept a good lookout on the side his brothers were expected +from, and he soon perceived them rapidly approaching, +the one mounted on the onagra, and the other on the +buffalo.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said I, “have you made out well?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, very well,” said Fritz, in a singular tone, +as they leaped from their coursers, and showed us what +they had brought, which consisted of a root of anise that +Jack had brought in his buffalo-pouch; a root wrapped +up in leaves, which they called “monkey root”; two calabashes +of india-rubber, and another half full of turpentine; +a sack full of wax berries, and a crane, which Fritz’s +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span>eagle had killed. But while they were exhibiting their +treasures, they talked so fast and so rambling that I was +obliged to make them preserve a little order in their +recital.</p> + +<p>Jack then commenced telling us how he had obtained +the anise and the turpentine. Of these two things, one +was, at least, superfluous; but the other might be of some +advantage, as I could use it instead of oil in making my +snares for the birds. I then asked them concerning the +“monkey root” they had brought; Fritz answered as +follows:—</p> + +<p>“I do not know of what importance this root may +be to us; but I can assure you that it far surpasses +manioc, both in smell and savour. We discovered it close +by the farmhouse, where a company of monkeys were +regaling themselves on it. You would have laughed to +see the manner in which the ugly animals pulled out the +roots. They made use of a process which the labourers of +Europe had no idea of—they pulled them up by turning +somersets.”</p> + +<p>“By turning somersets!” cried we; “why, how wonderful!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, somersets,” replied Fritz. “Every monkey, +after having buried his teeth as far as possible in the +root, turns himself violently over, backward, and repeats +the exercise until his reiterated efforts have drawn the +precious root from the ground.”</p> + +<p>The monkey root, or ginseng, made its appearance at +supper, and was pronounced excellent; but as its aromatic +nature made it more of a medicine than an article of food, +I forbade its frequent use, while I enjoined my wife to +plant a few roots in our garden.</p> + +<p>The next morning I took a certain quantity of the +liquid india-rubber, which I mixed with the turpentine, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span>and placed the mixture over the fire; and, while the glue +was thickening, I sent the boys into the copse to gather +a quantity of little twigs which I needed. They soon +brought me a large quantity, which I made them dip in +the glue and fasten to the branches of the fig-trees, the +fruit of which I observed was very much liked by the +ortolans,⁠<a id="FNanchor_4_4" href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> thrushes, and beccafigoes,⁠<a id="FNanchor_5_5" href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> + who frequented the +place. I discovered that we had but seen the last of the +season the preceding year, as at present the birds were +so numerous that a blind man firing into the tree could +not have failed to bring down a large number of them. +The abundance of game suggested another idea to my +mind; I thought that if the ortolans were so numerous +during the day they would not be less so at night, and I +resolved to try, an imitation of the Americans in Virginia, +the experiment of a hunt with torches, persuaded that it +would be more expeditious and successful than taking the +birds by snares.</p> + +<p>But my boys, while employed at making the snares, +had been taken in their own trap. Hands, faces and +clothes were all covered with glue, and one could not touch +them without getting besmeared. They were all in great +consternation, and their good mother also, for she had but +very little clean linen to spare them. I calmed their fears +by assuring them that some ashes and water would remedy +all the disorder, and wash out all the stains.</p> + +<p>I rallied them a little on their awkwardness. “I knew +very well,” said I, “that my glue would trap the birds; +but I had no idea it would catch little boys.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span></p> +<p>I then taught them how to avoid the inconveniences of +gluing their fingers, by plunging a packet of five or six +twigs, by the aid of a pair of pincers, into the glue, instead +of dipping them in singly. They adopted the plan, +which succeeded perfectly. When I had made a sufficient +quantity, Jack and Fritz climbed into the tree, and +placed the branches of fig-trees, covered with the snares, +among the limbs of the tree; and it was not long before +we saw the unfortunate ortolans falling to the ground in +numbers, their legs and wings stuck fast in the glue. But, +although the fowling was so abundant, the labour was +very fatiguing, for the branches to which Fritz and Jack +had to climb were as much as sixty or seventy feet from +the ground. I placed a great deal of confidence in my +torches, and I arranged the materials for making them, +in which turpentine was a powerful auxiliary.</p> + +<p>While I was thus occupied, Jack brought me a beautiful +bird, much larger than an ortolan, which had been +taken in the snare.</p> + +<p>“I am very certain,” said Ernest, who had approached, +and who, with his observing eye, had already recognized +the bird, “I am very sure that it is one of our European +pigeons, one of the young ones from those who built their +nests last year in the branches of the tree.”</p> + +<p>I took the bird from Jack’s hands, and recognized with +pleasure that Ernest’s conjecture was true. I rubbed +the ends of his wings and his feet with ashes to clean them +from the glue, and I put him in a cage with the intention +of adding a dove-cot to our domestic property. We captured +others, and at night we had in our possession two +fine pairs of wood-pigeons.</p> + +<p>But, notwithstanding our hard labour during the day, +we were not able to fill more than one barrel. I enjoined +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span>my sons to take notice of the trees on which the ortolans +roosted during the night. The bark of two or three of the +fig-trees which were covered with the excrements of the +birds decided the matter; and, after supper, and a few +minutes of rest, I commenced my preparations. These +were few in number, and consisted of two or three long +bamboo canes, two bags, torches of resin, and some sugar-canes. +Fritz, my grand huntsman, regarded me with a +look of incredulity. He could not understand how, with +these strange instruments, I could realize the prodigies I +prophesied.</p> + +<p>We set out; and the night—which succeeds immediately +to the day in these climates—soon overshadowed the +earth. Arrived at the foot of the trees that we had chosen, +I lighted up my torches, and scarcely had the flame begun +to burn, than a cloud of ortolans fell down around us, and +began to fly wildly around the flickering flames.</p> + +<p>“Well, gentlemen,” said I to my sons, “you see that +my stratagem has proved not to be a bad idea. Now is +your time; I have placed the game within your reach; you +have but to extend your hand, and you are masters.”</p> + +<p>I then armed each one with a bamboo cane, and set +them an example by striking right and left among the +mass of ortolans. They fell as thick and fast as rain, and +we soon filled two large bags. Our flambeaux, however, +would only last long enough to light us back to Falcon’s +Nest; and as the sacks were too heavy for me alone to +carry, we placed them crosswise on the bamboo poles, and +thus carried them very easily.</p> + +<p>We arrived safely at Falcon’s Nest, and, before we +retired to rest, looked over our game, and terminated the +sufferings of those poor birds that had not been killed by +the blows. The next day, every one put his hand to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span>work of cleaning and preparing our game—a very disagreeable, +although necessary, task. We filled two barrels +with ortolans, half roasted, and packed down in butter.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_4_4" href="#FNanchor_4_4" class="label">[4]</a> <i>Ortolan</i>, not unlike the yellow-hammer.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_5_5" href="#FNanchor_5_5" class="label">[5]</a> <i>Beccafigo</i>, or <i>Fig-eater</i>, about the size of a linnet; both these +birds feed on fruits and berries, and are much prized for the delicacy +of their flesh; a very large trade is carried on from the island of +Cyprus with the former.</p></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-five">XXXV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Dove-Cot and its Management +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">My</span> wife took care of my pigeons, and approved of +the plan of a dove-cot; consequently the waggon +was immediately loaded with provisions, and all that was +necessary for an excursion of some days, and we set out +for the grotto. As soon as we arrived, I chose that part +of the rock next our grotto as the situation of our dove-cot; +and as the rock, after the outside layer was pierced, +became softer, we soon made an excavation ten feet high, +and large enough to contain twenty pairs of pigeons; two +perches ran through the whole length, and, projecting out +in front, with a board nailed across, formed a platform, +which we protected by a slight roof; a door with a hole to +admit light closed the front; and a rope ladder suspended +from one of the perches enabled us to mount up, and +look after the inhabitants. It cost us several weeks of +constant labour to finish the construction, fix the boards +strongly in their places, cover the inside with a coat of +plaster, to prevent humidity, and arrange the perches, the +nests, etc.</p> + +<p>“There is the edifice,” said I to Fritz; “but where are +the inhabitants? We must call into action all our knowledge +to find a way to force our wild stranger pigeons to +dwell in the new habitation we have provided for them; +and, besides, they must not only remain themselves, but +must bring their companions with them.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span></p> +<p>“It appears to me, father, that nothing short of sorcery +will do it.”</p> + +<p>“Sorcery or not, difficult as it appears, I am going +to try it; and I have strong hopes of succeeding, with the +assistance you can afford me. It is to a pigeon merchant +that I owe the secret which I am about to put into practice. +I will not warrant its success, for I have never +tried it; but it consists in perfuming a new dove-cot with +anise. The pigeons, it is said, are so fond of the odour +of this plant that they will return themselves every night +to respire its perfume; and it is in this manner that they +insensibly change their country life for that of the pigeon-house.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing can be easier,” replied Fritz. “The plant +of anise that Jack brought will do the business. We can +break the seeds on a stone; and if the oil is not as pure as +that of the chemists, it will not be less useful or less aromatic.”</p> + +<p>“I think as you do,” I answered; “and I am very glad +that I permitted Jack to plant a root that appeared to +me to be so valueless.”</p> + +<p>We then proceeded to make the oil of anise. I rubbed +the door of the dove-cot, the perches, and every place +where the pigeons could touch either feet or wings with it. +I then mixed a sort of dough with anise, salt, and clay, +and, after having placed it in the middle of the dove-cot, +we put in the pigeons, which we had kept in willow-baskets +while their habitation was building. We shut them +up, with provision for two days, and then left them to enjoy +at their leisure the odour of the anise.</p> + +<p>When our boys had returned from our kitchen-garden +at the end of that time, we formally announced to them +that the pigeons had taken possession of their new abode. +In a moment they flew to the ladder, in eager haste to get +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span>a sight of the new inhabitants. The two windows of isinglass +which I had placed in the door were raised by the +curious, and I saw with pleasure that, instead of being +frightened at the new objects that surrounded them, our +prisoners appeared to have become quite tame; and when +I entered, they took no more notice of me than a domestic +pigeon would have done.</p> + +<p>Two days more passed away, and I became curious +myself to know the result of my <em>sorcery</em>.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the third day I awoke Fritz very +early, and commanded him to rub anew with anise the +door, which was made to rise up and down by means of a +pulley. He did it, and we then went, without saying anything +about our preparations, to awake the still sleeping +family. I then announced that the day of liberty for our +prisoners had arrived, and now they were to be free.</p> + +<p>All now took their stations. I gave the cord of the +door into Jack’s hands; and, scarcely able to keep my +countenance, I described a magic circle with a wand, and, +after having murmured a pretended conjuration, I ordered +Jack to pull up the cord.</p> + +<p>The pigeons poked their heads cautiously out of the +hole, then advanced on the platform, and suddenly soared +up to such a height that they were lost to our sight. But +in a few moments they again flew down, and settled, tranquilly, +upon the platform they had just quitted.</p> + +<p>This incident, which I did not expect, gave new proofs +of my dealings in magic, and I cried out, in the most +serious manner, “I knew very well, when they flew up in +the clouds, that they were not lost.”</p> + +<p>“How could you possibly know that?” said Ernest.</p> + +<p>“Because my charms have attached them to the dove-cot,” +was my answer.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span></p> +<p>“Charms!” cried Jack; “are you, then, a sorcerer, +papa?”</p> + +<p>“Simpleton!” replied Ernest; “who ever <em>heard</em> of +sorcerers?”</p> + +<p>At that moment the pigeons, who had been quietly +picking on the ground, attracted our attention. The two +Molucca pigeons suddenly quitted their European brothers, +and flew off in the direction of Falcon’s Nest, with +such rapidity that soon they were lost to our view.</p> + +<p>“Adieu, gentlemen,” cried Jack, as they darted away, +taking his hat off and making a thousand faces; “adieu, a +pleasant trip to you.”</p> + +<p>My wife and Francis commenced to deplore the loss +of our two handsome pigeons, while I, preserving as serious +a look as possible, stretched out my hands, and, turning +to the direction in which the pigeons flew, I murmured, +half aloud, the following words:</p> + +<p>“Fly, little ones, fly far, far away; till to-morrow you +may stay; but then, return with your companions.”</p> + +<p>I then turned toward my family, who stood stupefied +with astonishment, not knowing what to make out of my +serious address to the departed pigeons.</p> + +<p>As for the other pigeons, they did not seem disposed +to follow their companions, but appeared completely +tamed: they had found the dove-cot of Europe with its +shelter, and there they gladly remained.</p> + +<p>We passed the rest of the day in the neighbourhood +of the dove-cot, conversing on sorcery and the question +of the pigeons; we often strained our eyes in the direction +of Falcon’s Nest, but nothing appeared. The evening +came, and the European pigeons slept alone in their palace. +We supped gaily, and retired to rest in anxious expectation +of the morrow, which must establish either my +defeat or my triumph.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span></p> +<p>We renewed, the next day, our habitual occupations; +and though I felt a little doubtful about the return of +the birds, I said nothing, but anxiously awaited the evening; +when, about noon, we saw Jack running furiously +toward us, clapping his hands, and screaming out:</p> + +<p>“He has returned! he has returned!”</p> + +<p>“Who? who?” was eagerly asked.</p> + +<p>“The blue pigeon!” he answered, “the blue pigeon! +Quick! quick! come and see him!”</p> + +<p>We ran to the dove-cot, and, besides the blue pigeon, +we found with him, on one of the exterior perches of the +house, his mate, whom he was endeavouring to persuade +to venture into the interior. He would put in his head, +and then return to her, until at last he prevailed, and we +had the satisfaction of seeing her enter the pigeon-house.</p> + +<p>My sons would have immediately closed the door, but +I prevented them, saying that some time or other it must +be opened; “and besides,” I added, “how are the other +pigeons to enter if we close the door?”</p> + +<p>“I begin to think,” said my wife, at last, “that there +is something extraordinary in this; and, unless you have +used some enchantment, I cannot comprehend it.”</p> + +<p>“It is chance—pure chance,” interrupted Ernest.</p> + +<p>“Chance!” replied I, laughing; “that will do very well +for one time, but when the other pigeon returns this evening, +with his mate, will you think <em>that</em> chance?”</p> + +<p>“Impossible!” answered he; “the same phenomenon +could not happen twice in a day.”</p> + +<p>While we were thus speaking, Fritz suddenly interrupted +us: his eagle eyes had perceived the birds we were +expecting.</p> + +<p>“What do you say now, my little doctor?” said I to +Ernest: “both pairs of pigeons have now returned.”</p> + +<p>“I do not know what to say,” he answered seriously; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span>“it certainly appears very extraordinary; but as for any +sorcery or magic being employed, I will not believe it.”</p> + +<p>“It gives me pleasure to see that you are not credulous; +but if a third pair of Molucca pigeons should visit +us to-day, would you call that chance also?”</p> + +<p>Ernest did not answer; but his silence showed that he +was far from being convinced.</p> + +<p>We returned to our occupations, leaving Francis and +his mother to provide a dinner for us. We had worked +about two hours, when we saw our little Francis come +running towards us. When he came near he drew up his +little form, and, bowing haughtily, commenced the following +speech:</p> + +<p>“Most high and mighty lords, I am here to invite you, +on the part of my good mother, to come and behold the +prince of pigeons, who, with his noble spouse, has come +to take possession of the magnificent palace you have +provided for him.”</p> + +<p>“You are welcome for your good news, Mr. Messenger,” +was the universal answer.</p> + +<p>We hastened to the dove-cot, where my wife, after +cautioning us to make no noise, pointed out to us two +superb birds, whom those in the interior were endeavouring +to persuade to enter.</p> + +<p>“I give up,” said Ernest, at last; “my little knowledge +cannot comprehend it. I beg of you, papa, to explain +all.”</p> + +<p>I explained to him, in detail, all that we had done. +Jack laughed heartily on hearing that his plant of anise +had been the charm which had so puzzled them; and I +tried to persuade him to follow the example of Ernest, +and not believe everything so readily.</p> + +<p>The following days were devoted to bringing our +dove-cot as near as possible to perfection; and we saw, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span>with joy, that the new inhabitants were permanently settled, +and had already begun to construct their nests. I +observed among the articles they gathered for that purpose, +a sort of long, grey moss, which I had seen hanging +from the branches of old trees. I recognized it as being +the same thing as is exported from India as a substitute +for horse-hair, in the manufacture of mattresses. The +Spaniards make cords also of it, which are so light that a +piece twenty feet in length, if suspended from a pole, will +float, like a flag, in the air.</p> + +<p>I made this discovery known to my good wife, and +one can easily imagine my news was well received; for it +added another treasure to our domestic riches, and afforded +promise of some fine mattresses.</p> + +<p>We found, from time to time, in the soil of the dove-cot, +nutmegs, which, doubtless, the pigeons of Molucca +had brought over. We washed them, and, although they +were deprived of their silky covering, we committed them +to the earth, without much hope of their ever germinating.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXVI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-six">XXXVI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Jack’s Adventure and Narrow Escape—A Fountain +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">An</span> adventure of which Master Jack was the hero +diverted the monotony of our existence, divided as +it was between new constructions and provisioning our +habitation for winter.</p> + +<p>Jack had one day set off on an expedition, the intent +and purpose of which nobody but himself had any knowledge +of; but his absence was not long, for we soon saw +him returning, covered from head to foot with a thick, +black mud, and dragging after him a bundle of Spanish +rushes, likewise covered with mud.</p> + +<p>“Where have you been,” said I, “to dirty yourself so?”</p> + +<p>“In Flamingo Marsh.”</p> + +<p>“Why, what in the name of common sense were you +doing there?”</p> + +<p>“Alas!” answered the poor boy, as he heaved a deep +sigh, “I wanted to get some Spanish osiers to make nests +for the pigeons.”</p> + +<p>“A praiseworthy intention,” said I. “It was not your +fault that the enterprise did not succeed well.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no; and if it had not been for these bundles of +rushes I should certainly have lost my life. I wanted +some thin, flexible rushes; those on the borders of the +swamp were too large, and I advanced farther into the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span>marsh, jumping from hummock to hummock, until I came +to a spot where the only footing was a mass of soft, black +mud; my feet slipped in, and I found myself up to my +knees in the compound; and, gradually sinking deeper, I +commenced screaming at the top of my voice; but nobody +heard me, except my jackal, who came running up to me, +and tried to assist me by howling with all his might.”</p> + +<p>“But why,” said Ernest, “did you not try to swim? +you excel all of us in swimming.”</p> + +<p>“Fine advice, truly; I would like to see you swimming +in a swamp, up to your neck in mud, and surrounded +by a thick forest of willows. When I perceived that +neither my cries nor those of the jackal produced any +good, I endeavoured to draw myself out; for I was sinking +fast, and had no time to lose. I took my knife from +my pocket, and cut, from the willows that surrounded +me, two large bundles, and, placing one under each arm, +they served me as a sort of hold. I then exerted all my +strength, and, by moving my body, my arms, and my legs, +I managed to raise myself up a little. All this time my +jackal stood on the edge of the marsh, howling with all +his might. I whistled him to me, and, grasping hold of +his tail at last, with great difficulty, I reached terra firma.”</p> + +<p>“God be praised, my poor child,” said I, “that you +have been preserved to us! but the risk was great, and +you may thank your jackal that you are alive.”</p> + +<p>His mother hastened to wash and clean the poor adventurer: +his entire suit was put to soak in the Jackal’s +River, and we also washed the rushes, as I intended to +make use of them. In their present condition they were +too long and hard, and we were obliged to cut them in +several strips.</p> + +<p>I profited by the willows that Jack had brought, to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span>commence the construction of a machine that my wife had +long expected of me, viz., a weaving-machine.</p> + +<p>Two rushes, split lengthwise, and wound round with +packthread, so that they would dry without bending, +formed four bars to make that part of the machine called +the “combs.” I made my sons cut me a quantity of little +pieces of wood, to make the teeth for the combs; and when +I had procured these first materials for my construction, +I put them aside, saying nothing to anybody concerning +their destination, as I wished the machine to be a surprise +to my wife, and I proved insensible to all the ridicule +showered upon my little sticks, which Ernest facetiously +called <i>tooth-picks</i>.</p> + +<p>“What are you going to make with all those sticks?” +asked my wife, with womanish curiosity.</p> + +<p>“Oh, nothing but a whim of mine,” I answered, laughing. +“I intend to make you a superb instrument of music, +such as the Hottentots have called a <i>gom-gom</i>. Let +me alone, and I promise you, you shall be the first to dance +to its melodious sounds.”</p> + +<p>About this time, our onagra gave birth to a beautiful +little ass of its species. It was received with pleasure, +for it not only added to our number of useful animals, +but also afforded us a courser, that in future time would +make quite a figure in our cavalcades. I gave it the name +of “Rapid,” as I designed him particularly for the saddle; +and we saw with pleasure that his limbs were all beautifully +proportioned.</p> + +<p>The approach of the rainy season and the remembrance +of the trouble we had had in collecting our animals +last year, induced us to invent a method to render the service +less painful; it was to accustom them to return to +their homes at the sound of a conch, in which I had placed +a bit of wood, like a flute. The pigs were the only ones +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span>that we could not manage. They were unruly and loved +their liberty too much to be confined; we willingly abandoned +them, as the dogs could easily bring them together +if desired.</p> + +<p>Among the embellishments and comforts with which +we had surrounded our winter habitation, we yet wanted +a reservoir of pure water, which we were obliged to bring +from the Jackal’s River. The distance was too great in +winter, and I wished to remedy the inconvenience before +the rains came on. I conceived the idea of bringing a +stream of water from the river to the grotto, and to establish +a fountain, as we had done at Falcon’s Nest. Bamboo +canes, fitted into one another, served us for canals; +we rested them on crutches of wood, and a barrel sunk +in the ground performed the office of a basin.</p> + +<p>We proposed, when time permitted us, to give to this +construction the elegance and perfection it wanted. But +such as it was, it answered our purpose; and my wife assured +me she was just as contented with the little fountain +as if it had been built of marble, and surrounded by dolphins +and naiads, spouting water from their mouths.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXVII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-seven">XXXVII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Approach of Winter and Wet Season—Invention of a New Light—Literary Acquisitions +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> season of rains was fast approaching, and we +used all possible expedition to get in everything necessary. +The grain, the fruits of all sorts which surrounded +our habitation, potatoes, rice, guavas, sweet acorns, pineapples, +anise, manioc, bananas, nothing in short was forgotten. +We sowed our seeds as we had done the year +before, hoping that the European sorts would sprout +quicker and more easily on account of the moisture of the +atmosphere.</p> + +<p>My wife made us sacks of canvas which we filled, and +by the aid of our patient beasts carried to the magazines, +where they were emptied into large hogsheads prepared +for them. But these labours were not accomplished without +much trouble; for as we had planted our corn and +wheat at different times, we were obliged to choose out the +ripe stalks from a whole field—a work of no small difficulty. +I resolved to devise some plan for a more regular +cultivation the next year. We had a pair of buffaloes +for all the labour that would have to be done; and all that +was required, in addition to our present stock of harness, +was a double yoke, which I intended to make during our +winter seclusion.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span></p> +<p>But the rains had already commenced; several times +we had been visited by heavy showers, which hastened our +remaining occupations. By degrees the horizon became +covered with thick clouds, the winds swept fearfully along +the coast, the billows rose, and for the space of fifteen +days we were witnesses of a scene of whose majesty and +terrific grandeur man cannot form an idea. Nature +seemed overturned, the trees bent to the terrible blasts, +the lightning and the thunder were mingled with the wind +and the storm; in one word, it was a concert of Nature’s +many voices, where the deep tones of the thunder served +for the bass, and harmoniously blended with the sharp +whistlings of the storm. It seemed to us that the storm +of last year had been nothing in comparison to it. Nevertheless, +the winds began to calm, and the rain, instead of +beating down upon us in torrents, began to fall with that +despair-inspiring uniformity, which we felt would last for +twelve long weeks. The first moments of our seclusion +were sad enough, but necessity reconciled us to our situation, +and we began as cheerfully as possible to arrange +the interior of our subterranean habitation.</p> + +<p>We devoted our attention first to a crowd of minor +wants which we only discovered by occupation, but yet +were of primary necessity. I have said that our apartments +were all on one floor; but the ground had not been +carefully levelled, and we set to work to fill up the cavities +and cut away the projections, so as to prevent any of us +from breaking our necks. The fountain I had made did +not answer the purpose, and the one great necessity of a +good supply of water was as yet unprovided for. We +also made tables and chairs, prepared for all the exigencies +of our position, and endeavoured to render our long confinement +as supportable as possible. But there was yet +an inconvenience. We had not imagined we wanted light. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span>There were but three openings in the grotto, besides the +door: one in the kitchen, one in the work-room, and a +third in my sleeping-chamber. The boys’ room, and all +the rest of our habitation, was plunged in the most complete +darkness. The light never penetrated into the recesses +of the grotto. I discovered that three or four more +windows were necessary; but they could not be made before +the return of fine weather, and I devised the following +remedy for the defect.</p> + +<p>Among the bamboos that I had procured as leaders +for the water, was one of great size, which I had preserved. +This bamboo I found by chance was just the +height of our grotto. I trimmed it, and planted it in +the ground about a foot deep, surrounding it with props +to make it steady. I then gave Jack a hammer, a pulley, +and a rope, and, appealing to his agility, I asked him to +climb the pole. In a moment he was at the top, and, +after having driven the pulley into the roof of the grotto, +and thrown the cord over it, he descended safely to the +ground. I then suspended to one end of the cord a large +lantern which we found in the ship. Francis and my wife +were officially charged with its supervision, and, thanks +to the thousand reflectors which lined the sides of the +rock, our grotto was as light as if it had been broad day. +The light was an immense benefit to us, and enabled us +to carry on our different occupations with zeal and comfort.</p> + +<p>Ernest and Francis charged themselves with the task +of arranging our library, and disposing, in its different +shelves, the works we had saved from the wreck. Jack +aided his mother in the kitchen; and Fritz, being stronger +than his brothers, assisted me in the work-room.</p> + +<p>We arranged there, by the window, a superb English +turning-lathe, with all its equipments. I had often +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span>amused myself by turning in my younger days, and I +now could put my knowledge of the art to some use. +We also constructed a forge; anvils were fixed in large +blocks of wood, and all the tools of the wheelwright and +the cooper were laid out in long array on the racks I had +put up next the wall. Our shop began to assume a business-like +appearance, of which I was proud; and often +did I congratulate myself that I had sufficiently acquainted +myself, in youth, with mechanics to prevent their +being entirely new to me.</p> + +<p>The grotto every day grew more agreeable, and we +were enabled to wait without ennui for the welcome light +of the sun. We had our work-room, our dining-room, +and our library, where we could refresh our minds after +the fatigues of the body; for the cases we had saved from +the ship contained a quantity of books which had belonged +to the captain and officers. Besides Bibles and books of +devotion, we found works on history, botany, philosophy, +voyages, and travels, some enriched with engravings, +which were a real treasure to us. We had also maps, +several mathematical and astronomical instruments, a +portable globe—an English invention, which blew up like +a balloon; but the sort of works which prevailed were +grammars and dictionaries of different nations: they generally +form the chief stock of ship libraries.</p> + +<p>We all knew a little of French, for this is as much +in use as German throughout Switzerland. Fritz and +Ernest had commenced to learn English at Zurich, and I +had myself paid some attention to the language, in order +to superintend their education. I now urged them to +continue their studies, as English was the language of +the sea, and there were very few ships that did not contain +some one who understood it. Jack, who knew nothing +at all, began to pay some attention to Spanish and Italian, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span>the pomp and melody of these two languages according +with his character. As for myself, I laboured hard to +master the Malay tongue; for the inspection of charts and +maps convinced me that we were in the neighbourhood +of these people.</p> + +<p>Our grotto grew every day so comfortable that the +children could not think of any name suitable to call it +by: some wanted it called The Fairy Palace, others The +Resplendent Grotto; but after a long discussion, we came +to the conclusion that it should be called simply “Felsenheim,” +or the dwelling in the rock. Time rolled away so +rapidly in all these occupations, that two months of the +rainy season had elapsed, and I had not yet found time +to make my double yokes, or a new pair of carding-combs, +that my wife had teased me for a long time.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXVIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-eight">XXXVIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Close of the Rainy Season—A Whale—Coral +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> end of the month of August was marked by a +renewal of the bad weather. The rain, the winds, +the thunder redoubled with new fury. How happy we +were in the habitation we had made. What would have +become of us in our aërial palace at Falcon’s Nest? and +our tent, how could that have withstood the storm? But +at last the weather became more settled; the clouds dissipated; +the rain ceased; and we were able to venture out +from our grotto, to see whether the world yet remained +firm.</p> + +<p>We promenaded upon the belt of rocks that extended +all along the coast; and, as we had need of liberty and +exercise, we took pleasure in scaling the highest peaks, +and looking over the plain which was spread out beneath +us. Fritz, always daring, and whose eye almost rivalled +that of his eagle, was standing upon the peak of rocks, +when he perceived, upon the little island in Flamingo +Bay, a black spot, the nature and form of which he could +not determine; but he thought it was a shipwrecked vessel. +Ernest, who mounted after him, took it for a sea-lion, +such as Admiral Anson speaks of in his voyages. I determined +to go and inspect it myself. We walked down +to the sea-shore, emptied the rain-water from the canoe, +and all set off.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span></p> +<p>The nearer we approached, the more rapidly one conjecture +followed another. At last, when we were near +enough to distinguish it, what was our surprise to see an +enormous whale, lying on his side upon the strand.</p> + +<p>Being ignorant whether he was dead or sleeping, I +did not think it prudent to approach without precaution; +consequently we turned around and steered for the other +side of the island, which consisted of nothing more than +a sand-bank elevated above the waves; but a rank growth +of herbs and plants covered it, and it was the resort of +numbers of sea-birds, whose nests and eggs we found in +abundance.</p> + +<p>There were two roads to choose, by which to reach +the whale: one by climbing over the rocks, which rendered +it laborious; the other longer, but far the less fatiguing. +I took the first path, and commanded the boys to take +the other, as I wished to examine fully this little island, +which wanted but trees to render it charming. From this +elevation I could see the whole coast, from Tent House to +Falcon’s Nest, which spectacle made me almost forget the +whale; and when I reached the side where my children +were, they came running toward me, screaming with joy, +and carrying their hats full of shells and coral, which +they had picked up on the beach. “Look, papa,” said +they, “what beautiful shells we have found; what can +have brought them here?”</p> + +<p>“It is the sea, my children,” I answered; “the sea +has thrown them up from its abyss, and it appears to be +little cause for astonishment that she should bring such +frail, light things as these shells, when she has thrown +upon our shores a monster whose bulk is so immense.”</p> + +<p>On the return journey I related to my sons the +phenomena of the existence of coral; and, while talking, +we arrived at our destination, where my wife and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span>son were ready to receive us. She admired the beauty +of our coral, but observed that it was of no use in the +household affairs; and when I had told her my resolution +to return to the whale that afternoon, she cheerfully +declared that she would accompany me. I was +enchanted at this resolution, and we hastened to prepare +the necessary provisions and articles for a stay of two +days; for, perhaps, we might be detained on the island, +and I thought it best to make preparations accordingly.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XXXIX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirty-nine">XXXIX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Whale, its dissection—Uses of the different parts of the Whale +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">After</span> dinner, which we partook of an hour earlier +than usual, I made a search for some barrels in +which to put the blubber of the whale, I did not want to +take the empty barrels we had at Falcon’s Nest and Felsenheim, +as I knew that it would be impossible to remove the +disagreeable smell of oil. My wife reminded me that we +yet had four tubs in our boat, which would answer my +purpose very well. I fastened them to the stern of the +canoe; and, after having armed my sons with knives, and +hatchets, and saws, and all the cutting-instruments I could +find, we weighed anchor, and directed our course toward +the island where the whale lay.</p> + +<p>Our whale looked like those of Greenland: the back +was greenish black, the stomach yellowish, the fins and tail +black. I immediately measured it, and I found that it +was between sixty and seventy feet long, and about forty +in diameter, which is about the ordinary size of these +monsters of the deep. My children were astonished at the +proportions of the head, which formed a third of the whole +creature; its mouth was immense; and its jaws, which were +full twelve feet in length were furnished with flexible appendages +called “dewlaps,”⁠<a id="FNanchor_6_6" href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> and which in Europe form +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span>an article of commerce. One thing which struck Fritz +was the smallness of the monster’s eye, which was not +larger than that of an ox; and the opening by which his +immense mouth communicated with his throat, was +scarcely the diameter of my arm.</p> + +<p>Fritz and Jack entered the head of the whale, and +working with the hatchet and the saw, cut out the “dewlaps,” +which Francis and his mother carried to the boat; +we cut out more than two hundred pieces of different +sizes. While this was going on, Ernest and I cut several +feet deep into the fat which covered the sides of the +animal; we literally swam in grease, for walls of solid +fat rose on each side of us. But we were not long the +only claimants for the whale. A multitude of winged +robbers surrounded us, eager to associate in our work. +They flew round and round our heads; then, gradually +approaching, they were so bold as to snatch pieces of fat +from our hands. The birds were very troublesome; but +my wife having made the remark that their down would +be of use to her, I knocked down some with a club, and +threw them into the boat. I cut from the back of the +whale a long and large band of skin, out of which I +wanted to make a harness for the ass and the two buffaloes. +It was a difficult task, the skin was so thick, and +so hard to cut. The tubs were placed in the canoe, and +we set out for the coast with the new cargo we had +acquired. It was for us a precious treasure, but far from +agreeably obtained.</p> + +<p>The next morning we again embarked in the canoe; +but this time Francis and his mother were left behind, +as they could have been of no use in the work I intended, +which was to penetrate into the interior of the whale, +and, if possible, to procure some parts of its immense intestines. +A fresh wind was blowing, and we soon arrived +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span>at the island, which we found covered with gulls and +other marine birds, who, in spite of the canvas with which +the pieces that had been cut from the whale were covered, +had made a plentiful meal. It was necessary to have +recourse to fire-arms to drive away this horde of pillagers.</p> + +<p>We took care, before commencing our work, to strip +off every article of clothing, excepting our pantaloons; +then, like true butchers, we opened the animal, selected +from the mass of entrails those which would best suit our +purpose; I cut them in pieces of from six to twelve feet +long, and, after having turned them inside out, washed +them, and well rubbed them with sand; they were then +placed in the boat.</p> + +<p>We abandoned the rest of our prey to the voracious +birds; and, after having loaded our boat with a new +cargo of whale blubber, we set sail for Felsenheim.</p> + +<p>The reason that I had taken so much trouble to obtain +the whale’s intestines was, that I wished to use them as +vessels to contain the oil.</p> + +<p>When we arrived at home, we found my wife anxiously +expecting us; but the sight of our greasy habiliments +almost frightened her, and she anticipated the labour of +washing them with no very pleasurable sensations; but I +consoled her by promising miracles from the rich treasures +of whale oil, and the entrails we had brought home. +We washed ourselves completely, and, after an entire +change of clothing, set out for Felsenheim.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_6_6" href="#FNanchor_6_6" class="label">[6]</a> Whalebone.</p></div> +</div> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XL">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty">XL</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Boat-propeller or Rowing Machine—A Turtle Drive +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> day had scarcely dawned when we were all up +and ready for work. The four tubs of fat were +raised from the ground, and, a strong pressure being +applied, we squeezed out as much of the oil as possible; +and as this was the finest and purest, we filled one or two +of the entrails with it.</p> + +<p>The rest was emptied into a large iron kettle, and, +a slow fire being applied, it was soon reduced to a liquid +state. A large iron spoon, which we had saved from the +wreck, and which had been originally intended for the +sugar factory, served us to empty the oil into the entrails +from the kettle. All these works were carried on at a +distance from Felsenheim, as we did not wish to perfume +the air around our habitation with the fœtid odour of +whale oil.</p> + +<p>While we were occupied in our manufacture of oil, +my wife made me a proposition which met my hearty +approbation: it was to establish a new colony on the +island of the whale. “We will put some fowls there,” +said she; “they will be safe from their two great plagues, +the monkeys and the jackals.”</p> + +<p>I liked the project of my wife very much; and the +children were so enchanted that they wanted to start +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span>immediately, and put it into execution. But it was now +too late, and I calmed their ardour by mentioning an +idea I had conceived of fitting a propelling machine to +the canoe.</p> + +<p>“Oh,” cried Jack, “the canoe will go along without +any rowing; how fine it will be!”</p> + +<p>“Stop, stop,” said I; “not so fast. All that I can +do will be to save your arms some labour, and quicken +our speed.”</p> + +<p>I immediately commenced the work. All my materials +consisted of the wheel of a smoke-jack and an iron-toothed +axle upon which it turned. The machine that I constructed +was not a masterpiece of execution; but it answered +the purpose very well. A handle attached to the +wheel put the machine in motion, and two large flat +pieces of whalebone, nailed together in the form of a +cross, and fixed at each end of the axle, resembled the +wheels of a steamboat. When the handle was turned, +the wings of whalebone beat against the surface of the +water, and drove the canoe forward. Its velocity was +in proportion to the power imparted to the wheel.</p> + +<p>I will not attempt to describe the transports of joy +that my children evinced when they saw the canoe gliding +over the surface of the water. I was astonished myself +at the rapidity of our course. We had scarcely touched +the land, when every one was in the boat, and begging me +to make an excursion to the island of the whale. But the +day was too far advanced to admit of such a thing, and I +promised them that we would make, on the morrow, a +grand trial of our vessel by an excursion, by sea, to the +farmhouse at Prospect Hill, for the purpose of inspecting +our colony there.</p> + +<p>My proposition was well received, and we immediately +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span>began to prepare our arms and provisions, so that +we could start early on the morrow.</p> + +<p>At the first dawning of the day everybody was ready. +We did not forget provisions; and my wife put up, in a +double envelope of fresh leaves, a piece of the whale’s +tongue, which, by the recommendation of doctor Ernest, +she had cooked and spiced as a delicate viand.</p> + +<p>We gaily quitted the shore, and the strong current +of the Jackal’s River soon brought us into the sea; the +breeze was good, and everything promised a favourable +sail. We soon perceived Shark Island, the bank of sand +where the whale had been stranded; and so well did our +machine work, that in a short time we found ourselves in +sight of Prospect Hill. I had kept at some distance +from the coast, as I was afraid that there might be some +hidden rocks inshore, which might destroy our frail bark.</p> + +<p>When we had arrived opposite the “Wood of Monkeys,” +I ran the boat into a little creek, and landed, to +replenish our stock of cocoa-nuts. It was with feelings of +the keenest pleasure that we heard the crowing of the +cocks through the woods, announcing the neighbourhood +of the farmhouse. We re-embarked and rapidly neared +Prospect Hill, and could plainly distinguish the bleating +of our little herd. We landed, and directed our course +toward the farmhouse.</p> + +<p>Everything was in order; but what greatly astonished +us was the wildness of the sheep and goats, who fled on +all sides at our approach. My sons began to run after +them; but as the long-bearded ladies were far more agile +than they were, they soon grew tired of the chase, and, +drawing from their pockets the strings with balls attached, +they soon captured three or four of the fugitives. We +distributed some potatoes and a handful of salt among +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span>them, in return for which they yielded us several bowls +of most delicious milk.</p> + +<p>We dined at Prospect Hill. The cold meats we had +brought had composed our repast; but the whale’s tongue +was unanimously pronounced most detestable and only fit +for a sailor. We gave it to Jack’s jackal, the only one +of our domestic animals who had followed us.</p> + +<p>I left my wife to make the preparations for our departure, +and started out with Fritz to gather some sugar-cane. +I also dug up some roots of this precious article +to plant on Whale Island.</p> + +<p>We weighed anchor, or, at least, we pulled up the +stone that secured us, and coasted along in the direction +of Cape Disappointment, which I wished to double; but +the cape still justified its name, and a long bank of sand +stretching out prevented our progress, and we were +obliged to turn back. I hoisted the sail, we redoubled +our labours at the wheel, and, thanks to a little breeze that +sprang up, were soon in sight of Whale Island.</p> + +<p>On landing, my first care was to plant the roots I had +brought from Prospect Hill; but my companions, on +whose assistance I had counted, did not think the plantation +of sufficient consequence for them, and ran off to the +beach to gather shells. My good wife supplied their +places, and we two began our labours. We had scarcely +commenced when Jack came running up to us, all out +of breath. “Papa, papa,” cried he, “come here—quick, +I have discovered the skeleton of a mammoth!”</p> + +<p>I burst into a laugh, and informed my little boy that +his skeleton was nothing more than the carcass of our +whale.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” replied he; “they are not fish bones, but +those of some immense animal; and, besides, they lie +a great deal farther up on the sand than the whale did.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span></p> +<p>Jack implored and entreated so earnestly that I consented +at last to go; but another voice soon stopped my +progress.</p> + +<p>“Run, run—this way,” screamed Fritz, from some +distance, waving his hand to hasten my arrival. “Quick—a +monstrous turtle that we are not strong enough to +turn.” I caught up two handspikes and ran, as fast as +possible, to the spot, where I found Ernest struggling +with a monstrous turtle, which he held by one leg, but +which, despite all his efforts, had reached the border of +the sea. I arrived just in time; and, throwing one of the +spikes to Fritz, we were able to turn the enormous animal +on its back.</p> + +<p>It really was of prodigious size, about eight feet and +a half in length, and could not possibly weigh less than +five hundred pounds. I did not know how we should be +able to carry it away; however, the position in which we +had placed it gave us time for reflection.</p> + +<p>But Jack had not forgotten his mammoth, and continued +teasing me to go and see it. I soon perceived that +it really was our whale; but the birds of prey had not left +a morsel of flesh on the bones, which had blanched in the +sun. I showed him our footprints in the sand, and some +morsels of whalebone which we had forgotten.</p> + +<p>“Can we not,” said Fritz, in considering the skeleton +of a whale, “draw from this mountain of bones some +utility?”</p> + +<p>“I do not know,” said I, “what use we can make of +them; the Hollanders make palings of them, and also +rustic chairs, which produce a fine effect; and we will one +day, when we have leisure, make a philosophical chair for +our museum.” Discussing in this manner, we arrived +at our plantation. I perceived that it was too late to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span>finish our work that night. We buried the roots, yet unplanted, +in the ground, and deferred till another day this +important occupation. The giant turtle was now our +grand object: I brought the boat round to where he lay +extended on his back, and, forming a circle around him, +we debated as to the means of transporting him.</p> + +<p>“Zounds! gentlemen,” said I, striking my forehead, +“we need not embarrass ourselves <em>much</em>; instead of carrying +this monster, let him conduct <em>us</em> back to Felsenheim. +A turtle makes an excellent equipage on the sea: Fritz +and I have tried the experiment.”</p> + +<p>My idea was a happy one, and every one was glad. +I commenced by emptying out the barrel of water we +had brought; then, turning the turtle over on his feet, +we fastened the barrel to his back, so that it was impossible +for him to sink and draw us with him; a cord, +passed through a hole which we broke in the upper shell, +served me for reins; and without losing time we all embarked +for home. I placed myself in the prow of the +canoe, with a hatchet to cut the cord in case of need.</p> + +<p>Our course was accomplished rapidly and safely: a +handspike that I held in my hand served me for a whip, +and a blow well applied would rectify any deviation from +the track. Master Ernest, the professor, compared us to +Neptune gliding over the waves drawn by dolphins.</p> + +<p>We arrived safely at Felsenheim, and our first care +was to secure our turtle, and to replace the empty barrel +by strong ropes. But as we could not keep him long in +this way, we finished his life the next morning, and his +enormous shell was destined to serve as a basin to our +fountain in the grotto. The work cost some trouble and +time, as it was very difficult to detach the flesh from the +shell. It was a superb piece of meat, full six feet by three, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span>and afforded us material for many a delicious pot of soup. +We inquired into all our works on natural history, and +we came to the conclusion (the professor and I) that +our turtle was the giant green turtle, the largest of all.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-one">XLI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Weaving Machine—Basket making—The Alarm—A Dangerous Visitor—The Ass Falls a Victim +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> had had so much trouble in harvesting our crops +the last season that we had resolved, instead of +trusting them to the ground without any order or regularity, +to prepare a field which could receive them all at +the same time, and where they could ripen together. But +as our animals were not yet sufficiently accustomed to +the yoke to warrant our undertaking the task, I was +obliged to defer it till some future period.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, I employed myself in constructing +a weaving-machine for my wife: our garments had become +so tattered and torn that the machine was of incalculable +benefit to us. It was neither perfect nor handsome, +and nothing more could be expected. As we had +none of the wheat flour that the weavers use to make +paste, which they employ in hardening the warp, and preventing +the threads from tangling, I substituted the glue +of fish; and I may confess, without self-praise, that my +composition was better than that of the weavers, for the +fish-glue preserves a humidity that the ordinary glue does +not, and by employing it one can weave in a dry situation, +instead of descending into cellars, where the weavers from +time immemorial have been obliged to confine themselves. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span>From this fish-glue I also made window-panes, not well +calculated, it is true, for windows exposed to the rain; +but they answered for ours, which, on account of their +deep embrasures, were protected from storm.</p> + +<p>These two successes encouraged me, and I resolved to +try my hand at another thing, or, to speak poetically, +“add another flower to my wreath.” My little cavaliers +had long tormented me to make them saddles and bridles, +and our beasts had need of yokes and other harness. I +commenced my work and established myself as saddler; +kangaroos and sea-dogs furnished me with the necessary +leather, and I used for wadding the moss that the Molucca +pigeons had discovered to us. But as this moss would +have matted together, and grown hard under the rider, I +employed my sons in twisting it into cords, in which state +it was left some time, and then untwisted; by that means +we obtained frizzed hair, as elastic as that of horses. In +a short time we had saddles and stirrups, bits and bridles, +yokes and collars, each adapted to the strength of the +animal for which it was intended.</p> + +<p>But this sedentary course of life did not suit the restless +minds of my young people, and they earnestly begged +me to take them hunting in the country. I put the matter +off, and took in hand another sort of work, the want of +which we felt sensibly. I speak of the making of baskets, +a number of which articles we needed to carry our rice, +roots, grain, etc. Our first attempts were clumsy enough, +and we reserved them for our potato baskets. We gradually +improved, and when I thought we were skilful +enough, I ventured to use those Spanish rushes that had +cost Jack so dear, and we made a number of fine baskets; +they were not as finished workmanship as more skilful +hands would have effected, but they were light and strong, +and that was all we cared for.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span></p> +<p>My sons had made a large basket to put manioc roots +in, and, in a fit of mischief, Jack and Ernest had passed +a bamboo cane through the handles, and, putting little +Francis in the basket, set off on a full run, while the +poor fellow endeavoured in vain to stop them.</p> + +<p>Fritz, who had been looking at them, turned to me, +saying, “An idea has struck me, papa; why cannot we +make a litter of rushes for mamma, and then she will be +able to accompany us in our distant excursions?”</p> + +<p>“Really,” I replied, “a litter would be much more +convenient than the back of the ass, and much easier than +the cart: we will try what can be done.”</p> + +<p>My children were delighted at the plan; but my wife +laughingly observed, “that she would make but a poor +figure seated in a wicker basket.”</p> + +<p>“Never fear,” said I, “we will make you a fine +palanquin such as are used in Persia and Hindostan.”</p> + +<p>We immediately put the design into execution: the +buffalo and the bull were brought out; two poles, which +supported a large basket, were suspended by cords on +each side, and Ernest jumped in to make the first trial. +Jack mounted Storm, who was placed at the head, and +Francis Broumm, who supported the hinder part, and +they set off. The first steps answered admirably; the +basket, balanced between the poles, resembled a luxurious +carriage on its springs of steel. But it was not exactly +a pleasant carriage-drive that Ernest enjoyed; for, at a +given signal agreed on by his coachmen, they whipped up +their beasts, and set off at full gallop, subjecting Ernest +to a punishment as novel as it was ridiculous, which consisted +in forcing him to perform a sort of <i>basket-dance</i> +at each jump of his conductors. The fun was violent, +but it was harmless, and we could not help laughing to +see the phlegmatic Ernest so tossed about.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span></p> +<p>We then all returned to our basket-making; but we +had scarcely recommenced, when Fritz, whose eagle eye +was always making discoveries, suddenly started up as if +frightened at a cloud of dust which had arisen on the +other side of the river, in the direction of Falcon’s Nest.</p> + +<p>“There is some large animal there,” said he, “to judge +from the dust it has raised; besides, it is plainly coming +in this direction.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot imagine what it is,” I answered; “our large +animals are in the stable, resting themselves after the experiment +of the palanquin.”</p> + +<p>“Probably two or three sheep, or, perhaps, our sow, +frolicking in the sand,” observed my wife.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” replied Fritz, quickly; “it is some singular +animal: I can perceive its movements: it rolls and unrolls +itself alternately; I can see the rings of which it is +formed. See, it is raising itself up, and looks like a huge +mast in the dust; it advances—stops—marches on; but I +cannot distinguish either feet or legs.”</p> + +<p>I ran for the spy-glass we had saved from the wreck, +and directed it toward the dust.</p> + +<p>“I can see it plainly,” said Fritz; “it has a greenish-coloured +body. What do you think of it, papa?”</p> + +<p>“That we must fly as fast as possible, and entrench +ourselves in the grotto.”</p> + +<p>“What do you think it is?”</p> + +<p>“A serpent—a huge serpent, advancing directly for +us.”</p> + +<p>“Shall I run for the guns, to be ready to receive +him?”</p> + +<p>“Not here. The serpent is too powerful to permit of +our attacking him, unless we are ourselves in a place +of safety.”</p> + +<p>We hastened to gain the interior of the grotto, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span>prepared to receive our enemy. It was a boa-constrictor, +and he advanced so quickly that it was too late to take +up the boards on Family Bridge.</p> + +<p>We watched all his movements, and saw him stretching +out his enormous length along the bank of the river. +From time to time the reptile would raise up the forepart +of his body twenty feet from the ground, and turn his +head gently from right to left, as if seeking for his prey, +while he darted a triple-barbed tongued from his half-open +jaws. He crossed the bridge, and directed his course +straight for the grotto: we had barricaded the door and +the windows as well as we were able, and ascended into +the dove-cot, to which we had made an interior entrance; +we passed our muskets through the holes in the door, and +waited silently for the enemy—it was the silence of terror.</p> + +<p>But the boa, in advancing, had perceived the traces +of man’s handiwork, and he came on hesitatingly, until +at last he stopped, about thirty paces directly in front of +our position. He had scarcely advanced thus far when +Ernest, more through fear than through any war-like +ardour, discharged his gun, and thus gave a false signal. +Jack and Francis followed his example; and my wife, +whom the danger had rendered bold, also discharged her +gun.</p> + +<p>The monster raised his head; but either because none +of the shots had touched him, or because the scales of +his skin were impenetrable to balls, he appeared to have +received no wound. Fritz and I then fired, but without +any effect, and the serpent glided away with inconceivable +rapidity toward the marsh which our ducks and geese +inhabited, and disappeared in the rushes.</p> + +<p>The neighbourhood of the boa threw me into the most +unenviable state of mind; for I could think of no way to +rid ourselves of him, and our united forces were as nothing +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span>against such an enemy. I expressly commanded my +whole family to remain in the grotto, and forbade them +opening the door without my permission.</p> + +<p>The fear of our terrible neighbour kept us shut up +three days in our retreat—three long days of anguish +and alarm—during which time I suffered no one to break +the rule I had established; the interior service of the grotto +was the only consideration that could induce me to break +it, and even then I allowed no one to go beyond the reservoir +of the fountain.</p> + +<p>The monster had given us no signs of his presence, +and we would have supposed him departed, either by +traversing the marsh, or by some unknown passage in +the rock, if the agitation which reigned among our aquatic +animals had not assured us of his presence. Every evening +the whole colony of ducks and geese would direct +their course to the bay, making a terrible noise, and sail +away for Whale Island, where they found a safe asylum.</p> + +<p>My embarrassment daily increased; and the immovability +of the enemy rendered our position very painful. +I was afraid that a direct attack might cost us the lives +of one or more of our little family. Our dogs could do +nothing against such a foe; and to have exposed any one +of our beasts of burden would have been certain destruction +to it. On the other hand, our provisions daily diminished, +as the season was not yet far enough advanced for +us to have laid in any winter stores. In a word, we were +in a most deplorable situation, when Heaven came to our +aid. The instrument that effected our deliverance was our +poor old jackass, the companion of our wanderings, and +faithful servant.</p> + +<p>The fodder that we happened to have in the grotto +had diminished frightfully: it was necessary to nourish +the cow, as she contributed in great part to our subsistence, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span>and some must be taken from the other animals. In this +dilemma I resolved to set them at liberty, and let them +provide for their own nourishment. As inconvenient as +this measure was, it was better than to see us all dying of +hunger, shut up in the grotto. I thought that if we could +get them on the other side of the river they would find +a plentiful supply of food, and be in safety as long as +the boa remained buried in the rushes. I was afraid to +cross Family Bridge, lest I should arouse the monster, +and I decided to ford at the spot where our first crossing +was made. My plan was to attach the animals together. +Fritz, mounted on his onagra, would direct the front of +the procession, while I would take care that the marsh was +effected in good order. I recommended to my son, at the +first sign of the serpent’s presence, to fly, as fast as +his beast would carry him, to Falcon’s Nest. As to our +animals, I left to Providence the care of watching over +and saving them. For my part, I proposed to post myself +on a rock that overlooked the marsh, and in case of an +attack on the part of the serpent, retreat to the grotto, +where a well-directed discharge of firearms would rid us +of him.</p> + +<p>I then loaded all our arms; my sons were placed as +videttes in the dove-cot, with orders to observe the +movements of the enemy, while Fritz and I arranged our +beasts as aforesaid. But a little misunderstanding +put an end to all my plans. My wife, who had charge of +the door, did not wait for the signal, and opened it before +the animals were attached together. The ass, who had +grown very lively, considering his age, by his three days’ +rest and good feed, no sooner saw a ray of light than he +shot out of the door like an arrow, and was away in the +open plain before we could stop him. It was a comical +sight to see him kicking his heels in the air; and Fritz +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span>would have mounted his onagra, and ridden out after him, +but I restrained him, and contented myself by trying every +manner of persuasion to induce the poor animal to come +back. We called him by his name; we made use of our +cow-horn; but all was useless—the unruly fellow exulted +in his liberty, and, as if urged on by some fatality, he +advanced direct to the marsh. But what horror froze our +veins when, suddenly, we saw the horrid serpent emerging +from the rushes! He elevated his head about ten feet +from the ground, darted out his forked tongue, and +crawled swiftly on toward the ass. The poor fellow soon +saw his danger, and began to run, braying with all his +might; but neither his cries nor his legs could save him +from his terrible enemy, and in a moment he was seized, +enveloped, and crushed in the monstrous rings that the +serpent threw around him.</p> + +<p>My wife and sons uttered a cry of terror, and we fled +in haste to the grotto, from whence we could view the +horrible combat between the boa and the ass. My children +wanted to fire, and deliver, said they, the poor jackass; +but I forbade them to do it.</p> + +<p>“What can you do,” said I, “with firearms? The +boa is too much occupied with his prey to abandon it, and, +besides, if you wound him, perhaps we may become the +victims of his fury.” The loss of our ass was great, +it was true, but I hoped that it would save us from a +greater.</p> + +<p>The boa proceeded with horrible avidity to his repast. +The ass was dead; we had heard his last bray stifled by +the pressure of the boa, and we could now distinctly hear +the cracking of his bones. The monster, to give himself +more power, had wound his tail about a piece of rock, +which gave it the force of a lever. When the monster +judged his preparation sufficient, he commenced to swallow +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span>the prey he had secured. We observed that as he +advanced the animal lost his strength; and when all had +been swallowed he remained perfectly torpid and insensible.</p> + +<p>I saw that the time had now arrived, and I exclaimed, +“Now, my children, now the serpent is in our power!”</p> + +<p>I then set out from the grotto, carrying my loaded +gun in my hand; Fritz followed close by my side; Jack +came next, but the more timid Ernest lingered behind. On +approaching the reptile, I found that my suppositions +were right, and that it was the giant boa of the naturalists. +The serpent raised its head, and darting on me a look of +powerless anger, again let it fall.</p> + +<p>Fritz and I fired together, and both our shots entered +the skull of the animal; but they did not produce death, +and the eyes of the serpent sparkled with rage. We advanced +nearer, and, firing our pistols directly through the +eye, we saw its rings contract, a slight quiver ran through +its body, and it lay dead upon the sand before us, stretched +out like the mast of a ship.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-two">XLII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Discovery of a Crystal Grotto—Further Exploration +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> had nothing more to fear from the neighbourhood +of the boa; but I was afraid it might have +either left its mate (it was a female) behind it, or else a +nest of little ones, which in time would spread terror +through the land. I resolved, in consequence, to undertake +two expeditions—the one through the marsh, the +other toward Falcon’s Nest, through the passage in the +rock, where I supposed the boa had got through.</p> + +<p>We set out loaded with our hunting equipage. We +carried, besides our arms, some boards, and the bladders +of sea-dogs, to sustain us on the water if necessary. The +boards we wanted to assist us in our march; for, by placing +one before the other, and taking them up, we made a +solid walk of wood. This was a great convenience, and +enabled us to search the marsh thoroughly. We easily +recognized traces of the boa; the rushes were bent down +where it had passed through, and there were deep spiral +impressions in the wet ground where it had rested its +enormous rings. But we discovered nothing that induced +us to believe that the boa had a companion: we found +neither eggs, nor little ones—nothing but a nest of dried +rushes, and I did not think that the boa had constructed +even that. Arrived at the end of the marsh, we made an +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span>interesting discovery; it was that of a new grotto, which +opened out of the rock, and out of which flowed a little +stream that passed on among the rushes of the marsh.</p> + +<p>The grotto was hung with stalactites, which rose in +immense columns on each side, as if to sustain the vault, +and formed themselves into singular and beautiful designs. +We remained some time in admiration of this +miracle of nature, and as we walked on, I remarked that +the ground upon which we trod was composed of an +extremely fine and white sort of earth, which, after examining +it, I recognized as being “fullers’ clay.” I immediately +gathered some handfuls, and carefully placed +them in my pocket-handkerchief.</p> + +<p>“Here,” said I to my sons, who were regarding me +with astonishment, “here is a discovery that will be very +welcome to your mother; and henceforth, if we bring +her dirty clothes, we will bring her something to wash +them with, for here is soap.”</p> + +<p>“I thought,” said Ernest, “that soap was the result +of human industry, and not a production of the earth.”</p> + +<p>“You thought right; the soap that is ordinarily used +is composed of a certain salt, the acidity of which is corrected +by the addition of grease and so forth, which +weakens its power greatly. But this fabrication is tedious +and costly, and men have been so fortunate as to find a +sort of earth in which is united certain qualities of the +soap; it is this we have found, and it is called ‘fullers’ +clay,’ because it is used to clean woollen goods.”</p> + +<p>We had approached the source of the spring while +conversing; and Fritz, who was a little in advance, cried +out that the rock had a large opening on one side. We +ran forward, and soon found ourselves in a new cavern. +We fired off a pistol, and we were able to judge by the +echo that the grotto extended to a great distance. We +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span>then lighted two candles, with which our knapsacks were +provided; they burned without obstacle, and the pure light +assured us of the salubrity of the air. Having left the +others behind, Fritz and I continued to advance, when suddenly +we saw our torches reflected from every side of the +rock.</p> + +<p>“Ah, papa,” cried Fritz, in a transport of joy, “see! +see! a salt grotto! look at the enormous blocks of salt +lying at our feet.”</p> + +<p>“You are very much mistaken, indeed,” I answered; +“these masses are not salt; if they were, the water which +drips from the rock would have melted them long ago; +instead of salt it is crystal: we are really in a palace of +rock-crystal.”</p> + +<p>“Better yet—a palace of crystal! what an immense +treasure for us!”</p> + +<p>“Yes; such a treasure as the gold mine was to +Robinson Crusoe.”</p> + +<p>When we reappeared at the entrance of the grotto, +we found Jack alone. He conducted us to the border of +the swamp, where we found Ernest tranquilly employed +in making a rush basket such as fishermen use, consisting +of a frame of long stalks, terminated at the end by a +funnel, through which the fish passed, but could not +return.</p> + +<p>“Quick, quick!” he cried, when he saw us approaching, +“I have killed a young boa.”</p> + +<p>We had been talking so much of serpents, etc., that +the poor boy had mistaken a superb eel, four feet in +length, for a snake; he had walked straight up to it, hit +it two or three blows on the head with his gun, with as +much courage as would have sufficed to kill a dozen +boas.</p> + +<p>The examination that I made of the snake humbled +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span>the pride of the victor; but the eel was a great treat for +us, and we returned home to Felsenheim.</p> + +<p>I had as yet only half accomplished my design, and +there remained all the country about the farmhouse yet +unexplored; and besides, I wished, if it were possible, +by fortifying the passages in the rock, to keep out all +such visitors as the one we had lately received. I made +sure, before we set out, against any accident that might +happen: we took plenty of provisions, arms, vessels of +all sorts, torches to scare away all intruders on our night +encampments, in short, everything that would render our +excursion safer and less disagreeable.</p> + +<p>We advanced in good order along the avenue of +Falcon’s Nest, and discovered the marks of the boa’s +progress half effaced by the wind. We found everything +in good order at the Nest; the harvest and the +fruit-trees gave promise of an abundant crop. The goats +and sheep received us joyfully, and came up of their own +accord to receive some salt we threw them in passing. We +did not stop, as the Lake farmhouse was the object of our +expedition; and we wished to arrive as soon as possible, +in order to gather, before night, cotton enough to make +some pillows and mattresses that might render our slumbers +more agreeable.</p> + +<p>The farther we advanced, the fewer traces we found +of the serpent. We could not see a single monkey in the +cocoa-wood; and the crowing of our cocks, mingled +with the bleating of our herds, gave promise of good order +at the farmhouse; and we were not disappointed. As soon +as we arrived, our good housekeeper set about procuring +us some dinner, while we went to gather the cotton.</p> + +<p>After dinner I announced that we would immediately +commence our search, and we divided into three parties, +each one charged to explore a part of the country. Ernest +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span>and his mother had, for their division, the guard of the +provisions and the collection of all the ripe blades in the +rice-field; to defend them we left our brave dog Billy. +Fritz and Jack, accompanied by Turk and the jackal, took +the right bank of the lake, while I followed the left, with +Francis, and his two young dogs. It was the first time +that the little fellow had shared in any of our expeditions, +or had had a gun entrusted to him; he marched along with +his head up, and as proud as a new-made officer; and he +burned with ardour to make trial of his new weapon. But +the noise of our steps among the dried rushes frightened +only some herons, and they flew so suddenly and quickly +that it was impossible to shoot them. Francis began to +grow despairing at his ill success, when suddenly we found +ourselves in presence of an innumerable quantity of wild +geese and black swans, which covered the waters in all +directions. Frank was just about to fire into the mass, +when suddenly a sort of deep, prolonged cry, like a bellow, +issued from the middle of the rushes. We stopped, +astonished, and a second after the cry was repeated.</p> + +<p>“I am sure,” said Francis, “that it is the little +onagra.”</p> + +<p>“Impossible,” said I; “he would not leave his mother; +and, besides, we must have heard him as he passed along. +It is more likely to be a swamp-bird, called a bittern.”</p> + +<p>I called the dogs to my side, and, setting them in the +rushes, presently heard the report of Francis’s gun. But, +instead of firing in the air, he had discharged his gun right +into the thickest part of the rushes, and I saw the birds +that the dogs had disturbed flying away safe and sound.</p> + +<p>“You awkward fellow,” said I; “you have let your +game escape you.”</p> + +<p>“On the contrary, papa, I have him! I have him!” +repeated he, with passionate emotion. “Look!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span></p> +<p>So saying, he pulled out of the rushes an animal resembling +an agouti, and which the little hunter had already +christened by that name.</p> + +<p>I examined it with attention, and discovered that +there was much difference between it and the agouti.</p> + +<p>This one was about two feet in length, had incisor +teeth like the rabbit, webbed feet, long snout, but no +tail at all.</p> + +<p>“You have killed a rare and curious beast,” said I +to my little boy. “It is an inhabitant of South America, +of the same family as the agouti and peccaries, but much +rarer. It is a cabiai, and what is more, a cabiai of the +largest size.”</p> + +<p>“And what sort of an animal is this cabiai? I have +never heard of him before.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes; you heard him bray just now; for it was +his cry that I attributed to the bittern. This animal profits +by the darkness of night to provide his food: he runs +fast, can swim well, and has the power of remaining a +long time under water; he eats seated on his hind legs; +and as to his cry, it sounds exactly like the braying of +an ass.”</p> + +<p>But it was now time to return home, and Francis +rejoiced at the prospect of his triumph over his brothers. +He took up his cabiai, threw it over his shoulder, and +although I saw that it was much too heavy for him, I +thought I would let him have the merit of the whole +affair.</p> + +<p>We found, on returning, Master Ernest tranquilly +seated on the bank of the river, and surrounded by a +prodigious number of enormous rats which he had killed. +The phlegmatic philosopher then recounted to us the history +of this massacre.</p> + +<p>“We were occupied,” said he, “my mother and I, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span>collecting the ripe rice-blades, when I discovered, at a little +distance, a sort of high, solid causeway, which looked like +a road constructed in the middle of the swamp. I immediately +set off to discover what it was, and Master +Knips with me. But we had scarcely advanced one step +when he darted from my side in pursuit of an animal that +quickly disappeared in a sort of hole bored in the causeway. +I remarked, on advancing, that the two sides of +the bank were pierced all along with these holes, all of +the same form and size. I was curious to know what they +contained, and I introduced into the opening a long bamboo +cane that I had in my hand. I had scarcely drawn it +out when there issued forth a legion of animals similar +to the first. Knips ran after them; but the rice grew so +thick that he could not get along. An idea then occurred +to me to place my rice-sack over the hole. I did so; and +beating the top of the causeway with a stick, a great number +ran into the sack. I then began to beat the bag with +my stick, so as to kill the prisoners. But imagine my surprise +when I found myself assailed by a whole army of +rats who emerged from every side, and began to run up +my pantaloons. Knips made most desperate attempts. I +could do nothing with my stick, and I cannot tell what +might have happened if Billy had not heard my voice, +and come to my assistance. He rushed bravely upon +the army of rats, and made so terrible a slaughter that the +enemy fled in terror. Those that you behold fell victims +to my stick and the formidable teeth of Billy; the rest +of the army took refuge in their holes.”</p> + +<p>The narration of Ernest excited my curiosity, and I +wished to see for myself the causeway with its inhabitants, +and I recognized a series of works similar to those of the +beaver, with the single difference, that they were not so +extensive. I made my sons observe the conformity that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span>existed between these animals and the beaver of the north; +both had the same membrane at the feet to facilitate +swimming; both had the flat tail, and both were provided +with two little bags of musk.</p> + +<p>Fritz and Jack returned during these conversations; +they brought back a ruffled moor-hen and a nest of eggs: +we placed them under one of our hens that happened to +be sitting at the time. We then all united around a +savoury mess of rice that my good wife had prepared. +She had cooked a small piece of the cabiai; but it was +detestable, and we abandoned it to our dogs, who would +not taste the flesh of the rats on account of the smell of +musk.</p> + +<p>The repast was a merry one. We were all delighted +to have found no traces of the boa; and my mischievous +boys showered a flood of epigrams upon the +“Conqueror of Rats,” as they called poor Ernest.</p> + +<p>The conversation naturally turned upon what we +should do with our rat-skins; and it was determined upon +to make a carpet of them, to preserve the floor of our +house dry. Our first care was to clean them with sand +and ashes, as we were accustomed to do.</p> + +<p>Presently Jack and Francis ran to their knapsacks.</p> + +<p>“Look here, sir!” said the youngest, as he threw some +pine cones before the philosopher.</p> + +<p>“Look here, sir!” said Jack, placing on the table some +little shining apples, of a pale green, which exhaled a +strong odour of cinnamon.</p> + +<p>A general cry of admiration greeted them.</p> + +<p>“Stop!” cried I. “Before tasting this fruit, Master +Knips must undergo the customary trial, for I am afraid +these are the fruit of the manchineel tree; and the manchineel +apples produce most terrible colics.”</p> + +<p>I then opened one of the fruit, and discovered that I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span>had been deceived by the appearance. The manchineel +apple has a nut, and these had very small seeds, like +the common apple. While I was showing this difference +to my children, Master Knips snatched one of the apples +from the table and commenced to eat it, smacking his lips +as if it were something excellent. This determined the +matter. I distributed the fruit, and on tasting them we +declared them most excellent. Fritz wished to know their +name.</p> + +<p>“They are,” said I, “cinnamon apples; I think you +gathered them from a low shrub; did you not, Jack?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, yes—shrub—cinnamon. I am falling asleep,” +stammered out the stupid fellow.</p> + +<p>I then gave the signal for retiring. We took all necessary +precautions for safety during the night, and we +sought, on our mattresses of cotton, the repose that the +fatigues of the day had rendered necessary.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-three">XLIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Pig Hunt—The Supply—The Otaheitan Roast—Ham Smoking +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> next morning, at break of day, we renewed our +search. We directed our course to the sugar-cane +plantation, where I had built a hut of branches, but we +found it all blown down; and setting up our tent, we +resolved to pass the forenoon there.</p> + +<p>While my wife was making preparations for dinner, +we explored the sugar-canes, as I thought it would be a +natural retreat for the serpents, if there yet remained +any in this part of the country. Happily, our investigation +was without any result; and we were turning to +quit the sugar-canes, when suddenly our dogs began to +bark, as if they had taken some dangerous animal. We +could perceive nothing; but as it was not prudent to +venture among the canes, I ordered my sons to direct +their course toward the plain, and we soon found ourselves +clear of the canes. At the same time there emerged +from them a troop of pigs of quite respectable size and +strength. I at first thought it was the young family of +our old sow; but their number, the grey colour of their +skin, and the singular manner in which they walked, soon +banished that idea. They trotted one after the other with +a precision and regularity that would have done honour +to a troop on parade. I took good aim, fired both barrels +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span>of my gun, and two of the animals fell. The loss did +not seem to make much impression on the rest of the +troop, who trotted on as before. It was a singular +spectacle to see the whole family marching along the +borders of the sugar-canes, with an imperturbable tranquillity; +every one followed exactly in his place, without +any pushing for precedence; and, on examining them more +closely, we found that there was but one footstep in the +sand, so regularly did they march.</p> + +<p>But Jack and Fritz, who were a little in advance, +could not let them pass unheeded. Bang, bang, went +their pistols, and two more animals bit the dust; the dogs +also had their part in the victory, and each one strangled +a victim.</p> + +<p>I immediately recognized them as being a sort of hog, +and as I knew that one part, if not immediately removed, +would render the meat uneatable, I immediately set about +the operation, and my sons gladly aided me, so rejoiced +were they at such a splendid booty; for we had six pigs, +each, on an average, three feet in length.</p> + +<p>While we were thus occupied, I heard the reports of +two other guns in the distance; I conjectured them to +have come from Ernest and Francis, who had overtaken +the pigs. I was right; and Ernest, who soon returned +with the waggon for which I had sent Fritz, confirmed +me in my conjecture. We thus had in possession three +more pigs, for Billy had also done his duty.</p> + +<p>The arrival of the doctor naturally provoked a discussion +on the name of our game. Fritz thought that +these were the Otaheitan pigs of which Captain Cook +speaks. Ernest was of another opinion, and maintained +that they were peccaries. This animal is very common +in Guiana and South America. Before loading the +waggon we resolved to clean our game to diminish the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span>weight. Although we worked as diligently as possible, +the work was not yet finished at dinner-time, and we were +glad to find in the sugar-cane a cordial that refreshed +and nourished us. We set out for the tent; but my boys +were so proud of our chase that they determined to convert +our convoy into a triumphal march: they cut some +green boughs and decorated our equipage; they adorned +their caps and guns with flowers, and we made our +entrance chanting a song of victory.</p> + +<p>“You have kept me waiting long enough, gentlemen,” +said my wife; “your dinner is all spoiled; but, bless me! +what a quantity of meat! Why should you abuse the +provision nature has so liberally provided by killing more +than we require?”</p> + +<p>We justified ourselves as well as we were able, and +my children offered their mother the sugar-canes they +had brought home.</p> + +<p>Fritz proposed to regale the family with an Otaheitan +roast. We received his proposition, but it was put off +till the morrow, as the preparation of our pigs precluded +all thoughts of anything else.</p> + +<p>I sent the two smaller boys to gather a quantity of +green branches and leaves, with which to smoke our pork, +and we then set to work. Ernest skinned the pigs. Fritz +and I cut them up, and my wife salted the pieces. I piled +the hams all together, so that the salt would penetrate +every part, and we also poured salted water over them +and allowed them to remain until the hut for smoking was +constructed. As for the heads and bones, they were abandoned +to the dogs.</p> + +<p>The next morning, Fritz recalled to my memory the +promise I had made to allow him to serve us for dinner an +Otaheitan roast. He began by digging a deep trench; he +then took the pig he had reserved for the purpose, washed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span>it with care, rubbed the interior with salt, and filled it +with a sort of stuffing made of meat, potatoes, and different +roots.</p> + +<p>When the trench was full of combustibles, Fritz set +it on fire, and from time to time the boys threw in, by +the direction of their elder brother, a quantity of pebbles, +which soon became red hot.</p> + +<p>My wife observed all these particulars with a look +of incredulity.</p> + +<p>“Beautiful cookery you will make,” said she, “with +an entire pig, some ashes, and a hole in the ground—delicious +eating I do not doubt!”</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, notwithstanding her sarcasms, she could +not help giving the boys some advice, and she aided Fritz +in giving his pig the graceful turn that roast pigs should +always have to taste good.</p> + +<p>When these preparations were finished, our cook-in-chief +enveloped his “roast” in leaves and pieces of +bark; a hole was made in the burning cinders large enough +to receive it, and it was then covered with red-hot stones, +and the hole filled up with earth to prevent the air from +penetrating.</p> + +<p>Fritz let his “roast” cook for about two hours; and +it was not without astonishment that, after having taken +off the triple layer of earth, cinders, and stones, the most +delicious odour saluted our olfactories. I scarcely expected +anything eatable, and we had before us meat cooked +to a nicety, combined with a spicy perfume that would +have done honour to a Parisian cook. Fritz triumphed: +his good mother avowed that she was conquered, and every +one proceeded, without delay, to prove the pig. Some +ashes which had fallen on it were carefully removed, and +the meat was pronounced delicious.</p> + +<p>During the three days while our meat was being +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span>smoked, I had every day, with my sons, explored the +country. These excursions discovered to us no traces +of the boa; but they very seldom ended without our bringing +home some little addition to our comforts and +luxuries.</p> + +<p>One day we directed our course toward the wood of +bamboo, and returned home loaded with cups of all dimensions, +formed from rushes, which we sawed apart +at every knot; some of them were very large, twenty +inches in diameter. We also made another discovery the +same day: it was that each knot of the rushes distilled +a sugary matter which crystallized in the sun, and resembled +candied sugar. These rushes also furnished us +a quantity of long, strong thorns, which filled the place +of nails admirably.</p> + +<p>We also made an excursion to Prospect Hill; but we +found every thing there in the greatest disorder: the +walls of the farmhouse were pulled down, and the cattle +gone. The monkeys had passed that way, and left +unequivocal traces of their progress.</p> + +<p>We then surrounded the hut, where our hams were +suspended, with a rampart of earth, and fortified it with +branches and stones, so as effectually to keep out all intruders; +and we arranged everything so that we might +be ready to set off on the morning of the fourth day, and +commence our explorations beyond the defile that had +been the barrier between the district we had inhabited for +nearly three years, and an unknown land, which we had +but once entered, and then were nearly destroyed by a +troop of buffaloes.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLIV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-four">XLIV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Excursion into the Savanna—Two Horsemen—The Ostrich Hunt—The Nest—The Land Turtles +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> began our march at daylight, and, after having +journeyed on for about two hours, I gave the +signal for a halt, as about gunshot from the defile which +separated the two countries appeared to me to be a +favourable spot for our encampment. It was situated +on an elevated point that commanded a far extended +prospect, and was defended on one side by a thick pine +forest.</p> + +<p>Fritz wanted me, before quitting the place, to leave, +as a mark of our passage, a fortress, after the manner of +the Kamschatkans, which is simply composed of some +boards, elevated by stones at each corner, to a height +sufficient to keep out all savage animals. Before commencing +this work, we made an investigation of the forest +round about; but we discovered nothing but two “margays,” +or wild cats, who fled into the forest before we +could level a gun at them.</p> + +<p>The rest of the morning was devoted to the fortification +of our encampment. We then dined; but the +heat was so powerful that we were obliged to postpone +our excursion into the savanna until the morrow.</p> + +<p>Nothing troubled the repose of the night. We were +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span>up at daylight, and in a few moments our preparations +were complete. I took with me my three eldest sons, as +I wished to be in force on entering into a country as yet +unknown. Francis remained with his mother to take care +of the baggage; and, after breakfast, we packed some +provisions, and took leave of our good mother, who saw +us depart without uneasiness.</p> + +<p>We passed through the defile, at the extremity of +which we had erected a palisade of bamboo and thorny +palm; but it had all been torn down, and we could easily +trace on the sand the spiral imprints of the boa, clearly +demonstrating that he had come from savanna through +this passage. I intended to erect a solid rampart here, +that should be proof against the attack of any animal; but +I was obliged to defer the execution of the plan until +some other time.</p> + +<p>We had now ventured into a country we had entered +but once before. Jack recognized the place where we +had taken the buffalo; the river which divided the plain +was bordered by a rich line of vegetation. We followed +its course for some time, and arrived at the grotto where +my son had taken the young jackal; but the farther we +advanced vegetation disappeared, and we soon found ourselves +in the middle of an immense plain, only bounded +by the horizon. The sun beat right down on our heads, +the sand burned our feet—in one word, it was a desert—a +desert without a single tree—a desert of sand, the only +green things being a few withered geraniums and some +sort of grass that contrasted strangely with the aridity +of the soil. On crossing the river, we had filled our gourds +with fresh water, but the sun had heated it so that we +could not drink it, and we were obliged to throw it away.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus319" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus319.jpg" alt="Francis remained"> + <figcaption> + “Francis remained with his mother.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>After two hours of painful journeying we arrived +at the foot of a hill that we had perceived afar off: it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span>was a rock that elevated itself in the middle of the desert, +and afforded us a refuge against the rays of the sun. We +were too fatigued to climb the rock and reconnoitre the +country: we could scarcely stand against the overpowering +rays of the sun, and our dogs were as tired as ourselves; +we were isolated in the middle of the desert, and +could see the river in the distance, like a silver thread, +winding through its green banks. It was like the Nile, +beheld from a mountain under the burning sun of Nubia.</p> + +<p>We had scarcely been seated five minutes when +Master Knips, who had accompanied us, suddenly disappeared +over the rock, having probably scented some +brother monkeys in the neighbourhood; our dogs, also, +and the jackal deserted us; but we were too tired to call +them back.</p> + +<p>I brought out some morsels of sugar-cane and distributed +them among the boys, for our thirst was +terrible. This refreshment restored our appetites, and +some rounds of roast peccary furnished us with an +excellent repast.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Fritz, whose excellent sight was always +making discoveries, cried out,</p> + +<p>“What do I see! There are two horsemen galloping up +towards us. There, a third has joined them—doubtless +they are Arabs of the desert.”</p> + +<p>“Arabs!” said Ernest! “Bedouins you mean.”</p> + +<p>“Bedouins are but one division of the great family +of Arabs, and your brother was right,” said I; “but take +my spy-glass, Fritz; your news astonishes me.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I see now a number of waggons loaded with hay; +but they are so distant I can scarcely distinguish anything; +something extraordinary is certainly going on.”</p> + +<p>“Let me have the glass,” cried Jack, impatiently; and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span>he declared he saw a crowd of cavaliers who carried little +lances, with banners at the point.</p> + +<p>“Come, give me the glass now,” said I; “your +imaginations are too poetic to be relied upon.”</p> + +<p>I applied the glass to my eye, and, after having +looked some time attentively—</p> + +<p>“Well,” said I to Jack, “your Arabs, your cavaliers +with lances, your hay-carts, what do you think they have +been transformed into?”</p> + +<p>“Camelopards, perhaps.”</p> + +<p>“No; although not a bad idea, yet they are ostriches, +and chance has thrown a splendid chase into our hands; +and if you will take my advice, we will not let these +beautiful inhabitants of the desert pass us by without +measuring our strength with theirs.”</p> + +<p>The ostriches were rapidly approaching, and it was +time to think of some mode of capturing them. It seemed +to me that the best way would be to wait until they came +up, and then attack them by surprise. I ordered Fritz +and Jack to go in search of the dogs, whilst Ernest and +I sought some shelter to conceal us from the ostriches. +We threw ourselves down behind some large tufts of a +plant that grew among the rocks, and which I recognized +as the euphorbia, commonly called wolf’s milk, and the +juice of which is one of the most active poisons in the +world.</p> + +<p>Jack and Fritz now returned with our faithful companions, +whom, from their wet skins, we easily judged +to have been taking a bath somewhere.</p> + +<p>The ostriches were now within eyesight, and I could +distinguish that the family was composed of three +females and a male, who was easily recognized by the +long white feathers of his tail. We crouched closer to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span>the ground, and held our dogs close to our sides, for fear +lest their impatience should defeat our stratagem.</p> + +<p>I now perceived that the ostriches were aware of our +presence—they appeared to hesitate in their march; but, +as we remained immovable, they at last seemed reassured, +and were advancing directly to us, when our +dogs, whom we could not keep quiet, suddenly sprang +out upon them. Away went the timid birds, with a +rapidity that can be compared to nothing else but the +wind driving before it a bundle of feathers. Their feet +did not appear to touch the ground, their half-extended +wings had the appearance of sails, and the wind greatly +accelerated their velocity. I then ordered Fritz to unhood +his eagle; he did so, and the noble bird soon lit upon +the head of the male ostrich, and, attacking his eyes, +brought him to the ground. The dogs and the jackal ran +up, and when we arrived the gigantic bird was just expiring +under the numerous wounds that the ferocious +animals had inflicted.</p> + +<p>We were greatly disappointed at this issue of our +chase; but, as the evil was without remedy, we contented +ourselves with preserving the lifeless corpse. The eagle +and jackal were immediately taken away, as being the +most ferocious. We then deprived the unfortunate +animal of the white plumes in the tail, and we placed +them proudly in our hats. The rich and sumptuous +feathers contrasted strangely with our old worn-out +beavers; but they were an excellent protection against +the rays of the sun.</p> + +<p>“What a pity,” said Fritz, as we examined the gigantic +proportions of the bird, “what a pity to have put such a +magnificent bird to death!—how beautiful it would have +looked stalking among our domestic animals!”</p> + +<p>While we were talking, Jack and Ernest, who had +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span>followed the jackal, made some great discovery, and we +soon saw them waving their plumed hats in the air, and +shouting to us to hurry on,</p> + +<p>“A nest!” they cried, “an ostrich’s nest!—Quick—quick!”</p> + +<p>We hurried on, and found the two boys standing +over a large ostrich-nest—if we can dignify a hole dug +in the ground by the name of nest—in which were +symmetrically arranged from twenty-five to thirty eggs, +each as large as a child’s head.</p> + +<p>My sons wanted to carry away the ostrich-eggs; they +would hatch them, they said, by exposing them in the +daytime to the rays of the sun, and wrapping them up +as warm as possible at night.</p> + +<p>I observed to Fritz, who made the proposal, that each +of these eggs weighed about three pounds, and the whole +number about one hundred pounds, and that, having +neither equipage nor beast, it would be impossible to transport +them across a desert, through which we could hardly +drag our arms and knapsacks; besides, I doubted whether +artificial heat could replace the natural influence. But +the children had got the idea into their heads, and they +agreed that each one should take one egg, which he should +carry in his pocket-handkerchief. The little boys soon +repented of their agreement, and they changed their burden +from hand to hand, with all the signs of ennui and +fatigue. I came to their assistance, and advised them +to cut some branches from a low sort of pine that grew +about the rocks, and make a basket to carry their eggs, +as the Dutch milk-women carry their milk-pots. My plan +succeeded admirably, and my boys began their march +without the slightest complaint.</p> + +<p>We then arrived at the borders of a swamp that +seemed to be formed by the confluence of several springs +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span>that flowed from the rocks; we could trace the marks of +the dogs and the monkey, and recognized this as the +place where they had wet themselves. We could perceive, +in the distance, troops of buffaloes, monkeys, and +antelopes, but so far from us that we took no further +notice of them; nothing, however, indicated to us the presence +of a boa, or that such animals resided here. We +halted at this marsh, and refreshed ourselves with some provisions; +and then, filling our empty gourds with water, +prepared to depart, when we perceived the jackal had +made a discovery. It was a round object which he had +dug out of the sand with his paws; it resembled a mass +of moist earth, and I threw it into the water to clean it, +when, what was my astonishment to see it move! I took +it out, and, on examining it, discovered it to be a turtle +of the smallest kind, scarcely as large as an apple.</p> + +<p>“How is this?” said Fritz. “I thought that turtles +inhabited the sea only.”</p> + +<p>“Who knows?” said Ernest; “perhaps there has been +a shower of turtles here, as the Romans formerly had +a shower of frogs.”</p> + +<p>“Stop there,” said I to the philosopher; “your irony +does not show your learning. Perhaps you do not know +that there are land as well as sea-turtles. They are not +only found in swamps, but even in gardens, where they +subsist on snails, caterpillars, and all sorts of insects.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then,” replied Ernest, “let us carry some home +to mamma. She would like them to put in her garden; we +will also put one in our cabinet of natural history.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-five">XLV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Bears! Bears!—Narrow Escape—The Combat—Discovery of Porcelain Earth +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> quitted the borders of the swamp; but, instead +of directing our steps through the desert, we followed +a little stream of water that led us to the rock where +we had reposed on our first excursion into the savanna. +It was a delicious route in comparison with our painful +journey of the morning. We found trees, grass—in short, +it was a little oasis in the desert, and we named it “Green +Valley.”</p> + +<p>We were yet distant about half an hour’s journey +from the jackal’s grotto; Jack and Fritz had stopped a +moment to adjust their burdens, and I also stopped with +them, while Ernest marched forward, followed by Folb.</p> + +<p>“The philosopher is in a hurry to get home,” said +Jack, laughing; “he runs that he may be rested first.”</p> + +<p>But scarcely had the fellow finished his sentence, when +we heard a cry of distress; it was the voice of Ernest, +followed by two terrible howls, mingled with the barking +of the dog. A moment after, Ernest reappeared; he was +running at full speed, his face deadly pale, and he cried +out in a voice stifled with fear—</p> + +<p>“Bears! bears! they are following me”; and the poor +boy fell into my arms more dead than alive. I had not +time to reassure him, and I felt myself seized with a sudden +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span>shiver, as an enormous bear appeared, immediately +followed by a second.</p> + +<p>“Courage, children,” was all I could say. I seized my +gun, and prepared to receive the enemy. Fritz did the +same; and, with a courage and coolness far above his years, +he took his place by my side. Jack also took his gun, +but remained in the rear; while Ernest, who had no arms—for +in his fright he had let his gun fall—took to his +heels and ran away.</p> + +<p>But our dogs were already at the attack, and they +had commenced to measure themselves with their terrible +adversaries. We fired together; and, although our shots +did not bring down the enemy, they nevertheless told well: +one of the bears had a jaw broken, the other a shoulder +fractured. But the combat was not yet finished: they +were only partially disabled. Our faithful servants did +prodigies of valour; they fought most desperately, rolling +in the dust with their enemies, while their blood poured +in streams on the sand. We would have fired again, but +we were afraid that we should kill the dogs, it being impossible, +during the changing contest, to take any aim. +We resolved to advance nearer, and, at about four paces +from the bears, we discharged our pistols direct at their +heads. The huge animals gave a groan that caused us +to shudder, and then fell back motionless on the sand.</p> + +<p>It was too late to meddle with the animals, and we +took the precaution, before leaving, to draw the two +carcasses into the jackal’s cave, and cover them with +thorn-bushes, to keep off all carnivorous beasts and birds +of prey; we also buried our ostrich-eggs in the sand, as +their weight retarded our march greatly, and we could +leave them here until the morrow.</p> + +<p>The sun was set when we rejoined my dear companion +and our little Francis. A good fire and a well-cooked +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span>supper refreshed our weary bodies, and my little +heroes commenced a long narration of the exploits of the +day, Master Jack making up for the small share he had +had in our victory by boasting and swaggering enough +for all.</p> + +<p>My wife and Francis had not been idle during our +absence; they had discovered on the banks of a stream a +sort of greasy, white earth, which appeared to me to be +fine pipeclay. They had also collected water enough for +the use of our domestic animals, and, by the force of industry +and perseverance, had amassed, at the entrance of +the defile, a quantity of materials necessary for my projected +fortification.</p> + +<p>I thanked my good wife for the pains she had taken. +We then lighted a large fire to guard us through the +night, and our dogs, whose wounds my wife had washed +and dressed with fresh butter, lay down beside it. I +wished, before retiring for the night, to make a trial +of the earth my wife had found, for I suspected that it +was porcelain. I made two roughly-shaped bowls from +it, and threw them into a furnace of hot cinders, and we +then all retired to the tent, where sweet sleep soon sealed +our eyelids. The next morning it required a strong effort +to tear us from our beds, so wearied out had we been +the preceding day. I found my two bowls hardened by +the heat; they were, as I supposed, porcelain, rather +coarse-grained, but well enough for our purposes. We +breakfasted in haste; the beasts were harnessed to the +cart, and, after a pleasant little ride, we arrived safe and +sound at the cavern of the bears.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLVI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-six">XLVI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Preparation of the Bears’ Flesh—Cups out of Ostrich Eggs—Angora Rabbits and Antelopes +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> devoted a whole day to the preparation of the +bears’ flesh. After having skinned them with the +utmost care and precaution, I cut off the hams, and then +divided the rest of the meat into long strips, about an inch +in thickness, and we exposed the whole to a good current +of smoke, as the ancient buccaneers used to do. The +grease was collected in bamboo canes, and carefully preserved; +for, besides its use in the kitchen, my wife said +it was excellent on bread in lieu of butter. We had about +a hundred pounds of fat, together with that which the +peccaries had afforded us a few days before; we abandoned +the carcasses to our dogs, and they, aided by the +birds of prey, soon picked the bones so clean, that there +remained nothing but two perfectly white, dry skeletons, +which we carried home with us for our museum. As for +the skins, they were carefully washed with salt water, and +rubbed with sand and ashes; and although our talents in +the art of currying were poor enough, we rendered the +skins sufficiently soft for all purposes.</p> + +<p>Our labours had been too peaceful for the restless, +turbulent character of my boys. I could see that they +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span>were tired and fretful, and I thought that the best plan +would be to diversify our work with some amusement. +I proposed to them to make an excursion alone in the +desert; my proposition, as one may suppose, was joyfully +received, and the perspective of an unchecked course +rallied the flagging spirits of my little companions. +Ernest refused to accompany them, preferring to remain +at home with us. On the other hand, Francis was so eager +to accompany his brothers, that I at last permitted him +to go.</p> + +<p>My wife and I resumed our domestic labours, and +Ernest, tranquilly seated on the sand, occupied himself +in making cups from ostrich eggs; for we had discovered, +by putting our eggs into hot water, that the principle of +life was exhausted. Ernest had read of a plan somewhere +to separate the eggs by surrounding them with a string +steeped in strong vinegar. The action of the acid on the +lime contained in the shell forms a circular line, which +gradually eats through; but the lining membrane of the +egg was so hard, that it was necessary to cut it with a +knife; it had all the elasticity of parchment.</p> + +<p>We soon quitted this occupation to undertake another. +While examining a small cavern which we had discovered +near the tent, I found several minerals, among others, a +piece of amianth, known as being incombustible; and also +a superb block of talc, as transparent as glass, and which +I resolved to fashion into window panes. Ernest aided +me as much as he was able, and we soon detached a splendid +piece, about two feet in length, and the same in thickness. +My wife, who received everything that could recall +Europe to her mind with pleasure, was overjoyed at our +new discovery, especially when I informed her that this +mineral could be divided into leaves no thicker than paper.</p> + +<p>We had been thus occupied the best part of the day, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span>and, as evening approached, we gathered around our +hearth, where our good housewife was cooking two bear’s +paws, which had been well soaked in brine, and the smell +of which, as it escaped from the pot, promised us a delicious +supper; and we sat down to while away the time in +conversation until our huntsmen returned. We did not +wait long, for the galloping of their steeds was soon heard, +and in another moment they were at our sides.</p> + +<p>Jack and Francis each carried a little kid on his back, +with the feet tied together, and the game-bag of Fritz appeared +to me to be pretty full.</p> + +<p>“A fine chase, papa!” cried Jack. “Storm carried me +through the desert like a flash of lightning. Fritz has two +magnificent Angora rabbits in his pouch, and also a complaisant +cuckoo, who led us to one of the finest hives I have +ever seen; we shall be able to get plenty of honey.”</p> + +<p>“Jack has not told all,” said Fritz: “we have taken a +whole troop of antelopes prisoners, and have driven them +into our domains, where we can hunt them and tame them +just when we please.”</p> + +<p>Turning towards Jack, whose face seemed very much +swollen, I said, “What is the matter with your cheeks? +have your adventures been dangerous in any way?”</p> + +<p>Fritz interrupted his answer, and began the following +narration.</p> + +<p>“After quitting you, we took the direction of the valley +and, finding a narrow place where two or three trees had +fallen down, we took advantage of this natural bridge, and +crossed to the other side of the river. We rode on some +time without perceiving anything, our coursers going at full +speed, and the sun not being high enough to be unpleasant. +At last we discovered, in the distance, two herds of small +animals, of what kind we could not distinguish, but I +thought they were either antelopes or gazelles. Our first +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span>care was to call our dogs together, and keep them close by +our sides, as we knew the animals were more afraid of +them than of us. I then divided my forces: I gave Francis +the line of the river as his position; Jack occupied the +middle, while I, mounted on the onagra, sustained the +right wing, and endeavoured to drive the animals to the +centre. We effected this movement, and one of the herds +passed the river as quietly as if the act had been voluntary. +The other herd did not seem to perceive us until we were +close to them, when suddenly they raised themselves from +the grass where they had been lying, and, stretching out +their long necks and little heads, surmounted by short, +pointed ears, set off at full speed; and now our chase commenced. +We urged our coursers onward, and, giving our +dogs their liberty, we soon forced the entire troop over the +river, and drove them into the defile which separated us +from the savanna. After we had secured them in our +dominions, the next thing was to keep them there. Several +plans were proposed, but at last the following was +chosen. We stretched a long cord from one side of the +defile to the other, and fastened to it every light thing we +could find, the continual motion of which frightened the +animals away whenever they approached it; the ostrich-plumes +in our hats, our handkerchiefs, etc., furnished us +with materials.”</p> + +<p>“Admirable!” said I, as the boy stopped as if to see +how his stratagem was received, “admirable! The only +thing is, in the night it cannot be seen; but it truly was a +bright thought for such a boy. But about the rabbits,” +added I, “what do you intend to do with them? If they +should happen to get in your mother’s vegetable garden, +there would not be much of it left.”</p> + +<p>“No, no; but I thought that one of our two islands +would make a good home for them; for instance, Shark +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span>Island would make a magnificent warren, and furnish us +many a good dish, and fine furs to make caps out of.”</p> + +<p>“But how did you come to take them alive?”</p> + +<p>“The honour of the capture is due to my eagle; he +pounced down upon a troop of rabbits that were flying +before us, and carried off two in his talons. I rescued +them before he had injured them, and he consoled himself +by killing another, which he soon devoured.”</p> + +<p>I could see that Jack was watching every opportunity +to put in a word, and I laughingly requested the poor fellow +to speak.</p> + +<p>“In my turn!” said he, “in my turn! I galloped on +with Francis while Fritz was chasing the rabbits; the dogs +followed us, and suddenly we saw them jump forward, and +run after two little animals about the size of a hare, that +fled with incredible rapidity. Away we all went, and, +after a hot chase of a quarter of an hour, we captured the +two fugitives. There they are,” continued the young narrator, +throwing down before us two beautiful little animals; +“I think they are young fawns.”</p> + +<p>“And I think,” said I, “that they are antelopes.”</p> + +<p>“Well, whatever they may be,” continued Jack, “our +dogs behaved admirably, and so, I can say, did their masters. +But that was nothing to what happened afterwards. +We had scarcely commenced our progress when a sort of +cuckoo began to fly before us, singing away as if to defy +us. I had already levelled my gun, when Fritz requested +me to recollect that it was loaded with ball, and that I +should only waste the charge. I accordingly slung my +gun on my back, and we rode on, the cuckoo flying on before +us, when suddenly he stopped just over a bees’ nest, +artfully concealed in the ground. We now held a council +of war about the nest, and discussed the plan of attack. +Francis begged to be excused, recalling to our memories +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span>the former attack at Falcon’s Nest. Fritz was willing to +do all the advising part, but would rather leave the execution +to somebody else; so you see, at last, the whole affair +devolved upon me. Armed with some sulphur matches +that I found in my knapsack, I advanced and tried to suffocate +the bees by throwing the lighted matches down the +hole, when suddenly a rumbling noise was heard, and, in +a second, a swarm of bees emerged, attacking me on all +sides. My hands and face were violently treated, and it +was with the greatest difficulty that I mounted my buffalo +and rode away, bearing with me the honourable marks of +the conflict. I could scarcely believe,” said Jack, as he +finished his recital, “that so small an animal could cause +so much pain.”</p> + +<p>I reflected long upon what Jack had told me concerning +the strange bird that had shown them the nest of bees. +I easily recognized it as being the “cuckoo-indicator” of +naturalists; “But,” thought I, “how, if this coast is uninhabited, +could the bird have known that human beings +liked honey, and would be willing to share the discovery +with him? Is not such conduct a sign that we are not the +first men who have trod this soil? May not the interior +of the country be inhabited?” These considerations were +of the highest importance to us, and I was convinced that +it would not be prudent to advance into the interior, unless +with the greatest caution. I also resolved to build a +fortress on one side of the coast, and I chose Shark Island +as its situation, as it appeared to me that a strong fortification +that would command the coast of Felsenheim, and +fortified by our two cannons, would enable us to defend +ourselves against all attack from the interior, if any ever +took place.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLVII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-seven">XLVII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Ostriches Again—A Hunt and a Capture—Acquisition of Treasure—Euphorbia—Vanilla +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">At</span> the break of day I was up, and awoke my sons; +our labours were almost done—our bears’ meat +was smoked, our fat all run out into bamboo vessels; and +the rainy season, which was rapidly approaching, warned +us to return to our home in the grotto. Nevertheless, I +wished to make another excursion into the desert, to see +whether a second visit to the nest of ostrich eggs would not +succeed better than the first, and I likewise wanted to +gather some of the gum of the euphorbia.</p> + +<p>As we wished to accomplish this excursion as rapidly +as possible, it was resolved to go on horseback. We took +with us Turk and Billy, and set off, following the direction +of the Green Valley, tracing over again all the places +rendered illustrious by some remembrance of our last +excursion—the spot where we had encountered the bears, +the turtle-marsh, and, at last, the rock from which Fritz +discovered the ostriches. To this rock we gave the name +of “Arab’s Tower,” in allusion to the mistake he had made +in thinking the ostriches to be Arabs of the desert.</p> + +<p>Jack and Francis galloped off at full speed, and, as +the plain was so level that they could not escape from my +eye, I let them go on. I retained Fritz by my side to aid +me in gathering the euphorbia which had congealed in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span>the sun. I had provided myself with a vessel to put it in, +and I soon filled it with the little drops of hardened gum.</p> + +<p>This gum is one of the most violent and subtle poisons, +and my son asked me why I took so much pains to collect +it.</p> + +<p>“I intend to use it,” said I, “to destroy the monkeys—a +cruel means, I will allow, but necessity drives us to +adopt it. We can also employ the euphorbia in preparing +the skins of birds and other animals; it will preserve them +from corruption, and keep out all insects. To whatever +use, however, we may apply it, the greatest precaution +must be observed, as it is capable of producing the most +dreadful results.”</p> + +<p>During our work, the two cavaliers had almost disappeared +in the savanna, and it was with great difficulty +that our eyes could follow them, surrounded as they were +by a cloud of dust. They had passed far beyond the +ostrich nest, to which we directed our course, wishing to +see whether the eggs had been abandoned or not.</p> + +<p>We had scarcely come in sight of the nest when we +saw four noble ostriches rise from the sand and advance +toward us. Fritz’s first care was to prepare his eagle for +the conflict; and, to prevent it from renewing the former +scene of carnage, he fastened its beak so strongly that it +was almost harmless. Our dogs were also muzzled, and +we stood still, in order that we might not frighten the birds. +On they came, with half-extended wings, gliding over the +ground with inconceivable rapidity. They seemed to +think us inanimate objects, for they came on directly for +us until they had arrived within pistol-shot; they were +three females and a male—the last a little in advance, +with his beautiful tail-feathers floating behind him. The +moment of attack was come; I seized my string with balls, +and, calling up all my sleight-of-hand, I launched it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span>against the male ostrich. Unfortunately, however, instead +of catching him around the legs, as I intended, the +balls of my string took a turn round his body, and I only +fastened his wings to his sides. It diminished his speed +somewhat, but the victory was not complete; and the +frightened bird turned round, and, using his long legs, +endeavoured to escape: away we dashed after him, I on +the onagra, and Fritz on the colt. But we were nearly +exhausted, when, happily, Jack and Francis rode up, +and cut off his further retreat. Fritz then unhooded his +eagle, and, pointing out the ostrich to him, he immediately +pounced upon his prey; and now commenced an arduous +chase. Jack and Francis on one side, and Fritz and I on +the other, tormented him, and harassed him without ceasing; +but the most useful combatant was the eagle. The +presence of this new enemy troubled the ostrich greatly; +he felt him on his head, and heard the flapping of his +wings, while, on the other hand, the eagle, furious at finding +his beak strongly fastened by a ligature of cotton, was +so violent that, by a vigorous stroke of his wings, the +ostrich fairly tottered. Jack then threw his string and +balls so skilfully that the noble bird bit the sand of the +desert. A cry of joy burst from the huntsmen, the eagle +was recalled and hoodwinked, and we hastened to our +prize in order to prevent his breaking the bonds that confined +him; for he was so very violent, and struggled so +vigorously, that I hardly dared to approach him. I imagined +that by depriving him of light I might reduce his +fury, and I threw my hunting-sack, my vest and handkerchief, +over his head. I had discovered the secret: no +sooner were his eyes covered than he became as quiet as +a lamb. I approached, passed a large band of seadog-skin +around his body, two other bands were attached as +reins to each side, and his legs were fastened with strong +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span>cords, long enough to allow him to walk, but which confined +him sufficiently to prevent his escape.</p> + +<p>I then attached our two coursers before and behind the +ostrich with strong cords; and when all was ready, my two +cavaliers jumped into their saddles, and I pulled the covering +from the head of the ostrich.</p> + +<p>The bird remained some time immovable, as if astonished +at the return of light. It soon made a start; but the +ropes pulled it roughly back, and it fell down on its knees; +again it made the attempt, and again it was foiled. It +tried to fly, but its wings were tightly fastened by the +band I had passed around them: its legs were also restrained: +it threw itself from side to side with the utmost +violence, but the patient buffaloes did not pay the least +attention to the pulling and hauling. At last the bird +appeared convinced of the inutility of its efforts, and, submitting +to its two companions, set off with them at full +gallop. They dashed gallantly on for half an hour, until +the buffalo and the bull, less accustomed to the sands of +the savanna than the ostrich, forced it to abate its rapid +pace, and adopt a slower system of movement.</p> + +<p>While the two young cavaliers were thus occupied, +Fritz and I set out in search of the ostrich nest. The cross +of willows which we had planted in the ground near it, at +our last visit, still remained, and, as we approached, a +female bird rose up off the nest and fled rapidly away into +the desert. Her presence appeared to us a good augury, +as it assured us that the eggs still retained the principle of +life. I had taken care to bring with me a sack and a +quantity of cotton. I now took out six of the eggs, and, +enveloping them as carefully as possible in the cotton, +placed them in the sack, leaving the others in the nest, in +hopes the mother would not discover the theft.</p> + +<p>We traversed the Green Valley without perceiving +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span>anything uncommon, and soon arrived at the tent, where +Ernest and his mother received us with an astonishment +they could not find words to express.</p> + +<p>I fastened the ostrich securely between two trees, and +the rest of the day was devoted to preparations for our +departure on the morrow. We had a number of new +riches to collect, and I wished to leave nothing behind us.</p> + +<p>The next day we set off early. The ostrich took his +place between the bull and the buffalo, as before; he was, +at first, inclined to be refractory, and threw himself from +right to left, but all in vain: his two conductors were like +immovable masses, against which all resistance was unavailing.</p> + +<p>Fritz mounted the young colt Rapid, and I the onagra, +while Ernest directed the car, in the middle of which +my wife sat in all her majesty, among the provisions. +Our march was slow, but it was very picturesque, as may +be imagined.</p> + +<p>We halted at the entrance of the defile where my sons +had suspended the cord with the feathers attached, to +keep back the antelopes and gazelles. In the place of the +cord, we erected a solid palisade of bamboo, high enough +to keep out all animals that do not climb. We planted a +row of thorn bushes on each side, and sprinkled a layer +of sand all around, so that we could discover what sort of +animals might frequent it. During the construction of +this fence we made a new discovery; it was that of the +Vanilla bean, which I recognized by its brown pods and +balsamic odour.</p> + +<p>Our labours at the defile detained us a long time, and +it was night when we arrived at the cabin of the Hermitage. +We found our smoking-hut the same as before, and +our provision of peccary untouched. We lighted a fire, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span>and, after a frugal repast, extended ourselves on our sacks +of cotton, and courted balmy sleep.</p> + +<p>The next day, we discovered a new treasure: our henhouse +had received an addition of twenty young chicks—the +product of the eggs Jack had brought home in his hat. +My wife was enchanted at this discovery, and caught several +pairs to take home with her.</p> + +<p>We were so anxious to return to our dear Felsenheim, +and to resume all our comforts and luxuries, that we resolved +not to stop again until we arrived there. It was +long after noon when our weary journey was finished. +We were worn out with fatigue; the sun’s rays had been +pouring down on our heads all day, and our strength was +so exhausted we could scarcely give our animals their +evening food.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLVIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-eight">XLVIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Progress in Ostrich Discipline—Efficacy of Tobacco Smoke—Hydromel—The New Hat—Pottery +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> day after our arrival at Felsenheim, my wife +commenced “cleaning house.” Windows were +opened, beds aired, and all swept and garnished. While +she and the two younger boys were thus employed, I, +with the two elder, unpacked and distributed the riches +we had brought home.</p> + +<p>We had tied the ostrich, at first, under a tree, and securely +fastened his feet; but we changed his situation, and +tied him to one of the strong bamboo columns that supported +the gallery.</p> + +<p>We next visited the eggs, and they were, like the first, +submitted to the trial of warm water. Several of them +fell heavily to the bottom; but three or four moved slightly +when immersed in the water, and these were carefully preserved, +in order that we might try the experiment of hatching +them by cotton and artificial heat. For this purpose +I constructed an oven, in which I took care to maintain +that degree of heat which the thermometer marked as +being the natural heat of the hen.</p> + +<p>We then installed our Angora rabbits on Shark Island; +we constructed a burrow in the ground, similar to +those of Europe, and, before putting them in, we combed +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span>them, and removed all the superfluous hair. We also +fixed wooden combs over the entrance of each burrow, so +that the rabbits, when passing in or out, would be deprived +of some part of their fine wool, which I intended to manufacture +into hats.</p> + +<p>The two antelopes were also transported to Shark +Island. We should have liked very much to keep these +charming little creatures about us, but the fear of the +dogs and beasts of prey forced us to condemn the timid +creatures to confinement. In order to render their exile +as agreeable as possible, I erected a hut in the middle of +the island, to shelter them, and we took good care to provide +them with plenty of provisions.</p> + +<p>I wished, before the rains came on, to prepare a field +to receive the seeds we had hitherto confided to the earth +without any order or regularity. It was a difficult enterprise, +and we felt in all its reality the force of that law +which condemned man to gain his bread by the sweat of +his brow. Our faithful animals were of much assistance +to us; but the sun was so intense that the slightest labour +utterly exhausted them. We could work but four hours +in the day: two in the morning and two in the evening; +we were able, however, to prepare at last about two +acres of land, which would furnish us an ample harvest +of maize, potatoes, and manioc-root.</p> + +<p>During the intervals of our fatiguing field labours, +we occupied ourselves by beginning the education of the +ostrich. It was an enterprise as difficult as it was novel; +but I had read that it could be accomplished, and I +was resolved to try it.</p> + +<p>Our pupil began by putting himself in a terrible passion; +he struggled, snapped at us with his beak, and cut +up all sorts of capers; but we could find no better remedy +for such conduct than to treat him as we had treated +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span>Fritz’s eagle, that was, by burning tobacco under his nose. +This had the desired effect, and we soon saw the majestic +bird totter and fall insensible to the ground. We had +recourse to this plan several times. Little by little we relaxed +the cord which fastened it to the bamboo post, and +gave it room to wander about the doorway. A litter of +rushes was provided for him; calabashes filled with sweet +nuts, rice, maize, and guavas were placed every day before +the animal; in a word, we neglected nothing that we +thought would consort with the fellow’s taste.</p> + +<p>During three days all our cares were in vain: our choice +dishes were regarded with great disdain, the beautiful captive +would not eat, and it carried its obstinacy so far that +at last I was seriously afraid of the consequences. At +last an idea occurred to my wife, which relieved us from +all embarrassment. It was to poke down the throat of +the bird, willy nilly, balls of maize and butter. The ostrich +made horrible faces at first, but when it got a taste +of the balls, all trouble on that point was over, and the +delicacies we placed before it were quickly devoured, the +guavas, by the bye, being especially favoured.</p> + +<p>The natural savageness of the bird disappeared more +and more every day; it would let us approach it without +striking at us, and after some days we thought we could, +without much risk, unfasten it, to take a short lesson in +the art of walking. We placed it between the buffalo +and the bull, and put it through all the exercises of the +stable—to trot, to gallop, stop short, trot again, walk +slow, etc. I cannot say that the poor bird relished his first +lesson very much, but the tobacco pipe and the whip were +two admirable instructors, and when he was disposed to +become unruly a whiff of tobacco would set all to rights.</p> + +<p>At the end of the month its education was complete, +and it had so well succeeded that I now seriously thought +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span>of making our new conquest of general usefulness. I +wished it to associate with our domestic animals, to submit +like them to regular movements, and to stop and march as +we wished. The first thing that was to be thought of +was a bit; but how could I contrive a bit for a beak? +I had never seen one, and I must confess that I felt greatly +embarrassed; at last I achieved my task. I had remarked +that the absence of light had a very direct influence upon +the ostrich; it would stop short when blindfolded, and +could not be induced to move until its eyes were uncovered. +This discovery was the basis of the new invention that I +constructed. I made, with the skin of a sea-dog, a sort +of hood, like the one we had made for the eagle, which +covered the head, being fastened about the neck. I made +two openings in the side of this hood, one opposite each +eye, and covered each of these holes with one of our little +turtle-shells, attached to a whale-bone spring, fixed in +such a manner that it would open and shut. Reins were +fastened to these springs, so that, by their action, we could +admit the light or shut it out, just as we pleased. When +the two shells were open, the ostrich galloped straight on; +when one was opened, it went in a direction corresponding +with the eye that received light, and when both shells +were shut, it would stop short. The most fully trained +horse could not have obeyed better than our ostrich did +under his novel head-dress.</p> + +<p>My children thought that the education of our captive +was now complete; but I was of a different opinion. The +ostrich is a very robust animal, and capable of supporting +a great deal of fatigue. I wished it to learn to carry +burdens, to draw a carriage, and be adapted for horsemanship; +I began, consequently, to make harness for each of +these occupations. We had a great deal of difficulty in +making the ostrich submit to our wishes; our hardest task +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span>was to make it submit to our mounting it; but I knew that +patience and perseverance are the two first elements of +success in imparting education. I was not, therefore, discouraged, +and at last we had the satisfaction to see our +new courser galloping between Felsenheim and Falcon’s +Nest with one of our young cavaliers mounted on his +back.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus345" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus345.jpg" alt="riding an ostrich"> + <figcaption> + “With one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>The artificial nest of ostrich eggs, which we had enveloped +in cotton, and placed in a stove, had succeeded; +that is to say, out of six eggs, three had hatched. The +young ostriches were the drollest-looking animals that +could be imagined: they looked like ducks, mounted on +long legs, and they tottered awkwardly about on their +slender stilts. One died the day after its birth; the two +others survived, and we endeavoured to preserve them by +taking all possible care for their comfort. Maize, acorns, +boiled rice, milk, and cassava, were set before them in rich +profusion.</p> + +<p>We had had nothing to drink but water since our +arrival on the island, if I except the barrel of Cape wine +that we had saved from the shipwreck; but that had long +ago been exhausted, and I now determined to make some +sort of drink for the winter.</p> + +<p>I had often heard of the hydromel of the Russians; +we had the primary material, honey, from our hives, and +I determined to make the experiment. We boiled some +honey in a sufficient quantity of water, and after having +filled two barrels with the fluid, I threw in a large cake +of sour corn bread, to make the liquor ferment; when that +process was finished, we tasted it, and found it was of a +pleasant flavour, agreeably acid, and a great resource for +our long winter days. We placed the two tuns in our +cellar, or, to speak more justly, in the hole we had dignified +by that name. We then set to work and made a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span>choicer drink than the first: to our honey and water we +added nutmegs, ravensara, and, in short, a collection of +all the aromatic plants we could find. This drink was +reserved for extraordinary occasions, such as holiday banquets, +anniversaries, etc.</p> + +<p>When all our provisions were gathered in, and we felt +sure that we could get through the winter without famine +overtaking us, we commenced our manufacture of hats. +It was a labour as difficult as novel for us. The first +question that presented itself was the form of our hats; +each one gave in his opinion, but necessity came into the +council, and obliged us to give our new manufacture the +form most in unison with our means of execution. It +was extremely simple: I cut a wooden head, which divided +into two parts, and on which we spread a thick layer of +soft paste, composed of rat-skin and the glue of fishes. +We let it dry, and as it took the exact impress of the +mould, we obtained a sort of cap, of which my readers can +form some idea of the shape.</p> + +<p>It had cost us a great deal of trouble to produce even +this ill-looking affair. My sons were scarcely less satisfied +with it than I was; but our European hats were so +dilapidated that it became a matter of necessity to procure +something to replace them.</p> + +<p>I now had recourse to the cochineal, and I soon gave +to our beaver a beautiful brilliant purple tint. The hat +looked better; I adorned it with a couple of ostrich-plumes, +and it looked better still; my wife passed a ribbon round +it, which she had found in her enchanted sack, and the +disdain with which my poor beaver had been received, was +changed into anxious requests for its possession.</p> + +<p>But its destination had been fixed beforehand: it belonged +to Francis by right, as he had lost his old hat a +few days before.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span></p> +<p>Our success in the manufacture of hats emboldened +us to try our hand at other things. We were much in +want of kitchen utensils, and I was obliged to pass from +the art of hat-making to that of potter.</p> + +<p>I did not understand much about pottery; and what +puzzled me most was the way in which the earth was to +be prepared before using it; and I began my experiments +with very little hope of their ever succeeding.</p> + +<p>I constructed, in one corner of the grotto, a large +stove, divided into compartments, destined to receive the +different articles; earthen pipes were conducted all around, +so as to equalize the heat as much as possible. These preparations +occupied me a long time, as I had no idea how +the thing should be done, and I can safely say I invented +rather than imitated a furnace for pottery.</p> + +<p>I next took a certain quantity of the porcelain earth, +which very much resembled fine white sand. I carefully +removed all foreign particles, such as bits of stone, etc., +as I was afraid they would cut our hands while working +the porcelain. I also mixed a quantity of the talc we had +brought home for window-panes, thinking, perhaps, it +would render the mixture more firm and solid. When all +was well worked up together, I left it a little while to dry, +while I set to work to invent a machine for turning our +utensils on. The wheel of one of our cannon carriages, +fixed horizontally on a pivot and surmounted by another +wheel, united to it by an axle and turning with it, formed +my machine. I first turned out some plates and dishes, +cups and saucers, bowls, and other things. I exposed +these articles to a very strong heat: a great many broke in +pieces, but I completed about half. When baked they +were perfectly transparent and of the most beautiful +grain. My wife saw her kitchen apparatus enriched with +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span>utensils of all sorts, and, overwhelmed with joy, she promised +us, in exchange, numberless good dainties, which, for +want of a suitable utensil, she had hitherto been unable +to make.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_XLIX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Forty-nine">XLIX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Return of the Rainy Season—A New Want—The Cajack +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> rainy season was now rapidly approaching, +and we were soon obliged to give up our excursions. +The winds and the rain commenced; the sky that had so +long been clear became dark with storm-clouds; terrible +tempests announced the approach of winter; and we closed +the door of our grotto, happy in having such a comfortable +shelter.</p> + +<p>The turning-wheel was continually in motion. We +improved the quality of our fabrications more and more, +and we manufactured utensils that at the outset we had +despaired of ever possessing.</p> + +<p>We had preserved the shells of the ostrich-eggs, and +having divided them by means of a string steeped in vinegar, +we converted the halves into elegant vases. I turned +some wooden pedestals on which they were placed, and we +thus obtained drinking-cups and vases for flowers in summer.</p> + +<p>But these labours were much more interesting to me +than to my young family, and I feared that the inactivity +to which I saw them reduced would render them indolent. +Ernest found occupation enough in his books; but his +brothers never entered the library unless when driven by +necessity. I felt the urgency of providing some active +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span>occupation for them, and one more to their taste than literature; +but I could not think of anything, when Fritz +came to my assistance.</p> + +<p>“We have,” said he, “in the person of our ostrich, a +splendid post-horse, with which to travel the highways of +our kingdom; we have carts to transport our provisions; a +pinnace, and a canoe, which are riding majestically at +anchor in Safety Bay; but one thing is yet wanting: we +have need of an equipage that will glide over the surface of +the water, as the ostrich does over the sand. I have read +that the Greenlanders have a sort of vessel which they call +‘cajack,’ and which I must have. Why cannot we construct +one? We have constructed a canoe—why should we, +civilized Europeans, not succeed in that which barbarous +savages have attempted?”</p> + +<p>I joyfully received the proposition of my son. The +cajack, the only vessel of the Greenlander, is a sort of +canoe in the form of a shell; and a piece of walrus-skin, +with three or four strips of whalebone, are almost the +only requisites for its construction. It is extremely light, +and the navigator who has glided in it over the surface of +the wave can easily carry it on his shoulder when he has +arrived at land.</p> + +<p>The strips of whalebone, bamboo-cane, and Spanish +rushes, with some sea-dog skin, were the materials that +we employed in making our cajack. Two arched strips +of whalebone fastened at each end, and separated in the +middle by a piece of bamboo fixed transversely across, +formed the two sides of our canoe; other pieces of whalebone, +woven in with rushes and moss, well covered with +pitch, formed the skeleton.</p> + +<p>When the skeleton was finished, and the interior covered +with a coat of gum and moss, we commenced the +construction of an envelope. For this I took the two +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span>entire skins of sea-calves, fastened one at each end of the +canoe, and then drew them down under it, where they were +strongly sewed together, and covered with a gum elastic +coat, to render them impervious to water. I also cut +out oars of bamboo, and fastened bladders to one end, so +that they might be useful in case of accident. I also constructed, +in the bow, a place to receive a sail, in case we +should decide, at a future period, to put one there.</p> + +<p>There was yet an important thing wanting in the completion +of our Greenland boat: it was the equipment of +him who was to manage it. I had often heard of a sort +of apparel well known to those who dwell near the sea, +and which consisted in enveloping a person in an airtight +dress, lighter than the volume of liquid his body displaced. +I described this apparel to my sons, narrated to +them how the head of the swimmer was covered with a +hood, furnished with a pipe intended to let in air when it +was necessary to breathe under water. My description of +the costume and the air-chimney fairly turned the boys’ +heads, and they would not rest, night or day, until they +persuaded me to ask their mother to construct such a suit +for them.</p> + +<p>My good Elizabeth, to whom our desires were as laws, +kindly undertook the work; and so nimbly did her needle +ply, that in a few days she had made a complete swimming-costume +for Fritz.</p> + +<p>A jacket of the skin of the whale’s entrails, hermetically +sealed and sewed round the borders, so that the air +could not possibly escape, was furnished with a flexible +pipe, closed with a valve, so that it could be inflated or +exhausted at the pleasure of its wearer.</p> + +<p>The winter had glided insensibly away: reading, the +study of languages, and other literary pursuits had been +mingled with our domestic avocations, and helped to render +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span>the gloomy days we passed in the grotto more pleasant +and agreeable. But our emancipation from the grotto +was approaching: the wind calmed, the sea resumed its +wonted placidity, the grass sprang up under our feet, +and we revisited Falcon’s Nest, with its giant trees and its +rich harvest of springing grain.</p> + +<p>The swimming-costume was the last thing that we had +made, and Fritz was anxious to make a trial of it; consequently, +one fine afternoon, dinner over, he put on his +jacket, which was drawn close round his neck; then his +hood, with its pipe for air, was fitted to the jacket, and +two pieces of talc inserted in such a manner as to enable +him to see.</p> + +<p>Our first movement, on seeing him thus accoutred, was +to burst into a fit of laughter; but Fritz plunged gravely +into the water, and struck out for Shark Island. We followed +him in the canoe, and arrived about the same time. +We unfastened his hood, and found that not a particle +of water had penetrated it; every one was rejoiced at the +success of the experiment, and we all persuaded our kind +mother to make us one each.</p> + +<p>We then set off to explore the island, and endeavour +to discover what had become of the colony we had planted +there. Our first visit was to the antelopes. They fled +at our approach; but we saw with pleasure that they had +devoured all the provisions we had provided them with. +We strewed some rushes in their little hut, for a litter; +and after renewing the stock of provisions, left the spot, +so that the timid animals could return. My sons and I +wandered over the island, gathering pieces of coral and +beautiful shells to adorn our museum.</p> + +<p>A second excursion to Shark Island gave us leisure +to examine the different plantations we had made: they +had succeeded admirably, and we found several young +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span>trees already some feet above the ground. Our rabbits +had also prospered, and the family had increased to an +enormous extent.</p> + +<p>We made, too, a short excursion to Whale Island; our +plantations here had also succeeded—all was prosperity +around us. Our maritime possessions and those on terra +firma afforded a most agreeable spectacle to the eyes of +the proprietors. Abundance, richness, and a luxuriant +vegetation gave promise of an excellent harvest.</p> + +<p>One day, when I was occupied by my domestic cares +in the interior of the grotto, three of my sons disappeared +without saying anything; they carried with them their +arms, provisions, and a number of rat-traps. The latter +easily explained the secret of their expedition; they had +gone for rat-skins in order to make some new hats. I +wished them good luck, and thought nothing more of the +matter.</p> + +<p>Ernest, always fond of home, had remained reading in +the library: my wife was occupied in the kitchen; and I +resolved to imitate my sons, and attempt an excursion +alone. I had need of some large blocks of wood with +which to grind the grain we had gathered; but I would +not cut down one of the trees around our habitation for +fear of disfiguring our residence. I went to the stable for +a horse; but all except the buffalo had disappeared, and +I was obliged to be content with him. I soon fastened +him to the sledge, and we set off in company in the direction +of the Jackal’s River. I took with me Folb and +Braun; the faithful Billy remained with Ernest, and +Turk had gone off in the morning with his young +masters.</p> + +<p>My intention in choosing the river road was that in +passing I might take a look at our plantations of manioc +and potatoes which extended along its bank. I had not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span>seen this land, which we had prepared with a great deal +of trouble, for four months prior, and I expected to find +an abundant harvest preparing for us. Judge, then, of +my surprise, on approaching, to find the whole plantation +a scene of ruin: the roots that had just begun to sprout +were all trodden under foot, or scattered over the ground—in +a word, it was a scene of utter desolation. I thought +at first that perhaps my sons had gathered the harvest; +but the prints in the moist earth soon revealed the authors +of this devastation: it had been done either by the wild +pigs, or else by the family of our old sow.</p> + +<p>My brave companions, Folb and Braun, had gone +off in search of the despoilers; and they soon returned, +driving before them a whole herd of pigs, at the head of +which trotted our old sow, grunting most melodiously. I +was so irritated at the unlucky animals, that almost instinctively +I raised my gun, and by a single shot brought +down two young porkers. The others took to flight, +and the dogs would have pursued them, but I called them +back, and, cutting off the heads of the two pigs, gave them +to them. I then placed the bodies on the sledge, and +having marked with a hatchet the trees I had chosen, so +that I should know them again, I set off for Felsenheim, +with a saddened heart at the devastation I had witnessed.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_L">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty">L</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Return of the Boys—Their Adventures—Harvesting—Partridges and Quails +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Toward</span> evening we began to grow anxious about +the return of the boys, when suddenly Jack appeared +in the distance. He arrived at full gallop on his +ostrich, having left his brothers far behind. He brought +nothing with him, pretending that his courser would receive +no other burden than himself. Fritz and Francis +coming up, we discovered that each of them carried before +him a sack full of game, the products of the chase, in which +they had been extremely fortunate; and they had brought +back with them four of those beasts whom we had christened +“beasts with a bill,” twenty ondatras, one monkey, +a kangaroo, and two varieties of the musk-rat, which they +had found in the swamp.</p> + +<p>During supper, each one recounted his adventures, +Fritz describing their passage through the valley, the attack +of the ondatras and the beavers. “We also,” said +he, “then saw those ‘beasts with a bill’ coming out of the +swamp to partake of a repast not intended for them. We +then caught a fish or two in the lake; and relieving our +dinner with a plate of ginseng cooked in the ashes, sat +down to our humble meal.”</p> + +<p>“Pooh, pooh!” cried Jack the boaster; “who cares for +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span>rats and fishes? It is to my courser and me that you owe +this royal prize, this noble kangaroo.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes,” added Francis, “a prize very easy to take, +as it remained quiet until you came up and shot it.”</p> + +<p>“For my part,” continued Fritz, “I have brought home +nothing but a plant: but it is of more value than the kangaroo. +Examine these thistles, I beg of you; see their +hard, sharp points. Will they not be excellent to card +the hair in manufacturing our hats?”</p> + +<p>Each one of our young adventurers had a thousand +different stories to relate, each one vaunting his own prowess +and extolling his share in the events of the day. I had +no time to listen to their boastings, and I turned to examine +the products of the expedition and determine their +use. The thistles of Fritz, which I recognized as being +the “carding-thistle,” were received by me as a precious +discovery—one more instrument added to our resources. +My sons had also brought home some cuttings of sweet +potatoes and cinnamon: their good mother received them +with joy; and the next morning they were carefully +planted in the kitchen garden.</p> + +<p>The grain that we had sown before the rainy season, +I perceived, had now come to maturity, although it was +not more than five months since we had confided it to the +earth. We now had our hands full of business. The +herrings would soon arrive, then the sea-dogs would come; +and my dear Elizabeth lamented piteously while she enumerated +all the labour we yet had to perform. There was +the manioc to dig up, the potatoes to gather and sow—in +short, a thousand cares to attend to, a thousand labours +to undertake, that would occupy more time than the year +has days.</p> + +<p>I tranquillized my good companion as well as I was +able, assuring her that the manioc would not be injured +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span>by remaining in the ground; and as to the potatoes, I +informed her that she had nothing to fear for this precious +fruit, as our soil was warm and sandy, and they would +keep a great while in the earth.</p> + +<p>I decided that our labours should commence with the +grain, the chief and best of our resources; but wishing to +effect the harvest in the shortest possible time, and with +the smallest expenditure of strength, I resolved to adopt +the Italian method rather than the Swiss.</p> + +<p>I commenced by levelling a large space before the +grotto, to serve as a threshing-floor. We then, after +having well watered it, beat the earth for a long time with +clubs. When the sun had dried it up, the operation was +repeated, and we continued it until we obtained a solid, +flat surface, without a crack in it, and almost as impenetrable +to water as to the sun’s rays.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the field we were about to reap, my +wife asked me where I would find anything with which to +tie up the blades into sheaves.</p> + +<p>“We will need nothing of the sort,” said I; “everything +is to be done according to the Italian method. Those +people, naturally averse to labour, never use sheaves, as +being too heavy to carry.”</p> + +<p>“How, then,” asked Fritz, “do they manage to carry +their harvest home?”</p> + +<p>“You will soon see,” said I.</p> + +<p>At the same time I gathered up in my left hand all the +stalks it could contain, and taking a long knife in my right +hand, I cut off the stalks about six inches below the head. +I then threw the handful into a basket. “There,” said I, +laughing, to Fritz, “there is the first act of an Italian harvest.”</p> + +<p>My children thought it was an admirable plan; and +in a short time the plain presented but an unequal surface, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span>bristling with decapitated stalks, here and there dotted +with a forgotten blade.</p> + +<p>We now hastened to the grotto, taking with us the +grain we had cut. When we arrived there, Ernest and his +mother received orders to sprinkle the blades over the +threshing-floor I had prepared, while my three cavaliers +stood by their coursers’ sides, laughing at our new invention +for threshing grain.</p> + +<p>When everything was prepared, “To the saddle!” +cried I, “to the saddle!” and I told them they had nothing +to do but display their horsemanship among the grain. I +leave the screams, the shouts of laughter to the imagination +of readers; the bull, the onagra, and the ostrich rivalled +each other in swiftness; my wife, Ernest, and I, each +one armed with a pitchfork, followed after them, throwing +the grain under the feet of the animals.</p> + +<p>When the grain was all threshed, we set to work to +clear it of the straws and dirt that had become mixed with +it. This was the most difficult and the most painful part +of all the labour. We laid the grain on close hurdles, and +with wooden flails we endeavoured to disengage the dirt; +but this was not to be effected, except at the expense of +our eyes, mouth, or nose. The poor little workmen +coughed terribly, and we were obliged to desist every few +moments to clear our throats.</p> + +<p>We were several days engaged in these works, and +we wished to see exactly how much we possessed. We +found ourselves rich enough to defy all attacks of famine; +we had sixty bushels of barley, eighty of wheat, and more +than a hundred of maize, from which I concluded that the +soil was more favourable to this last than to the barley and +the other European grains we had sown at the same time. +We had not prepared the maize as we had the other grains; +but after having dried the stalks, we detached the grains +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span>by beating them with long, flexible whips; we took this care +because we wanted its soft and elastic leaves to stuff our +mattresses.</p> + +<p>I had not lost sight of my intention of obtaining a +second harvest before the end of the season, and we now +set to work to clear our fields of the straw; but we had +scarcely commenced when we beheld an innumerable +swarm of quails and partridges start up from the dried +stalks, where they had been enticed by the few blades of +grain we had left behind. As we were unprepared for +them, they all escaped, save one quail, which Fritz brought +down with a stone; but the presence of these birds after +the harvest was a precious discovery for following years, +and we anticipated with pleasure the superb chase of +quails and partridges we should have after our harvests.</p> + +<p>When the land was all cleared I sowed it anew; but +remembering what I had learned in Europe, not to exhaust +the soil, I varied my original mode of operation, +and contented myself by sowing, for the second crop, +wheat and oats.</p> + +<p>Our agricultural labours were scarcely finished, when +the bank of herrings appeared off Safety Bay. Our winter +provisions being so abundant, we did not take as many +as customary of these; and we contented ourselves with +preparing two barrels, one of salted and one of smoked +herrings; we also preserved some of the fish alive, which +we put in the Jackal’s River, so that at any time we could +obtain them.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-one">LI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Trial of the Cajack—The Alarm—Adventure with Sea-Cows—The Drawbridge +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> trial of the cajack was a grand holiday fête; +all were anxious to join in it: and when Fritz appeared, +clad in his maritime costume, he was formally +invited to take his place in his boat of skin. I had forgotten +to say before, that the cajack was furnished with +two little wheels of copper, so that it could be used as well +on land as on sea. This advantage enabled my sons to +arrange the ceremony with all possible pomp. Fritz was +installed upon his bench, as proud as Neptune or any other +marine god setting off on a distant voyage. The form +of the cajack was not a bad resemblance of those immense +shells that fable has assigned to the sea-gods, as having +been used for chariots. I untied the canoe and held myself +ready to start at a moment’s notice, if any real danger +should threaten our Greenland sailor. When all these +precautions were taken—“To the sea!” cried I to Fritz; +“to the sea!” “Good-bye!” repeated his brothers; and +the cajack glided into the water with inconceivable rapidity. +The surface of the bay was calm and tranquil, and +soon the Greenlander was dancing gaily over the waves: +then, like a skilful actor, he began executing a series of +evolutions, each more adroit or more audacious than the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span>other. Sometimes he would shoot off far out of our sight; +then suddenly he would disappear in a cloud of foam, to +the great terror of his mother; in another moment we saw +his head above the floods, and an oar that he had elevated +to signalize his triumph.</p> + +<p>The address and the audacity of our young sailor provoked, +as one can easily imagine, loud and frequent applause +on our part: on his part, not content with acting +on the surface of the bay, he turned his frail bark toward +the Jackal’s River, and attempted to mount the current; +but this proved too strong for him, and threw him back so +violently that he disappeared from our sight. To jump +into the canoe and fly to the assistance of the poor Greenlander, +was the affair of an instant. Jack and Ernest +went with me. The wheel of the canoe appeared to us +too slow; and while I exerted all my force in turning it, +my two sons took each an oar. We scarcely touched the +surface of the water, yet we could not perceive anything; +our cries had no echo but the rocks, and our sight was lost +in the foaming waves that boiled up around us. I felt my +heart beating violently, and I had not the courage to +express my uneasiness to my sons; when suddenly, in the +direction of a rock just visible through the foam, I saw a +light cloud of smoke issuing forth, and putting my hand +on my pulse, I counted its beat four times before that +smoke was followed by a report.</p> + +<p>“He is saved!” cried I, “he is saved! Fritz is there +in the direction of the smoke: before a quarter of an hour +he will rejoin us.”</p> + +<p>I then fired my pistol, which was instantly answered +by another report in the same direction. Ernest drew out +his watch. After a hard row we perceived Fritz, and in +a quarter of an hour we reached him.</p> + +<p>We found the young hero of the sea established on the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</span>rocks. Before him lay a walrus, or sea-cow, which he had +killed with his harpoon. I commenced by reproving my +son for his imprudence.</p> + +<p>“My dear father,” answered he, “it was the current +that swept me away in spite of myself: my oars were like +straws before the impetuosity of the Jackal’s River; and +I found myself thrown back into the sea, at such a distance +as to lose sight of land altogether. But I had no +time to fear: a company of sea-cows passed along, almost +under my nose. To throw my harpoon and strike one of +these animals was the work of an instant; but the wound I +had inflicted was not mortal, and instead of weakening +him, it seemed, on the contrary, to inspire him with new +strength. He dived down; but the traces of blood he +left behind, and the bladder of air fastened to the end of +the rope of the harpoon, served as guides to follow him. +The second time I was more successful, and I launched +a second harpoon direct in his side. This last blow was +decisive, and, after some struggles, the monster extended +himself on this rock. Remembering our precaution with +the boa, I fired two pistols at the head of the animal, and +probably those were the reports you heard.”</p> + +<p>“You have achieved a truly heroic action, and the combat +was a perilous one. The walrus is a redoubtable monster; +and instead of flying, he would have turned upon +you, and God knows, my poor child, what would have become +of you if your frail boat of leather had been torn by +the terrible teeth of the walrus. But, God be praised, you +are safe, and that is better than the capture of ten such +animals, which are not very precious game. I do not +know what use this will be to us, notwithstanding it is near +ten feet long.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, if it is good for nothing,” answered Fritz, +“I will keep the head myself: I will prepare it and fasten +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span>it to the bow of my cajack: its long, white teeth will have +a fine effect, and I will now call my cajack ‘The Walrus.’”</p> + +<p>“The teeth of the walrus,” said I, “are the only things +worth preserving. They are as white and hard as ivory. +But make haste, for the sky gives sure token of a storm.”</p> + +<p>I wished to take Fritz and his cajack into our canoe, +but he refused, and dashed on, saying he would announce +our return to his mother. I let him proceed, and he soon +passed us.</p> + +<p>The storm came on quicker than I had anticipated. +We had scarcely accomplished a third of our course, when +the thick, black clouds that brooded over the horizon burst +forth in torrents of rain. The wind, the lightning, the +waves, were confounded in horrible confusion. Fritz +was too far from us to allow of his joining us, and I repented +of not having taken him into the boat with us. +I desired Jack and Ernest to put on their swimming +corsets, which we were always careful to take with us, +and to lash themselves fast to the ropes of the canoe, so +that they would not be carried away by the waves that +occasionally broke over us.</p> + +<p>The tempest increased, and my anxiety increased with +it; the waves elevated themselves like mountains: at one +moment we would be high in air, and at another precipitated +to the bottom of an abyss, where it would seem we +were lost for ever. But the violence of the tempest +prevented its lasting a great while. The waves subsided, +and after a hurricane of a quarter of an hour, the wind fell, +and the storm for a time was over, although black and +angry clouds rolled over our heads.</p> + +<p>We redoubled our efforts at the oars and the wheel, +and soon arrived within sight of Safety Bay. We entered +the well-known harbour, and the first objects which +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</span>greeted our sight were Fritz, Francis, and their mother, +kneeling on the beach: they were praying for our preservation. +The heart of my poor Elizabeth was almost broken +with anxiety, and she needed to put all her trust in Him +who alone can comfort.</p> + +<p>We leaped from our canoe, amid the cries of joy and +the embraces of the dear ones who rushed to our arms. +My wife had not strength to articulate a single word of +reproach for the great imprudence we had displayed: her +only thought was a feeling of thankfulness to our Almighty +Preserver.</p> + +<p>We all united in prayer, and retired to the grotto, to +exchange our dripping garments for dry ones.</p> + +<p>“At last,” said Fritz, who then spoke, “we are again +united. I had given up all hopes of ever seeing you again, +when a huge wave swept over my little barque; but I +held my breath, and the wave passed on, and I found myself +still alive. But it was not my exertions that brought +me to the shore: there was a stronger hand than mine that +sustained my cajack among the waves—the hand of God,” +added the young man; “and to Him have I rendered homage.”</p> + +<p>The rain had been so abundant that the Jackal’s River +had overflowed its banks and damaged some of our constructions, +which demanded instant restoration. We +therefore employed ourselves in building protections +against any other storms that might visit the coast of +Felsenheim. During our labours we received the visit +of a superb company of salmon. We captured a number, +which were salted and smoked according to the customary +manner; we preserved some alive by passing a strong cord +through the gills and fastening them to stakes.</p> + +<p>We had resumed the peaceable course of our domestic +avocations, when, one clear moonlight night, I was suddenly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span>awakened by barks and cries, as if all the jackals +of the country, the bears and tigers of the savanna, had +made an invasion into our domain. I rose in a great +fright, and arming myself with a gun, I walked to the +door of the grotto, which we generally left open on account +of the fresh air. Fritz had also heard the noise, and +I found him half dressed, ready to face the danger.</p> + +<p>“What do you think it is, papa?” said he; “a new invasion +of jackals?”</p> + +<p>I dissembled the real fear I entertained, and assured +my son that doubtless it was our pigs, who were making +us a nocturnal visit. I did not think my supposition +would be true. We ran out, and found that our dogs +and the jackal had captured three large hogs. Our first +movement was to laugh; we tried to call off our dogs, but +in vain; they had the poor pigs by the ears, and they would +not let them go, and we were forced to open their mouths +with our hands. The pigs never waited to see who were +their liberators, but scampered away and were soon across +the river.</p> + +<p>I attributed this invasion to negligence on our part, +and thought we had forgotten to take up the planks from +Family Bridge; but, upon examination, I found that they +had been all removed, and that the audacious pigs had +come across on the beams of the bridge.</p> + +<p>This occurrence convinced me that Family Bridge +was not sufficient for our security: instead of a barrier, +it was only a means of entering our domains. I had long +contemplated the erection of a drawbridge, and now appeared +the proper time for constructing it. To be sure, +a drawbridge was not a little thing to undertake; but after +having constructed two vessels, attempted and executed +a thousand other things which required more skill than +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span>the simple art of carpentering, we could not recoil before +the idea of constructing a drawbridge.</p> + +<p>I understood the turning-bridges; but as I had neither +vice nor windlass, I was obliged to adopt the simplest kind +of drawbridge. I constructed, between two high stakes, +a sweep that could be easily moved, and by the means of +two ropes, a lever, and a counterpoise, we had a bridge +which could be easily raised and lowered. It would only +ensure us against the invasion of animals, the river being +too shallow to oppose any obstacle to a more serious attack. +Whatever it was, our domains were enriched with a +new masterpiece, and my young people exerted themselves +in a thousand gymnastic exercises about the stakes of the +drawbridge: it was lowered, and raised, and for a few days +it was a great source of amusement for them.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-two">LII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Taming of Antelopes—Sugar Press—Combat with a Hyena—A Flying Courier—The Wild Horse and the Elephant +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> drawbridge suffered the fate of all new inventions, +admiration evaporates so quickly! and at the +end of several days, if any one climbed the stakes, it was +that he might have the pleasure of seeing the antelopes +and gazelles bounding over the plain of Falcon’s Nest.</p> + +<p>“Behold,” said one, “how graceful and light those animals +are! they scarcely touch the earth. What a pity we +cannot tame them; or, at least, approach them without +scattering the whole flock, as the wind does the dust!”</p> + +<p>“To take them,” said Ernest, “you will have to adopt +the plan resorted to by the Georgians in capturing buffaloes.”</p> + +<p>“Tut, tut,” said Jack, “cannot you find an example +nearer home than Georgia?”</p> + +<p>“For the world of thought,” replied the professor, +gravely, “there is no limitation; and it would be as well +to become acquainted with the Georgian method before +rejecting Georgia as being too distant.”</p> + +<p>“Well, then, doctor, give us a lesson.”</p> + +<p>The professor, who willingly forgot the sarcasms and +pleasantries that were showered upon him, whenever he +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span>availed himself of an opportunity to display his scientific +knowledge, now began to explain this former remark.</p> + +<p>“In the savannas of North America, in some places +beds of marl are found which contain salt, of which the +animals are very fond: the buffaloes especially flock in +great numbers to this luxury which Nature has provided +for them. The natives of the country lie in ambush for +them there, and numbers fall victims to their avidity. In +the absence of salt marl,” continued the professor, “we +can, if we wish, prepare artificially a substitute for it, +where the graceful antelopes will fall into the snare. We +can, for that purpose, mix together the porcelain clay and +some salt.”</p> + +<p>“Adopted! adopted!” responded all the little boys +unanimously. “Long live philosopher Ernest, first professor +of the academy of Falsenheim, doctor, librarian, +manager of the museum, naturalist and so forth!”</p> + +<p>To plan an excursion and ask my permission was the +work of an instant, and my harebrained youngsters promised +themselves so much pleasure that I had not the disposition +to deny them.</p> + +<p>“Oh do, do, papa!” was the general cry; “an excursion +is much more fun than constructing bridges.”</p> + +<p>“I will make some pemmican,” said Fritz; “we have +bear’s meat enough left for it.”</p> + +<p>“And I,” said Jack, with a mysterious air, “I will take +two pigeons with me. I have got an idea in my head.”</p> + +<p>“And I,” added little Francis, “will take care of the +coursers; and if Fritz will take my advice, he will take +the cajack along—it will sail so nicely on the lake; and +perhaps we can capture some of the black swans. Oh, +how beautiful a pair of those swans would look in the +basin of Falcon’s Nest!”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span></p> +<p>The weather was calm and serene, and everything +promised a pleasant excursion to the adventurers.</p> + +<p>The making of pemmican was commenced immediately, +under the inspection of Fritz. The meat was +pounded and crushed, until, after two days of hard work, +it was reduced to half its former size. I tasted the meat +of which Fritz boasted so much, and I did not think it bad.</p> + +<p>Baskets, sacks, and all utensils necessary for the excursion +were collected together; even our old sledge was +brought down, and it was mounted on cannon-wheels, and +loaded with all that the young adventurers intended to +carry with them. The cajack, arms, provision for the +mouth and for war—nothing was forgotten; anything that +came into their heads they piled on, and a caravan in the +desert could not have made more preparation.</p> + +<p>The morning of departure arrived. Every one was +awake before day; and Jack, without saying a word to +anybody, climbed up into the dove-cot, and took out several +pairs of pigeons.</p> + +<p>“How is this?” said I, as I saw the youngster placing +his pigeons in a basket. “It appears that you gentlemen +take precautions to provide a variety for yourselves. +I am only afraid that those old pigeons will be pretty +tough eating.”</p> + +<p>The fellow looked at me knowingly for a moment, but +did not answer. When they were about to set off, I saw +him conversing mysteriously with Ernest; but I could discover +nothing, and I contented myself with waiting a surprise +of some kind, as I knew they intended one.</p> + +<p>At last they were ready to set out. My wife enjoined +my sons to be prudent; we embraced them, and they soon +disappeared in a cloud of dust, with the coursers and the +sledge. Ernest alone remained with his mother and me, +and we employed ourselves in constructing a sugar-cane +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span>press, which my wife had much need of. The machine, +which was composed of three cylinders, placed upright, +differed very little from the ordinary presses, with the +exception that it was arranged so as to be moved by animals.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile our young adventurers were pursuing their +course toward the savanna. I will relate their adventures +here as they were recounted to us on the return of +the party.</p> + +<p>They had passed over the tract of land that separated +Family Bridge from the country which we had +called Waldegg, or the Hermitage, and where they intended +to pass the day, when, on approaching the farmhouse, +they heard cries like that of a person in distress. +It was a sort of wild, maniacal laugh; and the animals +stopped in terror; the dogs barked and howled fearfully; +and the ostrich, more frightened than the others, fled in +the direction of the Lake of Swans with such rapidity +that all the efforts of its master could not check it. The +bull and the onagra trembled so violently that Fritz and +his brother were obliged to dismount.</p> + +<p>Francis seized his gun, put two pistols in his belt, +called Folb and Braun, and calmly walked on in the direction +of the strange laugh. He had not gone more than +thirty paces when he perceived, through the bushes, an +enormous hyena, who, after having killed one of our sheep, +was devouring it; while ever and anon that strange laugh +of joy would echo from its blood-stained lips. The presence +of the little hunter did not disturb the monster in his +horrid repast. While rolling his flaming eyes, he tore +the poor sheep in pieces. But Francis wanted neither +courage nor presence of mind: he placed himself behind +a tree, and taking good aim, he discharged both barrels of +his gun, and was so fortunate as to break both the fore-legs +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</span>and pierce the breast of the hyena. The dogs then +rushed on; their terror changed into rage. The most terrible +combat now ensued between them and the furious +monster; growls and cries resounded through the air, and +the blood flowed in torrents.</p> + +<p>Fritz, who had succeeded in attaching the onagra and +the bull to a tree, now ran up at the sound of the double +explosion and the noise of the dogs. They would have +fired again and terminated the combat, but the dogs were +so close to the hyena that they were afraid of hitting them, +so that they were obliged to await the issue of the combat. +Folb took the hyena by the throat, and Braun by the muzzle, +and there they held him until he dropped down dead. +My sons uttered a cry of joy; and calling off the dogs, +dressed the wounds they had received by rubbing them +with hydromel and bears’ grease, which they had brought +with them to eat.</p> + +<p>When my sons had established their tent, etc., at +Waldegg, they set off with the sledge to bring the hyena +thither. The following day was entirely devoted to skinning +the animal and preparing the hide. While they were +thus employed, we were calmly conversing under the +vault of the grotto.</p> + +<p>“I wonder where my brothers are,” said Ernest. “I +think we shall very soon have news from them.”</p> + +<p>“What put that idea into your head?” said his mother.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I dreamed it,” said Ernest.</p> + +<p>“Bah! A great confidence your dreams will induce!” +replied my wife.</p> + +<p>While we were thus talking, a bird, whose genus we +could not discover on account of the obscurity, fluttered +in at the open door of the dove-cot.</p> + +<p>“Shut it, shut it!” cried Ernest; “to-morrow morning +we will inspect our new guest. Who knows! perhaps +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</span>it is a courier from New Holland, and bears despatches +under its wing from Sydney, Port Jackson and so forth.”</p> + +<p>“Why, how is it your thoughts run on despatches and +news this evening, Ernest?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, it is nothing,” answered he, with indifference; +“only the arrival of that pigeon recalled to my mind something +I have been reading to-day, concerning the correspondence +the ancient Greeks and Romans carried on +by means of carrier-pigeons.”</p> + +<p>The next morning, Ernest rose before me, and paid +a visit to the dove-cot; I said nothing; and after breakfast +I saw him coming in, holding in his hand a piece of +paper, folded and sealed like a government letter, which +he presented to me on bended knees, saying as he did so, +“Noble and gracious lord of these lands, I beg you to +excuse the postmaster of Felsenheim for the delay that +the despatches from Sydney and New Holland have experienced; +the packet was retarded, and did not arrive till +very late last evening.”</p> + +<p>His mother and I burst into a laugh at this ridiculous +speech.</p> + +<p>“Well,” replied I, continuing the jest, “what are our +subjects in Sydney and New Holland engaged in? Will +the secretary open and read the despatches?”</p> + +<p>At these words, Ernest broke the seal of the paper, +and, elevating his voice, commenced—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p class="hanging">“<cite>The Governor-General of New Holland, to the Governor +of Felsenheim, Falcon’s Nest, Waldegg, the Field of +the Sugar-Canes, and the surrounding country.</cite></p> + +<p>“<span class="smcap">Greeting</span>,</p> + +<p>“Noble and faithful ally! We learn with displeasure +that three men, whom we suppose to be part of your +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</span>colony, are making inroads into our savannas, and doing +much damage to the animals of the province; we have +also learned that frightful hyenas have broken through +the limits of our quarter, and killed many of the domestic +animals of our colonists. We therefore beg you, on one +part, to call back your starving huntsmen; on the other, +to provide measures to purge the country of the hyenas +and other ferocious beasts that infest it. Especially I +pray God, my Lord Governor, that He will keep you +under His holy protection.</p> + +<p>“Done under our hand and seal at Sydney Cove, Port +Jackson, the twelfth day of the eighth month of the thirty-fourth +year of the colony.</p> + +<p class="right r2"> + “<span class="smcap">Philip Phillipson</span>, <i>Governor</i>.” +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>Ernest stopped in laughter at the effect the letter produced +on us. I felt that there was some mystery, and I +was anxious to get at the bottom of it. Ernest enjoyed +my evident embarrassment, and, jumping up and down as +children do, he let fall a new paper from his pocket. I +caught it up, and was going to read it, when he laid his +hand on my arm, saying—</p> + +<p>“Those also are despatches; they came from Waldegg, +and, although less pompous than General Phillipson’s, +perhaps they are more truthful. Listen, then, to a letter +from Waldegg⁠——”</p> + +<p>“Oh, do explain to us,” said I, “this prolonged +enigma. Did your brothers leave a letter before they +went? Is the news of the hyena true? Did they act +so rashly as to attack the animal?”</p> + +<p>“Here is a letter from Fritz,” replied Ernest; “my +pigeon brought it to me last night.”</p> + +<p>He opened the paper and read the following words—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</span></p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Parents</span>, and you, my good <span class="smcap">Ernest</span>,—I +will inform you of our arrival at Waldegg; we there found +a hyena, who had devoured several of our sheep. Francis +alone has all the honour of having killed the monster, and +he deserves much praise for his intrepidity: we have +passed the whole day in preparing the skin, which is very +fine, and will be very useful. The pemmican is the most +detestable stuff I ever tasted. Adieu! we embrace you +tenderly in spirit.</p> + +<p class="right r2"> + “<span class="smcap">Fritz.</span>” +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“A true hunter’s letter,” cried I. “But this hyena, +how could it have found its way into our domains? Has +the palisade been overturned?”</p> + +<p>“We shall probably receive another letter this evening,” +said Ernest, “and that will give us further details +of the expedition.”</p> + +<p>After dinner a new pigeon was seen to enter the dove-cot. +Ernest, who had not remained quiet one moment +during the day, immediately shut the door of the dove-cot, +removed from the wing of the aërial messenger the +despatch he had brought, and delivered it to us; it read +as follows—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The night has been fine—the weather beautiful—excursion +in cajack on lake—capture of some black swans—several +new animals—apparition and sudden flight of +an aquatic beast, entirely unknown to us—to-morrow at +Prospect Hill.</p> + +<p class="center"> +“Be of good cheer;</p> +<p class="p0 right r8">“Your sons,</p> +<p class="p0 right r4">“<span class="smcap">Fritz</span>, <span class="smcap">Jack</span>, and <span class="smcap">Francis</span>.” +</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>“It is almost a telegraphic despatch,” said I, laughing; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</span>“it could not be more concise. Our huntsmen would +rather fire a gun than write a sentence; nevertheless, their +letter tranquillizes me; but I really hope that the hyena +which they killed is the only one in the country.”</p> + +<p>We received other letters at intervals; but they were +so concise that I will continue here the narration the +boys made on their return.</p> + +<p>Delivered from the terrible neighbourhood of the +hyena, they had undertaken to explore the marsh around +the Lake of Swans. Fritz embarked in the cajack, and +his brothers followed, as near as possible to him, along +the shore. The black swans afforded a fine chase to our +young huntsmen. A loop of wire fastened to a long +bamboo was the means they employed; but they captured +only three young swans, the old ones being too strong, +and defending themselves with their powerful wings.</p> + +<p>After the swans came a bird of a new kind, which, +by his majestic walk and noble appearance, seemed the +king of birds. The boys threw the wire loop over his +head, and, drawing him to the shore, fastened his feet +and wings, and laid him alongside the swans.</p> + +<p>While they were occupied in examining their magnificent +prey, which Ernest afterward pronounced to be +the “heron royal,” an extraordinary animal rushed out +from the weeds, and passing close to their sides, struck +them with terror. It was an animal about the size of a +young foal, of a form like that of the rhinoceros, only it +had not the horn on the nose which that animal has; the +upper lip was very prominent, and the whole body of a +very dark brown colour. My three huntsmen were not +very distinguished naturalists, and the best name they +could find for the beast was the Tapir or Anta of South +America,</p> + +<p>Fritz began to pursue it in his cajack; but the tapir +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</span>swam away so rapidly that he was soon obliged to desist. +During this time Jack and Francis had set out for the +hut, carrying with them the black swans and the beautiful +heron royal. In their way thither they encountered +a flock of cranes, which hovered around their heads, uttering +piercing cries. A great number were soon brought +down, not by firearms, but by the bows which the boys +carried. These were provided with long, triangular-pointed +arrows.</p> + +<p>Fritz, on rejoining his brothers, felt a little piqued +when he perceived, from their trophies, the fine chase +that they had made; and, on the other hand, his unsuccessful +pursuit of the tapir made him a little ashamed. +He wished to retrieve his honour and repair the damage +which his reputation as a good hunter had sustained; +so, calling the dogs to him, and accompanied by his eagle, +he directed his course toward the wood of guavas. He +had not been there more than a quarter of an hour before +his dogs started a flock of the most beautiful birds Fritz +had ever seen. He cast off his eagle, and while it was +pursuing one, a second fell down from fright into his +hands. He also captured a third, which had become entangled +in a shrub. This last was a magnificent one. +Its tail was more than two feet in length, and two of the +feathers were longer than the others, and glowed with the +most beautiful shades of gold, green, and brown, terminated +at the end by a spot of black, exactly like velvet. +Ernest recognized it afterward as being the Bird of Paradise, +the <i>manu cordiata</i>, which is the most elegant in form +and plumage of all the birds of New Holland.</p> + +<p>Our huntsmen, after all their exertions, had acquired +a most ferocious appetite; and although their repast was +frugal, yet they did it ample justice. The cold meat of +the peccary, guavas, cinnamon apples, and potatoes +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</span>cooked in the ashes, were all devoured with thankfulness. +The pemmican alone was disdained, and declared unworthy +of its reputation.</p> + +<p>And now another despatch arrived, which filled me +with anxiety. It contained the following words—</p> + +<blockquote> +<p>“The palisade of the defile which leads to the savanna +is destroyed; the sugar-canes have been all trampled +down, and we have discovered large footprints, like those +of the elephant, in the sand. There are also the prints +of the hoofs of wild horses. Come quickly to our aid, +dear parents; there is much to do for the safety of the +colony. Lose not an instant, we beg of you.”</p> +</blockquote> + +<p>I leave it to the reader to imagine the inquietude +into which this letter threw me. I saddled the onagra +without losing a moment, and, leaving Ernest and his +mother to follow me on the next day, I set off for the +defile. There was a distance of six leagues between my +sons and me; but I accomplished it in three hours.</p> + +<p>My children were surprised to see me arrive so +promptly, and they received me with transports of joy. +The idea I had entertained of the devastation was but +faint in comparison with the reality. The sugar-canes +were irretrievably lost: they had been trampled down, +and the leaves torn off, by some animal that I was sure +must have been an elephant. All our trouble in erecting +the palisade had been wasted; the stakes had been all +torn up, the trees near by deprived of their bark, the +bamboos had been treated no better than the sugar-canes, +and every young shrub I had planted had been torn up. +I examined attentively the footprints in the sand, and +was convinced that the larger ones were those of the +elephant, and the smaller ones those of a hippopotamus; +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</span>but I could discover no traces of the hyena. I surrounded +our tent with dry branches, and amassed an +abundant provision of combustibles, so that we might +keep off any beasts by fires at night.</p> + +<p>Ernest and his mother arrived after dinner, bringing +with them the waggon, the cow, the ass, and all necessary +utensils for our encampment, which was likely to +last a good while.</p> + +<p>We immediately began the construction of a solid +fortification across the defile, one that would effectually +keep out all intruders. I will spare my readers the details +of this tiresome work, which occupied us constantly +for more than a month. My good Elizabeth shared in +our toils, and inspired her sons with ardour and perseverance. +Sometimes we would relax from our labours; Fritz +would make excursions in his cajack, and the other boys +would wander off, and always bring us home something +useful.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-three">LIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Redoubt—Valuable Discoveries—The Cacao Tree—The Banana—Crocodiles and Alligators—Tea Plant—Artillery and Fortification of Shark Island +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Our</span> next labour was to construct some sort of a +fort to shelter us whenever we might visit the defile. +We had not strength enough to build a regular fort; and +besides, our knowledge of fortification was very limited. +At last Fritz thought of a plan of a Kamschatdale fort, +which he had read of somewhere, and which I thought, +with a little improvement, would answer admirably.</p> + +<p>The Kamschatdale fort simply consists of four high +stones, upon which are laid planks and boards, forming +a platform upon which a hut of bark or branches is constructed—not +a very formidable fortress certainly; but +yet capable of defending us in case of an attack from +wild beasts.</p> + +<p>Instead of four stones for the foundation, we chose +out four trees to answer the same purpose. We did not +cut the branches off close, but left them as rests for the +beams of our platform. We surrounded our platform +with a high and strong network of rushes and branches, +leaving an opening for entrance; and we covered the roof +with the waterproof leaves of the Talipot palm. These +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</span>leaves grow so large that ten men can be covered by one +of them. Our fort bore a strong resemblance to Falcon’s +Nest; and, surrounded as it was by green trees and flourishing +verdure, it did not look much like a military construction.</p> + +<p>To ascend to the platform, we employed one of the +simplest means I could imagine: it was by a beam which +descended perpendicularly to the ground, and notched +deeply into steps. We also arranged this so that it could +be raised and lowered at pleasure.</p> + +<p>Fritz and Jack promised themselves wonders from our +new fort, which overlooked the savanna for a great distance, +and we could see the river running like a silver +thread through the immense plain; and by means of spy-glasses +we could discern troops of buffaloes and other +animals feeding around the brink.</p> + +<p>Our labours at the fort were diversified by some +important discoveries. One day Fritz made an excursion +to the river of the savanna, and found among the rich +vegetation there some unknown shrubs, of which he +brought me specimens to examine. One kind bore, in +large clusters, a beautiful green fruit, tipped at the end +with violet, and shaped like a large gherkin; the others +were covered with quantities of small flowers, interspersed +with large fruits like cucumbers. On examination, I +recognized them as being two of the most precious productions +of the tropics: the largest of the fruits was the +cacao-bean, of which chocolate is made; the other was the +banana, that forms an article of food for the inhabitants +of several countries in America.</p> + +<p>We tasted these far-famed fruits, but did not find +them very excellent. The beans of the cacao are filled +with a sort of viscous matter, like thick cream, but of an +insipid taste and an odour like that of an over-ripe pear.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</span></p> +<p>My wife, who had opened several bananas, sought in +vain for some seeds which she might take home to plant +in her kitchen-garden. I told her that the banana contained +no seeds, and was always propagated from cuttings, +which will easily grow if planted in rich, wet earth. +My wife also wished to plant some of the cacao-beans in +her garden: but she was obliged to renounce her project, +as Ernest told her that unless the seeds were put in +when the fruit was gathered they would be useless. It +was resolved, in consequence, that Fritz should set out +the next day in his cajack, and go in search of the elements +necessary for the reproduction of these two precious +plants. My wife never forgot her kitchen-garden; and +whenever she came across a useful addition, she immediately +planted a specimen there.</p> + +<p>The next day Fritz embarked; and fearing that his +cajack would not be large enough to hold the cargo he +intended to bring home, he fastened a raft of rushes +behind it. He was ashamed, he said, to go for some +banana cuttings only, and he intended to bring home +something else. We occupied ourselves during the day +in preparing to set out for Felsenheim; and Fritz did +not return till late in the evening, when we saw him +coming toward us, the cajack and the raft loaded down +to the water’s edge.</p> + +<p>“Bravo! bravo!” cried his brothers, as they saw Fritz +advancing, laden with green branches. The cargo was +soon unloaded, and dragged up to the hut with as much +contentment as if it had been the galleons of silver that +Admiral Anson captured.</p> + +<p>Fritz now came up, holding in his hand a superb +bird, the feet and wings of which he had fastened, and +which he presented to us as the principal booty of the +day.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</span></p> +<p>It was the Sultan Cock of Buffon, the king of water-fowls, +so called from its beauty of form, and the brilliancy +of its plumage. I easily recognized its long red +legs, and its beautiful green and violet plumage, with a +red spot in the forehead. My wife wished to add it to +the inhabitants of the farmyard; and as it was very +gentle, it soon became as tame as the rest of our domestic +fowls, who appeared jealous of the new-comer.</p> + +<p>Fritz now recounted to us the details of the day. He +informed us that he had ascended the river for a great +distance, and that he had been astonished at the majestic +forests which bordered it, and threw a sombre shade over +its waters. He had encountered several families of turkeys, +pintadoes, and peacocks, whose cries and screams +imparted an air of life to the sombre river. Farther on +the scene had changed: there were enormous elephants +feeding along the bank, in troops of twenty or thirty; +some were playing in the water, and squirting the cooling +fluid over the heated bodies of their companions; tigers +and panthers, too, lay sleeping in the sun, their magnificent +fur contrasting strangely with the green bank upon which +they reclined; but not one of these animals paid the least +attention to the young navigator.</p> + +<p>“I felt my inability and weakness,” said Fritz, “on +finding myself face to face with these terrible enemies; +my gun, my balls, and my skill would have been of little +use, and I thought I had better retrace my steps. I +commenced to turn my cajack round, when what was my +surprise to see, at about the distance of two gun-shots +before me, a long and large mouth, armed with rows of +formidable teeth, and the whole apparatus moving directly +toward me. I cannot say how I found strength +enough to escape, I felt so frightened at the apparition. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</span>I took a lesson then in natural history that I have no +desire soon to repeat.”</p> + +<p>“What animal was it,” asked Francis, “the mouth and +teeth of which Fritz saw coming out of the water?”</p> + +<p>“An alligator, probably,” said Ernest; “or, if you +would prefer using a name more familiar to you, a +crocodile.”</p> + +<p>We finished our preparations for departure, and set +off at break of day the next morning for Felsenheim. +Fritz asked my permission to allow him to make the +journey by water, in his cajack, and to return home by +doubling Cape Disappointment. I readily consented, as +the ease with which he managed his little boat gave me +nothing to fear, and besides, I was anxious to know more +about the cape.</p> + +<p>We both set out at the same time, and both arrived +home safely. The sailor, in doubling the cape, had made +two new discoveries: among the bushes which covered +the rock he remarked two shrubs, one of which was covered +with very highly-scented, rose-coloured flowers, and +had long, narrow leaves; the other had numerous small +white flowers, and in its whole appearance very much +resembled the myrtle. He brought home to us specimens +of these two shrubs, one of which my wife recognized as +the caper-tree, used in pickling; the other was a sort of +Chinese tea-plant, which was received with marked distinction.</p> + +<p>When we were a little rested from our fatigue, my +wife recalled to mind Falcon’s Nest and its aërial chateau, +which we had almost forgotten since our discovery of the +salt cavern.</p> + +<p>“It is wrong,” said she, “to let that beautiful habitation +go to ruin. Although Felsenheim offers us a sure +protection in winter, yet Falcon’s Nest, with its gigantic +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</span>branches and pleasant verdure, is the most agreeable habitation +we could possess.”</p> + +<p>My wife spoke reasonably, and I promised her that +I would do as she wished. We left Felsenheim and +took up our residence in our old habitation. The roof +that we had made over the roots was now plastered with +gum and resin; the staircase was repaired: we substituted +a bark roof for the old linen one over our chamber +in the tree; we made a balcony all around it, and +repaired everything, so that it was a clean, agreeable +habitation.</p> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp53" id="illus387" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/illus387.jpg" alt="apparition"> + <figcaption> + “I felt so frightened at the apparition.” + </figcaption> +</figure> + +<p>But the embellishments at Falcon’s Nest were but a +prelude to more considerable and difficult works. Fritz +had conceived the idea of fortifying Shark Island, and +making that a sort of rallying point in case of danger. +He teased me so about it, and his head was so full of +plans and projects, that it was impossible to resist him, +and the work was at length begun. One can easily conceive +how great were the obstacles that a man and four +boys had to contend with, in order to convey two cannons +to the island, and level them on a platform more than +fifty feet in height. It cost us immense labour even to +effect the transport of the cannons. I then placed on the +platform we had built a large capstan; and, to shorten the +time and reduce the labour in passing round the rock, I +let down a rope, made into loops, so that we could easily +ascend and descend. The cannons were attached by +strong ropes, and then hauled up by the capstan. This +work cost us a whole day of hard labour; but at last the +cannons were landed on the platform, and established with +their mouths toward the sea. We placed a long pole +in the rock, with a string and pulley, so that we could +hoist up a flag at any time. How glad we felt when +our work was done, and how proud we were of our ingenuity! +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</span>When we had crowned this military construction +with a flag, a cry of joy was uttered; and, as economical +as I felt we must be in powder, six times we +fired our cannons, and the rocks repeated the echo over +a vast extent of ocean.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LIV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-four">LIV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>A General Review of the Colony after Ten Years of Establishment +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">It</span> is with dismay that I cast my eyes over the number +of pages I have filled, and which every day grow more +numerous.</p> + +<p>Although I should like to mention the minutest details +of our domestic life, yet I have some consideration for my +readers, who would throw down the book in disgust and +grow weary of the monotony of the design; therefore, I +must content myself with merely describing our principal +occupations.</p> + +<p>Ten years have passed away since we were thrown +on this coast, each year resembling the preceding one in +the similarity of its works: we had our fields to sow, our +harvests to gather, and our domestic cares to attend to. +These formed the almost unbroken circle of our existence. +My only desire is, that the end I intended in writing +this journal may be fulfilled, and that my readers, if I +ever have any, may learn how, with God’s blessing, to +provide for their necessities when thrown, as we have been, +entirely on their own resources.</p> + +<p>Providence had willed that the land of our exile +should be in one of the most favoured quarters of the +globe, and every day we offered up our thanks to Him +for His goodness and beneficent kindness toward us.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</span></p> +<p>The ten years we had passed were but years of conquest +and establishment. We had constructed three habitations, +built a solid wall across the defile, which would +secure us against invasion from the wild beasts which +infested the savanna. The part of the country in which +we dwelt was defended by high mountains on one side, +and the ocean on the other; we had traversed the whole +extent, and rested in perfect surety that no enemy lurked +within it. Our principal habitations were beautiful, commodious, +and especially very healthy. Felsenheim was a +safe retreat for us during the storms of winter, while Falcon’s +Nest was our summer residence and country villa; +Waldegg, Prospect Hill, and even the establishment at +the defile, were like the quiet farmhouses that the traveller +finds in the mountains of our own dear Switzerland.</p> + +<p>The remembrance of our native land is never obliterated +from the mind; the love of one’s birthplace is a +love that survives youth, and exists in all its ardour in +the bosom of the old man.</p> + +<p>Of all our resources, the bees had prospered most; +experience had taught me how to manage them, and the +only trouble that I had was to provide new hives each +year for the increasing swarms; and, in truth, so great +was the number of our hives that they attracted a considerable +flock of those birds called <i>merops</i>, or bee-eaters, +who are extremely fond of these insects.</p> + +<p>We finished the gallery which extended along the +front of our grotto: a roof was made to the rock above +it, and it rested on fourteen columns of light bamboo, +which gave it an elegant and picturesque appearance; +large pillars supported the gallery, around which twined +the aromatic vines of the vanilla and the pepper, and +each end of the gallery was terminated by a little cabinet +with elevated roofs, having the appearance of Chinese +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</span>pavilions, surrounded by flowers and foliage. A flight +of steps led up into the gallery, which we had paved +with a sort of stone so soft when dug out as to be cut +with a chisel, but hardening rapidly in the sun.</p> + +<p>The environs of our habitation were rich and agreeable; +our plantations had perfectly succeeded; and +between the grotto and the bay was a grove of trees and +shrubs, planted in tasteful confusion, which gave the spot +the aspect of an English garden.</p> + +<p>Shark Island no longer was an arid bank of sand: +palm and pine-apple trees had been planted everywhere, +and the earth was covered with a carpet of vivid green; +while far above the trees towered a staff, upon the top +of which the Swiss flag floated gaily in the breeze.</p> + +<p>Our European trees had grown with a strength and +rapidity of vegetation almost incredible; but their fruits +had lost their flavour; and whether because the soil or the +air was unfavourable, the apples and pears became black +and withered, the plums and apricots were nothing but +hard kernels surrounded by a tough skin. On the other +hand, the indigenous productions, multiplied a hundred-fold: +the bananas, the figs, the guavas, the oranges and +the citron, made our corner of the island a complete terrestrial +paradise, where all the riches of vegetation were +assembled. But the abundance of fruit brought on +another plague: multitudes of pillagers, in the shape of +birds, flocked to the spot. We kept our bird-snares always +ready, and it sometimes happened that an unknown animal +would be taken in the trap; for example, the great squirrel +of Canada, remarkable for its beautiful tufted tail and +lustrous red skin, attracted hither probably by our +almonds and chestnuts; parroquets, in all their diversity +of colours, would sometimes be caught; blue jays, +thrushes, yellow loriots, abounded plentifully, to the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</span>great prejudice of our cherries, figs, and native grapes. +Besides the birds by day, there were other destroyers by +night, and we had a great deal of trouble to dislodge a +nest of flying squirrels that had taken up their residence +in the topmost branches of one of our finest trees.</p> + +<p>Our beautiful flowers also attracted numerous guests: +these were the humming birds; and it was one of our +greatest amusements to watch these little birds flying +around us, sparkling like precious stones, and hardly perceptible +by the quickness of their motions; it was an amusing +spectacle to see these passionate, choleric little fellows +attack others twice their size, and drive them away from +their nests, and at other times they would tear in pieces +the unlucky flower that had deceived their expectations of +a rich feast. These little scenes diverted us, and we +endeavoured to induce the birds to remain in our neighbourhood +by fixing little pots of honey on the branches, +and planting the flowers we observed they preferred. Our +cares were recompensed; several couples suspended their +little nests, lined with soft cotton, to the branches of the +vanilla which wound around the columns of the gallery, +or on the vines of the pepper, the perfume of which is +very enticing to the humming-bird.</p> + +<p>The making of sugar was an object of our special +attention, and we gradually improved our manufacture; +not that I can say we crystallized it as done in the refineries, +but we obtained a very satisfactory result. We +had saved from the wreck of the ship many articles intended +for a sugar factory; among others, three metal +cylinders with which to press the sugar-cane, three great +kettles to boil the liquid in, and ladles and skimmers in +abundance. The press was fixed under a perpendicular +screw, working in connection with the cylinders, the whole +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</span>turned by a lever passed horizontally through the screw, +and moved by one of our beasts of burden.</p> + +<p>Whale Island had not been neglected: we embellished +it with trees and shrubs; but it was here that we always +performed our less cleanly avocations, such as the preparation +of fish, the melting of fat, the tannery, and the +candle-making. The materials for these works were kept +under an overhanging rock, which protected them from +the sun and storm.</p> + +<p>Our cares were divided between these different establishments, +without neglecting those that were more distant +from us, and which we called our colonies. At Waldegg +we transformed the swamp into a superb rice-field, which +repaid our labour by plentiful harvests; we also planted +cinnamon, which yielded us an ample return. Prospect +Hill also had its share of attention; for each year, when +the capers were ripe, we made an excursion thither, and +gathered a large quantity, which my wife preserved in +spice and vinegar; and when the tea-plant began to put +forth its leaves, again we set out, and gathering enough +for our use; we took it home to my wife, who, with her +youngest son, occupied herself in rolling, drying, and preparing +it for use.</p> + +<p>We made, from time to time, an excursion to the +defile of the savanna, so that we might see whether any +elephants, or other hurtful beasts, had penetrated into our +plantations. Fritz then made an excursion in his cajack +up the river of the savanna, and brought back to us a +rich cargo of ginseng, cacao, and bananas.</p> + +<p>As Fritz had discovered in the woods near the defile +traces of birds which, from their noise and form, he judged +to be heath-cocks, we resolved one day to have a grand +hunt, after the manner of the Cape colonists. For this +purpose we constructed a large quadrangle of the enormous +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</span>bamboo-canes I have spoken of, piled upon one +another until the edifice was ten feet long and six high, +and exactly resembled an enormous bird-cage; the top +was covered with a lattice of canes, and the door formed +of the same. To induce the birds to enter, we dug a deep +ditch, which led, like a mine under a city wall, into the +centre of the edifice; we covered this ditch with sticks and +earth, and placed in the exterior entrance, all along the +passage, different sorts of grain. We then retired, and +the birds precipitated themselves on the food; the more +they ate the deeper they buried themselves in the ditch, +until at last, when they arrived at the end, they found +themselves captured, and in vain they beat their heads +against the trellis-work. We entered and soon took them +all prisoners.</p> + +<p>The family of Turk and Flora had each year been +increased by a certain number of young dogs, which, +notwithstanding the brilliant qualities they displayed, we +were obliged to throw into the water, as to have allowed +them to live would have been our own destruction. To +this rule there was but one exception, and on the earnest entreaty +of Jack, I permitted the canine family to retain +one new member, which we called <i>Coco</i>, “because,” said +Jack, “the vowel <i>o</i> is the most sonorous, and will sound +so fine in the forests.”</p> + +<p>The female buffalo and the cow had each year produced +us a scion from their race; but we had only raised +one heifer and a second bull. We had called the cow +<i>Blanche</i>, on account of her pale yellow colour, and the +bull <i>Thunder</i>, as his voice was so powerful. We also possessed +two more asses, which we named <i>Arrow</i> and <i>Alert</i> +on account of the swiftness of their course.</p> + +<p>Our pigs were as wild as ever. The old sow had been +dead many years; but she had bequeathed to her posterity +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</span>a spirit of savage independence that all our exertions +could not modify. Our other beasts had multiplied +in the same proportion, so that we could often kill one +without any fear of impoverishing ourselves. Such was +the state of the colony ten years after our arrival on the +coast: our resources had multiplied as our industry increased; +abundance reigned around us; we were as +familiar with our part of the island as a farmer with his +farm. It was a perfect paradise. It would have been an +Eden, but there was one great void—oh! if we could but +have looked upon men, our brothers!</p> + +<p>For ten years had we watched both by sea and land +for some traces of man’s existence, but all in vain; and +yet we hoped on, hoped ever, and still gathered up all our +treasures of cotton, and spices, and ostrich-plumes, etc., in +earnest hope that some day we might again see the blessed +face of man.</p> + +<p>My sons were no longer children. Fritz had become +a strong and vigorous man; although not tall, yet his +limbs had been developed by exercise: he was twenty-four +years of age.</p> + +<p>Ernest was twenty-three, and although of a good constitution, +he was not so strong as his brother; his reflective +mind had ripened; reason now aided his studious disposition; +he had conquered his habit of idleness, and was, +in a word, a well-informed young man, of a sound judgment, +and unquestionably the light of the family.</p> + +<p>Jack had but little changed: he was as headlong +at twenty as at ten; but he excelled in corporeal exercises.</p> + +<p>Francis was eighteen: he was stout and tall; his character, +without any predominant trait, was estimable. He +was reflective, without being as deep as Ernest; agile +and skilful, but without surpassing Jack or Fritz. In +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</span>general my sons were good and honest men, with sound +principles, and a deep sense of religion.</p> + +<p>My dear Elizabeth had not grown very old. As for +me, my hair had become whitened by age, or, to speak +more justly, there were but a few scattering locks left; +the heat of the climate and excessive fatigue had taken +them all away, although I still felt young and vigorous.</p> + +<p>There was one bitter, sad thought that always haunted +my mind; and turning my eyes to heaven, I would often +say, “My God, who didst save us from shipwreck, and +hast surrounded us with so many blessings, still watch +over us, I pray thee, and do not let those perish in solitude +whom thy hand has saved.”</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LV">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-five">LV</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Excursion of Fritz—Startling Communication—Discovery of Pearls—Intelligence of a Fellow Creature—Fritz’s Return, and Account of his Wonderful Discoveries +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">One</span> can easily imagine that my young family was +not so easy to govern now as it was during the first +few years of our stay.</p> + +<p>My children would often absent themselves whole +days, hunting in the forest, or clambering over the rocks; +but when they returned at evening, fatigued and wearied, +if I had intended to reproach them for their wandering +life, they would have so much to tell me concerning the +rare and curious things that they had seen, that I never +had resolution enough to scold them.</p> + +<p>Fritz one day went off in this manner, and caused us +the greatest disquietude. He had taken with him some +provisions, and—as if the land was not large enough for +him—also his cajack, and gone out to sea. He had set +out before daylight, and night was approaching, but nothing +could be seen of him. My wife was in a state of the +greatest suspense; and, to alleviate her distress, I launched +the canoe, and we set out for Shark Island. There, from +the top of the flag-staff, we displayed our flag and fired +an alarm-cannon. A few moments after, we saw a black +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</span>spot in the far distance, and, by the aid of a spy-glass, we +discovered our beloved Fritz. He advanced slowly toward +us, beating the sea with his oars, as if his canoe were +charged with a double load.</p> + +<p>“Fire!” cried Ernest, in his capacity as commander +of the fort, “fire!” and Jack touched off the cannon. +We descended to the shore, and were soon in the arms +of our adventurer Fritz. His boat was loaded with different +things; and something heavy and dark, which looked +like the head of a large animal, was towing behind.</p> + +<p>“It appears,” said I, “my dear Fritz, that your day has +not been an unprofitable one; and blessed be God that He +has returned you safe and sound.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Fritz, “blessed be God; for, besides +the booty which you see, I think I have made a discovery +which is worth more to us than all the treasures of the +earth.”</p> + +<p>These words, half-whispered in my ear, excited my +curiosity, but I thought I would say nothing until the +voyager had taken breath. When we had brought on +shore his sack, filled with large oysters, as it appeared +to me, and the marine monster which served as a counterpoise, +we drew the little cajack, with its master seated +in triumph in it, up to the grotto. The boys then returned +to obtain the remainder of the cargo, while we sat down +quietly in the gallery to listen to Fritz’s narrative. He +commenced the recital of his adventures by begging us to +pardon him for running away, as he had resolved to visit +the eastern part of our country, of which we as yet knew +nothing.</p> + +<p>“I had long ago intended to make this expedition,” +said he. “This morning, before you awoke, I softly arose +and ran, as is my custom, to the borders of the sea. The +weather was so beautiful, the waves so tranquil, that I +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</span>could not resist the temptation. I called my eagle, and +seizing a hatchet, jumped into the cajack, and falling into +the current of Jackal’s River, was hurried out toward the +shoals where our vessel was wrecked. I directed my course +toward the eastern coast, among shoals and rocks covered +with the nests of sea-birds, who flew around me uttering +piercing cries. Whenever the rocks offered any surface, +you would see great marine monsters extended in the sun, +while others were playing and bellowing frightfully in the +neighbouring waters. There were sea-lions, and elephants, +and walruses of all sorts, who, holding on to the rocks by +their long teeth, let their hinder parts rest in the water. +It seemed that this was the general rendezvous of these +monsters; for I saw, in coasting along the shore, several +places strewed with their bones and ivory teeth.</p> + +<p>“I must confess,” said Fritz, “that when I saw myself +encompassed by these monsters, I did not feel very safe; +and I endeavoured, as far as I was able, to pass through +the shoals unperceived, which I effected after a hard +row of an hour and a half. I stopped my course before +a magnificent portico of rocks, which nature seemed to +have fashioned into the most imposing forms: it was +like the arch of an immense bridge, under which the sea +flowed in like a canal, while the rock on each side of the +entrance advanced out into the sea, like an immense +promontory. I did not hesitate to enter this sombre vault, +from the other extremity of which issued a feeble light. A +delicious coolness filled the cavern. On all sides numbers +of the little coast-swallows were flying about; and on my +entrance into the cavern, a swarm of these birds surrounded +me, uttering piercing cries, as if they wished to +prohibit my farther approach. I tied my skiff to an angular +stone in the cavern, and began to examine the inhabitants. +I found I was mistaken in considering these birds +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</span>swallows: they were about the size of wrens, their breast +of a pure white colour, their wings of a light grey, the +back of a lustrous black. Their nests appeared like those +of other birds, made of feathers and dry leaves; but they +were placed on a singular sort of a support, resembling +a long spoon, made of greyish, polished wax. Some of +these nests were empty; and having examined them with +more attention, I discovered that they were made of a substance +resembling fish-glue. I disengaged a few of them +to bring home to you, and I now beg you will examine +them, and see whether they are good for anything.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly they are, my son. If we carried on commerce +with China or India, we could sell these nests for +their weight in gold; for they eat them by millions, and +esteem them one of the greatest delicacies.”</p> + +<p>A general cry of disgust burst forth from my wife and +children, at the idea of eating birds’ nests. I explained to +them that the feathers and moss lining the inside were not +eaten, but only the covering, which is carefully cleaned +and cooked with spices, making a transparent, savoury +jelly.</p> + +<p>“I advanced boldly through the passage,” said Fritz, +“and came out into a magnificent bay, whose low and +fertile shores stretched out into a savanna of vast extent; +trees and shrubs everywhere varied the beauty of the +scene: on the right, a vast mass of rocks rose up, being +a prolongation of those that I had passed through; on the +left rolled a calm and limpid river; and beyond this was +a thick swamp, which terminated in a dense forest of +cedars. While I was coasting along the shores of the bay, +I perceived at the bottom of the transparent waters beds +of shells resembling large oysters. ‘Here,’ said I to myself, +‘is something that is much better than our little +oysters at Felsenheim; if they taste good, I will take some +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</span>home with me.’ I detached some with my hook and threw +them on the sand, without getting out of my canoe, and set +to work to obtain more. When I returned with a new +load, I found that the oysters I had first deposited on the +sand were opened, and the sun had already begun to +corrupt them. I took up one or two; but instead of finding +the nice fat oyster I expected, I found nothing but a hard, +gritty meat. In trying to detach this from the shell, +I felt some little round, hard stones, like peas, under my +knife; I took them out, and found them so brilliant that I +filled a little box with them which I happened to have with +me. Do you not think, my father,” added Fritz, “that +they are really pearls?”</p> + +<p>I took the box in my hand. “They are really pearls,” +cried I, “oriental pearls of the greatest beauty. You have, +in truth, discovered a treasure, my son, which one day will +be, I hope, of immense value to us. We will pay a visit +to this rich bay as soon as possible; but continue your +story.”</p> + +<p>“I pursued my course,” resumed Fritz, “along the +coast, indented with creeks, and covered with verdure and +flowers. I came up to the mouth of the river, the calm +waters of which floated on tranquilly toward the sea; its +surface, overgrown with aquatic plants, resembled a +verdant prairie covered with different sorts of birds. I +gave to this river the name of St. John, as it put me in +mind of the description I had read of a river of that name +in Florida. Having renewed my provision of fresh water, +I then directed my course towards the other promontory, +opposite the arch by which I had entered. I endeavoured +to leave the bay; but the tide had risen so high that it +filled the vault, and I was obliged to await its ebb. I +stepped on shore, as I saw on all sides, popping up out +of the water, the heads of marine animals, which appeared +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</span>about the size of a calf, and they plunged and frisked +about in such a manner that I was afraid they would overset +my cajack; so I secured it to a point in the rock, and, +taking my eagle in my hand, I stood ready to attack the +first game that came near me; for I wished to procure +one of the animals, which resembled a stuffed valise, as I +thought its thick skin might be of use to me. A company +of them soon came, plunging and diving, close to the +shore. I cast off my eagle, who seized on the largest and +best, and soon blinded him; I jumped on a projecting +rock, and, catching hold of the animal with my boat-hook, +drew it to the shore. All the others fled as if by +enchantment. I had to remove the entrails of the animal, +as the weight was too heavy for my little skiff; but, while +I was thus occupied, a prodigious number of sea-birds +clustered around me: gulls, sea-swallows, frigates, and +half a dozen other kinds. They came up so close that I +whirled my staff around to keep them off, and in doing +so knocked down a very large bird, an albatross, I think. +After this operation was finished, I fastened my sea-otter +to the stern of my boat; and, taking a sack full of oysters, +made preparations for my return. I soon passed through +the arch, and sailed quietly along, until I saw your flag +and heard the report of the cannon.”</p> + +<p>After this narrative, and while my wife and the +younger boys had gone to the cajack, my son drew me +aside and confided to my ear an important secret.</p> + +<p>“A very singular circumstance,” said he, “happened +on my voyage. In examining the albatross which I had +knocked down, judge my surprise when I saw a piece of +linen around one of its feet. I untied it, and read the +following words written upon it in good English: ‘<cite>Save +the poor shipwrecked sailor on the smoking rock.</cite>’ I cannot +express to you, my father, what I felt on seeing this +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</span>linen. I read and re-read the line to assure myself that +it was not an optical illusion. I cried aloud to the +Almighty that it might but be true. From this moment +my only thought shall be to search the coast in quest of +the smoking rock, to save the sufferer—my brother—my +friend. Oh! once more perhaps I may see a human +being. An idea occurred to me to attach the linen again +to the foot of the albatross, and to write upon a second +piece, which I fastened to the other foot, the following +sentence in English: ‘<cite>Have confidence in God: succour +is near.</cite>’ If the bird returns to the place from whence it +came, thought I, the person can read the answer: at all +events there will be no harm in trying this experiment. +The albatross had been stunned, and I poured some +hydromel down its throat to reanimate it. I attached my +note to its foot, and let it go, earnestly praying that its +mission might be successful. The bird flew up, hesitated +for a moment, and then darted rapidly away in an easterly +direction, which decided me to take that route in my +search. And now, my father,” continued Fritz with emotion, +“what do you think of this event? If we could find +a new friend, a new brother—for certainly we will go in +search of the stranger, oh yes, we will go—what joy! what +happiness! But, alas! what despair if we should not succeed! +The reason I did not communicate this to my +brothers and my mother was to spare them the agonies of a +hope which, after all, might never be realized.”</p> + +<p>My son pronounced these last words with sadness.</p> + +<p>“You have acted very prudently,” said I, “and I am +glad that you have sufficient strength of mind to resist +the temptation of immediately flying to the assistance of +the sufferer. As for the result of any expedition of discovery, +I cannot say much; the albatross is a traveller-bird, +and it flies extremely swiftly: the linen might have +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</span>been put on its foot thousands of miles from here; and +even if near, perhaps years ago, and now succour may be +too late. But continue to keep the secret, and I will try +to imagine whether some way cannot be devised to save +the poor unfortunate, if in our vicinity.”</p> + +<p>The pearls were too important an object to be forgotten, +and my sons importuned me to start immediately +for the newly-discovered fishery.</p> + +<p>“Softly,” said I; “before riding, you must saddle your +horse; and if you wish that your enterprise should succeed, +you must take with you the necessary implements. Let +each one of you try to invent something useful for our +purpose, and then we will start.”</p> + +<p>This proposition was received with joyous acclamations, +and each member of the party set his ingenuity to +work. I forged for myself two large iron rakes and two +small hooks of the same metal; I fixed wooden handles +to the first-named, with iron rings attached, so that I could +fasten them to the boat and drag them over the banks of +oysters; with the hooks I intended to loosen the oysters, +which the rakes were insufficient to detach. Ernest made +a sort of butterfly-net with scissors attached, intended to +receive the birds’ nests. Jack constructed a kind of ladder, +made by piercing a long bamboo at regular distances, and +fixing in sticks crosswise; the machine looked like the stick +in a parrot’s cage. To the top the young man fixed a hook +of iron, and a spike at the bottom, so that it should rest +firmly in the rocks. Francis, very adroit in making nets, +made several very strong ones to hold our oysters.</p> + +<p>During this time, Fritz worked in silence at his cajack, +endeavouring to construct a second seat in it. I alone +knew his intention; but I dared not encourage him by +evincing my knowledge of his object.</p> + +<p>We next prepared our provisions for the voyage: +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</span>two hams were cooked, cassava cakes, barley-bread, rice, +nuts, almonds, and other dry fruits; and for drink we +took a barrel of water, and one of hydromel. These stores, +with our tools and finishing implements, loaded down the +boat.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LVI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-six">LVI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Edible Birds’ Nests—Pearl-Fishery—Poor Jack +is “Killed”—Discovery of Truffles +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">We</span> had spent an entire day in preparing our cargo. +A fresh and favourable breeze and a slightly ruffled +sea induced us to embark immediately. Francis and +his mother were left to guard the shore, and we gaily put +off, amid their prayers and wishes for our safe return. +We took with us some of our domestics: young Knips, +the successor of our good old monkey, Jack’s jackal, +Flora, Braun, and Folb, all found a place in the boat. +Jack occupied the second seat in Fritz’s cajack. Ernest +and I conducted the canoe loaded with our provisions and +animals.</p> + +<p>The cajack led the way, and we followed, steering our +course through the shoals and rocks with the greatest difficulty. +We did not encounter any marine monsters; but +the rocks were covered with the whitened bones of walruses +and sea-horses, and Ernest made us stop several times, at +the risk of bruising our boat against the rocks, in order that +he might collect some of these osseous remains for our +museum of natural history.</p> + +<p>We soon attained the promontory, behind which, Fritz +said, was the Bay of Pearls. This promontory was singular +and imposing. Arch rose above arch, column above +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</span>column; in a word, it resembled the front of one of those +old Gothic cathedrals, embellished with a thousand +grotesque carvings and antiquated decorations, with the +only difference that, instead of a pavement of marble, we +had the blue sea, and the columns were washed by the +waves. It struck us as a temple elevated to the Eternal, +in the midst of immensity. We penetrated into the vault; +it was sombre and gloomy, like an old cathedral, and only +lighted by a few apertures in the rock.</p> + +<p>The noise of our oars frightened the peaceable salanganes, +and they flew about in such numbers as almost to +render it impossible to guide the boat; but when our +eyes became habituated to the darkness, we saw with pleasure +that every niche and corner was filled with their nests. +These nests resembled white cups, were as transparent as +horn, and filled, like the nests of other birds, with feathers, +and dry sticks of some sort of perfumed wood.</p> + +<p>The trial which we had made of this substance, after +boiling it with salt and spices, convinced us that it was a +delicate and wholesome food; besides, we knew how highly +it was valued in China, and we were so possessed with the +idea that, some day or other, a vessel would arrive on our +shores, with which we could trade, that I resolved to gather +a considerable number of these nests, only taking care to +leave those which contained eggs or young ones. Fritz +and Jack climbed like cats along the rocks and detached +the nests, which they gave to Ernest and me, who placed +them in a large sack we had brought. It was soon filled, +and I was glad of it, as the boys were tired, and I could +not bear to see them suspended on the ladder over the +water.</p> + +<p>I now gave the order for departure. Fritz had +assured me that the canal which flowed through the vault +was navigable, and that by following the passage, we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</span>should soon arrive at the bay. The flood-tide carried us +rapidly forward toward the other extremity of the cavern, +and we could not help admiring the magnificence of the +passage: the roof was covered with stalactites wrought +by the hand of nature into a thousand fantastic forms. +At length we issued into a beautiful bay; we were struck +with surprise, and remained resting on our oars in silent +admiration. The water was so calm and pure that we +could see the fish far below us. I recognized the white +fish, the shining scales of which are used as false pearls. +I showed them to my sons; but they could not understand +how a little stone would be worth so much more than the +fish-scales, when the latter were full as brilliant as the +former.</p> + +<p>“It is not the object itself,” said I; “it is the difficulty +in procuring it which costs so much. If every river +in Europe abounded in pearls, they would be worth +nothing.”</p> + +<p>The day was too far advanced to commence our pearl-fishing, +and we appeased our hungry stomachs with some +slices of ham, fried potatoes, and some cassava cakes; and, +after having lighted up fires along the coast, to keep off +wild beasts, we left the dogs on shore and went on board +the canoe, Knips being installed on the mast as vidette. +We drew the sail over our heads, and, wrapping ourselves +in our bear-skins, soon sank to rest.</p> + +<p>We rose at daylight, and, after a frugal breakfast, +commenced our labours in the pearl-fishery, and, with +the aid of the rakes, hooks, nets, and poles, soon brought +in a large quantity of the precious oysters: we heaped +them all up in a pile on the shore, so that the heat of the +sun would cause them to open.</p> + +<p>Toward evening the coast appeared so beautiful, and +the vegetation so rich and glowing, that it was impossible +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</span>for us to resist the temptation of making an excursion to +a little wood, where we had heard turkeys gobbling all +day. Each took with him one of our faithful servants, and +we separated. Ernest entered first into the wood, accompanied +by Folb; Jack soon followed him, while Fritz and +I remained a moment to fix our guns. A few moments +after, we heard a report, then a scream from Jack, followed +by another report. Fritz unhooded his eagle, I +snatched up my gun, and we ran in the direction of Jack, +who was screaming, “Papa! papa! quick! I am killed! +quick! come!”</p> + +<p>The poor boy had exaggerated matters a little, for +he was not even wounded; but there he lay face to face +with an enormous boar, with formidable tusks, who had +knocked him down so rudely that he thought himself +lost.</p> + +<p>His brothers ran quickly up, and two shots well fired +freed him from his terrible enemy. Ernest recounted +to me the manner in which this affair happened. “I +had entered into the little wood,” said he, “with Folb, +when suddenly the brave dog quitted me, and set off in +pursuit of a wild boar, who had come out of the forest, +and was sharpening his tusks against the tree with a +terrible noise. At that moment Jack came up; his jackal, +perceiving the boar, sprang furiously upon him, while +Folb attacked him on the other side. I approached cautiously, +by passing from one tree to another, until I was +near enough to fire; the jackal, however, had received +such a terrible blow from the boar’s foot that he lay senseless +on the grass. Jack then fired, but missed; and the +boar, turning round, set off in pursuit of his new assailant, +who fled like a Hottentot before him. Without doubt, he +would have soon escaped if a projecting root had not +tripped him up. Down he fell; I fired, but missed, and +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</span>the boar began to butt poor Jack with his head. He, however, +had not time to do him much harm, as Braun and +Flora rushed in, and, seizing the animal by his ears, held +him so firmly that he could not stir. Fritz’s eagle now +joined the fray, and, flying on the head of the boar, who +fairly frothed with rage, began picking at his eyes. Fritz +now fired, and hit the animal directly in the throat; it fell +right across Jack’s body, who could not disengage himself. +I then ran up and helped him; he groaned dreadfully, and +at first I thought he was seriously wounded; but I found +that I was mistaken. He took Fritz’s arm and walked +away, while I remained by the boar. It was not without +some surprise that I saw master Knips with some large +black tubercles, with which the ground was covered; I +gathered two or three which I put in my game-bag. Look +at them.”</p> + +<p>So saying, the young naturalist presented me with six +tubercles resembling potatoes, the odour of which was +very penetrating. I opened one, and, having tasted it, I +discovered that they were excellent truffles, of a perfumed, +delicate flesh, marbled with white.</p> + +<p>“It appears,” said I to my son, congratulating him +on his discovery, “that the boar, who is very fond of +these things, was eating them when he was disturbed.”</p> + +<p>While talking in this way, night came on, and it was +necessary to seek repose. We lighted our watch-fires, +swallowed a morsel of meat, and then retired to our canoe: +the dogs were again left on shore. We were soon asleep, +and dreaming of the absent ones at our beloved Felsenheim.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LVII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-seven">LVII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Cotton Nuts—Terrific Encounter with Lion and Lioness—A Savage—Parley, and Recognition of a Friend +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Our</span> first care, on rising the next morning, was to set +about the preparation of the boar. Jack had recovered +from his fear, and, accompanied by the dogs, we set +out to look for the dead boar. He was enormous—between +a boar and a buffalo in size, and his head was indeed +frightfully large.</p> + +<p>“I fear,” said I, “that the flesh of this old African is +not better than a European boar. My advice is, that instead +of dragging the immense carcass away, we cut off +what we want, and let the rest alone.”</p> + +<p>My sons agreed with me, and we began to cut off +the hams and head of the wild boar. Some branches of +trees furnished us with sleds to put the pieces on, and +we made the dogs draw them to the shore.</p> + +<p>While we were occupied in disposing of our hams, +chance made known to us an important discovery. Ernest +remarked on the branches we had cut to make our +sleds a sort of nut; he opened one, but, instead of a kernel, +it contained a beautiful fine cotton, of a deep yellow, +which I recognized as being the real Nankin cotton. This +cotton owes its name to a province of China, where it +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</span>grows abundantly, and is cultivated with much care. We +made a large provision of these nuts, and dug up two +young trees to carry to Felsenheim.</p> + +<p>Jack shrank with fright from the head of his terrible +enemy, and appeared quite overjoyed that it was going to +figure in our museum; but, on the observation of Ernest +that it would be very difficult to prepare, and having +heard that boar’s head was very fine eating, we resolved +to cook it with truffles, in the Otaheitan manner; consequently +Fritz and Ernest set to work, and dug a deep +ditch, while I cleaned the head and heated some stones. +When these preparations were finished, we placed the +head, stuffed with truffles, and seasoned with salt, pepper, +and nutmeg, in a ditch, and covered it with red-hot stones +and a thick layer of earth. While our supper was cooking, +we suspended the hams over the smoke of the fire, +and tranquilly sat down to talk over the events of the day, +when suddenly a deep, prolonged cry rang through the +forest. It was the first time we had ever heard such unearthly +tones: the rocks echoed it, and we felt seized with +sudden terror; the dogs and the jackal also commenced +howling horribly.</p> + +<p>“What a diabolical concert!” said Fritz, jumping up +and seizing his gun; “some danger must be near. Build +up the fire,” continued he, “and while I try to discover +the danger in my cajack, you retire to the canoe.”</p> + +<p>This plan appeared the best we could pursue, and I +adopted it. We threw on the fire all the wood we could +find ready cut, and, without losing time, we regained the +canoe. Fritz jumped into the cajack, and was soon lost +in the obscurity.</p> + +<p>During all this time the roarings continued, and they +appeared to approach nearer to us. Our dogs gathered +around the fire, uttering plaintive moans. Our poor little +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</span>monkey seemed to suffer painfully from fear. I imagined +that it was a leopard or a panther, which had been attracted +by the remains of the wild boar in the wood. My +doubts did not last long, for we soon discovered by the +pale light of our fires a terrible lion, considerably larger +and stronger than those I had seen in the royal menageries +of Europe. In two or three leaps he bounded over +the space which separated the wood from the shore; he +stood immovable for a moment, and then commenced lashing +his flanks with his tail, and roaring furiously, every +moment crouching down as if to spring on us. This +frightful pantomime did not last long: every moment +he would run to the stream, lap up some water, and then +return. I remarked with mortal anguish that the animal +came nearer and nearer to the shore; and at length he +lay crouched down, his flaming eyes fixed directly on us. +Half in fear, half in despair, I raised my gun, and was +about to fire, when suddenly I heard a report; the animal +bounded up, gave a tremendous yell, and fell lifeless on +the earth.</p> + +<p>“’Tis Fritz,” murmured my poor Ernest, pale with +terror. “O God! protect my brother.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is he,” I cried, “our brave Fritz: he has saved +us from a terrible death; let us go to him.” In two +strokes of the oars we were on shore; but our dogs, with +an admirable instinct, began to bark terribly. I did not +neglect this indication; we threw more wood on the fire, +and again jumped into the boat. It was time; for scarcely +were we secure, when a second enemy rushed from the +forest: it was not so large as the first, but its roar was +frightful. This time it was a lioness, probably the companion +of the superb animal which we had just killed. +How grateful I felt that both had not appeared together; +what could we have done? The lioness ran straight up to +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</span>the corpse of her late partner, smelled it, and licked up +the blood, which had flowed from the wound; and when +she was convinced that he no longer lived, she set up a howl +of rage that pen could not describe; she lashed her sides +and opened her enormous mouth, as if she would devour +us all.</p> + +<p>Again Fritz fired, and the shot, less fortunate than +the first, only broke the shoulder of the animal. The +wounded lioness commenced rolling on the sand, foaming +with rage; but all three of our dogs rushed upon her. +Braun and Folb seized the animal in the flanks, and Flora +caught hold of the throat. Another shot would have put +an end to the combat, but I was afraid of wounding the +dogs; so I jumped from the boat, and, running up to the +animal, who was held fast by the dogs, I plunged my hunting-knife +direct to her heart: the blood spouted out, and the +lioness fell; but the victory had cost us dear, for there lay +our poor Flora, dead under the terrible wounds she had +received from the fangs of the monster.</p> + +<p>Fritz now ran up and threw himself into my arms, as +did Ernest and poor Jack, who trembled with mortal +agony. We lighted our torches, and directed our course +toward the field of battle; we found poor Flora, with her +teeth yet clutching the throat of her enemy, while the +royal couple lay majestically extended on the sand, and +we could hardly suppress a sentiment of fear which struck +us as we gazed on the terrific beasts.</p> + +<p>“What a terrible range of teeth!” said Ernest, as he +raised up the head of the lion.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and what frightful claws!” said Jack; “wouldn’t +they make nice holes in your skin?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, my friends,” observed I, “let us thank God that +He has saved us from the danger; thank Him for the wisdom +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</span>with which He has endowed men, so that they may +be able to conquer such terrible beasts.”</p> + +<p>“Poor Flora!” said Fritz, as he detached the dead +body of our dear dog from that of the lioness; “she has +done for us to-day what our old ass did in the case of the +boa. Come, Ernest, see if you cannot induce your muse +to fabricate an epitaph.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! my muse, I must confess, has been too terribly +frightened to make any rhymes.”</p> + +<p>“Tush! go and meditate while we dig the grave of our +poor hunter, and be sure to be ready when we are done.”</p> + +<p>Flora received the honours of a funeral by torchlight; +we dug a grave, and silently placed in it the remains of the +faithful animal, and a flat stone served to mark her resting-place. +Ernest composed the following legend, which +he read to us, saying that he was too frightened for poetry, +and Flora must be contented with prose:</p> + +<p class="center"> +Here Lies<br> +FLORA, A DOG<br> +remarkable<br> +for her courage and devotion.<br> +She died<br> +under the claws of a lion,<br> +on whom<br> +she also inflicted death. +</p> + +<p>“Admirable,” said Fritz. “It must be confessed, Ernest, +you write full as good prose as poetry.”</p> + +<p>At sunrise next morning we were up, and our first +care was to deprive our noble prey of their superb furs. +Jack wanted to make a mantle of the lion’s skin, such as +Hercules wore after his victory in the Nemæan forest; +but I adjourned all arrangements about their appropriation +till a more convenient time.</p> + +<p>The heat of the sun had commenced to corrupt the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</span>oysters heaped upon the bank, and the effluvia which they +exhaled induced us to return to Felsenheim, and early in +the morning we set sail. Fritz set off before us, as if +to serve as pilot; but when he had conducted us through +the vault, and over the shoals, he rowed up to our canoe, +and, handing me a paper, shot off again like an arrow. +I opened the paper quickly, and imagine my surprise when +I found that, instead of having forgotten the albatross and +the smoking rock, he informed me in the letter that he +was going in search of the unfortunate being! I had a +thousand objections to make to this romantic project; +but Fritz rowed so fast, I could barely halloo through +the speaking-trumpet, “Return soon, and be prudent,” +before he was out of sight. We gave to the cape where +he left us the name of the “Adieu Cape.” We prayed that +our adventurer might return safe, and I begged my rowers +to redouble their endeavours, so that we could arrive early +at Felsenheim, for I suspected that my good Elizabeth +would be worried at our long absence of three days.</p> + +<p>We finally arrived without accident, and the different +treasures we had brought were joyfully received; the truffles, +the lion-skins, the pearls, the Nankin, became the +objects of a thousand questions, but they could not drive +away the thoughts of Fritz; and my wife said she would +willingly give up all our cargo of pearls, etc., if she could +only see her beloved son.</p> + +<p>I had not yet spoken to my wife concerning the reason +of Fritz’s absence, as I did not wish to give rise to hopes +which were so unlikely to be realized; but now I thought +that it was my duty to do so. I therefore confided to her +the secret of the albatross; and the dear woman, to my surprise, +was calm and resigned; she only prayed with me +that he might be successful.</p> + +<p>Five days had thus passed away and still Fritz had not +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</span>returned, and his mother was so anxious and worried that +I proposed to launch the pinnace and make a new excursion +to the Bay of Pearls. We lost no time; the pinnace +was prepared, and early the next day we bade adieu to +Felsenheim, and soon were in sight of the promontory of +the bay, when suddenly the vessel ran against a black +mass, and was nearly thrown over by the shock. My wife +and sons uttered a cry of terror; but the boat soon +righted, and I perceived that the obstacle was not a point +of rock, as I had thought, but a marine monster of the +family of blowers, for we soon saw him throw up into the +air two spouts of water mingled with blood. I instantly +pointed the cannons of the pinnace, and a discharge of +artillery prevented the huge monster from overturning us, +which he certainly would have done if the blow had not +stunned him. We saw with pleasure that the waves carried +the enormous body to a sand-bank a little distance +from the shore, and there it lay like a stranded ship.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Ernest uttered a loud scream. “A man! a +savage!” said he, and he pointed out to us in the distance +a sort of canoe dancing over the waves. The person who +conducted it seemed to have perceived us, for he advanced +and then made towards a projecting point, as if to communicate +his discovery to his companions. I leave our +sensations to the imagination of the reader. I had not +the slightest doubt that we had fallen in with a band of +savages, and we began to fortify our boat against their +arrows, by making a bulwark of the stalks of maize and +corn we had brought with us. We loaded our cannons, +guns, and pistols, and, everything arranged, we stood +ready behind our rampart, resolved to defend it as long +as we were able. We dared not advance, for there was +the savage; and Ernest, growing tired of the pantomime, +observed that, if we used the speaking-trumpet, possibly +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</span>our savage might understand some words of the half-dozen +languages we were familiar with.</p> + +<p>The advice appeared good. I took up the speaking-trumpet +and bellowed out with all my force some words +of Malay; but still the canoe remained immovable, as if +its master had not comprehended us.</p> + +<p>“Instead of Malay,” said Jack, “suppose we try English.” +So saying, he caught up the trumpet, and in his +clear, loud tone pronounced some common sailor-phrases, +well known to all who have ever been on board ship. The +device succeeded, and we saw the savage advancing +toward us, holding a green branch in his hand. Nearer +and nearer he came, and at last we recognized in the +painted savage our own dear Fritz.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LVIII">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-eight">LVIII</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Adventures of Fritz—Sir Edward Montrose—Our Adopted Sister—Attack of Wolves—Preparations for Return +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">When</span> we had freed Fritz from our oft-repeated +embraces, we commenced asking him all manner +of questions; and, speaking all together, the poor fellow +was so confused he did not know what to do. I demanded +an answer on two points only—whether his excursion had +been satisfactory, and why he had played this farce of +dressing himself like a savage, and causing us such +anxiety.</p> + +<p>“As to the purpose of my excursion,” said he, with a +joy he could scarcely conceal, “I have attained it”; and +the young man, as he said these words, pressed my hand, +which he held in his. “As for my costume, I mistook you +for a tribe of Malays, or some other nation, and, in the fear +that you were enemies, I endeavoured to disguise myself +by painting the upper part of my body with powder, +soaked in water. The two reports of the cannon that I +heard convinced me more and more that you were enemies; +the Malay words that you addressed to me confirmed me, +and I should still have been endeavouring to deceive you, +and you would still have been in fear of me, if Jack had +not bawled out those sailor-phrases in his unmistakable +voice.”</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</span></p> +<p>We all began to laugh over the farce we had been enacting; +and Fritz, drawing me aside, said, in an eager, +joyous tone, “I have succeeded, papa: the hand of God +conducted me to the dwelling-place of the poor shipwrecked +girl—for it was a woman that had written those +lines. Three years has she lived on that smoking rock, +all alone, destitute of everything! Can you believe it, +but the poor girl has conjured me not to betray her sex, +except to you and my mother. I have brought her with +me: she is near by, on a little island just beyond the Bay +of Pearls; come and see her. Oh! do not say anything +to my brothers. I want to enjoy their surprise when they +find I have brought them back a sister, for I am sure she +will allow them to call her so.”</p> + +<p>I consented to the wish of my son, and, without saying +anything to the rest of the family, I ordered them to +hoist the sails, weigh anchor, and make ready to depart. +Fritz, who had changed his dress and washed off his disguise, +flew about, hastening his less eager brothers; then, +jumping into his cajack, he piloted us through the shoals +and reefs that were scattered along the coast. After an +hour’s sailing he turned off, and directed his course toward +a shady island not far from the Bay of Pearls; we sailed +close up to the shore, and fastened the pinnace to the trunk +of a fallen tree. Fritz, however, was quicker than we, +and he was on shore, and had entered a little wood in the +middle of the island before we had yet landed. We followed +him into the wood, and soon found ourselves in the +vicinity of a hut, built like those of the Hottentots, with +a fire burning before it, on which some fish were cooking +in a large shell. Fritz uttered a peculiar kind of halloo, +and what was our surprise to see, descending from a large +tree, a young and handsome sailor, who, turning his timid +eyes on us, stood still, as if he dared not approach!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</span></p> +<p>It was such a long time since we had seen a man—ten +years!—society had become so strange a thing to us, that +we remained stupefied; our hearts felt for the young +stranger, but our tongues remained dumb.</p> + +<p>The silence was broken by Fritz, who, taking the +young sailor by the hand, advanced toward us. “My +father, my mother, and you, my brothers,” said he, in a +voice broken by emotion, “behold a friend—a brother—that +I present you, a new companion in misfortune—Sir +Edward Montrose, who, like ourselves, has been shipwrecked +on the coast.”</p> + +<p>“He is welcome among us,” was the general cry; and, +approaching the young sailor, whom I easily recognized +as being a woman, and taking her by the hand, I comforted +and encouraged her, assuring the seeming man, that +among us he would always find food and sustenance; my +wife and myself would be his parents, and my sons his +brothers. My wife, moved by compassion, opened her +arms, and the young sailor rushed into them, bursting +into a flood of tears, as he thanked us for our kindness. +The most lively joy now reigned in our little circle, and +his brothers poured question after question upon Fritz, +who joyfully replied, “I will tell you all afterward; let +us attend now to our new brother.” Supper was served, +and my wife brought out a bottle of her spiced hydromel +to add to the feast. Everybody spoke at once, and my +sons addressed their new companion with such vivacity as +to embarrass the timid stranger: my wife saw his distress, +and, as it was late, she gave the signal for retirement, taking +the sailor with her on the pinnace where she said she +intended to provide a bed for him that would amply console +him for the uncomfortable nights he had hitherto +passed. We then separated, my wife and the stranger +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</span>retiring to the boat, while my sons and I stopped to light +and arrange our watch-fires.</p> + +<p>The new-comer naturally became the subject of conversation, +and Fritz recounted to his brothers the whole +history of the albatross. He spoke of his thoughts and +actions, but he became so excited in his narration, that he +forgot himself and the secret he had to keep. A word +escaped him, and he called the young sailor “Emily.”</p> + +<p>“Emily!—Emily!” repeated his brothers, who had begun +to doubt the mystery; “Emily!—Fritz has deceived +us, and Sir Edward is a girl!—our adopted brother turned +into a sister!”</p> + +<p>I leave to the imagination to picture the embarrassment +of Fritz when he discovered his imprudence. In +vain he endeavoured to bring back his words: it would not +do, and the girl could no longer hide her sex by the hat +and pantaloons.</p> + +<p>The next morning it was a comic sight to see the embarrassment +and awkwardness with which my sons approached +one whom they had the day before embraced +as a companion and a brother. My poor boys were not +acquainted with the usages of polite society and the ease +it inspires, and they appeared to a great disadvantage by +the side of the beautiful English girl. The name of sister +was substituted for that of brother, but pronounced +with reserve and embarrassment. As for Emily, she was +very much astonished at the discovery the young men had +made, and she retreated, as if for protection, to the arms +of my wife; but a moment after, recovering herself, she +advanced, and extending her hand to each one of the boys, +gracefully demanded for the sister the friendship they had +extended to the brother. Gaiety was re-established, and +we sat down to breakfast, which was composed of fruits, +cold meat, and chocolate of our own making, which was +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</span>a great treat to my new daughter, and recalled her native +land to her mind. After breakfast I proposed to weigh +anchor and return to the Bay of Pearls, where the cachalot +stranded on the shore offered us a magnificent prey. Arrived +there, we debated in what manner we could carry +away the oily substance with which the head and dorsal +bone of this animal is filled. Unfortunately we had no +barrels in which we could gather the precious product. +Emily rescued us from our dilemma, by mentioning a process +she had seen employed in India, which was, to put the +half-liquid substance in wet linen bags. The idea appeared +excellent, and we immediately put it into practice. +I gathered all the sacks I could find, and dipping them in +the sea-water, stretched them open with pieces of branches. +We were two hours engaged in these preparations. The +tide was not yet high enough to allow the pinnace to +approach the bank, where the whale lay; but we +took the canoe and the cajack and set off, leaving +the two women under the safeguard of Turk, and +taking with us Folb, Braun, and the jackal. The monster +lay extended like a huge wall; our dogs ran up to it, +and a moment after we heard some animals howling dreadfully. +We hastened up, and found our brave dogs valiantly +contending with a troop of black wolves, who were +devouring the whale. Two of their number were already +stretched on the sand, two others were yet engaged with +the dogs, and the rest fled at our approach toward a little +wood.</p> + +<p>Our dogs acquitted themselves bravely: four wolves +lay stretched upon the sand, but the noble animals had +paid dearly for their victory; the blood streamed from +all parts of their bodies, and the ears of Folb especially +were dreadfully torn. Jack dressed their wounds with +some hydromel, while Fritz and Francis aided me in another +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</span>work. The former, after having armed his feet with +cramp-irons, climbed like a cat up the back of the monster, +and cut open the enormous head of the cachalot with +a hatchet, and then with a ladle dipped the spermaceti out +of the head, and emptied it into one of the sacks which I +held ready, while Francis covered the outside with wet +sand and mortar, forming a solid crust through which none +of the grease could escape. Our sacks were soon full, for +as fast as Fritz emptied the head the cavity was filled by +a fresh supply from the backbone. The operation was +very fatiguing, and I was glad when it was over. We +then cut a quantity of willows, and wove them into little +pointed caps, with which we covered the sacks, in order +to shield them from the sun and the birds of prey, who +were fast assembling in great numbers.</p> + +<p>We now thought of returning. The tide was high, +but the load was too heavy for the boat; we therefore were +obliged to leave it and return to the verdant little island, +which we had named “Good Rencounter,” because there +we had first found Emily. The appearance of the sacks +ranged on the sand was very droll; they exactly resembled +little Chinese with their pointed hats, and we could not +help laughing heartily at the sight.</p> + +<p>After having recounted our adventures, and shown +our four fine black wolves, with their superb skins, we +were invited by our dear housekeepers to sit down to an +excellent dinner, enriched by a new dish—a sauce after +the manner of the Caribbees, made with eggs of land-crabs, +with which the island abounded. I was undecided +as to what means I should adopt to transport the spermaceti +to the island, for the pinnace could not approach the +bank near enough, without risk of running aground, and +our other boats were not large enough. Every one gave +his advice; when it came to Emily’s turn, she observed, in +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</span>her soft, silvery tone, “If you are willing, my dear papa”—for +already she had accustomed herself to address me +by that endearing name—“if you are willing, while you +and my brothers are engaged in that disgusting tannery, +I will promise to bring over your sacks.”</p> + +<p>The next morning, before my sons were awake, Emily +prepared for her expedition; she took a bladder of fresh +water, a basket of provisions, and lightly descending the +ladder of the pinnace, she seated herself in Fritz’s cajack, +untied it, and rowed off with a grace and ease that surprised +me. I would have called her back, but the little +vixen gaily kissed her hand, and soon was far on her way +toward the bank of sand. She had chosen just the right +time; the tide was rising, and had just commenced to wet +the bottom of the sacks. The adventurous girl jumped +on shore, fastened all the sacks by cords to a rope which +she had with her, and tied the rope to the cajack, and again +embarking, drew after her all the sacks, the contents of +which, being light, floated like bladders on the water.</p> + +<p>It was now full noon; we sat down to table, and, after +dinner, began our preparations for setting out for Felsenheim, +where we desired to instal our new companion. We +packed up everything we had, including Emily’s treasures, +both those she had saved from shipwreck and those she +had made herself. Fritz had made her a box which held +them all, and they really were very curious, consisting of +clothes, ornaments, domestic utensils, and all sorts of articles +which she had made in her exile, out of the scanty material +she had at her disposal.</p> + +<p>Emily now bade adieu to the island that had received +her, and the trees that had sheltered her, during her short +sojourn. We could not leave the place without giving it +a name, so we called the bay in which we anchored “Happy +Bay,” in allusion to the joyful meeting we had had there. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</span>We now took the direction of the Bay of Pearls, where we +were obliged to make a short stay before returning to Felsenheim, +to which we were impatient to introduce our +new companion.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LIX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifty-nine">LIX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>The Limekiln—Fritz’s Story +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">Fritz</span>, seated in his cajack, served as pilot to assist +us in penetrating safely through the rocks and shoals +into the bay, where at last we all arrived in safety. Everything +was found just as we had left it—the table and +benches yet standing, our fireplace undestroyed, and, what +was more, the air was purified; and, the oysters, having all +been dried up by the sun, had lost their unpleasant odour. +The dead bodies of the lions and the wild boar were but +heaps of whitened bones, the birds of prey having completely +stripped them of every particle of flesh.</p> + +<p>We wished to go direct to Felsenheim immediately; +but an unexpected discovery detained us a longer time +than we intended. I had noticed among the stones which +strewed the shore, a sort of rock which it appeared to me +could be easily converted into lime. It was a discovery +too precious to be neglected, and I resolved to establish a +limekiln without delay on the beach. It did not take us +long to make one to suit our purpose; but the calcination +of the stones occupied us much longer, and we were +obliged to sit up a great part of the night. During this +time we made some barrels of pieces of pine bark, circled +with strong withs of willow; a round piece of bark served +for the bottom, and another for the cover. To enliven our +labour, and to abridge the length of the evening, I persuaded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</span>Fritz to give us a more complete account than +he had hitherto done of the manner in which he had found +our new sister, and the details of his voyage. It was the +best way in which to employ our remaining time, and +the curiosity of my sons was so excited that they formed +a circle about Fritz, who thus commenced his narration.</p> + +<p>“You all remember,” said he to his brothers, “the manner +in which I left you, after having given my father a letter +which contained an account of my intended excursion. +The sea was calm; but I had scarcely passed the Bay of +Pearls, when suddenly a violent wind arose, gradually increasing +to a perfect hurricane; the rising waves, the rain, +the thunder and lightning, all confounded in horrible confusion. +My little bark was not strong enough to resist +the tremendous sea, and all that I could do was to abandon +myself to the current.</p> + +<p>“After several hours the wind fell and the air calmed, +and my canoe again found its equilibrium upon the surface +of the waters. I was far from all the places that we were +acquainted with; the tempest had thrown me on a coast +entirely new to my eyes; the conformation of the rocks, +the gigantic cliffs which seemed to lose themselves in the +clouds, the vegetation, the animals I perceived on the +coast, the birds which flew about me, all announced a new +world. My first care was to look carefully around and +see whether some light smoke did not rise behind the rocks; +for, as you know, the Smoking Rock was my only thought. +I could perceive nothing as yet; but full of hope, I rowed +along the coast. Night came on, and I passed it in the +cajack, after having made a miserable supper on pemmican.</p> + +<p>“The next morning I continued my journey, and the +farther I advanced, the more the coast appeared to change +its aspect. I encountered, from time to time, majestic +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</span>rivers, which flowed silently on and mingled with the sea. +The mouth of one of them resembled an immense bay, and +I decided to ascend it some little distance; its banks were +covered with large trees, willows, and vines, so thickly +woven together, that they resembled a huge mat, covered +with birds, monkeys, and even squirrels.</p> + +<p>“Toward the middle of the day the heat became so +unsupportable, that it was impossible to resist the desire +of seeking some shade under the trees. After being +slightly refreshed, I pursued my route, and sailed on a +long time without being able to land; the rivers and shores +were both defended by guards I had little desire to come +in contact with, for I recognized elephants, lions, panthers—in +one word, a complete reunion of all the ferocious +animals of creation. After travelling several leagues +farther, the appearance of the coast suddenly changed, +and, as if the ferocious animals had had their district +marked out to them, I ceased to perceive any. The shore +appeared peaceable, but desolate; the breeze which murmured +among the vines, and the song of some inoffensive +birds were the only noises which broke the calm stillness, +and I felt reassured, and resolved to land and procure a +repast. I accordingly fastened my cajack as strongly as +possible, and jumped lightly to the shore; and being hungry, +I lighted my fire, and began to prepare a juicy dinner +from a fat goose which I had shot while landing, and a +dozen of oysters.</p> + +<p>“I rose long before daylight next morning and resumed +my voyage. The country through which I now +sailed was of an aspect entirely different from any I had +ever yet seen. There were beautiful green plains, dotted +over with clumps of towering palms; little lakes surrounded +with osiers, upon the borders of which sported +herds of elephants; thick tufts of cactus of all sorts, loaded +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</span>with flowers and fruits, which the enormous rhinoceros +seemed to devour without paying any attention to the +thorns; beautiful clumps of the mimosa, the high tops of +which the towering giraffe devoured with as much facility +as a goat would a small shrub.</p> + +<p>“On I sailed, and, once more seduced by the picturesque +appearance of a river which lost itself in a tranquil +bay, I resolved to ascend it. The water slipped gently +under the prow of my little cajack—nothing appeared to +indicate any danger; there were no serpents on the bank, +no horrid beasts in the forests, and I floated tranquilly +on, enjoying the fresh breeze and the cool shade of the +overhanging trees, when suddenly there appeared before +me a long throat, armed with rows of strong sharp teeth; +it was distended to its full capacity as if it would take in +at one mouthful myself, the cajack, and the oars. I instantly +comprehended the extent of my danger, and, seizing +one of the oars, I drove it with all my strength direct +into the yawning mouth of the monster, who disappeared +in an instant, leaving a long trace of blood behind him, +showing that the wound I had made was of some importance. +I did not remain long on this river; two other monsters +of the same nature as the first rose up to the surface +of the water. They were alligators, the most terrible kind +among these animals, but whose tremendous voracity is +happily balanced by a natural laziness, which retains them +always near the spot where they were born. I had escaped +from one danger only to fall into another. At a +little distance from the River of Alligators, while coasting +along a little wood, I observed that the trees were loaded +with the rarest and most beautiful of birds, among which +were lyras, paroquets, humming-birds, and birds of paradise—in +one word, a complete assemblage of all that array +of beautiful plumage which decorates the forests of the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</span>New World, and I could not resist the desire of attacking +them. I landed, attached my cajack to the bank and +walked up to the wood, holding my eagle unhooded in my +hand. I cast him off, and he returned with a superb paroquet, +whose flame-coloured feathers sparkled in the sun’s +rays. While I was occupied in examining him, I heard +behind me a light rustling on the sand, which I thought +was merely caused by a little land-turtle, or some such animal, +and I turned carelessly round. It was well I did so; +for not twelve paces from me there was a splendid royal +tiger with open mouth, crouched down as if about to +spring upon me. I stood as if struck with stupor; a mist +came over my eyes, and scarcely could I raise my gun, so +much had horror paralysed my strength, when suddenly +my brave eagle, comprehending my danger, flew boldly +at the advancing tiger, and began to pick at his eyes. This +timely succour saved me; for it enabled me to collect my +senses, and levelling my gun, I discharged its contents into +the right flank of my enemy, and then two pistol-balls +lodged in the throat completed my victory. The tiger lay +dead; but alas! my victory had cost me dear, for my poor +eagle fell at the same time with his conquered enemy, who +had seized him in his claws and had torn him in pieces. I +picked him up, weeping bitterly over my loss, and carried +him to the cajack, hoping some day to have him +stuffed and placed in our museum.</p> + +<p>“I quitted the shore with a sorrowing mind, and again +I prayed to my heavenly Father that He would give me +strength to continue my voyage. I doubled a little cape, +and, suddenly, from the summit of the grey rocks which +bordered the coast, I perceived a light cloud of smoke rising +in the air. I turned my canoe in the direction of the +long-sought-for signal. The irregularities of the rocks +along the coast were the only difficulties I had to encounter, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</span>and it appeared to me that I should never get through +them. At last I landed, and, with infinite difficulty, +scrambled up the rocks until I arrived at a platform on +which I perceived a human creature. At the noise which +I made in approaching, the individual, who was arranging +the fire, rose, perceived me, uttered a cry of surprise and +joy, then, joining his hands, stood still, as if waiting for +me to speak. Notwithstanding the midshipman’s dress +she wore, her exclamation, and the delicate contour of +her features, convinced me that I was in the presence of +a female. I stopped about ten paces from her, and calling +to my memory all I knew of English, I said in a subdued +tone, ‘I am the liberator whom God has sent you. +I have received the message of the albatross.’ I must +have pronounced these words very badly, as Emily did not +at first comprehend them; I repeated them, however, and +after a few moments we understood each other well +enough to make a mutual interchange of our feelings. +Gestures, looks, accents all filled up the blank that words +had left vacant. I spoke to my new sister about the castle +of Felsenheim, Falcon’s Nest, our shipwreck, and ten +years’ sojourn on the coast, where we lived in almost +European luxury; on her part, she recounted to me the +history of her childhood, her shipwreck, and existence on +the Island of the Smoking Rock, making a fine story for +my papa to write out in the long winter evenings. Emily +graciously invited me to supper, after which we passed +the remainder of the night, I in my cajack, she in the +branches of a tree, where she always slept from the fear +of wild beasts. The next morning we again met. Emily +had already prepared breakfast, which consisted of fruit +and broiled fish. The repast being over, the sea looked so +calm that I thought we had better start; so, after packing +up all her curiosities, and putting them on board the cajack, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</span>we took our seats and set off. We sailed on a long +time; but an accident happened to my little barque, and I +was obliged to put in at the little island which you have +called ‘Good Rencounter,’ in memory of our meeting; it +was there I left my new-found sister, who, doubtful of her +reception in a strange family, begged me to go on and ask +permission of my father to bring her among them. I consented; +and my canoe having been repaired, I took the well-known +route home: it was then that I encountered you, +and from fear that you were pirates, I disguised myself, +and played you such a trick.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I am so sorry it is done,” cried Jack, as Fritz +finished his story; “but you must now tell us the history +of our sister.”</p> + +<p>Fritz was about to commence a new narration, of +greater interest than the former, but I stopped him, and +advised him to take a little rest before he talked any more.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LX">CHAPTER <abbr title="Sixty">LX</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Emily’s own Story—Return to Felsenheim with Military Honours—The Winter Season Once More +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">The</span> story of Fritz had detained us longer than I had +anticipated, as upon looking at my watch, I discovered +that it was midnight. The audience were not at +all sleepy, however, but as we had to execute labours on +the morrow, which would require strength and agility, +I thought that if they sat up all night they would be over-wearied +the next day; I therefore deemed it necessary to +cut short the narration, deferring its completion till a more +convenient time. This decision was received with a very +bad grace; but it was positive, so each one sought his accustomed +resting-place, either on shore or in the pinnace.</p> + +<p>The next morning, when all the family were assembled +for breakfast, the enterprise and courage of Fritz became +the subject of conversation; this naturally brought on the +story of last night, and I was obliged to consent that Emily’s +history should open the day. I wanted the dear girl +herself to tell it; but she was so timid, though at the same +time so lively, busied in her domestic occupations, that I +could do nothing with her. Fritz was therefore entreated +to act as her proxy, and resume his recital.</p> + +<p>“As soon as I was able to understand my new sister,” +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</span>said he, “I asked her by what course of events she had +been thrown on the desert coast where I now found her.</p> + +<p>“She told me that she was born in India, of English +parents, and that her father, after having served as major +in a British regiment, obtained the command of an important +English colony. The commandant, Montrose, for +that was the name of Emily’s father, had the misfortune +to lose his wife only three years after his marriage; and, +profoundly afflicted by this loss, all his affections centred +in their only child. He took charge of her education, and +devoted all the time he could spare from his official duties, +in developing the precious qualities which nature had endowed +his dear daughter with. Not content with providing +her with every means for mental improvement, he endeavoured +to make her a strong, healthy woman, capable +of facing and resisting danger. Such was Emily’s education +up to the age of sixteen; she managed a fowling-piece +as well as a needle, and rode as gracefully and firmly +as the best cavalry officer, and shone resplendent in her +father’s brilliant saloons.</p> + +<p>“Major Montrose, having been appointed colonel, was +ordered to return with part of his regiment to England. +This circumstance forced him to separate himself from his +daughter, as naval discipline did not allow women on board +a line-of-battle ship in time of war. It was arranged, +however, that she should sail the same day that he did, in +another ship, the captain of which was an old friend of +her father’s, and who would take every care of his daughter. +The voyage at its commencement was prosperous +and agreeable, but before many days a terrible tempest +arose. The ship was thrown off her course, and a furious +wind drove her down upon our rocky coast; two shallops +were launched upon the angry waves, and a chance of +safety offered to the shipwrecked. Emily found a place +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</span>in the smallest—the captain was in the other. The storm +continuing, the boats were soon separated, and the one that +contained Emily was broken in pieces, and the poor girl +alone, of all the crew, was fortunate enough to escape +death. The waves carried her, half fainting, to the foot +of the rock where I discovered her. She crawled under +the shade of a projecting rock, and, sinking on the sand, +slept for four-and-twenty hours. There she passed several +days, abandoned to dark despair, with no nourishment +but some birds’ eggs, which she found on the rocks. At +the end of that time, the sun reappearing and the sea growing +calm, the poor castaway thought of the crew in the +large shallop and, in the hope that they might see her, she +resolved to establish signals of distress. As she wore a +midshipman’s uniform on board ship, by order of her +father, she had a box in her pocket containing a flint, knife, +and other articles. She picked up some pieces of wood +which the sea had thrown on the sand, carried them to the +summit of the rock, and there kindled a fire, which she +never allowed to go out. You can easily imagine how +drearily passed the first days of Emily’s exile; she had to +contend against all the horrors of hunger and the desert. +How thankful she felt for the semi-masculine education +that her father had given her: it had endowed her with +courage and resolution far beyond her sex. She comprehended +the whole extent of her situation, and turning to +heaven, she placed her trust in God and hoped on. She +built a hut, fished, hunted, tamed birds—among others a +cormorant, which she taught to catch fish—in one word, +she lived alone, with no earthly succour, for three long +dreary years.”</p> + +<p>Fritz stopped; his eyes fell upon the heroine of his +story, who could hardly conceal her embarrassment.</p> + +<p>“My child,” said I, “you are but another proof that +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</span>God never withholds His aid from those who desire it. +That which you have done for three years a poor Swiss +family have done for ten, and heavenly aid has never been +withheld from them.”</p> + +<p>I allowed some little time for commentaries on Emily’s +history; but, as I had resolved that the day should be an +active one, I soon gave the signal for work. The manufacture +of lime had succeeded. I submitted some pieces +to the proof of water, and found it excellent.</p> + +<p>Toward evening the pinnace was laden with all that +we could carry away, and we talked seriously of returning +to Felsenheim. The poetic description we had given concerning +the salt grotto, and our aërial palace at Falcon’s +Nest, had rendered Emily exceedingly curious to judge for +herself concerning all these wonders. The next day we +weighed anchor just as dawn was breaking; the sail of +the pinnace fluttered gaily in the fresh breeze, and Fritz’s +cajack, containing himself and Francis, went before us +as pilots. When we hove in sight of Prospect Hill, I proposed +to stop and take a look at the farmhouse; but Fritz +and his brother asked permission of me to go on home, so +that they could have all things prepared for us. I consented, +and they set out.</p> + +<p>From Prospect Hill we sailed to Shark Island, where +we secured, in passing, a fine quantity of the soft wool of +the Angora rabbits. From Shark Island we directed our +course toward Felsenheim, and we could just distinguish +it when a salute of ten guns greeted our ears. This produced +a very good effect, doctor Ernest only regretting +that the salute was not composed of an odd number of +guns. “An even number,” said he, “is entirely contrary +to general usage.”</p> + +<p>We returned the polite salute of our two artillerymen +by a salvo of eleven guns, the execution of which was undertaken +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</span>and performed by Jack and Ernest in a style +that would have done honour to a practised cannoneer. +Soon after we saw Fritz and Francis coming toward us +in their canoe; they received us at the entrance of the bay, +and followed us to the shore. They landed before us, and +the moment Emily’s foot touched the sand, a hurrah resounded +through the air, and Fritz, springing forward, +presented her his hand, like a gallant cavalier, and led her +up to the portico of the grotto. There a new spectacle +awaited us: a table was spread in the middle of the gallery, +and loaded with all the fruits that the country produced. +Bananas, figs, guavas, oranges, rose up in perfumed heaps +upon flat calabashes. All the vases, cocoa-nut cups and +ostrich-eggs mounted on turned wooden pedestals, urns +of painted porcelain, all were filled with hydromel and +milk; while a large dish of fried fish, and a huge roast +turkey, stuffed with truffles, formed the solid part of the +repast. A double festoon of flowers surrounded the canopy +above the table, sustaining a large medallion on which +was inscribed, “Welcome, fair Emily Montrose!” It was +a complete holiday, and as pompous a reception as our +means would allow. Emily sat down to table between +my wife and myself; Ernest and Jack also took their +places; while the two caterers of the feast, each with a napkin +on his arm, did the honours of the table.</p> + +<p>We passed from the table to the interior of the grotto, +and our young companion had the apartment next ours +for her use. She could not restrain her admiration at the +effects our industry had accomplished; she was astonished +that a man and four children could have effected so much. +The chateau in the tree at Falcon’s Nest next received a +visit; it had fallen into decay, from neglect, and we passed a +whole week in fitting it up. We then set out for Waldegg +to gather our rice and other grains, for the season was advancing, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</span>and some violent showers already warned us to +hasten our preparations for the coming winter. Emily +gave proof, during these labours, of an intelligence and +good will which rendered her assistance very valuable; +and she inspired everybody with such zeal and industry, +that when the winter set in we were all prepared for it. +Ten years had accustomed us to the terrible winters, and +we calmly listened to the wind and storm as it raged furiously +without. We had reserved for the winter several +sedentary occupations, in which our new companion +proved her skill and industry; she excelled in weaving and +plaiting straw, osiers, etc.; and, under her direction, we +made some light straw hats for summer, some elegant +baskets, and conveniently arranged game-bags. My wife +was delighted with her adopted daughter, and Ernest +found a companion, whose fine education rendered her a +conversable and intelligent woman. In fact, Emily had +become to my wife and myself a fifth child, and a beloved +sister for my sons.</p> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</span></p> +<h2 id="CHAPTER_LXI">CHAPTER <abbr title="Sixty-one">LXI</abbr> +</h2> +<h3>Conclusion +</h3> +</div> + +<p class="drop-cap"><span class="smcap">It</span> is with a thousand different sensations that I write +the word <em>conclusion</em>. It recalls to my mind all that +has passed. God is good! God is merciful! is the reigning +sentiment in my heart: I have so many reasons for +heartfelt gratitude to a gracious Providence, that I hope +the reader will pardon me for the disorder in which I finish +my story.</p> + +<p>It was toward the end of the rainy season, the wind had +lost its violence, and a patch of blue sky could now and +then be seen; our pigeons had quitted the dove-cot, and we +ourselves ventured to open the door of the grotto, and +taste the fresh air.</p> + +<p>Our first care was for our gardens, which had suffered +injury; we took account of the damage as well as +we were able, and then set out for our more distant possessions. +Fritz and Jack proposed to make an excursion +to Shark Island, to inspect our fort and colony there. I +consented, and they set off in the cajack.</p> + +<p>My sons, on their arrival, having examined the interior +of the fort, and assured themselves that nothing of importance +was damaged, began to look round and see if anything +appeared on the horizon, but all was blank. Wishing +to see whether the cannons were in good order, they +began firing away, as if they had all the powder in the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</span>world at their command. But what was their astonishment +and emotion when, a moment after, they heard distinctly +three reports of a cannon in the distance! They +could not be mistaken, for a faint light toward the east +preceded each report. After a short consultation as to +what should be done, the two brothers resolved to hasten +home and recount their adventure to us.</p> + +<p>We had heard the reports of the cannons they had +fired, and we could not imagine why they were hurrying +back so fast. I called out, as loud as I could, “Halloo, +there! what is the matter?” On they came, and, jumping +on shore, fell into my arms, faintly articulating, “Oh, +papa, papa, did you not hear them?”</p> + +<p>“Hear what?” said I. “We have heard nothing but +the noise your waste of powder made.”</p> + +<p>“You have not heard three other reports in the distance?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“Why, we heard them plainly and distinctly.”</p> + +<p>“It was the echo,” said Ernest.</p> + +<p>This remark nettled Jack a little, and he replied rather +sharply—</p> + +<p>“No, Mr. Doctor, it wasn’t the echo; I think I have +fired cannons enough in my lifetime to know whether that +was an echo or not. We distinctly heard three reports of +a cannon, and we are certain that some ship is sailing in +this part of the world.”</p> + +<p>“If there is really a ship on our coasts,” said I, “who +knows whether it is manned by Europeans or by Malay +pirates—who knows whether we ought to rejoice or be +sorry at its presence, and that, instead of preparing for +deliverance, we should not make preparations for defence?”</p> + +<p>My first resolution was to organize a system of defence, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</span>and provide for our safety. We watched alternately under +the gallery of the grotto, so that we could be ready +in case of surprise; but the night passed quietly away, and +in the morning the rain commenced, and continued so violently +during two long days that it was impossible for us +to go out.</p> + +<p>On the third day the sun reappeared. Fritz and Jack, +full of impatience, resolved to return to Shark Island, and +try a new signal. I consented; but, instead of the cajack, +we took the canoe, and I went with them. On arriving at +the fort we hoisted our flag, while Jack, ever impatient, +loaded a cannon and fired it; but scarcely had the report +died away in the distance, when we distinctly heard a +louder answering report in the direction of Cape Disappointment.</p> + +<p>Jack could not contain himself for joy. “Men, men,” +cried he, dancing about us; “men, papa; are you sure of +it now?” And his enthusiasm communicating itself to us, +we hoisted another and a larger flag on our flag-staff. +Six other reports followed the first one we had heard.</p> + +<p>Overpowered with emotion, we hastened to our boat, +and were soon in the presence of the family. They had +not heard the seven reports, but they had seen our two +flags flying, and they were eagerly waiting for circumstantial +news.</p> + +<p>I ordered that everything in the grotto should be put +in a place of safety. My three youngest sons, my wife +and Emily, set off for Falcon’s Nest with our cattle, and +I embarked in the cajack with Fritz, to reconnoitre. It +was near midday when we set out; we coasted along without +discovering anything, and the illusion of the moment +began to dissipate. On more calm reflection, however, the +certainty that we had heard the seven reports of the cannon +kept up our courage; when suddenly, on doubling a +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</span>little promontory which had hitherto concealed it from +us, we beheld a fine European ship majestically reposing +at anchor, with a long-boat at the side, and an English flag +floating at the masthead.</p> + +<p>I seek in vain to find words that will express the +sentiments which filled our souls. We elevated our hands +and eyes toward heaven, and thus returned our thanks to +God for His great beneficence. If I had permitted it, +Fritz would have thrown himself into the sea and swum +off to the ship; but I was afraid that, notwithstanding +the English flag, the vessel before us might be a Malay +corsair, which had assumed false colours in order to deceive +other vessels. We remained at a distance, not liking to +venture nearer without being more certain what it was. +We could see all that was passing on board the vessel. +Two tents had been raised on the shore, tables were laid +for dinner, quarters of meat were roasting before blazing +fires, men were running to and fro, and the whole scene +had the appearance of an organized encampment. Two +sentinels were on the deck of the vessel, and when they +perceived us they spoke to the officer on duty who stood +near, and who turned his telescope toward us.</p> + +<p>“They are Europeans,” cried Fritz; “you can easily +judge from the face of the officer. Malays certainly +would be more dusky than that.”</p> + +<p>Fritz’s remark was true; but yet I did not like to go +too near. We remained in the bay, manœuvring our +canoe with all the dexterity of which we were capable. +We sang a Swiss mountain song, and when we had finished +I cried out through my speaking-trumpet these three +words, <em>Englishmen, good men!</em> But no answer was returned: +our song, our cajack, and more than all our costume, +I expect, marked us for savages, from the officer +making signs to us to approach, and holding up knives, +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</span>scissors, and glass beads, for which the savages of the New +World are generally so desirous. This mistake made us +laugh; but we did not approach, as we wished to present +ourselves before them in better trim. We contented ourselves +with exclaiming once more, <em>Englishmen</em>, and then +darted off as fast as our boat could carry us.</p> + +<p>We passed a whole day in preparing the pinnace, and +loading it with presents for the captain, as we wished +him to see that those whom he had taken for savages were +beings far advanced in the arts of civilization. We set +off at sunrise; the weather was magnificent, and we sailed +gallantly along, Fritz preceding us as pilot.</p> + +<p>When we could clearly distinguish the ship, a sensation +of vivid joy was experienced by us all: my sons were +dumb with pleasure and eagerness.</p> + +<p>“Hoist the English flag,” cried I in the voice of a +Stentor; and a second after, a flag similar to the one on +the ship fluttered from our masthead.</p> + +<p>If we were filled with extraordinary emotions on seeing +a European ship, the English were not less astonished +to see a little boat with flowing sails coming toward them. +Guns were now fired from the ship and answered from +our pinnace, and joining Fritz in his cajack, we approached +the English ship to welcome the captain to our +shores.</p> + +<p>The captain received us with that frankness and +cordiality that always distinguish sailors; and conducted +us to the cabin, where a flask of Cape wine cemented the +alliance between us.</p> + +<p>I recounted to the captain, as briefly as possible, the +history of our shipwreck, and our sojourn of ten years on +this coast. I spoke to him of Emily, and asked him if +he had ever heard of her father, Sir Edward Montrose. +The captain not only knew him, but it was a part of his +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_432">[Pg 432]</span>instructions to explore these latitudes, where, three years +before, the ship <i>Dorcas</i>, which had on board the daughter +of Commander Montrose, was supposed to have been +wrecked, and to try to discover whether any tidings of +the vessel or crew could be ascertained. In consequence, +he manifested the greatest desire to see her, and assure +her that her father was alive. He informed us that a +tempest of four days’ duration had thrown him off the +course which he followed for Sydney and New Holland; +and thus he had been driven on this coast, where he had +renewed his wood and water. “It was then,” added he, +“that we heard the reports of cannon, which we answered; +on the third day new discharges convinced us that we were +not alone on the coast, and we resolved to wait until, by +some means or other, we discovered who were our companions +in misfortune. But we find an organized colony, +and a maritime power, whose alliance I solicit in the name +of the sovereign of Great Britain.”</p> + +<p>This last sally made us laugh, and we cordially pressed +the hand which Captain Littleton extended to us.</p> + +<p>The rest of the family were waiting some distance off +in the pinnace. We took leave of the captain, who, ordering +his gig to be manned, arrived on board our vessel +almost as soon as we did. We received him with every +demonstration of joy and friendship, and Emily was half +wild with happiness at the sight of a fellow-countryman, +and one who brought intelligence of her father.</p> + +<p>The captain brought with him an English family, +whom the fatigues of the passage had rendered ill, consisting +of Mr. Wolston, a distinguished machinist, his wife, +and two daughters. My wife offered Mrs. Wolston her +assistance, and promised her that her family should find +every comfort and convenience at Felsenheim if they +would return with us. They gladly consented, and we +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_433">[Pg 433]</span>set out with them, taking leave of the captain, who did +not like to pass the night away from his ship.</p> + +<p>My readers can form an idea of the astonishment +which was evinced by the Wolston family on seeing all our +establishments. We ostentatiously pointed out to them +Felsenheim with its rocky vault, the giant-tree of Falcon’s +Nest, Prospect Hill, and all the marvels which were comprised +in our domains. A frugal repast in the evening +united both families under the gallery of the grotto, and +my wife prepared, in the interior, apartments and beds +to receive the new-comers.</p> + +<p>The next morning Mr. Wolston came up to me, and +tenderly stretching out his hand, spoke as follows—</p> + +<p>“Sir,” said he, “I cannot express all the admiration +that I feel on regarding the wonders with which you are +surrounded. The hand of God has been with you, and +here you live happily, far away from the strife of the +world, among the works of creation, alone with your +family. I came from England to seek repose: where can +I find it better than here? and I shall esteem myself the +happiest of men if you will allow me to establish myself +in a corner of your domains.”</p> + +<p>This proposition of Mr. Wolston filled me with joy, +and I immediately assured him that I would willingly +share with him the half of my patriarchal empire.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wolston hastened to communicate to his wife the +success of his application, and the morning was devoted +to the joy and pleasure that this news caused. But considerations +of a painful nature occupied my mind: the +ship which now presented itself was the second only we had +seen in ten years, and probably as long a period might +elapse before another appeared, should we let Captain +Littleton and his ship leave us without any addition to +his crew. These questions affected the dearest interests +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_434">[Pg 434]</span>of our family. My wife did not wish to return to Europe; +I was myself too much attached to my new life to leave +it, and we were both at an age when hazards and dangers +have no attraction, and ambition has resolved itself into +a desire for repose. But our children were young, their +life was but just commencing, and I did not think it right +to deprive them of the advantages which civilization and +a contact with the world presented; and then again, Emily, +since she had heard that her father was in England, did +not conceal her desire to return; and although we regretted +losing this amiable girl, yet it was impossible to detain +her. So at last I decided to call my children together, +and ascertain their sentiments. I spoke to them of civilized +Europe, of the resources of every kind which society +offered to its members, and I asked them if they would +depart with Captain Littleton, or be content to pass the +remainder of their lives upon this coast.</p> + +<p>Jack and Ernest declared that they would rather remain. +Ernest, the philosopher, had no need of the world +to interrupt his studies; and Jack, the hunter, found the +domain of Falcon’s Nest large enough for his excursions. +Fritz was silent, but I saw by his countenance that he +had decided to go. I encouraged him to speak; he confessed +that he had a great desire to return to Europe, +and his younger brother, Francis, declared that he would +willingly accompany him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wolston also dismembered his family: he kept +but one of his daughters; the other went on to New Holland. +These family arrangements were very painful, and +when they were finished I hastened to inform the captain +of the <i>Unicorn</i>. He readily consented to take our three +passengers.</p> + +<p>“I resign three persons,” said he, “Mr. and Mrs. +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_435">[Pg 435]</span>Wolston and one of their daughters; I take three more, +and my complement will not be affected.”</p> + +<p>The <i>Unicorn</i> remained eight days at anchor, and we +employed them in preparing the cargo which was to be +the fortune of our voyagers on arriving in Europe. All +the riches that we had amassed—pearls, ivory, spices, +furs, and all our rare productions, were carefully packed +and put on board the ship, which we also furnished with +meat and fruits.</p> + +<p>On the eve of their departure, after having exhausted +myself in a last conversation, in which I advised my sons +always to carry out the principles in which they had been +instructed, and so to live in this world that we might, +through the merits of our Saviour, be united in the next, I +gave Fritz this narration of our shipwreck and establishment +on the desert coast, enjoining him expressly to have +it published as soon after his arrival as he possibly could; +and this desire on my part, exempt from all vanity of +authorship, had for its only object and hope that it might +be useful to others as a lesson of morality, patience, courage, +perseverance, and of Christian submission to the +will of God. Perhaps some day a father may take courage +from the manner in which we supported our tribulations; +perhaps some young person will see, in the course of this +narrative, the value of a varied education and the importance +of becoming acquainted with first principles.</p> + +<p>I have not written this as a learned man would have +done, and all my results may not have been arrived at +according to the correct theory; but we were in an extraordinary +position, and were obliged to depend on our +own resources. We placed our entire trust in the mercy +of God; and He ever watched over and protected us.</p> + +<p>We none of us slept much during the last night. At +the dawn of day the cannon of the ship announced the +<span class="pagenum" id="Page_436">[Pg 436]</span>order to go on board. We conducted our children to the +shore; there they received our last embraces and benedictions.</p> + +<hr class="tb"> + +<p>The anchor has been weighed, the sails unfurled, the +flag run up to the mast-head, and a rapid wind promises +speedily to separate us from our children.</p> + +<p>I will not attempt to paint the grief of my dear +Elizabeth—it is the grief of a mother, silent and profound. +Jack and Ernest are weeping bitterly, and my +own grief and heartfelt sorrow is, I must confess, but +badly concealed.</p> + +<p>I finish these few lines whilst the ship’s boat is waiting. +My sons will thus receive my last blessing. May +God ever be with you. Adieu, Europe! adieu, dear +Switzerland! Never shall I see you again! May your +inhabitants be always happy, pious, and free!</p> + + +<p class="p4 center"> +THE END +</p> +<hr class="x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<figure class="figcenter illowp100" id="endpaper_2" style="max-width: 43.75em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/endpaper.jpg" alt="endpaper"> +</figure> +</div> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter transnote"> + <h3 id="Transcribers_Note"> + Transcriber’s Note: + </h3> +<p>Words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent +hyphenation. Obsolete and archaic spelling was not changed. Nine +misspelled words were corrected.</p> + +<p> Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and were moved to the +end of the chapter. Missing and excess punctuation was corrected. +Duplicate letters at line endings were removed; unprinted letters were +added. Words duplicated over line breaks were deleted.</p> +</div> + + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78017 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/78017-h/images/cover.jpg b/78017-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11ac4de --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/endpaper.jpg b/78017-h/images/endpaper.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4898b84 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/endpaper.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus002.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus002.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7094c86 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus002.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus063.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus063.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b3acae1 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus063.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus097.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus097.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0aee7fb --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus097.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus143.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus143.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba1ec71 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus143.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus225.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus225.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..60ade1a --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus225.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus319.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus319.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..66d3270 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus319.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus345.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus345.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e6b1a8 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus345.jpg diff --git a/78017-h/images/illus387.jpg b/78017-h/images/illus387.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9be0058 --- /dev/null +++ b/78017-h/images/illus387.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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