Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss (portable ebook reader .txt) 📕

spread out a large piece of sailcloth, and covered it equally all

over with a strong liquid, made of glue and isinglass, which saturated

it thoroughly. On it we then laid wool and hair from the sheep and

goats, which had been carefully cleaned and prepared, and rolled and

beat it until it adhered tolerably smoothly to the cloth. Finally it

became, when perfectly dry, a covering for the floor of our

sitting-room by no means to be despised.

 

One morning, just after these labours at the salt-cave were completed,

happening to awake unusually early, I turned my thoughts, as I lay

waiting for sunrise, to considering what length of time we had now

passed on this coast, and discovered, to my surprise, that the very

next day would be the anniversary of our escape from the wreck. My

heart swelled with gratitude to the gracious God, who had then granted

us deliverance, and ever since had loaded us with benefits; and I

resolved to set tomorrow apart as a day of thanksgiving, in joyful

celebration of the occasion.

 

My mind was full of indefinite plans when I rose, and the day’s work

began as usual. I took care that everything should be cleaned, cleared

and set in order both outside and inside our dwelling: none, however,

suspecting that there was any particular object in view. Other more

private preparations I also made for the next day. At supper I made the

coming event known to the assembled family.

 

`Good people! do you know that tomorrow is a very great and important

day? We shall have to keep it in honour of our merciful escape to this

land, and call it Thanksgiving-Day.’

 

Everyone was surprised to hear that we had already been twelve months

in the country—indeed, my wife believed I might be mistaken, until I

showed her how I had calculated regularly ever since the 31st of

January, on which day we were wrecked, by marking off in my almanac the

Sundays as they arrived for the remaining eleven months of that year.

 

`Since then,’ I added, `I have counted thirty-one days. This is the 1st

of February. We landed on the 2nd; therefore tomorrow is the

anniversary of the day of our escape. As my bookseller has not sent me

an almanac for the present year, we must henceforth reckon for

ourselves.’

 

`Oh, that will be good fun for us,’ said Ernest. `We must have a long

stick, like Robinson Crusoe, and cut a notch in it every day, and count

them up every now and then, to see how the weeks and months and years

go by.’

 

`That is all very well, if you know for certain the number of days in

each month, and in the year. What do you say, Ernest?’

 

`The year contains 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds,’

returned he promptly.

 

`Perfectly correct!’ said I, smiling, `but you would get in a mess with

those spare hours, minutes, and seconds in a year or two, wouldn’t

you?’

 

`Not at all! Every four years I would add them all together, make a

day, stick it into February, and call that year leap year.’

 

`Well done, Professor Ernest! We must elect you astronomer royal in

this our kingdom, and let you superintend and regulate everything

connected with the lapse of time, clocks and watches included.’

 

Before they went to sleep, I could hear my boys whispering among

themselves, about `father’s mysterious allusions’ to next day’s

festival and rejoicings; but I offered no explanation, and went to

sleep, little guessing that the rogues had laid a counter-plot, far

more surprising than my simple plan for their diversion.

 

Nothing less than a roar of artillery startled me from sleep at

daybreak next morning. I sprang up and found my wife as much alarmed as

I was by the noise, otherwise I should have been inclined to believe it

fancy.

 

`Fritz! Dress quickly and come with me!’ cried I, turning to his

hammock. Lo, it was empty! Neither he nor Jack were to be seen.

 

Altogether bewildered, I was hastily dressing, when their voices were

heard, and they rushed in shouting:

 

`Hurrah! Didn’t we rouse you with a right good thundering salute?’

 

But perceiving at a glance that we had been seriously alarmed, Fritz

hastened to apologize for the thoughtless way in which they had sought

to do honour to the Day of Thanksgiving, without considering that an

unexpected cannon-shot would startle us unpleasantly from our slumbers.

 

We readily forgave the authors of our alarm, in consideration of the

good intention which had prompted the deed, and, satisfied that the day

had at least been duly inaugurated, we all went quietly to breakfast.

 

Afterwards we sat together for a long time, enjoying the calm beauty of

the morning, and talking of all that had taken place on the memorable

days of the storm a year ago; for I desired that the awful events of

that time should live in the remembrance of my children with a

deepening sense of gratitude of our deliverance.

 

Therefore I read aloud passages from my journal, as well as many

beautiful verses from the Psalms, expressive of joyful praise and

thanksgiving, so that even the youngest among us was impressed and

solemnized at the recollections of escape from a terrible death, and

also led to bless and praise the name of the Lord our Deliverer.

 

Dinner followed shortly after this happy service, and I then announced

for the afternoon a `Grand Display of Athletic Sports’, in which I and

my wife were to be spectators and judges.

 

`Father, what a grand idea!’

 

`Oh, how jolly! Are we to run races?’

 

`And prizes! Will there be prizes, father?’

 

`The judges offer prizes for competition in every sort of manly

exercise,’ replied I. `Shooting, running, riding, leaping, climbing,

swimming, we will have an exhibition of your skill in all. Now for it!

 

`Trumpeters! Sound for the opening of the lists.’

 

Uttering these last words in a stentorian voice and wildly waving my

arms towards a shady spot, where the ducks and geese were quietly

resting, had the absurd effect I intended.

 

Up they all started in a fright, gabbling and quacking loudly, to the

infinite amusement of the children, who began to bustle about in eager

preparations for the contest, and begging to know with what they were

to begin.

 

`Let us have shooting first, and the rest when the heat of the day

declines. Here is a mark I have got ready for you,’ said I, producing a

board roughly shaped like a kangaroo, and of about the size of one.

This target was admired, but Jack could not rest satisfied till he had

added ears, and a long leather strap for a tail.

 

It was then fixed in the attitude most characteristic of the creature,

and the distance for firing measured off. Each of the three competitors

was to fire twice.

 

Fritz hit the kangaroo’s head each time; Ernest hit the body once; and

Jack, by a lucky chance, shot the ears clean away from the head, which

feat raised a shout of laughter.

 

A second trial with pistols ensued, in which Fritz again came off

victor.

 

Then desiring the competitors to load with small shot, I threw a

little board as high as I possibly could up in the air, each in turn

aiming at and endeavouring to hit it before it touched the ground.

 

In this I found to my surprise that the sedate Ernest succeeded quite

as well as his more impetuous brother Fritz.

 

As for Jack, his flying board escaped wholly uninjured. After this

followed archery, which I liked to encourage, foreseeing that a time

might come when ammunition would fail; and in this practise I saw with

pleasure that my elder sons were really skilful, while even little

Franz acquitted himself well.

 

A pause ensued, and then I started a running match. Fritz, Ernest and

Jack were to run to Falconhurst, by the most direct path. The first to

reach the tree was to bring me, in proof of his success, a penknife I

had accidentally left on the table in my sleeping-room.

 

At a given signal, away went the racers in fine style. Fritz and Jack,

putting forth all their powers, took the lead at once, running in

advance of Ernest, who started at a good steady pace, which I predicted

he would be better able to maintain than such a furious rate as his

brothers.

 

But long before we expected to see them back, a tremendous noise of

galloping caused us to look with surprise towards the bridge, and Jack

made his appearance, thundering along on his buffalo, with the onager

and the donkey tearing after him riderless, and the whole party in the

wildest spirits.

 

`Hollo!’ cried I. `What sort of foot-race do you call this, Master

Jack?’

 

He shouted merrily as he dashed up to us; then flinging himself off,

and saluting us in a playful way:

 

`I very soon saw,’ said he, `that I hadn’t a chance; so renouncing all

idea of the prize, I caught Storm, and made him gallop home with me, to

be in time to see the others come puffing in. Lightfoot and old Grizzle

chose to join me—I never invited them!’

 

By and by the other boys arrived, Ernest holding up the knife in token

of being the winner; and after hearing all particulars about the

running, and that he had reached Falconhurst two minutes before Fritz,

we proceeded to test the climbing powers of the youthful athletes.

 

In this exercise Jack performed wonders. He ascended with remarkable

agility the highest palms whose stems he could clasp.

 

And when he put on the shark-skin buskins, which enabled him to take

firm hold of larger trees, he played antics like a squirrel or a

monkey: peeping and grinning at us, at first on one side of the stem,

and then on the other, in a most diverting way.

 

Fritz and Ernest climbed well, but could not come near the grace and

skill of their active and lively young brother.

 

Riding followed, and marvellous feats were performed, Fritz and Jack

proving themselves very equal in their management of their different

steeds. I thought the riding was over, when little Franz appeared from

the stable in the cave, leading young Grumble the bull-calf, with a

neat saddle of kangaroo hide, and a bridle passed through his nose

ring.

 

The child saluted us with a pretty little air of confidence,

exclaiming:

 

`Now, most learned judges, prepare to see something quite new and

wonderful! The great bull-tamer, Milo of Crotona, desires the honour of

exhibiting before you.’

 

Then taking a whip, and holding the end of a long cord he made the

animal, at the word of command, walk, trot and gallop in a circle round

him. He afterwards mounted, and showed off Grumble’s somewhat awkward

paces.

 

The sports were concluded by swimming-matches, and the competitors

found a plunge in salt water very refreshing after their varied

exertions.

 

Fritz showed himself a master in the art. At home in the element, no

movement betokened either exertion or weariness. Ernest exhibited too

much anxiety and effort, while Jack was far too violent and hasty, and

soon became exhausted. Franz gave token of future skill.

 

By this time, as it was getting late, we returned to our dwelling, my

wife having preceded us in order to make arrangements for the ceremony

of prize-giving.

 

We found her seated in great state, with the prizes set out by her

side.

 

The boys marched in, pretending to play various instruments in