The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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only interrupted by a strict attention to_the devotions and duties of_the Sunday . i_was most especially grateful to god for_the robust health we all enjoyed, in_the midst of_our employments . all went on well in_our little colony . we had an abundant and certain supply of provisions; but our wardrobe, notwithstanding the continual repairing my wife bestowed on_it, was in a most wretched state, and we had no means of renewing it, except by again visiting the wreck, which I_knew still contained some chests of clothes, and bales of cloth . this decided me to_make another voyage; besides i_was rather anxious to_see the state of_the vessel .

we_found it much in_the same condition we had left it, except being much more shattered by_the winds and waves .

we selected many useful things for_our cargo; the bales of linen and woollen cloth were_not forgotten; some barrels of tar; and everything portable that we_could remove; doors, windows, tables, benches, locks and bolts, all the ammunition, and even such of_the guns as we_could move . in_fact we completely sacked the vessel; carrying off, after several_days' labour, all our booty, with_the exception of some weighty articles, amongst which were three or four immense boilers, intended for a sugar- manufactory . these we tied to some large empty casks, which we pitched completely over, and hoped they_would_be_able to float in_the water .

when we had completed our arrangements, I resolved to blow up the ship . we placed a large barrel of gunpowder in_the hold, and arranging a long match from_it, which would burn some hours, we lighted it, and proceeded without delay to safety Bay to watch the event .I proposed to my wife to sup on a point of land where we_could distinctly see the vessel . just as_the sun was going down, a majestic rolling, like thunder, succeeded by a column of fire, announced the destruction of_the vessel, which had brought us from Europe, and bestowed its great riches on us . we_could_not help shedding tears, as_we heard the last mournful cry of_this sole remaining bond that connected us with home . we returned sorrowfully to tent house, and felt as_if we had lost an old friend .

we rose early next morning, and hastened to_the shore, which we_found covered with_the wreck, which, with a little exertion, we_found it easy to collect . amongst the rest, were the large boilers . we afterwards used these to_cover our barrels of gunpowder, which we placed in a part of_the rock, where, even if an explosion took place, no damage could ensue .

my wife, in assisting us with_the wreck, made the agreeable discovery, that two of_our ducks, and one goose, had hatched each a brood, and were leading their noisy young families to_the water . this reminded us of all our poultry and domestic comfort, at falcon's nest, and we determined to defer, for some_time, the rest of_our work at tent house, and to return the next_day to our shady summer home .

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chapter XXIV .

as_we went along the avenue of fruit-trees, i_was concerned to_see my young plants beginning to droop, and I immediately resolved to_proceed to cape disappointment the next morning, to cut bamboos to_make props for_them . it_was determined we_should all go, as, on_our arrival at falcon's nest, we discovered many_other supplies wanting . the candles were failing: we_must_have more berries, for now my wife sewed by candlelight, while i_wrote my journal . she wanted, also, some wild-fowls' eggs to set under her hens . jack wanted some guavas, and Francis wished for some sugar-canes . so we_made a family tour of it, taking the cart, with_the cow and ass, to contain our provision, and a large sailcloth, to_make a tent . the weather was delightful, and we set out singing, in great spirits .

we crossed the potato and manioc plantations, and_the wood of guavas, on_which my boys feasted to_their great satisfaction . the road was rugged, but we assisted to move the cart, and rested frequently . we stopped to_see the bird colony, which greatly delighted them all, and Ernest declared they belonged to_the species of Loxia gregaria_, the sociable grosbeak . he pointed out to_us their wonderful instinct in forming their colony in_the midst of_the candle- berry bushes, on_which they feed . we filled two bags with_these berries, and another with guavas, my wife proposing to_make jelly from_them .

we then proceeded to_the caoutchouc- tree, and here I determined to rest awhile, to collect some_of_the valuable gum .I had brought some large gourd-shells with me for_the_purpose . I_made incisions in_the trees, and placed these bowls to receive the gum, which soon began to run out in a milky stream, and we hoped to_find them filled on_our return . we turned a little to_the left, and entered a beautiful and fertile plain, bounded on one side by_the sugar-canes, behind which rose a wood of palms, on_the other by_the bamboos; and before_us was cape disappointment, backed by_the ocean--a magnificent picture .

we at once decided to_make this our resting- place; we even thought of transferring our residence from falcon's nest to_this spot; but we dismissed the thought, when we reflected on_the perfect security of_our dear castle in_the air . we contented ourselves with arranging to_make this always our station for refreshment in_our excursions . we loosed our animals, and allowed them to graze on_the rich grass around us . we arranged to_spend the night here, and, taking a light repast, we separated on_our several employments-- some to cut sugar-canes, others bamboos, and, after stripping them, to_make them into bundles, and place them in_the cart . this hard work made the boys hungry; they refreshed themselves with sugar-canes, but had a great desire to_have some cocoa-nuts . unfortunately, there were neither monkeys nor crabs to bestow them, and_the many attempts they made to climb the lofty, bare trunk of_the palm ended only in disappointment and confusion .I went to_their assistance . I_gave them pieces of_the rough skin of_the shark, which I had brought for_the_purpose, to brace on their legs, and showing them how to climb, by_the aid of a cord fastened round the tree with arunning noose, a method practised with success by_the savages, my little climbers soon reached the summit of_the trees; they then used their hatchets, which they had carried up in their girdles, and a shower of cocoa-nuts fell down . these furnished a pleasant dessert, enlivened by_the jests of Fritz and jack, who, being the climbers, did_not spare doctor Ernest, who had contented himself with looking up at them; and even now, regardless of_their banter, he_was lost in some new idea .Rising suddenly, and looking at_the palms, he_took a cocoa- nut cup, and a tin flask with a handle, and gravely addressed us thus:--

" gentlemen and lady ! this exercise of climbing is really very disagreeable and difficult; but since it confers so_much honour on_the undertakers, i_should like also to attempt an adventure, hoping to_do something at once glorious and agreeable to_the company ."

he then bound his legs with_the pieces of shark's skin, and with singular vigour and agility sprung up a palm which he had long been attentively examining . his brothers laughed loudly at his taking the trouble to ascend a tree that had_not a single nut on_it . Ernest took no notice of_their ridicule, but, as_soon_as he reached the top, struck with_his hatchet, and a tuft of tender yellow leaves fell at our feet, which I recognized as_the product of_the cabbage- palm, a delicate food, highly valued in America . his mother thought it a mischievous act, to destroy the tree thus; but he assured her his prize was worth many cocoa-nuts . but our hero did_not descend; and I asked him if he_wanted to replace the cabbage he had cut off ?

" wait a little," said he; " I_am bringing you some wine to drink my health; but it comes slower than I_could wish ."

he now descended, holding his cocoa- cup, into which he poured from_the flask a clear rose-coloured liquor, and, presenting it to_me, begged me to drink . it_was, indeed, the true palm- wine, which_is as pleasant as champaign, and, taken moderately, a great restorative .

we all drank; and Ernest was praised and thanked by all, till he forgot all the scoffs he had received .

as it_was getting late, we set about putting up our tent for_the night, when suddenly our ass, who had_been quietly grazing near us, began to bray furiously, erected his ears, kicking right and left, and, plunging into_the bamboos, disappeared . this made us very uneasy . I_could_not submit to lose the useful animal; and, moreover, i_was afraid his agitation announced the approach of some wild beast . the dogs and I sought for any trace of it in vain; I therefore, to guard against any danger, made a large fire before our tent, which I continued to watch till midnight, when, all being still, I crept into_the tent, to my bed of moss, and slept undisturbed till morning .

in_the morning we thanked god for_our health and safety, and then began to lament our poor donkey, which, I hoped, might_have_been attracted by_the light of_our fire, and_have returned; but we saw nothing of him, and we decided that his services were so indispensable, that i_should go, with one of_my sons, and_the two dogs, in search of him, and cross the thickets of bamboo .I chose to_take jack with me, to_his great satisfaction, for Fritz and Ernest formed a better guard for their mother in a strange place . we set out, well armed, with bags of provisions on_our back, and after an hour's fruitless search among_the canes, we emerged beyond them, in an extensive plain on_the borders of_the great bay . we saw that_the ridge of rocks still extended on_the right till it nearly reached the shore, when it abruptly terminated in a perpendicular precipice .a considerable river flowed into_the bay here, and between_the river and_the rock was a narrow passage, which at high water would_be overflowed . we thought it most likely that_our ass had passed by_this defile; and I wished to_see whether these rocks merely bordered or divided the island; we therefore went forward till we met with a stream, which fell in a cascade from a mass of rocks into_the river . we ascended the stream till we_found a place shallow enough to cross . here we saw the shoemarks of_our ass, mingled with_the footsteps of other animals, and at a distance we saw a herd of animals, but could_not distinguish what they were . we ascended a little hill, and, through our telescope, saw a most beautiful and fertile country, breathing peace and repose . to our right rose the majestic chain of rocks that divided the island . on_our left a succession of beautiful green hills spread to_the horizon .Woods of palms and various unknown trees were scattered over the scene . the beautiful stream meandered across the valley like a silver ribbon, bordered by rushes and other aquatic plants . there_was no trace of_the footstep of man . the country had all the purity of_its first creation; no living creatures but some beautiful birds and brilliant butterflies appeared .

but, at a distance, we saw some specks, which I concluded were the animals we had first seen, and I resolved to_go nearer, in hopes our ass might_have joined them . we_made towards the spot, and, to shorten the road, crossed a little wood of bamboos, the stalks of_which, as thick as a man's thigh, rose to_the height of thirty feet .I suspected this to_be the giant reed of America, so useful for_the masts of boats and canoes .I promised jack to allow him to cut some on_our return; but at present the ass was my sole care . when we had crossed the wood, we suddenly came face_to_face on a herd of buffaloes, not numerous certainly, but formidable in appearance . at_the sight, i_was absolutely petrified, and my gun useless .Fortunately the dogs were in_the rear, and_the animals, lifting their heads, and fixing their large eyes on us, seemed more astonished than angry-- we were the first men probably they had ever seen .

we drew back a little, prepared our arms, and endeavoured to retreat, when_the dogs arrived, and, notwithstanding our efforts to restrain them, flew at_the buffaloes . it_was no time now to retreat; the combat was begun . the whole troop uttered the most frightful roars, beat the ground with their feet, and butted with their horns . our brave dogs were_not intimidated, but marched straight upon_the enemy, and, falling on a young buffalo that had strayed before_the rest, seized it by_the ears . the creature began to bellow, and struggle to escape; its mother ran to its assistance, and, with her, the whole herd . at_that moment,--I tremble as I write it, I_gave the signal to my brave jack, who behaved with admirable coolness, and at_the same moment we fired on_the herd . the effect was wonderful: they paused a moment, and then, even before_the smoke was dissipated, took to flight with incredible rapidity, forded the river, and were soon out of sight . my dogs still held their prize, and_the mother, though wounded by our shot, tore up the ground in her fury, and was advancing on_the dogs to destroy them; but I stepped forward, and discharging a pistol between_the horns, put an end to her life .

we began to breathe . we had looked death in_the face,--a most horrible death;

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