The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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first, and ran for_his jackal, which had stiffened in_the cold of_the night . he placed it on its four legs, at_the entrance of_the tent, to_surprise his brothers; but no sooner did the dogs see it erect, than they flew at it, and would_have torn it to pieces, if he had_not soothed them and called them off . however, their barking effectually roused the boys, who rushed out to_see the cause . jack issued first with_the monkey on_his shoulder; but no sooner did the little creature see the jackal, than he sprang into_the tent, and hid himself among_the moss, till only the tip of_his nose was visible . all were astonished to_see this large yellow animal standing; Francis thought it_was a wolf; jack said it_was only a dead dog, and Ernest, in a pompous tone, pronounced it to_be a golden fox .

Fritz laughed at_the learned professor, who knew the agouti immediately, and now called a jackal a golden fox !

"I judged by_the peculiar characteristics," said Ernest, examining it carefully .

"Oh ! the characteristics ! " said Fritz, ironically, "don't you_think it may_be a golden wolf ? "

" pray don't be so cross, brother," said Ernest, with tears in_his eyes, " perhaps you_would_not_have known the name, if papa had_not told you ."

I reproved Fritz for_his ridicule of_his brother, and Ernest for so easily taking offence; and, to reconcile all, i_told them that_the jackal partook of_the nature of_the wolf, the fox, and_the dog . this discussion terminated, I summoned them to prayers, after which we thought of breakfast . we had nothing but biscuit, which_was certainly dry and hard .Fritz begged for a little cheese with it; and Ernest, who was never satisfied like other people, took a survey of_the unopened hogshead . he soon returned, crying " if_we only had a little butter with_our biscuit, it would_be so good, papa ! "

I allowed it would_be good, but it_was no use thinking of_such a thing .

" let_us open the other cask," said he, displaying a piece of butter he had extracted through a small crack on_the side .

" your instinct for good things has_been fortunate for_us," said I ." come, boys, who wants bread and butter ? "

we began to consider how we_should come at_the contents of_the hogshead, without exposing the perishable matter to_the heat of_the sun . finally, I pierced a hole in_the lower part of_the cask, large enough for_us to draw out the butter as_we wanted it, by_means of a little wooden shovel, which I soon made . we then sat down to breakfast with a cocoa- nut basin filled with good salt Dutch butter . we toasted our biscuit, buttered it hot, and agreed that_it_was excellent . our dogs were sleeping by_us as_we breakfasted; and I remarked that_they had bloody marks of_the last night's fray, in some deep and dangerous wounds, especially about_the neck; my wife instantly dressed the wounds with butter, well washed in cold water; and_the poor animals seemed grateful for_the ease it gave them . Ernest judiciously remarked, that_they ought_to_have spiked collars, to defend them from any wild beasts they_might encounter .

" i_will make them collars," said jack, who never hesitated at anything . i_was glad to employ his inventive powers; and, ordering my children, not to leave their mother, during our absence, but to pray to god to bless our undertaking, we began our preparations for_the voyage .

while Fritz made ready the boat, I erected a signal- post, with a piece of sailcloth for a flag, to float as long as all was going on well; but if_we were wanted, they were to lower the flag, and fire a gun three times, when we_would immediately return; for I had informed my dear wife it might_be necessary for_us to remain on board all night; and she consented to_the plan, on my promising to_pass the night in_our tubs, instead of_the vessel . we took nothing but our guns and ammunition; relying on_the ship's provisions .Fritz would, however, take_the monkey, that he might give it some milk from_the cow .

we took a tender leave of each_other, and embarked . when we had rowed into_the middle of_the bay, I perceived a strong current formed by_the water of_the river which issued at a little distance, which i_was glad to_take advantage of, to spare our labour . it carried us three parts of_our voyage, and we rowed the remainder; and entering the opening in_the vessel, we secured our boat firmly, and went on board .

the first care of Fritz was to feed the animals, who were on deck, and who all saluted us after their fashion, rejoiced to_see their friends again, as_well as to_have their wants supplied . we put the young monkey to a goat, which he sucked with extraordinary grimaces, to our infinite amusement . we then took some refreshment ourselves, and Fritz, to my great surprise, proposed that we_should begin by adding a sail to our boat . he_said the current which helped us to_the vessel, could_not carry us back, but the wind which blew so strongly against us, and made our rowing so fatiguing, would_be of great service, if_we had a sail .

I thanked my counsellor for_his good advice, and we immediately set to_the task .I selected a strong pole for a mast, and a triangular sail, which_was fixed to a yard . we_made a hole in a plank, to receive the mast, secured the plank on_our fourth tub, forming a deck, and then, by aid of a block used to hoist and lower the sails, raised our mast . finally, two ropes fastened by one end to_the yard, and by_the other to each extremity of_the boat, enabled us to direct the sail at pleasure .Fritz next ornamented the top of_the mast with a little red streamer . he then gave our boat the name of_the Deliverance_, and requested it might henceforward be called the little vessel . to complete its equipment, I contrived a rudder, so_that I_could direct the boat from either end .

after signalling to our friends that we should_not return that night, we spent the rest of_the day in emptying the tubs of_the stones we had used for ballast, and replacing them with useful things . powder and shot, nails and tools of all kinds, pieces of cloth; above all, we_did_not forget knives, forks, spoons, and kitchen utensils, including aroasting- jack . in_the captain's cabin we_found some services of silver, pewter plates and dishes, and a small chest filled with bottles of choice wines . all these we took, as_well as a chest of eatables, intended for_the officers' table, portable soup, Westphalian hams, Bologna sausages, &c .; also some bags of maize, wheat, and other seeds, and some potatoes . we collected all the implements of husbandry we_could spare room for, and, at_the request of Fritz, some hammocks and blankets; two_or_three handsome guns, and an armful of sabres, swords, and hunting- knives . lastly, I embarked a barrel of sulphur, all the cord and string I_could lay my hands on, and a large roll of sailcloth . the sulphur was intended to_produce matches with . our tubs were loaded to_the edge; there_was barely room left for_us to sit, and it would_have_been dangerous to attempt our return if_the sea had_not_been so calm .

night arrived, we exchanged signals, to announce security on sea and land, and, after prayers for_the dear islanders, we sought our tubs, not the most luxurious of dormitories, but safer than_the ship .Fritz slept soundly; but I_could_not close my eyes, thinking of_the jackals . i_was, however, thankful for_the protection they had in_the dogs .

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chapter VI .

as_soon_as day broke, I mounted on deck, to look through_the telescope . I_saw my wife looking towards us; and_the flag, which denoted their safety, floating in_the breeze . satisfied on_this important point, we enjoyed our breakfast of biscuit, ham, and wine, and then turned our thoughts to_the means of saving our cattle . even if_we_could contrive a raft, we_could never get all the animals to remain still on_it . we_might venture the huge sow in_the water, but the rest of_the animals we_found would_not_be able to swim to shore . at last Fritz suggested the swimming apparatus . we passed two hours in constructing them . for_the cow and ass it_was necessary to_have an empty cask on each side, well bound in strong sailcloth, fastened by leather thongs over the back and under each animal . for_the rest, we merely tied a piece of Cork under their bodies; the sow only being unruly, and giving us much trouble . we then fastened a cord to_the horns or neck of each animal, with a slip of wood at_the end, for a convenient handle . luckily, the waves had broken away part of_the ship, and left the opening wide enough for_the passage of_our troop . we first launched the ass into_the water, by a sudden push; he swam away, after_the first plunge, very gracefully . the cow, sheep, and goats, followed quietly after . the sow was furious, and soon broke loose from_us all, but fortunately reached the shore long before_the rest .

we now embarked, fastening all the slips of wood to_the stern of_the boat, thus drawing our train after us; and_the wind filling our sail, carried us smoothly towards the shore .Fritz exulted in_his plan, as_we certainly could never have rowed our boat, loaded as_we were .I once more took out my telescope, and was remarking that_our party on shore seemed making ready for some excursion, when a loud cry from Fritz filled me with terror ." we_are lost ! we_are lost ! see, what a monstrous fish ! " though pale with alarm, the bold boy had seized his gun, and, encouraged by my directions, he fired two balls into_the head of_the monster, as it_was preparing to dart on_the sheep . it immediately made its escape, leaving a long red track to_prove that_it_was severely wounded .

being freed from_our enemy, I now resumed the rudder, and we lowered the sail and rowed to shore . the animals, as_soon_as_the water became low enough, walked out at their own discretion, after we had relieved them from their swimming girdles . we then secured our boat as before, and landed ourselves, anxiously looking round for_our friends .

we had_not long to wait, they came joyfully to greet us; and, after our first burst of pleasure, we sat down to_tell our adventures in a regular form . my wife was overjoyed to_see herself surrounded by_these valuable animals; and especially pleased that her son Fritz had suggested so_many useful plans . we next proceeded to disembark all our treasures .I noticed that jack wore a belt of yellow skin, in_which were placed a pair of pistols, and inquired where he had got his brigand costume .

"I manufactured it myself," said he; " and this_is_not all . look at_the dogs ! "

the dogs wore each a collar of_the same skin as his belt, bristling with long nails, the points outwards--a formidable defence .

" it_is my own invention," said he; " only mamma helped me in_the sewing ."

" but where did you get the leather, the needle and thread ? " inquired I .

"Fritz's jackal supplied the skin," said my wife, " and my wonderful bag the rest . there_is still more to_come from_it, only say what you_want ."

Fritz evidently felt a little vexation at his brother's unceremonious appropriation of_the skin of_the jackal, which displayed itself in_the tone in_which he exclaimed, holding his nose, " keep at a distance, Mr skinner, you carry an intolerable smell about with_you ."

I_gave him a gentle hint of_his duty in_the position of eldest son, and he soon recovered his good humour . however, as_the body as_well as_the skin of_the jackal was becoming offensive, they united in dragging it down to_the sea, while jack placed his belt in_the sun to dry .

as I_saw no preparation for supper, i_told Fritz to bring the ham; and, to_the astonishment and joy of all, he returned with a fine Westphalian ham, which we had cut into in_the morning .

" i_will tell you," said my wife, " why we_have no supper prepared; but first, i_will make you an omelet;" and she produced from a basket a dozen turtle's eggs .

" you_see," said Ernest, " they_have all the characteristics of_those Robinson Crusoe had in_his island . they_are white balls, the skin of_which resembles moistened parchment ."

my wife promised to relate the history of_the discovery after supper, and set about preparing her ham and omelet, while Fritz and I proceeded in unloading our cargo, assisted by_the useful ass .

supper was now ready .a tablecloth was laid over the butter- cask, and spread with_the plates and spoons from_the ship . the ham was in_the middle, and_the omelet and cheese at each end; and we_made a good meal, surrounded by our subjects,-- the dogs, the fowls, the pigeons, the sheep, and_the goats, waiting for_our notice . the geese and ducks were more independent, remaining in their marsh, where they lived in plenty on_the small crabs which abounded there .

after supper, I_sent Fritz for a bottle of_the captain's canary wine, and then requested my wife to_give us her recital .

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chapter VII .

" i_will spare you the history of_the first day," said my good Elizabeth, " spent in anxiety about you, and attending to_the signals; but this_morning, being satisfied that all was going right, I sought, before_the boys got up, a shady place to rest in, but in vain; I believe this barren shore has_not a single tree on_it . then I began to consider on_the necessity of searching for a more comfortable spot for_our residence; and determined, after a slight repast, to set out

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