The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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advanced, that I might_not, perhaps, be_able to return before night . besides, though my wife did_not know we were so near her, she knew they had carried away Francis, and she_would certainly be very uneasy about him .Bara-ourou looked very impatient, and as it_was necessary to answer him, I decided at once; I resigned Francis to_the missionary, entreating him to_take him to_his mother, to_prepare her for_our approach, and to relate the cause of_our delay . i_told my sons, it_was my desire they should accompany me .Fritz agreed rather indignantly, and Ernest with calmness .Mr Willis told the king, that in gratitude to him, and to_do him honour, I and my sons wished to accompany him . he appeared much flattered at_this, made my sons seat themselves on each side of him, endeavoured to pronounce their names, and finished by exchanging names as a token of friendship, calling Fritz, Bara_; Ernest, Ourou_; and himself, Fritz- Ernest .Mr Willis and Francis left us; our hearts were sad to_see them go where all our wishes centred; but the die was cast . the king gave the signal to depart; the canoes took the lead, and we followed . in an hour we saw the royal palace . it_was a tolerably large hut, constructed of bamboos and palm-leaves, very neatly . several women were seated before it, busily employed in making the short petticoats of reeds which they all wore . their hair was very carefully braided in tufts on_the crown of_the head; none were good- looking, except two daughters of_the king, about ten and twelve years old, who, though very dark, were graceful: these, no_doubt, he intended for wives for_my Francis . we disembarked about a hundred yards from_the hut . the women came to meet us, carrying a branch of_the mimosa in each hand; they then performed a singular kind of dance, entwining their arms and shaking their feet, but never moving from_the spot; this they accompanied with a wild chant, which_was anything but musical . the king seemed pleased with it; and, calling his wives and daughters, he showed them his tayo, Bara and Ourou_, calling himself Fritz- Ernest; he then joined in_the dance, dragging my sons with_him, who managed it pretty well . as for_me, he treated me with great respect, always calling me écroué_-- father, and made me sit down on a large trunk of a tree before his house; which_was, doubtless, his throne, for he placed me there with great ceremony, rubbing his royal nose against mine . after_the dance was concluded, the women retired to_the hut, and returned to offer us a collation, served up in_the shells of cocoa-nuts . it_was a sort of paste, composed, I believe, of different sorts of fruit, mixed up with a kind of flour and_the milk of_the cocoa- nut . this mixture was detestable to_me; but I_made up for_it with some kernel of cocoa-nuts and_the bread- fruit .Perceiving that I liked these, Bara-ourou ordered some_of_them to_be gathered, and carried to_the pinnace .

the hut was backed by a wood of palms and other trees, so that_our provision was readily made . still there_was time for_my sons to run to_the pinnace, attended by Parabéry, and bring from_the chest some beads, mirrors, scissors, needles and pins, to distribute to_the ladies . when_they brought the fruit they had gathered, I_made a sign to Bara-ourou to_take them to_see the pinnace; he_called them, and_they followed him timidly, and submitting to_his wishes in everything, they carried the fruit two and two, in a sort of baskets, very skilfully woven in rushes, which appeared to_have a European form . they had no furniture in their dwelling but mats, which were doubtless their beds, and some trunks of trees, serving for seats and tables . several baskets were suspended to_the bamboo which formed the walls, and also lances, slings, clubs, and other similar weapons; from_which I concluded they were a nation of warriors . I_did_not observe much, however, for_my thoughts were in_the_future, and i_was very impatient for_our departure .I hastened to_the pinnace, and my sons distributed their gifts to_the females, who did_not dare to express their delight; but it_was evident in their countenances . they immediately began to adorn themselves with their presents, and appeared to value the mirrors much more than their husbands had done . they soon understood their use, and employed them to arrange with taste the strings of beads round their necks, heads, and arms .

at last the signal was given for_our departure; I rubbed my nose against that of_the king .I added to my presents a packet of nails, and one of gilt buttons, which he_seemed to covet .I went on board my pinnace, and, conducted by_the good Parabéry, we took our way to_that part of_the coast where the dear ones resided whom I so anxiously desired to_see . some_of_the savages accompanied us in their own canoe; we_should_have preferred having only our friend Parabéry, but we were_not the masters .

Favoured by_the wind, we soon reached the shore we had formerly quitted, and found our excellent missionary waiting for_us .

" come," said he, " you_are now going to receive your reward . your wife and children impatiently expect you; they_would_have come to meet you, but your wife is still weak, and jack suffering-- your presence will soon cure them ."

i_was too_much affected to answer .Fritz gave_me his arm, as_much to support me as_to restrain himself from rushing on before . Ernest did the same with Mr Willis; his mildness pleased the good man, who also saw his taste for study, and tried to encourage it . after half an hour's walk, the missionary told us we were now near our good friends . I_saw no sign of a habitation, nothing but trees and rocks; at last I_saw a light smoke among_the trees, and at_that moment Francis, who had_been watching, ran to meet us .

"Mamma is expecting you," said he, showing us the way through a grove of shrubs, thick enough to hide entirely the entrance into a kind of grotto; we had to stoop to_pass into_it . it resembled much the entrance of_the bear's den, which we_found in_the remote part of_our island .a mat of rushes covered the opening, yet permitted the light to penetrate it . Francis removed the matting, calling--

"Mamma, here we_are ! "

a lady, apparently about twenty- even years_of_age, of mild and pleasing appearance, came forward to meet me . she a clothed in a rob mad of palm-leaves tied together, which reached from her throat to her feet, leaving her beautiful arms uncovered . her light hair was braided and fastened up round her head .

" you_are welcome," said she, taking my hand; " you_will_be my poor friend's best physician ."

we entered, and saw my dear wife seated on a bed of moss and leaves; she wept abundantly, pointing out to_me our dear boy by her side .a little nymph of eleven or twelve years old was endeavouring to raise him .

" here are your papa and brothers, jack," said she; " you_are very happy in having what I_have_not: but your papa will_be mine, and you shall be my brother ."

jack thanked her affectionately .Fritz and Ernest, kneeling beside the couch, embraced their mother .Fritz begged her to forgive him for hurting his brother; and then tenderly inquired of jack after his wound . for_me, I_cannot describe my gratitude and agitation; I_could scarce utter a word to my dear wife, who, on her part, sunk down quite overcome on her bed . the lady, who was, I understood, named Madame Hirtel, approached to assist her . when she recovered, she presented to_me Madame Hirtel and her two daughters . the eldest, Sophia, was attending on jack; Matilda, who was about ten or eleven years_of_age, was playing with Francis; while the good missionary, on_his knees, thanked god for having re- united us .

" and for life," cried my dear wife ." my dear husband, I well knew you_would set out to seek me; but how could I anticipate that you_would ever succeed in finding me ? we_will now separate no more; this beloved friend has agreed to accompany us to_the happy island, as I intend to_call it, if I ever have the happiness to reach it again with all I love in_the_world . how graciously god permits us to derive blessings from_our sorrows . see what my trial has produced me: a friend and two dear daughters, for henceforward we_are only_one family,"

we were mutually delighted with_this arrangement, and entreated Mr Willis to visit us often, and to_come and live in_the happy island when his mission was completed .

" i_will consent," said he, " if_you_will come and assist me in my duties; for_which purpose you and your sons must acquire the language of_these islanders . we_are much nearer your island than you_think, for_you took a very circuitous course, and Parabéry, who knows it, declares it_is only a day's voyage with a fair wind . and, moreover, he tells me, that he_is so_much delighted with_you and your sons, that he_cannot part with_you, and wishes me to obtain your permission to accompany you, and remain with_you . he_will_be exceedingly useful to_you: will teach the language to_you all, and will_be a ready means of communication between_us ."

I gladly agreed to_take Parabéry with_us as a friend; but it_was no time yet to_think of departing, as Mr Willis wished to_have jack some days longer under his care; we therefore arranged that I and my two sons should become his guests, as his hut was but a short distance off . we had many things to hear; but, as my wife was yet too weak to relate her adventures, we resolved first to_have the history of Madame Hirtel . night coming on, the missionary lighted a gourd lamp, and, after a light collation of bread- fruit, Madame Hirtel began her story .

* * * * *

chapter LIV .

" my life," she began, " passed without any remarkable events, till the misfortune occurred which brought me to_this island . i_was married, when very young, to Mr Hirtel, a merchant at Hamburg, an excellent man, whose loss I_have deeply felt . i_was very happy in_this Union, arranged by my parents, and sanctioned by reason . we had three children, a son and two daughters, in_the first three years of_our marriage; and M .Hirtel, seeing his family increase so rapidly, wished to increase his income . an advantageous establishment was offered him in_the canary Islands; he accepted it, and prevailed on me to settle there, with my family, for_some_years . my parents were dead, I had no tie to detain me in Europe . i_was going to_see new regions, those fortunate isles I had heard so_much of, and I set out joyfully with my husband and children, little foreseeing the misfortunes before me .

" our voyage was favourable; the children, like myself, were delighted with_the novelties of it . i_was then twenty- three years old; Sophia, seven; Matilda, six; and Alfred, our pretty, gentle boy, not yet five . poor child ! he was_the darling and_the plaything of all the crew ."

she wept bitterly for a few_moments, and then resumed her narration .

" he_was as fair as_your own Francis, and greatly resembled him . we proceeded first to Bourdeaux, where my husband had a correspondent, with_whom he had large dealings; by his means my husband was enabled to raise large sums for_his new undertaking . we carried with_us, in_fact, nearly his whole fortune . we re-embarked under the most favourable auspices-- the weather delightful, and_the wind fair; but we very_soon had a change; we were met by a terrible storm and hurricane, such as_the sailors had never witnessed . for a week our ship was tossed about by contrary winds, driven into unknown seas, lost all its rigging, and was at last so broken, that_the water poured in on all sides . all was lost, apparently; but, in_this extremity, my husband made a last attempt to save us . he tied my daughters and myself firmly to a plank, taking the charge of_my boy himself, as he feared the additional weight would_be too_much for_our raft . his intention was to tie himself to another plank, to fasten this to ours, and, taking his son in_his arms, to_give us a chance of being carried to_the shore, which did_not appear far off .Whilst he_was occupied in placing us, he_gave Alfred to_the care of a sailor who was particularly attached to him .I heard the man say, ' leave him with me, i_will take care to save him .' on_this, M .Hirtel insisted on_his restoring him, and I cried out that he_should_be given to_me . at_that moment the ship, which_was already fallen on its side, filled rapidly with water, plunged, and disappeared with all on board . the plank on_which I and my daughters were fixed alone floated, and I_saw nothing but death and desolation round me ."

Madame Hirtel paused, almost suffocated by_the remembrance of_that awful moment .

" poor woman ! " said my wife, weeping, " it_is five years since_this misfortune . it_was at_the same time as our shipwreck, and was doubtless caused by_the same storm . but how_much more fortunate was I ! I lost none that were dear to_me, and we even had the vessel left for_our use . but, my dear, unfortunate friend, by what miracle were you saved ? "

" it_was he who only can work miracles," said the missionary, " who cares for_the widow and_the orphan, and without whose word not a hair of_the head can perish, who at_that moment gave courage to_the Christian mother ."

" my strength," continued she, " was nearly exhausted, when, after being

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