The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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black as Fritz was .

"I earnestly wish he had_been," said Fritz; to_that I attribute my escape . but I_am truly thankful to god that you_have seen him, Ernest ." which_way have the monsters gone ? "

Ernest pointed out the cape, and Fritz was anxious that we_should embark without delay, and endeavour to snatch him from_them .

" and have_you learned nothing of your mother and Francis ? " said I .

" alas ! nothing," said he; " though i_think I recognized a handkerchief, belonging to dear mamma, on_the head of a savage . i_will tell you all my adventure as_we go . you forgive me, dear father ? "

" yes, my dear son," said I; "I forgive and pity you; but are_you sure my wife and Francis are_not on_the island ? "

" quite_sure," said he ." in_fact the island is entirely uninhabited; there_is no fresh water, nor game, and no quadrupeds whatever, but rats and kangaroos; but plenty of fruit . I_have filled my bag with bread-fuit, which_is all we_shall need: let_us go ."

we worked so hard, that in a quarter of an hour the branches were removed, and_the pinnace ready to receive us . the wind was favourable for carrying us towards the cape the savages had turned; we hoisted our sail, i_took my place at_the helm; the sea was calm, and_the moon lighted our way . after recommending ourselves to_the protection of god, I desired Fritz to commence his melancholy recital .

" it_will_be melancholy, indeed," said the poor boy, weeping; " if we_do_not find my dear jack, I_shall never forgive myself for not having stained his skin before my own; then he should_have_been with_you now--"

" but I have_you, my dear son, to console your father," said I ." I_can do nothing myself, in my sorrow .I depend on you, my two eldest, to restore to_me what I_have lost . go on, Fritz ."

" we went on," continued he, " with courage and_hope; and as_we proceeded, we_felt that you were right in saying we ought not to judge of_the island by_the borders . you_can form no idea of_the fertility of_the island, or of_the beauty of_the trees and shrubs we met with at every step, quite unknown to_me; some were covered with fragrant flowers, others with tempting fruits; which, however, we_did_not venture to taste, as_we had_not Knips to_try them ."

" did you_see any monkeys ? " asked Ernest .

" not one," replied his brother, " to_the great vexation of jack; but we saw parrots, and all sorts of birds of_the most splendid plumage .Whilst we were remarking these creatures, I_did_not neglect to look carefully about for any trace that might aid our search . I_saw no hut, no sort of dwelling, nor anything that could indicate that_the island was inhabited, and not the slightest appearance of fresh water; and we should_have_been tormented with thirst if_we had_not found some cocoa-nuts containing milk, and an acid fruit, full of juice, which we_have in_our own island-- Ernest calls it the carambolier_; we quenched our thirst with_this, as_well as with_the plant, which we also have, and which contains water in_the stem . the country is flat and open, and its beautiful trees stand at such a distance from each_other, that no one could hide amongst them . but if we_found no dwellings, we often discovered traces of_the savages,-- extinguished fires, remains of kangaroos and of fish, cocoa- nut shells, and even entire nuts, which we secured for ourselves; we remarked, also, footmarks on_the sand . we both wished anxiously to meet with a savage, that we_might endeavour to_make him comprehend, by signs, whom we were in search of, hoping that natural affection might_have some influence even with_these untaught creatures . i_was only fearful that my dress and_the colour of_my skin might terrify them . in_the mean time, jack, with_his usual rashness, had climbed to_the summit of one_of_the tallest trees, and suddenly cried out, 'Fritz, prepare your signs, the savages are landing .Oh ! what black ugly creatures they_are, and nearly naked ! you ought to dress yourself like them, to_make friends with_them . you_can stain your skin with_these,' throwing me down branches of a sort of fruit of a dark purple colour, large as a plum, with a skin like the mulberry .' I_have_been tasting them, they_are very nauseous, and they_have stained my fingers black; rub yourself well with_the juice of_this fruit, and you_will_be a perfect savage,'

"I agreed immediately . he descended from_the tree while I undressed, and with_his assistance I stained myself from head to foot, as you_see me; but don't be alarmed, a single dip in_the sea will make me a European again . the good-natured jack then helped to dress me in a sort of tunic made of large leaves, and laughed heartily when he looked at me, calling me Omnibou_, of whom he had seen a picture, which he declared I exactly resembled .I then wished to disguise him in_the same way, but he_would_not consent; he declared that, when he met with mamma and Francis, he_should fly to embrace them, and_that he_should alarm and disgust them in_such a costume . he_said I_could protect him if_the savages wished to devour him: they were now at hand, and we went forward, jack following me with my bundle of clothes under his arm .I had slung my kangaroo- skin bag of powder and provision on my shoulders, and i_was glad_to_see that most of_the savages wore the skin of_that animal, for_the most part spread out like a mantle over their shoulders; few of_them had other clothes, excepting one, who appeared to_be the chief, and had a tunic of green rushes, neatly woven .I tried to recollect all the words of savage language I_could, but very few occurred to_me . I_said at first '_tayo, tayo_' .I don't know whether they comprehended me, but they paid me great attention, evidently taking me for a savage; only one_of_them wished to seize my gun; but I held it firmly, and on_the chief speaking a word to him, he drew back . they spoke very rapidly, and I_saw by their looks they spoke about us; they looked incessantly at jack, repeating, '_To maiti tata .' jack imitated all their motions, and made some grimaces which seemed to amuse them .I tried in vain to attract their attention .I had observed a handkerchief twisted round the head of him who seemed the chief, that reminded me much of_the one my mother usually wore .I approached him, touched the handkerchief, saying expressively, '_Metoua aîné mère, et tata frère_;' I added, pointing to_the sea, '_pay canot .' but, alas ! they_did_not appear to understand my words . the chief thought I wished to rob him of_his handkerchief, and repelled me roughly .I then wished to retire, and i_told jack to_follow me; but four islanders seized him, opened his waistcoat and shirt, and cried out together, '_Alea téa tata .' in an instant he_was stripped, and_his clothes and mine were put on in a strange fashion by_the savages . jack, mimicking all their contortions, recovered his shirt from one_of_them, put it on, and began to dance, calling on me to_do_the same, and, in a tone as_if singing, repeated, ' make your escape, Fritz, while I_am amusing them; i_will then run off and join you very_soon,' as_if I_could for a moment think of leaving him in_the hands of_these barbarians ! however, I recollected at_that moment the bag you had given me of toys and trinkets; we had thoughtlessly left it under the great tree where I had undressed . i_told jack, in_the same tone, i_would fetch it, if he_could amuse the savages till I returned, which he_might_be certain would_be very_soon .I ran off with all speed, and without opposition arrived at_the tree, found my bag well guarded, indeed, father; for what_was my surprise to_find our two faithful dogs, Turk and Flora, sitting over it ."

"Flora ! " cried I, " she accompanied my dear wife and child into their captivity; they_must_be in_this island-- why have we left it ! "

" my dear father," continued Fritz, " depend on_it, they_are_not there; but I_feel convinced that_the wretches who_have carried off jack, hold dear mamma and Francis in captivity; therefore we_must, at all events, pursue them . the meeting between Flora and me was truly joyful, for i_was now convinced that my mother and Francis were_not far off, though certainly not on_the same island, or their attached friend would_not have quitted them .I concluded that_the chief who had taken my mamma's handkerchief had also taken her dog, and brought her on_this excursion, and_that she had here met with her friend Turk, who had rambled from_us .

" after caressing Flora, and taking up my bag, I ran off full speed to_the spot where my dear jack was trying to divert the barbarians . as I approached, I heard cries,-- not the noisy laughter of_the savages, but cries of distress from my beloved brother,--cries for help, addressed to_me . I_did_not walk--I flew till I reached the spot, and I then saw him bound with a sort of strong cord, made of gut; his hands were fastened behind his back, his legs tied together, and these cruel men were carrying him towards their canoe, while he_was crying out, 'Fritz, Fritz, where are_you ? ' I threw myself desperately on_the six men who were bearing him off . in_the struggle, my gun, which I held in my hand, caught something, and accidentally went off, and--O, father, it_was my own dear jack that I wounded ! I_cannot tell how I survived his cry of ' you_have killed me ! ' and when I_saw his blood flow, my senses forsook me, and I fainted . when I recovered, i_was alone; they had carried him off .I rose, and following the traces of_his blood, arrived fortunately at_the shore just as_they were embarking . god permitted me to_see him again, supported by one_of_the savages, and even to hear his feeble voice cry, ' console yourself, Fritz, I_am not dead; I_am only wounded in_the shoulder; it_is_not your fault; go, my kind brother, as quick as possible to papa, and you_will both'-- the canoe sailed away so swiftly, that I heard no more; but I understood the rest--'_you will both come and rescue me .' but will there be time ? will they dress his wound ? Oh ! father, what have I done ! can_you forgive me ? "

overwhelmed with grief, I_could only hold out my hand to my poor boy, and assure him I_could_not possibly blame him for_this distressing accident .

Ernest, though greatly afflicted, endeavoured to console his brother; he_told him a wound in_the shoulder was not dangerous, and_the savages certainly intended to dress his wound, or they_would_have left him to die .Fritz, somewhat comforted, begged me to allow him to bathe, to divest himself of_the colouring, which_was now become odious to him, as being that of_these ruthless barbarians . i_was reluctant to consent; i_thought it might still be useful, in gaining access to_the savages; but he_was certain they_would recognize him in_that disguise as_the bearer of_the thunder_, and would distrust him .I now recollected to ask what had become of_his gun, and was sorry to learn that_they had carried it off whilst he lay insensible; he himself considered that_it would_be useless to_them, as_they had fortunately left him the bag of ammunition . Ernest, however, regretted the loss to ourselves, this being the third we had lost-- the one we had left in_the canoe being also in_the possession of_the savages . the dogs we missed, too, and Fritz could give no account of_them; we concluded they had either followed the savages, or were still in_the island . this_was another severe sorrow; it seemed as_if every sort of misfortune was poured out upon us .I rested on_the shoulder of Ernest in my anguish .Fritz took advantage of_my silence, and leaped out_of_the pinnace to_have a bath . i_was alarmed at first; but he_was such an excellent swimmer, and_the sea was so calm, that I soon abandoned my fears for him .

* * * * *

chapter LI .

Fritz was now swimming far before_us, and appeared to_have no idea of turning, so_that i_was at once certain he projected swimming on to_the point where we had lost sight of_the savages, to_be the first to discover and aid his brother . although he_was an excellent swimmer, yet the distance was so great, that i_was much alarmed; and especially for_his arrival by night in_the midst of_the savages . this fear was much increased by a very extraordinary sound, which we now heard gradually approaching us; it_was a sort of submarine tempest . the weather was beautiful; there_was no wind, the moon shone in a cloudless sky, yet the waves were swoln as_if by a storm, and threatened to swallow us; we heard at_the same time a noise like violent rain . terrified at_these phenomena, I cried out aloud for Fritz to return; and though it_was almost impossible my voice could reach him, we saw him swimming towards us with all his strength . Ernest and I used all our power in rowing to meet him, so_that we soon got to him . the moment he leaped in, he uttered in a stifled voice, pointing to_the mountains of waves, " they_are enormous marine monsters ! whales, I believe ! such an immense shoal ! they_will swallow us up ! "

" no," said Ernest, quietly; "don't be alarmed; the whale is a gentle and harmless animal, when not attacked . I_am very glad_to_see them so near . we_shall pass as quietly through_the midst of_these colossal creatures, as we_did through_the shining zoophytes: doubtless the whales are searching for_them, for they constitute a principal article of_their food ."

they were now very near us, sporting on_the surface of_the water, or plunging into its abysses, and forcing out columns

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