"Laugh now, boys," said I; " see, after while But you, Ernest, ought manioc is precious of alimentary roots, forming the principal sustenance of many nations of America, and often preferred by Europeans, who inhabit those countries, to wheaten bread "

When all the roots were grated, I filled the two bags closely pollard, and my wife sewed the ends up firmly now necessary to apply strong pressure to extract the juice root, juice is deadly poison I selected an oak beam, one end we fixed roots tree; beneath this I placed our bags on row of little blocks of wood; I then took large bough, which I had cut from tree, and prepared , and laid it across them We all united then in drawing down the opposite end plank over the bough, till we got it to certain point, when we suspended the heaviest substances we possessed; hammers, bars of iron, and masses of lead This acting manioc, the sap burst cloth, and flowed ground copiously When the pressure was complete, we relieved the bags lever, and opening one, drew out handful pollard, still rather moist, resembling coarse maize-flour

"It only wants little heat to complete our success," said I, in great delight I ordered fire lighted, and fixing iron plates, round in form, and rather concave, on two stones placed on each side fire, I covered it flour which we took bag with small wooden shovel It soon formed solid cake, which we turned, equally baked

It smelled so good, all wished to commence eating immediately; and I had some difficulty in convincing them was only trial, and baking was still imperfect Besides, as them there were three kinds of manioc, one contained more poison rest, it prudent whether we had perfectly extracted it, by giving small quantity to our fowls As soon, therefore, cake was cold, some to two chickens, which I kept apart; and also some to Master Knips, the monkey, that he might, first time, do us little service He ate it with relish, and such grimaces of enjoyment, that my young party were quite anxious to share his feast; but I ordered them to wait till judge effect, and, leaving our employment, we went to our dinner of potatoes, my wife had added penguins, truly rather tough and fishy; but as Jack allow this, and declared dish fit for king, we allowed him to regale as he liked During dinner, various preparations made manioc; my wife obtain an excellent starch expressed juice; but interest her much, as at present she usually wore the dress of sailor, for convenience, and had neither caps nor collars to starch

The cake made root is called natives Antilles _cassava_, and in no savage nation do any word signifying _bread_; an article of food unknown

We spoke of poisons; and I explained to my sons the different nature and effects Especially I warned them against the manchineel_, which ought to grow part world I described the fruit , as resembling tempting yellow apple, with red spots, deadly poisons: said that even to sleep under the tree is dangerous I forbade them to taste any unknown fruit, promised to obey me

On leaving the table, we went to visit the victims experiment Jack whistled for Knips, who came in three bounds summit of high tree, where he had doubtless been plundering some nest; vivacity, peaceful cackling fowls, assured us our preparation was harmless

"Now, gentlemen," said I, laughing, " bakehouse, and what do " I wished them each to cakes They immediately kindled the fire and heated the iron plate mean time, I broke up the grated cassava, and mixed it with little milk; and giving each cocoa-nut basin filled paste, I showed them how to pour it with spoon plate, and spread it about; paste began to puff up, I judged baked on one side, and turned it, like pancake, with fork; and after little time, we had quantity of nice yellow biscuits, which, with jug of milk, made us delicious collation; and determined us, without delay, to set about cultivating the manioc

The rest day was employed in bringing up the remainder cargo, sledge useful wheelbarrows

* * * * *

CHAPTER XX

The next morning I decided on returning wreck The idea pinnace continually haunted my mind, and left me no repose But necessary all the hands raise, and with difficulty I got my wife's consent my three elder sons, on promising her return evening We set out, taking provision day, and soon arrived vessel, when my boys began to load the raft with all manner of portable things But the great matter pinnace contained after-hold vessel, immediately below the officers' berths My sons, with all the ardour age, begged by clearing space vessel the pinnace together, and afterwards think how launch it Under circumstances shown them the folly an undertaking; but in truth, I had myself vague hope of success, that encouraged me, and I cried out, "To work ! to work ! " The hold was lighted by some chinks ship's side We set diligently to work, hacking, cutting, and sawing away all obstacles, and before evening we had clear space round us But now necessary to return, and we put to sea cargo, purposing our work daily On reaching the Bay of Safety, we had the pleasure of finding my wife and Francis, who had established themselves at Tent House, intending there till our visits vessel were concluded; that always keep us in sight, and spare us the unnecessary labour of walk after our day's work

I thanked my wife tenderly kind sacrifice, for she enjoyed the cool shade of Falcon's Nest; and in return I showed her the treasures we had brought her vessel, consisting of two barrels of salt butter, three hogsheads of flour, several bags of millet, rice, and other grains, and variety of useful household articles, which she conveyed with great delight to our storehouse rocks

For week we spent every day vessel, returning evening to enjoy good supper, and talk progress; and my wife, happily engrossed with her poultry and other household cares, got accustomed to our absence With much hard labour, the pinnace was at last put together Its construction was light and elegant, it looked it would sail well; head was short half-deck; the masts and sails were like those of brigantine We carefully caulked all the seams with tow dipped in melted tar; and we even indulged ourselves by placing the two small guns , fastened by chains

And there stood the beautiful little bark, immovable stocks We admired it incessantly; but what could it afloat ? The difficulty of forcing way mighty timbers lined with copper, that formed the side ship, was insurmountable

Suddenly, suggested excess despair, bold but dangerous idea presented itself , all lost, as all gained nothing to my children, to avoid the vexation of possible disappointment, but began to execute my plan

cast-iron mortar, exactly fitted purpose, which I filled with gunpowder I then took strong oak plank it, I fixed iron hooks, reach the handles mortar I cut groove side plank, that introduce long match, which should burn two hours before it reached the powder I placed the plank then over the mortar, fastened the hooks handles, surrounded it with pitch, and then bound some strong chains round the whole, it greater solidity I proceeded to suspend this infernal machine against the side ship near our work, taking care it where the recoil explosion injure the pinnace When all was ready, the signal of departure, my sons having been employed boat, and not observing my preparations I remained moment to fire the match, and then hastily joined them with beating heart, and proceeded shore

we reached our harbour, I detached the raft, that return boat I heard the explosion We began actively to unload the boat, and while thus employed, report like thunder was heard All trembled, and threw down their load in terror