Fritz uttered shout of joy, and fired off his gun, as signal arrival All came running to greet us, and great was their surprise, value cargo, but strange mode it brought into harbour My first care was to sledge, to remove load without delay, and ebbing tide was leaving our vessels almost dry sand, I profited opportunity to secure them aid jack-screw and levers, we raised and brought shore two large pieces of lead raft These served for anchors and, connected boat and raft by strong cables, fixed them safely

sledge arrived, we placed the turtle with some difficulty , as it weighed three hundredweight We added some lighter articles, the mattresses, some small chests, &c , and proceeded first load to Falcon's Nest in great spirits walked on, Fritz told them wondrous cases of jewellery we had abandoned for things of use; Jack wished Fritz had brought him gold snuff-box, to hold curious seeds; and Francis wished for money gingerbread fair ! Everybody laughed little simpleton, help laughing himself, when he remembered his distance from fairs Arrived at home, our first care was the turtle back, the excellent meat shell With my hatchet I separated the cartilages that unite the shells: the upper shell is convex, the lower one nearly flat

We had turtle prepared for dinner, though my wife felt great repugnance in touching the green fat, notwithstanding my assurance being the chief delicacy to an epicure

We salted the remainder flesh, and gave the offal dogs The boys were all clamorous to possess the shell; but it belonged to Fritz, by right of conquest, and dispose of it as he thought best

"Then," said he, " make basin of it, and place it near the river, that my mother may always keep it full of fresh water "

" ," said I, "and fill our basin, some clay solid foundation "

" some ," said Jack,--"a whole bed of clay, and I brought these balls home to show you "

"And discovery too," said Ernest "Look roots, like radishes; eaten any, but the sow enjoys them "

"A most valuable discovery, indeed," said I; "if not mistaken, root manioc_, which potatoes will insure us from famine root they make West Indies sort of bread, called cassava bread In its natural state it contains violent poison, but by process of heating it becomes wholesome The nutritious tapioca is preparation root "

we had unloaded, and proceeded shore to bring second load before night came on We brought up two chests own clothes and property, some chests of tools, the cart-wheels, hand-mill, likely now of use cassava After unloading, we sat down to an excellent supper of turtle, with potatoes, instead of bread After supper, my wife said, smiling, "After such hard day, something to restore you " She then brought bottle and glasses, and filled us each glass of clear, amber-coloured wine it excellent Malaga She down shore the previous day, and there found small cask thrown up waves This, assistance of her sons, she had rolled foot tree, and there covered it with leaves it cool till our arrival

We were so invigorated cordial, that we set briskly to work to hoist up our mattresses to our dormitory, which we accomplished aid of ropes and pulleys My wife received and arranged them, and after our usual evening devotions, we gladly lay down on them, to enjoy night of sweet repose

* * * * *

CHAPTER XIX

I rose before daylight, and, leaving my family sleeping, descended, shore to look after my vessels all the animals moving The dogs leaped about me; the cocks were crowing; the goats browsing dewy grass The ass alone was sleeping; and, as he assistant , compelled to rouse him, preference which appear to flatter him Nevertheless, I harnessed him sledge, and, followed dogs, went forward coast, where my boat and raft safe at anchor up moderate load and came home to breakfast; but found all still as I left them I called my family, sprung up ashamed sloth; my wife declared it must the good mattress that had charmed her

my boys short admonition for their sloth We then came down to hasty breakfast, and returned coast to finish the unloading the boats, that , at high water, take them round to moor usual place Bay of Safety my wife up last load, while Fritz and I embarked, and, seeing Jack watching us, I consented that form crew, for I had determined another visit wreck before I moored my craft When we reached the vessel, the day was advanced that we had only time to collect hastily anything easy to embark My sons ran over the ship Jack came trundling wheelbarrow, which excellent for fetching the potatoes in

But Fritz brought me good news: he had found, between decks, beautiful pinnace (a small vessel, the prow is square), taken to pieces, with all its fittings, and even two small guns that all the pieces were numbered, and placed ; nothing was wanting the importance acquisition; but it would take days of labour it together; and then how could we launch it ? At present, renounce the undertaking I returned to my loading It consisted of all sorts of utensils: copper boiler, some plates of iron, tobacco-graters, two grindstones, barrel of powder, and one of flints Jack forget his wheelbarrow; and two more, which we added to our cargo, and then sailed off speedily, to avoid the land-wind, which rises evening

drew near, we were astonished row of little creatures standing shore, apparently regarding us with much curiosity They were dressed in black, with white waistcoats, and thick cravats; their arms hung down carelessly; but they raised them as wished to bestow on us fraternal embrace

"I believe," said I, laughing, "this the country of pigmies, and coming to welcome us "

" the Lilliputians, father," said Jack; " read ; but they less "

" Gulliver's Travels was true ! " said Fritz, in tone of derision

"Then are there no pigmies ? " asked he

"No, my dear boy," said I; "all these stories are either the invention or the mistakes of ancient navigators, taken troops of monkeys for men, or wished to repeat something marvellous But the romance of Gulliver is an allegory, intended to convey great truths "

"And now," said Fritz, "I begin our pigmies have beaks and wings "

" right," said I; " penguins, as Ernest explained since good swimmers; but, unable to fly, are very helpless on land "

I steered gently shore, that I disturb them; but Jack leaped water up knees, and, dashing penguins, with stick struck right and left, knocking down half dozen poor stupid birds were aware we brought away alive The rest, not liking such reception, took water, and were soon out of sight I scolded Jack useless rashness, flesh penguin is by no means delicacy

We now filled our three wheelbarrows things as carry, not forgetting the sheets of iron graters, and trudged home Our dogs announced our approach, and all rushed out to meet us curious and merry examination commenced They laughed at my graters; but I let them laugh, for I had project in my head The penguins I intended poultry-yard; and, , I ordered the boys to tie each by leg to geese or ducks, who opposed the bondage very clamorously; but necessity made them submissive