The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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got our canes home; therefore we_need not spare them .

" well, at any rate," said he, " I_have filled my flask with_the milk of_the cocoa- nut to regale them ."

i_told him I feared another disappointment; for_the milk of_the cocoa- nut, removed from_the shell, spoiled sooner than_the sugar- cane juice .I warned him that_the milk, exposed to_the sun in_his tin flask, was probably become vinegar .

he instantly took the bottle from_his shoulder and uncorked it; when_the liquor flew out with a report, foaming like champaign .

I congratulated him on_his new manufacture, and said, we_must beware of intoxication .

"Oh, taste, papa ! " said he, " it_is delicious, not at all like vinegar, but capital new, sweet, sparkling wine . this_will_be the best treat, if_it remains in_this state ."

" I_fear it_will_not_be so," said I ." this_is_the first stage of fermentation . when_this is over, and_the liquor is cleared, it_is a sort of wine, or fermented liquor, more or less agreeable, according to_the material used . by applying heat, a second, and slower fermentation succeeds, and_the liquor becomes vinegar . then comes on a third stage, which deprives it of_its strength, and spoils it . I_fear, in_this burning climate, you_will carry home only vinegar, or something still more offensive . but let_us drink each_other's health now, but prudently, or we_shall soon feel the effects of_this potent beverage ." perfectly refreshed, we went on cheerfully to_the place where we had left our gourd utensils . we_found them quite dry, and hard as bone; we had no difficulty in carrying them in_our game-bags . we had scarcely got through_the little wood where we had breakfasted, when Turk darted furiously on a troop of monkeys, who were sporting about, and had_not perceived him . he immediately seized a female, holding a young one in her arms, which impeded her flight, and had killed and devoured the poor mother before we_could reach him . the young one had hidden itself among_the long grass, when Fritz arrived; he had run with all his might, losing his hat, bottle, and canes, but could_not prevent the murder of_the poor mother .

the little monkey no sooner saw him than it leaped upon his shoulders, fastening its paws in_his curls, and neither cries, threats, nor shaking could rid him of it .I ran up_to him laughing, for I_saw the little creature could_not hurt him, and tried in vain to disengage it . i_told him he_must carry it thus . it_was evident the sagacious little creature, having lost its mother, had adopted him for a father .

I succeeded, at last, in quietly releasing him, and took the little orphan, which_was no bigger than acat, in my arms, pitying its helplessness . the mother appeared as tall as Fritz .

i_was reluctant to add another mouth to_the number we had to feed; but Fritz earnestly begged to_keep it, offering to divide his share of cocoa- nut milk with it till we had our cows .I consented, on condition that he_took care of it, and taught it to_be obedient to him .

Turk, in_the mean time, was feasting on_the remains of_the unfortunate mother .Fritz would_have driven him off, but I_saw we had_not food sufficient to satisfy this voracious animal, and we_might ourselves be in danger from_his appetite .

we left him, therefore, with_his prey, the little orphan sitting on_the shoulder of_his protector, while I carried the canes . Turk soon overtook us, and was received very coldly; we reproached him with_his cruelty, but he_was quite unconcerned, and continued to walk after Fritz . the little monkey seemed uneasy at_the sight of him, and crept into Fritz's bosom, much to_his inconvenience . but a thought struck him; he tied the monkey with a cord to Turk's back, leading the dog by another cord, as he_was very rebellious at first; but our threats and caresses at last induced him to submit to_his burden . we proceeded slowly, and I_could_not help anticipating the mirth of_my little ones, when_they saw us approach like a pair of show- men .

I advised Fritz not to correct the dogs for attacking and killing unknown animals . heaven bestows the dog on man, as_well as_the horse, for a friend and protector .Fritz thought we were very fortunate, then, in having two such faithful dogs; he only regretted that_our horses had died on_the passage, and only left us the ass .

" let_us not disdain the ass," said I; " i_wish we had him here; he_is of a very fine breed, and would_be as useful as a horse to_us ."

in_such conversations, we arrived at_the banks of_our river before we were aware .Flora barked to announce our approach, and Turk answered so loudly, that_the terrified little monkey leaped from_his back to_the shoulder of_its protector, and would_not come down . Turk ran off to meet his companion, and_our dear family soon appeared on_the opposite shore, shouting with joy at our happy return . we crossed at_the same place as_we had done in_the morning, and embraced each_other . then began such a noise of exclamations ."A monkey ! a real, live monkey ! Ah ! how delightful ! how glad we_are ! how did you catch him ? "

" he_is very ugly," said little Francis, who was almost afraid of him .

" he_is prettier than you_are," said jack; " see how he laughs ! how i_should like to_see him eat ! "

" if_we only had some cocoa-nuts," said Ernest ." have_you found any, and_are they good ? "

" have_you had any unpleasant adventures ? " asked my wife .

it_was in vain to attempt replying to so_many questions and exclamations .

at_length, when we got a little peace, i_told them that, though I had brought them all sorts of good things, I had, unfortunately, not met with any of_our companions .

" god's will_be_done ! " said my wife; " let_us thank him for saving us, and again bringing us together now . this day has seemed an age . but put down your loads, and_let_us hear your adventures; we_have_not_been idle, but we_are less fatigued than you .Boys, assist your father and brother ."

jack took my gun, Ernest the cocoa-nuts, Francis the gourd-rinds, and my wife the game- bag .Fritz distributed his sugar-canes, and placed the monkey on Turk's back, to_the amusement of_the children . he begged Ernest to carry his gun, but he complained of being overloaded with_the great bowls . his indulgent mother took them from_him, and we proceeded to_the tent .

Fritz thought Ernest would_not have relinquished the bowls, if he had known what they contained, and called out to_tell him they were cocoa-nuts .

" give them to_me," cried Ernest ." i_will carry them, mamma, and_the gun too ."

his mother declined giving them .

" I_can throw away these sticks," said he, " and carry the gun in my hand ."

" i_would advise you not," observed Fritz, " for_the sticks are sugar-canes ."

" sugar-canes ! " cried they all, surrounding Fritz, who had to_give them the history, and teach them the art of sucking the canes .

my wife, who had a proper respect for sugar in her housekeeping, was much pleased with_this discovery, and_the history of all our acquisitions, which I displayed to her . nothing gave her so_much pleasure as our plates and dishes, which were actual necessaries . we went to our kitchen, and were gratified to_see preparations going on for a good supper . my wife had planted a forked stick on each side the hearth; on_these rested a long thin wand, on_which all sorts of fish were roasting, Francis being intrusted to_turn the spit . on_the other side was impaled a goose on another spit, and a row of oyster-shells formed the dripping- pan: besides this, the iron pot was on_the fire, from_which arose the savoury odour of a good soup . behind the hearth stood one_of_the hogsheads, opened, and containing the finest Dutch cheeses, enclosed in cases of lead . all this_was very tempting to hungry travellers, and very unlike a supper on a desert island . I_could_not think my family had_been idle, when I_saw such a result of_their labours; i_was only sorry they had killed the goose, as I wished to_be economical with_our poultry .

" have no uneasiness," said my wife, " this_is_not from_our poultry- yard, it_is a wild goose, killed by Ernest ."

" it_is a sort of penguin, I believe," said Ernest, " distinguished by_the name of booby_, and so stupid, that I knocked it down with a stick . it_is web- footed, has a long narrow beak, a little curved downwards . I_have preserved the head and neck for_you to examine; it exactly resembles the penguin of_my book of natural history ."

I pointed out to him the advantages of study, and was making more inquiries about_the form and habits of_the bird, when my wife requested me to defer my catechism of natural history .

" Ernest has killed the bird," added she; "I received it; we_shall eat it . what more would you_have ? let the poor child have the pleasure of examining and tasting the cocoa-nuts ."

" very_well," replied I, "Fritz must teach them how to open them; and we_must not forget the little monkey, who has lost his mother's milk ."

" I_have_tried him," cried jack, " and he_will eat nothing ."

i_told them he had_not yet learnt to eat, and we_must feed him with cocoa- nut milk till we_could get something better . jack generously offered all his share, but Ernest and Francis were anxious to taste the milk themselves .

" but the monkey must live," said jack, petulantly .

" and so must we all," said mamma ." supper is ready, and we_will reserve the cocoa-nuts for dessert ."

we sat down on_the ground, and_the supper was served on_our gourd- rind service, which answered the purpose admirably . my impatient boys had broken the nuts, which they found excellent, and_they made themselves spoons of_the shell . jack had taken care the monkey had his share; they dipped the corner of_their handkerchiefs in_the milk, and let him suck them . they were going to break up some more nuts, after emptying them through_the natural holes, but I stopped them, and called for a saw .I carefully divided the nuts with_this instrument, and soon provided us each with a neat basin for_our soup, to_the great comfort of_my dear wife, who was gratified by seeing us able to eat like civilized beings .Fritz begged now to enliven the repast by introducing his champaign .I consented; requesting him, however, to taste it himself before he served it . what_was his mortification to_find it vinegar ! but we consoled ourselves by using it as sauce to our goose; a great improvement also to_the fish . we had now to hear the history of_our supper . jack and Francis had caught the fish at_the edge of_the sea . my active wife had performed the most laborious duty, in rolling the hogshead to_the place and breaking open the head .

the sun was going down as_we finished supper, and, recollecting how rapidly night succeeded, we hastened to our tent, where we_found our beds much more comfortable, from_the kind attention of_the good mother, who had collected a large addition of dried grass . after prayers, we all lay down; the monkey between jack and Fritz, carefully covered with moss to_keep him warm . the fowls went to_their roost, as on_the previous night, and, after our fatigue, we were all soon in a profound sleep .

we had_not slept long, when a great commotion among_the dogs and fowls announced the presence of an enemy . my wife, Fritz, and I, each seizing a gun, rushed out .

by_the light of_the moon, we saw a terrible battle going on: our brave dogs were surrounded by a dozen jackals, three or four were extended dead, but our faithful animals were nearly overpowered by numbers when we arrived . i_was glad to_find nothing worse than jackals; Fritz and I fired on them; two fell dead, and_the others fled slowly, evidently wounded . Turk and Flora pursued and completed the business, and then, like true dogs, devoured their fallen foes, regardless of_the bonds of relationship .

all being quiet again, we retired to our beds; Fritz obtaining leave to drag the jackal he had killed towards the tent, to save it from_the dogs, and to show to_his brothers next morning . this he accomplished with difficulty, for it_was as big as a large dog .

we all slept peacefully the remainder of_the night, till the crowing of_the cock awoke my wife and myself to aconsultation on_the business of_the day .

* * * * *

chapter V .

" well, my dear," I began, " I_feel rather alarmed at all the labours I_see before me .a voyage to_the vessel is indispensable, if we_wish to save our cattle, and many_other things that_may_be useful to_us; on_the other hand, i_should like to_have a more secure shelter for ourselves and_our property than this tent ."

" with patience, order, and perseverance, all may_be_done," said my good counsellor; " and whatever uneasiness your voyage may give_me, I yield to_the importance and utility of it . let it be_done to- day; and_have no care for_the morrow: sufficient unto the day is_the evil thereof, as our blessed lord has said ."

it_was then agreed that_the three youngest children should remain with my wife; and Fritz, the strongest and most active, should accompany me .

I then arose, and woke my children for_the important duties of_the day .Fritz jumped up the first,

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