The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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but allow the chastisement to_be just and prudent, she was so moved by compassion, that she consoled the poor sufferers with some remains of last night's supper .

I now carefully stripped the kangaroo of_his elegant skin, and washing myself, and changing my dress after_this unpleasant operation, I joined my family at breakfast .I then announced my plan of visiting the vessel, and ordered Fritz to_make preparations . my wife resigned herself mournfully to_the necessity . when we were ready to depart, Ernest and jack were_not to_be found; their mother suspected they had gone to_get potatoes . this calmed my apprehension; but I charged her to reprimand them for going without leave . we set out towards tent house, leaving Flora to protect the household, and taking our guns as usual .

we had scarcely left the wood, and were approaching jackal river, when we heard piercing cries, and suddenly Ernest and jack leaped from a thicket, delighted, as jack said, in having succeeded in their plan of accompanying us, and, moreover, in making us believe we were beset with savages . they were, however, disappointed . I_gave them a severe reproof for their disobedience, and sent them home with a message to_their mother that i_thought we_might_be detained all night, and begged she would_not_be uneasy .

they listened to_me in great confusion, and were much mortified at their dismissal; but I begged Fritz to_give Ernest his silver watch, that they_might know how the time passed; and I_knew that I_could replace it, as_there_was a case of watches in_the ship . this reconciled them a little to_their lot, and_they left us . we went forward to our boat, embarked, and, aided by_the current, soon reached the vessel .

my first care was to construct some more convenient transport- vessel than our boat .Fritz proposed a raft, similar to_those used by savage nations, supported on skins filled with air . these we had_not; but we_found a number of water-hogsheads, which we emptied, and closed again, and threw a dozen of_them into_the sea, between_the ship and_our boat . some long planks were laid on_these, and secured with ropes . we added a raised edge of planks to secure our cargo, and thus had a solid raft, capable of conveying any burden . this work occupied us the whole day, scarcely interrupted by eating a little cold meat from_our game-bags .Exhausted by fatigue, we were glad to_take a good night's rest in_the captain's cabin on an elastic mattress, of_which our hammocks had made us forget the comfort . early next morning we began to load our raft .

we began by entirely stripping our own cabin and_that of_the captain . we carried away even the doors and windows . the chests of_the carpenter and_the gunner followed . there were cases of rich jewellery, and caskets of money, which at first tempted us, but were speedily relinquished for objects of real utility .I preferred a case of young plants of European fruits, carefully packed in moss for transportation . I_saw, with delight, among_these precious plants, apple, pear, plum, orange, apricot, peach, almond, and chesnut trees, and some young shoots of vines . how I longed to plant these familiar trees of home in a foreign soil . we secured some bars of iron and pigs of lead, grindstones, cart-wheels ready for mounting, tongs, shovels, plough-shares, packets of copper and iron wire, sacks of maize, peas, oats, and vetches; and even a small hand- mill . the vessel had_been, in_fact, laden with everything likely to_be useful in a new colony . we_found a saw- mill in pieces, but marked, so_that it could_be easily put together . it_was difficult to select, but we took as_much as was safe on_the raft, adding a large fishing- net and_the ship's compass .Fritz begged to take_the harpoons, which he hung by_the ropes over the bow of_our boat; and I indulged his fancy . we were now loaded as far as prudence would allow us; so, attaching our raft firmly to_the boat, we hoisted our sail, and made slowly to_the shore .

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chapter XVIII .

the wind was favourable, but we advanced slowly, the floating mass that we had to tug retarding us .Fritz had_been some_time regarding a large object in_the water; he_called me to steer a little towards it, that he might see what it_was .I went to_the rudder, and made the movement; immediately I heard the whistling of_the cord, and felt a shock; then a second, which_was followed by a rapid motion of_the boat .

" we_are going to founder ! " cried I ." what_is the matter ? "

" I_have caught it," shouted Fritz; " I_have harpooned it in_the neck . it_is a turtle ."

I_saw the harpoon shining at a distance, and_the turtle was rapidly drawing us along by_the line .I lowered the sail, and rushed forward to cut the line; but Fritz besought me not to_do_it . he assured me there_was no danger, and_that he himself would release us if necessary .I reluctantly consented, and saw our whole convoy drawn by an animal whose agony increased its strength . as_we drew near the shore, I endeavoured to steer so_that we might_not strike and be capsized . I_saw after a few_minutes that_our conductor again wanted to_make out to sea; I therefore hoisted the sail, and_the wind being in_our favour, he_found resistance vain, and, tugging as before, followed up the current, only taking more to_the left, towards falcon's nest, and landing us in a shallow, rested on_the shore .I leaped out_of_the boat, and with a hatchet soon put our powerful conductor out of_his misery .

Fritz uttered a shout of joy, and fired off his gun, as a signal of_our arrival . all came running to greet us, and great was their surprise, not_only at_the value of_our cargo, but at_the strange mode by_which it had_been brought into harbour . my first care was to send_them for_the sledge, to remove some_of_our load without delay, and as_the ebbing tide was leaving our vessels almost dry on_the sand, I profited by_the opportunity to secure them . by_the aid of_the jack- screw and levers, we raised and brought to_the shore two large pieces of lead from_the raft . these served for anchors and, connected to_the boat and raft by strong cables, fixed them safely .

as_soon_as_the sledge arrived, we placed the turtle with some difficulty on_it, as it weighed at_least three hundredweight . we added some lighter articles, the mattresses, some small chests, &c ., and proceeded with_our first load to falcon's nest in great spirits . as_we walked on, Fritz told them of_the wondrous cases of jewellery we had abandoned for things of use; jack wished Fritz had brought him a gold snuff- box, to hold curious seeds; and Francis wished for some_of_the money to_buy gingerbread at_the fair ! everybody laughed at_the little simpleton, who_could_not help laughing himself, when he remembered his distance from fairs . arrived at home, our first care was to_turn the turtle on_his back, to_get the excellent meat out_of_the shell . with my hatchet I separated the cartilages that unite the shells: the upper shell is convex, the lower one nearly flat .

we had some_of_the turtle prepared for dinner, though my wife felt great repugnance in touching the green fat, notwithstanding my assurance of_its being the chief delicacy to an epicure .

we salted the remainder of_the flesh, and gave the offal to_the dogs . the boys were all clamorous to possess the shell; but I_said it belonged to Fritz, by right of conquest, and he_must dispose of it as he thought best .

" then," said he, " i_will make a basin of it, and place it near the river, that my mother may always keep it full of fresh water ."

" very_good," said I, " and we_will fill our basin, as_soon_as we_find some clay to_make a solid foundation ."

" I_found some this_morning," said jack,--"a whole bed of clay, and I brought these balls home to show you ."

" and I_have_made a discovery too," said Ernest ." look at_these roots, like radishes; I_have_not eaten any, but the sow enjoys them very_much ."

"A most valuable discovery, indeed," said I; " if I_am not mistaken, this_is_the root of_the manioc_, which with_the potatoes will insure us from famine . of_this root they make in_the West_Indies a sort of bread, called cassava bread . in its natural state it contains a violent poison, but by a process of heating it becomes wholesome . the nutritious tapioca is a preparation from_this root ."

by_this_time we had unloaded, and proceeded to_the shore to bring a second load before night came on . we brought up two chests of_our own clothes and property, some chests of tools, the cart-wheels, and_the hand- mill, likely now to_be of use for_the cassava . after unloading, we sat down to an excellent supper of turtle, with potatoes, instead of bread . after supper, my wife said, smiling, " after such a hard day, i_think I_can give_you something to restore you ." she then brought a bottle and glasses, and filled us each a glass of clear, amber-coloured wine . I_found it excellent Malaga . she had_been down to_the shore the previous day, and there found a small cask thrown up by_the waves . this, with_the assistance of her sons, she had rolled up_to_the foot of_our tree, and there covered it with leaves to_keep it cool till our arrival .

we were so invigorated by_this cordial, that we set briskly to work to hoist up our mattresses to our dormitory, which we accomplished by_the aid of ropes and pulleys . my wife received and arranged them, and after our usual evening devotions, we gladly lay down on them, to enjoy a night of sweet repose .

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chapter XIX .

I rose before daylight, and, leaving my family sleeping, descended, to_go to_the shore to look after my vessels . I_found all the animals moving . the dogs leaped about me; the cocks were crowing; the goats browsing on_the dewy grass . the ass alone was sleeping; and, as he was_the assistant i_wanted, i_was compelled to rouse him, a preference which did_not appear to flatter him . nevertheless, I harnessed him to_the sledge, and, followed by_the dogs, went forward to_the coast, where I_found my boat and raft safe at anchor . i_took up a moderate load and came home to breakfast; but found all still as I left them .I called my family, and_they sprung up ashamed of_their sloth; my wife declared it must_have been the good mattress that had charmed her .

I_gave my boys a short admonition for their sloth . we then came down to a hasty breakfast, and returned to_the coast to finish the unloading the boats, that I_might, at high water, take them round to moor at_the usual place in_the Bay of safety . I_sent my wife up with_the last load, while Fritz and I embarked, and, seeing jack watching us, I consented that he_should form one_of_the crew, for I had determined to_make another visit to_the wreck before I moored my craft . when we reached the vessel, the day was so_far advanced that we had only time to collect hastily anything easy to embark . my sons ran over the ship . jack came trundling a wheelbarrow, which he_said would_be excellent for fetching the potatoes in .

but Fritz brought me good news: he had found, between decks, a beautiful pinnace (a small vessel, of_which the prow is square), taken to pieces, with all its fittings, and even two small guns . I_saw that all the pieces were numbered, and placed in_order; nothing was wanting . I_felt the importance of_this acquisition; but it would take days of labour to_put it together; and then how could we launch it ? at present, I_felt I_must renounce the undertaking .I returned to my loading . it consisted of all sorts of utensils: a copper boiler, some plates of iron, tobacco-graters, two grindstones, a barrel of powder, and one of flints . jack did_not forget his wheelbarrow; and we_found two more, which we added to our cargo, and then sailed off speedily, to avoid the land- wind, which rises in_the evening .

as_we drew near, we were astonished to_see a row of little creatures standing on_the shore, apparently regarding us with much curiosity . they were dressed in black, with white waistcoats, and thick cravats; their arms hung down carelessly; but from_time to_time they raised them as if_they wished to bestow on us a fraternal embrace .

"I believe," said I, laughing, " this must_be the country of pigmies, and_they are coming to welcome us ."

" they_are the Lilliputians, father," said jack; " I_have read of_them; but i_thought they had_been less ."

" as_if Gulliver's Travels was true ! " said Fritz, in a tone of derision .

" then are there no pigmies ? " asked he .

" no, my dear boy," said I; " all these stories are either the invention or the mistakes of ancient navigators, who_have taken troops of monkeys for men, or who_have wished to repeat something marvellous . but the romance of Gulliver is an allegory, intended to convey great truths ."

" and now," said Fritz, "I begin to_see our pigmies have beaks and wings ."

" you_are right," said I; " they_are penguins, as Ernest explained to_us some_time since . they_are good swimmers; but, unable to fly, are very helpless on land ."

I steered gently to_the shore, that I might_not disturb them; but jack leaped into_the water up to_his knees, and, dashing among_the penguins, with a stick struck right and left, knocking down half a dozen of_the poor stupid birds before_they were aware .

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