The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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in an unknown region . but the murmur of_the river, which we were now approaching, drowned the sound of_their sobs, and we bent our thoughts on_our journey .

the bank of_the river was so steep, that we_could only reach the bed at one little opening, near the sea, where we had procured our water; but here the opposite side was guarded by a ridge of lofty perpendicular rocks . we were obliged to ascend the river to a place where it fell over some rocks, some fragments of_which having fallen, made a sort of stepping-stones, which enabled us to cross with some hazard . we_made our way, with difficulty, through_the high grass, withered by_the sun, directing our course towards the sea, in hopes of discovering some traces of_the boats, or the crew . we had scarcely gone a hundred yards, when we heard a loud noise and rustling in_the grass, which_was as tall as_we were . we imagined we were pursued by some wild beast, and i_was gratified to observe the courage of Fritz, who, instead of running away, calmly turned round and presented his piece . what_was our joy when we discovered that_the formidable enemy was only our faithful Turk, whom we had forgotten in_our distress, and_our friends had doubtless dispatched him after us ! I applauded my son's presence of mind; a rash act might_have deprived us of_this valuable friend .

we continued our way: the sea lay to our left; on_our right, at a short distance, ran the chain of rocks, which were continued from_our landing- place, in a line parallel to_the sea; the summits clothed with verdure and various trees . between_the rocks and_the sea, several little woods extended, even to_the shore, to_which we kept as close as possible, vainly looking out on land or sea for any trace of_our crew .Fritz proposed to fire his gun, as a signal to_them, if_they should_be near us; but I reminded him that_this signal might bring the ravages round us, instead of_our friends .

[ illustration: " we rested in_the shade, near a clear stream, and took some refreshment ."]

he then inquired why we_should search after those persons at all, who so unfeelingly abandoned us on_the wreck .

" first," said I, " we_must not return evil for evil . besides, they_may assist us, or be in need of_our assistance . above all, remember, they_could save nothing but themselves . we_have got many useful things which_they_have as_much right to as_we ."

" but we_might_be saving the lives of_our cattle," said he .

" we_should do our duty better by saving the life of a man," answered I; " besides, our cattle have food for some days, and_the sea is so calm there_is no immediate danger ."

we proceeded, and entering a little wood that extended to_the sea, we rested in_the shade, near a clear stream, and took some refreshment . we were surrounded by unknown birds, more remarkable for brilliant plumage than for_the charm of_their voice .Fritz thought he_saw some monkeys among_the leaves, and Turk began to_be restless, smelling about, and barking very loud .Fritz was gazing up into_the trees, when he fell over a large round substance, which he brought to_me, observing that_it might_be a bird's nest . i_thought it more likely to_be a cocoa- nut . the fibrous covering had reminded him of_the description he had read of_the nests of certain birds; but, on breaking the shell, we_found it_was indeed a cocoa- nut, but quite decayed and uneatable .

Fritz was astonished; where was_the sweet milk that Ernest had talked of ?

i_told him the milk was only in_the half- ripe nuts; that_it thickened and hardened as_the nut ripened, becoming a kernel . this nut had perished from remaining above ground . if_it had_been in_the earth, it would_have vegetated, and burst the shell .I advised my son to_try if he_could_not find a perfect nut .

after some search, we_found one, and sat down to eat it, keeping our own provision for dinner . the nut was somewhat rancid; but we enjoyed it, and then continued our journey . we were some_time before we got through_the wood, being frequently obliged to clear a road for ourselves, through_the entangled brushwood, with_our hatchets . at last we entered the open plain again, and had a clear view before_us . the forest still extended about a stone's throw to our right, and Fritz, who was always on_the look- out for discoveries, observed a remarkable tree, here and there, which he approached to examine; and he soon called me to_see this wonderful tree, with wens growing on_the trunk .

on coming up, i_was overjoyed to_find this tree, of_which there were a great number, was_the gourd- tree, which bears fruit on_the trunk .Fritz asked if these were sponges . i_told him to bring me one, and i_would explain the mystery .

" there_is one," said he, " very like a pumpkin, only harder outside ."

" of_this shell," said I, " we_can make plates, dishes, basins, and flasks . we call it the gourd- tree ."

Fritz leaped for joy ." now my dear mother will_be_able to_serve her soup properly ." I asked him if he_knew why the tree bore the fruit on its trunk, or on_the thick branches only . he immediately replied, that_the smaller branches would_not bear the weight of_the fruit . he asked me if_this fruit was eatable ." harmless, I believe," said I; " but by no means delicate . its great value to savage nations consists in_the shell, which they use to contain their food, and drink, and even cook in_it ." Fritz could_not comprehend how they_could cook in_the shell without burning it . i_told him the shell was not placed on_the fire; but, being filled with cold water, and_the fish or meat placed in_it, red- hot stones are, by degrees, introduced into_the water, till it attains sufficient heat to cook the food, without injuring the vessel . we then set about making our dishes and plates .I showed Fritz a better plan of dividing the gourd than with a knife .I tied a string tightly round the nut, struck it with_the handle of_my knife till an incision was_made, then tightened it till the nut was separated into two equally- sized bowls .Fritz had spoiled his gourd by cutting it irregularly with_his knife .I advised him to_try and make spoons of it, as it would_not do for basins now . i_told him I had learnt my plan from books of travels . it_is_the practice of_the savages, who_have no knives, to use a sort of string, made from_the bark of trees, for_this purpose ." but how can they make bottles," said he ." that requires some preparation," replied I ." they tie abandage round the young gourd near the stalk, so that_the part at liberty expands in a round form, and_the compressed part remains narrow . they then open the top, and extract the contents by putting in pebbles and shaking it . by this_means they_have a complete bottle ."

we worked on .Fritz completed a dish and some plates, to_his great satisfaction, but we considered, that being so frail, we_could_not carry them with_us . we therefore filled them with sand, that_the sun might_not warp them, and left them to dry, till we returned .

as_we went on, Fritz amused himself with cutting spoons from_the rind of_the gourd, and I tried to_do_the same with_the fragments of_the cocoa- nut; but I_must confess my performances were inferior to_those I had seen in_the museum in London, the work of_the south sea islanders . we laughed at our spoons, which would_have required mouths from ear to ear to eat with_them .Fritz declared that_the curve of_the rind was_the cause of_that defect: if_the spoons had_been smaller, they_would_have been flat; and you_might as_well eat soup with an oyster- shell as with a shovel .

while we talked, we_did_not neglect looking about for_our lost companions, but in vain . at last, we arrived at a place where a tongue of land ran to some distance into_the sea, on which_was an elevated spot, favourable for observation . we attained the summit with great labour, and saw before_us a magnificent prospect of land and water; but with all the aid our excellent telescope gave_us, we_could in no direction discover any trace of man . nature only appeared in her greatest beauty . the shore enclosed a large bay, which terminated on_the other side in a promontory . the gentle rippling of_the waves, the varied verdure of_the woods, and_the multitude of novelties around us, would_have filled us with delight, but for_the painful recollection of_those who, we now were compelled to_believe, were buried beneath that glittering water . we_did_not feel less, however, the mercy of god, who had preserved us, and given us a home, with a prospect of subsistence and safety . we had_not yet met with any dangerous animals, nor could we perceive any huts of savages .I remarked to my son that god seemed to_have destined us to a solitary life in_this rich country, unless some vessel should reach these shores ." and_his will_be_done ! " added I; " it must_be for_the best . now let_us retire to_that pretty wood to rest ourselves, and eat our dinner, before we return ."

we proceeded towards a pleasant wood of palm-trees; but before reaching it, had to_pass through an immense number of reeds, which greatly obstructed our road . we were, moreover, fearful of treading on_the deadly serpents who choose such retreats . we_made Turk walk before_us to_give notice, and I cut a long, thick cane as a weapon of defence . i_was surprised to_see aglutinous juice oozing from_the end of_the cut cane; I tasted it, and was convinced that we had met with a plantation of sugar-canes .I sucked more of it, and found myself singularly refreshed . I_said nothing to Fritz, that he_might_have the pleasure of making the discovery himself . he_was walking a few paces before me, and I called to him to cut himself a cane like mine, which he_did, and soon found out the riches it contained . he cried out in ecstasy, "Oh, papa ! papa ! syrup of sugar- cane ! delicious ! how delighted will dear mamma, and my brothers be, when I carry some to_them ! " he went on, sucking pieces of cane so greedily, that I checked him, recommending moderation . he_was then content to_take some pieces to regale himself as he walked home, loading himself with a huge burden for_his mother and brothers . we now entered the wood of palms to eat our dinner, when suddenly a number of monkeys, alarmed by our approach, and_the barking of_the dog, fled like lightning to_the tops of_the trees; and then grinned frightfully at us, with loud cries of Defiance . as I_saw the trees were cocoa-palms, I hoped to obtain, by_means of_the monkeys, a supply of_the nuts in_the half- ripe state, when filled with milk .I held Fritz's arm, who was preparing to shoot at them, to_his great vexation, as he_was irritated against the poor monkeys for their derisive gestures; but i_told him, that though no patron of monkeys myself, I_could_not allow it . we had no right to kill any animal except in defence, or as ameans of supporting life . besides, the monkeys would_be of more use to_us living than dead, as i_would show him .I began to throw stones at_the monkeys, not being able, of_course, to reach the place of_their retreat, and_they, in their anger, and in_the spirit of imitation, gathered the nuts and hurled them on us in_such quantities, that we had some difficulty in escaping from_them . we had soon a large stock of cocoa-nuts .Fritz enjoyed the success of_the stratagem, and, when_the shower subsided, he collected as_many as he_wished . we then sat down, and tasted some_of_the milk through_the three small holes, which we opened with_our knives . we then divided some with_our hatchets, and quenched our thirst with_the liquor, which_has not, however, a very agreeable flavour . we liked best a sort of thick cream which adheres to_the shells, from_which we scraped it with_our spoons, and mixing it with_the juice of_the sugar- cane, we produced a delicious dish . Turk had the rest of_the lobster, which we now despised, with some biscuit .

we then got up, I tied some nuts together by their stems, and threw them over my shoulder .Fritz took his bundle of canes, and we set out homewards .

* * * * *

chapter IV .

Fritz groaned heavily under the weight of_his canes as_we travelled on, and pitied the poor negroes, who had to carry such heavy burdens of_them . he then, in imitation of me, tried to refresh himself by sucking a sugar- cane, but was surprised to_find he failed in extracting any of_the juice . at last, after some reflection, he_said, "Ah ! I remember, if_there_is no opening made for_the air, I_can get nothing out ." I requested him to_find a remedy for_this .

" i_will make an opening," said he, " above the first knot in_the cane . if I draw in my breath in sucking, and thus make a vacuum in my mouth, the outer air then forces itself through_the hole I_have_made to_fill this vacuum, and carries the juice along with it; and when_this division of_the cane is emptied, I_can proceed to pierce above the next knot . I_am only afraid that going on this_way we_shall_have nothing but empty canes to carry to our friends ." i_told him, that i_was more afraid the sun might turn the syrup sour before we got

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