"It came vessel," said my wife "It blown up careful of fire; left some near barrel of gunpowder "

"At all events," said I, " go and ascertain the cause Who'll go with me ? "

By way of reply, my three sons leaped boat, and consoling the anxious mother by promise to return immediately, away we rowed We never made the voyage so quickly Curiosity quickened the movements sons, and all impatience the result project approached, no appearance of flames, or even smoke The position vessel seem altered Instead of entering the vessel as usual, we rounded the prow, and came opposite the other side The greater part side ship was gone The sea was covered remains of it In its place stood our beautiful pinnace, quite uninjured, only leaning little over the stocks sight I cried out, in transport that amazed my sons, "Victory ! victory ! the charming vessel is our own; easy now to launch her "

"Ah ! I comprehend now," said Fritz "Papa has blown up the ship; but how could you manage so exactly ? "

I explained all to him, entered broken side devoted vessel I soon ascertained that no fire remained; and pinnace had escaped any injury We set to work to clear away all the broken timbers way, and, aid jack-screw and levers, we moved the pinnace, which we had taken care to build on rollers, opening; then attaching strong cable to her head, and fixing the other end most solid part ship, we easily launched her too late any more now, except carefully securing our prize And we returned good mother, , wishing her an agreeable surprise, we merely said, side vessel was blown out with powder; but we were still able to obtain more ; at which she sighed, and, in her heart, , wished the vessel, and all it contained, bottom sea

We had two days of incessant labour in fitting and loading the pinnace; finally, after putting up our masts, ropes, and sails, we selected cargo of things our boats bring When all was ready, my boys obtained permission, as reward for their industry, to salute their mamma, entered the bay, by firing our two guns Fritz was captain, and Ernest and Jack, at his command, put their matches guns, and fired My wife and little boy rushed out in alarm; but our joyful shouts soon re-assured them; were ready to welcome us with astonishment and delight Fritz placed plank pinnace shore, and, assisting his mother, she came on board They gave her new salute, and christened the vessel The Elizabeth, after her

My wife praised our skill and perseverance, but begged suppose that Francis and she idle during our long absence We moored the little fleet safely shore, and followed her up the river cascade, where we saw neat garden laid out in beds and walks

" our work," said she; "the soil here, being chiefly composed of decayed leaves, is light and easy to dig There my potatoes; there manioc roots: these are sown with peas, beans and lentils; row of beds are sown lettuces, radishes, cabbages, and other European vegetables reserved one part for sugar-canes; high ground transplanted pine-apples, and sown melons Finally, round every bed, sown border of maize, high, bushy stems may protect the young plants sun "

delighted result labour and industry of delicate female and child, and could scarcely believe accomplished in so short time

" confess I had no great hope of success at first," said my wife, "and this made me averse to speaking of it Afterwards, when I suspected you had secret, I determined one, too, and surprise "

After again applauding these useful labours, we returned to discharge our cargo; and went, my good Elizabeth, still full of horticultural plans, reminded me young fruit-trees we had brought vessel I promised to look after them , and to establish my orchard near her kitchen-garden

We unloaded our vessels; placed sledge all that useful at Falcon's Nest; and, arranging the rest under the tent, fixed our pinnace shore, anchor and cord fastened to heavy stone; and set out to Falcon's Nest, where we arrived soon, great comfort wife, who dreaded the burning plain at Tent House

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXI

After our return to Falcon's Nest, I requested my sons their exercises in gymnastics I wished to develope all the vigour and energy that nature had given them; and which, situation, were especially necessary I added to archery, racing, leaping, wrestling, and climbing trees, either trunks, or by rope suspended branches, as sailors climb I next taught them to use the lasso_, powerful weapon, by aid the people of South America capture savage animals I fixed two balls of lead ends of cord about fathom in length The Patagonians, them, used this weapon with wonderful dexterity Having no leaden balls, they attach heavy stone to each end of cord about thirty yards long wish to capture an animal, they hurl stones at it with singular address peculiar art the ball is thrown, the rope makes turn or two round the neck animal, which remains entangled, without the power of escaping to show the power weapon, aim trunk of tree which they pointed out My throw was quite successful The end rope passed times round the trunk tree, and remained firmly fixed tree the neck of tiger, I absolute master of it This experiment decided them all to learn the use lasso Fritz was soon skilful in throwing it, and I encouraged the rest to persevere in acquiring the same facility, weapon invaluable when our ammunition failed

The next morning , on looking out, sea was agitated for any expedition boats; I therefore turned to some home employments We looked over our stores for winter provision My wife showed me cask of ortolans she had preserved in butter, and quantity of loaves of cassava bread, carefully prepared She pointed out, pigeons had built tree, and were sitting on their eggs We then looked over the young fruit-trees brought from Europe, and my sons and I immediately laid out piece of ground, and planted them

The day passed employments; and had lived only on potatoes, cassava bread, and milk day, we determined off next morning in pursuit of game to recruit our larder At dawn of day we all started, including little Francis mother, who wished this opportunity of seeing little more country My sons and our arms, I harnessed the ass sledge which contained our provision day, and was destined to bring back the products chase Turk, accoutred coat of mail, formed the advanced guard; my sons followed with their guns; then came my wife with Francis leading the ass; and at little distance I closed the procession, with Master Knips mounted patient Flora

We crossed Flamingo Marsh, and there my wife was charmed richness vegetation lofty trees Fritz left us, thinking this favourable spot for game We soon heard the report gun, and an enormous bird fell few paces I ran to assist him, as he had much difficulty in securing his prize, only wounded wing, and was defending itself vigorously with its beak and claws I threw handkerchief over its head, and, confused darkness, I had no difficulty in binding it, and conveying it in triumph sledge We were all in raptures sight beautiful creature, which Ernest pronounced female bustard tribe My wife hoped bird domesticated among her poultry, and, attracting some more species, might enlarge our stock of useful fowls We soon arrived Wood of Monkeys, called it, where we had obtained our cocoa-nuts; and Fritz related the laughable scene stratagem mother and brothers Ernest looked up wistfully nuts, but there were no monkeys to throw them down

"Do they never fall trees ? " and hardly had he spoken, when large cocoa-nut fell at his feet, succeeded by second, to my great astonishment, for no animal tree, and convinced the nuts half-ripe state, were, fall of themselves

" exactly like fairy tale," said Ernest; "I had only , and my wish was accomplished "

"And here comes the magician," said I, as, after shower of nuts, huge land-crab descending the tree quietly, and quite regardless presence Jack boldly struck blow at him, but missed, animal, opening its enormous claws, made its opponent, who fled in terror But the laughter brothers made him ashamed, and recalling his courage, he pulled off his coat, and threw it over the back crab; this checked its movements, and going assistance, I killed it with blow hatchet