"Have no uneasiness," said my wife, " poultry-yard, wild goose, killed by Ernest "

" sort of penguin, I believe," said Ernest, "distinguished name of booby_, and so stupid, that I knocked it down with stick web-footed, has long narrow beak, little curved downwards preserved the head and neck to examine; it exactly resembles the penguin book of natural history "

I pointed out to him the advantages of study, and was making more inquiries form and habits bird, when my wife requested me to defer my catechism of natural history

"Ernest has killed the bird," added she; "I received it; eat it What more would ? Let the poor child have the pleasure of examining and tasting the cocoa-nuts "

" ," replied I, "Fritz must teach them how to open them; and not forget the little monkey, who has lost his mother's milk "

" him," cried Jack, "and eat nothing "

them he yet learnt to eat, and feed him with cocoa-nut milk till get something better Jack generously offered all his share, but Ernest and Francis were anxious to taste the milk themselves

"But the monkey must live," said Jack, petulantly

"And so must we all," said mamma "Supper is ready, and reserve the cocoa-nuts for dessert "

We sat down ground, supper was served gourd-rind service, which answered the purpose admirably My impatient boys had broken the nuts, which they found excellent, made themselves spoons shell Jack had taken care the monkey had his share; they dipped the corner handkerchiefs milk, and let him suck them They were going to break up some more nuts, after emptying them natural holes, but I stopped them, and called for saw I carefully divided the nuts instrument, and soon provided us each with neat basin soup, great comfort dear wife, who was gratified by seeing us able to eat like civilized beings Fritz begged now to enliven the repast by introducing his champaign I consented; requesting him, however, to taste it himself before he served it his mortification it vinegar ! But we consoled ourselves by using it as sauce to our goose; great improvement also fish We had now to hear the history supper Jack and Francis had caught the fish edge sea My active wife had performed the most laborious duty, in rolling the hogshead place and breaking open the head

The sun was going down finished supper, and, recollecting how rapidly night succeeded, we hastened to our tent, where our beds much more comfortable, kind attention good mother, who had collected large addition of dried grass After prayers, we all lay down; the monkey between Jack and Fritz, carefully covered with moss him warm The fowls went roost, as previous night, and, after our fatigue, we were all soon in profound sleep

We slept long, when great commotion dogs and fowls announced the presence of an enemy My wife, Fritz, and I, each seizing gun, rushed out

light moon, we saw terrible battle going on: our brave dogs were surrounded by dozen jackals, three or four were extended dead, but our faithful animals were nearly overpowered by numbers when we arrived glad nothing worse than jackals; Fritz and I fired on them; two fell dead, others fled slowly, evidently wounded Turk and Flora pursued and completed the business, and then, like true dogs, devoured their fallen foes, regardless bonds of relationship

All being quiet again, we retired to our beds; Fritz obtaining leave to drag the jackal he had killed towards the tent, to save it dogs, and to show brothers next morning This he accomplished with difficulty, for as big as large dog

We all slept peacefully the remainder night, till the crowing cock awoke my wife and myself to consultation business day

* * * * *

CHAPTER V

"Well, my dear," I began, " rather alarmed at all the labours before me voyage vessel is indispensable, if to save our cattle, and things useful ; other hand, like more secure shelter for ourselves property than this tent "

"With patience, order, and perseverance, all ," said my good counsellor; "and whatever uneasiness your voyage may , I yield importance and utility of it Let it to-day; no care morrow: sufficient unto the day evil thereof, as our blessed Lord has said "

then agreed three youngest children should remain with my wife; and Fritz, the strongest and most active, should accompany me

I then arose, and woke my children important duties day Fritz jumped up the first, and ran jackal, which had stiffened cold night He placed it on its four legs, entrance tent, his brothers; but no sooner did the dogs see it erect, than they flew at it, and torn it to pieces, if he soothed them and called them off However, their barking effectually roused the boys, who rushed out the cause Jack issued first monkey shoulder; but no sooner did the little creature see the jackal, than he sprang tent, and hid himself moss, till only the tip nose was visible All were astonished this large yellow animal standing; Francis thought wolf; Jack said only dead dog, and Ernest, in pompous tone, pronounced it golden fox

Fritz laughed learned professor, who knew the agouti immediately, and now called jackal golden fox !

"I judged peculiar characteristics," said Ernest, examining it carefully

"Oh ! the characteristics ! " said Fritz, ironically, "don't it golden wolf ? "

"Pray don't be so cross, brother," said Ernest, with tears eyes, "perhaps known the name, if papa told you "

I reproved Fritz ridicule brother, and Ernest for so easily taking offence; and, to reconcile all, them jackal partook nature wolf, the fox, dog This discussion terminated, I summoned them to prayers, after which we thought of breakfast We had nothing but biscuit, certainly dry and hard Fritz begged for little cheese with it; and Ernest, who was never satisfied like other people, took survey unopened hogshead He soon returned, crying " only had little butter biscuit, it so good, papa ! "

I allowed it good, but no use thinking thing

" open the other cask," said he, displaying piece of butter he had extracted through small crack side

"Your instinct for good things fortunate ," said I "Come, boys, who wants bread and butter ? "

We began to consider how come contents hogshead, without exposing the perishable matter heat sun Finally, I pierced hole lower part cask, large enough to draw out the butter wanted it, of little wooden shovel, which I soon made We then sat down to breakfast with cocoa-nut basin filled with good salt Dutch butter We toasted our biscuit, buttered it hot, and agreed excellent Our dogs were sleeping breakfasted; and I remarked had bloody marks last night's fray, in some deep and dangerous wounds, especially neck; my wife instantly dressed the wounds with butter, well washed in cold water; poor animals seemed grateful ease it gave them Ernest judiciously remarked, spiked collars, to defend them from any wild beasts encounter

" make them collars," said Jack, who never hesitated at anything glad to employ his inventive powers; and, ordering my children, not to leave their mother, during our absence, but to pray to God to bless our undertaking, we began our preparations voyage

While Fritz made ready the boat, I erected signal-post, with piece of sailcloth for flag, to float as long as all was going on well; but were wanted, they were to lower the flag, and fire gun three times, when immediately return; for I had informed my dear wife it necessary to remain on board all night; and she consented plan, on my promising the night tubs, instead vessel We took nothing but our guns and ammunition; relying ship's provisions Fritz would, however, monkey, that he might give it some milk cow