The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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by Otaheite, to fetch a cargo of furs for china, and then to_proceed from canton to England .a violent storm, which lasted several_days, drove them out of_their course . for many days they wandered in unknown seas, and_the ship was so injured by_the storm, that_the captain looked out for some port to repair it . they discovered a rocky coast, and, as_the violence of_the wind was lulled, ventured to approach the shore . at a short distance they anchored, and sent a boat to examine the coast . lieutenant bell, who went with_the boat, knew a little German . they were some_time before_they could venture to land among_the rocks which guarded the island, but, turning the promontory, they saw safety Bay, and entering it, were astonished to_see a handsome pinnace and boat at anchor, near the strand a tent, and in_the rock doors and windows, like those of a European house .

they landed, and saw a middle- aged man coming to meet them, clothed in European fashion, and well armed . after a friendly salutation, they first spoke in German and then in English . this_was the good father; the family were at falcon's nest, where they were spending the summer . he had seen the vessel in_the morning through his telescope, but, unwilling to alarm, or to encourage hopes that might_be vain, he had_not spoken of it, but come alone towards the coast .

after much friendly conference, the party were regaled with all hospitality at tent house, the good Swiss gave the lieutenant this first part of_his journal for_the perusal of captain Johnson, and, after an hour's conversation, they separated, hoping to_have a pleasant meeting next_day .

but heaven decreed it otherwise . during the night, another fearful storm arose; the adventurer lost its anchor, and was driven out to sea; and, after several_days of anxiety and danger, found itself so_far from_the island, and so_much shattered, that all thoughts of returning were given up for that_time, and captain Johnson reluctantly relinquished the hope of rescuing the interesting family .

thus it happened that_the first part of_this journal was brought to England, and from thence sent to_me, a friend of_the family, in Switzerland, accompanied by a letter from_the captain, declaring, that he could_have no rest till he_found, and became acquainted with, this happy family; that he_would search for_the island in_his future voyages, and either bring away the family, or, if_they preferred to remain, he_would send out from England some colonists, and everything that might_be necessary to promote their comfort .a rough map of_the island is added to_the journal, executed by Fritz, the eldest son .

* * * * *

continuation of_the journal .

chapter XXXIII .

I left the reader at_the moment in_which I had placed the first part of_my journal in_the hands of lieutenant bell, to deliver to captain Johnson, of_the English vessel the Adventurer_, expecting him to return the next_day with lieutenant bell . we separated in_this hope, and i_thought it necessary to inform my family of_this expected visit, which might decide their future lot . my wife and elder sons might wish to seize this only occasion that might occur to revisit their native country-- to quit their beloved island, which would doubtless cost them much sorrow at_the last moment, but was necessary to_their future comfort . I_could_not help feeling distressed at_the prospect of_my dear children's solitary old age, and I determined, if they_did_not wish to return with captain Johnson, to request him to send some colonists out to people our island .

it_will_be remembered that I had left home alone, and at an early hour, having perceived a vessel from_the top of_our tree with my telescope .I had set out without breakfast, without giving my sons their tasks, or making any arrangements for_the labours of_the day . my conference with lieutenant bell had_been long; it_was now past noon, and knowing how prompt my wife was to alarm herself, i_was surprised that I_did_not meet her, nor any of_my sons .I began to_be uneasy, and on my arrival I hastily mounted the tree, and found my faithful partner extended on her bed, surrounded by her four sons, and apparently in great pain .I demanded, with a cry of grief, what had happened; all wished to_speak at once, and it_was with some difficulty I learned, that my dear wife, in descending the staircase, had_been seized with a giddiness in her head, and had fallen down and injured herself so_much, that she was unable to rise without assistance; she was now enduring great pain in her right leg and in her left foot ." Ernest and I," added Fritz, " carried her without delay to her bed, though not without difficulty, for_the staircase is so narrow; but she continued to_get worse, and we_did_not know what to_do ."

_Jack . I_have rubbed her foot continually, but it swells more and more, as_well as her leg, which I dare not touch, it hurts her so_much .

_Ernest .I remember, father, that of_the chests that we brought from_the ship there_is one unopened, which_is marked "_medicines,"_-- may it not contain something that_will relieve mamma ?

_Father . perhaps it may, my son . you_did well to remember it; we_will go to tent house for_it .Fritz, you shall accompany me to assist in bringing it .

I wished to_be alone with Fritz, to consult him about_the English vessel, and was glad of_this opportunity . before I left my wife, I intended to examine her leg and foot, which were exceedingly painful . when i_was preparing to enter the church, I had studied medicine and practical surgery, in_order_to_be_able to administer to_the bodily afflictions of_my poor parishioners, as_well as to_their spiritual sorrows . I_knew how to bleed, and could replace a dislocated limb .I had often made cures; but since my arrival at_the island I had neglected my medical studies, which happily had_not_been needed .I hoped now, however, to recall as_much of_my knowledge as would_be sufficient to cure my poor wife .I examined her foot first, which I_found to_be violently sprained . she begged me then to look at her leg, and what_was my distress when I_saw it_was fractured above the ancle; however, the fracture appeared simple, without splinters, and easy to cure . I_sent Fritz without delay to procure me two pieces of_the bark of a tree, between which I placed the leg, after having, with_the assistance of_my son, stretched it till the two pieces of broken bone united; I then bound it with bandages of linen, and tied the pieces of bark round the leg, so_that it might_not_be moved .I bound the sprained foot very tightly, till I_could procure the balsam which I expected to_find in_the chest . I_felt assured, that_the giddiness of_the head, which had caused her fall, proceeded from some existing cause, which I suspected, from_the pulse and_the complexion, must_be afulness of blood; and it appeared to_be necessary to_take away some ounces, which I persuaded her to allow me to_do, when i_should_have brought my medicine- chest and instruments from tent house .I left her, with many charges, to_the care of_my three younger sons, and proceeded to tent house with Fritz, to_whom I now related my morning adventure, and consulted him how we_should mention it to_his mother .Fritz was astonished . I_saw how his mind was employed; he looked round on_our fields and plantations, increasing and prospering .

" we_must not tell her, father," said he ." i_will_be at tent house early in_the morning; you_must give_me some commission to execute; i_will await the arrival of_the captain, and tell him that my dear mother is ill,-- and_that he_may return as he_came ."

" you speak rashly, Fritz," answered I ." I_have told you that_this ship has suffered much from_the storm, and needs repairs . have_you not often read the golden rule of_our divine master, do unto others as_you_would_have others do unto you ? our duty is to receive the captain into our island, and to assist him in repairing and refitting his vessel ."

" and he_will_find," said he, " we_know something of_that kind of work . did you show him our beautiful pinnace and canoe ? but can such a large vessel enter our Bay of safety ? "

" no," replied I; " I_fear there will_not_be sufficient water; but we_will show the captain the large bay at_the other end of_the island, formed by cape disappointment; he_will_find there a beautiful harbour ."

" and he and_his officers may live at_the farm, and we_can go over every day to assist in repairing their vessel," continued Fritz .

" very_well," said I; " and when it_is finished, he_will, in return, give_us a place in_it to return to Europe ."

" to return to Europe, father ! " cried he; " to leave our beautiful winter dwelling, tent house, and_our charming summer residence, falcon's nest; our dear, good animals; our crystals of salt; our farms; so_much that_is our own, and which nobody covets, to return into Europe to poverty, to war, to_those wicked soldiers who_have banished us ! we_want nothing . dear father, can_you consent to leave our beloved island ? "

" you_are right, my dear son," said I ." would to god we_might always remain here happily together; but we_are of different ages, and by_the law of nature we_must one day be separated . consider, my dear son, if you_should survive your brothers, how cheerless it would_be to live quite alone on_this desert island, without any_one to close your eyes . but let_us look at_these trees; I_see they_are tamarind-trees; their fruit contains a pulp which_is very useful in medicine, and which will suit your mother, i_think, as_well as_the juice of_the orange or lemon . we_shall find some_of_the latter at our plantation near tent house; but, in_the mean time, do_you climb the tamarind- tree, and gather some_of_those pods which resemble those of beans, fill one side of_the bag with_them, the other we_will reserve for_the oranges and lemons . not to lose any_time, i_will go on to tent house to seek for_the two chests, and you_can follow me ."

Fritz was up the tamarind- tree in a moment .I crossed family bridge, and soon reached the grotto .I lighted a candle, which I always kept ready, entered the magazine, and found the two chests, labelled .

they were neither large nor heavy, and, having tied cords round them for_the convenience of carrying them, I proceeded to visit the orange and lemon trees, where I_found the fruit sufficiently ripe for lemonade .Fritz came to meet me, with a good supply of tamarinds . we filled the other end of_his sack with oranges and lemons . he threw it over his shoulder, and, neither of us being overloaded, we pursued our way homewards very quickly, notwithstanding the heat, which_was excessively oppressive, though the sun was hidden under the thick clouds, which entirely concealed the sea from_us . nothing was to_be seen but the waves breaking against the rocks .Fritz expressed his fears that a storm was coming on, which might prove fatal to_the vessel, and wished to_take out the pinnace and endeavour to assist captain Johnson . delighted as I_felt with_his fearless humanity, I_could_not consent; I reminded him of_the situation of_his mother ." forgive me, dear father," said he; "I had forgotten everything but the poor vessel . but the captain may do as we_did, leave his ship between_the rocks, and come, with all in_the vessel, to establish themselves here . we_will give them up a corner of_our islands; and if there should_be any ladies amongst them, how pleasant it would_be for mamma to_have a friend ! "

the rain now fell in torrents, and we proceeded with great difficulty . after crossing the bridge, we saw at a distance a very extraordinary figure approaching us; we_could_not ascertain what species of animal it_was . it appeared taller than any of_the monkeys we had seen, and much larger, of a black or brown colour . we_could_not distinguish the head, but it seemed to_have two thick and moveable horns before it . we had fortunately taken no gun with_us, or Fritz would certainly have fired at_this singular animal . but as it rapidly approached us, we soon recognized the step, and_the cry of pleasure which hailed us ." it_is jack," we exclaimed; and in_fact it_was he, who was hurrying to meet us with my large cloak and waterproof caoutchouc boots .I had neglected to_take them, and my dear little fellow had volunteered to bring them to tent house . to protect himself on_the way, he had put the cloak on, covering his head with_the hood, and my boots being too large for him, he had put one on each arm, which he held up_to secure the hood . conceive what a singular figure he_made . notwithstanding our uneasiness, and_our wretched condition, for we were wet to_the skin, we_could_not but laugh heartily at him . i_would_not consent to use the coverings he had brought; neither Fritz nor I_could_be worse for_the distance we had to_go, and jack was younger and more delicate; I obliged him therefore to retain his curious protection; and asked how he had left his mother ." very uneasy," said he, " about you; else i_think she_must be much better, for her cheeks are very red, and her eyes very bright, and she talks incessantly . she would_have come herself to seek you,

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