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

attacks of insects.’

 

The two boys were still at some distance from us, when suddenly four

magnificent ostriches rose from the sand where they had been sitting.

 

Jack and Franz perceived them, and with a great shout, drove them

towards us. In front ran a splendid male bird, his feathers of shining

black, and his great tail plume waving behind. Three females of an

ashen grey colour followed him. They approached us with incredible

swiftness, and were within gunshot before they perceived us. Fritz had

had the forethought to bind up the beak of his eagle so that, should he

bring down an ostrich, he might be unable to injure it.

 

He now threw up the falcon which, towering upwards, swooped down upon

the head of the foremost bird, and so confused and alarmed him, that he

could not defend himself nor continue his flight. So greatly was his

speed checked that Jack overtook him, and hurling his lasso, enfolded

his wings and legs in its deadly coils and brought him to the ground.

The other ostriches were almost out of sight, so leaving them to their

own devices we leaped from our steeds and attempted to approach the

captured bird. He struggled fearfully, and kicked with such violence

right and left, that I almost despaired of getting him home alive.

 

It occurred to me, however, that if we could cover his eyes, his fury

might be subdued. I instantly acted upon this idea, and flung over his

head my coat and hunting bag, which effectually shut out the light.

 

No sooner had I done this than his struggles ceased, and we were able

to approach. We first secured round his body a broad strip of sealskin,

on each side of which I fastened a stout piece of cord, that I might be

able to lead him easily. Then, fastening another cord in a loop round

his legs that he might be prevented from breaking into a gallop, we

released him from the coils of the lasso.

 

`Do you know,’ said I to the boys, `how the natives of India secure a

newly captured elephant?’

 

`Oh, yes!’ said Fritz. `They fasten him between two tame elephants.

We’ll do that to this fine fellow, and tame him double quick.’

 

`The only difficulty will be,’ remarked Jack, `that we have no tame

ostriches. However, I daresay Storm and Grumble will have no objection

to perform their part, and it will puzzle even this great monster to

run away with them.’

 

So we at once began operations. Storm and Grumble were led up on

either side of the recumbent ostrich, and the cords secured to their

girths. Jack and Franz, each armed with a stout whip, mounted their

respective steeds, the wrappers were removed from the bird’s eyes, and

we stood by to watch what would next occur.

 

For some moments after the return of his sight he lay perfectly still,

then he arose with a bound and, not aware of the cords which hampered

him, attempted to dash forwards. The thongs were stout, and he was

brought to his knees. A fruitless struggle ensued, and then at length

seeming to accommodate himself to circumstances, he set off at a sharp

trot, his guards making the air re-echo with their merry shouts. These

cries stimulated the ostrich to yet further exertions, but he was at

length brought to a stand by the determined refusal of his four-footed

companions to continue such a race across loose sand.

 

The boys having enjoyed the long run, I told them to walk with the

prisoner slowly home, while Fritz and I returned to examine the

ostrich’s nest. The eggs were quite warm, and I was certain that the

mother had quite recently left the nest; leaving about half, I packed

the rest of the eggs in a large bag I had brought for the purpose, and

slung it carefully on the saddle before me.

 

We soon caught up our advance guard, and without other notable

incident reached our tent.

 

Astonishment and dismay were depicted on the face of my wife as we

approached.

 

`My dear husband,’ she exclaimed, `do you think our provisions so

abundant that you must scour the deserts to find some great beast to

assist us to devour them? You must discover an iron mine next, for iron

is what ostriches chiefly live on, is it not?

 

`Oh! I do wish you would be content with the menagerie you have

already collected, instead of bringing in a specimen of every beast you

come across. And this is such a useless monster!’

 

`Useless! Mother,’ exclaimed Jack, `you would not say so had you seen

him run; why he will be the fleetest courser in our stables. I am going

to make a saddle and bridle for him, and in future he shall be my only

steed. Then as for his appetite, father declares it is most delicate,

he only wants a little fruit and grass, and a few stones and tenpenny

nails to help his digestion.’

 

The way in which Jack assumed the proprietorship of our new prize

seemed to strike his brothers as rather cool, and there was instantly a

cry raised on the subject.

 

`Very well,’ said Jack, `let us each take possession of the part of the

ostrich we captured. Your bird, Fritz, seized the head; keep that;

father shall have the body, I’ll have the legs, and Franz a couple of

feathers from the tail.’

 

`Come, come,’ said I, `I think that Jack has a very good right to the

ostrich, seeing that he brought it to the ground, and if he succeeds in

taming it and converting it into a saddle-horse it shall be his. From

this time, therefore, he is responsible for its training.’

 

The day was now too far advanced to allow us to think of setting out

for Rockburg, so we fastened up the ostrich between two trees, and

devoted the remainder of the evening to making preparations for our

departure.

 

At early dawn our picturesque caravan was moving homewards. The

ostrich continued so refractory that we were obliged to make him again

march between Storm and Grumble, and as these gallant steeds were thus

employed, the cow was harnessed to the cart, laden with our treasures.

Room was left in the cart for my wife, Jack and Franz mounted Storm and

Grumble, I rode Lightfoot, and Fritz brought up the rear on Swift.

 

At the mouth of the Gap we called a halt, and replaced the cord the

boys had strung with ostrich feathers by a stout palisade of bamboos. I

also took the opportunity of collecting a store of pipe-clay, as I

intended during the winter months, which were close at hand, to try my

hand at china making.

 

When we reached the sugarcane grove, we again stopped to collect the

peccary hams we had left to be smoked; and my wife begged me to gather

some seeds of an aromatic plant which grew in the neighbourhood, and

which had the scent of vanilla. I obtained a good supply, and we moved

forward towards Woodlands, where we intended to rest for the night,

after our long and fatiguing march.

 

Our tent was pitched, and on our beds of cotton we slept soundly.

 

Next morning early we examined our farmyard, which appeared in a most

prosperous and flourishing condition. The sight of all these domestic

animals made us long even more than ever for our home at Rockburg, and

we determined to hasten thither with all possible speed.

 

The number of our pigs, goats and poultry had greatly increased since

we had last visited our colony; and some of these, two fine broods of

chickens especially, my wife wished to take back with her.

 

We found that the herd of antelopes which Fritz and Jack had driven

through the Gap, had taken up their abode in the neighbourhood, and

several times we saw the beautiful animals browsing amongst the trees.

 

While at the farm, we repaired both the animals’ stalls, and our

dwelling-room, that the former might be more secure against the

attacks of wild beasts, and the latter fitted for our accommodation

when we should visit the spot.

 

Everything at length being satisfactorily arranged, we again retired to

rest, and early next morning completed our journey to Rockburg.

 

By midday we were once more settled at home. Windows and doors were

thrown open to admit fresh air; the animals established in their

stalls; and the cart’s miscellaneous cargo discharged and arranged.

 

As much time as I could spare, I devoted to the ostrich, whom we

fastened, for the present, between two bamboo posts in front of our

dwelling.

 

I then turned my attention to the eggs we had brought, and which I

determined to hatch, if possible by artificial heat. For this purpose I

arranged a stove, which I maintained at a uniform temperature, and on

it I placed the eggs carefully wrapped in cotton wool.

 

Next morning Fritz and I went off in the boat first to Whale Island,

there to establish our colonists, the angora rabbits, and then to Shark

Island, where we placed the dainty little antelopes.

 

Having made them happy with their liberty and abundance of food, we

returned as quickly as possible to cure the bears’ skins, and add the

provisions we had brought to the stores lying in our cellar.

 

As we returned, we caught up Jack, making his way in great glee

towards Rockburg. He was carrying, in a basket, an immense eel, which

he and Ernest had secured.

 

Ernest had set, on the previous night, a couple of lines; one had been

dragged away, but on the other they found this splendid fellow.

 

It proved delicious. Half was prepared for dinner, and the other half

salted and stowed away.

 

We now, for a short time, again turned our attention to our duties

about the house.

 

Thinking that the verandah would be greatly improved by some creepers,

I sowed round the foot of each bamboo pillar, vanilla, and pepper-seed,

as well as that of other creeping plants, which would not only give the

house a pleasanter aspect, but also afford us shade during the summer

months.

 

I constructed a couple of hen-coops too, for the hens and their little

chicks which we had brought from Woodlands, for I knew that if I left

them unprotected, the inquisitive dispositions of Knips and Fangs might

induce them to make anatomical experiments which would be detrimental

to the welfare of the youngsters.

 

Ernest’s rat-skins were voted a nuisance within doors, and were tied

together and hung up outside; so powerful was the odour they emitted,

that even then Jack would pretend to faint every time he passed near

them.

 

The museum received its additions: the condor and vulture were placed

there, to be stuffed when we should find time during the rainy season.

The mica and asbestos, too, were brought in for the present, not to lie

there idle, but to wait until I could use them as I intended, for china

and lamp-wicks.

 

Having occupied two days in this way, we turned our attention to other

duties: the cultivation of a wheat, barley and maize field, the

management of the ostrich’s eggs, and the taming of the captives.

 

As agriculture was, though the least to our taste, the most important

of these several duties, we set about it first. The animals drew the

plough, but the digging and hoeing taxed our powers of endurance to the

utmost.

 

We worked two hours in the morning and two in the evening. Fully did we

realize the words of Scripture: `In the sweat of thy face shalt thou