The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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devoted vessel .I soon ascertained that no fire remained; and_that the pinnace had escaped any injury . we set to work to clear away all the broken timbers in_our way, and, by_the aid of_the jack- screw and levers, we moved the pinnace, which we had taken care to build on rollers, to_the opening; then attaching a strong cable to her head, and fixing the other end to_the most solid part of_the ship, we easily launched her . it_was too late to_do any more now, except carefully securing our prize . and we returned to_the good mother, to_whom, wishing to_give her an agreeable surprise, we merely said, that_the side of_the vessel was blown out with powder; but we were still able to obtain more from_it; at which she sighed, and, in her heart, I_have no_doubt, wished the vessel, and all it contained, at_the bottom of_the sea .

we had two days of incessant labour in fitting and loading the pinnace; finally, after putting up our masts, ropes, and sails, we selected a cargo of things our boats could_not bring . when all was ready, my boys obtained permission, as a reward for their industry, to salute their mamma, as_we entered the bay, by firing our two guns .Fritz was captain, and Ernest and jack, at his command, put their matches to_the guns, and fired . my wife and little boy rushed out in alarm; but our joyful shouts soon re- assured them; and_they were ready to welcome us with astonishment and delight .Fritz placed a plank from_the pinnace to_the shore, and, assisting his mother, she came on board . they gave her a new salute, and christened the vessel the Elizabeth, after her .

my wife praised our skill and perseverance, but begged we_would_not suppose that Francis and she had_been idle during our long absence . we moored the little fleet safely to_the shore, and followed her up the river to_the cascade, where we saw a neat garden laid out in beds and walks .

" this_is our work," said she; " the soil here, being chiefly composed of decayed leaves, is light and easy to dig . there I_have my potatoes; there manioc roots: these are sown with peas, beans and lentils; in_this row of beds are sown lettuces, radishes, cabbages, and other European vegetables . I_have reserved one part for sugar-canes; on_the high ground I_have transplanted pine-apples, and sown melons . finally, round every bed, I_have sown a border of maize, that_the high, bushy stems may protect the young plants from_the sun ."

i_was delighted with_the result of_the labour and industry of a delicate female and a child, and could scarcely believe it_was accomplished in so short a time .

" I_must confess I had no great hope of success at first," said my wife, " and this made me averse to speaking of it .Afterwards, when I suspected you had a secret, I determined to_have one, too, and give_you a surprise ."

after again applauding these useful labours, we returned to discharge our cargo; and as_we went, my good Elizabeth, still full of horticultural plans, reminded me of_the young fruit-trees we had brought from_the vessel .I promised to look after them next_day, and to establish my orchard near her kitchen- garden .

we unloaded our vessels; placed on_the sledge all that might_be useful at falcon's nest; and, arranging the rest under the tent, fixed our pinnace to_the shore, by_means of_the anchor and a cord fastened to a heavy stone; and at_length set out to falcon's nest, where we arrived soon, to_the great comfort of_my wife, who dreaded the burning plain at tent house .

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chapter XXI .

after our return to falcon's nest, I requested my sons to_continue their exercises in gymnastics .I wished to develope all the vigour and energy that nature had given them; and which, in_our situation, were especially necessary .I added to archery, racing, leaping, wrestling, and climbing trees, either by_the trunks, or by a rope suspended from_the branches, as sailors climb .I next taught them to use the lasso_, a powerful weapon, by aid of_which the people of South_America capture savage animals .I fixed two balls of lead to_the ends of a cord about a fathom in length . the Patagonians, i_told them, used this weapon with wonderful dexterity .Having no leaden balls, they attach a heavy stone to each end of a cord about thirty yards long . if_they wish to capture an animal, they hurl one_of_the stones at it with singular address . by_the peculiar art with_which the ball is thrown, the rope makes a turn or two round the neck of_the animal, which remains entangled, without the power of escaping . in_order to show the power of_this weapon, i_took aim at_the trunk of a tree which they pointed out . my throw was quite successful . the end of_the rope passed two_or_three times round the trunk of_the tree, and remained firmly fixed to_it . if_the tree had_been the neck of a tiger, I should_have_been absolute master of it . this experiment decided them all to learn the use of_the lasso .Fritz was soon skilful in throwing it, and I encouraged the rest to persevere in acquiring the same facility, as_the weapon might_be invaluable to_us when our ammunition failed .

the next morning I_saw, on looking out, that_the sea was too_much agitated for any expedition in_the boats; I therefore turned to some home employments . we looked over our stores for winter provision . my wife showed me a cask of ortolans she had preserved in butter, and a quantity of loaves of cassava bread, carefully prepared . she pointed out, that_the pigeons had built in_the tree, and were sitting on their eggs . we then looked over the young fruit-trees brought from Europe, and my sons and I immediately laid out a piece of ground, and planted them .

the day passed in_these employments; and as_we had lived only on potatoes, cassava bread, and milk for_this day, we determined to_go off next morning in pursuit of game to recruit our larder . at dawn of day we all started, including little Francis and_his mother, who wished to_take this opportunity of seeing a little more of_the country . my sons and i_took our arms, I harnessed the ass to_the sledge which contained our provision for_the day, and was destined to bring back the products of_the chase . Turk, accoutred in_his coat of mail, formed the advanced guard; my sons followed with their guns; then came my wife with Francis leading the ass; and at a little distance I closed the procession, with master Knips mounted on_the patient Flora .

we crossed flamingo Marsh, and there my wife was charmed with_the richness of_the vegetation and_the lofty trees .Fritz left us, thinking this afavourable spot for game . we soon heard the report of_his gun, and an enormous bird fell a few paces from_us .I ran to assist him, as he had much difficulty in securing his prize, which_was only wounded in_the wing, and was defending itself vigorously with its beak and claws .I threw a handkerchief over its head, and, confused by_the darkness, I had no difficulty in binding it, and conveying it in triumph to_the sledge . we were all in raptures at_the sight of_this beautiful creature, which Ernest pronounced to_be a female of_the bustard tribe . my wife hoped that_the bird might_be domesticated among her poultry, and, attracting some more of_its species, might enlarge our stock of useful fowls . we soon arrived at_the wood of Monkeys, as_we called it, where we had obtained our cocoa-nuts; and Fritz related the laughable scene of_the stratagem to_his mother and brothers . Ernest looked up wistfully at_the nuts, but there were no monkeys to throw them down .

" do they never fall from_the trees ? " and hardly had he spoken, when a large cocoa- nut fell at his feet, succeeded by a second, to my great astonishment, for I_saw no animal in_the tree, and i_was convinced the nuts in_the half- ripe state, as_these were, could_not fall of themselves .

" it_is exactly like a fairy tale," said Ernest; "I had only to_speak, and my wish was accomplished ."

" and here comes the magician," said I, as, after a shower of nuts, I_saw a huge land- crab descending the tree quietly, and quite regardless of_our presence . jack boldly struck a blow at him, but missed, and_the animal, opening its enormous claws, made up_to its opponent, who fled in terror . but the laughter of_his brothers made him ashamed, and recalling his courage, he pulled off his coat, and threw it over the back of_the crab; this checked its movements, and going to_his assistance, I killed it with a blow of_my hatchet .

they all crowded round the frightful animal, anxious to_know what it_was . i_told them it_was a land- crab-- which we_might call the cocoa- nut crab, as_we owed such a store to_it . being unable to break the shell of_the nut, of_which they_are very fond, they climb the tree, and break them off, in_the unripe state . they then descend to enjoy their feast, which they obtain by inserting their claw through_the small holes in_the end, and abstracting the contents . they sometimes find them broken by_the fall, when_they can eat them at pleasure .

the hideousness of_the animal, and_the mingled terror and bravery of jack, gave_us subject of conversation for some_time . we placed our booty on_the sledge, and continued to_go on through_the wood . our path became every instant more intricate, from_the amazing quantity of creeping plants which choked the way, and obliged us to use the axe continually . the heat was excessive, and we got on slowly, when Ernest, always observing, and who was a little behind us, cried out, " halt ! a new and important discovery ! " we returned, and he showed us, that from_the stalk of one_of_the creepers we had cut with_our axe, there_was issuing clear, pure water . it was_the liane rouge_, which, in America, furnishes the hunter such a precious resource against thirst . Ernest was much pleased; he filled a cocoa- nut cup with_the water, which flowed from_the cut stalks like a fountain, and carried it to_his mother, assuring her she might drink fearlessly; and we all had the comfort of allaying our thirst, and blessing the gracious hand who has placed this refreshing plant in_the midst of_the dry wilderness for_the benefit of man .

[ illustration: " suddenly we saw Ernest running to_us, in great terror, crying, 'A wild boar, papa ! a great wild boar ! '"]

we now marched on with more vigour, and soon arrived at_the gourd wood, where my wife and younger sons beheld with wonder the growth of_this remarkable fruit .Fritz repeated all the history of_our former attempts, and cut some gourds to_make his mother some egg-baskets, and a large spoon to cream the milk . but we first sat down under the shade, and took some refreshment; and afterwards, while we all worked at making baskets, bowls, and flasks, Ernest, who had no taste for such labour, explored the wood . suddenly we saw him running to_us, in great terror, crying, "A wild boar ! Papa; a great wild boar ! " Fritz and I seized our guns, and ran to_the spot he pointed out, the dogs preceding us . we soon heard barking and loud grunting, which proved the combat had begun, and, hoping for a good prize, we hastened forward; when, what_was our vexation, when we_found the dogs holding by_the ears, not a wild boar, but our own great sow, whose wild and intractable disposition had induced her to leave us, and live in_the woods ! we_could_not but laugh at our disappointment, after a while, and I_made the dogs release the poor sow, who immediately resumed her feast on a small fruit, which had fallen from_the trees, and, scattered on_the ground, had evidently tempted the voracious beast to_this part . i_took up one_of_these apples, which somewhat resembled a medlar, and opening it, found the contents of a rich and juicy nature, but did_not venture to taste it till we had put it to_the usual test . we collected a quantity--I even broke a loaded branch from_the tree, and we returned to our party . master Knips no sooner saw them than he seized on some, and crunched them up with great enjoyment . this satisfied me that_the fruit was wholesome, and we regaled ourselves with some . my wife was especially delighted when i_told her this must_be the guava, from_which the delicious jelly is obtained, so_much prized in America .

" but, with all this," said Fritz, " we_have a poor show of game . do let_us leave mamma with_the young ones, and set off, to_see what we_can meet with ."

I consented, and we left Ernest with_his mother and Francis, jack wishing to accompany us . we_made towards the rocks at_the right hand, and jack preceded us a little, when he startled us by crying out, "A crocodile, papa ! --a crocodile ! "

" you simpleton ! " said I, "a crocodile in a place where there_is not a drop of water ! "

"Papa ! -- I_see it ! " said the poor child, his eyes fixed on one spot; " it is_there, on_this rock, sleeping . I_am_sure it_is a crocodile ! "

as_soon_as i_was near enough to distinguish it, I assured him his crocodile was a very harmless lizard, called the iguana_, whose eggs and flesh were excellent food .Fritz would immediately have shot at_this frightful creature, which_was about five feet in length .I showed him that his scaly coat rendered such an attempt useless .I then cut a strong stick and a light wand . to_the end of_the former I attached a

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