The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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to cry again . I_could_not help laughing at him, and, in_his rage, he seized a stone, and put an end to_his adversary . i_was grieved at_this, and recommended him never to act in a moment of anger, showing him that he_was unjust in being so revengeful; for, if he had_been bitten by_the lobster, it_was plain he_would_have eaten his foe if he had conquered him . jack promised to_be more discreet and merciful in future, and obtained leave to bear the prize to_his mother .

"Mamma," said he, proudly, "a lobster ! a lobster, Ernest ! where is Fritz ! take care it does_not bite you, Francis ! " they all crowded round in astonishment ." yes," added he, triumphantly, " here_is_the impertinent claw that seized me; but I repaid the knave,"

" you_are a boaster," said I ." you_would_have got indifferently on with_the lobster, if I had_not come up; and have_you forgotten the slap on_the cheek which compelled you to release him ? besides, he only defended himself with_his natural arms; but you had to_take a great stone . you_have no reason to_be proud, jack ."

Ernest wished to_have the lobster added to_the soup to improve it; but his mother, with a spirit of economy, reserved it for another day .I then walked to_the spot where jack's lobster was caught, and, finding it favourable for_my purpose, drew my two hogsheads on shore there, and secured them by turning them on end .

on returning, I congratulated jack on being the first who had_been successful in foraging . Ernest remarked, that he had seen some oysters attached to a rock, but could_not get at them without wetting his feet, which he_did_not like .

" indeed, my delicate gentleman ! " said I, laughing, " I_must trouble you to return and procure us some . we_must all unite in working for_the public good, regardless of wet feet . the sun will soon dry us ."

" I_might as_well bring some salt at_the same time," said he; " I_saw plenty in_the fissures of_the rock, left by_the sea, i_should think, papa ? "

" doubtless, Mr Reasoner," replied I; " where else could it have come from ? the fact was so obvious, that you had better have brought abagful, than delayed to reflect about_it . but if_you_wish to escape insipid soup, be quick and procure some ."

he went, and returned with some salt, so mixed with sand and earth, that i_should_have thrown it away as useless; but my wife dissolved it in fresh water, and, filtering it through a piece of canvas, managed to flavour our soup with it .

jack asked why we_could_not have used sea- water; and I explained to him that_the bitter and nauseous taste of sea- water would_have spoiled our dinner . my wife stirred the soup with a little stick, and, tasting it, pronounced it very_good, but added, " we_must wait for Fritz . and how shall we eat our soup without plates or spoons ? we_cannot possibly raise this large boiling pot to our heads, and drink out of it ."

it_was too true . we gazed stupified at our pot, and, at last, all burst into laughter at our destitution, and_our folly in forgetting such useful necessaries .

" if_we only had cocoa-nuts," said Ernest, " we_might split them, and make basins and spoons ."

"_If ! " replied I--" but we_have none ! we_might as_well wish for a dozen handsome silver spoons at once, if wishes were of any use ."

" but," observed he, " we_can use oyster-shells ."

"A useful thought, Ernest; go directly and get the oysters; and, remember, gentlemen, no complaints, though the spoons are without handles, and you_should dip your fingers into_the bowl ."

off ran jack, and was mid- leg in_the water before Ernest got to him . he tore down the oysters, and threw them to_his idle brother, who filled his handkerchief, taking care to_put a large one into his pocket for_his own use; and_they returned with their spoil .

Fritz had_not yet appeared, and_his mother was becoming uneasy, when we heard him cheerfully hailing us at a distance . he soon came up, with a feigned air of disappointment, and_his hands behind him; but jack, who had glided round him, cried out, "A sucking Pig ! asucking Pig ! " and he then, with, great pride and satisfaction, produced his booty, which I recognized, from_the description of travellers, to_be the agouti_, common in_these regions, a swift animal, which burrows in_the earth, and lives on fruits and nuts; its flesh, something like that of_the rabbit, has an unpleasant flavour to Europeans .

all were anxious to_know the particulars of_the chase; but I seriously reproved my son for_his little fiction, and warned him never to use the least deceit, even in jest .I then inquired where he had met with_the agouti . he_told me he had_been on_the other side of_the river, "a very different place to_this," continued he ." the shore lies low, and you_can_have no idea of_the number of casks, chests, planks, and all sorts of things the sea has thrown up; shall we go and take possession of_them ? and to- morrow, father, we ought to_make another trip to_the vessel, to look after our cattle . we_might, at_least, bring away the cow . our biscuit would_not_be so hard dipped in milk ."

" and very_much nicer," added the greedy Ernest .

" then," continued Fritz, " beyond the river there_is rich grass for pasturage, and a shady wood . why should we remain in_this barren wilderness ? "

" softly ! " replied I, " there_is a time for all things . to- morrow, and_the day after to- morrow will_have their work . but first tell me, did you_see anything of_our shipmates ? "

" not a trace of man, living or dead, on land or sea; but I_saw an animal more like a hog than this, but with feet like a hare; it leaped among_the grass, sometimes sitting upright, and rubbing its mouth with its forepaws; sometimes seeking for roots, and gnawing them like a squirrel . if I had_not_been afraid it would escape me, i_would_have tried to_take it alive, it seemed so very tame ."

as_we were talking, jack had_been trying, with many grimaces, to force an oyster open with_his knife .I laughed at his vain endeavours, and putting some on_the fire, showed him them open of themselves .I had no taste for oysters myself; but as_they_are everywhere accounted a delicacy, I advised my sons to_try them . they all at first declined the unattractive repast, except jack, who, with great courage, closed his eyes, and desperately swallowed one as_if it had_been medicine . the rest followed his example, and then all agreed with me that oysters were_not good . the shells were soon plunged into_the pot to bring out some_of_the good soup; but scalding their fingers, it_was who_could cry out the loudest . Ernest took his large shell from_his pocket, cautiously filled it with a good portion of soup, and set it down to cool, exulting in_his own prudence ." you_have_been very thoughtful, my dear Ernest," said I; " but why are your thoughts always for_yourself; so seldom for others ? as a punishment for your egotism, that portion must_be given to our faithful dogs . we_can all dip our shells into_the pot, the dogs cannot . therefore, they shall_have your soup, and you_must wait, and eat as we_do ." my reproach struck his heart, and he placed his shell obediently on_the ground, which the dogs emptied immediately . we were almost as hungry as_they were, and were watching anxiously till the soup began to cool; when we perceived that_the dogs were tearing and gnawing Fritz's agouti . the boys all cried out; Fritz was in a fury, took his gun, struck the dogs, called them names, threw stones at them, and would_have killed them if I had_not held him . he had actually bent his gun with striking them . as_soon_as he_would listen to_me, I reproached him seriously for_his violence, and represented to him how_much he had distressed us, and terrified his mother; that he had spoiled his gun, which might_have_been so useful to_us, and had almost killed the poor animals, who_might_be more so ." anger," said I, "leads to every crime . remember Cain, who killed his brother in a fit of passion ." "Oh, father ! " said he, in a voice of terror; and, acknowledging his error, he asked pardon, and shed bitter tears .

soon after our repast the sun set, and_the fowls gathered round us, and picked up the scattered crumbs of biscuit . my wife then took out her mysterious bag, and drew from_it some handfuls of grain to feed her flock . she showed me also many_other seeds of useful vegetables .I praised her prudence, and begged her to_be very economical, as_these seeds were of great value, and we_could bring from_the vessel some spoiled biscuit for_the fowls .

our pigeons now flew among_the rocks, the cocks and hens perched on_the frame of_the tent, and_the geese and ducks chose to roost in amarsh, covered with bushes, near the sea . we prepared for_our rest; we loaded all our arms, then offered up our prayers together, thanking god for_his signal mercy to_us, and commending ourselves to_his care . when_the last ray of light departed, we closed our tent, and lay down on_our beds, close together . the children had remarked how suddenly the darkness came on, from_which I concluded we were_not far from_the equator; for I explained to_them, the more perpendicularly the rays of_the sun fall, the less their refraction; and consequently night comes on suddenly when_the sun is below the horizon .

once more I looked out to_see if all was quiet, then carefully closing the entrance, I lay down . warm as_the day had_been, the night was so cold that we were obliged to crowd together for warmth . the children soon slept, and when I_saw their mother in her first peaceful sleep, my own eyes closed, and_our first night on_the island passed comfortably .

* * * * *

chapter III .

at break of day i_was waked by_the crowing of_the cock .I summoned my wife to council, to consider on_the business of_the day . we agreed that_our first duty was to seek for_our shipmates, and to examine the country beyond the river before we came to any decisive resolution .

my wife saw we_could_not all go on_this expedition, and courageously agreed to remain with her three youngest sons, while Fritz, as_the eldest and boldest, should accompany me .I begged her to_prepare breakfast immediately, which she warned me would_be scanty, as no soup was provided .I asked for jack's lobster; but it_was not to_be found .Whilst my wife made the fire, and put on_the pot, I called the children, and asking jack for_the lobster, he brought it from a crevice in_the rock, where he had hidden it from_the dogs, he_said, who did_not despise anything eatable .

" I_am glad_to_see you profit by_the misfortunes of others," said I; " and now will_you give up that large claw that caught your leg, and which I promised you, to Fritz, as a provision for_his journey ? " all were anxious to_go on_this journey, and leaped round me like little kids . but i_told them we_could_not all go . they_must remain with their mother, with Flora for a protector .Fritz and i_would take Turk; with_him and a loaded gun i_thought we_should inspire respect .I then ordered Fritz to tie up Flora, and get the guns ready .

Fritz blushed, and tried in vain to straighten his crooked gun .I let him go on for some_time, and then allowed him to_take another; for I_saw he_was penitent . the dogs, too, snarled, and would_not let him approach them . he wept, and begged some biscuit from_his mother, declaring he_would give up his own breakfast to_make his peace with_the dogs . he fed them, caressed them, and seemed to ask pardon . the dog is always grateful; Flora soon licked his hands; Turk was more unrelenting, appearing to distrust him ." give him a claw of_the lobster," said jack; " for I make you a present of_the whole for your journey ."

"Don't be uneasy about_them," said Ernest, " they_will certainly meet with cocoa-nuts, as Robinson did, very different food to your wretched lobster . think of an almond as big as my head, with a large cup full of rich milk ."

" pray, brother, bring me one, if_you find any," said Francis .

we began our preparation; we each took a game- bag and a hatchet . I_gave Fritz a pair of pistols in_addition to_his gun, equipped myself in_the same way, and took care to carry biscuit and a flask of fresh water . the lobster proved so hard at breakfast, that_the boys did_not object to our carrying off the remainder; and, though the flesh is coarse, it_is very nutritious .

I proposed before we departed, to_have prayers, and my thoughtless jack began to imitate the sound of church-bells--"Ding, dong ! to prayers ! to prayers ! ding, dong ! " i_was really angry, and reproved him severely for jesting about sacred things . then, kneeling down, I prayed god's blessing on_our undertaking, and_his pardon for_us all, especially for him who had now so grievously sinned . poor jack came and kneeled by me, weeping and begging for forgiveness from me and from god .I embraced him, and enjoined him and_his brothers to obey their mother .I then loaded the guns I left with_them, and charged my wife to_keep near the boat, their best refuge . we took leave of_our friends with many tears, as we_did_not know what dangers might assail us in

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