The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49]
clapped his hands also, with joy, that he had guessed right ." what did I_say, papa ? was I not right ? are there not people within_the rock ? -- friends, I_hope ." he_was approaching the rock, when it appeared to_me to_be shaking; a stone soon fell down, then another .I seized hold of jack, to drag him away, lest he_should_be crushed by_the fragments of rock . at_that moment another stone fell, and we saw two heads appear through_the opening,-- the heads of Fritz and Ernest . judge of_our surprise and joy ! jack was soon through_the opening, and assisting his brothers to enlarge it . as_soon_as I_could enter, I stepped in, and found myself in a real grotto, of a round form, with a vaulted roof, divided by a narrow crevice, which admitted the light and air . it_was, however, better lighted by two large gourd lamps . I_saw my long ladder of ropes suspended from_the opening at_the top, and thus comprehended how my sons had penetrated into_this recess, which it_was impossible to suspect the existence of from_the outside . but how had they discovered it ? and what were they making of it ? these were my two questions . Ernest replied at once to_the last ."I wished," said he, " to_make aresting- place for_my mother, when she came to her garden . my brothers have each built some place for her, and called it by their name .I had a desire that some place in_our island might_be dedicated to Ernest, and I now present you the grotto Ernestine ."

" and after all," said jack, " it_will make a pretty dwelling for_the first of us that marries ."

" silence, little giddy-pate," said I; " where do_you expect to_find a wife in_this island ? do_you_think you shall discover one among_the rocks, as_your brothers have discovered the grotto ? but tell me, Fritz, what directed you here ."

" our good star, father," said he ." Ernest and I were walking round these rocks, and talking of_his wish for aresting- place for_my mother on her way to_the garden . he projected a tent; but the path was too narrow to admit it; and_the rock, heated by_the sun, was like a stove . we were considering what we_should do, when I_saw on_the summit of_the rock a very beautiful little unknown quadruped . from its form i_should_have taken it for a young chamois, if I had_been in Switzerland; but Ernest reminded me that_the chamois was peculiar to cold countries, and he thought it_was a gazelle or antelope; probably the gazelle of guinea or Java, called by naturalists the chevrotain . you_may suppose I tried to climb the rock on_which this little animal remained standing, with one foot raised, and its pretty head turning first to one side and then to_the other; but it_was useless to attempt it here, where the rock was smooth and perpendicular; besides, i_should_have put the gazelle to flight, as_it_is a timid and wild animal .I then remembered there_was a place near tent house where a considerable break occurred in_the chain of rocks, and we_found that, with a little difficulty, the rock might_be scaled by ascending this ravine . Ernest laughed at me, and asked me if I expected the antelope would wait patiently till I got to_it ? no matter, I determined to_try, and i_told him to remain; but he soon determined to accompany me, for he fancied that in_the fissure of a rock he_saw a flower of a beautiful rose-colour, which_was unknown to him . my learned botanist thought it must_be an erica_, or heath, and wished to ascertain the fact . one helping the other, we soon got through all difficulties, and arrived at_the summit; and here we were amply repaid by_the beautiful prospect on every side . we_will talk of_that afterwards, father; I_have formed some idea of_the country which these rocks separate us from . but to return to our grotto .I went along, first looking for_my pretty gazelle, which I_saw licking a piece of rock, where doubtless she found some salt . i_was hardly a hundred yards from her, my gun ready, when i_was suddenly stopped by a crevice, which I_could_not cross, though the opening was not very wide . the pretty quadruped was on_the rock opposite to_me; but of what use would it have_been to shoot it, when I_could_not secure it . i_was obliged to defer it till a better opportunity offered, and turned to examine the opening, which appeared deep; still I could_see that_the bottom of_the cavity was white, like that of_our former grotto .I called Ernest, who was behind me, with_his plants and stones, to impart to him an idea that suddenly struck me . it_was, to_make this the retreat for_my mother . i_told him that I believed the floor of_the cave was nearly on a level with_the path that led to_the garden, and we had only to_make an opening in_the form of a natural grotto, and it would_be exactly what he_wished . Ernest was much pleased with_the idea, and said he_could easily ascertain the level by_means of a weight attached to a string; but though he_was startled at_the difficulty of descending to our labour every day, and returning in_the evening, he_would_not agree to my wish of beginning at_the outside of_the rock, as_we had done in_our former grotto, he had several reasons for wishing to work from within .' in_the first place,' said he, ' it_will_be so_much cooler this summer weather; we_should_be soon unable to_go on labouring before_the burning rock; then our path is so narrow, that we should_not know how to dispose of_the rubbish; in_the interior, it_will serve us to_make a bench round the grotto; besides, i_should_have such pleasure in completing it secretly, and unsuspected, without any assistance or advice except yours, my dear Fritz, which I accept with all my heart; so pray find out some means of descending and ascending readily .'

"I immediately recollected your rope ladder, father; it_was forty feet long, and we_could easily fasten it to_the point of_the rock . Ernest was delighted and sanguine . we returned with all speed . we took first a roll of cord and some candles; then the rope ladder, which we rolled up as_well as we_could, but had great difficulty in conveying it up the rock; once_or_twice, when_the ascent was very difficult, we were obliged to fasten a cord to_it, and draw it up after us; but determination, courage, and perseverance overcame all obstacles . we arrived at_the opening, and, on sounding it, we were glad to_find our ladder would_be long enough to reach the bottom . we then measured the outside of_the rock, and ascertained that_the floor of_the grotto was near the same level as_the ground outside . we remembered your lessons, father, and made some experiments to discover if_it contained mephitic air . we first lighted some candles, which were_not extinguished; we then kindled a large heap of sticks and dried grass, which- burned well, the smoke passing through_the opening like a chimney .Having no uneasiness about_this, we deferred our commencement till the next_day . then we lighted the forge, and pointed some iron bars we_found in_the magazine; these were to_be our tools to break open the rock . we secured, also, your chisel, as_well as some hammers, and all our tools were thrown down below; we then arranged two gourds to_serve us for lamps; and when all was ready, and_our ladder firmly fixed, we descended ourselves; and we_have nothing more to_tell you, except that we were very_glad when we heard your voices outside, at_the very time when our work was drawing to an end . we were_sure, when we distinguished your voices so clearly, that we_must_be near the external air; we redoubled our efforts, and here we_are . now tell us, father, are_you pleased with_our idea ? and will_you forgive us for making a mystery of it ? "

I assured them of_my forgiveness, and my cordial approbation of_their manly and useful enterprise; and made Ernest happy by declaring that_it should always be called the grotto Ernestine .

" thanks to_you all, my dear children," said I; " your dear mamma will now prefer tent house to falcon's nest, and will_have no occasion to risk breaking a limb in descending the winding staircase . i_will assist you to enlarge the opening, and as we_will leave it all the simplicity of a natural grotto, it_will soon be ready ."

we all set to work; jack carried away the loosened stones and rubbish, and formed benches on each side the grotto . with what had fallen outside, he also made two seats in_the front of_the rock, and before evening all was complete .Fritz ascended to unfasten the ladder, and to convey it by an easier road to tent house; he then rejoined us, and we returned to our castle in_the air, which_was henceforward only to_be looked on as a pleasure- house . we resolved, however, to establish here, as_we had done at our farm, a colony of_our cattle, which increased daily: we had now a number of young cows, which were most useful for_our support . we wished, however, for a female buffalo, as_the milk of_that animal makes excellent cheese .Conversing on_our future plans, we soon reached home, and found all well .

* * * * *

chapter XLII .

in_a_few_days we completed the grotto Ernestine . it contained some stalactites; but not so_many as our former grotto . we_found, however, a beautiful block of salt, which resembled white marble, of_which Ernest formed a sort of altar, supported by four pillars, on_which he placed a pretty vase of citron- wood, which he had turned himself, and in_which he arranged some_of_the beautiful erica which had_been the cause of_his discovering the grotto . it_was one of_those occasions when his feelings overcame his natural indolence, when he became for a time the most active of_the four, and brought forward all his resources, which were many . this indolence was merely physical; when not excited by any sudden circumstance, or by some fancy which soon assumed the character of a passion, he loved ease, and to enjoy life tranquilly in study . he improved his mind continually, as_well by his excellent memory, as by natural talent and application . he reflected, made experiments, and was always successful . he had at last succeeded in making his mother a very pretty bonnet . he had also composed some verses, which were intended to celebrate her visit to tent house; and this joyful day being at last fixed, the boys all went over, the evening before, to_make their preparations . the flowers that_the storm had spared were gathered to ornament the fountains, the altar, and_the table, on which_was placed an excellent cold dinner, entirely prepared by_themselves .Fritz supplied and roasted the game,--a fine bustard, the flesh of_which resembles a turkey, and a brace of partridges . Ernest brought pines, melons, and figs; jack should_have supplied the fish, but was able only to procure oysters, crabs, and turtles' eggs . Francis had the charge of_the dessert, which consisted of a dish of strawberries, honeycomb, and_the cream of_the cocoa- nut .I had contributed a bottle of canary wine, that we_might drink mamma's health . all was arranged on a table in_the middle of_the Franciade_, and my sons returned to accompany the expedition next_day .

the morning was beautiful, and_the sun shone brightly on_our emigration . my wife was anxious to set out, expecting she should_have to return to her a๋rial dwelling . though her leg and foot were better, she still walked feebly, and she begged us to harness the cow and ass to_the cart, and to lead them as gently as possible .

" i_will only go a little way the first day," said she, " for I_am not strong enough to visit tent house yet ."

we_felt quite convinced she_would change her opinion when once in her litter .I wished to carry her down the staircase; but she declined, and descended very_well with_the help of_my arm . when_the door was opened, and she found herself once more in_the open air, surrounded by her children, she thanked god, with tears of gratitude, for her recovery, and all his mercies to_us . then the pretty osier carriage arrived . they had harnessed the cow and young bull to_it; Francis answering for_the docility of valiant, provided he guided him himself . accordingly, he_was mounted before, his cane in_his hand, and_his bow and quiver on_his back, very proud to_be mamma's charioteer . my other three boys mounted on their animals, were ready before, to_form the advanced guard, while I proposed to_follow, and watch over the whole . my wife was moved even to tears, and could_not cease admiring her new carriage, which Fritz and jack presented to her as their own work . Francis, however, boasted that he had carded the cotton for_the soft cushion on_which she was to sit, and I, that I had made it .I then lifted her in, and as_soon_as she was seated Ernest came to_put her new bonnet on her head, which greatly delighted her; it_was of fine straw, and so thick and firm that_it might even defend her from_the rain . but what pleased her most was, that_it_was the shape worn by_the

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49]