The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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unknown shore without great emotion: it might_be inhabited by a barbarous and cruel race, and I almost doubted the prudence of thus risking my three remaining children in_the hazardous and uncertain search after our dear lost ones . i_think I_could_have borne my bereavement with Christian resignation, if I had seen my wife and child die in my arms; i_should then have_been certain they were happy in_the bosom of_their god; but to_think of_them in_the power of ferocious and idolatrous savages, who_might subject them to cruel tortures and death, chilled my very blood .I demanded of_my sons, if_they felt courage to pursue the difficult and perilous enterprise we had commenced . they all declared they_would rather die than not find their mother and brother .Fritz even besought me, with Ernest and jack, to return to_the island, in_case the wanderers should come back, and be terrified to_find it deserted; and to leave him the arms, and_the means of trafficking with_the savages, without any uneasiness about his prudence and discretion .

I assured him I_did_not distrust his courage and prudence, but I showed him the futility of hoping that_the savages would voluntarily carry back their victims, or that they_could escape alone . and should he meet with_them here, and succeed, how could he carry his recovered treasures to_the island ?

" no, my children," said I, " we_will all search, in_the confidence that god will bless our efforts ."

" and perhaps sooner than we_think," said Ernest ." perhaps they_are in_this island ."

jack was running off immediately to search, but I called my little madcap back, till we arranged our plans .I advised that two of us should remain to watch the coast, while the other two penetrated into_the interior . the first thing necessary to ascertain was if_the island was inhabited, which might easily be_done, by climbing some tree that overlooked the country, and remarking if there were any traces of_the natives, any huts, or fires lighted, &c . those who_made any discovery were immediately to inform the rest, that we_might go in a body to recover our own . if nothing announced that_the island was inhabited, we were to leave it immediately, to search elsewhere . all wished to_be of_the party of discovery . at_length, Ernest agreed to remain with me, and watch for any arrivals by sea . before we parted, we all knelt to invoke the blessing of god on_our endeavours .Fritz and jack, as_the most active, were to visit the interior of_the island, and to return with information as_soon_as_possible . to_be prepared for any chance, I_gave them a game- bag filled with toys, trinkets, and pieces of money, to_please the savages; I also made them take some food .Fritz took his gun, after promising me he_would_not fire it, except to defend his life, lest he_should alarm the savages, and induce them to remove their captives . jack took his lasso, and_they set out with_our benedictions, accompanied by_the brave Turk, on whom I depended much to discover his mistress and_his companion Flora, if she was still with her friends .

as_soon_as they were out of sight, Ernest and I set to work to conceal as_much as possible our pinnace from discovery . we lowered the masts, and hid with great care under the deck the precious chest with_our treasure, provisions, and powder . we got our pinnace with great difficulty, the water being low, behind a rock, which completely concealed it on_the land- side, but it_was still visible from_the sea . Ernest suggested that we_should entirely cover it with branches of trees, so_that it might appear like a heap of bushes; and we began to cut them immediately with two hatchets we_found in_the chest, and which we speedily fitted with handles . we_found also a large iron staple, which Ernest succeeded, with a hammer and pieces of wood, in fixing in_the rock to moor the pinnace to . we had some difficulty in finding branches within our reach; there were many trees on_the shore, but their trunks were bare . we_found, at last, at some distance, an extensive thicket, composed of a beautiful shrub, which Ernest recognized to_be a species of mimosa . the trunk of_this plant is knotty and stunted, about three or four feet high, and spreads its branches horizontally, clothed with beautiful foliage, and so thickly interwoven, that_the little quadrupeds who make their dwellings in_these thickets are obliged to open covered roads out_of_the entangled mass of vegetation .

at_the first blow of_the hatchet, a number of beautiful little creatures poured forth on all sides . they resembled the kangaroos of_our island, but were smaller, more elegant, and remarkable for_the beauty of_their skin, which_was striped like that of_the zebra .

" it_is_the striped kangaroo," cried Ernest, " described in_the voyages of Peron . how I long to_have one . the female should_have a pouch to contain her young ones ."

he lay down very still at_the entrance of_the thicket, and soon had the satisfaction of seizing two, which leaped out almost into his arms . this animal is timid as_the hare of_our country . they endeavoured to escape, but Ernest held them fast . one was a female, which had her young one in her pouch, which my son took out very cautiously . it_was an elegant little creature, with a skin like its mother, only more brilliant-- it_was full of graceful antics . the poor mother no longer wished to escape; all her desire seemed to_be to recover her offspring, and to replace it in its nest . at last, she succeeded in seizing and placing it carefully in security . then her desire to escape was so strong, that Ernest could scarcely hold her . he_wished much to_keep and tame her, and asked my permission to empty one_of_the chests for adwelling for her, and to carry her off in_the pinnace; but I refused him decidedly .I explained to him the uncertainty of_our return to_the island, and_the imprudence of adding to our cares, and, " certainly," added I, " you_would_not wish this poor mother to perish from famine and confinement, when your own mother is herself a prisoner ? "

his eyes filled with tears, and he declared he_would_not_be such a savage as to_keep a poor mother in captivity ." go, pretty creature," said he, releasing her, " and may my mother be as fortunate as_you ." she soon profited by his permission, and skipped off with her treasure .

we continued to cut down the branches of_the mimosa; but they were so entangled, and_the foliage so light, that we agreed to extend our search for some thicker branches .

as_we left the shore, the country appeared more fertile: we_found many unknown trees, which bore no fruit; but some covered with delicious flowers . Ernest was in_his element, he_wanted to collect and examine all, to endeavour to discover their names, either from analogy to other plants, or from descriptions he had read . he thought he recognized the _melaleuca_, several kinds of mimosa_, and_the Virginian pine, which_has the largest and thickest branches . we loaded ourselves with as_much as we_could carry, and, in two_or_three journeys, we had collected sufficient to_cover the vessel, and to_make a shelter for ourselves, if_we were obliged to_pass the night on shore .I had given orders to my sons that both were to return before night, at all events; and if_the least hope appeared, one was to run with all speed to_tell us . all my fear was_that they_might lose their way in_this unknown country: they_might meet with lakes, marshes, or perplexing forests; every moment i_was alarmed with_the idea of some new danger, and never did any day seem so_long . Ernest endeavoured, by every means in_his power, to comfort and encourage me; but the buoyancy of spirit, peculiar to youth, prevented him dwelling long on one painful thought . he amused his mind by turning to search for_the marine productions with_which the rocks were covered: sea- weed, mosses of_the most brilliant colours, zoophytes of various kinds, occupied his attention . he brought them to_me, regretting that he_could_not preserve them .

"Oh ! if_my dear mother could_see them," said he, " or if Fritz could paint them, how they_would amuse Francis ! "

this recalled our sorrows, and my uneasiness increased .

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chapter L .

all was so still around us, and_our pinnace was so completely hidden with its canopy of verdure, that I_could_not help regretting that I had_not accompanied my sons . it_was now too late, but my steps involuntarily turned to_the road I had seen them take, Ernest remaining on_the rocks in search of natural curiosities; but i_was suddenly recalled by a cry from Ernest--

" father, a canoe ! a canoe ! "

" alas ! is_it not ours ? " I_said, rushing to_the shore, where, indeed, I_saw beyond the reefs a canoe, floating lightly, apparently filled with_the islanders, easy to distinguish from their dark complexion . this canoe did_not resemble ours; it_was longer, narrower, and seemed to_be composed of long strips of bark, quite rough, tied together at each end, which gave somewhat of a graceful form to_it, though it evidently belonged to_the infancy of_the art of navigation . it_is almost inconceivable how these frail barks resist the slightest storm; but these islanders swim so_well, that even if_the canoe fills, they jump out, empty it, and take their places again . when landed, one_or_two men take up the canoe and carry it to_their habitation . this, however, appeared to_be provided with out-riggers, to preserve the equilibrium, and six savages, with a sort of oars, made it fly like the wind . when it passed the part of_the island where we were, we hailed it as loudly as we_could; the savages answered by frightful cries, but showed no intention of approaching us or entering the bay; on_the contrary, they went on with great rapidity, continuing their cries .I followed them with my eyes as far as I_could in speechless emotion; for either my fancy deceived me, or I faintly distinguished a form of fairer complexion than_the dark-hued beings who surrounded him--features or dress I could_not_see; on_the whole, it_was a vague impression, that I trembled alike to_believe or to doubt . Ernest, more active than I, had climbed a sand- bank, and, with_his telescope, had commanded a better view of_the canoe . he watched it round a point of land, and then came down almost as_much agitated as myself .I ran to him and said--

" Ernest, was_it your mother ? "

" no, papa; I_am certain it_was not my mother," said he ." neither was_it Francis ."

here he_was silent: a cold shuddering came over me .

" why are_you silent ? " said I; " what do_you_think ? "

" indeed, papa, I_could distinguish nothing," said he, " even with_the telescope, they passed so quickly . would that_it were my mother and brother, we_should then be_sure they were living, and might follow them . but a thought strikes me: let_us free the pinnace, and sail after_the canoe . we_can go quicker than they with_the sail; we_shall overtake them behind the cape, and then we_shall at_least be satisfied ."

I hesitated, lest my sons should come back; but Ernest represented to_me that we were only fulfilling the wishes of Fritz; besides, we_should return in a short time; he added, that he_would soon disencumber the pinnace .

" soon," cried I, " when we_have_been at_least two hours in covering it ."

" yes," said he; " but we had a dozen journeys to_make to_the trees then; i_will_have it ready in less_than half an hour ."

I assisted him as actively as I_could, though not with good heart, for i_was uneasy about abandoning my sons . i_would_have given worlds to_see them arrive before our departure; to_have their assistance, which_was of much consequence in_the pinnace, and to_know they were safe .I often left off my work to_take a glance into_the interior of_the island, hoping to_see them . frequently I mistook the trees in_the twilight, which_was now coming on, for moving objects . at last, i_was not deceived, I_saw distinctly a figure walking rapidly .

" they_are here ! " I cried, running forward, followed by Ernest; and we soon saw a dark-coloured figure approaching .I concluded it_was a savage, and, though disappointed, was not alarmed, as he_was alone .I stopped, and begged Ernest to recollect all the words he had met with in_his books, of_the language of_the savages . the black man approached; and conceive my surprise when I heard him cry, in my own language--

"Don't be alarmed, father, it_is I, your son Fritz ."

" is_it possible," said I; " can I believe it ? and jack ? what have_you done with my jack ? where is he ? speak .. .. "

Ernest did_not ask . alas ! he_knew too well; he had seen with_his telescope that_it_was his dear brother jack that was in_the canoe with_the savages; but he had_not dared to_tell me . i_was in agony .Fritz, harassed with fatigue, and overwhelmed with grief, sunk down on_the ground .

"Oh father ! " said he, sobbing, "I dread to appear before_you without my brother ! I_have lost him . can_you ever forgive your unfortunate Fritz ? "

"Oh yes, yes; we_are all equally unfortunate," cried I, sinking down beside my son, while Ernest seated himself on_the other side to support me .I then besought Fritz to_tell me if_the savages had murdered my dear boy . he assured me that he_was not killed, but carried off by_the savages; still he hoped he_was safe . Ernest then told me he had seen him seated in_the canoe, apparently without clothes, but not stained black

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