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

that he had shot near the tent, he

concealed it, and we once more returned to our beds. I told him

that in justice, if Turk and Flora were still hungry, we should

give this last jackal to them. But they, surfeited, curled up to

sleep.

 

Soundly and peacefully we slept until cock-crow next morning, when my

wife and I awoke. I observed to her that I could not but view with

alarm the many cares and exertions to be made. `In the first place, a

journey to the vessel must be made. This is of absolute necessity, at

least, if we would not be deprived of the livestock and other useful

things, all of which from moment to moment we risk losing by the first

heavy sea. What ought we first to resolve on? For example, should not

our very first endeavour to be the contriving of a better sort of

habitation and a more secure retreat from wild beasts, as well as a

separate place for our provisions? I own I am at a loss what to begin

first.’

 

`Return to the wreck by all means,’ replied my wife, cheerfully.

`Patience, order and perseverance will help us through all our work,

and I agree with you that a visit to the wreck is without doubt our

first duty. Come, let us wake the children, and set to work without

delay.’

 

They were soon roused, and Fritz overcoming his drowsiness before the

others, ran out for his jackal; it was cold and stiff from the night

air, and he placed it on its legs before the tent, in a most life-like

attitude, and stood by to watch the effect upon the family.

 

The dogs were the first to perceive their enemy, and growling, seemed

inclined to dispose of the animal as they had disposed of its brethren

in the night, but Fritz called them off. The noise the dogs made,

however, had the effect of bringing out the younger children, and many

were the exclamations they made at the sight of the strange animal.

 

`A yellow dog!’ cried Franz.

 

`A wolf!’ exclaimed Jack.

 

`It is a striped fox,’ said Ernest.

 

`Hullo,’ said Fritz. `The greatest men may make mistakes. Our

Professor does not know a jackal when he sees one.’

 

`But really,’ continued Ernest, examining the animal, `I think it is a

fox.’

 

`Very well, very well,’ retorted Fritz, `no doubt you know better than

your father! He thinks it is a jackal.’

 

`Come boys,’ said I, `no more of this quarrelling; you are none of you

very far wrong, for the jackal partakes of the nature of all three,

dog, wolf, and fox.’

 

The monkey had come out on Jack’s shoulder, but no sooner did it catch

sight of the jackal, than it fled precipitately back into the tent, and

hid itself in a heap of moss until nothing was visible but the tip of

its little nose. Jack soothed and comforted the frightened little

animal, and I then summoned them all to prayers, soon after which we

began our breakfast.

 

So severely had we dealt with our supper the previous night, that we

had little to eat but the biscuits, which were so dry and hard, that,

hungry as we were, we could not swallow much. Fritz and I took some

cheese to help them down, while my wife and younger sons soaked theirs

in water. Ernest roamed down to the shore, and looked about for

shellfish.

 

Presently he returned with a few whelks. `Ah,’ said he, `if we had but

some butter.’

 

`My good boy,’ I replied, `Your perpetual “if, if”, quite annoys me; I

would rather eat a bit of cheese with my biscuit at once, than think of

ifs, which bring us so meagre a harvest. Why do you not sit down and

eat cheese like the rest of us?’

 

`Not while I can get butter,’ he said, `see here, father,’ and he

pointed to a large cask, `that barrel contains excellent salt butter. I

made a little opening in it with a knife; and see, I got enough to

spread nicely upon this piece of biscuit.’

 

`Really, Ernest,’ I said, `we are indebted to you. I will open the

cask.’ So saying, I took a knife and carefully cut a small hole, so

that I could extract the butter without exposing the mass of it to the

effects of the air and heat. Filling a cocoanut shell with the good

Dutch butter, we once more sat down, toasting our biscuits before the

fire and spreading them with butter.

 

While we were thus employed, I noticed that the two dogs were lying

unusually quietly by my side. I at first attributed this drowsiness to

their large meal during the night, but I soon discovered that it arose

from a different cause; the faithful animals had not escaped unhurt

from their late combat, but had received several deep and painful

wounds, especially about the neck. The dogs began to lick each other on

the places which they could not reach with their own tongues, and my

wife carefully dressed the wounds with butter from which she had

extracted the salt by washing.

 

`One of the things we must not forget to look for in the vessel,’ said

Fritz, `is a spiked collar for each of the dogs, as a protection to

them should they again be called upon to defend themselves and us from

wild beasts.’

 

`Oh yes,’ exclaimed Jack, `but I can make spiked collars, if mother

will give me some help.’

 

`Try by all means, my little fellow,’ said I, `and persuade your

mother to assist you; and now, Fritz,’ I continued, `we must be

starting, for you and I are to make a trip to the wreck.’

 

`That I will, my boy,’ she cried, `for I would like to see what new

fancy has come into your head. And all of us must remember that we may

make as many new inventions as we can think of. We cannot better employ

your time, and if you produce something useful, you will be rewarded

with the commendations of all.’

 

I begged the party who were to remain on shore, to keep together as

much as possible, reminded my younger sons to obey their mother in all

things, and having arranged a set of signals with my wife that we might

exchange communications, asked a blessing on our enterprise. I erected

a signal-post, and while Fritz was making preparations for our

departure, hoisted a strip of sailcloth as a flag; this flag was to

remain hoisted so long as all was well on shore, but should our return

be desired, three shots were to be fired and the flag lowered.

 

All was now ready, and warning my wife that we might find it necessary

to remain all night on the vessel, we tenderly bade adieu and embarked.

Except our guns and ammunition we were taking nothing, that we might

leave as much space as possible for the stowage of a large cargo.

Fritz, however, had resolved to bring his little monkey, that he might

obtain milk for it as soon as possible.

 

We had not got far from the shore, when I perceived that a current from

the river set in directly for the vessel, and though my nautical

knowledge was not great, I succeeded in steering the boat into the

favourable stream, which carried us nearly three-fourths of our passage

with little or no trouble to ourselves; then, by dint of hard pulling,

we accomplished the whole distance, and, entering through the breach,

gladly made fast our boat and stepped on board.

 

Our first care was to see to the animals, who greeted us with

joy—lowing, bellowing, and bleating as we approached—not that the

poor beasts were hungry, for they were all still well supplied with

food, but they were apparently pleased by the mere sight of human

beings. We removed any partly spoiled food and added a fresh supply,

along with fresh water.

 

Fritz then placed his monkey by one of the goats, and the little

animal immediately sucked the milk with evident relish, chattering and

grinning all the while; the monkey provided for, we refreshed ourselves

with a plentiful meal. `Now,’ said I, `we have plenty to do; where

shall we begin?’

 

`Let us fix a mast and sail to our boat,’ answered Fritz, `for the

current which brought us out will not take us back; whereas the fresh

breeze we met would help us immensely had we but a sail.’

 

Quite startled, I demanded, `What makes you think of this at so

critical a time, when we have so many necessities to attend to?’

 

`I must confess,’ he said, `that I found it very difficult to row for

so long a time, though I assure you I did my best and did not spare my

strength. I noticed that, though the wind blew strong in my face,

towards land, the current continued to carry is out. Now, as the

current will be of no use in our way back, I was thinking that we might

make the wind supply its place. Our boat will be very heavy when we

have loaded it with all the things we mean to take away, and I am

afraid that I shall not be strong enough to row to land.’

 

`You have reasoned well, my boy,’ I replied, `and let us set to work at

once. Even so, we must take care not to overload the boat, as that

might risk our sinking or force us to throw supplies overboard.’ I

chose a stout spar to serve as a mast, and having made a hole in a

plank nailed across one of the tubs we, with the help of a rope and a

couple of blocks, stepped it and secured it with stays.

 

We then discovered a lug-sail, which had belonged to one of the ship’s

boats; this we hoisted; and our craft was ready to sail. Fritz begged

me to decorate the masthead with a red streamer, to give our vessel a

more finished appearance. Smiling at this childish but natural vanity,

I complied with his request. I then contrived a rudder, that I might be

able to steer the boat; for though I knew that an oar would serve the

purpose, it was cumbrous and inconvenient.

 

While I was thus employed, Fritz examined the shore with his glass, and

soon announced that the flag was flying and all was well.

 

So much time had now slipped away, that we found we could not return

that night, as I had wished. We signalled our intention of remaining on

board, and then spent the rest of our time in taking out the stones we

had placed in the boat for ballast, and stowed in their place heavy

articles, of value to us.

 

The ship had sailed for the purpose of supplying a young colony; she

had therefore on board every conceivable article we could desire in our

present situation; our only difficulty indeed was to make a wise

selection. Fritz seemed sanguine that we would be able to return for

more, but of that I was far from certain.

 

A large quantity of powder and shot we first secured, and as Fritz

considered that we could not have too many weapons, we added three

excellent guns, and a whole armful of swords, daggers and knives. We

remembered that knives and forks and spoons were necessary, we

therefore laid in a large stock of them, and kitchen utensils of all

sorts.

 

Exploring the captain’s cabin, we discovered a service of silver-plate

and a cellaret of good old wine; we then went over the stores, and

supplied ourselves with