The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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some traces they were looking out for on_the ground .I heard their shouts for some_time, but they died away, and I recovered from my fears . still, the dread of meeting them overcame even hunger .I had nothing left in my box but some figs, which I kept for_the infant, who was satisfied with_them, and i_told my daughters we_must go to bed without supper . the sleeping infant amused them so_much, that_they readily consented to_give up the figs . he awoke smiling, and_they gave him the figs to suck . in_the mean time, I prepared to release him from_his bondage to_make him more comfortable; and I then saw that_the outer covering of bark was torn by_the teeth of some animal, and even the skin of_the child slightly grazed .I ventured to carry him to_the brook, into which I plunged him two_or_three times, which seemed to_give him great pleasure .

"I ran back to_the cave, which_is, you_see, not more than twenty yards distant, and found Sophia and Matilda very_much delighted at a treasure they had found under the dry leaves in a corner . this_was a great quantity of fruits of various kinds, roots of some unknown plant, and a good supply of beautiful honey, on_which the little gluttons were already feasting . they came directly to_give some on their fingers to_their little doll, as_they called the babe . this discovery made me very thoughtful . was_it possible that we were in a bear's den ! I had read that_they sometimes carried off infants and that_they were very fond of fruits and of honey, of_which they generally had a hoard .I remarked on_the earth, and especially at_the entrance, where the rain had made it soft, the impression of large paws which left me no_doubt . the animal would certainly return to_his den, and we were in_the greatest danger; but where could we go ? the sky, dark with clouds, threatened a return of_the storm; and_the troop of savages might still be wandering about_the island .I had_not courage, just as night set in, to depart with my children; nor could I leave the poor infant, who was now sleeping peacefully, after his honey and figs . his two nurses soon followed his example; but for_me there_was no rest; the noise of_the wind among_the trees, and of_the rain pattering on_the leaves,-- the murmur of_the brook,-- the light bounds of_the kangaroo,-- all made my heart beat with fear and terror; I fancied it was_the bear returning to devour us .I had cut and broken some branches to_place before_the entrance; but these were but a weak defence against a furious and probably famished animal; and if he even did no other harm to my children, i_was sure their terror at_the sight of him would kill them .I paced backwards and forwards, from_the entrance to_the bed, in_the darkness, envying the dear sleepers their calm and fearless rest; the dark- skinned baby slept soundly, nestled warmly between my daughters, till day broke at last, without anything terrible occurring . then my little people awoke, and cried out with hunger . we ate of_the fruits and honey brought us by our unknown friend, feeding, also, our little charge, to_whom my daughters gave the pet name of Minou_, which he still keeps .

"I busied myself with_his toilette . there_was no need to_go to_the brook for a bath, for_the rain came down incessantly .I then folded Matilda's apron round him, which pleased her greatly . the rain ceased for a while, and_they set off for flowers to amuse him . they were scarcely gone when I heard the cries of_the savages again; but this_time they seemed rather shouts of joy and triumph; they sung and chaunted a sort of chorus; but were still at such distance that I had time to recal my daughters, and withdrew them out of sight . i_took Minou with me as a mediator, and placed myself in an angle of_the rock, where I could_see without being seen . they passed, as before, beyond the wood, armed, and two of_them bore at_the end of_their lances something very large and dark, which I_could_not distinguish, but thought might_be some wild beast they had destroyed; afterwards, I flattered myself it might_be the bear, whose return I so greatly dreaded .Following the train was a woman, naked, with her hair hanging down, uttering loud cries, and tearing her face and breast . no one attempted to soothe her; but occasionally one_of_the bearers of_the black mass pointed it out to her; she then became furious, threw herself on_it, and tried to tear it with her teeth and nails . i_was quite overcome with horror and pity .

" that woman, my friends, was Canda, whom you_have just seen .Canda, usually so mild and gentle, was rendered frantic by_the loss of her child,-- her first- born,-- whom she believed was devoured by_the bear .Parabéry, her husband, tried to console her, but was himself in great sorrow . these bears, as I_have since learnt, for there were two of_them, had come from a mountain, at_the foot of which_was Parabéry's hut . they had only this son, and Canda, according to_the custom of_the country, tying it in a piece of bark, carried it on her back . one morning, after having bathed him in_the stream, which_has its source near their abode, she placed him on_the turf a few_moments, while she was employed in some household duties . she soon heard his cries, mingled with a sort of growl; she ran to_the spot, and saw a frightful beast holding her child in its mouth, and running off with it . it_was then more than twenty yards off; her cries brought her husband; she pointed to_the horrible animal, and darted after it, determined to save her child or perish . her husband only stopped to seize his javelin, and followed her, but did_not overtake her till fatigue and_the heat of_the day made her fall, almost senseless, on_the ground .Stopping for a moment to raise and encourage her, he_lost sight of_the bear, and could_not recover the track . all the night,-- that dreadful night of rain, when i_was weeping and murmuring, thinking myself the most unfortunate of women,-- was Canda exposed, without clothes, to_that frightful storm, hopelessly seeking her only child, and not even feeling that_it did rain .Parabéry, not less afflicted, but more composed, went to relate his misfortune to_his neighbours, who, arming themselves, set out, with Parabéry at their head, following the track of_the animal over the wet ground . they discovered it next morning with another bear, so busy devouring a swarm of bees and their honey, that_the savages were able to draw near them .Parabéry pierced one with_his spear, and despatched him with a blow of_his club; one of_his comrades killed the other, and Parabéry tasted the truly savage joy of vengeance . but the poor mother could_not_be so comforted . after wandering through_the rain all night, she reached the party as_they were skinning the bear and dividing the flesh .Parabéry only asked and obtained the skins, to recompense him for_the loss of_his son . they returned home in triumph, Canda following them with bitter cries, tearing her face with a shark's tooth . from observation of_these circumstances, I concluded that Canda must_be the mother of_my little _protégé . my heart sympathized with her, and I even made some steps forward to restore him; but the sight of_the savage crowd, with their tattooed bodies, filled me with_such terror, that I retreated involuntarily to_the grotto, where my children, alarmed by_the noise, were hiding themselves .

"' why do_the people cry out so ? ' said Sophia, ' they frighten me .Don't let them come here, mamma, or they_may carry Minou away,'

"' certainly,' said I; ' and i_should_have no right to forbid them . i_think they_are his friends who_are distressed at losing him; i_wish I_could restore him to_them .'

"'Oh, no ! mamma,' said Matilda .' pray don't give him back; we like him so_much, and we_will_be his little mammas . he_will_be far happier with_us than with those ugly savages, who tied him up like a parcel in_the bark, with_the moss which pricked him so_much; he_is much more comfortable in my apron . how he moves his legs as_if he_wanted to walk; Sophia and_I_will teach him . do let_us keep him, mimi .'

" even if I had decided, it_was now too late; the savages had passed on to some distance .I, however, explained to Matilda the beauty of_the divine precept, ' do unto others as_you_would they should do unto you,' asking her how she would_have liked to_be detained by_the savages, and what, then, would_be the suffering of her own mamma ? she was thoughtful for a moment, and then, embracing Minou and me, ' you_are right, mamma mimi; but if she loves her baby, let her come and seek him,' said the little rebel . in_the mean time, Sophia had_been out, and returned with some brilliant flowers, fresh after_the rain, with_which they made garlands to dress up the infant .'Oh ! if his mamma saw him, she would_be_glad to let_us_have him,' said Matilda . she then explained to her sister who this mamma was, and Sophia shed tears to_think of_the sorrow of_the poor mother .' but how do_you_know, mamma, that she was Minou's mother ? ' demanded she . this question proved that her judgment was forming, and i_took the opportunity of teaching her what information one may derive from observation . she understood me very_well; and when i_told her on what I had founded my idea, she trembled to_think he had_been brought here by a bear, and asked me if_the bear would_have eaten him .

"' I_cannot answer for_it,' said I, ' if_it had_been pressed by hunger; they tell us, that_the bear does no harm to man unless attacked, and_is especially fond of children . but, notwithstanding this, I should_not like to trust it . at all events, the poor babe would_have died, if_we had_not found him .'

"' poor babe, he shall_not die of hunger now,' said she .' let_us give him some figs; but these are_not good; we_must go and seek some more .'

" the rain having ceased, I consented, passing through_the grove, where there_are no fig-trees, to search farther . my daughters had fed the child with honey and water; it appeared quite reconciled to_us, and had ceased to cry .I judged it might_be about eight months old . we soon found some trees covered with_the violet-coloured figs .Whilst I gathered them, the girls made a pretty bed of moss, adorned with flowers, for their little favourite, and fed him with_the fresh fruit, which he enjoyed much; and with their fair hair and rosy faces, and_the little Negro between_them, with_his arch, dark countenance, they formed acharming picture, which affected me greatly ."

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chapter LVI .

" we had_been more than an hour under the tree, when I heard cries again; but this_time i_was not alarmed, for I distinguished the voice of_the disconsolate mother, and I_knew that I_could comfort her . her grief brought her back to_the spot where she thought her child had_been devoured; she wished, as she afterwards told us, when we_could understand her, to search for some remains of him,-- his hair, his bones, or even a piece of_the bark that bound him; and here he_was, full of life and health . she advanced slowly, sobbing, and her eyes turned to_the ground . she was so absorbed in her search, that she did_not see us when we were but twenty yards from her . suddenly, Sophia darted like an arrow to her, took her hand, and said, ' come, Minou is here .'

"Canda neither knew what she saw nor what she heard; she took my daughter for something supernatural, and made no resistance, but followed her to_the fig- tree . even then she did_not recognize the little creature, released from_his bonds, half- clothed, covered with flowers, and surrounded by three divinities, for she took us for such, and wished to prostrate herself before_us . she was still more convinced of it when i_took up her son, and placed him in her arms: she recognized him, and_the poor little infant held out his arms to her . I_can never express to_you the transport of_the mother; she screamed, clasped her child till he_was half- suffocated, rapidly repeating words which we_could_not understand, wept, laughed, and was in a delirium of delight that terrified Minou . he began to cry, and held out his arms to Sophia, who, as_well as Matilda, was weeping at_the sight .Canda looked at them with astonishment; she soothed the child, and put him to her breast, which he rejected at first, but finally seized it, and_his mother was happy . i_took the opportunity to_try and make her comprehend, that_the great animal had brought him here; that we had found him, and taken care of him; and I_made signs for her to_follow me, which she did without hesitation, till we reached the grotto, when, without entering, she fled away with her infant with_such rapidity, that_it_was impossible to overtake her, and was soon out of sight .

"I had some difficulty in consoling my daughters for_the loss of Minou; they thought they should_see him no more, and_that his mother was very ungrateful to carry him off, without even letting them take leave of him . they were still weeping and complaining, when we saw the objects of_our anxiety approaching; but Canda was now accompanied by a man, who was carrying the child . they entered the grotto, and prostrated themselves before_us . you_know Parabéry; his countenance pleased and tranquillized us . as a relation of_the king, he_was

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