The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss
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island, till they came to_the great Bay .I had then no_doubt but that we_should meet with_you; but this hope was soon destroyed . two_or_three more of_the savages were waiting there on_the shore; they spoke to_their friends in_the canoe; and I understood from their gestures, that_they were saying they_could_not find anybody there . I_have since learnt from Canda, that part of_them landed at_the great Bay, with instructions to search that side of_the island for inhabitants, whilst the rest proceeded with_the canoe to examine the other side, and had succeeded but too well . the night came on, and_they were anxious to return, which, doubtless, prevented them pillaging our house .I believe, moreover, that none_of_them could_have reached tent house, defended by our strong palisade, and hidden by_the rocks amidst which it_is built; and_the other party, finding us on_the shore, would_not penetrate further .

[ illustration: "Six savages with terrible countenances, landed and surrounded us ."]

" when all had entered the canoe, they pushed off, by_the light of_the stars, into_the open sea . i_think I_must_have sunk under my sorrow, but for Francis, and, I_must confess it, my dear dog Flora, who had never left me . Francis told me, that she had tried to defend me, and flew at_the savages; but one_of_them took my apron, tore it, and tied it over her mouth like a muzzle, bound her legs, and then threw her into_the canoe, where the poor creature lay at my feet, moaning piteously . she arrived with_us in_this island, but I_have_not seen her since; I_have often inquired of Parabéry, but he_could_not tell me what had become of her ."

" but I_know," said Fritz, " and_have seen her . we brought Turk with_us, and_the savages had carried Flora to_that desert part of_the island, from whence jack was carried off; so the two dogs met . when I had the misfortune to wound jack, I quite forgot them; they were rambling off, in chase of kangaroos; we left them, and no_doubt they_are there still . but we_must not abandon the poor beasts; if_my father will permit me, i_will go and seek them in Parabéry's canoe ."

as_we were obliged to wait a few_days for jack's recovery, I consented, on condition that Parabéry accompanied them, and_the next_day was fixed for_the expedition . Ernest begged to_be of_the party, that he might see the beautiful trees and flowers they had described .I then requested the narration might_be continued, which had_been interrupted by_this episode of_the two dogs . Francis resumed it where his mother had left off .

" we had afavourable passage-- the sea was calm, and_the boat went so smoothly, that both mamma and I went to sleep . you_must_have come a much longer round than necessary, papa, as_your voyage lasted three days, and we arrived here the day after our departure .Mamma was then awake, and wept constantly, believing she should never more see you or my brothers .Parabéry seemed very sorry for her, and tried to console her; at last, he addressed to her two_or_three words of German, pointing to heaven . his words were very plain--_Almighty god, good_; and then black friend_, and white lady_; adding the words Canda, bear_, and _Minou-minou . we_did_not understand what he meant; but he_seemed so pleased at speaking these words, that we_could_not but be pleased too; and to hear him name god in German gave_us confidence, though we_could, not comprehend where or how he had learnt the words .' perhaps,' said mamma, ' he has seen your papa and brothers,' i_thought so too; still, it appeared strange that, in so short a time, he_could acquire and remember these words . however it might_be, mamma was delighted to_have him near her, and taught him to pronounce the words father, mother_, and son_, which did_not seem strange to him, and he soon knew them . she pointed to_me and to herself, as she pronounced the words, and he readily comprehended them, and said to_us, with bursts of laughter, showing his large ivory teeth, Canda, mother; Minou-minou, son; Parabéry, father; white lady, mother .Mamma thought he referred to her, but it_was to Madame Emily . he tried to pronounce this name and two others, but could_not succeed; at last, he_said, girls, girls_, and almost convinced us he_must know some Europeans, which_was a great comfort to_us .

" when I_saw mamma more composed, i_took out my flageolet to amuse her, and played the air to Ernest's verses . this made her weep again very_much, and she begged me to desist; the savages, however, wished me to_continue, and I_did_not know whom to obey .I changed the air, playing the merriest I_knew . they were in ecstasies; they took me in their arms one after_the other, saying, Bara-ourou, Bara-ourou .I repeated the word after them, and_they were still more delighted . but mamma was so uneasy to_see me in their arms, that I broke from_them, and returned to her .

" at last we landed . they carried mamma, who was too weak to walk . about a hundred yards from_the shore, we saw a large building of wood and reeds, before which there_was a crowd of savages . one who was very tall came to receive us . he_was dressed in a short tunic, much ornamented, and wore a necklace of pierced shells . he_was a little disfigured by a white bone passed through his nostrils . but you saw him, papa, when he_wanted to adopt me; it_was Bara-ourou, the king of_the island . i_was presented to him, and he_was pleased with me, touched the end of_my nose with_his, and admired my hair very_much . my conductors ordered me to play on_the flageolet .I played some lively German airs, which made them dance and leap, till the king fell down with fatigue, and made a sign for_me to desist . he then spoke for some_time to_the savages, who stood in a circle round him . he looked at mamma, who was seated in a corner, near her protector Parabéry . he_called the latter, who obliged mamma to rise, and presented her to_the king .Bara-ourou looked only at_the red and yellow India handkerchief which she wore on her head; he_took it off, very unceremoniously, and put it on_his own head, saying, miti_, which_means beautiful . he then made us re- embark in_the canoe with_him, amusing himself with me and my flageolet, which he attempted to play by blowing it through his nose, but did_not succeed . after turning round a point which seemed to divide the island into two, we landed on a sandy beach .Parabéry and another savage proceeded into_the interior, carrying my mother, and we followed . we arrived at a hut similar to_the king's, but not so large . there we were received by_Mr Willis, whom we judged to_be the black friend_, and from_that_time we had no more fears . he_took us under his protection, first speaking to_the king and to Parabéry in their own language . he then addressed mamma in German, mixed with a few English words, which we understood very_well . he_knew nothing of you and my brothers; but, from what mamma told him, he promised to_have_you sought for, and brought as_soon_as_possible to_the island . in_the mean time, he offered to lead us to a friend who_would take care of us, and nurse poor mamma, who looked very ill . she was obliged to_be carried to_the grotto; but, after_that, her cares were over, and her pleasure without alloy; for_the black friend had promised to seek you . the _white lady received us like old friends, and Sophia and Matilda took me at first for their own brother, and still love me as_if i_was . we only wished for_you all .Madame Mimi made mamma lie down on_the bear- skin, and prepared her a pleasant beverage from_the milk of_the cocoa- nut .Sophia and Matilda took me to gather strawberries, and figs, and beautiful flowers; and we caught fish in_the brook, between two osier hurdles . we amused ourselves very_well with Minou-minou, while Canda and Madame Emily amused mamma .

" the king came the next_day to_see his little favourite; he_wished me to_go with_him to another part of_the island, where he often went to hunt; but i_would_not leave mamma and my new friends . i_was wrong, papa; for_you were there, and my brothers; it_was there jack was wounded and brought away . I_might_have prevented all that, and you_would then have returned to_us . how sorry I_have_been for_my obstinacy ! it_was I, more than Fritz, who was_the cause of_his being wounded .

"Bara-ourou returned in_the evening to_the grotto; and think, papa, of_our surprise, our delight, and_our distress, when he brought us poor jack, wounded and in great pain, but still all joy at finding us again ! the king told Mr Willis he_was sure jack was my brother, and he_made us a present of him, adding, that he_gave him in exchange for mamma's handkerchief .Mamma thanked him earnestly, and placed jack beside her . from_him she learned all you had done to discover us . he informed Mr Willis where he had left you, and he promised to seek and bring you to_us . he then examined the wound, which jack wished him to_think he had himself caused with Fritz's gun; but this_was not probable, as_the ball had entered behind, and lodged in_the shoulder .Mr Willis extracted it with some difficulty, and poor jack suffered a good_deal; but all is now going on well . what a large party we_shall_be, papa, when we_are all settled in_our island; Sophia and Matilda, Minou-Minou, Canda, Parabéry, you, papa, and two mammas, and Mr Willis ! "

my wife smiled as_the little orator concluded .Mr Willis then dressed jack's wound, and thought he_might_be removed in five or six days .

" now, my dear jack," said I, " it_is your turn to relate your history . your brother left off where you were entertaining the savages with your buffooneries; and certainly they were never better introduced . but how did they suddenly think of carrying you away ? "

"Parabéry told me," said jack, " that_they were struck with my resemblance to Francis as_soon_as i_took my flageolet . after I had played a minute or two, the savage who wore mamma's handkerchief, whom I now know to_be the king, interrupted me by crying out and clapping his hands . he spoke earnestly to_the others, pointing to my face, and to my flageolet, which he had taken; he looked also at my jacket of blue cotton, which one_of_them had tied round his shoulders like a mantle; and doubtless he then gave orders for_me to_be carried to_the canoe . they seized upon me; I screamed like a madman, kicked them and scratched them; but what could I_do against seven or eight great savages ? they tied my legs together, and my hands behind me, and carried me like a parcel . I_could then do nothing but cry out for Fritz; and_the knight of_the gun came rather too soon . in attempting to defend me, some way or other, off went his gun, and_the ball took up its abode in my shoulder . I_can assure you an unpleasant visitor is_that same ball; but here he_is, the scoundrel ! father Willis pulled him out by_the same door as_that by_which he went in; and since his departure, all goes on well .

" now for_my story . when poor Fritz saw that i_was wounded, he fell down as_if he had_been shot at_the same time . the savages, thinking he_was dead, took away his gun, and carried me into_the canoe . i_was in despair more for_the death of_my brother than from my wound, which I almost forgot, and was wishing they_would throw me into_the sea, when I_saw Fritz running at full speed to_the shore; but we pushed off, and I_could only call out some words of consolation . the savages were very kind to_me, and one_of_them held me up seated on_the out- rigger; they washed my wound with sea- water, sucked it, tore my pocket- handkerchief to_make abandage, and as_soon_as we landed, squeezed the juice of some herb into_it . we sailed very quickly, and passed the place where we had landed in_the morning . I_knew it again, and could_see Ernest standing on a sand- bank; he_was watching us, and I held out my arms to him . i_thought I also saw you, papa, and heard you call; but the savages yelled, and though I cried with all my strength, it_was in vain .I little thought they were taking me to mamma . as_soon_as we had disembarked, they brought me to_this grotto; and i_thought I_must_have died of surprise and joy when i_was met by mamma and Francis, and then by Sophia, Matilda, mamma Emily, and Mr Willis, who_is a second father to_me . this_is_the end of_my story . and a very pretty end it_is, that brings us all together . what matters it to have_had a little vexation for all this pleasure ? I owe it all to_you, Fritz; if_you had let me sink to_the bottom of_the sea, instead of dragging me out by_the hair, I should_not have_been here so happy as I_am; I_am obliged to_the gun, too; thanks to_it, I was_the first to reach mamma, and_see our new friends ."

the next_day, Fritz and Ernest set out on their expedition with Parabéry, in_his canoe, to seek our two valued dogs . the good islander carried his canoe on_his back to_the shore . I_saw them set off, but not without some dread, in_such a frail bark, into which the water leaked through every seam . but my boys could swim well; and_the kind, skilful,

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