The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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in_the bay, we held a council to consider on_which side we were to commence our search . i_thought of returning to_the great bay, from whence our canoe had_been taken; my sons, on_the contrary, thought that_these islanders, content with their acquisition, had_been returning homewards, coasting along the island, when an unhappy chance had led their mother and brother to_the shore, where the savages had seen them, and carried them off . at_the most, they_could but be a day before_us; but that was long enough to_fill us with dreadful anticipations .I yielded to_the opinion of_my sons, which had a great deal of reason on its side, besides the wind was favourable in_that direction; and, abandoning ourselves in full confidence to almighty god, we spread our sails, and were soon in_the open sea .

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chapter XLVIII .

a gentle wind swelled our sails, and_the current carried us rapidly into_the open sea .I then seated myself at_the helm, and employed the little knowledge I had gained during our voyage from Europe in directing our bark, so_that we_might avoid the rocks and coral banks that surrounded our island . my two oldest sons, overcome with fatigue, had no sooner seated themselves on a bench, than they fell into a profound sleep, notwithstanding their sorrows . jack held out the best; his love of_the sea kept him awake, and I surrendered the helm to him till i_took a momentary slumber, my head resting against the stern .a happy dream placed me in_the midst of_my family in_our dear island; but a shout from Ernest awoke me, he_was calling on jack to leave the helm, as he_was contriving to run the vessel among_the breakers on_the coast .I seized the helm, and soon set all right, determined not to trust my giddy son again .

jack, of all my sons, was_the one who evinced most taste for_the sea; but being so young when we_made our voyage, his knowledge of nautical affairs was very scanty . my elder sons had learnt more . Ernest, who had a great thirst for knowledge of every kind, had questioned the pilot on all he had seen him do . he had learned a great deal in theory, but of practical knowledge he had none . the mechanical genius of Fritz had drawn conclusions from what he_saw; this would_have induced me to_place much trust in him in_case of_that danger which I prayed heaven might_be averted . what a situation was mine for a father ! Wandering through unknown and dangerous seas with my three sons, my only hope, in search of a fourth, and of_my beloved helpmate; utterly ignorant which_way we_should direct our course, or where to_find a trace of_those we sought . how often do we allay the happiness granted us below by vain wishes ! I had at one_time regretted that we had no means of leaving our island; now we had left it, and_our sole wish was to recover those we had lost, to bring them back to_it, and never to leave it more .I sometimes regretted that I had led my sons into_this danger . I_might_have ventured alone; but I reflected that I_could_not have left them, for Fritz had said, " if_the savages had carried off the pinnace, i_would_have swum from isle to isle till I had found them ." my boys all endeavoured to encourage and console me .Fritz placed himself at_the rudder, observing that_the pinnace was new and well built, and likely to resist a tempest . Ernest stood on_the deck silently watching the stars, only breaking his silence by telling me he_should_be_able by_them to supply the want of_the compass, and point out how we_should direct our course . jack climbed dexterously up the mast to let me see his skill; we called him the cabin- boy, Fritz was_the pilot, Ernest the astronomer, and I was_the captain and commander of_the expedition . daybreak showed us we had passed far from_our island, which now only appeared a dark speck .I, as_well as Fritz and jack, was of opinion that_it would_be advisable to_go round it, and try our fortune on_the opposite coast; but Ernest, who had_not forgotten his telescope, was certain he_saw land in a direction he pointed out to_us . we took the glass, and were soon convinced he_was right . as day advanced, we saw the land plainly, and did_not hesitate to sail towards it .

as_this appeared the land nearest to our island, we supposed the savages might_have conveyed their captives there . but more trials awaited us before we arrived there . it being necessary to shift the sail, in_order to reach the coast in view, my poor cabin- boy, jack, ran up the mast, holding by_the ropes; but before he reached the sail, the rope which he held broke suddenly; he_was precipitated into_the sea, and disappeared in a moment; but he soon rose to_the surface, trying to swim, and mingling his cries with ours .Fritz, who was_the first to_see the accident, was in_the water almost as_soon_as jack, and seizing him by_the hair, swam with_the other hand, calling on him to_try and keep afloat, and hold by him . when I_saw my two sons thus struggling with_the waves, that were very strong from a land wind, i_should, in my despair, have leaped in after them; but Ernest held me, and implored me to remain to assist in getting them into_the pinnace . he had thrown ropes to_them, and a bench which he had torn up with_the strength of despair .Fritz had contrived to catch one_of_the ropes and fasten it round jack, who still swam, but feebly, as_if nearly exhausted .Fritz had_been considered an excellent swimmer in Switzerland; he preserved all his presence of mind, calling to_us to draw the rope gently, while he supported the poor boy, and pushed him towards the pinnace . at last i_was able to reach and draw him up; and when I_saw him extended, nearly lifeless, at_the bottom of_the pinnace, I fell down senseless beside him . how precious to_us now was_the composed mind of Ernest ! in_the midst of_such ascene, he_was calm and collected; promptly disengaging the rope from_the body of jack, he flung it back to Fritz, to help him in reaching the pinnace, attaching the other end firmly to_the mast . this done, quicker than I_can write it, he approached us, raised his brother so_that he might relieve himself from_the quantity of water he had swallowed; then turning to_me, restored me to my senses by administering to_me some drops of rum, and by saying, " courage, father ! you_have saved jack, and_I_will save Fritz . he has hold of_the rope; he_is swimming strongly; he_is coming; he_is here ! "

he left me to assist his brother, who was soon in_the vessel, and in my arms . jack, perfectly recovered, joined him; and fervently did I thank god for granting me, in_the midst of_my trials, such a moment of happiness . we_could_not help fancying this happy preservation was an augury of_our success in_our anxious search, and_that we_should bring back the lost ones to our island .

"Oh, how terrified mamma would_have_been," said jack, " to_see me sink ! i_thought i_was going, like a stone, to_the bottom of_the sea; but I pushed out my arms and legs with all my strength, and up I rose ."

he as_well as Fritz was quite wet .I had by chance brought some changes of clothes, which I_made them put on, after giving each a little rum . they were so_much fatigued, and i_was so overcome by my agitation, that we were obliged to relinquish rowing, most unwillingly, as_the skies threatened a storm . we gradually began to distinguish clearly the island we wished to approach; and_the land-birds, which came to rest on_our sails, gave_us hopes that we_should reach it before night; but, suddenly, such a thick fog arose, that_it hid every object from_us, even the sea itself, and we seemed to_be sailing among_the clouds . i_thought it prudent to drop our anchor, as, fortunately, we had a tolerably strong one; but there appeared so little water, that I feared we were near the breakers, and I watched anxiously for_the fog to dissipate, and permit us to_see the coast . it finally changed into a heavy rain, which we_could with difficulty protect ourselves from; there_was, however, a half- deck to_the pinnace, under which we crept, and sheltered ourselves . here, crowded close together, we talked over the late accident .Fritz assured me he_was never in any danger, and_that he_would plunge again into_the sea that moment, if he had the least hope_that it would lead him to_find his mother and Francis . we all said the same; though jack confessed that his friends, the waves, had_not received his visit very politely, but had even beat him very rudely .

" but i_would bear twice_as_much," said he, " to_see mamma and dear Francis again . do_you_think, papa, that_the savages could ever hurt them ? Mamma is so good, and Francis is so pretty ! and then, poor mamma is so lame yet; I_hope they_would pity her, and carry her ."

alas ! I_could_not hope as my boy did; I feared that they_would force her to walk .I tried to conceal other horrible fears, that almost threw me into despair .I recalled all the cruelties of_the cannibal nations, and shuddered to_think that my Elizabeth and my darling child were perhaps in their ferocious hands . prayer and confidence in god were the only means, not to console, but to support me, and teach me to endure my heavy affliction with resignation .I looked on my three sons, and endeavoured, for their sakes, to hope and submit . the darkness rapidly increased, till it became total; we concluded it_was night . the rain having ceased, I went out to strike a light, as I wished to hang the lighted lantern to_the mast, when Ernest, who was on deck, called out loudly, " father ! brothers ! come ! the sea is on fire ! " and, indeed, as far as_the eye could reach, the surface of_the water appeared in flames; this light, of_the most brilliant, fiery red, reached even to_the vessel, and we were surrounded by_it . it_was a sight at once beautiful, and almost terrific . jack seriously inquired, if there_was not a volcano at_the bottom of_the sea; and I astonished him much by telling him, that_this light was caused by a kind of marine animals, which in form resembled plants so_much, that_they were formerly considered such; but naturalists and modern voyagers have entirely destroyed this error, and furnished proofs that_they_are organized beings, having all the spontaneous movements peculiar to animals . they feel when_they are touched, seek for food, seize and devour it; they_are of various kinds and colours, and_are known under the general name of zoophytes .

" and this which glitters in_such beautiful colours on_the sea, is called _pyrosoma_," said Ernest ." see, here are some I_have caught in my hat; you_may see them move . how they change colour-- orange, green, blue, like the rainbow; and when_you touch them, the flame appears still more brilliant; now they_are pale yellow ."

they amused themselves some_time with_these bright and beautiful creatures, which appear to_have but a half- life . they occupied a large space on_the water, and their astonishing radiance, in_the midst of_the darkness of_the atmosphere, had such astriking and magnificent effect, that for a few_moments we were diverted from_our own sad thoughts; but an observation from jack soon recalled them .

" if Francis passed this_way," said he, " how he_would_be amused with_these funny creatures, which look like fire, but do_not burn; but I_know he_would_be afraid to touch them; and how_much afraid mamma would_be, as she likes no animals she does_not know .Ah ! how glad I_shall_be to_tell her all about our voyage, and my excursion into_the sea, and how Fritz dragged me by_the hair, and what they call these fiery fishes; tell me again, Ernest; py--py--"

"Pyrosoma, Mr Peron calls them," said Ernest ." the description of_them is very interesting in_his voyage, which I_have read to mamma; and as she_would recollect it, she would_not_be afraid ."

"I pray to god," replied I, " that she may_have nothing more to fear than_the pyrosoma, and_that we_may soon see them again, with her and Francis ."

we all said amen; and, the day breaking, we decided to weigh the anchor, and endeavour to_find a passage through_the reefs to reach the island, which we now distinctly saw, and which seemed an uncultivated and rocky coast .I resumed my place at_the helm, my sons took the oars, and we advanced cautiously, sounding every_minute . what would_have become of us if our pinnace had_been injured ! the sea was perfectly calm, and, after prayer to god, and a slight refreshment, we proceeded forward, looking carefully round for any canoe of_the savages-- it might_be, even our own; but, no ! we were_not fortunate enough to discover any trace of_our beloved friends, nor any symptom of_the isle being inhabited; however, as it_was our only point of hope, we_did_not wish to abandon it . by dint of searching, we_found a small bay, which reminded us of_our own . it_was formed by a river, broad and deep enough for_our pinnace to enter . we rowed in; and having placed our vessel in a creek, where it appeared to_be secure, we began to consider the means of exploring the whole island .

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chapter XLIX .

I_did_not disembark on_this unknown

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