'The morning dawned upon us without a prospect of hope." FRONTISPIECE THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON Or Adventures in a Desert Land By JEAN RUDOLPH WYSS A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers NEW YORK CHICAGO PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES URL SRLF CONTENTS. CHAPTER L Storm-tossed Wrecked Deserted Supper We make swimming- belts for the children An anxious night The gale moderates We examine our cargo Jack introduces two new acquain- tances How shall we get on shore ? Jack's plan We adopt it The use of a lever Our tub-boat completed Another night on the wreck We collect the cargo And embark Jack's friends will not be left behind Steer for the shore Once more on land We erect a tent Glue soup Jack makes the acquain- tance of a lobster Ernest shirks the water Oysters and salt How sha3 we eat our soup ? Ernest solves the difficulty Fritz returns The sucking pig How to open an oyster and how to eat it The dogs devour the agouti Fritz's anger Our first night in the new country, CHAPTER IL A morning consultation Breakfast Away on an expedition Over the stream and through the grass An unexpected reinforcement Search in vain for our comrades Rest by a stream Fritz finds a "round bird's-nest" Natural history of a cocoanut Calabash trees The use of gourds How to make a bottle A lovely but lonely scene Sugar-canes Monkeys of use Cocoa- nut milk turned to champagne Turk kills an unfortunate mother monkey Carry the orphan home Display our trea- sures A sumptuous supper Ernest's penguin Champagne turned to vinegar A fight with jackals A curious sentinel A visit to the wreck We rig our craft Stow a cargo Sleep on board Floats for our herd We embark Encounter a 3hark Land Relate our adventures. ... .15 IV CONTENTS. CHAPTER MM The mother relates her adventures Proposes that we should build a nest How Jack treated the jackal skin How the boys were surprised by a bustard How they found the mangrove tree How the dogs caught the crabs We discuss the possibility of making a house in the tree To bed once more We start for the wreck The shark again Return to land Franz's craw- fish Bridge building We pack up A family removing in pa- triarchal style A prickly enemy Jack shoots it We reach our new home Fritz rids our poultry of an enemy Little Franz finds the figs Dinner We prepare materials for our nest Flamingoes Roast and tame The use of trigonometry A cord carried over the bough The rope ladder made We mount our tree Sleep under the roots The building of the aest Retire to roost for the first time ...... 35 CHAPTER IV. A. day of rest A parable for the young people Quiet recreation- Geographical nomenclature The margay and porcupine skins made of use An expedition to Tentholm Potatoes, potatoes- Tropical vegetation The use of the karatas Jack's greediness and its punishment Ernest discovers cochineal Arrive at Tent- hohn The poultry rebellious Return to Falconhurst Ernest roused out early We collect wood for a sledge Master Kuips turns thief Franz's plan for the saving of ammunition Ernest and I take the sledge to Tentholm Ernest's laziness exemplified He catches a salmon We start for home Kill a kangaroo And cook it. .......... 58 CHAPTER V. Jack and Ernest disappear Fritz and I start for the wreck Th* boys' ambuscade We form a raft Rau*ick the vessel Again embark A turtle in sight Fritz harpoons it The turtle acts as " Steam Tug " Safe ashore Return home Jack's lay field A fresh discovery The mother's cellar A trip to the wreck The pinnace Jack's raid on the Lilliputians A secret revealed A new method of grinding flour Wholesome or poi- aonous ? Bread-making in earnest . . . . 73 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VL PAGE Now for the pinnace Repeated visits to the wreck The pinnace built How shall we cut her out The difficulty solved We fit her out Fire a salute The mother's surprise We visit Falcon- hurst Attend to our fruit trees Athletics The lasso An excursion A bustard captured Ernest discovers a magician Jack fights him The Liane Rouge We turn carvers Ernest's alarm The old sow again We discover a sleeping beauty Return with it to the camp Knips pronounces our apples "good" Return to Falconhurst, 86 CHAPTER VII Fritz and I return to the Calabash Wood Fritz shoots a ruffed grouse We come across waxberry bushes Sociable grosbeaks Fritz captures a parrot A lecture on ants Caoutchouc trees The sago-palm and the edible worms Return with sugar-canes to Falconhurst Candle-making How to make butter without a churn Plant trees and adorn Tentholm Last visit to the wreck The first ducklings on the island Falconhurst again- An excursion We pitch our tent Fritz and Jack ascend the cocoanut trees Ernest brings us a delicacy Loss of Grizzle- Jack and I go in pursuit Giant bamboos Encounter with buffaloes The buffalo calf Find a jackal's lair Reach our camp What happened in our absence Fritz's pet Sago manu- facture Meet with our sow and her family again How Ernest tamed the eagle, 101 CHAPTER Vin. Prop our young trees A lecture on grafting A new idea broached Why should we not build stairs within the trunk of our tree ? Jack finds one objection I make a beehive, and we drive the bees from the tree Stair-making Additions to our family of domestic annuals The education of the "pets" Shoemak- Ing We lead water from the stream to Falconhurst A strange annual approaches Our old ass and his companion The onager captured Provisioning our winter quarters Capture of ruffed grouse We discover flax The rainy season. .... 120 VI CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. Spring again We begin to hew a cave Jack makes a discovery PA( We drive the foul air from the cavern The mother and her boys join us We explore the cave Fit it up as our winter quarters The herring-bank We catch seals Fishing on a grand scale Isinglass and caviare We visit our plantations An expedition to establish a colony The building of " Wood- lands " Jack and Fritz return to Falconhurst for provisions Ernest and I explore A "beast with a bill" We build a canoe Franz undertakes the education of Grumble We con- tinue our work at the cave Carpet making Thanksgiving-day A startling salute Athletics and shooting Prize giving Manufacture of birdlime Fritz and Jack ride off for caout- chouc Shoot a crane and badger Find " Woodlands " turned pside down by monkeys Discover ginseng, .... 133 CHAPTER X. Birdlime A midnight raid The massacre at Woodlands Cap- ture of Molucca pigeons A pigeon-house Fritz and I pre- pare a conjuring trick Great success of our experiment Lichen and nutmegs discovered Jack's adventure The loom manufactured Winter stores prepared The rainy season sets in Interior of our house arranged We study languages The return of spring A stranded whale An account of coral We go to work on the whale's carcass Remarks on the habits of the whale, 157 CHAPTER XL I'he blubber of the whale boiled and stored A unique machine- Expedition to Prospect^Hill Whale's tongue is voted no deli- cacy We land on Whale Island Jack discovers a strange jkeleton Turtle turning Towed ashore The loom com- pletedReturn of the herring shoals Basket making We manufacture a sedan chair Ernest's wild ride therein A boa constrictor appears He retreats to the marsh Suspense Poor Grizzle's fate An awful scene Death of the moaster An ac- count of snakes Remedies for poisoned bites Ernest writes Grizzle's epitaph The serpent stuffed and placed in the mu- seum, . . .<,... 176 CONTENTS. Vll CHAPTER XIL PAGE fo examine the marsh A cave discovered We find the floor cov- ered with fuller's earth Discharge our pistols Jack's fright Ernest captures an eel An expedition toward the Gap Visit Falconhurst and Woodlands and examine the country round Franz shoots a capybara Ernest and Knips fight the rats A lecture on musk Cinnamon apples A peccary hunt We pre pare the peccary meat Disasters at Prospect Hill An explor- ing expedition through the Gap We find our barrier broken down Across the desert Strange objects in the distance An account of ostriches An ostrich slain We discover the nest A mud tortoise We encounter bears A desperate fight Back again to camp We skin the bears and smoke their flesh- Pepper found Three of the boys start on an expedition I dis- cover talc, .... iQi CHAPTER Xm. fhe boys return and give an account of their adventures How they captured the antelopes How Fritz caught the rabbits and Jack rode down the gazelles ! How they followed the honey bird and Jack tried to rob the bees' byke We sup on the bears' paws Across the desert again Sight three ostriches The male bird captured We secure him between Storm and Grumble The mother's astonishment at our new pet Return to Woodland* Home again We establish colonies on Shark and Whale Islands Turn our attention to agriculture The difficulties of ostrich training My patent saddle and bridle I exercise my ingenuity in various trades, . . . . . . . 212 CHAPTER XIV. i'ne rainy season again The building of the cajack The mothei invents a swimming dress A visit to our colonies Mysteri- ous seaweed The mother's surprise A visit to Whale Island Mischievous pigs The three boys return from a day's hunting They display their treasures A new skinning ap- paratus We make a crushing machine An early harvest We prepaiv. a threshing floor Reaping in Italian fashion ag also in Italian xaaUion Return of the herring shoals, 224 Vlll CONTENTS. CHAPTER XV. Trial of the cajack Fritz kills a walrus We carry home its head The storm Where is Fritz ? Safe at last The fishing season An expedition proposed Three of the boys start for Wood- landsPigeon post Encounter with a hyena Wood Lake explored A tapir Prospect Hill pillaged A tragedy The boys in danger We join them We build a summer house- Discover the cacao plant Fritz ascends the stream He sees elephants and hippopotami Jack's "moist secret" We return to Rockburg Grace and Beauty Shark Island is fortified, . 234 CHAPTER XVI. %n years afterward Our farms and farmyards Fritz makes a voyage of discovery Cape Minster and the swallows' nests Pearl oysters A magnificent bay The strange message An excursion to Pearl Bay Fritz proposes to search for the stranger, and prepares his canoe for her reception The pearl fishery An, encounter with a wild boar Jack's accident Trunles A mid- night alarm The lion and his mate Our enemies overcome Juno's death We set sail for Rockburg Fritz leaves us, . 250 CHAPTER XVH. funo's epitaph Fritz does not appear We start In search of him A cachalot whale The unexpected appearance of a savage Fritz in a dusky disguise He leads us to Fair Isle, and shows us the wonders therein The stranger Fritz narrates his ad- venturesHow he saw toucans Encountered a tiger Lost Pounce Found the Smoking Rock, and Jenny Montrose The history of the stranger Wolves dispute our right to the whale Coco joins his brethren Jack and Jenny search for the tru- antWe leave Pearl Bay A hearty reception A visit to Fal- conhurst Jack displays our stud The rainy season again- . 266 CHAPTER XVHI. Spring and its accompanying work The mysterious guns Who fired them A storm Fritz and Ireconnoiter The English brig We visit her in the yacht Captain Littlestone We are cordially welcomed Mr. Wolston and his family An earnest consulta- tionOur visitors at Rockburg The supper Who is for Europe and who for New Switzerland ? The decision Farewell, . 282 THE SWISS FAMILY BOBHSOS, CHAPTER I. Storm -tossed Wrecked Deserted Supper We make swimming-belto for the children An anxious night The gale moderates We ex- amine our cargo Jack introduces two new acquaintances How shall we get on shore ? Jack's plan We adopt it The use of a lever Our tub-boat completed Another night on the wreck We collect the cargo And embark Jack's friends will not be left behind Steer for the shore Once more on land We erect a tent Glue soup Jack makes the acquaintance of a lobster Ernest shirks the water Oysters and salt How shall we eat our soup ? Ernest solves the difficulty Fritz returns The sucking pig How to open an oyster and how to eat it The dogs devour the agouti Fritz's anger Our first night ia the new country. FOE many days we had been tempest-tossed. Six times had the darkness closed over a wild and terrific scene, and return- ing light as often brought but renewed distress, for the rag- ing storm increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost. We were driven completely out of our course; no conjecture could be formed as to our whereabouts. The crew had lost heart, and were utterly exhausted by incessant labor. The riven masts had gone by the board, leaks had been sprung in every direction, and the water, which rushed in, gained upon us rapidly. Instead of reckless oaths, the seamen now uttered frantic cries to God for mercy, mingled with strange and often ludi- crous vows, to be performed should deliverance be granted. Every man on board alternately commended hia soul to his Creator, and strove to bethink himself of some means of sav- ing his life. My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these horrors. Our four young sons were over- powered by terror. " Dear children, " said I, " if the Lord THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. will, he can save us even from this fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into his hand, and think of the joy and blessedness of finding ourselves forever and ever united in that happy home above. " At these words my weeping wife looked bravely up, and, as the boys clustered round her, she began to cheer and en- courage them with calm and loving words. I rejoiced to see her fortitude, though my heart was ready to break as I gazed on my dear ones. We knelt down together, one after arother praying with deep earnestness and emotion. Fritz, in particular, besought help and deliverance for his dear parents and brothers, as though quite forgetting himself. Our hearts were soothed by the never-failing comfort of child-like, confiding prayer, and the horror of our situation seemed less overwhelming. " Ah," thought I, " the Lord will hear our prayer ! He will help us. " Amid the roar of the thundering waves I suddenly heard the cry of " Land, land ! " while at the same instant the ship struck with a frightful shock, which threw everyone to the deck, and seemed to threaten her immediate destruction. Dreadful sounds betokened the breaking up of the ship, and the roaring waters poured in on all sides : Then the voice of the captain was heard above the tumult, shouting, "Lower away the boats ! We are lost ! " " Lost ! " I exclaimed, and the word went like a dagger to my heart ; but seeing my children's terror renewed, I composed myself, calling out cheerfully, " Take courage, my boys ! we are all above water yet. There is the land not far off ; let us do our best to reach it. You know God helps those that help themselves ! " With that, I left them and went on deck. What was my horror when through the foam and spray I be- held the only remaining boat leave the ship, the last of the sea- men spring into her and push off, regardless of my cries and entreaties that we might be allowed to share their slender 1 chance of preserving their lives. My voice was drowned in the howling of the blast ; and even had the crew wished it, the return of the boat was impossible. Casting my eyes despairingly around, I became gradually aware that our position was by no means hopeless, inasmuch ae the stern of the ship containing our cabin was jammed between two high rocks, and was partly raised from among the breakers which dashed the forepart to pieces. As the clouds of mist and rain drove past, I could make out, through THB SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. 8 rents in the vaporous curtain, a line of rocky coast, and rugged as it was, my heart bounded toward it as a sign of help in the hour of need. Yet the sense of our lonely and forsaken condition weighed heavily upon me as I returned to my family, constraining myself to say with a smile, " Courage, dear ones I Although our good ship will never sail more, she is so placed that our cabin will remain above water, and to-morrow, if the wind and waves abate, I see no reason why we should not be able to get ashore." These few words had an immediate effect on the spirits of, my children, who at once regarded our problematical chance of escaping as a happy certainty, and began to enjoy the relief from the violent pitching and rolling of the vessel. My wife, however, perceived my distress and anxiety, in spite of my forced composure, and I made her comprehend our real situation, greatly fearing the effect of the intelligence on her nerves. Not for a moment did her courage and trust in Providence forsake her, and on seeing this, my fortitude revived. " We must find some food, and take a good supper," said she, "it will never do to grow faint by fasting too long. We shall require our utmost strength to-morrow." Night drew on apace, the storm was as fierce as ever, and at intervals we were startled by crashes announcing further damage to our unfortunate ship. " God will help us soon now, won't he, father ? " said my youngest child. " You silly little thing," said Fritz, my eldest son, sharply, * don't you know that we must not settle what God is to do for us ? We must have patience and wait his time." " Very well said, had it been said kindly, Fritz, my boy. You too often speak harshly to your brothers, although you may not mean to do so." A good meal being now ready, my youngsters ate heartily, and retiring to rest were speedily fast asleep. Fritz, who was of an age to be aware of the real danger we were in, kept watch with us. After a long silence, " Father," said he, "don't you think we might contrive swimming belts for mother and the boys ? with those we might all escape to land, for you and I can swim." " Your idea is so good," answered I, " that I shall arrange aomething at once, in case of an accident during the night." We immediately searched about foi- what would answer the purpose, and fortunately got hold of a number of empty flasks 4 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. and tin canisters, which we connected two and two togethei so as to form floats sufficiently buoyant to support a person in the water, and my wife and young sons each willingly put one on. I then provided myself with matches, knives, cord, and other portable articles, trusting that, should the vessel go to pieces before daylight, we might gain the shore not wholly destitute. Fritz, as well as his brothers, now slept soundly. Through- out the night my wife and I maintained our prayerful watch, dreading at every fresh sound some fatal change in the position of the wreck. At length the faint dawn of day appeared, the long, weary night was over, and with thankful hearts we perceived that the gale had began to moderate ; blue sky was seen above us, and the lovely hues of sunrise adorned the eastern horizon. I aroused the boys, and we assembled on the remaining por- tion of the deck, when they, to their surprise, discovered that no one else was on board. " Hallo, papa ! what has become of everybody ? Are the sailors gone ? Have they taken away the boats ? Oh, papa ! why did they leave us behind ? What can we do by ourselves ? " " My good children," I replied, " we must not despair, al- though we seem deserted. See how those on whose skill and good faith we depended have 1 jft us cruelly to our fate in the hour of danger. God will never do so. He has not forsaken us, and we will trust him still. Only let us bestir ourselves, and each cheerily do his best. Who has anything to propose ? " " The sea will soon be calm enough for swimming," said Fritz. "And that would be all very fine for you, " exclaimed Ernest, " but think of mother and the rest of us ! Why not juild a raft and all get on shore together ? " " We should find it difficult, I think, to make a raft that would carry us safe to shore. However, we must contrive something, and first let each try to procure what will be of most use to us." Away we all went to see what was to be found, I myself proceeding to examine, as of great consequence, the supplies of provisions and fresh water within our reach. My wife tool- her youngest son, Franz, to help her to feed the unfortunate animals on board, who were in a pitiful plight, having been neglected for several days. Fritz hastened to the arm chest, Ernest to look for tools ; THE SWISS FAMILY BOBOSO1T. 5 and Jack went toward the captain's cabin, the door of which ho no sooner opened than out sprang two splendid large dogs, who testified their extreme delight and gratitude by such tremen- dous bounds that they knocked their little deliverer completely- head over heels, frightening him nearly out of his wite. Jack did not long yield either to fear or anger ; he presently re- covered himself ; the dogs seemed to ask pardon by vehe- mently licking his face and hands, and so, seizing the larger by the ears, he jumped on his back, and, to my great amuse* ueit, coolly rode to meet me as I came up the hatchway. When we re-assembled in the cabin, we all displayed our treasures. Fritz brought a couple of guns, shot belt, powder flasks, and plenty of bullets. Ernest prouced a cap full of nails, an ax, and a hammer, while pincers, chisels, and augers stuck out of all his pockets. Little Franz carried a box, and eagerly began to show us tlxe "nice sharp little hooks" it contained. "Well done, Franz ! " cried I; " these fish hooks, which you, the youngest, have found, may contribute more than anything else in the ship to save our lives by procuring food for us. Fritz and Ernest, you have chosen well." " Will you praise me too ? " said my dear wife. " I have nothing to show, but I can give you good news. Some useful animals are stilJ alive ; a cow, a donkey, two goats, six sheep, a ram, and a fine sow. I was but just in time to save their lives by taking food to them." " All these things are excellent indeed," said I ; " but my friend Jack here has presented me with a couple of huge, hungry, useless dogs, who will eat more than any of us." " Oh, papa ! they will be of use ! Why, they will help us to hunt when we get on shore ! " " No doubt they will, if ever we do get on shore, Jack ; but must say I don't know how it is to be done." "Can't we each get into a big tub, and float there?" returned ie. " I have often sailed splendidly like that, round the pond $t home." " My child, you have hit on a capital idea," cried L " Now, Krnest, let mp. have your tools, hammers, nails, saws, augers, ind all ; and then make haste to collect any tubs you can find l n We very soon found four large casks, made of sound wood, \nd strongly bound with iron hoops ; they were floating with jaany other things in the water in the hold, but we managed to fish them out, and drag them to a suitable place for launch* 6 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. ing them. They were exactly what I wanted, and I succeeded in sawing them across the middle. Hard work it was, and we were glad enough to stop and refresh ourselves with wine and biscuits. My eight tubs now stood ranged in a row near the water'* edge, and I looked at them with great satisfaction ; to my sur- prise, my wife did not seem to share my pleasure I " I shall never," said she, " muster courage to get into one of these ! " "Do not be too sure of that, dear wife; when you see my contrivance completed, you will perhaps prefer it to this im- movable wreck." I next procured a long, thin plank, on which my tubs could be fixed, and the two ends of this I bent upward so as to form a keel. Other two planks were nailed along the sides of the tubs ; they also being flexible, were brought to a point at each end, and all firmly secured and nailed together. I felt satisfied that in smooth water this craft would be perfectly trustworthy. But when we thought all was ready for the launch, we found, to our dismay, that the grand contrivance was so heavy and clumsy, that even our united efforts could not move it an inch. " I must have a lever," cried I. " Run and fetch the capstan bar!" Fritz quickly brought one, and, having formed rollers by cutting up a long spar, I raised the fore part of my boat with the bar, and my sous placed a roller under it. " How is it, father," inquired Ernest, " that with that thing you alone can do more than all of us together ? " I explained, as well as I could in a hurry, the principle of the lever ; and promised to have a long talk on the subject of Mechanics, should we have a future opportunity. I now made fast a long rope to the stern of our boat, at- taching the other end to a beam ; then placing a second and third roller under it, we once more began to push, this time with success, and soon our gallant craft was safely launched : so swiftly indeed did she glide into the water that, but for the rope, she would have passed beyond our reach. The boys wished to jump in directly ; but, alas, she leaned so much o one side that they could not venture to do so. Some heavy things being thrown in, howevei, the boat righted itself by degrees, and the boys were so delighted that they struggled which should first leap in to have the fun of sitting down in the tubs. But it was plain to me at once that Bomething more was required to make her perfectly safe, so I THE SWISS FAMILY BOBINSON. f contrived out-riggers to preserve the balance, by nailing long poles across at the stem and stern, and fixing at the ends of each empty brandy casks. Then the boat appearing steady, I got in ; and turning it toward the most open side of the wreck, I cut and cleared away obstructions, so as to leave a free passage for our departure 3 and the boys brought oars to be ready for the voyage. This important undertaking we were forced to postpone until the next day, as it was by this time far too late to attempt it. It was not pleasant to have to spend another night in so precarious a situation ; but yielding to necessity, we sat down to enjoy a comfortable supper, for dur- ing our exciting and incessant work all day we had taken nothing but an occasional biscuit and a little wine. We prepared for rest in a much happier frame of mind than on the preceding day, but I did not forget the possibility of a renewed storm, and therefore made every one put on the belfci as before. I persuaded my wife (not without considerable difficulty), to put on a sailor's dress, assuring her she would find it much more comfortable and convenient for all she would have to go through. She at last consented to do this, and left us for a short time, reappearing with much embarrassment and many blushes, in a most becoming suit, which she had found in a midshipman's chest. We all admired her costume, and any awkwardness she felt soon began to pass off ; then retiring to our berths, peaceful sleep prepared us all for the exertions of the coming dav. We rose up betimes, for sleep weighs lightly on the hopeful, as well as on the anxious. After kneeling together in prayer, " Now, my beloved ones," said I, " with God's help we are about to effect our escape. Let the poor animals we must leave behind be well fed, and put plenty of fodder within their reach : in a few days we may be able to return, and save them likewise. After that, collect everything you can think of which may be of use to us." t The boys joyfully obeyed me, and I selected from the large quantity of stores they got together, canvas to make a tent, a chest of carpenter's tools, guns, pistols, powder, shot, and bullets, rods and fishing tackle, an iron pot, a case of portable soup, and another of biscuit. These useful articles, of course, took the place of the ballast I had hastily thrown in the day before. With a hearty prayer for God's blessing, we now began to take our seats, each in his tub. Just then we heard the cocks 8 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 1 . begin to crow, as though to reproach us for deserting them, " Why should not the fowls go with us ! " exclaimed I. " If we find no food for them, they can be food for us ! " Ten hens and a couple of cocks were accordingly placed in one of the tubs, and secured with some wire-netting over them. The ducks and geese were set at liberty, and took to the water at once, while the pigeons, rejoicing to find themselves on the wing, swiftly made for the shore. My wife, who managed all this for me, kept us waiting for her some little time, and came at last with a bag as big as a pillow in her arms. " This is my contribution," said she, throwing the bag to little Franz, to be, as I thought, a cushion for him to sit upon. All being ready, we cast off, and moved away from the wreck. My good, brave wife sat in the first compartment of the boat ; next her was Franz, a pretty little boy, nearly eight years old. Then came Fritz, a handsome, spirited young fellow of fifteen ; the two center tubs contained the valuable cargo ; then came our bold, thoughtless Jack ; next him Ernest, my second son, intelligent, well-formed, and rather indolent. I myself, the anxious, loving father, stood in the stern, endeavoring to guide the raft with its precious burden to a safe landing-place. The elder boys took the oars ; everyotie wore a float belt, and had something useful close to him in case of being thrown into the water. The tide was flowing, which was a great help to the young oarsmen. We emerged from the wreck and glided into the open sea. All eyes were strained to get a full view of the land, and the boys pulled with a will ; but for some time we made no progress, as the boat kept turning round and round, until I hit upon the right way to steer it, after which we merrily made for the shore. We had left two dogs, Turk and Juno, on the wreck, a& being both large mastiffs we did not care to have their addi- tional weight on board our craft ; but when they saw us ap. parently deserting them, they set up a piteous howl, and sprang into the sea. I was sorry to see this, for the distance to ,he land was so great that I scarcely expected them to be able to accomplish it. They followed us, however, and, ac- casionally resting their fore-paws on the outriggers, kept up with us well. Jack was inclined to deny them this, their only chance of safety. " Stop," said I, " that would be unkind as well as foolish ; remember, the merciful man regardeth the life of his beast." THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, f Our passage, though tedious, was safe ; but the nearer we approached the shore the less inviting it appeared ; the barren rocks seemed to threaten us with misery and want. Many casks, boxes, and bales of goods floated on the water around us. Fritz and I managed to secure a couple of hogs- heads, so as to tow them alongside. With the prospect of famine before us, it was desirable to lay hold of anything likely to contain provisions. By and by we began to perceive that, between and beyond the cliffs, green grass and trees were discernible. Fritz could distinguish many tall palms, and Ernest hoped they would prove to be cocoa-nut trees, and enjoyed the thoughts of drink- ing the refreshing milk. "I am very sorry I never thought of bringing away the captain's telescope," said I. " Oh, look here, father ! " cried Jack, drawing a little spy- glass joyfully out of his pocket. By means of this glass, I made out that at some distance to the left the coast was much more inviting ; a strong current however, carried us directly toward the frowning rocks, but I presently observed an opening, where a stream flowed into the sea, and saw that our geese and ducks were swimming toward this place. I steered after them into the creek, and we found ourselves in a small bay or inlet where the water was perfectly smooth and of moderate depth. The ground sloped gently upward from the low banks to the cliffs, which here retired in- land, leaving a small plain, on which it was easy for us to land. Everyone sprang gladly out of the boat but little Franz, who, lying packed in his tub like a potted shrimp, had to be lifted out by his mother. The dogs had scrambled on shore before us ; they received us with loud barking and the wildest demonstrations of delight. The geese and ducks kept up an incessant din, added to which was the screaming and croaking of flamingoes and pen- guins, whose dominion we were invading. The noise was deafening, but far from unwelcome to me, as I thought of the good dinners the birds might furnish. As soon as we could gather our children around us on dry land, we knelt to offer thanks and praise for our merciful es- cape, and with full hearts we commended ourselves to God's good keeping for the time to come. All hands then briskly fell to the work of unloading, and oh, how rich we felt ourselves as we did so ! The poultry we left at liberty to forage for themselves, and set about finding ft THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. suitable place to erect a tent in which to pass the night. This we speedily did ; thrusting a long spar into a hole in *he rock, and supporting the other end by a pole firmly planted in the ground, we formed a framework over which we stretched the ailcloth we had brought ; besides fastening this down with pegs, we placed our heavy chest and boxes on the border of ffce canvas, and arranged hooks so as to be able to close up "he entrance during the night. When this was accomplished, the boys ran to collect moss and grass, to spread in the tent for our beds, while I arranged a fire-place with some large flat stones, near the brook which flowed closed by. Diy twigs and seaweed were soon in a \laze on the hearth ; I filled the iron pot with water, and giv- ing my wife several cakes of the portable soup, she established herself as our cook, with little Franz to help her. He, thinking his mother was melting some glue for carpen- tering, was eager so know " what papa was going to make next ? " " This is to be soup for your dinner, my child. Do yon think these cakes look like glue ? " " Yes, indeed I do ? " replied Franz, " and I should not much like to taste glue soup ! don't you want some beef or mutton, mamma ? " " Where can I get it, dear ! " said she, " we are a long way from a butcher's shop ! but these cakes are made of the juice of good meat, boiled till it becomes a strong, stiff jelly people take them when they go to sea, because on a long voyage they can only have salt meat, which will not make nice soup." Fritz, meanwhile, leaving a loaded gun with me, took another himself, and went along the rough coast to see what lay be- yond the stream ; this fatiguing sort of walk not suiting Ernest's fancy, he sauntered down to the beach, and Jack scrambled among the rocks, searching for shellfish. I was anxious to land the two casks which were floating alongside our boat, but on attempting to do so, I found that I could not get them up the bank on which we had landed, and was therefore obliged to look for a more convenient spot. As I did so, I was startled by hearing Jack shouting for help, as though in great danger. He was at some distance, and I hurried toward him with a hatchet in my hand. The little fellow stood screaming in a deep pool, and as I approached, I av\- tj> ^ft llky lobster had caught his leg in its powerful craw. TooFTack was in a terrible fright ; kick as he would, his enemy still clung on. I waded into the water, and seizing THE SWISS FAMILY EOBINSOlf. 11 the lobster firmly by the back, managed to make it loosen its hold, and we brought it safe to land. Jack, having speedily recovered his spirits, and anxious to take such a prize to his mother, caught the lobster in both hands, but instantly re- ceived such a severe blow from its tail that he flung it down, and passionately hit the creature with a large stone. This display of temper vexed me. "You are acting in a very childish way, my son," said I; " never strike an enemy in a revengeful spirit." Once more lifting the lobster, Jack ran triumphantly toward the tent. " Mother, mother ! a lobster, Ernest ! look here, Franz ! mind, he'll bite you ! Where's Fritz ? " All came crowding round Jack and his prize, wondering at its unusual size, and Ernest wanted his mother to make lobster soup directly, by adding it to what she was now boiling. She, however, begged to decline making any such experi- ment, and said she preferred evoking one dish at a time. Hav- ing remarked that the scene of Jack's adventure afforded a convenient place for getting my casks on shore, I returned thither and succeeded in drawing them up on the beach, where I set them on end, and for the present left them. On my return I resumed the subject of Jack's lobster, and told him he should have the offending claw all to himself, when it was ready to be eaten, congratulating him on being the first to discover anything useful. " As to that," said Ernest, " I found something very good to eat, as well as Jack, only I could not get at them without wet- ting my feet." " Pooh ! " cried Jack, " I know what he saw nothing but f ome nasty mussels ; I saw them too. Who wants to eat trash like that ! Lobster for me ! " " I believe them to be oysters, not mussels," returned Ernest calmly. " Be good enough, my philosophical young friend, to fetch a few specimens of these oysters in time for our next meal," aid I ; " we must all exert ourselves, Ernest, for the common good, and pray never let me hear you object to wetting your feet. See how quickly the sun has dried Jack and me." " I can bring some salt at the same time," said Ernest, " I remarked a good deal lying in the crevices of the rocks ; it tasted very pure and good, and I concluded it was produced by the evaporation of sea water in the sun." " Extremely probable, learned sir," cried I ; " but if you had brought a bagful of this good salt instead of merely spec* IS THE SWISS FAMILY EOBINSOW. alating so profoundly on the subject, it would have been moiO to the purpose. Run and fetch some directly." It proved to be salt sure enough, although so impure that it seemed useless, till my wife dissolved and strained it, when it became fit to put in the soup. " Why not use the sea water itself ? " asked Jack. " Because," said Ernest, " it is not only salt, but bitter too. Just try it." "Now," said my wife, tasting the soup with the stick with which she had been stirring it, " dinner is ready, but where can Fritz be ? " she continued, a little anxiously. " How are we to eat our soup when he does come ? " I asked ; " we have neither plates nor spoons, and we can scarcely lift the boiling pot to our mouths. We are in as uncomfortable a position as was the fox to whom the stork served up a dinner in a jug with a long neck." " Oh, for a few cocoa-nut shells ! " sighed Ernest. " Oh, for half a dozen plates and as many silver spoons 1 " rejoined I, smiling. " Really though, oysters-shells would do," said he, after a moment's thought. " True, that is an idea worth having ! Off with you, my boys; get the oysters and clean out a few shells. What though our spoons have no handles, and we do burn our fingers a lit- tle in baling the soup out." Jack was away and up to his knees in the water, in a moment, detaching the oysters. Ernest followed more leis- urely, and still unwilling to wet his feet, stood by the margin of the pool and gathered in his handkerchief the oysters his brother threw him ; as he thus stood he picked up and pocketed a large mussel shell for his own use. As they returned with a good supply we heard a shout from Fritz in the distance ; we returned it joyfully, and he presently appeared before us, his; hands behind his back, and a look of disappointment upon his countenance. " Unsuccessful ! " said he. " Really ! " I replied ; " never mind, my boy, better luck next time." " Oh, Fritz ! " exclaimed his brothers, who had looked behind him, "a sucking-pig, a little sucking-pig. Where did you get it ? How did you shoot it ? Do let us see it ! " Fritz then with sparkling eyes exhibited his prize. "lam glad to see the result of your prowess, my boy," said THH SWISS FAMILY BOBINSOIf. 18 I ; " but I cannot approve of deceit, even as a joke ; stick to the truth in jest and earnest." Fritz then told us how he had been to the other side of the stream. " So different from this," he said ; " it is really a beautiful country, and the shore, which runs down to the sea in a gentle slope, is covered with all sorts of useful things from the wreck. Do let us go and collect them. And, father, why should we not return to the wreck and bring off some of the animals ? Just think of what value the cow would be to us, and what a pity it would be to lose her ! Let us get her on shore, and we will move over the stream, where she will have good pasturage, and we shall be in the shade instead of oil this desert, and father, I do wish " " Stop, stop, my boy ! " cried I. "All will be done in good time. To-morrow and the day after will bring work of their own. And tell me, did you see no traces of our shipmates ? " "Not a sign of them, either on land or sea, living or dead," he replied. "But the sucking-pig," said Jack, "where did you get it?" " It was one of several," said Fritz, " which I found on the shore ; most curious animals they are ; they hopped rather than walked, and eveiy now and then would squat down on their legs and rub their snouts with their fore-paws. Had not I been afraid of losing them all, I would have tried to catch one alive, they seemed so tame." Meanwhile Ernest had been carefully examining the animal in question. " This is no pig," he said ; " and except for its bristly skin, does not look like one. See, its teeth are not like those of a Eig, but rather those of a squirrel. In fact," he continued, >oking at Fritz, " your sucking pig is an agouti." " Dear me," said Fritz ; " listen to the great professor lectur- ing ! He is going to prove that a pig is not a pig ! " " You need not be so quick to laugh at your brother," said I, in my turn ; " he is quite right. I, too, know the agouti by descriptions and pictures, and there is little doubt that this is a specimen. The little animal is a native of North America, where it makes its nest under the roots of trees, and lives upon fruit. But, Ernest, the agouti not only looks something like a pig, but most decidedly grunts like a porker." While we were thus talking, Jack had been vainly endeavor- ing to open an oyster with his large knife. " Here is a simpler way," said I, placing an oyster on the fire ; it immediately M THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. opened. " Now," I continued, " who will try this delicacy f " All at first hesitated to partake of them, so unattractive did they appear. Jack, however, tightly closing his eyes and mak- ing a face as though about to tase medicine, gulped one down. We followed his example, one after the other, each doing so rather to provide himself with a spoon than with any hope of mltivating a taste for oysters. Our spoons were now ready, and gathering round the pot SS THB SWISS FAMILF EOBINSOH. leesly. A live monkey up in that tree is of more use to us than a dozen dead ones at our feet, as I will show you." Saying this, I gathered a handful of small stones, and threw them up toward the apes. The stones did not go near them, but influenced by their instinctive mania for imitation, they instantly seized all the cocoanuts within their reach, and sent * perfect hail of them down upon us. Fritz was delighted with my stratagem, and rushing for- ward picked up some of the finest of the nuts. We drank th milk they contained, drawing it through the holes, which I pierced, and then, splitting the nuts open with the hatchet, ate the cream which lined their shells. After this delicious meal, we throughly despised the lobster we had been carrying, and threw it to Turk, who ate it gratefully ; but far from being satisfied, the poor beast began to gnaw the ends of the sugar- canes, and to beg for cocoanut. I slung a couple of the nuts over my shoulder, fastening them together by their stalks, and Fritz having resumed his burden, we began our homeward march. I soon discovered that Fritz found the weight of his canes considerably more than he expected : he shifted them from shoulder to shoulder, then fora while carried them under his arm, and finally stopped short with a sigh. " I had no idea," he said, " that a few reeds would be so heavy." " Never mind, my boy," I said, " patience and courage I Do you not remember the story of ^Esop and his bread-basket, how heavy he found it when he started, and how light at the end of his journey ? Let us each take a fresh staff, and then fasten the bundle crosswise with your gun." We did so, and once more stepped forward. Fritz presently noticed that I from time to time sucked the end of my cane. " Oh, come," said he, " that's a capital plan of yours, father, I'll do that too." f So saying, he began to suck most vigorously, but not a drop of the juice could he extract. "How is this?" he askeo. " How do you get the juice out, father ? " " Think a little," I replied, " you are quite as capable as I am of finding out the way, even if you do not know the real reason of your failure." "Oh, of course," said he, " it is like trying to suck marrow from a marrow-bone, without making a hole at the other nd." " Quite right," I said, " you form a vacuum in your mouth aud the end of your tube and expect the air to force down THB SWISS FAMILY KOBIKSON. SS the liquid from the other end which it cannot possibly enter." Fritz was speedily perfect in the accomplishment of suck- ing sugar-cane, discovering by experience the necessity for a fresh cat at each joint or knot in the cane, through which the juice would not flow ; he talked of the pleasure of initiating his brothers in the art, and of how Ernest would enjoy the cocoanut milk, with which he had filled his flask. " My dear boy," said I, " you need not have added that to your load ; the chances are it is vinegar by the time we get home. In the heat of the sun, it will ferment soon after being drawn from the nut." " Vinegar ! Oh, that would be a horrid bore ! I must look directly, and see how it is getting on," cried Fritz, hastily swinging the flask from his shoulder, and tugging out the cork. With a loud " pop " the contents came forth, foaming like champagne. " There now ! " said I, laughing as he tasted this new luxury, " you will have to exercise moderation again, friend Fritz ! I daresay it is delicious, but it will go to your head, if you venture deep into your flask." " My dear father, you cannot think how good it is ! Do take some. Vinegar, indeed ! This is like excellent wine." We were both invigorated by this unexpected draught, and went on so merrily after it, that the distance to the place where we had left our gourd-dishes seemed less than we ex- pected. We found them quite dry, and very light and easy to carry. Just as we had passed through the grove in which we had breakfasted, Turk suddenly darted away from us and sprang furiously among a troop of monkeys, which were gamboling playfully on the turf at a little distance from the trees. They were taken by surprise completely, and the dog, now really ravenous from hunger, had seized and was fiercely tearing one to pieces before we could approach the spot. His luckless victim was the mother of a tiny little monkey, which, being on her back when the dog flew at her, hinderet. her flight. The little creature attempted to hide among the grass, and in trembling fear watched its mother. On perceiv ing Turk's bloodthirsty design, Fritz had eagerly rushed to the rescue, flinging away all he was carrying, and losing his hat in his haste. All to no purpose as far as the poor mother ape was concerned, and a laughable scene ensued, for no sooner did the young moafrag catch siaht of him, than at one 24 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. bound it was on his shoulders, and, holding fast by his thick curly hair, it firmly kept its seat in spite of all he could do to dislodge it. He screamed and plunged about as he en- deavored to shake or pull the creature off, but all in vain ; it only elung the closer to his neck, making the most absurd grimaces. I laughed so much at this ridiculous scene, that I could scarcely assist my terrified boy out of his awkward predica- ment. , At last, by coaxing the monkey, offering it a bit of biscuit J and gradually disentangling its small sinewy paws from the curls it grasped so tightly, I managed to relieve poor Fritz, who then looked with interest at the baby ape, no bigger than a kitten, as it lay in my arms. " What a jolly little fellow it is ! " exclaimed he, " do let me try to rear it, father. I daresay cocoanut milk would do until we can bring the cow and the goats from the wreck If he lives he might be useful to us. I believe monkeys in etinctively know what fruits are wholesome and what are poisonous." "Well," said I, "let the little orphan be yours. You bravely and kindly exerted yourself to save the mother's life ; now you must train her child carefully, for unless you do so its natural instinct will prove mischievous instead of useful to us." Turk was meanwhile devouring with great satisfaction the little animal's unfortunate mother. I could not grudge it him, and continued hunger might have made him dangerous to ourselves. We did not think it necessary to wait until he had dined, so we prepared to resume our march. The tiny ape seated itself in the coolest way imaginable on Fritz's shoulder, I helped to carry his canes, and we were on some distance before Turk overtook us, looking uncommon!/ well pleased, and licking his chops as though recalling the memory of his feast. He took no notice of the monkey, but it was very uneasy at sight of him, and scrambled down into Fritz's arms, which was so inconvenient to him that he devised a plan to relieve himself of his burden. Calling Turk, and seriously enjoining obedience, he seated the monkey on his back, securing it there with a cord, and then putting a second string round the dog's neck that he might lead him, he put a loop of the knot into the comical rider's hand, saying gravely: " Having slain the parent, Mr. Turk, you will please to carry the son." At first this arrangement mightily displeased them both, THE SWISS FAMILY EOBIKSOIf. 25 but by and by they yielded to it quietly ; the monkey espe- cially amused us by riding along with the air of a person perfectly at his case. " We look just like a couple of mountebanks on their way to a fair with animals to exhibit," said I. " What an outcry the children will make when we appear ! " My son inquired to what species of the monkey tribe I thought his protg6 belonged, which led to a good deal of talk on the subject, and conversation beguiling the way, we found ourselves ere long on the rocky margin of the stream and close to the rest of our party. Juno was the first to be aware of our approach, and gave notice of it by loud barking, to which Turk replied with such hearty good will, that his little rider, terrified at the noise his steed was making, slipped from under the cord and fled to his refuge on Fritz's shoulder, where he regained his composure and settled himself comfortably. Turk, who by this time knew where he was, finding him* self free dashed forward to rejoin hia friends, and announce our coming. One after another our dear ones came running to the opposite bank, testifying in various ways their delight at our return, and hastening up on their side of the river, as we on ours, to the ford at which we had crossed in the morning. We were quickly on the other side, and, full of joy and affec- tion, our happy party was once more united. The boys suddenly perceiving the little animal which was clinging close to their brother, in alarm at the tumult of Toices, shouted in ecstasy : " A monkey ! a monkey ! oh, how splendid ! Where did Frit* find him ? What may we give him to eat ? Oh, what a bun- dle of stioks ! Look at those curious, great nuts father has got ! n We could neither check this confused torrent of questions, nor get in a word in answer to them. At length, when the excitement subsided a little, I was able to say a few words with a chance of being listened to. " I am truly thankful to see you all safe and well, and, thank God, our expedition has been very satisfactory, except that we have entirely failed to discover any trace of our shipmates." " If it be the will of God," said my wife, " to leave us alone on this solitary place, let us be content ; and rejoice that we are all together in safety." " Now we want to hear all your adventures, and let us re lieve you of your burdens," added she, taking my game bag. 36 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. Jack shouldered my gun, Ernest took the cocoannts, and little Franz carried the gourds ; Fritz distributed the sugar canes amongst his brothers, and handing Ernest his gun re- placed the monkey on Turk's back. Ernest soon found the burden with which Fritz had laden him too heavy for his taste. His mother perceiving this, offered to relieve him of part of the load. He gave up willingly the cocoanuts, but no sooner had he done so than his elder brother exclaimed: " Hullo, Ernest, you surely do not know what you are part- ing with ; did you really intend to hand over those good co- coanuts without so much as tasting them ? " " What ? ho ! are they really cocoanuts ? " cried Ernest. " Do let me take them again, mother, do let me look at them." " No, thank you," replied my wife with a smile. " I have DO wish to see you again overburdened." " Oh, but I have only to throw away these sticks, which are of no use, and then I can easily carry them." " Worse and worse," said Fritz ; " I have a particular regard for those heavy, useless sticks. Did you ever hear of sugar* canes ? " The words were scarcely out of his mouth when Ernest be gan to suck vigorously at the end of the cane, with no better result, however, than Fritz had obtained as we were on the march. " Here," said Fritz, " let me show you the trick of it," and he speedily set all the youngsters to work extracting the lus- cious juice. My wife, as a prudent housekeeper, was no less delighted than the children with this discovery ; the sight of the dishes also pleased her greatly, for she longed to see us eat once more like civilized beings. We went into the kitchen and there found preparations for a truly sumptuous meal. Two forked sticks were planted in the ground on either side of the fire ; on these rested a rod from which hung several tempting looking fish ; opposite them hung a goose from a similar contrivance, slowly roasting while the gravy dropped into a large shell placed beneath it. In the center sat the great pot, from which issued the smell of a most delicious soup. To crown this splendid array, stood an open hogshead full of Dutch cheeses. All this was very pleasant to two hungry travelers, but I was about to beg my wife to spare the poultry until our stock should have increased, when she, perceiving my thought, quickly relieved my anxiety. " This is not one of our geese," she said, "but a wild bird Ernest killed. 1 * THB SWISS FAMILY ROBINSOJf. 87 ** Yes,** said Ernest, " it is a penguin, I think ; it let me get quite close, so that I knocked it on the head with a stick. Here are its head and feet, which I preserved to show you ; the bill is, you see, narrow and curved downward, and the feet are webbed. It had funny little bits of useless wings, and ita eyes looked so solemnly and sedately at me that I was almost ashamed to kill it. Do you not think it must have been a pen- guin?" " I have little doubt on the matter, my boy," and I was about to make a few remarks on the habits of this bird, when my wife interrupted me and begged us to come to dinner, and continue our natural history conversation at some future time. We then sat down before the appetizing meal prepared for us, , our gourds coming for the first time into use, and having done 1 it full justice, produced the cocoanuts by way of dessert. " Here is better food for your little friend," said I to Fritz, who had been vainly endeavoring to persuade the monkey to taste dainty morsels of the food we had been eating ; " the poor little animal has been accustomed to nothing but its mother's milk ; fetch me a saw, one of you." I then, after extracting the milk of the nuts from their natural holes, carefully cut the shells in half, thus providing several more useful basins. The monkey was perfectly satisfied with the milk, and eagerly sucked the corner of a handkerchief dipped in it. Fritz now suddenly recollected his delicious wine, and producing his flask, begged his mother to taste it. " Try it first yourself," said I ; Fritz did so, and I instantly saw by his countenance that the liquor had passed through the first stage of fermentation and had become vinegar. "Never mind, my boy," said my prudent wife, when she learned the cause of his wry faces, " we have wine already, but no vinegar ; I am really pleased at tAe transformation." The sun was now rapidly sinking behind the horizon, and the poultry, retiring for the night, warned us that we must follow their example. Having offered up our prayers, we lay down on our beds, the monkey crouched down between Jack and Fritz, and we were all soon fast asleep. We did not, however, long enjoy this repose ; a loud bark- ing from our dogs, who were on guard outside the tent, awakened us, and the fluttering and cackling of our poultry warned us that a foe was approaching. Fritz and I sprang up, and seizing our guns rushed out. There we found a des- perate combat going on ; our gallant dogs, surrounded by a dozen or more large jackals, were fighting bravely. Four of 88 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. their opponents lay dead, but the others were in no way eta terred by the fate of their comrades. Fritz and I, however, Bent bullets through the heads of a couple more, and the rest galloped off. Turk and Juno did not intend that they should escape so cheaply, and pursuing them, they caught, killed, and devoured another of the animals, regardless of their near re- lationship. Fritz wished to save one of the jackals that he might be able to show it to his brothers in the morning ; dragging, therefore, the one that he had shot near tne tent, he concealed it, and we once more returned to our beds, f Soundly and peacefully we slept until cock-crow next morning, when my wife and I awoke, and began to discuss the business of the day. " It seems absolutely necessary, my dear wife," I began. * to return at once to the wreck while it is yet calm, that we may save the poor animals left there, and bring on shore many articles of infinite value to us, which, if we do not now recover, we may finally lose entirely. On the other hand, I feel that there is an immense deal to be done on shore, and that I ought not to leave you in such an insecure shelter as this tent." " Return to the wreck by all means," replied my wife, cheer- fully. " Patience, order, and perseverance will help us through all our work, and I agree with you that a visit to the wreck is without doubt our first duty. Come, let us wake the children, and set to work without delay." They were soon roused, and Fritz, overcoming his drowsiness before the others, ran out for his jackal ; it was cold and stiff from the night air, and he placed it on its legs before the tent, in a most life-like attitude, and stood by to watch the effect npon the family. The dogs were the first to perceive their anemy, and growling, seemed inclined to dispose of the animal is they had disposed of its brethren in the night, but Frit?: Balled them off. The noise the dogs made, however, had the effect of bringing out the younger children, and many were -,he exclamations they made at the sight of the strange sinimal. " A jellow dog ! " cried Franz. "A wolf ! " exclaimed Jack. " It is a striped fox," said Ernest. * Hullo," said Fritz. " The greatest men may make mis- takes. Our Professor does not know a jackal when he sees one." " But really," continued Ernest, examining the animal, " I think it is a fox." THE SWISS FAMILY EOBHTSOir. 99 "Very well, very well," retorted Fritz, "no doubt you know better than your father ! He thinks it is a jackal." " Come, boys," said I, " no more of this quarreling ; you are none of you very far wrong, for the jackal partakes of the nature of all three, dog, wolf, and fox." The monkey had come out on Jack's shoulder, but no sooner did it catch sight of the jackal, than it fled precipitately back into the tent, and hid itself in a heap of moss until nothing was visible but the tip of its little nose. Jack soothed and comforted the frightened little animal, and I then summoned them all to prayers, soon after which we began our breakfast. So severely had we dealt with our supper the previous night that we had little to eat but the biscuits, which were so dry and hard, that, hungry as we were, we could not swallow much. Fritz and I took some cheese to help them down, while my wife and younger sons soaked theirs in water. Ernest roamed down to the shore, and looked about for shell-fish. Presently he returned with a few whelks. " Ah," said he, " if we had but some butter." "My good boy," I replied, "your per- petual IP, IF, quite annoys me; why do you not sit down and eat cheese like the rest of us." " Not while I can get butter," he said ; " see here, father," and he pointed to a large cask, " that barrel contains butter of some sort or another, for it is oozing out at the end." " Really, Ernest," I said, " we are indebted to you. I will open the cask." So saying, I took a knife and carefully cut a small hole, so that I could extract the butter without expos- ing the mass of it to the effects of the air and heat. Filling a cocoanut shell, we once more sat down, and toasting our bis- cuits before the fire, spread them with the good Dutch butter. We found this vastly better than the dry biscuits, and while we were thus employed I noticed that the two dogs were lying unusually quiet by my side. I at first attributed this drow- siness to their large meal during the night, but I soon dis-' covered that it arose from a different cause ; the faithful ani- mals had not escaped unhurt from their late combat, but had received several deep and painful wounds, especially about the neck. The dogs began to lick each other on the places vhich they could not reach with their own tougues, and my wife carefully dressed the wounds with butter, from which she had extracted the salt by washing. A sudden thought now struck Ernest, and he wisely re- marked, that if we were to make spiked collars for the dogs, they would in future escape such dangerous wounds. " Oh, THE SWISS FAMILY yes," exclaimed Jack, " and I will make them; may I noL father ? " " Try, by all means, my little fellow," said I, " and persuade your mother to assist you ; and now, Fritz," I continued, " we must be starting, for you and I are to make a trip to the wreck." I begged the party who were to remain on shore to keep together as much as possible, and having arranged a set of signals with my wife, that we might exchange communica- tions, asked a blessing on our enterprise. I erected a signal post, and, while Fritz was making preparations for our depar* ture, hoisted a strip of sailcloth as a flag ; this flag was to re- main hoisted so long as all was well on shore, but should our return be desired, three shots were to be fired and the flaff lowered. All was now ready, and warning my wife that we might find it necessary to remain all night on the vessel, we tenderly bade adieu and embarked. Except our guns and ammunition, we were taking nothing, that we might leave as much space as possible for the stowage of a large cargo. Fritz, however, had resolved to bring his little monkey, that he might obtaim milk for it as soon as possible. We had not got far from the shore, when I perceived that a current from the river set in di- rectly for the vessel, and though my nautical knowledge was not great, I succeeded in steering the boat into the favorable stream, which carried us nearly three-fourths of our pas- sage with little or no trouble to ourselves ; then, by dint of hard pulling, we accomplished the whole distance, and enter- ing through the breach, gladly made fast our boat and stepped on board. Our first ;care was to see the animals, who greeted us with joy lowing, bellowing, and bleating as we ap- proached ; not that the poor beasts were hungry, for they were all still well supplied with food, but they were apparently E leased by the mere sight of human beings. Fritz then placed is monkey by one of the goats, and the little animal imme- diately sucked the milk with evident relish, chattering and grinning all the while ; the monkey provided for, we refreshed ourselves with some wine and biscuits. " Now," said I, " we have plenty to do ; where shall we begin ? " " Let us fix a mast and sail to our boat," answered Fritz ; "for the current which brought us out will not take us back, whereas the fresh breeze we met would help us immensely pad we but a sail." "Capital thought," I replied; "let us set to work at once." THE SWISS FAMILY BOBfNSOlT. SI I chose a stout spar to serve as a mast, and having made a hole in a plank nailed across one of the tubs, we, with the help of a rope and a couple of blocks, stepped it and secured it with stays. We then discovered a lug-sail, which had be- longed to one of the ships' boats ; this we hoisted ; and our craft was ready to sail. Fritz begged me to decorate the masthead with a red streamer, to give our vessel a more finished appearance. Smiling at this childish but natural Yanity, I complied with his request. I then contrived a rudder, that I might be able to steer the boat ; for though I knew that an oar would serve the purpose, it was cumbrous and incon- venient. While I was thus employed, Fritz examined the shore with his glass, and soon announced that the flag was flying and all was well. So much time had now slipped away that we found we could not return that night, as I had wished. We signaled our intention of remaining on board, and then spent the rest of our time in taking out the stones we had placed in the boat for ballast, and stowed in their place heavy articles of value to us. The ship had sailed for the purpose of supplying a young colony, she had therefore on board every conceivable article we could desire in our present situation ; our only difficulty, indeed, was to make a wise selection. A large quan- tity of powder and shot we first secured, and as Fritz con- sidered that we could not have too many weapons, we added three excellent guns, and a whole armful of swords, daggers, and knives. We remembered that knives and forks were necessary, we therefore laid in a large stock of them, and kitchen utensils of all sorts. Exploring the captain's cabin, we discovered a service of silver plate and a cellaret of good old wine ; we then went over the stores, and supplied our- selves with potted meats, portable soups, Westphalian hams, sausages, a bag of maize and wheat, and a quantity of other seeds and vegetables. I then added a barrel of sulphur for matches, and as much cordage as I could find. All this with nails, tools, and agricultural implements completed our cargo, and sank our boat so low that I should have been obliged to lighten her had not the sea been calm. Night drew on, and a large fire, lighted by those on shore, showed us that all was well. We replied by hoisting four ship's lanterns, and two shots announced to us that our signal was perceived ; then, with a heartfelt prayer for the safety of our dear ones on shore, we retired to our boat, and Fritz, at all events, was soon sound asleep. For a while I could not 32 - THE SWISS FAMILY BOBIN&'ON. sleep ; the thought of my wife and children alone and unpro- tected, save by the great dogs disturbed my rest. The night at length passed away. At daybreak Fritz and I arose and went on deck. I brought the telescope to bear upon the shore, and with pleasure saw the flag still waving in- the morning breeze ; while I kept the glass directed to the land, I saw the door of the tent open, and my wife appear and look steadfastly toward us. I at once hoisted a white flag, and in reply the flag OP shorf was thrice dipped. Oh, what a weight seemed lifted from my heart as I saw the signal ! " Fritz," I said, " I am not now in such haste to get back, and begin to feel compassion for all these poor beasts. I wish we could devise some means for getting them on shore." "We might make a raft," suggested Fritz, " and take off one or two at a time." " True," I replied ; " it is easy enough to say, ' make a raft,* but to do it is quite another thing." " Well," said Fritz, " I can think of nothing else, unless indeed we make them such swimming belts as you made for the children." " Really, my boy, that idea is worth having. I am not jok- ing, indeed," I continued, as I saw him smile ; " we may get every one of the animals ashore in that way." So saying, I caught a fine sheep, and proceeded to put our plan into execution. I first fastened a broad piece of linen round its belly, and to this attached some corks and empty tins ; then, with Fritz's help, I flung the animal into the sea it sank, but a moment afterward rose and floated famously. " Hurrah I " exclaimed Fritz, " we will treat them all like that." We then rapidly caught the other animals and pro- vided them, one after the other, with a similar contrivance. The cow and ass gave us more trouble than did the others, as for them we required something more bouyant than the mere ork ; we at last found some empty casks and fastened two to ach animal by thongs passed under its belly. This done, the whole herd were ready to start, and we brought the ass to one of the ports to be the first to be launched. After some maneuver- ing we got him in a convenient position, and then a sudden heave sent him plunging into the sea. He sank, and then, bouyed up by the casks, emerged head and back from the water. The cow, sheep, and goats followed him one after the other, and then the sow alone remained. She seemed, however, determined not to leave the ship ; she kicked, struggled, and THE SWISS FAMILY EOBINSOW. 33 squealed so violently, that I really thought we should be obliged to abandon her ; at length, after much trouble, we suc- ceeded in sending her out of the port after the others, and when once in the water, such was the old lady's energy that she quickly distanced them, and was the first to reach the shore. We had fastened to the horns or neck of each animal a* cord with a float attached to the end, and now embarking, we gathered up these floats, set sail, and steered for shore, draw- ing our herd after us. Delighted with the successful accomplishment of our task, we got out some biscuits and enjoyed a midday meal ; then, while Fritz amused himself with his monkey, I took up my glass and tried to make out how our dear ones on shore were employing themselves. As I was thus engaged, a sudden shout from Fritz suprised me. I glanced up ; there stood Fritz with his gun to his shoulder, pointing it at a huge shark ; the monster was making for one of the finest sheep ; he turned on his side to seize his prey ; as the white of his belly appeared Fritz fired. The shot took effect, and our enemy disappeared, leaving a trace of blood on the calm water. " Well done, my boy," I cried, " you will become a crack shot one of these days ; but I trust you will not often have such dangerous game to shoot." Fritz's eyes sparkled at his success and my praise, and reloading his gun carefully watched the water. But the shark did not again appear, and, borne onward by the breeze, we quickly neared the shore. Steering the boat to a convenient landing place, I cast off the ropes which secured the animals, and let them get ashore as best they might. There was no sign of my wife or children when we stepped on land, but a few moments afterward they appeared, and with a shout of joy ran toward us. We were thankful to be once more united, and after asking and replying to a few pre- liminary questions, proceeded to release our herd from their swimming belts, which, though so useful in the water, were exceedingly inconvenient on shore. My wife was astonished at the apparatus. " How clever you are !" said she. " I am not the inventor," I replied ; " the honor is due to Fritz. He not only thought of this plan for bringing off the animals, but saved one, at least, of them from a most fearful death " And I then told them how bravely he had encoun- tered the shark. My wife was delighted with her eon's success, but declared 84 THB SWISS FAMILY BOBrNSOlT. that she would dread our trips to the vessel more than ever, knowing that such savage fish inhabited the waters. Fritz, Ernest, and I began the work of unloading our craft, while Jack, seeing that the poor donkey was still encumbered with his swimming belt, tried to free him from it. But the donkey would not stand quiet, and the child's fingers were not strong enough to loosen the cordage ; finally, therefore, he scrambled upon the animal's back, and urging him on with hand and foot, trotted toward us. " Come, my boy," I said, " no one must be idle here, even for a moment ; you will have riding practice enough hereafter ; dismount and come and help us." Jack was soon on his feet. " But I have not been idle all day," he said ; " look here ! " and he pointed to a belt round his waist. It was a broad belt of yellow hair, in which he had stuck a couple of pistols and a knife. " And see," he added, " what have I made for the dogs. Here, Juno ! Turk ! " the dogs came bounding up at his call, and I saw that they were each supplied with a collar of the same skin, in which were fas- tened nails, which bristled round their necks in a most formid- able manner. " Capital, capital ! my boy," said I, " but where did you get your materials, and who helped you ? " " Except in cutting the skin," said my wife, " he had no assistance, and as for the materials, Fritz's jackal supplied us with the skin, and the needles and thread came out of my wonderful bag. You little think how many useful things may be had from that same bag ; it is woman's duty and nature, you know, to see after trifles." Fritz evidently did not approve of the use to which his jackal's hide had been devoted, and holding his nose, begged his little brother to keep at a distance ; " Really, Jack, " he said, " you should have cured the hide before you used it ; the smell is disgusting ; don't come near me." " It's not the hide that smells at all, " retorted Jack, " it is .^our nasty jackal itself, that you left in the sun." " Now, boys, " said I, " no quarreling here ; do you, Jack, help your brother to drag the carcass to the sea, and if your belt smells after that you must take it off and dry it better." The jackal was dragged off, and we then finished our work of unloading our boat. When this was accomplished we started for our tent, and finding no preparation for supper, I said, " Fritz, let us have a Westphattan ham." * Ernest, '* said my wife, smiling, " let us see if we cannot onjure up some eggs." Fritz got out a splendid ham and carried it to his mother triumphantly, while Ernest set before me a dozen white balls with parchment-like coverings. " Turtles' eggs ! " said I. " Well done, Ernest ! where did jou get them ? " " That, " replied my wife, " shall be told in due course when we relate our adventures ; now we will see what they will do toward making a supper for you ; with these and your ham I do not think we shall starve." Leaving my wife to prepare supper, we returned to the shore and brought up what of the cargo we had left there ; then, having collected our herd of animals, we returned to the tent. The meal which awaited us was as unlike the first sup. per we had there enjoyed as possible. My wife had im- provised a table of a board laid on two casks ; on s this wai spread a white damask tablecloth, on which were placed knives, forks, spoons, and plates for each person. A tureen of good soup first appeared, followed by a capital omelette, then slices of the ham ; and finally some Dutch cheese, butter, and biscuits, with a bottle of the captain's Canary wine, completed the repast. While we thus regaled ourselves, I related to my wife our adventures, and then begged she would remember her promise and tell me all that had happened in my absence. CHAPTER III. The mother relates her adventures Proposes that we should build a nest How Jack treated the jackal skin How the boys were sur- prised by a bustard How they found the mangrove tree How the dogs caught the crabs We discuss the possibility of making a house in the tree To bed once more We start for the wreck The shark again Return to land Franz's craw-fish Bridge building We pack up A family removing in patriarchal style A prickly enemy Jack shoots it We reach our new Lome Fritz rids our poultry of an enemy Little Franz finds the figs Dinner We prepare mater- ials for our nest Flamingoes Roast and tame The use of trigo- nometry A cord carried over the bough The rope ladder made We mount our tree Sleep under the roots The building of the nest Retire to roost for the first time. " I WILL spare you a description," said my wife, " of our first day's occupations ; truth to tellj I spent the time chiefly in anxious thought and watching your progress and signals. I 86 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. rose very early this morning, and with the utmost joy perceiv- ing your signal that all was right, hastened to reply to it, and then, while my sons yet slumbered, I sat down and began to consider how our position could be improved. ' For it is per- fectly impossible,' said I to myself, ' to live much longer where we are now. The sun beats burningly the lifelong day on this bare, rocky spot; our only shelter is this poor tent, beneath the canvas of which the heat is even more oppressive than on the open shore. Why should not I and my little boys exert ourselves as well as my husband and Fritz ? Why should not we too try to accomplish something useful ? If we could but exchange this melancholy and unwholesome abode for a pleas- ant, shady dwelling place, we should all improve in health and spirits. Among those delightful woods and groves where Fritz and his father saw so many charming things, I feel sure there must be some little retreat where we could establish our- selves comfortably ; there must be, and I will find it.* " By this time the boys were up, and I observed Jack very quietly and busily occupied with his knife about the spot where Fritz's jackal lay. Watching his proceedings, I saw that he had cut two long, narrow strips of the animal's skin, which he cleaned and scraped very carefully, and then taking a handful of great nails out of his pocket, he stuck them through the skin, points outward, after which he cut strips of canvas sailcloth, twice as broad as the throngs, doubled them, and laid them on the raw side of the skin, so as to cover the broad, flat nail heads. At this point of the performance, Master Jack came to me with the agreeable request that I would kindly stitch the canvas and (moist) skin together for him. I gave him needles and thread, but could not think of depriving him of the pleasure of doing it himself. " However, when I saw how good-humoredly he persevered in the work with his awkward, unskillful fingers, I took pity on him, and conquering the disgust I felt, finished lining the skin dog-collars he had so ingeniously contrived. After this, I was called upon to complete in the same way a fine belt of skin he had made for himself. I advised him to think of some means by which the skin ight be kept from shrinking. "Ernest, although rather treating Jack's manufacture with ridicule, proposed a sensible enough plan, which Jack forth- with put into execution. He nailed the skin, stretched flat, on a board, and put it in the sun to dry. " My scheme of a journey was agreed to joyously by mj young companions. Preparations were instantly set on foot I THE SWISS FAMILY EOBINSO1T. 87 weapons and provisions provided ; the two elder boys carrying guns, while they gave me charge of the water flask, and a small hatchet. " Leaving everything in as good order as we could at the tent, we proceeded toward the stream, accompanied by the dogs. Turk, who had accompanied you on your first expedi- tion, seemed immediately to understand that we wished to pursue the same route, and proudly led the way. " As I looked at my two young sons, each with his gun, and considered how much the safety of the party depended on these little fellows, I felt grateful to you, dear husband, for having acquainted them in childhood with the use of Srearms. " Filling our water- jar, we crossed the stream, and went OH to the height, from whence, as you described, a lovely pros- pect is obtained, at the sight of which a pleasurable sensation of buoyant hope, to which I had long been a stranger, awoke within my breast. " A pretty little wood in the distance attracted my notice particularly, and thither we directed our course. But soon finding it impossible to force our way through the tall, strong frass, which grew in dense luxuriance higher than the children's eads, we turned toward the open beach on our left, and fol- lowing it, we reached a point much nearer the little wood, when, quitting the strand, we made toward it. " We had not entirely escaped the tall grass, however, and with the utmost fatigue and difficulty, were struggling through, the reeds, when suddenly a great rushing noise terrified us all dreadfully. A very large and powerful bird sprang upward on the wing. Both boys attempted to take aim, but the bird was far away before they were ready to fire. " * Oh, dear, what a pity ! ' exclaimed Ernest ; 'now if I had only had my light gun, and if the bird had not flown quite so fast, I should have brought him down directly ! ' "'Oh yes,' said I, 'no doubt you would be a capital sports- man, if only your game would always give you time to make ready comfortably.' " ' But I had no notion that anything was going to fly up just at our feet like that,' cried he. "'A good shot,' I replied, ' must be prepared for surprises ; neither wild birds nor wild beasts will send you notice that they are about to fly or to run.' " ' What sort of bird can it have been ? ' inquired Jack. " ' Ok, it certainly must have been an eagle,' answered Ettle Franz, ' it was so very big I ' 86 THE SWISS FAMILY BOBHTSOir. "'Just as if every big bird must be an eagle !' replied Ernest, in a tone of derision. " ' Let's see where he was sitting, at all events ! ' said L "Jack sprang toward the place, and instantly a second bird, rather larger than the first, rushed upward into the air, with a most startling noise. "The boys stood staring upward, perfectly stupefied, while I laughed heartily, saying, * Well, you are first-rate sportsmen, to be sure ! You certainly will keep my larder famously well supplied ! ' " At this, Ernest colored up, and looked inclined to cry, while Jack put on a comical face, pulled off his cap, and with a low bow, called after the fugitive : " ' Adieu for. the present, sir ! I live in hopes of another meeting ! ' " On searching the ground carefully, we discovered a rude sort of nest made untidily of dry grass. It was empty, although we perceived broken egg shells at no great distance, and concluded that the young brood had escaped among the grass, which, in fact, we could see was waving at a little distance, as the little birds ran through it. " * Now look here, Franz,' said Ernest, presently, ' just con- sider how this bird could by any possibility have been an eagle. Eagles never build on the ground, neither can their young leave the nest and run as soon as they are out of the egg. That is a peculiarity of the gallinaceous tribe of birds alone, to which then these must belong. The species, I think, is indicated by the white belly and dull red color of the wing coverts which I observed in these specimens, and I believe them to be bustards, especially as I noticed in the largest the fine mustache-like feathers over the beak, peculiar to the great bustard.* " ' My dear boy ! ' I said, ' your eyes were actively employed, I must confess, if your fingers were unready with the gun. And after all, it is just as well, perhaps, that we have not thrown the bustard's family into mourning.' " Thus chatting, we at length approached my pretty wood. Numbers of birds fluttered and sang among the high branches, but I did not encourage the boys in their wish to try to shoot any of the happy little creatures. We were lost in admiration of the trees of this grove, and I cannot describe to you how wonderful they are, nor can you form the least idea of their enormous size without seeing them yourself. What we had been calling a wood proved to be a group of about a dozen THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 1 . 89 trees only, and, what was strange, the roots sustained the massive trunks exalted in the air, forming strong arches, and props and stays all around each individual stem, which was firmly rooted in the center. " I gave Jack some twine, and scrambling up one of the curious open-air roots, he succeeded in measuring round the trunk itself, and made it out to be about eighteen yards. I saw no sort of fruit, but the foliage is thick and abundant, throw- ing delicious shade on the ground beneath, which is carpeted with soft green herbage, and entirely free from thorns, briars, or bushes of any kind. It is the most charming resting place that ever was seen, and I and the boys enjoyed our midday meal immensely in this glorious palace of the woods, so grate- ful to our senses after the glare and heat of our journey thither. The dogs joined us after a while. They had lingered behind on the sea-shore, and I was surprised to see them lie down and go comfortably to sleep without begging for food, as they do usually when we eat. " The longer we remained in this enchanting place, the more did it charm my fancy ; and if we could but manage to live in some sort of dwelling up among the branches of those grand, noble trees, I should feel perfectly safe and happy. It seemed to me absurd to suppose we should ever find another place half BO lovely, so I determined to search no further, but return to the beach and see if anything from the wreck had been cast np by the waves, which we could carry away with us. " Before starting, Jack persuaded me to sit quietly a little longer, and finish making his belt and the spike-collars for the dogfy for you must know that the child had actually been carrying the board on which these were stretched all this time, so that they should get the full benefit of the sun. As they were now quite dry, I completed them easily, and Jack girded on the belt with great pride, placing his pistols in it, and march- ing about in the most self-important style, while Ernest fitted the collars on the two dogs. " On reaching the shore, we found it strewed with many articles, doubtless of value, but all too heavy for us to lift. We rolled some casks, however, beyond high-water mark, and dragged a chest or two also higher on the beach ; and, while doing so, observed that our dogs were busy among the rocks. They were carefully watching the crevices and pools, and every now and then would pounce downward and seize some* thing which they swallowed with apparent relish. 40 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. " * They are eating crabs,' said Jack. ' No wonder they have not seemed hungry lately.' "And, sure enough, they were catching the little green crabs with which the water abounded. These, however, did not apparently entirely satisfy them. " Some time afterward, just as we were about to turn in- land toward the ford, we noticed that Juno was scraping in the sand, and turning up some round substances, which she hastily devoured. Ernest went to see what these were, and reported in his calm way that the dog had found turtles' eggs. ' "'Oh,' cried I, 'then let us by all means share in the booty ! ' Mrs. Juno, however, did not at all approve of this, and it was with some difficulty that we drove her aside while we gathered a couple of dozen of eggs, stowing them in our provision bags. " While thus employed, we caught sight *f a sail which ap- peared to be merrily approaching the shore beyond the cliffs. Ernest declared it must be our raft. Little Franz, always having the fear of savages before his eyes, began to look frightened, and for a moment I myself was doubtful what t " Oh, father, what a splendid plan ! " cried Jack ; " do tell me some good use for my porcupine." " I think its feet may make cases also ; at least, you may try. The quills, I am sure, may be used for packing needles, and for tipping arrows, and I should try to make de- fensive armor f? the dogs out of the rest. They may fall in with foes more dangerous than any we have yet seen." " To be sure, father, the very thing ! " shouted Jack in high glee. " I have seen pictures of boar hunts, in which the dogs were protected by a sort of leather coat of mail. That will be grand ! " After giving this advice, I got no peace until I had shown my boys how to act upon it, and in a short time each had his prize fastened up by the hind legs, and carefully slit- ting the skin, was stripping it from the carcase. Ernest, meanwhile, was fetching large flat stones in order to form a fireplace, while Franz gathered sticks, as his mother was anxious to prepare some food. " What sort of a tree do you suppose this to be, father ? " inquired Ernest, seeing me examining that under which we were encamping. " Is not the leaf something like the walnut ? w " There is a resemblance, but in my opinion these gigantic trees must be mangroves or wild figs. I have heard their enormous height described, and also the peculiarity of the arching roots supporting the main trunk raised above the soil." Just then little Franz came up with a large bundle of sticks, 69 THE SWISS FAMILY BOBIHSOW. and his month full of something he was eating with evident satisfaction. "Oh, mother!" cried he, "this is so good! So deH. cious ! " " Greedy little boy ! " exclaimed she in a fright. " What feave you got there ? Don't swallow it, whatever you do. Very likely it is poisonous ! Spit it all out this minute ! w And the anxious mother quickly extracted from the rosy little month the remains of a small fig. " Where did you find this? " said I. " There are thousands lying among the grass yonder," replied the little boy. " They taste very nice. I thought poison was nasty. Do you think they will hurt me ? The pigeons and the hens are gobbling them up with all their might and main, papa ! " " I think you have no cause for alarm, dear wife," I said " The trees seem to be the fig-bearing mangrove of the Antilles. But remember, Franz, you must never eat anything without first showing it to me, never mind how good it seems. If birds and monkeys eat a fruit or vegetable, it is usually safe to believe it wholesome," added I, turning to the other boys, who, instantly taking the hint, coaxed Franz to give them the figs he still had in his pocket, and ran to offer them to Knips, who was closely watching the skinning of the tiger cat and porcupine, apparently giving his opinion on the subject with much chattering and gesticulation. " Here, Knips, allow me to present you with a fig ! " cried Jack, holding one out to the funny little creature. Knips took it readily, and after turning it about, and sniff- ing and smelling it, he popped it into his mouth, with such a droll grimace of delight and satisfaction that the boys all laughed and clapped ..their hands, crying " Bravo, Knips ! you know a good thing when you see it, don't you, old fellow f Hurrah ! " My wife, with her mind set at rest on the question of the figs, now continued her preparations for dinner. J The flesh of the margay was given to the dogs, but part of the porcupine was put on the fire to boil, while we reserved the rest for roasting. I employed myself in contriving needles for my wife's work, by boring holes at one end of the quills, which I did by means of a red hot nail, and I soon had a nice packet of various sizes, which pleased her immensely. I also laid plans for making proper harness for our b$Mti of burden, but could not attempt THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. 58 to begin that while so many wants more pressing demanded attention. We examined the different trees, and chose one which seemed most suited to our purpose. The branches spread at a great height above us, and I made the boys try if it were possible to throw sticks or stones over one of these, my inten- tion being to construct a rope ladder if we could once succeed in getting a string across a strong bough. Finding we could not succeed in that way, I resolved other schemes in my mind, and meantime went with Jack and Frit* to a small brook close by, where I showed them how to place the skins to steep and soften in the water, with stones placed on them to keep them beneath the surface. When dinner was over, I prepared our night quarters. I first slung our hammocks from the roots of the tree, which, meeting above us, formed an arched roof, then covering the whole with sailcloth, we made a temporary tent, which would at least keep off the night damps and noxious insects. Leaving my wife engaged in making a set of harness fo the ass and cow, whose strength I intended to employ the following day in drawing the beams up to our tree, I walked Aown with Fritz and Ernest to the beach to look for wood suitable for building our new abode, and also to discover, if possible, some light rods to form a ladder. For some time we hunted in vain, nothing but rough drift wood was to be seen, utterly unfit for our purpose. Ernest at length pointed out a quantity of bamboos, half buried in the sand. These were exactly what I wanted, and stripping them of their leaves I cut them into lengths of about five feet each ; these I bound in bundles to carry to the tree, and then began to look about for Borne slight reeds to serve as arrows. I presently saw what I required in a copse at a little distance,- We advanced cautiously lest the thicket should contain some wild beast or venomous serpent. Juno rushed ahead ; as she did so a flock of flamingoes, which had been quietly feeding, rose in the air. Fritz, instantly firing, brought a couple of the birds to the ground, the rest of th squadron sailing away in perfect order, their plumage continually changing, as they flew, from beautiful rose to pure white, as alternately their snowy wings and resy breasts were visible. One of those which fell was perfectly dead, but the other appeared only slightly wounded in the wing, for it made off across the swampy -ground. I attempted to follow, but soon found that progress was impossible on the marsh ; Juno, however, chased the bird |4 THB SWISS FAMILY ROBINSOW. 3nd, seizing it, speedily brought it to my feet. Fritz and Ernest were delighted at the sight of our prize. " What a handsome bird ! " exclaimed they. " Is it much hurt ? Let us tame it and let it run about with the fowls." " Its plumage is much more brilliant than that of the dead one," remarked Fritz. " Yes," said Ernest, " this is a full grown bird, while yours is younger ; it is some years before they reach perfection. .See what long active legs it has, like those of a stork, while 'with its great webbed feet it can swim faster than a goose. Earth, air, or water is all the same to the flamingo, it is equally at home in any one of the three." " Well," said Fritz, " let us take the dead one to mother and get her to introduce it to the other element, and see what it will make of that ; if it is young and tender, as you say, it should make a delicious roast." Fritz and Ernest then carried the birds and bamboos to the tree, while I proceeded to cut my reeds. I chose those which had flowered, knowing that they were harder, and having cut a sufficient quantity of these, 1 selected one or two of the tallest canes I could find to assist me in measuring the height of the tree. I then bound them together and returned to my family. " Do you mean to keep this great hungry bird Fritz has brought ? " said my wife, " it is another mouth to feed, re- member, and provisions are still scarce." " Luckily," I replied, " the flamingo will not eat grain like our poultry, but will be quite satisfied with insects, fish, and little crabs, which it will pick up for itself. Pray reassure yourself, therefore, and let me see to the poor bird's wound." So saying, I procured some wine and butter and anointed the wing, which though hurt was not broken. I bound it up, and then took the bird to the stream, where I fastened it by a long cord to a stake and left it to shift for itself. In a few days the wound was healed, and the bird, subdued by kind treat- ment, became rapidly tame. While I was thus employed my sons were endeavoring to ascertain the height of the lowest branch of the tree from the ground. They had fastened together the long reeds I had brought, and were trying to measure the distance with them, but in vain ; they soon found that were the rods ten times their length they could not touch the branch. " Hullo, my boys," I said, when I discovered what they were About, " that is not the way to set to work. Geometry will THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. 61 simplify the operation considerably ; with its help the alti- tude of the highest mountains are ascertained. We may, therefore, easily find the height of the branch." So saying, I measured out a certain distance from the base of the tree and marked the spot, and then by means of a rod whose length I knew, and imaginary lines, I calculated the angle subtended by the trunk of the tree from the ground to the root of the branch. This done, I was able to discover the height required, and, to the astonishment of the younger chil- dren, announced that we should henceforth live thirty feet above the ground. This I wanted to know, that I might construct a ladder of the necessary length. Telling Fritz to collect all our cord, and the others to roll all the twine into a ball, I sat down, and taking the reeds, speedily manufactured half a dozen arrows and feathered them from the dead flamingo. I then took a strong bamboo, bent it, and strung it so as to form a bow. When the boys saw what I had done they were delighted, and begged to have the pleasure of firing the first shot. " No, no ! " said I, " I did not make this for mere pleasure, nor is it even intended as a weapon, the arrows are pointless. Elizabeth," I continued to my wife, " can you supply me with a ball of stout thread from your wonderful bag ? " " Certainly," replied she, " I think a ball of thread was the first thing to enter the bag," and diving her hand deep in, she drew out the very thing I wanted. " Now, boys," I said, " I am going to fire the first shot," and I fastened one end of the thread to one of my arrows and aimed at a large branch above me. The arrow flew upward and bore the thread over the branch and fell at our feet. Thus was the first step in our undertaking accomplished. Now for the rope ladder ! Fritz had obtained two coils of cord, each about forty feet jin length ; these we stretched on the ground side by side ; ithen Frita cut the bamboos into pieces of two feet for the steps of the ladder, and as he handed them to me, I passed them through knots which I had prepared in the ropes, white Jack fixed each end with a nail driven through the wood. When the ladder was finished, I carried over the bough a rope by which it might be hauled up. This done, I fixed the lower end of the ladder firmly to the ground by means of stakes, and all was ready for an ascent. The boys, who had been watching me with intense interest, were each eager to be first. M THB SWISS FAMILY BOBIN1O17. "Jack shall have the honor," said I, " as he is the Hghteet * 6o up with you, my boy, and do not break your neck." Jack, who was as active as a monkey, sprang up the ladder and quickly gained the top. " Three cheers for the nest ! " he exclaimed, waving his cap. " Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for our jolly nest ! What a grand house we will have up here ; come along, Fritz ! " His brother was soon by his side, and with a hammer and naila secured the ladder yet more securely. I followed with an ax, and took a survey of the tree. It was admirably suited to out purpose ; the branches were very strong and so closely inter- woven that no beams would be required to form a flooring, but when some of the boughs were lopped and cleared away, a few planks would be quite sufficient. I now called for a pulley, which my wife fastened to the cord hanging beside the ladder. I hauled it up, and finding the boys rather in my way, told them to go doveu, while I proceeded to fasten the pulley to a stout branch above me, that we might be able to haul up the beams we should require the next day. I then made other preparations, that there might be no delay on the morrow, and a bright moon having arisen, I by its light continued working until I was quite worn out, and then at length descended. I reached the ground, but to my surprise found that the two boys were not there. They had not been seen. A moment afterward, however, all anxiety was dispelled, for among the topmost boughs I heard their young voices raised in the evening hymn. Instead of descending, they had, while I was busy, climbed upward, and had been sitting in silent admiration of the moonlight scene, high above me. They now joined us, and my wife showed me the results of her labor. She had made two complete sets of harness. I congratulated her upon her success, and we then sat down to supper. On 4 cloth spread out upon the grass were arranged a roast shoulder of porcupine, a delicious bowl of soup made from a piece of the same animal, cheese, butter, and biscuits, forming a most tempt- ing repast. Having done this ample justice, we collected our cattle, and the pigeons and fowls having retired to roost o the neighboring trees, and on the steps of our ladder, we mad* up a glorious fire to keep off any prowling wild beasts, and our- selves lay down. The children, in spite of the novelty of thft hammocks, were quickly asleep. In vain I tried to follow their example ; a thousand anxious thoughts presented themselves^ and as quickly as I dispelled them others rose in their place. The night worn on, and I was still awake j the fire burned low* THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSOHf. & And I rose and replenished it with dry fuel Then again I climbed into my hammock, and toward morning fell asleep. Early next morning we were astir, and dispersed to our various occupations. My wife milked the goats and cow, while we gave the animals their food, after which we went down to the beach to collect more wood for our building operations. To the larger beams we harnessed the cow and ass, while we our- selves dragged up the remainder. Fritz and I then ascended the tree, and finished the preparations I had begun the night Ibefore, all useless boughs we lopped off, leaving a few about six feet from the floor, from which we might sling our hammocks, and others still higher, to support a temporary roof of sailcloth. My wife made fast the planks to a rope passed through the fclock I had fixed to the boughs above us, and by this means Fritz and I hauled them up. These we arranged side by side on the foundation of boughs, so as to form a smooth solid floor, and round this platform built a bulwark of planks, and then throwing the sailcloth over the higher branches, we drew it down and firmly nailed it. Our house was thus enclosed on three sides, for behind the great trunk protected us, while the front was left open to admit the fresh sea breeze which blew directly in. We then hauled up our hammocks and bedding and slung them from the branches we had left for that purpose. A few hours of daylight still remaining, we cleared the floor of leaves and chips, and then descended to fashion a table nd a few benches from the remainder of the wood. After working like slaves all day, Fritz and I flung ourselves on the grass, while my wife arranged supper on the table we had made. " Come," said she at length, " come and taste flamingo stew, and tell me how you like it. Ernest assured me that it would be much better stewed than roasted, and I have been following Ms directions." Laughing at the idea of Ernest turning scientific cook, we fiat down. The fowls gathered round us to pick up the crumbs, and the tame flamingo joined them, while Master Knips skipped about from one to the other, chattering and mimicking our" gestures continually. To my wife's joy, the sow appeared shortly after, and was presented with all the milk that remained from the day's stock that she might be persuaded to return every night. " For," said my wife, " this surplus milk is really of no use to us, as it will be sour before the morning in this hot climate." " You are quite right," I replied, " but we must contrive to 08 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. make it of use. The next time Fritz and I return to the wreefc we will bring off a churn among the other things we require.** " Must you really go again to that dreadful wreck ? " said my wife shuddering. " You have no idea how anxious I am when you are away there." " Go we must, I am afraid," I replied, " but not for a day or two yet. Come, it is getting late. We and the chickens must go to roost." We lit our watch-fires, and, leaving the dogs on guard be- low, ascended the ladder. Fritz, Ernest, and Jack were up in a moment. Their mother followed very cautiously, for though she had originated the idea of building a nest, she yet hesi- tated to entrust herself at such a terrific height from the ground. When she was safely landed in the house, taking little Franz on my back, I let go the fastenings which secured "iie lower end of the ladder to the ground, and swinging to and fro, slowly ascended. Then for the first time we stood all together in our new home. I drew up the ladder, and, with a gi'eater sense of security than I had enjoyed since we landed on the island, offered up our evening prayer, and retired for the night. CHAPTER IV. A day of rest A parable for the young people Quiet recreation Geo- graphical nomenclature The margay and porcupine skins made of use An expedition to Tentholm Potatoes, potatoes Tropical vege- tation The use of the Karatas Jack's greediness and its punishment Ernest discovers cochineal Arrive at Tentholm The poultry re- bellious Return to Falconhurst Ernest roused out early We col- lect wood for a sledge Master Knips turns thief Franz's plan for the saving of ammunition Ernest and I take the sledge to Tentholm Ernest's laziness exemplified He catches a salmon We start for home Kill a kangaroo And cook it. morning all were early awake, and the children sprang jibout the tree like young monkeys. ; What shall we begin to do, father ? " they cried. " What do you want us to do to-day ? " "Rest, my boys," I replied, "rest." " Rest ? " repeated they. " Why should we rest ? " " ' Six days shalt thou labor and do all that thou hast to do, but on the seventh, thou shalt dp no manner of work.' Thig is the seventh day," I replied, " on it, therefore, let us rest." " What, is it really Sunday ? " asked Jack ; " how jolly 1 oh, THB SWISS FAMILY EOBUfSOlT. 50 I won't do any work ; but I'll take a bow and arrow and shoot- and we'll climb about the tree and have fun all day." " That is not resting," said I, " that is not the way you ar* accustomed to spend the Lord's day." "No ! but then we can't go to church here, and there i nothing else to do." " We can worship here as well as at home," said I. " But there is no church, no clergyman, and no organ," said Franz. " The leafy shade of this great tree is far more beautiful than any church," I said ; " there will we worship our Creator. Come, boys, down with you : turn our dining hall into a break* fast room." The children, one by one, slipped down the ladder. "My dear Elizabeth," said I, " this morning we will devot to the service of the Lord, and by means of a parable, I will endeavor to give the children some serious thoughts ; but, without books, or the possibility of any of the usual Sunday occupations, we cannot keep them quiet the whole day ; after- ward, therefore, I shall allow them to pursue any innocent recreation they choose, and in the cool of the evening we will take a walk." My wife entirely agreed with my proposal, and having breakfasted, the family assembled round me, as we sat in th pleasant shade on the fresh, soft green grass. After singing some hymns and offering heartfelt prayers to the Almighty giver of all good, I told the children I would re- late to them a parable instead of preaching a sermon. " Oh, that would be delightful ! I like the parables in the Bible better than anything," said Franz. " When can we hear you read out of the Bible again, father ? " " Ah, my little boy, your words reproach me," returned I. K While eagerly striving to procure from the ship what would ( feed our bodies and provide for their comfort, I blush to think ; that I have neglected the Bread of Life, the word of God. I shall search for a Bible on my next return to the wreck : al- though our own books were nearly all destroyed, I am pretty sure to find one." At these words my wife arose, and, fetching her magic bag, she drew from it a copy of the Holy Scriptures, which I thankfully received from her hand ; and, after reading aloud from its sacred pages, I spoke as follows : " A Great King, ruling in power and splendor over a vast tealm of light and love, possessed within its boundaries a des- 00 THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. olate and unfruitful island. This spot he made the object of his special care ; and, lavishing on it all the varied resources of his might and goodness, it bloomed in beauty, and became the happy residence of a band of colonists, who were charged not only with the cultivation and improvement of the soil, but each, individually, was bound to cherish in his soul the spirit of love and true allegiance to his Sovereign. While this faith- ful union was maintained, the colony flourished ; and the noblest virtues exalted and rendered happy the existence of every member of the race. That a discontented and rebellious spirit should ever have infected these fortunate subjects of so Joving a master, seems incredible, yet so it was ; disobedience and pride brought misery and punishment, the fair prospects of the colony were blighted, the labors of the colonists were unblessed, and total separation from the parent kingdom seemed inevitable. A message of pardon of free forgiveness was nevertheless accorded to these rebels ; and to all who, humbly accepting it, molded their future lives to the will of the Great King (now revealed in a character even more gra- cious than before), was held out the promise of removal at last from among the ruins caused by the great rebellion, to the glory and undimmed splendor of the realm of Light and Blessedness." Having interested the children, I then, leaving allegory, pressed simply and earnestly home to each young heart the truths I sought to teach ; and, with a short prayer for a bless* ing on my words, brought the service to a close. After a thoughtful pause, we separated, and each employed himself as he felt disposed. I took some arrows and endeavored to point them with porcupine quills. Franz came to beg me make a little bow and arrow for him to shoot with, while Fritz asked my advice about the tiger oat skin and the cases he was to contrive from it. Jack assisted with the arrow making, and inserting a sharp spine at one end of each reed made it fast with pack-thread, and began to wish for glue to ensure its remaining firm. " O Jack I Mamma's soup is as sticky as anything 1 " cried Franz ; " shall I run and ask for a cake of it ? " " No, no, little goose ! better look for some real glue in the tool-box." " There he will find glue, to be sure," said I, " and the soup would scarcely have answered your purpose. But Jack, my boy, I do not like to hear you ridicule your little brother** THE SWISS FAMILY EOBIKSOK. 61 ideas. Some of the most valuable discoveries have Deen the result of thoughts which originally appeared no wiser than his/' While thus directing and assisting my sons, we were sur- prised by hearing a shot just over our heads ; at the same moment two small birds fell dead at our feet, and looking up, we beheld Ernest among the branches, as bending his face joyfully toward us, he cried, " Well hit ! well hit ! a good shot, wasn't it?" Then slipping down the ladder, and picking up the birds, he brought them to me. One was a kind of thrush, the other a small dove called the ortolan, and esteemed a very great delicacy on account of its exquisite flavor. As the figs on which these birds came to feed were only just beginning to ripen, it was probable that they would soon flock in numbers to our trees ; and by waiting until we could procure them in large quantities, we might provide ourselves with valuable food for the rainy season, by placing them, when half cooked, in cases with melted lard or butter poured over them. By this time Jack had pointed a good supply of arrows, and industriously practiced archery. I finished the bow and arrows for Franz, and expected to be left in peace ; but the young man next demanded a quiver, and I had to invent that also, to complete his equipment. It was easily done by strip- ping a piece of bark from a small tree, fitting a flat side and a bottom to it, and then a string. Attaching it to his shoulders, the youthful hunter filled it with arrows and went off ; look- ing, as his mother said, like an innocent little Cupid, bent on conquest. Not long after this, we were summoned to dinner, and all right willingly obeyed the call. During the meal I interested the boys very much by pro- posing to decide on suitable names for the different spots we had visited on this coast. | " For," said I, " it will become more and more troublesome to explain what we mean, unless we do so. Beside which, we shall feel much more at home if we can talk as people do in inhabited countries : instead of saying, for instance, 'the little island at the mouth of our bay, where we found the dead shark,' ' the large stream near our tent, across which we made the bridge,' * that wood where we found cocoanuts, and caught the monkey,' and so on. Let us begin by naming the bay in which we landed. What shall we call it ? " " Oyster Bay," said FriU. 62 TELE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. " No, no ! Lobster Bay," cried Jack, " in memory of the old fellow who took a fancy to my leg ! " " I think," observed his mother, " that, in token of gratitude for our escape, we should call it Safety Bay." This name met with general approbation, and was forth- with fixed upon. Other names were quickly chosen. Our first place of abode we called Tentholm ; the islet in the bay, Shark's Island ; and ^ie reeay swamp, Flamingo Marsh. It was some time before the serious question of a name for our leafy castle could be decided. But finally it was entitled Falconhurst ; * and we then rapidly named the few remaining points : Prospect Hill, the eminence we first ascended ; Cape Disappointment, from whose rocky heights we had strained our eyes in vain search for our ship's company ; and Jackal River, as a name for the large stream at our landing place, concluded our geographical nomenclature. In the afternoon the boys went on with their various em- ployments. Fritz finished his cases, and Jack asked my as- sistance in carrying out his plan of making ? cuirass for Turk out of the porcupine skin. After thoroughly cleansing the inside, we cut and fitted it round the body of the patient dog ; then when strings were sewn on and it became toler- ably dry, he was armed with this ingenious coat of mail, and a most singular figure he cut ! Juno strongly objected to his friendly approaches, and got out of his way as fast as she could ; and it was clear that he would easily put to flight the fiercest animal he might en- counter, while protected by armor at once defensive and offensive. I determined to make also a helmet for Jack out of the re- mainder of the skin, which to his infinite delight I speedily did. Amid these interesting occupations the evening drew on, and after a pleasant walk among the sweet glades near our abode, we closed our Sabbath day with prayer and a glad hymn of praise, retiring to rest with peaceful hearts. Next morning, I proposed an expedition to Tentholm, say- ing I wished to make my way thither by a different route. We left the tree well armed ; I and my three elder sons each carrying a gun and game bag, while little Franz was equipped with his bow and quiver full of arrows. A most curious party we formed : Fritz, adorned with his belt of margay * Horst, in German, means " nest " or " eyrie." THE SWISS FAMILY EOBINSOW. 63 skin, and Jack, with his extraordinary head-dress, looked like a couple of young savages. Their mother and I walked to- gether : she, of the whole party, being the only one unarmed, carried a jar in which to get butter from Tentholm ; we were preceded by the dogs Turk armed most effectually with his cuirass of porcupine skin, and Juno keeping at a respectful distance from so formidable a companion. Master Knips fully intended to mount his charger as usual ; but when he saw him arrayed apparently in a new skin, he approached him carefully, and touching him with one paw, discovered that such a hide would make anything but an agreeable seat ; the grimace he made was most comical, and chattering vocif er- ously he bounded toward Juno, skipped on her back, seated himself, and soon appeared perfectly reconciled to the change of steed. The flamingo saw us starting, and, having been much petted during the last day or two, considered himself entitled to accompany us ; for some time he kept beside the children, following first one and then another as they explored the wood on either side ; their irregular course, however, at length disgusted him, and, abandoning them, he walked sedately by my side. We strolled on in the cool air, follow- ing the course of the stream ; the great trees overshad- owed us, and the cool, green sward stretched away be- tween them at our feet. The boys roamed ahead of me, intent on exploration. Presently I heard a joyful shout, and saw Ernest running at full speed toward me, followed by his brothers. In his hand he held a plant, and, panting for breath, and with sparkling eyes, he held it up to me. " Potatoes ! potatoes ! father," he gasped out. " Yes," said Jack, " acres and acres of potatoes ! " " My dear Ernest," said I, for there was no mistaking the flower and leaf, and the light dear-green bulbous roots, " you have indeed made a discovery ; with the potato we shall never starve." " But come and look at them," said Jack, " come and feast your eyes on thousands of potatoes." We hurried to the spot : there, spread out before us, was a great tract of ground, covered with the precious plant. " It would have been rather difficult," remarked Jack, " not to have discovered such a great field." " Very likely," replied Ernest, smiling ; " but I doubt if you would have discovered that it was a potato field." " Perhaps not," said Jack, ; you are quite welcome, at all events, to the honor of the discovery ; I'll have the honor of 64 THE SWISS FAMILY KOBINSOX. being the first to get a supply of them." So saying, bs dug up, with hands and knife, a number of plants, and fihed hig game bag with the roots. The monkey followed his example, and scratching away with his paws most cleverly, soon had a heap beside him. So delighted were we with the discovery, and so eager were we to possess a large supply of the roots, that we stopped not digging until every bag, pouch, and pocket was tilled. Some wished to return at once to Falcon- \ hurst, to cook and taste our new acquisition ; but this I over- ruled, and we continued our march, heavily laden, bat de- lighted. " How," said I, " can we thank the Giver of all these bless* Llgs, sufficiently ? " " Oh," said Franz, " we can say, ' We thank thee, O Lord, for all thy goodness and mercy ; and bless us for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.' " " That would not be sufficient," said Fritz. " Do you think it would-be enough, just to say to father and mother :