The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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I_said to_the good missionary,--a little too harshly, perhaps,--"Ah ! if_you were a father ! "

" I_am," said he, " the father of all this flock, and your children are mine; I_am answerable for all . command your sons to_be silent; request the child to_be composed, and leave the rest to_me ."

I immediately took advantage of_the permission to_speak ." dear Francis," said I, holding out my arms, " we_are come to seek you and your mother; after all our dangers, we_shall soon meet again, to part no more . but be composed, my child, and do_not risk the happiness of_that moment by any impatience . trust in god, and in_this good friend that he has_given us, and who has restored to_me the treasures without which I_could_not live ." we then waved our hands to him, and he remained still, but wept quietly, murmuring our names: "Papa, Fritz, Ernest,-- tell me about mamma," said he, at last, in an inquiring tone .

" she does_not know we_are so near her," said I ." how did you leave her ? "

" very_much grieved," said he, " that_they brought me away; but they_have not done me any harm,-- they_are so kind; and we_shall soon all go back to her .Oh ! what joy for her and_our friends ! "

" one word about jack," said Fritz; " how does his wound go on ? "

"Oh, pretty well," answered he; " he has no pain now, and Sophia nurses him and amuses him . how little Matilda would weep when_the savages carried me off ! if you_knew, papa, how kind and good she_is ! "

I had no time to ask who Sophia and Matilda were . they had allowed me to_speak to my son to tranquillize him, but the king now commanded silence, and, still elevated on_the shoulders of_his people, began to harangue the assembly . he_was a middle- aged man, with striking features; his thick lips, his hair tinged with red paint, his dark brown face, which, as_well as his body, was tattooed with white, gave him a formidable aspect; yet his countenance was not unpleasant, and announced no ferocity . in general, these savages have enormous mouths, with long white teeth; they wear a tunic of reeds or leaves from_the waist to_the knees . my wife's handkerchief, which I had recognized at first, was gracefully twisted round the head of_the king; his hair was fastened up high, and ornamented with feathers, but he had nearly removed them all to deck my boy . he placed him at his side, and frequently pointed him out during his speech . i_was on thorns . as_soon_as he had concluded, the savages shouted, clapped their hands, and surrounded my child, dancing, and presenting him fruit, flowers, and shells, crying out, Ouraki ! a cry in_which_the king, who was now standing, joined also .

" what does the word Ouraki mean ? " said I to_the missionary .

" it_is_the new name of your son," answered he; " or rather of_the son of _Bara-ourou_, who has just adopted him ."

" never ! " cried I, darting forward ."Boys, let_us rescue your brother from_these barbarians ! " we all three rushed towards Francis, who, weeping, extended his arms to_us . the savages attempted to repulse us; but at_that moment the missionary pronounced some words in a loud voice; they immediately prostrated themselves on their faces, and we had no difficulty in securing the child . we brought him to our protector, who still remained in_the same attitude in_which he had spoken, with_his eyes and_his right hand raised towards heaven . he_made a sign for_the savages to rise, and afterwards spoke for some_time to_them . what would I_have_given to_have understood him ! but I formed some idea from_the effect of_his words . he frequently pointed to_us, pronouncing the word _éroué_, and particularly addressed the king, who listened motionless to him . at_the conclusion of_his speech, Bara-ourou approached, and attempted to_take hold of Francis, who threw himself into my arms, where I firmly held him .

" let him now go," said Mr Willis, " and fear nothing ."

I released the child; the king lifted him up, pressed his own nose to_his; then, placing him on_the ground, took away the feathers and necklace with_which he had decked him, and replaced him in my arms, rubbing my nose also, and repeating several words . in my first emotion, I threw myself on my knees, and was imitated by my two sons .

" it_is well ! " cried the missionary, again raising his eyes and hands ." thus should you offer thanks to heaven . the king, convinced it_is_the will of god, restores your child, and wishes to_become your friend: he_is worthy to_be so, for he adores and fears your god . may he soon learn to_know and believe all the truths of Christianity ! let_us pray together that_the time may come when, on_these shores, where paternal love has triumphed, I_may see a temple rise to_the father of all,-- the god of peace and love ."

he kneeled down, and_the king and all his people followed his example . without understanding the words of_his prayer, I joined in_the spirit of it with all my heart and soul .

I then presented my offerings to_the king, increasing them considerably . i_would willingly have given all my treasures in exchange for him he had restored to_me . my sons also gave something to each of_the savages, who incessantly cried tayo, tayo .I begged Mr Willis to_tell the king I_gave him my canoe, and hoped he_would use it to visit us in_our island, to_which we were returning . he appeared pleased, and wished to accompany us in_our pinnace, which he_seemed greatly to admire; some of_his people followed him on board to row, the rest placed themselves in_the canoes . we soon entered the sea again, and, doubling the second point, we came to an arm of_the sea much wider, and deep enough for_our pinnace, and which conducted us to_the object of_our dearest hopes .

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chapter LIII .

we were never weary with caressing our dear Francis . we were very anxious to learn from_him all the particulars of_the arrival of_the savages in_our island, the seizure of_his mother and himself, their voyage, and their residence here, and who were the friends they had met with: but it_was impossible, his tawny majesty never left us for a moment, and played with_the boy as_if he had_been a child himself . Francis showed him all the toys from_our chest; he_was extremely amused with_the small mirrors, and_the dolls .a painted carriage, driven by a coachman who raised his whip when_the wheels turned, appeared miraculous to him . he uttered screams of delight as he pointed it out to_his followers . the ticking of_my watch also charmed him; and as I had several more, I_gave him it, showing him how to wind it up . but the first time he tried to_do_it, he broke the spring, and when it_was silent he cared no longer for_it, but threw it on one side . however, as_the gold was very glittering, he_took it up again, and suspending it from_the handkerchief that was wound round his head, it hung over his nose, and formed astriking ornament . Francis showed him his face in a mirror, which royal amusement made him laugh heartily . he asked the missionary if_it_was the invisible and almighty god who had made all these wonderful things .Mr Willis replied, that_it_was he who gave men the power to_make them . I_do_not know whether Bara-ourou comprehended this, but he remained for some_time in deep thought .I profited by_this to ask_the missionary what were the words which had terrified them so when_they wished to_keep my son from me, and which had compelled them to surrender him ?

" i_told them," answered he, " that_the almighty and unseen god, of whom I spoke to_them daily, ordered them, by my voice, to restore a son to_his father; I threatened them with_his anger if_they refused, and promised them his mercy if_they obeyed; and_they did obey . the first step is gained, they know the duty of adoring and obeying god; every_other truth proceeds from_this, and I_have no_doubt that my savages will one day become good Christians . my method of instruction is suited to_their limited capacity .I prove to_them that their wooden idols, made by their own hands, could neither create, hear them, nor protect them . I_have shown them god in_his works, have declared him to_be as good as he_is powerful, hating evil, cruelty, murder, and cannibalism, and they_have renounced all these . in their late wars they_have either released or adopted their prisoners . if_they carried off your wife and son, they intended it for a good action, as_you_will soon understand ."

I_could_not ask Francis any questions, as Bara-ourou continued playing with_him, so turning to Ernest, I asked him what passed when_the savages joined him ?

" when_you left me," said he, "I amused myself by searching for shells, plants, and zoophytes, with_which the rocks abound, and I_have added a good_deal to my collection . i_was at some distance from_the pinnace, when I heard a confused sound of voices, and concluded that_the savages were coming; in_fact, ten or a dozen issued from_the road you had entered, and I_cannot comprehend how you missed meeting them .Fearing they_would attempt to_take possession of_my pinnace, I returned speedily, and seized a loaded musket, though I determined to use it only to defend my own life, or the pinnace .I stood on_the deck in an attitude as bold and imposing as I_could command; but I_did_not succeed in intimidating them . they leaped, one after_the other, on deck, and surrounded me, uttering loud cries . I_could_not discover whether they were cries of joy or of fury; but I showed no fear, and addressed them in a friendly tone, in some words from Capt .Cook's vocabulary; but they_did_not seem to comprehend me, neither could I understand any of theirs except écroué ( father), which they frequently repeated, and _tara-tauo ( woman) . one_of_them had Fritz's gun, from_which I concluded they were of_the party that had carried off jack . i_took it, and showing him mine, endeavoured to_make him understand that_it also belonged to_me . he thought I wished to exchange, and readily offered to return it, and take mine . this_would not have suited me; Fritz's gun was discharged, and I_could_not let them have mine loaded . to_prevent accident, surrounded as i_was, I decided to_give them a fright, and seeing a bird flying above us, i_took aim so correctly, that my shot brought down the bird, a blue pigeon . they were for a moment stupified with terror; then immediately all left the pinnace, except Parabéry; he_seemed to_be pleased with me, often pointing to_the sky, saying mété_, which_means good_, I believe . his comrades were examining the dead bird . some touched their own shoulders, to_try if_they were wounded as_well as_the bird and jack had_been, which convinced me they had carried him off .I tried to_make Parabéry understand my suspicion, and i_think I succeeded, for he_made me an affirmative sign, pointing to_the interior of_the island, and touching his shoulder with an air of pity . i_took several things from_the chest, and gave them to him, making signs that he_should show them to_the others, and induce them to return to_me . he comprehended me very_well, and complied with my wishes . i_was soon surrounded by_the whole party, begging of me . i_was busy distributing beads, mirrors, and small knives when_you came, and we_are now excellent friends . two_or_three of_them returned to_the wood, and brought me cocoa-nuts and bananas . but we_must_be careful to hide our guns, of which_they_have a holy horror . and now, dear father, i_think we ought not to_call these people savages . they_have the simplicity of childhood; a trifle irritates them, a trifle appeases them; they_are grateful and affectionate . I_find them neither cruel nor barbarous . they_have done me no harm, when they_might easily have killed me, thrown me into_the sea, or carried me away ."

" we_must not," said I, " judge of all savage people by_these, who_have_had the benefit of a virtuous teacher .Mr Willis has already cast into their hearts the seeds of_that divine religion, which commands us to_do unto others as we_would they should do unto us, and to pardon and love our enemies ."

while we were discoursing, we arrived at a spot where the canoes had already landed; we were about to_do_the same, but the king did_not seem inclined to quit the pinnace, but continued speaking to_the missionary . i_was still fearful that he_wished to_keep Francis, to_whom he_seemed to_be more and more attached, holding him constantly on_his knee; but at last, to my great joy, he placed him in my arms .

" he keeps his word with_you," said Mr Willis ." you_may carry him to_his mother; but, in return, he wishes you to permit him to_go in your pinnace to_his abode on_the other side of_the strait, that he_may show it to_the women, and he promises to bring it back; perhaps there would_be danger in refusing him ."

I agreed with_him; but still there_was a difficulty in granting this request . if he chose to_keep it, how should we return ? besides, it contained our only barrel of powder, and all our articles of traffic, and how could we expect it would escape pillage ?

Mr Willis confessed he had_not yet been able to cure their fondness for theft, and suggested, as_the only means of security, that i_should accompany the king, and bring the pinnace back, which_was then to_be committed to_the charge of Parabéry, for whose honesty he_would_be responsible .

here was another delay; the day was so_far advanced,

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