The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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death; and thanked god for_our preservation .I praised jack for_his courage and presence of mind; any fear or agitation on_his part would_have unnerved me, and rendered our fate certain . the dogs still held the young calf by_the ears, it bellowed incessantly, and I feared they_would either be injured or lose their prize .I went up to_their assistance .I hardly knew how to act . I_could easily have killed it; but I had a great desire to carry it off alive, and try to tame it, to replace our ass, whom I_did_not intend to_follow farther .a happy idea struck jack: he always carried his lasso in_his pocket; he drew it out, retired a little, and flung it so dexterously that he completely wound it round the hind legs of_the calf, and threw it down .I now approached; I replaced the lasso by a stronger cord, and used another to bind his fore legs loosely . jack cried victory, and already thought how his mother and brothers would_be delighted, when we presented it; but that was no easy matter . at last i_thought of_the method used in Italy to tame the wild bulls, and I resolved to_try it, though it_was a little cruel .

I began by tying to_the foot of a tree the cords that held the legs; then making the dogs seize him again by_the ears, I caught hold of_his mouth, and with a sharp knife perforated the nostril, and quickly passed a cord through_the opening . this cord was to_serve as my rein, to guide the animal . the operation was successful; and, as_soon_as_the blood ceased to flow, i_took the cord, uniting the two ends, and_the poor suffering creature, completely subdued, followed me without resistance .

i_was unwilling to abandon the whole of_the buffalo I had killed, as_it_is excellent meat; I therefore cut out the tongue, and some_of_the best parts from_the loin, and covered them well with salt, of_which we had taken a provision with_us .I then carefully skinned the four legs, remembering that_the American hunters use these skins for boots, being remarkably soft and flexible . we permitted the dogs to feast on_the remainder; and while they were enjoying themselves, we washed ourselves, and sat down under a tree to rest and refresh ourselves . but the poor beasts had soon many guests at their banquet .Clouds of birds of prey came from every part; an incessant combat was kept up; no sooner was one troop of brigands satisfied, than another succeeded; and soon all that remained of_the poor buffalo was_the bones .I noticed amongst these ravenous birds the royal vulture, an elegant bird, remarkable for a brilliant collar of down . we_could easily have killed some_of_these robbers, but i_thought it useless to destroy for mere curiosity, and I preferred employing our time in cutting, with a small saw we had brought, some_of_the gigantic reeds that grew round us . we cut several of_the very thick ones, which make excellent vessels when separated at_the joints; but I perceived that jack was cutting some of small dimensions, and I inquired if he_was going to_make aPandean pipe, to celebrate his triumphal return with_the buffalo .

" no," said he; "I don't recollect that Robinson Crusoe amused himself with music in_his island; but I_have thought of something that_will_be useful to mamma . I_am cutting these reeds to_make moulds for_our candles ."

" an excellent thought, my dear boy ! " said I; " and if even we break our moulds in getting out the candles, which I suspect we_may, we_know where they grow, and can come for more ."

we collected all our reeds in bundles, and then set out . the calf, intimidated by_the dogs, and galled by_the rein, went on tolerably well . we crossed the narrow pass in_the rocks, and here our dogs killed a large jackal which_was coming from her den in_the rock . the furious animals then entered the den, followed by jack, who saved, with difficulty, one_of_the young cubs, the others being immediately worried . it_was a pretty little gold-coloured creature, about_the size of acat . jack petitioned earnestly to_have it to bring up; and I_made him happy by granting his request .

in_the mean time I had tied the calf to a low tree, which I discovered was_the thorny dwarf palm, which grows quickly, and_is extremely useful for fences . it bears an oblong fruit, about_the size of a pigeon's egg, from_which is extracted an oil which_is an excellent substitute for butter .I determined to return for some young plants of_this palm to plant at tent house .

it_was almost night when we joined our family; and endless were the questions the sight of_the buffalo produced, and great was_the boasting of jack the dauntless . i_was compelled to lower his pride a little by an unvarnished statement, though I_gave him much credit for_his coolness and resolution; and, supper- time arriving, my wife had time to_tell me what had passed while we had_been on_our expedition .

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chapter XXV .

my wife began by saying they had_not_been idle in my absence . they had collected wood, and made torches for_the night .Fritz and Ernest had even cut down an immense sago- palm, seventy feet high, intending to extract its precious pith; but this they had_been unable to accomplish alone, and waited for_my assistance . but while they were engaged in_this employment, a troop of monkeys had broken into_the tent and pillaged and destroyed everything; they had drunk or overturned the milk, and carried off or spoiled all our provisions; and even so_much injured the palisade I had erected round the tent, that_it took them an hour, after they returned, to repair the damage .Fritz had made also a beautiful capture, in a nest he had discovered in_the rocks at cape disappointment . it_was a superb bird, and, though very young, quite feathered . Ernest had pronounced it to_be the eagle of Malabar, and I confirmed his assertion; and as_this species of eagle is_not large, and does_not require much food, I advised him to train it as a falcon, to chase other birds . i_took this opportunity to announce that henceforward every_one must attend to_his own live stock, or they should_be set at liberty, mamma having sufficient to manage in her own charge .

we then made a fire of green wood, in_the smoke of_which we placed the buffalo- meat we had brought home, leaving it during the night, that_it might_be perfectly cured . we had had some for supper, and thought it excellent . the young buffalo was beginning to graze, and we gave him a little milk to- night, as_well as_to_the jackal .Fritz had taken the precaution to_cover the eyes of_his eagle, and tying it fast by_the leg to a branch, it rested very tranquilly . we then retired to our mossy beds, to recruit our strength for_the labours of another day .

at break of day we rose, made a light breakfast, and i_was about to_give the signal of departure, when my wife communicated to_me the difficulty they had had in cutting down the palm- tree, and_the valuable provision that might_be obtained from_it with a little trouble . i_thought she was right, and decided to remain here another day; for it_was no trifling undertaking to split up a tree seventy feet long .I consented the more readily, as i_thought I_might, after removing the useful pith from_the trunk, obtain two large spouts or channels to conduct the water from jackal river to_the kitchen garden .

such tools as_we had we carried to_the place where the tree lay . we first sawed off the head; then, with_the hatchet making an opening at each end, we took wedges and mallets, and_the wood being tolerably soft, after four hours' labour, we succeeded in splitting it completely . when parted, we pressed the pith with_our hands, to_get the whole into one division of_the trunk, and began to_make our paste . at one end of_the spout we nailed one_of_the graters, through which we intended to force the paste, to_form the round seeds . my little bakers set vigorously to work, some pouring water on_the pith, while the rest mixed it into paste . when sufficiently worked, I pressed it strongly with my hand against the grater; the farinaceous parts passed easily through_the holes, while the ligneous part, consisting of splinters of wood, &c, was left behind . this we threw into a heap, hoping mushrooms might spring from_it . my wife now carefully spread the grains on sailcloth, in_the sun, to dry them .I also formed some vermicelli, by giving more consistence to_the paste, and forcing it through_the holes in little pipes . my wife promised with_this, and_the Dutch cheese, to_make us a dish equal to Naples maccaroni . we were now contented; we_could at any_time obtain more sago by cutting down a tree, and we were anxious to_get home to_try our water-pipes . we spent the rest of_the day in loading the cart with_our utensils and_the halves of_the tree . we retired to our hut at sunset, and slept in peace .

the next morning the whole caravan began to move at an early hour . the buffalo, harnessed to_the cart, by_the side of_his nurse, the cow, took the place of_our lost ass, and began his apprenticeship as a beast of draught . we took the same road on_our return, that we_might carry away the candle-berries and_the vessels of India- rubber . the vanguard was composed of Fritz and jack, who pioneered our way, by cutting down the underwood to_make a road for_the cart . our water-pipes, being very long, somewhat impeded our progress; but we happily reached the candle- berry trees without accident, and placed our sacks on_the cart . we_did_not find more than a quart of_the caoutchouc gum; but it would_be sufficient for_our first experiment, and I carried it off .

in crossing the little wood of guavas, we suddenly heard our dogs, who were before_us with Fritz and jack, uttering the most frightful howlings . i_was struck with terror lest they should_have encountered a tiger, and rushed forward ready to fire . the dogs were endeavouring to enter a thicket, in_the midst of_which Fritz declared he had caught a glimpse of an animal larger than_the buffalo, with a black, bristly skin . i_was just about to discharge my gun into_the thicket, when jack, who had lain down on_the ground, to look under the bushes, burst into a loud laugh ." it_is another trick of_that vexatious animal, our old sow ! she_is always making fools of us," cried he . half merry and half angry, we_made an opening into_the thicket, and there discovered the lady lying, surrounded by seven little pigs, only a few_days old . we were very glad_to_see our old friend so attended, and stroked her . she seemed to recognize us, and grunted amicably . we supplied her with some potatoes, sweet acorns, and cassava bread; intending, in return, to eat her young ones, when_they were ready for_the spit, though my dear wife cried out against the cruelty of_the idea . at present we left them with her, but proposed afterwards to_take away two, to_be brought up at home, and leave the rest to support themselves on acorns in_the woods, where they_would become game for_us . at_length we arrived at falcon's nest, which we regarded with all the attachment of home . our domestic animals crowded round us, and noisily welcomed us . we tied up the buffalo and jackal, as_they were_not yet domesticated .Fritz fastened his eagle to a branch by a chain long enough to allow it to move freely, and then imprudently uncovered its eyes; it immediately raised its head, erected its feathers, and struck on all sides with its beak and claws; our fowls took to flight, but the poor parrot fell in_his way, and was torn to pieces before we_could assist it .Fritz was very angry, and would_have executed the murderer; but Ernest begged he_would_not_be so rash, as parrots were more plentiful than eagles, and it_was his own fault for uncovering his eyes; the falconers always keeping their young birds hooded six weeks, till they_are quite tamed . he offered to train it, if Fritz would part with it; but this Fritz indignantly refused . i_told them the fable of_the dog in_the manger, which abashed Fritz; and he then besought his brother to teach him the means of training this noble bird, and promised to_present him with_his monkey .

Ernest then told him that_the Caribs subdue the largest birds by making them inhale tobacco smoke .Fritz laughed at_this; but Ernest brought a pipe and some tobacco he had found in_the ship, and began to smoke gravely under the branch where the bird was perched . it_was soon calm, and on_his continuing to smoke it became quite motionless .Fritz then easily replaced the bandage, and thanked his brother for_his good service .

the next morning we set out early to our young plantation of fruit-trees, to fix props to support the weaker plants . we loaded the cart with_the thick bamboo canes and_our tools, and harnessed the cow to_it, leaving the buffalo in_the stable, as I wished the wound in_his nostrils to_be perfectly healed before I put him to any hard work .I left Francis with_his mother, to_prepare our dinner, begging them not to forget the maccaroni .

we began at_the entrance of_the avenue to falcon's nest, where all the trees were much bent by_the wind .

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