The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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large, that he_was sure they_must_be whales . I_found them to_be pretty large sturgeons, besides salmon, large trout, and many_other fishes . jack immediately ran for_his bow and arrows, and told me he_would kill them all . he fastened the end of a ball of string to an arrow, with a hook at_the end of it; he tied the bladders of_the dog- fish at certain distances to_the string; he then placed the ball safe on_the shore, took his bow, fixed the arrow in_it, and aiming at_the largest salmon, shot it in_the side; the fish tried to escape; I assisted him to draw the cord; it_was no easy task, for he struggled tremendously; but at_length, weakened by loss of blood, we drew him to land, and despatched him .

the other boys came running up_to congratulate the young fisherman on_his invention, and as it_was to_be feared that_the rest, alarmed by_this attack, might take their departure, we determined to abandon everything for_the fishery .Fritz threw his harpoon, and landed, by_means of_the reel, some large salmon; Ernest took his rod, and caught trout; and I, armed like Neptune with an iron trident, succeeded in striking, amongst the stones, some enormous fish . the greatest difficulty was to land our booty; Fritz had struck a sturgeon at_least eight feet long, which resisted our united efforts, till my wife brought the buffalo, which we harnessed to_the line, and made ourselves masters of_this immense prize .

we had a great deal of labour in opening and cleaning all our fish: some we dried and salted; some my wife boiled in oil, as_they preserve the tunny . the spawn of_the sturgeon, a huge mass, weighing not less_than thirty pounds, I laid aside to_prepare as caviare_, afavourite dish in Holland and Russia .I carefully cleansed the eggs from_the skin and fibres that were mixed with_them, washed them thoroughly in sea- water, slightly sprinkled them with salt, then put them in a gourd pierced with small holes to let the water escape, and placed weights on them to press them completely for twenty-four hours . we then removed the caviare in solid masses, like cheeses, took it to_the smoking- hut to dry, and in_a_few_days had this large addition to our winter provision .

my next employment was_the preparation of_the valuable isinglass . i_took the air- bladder and sounds of_the fish, cut them in strips, twisted them in rolls, and dried them in_the sun . this_is all that_is necessary to_prepare this excellent glue . it becomes very hard, and, when wanted for use, is cut up in small pieces, and dissolved over a slow fire . the glue was so white and transparent, that I hoped to_make window-panes from_it instead of glass .

after_this work was finished, we began to_plan a boat to replace our tub raft .I wished to_try to_make one of bark, as_the savage nations do, and I proposed to_make an expedition in search of a tree for_our purpose . all those in_our own neighbourhood were too precious to destroy; some for their fruits, others for their shade . we resolved to search at a distance for trees fit for_our purpose, taking in_our road a survey of_our plantations and fields . our garden at tent house produced abundantly continual successions of vegetables in_that virgin soil, and in a climate which recognized no change of season . the peas, beans, lentils, and lettuces were flourishing, and only required water, and_our channels from_the river brought this plentifully to_us . we had delicious cucumbers and melons; the maize was already a foot high, the sugar-canes were prospering, and_the pine-apples on_the high ground promised us a rich treat .

we hoped our distant plantations were going on as_well, and all set out one fine morning to falcon's nest, to examine the state of things there . we_found my wife's corn-fields were luxuriant in appearance, and for_the most part ready for cutting . there were barley, wheat, oats, beans, millet, and lentils . we cut such of_these as were ready, sufficient to_give us seeds for another year . the richest crop was_the maize, which suited the soil . but there were a quantity of gatherers more eager to taste these new productions than we were; these were birds of every kind, from_the bustard to_the quail, and from_the various establishments they had formed round, it might_be presumed they_would not leave much for_us .

after our first shock at_the sight of_these robbers, we used some measures to lessen the number of_them .Fritz unhooded his eagle, and pointed out the dispersing bustards . the well- trained bird immediately soared, and pounced on a superb bustard, and laid it at_the feet of_its master . the jackal, too, who was a capital pointer, brought to_his master about a dozen little fat quails, which furnished us with an excellent repast; to_which my wife added a liquor of her own invention, made of_the green maize crushed in water, and mingled with_the juice of_the sugar- cane; a most agreeable beverage, white as milk, sweet and refreshing .

we_found the bustard, which the eagle had struck down, but slightly wounded; we washed his hurts with a balsam made of wine, butter, and water, and tied him by_the leg in_the poultry- yard, as a companion to our tame bustard .

we passed the remainder of_the day at falcon's nest, putting our summer abode into order, and thrashing out our grain, to save the precious seed for another year . the turkey wheat was laid by in sheaves, till we_should_have time to thrash and winnow it; and then i_told Fritz that_it would_be necessary to_put the hand- mill in_order, that we had brought from_the wreck .Fritz thought we_could build a mill ourselves on_the river; but this bold scheme was, at present, impracticable .

the next_day we set out on an excursion in_the neighbourhood . my wife wished to establish colonies of_our animals at some distance from falcon's nest, at a convenient spot, where they_would_be secure, and might find subsistence . she selected from her poultry- yard twelve young fowls; i_took four young pigs, two couple of sheep, and two goats . these animals were placed in_the cart, in_which we had previously placed our provisions of every kind, and_the tools and utensils we_might need, not forgetting the rope ladder and_the portable tent; we then harnessed the buffalo, the cow, and_the ass, and departed on_our tour .

Fritz rode before on Lightfoot, to reconnoitre the ground, that we might_not plunge into any difficulties; as, this_time, we went in a new direction, exactly in_the midst between_the rocks and_the shore, that we_might get acquainted with_the whole of_the country that stretched to cape disappointment . we had the usual difficulty, at first, in getting through_the high grass, and_the underwood embarrassed our road, till we were compelled to use the axe frequently . I_made some trifling discoveries that were useful, while engaged in_this labour; amongst others, some roots of trees curved like saddles, and yokes for beasts of draught .I cut away several of_these, and placed them on_the cart . when we had nearly passed the wood, we were struck with_the singular appearance of a little thicket of low bushes, apparently covered with snow . Francis clapped his hands with joy, and begged to_get out_of_the cart that he might make some snowballs .Fritz galloped forward, and returned, bringing me a branch loaded with_this beautiful white down, which, to my great joy, I recognized to_be cotton . it_was a discovery of inestimable value to_us, and my wife began immediately to enumerate all the advantages we_should derive from_it, when i_should_have constructed for her the machines for spinning and weaving the cotton . we soon gathered as_much as filled three bags, intending afterwards to collect the seeds of_this marvellous plant, to sow in_the neighbourhood of tent house .

after crossing the plain of_the cotton-trees, we reached the summit of a hill, from_which the eye rested on a terrestrial paradise .Trees of every sort covered the sides of_the hill, and amurmuring stream crossed the plain, adding to its beauty and fertility . the wood we had just crossed formed a shelter against the north winds, and_the rich pasture offered food for_our cattle . we decided at once that_this should_be the site of_our farm .

we erected our tent, made a fireplace, and set about cooking our dinner . while this_was going on, Fritz and I sought a convenient spot for_our structure; and we met with a group of beautiful trees, at such a distance one from another, as to_form natural pillars for_our dwelling; we carried all our tools here; but as_the day was far advanced, we delayed commencing our work till next_day . we returned to_the tent, and found my wife and her boys picking cotton, with_which they made some very comfortable beds, and we slept peacefully under our canvass roof .

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chapter XXXII .

the trees which I had chosen for_my farmhouse were about a foot in diameter in_the trunk . they formed a long square; the long side facing the sea . the dimensions of_the whole were about twenty-four feet by sixteen .I cut deep mortices in_the trees, about ten feet distant from_the ground, and again ten feet higher, to_form a second story; I then placed in_them strong poles: this_was the skeleton of_my house-- solid, if_not elegant; I placed over this a rude roof of bark, cut in squares, and placed sloping, that_the rain might run off . we fastened these with_the thorn of_the acacia, as our nails were too precious to_be lavished . while procuring the bark, we_made many discoveries . the first was_that of two remarkable trees,-- the Pistacia terebinthus and_the Pistacia atlantica; the next, the thorny acacia, from_which we got the substitute for nails .

the instinct of_my goats led us also to_find out, among_the pieces of bark, that of_the cinnamon, not perhaps equal to_that of Ceylon, but very fragrant and agreeable . but this_was of little value, compared to_the turpentine and mastic I hoped to procure from_the pistachios, to compose a sort of pitch to complete our intended boat .

we continued our work at_the house, which occupied us several_days . we formed the walls of thin laths interwoven with long pliant reeds for about six feet from_the ground; the rest was merely a sort of light trellis- work, to admit light and air . the door opened on_the front to_the sea . the interior consisted simply of a series of compartments, proportioned to_the guests they were to contain . one small apartment was for ourselves, when we chose to visit our colony . on_the upper story was a sort of hayloft for_the fodder . we projected plastering the walls with clay; but these finishing touches we deferred to a future time, contented that we had provided a shelter for_our cattle and fowls . to accustom them to_come to_this shelter of themselves, we took care to_fill their racks with_the food they liked best, mingled with salt; and this we proposed to renew at intervals, till the habit of coming to_their houses was fixed . we all laboured ardently, but the work proceeded slowly, from_our inexperience; and_the provisions we had brought were nearly exhausted . I_did_not wish to return to falcon's nest till I had completed my new establishment, and therefore determined to send Fritz and jack to look after_the animals at home, and bring back a fresh stock of provisions . our two young couriers set out, each on_his favourite steed, Fritz leading the ass to bring back the load, and jack urging the indolent animal forward with_his whip .

during their absence, Ernest and I_made a little excursion, to add to our provision-- if_we_could meet with_them, some potatoes and cocoa-nuts . we ascended the stream for some_time, which led us to a large marsh, beyond which we discovered a lake abounding with water- fowl . this lake was surrounded by tall, thick grass, with ears of a grain, which I_found to_be a very_good, though small, sort of rice . as_to_the lake itself, it_is only a Swiss, accustomed from_his infancy to look on_such smooth, tranquil waters, that_can comprehend the happiness we_felt on looking upon_this . we fancied we were once more in Switzerland, our own dear land; but the majestic trees and luxuriant vegetation soon reminded us we were no longer in Europe, and_that the ocean separated us from_our native home .

in_the mean time, Ernest had brought down several birds, with a skill and success that surprised me .a little after, we saw Knips leap off the back of_his usual palfrey, Flora, and, making his way through_the rich grass, collect and carry rapidly to_his mouth something that seemed particularly to_please his palate . we followed him, and, to our great comfort, were able to refresh ourselves with_that delicious strawberry called in Europe the chili or pineapple strawberry . we ate plentifully of_this fruit, which_was of enormous size; Ernest especially enjoyed them, but did_not forget the absent; he filled Knips's little pannier with_them, and I covered them with large leaves, which I fastened down with reeds, lest he_should take a fancy to help himself as_we went home . i_took, also, a specimen of rice, for_the inspection of_our good housekeeper, who_would, I_knew, rejoice in_such an acquisition .

we proceeded round the lake, which presented a different scene on every side . this_was one_of_the_most lovely and fertile parts we had yet seen of_this country .Birds of all kinds abounded; but we were particularly struck with a pair of black swans, sailing majestically on_the water . their plumage was perfectly black and glossy, except the extremity of_the wings, which_was white . Ernest would_have tried his skill again, but I forbade

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