The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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he_was distinguished by wearing a short tunic of leaves; his body was tattooed and stained with various colours; but not his face, which expressed kindness and gratitude, united with great intelligence . he comprehended most of_my signs . I_did_not succeed so_well in understanding him; but saw he meant kindly . in_the mean time my daughters had a more intelligible conversation with Canda and Minou; they half- devoured the latter with caresses, fed him with figs and honey, and amused him so_much, that he_would scarcely leave them .Canda was not jealous of_this preference, but seemed delighted with it; she, in her turn, caressed my daughters, admired their glossy hair and fair skin, and pointed them out to her husband; she repeated Minou after them, but always added another Minou_, and appeared to_think this name beautiful . after some words with Parabéry, she placed Minou-Minou in Sophia's arms, and_they both departed, making signs that they_would return; but we_did_not see them for some_time after .Sophia and Matilda had their full enjoyment of_their favourite; they wished to teach him to walk and to_speak, and_they assured me he_was making great progress . they were beginning to hope his parents had left him entirely, when_they came in sight, Parabéry bending under the weight of two bear-skins, and a beautiful piece of matting to close the entrance to my grotto; Canda carried a basket on her head filled with fine fruit; the cocoa, the bread- fruit ( which they call rima_), pine-apples, figs, and, finally, a piece of bear's flesh, roasted at_the fire, which I_did_not like; but I enjoyed the fruits and_the milk of_the cocoa- nut, of_which Minou-Minou had a good share . they spread the bear-skins in_the midst of_the grotto; Parabéry, Canda, and_the infant, between_them, took possession of one without ceremony, and motioned to_us to_make our bed of_the other . but the bears having only been killed the evening before, these skins had an intolerable smell . I_made them comprehend this, and Parabéry immediately carried them off and placed them in_the brook, secured by stones . he brought us in exchange a heap of moss and leaves, on_which we slept very_well .

" from_this moment we became one family .Canda remained with_us, and repaid to my daughters all the care and affection they bestowed on Minou-Minou . there never was a child had more indulgence; but he deserved it, for_his quickness and docility . at_the end of a few_months he began to lisp a few words of German, as_well as his mother, of whom I was_the teacher, and who_made rapid progress .Parabéry was very little with_us, but he undertook to_be our purveyor, and furnished us abundantly with everything necessary for_our subsistence .Canda taught my daughter to_make beautiful baskets,-- some, of a flat form, served for_our plates and dishes .Parabéry made us knives from sharp stones . my daughters, in return, taught Canda to sew . at_the_time of_our shipwreck we had, each of us, in her pocket, a morocco housewife, with a store of needles and thread . by_means of_these we had mended our linen, and we now made dresses of palm-leaves . the bear-skins, washed in_the stream, and thoroughly dried in_the burning sun, have_been very useful to_us in_the cold and rainy season . now that we had guides, we_made, in_the fine season, excursions to different parts of_the island .Minou-Minou soon learned to walk, and being strong, like all these islanders, would always accompany us . we went one day to_the sea- shore .I shuddered at_the sight, and Canda, who knew that my husband and child had perished in_the sea, wept with me . we now spoke each_other's language well enough to converse . she told me that a black friend ( Emily bowed to Mr Willis) had arrived in aneighbouring island, to announce to_them that there_was a being, almighty and all- merciful, who lived in heaven, and heard all they said . her comprehension of_this truth was very confused, and I endeavoured to_make it more clear and positive .

"' I_see very_well,' said she, ' that you_know him . is_it to him that you speak every morning and evening, kneeling as we_do before our king Bara-ourou ? '

"' yes, Canda,' said I, ' it_is before him who is_the king of Kings, who gave_us our life, who preserves it, and bestows on us all good, and who promises us still more when_this life is past .'

"' was_it he who charged you to_take care of Minou-Minou, and to restore him to_me ? ' asked she .

"' yes, Canda; all that you or I_do that_is good, is put into our hearts by him .'

"I thus tried to_prepare the simple mind of Canda for_the great truths that Mr Willis was to teach her ."

" you left me little to_do," said Mr Willis ." I_found Parabéry and Canda prepared to_believe, with sincere faith, the holy religion I_came to teach-- the god of_the white people was_the only_one they adored . I_knew Parabéry, he had come to hunt seals in_the island where i_was established, and i_was struck by his appearance . what_was my astonishment to_find, that when I spoke to him of_the one true god, he_was no stranger to_the subject . he had even some ideas of aSaviour, and of future rewards and punishments .

"' it was_the white lady,' said he, ' who taught me this; she teaches Canda and Minou-minou, whose life she saved, and whom she_is bringing up to_be good like herself .'

"I had a great desire," continued Mr Willis, " to_become acquainted with my powerful assistant in_the great work of_my mission . i_told Parabéry this, who offered to bring me here in_his canoe; I_came and found, in a miserable cave, or rather in a bear's den, all the virtues of mature age united to_the charms of youth; a resigned and pious mother, bringing up her children, as women should_be brought up, in simplicity, forbearance, and love of industry; teaching them, as_the best knowledge, to love god with all their heart, and their neighbour as themselves . under the inspection of_their mother, they were educating the son of Parabéry . this child, then four years and a half old, spoke German well, and knew his alphabet, which Madame Hirtel traced on_the floor of_the grotto; in_this_way she taught her daughters to read; they taught Minou-minou, who, in_his turn, teaches his parents .Parabéry often brings his friends to_the grotto, and Madame Hirtel, having acquired the language, casts into their hearts the good seed, which I venture to hope will_not_be unfruitful .

"Finding these people in_such a good state, and wishing to enjoy the society of a family, like myself, banished to a remote region, I decided to_take up my abode in_this island .

"Parabéry soon built me a hut in_the neighbourhood of_the grotto; Madame Hirtel compelled me to_take one of her bear-skins . I_have by degrees formed my establishment, dividing with my worthy neighbour the few useful articles I brought from Europe, and we live a tranquil and happy life .

" and now comes the time that brought about our meeting . some_of_our islanders, in afishing expedition, were driven by_the wind on_your island . at_the entrance of a large bay, they found a small canoe of bark, carefully moored to a tree . either their innate propensity for theft, or the notion that_it had no owner, prevailed over them, and_they brought it away . i_was informed of_this, and was curious to_see it; I recognized at once that_it_was made by Europeans: the careful finish, the neat form, the oars, rudder, mast, and triangular sail, all showed that_it had_not_been made by savages . the seats of_the rowers were made of planks, and were painted, and what further convinced me was, that I_found in_it a capital gun, loaded, and a horn of powder in a hole under one_of_the seats .I then made particular inquiries about_the island from whence they had brought the canoe; and all their answers confirmed my idea that_it must_be inhabited by a European, from whom they had perhaps taken his only means of leaving it .

" restless about_this fancy, I tried to_persuade them to return and discover if_the island was inhabited . I_could_not prevail on them to restore the canoe; but, seeing me much agitated, they resolved secretly to procure me a great pleasure as_they thought, by returning to_the island and bringing away any_one they_could meet with, whether he_would or not .Parabéry, always the leader in perilous enterprises, and who was so attached to_me, would_not_be left out in one which_was to_produce me such pleasure . they set out, and you_know the result of_their expedition .I leave it to your wife to_tell you how she was brought away, and pass on to_the time of_their arrival . my people brought them to_me in triumph, and were vexed that_they had only found one woman and a child, whom I_might give to_the white lady . this I_did promptly . your wife was ill and distressed, and I carried her immediately to_the grotto . there she found a companion who welcomed her with joy; Francis replaced her own lost Alfred, and_the two good mothers were soon intimate friends . but, notwithstanding this solace, your Elizabeth was inconsolable at_the separation from her husband and children, and terrified at_the danger to_which you_would expose yourself in searching for her . we were even afraid she_would lose her reason, when_the king came to_take away Francis . he had seen him on_his arrival, and was much taken with_his appearance; he_came again to_see him, and resolved to adopt him as his son . you_know what passed on_this subject; and now you_are once more united to all those who_are dear to_you .

" bless god, brother, who knows how to_produce good from what we_think evil, and acknowledge the wisdom of_his ways . you_must return all together to your island; I_am too_much interested in_the happiness of Emily to wish to detain her; and if god permits me, when my missions are completed, i_will come to end my days with_you, and to bless your rising colony ."

I suppress all our reflections on_this interesting history, and_our gratitude for_the termination of_our trials, and hasten to_the recital, which, at my particular entreaty, my wife proceeded to_give us .

* * * * *

chapter LVII .

" my story," she began, " will_not_be long . I_might make it in two words,--_you have lost me, and you_have found me . I_have every reason to thank heaven for a circumstance, which_has proved to_me how dear I_am to_you, and has_given me the happiness of gaining a friend and two dear daughters . can one complain of an event which_has produced such consequences, even though it_was attended with some violence ? but I ought to_do_the savages justice,-- this violence was as gentle as it could_be . I_need only tell you Parabéry was there, to_convince you i_was well treated, and it_was solely the sorrow of being parted from_you that affected my health . I_shall_be well now, and as_soon_as jack can walk, I_shall_be ready to embark for_our happy island . i_will now tell you how i_was brought away .

" when_you and_our three sons left, to make_the tour of_the island, i_was very comfortable; you had told me you_might return late, or probably not till next_day, and when_the evening passed away without seeing you, i_was not uneasy . Francis was constantly with me; we went together to water the garden, and rested in_the grotto Ernestine; then I returned to_the house, took my wheel, and placed myself in my favourite colonnade, where i_should_be the first to_see your return . Francis, seeing me at work, asked if he might go as far as_the bridge to meet you; to_which I readily consented . he set out, and i_was sitting, thinking of_the pleasure i_should_have in seeing you again, and hearing you relate your voyage, when I_saw Francis running, crying out, 'Mamma ! mamma ! there_is a canoe on_the sea; I_know it_is ours; it_is full of men, perhaps savages .'

"' silly little fellow ! ' said I, ' it_is your father and brothers; if_they_are in_the canoe, there can_be no_doubt of it . your father told me he_would bring it, and they_would return by water; I had forgotten this when I let you go . now you_can go and meet them on_the shore; give_me your arm, and_I_will go too,' and we set off very joyfully to meet our captors .I soon, alas ! saw my error; it_was, indeed, our canoe, but, instead of_my dear ones, there were in_it six half- naked savages, with terrible countenances, who landed and surrounded us . my blood froze with fright, and if I had wished to flee, i_was unable .I fell on_the shore, nearly insensible; still, I heard the cries of_my dear Francis, who clung to_me, and held me with all his strength; at last my senses quite failed me, and I only recovered to_find myself lying at_the bottom of_the canoe . my son, weeping over me, was trying to recover me, assisted by one_of_the savages, of less repulsive appearance than his companions, and who seemed the chief; this_was Parabéry . he_made me swallow a few drops of a detestable fermented liquor, which, however, restored me . I_felt, as I recovered, the extent of_my disaster, and your grief, my dears, when you_should find me missing .I should_have_been wholly disconsolate, but that Francis was left to_me, and he_was continually praying me to live for_his sake .I received some comfort from a vague notion that as this_was our canoe, the savages had already carried you off, and were taking us to_you .

" i_was confirmed in_this hope, when I_saw that_the savages, instead of making to sea, continued to coast the island,

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