The heat day being over, we prepared to set out to walk to Tent House, to renew our stock of provisions, and endeavour to bring the geese and ducks to our new residence; but, instead of going coast, we proposed up the river till we reached the chain of rocks, and continue under their shade till we got cascade, where cross, and return by Family Bridge

approved, and we set out Fritz, decorated beautiful belt of skin, Jack porcupine helmet Each had gun and game-bag; except Francis, who, pretty fair face, his golden hair, bow and quiver, was perfect Cupid My wife was loaded with large butter-pot for fresh supply Turk walked coat of mail, and Flora followed, peeping at respectful distance , for fear darts Knips_, as my boys called the monkey, finding this new saddle very inconvenient, jumped off, with many contortions, but soon fixed on Flora, who, not being able to shake him off, was compelled his palfrey

The road river was smooth and pleasant When we reached the end wood, the country seemed more open; and now the boys, who rambling about, came running up, out of breath; Ernest was holding plant with leaves and flowers, and green apples hanging

"Potatoes ! " said he; " certain potatoes ! "

"God be praised," said I; "this precious plant will secure provision colony "

"Well," said Jack, "if his superior knowledge discovered them, the first to dig them up;" and he set to work so ardently, that we had soon bag of fine ripe potatoes, which we carried on to Tent House

* * * * *

CHAPTER XIV

We much delighted new and lovely scenery road: the prickly cactus, and aloe, with its white flowers; the Indian fig; the white and yellow jasmine; the fragrant vanilla, throwing round its graceful festoons Above all, the regal pineapple grew in profusion, and we feasted , first time, with avidity

prickly stalks cactus and aloes, I perceived plant with large pointed leaves, which the karata I pointed out boys its beautiful red flowers; the leaves are an excellent application to wounds, and thread is made filaments, pith stem is used savage tribes for tinder

When I showed the boys, by experiment, the use pith, they thought the tinder-tree almost as useful potatoes

"At all events," , " more useful pine-apples; your mother thankful for thread, when her enchanted bag is exhausted "

"How happy ," said she, "that devoted yourself to reading and study ignorance passed this treasure, without suspecting its value "

Fritz inquired of what use all the rest prickly plants , which wounded that came near

"All these have their use, Fritz," said I; "some contain juices and gums, which are daily made use of in medicine; others are useful arts, or in manufactures The Indian fig, for instance, is most interesting tree It grows most arid soil The fruit is said sweet and wholesome "

In moment, my little active Jack was climbing the rocks to gather figs; but he remarked were covered with thousands of slender thorns, finer finest needles, which terribly wounded his fingers He returned, weeping bitterly and dancing with pain Having rallied him little greediness, I extracted the thorns, and then showed him how to open the fruit, by first cutting off the pointed end, as it lay ground; I fixed piece of stick, and then pared it with my knife The novelty expedient recommended it, were soon all engaged eating the fruit, which they declared was

mean time, Ernest examining figs very attentively "Oh ! papa ! " said he, "what singular sight; the fig is covered with small red insect shake them off Can they be the Cochineal ? " I recognized at once the precious insect, I explained to my sons the nature and use " insect," said I, " beautiful and rich scarlet dye is made found in America, Europeans give its weight in gold "

Thus discoursing wonders of nature, necessity of increasing our knowledge by observation and study, we arrived at Tent House, and found it same state left it

We all began to collect necessaries Fritz loaded himself with powder and shot, I opened the butter-cask, and my wife and little Francis filled the pot Ernest and Jack went and secure the geese and ducks; but they had become so wild impossible, if Ernest thought of an expedient He tied pieces of cheese, for bait, to threads, which he floated water The voracious creatures immediately swallowed the cheese and were drawn out thread They were then securely tied, and fastened game-bags, carried home backs bait recovered, the boys contented themselves with cutting off the string close beak, leaving them to digest the rest

Our bags were already loaded with potatoes, but we filled up the spaces with salt; and, having relieved Turk armour, we placed the heaviest back the butter-pot; and, after replacing everything, and closing our tent, we resumed our march, ludicrous incumbrances The geese and ducks were very noisy in their adieu old marsh; the dogs barked; and we all laughed so excessively, that we forgot our burdens till we sat down again under our tree My wife soon had her pot of potatoes fire She then milked the cow and goat, while I set the fowls at liberty banks river We then sat down to smoking dish of potatoes, jug of milk, and butter and cheese After supper we had prayers, thanking God especially new benefits; and we then sought our repose leaves

* * * * *

CHAPTER XV

I had observed shore, the preceding day, quantity of wood, which would suit sledge, to convey our casks and heavy stores from Tent House to Falcon's Nest At dawn of day I woke Ernest, whose inclination to indolence I wished to overcome, and leaving the rest asleep, we descended, and harnessing the ass to strong branch of tree that was lying near, we proceeded shore I had no difficulty in selecting proper pieces of wood; we sawed them the right length, tied them together, and laid them across the bough, which the patient animal drew very contentedly We added load small chest we discovered half buried sand, and we returned homewards, Ernest leading the ass, and I assisted by raising the load with lever when we met with any obstruction My wife rather alarmed; but seeing the result expedition, and hearing prospect of sledge, she was satisfied I opened the chest, which contained only some sailors' dresses and some linen, both wetted with sea-water; but likely very useful as our own clothes decayed Fritz and Jack shooting ortolans; they had killed about fifty, but had consumed powder and shot, that I checked prodigality so imprudent situation I taught them snares birds threads we drew karata leaves we had brought home My wife and her two younger sons busied themselves , while I, with my two elder boys, began to construct the sledge were working, we heard great noise fowls, and Ernest, looking about, discovered the monkey seizing and hiding the eggs nests; he had collected good store in hole roots, which Ernest carried mother; and Knips was punished by being tied up, every morning, till the eggs were collected

Our work was interrupted by dinner, composed of ortolans, milk, and cheese After dinner, Jack had climbed higher branches trees his snares, and found the pigeons were making nests I then told him to look often snares, for fear our own poor birds taken; and, above all, never in future to fire tree

"Papa," said little Francis, "can we not sow some gunpowder, and then plenty ? " This proposal was received with shouts of laughter, which greatly discomposed the little innocent fellow Professor Ernest immediately seized the opportunity lecture composition of gunpowder

end day my sledge was finished Two long curved planks of wood, crossed by three pieces, at distance from , formed the simple conveyance The fore and hind parts were form of horns, the load from falling off Two ropes were fastened front, and my sledge was complete My wife was delighted with it, and hoped now set out immediately to Tent House butter-cask no objection ; and Ernest and I prepared , and leave Fritz in charge family

* * * * *

CHAPTER XVI

When we were ready to set out, Fritz presented each of us with little case he had made skin margay They were ingeniously contrived to contain knife, fork, and spoon, and small hatchet We then harnessed the ass cow sledge, took flexible bamboo cane for whip, and, followed by Flora, we departed, leaving Turk to guard the tree