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Title: The Swiss family Robinson
Author: Johann David Wyss
Illustrator: T. H. Robinson
Release date: February 23, 2026 [eBook #78017]
Language: English
Original publication: Garden City, NY: Garden City Publishing Company, Inc, 1931
Credits: Carol Brown, Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON ***
[Illustration: “The morning dawned upon us without a prospect of
hope.”]
FRONTISPIECE
THE
SWISS FAMILY
ROBINSON
ILLUSTRATED BY
T. H. ROBINSON
GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.
GARDEN CITY NEW YORK
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I A SHIPWRECK, AND PREPARATIONS FOR DELIVERANCE 15
II A LANDING, AND CONSEQUENT OCCUPATIONS 28
III VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 39
IV RETURN FROM THE VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY--A
NOCTURNAL ALARM 49
V RETURN TO THE WRECK 56
VI A TROOP OF ANIMALS IN CORK JACKETS 66
VII SECOND JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY PERFORMED BY
THE MOTHER OF THE FAMILY 74
VIII CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE 80
IX CHANGE OF ABODE 87
X CONSTRUCTION OF A LADDER 95
XI THE SETTLING IN THE GIANT TREE 101
XII THE SABBATH AND THE PARABLE 105
XIII CONVERSATION, AND A WALK 114
XIV CONTINUATION OF PRECEDING CHAPTER--DISCOVERIES 119
XV HOPES OF A SLEDGE--SOME SHORT LESSONS
IN USEFUL THINGS 124
XVI BATHING, FISHING, AND A KANGAROO 127
XVII MORE STORES FROM THE WRECK 132
XVIII THE TORTOISE HARNESSED 135
XIX ANOTHER TRIP TO THE WRECK--BAKING 140
XX THE CRACKER AND THE PINNACE 144
XXI GYMNASTIC EXERCISES--VARIOUS DISCOVERIES--
SINGULAR ANIMALS, ETC. 153
XXII EXCURSION INTO UNKNOWN TRACTS 163
XXIII USEFUL OCCUPATIONS AND LABOURS--EMBELLISHMENTS--A
PAINFUL BUT NATURAL SENTIMENT 169
XXIV A NEW DOMAIN--THE TROOP OF BUFFALOES--THE
VANQUISHED HERO 175
XXV THE MALABAR EAGLE--SAGO MANUFACTORY--BEES 184
XXVI TREATMENT OF BEES--STAIRCASE--TRAINING
OF VARIOUS ANIMALS--MANUFACTURES, ETC. 194
XXVII THE WILD ASS--DIFFICULTY IN BREAKING
IT--THE HEATH FOWL’S NEST 201
XXVIII FLAX, AND THE RAINY SEASON 208
XXIX SPRING--SPINNING--SALT MINE 215
XXX HOUSE IN THE SALT ROCK--TURTLES 222
XXXI NEW FISHERY--NEW EXPERIMENTS--NEW DISCOVERIES,
AND HOUSE 226
XXXII COMPLETION OF TWO FARMHOUSES--A
LAKE--A BOAT 235
XXXIII ANNIVERSARY OF OUR DELIVERANCE--MOTIVES
FOR THANKFULNESS 244
XXXIV GOURD PLANTATION--MONKEY-ROOT OR GINSENG--BIRD
SNARES 250
XXXV THE DOVE-COT AND ITS MANAGEMENT 257
XXXVI JACK’S ADVENTURE AND NARROW ESCAPE--A
FOUNTAIN 264
XXXVII THE APPROACH OF WINTER AND WET SEASON--INVENTION
OF A NEW LIGHT--LITERARY ACQUISITIONS 268
XXXVIII CLOSE OF THE RAINY SEASON--A WHALE--CORAL 273
XXXIX THE WHALE, ITS DISSECTION--USES OF THE
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WHALE 276
XL THE BOAT-PROPELLER OR ROWING MACHINE--A
TURTLE DRIVE 279
XLI WEAVING-MACHINE--BASKET-MAKING--THE
ALARM--A DANGEROUS VISITOR--THE
ASS FALLS A VICTIM 286
XLII DISCOVERY OF A CRYSTAL GROTTO--FURTHER
EXPLORATION 295
XLIII THE PIG HUNT--THE SUPPLY--THE
OTAHEITAN ROAST--HAM SMOKING 304
XLIV EXCURSION INTO THE SAVANNA--TWO HORSEMEN--THE
OSTRICH HUNT--THE NEST--THE LAND TURTLES 309
XLV BEARS! BEARS!--NARROW ESCAPE--THE COMBAT--DISCOVERY
OF PORCELAIN EARTH 316
XLVI PREPARATION OF THE BEARS’ FLESH--CUPS OUT OF
OSTRICH EGGS--ANGORA RABBITS AND ANTELOPES 319
XLVII OSTRICHES AGAIN--A HUNT AND A CAPTURE--ACQUISITION
OF TREASURE--EUPHORBIA--VANILLA 325
XLVIII PROGRESS IN OSTRICH DISCIPLINE--EFFICACY
OF TOBACCO SMOKE--HYDROMEL--THE NEW HAT--POTTERY 331
XLIX RETURN OF THE RAINY SEASON--A NEW WANT--THE CAJACK 339
L RETURN OF THE BOYS--THEIR ADVENTURES--HARVESTING--
PARTRIDGES AND QUAILS 345
LI TRIAL OF THE CAJACK--THE ALARM--ADVENTURE WITH
SEA COWS--THE DRAWBRIDGE 350
LII TAMING OF ANTELOPES--SUGAR PRESS--COMBAT WITH A
HYENA--A FLYING COURIER--THE WILD HORSE AND THE
ELEPHANT 357
LIII THE REDOUBT--VALUABLE DISCOVERIES--THE CACAO
TREE--THE BANANA--CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS--TEA
PLANT--ARTILLERY, AND FORTIFICATION OF SHARK ISLAND 369
LIV A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE COLONY AFTER TEN YEARS OF
ESTABLISHMENT 376
LV EXCURSION OF FRITZ--STARTLING COMMUNICATION--DISCOVERY
OF PEARLS--INTELLIGENCE OF A FELLOW CREATURE--FRITZ’S
RETURN, AND ACCOUNT OF HIS WONDERFUL DISCOVERIES 384
LVI EDIBLE BIRDS’ NESTS--PEARL FISHERY--POOR
JACK IS “KILLED”--DISCOVERY OF TRUFFLES 393
LVII COTTON NUTS--TERRIFIC ENCOUNTER WITH LION AND
LIONESS--A SAVAGE--PARLEY, AND RECOGNITION OF A
FRIEND 398
LVIII ADVENTURES OF FRITZ--SIR EDWARD MONTROSE--OUR ADOPTED
SISTER--ATTACK OF WOLVES--PREPARATIONS FOR RETURN 406
LIX THE LIMEKILN--FRITZ’S STORY 414
LX EMILY’S OWN STORY--RETURN TO FELSENHEIM WITH MILITARY
HONOURS--THE WINTER SEASON ONCE MORE 421
LXI CONCLUSION 427
COLOR PLATES
“The morning dawned upon us without a prospect
of hope” _Frontispiece_
FACING PAGE
“The Vandals themselves could not have made a
more complete pillage than we had done” 62
“I proceeded more cautiously in my pursuit of the
wounded bird” 94
“He accordingly fell into the track of the current,
and drew us straight towards our usual place of
landing” 138
“Thus we entered the rock in solemn procession” 218
“Francis remained with his mother” 310
“With one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back” 334
“I felt so frightened at the apparition” 374
THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
THE SWISS FAMILY
ROBINSON
CHAPTER I
A Shipwreck, and Preparations for Deliverance
Already the tempest had continued six days; on the seventh its fury
seemed still increasing; and the morning dawned upon us without a
prospect of hope, for we had wandered so far from the right track,
and were so forcibly driven toward the southeast, that none on
board knew where we were. The ship’s company were exhausted by
labour and watching, and the courage which had sustained them was
now sinking. The shivered masts had been cast into the sea; several
leaks appeared, and the ship began to fill. The sailors forbore from
swearing; many were at prayer on their knees; while others offered
miracles of future piety and goodness, as the condition of their
release from danger. “My beloved children,” said I to my four boys,
who clung to me in their fright, “God can save us, for nothing is
impossible to Him. We must however hold ourselves resigned, and,
instead of murmuring at His decree, rely that what He sees fit to do
is best, and that should He call us from this earthly scene, we shall
be near Him in heaven, and united through eternity. Death may be well
supported when it does not separate those who love.”
My excellent wife wiped the tears which were falling on her cheeks,
and from this moment became more tranquil: she encouraged the
youngest children who were leaning on her knees; while I, who owed
them an example of firmness, was scarcely able to resist my grief
at the thought of what would most likely be the fate of beings so
tenderly beloved. We all fell on our knees, and supplicated the God
of Mercy to protect us; and the emotion and fervour of the innocent
creatures are a convincing proof that even in childhood devotion may
be felt and understood, and that tranquillity and consolation, its
natural effects, may at that season be no less certainly experienced.
Fritz, my eldest son, implored, in a loud voice, that God would deign
to save his dear parents and his brothers, generously unmindful of
himself: the boys rose from their posture with a state of mind so
improved that they seemed forgetful of the impending danger. I myself
began to feel my hopes increase, as I beheld the affecting group.
Heaven will surely have pity on them, thought I, and will save their
parents to guard their tender years!
At this moment a cry of “Land, land!” was heard through the roaring
of the waves, and instantly the vessel struck against a rock with so
violent a motion as to drive every one from his place; a tremendous
cracking succeeded, as if the ship were going to pieces; the sea
rushed in, in all directions; we perceived that the vessel had
grounded, and could not long hold together. The captain called out
that all was lost, and bade the men lose not a moment in putting out
the boats. The sounds fell on my heart like a thrust from a dagger:
“We are lost!” I exclaimed, and the children broke out into piercing
cries. I then recollected myself, and, addressing them again,
exhorted them to courage, by observing that the water had not yet
reached us, that the ship was near land, and that Providence would
assist the brave. “Keep where you are,” added I, “while I go and
examine what is best to be done.”
I now went on the deck. A wave instantly threw me down, and wetted me
to the skin; another followed, and then another. I sustained myself
as steadily as I could; and looking around, a scene of terrific
and complete disaster met my eyes: the ship was shattered in all
directions, and on one side there was a complete breach. The ship’s
company crowded into the boats till they could contain not one man
more, and the last who entered were now cutting the ropes to move
off. I called to them with almost frantic entreaties to stop and
receive us also, but in vain; for the roaring of the sea prevented my
being heard, and the waves, which rose to the height of mountains,
would have made it impossible to return. All hope from this source
was over, for, while I spoke, the boats, and all they contained, were
driving out of sight. My best consolation now was to observe that
the slanting position the ship had taken would afford us present
protection from the water; and that the stern, under which was the
cabin that enclosed all that was dear to me on earth, had been driven
upwards between two rocks, and seemed immovably fixed. At the same
time, in the distance southward, I descried through clouds and rain,
several nooks of land, which, though rude and savage in appearance,
were the objects of every hope I could form in this distressing
moment.
Sunk and desolate from the loss of all chance of human aid, it was
yet my duty to appear serene before my family: “Courage, dear ones,”
cried I on entering their cabin, “let us not desert ourselves: I will
not conceal from you that the ship is aground; but we are at least
in greater safety than if she were beating upon the rocks; our cabin
is above water; and should the sea be more calm to-morrow, we may yet
find means to reach the land in safety.”
What I had just said appeased their fears; for my family had the
habit of confiding in my assurances. They now began to feel the
advantage of the ship’s remaining still; for its motion had been
most distressing, by jostling them one against another, or whatever
happened to be nearest. My wife, however, more accustomed than
the children to read my inmost thoughts, perceived the anxiety
which devoured me. I made her a sign which conveyed an idea of the
hopelessness of our situation; and I had the consolation to see that
she was resolved to support the trial with resignation. “Let us take
some nourishment,” said she; “our courage will strengthen with our
bodies; we shall perhaps need this comfort to support a long and
melancholy night,”
Soon after night set in; the fury of the tempest had not abated;
the planks and beams of the vessel separated in many parts with a
horrible crash. We thought of the boats, and feared that all they
contained must have sunk under the foaming surge.
My wife had prepared a slender meal, and the four boys partook of it
with an appetite to which their parents were strangers. They went to
bed, and, exhausted by fatigue, soon were snoring soundly. Fritz, the
eldest, sat up with us. “I have been thinking,” said he, after a long
silence, “how it may be possible to save ourselves. If we had some
bladders or cork-jackets for my mother and my brothers, you and I,
father, would soon contrive to swim to land.”
“That is a good thought,” said I; “we will see what can be done.”
Fritz and I looked about for some small empty firkins; these we tied
two and two together with handkerchiefs or towels, leaving about a
foot distance between them, and fastened them as swimming-jackets
under the arms of each child, my wife at the same time preparing one
for herself. We provided ourselves with knives, some string, some
turfs, and other necessaries which could be put into the pocket,
proceeding upon the hope, that if the ship went to pieces in the
night, we should either be able to swim to land, or be driven thither
by the waves.
Fritz, who had been up all night, and was fatigued with his laborious
occupations, now lay down near his brothers, and was soon asleep;
but their mother and I, too anxious to close our eyes, kept watch,
listening to every sound that seemed to threaten a further change in
our situation. We passed this awful night in prayer, in agonizing
apprehensions, and in forming various resolutions as to what we
should next attempt. We hailed with joy the first gleam of light
which shot through a small opening of the window. The raging of
the winds had begun to abate, the sky was become serene, and hope
throbbed in my bosom, as I beheld the sun already tinging the
horizon. Thus revived, I summoned my wife and the boys to the deck
to partake of the scene. The youngest children, half forgetful of
the past, asked with surprise, why we were there alone, and what had
become of the ship’s company? I led them to the recollection of our
misfortune, and then added, “Dearest children, a Being more powerful
than man has helped us, and will, no doubt, continue to help us, if
we do not abandon ourselves to a fruitless despair. Observe, our
companions, in whom we had so much confidence, have deserted us, and
that Divine Providence, in its goodness, has given us protection!
But, my dear ones, let us show ourselves willing in our exertions,
and thus deserve support from heaven. Let us not forget this useful
maxim, and let each labour according to his strength.”
Fritz advised that we should all throw ourselves into the sea, while
it was calm, and swim to land.--“Ah! that may be well enough for
you,” said Ernest, “for you can swim; but we others should soon be
drowned. Would it not be better to make a float of rafts, and get to
land all together upon it?”
“Vastly well,” answered I, “if we had the means for contriving such a
float, and if, after all, it were not a dangerous sort of conveyance.
But come, my boys, look each of you about the ship, and see what can
be done to enable us to reach the land.”
They now all sprang from me with eager looks, to do as I desired.
I, on my part, lost no time in examining what we had to depend upon
as to provisions and fresh water. My wife and the youngest boy
visited the animals, whom they found in a pitiable condition, nearly
perishing with hunger and thirst. Fritz repaired to the ammunition
room; Ernest to the carpenter’s cabin; and Jack to the apartment of
the captain; but scarcely had he opened the door, when two large
dogs sprang upon him, and saluted him with such rude affection that
he roared for assistance, as if they had been killing him. Hunger,
however, had rendered the poor creatures so gentle that they licked
his hands and face, uttering all the time a low sort of moan, and
continuing their caresses till he was almost suffocated. Poor Jack
exerted all his strength in blows to drive them away: at last he
began to understand, and to sympathize in their joyful movements, and
put himself upon another footing. He got upon his legs, and gently
taking the largest dog by the ears, sprang upon his back, and with
great gravity presented himself thus mounted before me, as I came out
of the ship’s hold. I could not refrain from laughing, and I praised
his courage; but I added a little exhortation to be cautious, and not
go too far with animals of this species, who, in a state of hunger,
might be dangerous.
By and by my little company were again assembled round me, and each
boasted of what he had to contribute. Fritz had two fowling-pieces,
some powder and small-shot, contained in horn flasks, and some
bullets in bags.
Ernest produced his hat filled with nails, and held in his hands a
hatchet and a hammer; in addition, a pair of pincers, a pair of large
scissors, and an auger, peeped out at his pocket-hole.
Even the little Francis carried under his arm a box of no very small
size, from which he eagerly produced what he called some little
sharp-pointed hooks. His brothers smiled scornfully. “Vastly well,
gentlemen,” said I; “but let me tell you that the youngest has
brought the most valuable prize, and this is often the case in the
world; the person who least courts the smiles of Fortune, and in the
calm of his heart is scarcely conscious of her existence, is often he
to whom she most readily presents herself. These little sharp-pointed
hooks, as Francis calls them, are fishing-hooks, and will probably be
of more use in preserving our lives than all we may find besides in
the ship. In justice, however, I must confess, that what Fritz and
Ernest have contributed will also afford essential service.”
“I, for my part,” said my wife, “have brought nothing; but I have
some tidings to communicate which I hope will secure my welcome: I
have found on board a cow and an ass, two goats, six sheep, and a sow
big with young: I have just supplied them with food and water, and I
reckon on being able to preserve their lives.”
“All this is admirable,” said I to my young labourers; “and there is
only master Jack, who, instead of thinking of something useful, has
done us the favour to present us two personages, who, no doubt, will
be principally distinguished by being willing to eat more than we
shall have to give them.”
“Ah!” replied Jack, “but if we can once get to land, you will see
that they will assist us in hunting and shooting.”
“True enough,” said I, “but be so good as to tell us how we are to
get to land, and whether you have contrived the means?”
“I am sure it cannot be very difficult,” said Jack, with an arch
motion of his head. “Look here at these large tubs. Why cannot each
of us get into one of them, and float to the land? I remember I
succeeded very well in this manner on the water, when I was visiting
my godfather at S----”
“Every one’s thought is good for something,” cried I, “and I begin to
believe that what Jack has suggested is worth a trial: quick, then,
boy! give me the saw, the auger, and some nails; we will see what is
to be done.” I recollected having seen some empty casks in the ship’s
hold: we went down, and found them floating in the water which had
got into the vessel; it cost us but little trouble to hoist them up,
and place them on the lower deck, which was at this time scarcely
above water. We saw, with joy, that they were all sound, well guarded
by iron hoops, and in every respect in good condition; they were
exactly suited for the object; and, with the assistance of my sons,
I instantly began to saw them in two. In a short time I had produced
eight tubs, of equal size, and of the proper height. We now allowed
ourselves some refreshment of wine and biscuit. I viewed with delight
my eight little tubs, ranged in a line. I was surprised to see that
my wife did not partake our eagerness; she sighed deeply as she
looked at them. “Never, never,” cried she, “can I venture to get into
one of these.”
“Do not decide so hastily, my dear,” said I; “my plan is not yet
complete; and you will see presently that it is more worthy of our
confidence than this shattered vessel, which cannot move from its
place.”
I then sought for a long pliant plank, and placed my eight tubs upon
it, leaving a piece at each end reaching beyond the tubs, which, bent
upward, would present an outline like the keel of a vessel; we next
nailed all the tubs to the plank, and then the tubs to each other, as
they stood, side by side, to make them the firmer, and afterwards two
other planks, of the same length as the first, on each side of the
tubs. When all this was finished, we found we had produced a kind of
narrow boat, divided into eight compartments, which I had no doubt
would be able to perform a short course in calm water.
But now we discovered that the machine we had contrived was so heavy,
that, with the strength of all united, we were not able to move
it an inch from its place. I bade Fritz fetch me a crow, who soon
returned with it: in the meanwhile I sawed a thick round pole into
several pieces, to make some rollers. I then, with the crow, easily
raised the foremost part of my machine, while Fritz placed one of the
rollers under it.
“How astonishing,” cried Ernest, “that this engine, which is smaller
than any of us, can do more than our united strength was able to
effect! I wish I could know how it is constructed.”
I explained to him as well as I could the power of Archimedes’ lever,
with which he said he could move the world, if you would give him a
point from which his mechanism might act, and promised to explain the
nature of the operation of the crow when we should be safe on land.
One of the points of my system of education for my sons was to awaken
their curiosity by interesting observations, to leave time for the
activity of the imagination, and then to correct any error they
might fall into. I contented myself now, however, with this general
remark, that God sufficiently compensated the natural weakness of
man by the gifts of reason, of invention, and the adroitness of the
hands; and that human meditation and skill had produced a science,
called mechanics, the object of which was, to teach us how to make
our own natural strength act to an incredible distance, and with
extraordinary force, by the intervention of instruments.
Jack here remarked that the action of the crow was very slow.
“Better slow than never, Jack,” replied I. “Experience has ever
taught, and mechanical observations have established as a principle,
that what is gained in speed is lost in strength: the purpose of the
crow is not to enable us to raise anything rapidly, but to raise what
is exceedingly heavy; and the heavier the thing we would move, the
slower is the mechanical operation. But are you aware what we have at
our command, to compensate for this slowness?”
“Yes, it is turning the handle quicker.”
“Your guess is wrong; that would be no compensation: the true remedy,
my boy, is to call in the assistance of patience and reason: with
the aid of these two fairy powers I am in hopes to set my machine
afloat.” As I said this, I tied a long cord to its stern, and the
other end of it to one of the timbers of the ship, which appeared
to be still firm, so that the cord being left loose would serve to
guide and restrain it when launched. We now put a second and a third
roller under, and applying the crow, to our great joy our machine
descended into the water with such a velocity that, if the rope had
not been well fastened, it would have gone far out to sea. But now a
new difficulty presented itself: the boat leaned so much on one side
that the boys all exclaimed they could not venture to get into it. I
was for some moments in the most painful perplexity; but it suddenly
occurred to me that ballast only was wanting to set it straight. I
drew it near, and threw all the useless things I could find into the
tubs, so as to make weight on the light side. By degrees the machine
became quite straight and firm in the water, seeming to invite us to
take refuge in its protection. All now would get into the tubs, and
the boys began to dispute which should be first. I drew them back,
and seeking a remedy for this kind of obstacle, I recollected that
savage nations make use of a paddle for preventing their canoes from
upsetting. I once more set to work to make one of these.
I took two poles of equal length, upon which the sails of the vessel
had been stretched, and having descended into the machine, fixed one
of them at the head, and the other at the stern, in such a manner as
to enable us to turn them at pleasure to right or left, as should
best answer the purpose of guiding and putting it out to sea. I
stuck the end of each pole, or paddle, into the bung-hole of an empty
brandy-keg, which served to keep the paddles steady, and to prevent
any interruption in the management of our future enterprise.
There remained nothing more to do, but to find in what way I could
clear out from the incumbrance of the wreck. I got into the first
tub, and steered the head of the machine so as to make it enter
the cleft in the ship’s side, where it could remain quiet. I then
remounted the vessel, and sometimes with the saw, and sometimes with
the hatchet, I cleared away, to right and left, everything that could
obstruct our passage; and, that being effected, we next secured some
oars for the voyage we resolved on attempting.
We had spent the day in laborious exertions; it was already late; and
as it would not have been possible to reach the land that evening,
we were obliged to pass a second night in the wrecked vessel, which
at every instant threatened to fall to pieces. We next refreshed
ourselves by a regular meal; for, during the day’s work, we had
scarcely allowed ourselves to take a bit of bread, or a glass of
wine. Being now in a more tranquil and unapprehensive state of mind
than the day before, we all abandoned ourselves to sleep; not,
however, till I had taken the precaution of tying the swimming
apparatus round my three youngest boys and my wife, in case the storm
should again come on. I also advised my wife to dress herself in the
clothes of one of the sailors which were so much more convenient for
swimming, or any other exertions she might be compelled to engage
in. She consented, but not without reluctance, and left us to look
for some that might best suit her size. In a quarter of an hour she
returned, dressed in the clothes of a young man who had served as
volunteer on board the ship, and I soon found means to reconcile her
to the change, by representing the many advantages it gave her, till
at length she joined in the merriment her dress occasioned, and one
and all crept into our separate hammocks, where a delicious repose
prepared us for the renewal of our labours.
CHAPTER II
A Landing, and Consequent Occupations
By break of day we were all awake and alert, for hope as well as
grief is unfriendly to lengthened slumbers. When we had finished our
morning prayer, I said, “We now, my best beloved, with the assistance
of Heaven, must enter upon the work of our deliverance. The first
thing to be done is to give to each poor animal on board a hearty
meal; we will then put food enough before them for several days; we
cannot take them with us; but we will hope it may be possible, if our
voyage succeeds, to return and fetch them. Are you now all ready?
Bring together whatever is absolutely necessary for our wants. It is
my wish that our first cargo should consist of a barrel of gunpowder,
three fowling-pieces, and three carbines, with as much small-shot
and lead, and as many bullets as our boat will carry; two pairs of
pocket-pistols, and one of large ones, not forgetting a mould to
cast balls in; each of the boys, and their mother also, should have
a bag to carry game in; you will find plenty of these in the cabins
of the officers.” We added a chest containing cakes of portable soup,
another full of hard biscuits, an iron pot, a fishing-rod, a chest
of nails, and another of different utensils, such as hammers, saws,
pincers, hatchets, augers, etc., and lastly, some sailcloth to make
a tent. Indeed the boys brought so many things that we were obliged
to reject some of them, though I had already exchanged the worthless
ballast for articles of use in the question of our subsistence.
When all was ready we stepped bravely each into a tub. At the moment
of our departure the cocks and hens began to cluck, as if conscious
that we had deserted them, yet were willing to bid us a sorrowful
adieu. This suggested to me the idea of taking the geese, ducks,
fowls, and pigeons with us; observing to my wife that, if we could
not find means to feed them, at least they would feed us.
We accordingly executed this plan. We put ten hens and an old and a
young cock into one of the tubs, and covered it with planks; we set
the rest of the poultry at liberty, in the hope that instinct would
direct them towards the land, the geese and the ducks by water, and
the pigeons by the air.
We were waiting for my wife, who had the care of this last part of
our embarkation, when she joined us loaded with a large bag, which
she threw into the tub that already contained her youngest son. I
imagined that she intended it for him to sit upon, or perhaps to
confine him so as to prevent his being tossed from side to side. I
therefore asked no more questions concerning it. The order of our
departure was as follows:
In the first tub, at the boat’s head, my wife, the most tender and
exemplary of her sex, placed herself. In the second, our little
Francis, a lovely boy, six years old, remarkable for the sweetest and
happiest temper, and for his affection to his parents. In the third,
Fritz, our eldest boy, between fourteen and fifteen years of age, a
handsome, curl-pated youth, full of intelligence and vivacity. In
the fourth was the barrel of gunpowder, with the cocks and hens, and
the sail-cloth. In the fifth, the provisions of every kind. In the
sixth, our third son, Jack, a light-hearted, enterprising, audacious,
generous lad, about ten years old. In the seventh, our second son,
Ernest, a boy of twelve years old, of a rational, reflecting temper,
well informed for his age, but somewhat disposed to indolence and
pleasure. In the eighth, a father, to whose paternal care the task
of guiding the machine for the safety of his beloved family was
entrusted. Each of us had useful implements within reach; the hand
of each held an oar, and near each was a swimming apparatus, in
readiness for what might happen. The tide was already at half its
height when we left the ship, and I had counted on this circumstance
as favourable to our want of strength. We held the two paddles
longways, and thus we passed without accident through the cleft of
the vessel into the sea. The boys devoured with their eyes the blue
land they saw at a distance. We rowed with all our strength, but long
in vain, to reach it: the boat only turned round and round. At length
I had the good fortune to steer in such a way that it proceeded in
a straight line. The two dogs, perceiving we had abandoned them,
plunged into the sea and swam to the boat; they were too large for us
to think of giving them admittance, and I dreaded lest they should
jump in and upset us. Turk was an English dog, and Flora a bitch of
the Danish breed. I was in great uneasiness on their account, for I
feared it would not be possible for them to swim so far. The dogs,
however, managed the affair with perfect intelligence. When fatigued,
they rested their fore-paws on one of the paddles, and thus with
little effort proceeded.
Jack was disposed to refuse them this accommodation, but he soon
yielded to my argument that it was cruel and unwise to neglect
creatures thrown on our protection, and who indeed might hereafter
protect us in their turn, by guarding us from harm, and assisting in
our pursuit of animals for food. “Besides,” added I, “God has given
the dog to man to be his faithful companion and friend.”
Our voyage proceeded securely, though slowly; but the nearer we
approached the land, the more gloomy and unpromising its aspect
appeared. The coast was clothed with barren rocks, which seemed to
offer nothing but hunger and distress. The sea was calm; the waves,
gently agitated, washed the shore, and the sky was serene in every
direction; we perceived casks, bales, chests, and other vestiges of
shipwrecks, floating round us. In the hope of obtaining some good
provisions, I determined on endeavouring to secure some of the casks.
I bade Fritz have a rope, a hammer, and some nails ready, and to try
to seize them as we passed. He succeeded in laying hold of two, and
in such a way that we could draw them after us to the shore. Now
that we were close on land, its rude outline was much softened; the
rocks no longer appeared one undivided chain; Fritz, with his hawk’s
eye, already descried some trees, and exclaimed that they were palm
trees. Ernest expressed his joy that he should now get much larger
and better cocoa-nuts than he had ever seen before. I, for my part,
was venting audibly my regret that I had not thought of bringing a
telescope that I knew was in the captain’s cabin, when Jack drew a
small one from his pocket, and with a look of triumph presented it to
me.
On applying it to my eye, I remarked that the shore before us had a
desert and savage aspect, but that towards the left the scene was
more agreeable; but when I attempted to steer in that direction, a
current carried me irresistibly towards the coast that was rocky and
barren. By and by we perceived a little opening between the rocks,
near the mouth of a creek, towards which all our geese and ducks
betook themselves; and I, relying on their sagacity, followed in
the same course. This opening formed a little bay; the water was
tranquil, and neither too deep nor too shallow to receive our boat. I
entered it, and cautiously put on shore to a spot where the coast was
about the same height above the water as our tubs, and where, at the
same time, there was a quantity sufficient to keep us afloat.
All that had life in the boat jumped eagerly on land. The dogs, who
had swum on shore, received us, as if appointed to do the honours
of the place, jumping round us with every demonstration of joy;
the geese kept up a loud cackling, to which the ducks, from their
broad yellow beaks, contributed a perpetual thorough bass; the cocks
and hens, which we had already set at liberty, clucked; the boys
chattering all at once, produced altogether an overpowering confusion
of sounds: to this was added the disagreeable scream of some penguins
and flamingoes, which we now perceived; the latter flying over our
heads, the others sitting on the points of the rocks at the entrance
to the bay.
The first thing we did on finding ourselves safe on _terra firma_,
was to fall on our knees, and return thanks to the Supreme Being,
who had preserved our lives, and to recommend ourselves with entire
resignation to the care of his paternal kindness.
We next employed our whole attention in unloading the boat. We looked
about for a convenient place to set up a tent under the shade of the
rocks; and having all consulted and agreed upon a place, we set to
work. We drove one of our poles firmly into a fissure of the rock;
this rested upon another pole, which was driven perpendicularly
into the ground, and formed the ridge of our tent. A frame for a
dwelling was thus made secure. We next threw some sail-cloth over
the ridge, and stretching it to a convenient distance on each side,
fastened its extremities to the ground with stakes. Lastly, I fixed
some tenter-hooks along the edge of one side of the sail-cloth in
front, that we might be able to enclose the entrance during night,
by hooking in the opposite edge. The chests of provisions, and other
heavy matters, we had left on the shore. The next thing was to desire
my sons to look about for grass and moss, to be spread and dried in
the sun, to serve us for beds. During this occupation, I erected near
the tent a kind of little kitchen. A few flat stones I found in the
bed of a fresh-water river, served for a hearth. I got a quantity of
dry branches: with the largest I made a small enclosure round it;
and with the little twigs, added to some of our turf, I made a brisk
cheering fire. We put some of the soup-cakes, with water, into our
iron pot, and placed it over the flame; and my wife, with my little
Francis for a scullion, took charge of preparing the dinner.
In the meanwhile, Fritz had been reloading the guns, with one of
which he had wandered along the side of the river. He had proposed to
Ernest to accompany him; but Ernest replied that he did not like a
rough, stony walk, and that he should go to the seashore. Jack took
the road towards a chain of rocks which jutted out into the sea, with
the intention of gathering some of the mussels which grew upon them.
My own occupation was now an endeavour to draw the two floating
casks on shore, but in which I could not succeed; for our place of
landing, though convenient enough for our machine, was too steep for
the cask. While I was looking about to find a more favourable spot,
I heard loud cries proceeding from a short distance, and recognized
the voice of my son Jack. I snatched my hatchet, and ran anxiously
to his assistance. I soon perceived him up to his knees in water in
a shallow, and that a large lobster had fastened its claws in his
leg. The poor boy screamed pitiably, and made useless efforts to
disengage himself. I jumped instantly into the water; and the enemy
was no sooner sensible of my approach, than he let go his hold, and
would have scampered out to sea, but that I indulged the fancy of a
little malice against him for the alarm he had caused us. I turned
quickly upon him, and took him up by the body, and carried him off,
followed by Jack, who shouted our triumph all the way. He begged me
at last to let him hold the animal in his own hand, that he might
himself present so fine a booty to his mother. Accordingly, having
observed how I held it to avoid the gripe, he laid his own hand upon
it in exactly the same manner; but scarcely had he grasped it, than
he received a violent blow on the face from the lobster’s tail, which
made him loose his hold, and the animal fell to the ground. Jack
again began to bawl out, while I could not refrain from laughing
heartily. In his rage he took up a stone, and killed the lobster with
a single blow.
Ernest, ever prompted by his savoury tooth, bawled out that the
lobster had better be put into the soup, which would give it an
excellent flavour: but this his mother opposed, observing, that we
must be more economical of our provisions than that, for the lobster
of itself would furnish a dinner for the whole family. I now left
them, and walked again to the scene of this adventure, and examined
the shallow: I then made another attempt upon my two casks, and at
length succeeded in getting them into it, and in fixing them there
securely on their bottoms.
On my return, I complimented Jack on his being the first to procure
an animal that might serve for subsistence.
“Ah; but _I_ have seen something too, that is good to eat,” said
Ernest; “and I should have got it if it had not been in the water, so
that I must have wetted my feet----”
“Oh, that is a famous story,” cried Jack: “I can tell you what he
saw,--some nasty mussels: why, I would not eat one of them for the
world.--Think of my lobster!”
“That is not true, Jack; for they were oysters, and not mussels, that
I saw: I am sure of it, for they stuck to the rock, and I know they
must be oysters.”
“Fortunate enough, my dainty gentleman,” interrupted I, addressing
myself to Ernest; “since you are so well acquainted with the place
where such food can be found, you will be so obliging as to return
and procure us some. In such a situation as ours, every member of the
family must be actively employed for the common good; and, above all,
none must be afraid of so trifling an inconvenience as wet feet.”
“I will do my best, with all my heart,” answered Ernest; “and at the
same time I will bring home some salt, of which I have seen immense
quantities in the holes of the rocks, where I have reason to suppose
it is dried by the sun. I tasted some of it, and it was excellent.”
He set off, and soon returned: what he brought had the appearance
of sea-salt, but was so mixed with earth and sand, that I was on
the point of throwing it away; but my wife prevented me, and by
dissolving, and afterwards filtering some of it through a piece of
muslin, we found it admirably fit for use.
“Why could we not have used some sea-water,” asked Jack, “instead of
having all this trouble?”
“So we might,” answered I, “if it had not a somewhat sickly taste.”
While I was speaking, my wife tasted the soup with a little stick
with which she had been stirring it, and pronounced that it was
all the better for the salt, and now quite ready. “But,” said she,
“Fritz is not come in. And then, how shall we manage to eat our soup
without spoons or dishes? Why did we not remember to bring some from
the ship?”--“Because, my dear, one cannot think of everything at
once. We shall be lucky if we have not forgotten even more important
things.”--“But, indeed,” said she, “this is a matter which cannot
easily be set to rights. How will it be possible for each of us to
raise this large boiling pot to his lips?”
I soon saw that my wife was right. We all cast our eyes upon the pot
with a sort of stupid perplexity, and looked a little like the fox in
the fable, when the stork desires him to help himself from a vessel
with a long neck. Silence was at length broken, by all bursting into
a hearty laugh at our want of every kind of utensil, and at the
thought of our own folly, in not recollecting that spoons and forks
were things of absolute necessity.
Ernest observed that if we could but get some of the nice cocoa-nuts
he often thought about, we might empty them, and use the pieces of
the shells for spoons.
“Yes, yes,” replied I; “_if we could but get_,--but we have them not;
and if wishing were to any purpose, I had as soon wish at once for a
dozen silver spoons; but, alas! of what use is wishing?”
“But at least,” said the boy, “we can use some oyster-shells for
spoons.”
“Why, this is well, Ernest,” said I, “and is what I call a useful
thought. Run then quickly for some of them.”
Jack ran first, and was up to his knees in the water before Ernest
could reach the place. Jack tore off the fish with eagerness, and
threw them to slothful Ernest, who put them into his handkerchief.
Fritz not having yet returned, his mother was beginning to be uneasy,
when we heard him shouting to us from a small distance, to which we
answered by similar sounds. In a few minutes he was among us, his
two hands behind him, and with a sort of would-be melancholy air,
which none of us could well understand.--“What have you brought?”
asked his brothers; “let us see your booty, and you shall see
ours.”--“Ah! I have unfortunately nothing.”--“What! nothing at all?”
said I.--“Nothing at all,” answered he. But now, on fixing my eye
upon him, I perceived a smile of proud success through his assumed
dissatisfaction. At the same instant Jack, having stolen behind him,
exclaimed, “A sucking pig! a sucking pig!” Fritz, finding his trick
discovered, now proudly displayed his prize, which I immediately
perceived, from the description I had read in different books of
travels, was an agouti, an animal common in that country, and not a
sucking pig, as the boys had supposed.
Fritz related that he had passed over to the other side of the
river. “Ah!” continued he, “it is quite another thing from this
place; the shore is low, and you can have no notion of the quantity
of casks, chests, and planks, and different sorts of things washed
there by the sea. Ought we not to go and try to obtain some of
these treasures?”--“We will consider of it soon,” answered I, “but
first we have to make our voyage to the vessel, and fetch away the
animals: at least you will all agree, that of the cow we are pretty
much in want.”--“If our biscuit were soaked in milk, it would not
be so hard,” observed our dainty Ernest.--“I must tell you too,”
continued Fritz, “that over on the other side there is as much
grass for pasturage as we can desire: and besides, a wood, in the
shade of which we could repose. Why then should we remain on this
barren desert side?”--“Patience,” replied I; “there is a time for
everything, friend Fritz: we shall not be without something to
undertake to-morrow, and even after to-morrow. But, above all, I am
eager to know if you discovered, in your excursion, any traces of our
ship companions?”--“Not the smallest trace of man, dead or alive, on
land or water,” replied Fritz.
Soon after we had taken our meal, the sun began to sink into the
west. Our little flock of fowls assembled round us, pecking here and
there what morsels of our biscuit had fallen on the ground.--Just at
this moment my wife produced the bag she had so mysteriously huddled
into the tub. Its mouth was now opened; it contained the various
sorts of grain for feeding poultry--barley, peas, oats, etc., and
also different kinds of seeds and roots of vegetables for the table.
In the fulness of her kind heart she scattered several handfuls at
once upon the ground, which the fowls began eagerly to seize. Our
pigeons sought a roosting-place among the rocks; the hens, with the
two cocks at their head, ranged themselves in a line along the ridge
of the tent; and the geese and ducks betook themselves in a body,
cackling and quacking as they proceeded, to a marshy bit of ground
near the sea, where some thick bushes afforded them shelter.
A little later, we began to follow the example of our winged
companions, by beginning our preparations for repose. First, we
loaded our guns and pistols, and laid them carefully in the tent;
next, we assembled together and joined in offering up our thanks
to the Almighty for the succour afforded us, and supplicating his
watchful care for our preservation. With the last ray of the sun we
entered our tent, and, after drawing the sail-cloth over the hooks,
to close the entrance, we laid ourselves down close to each other on
the grass and moss we had collected in the morning.
CHAPTER III
Voyage of Discovery
I was roused at the dawn of day by the crowing of the cocks. I awoke
my wife, and we consulted together as to the occupations we should
engage in. We agreed that we should seek for traces of our late ship
companions, and at the same time examine the nature of the soil on
the other side of the river, before we determined on a fixed place
of abode.--My wife easily perceived that such an excursion could not
be undertaken by all the members of the family; and she courageously
consented to my proposal of leaving her with the three youngest boys,
and proceeding myself with Fritz on a journey of discovery.
The children were soon roused; even our slothful Ernest submitted to
the hard fate of rising so early in the morning.
We now prepared for our departure: we took each a bag for game, and
a hatchet: I put a pair of pistols in the leather band round Fritz’s
waist, in addition to the gun, and provided myself with the same
articles, not forgetting a stock of biscuit and a flask of fresh
river water. My wife now called us to breakfast, when all attacked
the lobster; but its flesh proved so hard, that there was a great
deal left when our meal was finished, and we packed it for our
journey without further regret from any one.
In about an hour we had completed the preparations for our journey.
I had loaded the guns we left behind, and I now enjoined my wife to
keep by day as near the boat as possible, which in case of danger
was the best and most speedy means of escape. My next concern was to
shorten the moment of separation, judging by my own feelings those of
my dear wife; for neither could be without painful apprehensions of
what new misfortune might occur on either side during the interval.
We all melted into tears:--I seized this instant for drawing Fritz
away, and in a few moments the sobs and often repeated adieus of
those we left behind died away in the noise of the waves which we
now approached, and which turned our thoughts upon ourselves and the
immediate object of our journey.
The banks of the river were everywhere steep and difficult, excepting
at one narrow slip near the mouth on our side, where we had drawn
our fresh water. The other side presented an unbroken line of sharp,
high, perpendicular rocks. We therefore followed the course of the
river till we arrived at a cluster of rocks at which the stream
formed a cascade: a few paces beyond, we found some large fragments
of rock which had fallen into the bed of the river: by stepping upon
these, and making now and then some hazardous leaps, we contrived
to reach the other side. We proceeded a short way along the rock
we ascended in landing, forcing ourselves a passage through tall
grass, which twined with other plants, and was rendered more capable
of resistance by being half dried by the sun. Perceiving, however,
that walking on this kind of surface in so hot a sun would exhaust
our strength, we looked for a path to descend and proceed along the
river, where we hoped to meet with fewer obstacles, and perhaps to
discover traces of our ship companions.
When we had walked about a hundred paces, we heard a loud noise
behind us, as if we were pursued, and perceived a rustling motion
in the grass, which was almost as tall as ourselves. I was a good
deal alarmed, thinking that it might be occasioned by some frightful
serpent, a tiger, or other ferocious animal. Our alarm was, however,
short; for what was our joy on seeing rush out, not an enemy, but
our faithful Turk, whom in the distress of the parting scene we had
forgotten, and whom no doubt our anxious relatives had sent on to us!
We again pursued our way. On our left was the sea, and on our right
the continuation of the ridge of rocks which began at the place of
our landing, and ran along the shore, the summit everywhere adorned
with fresh verdure and a great variety of trees. We were careful
to proceed in a course as near the shore as possible, casting our
eyes alternately upon its smooth expanse and upon the land in all
directions to discover our ship companions, or the boats which had
conveyed them from us; but our endeavours were in vain.
When we had gone about two leagues, we entered a wood situated a
little further from the sea: here we threw ourselves on the ground,
under the shade of a tree, by the side of a clear running stream,
and took out some provisions and refreshed ourselves. We heard the
chirping, singing, and motion of birds in the trees, and observed, as
they now and then came out to view, that they were more attractive
by their splendid plumage than by any charm of note. Fritz assured
me that he had caught a glimpse of some animals like apes among the
bushes, and this was confirmed by the restless movements of Turk, who
began to smell about him, and to bark so loud that the wood resounded
with the noise. Fritz stole softly about to be sure, and presently
stumbled on a small round body which lay on the ground: he brought
it to me, observing that it must be the nest of some bird.--“What
makes you of that opinion?” said I. “It is, I think, much more like a
cocoa-nut.”
“But I have read that there are some kinds of birds which build their
nests quite round: and look, father, how the outside is crossed and
twined.”
“But do you not perceive that what you take for straws crossed and
twined by the beak of a bird, is in fact a coat of fibres formed
by the hand of Nature? Do you not remember to have read that the
cocoa-nut is enclosed within a round, fibrous covering, which again
is surrounded by a skin of a thin and fragile texture? I see that in
the one you hold in your hand, this skin has been destroyed by time,
which is the reason that the twisted fibres (or inner covering) are
so apparent: but now let us break the shell, and you will see the nut
inside.”
We soon accomplished this; but the nut, alas! from lying on the
ground, had perished, and appeared but little different from a bit of
dried skin, and not the least inviting to the palate.
A little later we had the good luck to meet with another nut. We
opened it, and finding it sound, we sat down and ate it for our
dinner, by which means we were enabled to husband the provisions
we had brought. The nut, it is true, was a little oily and rancid;
yet, as this was not a time to be nice, we made a hearty meal, and
then continued our route. We did not quit the wood, but pushed our
way across it, being often obliged to cut a path through the bushes
overrun by creeping plants, with our hatchet. At length we reached
a plain, which afforded a more extensive prospect, and a path less
perplexed and intricate.
We next entered a forest to the right, and soon observed that
some of the trees were of a singular kind. Fritz, whose sharp eye
was continually on a journey of discovery, went up to examine them
closely. “Oh, heavens! father, what odd trees, with wens growing all
about their trunks!” I had soon the surprise and satisfaction of
assuring him that they were bottle gourds, the trunks of which bear
fruit. Fritz, who had never heard of such a plant, could not conceive
the meaning of what he saw, and asked me if the fruit was a sponge or
a wen.--“We will see,” I replied, “if I cannot unravel the mystery.
Try to get down one of them, and we will examine it minutely.”
“I have got one,” cried Fritz, “and it is exactly like a gourd, only
the rind is thicker and harder.”
“It then, like the rind of that fruit, can be used for making various
utensils,” observed I; “plates, dishes, basins, flasks. We will give
it the name of the gourd-tree.”
Fritz jumped for joy.--“How happy my mother will be!” cried he in
ecstasy; “she will no longer have the vexation of thinking, when she
makes soup, that we shall all scald our fingers.”
We accordingly proceeded to the manufacture of our plates and dishes.
I taught my son how to divide the gourd with a bit of string, which
would cut more equally than a knife; I tied the string round the
middle of the gourd as tight as possible, striking it pretty hard
with the handle of my knife, and I drew it tighter and tighter
till the gourd fell apart, forming two regular-shaped bowls or
vessels; while Fritz, who had used a knife for the same operation,
had entirely spoiled his gourd by the irregular pressure of his
instrument. I recommended his making some spoons with the spoiled
rind, as it was good for no other purpose. I, on my part, had soon
completed two dishes of convenient size, and some smaller ones to
serve as plates.
Fritz was in the utmost astonishment at my success. “I cannot
imagine, father,” said he, “how this way of cutting the gourd could
occur to you!”
“I have read the description of such a process,” replied I, “in books
of travels; and also that such of the savages as have no knives, and
who make a sort of twine from the bark of trees, are accustomed to
use it for this kind of purpose.”
“And the flasks, father; in what manner are they made?”
“For this branch of their ingenuity they make preparation a long time
beforehand. If a negro wishes to have a flask, or bottle with a neck,
he binds a piece of string, linen, or bark of a tree, or anything
he can get, round the part nearest the stalk of a very young gourd;
he draws this bandage so tight that the part at liberty soon forms
itself to a round shape, while the part which is confined contracts,
and remains ever after narrow. By this method it is that they obtain
flasks or bottles of a perfect form.”
Our conversation and our labour thus went on together. Fritz had
completed some plates, and was not a little proud of the achievement.
“Ah, how delighted my mother will be to eat upon them!” cried he.
“But how shall we convey them to her? They will not, I fear, bear
travelling well.”
“We must leave them here on the sand for the sun to dry them
thoroughly; this will be accomplished by the time of our return this
way, and we can then carry them with us; but care must be taken to
fill them with sand, that they may not shrink or warp in so ardent a
heat.” My boy did not dislike this task; for he had no great fancy
for the idea of carrying such a load on our journey of further
discovery. Our sumptuous service of porcelain was accordingly spread
upon the ground, and for the present abandoned to its fate.
We amused ourselves, as we proceeded, in endeavouring to fashion some
spoons from the fragments of the gourd-rinds. I had the fancy to try
my skill upon a piece of cocoa-nut; but I must needs confess that
what we produced had not the least resemblance to those I had seen in
the Museum at London, and which were shown there as the work of some
of the islanders of the Southern Seas.
Meanwhile, we had not neglected the great object of our pursuit,--the
making every practicable search for our ship companions. But our
endeavours, alas! were all in vain.
After a walk of about four leagues in all, we arrived at a spot
where a slip of land reached far out into the sea, on which we
observed a rising piece of ground or hill. On a moment’s reflection
we determined to ascend it, concluding we should obtain a clear view
of all adjacent parts, which would save us the fatigue of further
rambles. We accordingly accomplished the design.
We did not reach the top of the hill without many efforts and a
plentiful perspiration: but when there, we beheld a scene of wild and
solitary beauty, comprehending a vast extent of land and water. It
was however in vain that we used our telescope in all directions; no
trace of man appeared. A truly embellished nature presented herself;
and we were in the highest degree sensible of her thousand charms.
The shore, rounded by a bay of some extent, the bank of which ended
in a promontory on the farther side; the agreeable blue tint of its
surface; the sea, gently agitated by waves in which the rays of
the sun were reflected; the woods, of variegated hues and verdure,
formed altogether a picture of such magnificence, of such new and
exquisite delight, that, if the recollection of our unfortunate
companions, engulfed perhaps in this very ocean, had not intruded
to depress our spirits, we should have yielded to the ecstasy the
scene was calculated to inspire. In reality, from this moment we
began to lose even the feeble hope we had entertained, and sadness
stole involuntarily into our hearts. We, however, became but the
more sensible of the goodness of the Divine Being, in the special
protection afforded to ourselves, in conducting us to a home where
there was no present cause for fear of danger from without, where we
had not experienced the want of food, and where there was a prospect
of future safety for us all.
We descended the hill, and made our way to a wood of palms: our
path was clothed with reeds, entwined with other plants, which
greatly obstructed our march. We advanced slowly and cautiously,
fearing at every step to receive a mortal bite from some serpent
that might be concealed among them. We made Turk go before, to give
us timely notice of anything dangerous. I also cut a reed-stalk of
uncommon length and thickness, for my defence against any enemy. It
was not without surprise that I perceived a glutinous sap proceed
from the divided end of the stalk. Prompted by curiosity, I tasted
this liquid, and found it sweet and of a pleasant flavour, so that
not a doubt remained that we were passing through a plantation of
sugar-canes. I again applied the cane to my lips, and sucked it for
some moments, and felt singularly refreshed and strengthened. I
determined not to tell Fritz immediately of the fortunate discovery
I had made, preferring that he should find it out for himself. As he
was at some distance before me, I called out to him to cut a reed for
his defence. This he did, and without any remark, used it simply for
a stick, striking lustily with it on all sides to clear a passage.
The motion occasioned the sap to run out abundantly upon his hand,
and he stopped to examine so strange a circumstance. He lifted it up,
and still a larger quantity escaped. He now tasted what was on his
fingers. Oh! then for the exclamations--“Father, father, I have found
some sugar!--some syrup! I have a sugar-cane in my hand! Run quickly,
father!”--We were soon together, jointly partaking of the pleasure we
had in store for his dear mother and the younger brothers.
Fritz cut at least a dozen of the largest canes, tore off their
leaves, tied them together, and putting them under his arm, dragged
them, as well as he was able, through thick and thin to the end of
the plantation. We regained the wood of palms without accident; here
we stretched our limbs in the shade, and finished our repast. We were
scarcely settled, when a great number of large monkeys, terrified by
the sight of us and the barking of Turk, stole so nimbly, and yet
so quietly up the trees, that we scarcely perceived them till they
had reached the topmost parts. From this height they fixed their
eyes upon us, grinding their teeth, making horrible grimaces, and
saluting us with screams of hostile import.--Being now satisfied that
the trees were palms, bearing cocoa-nuts, I conceived the hope of
obtaining some of this fruit in a milky state, through the monkeys.
Fritz, on his part, prepared to shoot at them instantly. He threw his
burdens on the ground, and it was with difficulty I, by pulling his
arm, could prevent him from firing.
I now began to throw some stones at the monkeys; and though I could
not make them reach to half the height at which they had taken
refuge, they showed every mark of excessive anger. With their
accustomed trick of imitation, they furiously tore off, nut by nut,
all that grew upon the trunk near them, to hurl them down upon us;
so that it was with difficulty we avoided the blows; and in a short
time a great number of cocoa-nuts lay on the ground round us. Fritz
laughed heartily at the excellent success of our stratagem; and as
the shower of cocoa-nuts began to subside, we set about collecting
them. We chose a place where we could repose at our ease, to feast
on this rich harvest. We opened the shells with a hatchet, but first
enjoyed the sucking of some of the milk through the three small
holes, where we found it easy to insert the point of a knife. The
milk of the cocoa-nut has not a pleasant flavour; but it is excellent
for quenching thirst. What we liked best was a kind of solid cream
which adheres to the shell, and which we scraped off with our spoons.
We mixed with it a little of the sap of our sugar-canes, and it made
a delicious repast.
Our meal being finished, we prepared to leave the wood of palms. I
tied all the cocoa-nuts which had stalks together, and threw them
across my shoulder. Fritz resumed his bundle of sugar-canes. We
divided the rest of the things between us, and continued our way
towards home.
CHAPTER IV
Return from the Voyage of Discovery--A Nocturnal
Alarm
My poor boy now began to complain of fatigue; the sugar-canes galled
his shoulders, and he was obliged to shift them often. At last he
stopped to take breath.--“No,” cried he, “I never could have thought
that a few sugar-canes could be so heavy. How sincerely I pity the
poor negroes who carry heavy loads of them! Yet how glad I shall be
when my mother and Ernest are tasting them!”
“I am not without my apprehensions, that of our acquisition we
shall carry them only a few sticks for firewood; for the juice of
the sugar-cane is apt to turn sour soon after cutting, and the more
certainly in such heat as we now experience; we may suck them,
therefore, without compunction at the diminution of their numbers.”
When we reached the place where we had left our gourd utensils upon
the sands, we found them perfectly dry, as hard as bone, and not the
least misshapen. We now, therefore, could put them into our game-bags
conveniently enough, and this done, we continued our way. Scarcely
had we passed through the little wood in which we breakfasted, when
Turk sprang away to seize upon a troop of monkeys, who were skipping
about and amusing themselves without observing our approach. They
were thus taken by surprise; and before we could get to the spot,
our ferocious Turk had already seized one of them; it was a female
who held a young one in her arms, which she was caressing almost
to suffocation, and which incumbrance deprived her of the power of
escaping. The poor creature was killed, and afterwards devoured;
the young one hid himself in the grass, and looked on, grinding his
teeth. Fritz flew like lightning to make Turk let go his hold. He
lost his hat, threw down his tin bottle, canes, etc., but all in
vain; he was too late to prevent the death of the interesting mother.
The next scene that presented itself was of a different nature, and
comical enough. The young monkey sprang nimbly on Fritz’s shoulders,
and fastened his feet in the stiff curls of his hair; nor could the
squalls of Fritz, nor all the shaking he gave him, make him let go
his hold. I ran to them, laughing heartily, for I saw that the animal
was too young to do him any injury, while the panic visible in the
features of the boy made a ludicrous contrast with the grimaces of
the monkey, whom I endeavoured to disengage.
With a little gentleness and management I succeeded. I took the
creature in my arms as one would an infant, nor could I help pitying
and caressing him. He was not larger than a kitten, and quite unable
to help himself; its mother was at least as tall as Fritz.
“What shall I do with thee, poor orphan?” cried I; “and how, in our
condition, shall I be able to maintain thee? We have already more
mouths to fill than food to put into them, and our workmen are too
young to afford us much hope from their exertions.”
“Father,” cried Fritz, “do let me have this little animal to myself.
I will take the greatest care of him; I will give him all my share of
the milk of the cocoa-nuts, till we get our cows and goats; and who
knows? his monkey instinct may one day assist us in discovering some
wholesome fruits.”
“I have not the least objection,” answered I. “You have conducted
yourself throughout this tragi-comic adventure like a lad of courage
and sensibility, and I am well satisfied with every circumstance of
your behaviour. It is therefore but just that the little protégé
should be given up to your management and discretion.”
We now thought of resuming our journey. The little orphan jumped
again on the shoulders of his protector, while I on my part relieved
my boy of the bundle of canes. Scarcely had we proceeded a quarter
of a league when Turk overtook us full gallop. The young monkey
appeared uneasy from seeing him so near, and passed round and fixed
himself on his protector’s bosom, who did not long bear so great an
inconvenience without having recourse to his invention for a remedy.
He tied some string round Turk’s body in such a way, as to admit
of the monkey’s being fastened on his back with it, and then in a
tone of genuine pity, he said, “Now, Mr. Turk, since you had the
cruelty to destroy the mother, it is for you to take care of her
child.” At first the dog was restive, and resisted; but by degrees,
partly by menaces, and partly by caresses, we succeeded in gaining
his good-will, and he quietly consented to carry the little burden;
and the young monkey, who also had made some difficulties, at length
found himself perfectly accommodated. Fritz put another string round
Turk’s neck, by which he might lead him, a precaution he used to
prevent him from going out of sight.
Thus proceeding, we soon found ourselves on the bank of the river,
and near our family, before we were aware. Flora from the other side
announced our approach by a violent barking, and Turk replied so
heartily, that his motions unseated his little burden, who in his
fright jumped the length of his string from his back to Fritz’s
shoulder, which he could not afterwards be prevailed upon to leave.
Turk, who began to be acquainted with the country, ran off to meet
his companion, and shortly after, our much-loved family appeared in
sight, with demonstrations of unbounded joy at our safe return.
I gave my wife an account of our journey and our new acquisitions,
which I exhibited one after the other for her inspection. No one of
them afforded her more pleasure than the plates and dishes, because,
to persons of decent habits, they were articles of indispensable
necessity. We now adjourned to our kitchen, and observed with
pleasure the preparations for an excellent repast. On one side of
the fire was a turnspit, which my wife had contrived by driving two
forked pieces of wood into the ground, and placing a long even stick,
sharpened at one end, across them. By this invention she was enabled
to roast fish, or other food, with the help of little Francis, who
was intrusted with the care of turning it round from time to time.
On the occasion of our return, she had prepared us the treat of a
goose, the fat of which ran down into some oyster-shells placed there
to serve the purpose of a dripping-pan. There was, besides, a dish
of fish, which the little ones had caught; and the iron pot was upon
the fire, provided with a good soup, the odour of which increased our
appetite. By the side of these most exhilarating preparations stood
one of the casks which we had recovered from the sea, the head of
which my wife had knocked out, so that it exposed to our view a cargo
of the finest sort of Dutch cheeses, contained in round tins.
We seated ourselves on the ground: my wife had placed each article of
the repast in one of our new dishes, the neat appearance of which
exceeded all our expectations. My sons had not patience to wait,
but had broken the cocoa-nuts, and already convinced themselves of
their delicious flavour; and then they fell to making spoons with the
fragments of the shells.
The boys were preparing to break some more of the nuts with the
hatchet, after having drawn out the milk through the three little
holes, when I pronounced the word _halt_, and bade them bring me a
saw;--the thought had struck me, that by dividing the nuts carefully
with this instrument, the two halves, when scooped, would remain
in the form of tea-cups or basins already made to our hands. Jack,
who was on every occasion the most active, brought me the saw. I
performed my undertaking in the best manner I could, and in a short
time each of us was provided with a convenient receptacle for food.
By the time we had finished our meal, the sun was retiring from our
view; and recollecting how quickly the night would fall upon us,
we were in great haste to regain our place of rest. My wife had
considerately collected a tenfold quantity of dry grass, which she
had spread in the tent, so that we anticipated with joy the prospect
of stretching our limbs on a substance somewhat approaching to the
quality of mattresses, while, the night before, our bodies seemed
to touch the ground. Our flock of fowls placed themselves as they
had done the preceding evening: we said our prayers, and, with an
improved serenity of mind, lay down in the tent, taking the young
monkey with us, who was become the little favourite of all. We all
lay down upon the grass, in the order of the night before, myself
remaining last to fasten the sail-cloth in front of the tent; when,
heartily fatigued by the exertions of the day, I, as well as the
rest, soon fell into a profound and refreshing sleep.
But I had not long enjoyed this pleasing state, when I was awakened
by the motion of the fowls on the ridge of the tent, and by a violent
barking of our vigilant safeguards, the dogs. I was instantly on my
legs: my wife and Fritz, who had also been alarmed, got up also: we
each took a gun, and sallied forth.
The dogs continued barking with the same violence, and at intervals
even howled. We had not proceeded many steps from the tent, when,
to our surprise, we perceived by the light of the moon a terrible
combat. At least a dozen of jackals had surrounded our brave dogs,
who defended themselves with the stoutest courage. Already the
fierce champions had laid three or four of their adversaries on the
ground, while those which remained began a timid kind of moan, as
if imploring pity and forbearance. Meanwhile they did not the less
endeavour to entangle and surprise the dogs, thus thrown off their
guard, and so secure to themselves the advantage. But our watchful
combatants were not so easily deceived: they took good care not to
let the enemy approach them too nearly.
I, for my part, had apprehended something worse than jackals.--“We
shall soon manage to set these gentlemen at rest,” said I. “Let us
fire both together, my boy; but let us take care how we aim, for
fear of killing the dogs; mind how you fire, that you may not miss,
and I shall do the same.” We fired, and two of the intruders fell
instantly dead upon the sands. The others made their escape; but we
perceived it was with great difficulty, in consequence, no doubt, of
being wounded. Turk and Flora afterwards pursued them, and put the
finishing stroke to what we had begun; and thus the battle ended.
The body of one of the jackals was left on the rock, by the side
of the tent in which were the little sleepers, who had not once
awaked during the whole of the scene which had been passing. Having,
therefore, nothing further to prevent us, we lay down by their side
till day began to break, and till the cocks, with their shrill
morning salutation, awoke us both. The children being still asleep,
this afforded us an excellent opportunity to consult together
respecting the plan we should pursue for the ensuing day.
CHAPTER V
Return to the Wreck
I broke a silence of some moments, with observing to my wife 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. This is of
absolute necessity; at least, if we would not be deprived of the
cattle and other useful things, all of which from moment to moment we
risk losing by the first heavy sea. What ought we to resolve upon?
For example, should not our very first endeavour be the contriving
a better sort of habitation, and a more secure retreat from wild
beasts, also a separate place for our provisions? I own I am at a
loss what to begin first.”
“All will fall into the right order by degrees,” observed my wife;
“patience and regularity in our plans will go as far as actual
labour. I cannot, I confess, help shuddering at the thought of
this voyage to the vessel; but if you judge it to be of absolute
necessity, it cannot be undertaken too soon. In the meanwhile,
nothing that is immediately under my own care shall stand still, I
promise you. Let us not be over-anxious about to-morrow: sufficient
unto the day is the evil thereof. These were the words of the true
Friend of mankind, and let us use so wise a counsel for our own
benefit.”
“I will follow your advice,” said I, “and without further loss of
time. You shall stay here with the three youngest boys; and Fritz,
being so much stronger and more intelligent than the others, shall
accompany me in the undertaking.”
At this moment I started from my bed, crying out loudly and briskly,
“Get up, children, get up; it is almost light, and we have some
important projects for to-day; it would be a shame to suffer the sun
to find us still sleeping, we who are to be the founders of a new
colony!”
At these words Fritz sprang nimbly out of the tent, while the
young ones began to gape and rub their eyes, to get rid of their
sleepiness. Fritz ran to visit his jackal, which during the night
had become cold and perfectly stiff. He fixed him upon his legs, and
placed him like a sentinel at the entrance of the tent, joyously
anticipating the wonder and exclamations of his brothers at so
unexpected an appearance. But no sooner had the dogs caught sight of
him, than they began a howl, and set themselves in motion to fall
upon him instantly, thinking he was alive. Fritz had enough to do to
restrain them, and succeeded only by dint of coaxing and perseverance.
In the meantime, their barking had awaked the younger boys, and they
ran out of the tent, curious to know what could be the occasion. Jack
was the first who appeared, with the young monkey on his shoulders;
but when the little creature perceived the jackal, he sprang away in
terror, and hid himself at the furthest extremity of the grass which
composed our bed, and covered himself with it so completely, that
scarcely could the tip of his nose be seen.
The children were much surprised at the sight of a yellow-coloured
animal standing without motion at the entrance of the tent.--“Oh,
heavens!” exclaimed Francis, stepping back a few paces for fear,
“it is a wolf!”--“No, no,” said Jack, going near the jackal, and
taking one of his paws, “it is a yellow dog, and he is dead; he does
not move at all.”--“It is neither a dog nor a wolf,” interrupted
Ernest in a consequential tone: “do you not see that it is the golden
fox?”--“Best of all, most learned professor!” now exclaimed Fritz.
“So you can tell an agouti when you see him, but you cannot tell a
jackal; for jackal is the creature you see before you, and I killed
him myself in the night.”
_Ernest._--In the night, you say, Fritz? In your sleep, I suppose----
_Fritz._--No, Mr. Ernest; not in my sleep, as you so good-naturedly
suppose, but broad awake, and on the watch to protect you from wild
beasts! But I cannot wonder at this mistake in one who does not know
the difference between a jackal and a golden fox!
_Ernest._--You would not have known it either, if papa had not told
you----
“Come, come, my lads, I will have no disputes,” interrupted I.
“Fritz, you are to blame in ridiculing your brother for the mistake
he made. Ernest, you are also to blame for indulging that little
peevishness of yours. But as to the animal, you all are right and
all are wrong; for he partakes at once of the nature of the dog, the
wolf, and the fox.” The boys in an instant became friends; and then
followed questions, answers, and wonder in abundance.--“And now, my
boys, let me remind you, that he who begins the day without first
addressing the Almighty ought to expect neither success nor safety
in his undertakings. Let us therefore acquit ourselves of this duty
before we engage in other occupations.”
Having finished our prayers, the next thing thought of was
breakfast; for the appetites of young boys open with their eyes.
To-day their mother had nothing to give them for their morning
meal but some biscuit, which was so hard and dry, that it was with
difficulty we could swallow it. Fritz asked for a piece of cheese to
eat with it, and Ernest cast some searching looks on the second cask
we had drawn out of the sea, to discover whether it also contained
Dutch cheeses. In a minute he came up to us, joy sparkling in his
eyes. “Father,” said he, “if we had but a little butter spread upon
our biscuit, do you not think it would improve it?”
“That indeed it would; but--_if_--_if_; these never-ending _ifs_ are
but a poor dependence. For my part, I had rather eat a bit of cheese
with my biscuit at once, than think of _ifs_, which bring us so
meagre a harvest.”
_Ernest._--Perhaps, though, the _ifs_ may be found to be worth
something, if we were to knock out the head of this cask.
_Father._--What cask, my boy? and what are you talking of?
_Ernest._--I am talking of this cask, which is filled with excellent
salt butter. I made a little opening in it with a knife; and see, I
got out enough to spread nicely upon this piece of biscuit.
“That glutton instinct of yours for once is of some general use,”
answered I. “But now let us profit by the event. Who will have some
butter on his biscuit?” The boys surrounded the cask in a moment,
while I was in some perplexity as to the best method of getting at
the contents. Fritz was for taking off the topmost hoop, and thus
loosening one of the ends. But this I objected to, observing that
the great heat of the sun would not fail to melt the butter, which
would then run out, and be wasted. The idea occurred to me, that I
would make a hole in the bottom of the cask, sufficiently large
to take out a small quantity of butter at a time; and I set about
manufacturing a little wooden shovel to use for the purpose. All this
succeeded vastly well, and we sat down to breakfast, some biscuits
and a cocoa-nut shell full of salt butter being placed upon the
ground, round which we all assembled. We toasted our biscuit, and,
while it was hot, applied the butter, and contrived to make a hearty
breakfast.
“One of the things we must not forget to look for in the vessel,”
said Fritz, “is a spiked collar or two for our dogs, as a protection
to them should they again be called upon to defend themselves from
wild beasts, which I fear will probably be the case.”
“Oh!” says Jack, “I can make spiked collars, if my mother will give
me a little help.”
“That I will, most readily, my boy; for I should like to see what new
fancy has come into your head,” cried she.
“Yes, yes,” pursued I, “as many new inventions as you please; you
cannot better employ your time; and if you produce something useful,
you will be rewarded with the commendations of all. But now for work.
You, Mr. Fritz, who, from your superior age and discretion, enjoy
the high honour of being my privy-counsellor, must make haste and
get yourself ready, and we will undertake to-day our voyage to the
vessel, to bring away whatever may be possible. You younger boys
will remain here, under the wing of your kind mother: I hope I need
not mention, that I rely on your perfect obedience to her will, and
general good behaviour.”
While Fritz was getting the boat ready, I looked about for a pole,
and tied a piece of white linen to the end of it: this I drove into
the ground, in a place where it would be visible from the vessel;
and I concerted with my wife, that in case of any accident that
should require my prompt assistance, they should take down the pole
and fire a gun three times as a signal of distress, in consequence
of which I would immediately turn back. But I gave her notice, that
there being so many things to accomplish on board the vessel, it was
probable that we should not, otherwise, return at night; in which
case I, on my part, also promised to make signals.
We embarked in silence, casting anxious looks on the beloved objects
we were quitting. Fritz rowed steadily, and I did my best to second
his endeavours, by rowing from time to time, on my part, with the
oar which served me for a rudder. When we had gone some distance, I
remarked a current which was visible a long way. To take advantage
of this current, and to husband our strength by means of it, was
my first care. Little as I knew of the management of sea affairs,
I succeeded in keeping our boat in the direction in which it ran,
by which means we were drawn gently on, till at length the gradual
diminution of its force obliged us again to have recourse to our
oars; but our arms having now rested for some time, we were ready for
new exertions. A little afterwards we found ourselves safely arrived
at the cleft of the vessel, and fastened our boat securely to one of
its timbers.
Fritz the first thing went to the main deck, where he found all the
animals we had left on board assembled. I followed him, well pleased
to observe the generous impatience he showed to relieve the wants
of the poor abandoned creatures, who, one and all, now saluted us
by the sounds natural to their species. We examined the food and
water of the animals, taking away what was half spoiled, and adding
a fresh supply, that no anxiety on their account might interrupt our
enterprise. Nor did we neglect the care of renewing our own strength
by a plentiful repast.
While we were seated, and appeasing the calls of hunger, Fritz
and I consulted what should be our first occupation; when, to my
surprise, the advice he gave was, that we should contrive a sail
for our boat.--“In the name of Heaven,” cried I, “what makes you
think of this at so critical a moment, when we have so many things
of indispensable necessity to arrange?”--“True, father,” said Fritz;
“but let me confess 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 observed that, though the wind blew strong against
us, the current still carried us on. 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 I shall
not be strong enough to row to land; so do you not think that a sail
would be a good thing just now?”
“Ah--ha, Mr. Fritz! You wish to spare yourself a little trouble, do
you? But seriously, I perceive much good sense in your argument, and
feel obliged to my privy-counsellor for his good advice. The best
thing we can do is to take care and not overload the boat, and thus
avoid the danger of sinking, or of being obliged to throw some of our
stores overboard. We will, however, set to work upon your sail; it
will give us a little trouble. But come, let us begin.”
I assisted Fritz to carry a pole strong enough for a mast, and
another not so thick for a sailyard. I directed him to make a hole
in a plank with a chisel, large enough for the mast to stand upright
in it. I then went to the sail-room, and cut a large sail down to a
triangular shape: I made holes along the edges, and passed cords
through them. We then got a pulley, and with this and some cords, and
some contrivance in the management of our materials, we produced a
sail.
[Illustration: “The Vandals themselves could not have made a more
complete pillage than we had done.”]
“But now, father,” said Fritz, “as you have eased me of the labour of
rowing, it is _my_ turn to take care of _you_. I am thinking to make
you a better contrived rudder; one that would enable you to steer the
boat both with greater ease and greater safety.”--“Your thought would
be a very good one,” said I, “but that I am unwilling to lose the
advantage of being able to proceed this way and that, without being
obliged to veer. I shall therefore fix our oars in such a manner as
to enable me to steer the raft from either end.” Accordingly I fixed
bits of wood to the stem and stern of the machine, in the nature of
grooves, which were calculated to spare us a great deal of trouble.
During these exertions the day advanced, and I saw that we should
be obliged to pass the night in our tubs, without having made much
progress in our task of emptying the vessel.
We employed the remnant of the day in emptying the tubs of the
useless ballast of stones, and putting in their place what would be
of service, such as nails, pieces of cloth, and different kinds of
utensils, etc., etc. The Vandals themselves could not have made a
more complete pillage than we had done. The prospect before us of
an entire solitude made us devote our attention to the securing as
much powder and shot as we could, as a means of catching animals
for food, and of defending ourselves against wild beasts to the
latest moment possible. Utensils for every kind of workmanship, of
which there was a large provision in the ship, were also objects of
incalculable value to us. The vessel, which was now a wreck, had
been sent out as a preparation for the establishment of a colony in
the South Seas, and had been provided with a variety of stores not
commonly included in the loading of a ship. Among the rest, care had
been taken to have on board considerable numbers of European cattle:
but so long a voyage had proved unfavourable to the oxen and the
horses, the greatest part of which had died, and the others were
in so bad a condition, that it had been found necessary to destroy
them. The quantity of useful things which presented themselves in
the store-chambers made it difficult for me to select among them,
and I much regretted that circumstances compelled me to leave some
of them behind. Fritz, however, already meditated a second visit;
but we took good care not to lose the present occasion for securing
knives and forks, and spoons, and a complete assortment of kitchen
utensils. In the captain’s cabin we found some services of silver,
dishes and plates of high-wrought metal, and a little chest filled
with bottles of many sorts of excellent wine. Each of these we put
into our boat. We next descended to the kitchen, which we stripped
of gridirons, kettles, pots of all kinds, a small roasting-jack,
etc. Our last prize was a chest of choice eatables, intended for the
table of the officers, containing Westphalia hams, Bologna sausages,
and other savoury food. I took good care not to forget some little
sacks of maize, of wheat, and other grain, and some potatoes. We
next added such implements for husbandry as we could find; shovels,
hoes, spades, rakes, harrows, etc. Fritz reminded me that we had
found sleeping on the ground both cold and hard, and prevailed upon
me to increase our cargo by some hammocks, and a certain number of
blankets; and as guns had hitherto been the source of his pleasures,
he added such as he could find of a particular costliness or
structure, together with some sabres and clasp-knives. The last
articles we took were a barrel of sulphur, a quantity of ropes, some
small string, and a large roll of sail-cloth. The vessel appeared to
us to be in so wretched a condition, that the least tempest must make
her go to pieces. It was then quite uncertain whether we should be
able to approach her any more.
Our cargo was so large, that the tubs were filled to the very brim,
and no inch of the boat’s room was lost. The first and last of the
tubs were reserved for Fritz and me to seat ourselves in and row
the boat, which sank so low in the water, that if the sea had not
been quite calm, we should have been obliged to ease her of some
of the loading: we, however, used the precaution of putting on our
swimming-jackets, for fear of any misfortune.
It will easily be imagined that the day had been laboriously
employed. Night suddenly surprised us, and we lost all hope of
returning to our family the same evening. A large blazing fire on
the shore soon after greeted our sight,--the signal agreed upon for
assuring us that all was well, and to bid us close our eyes in peace.
We returned the compliment, by tying four lanterns, with lights in
them, to our mast-head. This was answered, on their part, by the
firing of two guns; so that both parties had reason to be satisfied
and easy.
CHAPTER VI
A Troop of Animals in Cork Jackets
Early the next morning, though it was scarcely light, I mounted the
vessel, hoping to gain a sight of our beloved companions through a
telescope. Fritz prepared a substantial breakfast of biscuit and
ham; but, before we sat down, we recollected that in the captain’s
cabin we had seen a telescope of a much superior size and power,
and we speedily conveyed it to the deck. While this was doing, the
brightness of the day had come on. I fixed my eye to the glass, and
discovered my wife coming out of the tent, and looking attentively
towards the vessel, and at the same moment perceived the motion of
the flag upon the shore. A load of anxiety was thus taken from my
heart; for I had the certainty that all were in good health, and had
escaped the dangers of the night.--“Now that I have had a sight of
your mother,” said I to Fritz, “my next concern is for the animals on
board; let us endeavour to save the lives of some of them at least,
and to take them with us.”
“Would it be possible to make a raft, to get them all upon it, and in
this way get them to shore?” asked Fritz.
“But what a difficulty in making it! and how could we induce a cow,
an ass, and a sow, either to get upon a raft, or, when there, to
remain motionless and quiet? The sheep and goats one might perhaps
find means to remove, they being of a more docile temper: but for the
larger animals, I am at a loss how to proceed.”
“My advice, father, is to tie a long rope round the sow’s neck, and
throw her without ceremony into the sea: her immense bulk will be
sure to sustain her above water; and we can draw her after the boat.”
“Your idea is excellent: but unfortunately it is of no use but for
the pig; and she is the one I care the least about preserving.”
“Then here is another idea, father: let us tie a swimming-jacket
round the body of each animal, and contrive to throw one and all into
the water; you will see that they will swim like fish, and we can
draw them after us in the same manner.”
“Right, very right, my boy; your invention is admirable: let us
therefore not lose a moment in making the experiment.”
We hastened to the execution of our design: we fixed a jacket on
one of the lambs, and threw it into the sea; and full of anxious
curiosity, I followed the poor beast with my eyes. He sank at first,
and I thought him drowned; but he soon reappeared, shaking the water
from his head, and in a few seconds he had learned completely the art
of swimming. After another interval, we observed that he appeared
fatigued, gave up his efforts, and suffered himself to be borne along
by the course of the water, which sustained and conducted him to our
complete satisfaction.--“Victory!” exclaimed I, hugging my boy with
delight: “these useful animals are all our own; let us lose not a
moment in adopting the same means with those that remain; but take
care not to lose our little lamb.” Fritz now would have jumped into
the water to follow the poor creature, who was still floating safely
on the surface; but I stopped him till I had seen him tie on a
swimming-jacket. He took with him a rope, first making a slip-knot in
it, and soon overtaking the lamb, threw it round his neck, and drew
him back to our boat: and then took him out of the water.
We next got four small water-butts. I emptied them, and then
carefully closed them again. I united them with a large piece of
sail-cloth, nailing one end to each cask. I strengthened this with
a second piece of sail-cloth, and this contrivance I destined to
support the cow and the ass, two casks to each, the animal being
placed in the middle, with a cask on either side. I added a thong of
leather, stretching from the casks across the breast and haunches of
the animal, to make the whole secure; and thus, in less than an hour,
both my cow and my ass were equipped for swimming.
It was next the turn of the smaller animals: of these, the sow gave
us the most trouble: we were first obliged to put a muzzle on her
to prevent her biting; and then we tied a large piece of cork under
her body. The sheep and goats were more accommodating, and we had
soon accoutred them for our adventure. And now we had succeeded
in assembling our whole company on the deck, in readiness for the
voyage: we tied a cord to either the horns or the neck of each
animal, and to the other end of the cord a piece of wood similar
to the mode used for making nets, that it might be easy for us to
take hold of the ropes, and so draw the animal to us if it should
be necessary. We began our experiment with the ass, by conducting
him as near as possible to the brink of the vessel, and then
suddenly shoving him off. He fell into the water, and for a moment
disappeared; but we soon saw him rise, and in the action of swimming
between his two barrels, with a grace which really merited our
commendation.
Next came the cow’s turn: and as she was infinitely more valuable
than the ass, my fears increased in due proportion. The ass had swum
so courageously, that he was already at a considerable distance from
the vessel, so that there was sufficient room for our experiment on
the cow. We had more difficulty in pushing her overboard; but she
reached the water in as much safety as the ass had done before; she
did not sink so low in it, and was no less perfectly sustained by the
empty barrels; and she made her way with gravity, and, if I may so
express it, a sort of dignified composure. According to this method
we proceeded with our whole troop, throwing them one by one into the
water, where by and by they appeared in a group floating at their
ease, and seemingly well content. The sow was the only exception: she
became quite furious, set up a loud squalling, and struggled with so
much violence in the water, that she was carried to a considerable
distance, but fortunately in a direction towards the landing-place we
had in view. We had now not a moment to lose. Our last act was to put
on our cork jackets; and then we descended without accident through
the cleft, took our station in the boat, and were soon in the midst
of our troop of quadrupeds. We carefully gathered all the floating
bits of wood, and fastened them to the stern of the machine, and thus
drew them after us. When everything was adjusted, and our company in
order, we hoisted our sail, which, soon filling with a favourable
wind, bore us towards the land.
Proud of the success of so extraordinary a feat, we were in high
spirits, and seated ourselves in the tubs, where we made an excellent
dinner. I was occupied in thinking of those I had left on land,
when a sudden exclamation from Fritz filled me with alarm.--“Oh,
heavens!” cried he, “we are lost! a fish of an enormous size is
coming up to the boat.”--“And why lost?” said I, half angry, and yet
half partaking of his fright. “Be ready with your gun, and the moment
he is close upon us we will fire upon him.” He had nearly reached
the boat, and with the rapidity of lightning had seized the foremost
sheep: at this instant Fritz aimed his fire so skilfully, that the
balls of the gun were lodged in the head of the monster, which was an
enormous shark. The fish half turned himself round in the water and
hurried off to sea, leaving us to observe the lustrous smoothness of
his belly, and that as he proceeded he stained the water red, which
convinced us he had been severely wounded.
The animal being now out of sight, and our fears appeased, I resumed
the rudder; and as the wind drove us straight towards the bay, I took
down the sail, and continued rowing till we reached a convenient spot
for our cattle to land. I had then only to untie the end of the cords
from the boat, and they stepped contentedly on shore. Our voyage thus
happily concluded, we followed their example.
Ernest and Jack now ran to the boat, and began to shout their
admiration of the mast, the sail, and the flag, desiring their
brother to explain to them how all the things they saw had been
effected, and what he himself did of them. In the meantime we began
to unpack our cargo, while Jack stole aside and amused himself with
the animals, took off the jackets from the sheep and goats, bursting
from time to time into shouts of laughter at the ridiculous figure
of the ass, who stood before them adorned with his two casks and his
swimming apparatus, and braying loud enough to make us deaf.
By and by I perceived, with surprise, that Jack had round his waist
a belt of metal covered with yellow skin, in which were fixed two
pistols. “In the name of Heaven,” exclaimed I, “where did you procure
this curious costume, which gives you the look of a smuggler?”
“From my own manufactory,” replied he; “and if you cast your eyes
upon the dogs, you will see more of my specimens.”
Accordingly I looked at them, and perceived that each had on a collar
similar to the belt round Jack’s waist, with, however, the exception
of the collars being armed with nails, the points of which were
outwards, and exhibited a formidable appearance. “And is it you, Mr.
Jack,” cried I, “who have invented and executed these collars and
your belt?”
“Yes, father, they are indeed my invention, with a little of my
mother’s assistance when it was necessary to use the needle.”
“But where did you get the leather and the thread and the needle?”
“Fritz’s jackal furnished the first,” answered my wife; “and as
to the last, a good mother of a family is always provided with
them. Then have I not an enchanted bag, from which I draw out such
articles as I stand in need of? So if you have a particular fancy for
anything, you have only to acquaint me with it.” I tenderly embraced
her, to express my thanks for this effort to amuse by so agreeable a
raillery, and Jack too came in for his share both of the caresses and
our hearty commendations.
Perceiving that no preparations were making for supper, I told Fritz
to bring us the Westphalia ham. The eyes of all were now fixed upon
me with astonishment, believing that I could only be in jest; when
Fritz returned, displaying with exultation a large ham, which we
had begun to cut in the morning. “A ham!” cried one and all; “a ham!
and ready dressed! What a nice supper we shall have!” said they,
clapping their hands to give a hearty welcome to the bearer of so
fine a treat.--“It comes quite in the nick of time too,” interrupted
I; “for, to judge by appearances, a certain careful steward I could
name seems to have intended to send us supperless to bed, little
thinking, I suppose, that a long voyage by water is apt to increase
the appetite.”
“I will tell you presently,” replied my wife, “what it was that
prevented me from providing a supper for you all at an early hour:
your ham, however, makes you ample amends; and I have something in my
hand with which I shall make a pretty side-dish; in the twinkling of
an eye you shall see it make its entrance.” She now showed us about a
dozen of turtles’ eggs, and then hurried away to make an omelette of
some of them.
“Look, father,” said Ernest, “if they are not the very same which
Robinson Crusoe found in his island! See, they are like white balls,
covered with a skin like wetted parchment! We found them upon the
sands along the shore.”
“Your account is perfectly just, my dear boy,” said I: “by what
means did you make so useful a discovery?”--“Oh, that is part of our
history,” interrupted my wife; “for I also have a history to relate,
when you will be so good as to listen to it.”
“Hasten then, my love, and get your pretty side-dish ready, and we
will have the history for the dessert. In the meantime I will relieve
the cow and the ass from their jackets. Come along, boys, and give me
your help.”--I got up, and they all followed me gaily to the shore.
We were not long in effecting our purpose with the cow and the ass,
who were animals of a quiet and kind temper; but when it was the
sow’s turn, our success was neither so easy nor so certain; for no
sooner had we untied the rope than she escaped from us, and ran so
fast that none of us could catch her. The idea occurred to Ernest of
sending the two dogs after her, who caught at her ears, and sent her
back, while we were half deafened with the hideous noise she made;
at last she suffered us to take off her cork jacket. We now laid the
accoutrements across the ass’s back, and returned to the kitchen; our
slothful Ernest highly delighted that we were likely in future to
have our loads carried by a servant.
In the meanwhile, the kind mother had prepared the omelette, and
spread a tablecloth on the end of the cask of butter, upon which
she had placed some of the plates and silver spoons we had brought
from the ship. The ham was in the middle, and the omelette and the
cheese opposite to each other; and altogether made a figure not
to be despised by the inhabitants of a desert island. By and by
the two dogs, the fowls, the pigeons, the sheep, and the goats had
all assembled round us, which gave us something like the air of
sovereigns of the country.
When we had finished our repast, I bade Fritz present our company
with a bottle of Canary wine, which we had brought from the captain’s
cabin, and I desired my wife to indulge us with the promised history.
CHAPTER VII
Second Journey of Discovery Performed by the
Mother of the Family
“You pretend,” said my wife, with a little malicious smile, “to be
curious about my history, yet you have not let me speak a single word
in all this time: but the longer a torrent is pent up, the longer
it flows when once let loose. Now, then, that you are in the humour
to listen, I shall give vent to a certain little movement of vanity
which is fluttering at my heart. Not, however, to intrude too long
upon your patience, we will skip the first day of your absence, in
the course of which nothing new took place. But this morning, when I
was made happy by the sight of your signal, and had set up mine in
return, I looked about, before the boys were up, in hopes to find a
shady place where we might now and then retire from the heat of the
sun; but I found not a single tree. This made me reflect a little
seriously on our situation. It will be impossible, said I to myself,
to remain in this place with no shelter but a miserable tent, under
which the heat is even more excessive than without. Courage, then!
pursued I; my husband and my eldest son are at this moment employed
for the general good; why should not I be active and enterprising
also? why not undertake, with my youngest sons, to do something that
shall add some one comfort to our existence? I will pass over with
them to the other side of the river, and with my own eyes examine
the country respecting which my husband and Fritz have related such
wonders. I will try to find out some well shaded agreeable spot, in
which we may all be settled.
“I assembled the boys round me, and informed them of my plans for
an excursion; and you may believe I heard nothing like a dissenting
voice. They lost not a moment in preparing themselves; they examined
their arms, their game-bags, looked out the best clasp-knives, and
cheerfully undertook to carry the provision-bags; while I, for my
share, was loaded with a large flask of water and a hatchet, for
which I thought it likely we might find a use. I also took the light
gun which belongs to Ernest, and gave him in return a carbine, which
might be loaded with several balls at once. We took some refreshment,
and then sallied forth, attended by the two dogs for our escort.
We arrived at the place at which you had crossed the river, and
succeeded in passing over, though not without difficulty. After
having filled my flask with river water, we proceeded on our way till
we had reached to the top of the hill which you described to us as so
enchanting, and where I partook of the pleasure you had experienced.
“In casting my eyes over the vast extent before me, I had observed
a small wood of the most inviting aspect. I had so long sighed for
a little shade, that I resolved to bend our course towards it; for
this, however, it was necessary to go a long way through a strong
kind of grass, which reached above the heads of the little boys; an
obstacle which, on trial, we found too difficult to overcome. We
therefore resolved to walk along the river, and turn at last upon the
wood. We found traces of your footsteps, and took care to follow them
till we had come to a place which seemed to lead directly to it; but
here again we were interrupted by the height and thickness of the
grass, which nothing but the most exhausting endeavours could have
enabled us to get through.
“On a sudden we perceived a large bird rising from the thickest part
of the grass, and mounting in the air. Each of the boys prepared to
fire, but before they could be ready, the bird was out of the reach
of shot. Ernest was bitterly disappointed, and instantly exchanged
the gun for the carbine I had given him, crying, ‘What a pity! If I
had but had the lightest gun! if the bird had not got away so fast, I
would lay any wager I should have killed him.’
“‘The mischief was, no doubt, that you did not let him know
beforehand that it was your pleasure he should wait till you could be
quite ready,’ observed I, laughing.
“‘But, mother, how could I possibly suppose that the bird could fly
away in less than the twinkling of an eye? Ah, if one would but come
at this very moment!’
“‘A good sportsman, Ernest, always holds himself in readiness, this
being, as I understand, one of his great arts; but as the opportunity
is gone, let us look for the place in the grass from which he
mounted; we may judge at least of his size by the mark he will have
left there.’ The boys all scampered away to the place, when suddenly
a second bird, exactly like the first, except that he was a little
larger, rushed out with a great noise and mounted above their heads.
“The boys remained stupid with astonishment, following him with their
eyes and open mouths without speaking a word, while for my own part
I could not help laughing heartily. ‘Oh! such fine sportsmen as we
have here!’ cried I: ‘they will never let us be in want of game, I
plainly perceive.’ _Ah! if one would but come at this very moment!_”
We now minutely examined the place from which the birds had mounted,
and found a kind of large nest formed of dry plants, of clumsy
workmanship; the nest was empty, with the exception of some broken
shells of eggs. I inferred from this that their young had lately been
hatched; and observing at this moment a rustling motion among some
plants of shorter growth, at some distance from the spot on which we
stood, I concluded that the young covey were scampering away in that
direction; but as the motion soon ceased, we had no longer a guide to
conduct us to their retreat.
“We next reached a little wood. A prodigious quantity of unknown
birds were skipping and warbling on the branches of the trees,
without betraying the least alarm at our vicinity. The boys wanted
to fire on them; but this I absolutely forbade, and with the less
scruple, as the trees were of so enormous a height as to be out of
gun-shot reach. No, my dear husband, you cannot possibly form an idea
of the trees we now beheld! You must somehow have missed this wood;
or so extraordinary a sight could not have escaped your observation.
What appeared to us at a distance to be a wood was only a group of
about fourteen of them, the trunks of which seemed to be supported
in their upright position by arches on each side, these arches being
formed by the roots of the tree.
“Jack climbed with considerable trouble upon one of these arch-formed
roots, and with a pack-thread in his hand measured the actual
circumference of the tree itself. He found that it measured more
than fifteen braches.[1] I made thirty-two steps in going round one
of those giant productions at the roots; and its height from the
ground to the place where the branches begin to shoot may be about
thirty-six braches. The twigs of the tree are strong and thick;
its leaves moderately large in size, and bearing some resemblance
to the hazel tree of Europe; but I was unable to discover that it
bore any fruit. The large breadth of shade which presented itself
seemed to invite us to make this spot the place of our repose: and my
predilection for it grew so strong that I resolved to go no further,
but to enjoy its delicious coolness till it should be time to return.
I sat down in this verdant elysium with my three sons around me. We
took out our provision-bags: a charming stream, formed to increase
the coolness and beauty of the scene, flowed at our feet, and
supplied us with a fresh and salutary beverage. It occurred to me,
that if we could but contrive a kind of tent that could be fixed in
one of the trees, we might safely come and make our abode here. I had
found nothing in any other direction that suited us so well in every
respect; and I resolved to look no further. When we had shared our
dinner among us, and well rested from our fatigue, we set out on our
return, again keeping close to the river, half expecting to see along
the shore some of the pieces or other vestiges of the vessel, which
the waves might have washed up.
“As I expected, we found there pieces of timber, poles, large and
small chests, and other articles, which I knew had come from the
vessel. None of us, however, were strong enough to bring them away;
we therefore contented ourselves with dragging all we could reach to
the dry sands, beyond the reach of the waves at high water.
“We now suddenly cast our eyes on Flora, whom we perceived employed
in turning over a round substance she had found in the sands,
some pieces of which she swallowed from time to time. Ernest also
perceived her motions, and did us the favour, with his usual
composure, to pronounce just these words:--‘They are turtles’ eggs.’
We found it difficult to make Flora leave the eggs, to which she had
taken a great fancy. At length, however, we succeeded in collecting
near two dozen of them, which we secured in our provision-bags. When
we had concluded this affair, we by accident cast our eyes upon the
sea, and to our astonishment perceived a sail, which seemed to be
joyfully approaching towards the land. I knew not what to imagine;
but Ernest exclaimed that it was you and Fritz; and we soon had the
happiness of being convinced that it was indeed our well-beloved! We
ran eagerly towards the river, and soon arrived at the place of your
landing, when we had nothing further to do but to throw ourselves
into your arms!”
FOOTNOTE:
[1] The brache is equal to twenty-two inches and a half.
CHAPTER VIII
Construction of a Bridge
When my wife and I awaked the next morning, we resumed the question
of our change of abode. I observed to her that it was a matter of
difficulty, and that we might have reason to repent such a step.
“My own opinion is,” said I, “that we had better remain here, where
Providence seems to have conducted us; the place is favourable to our
personal safety, and is near the vessel, from which we may continue
to enrich ourselves: we are on all sides protected by the rocks; it
is an asylum inaccessible but by sea, or by the passage of the river,
which is not easily accomplished. Let us then have patience yet a
little longer at least, till we have got all that can be removed, or
that would be useful to us, from the ship.”
My wife replied, that the intense heat of the sands was
insupportable; that by remaining, we lost all hope of procuring
fruits of any kind, and must live on oysters, or on wild birds.
“As for the safety you boast of,” pursued she, “the rocks did not
prevent our receiving a visit from the jackals; nor is it improbable
that tigers or other animals might follow their example. Lastly,
as to the treasures we might continue to draw from the vessel, I
renounce them with all my heart. We are already in possession of
provisions and other useful things: and, to say the truth, my heart
is always filled with distressing apprehensions, when you and Fritz
are exposed to the danger of that perfidious element the sea.”
“We will then think seriously of the matter; but let us have a
well-digested scheme of operation before we leave this spot for your
favourite wood. First, we must contrive a store-house among the
rocks for our provisions and other things, and to which, in case
of invasion in the wood, we can retreat and defend ourselves. This
agreed, the next thing is to throw a bridge across the river, if we
are to pass it with all our family and baggage.”
“A bridge!” exclaimed my wife: “can you possibly think of such a
thing? If we stay while you build a bridge, we may consider ourselves
as fixed for life. Why should we not cross the river as we did
before? The ass and the cow will carry all we possess upon their
backs.”
“But do you recollect, that to keep what they carry dry, they must
not perform their journey as they did from the vessel? For this
reason, then, if for no other, we must contrive a bridge. We shall
want also some sacks and baskets to contain our different matters;
you may therefore set about making these, and I will undertake
the bridge, which, the more I consider, the more I find to be of
indispensable necessity.”
Thus, then, we decided the important question of removing to a new
abode; after which we fixed upon a plan of labour for the day, and
then awaked the boys. Their delight on hearing of our project may
easily be conceived, but they expressed their fear that it would be a
long while before a bridge could be built.
We now began to look about for breakfast. My wife undertook to
milk the cow, and afterwards gave some of the milk to each of the
children: with a part of what remained she made a sort of sop with
biscuits, and the rest she put into one of the flasks, to accompany
us in our expedition. During this time, I was preparing the boat for
another journey to the vessel, to bring away a sufficient quantity of
planks and timbers for the bridge. After breakfast we set out; and
now I took with me Ernest as well as Fritz, that we might accomplish
our object in a shorter time.
We rowed stoutly till we reached the current, which soon drew us on
beyond the bay; but scarcely had we passed a little islet, lying to
one side of us, than we perceived a prodigious quantity of sea-gulls
and other birds. I had a curiosity to discover what could be the
reason of such an assemblage of these creatures. I steered for the
spot; but finding that the boat made but little way, I hoisted my
sail.
I approached near enough to step upon the land, and after bringing
the boat to an anchor with a heavy stone, we stole softly up to the
birds. We soon perceived that the object which attracted them was in
reality an enormous fish, which had been thrown there by the sea.
So eagerly were they occupied with the feast, that not one of them
attempted to fly off. We observed with astonishment the extreme
voracity of this plumed group: each bird was so intent upon its prey
that we might have killed great numbers of them with our sticks
alone. Fritz did not cease to express his wonder at the monstrous
size of the animal, and asked me by what means it could have got
there?
“I believe,” answered I, “you were yourself the means; there is every
appearance that it is the very shark you wounded yesterday. See, here
are the two balls which you discharged at its head.”
“Yes, yes, it is the very same,” said my young hero, skipping about
for joy: “I well remember I had two balls in my gun, and here they
are, lodged in its head.”
Ernest drew out the iron ramrod from his gun, and by striking with
it to right and left among the birds, soon dispersed them. Fritz and
I then advanced and cut several long strips of the skin from the
head of the shark, with which we were proceeding to our boat, when
I observed, lying on the ground, some planks and timbers which had
recently been cast by the sea on this little island. On measuring
the longest, we perceived they would answer our purpose; and with
the assistance of the crow and a lever which we had brought with
us, found means to get them into the boat, and thus spare ourselves
the trouble of proceeding to the vessel. With great exertion of our
strength, we contrived to bind the timbers together, with the planks
upon them, in the manner of a raft, and tied them to the end of the
boat; so that, through this adventure, we were ready to return in
four hours from the time of departure, and might boast of having done
a good day’s work.
We were once more landed safely on our shore, but no one of our
family appeared. We called to them as loud as we could, which was
answered by the same sounds in return, and in a few minutes my wife
appeared between her two little boys returning from the river, a
rising piece of ground having concealed her from our sight: each
carried a handkerchief in hand, which appeared filled with some new
prize: and little Francis had a small fishing-net formed like a bag
and strung upon a stick, which he carried on his shoulder. No sooner
did they hear our voices, than they flew to meet us, surprised at
our quick return. Jack reached us before the rest; and his first act
was to open the handkerchief he held, and pour out a large number of
lobsters at our feet: their mother and little Francis produced each
as many more, forming all together a prodigious heap, and all alive;
so that we were sure of excellent dinners for some days at least.
After we had given an account of our voyage, my wife set about
dressing some of the lobsters, and in the meantime Fritz and I
employed ourselves in untying the raft of timbers and planks, and
in moving them from the boat. I then imitated the example of the
Laplanders, in harnessing their reindeer for drawing their sledges.
Instead of traces, halters, etc., I put a piece of rope, with a
running knot at the end, round the neck of the ass, and passed the
other end between its legs, to which I tied the piece of wood which I
wished to be removed. The cow was harnessed in the same manner, and
we were thus enabled to carry our materials, piece by piece, to the
spot which had been chosen at the river as the most eligible for our
bridge. It was a place where the shore on each side was steep, and of
equal height; there was even on our side an old trunk of a tree lying
on the ground, which I foresaw would have its use.
“Now then, boys,” said I, “the first thing is to see if our timbers
are long enough to reach to the other side: by my eye, I should think
they are; but if I had a surveyor’s plane, we might be quite sure,
instead of working at a venture.”
“But my mother has some balls of packthread, with which she measured
the height of the giant tree,” interrupted Ernest, “and nothing would
be more easy than to tie a stone to the end of one of them, and throw
it to the other side of the river; then we could draw it to the very
brink, and thus obtain the exact length that would be required for
our timbers.”
“Your idea is excellent,” cried I; “run quickly and fetch the
packthread.” He returned without loss of time; the stone was tied
to its end, and thrown across as we had planned; we drew it gently
back to the river edge, marking the place where the bridge was to
rest: we next measured the string, and found that the distance from
one side to the other was eighteen feet. It appeared to me, that to
give a sufficient solidity to the timbers, I must allow three feet
of extra length at each end for fixing them, making therefore in all
twenty-four; and I was fortunate enough to find that many of those we
had brought did not fall short of this length. There now remained the
difficulty of carrying one end across the stream; but we determined
to discuss this part of the subject while we ate our dinner, which
had been waiting for us more than an hour.
We hurried through our meal, each being deeply interested in the work
we were about to undertake, and thinking only of the part which might
be assigned him towards the execution of the _Nonsuch_; for this, for
mutual encouragement, was the name we gave our bridge, even before it
was in existence.
Having consulted as to the means of laying our timbers across the
river, the first thing I did was to attach one of them to the trunk
of the tree, of which I have already spoken, by a strong cord, long
enough to turn freely round the trunk; I then fastened a second cord
to the other end of the timber, and tying a stone to its extremity,
flung it to the opposite bank. I next passed the river as I had done
before, furnished with a pulley, which I secured to a tree: I passed
my second cord through the pulley, and recrossing the river with this
cord in my hand, I contrived to harness the ass and cow to the end of
the cord. I next drove the animals from the bank of the river: they
resisted at first, but I made them go by force of drawing. I first
fixed one end of the beam firmly to the trunk of the tree, and then
they drew along the other end, so as gradually to advance over the
river: presently, to my great joy, I saw it touch the other side, and
at length become fixed and firm by its own weight. In a moment Fritz
and Jack leaped upon the timber, and, in spite of my paternal fears,
crossed the stream with a joyful step upon this narrow but effective
bridge.
The first timber being thus laid, the difficulty was considerably
diminished; a second and a third were fixed in succession, and with
the greatest ease. Fritz and I, standing on opposite sides of the
river, placed them at such distances from each other as was necessary
to form a broad and handsome bridge: what now remained to be done was
to lay some short planks across them quite close to each other, which
we executed so expeditiously, that our construction was completed in
a much shorter time than I should have imagined possible. Our labour,
however, had occasioned us so much fatigue, that we found ourselves
unable for that day to enter upon new exertions; and the evening
beginning to set in, we returned to our home, where we partook
heartily of an excellent supper, and went to bed.
CHAPTER IX
Change of Abode
As soon as we were up and had breakfasted the next morning, I
assembled all the members of my family together, to take with them a
solemn farewell of this our first place of reception from the awful
disaster of the shipwreck. I directed my sons to assemble our whole
flock of animals, and to leave the ass and the cow to me, that I
might load them with the sacks which my wife had made; I had filled
these, and made a slit longways in the middle of each, and to each
side of the slits I tied several long pieces of cord, which crossing
each other, and being again brought round and fastened, served to
hold the sacks firmly on the back of the animal. We next began to put
together all the things we should stand most in need of for the two
or three first days in our new abode: working implements, kitchen
utensils, the captain’s service of plate, and a small provision of
butter, etc., etc. I put these articles into the two ends of each
sack, taking care that the sides should be equally heavy, and then
fastened them on. I afterwards added our hammocks to complete the
load, and we were about to begin to march, when my wife stopped
me.--“We must not,” said she, “leave our fowls behind, for fear they
should become the prey of the jackals. We must contrive a place for
them among the luggage, and also one for our little Francis, who
cannot walk so far, and would interrupt our speed. There is also my
enchanted bag, which I recommend to your particular care,” said she,
smiling, “for who can tell what may yet pop out of it for your good
pleasure?”
I now placed the child on the ass’s back, fixing the enchanted bag in
such a way as to support him, and I tied them together with so many
cords, that the animal might even have galloped without danger of his
falling off.
We packed and placed in the tent everything we were to leave, and for
greater security, fastened down the ends of the sail-cloth, at the
entrance, by driving stakes through them into the ground. We ranged
a number of vessels, both full and empty, round the tent, to serve
as a rampart, and thus we confided to the protection of Heaven our
remaining treasures. At length, we set ourselves in motion: each of
us, great and small, carried a gun upon his shoulder, and a game-bag
at his back. My wife led the way with her eldest son, the cow and the
ass immediately behind them; the goats, conducted by Jack, came next;
the little monkey was seated on the back of his nurse, and made a
thousand grimaces. After the goats came Ernest, conducting the sheep,
while I, in my capacity of general superintendent, followed behind,
and brought up the rear; the dogs for the most part pranced backwards
and forwards, like adjutants to a troop of soldiers. Our march was
slow, and there was something solemn and patriarchal in the spectacle
we exhibited; I fancied we must resemble our forefathers journeying
in the deserts, accompanied by their families and their possessions.
On the other side of the river we experienced an inconvenience wholly
unexpected. The tempting aspect of the grass, which grew here in
profusion, drew off our animals, who strayed from us to feed upon
it; so that, without the dogs, we should not have been able to bring
them back to the line of our procession. The active creatures were
of great use to us on this occasion; and when everything was restored
to proper order, we were able to continue our journey. For fear,
however, of a similar occurrence, I directed our march to the left,
along the seaside, where the produce of the soil was not of a quality
to attract them.
But scarcely had we advanced a few steps on the sands, when our two
dogs, which had strayed behind among the grass, set up a sort of
howl, as if engaged in an encounter with some formidable animal.
Fritz in an instant raised his gun to his cheek, and was ready to
fire; Ernest, always somewhat timid, drew back to his mother’s side;
Jack ran bravely after Fritz with his gun upon his shoulder; while
I, fearing the dogs might be attacked by some dangerous wild beast,
prepared myself to advance to their assistance. But youth is always
full of ardour: and in spite of my exhortations to proceed with
caution, the boys, eager for the event, made but three jumps to the
place from which the noise proceeded. In an instant Jack had turned
to meet me, clapping his hands, and calling out, “Come quickly,
father, come quickly, here is a monstrous porcupine!”
I soon reached the spot, and perceived that it was really as he said,
bating a little exaggeration. The dogs were running to and fro with
bleeding noses about the animal; and when they approached too near
him, he made a frightful noise, and pierced them with his quills so
deeply and suddenly that the pain the wounds occasioned made them
howl violently.
While we were looking on, Jack determined on an attack, which
succeeded well. He took one of the pistols which he carried in his
belt, and aimed it so exactly at the head of the porcupine, that he
fell dead the instant he fired, and before we had a notion of what he
was about. We now all got round the extraordinary animal, on whom
nature has bestowed a strong defence by arming his body all over with
long spears. The boys were at a loss what means to use for carrying
away his carcass. They thought of dragging it along the ground;
but as often as they attempted to take hold, there was nothing but
squalling, and running to show the marks made by his quills on their
hands.--“We must leave him behind,” said they, “but it is a great
pity.”
While the boys were talking, my wife and I had hastened to relieve
the dogs, by examining the wounds which had been inflicted by the
quills. Fritz had run on before with his gun, hoping he should meet
with some animal of prey. We followed him at our leisure, taking
care not to expose our health by unnecessary fatigue; till at last,
without further accident or adventure, we arrived at the place of
the giant trees. Such indeed we found them, and our astonishment
exceeded all description.--“Good heavens! what trees! what a height!
what trunks! I never heard of any so prodigious!” exclaimed one and
all.--“Nothing can be more rational than your admiration,” answered
I, measuring them with my eyes as I spoke. “I must confess I had
not myself formed an idea of the reality. To you be all the honour,
my dear wife, of the discovery of this agreeable abode, in which we
shall enjoy so many comforts and advantages. The great point we have
to gain is the fixing a tent large enough to receive us all in one
of these trees, by which means we shall be perfectly secure from the
invasion of wild beasts. I defy even one of the bears, who are so
famous for mounting trees, to climb up by a trunk so immense, and so
destitute of branches.”
We began now to release our animals from their burdens, having first
thrown our own on the grass. We next used the precaution of tying
their two fore-legs together with a cord, that they might not go far
away or lose themselves. We restored the fowls to liberty; and then
seating ourselves upon the grass, we held a family council on the
subject of our future establishment. I was myself somewhat uneasy
on the question of our safety during the ensuing night; for I was
ignorant of the nature of the extensive country I beheld around me,
and what chance there might be of our being attacked by different
kinds of wild beasts. I accordingly observed to my wife, that I would
make an endeavour for us all to sleep in the tree that very night.
While I was deliberating with her on the subject, Fritz had stolen
away to a short distance, and we heard the report of a gun. This
would have alarmed me, if at the same moment we had not recognized
Fritz’s voice crying out, “I touched him! I touched him!” and in
a moment we saw him running towards us, holding a dead animal of
uncommon beauty by the paws.--“Father, father, look, here is a superb
tiger-cat,” said he, proudly raising it in the air, to show it to
the best advantage.--“Bravo! bravo!” cried I: “bravo, Nimrod the
undaunted! Your exploit will call forth the gratitude of our cocks,
hens, and pigeons, for you have rendered them what they cannot fail
to think an important service. If you had not killed this animal,
he would no doubt have demolished in one night our whole stock of
poultry. One idea occurs to me: skin the animal carefully, so as
not to injure it, particularly the parts which cover the fore-legs
and the tail. You may then make yourself a belt with it, like your
brother Jack’s. The odd pieces will serve to make some cases to
contain our utensils for the table, such as knives, forks and spoons.
Go then, boy, and put away its head, and we will see how to set about
preparing the skin.”
The boys left me no moment of repose till I had shown them how
to take off the skins of the animals without tearing them. In
the meanwhile Ernest looked about for a flat stone as a sort of
foundation for a fireplace, and little Francis collected some pieces
of dry wood for his mother to light a fire. Ernest was not long in
finding what he wanted, and then he ran to join us, and give us his
assistance, or rather to reason, right or wrong, on the subject of
skinning animals; and then on that of trees, making various comments
and inquiries respecting the real name of those we intended to
inhabit.--“It is my opinion,” said he, “that they are, really and
simply, enormously large hazel trees; see if the leaf is not of
exactly the same form.”--“But that is no proof,” interrupted I; “for
many trees bear leaves of the same shape, but nevertheless are of
different kinds.”
Presently little Francis came running, with his mouth crammed full of
something, and calling out, “Mamma, mamma! I have found a nice fruit
to eat, and I have brought you home some of it!”
“Little glutton!” replied his mother, quite alarmed, “what have you
got there? For Heaven’s sake, do not swallow, in this imprudent
manner, the first thing that falls in your way; for by this means
you may be poisoned, and then you would die.” She made him open his
mouth, and took out with her finger what he was eating with so keen a
relish. With some difficulty she drew out the remains of a fig.--“A
fig!” exclaimed I: “where did you get this fig?”
_Francis._--I got it among the grass, papa; and there are a great
many more. I thought it must be good to eat, for the fowls and the
pigeons, and even the pig, came to the place, and ate them in large
quantities.
_Father._--“You see then, my dear,” said I to my wife, “that our
beautiful trees are fig-trees, at least the kind which are thus
named at the Antilles.” I took this occasion to give the boys another
lesson on the necessity of being cautious, and never to venture
on tasting anything they met with, till they had seen it eaten by
birds and monkeys. At the word monkeys, they all ran to visit the
little orphan, whom they found seated on the root of a tree, and
examining with the oddest grimaces the half-skinned tiger-cat,
which lay near him. Francis offered him a fig, which he first
turned round and round, then smelled at it, and concluded by eating
it voraciously.--“Bravo! bravo! Mr. Monkey,” exclaimed the boys,
clapping their hands; “so then these figs are good to eat!”
In the meanwhile my wife had been busy in making a fire, putting on
the pot, and preparing for our dinner. The tiger-cat was bestowed
upon the dogs, who waited impatiently to receive it. While our dinner
was dressing, I employed my time in making some packing-needles with
some of the quills of the porcupine, which the boys had contrived to
draw from his skin, and bring home. I put the point of a large nail
into the fire till it was red-hot; then taking hold of it with some
wet linen in my hand, by way of guard, I with great ease perforated
the thick end of the quills with it. I had soon the pleasure of
presenting my wife with a large packet of long, stout needles, which
were the more valuable in her estimation as she had formed the
intention of contriving some better harness for our animals, and had
been perplexed how to set about it without some larger needles.
I had singled out the highest fig-tree; and while we were waiting
for dinner, I made the boys try how high they could throw a stick or
stone into it. I also tried myself; but the lowest branches were so
far from the ground, that none of us could touch them. I perceived,
therefore, that we should want some new inventions for fastening the
ends of my ladder to them. I allowed a short pause to my imagination,
during which I assisted Jack and Fritz in carrying the skin of the
tiger-cat to a near rivulet, where we confined it under water with
some large stones. After this we returned and dined heartily on some
slices of ham and bread and cheese, under the shade of our favourite
trees.
[Illustration: “I proceeded more cautiously in my pursuit of the
wounded bird.”]
CHAPTER X
Construction of a Ladder
Our repast ended, I observed to my wife that we should be obliged
to pass the night on the ground. I desired her to begin preparing
the harness for the animals, that they might go to the seashore, and
fetch pieces of wood, or other articles which might be useful to us.
I, in the meantime, set about suspending our hammocks to some of
the arched roots of the trees. I next spread a piece of sail-cloth
large enough to cover them, to preserve us from the dew, and from the
insects. I then hastened with the two eldest boys to the seashore, to
choose out such pieces of wood as were most proper for the steps of
my ladder. Ernest was so lucky as to discover some bamboo canes in a
sort of bog. I took them out, and, with his assistance, completely
cleared them from the dirt; and stripping off their leaves, I found,
to my great joy, that they were precisely what I wanted. I then
instantly began to cut them with my hatchet, in pieces of four or
five feet long; the boys bound them together in faggots, and we
prepared to return with them to our place of abode. I next secured
some of the straight and most slender of the stalks, to make some
arrows with, of which I knew I should stand in need. At some distance
from the place where we stood, I perceived a sort of thicket, in
which I hoped to find some young pliant twigs, which I thought might
also be useful to me: we proceeded to the spot; but apprehending it
might be the retreat of some dangerous reptile or animal, we held
our guns in readiness. Flora, who had accompanied us, went before.
We had hardly reached the thicket before she made several jumps, and
threw herself furiously into the middle of the bushes; when a troop
of large-sized flamingoes sprang out, and with a loud rustling noise
mounted into the air. Fritz fired, when two of the birds fell among
the bushes: one of them was quite dead; the other was only slightly
wounded in the wing, and finding that he could not fly, he ran so
fast towards the water, that we were afraid he would escape us.
Fritz, in the joy of his heart, plunged up to his knees in the water,
to pick up the flamingo he had killed, and with great difficulty was
able to get out again; while I, warned by his example, proceeded
more cautiously in my pursuit of the wounded bird. Flora came to
my assistance, and running on before, caught hold of the flamingo,
and held him fast till I reached the spot, and took him into my
protection. All this was effected with considerable trouble; for the
bird made a stout resistance, flapping its wing with violence for
some time. But at last I succeeded in securing him.
Fritz was not long in extricating himself from the swamp; he now
appeared holding the dead flamingo by the feet: but I had more
trouble in the care of mine, as I had a great desire to preserve
him alive. I had tied his feet and his wings with my handkerchief;
notwithstanding which, he still continued to flutter about to a
distressing degree, and tried to make his escape. I held the flamingo
under my left arm, and my gun in my right hand. I made the best jumps
I was able to get to the boys, but the risk of sinking every moment
in the mud, which was extremely deep, and from which it would have
been difficult to release me.
I now selected some of the oldest of the stalks of bamboo, and cut
from them their hard pointed ends, to serve for the tips of my
arrows. Lastly, I looked for two of the longest canes, which I cut,
for the purpose of measuring the height of our giant tree, about
which I felt so deep an interest. When I told my sons the use I
intended to make of the two longest canes, they indulged themselves
in a hearty laugh at me, and maintained that, though I should lay
ten such canes up the trunk of the tree, the last would not reach
even the lowest branch. I requested they would oblige me by having a
little patience. We now thought of returning. Ernest took the charge
of the canes; Fritz carried the dead flamingo, and I resumed the care
of the living one.
We at length arrived once more at our giant trees, and were received
with a thousand expressions of interest and kindness. All were
delighted at the sight of our new captures. My wife, with her usual
anxiety about the means for subsisting, asked where we should get
food enough for all the animals we brought home?--“You should
consider,” said I, “that some of them feed us, instead of being fed;
and the one we have now brought need not give you much uneasiness,
if, as I hope, he proves able to find food for himself.” I now began
to examine his wound, and found that only one wing was injured by the
ball, but that the other had also been slightly wounded by the dog
laying hold of him. I applied some ointment to both, which seemed
immediately to ease the pain. I next tied him by one of his legs,
with a long string, to a stake I had driven into the ground, quite
near to the river, that he might go in and wash himself when he
pleased.
In the meantime, my little railers had tied the two longest canes
together, and were endeavouring to measure the tree with them;
but when they found that they reached no further than the top of
the arch formed by the roots, they all burst into immoderate fits
of laughter, assuring me, that if I wished to measure the tree, I
must think of some other means. I however sobered them a little by
recalling to Fritz’s memory some lessons in land-surveying he had
received in Europe, and that the measure of the highest mountains,
and their distance from each other, may be ascertained by the
application of triangles and supposed lines. I instantly proceeded
to this kind of operation, fixing my canes in the ground, and making
use of some string, which Fritz guided according to my directions.
I found that the height of the lower branches of our tree was forty
feet; a particular I was obliged scrupulously to ascertain before I
could determine the length of my ladder. I now set Fritz and Ernest
to work, to measure our stock of thick ropes, of which I wanted
no less than eighty feet for the two sides of the ladder; the two
youngest I employed in collecting all the small string we had used
for measuring, and carrying it to their mother. For my part, I sat
down on the grass, and began to make some arrows with a piece of the
bamboo, and the short sharp points of the canes I had taken such
pains to secure. As the arrows were hollow, I filled them with moist
sand, to give them a little weight; and lastly, I tipped them with a
bit of feather from the flamingo, to make them fly straight.
Just at this moment Fritz joined us, having finished measuring the
ropes: he brought me the welcome tidings, that our stock, in all, was
about five hundred fathoms, which I knew to be more than sufficient
for my ladder. I now tied the end of a ball of strong thread to an
arrow, and fixing it to the bow, I shot it off in such a direction
as to make the arrow pass over one of the largest branches of the
tree, and fall again to the ground. By this method I lodged my thread
securely, while I had the command of the end and the ball below. It
was now easy to tie a piece of rope to the end of the thread, and
draw it upwards, till the knot should reach the same branch. Having
thus made quite sure of being able to raise my ladder, we all set to
work with increased zeal and confidence. The first thing I did was to
cut a length of about one hundred feet from my parcel of ropes, an
inch thick; this I divided into two equal parts, which I stretched
along on the ground in two parallel lines, at the distance of a foot
from each other. I then directed Fritz to cut portions of sugar-cane,
each two feet in length. Ernest handed them to me, one after another;
and as I received them, I inserted them into my cords at the distance
of twelve inches respectively, fixing them with knots in the cord,
while Jack, by my order, drove into each a long nail at the two
extremities, to hinder it from slipping out again. Thus, in a very
short time, I had formed a ladder of forty rounds in length, and, in
point of execution, firm and compact, and which we all beheld with a
sort of joyful astonishment. I now tied it with strong knots to the
end of the rope which hung from the tree, and pulled it by the other,
till our ladder reached the branch, and seemed to rest so well upon
it, that the joyous exclamations of the boys and my wife resounded
from all sides. All the boys wished to be the first to ascend upon
it; but I decided that it should be Jack, he being the nimblest and
of the lightest figure among them. Accordingly, I and his brothers
held the ends of the rope and of the ladder with all our strength,
while our young adventurer tripped up the rounds with perfect ease,
and presently took his post upon the branch; but I observed that he
had not strength enough to tie the rope firmly to the tree. Fritz
now interfered, assuring me that he could ascend as safely as his
brother; but as he was much heavier, I was not altogether without
apprehension. I fastened the end of the ladder with forked stakes
to the ground, and then gave him instructions how to step in such a
way as to divide his weight, by occupying four rounds of the ladder
at the same time with his feet and hands. It was not long before we
saw him side by side with Jack, forty feet above our heads, and both
saluting us with cries of exultation. Fritz set to work to fasten the
ladder, by passing the rope round and round the branch; and this he
performed with so much skill and intelligence, that I felt sufficient
reliance to determine me to ascend myself, and well conclude the
business he had begun. But first I tied a large pulley to the end of
the rope, and carried it with me. When I was at the top, I fastened
the pulley to a branch which was within my reach, that by this means
I might be able the next day to draw up the planks and timbers I
might want for building my aërial castle. I executed all this by the
light of the moon, and felt the satisfaction of having done a good
day’s work. I now gently descended my rope ladder, and joined my wife
and children.
My wife presented me with the day’s work she had performed: it was
some traces, and a breast leather each for the cow and the ass. I
promised her, as a reward for her zeal and exertion, that we should
all be completely settled in the tree the following day, and we then
assembled to supper.
CHAPTER XI
The Settling in the Giant Tree
The next morning we took our breakfast, and fell to work. My wife,
having finished her daily occupation of milking the cow, and
preparing the breakfast, set off with Ernest, Jack and Francis,
attended by the ass, to the seashore: they had no doubt of finding
some more pieces of wood, and they thought it would be prudent to
replenish our exhausted store. In her absence, I ascended the tree
with Fritz, and made the necessary preparations for my undertaking,
for which I found it in every respect convenient; for the branches
grew close to each other, and in an exactly horizontal direction.
Such as grew in a manner to obstruct my design, I cut off either with
the saw or hatchet, leaving none but what presented me with a sort of
foundation for my work. I left those which spread themselves evenly
upon the trunk, and had the largest circuit, as a support for my
floor. Above these, at the height of forty-six feet, I found others,
upon which to suspend our hammocks; and higher still, there was a
further series of branches, destined to receive the roof of my tent,
which for the present was to be formed of nothing more than a large
surface of sail-cloth.
The progress of these preparations was considerably slow. It was
necessary to raise certain beams to this height of forty feet, that
were too heavy for my wife and her little assistants to lift from
the ground. I had, however, the resource of my pulley, which served
to excellent purpose, and Fritz and I contrived to draw them up to
the elevation of the tent, one by one. When I had already placed
two beams upon the branches, I hastened to fix my planks upon them;
and I made my floor double, that it might have sufficient solidity
if the beams should be warped from their places. I then formed a
wall of staves of wood like a park-paling, all round for safety.
This operation, and a third journey to the seashore to collect the
timber necessary, filled our morning so completely, that not one of
us had thought about dinner. For this once we contented ourselves
with a bit of ham and some milk, which we ate, and returned to finish
our aërial palace, which began to make an imposing appearance. We
unhooked our hammocks from the projecting roots, and by means of
my pulley contrived to hoist them up the tree. The sail-cloth roof
was supported by the thick branches above; and as it was of great
compass, and hung down on every side, the idea occurred to me of
nailing it to the paling on two sides, thus getting not only a roof,
but two walls also; the immense trunk of the tree forming a third
side, while in the fourth was the entrance to our apartment: and
in this I left a large aperture, both as a means of seeing what
passed without, and admitting a current of air to cool us in this
burning temperature. The hammocks were soon hung on the branches,
and everything was ready for our reception that very evening. Well
satisfied with the execution of my plan, I descended with Fritz, who
had assisted me throughout the whole; and as the day was not far
advanced, and I observed we had still some planks remaining, we set
about contriving a large table, to be placed between the roots of the
tree, and surrounded with benches; and this place we said should be
called our dining-parlour.
Exhausted by the fatigues of the day, I threw myself on a bank, and
my wife having seated herself near me, I thanked her for the tender
care she was ever imposing on herself; and then I observed to her,
that the many blessings we enjoyed led the thoughts naturally to the
beneficent Giver of them all; and to-morrow being a Sabbath day, we
would rest from work, in obedience to His command, and otherwise
keep it holy. We now assembled round our table to supper, my wife
holding in her hand an earthen pot, which we had before observed
upon the fire, and the contents of which we were all curious to be
informed of. She took off the cover, and with a fork drew out of
it the flamingo which Fritz had killed. She informed us that she
had preferred dressing it this way to roasting, because Ernest had
assured her that it was an old bird, which would prove hard and
tough, and advised her to improve it by stewing. We rallied our
glutton boy on this foible of his character, and his brothers gave
him the name of the _cook_. We, however, had soon reason to know
that he had conferred upon us an important obligation; for the bird,
which, roasted, we perhaps should not have been able to touch, now
appeared excellent, and was eaten up to the very bones.
The boys now, by my direction, lighted one of the heaps of wood. I
tied long ropes loosely round the necks of our dogs, purposing to
mount to our tent with the ends in my hand, that I might be able to
let them lose upon the enemy at the first barking I should hear.
Every one was eager to retire to rest, and the signal for ascending
the ladder was given. The three eldest boys were up in an instant;
then came their mother’s turn, who proceeded slowly and cautiously,
and arrived in perfect safety. My own ascension was last, and the
most difficult; for I carried little Francis on my back, and the end
of the ladder had been loosened at the bottom, that I might be able
to draw it up in the tent during the night; every step, therefore,
was made with the greatest difficulty, in consequence of its swinging
motion. At last, however, I got to the top, and drew the ladder
after me. It appeared to them that we were in one of the strong
castles of the ancient cavaliers, in which, when the drawbridge is
raised, the inhabitants are secured from every attack of the enemy.
Notwithstanding this apparent safety, I kept our guns in readiness
for whatever event might require their use. We now abandoned
ourselves to repose; our hearts experienced a full tranquillity;
and the fatigue we had all undergone induced so sound a sleep, that
daylight shone full in the front of our habitation before our eyes
had opened.
CHAPTER XII
The Sabbath and the Parable
The next morning we descended the ladder, and breakfasted on warm
milk: we served the animals also with their meal and then we all sat
down on the tender grass; the boys full of impatient curiosity; their
mother absorbed in silent reflection; while I was penetrated with the
most lively desire to impress upon the young minds of my children a
subject I considered of the highest importance for their well-being,
both in this world and in that which is to come.
All now standing up, I repeated aloud the church service,
which I knew by heart, and we sang some verses from the
hundred-and-nineteenth Psalm, which the boys had before learned;
after which we sat down, and I began as follows:--
“My dear children, there was once a Great King, whose kingdom was
called The Country of Light and Reality, because the purest and
softest light of the sun reigned there continually, which caused the
inhabitants to be in a perpetual state of activity. On the farthest
borders of this kingdom, northward, there was another country which
also belonged to the Great King, and the immense extent of which was
unknown to all but himself. From time immemorial, a plan the most
exact of this country had been preserved in the royal archives. The
second kingdom was called The Kingdom of Obscurity, or of Night,
because everything in it was gloomy and inactive.
“In the most fertile and agreeable part of his empire of Reality,
this great King had a residence called the Heavenly City, in which
he lived and kept his court, which was the most brilliant that the
imagination can form an idea of. Millions of guards, and servants
high in dignity, remained for ever round him, and a still larger
number held themselves in readiness to receive his commands. All were
happy to be admitted into his presence: their faces shone with the
mildest joy: there was but one heart and one soul among them: the
sentiment of paternal concord so united these beings, that no envy
or jealousy ever rose among them. Among the rest of the inhabitants
of the Heavenly City, there were some less close in their attendance
upon the Great King, but they were all virtuous, all happy, all had
been enriched by the beneficence of the monarch, and, what is of
still higher price, had received constant marks of his paternal care;
for his subjects were all equal in his eyes, and he loved them, and
treated them as if they had been his children.
“The Great King had, besides the two kingdoms I have been describing,
an uninhabited island of considerable extent: it was his wish to
people and cultivate this island, for all within it was a kind of
chaos: he destined it to be for some years the abode of such future
citizens as he intended to receive finally into his residence,
to which only such of his subjects were admitted as had rendered
themselves worthy by their conduct. This island was called Earthly
Abode: he who should have passed some time in it, and by his virtue,
his application to labour, and the cultivation of the land, should
have rendered himself worthy of reward, was afterwards to be received
into the Heavenly City, and made one of its happy inhabitants.
“To effect this end, the Great King caused a fleet to be equipped,
which was to transport the new colonists to this island. These he
chose from the kingdom of Night, and for his first gift bestowed
upon them the enjoyment of light, and the view of the lovely face
of Nature, of which they had been deprived in their gloomy and
unknown abode. It will easily be imagined that they arrived joyful
and happy, at least they became so when they had been for a short
time accustomed to the multitude of new objects which struck their
feeble sight. The island was rich and fertile when cultivated. The
beneficent King provided each individual who was disembarked upon it
with all the things he could want in the time he had fixed for their
stay in it, and all the means for obtaining the certainty of being
admitted as citizens of his magnificent abode, when they should leave
the Earthly Island. All that was required to entitle them to this
benefit was that they should occupy themselves unceasingly in useful
labour, and strictly obey the commands of the Great King, which he
made known to them. He sent to them his only son, who addressed them
from his father in the following terms:--
“‘My dear children, I have called you from the kingdom of Night
and Insensibility, to render you happy by the gifts of life, of
sentiment, and of activity. But your happiness for the most part will
depend upon yourselves. You will be happy if you wish to be so. If
such is your sincere desire, you must never forget that I am your
good King, your tender father; and you must faithfully fulfil my will
in the cultivation of the country I have confided to your care. Each
of you shall receive, on his arriving at the island, the portion of
land which is intended for him; and my further commands respecting
your conduct will be soon communicated to you. I shall send you wise
and learned men, who will explain to you my commands; and that you
may of yourselves seek after the light necessary for your welfare,
and remember my laws at every instant of your lives, it is my will
that each father of a family shall keep an exact copy of them in his
house, and read them daily to all the persons who belong to him.
Further, each first day of the week I require to be devoted to my
service. In each colony, all the people shall assemble together as
brothers in one place, where shall be read and explained to them the
laws contained in my archives. The rest of this day shall be employed
in making serious reflections on the duties and destination of the
colonists, and on the best means to fulfil the same.
“‘He who, in his Earthly Abode, shall most strictly have observed my
will, who shall have best fulfilled the duties of a brother towards
his fellow-inhabitants, who shall have preserved his land in the
best order, and shall show the largest produce from it, shall be
recompensed for his deeds, and shall become an inhabitant of my
magnificent residence in the Heavenly City. But the neglectful and
the idle man, and the wicked man, who shall have spent their time
in interrupting the useful labours of others, shall be condemned to
pass their lives in slavery, or, according to the degree of their
wickedness, shall be condemned to live in subterraneous mines, in the
bowels of the earth.’
“All the colonists were well satisfied with the discourse of the
Great King, and made him the most sacred promises. After a short
time allowed for repose from the fatigue of the voyage, a portion
of land, and the proper instruments for labour, were distributed to
each of the strangers. They received also seeds, and useful plants,
and young trees, for producing them refreshing fruits. Each was then
left at liberty to act as he pleased, and increase the value of
what was confided to his care. But what happened? After some time,
each followed the suggestions of his fancy: one planted his land
with arbours, flowery banks, and sweet-smelling shrubs; all pleasing
to the sight, but which brought forth nothing. Another planted
wild apple-trees, instead of the good fruit, as the Great King had
commanded; contenting himself with giving high-sounding names to the
worthless fruit he had caused to be brought forth. A third had indeed
sown good grain; but not knowing how to distinguish the tares that
grew up along with it, he pulled up the good plants before they were
mature, and left only the tares in his ground. But the greater part
let their land lie fallow, and bestowed no labour upon it, having
spoiled their implements, or lost their seed, either from negligence
or idleness, or liking better to amuse themselves than to labour.
“From habit they continued to celebrate the first day of the week,
but by far the smallest part of it was consecrated to the honour of
the Great King. Great numbers of them dispensed with going to the
general assembly, either from idleness, or to employ themselves in
occupations which had been expressly forbidden. By far the greater
part of the people considered this day of repose as intended for
pleasure, and thought of nothing but adorning and amusing themselves
as soon as daylight appeared. The Great King, however, observed
unalterably the laws he had laid down. From time to time, some
frigates appeared on their coasts, each bearing the name of some
disastrous malady; and these were followed by a large ship of the
line, named the Grave, on board of which, the admiral, whose name
was Death, caused his flag of two colours, green and black, to be
constantly floating in the air. He showed the colonists, according to
the situation in which he found them, either the smiling colour of
Hope, or the gloomy colour of Despair.
“This fleet always arrived without being announced, and seldom gave
any pleasure to the inhabitants. The admiral sent the captains of his
frigates to seize the persons he was ordered to bring back with him.
Many who had not the smallest inclination were suddenly embarked,
while others who had prepared everything for the harvest, and whose
land was in the best condition, were also seized. But these last took
their departure cheerfully, and without alarm; well knowing that
nothing but happiness awaited them. It was those who were conscious
they had neglected to cultivate their land, who felt the most regret.
It was even necessary to employ force to bring them under subjection.
When the fleet was ready for departure, the admiral sailed for the
port of the Royal Residence; and the Great King, who was present on
their arrival, executed with strict justice both the rewards and
punishments which had been promised to them. All the excuses alleged
by those who had been idle, were of no avail. They were sent to the
mines and to the galleys, while those who had obeyed the Great King,
and well cultivated their land, were admitted into the Heavenly
City, clothed in robes of brilliant colours, one exceeding the other
according to the degree of merit.--Here, my dear children, ends my
parable. May you have thoroughly understood its meaning, and may
you reap the advantage it is capable of affording you! Make it the
subject of your reflections the whole of this day.”
I then put different questions to my little congregation, and
explained what they had not perfectly comprehended; and, after a
short review of the principal parts of my discourse, I concluded by a
moral application.
“Human creatures,” said I, “are the colonists of God; we are
required to perform the business of probation for a certain period,
and, sooner or later, are destined to be taken hence. Our final
destination is Heaven, and a perfect happiness with the spirits of
just men made perfect, and in the presence of the bountiful Father
of us all. The piece of land entrusted to each is the soul; and
according as he cultivates and ennobles it, or neglects or depraves
it, will be his future reward or punishment. For ourselves, one and
all, we will adopt the model of the good and zealous labourers; and
should our exertions be a little painful, we shall think of the
reward which awaits us, when we shall have adorned our souls with all
that is good, just and praiseworthy. Thus, when death, which cannot
fail to come at last, shall summon us, we may follow him with joy to
the throne of the Good and Great King, to hear him pronounce these
sweet and consoling words: ‘O good and faithful servant! thou hast
been tried and found faithful in many things; enter thou into the joy
of thy Lord,’”--With these words, and a short prayer of benediction,
I concluded the solemnity of our Sunday.
The next morning the boys assembled round me with a petition that I
would show them how to use arrows. We accordingly sat down on the
grass; I took out my knife, and, with the remains of a bamboo cane,
began to make a bow. I was well satisfied to observe them one and
all take a fancy to shooting with an arrow, having been desirous
to accustom them to this exercise, which constituted the principal
defence of the warriors of old, and might possibly become our only
means of protection and subsistence: our provision of powder must at
last be exhausted; we might even, from moment to moment, be deprived
of it by accident; it therefore was of the utmost importance to us to
acquire some other means of killing animals, or attacking our enemies.
While I was silently reflecting on the subject, employed in finishing
a bow, Ernest, who had been observing me for some time, slipped
suddenly away; and Fritz coming up at the same moment, with the
wetted skin of the tiger-cat in his hand, I paid no attention to the
circumstance. I began my instructions to my eldest boy respecting
the trade of a tanner. I told him the method of getting rid of the
fat of the skin, by rubbing it over with sand, and placing it in
running water till it had no longer any appearance of flesh, or any
smell; next to rub it with soft butter, to make it supple, and then
to stretch the skin in different directions; and also to make use
of some eggs in the operation, if his mother could spare them. “You
will not at first produce such excellent workmanship as I have seen
of this kind from England; but with a little patience, regretting
neither your time nor your labour, you will have completed some
decent-looking cases, which will give you the more pleasure, from
being the work of your own hands.”
At this moment we heard the firing of a gun, which proceeded from our
tent in the tree, and two birds at the same time fell dead at our
feet. We were at once surprised and alarmed, and all eyes were turned
upward to the place. There we saw Ernest standing outside the tent, a
gun in his hand, and heard him triumphantly exclaiming, “Catch them!
Catch them there! I have hit them; and you see I did not run away for
nothing.” He descended the ladder joyfully, and ran with Francis to
take up the two birds; while Fritz and Jack mounted to our castle,
hoping to meet with the same luck.
One of the dead birds proved to be a sort of thrush, and the other
was a very small kind of pigeon, very fat, and of a delicious taste.
We now observed for the first time that the wild figs began to ripen,
and that they attracted these birds. I foresaw, in consequence, that
we were about to have our table furnished with a dish which even a
nobleman might envy us. I gave the boys leave to kill as many of them
as they liked. I knew that, half-roasted, and put into barrels with
melted butter thrown over them, they would keep a long time, and
might prove an excellent resource. My wife set about stripping off
the feathers of the birds, to dress them for our dinner. I seated
myself by her side, and proceeded in my work of arrow-making.
Thus finished another day. Supper ended, and prayers said, we
ascended the ladder in procession; and each got into his hammock to
taste the sweets of a tranquil sleep.
CHAPTER XIII
Conversation, and a Walk
Jack had finished the trial of his arrows: they flew to admiration;
and he practised his new art incessantly. Little Francis waited with
impatience for the moment when he should try also, and followed with
his eyes every stroke I made. But when I had finished my bow, and
prepared some little arrows for him, I must next undertake to make
him a quiver. I took some bark from the branch of a tree, which came
off in a round form; and folding the edges over each other, I stuck
them together with some glue produced from our soup-cakes. I next
stuck on a round piece to serve for the bottom; and then tied to it
a loop of string which I hung round his neck. He put his arrows into
it: and, quite happy, took his bow in his hand, and ran to try his
skill by the side of his brother. Fritz had also cleaned and prepared
his materials for the cases, when his mother summoned us to dinner.
We cheerfully placed ourselves under the shade of our tree, round
the table I had manufactured. At the end of the repast, I made the
following proposition to the boys, which I was sure would give them
pleasure.
“What think you, my good friends,” said I, “of giving a name to the
place of our abode, and to the different parts of the country which
are known to us? I do not mean a general name to the whole islands,
but to the objects we are most concerned with.”
They all exclaimed, joyfully, that the idea was excellent.
_Father._--We shall naturally begin with the bay by which we entered
this country. What shall we call it? What say you, Fritz? You must
speak first, for you are eldest.
_Fritz._--Let us call it _Oyster Bay_: you remember what quantity of
oysters we found in it.
_Jack._--Oh, no; let it rather be called _Lobster Bay_: for you
cannot have forgotten what a large one it was that caught hold of my
leg, and which I carried home to you.
_My Wife._--My advice would be, that, out of gratitude to God, who
conducted us hither in safety, we ought to call it _Providence Bay_,
or the _Bay of Safety_.
_Father._--These words are both appropriate and sonorous, and please
me extremely. But what name shall we give to the spot where we first
set up our tent?
_Fritz._--Let us simply call it _Tent House_.
_Father._--That will do very well. And the little islet at the
entrance of _Providence Bay_, in which we found so many planks and
beams that enabled us to make our bridge, how shall it be named?
_Ernest._--It may be called _Sea-Gull Island_, or _Shark Island_; for
it was here we saw those animals.
_Father._--I am for the last of these names, _Shark Island_; for it
was the shark that was the cause of the sea-gulls being there; and
thus we shall also have a means of commemorating the courage and the
triumph of Fritz, who killed the monster.
_Jack._--For the same reason, we will call the marsh, in which you
cut the canes for our arrows, _Flamingo Marsh_.
_Father._--Quite right, I think. But now comes the great question:
What name shall we give to our present abode?
_Ernest._--It ought to be called simply _Tree Castle_.
_Fritz._--No, no, that will not do at all; that is the same as if,
when we wanted to name a town, we called it _The Town_. Let us invent
a more noble name.
_Jack._--Yes, so we will. I say _Fig Town_.
_Fritz._--Ha, ha, ha! a noble name, it must be confessed! Let us
call it the _Eagle’s Nest_, which I am sure has a much better sound.
Besides, our habitation in the tree is really much more like a nest
than a town, and the eagle cannot but ennoble it, since he is the
king of birds.
_Father._--Will you let me decide the question for you? I think our
abode should be called _The Falcon’s Nest_; for you are not arrived
at the dignity of eagles, but are, too truly, poor simple birds of
prey: and like the falcon, you also are, I trust, obedient, docile,
active and courageous. Ernest can have no objection to this; for, as
he knows, falcons make their nests in large trees.
All exclaimed, clapping their hands, “Yes, yes; we will have it _The
Falcon’s Nest_! the sound is quite chivalrous; so health to _Falcon’s
Nest Castle_!” cried they, all looking up to the tree, and making
low bows. I poured out a small quantity of sweet wine, and presented
it to each, to solemnize our baptism. “Now then,” said I, “for the
promontory, where Fritz and I in vain wearied our eyes in search of
our companions of the vessel;--I think it may properly be called
_Cape Disappointment_.”
_All._--Yes, this is excellent. And the river with the bridge----
_Father._--If you wish to commemorate one of the greatest events
of our history, it ought to be called _The Jackal’s River_; for
these animals crossed it when they came and attacked us, and it was
there that one of them was killed. The bridge I should name _Family
Bridge_, because we were all employed in its construction, and all
crossed it together on our way to this place. Let me ask you all,
if it will not be a great pleasure to converse about the country we
inhabit, now that we have instituted names as if everything belonged
to us?
_Ernest._--It will be just as if we had farms and country houses, all
dependent upon our castle.
In this pleasing kind of chat, the time of dinner passed agreeably
away. We settled the basis of a geography of this our new country;
and amused ourselves with saying it must go by the first post to
Europe.
As the evening advanced, and the intense heat of the day began to
diminish, I invited all my family to take a walk. “Leave your work
for this time, my boys,” said I, “and let us make a short excursion;
let us seek, in the beautiful face of nature, the traces of the
wisdom and goodness of the Creator. Which way shall we direct our
steps?”
_Fritz._--Let us go to Tent House, father; we are in want of powder
and shot for the little consumers of our figs; nor must we miss our
dinner for to-morrow, or forget that we are to secure a supply for
winter.
_My Wife._--I too vote for Tent House; my butter is nearly gone, for
Fritz took an unreasonable share for his new trade of tanning.
_Father._--To Tent House, then, we will go; but we will not take our
accustomed road along the seashore, but rather vary our pleasure, by
trying to explore some other way. We will keep along our own little
stream as far as the wall of rocks; it will be easy for us to cross
it by jumping from stone to stone, and so to get to Tent House:
we will return with our provisions by the road of Family Bridge,
and along the seashore. This new route may possibly furnish some
additional discoveries.
My idea was highly applauded, and all was soon arranged for our
setting out. Our route along the stream was at first extremely
agreeable, being sheltered by the shade of large trees, while the
ground under our feet was a short and soft kind of grass. To prolong
the pleasure of our walk, we proceeded slowly, amusing ourselves with
looking about us to the right and left; the eldest boys made frequent
escapes on before, so that we sometimes lost sight of them. In this
manner we reached the end of the wood; but the country now appearing
to be less open, we thought it would be prudent to bring our whole
company together.
On looking forward, we saw the boys approaching us full gallop, and
this time, for a wonder, the grave Ernest was first. He reached me
panting for breath, and so full of joy and eagerness that he could
not pronounce a single word distinctly: the rest soon came up, and
our expedition was resumed.
CHAPTER XIV
Continuation of Preceding Chapter--Discoveries
Conversing on different subjects, we reached the long chain of rocks,
over which our pretty Falcon’s Stream made its escape in a cascade,
delighting at once the eye and the ear in its progress. We thus
reached Jackal’s River, and from thence proceeded to Tent House,
having with difficulty pushed through the high grass which presented
itself. Our fatigue, however, was relieved by the beauty of the
scenery around: on the right hand was a boundless sea: on the left,
the island, with the bay by which it was accessible, and the chain
of rocks, forming altogether an assemblage of the picturesque, equal
to what the liveliest fancy could desire. We distinguished different
families of grasses, many of them of the thorn-leaved species, and
stronger than those cultivated in the green-houses of Europe. There
was also in abundance the Indian fig, with its large broad leaf;
aloes of different forms and colours; the superb prickly candle,
or cactus, bearing straight stalks, taller than a man, and crowned
with long straight branches, forming a sort of star; while that
which pleased us best, and which was found there in great abundance,
was the king of fruits, both for figure and relish, the crowned
pineapple, of which we all partook with avidity.
Soon after, I was fortunate enough to discover among the multitude of
plants which grew either at the foot or in the clefts of the rocks,
the karata, many of which were now in blossom. As I was acquainted
with the properties of this useful plant, the pith of which is used
for tinder by the negroes, who also make a strong kind of thread
from the fibres of its leaves, I was not less satisfied with this
discovery than I had been with any we had previously made. Wishing to
exhibit one of its uses to my children, I desired Ernest to take out
my flint and steel.
I took a dried stalk of the tree, stripped off the bark, and there
appeared a kind of dry spongy substance, which I laid upon the flint;
and then striking it with a steel, it instantly caught fire. The
boys looked on with astonishment, and soon began to caper about,
exclaiming, “Long live the tinder-tree!”
“Here, then,” said I, “we have an article of greater usefulness than
if it served merely to gratify the appetite. Your mother will next
inform us what materials she will use for sewing your clothes, when
her provision of thread from the enchanted bag is exhausted.”
_My Wife._--I have long been uneasy upon this very subject, and would
willingly exchange our greatest luxury for some hemp or flax.
_Father._--And your wish shall be accomplished. If you examine,
you will find some excellent thread under the leaves of this
extraordinary plant, where all-provident nature has placed a
storehouse of this valuable article, though the lengths of thread
will be found not longer than the leaf. I accordingly drew out of one
of the leaves a strong piece of thread of a red colour, which I gave
to my wife. “How fortunate it is for us,” said she, “that you have
had the habit of reading and of study! None of us would have had a
thought about this plant, or have conceived that it could be of any
use:--but will it not be difficult to draw out the lengths of thread
through the prickles that surround them?”
_Father._--Not in the least; we shall put the leaves to dry, either
in the sun, or by a gentle fire. The useless part of the leaf will
then separate by being beaten, and the mass of thread will remain.
_Fritz._--I see clearly, father, that we ought not to trust to
appearances; but one may, I suppose, assert that there are no good
qualities in the prickly plants, which are growing here in all
directions, and wounding the persons who go near them: of what use
can they possibly be?
_Father._--The greatest part of these possess medicinal virtues;
great use is made in pharmacy of the aloe, which produces such
abundance of beautiful flowers: in green-houses in Europe some have
been seen to bear more than three thousand blossoms. But look--here,
too, is the Indian fig, or prickly pear, a vegetable of no common
interest; it grows in the poorest soils, and, as you see, upon the
rocks: the poorer the soil, the more luxuriant and succulent its
leaves. I should be tempted to believe that it was nourished by the
air rather than by the earth. The plant bears a kind of fig, which is
said to be sweet and palatable when ripened in its native sun, and
it is a salutary and refreshing food. This, then, is another plant
of great utility. I next instructed them how to gather this prickly
fruit without injury to their fingers. I threw up a stone, and
brought down a fig, which I caught upon my hat; I cut off one end,
and was thus enabled to hold it on a knife while I peeled off the
skin. I then resigned it to the curiosity of my young companions.
In the meantime, I perceived Ernest holding a leaf upon the end of
his knife, turning it about in all directions, and bringing it close
to his eye with a look of curious inquiry.--“I wish I could know,”
said at length our young observer, “what little animals these are on
the leaf, which feed so eagerly upon it, and are of quite a scarlet
colour.”
_Father._--Ha, ha! this too will perhaps turn out a new discovery,
and an additional source of usefulness. Let me look at your leaf: I
will wager that it is the insect called the cochineal.
_Jack._--The cochineal! what a droll name! What is the cochineal,
father?
_Father._--It is an insect of the kind called _suckers_, or _kermes_.
It lives by sucking the juice of the leaves of the Indian fig, which,
no doubt, is the cause of its beautiful colour, so much esteemed in
dyeing; for nothing else produces so fine a scarlet.
We reached Jackal’s River, which we crossed, stepping with great care
from stone to stone, and shortly arrived at our old habitation, where
we found everything as we had left it; and each went in pursuit of
what he intended to take away. Fritz loaded himself with powder and
shot: I and my wife and Francis employed ourselves in filling our pot
with butter. Ernest and Jack looked about for the geese and ducks;
but as they were become somewhat savage, the boys could not succeed
in catching one of them. The idea then occurred to Ernest of taking
a small bit of cheese, and tying it to the end of a piece of string,
and holding it to float in the water. The voracious animals hastened
eagerly to seize it. In this way Ernest drew them towards him, one by
one, with the cheese in its mouth, till he had caught the whole: each
bird was then tied in a pocket-handkerchief, leaving the head at
liberty, and fastened one to each game-bag, so that all had a share
in carrying them.
We now set out loaded on our return. The ducks and geese, with their
heads and necks stretching out at our shoulders, cackling with all
their might, gave us a truly singular and ludicrous appearance; and
we could not help laughing immoderately as we passed the bridge, one
after another, accoutred in so strange a fashion. Our mutual jokes,
and the general good humour which prevailed, served to shorten the
length of the walk, and none complained of fatigue, till seated under
our tree at Falcon’s Stream.
CHAPTER XV
Hopes of a Sledge--Some Short Lessons in
Useful Things
I had observed along the shore many pieces of wood, of which I
thought I could make a kind of conveyance for our cask of butter and
other provisions from Tent House to Falcon’s Stream, and had secretly
determined to go early the next morning, before my family should
be awake, to the spot. I had fixed upon Ernest for my assistant,
thinking that his indolent temper required to be stimulated to
exertion. I made him feel as a great favour the preference I gave
him, and he promised to be ready at a very early hour.
At the first dawn of morning I quietly awoke Ernest. He got up, and
we descended the ladder without being perceived by the rest, who
continued to sleep soundly. We roused the ass, and I made him draw
some large branches of a tree, which I wanted for my undertaking.
We were not long in finding the pieces of wood, and set to work to
cut them the proper length, and we then laid them cross-ways on the
branches, which we thus converted into a kind of vehicle. We added
to the load a little chest, which we found half-buried in the sands,
quite close to the waves, and then we set out on our return to
Falcon’s Stream. When we reached our abode, the chest we had brought
was soon opened by a strong hatchet; for all were eager to see what
was within. It contained only some sailors’ dresses and some linen,
and both were wet with the sea.
We then sat down tranquilly to breakfast; and I next inspected the
booty of the young sportsmen, who had shot, in all, no less than
fifty ortolans and thrushes, and had used so large a quantity of
powder and shot, that when they were about to resume their sport,
my wife and I stopped them, recommending a more frugal use of those
valuable materials. I taught them how to make some snares, to be
suspended from the branches of the fig-tree, and advised them to use
the thread of the karata, which is as strong as horse-hair, for the
purpose.
Jack, who had got up into the tree, and had suspended some of the
snares to the branches, came down again to bring us the acceptable
intelligence that our pigeons had made a sort of nest there of some
dry grass, and that it already contained several eggs. I therefore
forbade the boys from firing any more in the tree, for fear of
alarming or wounding these gentle creatures. I also directed that the
snares should be frequently examined, to see that the pigeons were
not caught in them, as they might be strangled in their efforts to
get loose.
Meanwhile the boys and I had been busily employed: our work was
completed. Two bent pieces of wood, the segments of a circle, which
I fixed in their places by a straight piece of wood placed across,
and firmly fixed to the bent pieces in the middle and at the rear,
formed the outline of my machine. I then fastened two ropes in front;
and here was a sledge as perfect as could be desired. As I had not
raised my eyes from my work, I did not know what my wife and the two
youngest boys had been about. On looking up, I perceived that they
had been stripping off the feathers from a quantity of birds which
the boys had killed, and that they afterwards spitted them on an
officer’s sword, which Fritz had fancied and brought from the ship,
and which my wife had turned into this useful kitchen utensil. I
approved of the idea; but I blamed her profusion in dressing more
birds at once than we could eat. She reminded me that I had myself
advised her to half-roast the birds before putting them into the
butter, to be preserved for future use. She was in hopes, she said,
that as I had now a sledge, I should not fail of going to Tent House
after dinner to fetch the cask of butter, and in the meanwhile she
was endeavouring to be ready with the birds. I had no objection to
this, and determined on going to Tent House the same day, requesting
my wife to hasten the dinner for that purpose. She replied that this
was already her intention, as she also had a little project in her
head, which I should be informed of at my return. I, for my part,
had one too, which was to refresh myself, after the heat and fatigue
of my laborious occupations, by a plunge into the sea. I wished that
Ernest, who was to accompany me, should bathe also; while Fritz was
to remain at home for the protection of the family.
CHAPTER XVI
Bathing, Fishing and a Kangaroo
We had harnessed the ass and the cow to our sledge; and, resting
our guns upon our shoulders, began our journey. We bade adieu to
our companions, and put our animals in motion. We took the road by
the seashore, where the sands afforded better travelling for our
vehicle than the thick wild grass. We reached Family Bridge, on
Jackal’s River, and arrived at Tent House without either obstacle or
adventure, and unharnessed the animals to let them graze, while we
set to work to load the sledge with the cask of butter, the cask of
cheese, a small barrel of gunpowder, different instruments, small
ball and some shot. These exertions had so occupied our thoughts,
that it was late when we first observed that our animals, attracted
by the excellent quality of the grass on the other side of the river,
had repassed the bridge, and wandered so far as to be out of sight.
I was in hopes they would be easily found, and directed Ernest to go
with Flora and bring them back, intending in the meantime to look for
a convenient place on the other side of Tent House to bathe in. In a
short time I found myself at the extremity of Providence Bay, which
ended, as I now perceived, in a marsh, producing some fine bulrushes;
and further on was a chain of steep rocks, advancing somewhat into
the sea, and forming a kind of creek, as if expressly contrived for
bathing.
I desired Ernest to fill a small bag with some of the salt he had
formerly observed here, and then to empty it into the large one for
the ass to carry; and to take care to fill equally on each side.
“During this time I will take the refreshment of bathing; and then it
will be your turn to bathe, and mine to take care of the animals.”
I returned to the rocks, and was not disappointed in my expectation
of an enjoyment the most delicious. When I had dressed myself, I
returned to Ernest to see if his work had advanced: presently I heard
his voice calling out, “Father, father, a fish! a fish of monstrous
size! Run quickly, father: I can hardly hold him; he is eating up
the string of my line!” I ran to the place from which the voice
proceeded, and found Ernest lying along the ground on his face, upon
the extremity of a point of land, and pulling in his line, to which
a large fish was hanging, and struggling to get loose. I ran hastily
and snatched the rod out of his hand, for I feared the weight and
activity of the fish might pull him into the water. I gave the line
length, to calm the fish, and then contrived to draw him gently
along into a shallow, from which he could no longer escape, and
thus he was effectually secured. We examined him thoroughly, and he
appeared to weigh not less than fifteen pounds; so that our capture
was magnificent, and would afford the greatest pleasure to our good
steward of provisions at Falcon’s Stream.
While Ernest went to the rocks and bathed, I had time to fill some
more bags with salt. We then harnessed and loaded our animals, and
resumed the road to Falcon’s Stream.
When we had proceeded about half way, Flora, who was before us,
suddenly sprang off, and by her barking gave notice that she scented
some game. We soon after saw her pursuing an animal which seemed
endeavouring to escape, and made the most extraordinary jumps
imaginable. The dog continued to follow; the creature, in trying
to avoid him, passed within gun-shot of the place where I stood. I
fired, but its flight was so rapid that I did not hit. Ernest, who
was at a small distant behind, hearing the report of my gun, prepared
his own, and fired it off at the instant the singular animal was
passing near him, seeking to hide itself among the tall herbage
just by: he had fired so skilfully that the animal fell dead at the
same instant. I ran with extreme curiosity to ascertain what kind
of quadruped it might be. It was as large as a sheep, with the tail
resembling that of a tiger; but its snout and hair were like those
of a mouse, and its teeth were like a hare’s, but much larger; the
fore-legs resembled those of the squirrel, and were extremely short;
but to make up for this, its hind-legs were as long as a pair of
stilts, and of a form strikingly singular. We examined the creature
a long time in silence. I could not be sure that I had ever seen an
engraving or description of it in any natural history, or book of
travels. Ernest at length, clapping his hands together, joyously
exclaimed, “And have I really killed this wonderful animal? What do
you think is its name, father? I would give all the world to know.”
_Father._--And so would I, my boy; but I am as ignorant as you. One
thing, however, is certain, that this is your lucky day. Let us again
examine this interesting stranger, that we may be certain to what
family of quadrupeds it belongs: this will perhaps throw a light upon
its name.
_Ernest._--I think it can hardly be named a quadruped; for the little
fore-legs look much more like hands, as is the case with monkeys.
_Father._--They are notwithstanding legs, I can assure you. Let us
look for its name among the animals who give suck: on this point we
cannot be mistaken. Now let us examine its teeth.
_Ernest._--Here are the four incisory teeth, like the squirrel.
_Father._--Thus we see that it belongs to the order of Nibblers. Now
let us look for some names of animals of this kind.
_Ernest._--Besides squirrels, I recollect only mice, marmots, hares,
beavers, porcupines, and jumpers.
_Father._--Jumpers! That short word furnishes the necessary clue;
the animal is completely formed like the jerboa, or jumping hare,
except that it is twice the size of those of which I have read a
description.... Wait a moment--an idea strikes me: I will wager that
our animal is one of the large jumpers, called kangaroos. To the best
of my knowledge, this animal has never been seen but on the coast of
New Holland, where it was first observed by the celebrated navigator,
Captain Cook. You may then be highly flattered with your adventure of
killing an animal at once so rare and so remarkable. But now let us
see how we shall manage to drag him to the sledge. Ernest requested
that I would rather assist him to carry it, as he was afraid of
spoiling its beautiful mouse-coloured skin by dragging it on the
ground. I therefore tied the fore-legs of the kangaroo together; and
by means of two canes, we, with considerable trouble, contrived to
carry it to the sledge, upon which it was securely fastened.
We at length arrived happily, though somewhat late, at Falcon’s
Stream, having heard from a great distance the salutations of our
family. We concluded the day with our ordinary occupations. I gave
some salt to each of our animals, to whom it was an acceptable
treat. We then skinned our kangaroo, and put it carefully aside
till the next day, when we intended to cut it to pieces, and
lay such parts in salt as we could not immediately consume. We
made an excellent supper on our little fish, to which we added
some vegetables; nor were our faithful companions Turk and Flora
neglected. The labours of the day had more than usually disposed us
all to seek repose; we therefore said our prayers at an early hour,
mounted our ladder, and were soon asleep.
CHAPTER XVII
More Stores from the Wreck
I rose with the first crowing of the cock, descended the ladder,
and set about skinning the kangaroo, taking care not to deface its
beautiful smooth coat; but I advanced so slowly in the business, that
my family were assembled about me, and calling out Famine! before I
had finished my work. Breakfast over, I ordered Fritz to get ready
for Tent House, where we should prepare the boat, and again proceed
to the vessel.
We took Ernest and Jack a little way with us, and then I sent them
back with a message to their mother, which I had not the resolution
to deliver myself--that we might be forced to pass the night on board
the vessel, and not return till the evening of the following day. It
was most essential to get out of it, if yet afloat, all that could be
saved, as a moment might complete its destruction.
We got into the boat, and, gaining the current, quickly cleared
Safety Bay, and reached the vessel, whose open side offered us an
ample space to get on board. When we had fastened our boat, our first
care was to select fit materials to construct a raft. Our boat of
staves had neither room nor solidity enough to carry a considerable
burden; we therefore looked about, and found a sufficient number of
water-casks, which appeared to me proper for my new enterprise.
We emptied them, replaced the bungs carefully, and threw the casks
overboard, after securing them with ropes and cramps, so as to keep
them together at the vessel’s side: this completed, we placed a
sufficient number of planks upon them to form a firm and commodious
platform, or deck, to which we added a gun-wale of a foot in depth
all round, to secure the lading. Thus we contrived a handsome raft,
in which we could stow thrice as much as in our boat. This laborious
task had taken up the whole day; we scarcely allowed ourselves a
minute to eat some cold meat we had provided, that we might not
lose any time in looking for the provisions on board the vessel.
In the evening, Fritz and I were so weary, that it would have been
impossible for us to row back to land; so having taken all due
precaution in case of a storm, we lay down in the captain’s cabin, on
a good elastic mattress, which induced such sound repose, that our
prudent design to watch in turn, for fear of accident, was forgotten,
and we both slept heavily, side by side, till broad daylight opened
our eyes. We rose, and actively set to work to load our raft.
We began with stripping the cabin of its doors and windows, with
their appendages; next we secured the carpenter’s and gunner’s
chests, containing all their tools and implements: those we could
remove with levers and rollers were put entire upon the raft, and
we took out of the others what rendered them too heavy. One of the
captain’s chests was filled with costly articles, which, no doubt, he
meant to dispose of to the opulent planters of Port Jackson, or among
the savages. In the collection were several gold and silver watches,
snuff-boxes of all descriptions, buckles, shirt-buttons, necklaces,
rings; in short, an abundance of all the trifles of European luxury.
But the discovery that delighted me most was a chest containing some
dozens of young plants of every species of European fruits, which
had been carefully packed in moss for transportation. I perceived
pear, plum, almond, peach, apple, apricot, chestnut trees, and vine
shoots. We discovered a number of bars of iron, and large pigs of
lead, grinding-stones, cart-wheels ready for mounting, a complete
set of farrier’s instruments, tongs, shovels, ploughshares, rolls
of iron and copper wire, sacks full of maize, pease, oats, vetches,
and even a little handmill. The vessel had been freighted with
everything likely to be useful in an infant colony so distant. We
found a saw-mill in a separated state, but each piece numbered, and
so accurately fitted that nothing was easier than to put it together
for use.
We with difficulty and hard labour finished our loading, having added
a large fishing-net, quite new, and the vessel’s great compass. With
the net, Fritz found two harpoons and a rope-windlass, such as they
use in the whale-fishery. He asked me to let him place the harpoons,
tied to the end of the rope, over the bow of our tub-boat, and thus
be in readiness in case of seeing any large fish; and I indulged him
in his fancy.
Having completely executed our undertaking, we stepped into
the tub-boat, and pushed out for the current, drawing our raft
triumphantly after us with a stout rope, which we had been careful to
fasten securely at its head.
CHAPTER XVIII
The Tortoise Harnessed
The wind was favourable, and briskly swelled our sail. The sea was
calm, and we advanced at a considerable rate. Fritz had for some time
fixed his eyes on something of a large size which was floating on
the water, and he now desired me to take the glass, and see what it
could be. I soon perceived that it was a tortoise, which had fallen
asleep in the sun on the surface of the water. No sooner had Fritz
learned this, than he entreated me to steer softly within view of so
extraordinary a creature. I readily consented; but as his back was
towards me, and the sail between us, I did not observe his motions,
till a violent jerk of the boat, a sudden turning of the windlass,
and then a second jerk, accompanied by a rapid motion of the boat,
gave me the necessary explanation. “For Heaven’s sake, what are you
about, Fritz?” exclaimed I, somewhat alarmed.
“I have caught him!--I touched him!” cried Fritz, without hearing one
word I had been saying.--“The tortoise is ours; it cannot escape,
father! Is not this, then, a valuable prize, for it will furnish
dinners for us all for many weeks?”
I soon perceived that the harpoon had caught the animal, which,
feeling itself wounded, thus agitated the vessel in its endeavours
to get away. I quickly pulled down the sail, and seizing a hatchet,
sprang to the boat’s head to cut the rope, and let the harpoon and
the tortoise go; but Fritz caught hold of my arm, conjuring me to
wait a moment, and not so hastily bring upon him the mortification of
losing, at one stroke, the harpoon, the rope, and the tortoise: he
proposed watching himself, with the hatchet in his hand, to cut the
rope suddenly should any sign of danger appear; and I yielded to his
entreaties.
Thus, then, drawn along by the tortoise, we proceeded with a
hazardous rapidity. I soon observed that the creature was making
for the sea; I therefore again hoisted the sail; and as the wind
was to the land, and very brisk, the tortoise found resistance of
no avail; he accordingly fell into the track of the current, and
drew us straight towards our usual place of landing, and, by good
fortune, without striking upon any of the rocks. We, however, did not
disembark without one difficult adventure. The state of the tide was
such as to throw us upon a sand-bank; we were at this time within
a gun-shot of the shore; the boat, though driven with violence,
remained upright in the sand. I stepped into the water, which did
not reach far above my knees, for the purpose of conferring upon our
conductor his just reward for the alarm he had caused us, when he
suddenly gave a plunge, and then disappeared. Following the rope, I
presently saw the tortoise stretched at length at the bottom of the
water, where it was so shallow that I soon found means to put an end
to his pain, by cutting off his head with the hatchet. Being now near
Tent House, Fritz gave a halloo, and fired a gun, to apprise our
relatives that we were not only arrived, but arrived in triumph. This
soon produced the desired effect: the mother and her three young ones
soon appeared, running towards us; upon which Fritz jumped out of the
boat, placed the head of our sea-prize on the muzzle of his gun, and
walked to shore, which I reached at the same moment.
I requested my wife to go with two of the younger boys to Falcon’s
Stream, and fetch the sledge and the beasts of burden, that we might
see at least a part of our booty from the ship put safely under
shelter the same evening. A tempest, or even the tide, might sweep
away the whole during the night. We took every precaution in our
power against the latter danger, by fixing the boat and the raft,
now, at the time of its reflux, as securely as we could without an
anchor.
While we were employed on this scheme, the sledge arrived, and we
placed the tortoise upon it, and also some articles of light weight,
such as mattresses, pieces of linen, etc. Our first concern, on
reaching our abode, was the tortoise, which we immediately turned on
his back, that we might strip off the shell, and make use of some
of the flesh while it was fresh. Taking my hatchet, I separated
the upper and under shell all round, which were joined together by
cartilages. The upper shell of the tortoise is extremely convex; the
under, on the contrary, is nearly flat. I cut away as much of the
flesh of the animal as was sufficient for a meal, and laid the rest
carefully on the under shell, which served as a dish, recommending
to my wife to cook what I had cut off, on the other shell, with no
other seasoning than a little salt, and pledged myself that she would
produce a luxurious dish.
_Fritz._--I thought, father, of cleaning the shell thoroughly, and
fixing it by the side of our river, and keeping it always full of
pure water for my mother’s use, when she has to wash the linen, or
cook our victuals.
_Father._--Excellent, excellent, my boy! all honour to the founder of
the _pure water-tub_! This is what I call _thinking for the general
good_. And we will take care to execute the idea as soon as we can
prepare some clay, as a solid foundation for its bottom.
_Ernest._--When the water-tub is complete, I will put some roots I
have found to soak a little in it, for they are now extremely dry.
I do not exactly know what they are: they look something like the
radish, or horse-radish; but the plant from which I took them was
almost the size of a bush.
_Father._--If my suspicion is right, you have made a beneficial
discovery, which, with the assistance of our own wild roots, may
furnish us the means of existence as long as we may remain in this
island! I think your roots are _manioc_, of which the natives of the
West Indies make a sort of bread or cake which they call _cassava_.
But we must first carry the production through a certain preparation,
without which it possesses pernicious properties. Try to find the
same place, and bring a sufficient quantity for our first experiment.
We had finished unloading the sledge, and I bade the three eldest
boys accompany me to fetch another load before it should be dark.
Having reached the raft, we took from it as many effects as the
sledge could hold, or the animals draw along. One object of my
attention was to secure two chests which contained the clothes of
my family. I reckoned also on finding in one of the chests some
books on interesting subjects, and principally a large handsomely
printed Bible. I added to these, four cart-wheels and a hand-mill for
grinding; which, now that we had discovered the manioc, I considered
of signal importance. These and a few other articles completed our
present load.
[Illustration: “He accordingly fell into the track of the current,
and drew us straight towards our usual place of landing.”]
On our return to Falcon’s Nest, we found my wife looking anxiously
for our arrival, and ready with the welcome she had promised of an
ample and agreeable repast. Before she had well examined our new
stores, she drew me, with one of her sweetest smiles, by the arm.
“Step this way,” said she, and leading to the shade of a tree,--“this
is the work I performed in your absence,” pointing to a large cask
half sunk in the ground, and the rest covered over with branches of
trees. She then applied a small corkscrew to the side, and filling
the shell of a cocoa-nut with the contents, presented it to me. I
found the liquor equal to the best canary I had ever tasted. “How
then,” said I, “have you performed this new miracle? I cannot believe
the enchanted bag produced it.” “Not exactly,” replied she; “for this
time it was an obliging white wave which threw it on shore. I took a
little ramble in your absence yesterday, to see what I could find,
and well my trouble was rewarded! The boys ran for the sledge, and
had but little difficulty in getting the cask to Falcon’s Stream,
where we dug this place in the earth to keep it cool.”
My wife now proposed that all should be regaled with some of the
delicious beverage. My own share so invigorated me, that I found
myself able to complete my day’s work, by drawing up the mattresses
we had brought from the ship, to our chamber in the tree, by means
of a pulley. When I had laid them along to advantage, they looked so
inviting that I could scarcely resist my desire of at once committing
myself to the kind relief they seemed to offer to my exhausted
strength.
But now the savoury smell of the tortoise laid claim to my attention.
I hastened down, and we all partook heartily of the luxurious treat.
We returned thanks to God, and speedily retired to taste the blessing
of sound repose upon the said mattresses.
CHAPTER XIX
Another Trip to the Wreck--Baking
After breakfast the next morning we returned to the seaside to
complete the unloading of the raft, that it might be ready for sea
on the flowing of the tide. We were not long in taking two cargoes
to Falcon’s Stream. At our last trip the water was nearly up to our
craft. I sent back my wife and the boys, and remained with Fritz
till we were quite afloat; when observing Jack still loitering near,
I guessed at his wish, and consented to his embarking with us.
Shortly after, the tide was high enough for us to row off. Instead
of steering for Safety Bay to moor our vessels there securely, I was
tempted by a fresh sea-breeze to go out again to the wreck; but it
was too late to undertake much, and I was unwilling to cause my dear
partner uneasiness by passing another night on board. I therefore
determined to bring away only what could be obtained with ease and
speed: we searched hastily through the ship for any trifling articles
that might be readily removed. Jack was up and down everywhere, at a
loss what to select; and when I saw him again, he drew a wheelbarrow
after him, shouting that he had found a vehicle for carrying our wild
roots.
But Fritz next disclosed still better news, which was, that he had
discovered, behind the bulkhead amidship, a pinnace (i.e. a small
craft, the fore part of which is square), taken to pieces, with
all its appurtenances, and even two small guns for its defence.
This intelligence so delighted me, that I quitted everything else
to run to the bulkhead, when I was convinced of the truth of the
lad’s assertion: but I instantly perceived that to put it together,
and launch it, would be an Herculean task. I collected various
utensils, a copper boiler, some plates of iron, tobacco-graters, two
grinding-stones, a small barrel of gunpowder, and another full of
flints, which I much valued. Jack’s barrow was not forgotten; two
more were afterwards found and added, with straps belonging to them.
All these articles were hurried into the boat, and we re-embarked
with speed, to avoid the land wind that rises in the evening.
Arrived at Falcon’s Stream, my wife exhibited a good store of
tuberous roots, which she had got in during our absence, and a
quantity of the roots I had taken for manioc, and in which I was not
mistaken.
“But now,” said I, “for some supper and repose; and if my little
workmen should be industriously inclined to-morrow, I shall reward
them with the novelty of a new trade to be learned.” This did not
fail to excite the curiosity of all; but I kept my word, and made
them wait till the following day for the explanation I had to give.
I waked the boys very early, reminding them that I had promised to
teach them a new trade.
“What is it? What is it?” exclaimed they, all at once, springing
suddenly out of bed, and hurrying on their clothes.
_Father._--It is the art of the baker, my boys. Hand me those
iron plates that we brought yesterday from the vessel, and the
tobacco-graters also, and we will make our experiment. Ernest, bring
hither the roots you found; but first, my dear, I must request you
to make me a small bag of a piece of strong wrapper cloth.
My wife set instantly to work to oblige me; but having no great
confidence in my talents for making either bread or cakes, she
first filled a copper boiler with roots, and put it on the fire,
that we might not be without something to eat at dinner-time: in
the meanwhile I spread a piece of coarse linen on the ground, and
assembled my young ones round me: I gave each of the boys a grater,
and showed him at the same time how to rest it on the linen, and then
to grate the roots of manioc: in a short time each had produced a
considerable heap of a substance somewhat resembling pollard.
By this time my wife had completed the bag. I had it well filled with
what we called our pollard, and she closed it securely by sewing
up the end. I was now to contrive a kind of press: I cut a long,
straight, stout branch, from a neighbouring tree, and stripped it
of the bark; I then placed a plank across the table we had fixed
between the arched roots of our tree, and which was exactly the right
height for my purpose, and on this I laid the bag; I put other planks
again upon the bag, and then covered all with the large branch, the
thickest extremity of which I inserted under an arch, while to the
other, which projected beyond the planks, I suspended all sorts
of heavy substances, such as lead, our largest hammers, and bars
of iron, which, acting with great force as a press on the bag of
manioc, caused the sap it contained to issue in streams, which flowed
plentifully on the ground.
We then opened the bag, and took out a small quantity of the pollard,
which already was dry enough: we stirred the rest about with a stick,
and then replaced it under the press. The next thing was to fix one
of our iron plates, which was of a round form, and a little hollow,
so as to rest upon two blocks of stone at a distance from each
other; under this we lighted a large fire, and when the iron plate
was completely heated, we placed a portion of the dough upon it with
a wooden spade. As soon as the cake began to be brown underneath, it
was turned, that the other side might be baked also.
When the cake was cold, we broke some of it into crumbs, and gave it
to two of the fowls, and a larger piece to the monkey, who nibbled it
with a perfect relish, making all the time a thousand grimaces, while
the boys stood by envying the preference he enjoyed.
The first thing after dinner was to visit our fowls. Those which had
eaten the manioc were in excellent condition, and no less so was the
monkey. “Now then to the bakehouse, young ones,” said I, “as fast as
you can scamper.” The grated manioc was soon emptied out of the bag,
a large fire was quickly lighted, and I placed the boys where a flat
surface had been prepared for them, and gave to each a plate of iron
and the quantity of a cocoa-nut full to make a cake apiece, and they
were to try who could succeed the best. They were ranged in a half
circle round me, that they might observe how I proceeded, and adopt
the same method for themselves. The result was not discouraging for
a first experiment, though it must be confessed we were now and then
so unlucky as to burn a cake; but there was not a greater number of
these than served to feed the pigeons and the fowls, which hovered
round us to claim their share of the treat.
The rest of the day was employed by the boys in making several turns
with their wheelbarrows, and by myself in different arrangements,
in which the ass and our sledge had a principal share, both being
employed in drawing to Tent House the remaining articles we had
brought from the ship.
CHAPTER XX
The Cracker and the Pinnace
From the time of discovering the pinnace, my desire of returning to
the vessel grew every moment more irresistible; but one thing I saw
was absolutely necessary, which was, to collect all my hands to get
her out from the situation where we had found her.
After breakfast, then, we prepared for setting out. The boys were gay
and on the alert, in the expectation of the pleasure that awaited
them. We took with us an ample provision of boiled roots and cassava;
and in addition, arms and weapons of every kind. We reached Safety
Bay without any remarkable event: here we thought it prudent to put
on our cork jackets; we then scattered some food for the geese and
ducks which had taken up their abode there, and soon after stepped
gaily into our tub-raft, at the same time fastening the new boat by a
rope to her stern, so that she could be drawn along. We put out for
the current, though not without considerable fear of finding that
the wreck had disappeared. We soon, however, perceived that it still
remained firm between the rocks.
Having got on board, all repaired, on the wings of curiosity and
ardour, to that part of the vessel called the bulk-head, which
contained the enviable prize, the pinnace. On further observation,
it appeared to me that the plan we had formed was subject to at
least two alarming difficulties; the one was the situation of the
pinnace in the ship; and the other was the size and weight it
would necessarily acquire when put together. The enclosure which
contained the pinnace was in the interior of the ship, and timbers
of prodigious bulk and weight separated it from the breach, and in
this part of the deck there was not sufficient space for us to put
the pinnace together, or to give her room when done. The breach also
was too narrow and too irregular to admit of her being launched from
this place, as we had done with our tub-raft. In short, the separate
pieces of the pinnace were too heavy for the possibility of our
removing them even with the assistance of our united strength. What
therefore was to be done?
The cabinet which contained the pinnace was lighted by several small
fissures in the timbers, which, after standing in the place a few
minutes to accustom the eye, enabled one to see sufficiently to
distinguish objects. I discovered, with pleasure, that all the pieces
of which she was composed were so accurately arranged and numbered,
that without too much presumption I might flatter myself with the
hope of being able effectually to collect and put them together, if I
could be allowed the necessary time, and could procure a convenient
place. I therefore, in spite of every disadvantage, decided on
the undertaking; and we immediately set about it. We proceeded at
first so slowly as to have produced discouragement, if the desire
of possessing so admirable a little vessel had not at every moment
inspired us with new strength and ardour.
We passed an entire week in this arduous undertaking. I embarked
every morning with my three sons, and returned every evening,
and never without some small addition to our stores. We were now
so accustomed to this manner of proceeding, that my wife bade us
good-bye without concern, and we, on our parts, left Tent House
without anxiety.
At length the pinnace was completed, and in a condition to be
launched: the question now was, how to manage this remaining
difficulty. She was an elegant little vessel, perfect in every part:
she had a small neat deck; and her masts and sails were no less exact
and perfect than those of a little brig. It was probable she would
sail well, from the lightness of her construction, and in consequence
drawing but little water. We had pitched and towed all the seams,
that nothing might be wanting for her complete appearance: we had
even taken the pains of further embellishing, by mounting her with
two small cannon of about a pound weight; and, in imitation of larger
vessels, had fastened them to the deck with chains. But in spite of
the delight we felt in contemplating a work, as it were, of our own
industry, the great difficulty still remained: the said commodious,
charming little vessel still stood fast, enclosed within four
walls: nor could I conceive a mode of getting her out. To effect a
passage through the outer side of the vessel, by means of our united
industry in the use of all the utensils we had secured, seemed to
present a prospect of exertions beyond the reach of man, even if not
attended with dangers the most alarming. We examined if it might
be practicable to cut away all intervening timbers, to which, from
the nature of the breach, we had easier access: but should we even
succeed in this attempt, the upper timbers being, in consequence of
the inclined position of the ship, on a level with the water, our
labour would be unavailing: besides we had neither strength nor time
for such a proceeding; from one moment to another, a storm might
arise and engulf the ship, timbers, pinnace, ourselves, and all.
Despairing, then, of being able to find means consistent with the
sober rules of art, my impatient fancy inspired the thought of a
project, which could not however be tried without hazards and dangers
of a tremendous nature.
I had found on board a strong iron mortar, such as is used in
kitchens. I took a thick oak plank, and nailed to different parts
of it some large iron hooks: with a knife I cut a groove along
the middle of the plank. I sent the boys to fetch some match-wood
from the hold, and I cut a piece sufficiently long to continue
burning at least two hours. I placed this train in the groove of my
plank: I filled the mortar with gunpowder, and then laid the plank
thus furnished upon it, having previously pitched the mortar all
round; and, lastly, I made the whole fast to the spot with strong
chains, crossed by means of the hooks in every direction. Thus I
accomplished a sort of cracker, from which I expected to effect a
happy conclusion. I hung this machine of mischief to the side of the
bulkhead next to the sea, having taken previous care to choose a spot
in which its action could not affect the pinnace. When the whole
was arranged, I set fire to the match, the end of which projected
far enough beyond the plank to allow us sufficient time to escape.
I now hurried on board the raft, into which I had previously sent
the boys before applying a light to the match; and who, though they
had assisted in forming the cracker, had no suspicion of the use for
which it was intended, believing all the while it concealed some
subject of amusement for their next trip to the vessel.
On our arrival at Tent House, I immediately put the raft in a certain
order, that she might be in readiness to return speedily to the wreck
when the noise produced by the cracker should have informed me that
my scheme had taken effect. We set busily to work in emptying her;
and during the occupation, our ears were assailed with the noise of
an explosion of such violence, that my wife and the boys, who were
ignorant of the cause, were so dreadfully alarmed as instantly to
abandon their employment. “What can it be?--what is the matter?--what
can have happened?”--cried all at once. “It must be cannon. It is
perhaps the captain and the ship’s company who have found their
way hither! Or can it be some vessel in distress? Can we go to its
relief?”
The boys lost not a moment in jumping into their tubs, whither I
soon followed them, after having whispered a few words to my wife,
somewhat tending to explain, but still more to tranquilize her mind
during the trip we had now to engage in.
We rowed out of the bay with more rapidity than on any former
occasion; curiosity gave strength to our arms. When the vessel was
in sight, I observed with pleasure that no change had taken place
in the part of her which faced Tent House, and that no sign of
smoke appeared: we advanced, therefore, in excellent spirits; but
instead of rowing, as usual, straight to the breach, we proceeded
round to the side, on the inside of which we had placed the cracker.
The horrible scene of devastation we had caused now broke upon our
sight. The greater part of the ship’s side was shattered to pieces;
innumerable splinters covered the surface of the water; the whole
exhibited a scene of terrible destruction, in the midst of which
presented itself our elegant pinnace, entirely free from injury! We
entered by the new breach, and had soon reason to be assured that the
pinnace had wholly escaped injury, and that the fire was entirely
extinguished. The mortar, however, and pieces of the chain, had been
driven forcibly into the opposite side of the enclosure.
I then examined the breach we had thus effected, and next the
pinnace. I perceived that it would be easy, with the help of the
crow and the lever, to lower her into the water. In putting her
together, I had used the precaution of placing her keel on rollers,
that we might not experience the same difficulty as we had formerly
done in launching our tub-raft. Before letting her go, however, I
fastened the end of a long thick rope to her head, and the other
end to the most solid part of the wreck, for fear of her being
carried out too far. We put our whole ingenuity and strength to this
undertaking, and soon enjoyed the pleasure of seeing our pinnace
descend gracefully into the sea.
Two whole days more were spent in completely equipping and loading
the beautiful little barge we had now secured. When she was ready
for sailing, I found it impossible to resist the earnest importunity
of the boys, who, as a recompense for the industry and discretion
they had employed, claimed my permission to salute their mother, on
their approach to Tent House, with two discharges of cannon. These
accordingly were loaded, and the two youngest placed themselves,
with a lighted match in hand, close to the touch-holes, to be in
readiness. Fritz stood at the mast, to manage the ropes and cables,
while I took my station at the rudder. These matters being adjusted,
we put off with sensations of lively joy, which was demonstrated by
loud huzzas and suitable gesticulation. The wind was favourable, and
so brisk that we glided with the rapidity of a bird along the mirror
of the waters; and while my young ones were transported with pleasure
by the velocity of the motion, I could not myself refrain from
shuddering at the thought of some possible disaster.
Our old friend the tub-raft had been deeply loaded, and fastened
to the pinnace, and it now followed as an accompanying boat to a
superior vessel. We took down our large sail as soon as we found
ourselves at the entrance of Safety Bay, to have the greater command
in steering the pinnace; and soon the smaller ones were lowered
one by one, that we might the more securely avoid being thrown
with violence upon the rocks so prevalent along the coast: thus,
proceeding at a slower rate, we had greater facilities for managing
the important affair of the discharge of the cannon. Arrived within a
certain distance--“_Fire!_” cried Commander Fritz. The rocks behind
Tent House returned the sound. “_Fire!_” said Fritz again. Ernest and
Jack obeyed, and the echoes again majestically replied. Fritz at the
same moment had discharged his two pistols, and all joined instantly
in three loud huzzas.
“Welcome! welcome! dear ones,” was the answer from the anxious
mother, almost breathless with astonishment and joy. “Welcome!” cried
also little Francis, with his feeble voice, as he stood clinging to
her side, and not well knowing whether he was to be sad or merry. We
now tried to push to shore with our oars in a particular direction,
that we might have the protection of a projecting mass of rocks, and
my wife and little Francis hastened to the spot to receive us.
Fritz now invited his mother to get on board, and gave her his
assistance. When they had all stepped upon the deck, they entreated
the permission to salute, by again discharging the cannon, and at the
same moment to confer on the pinnace the name of their mother--_The
Elizabeth_.
My wife was particularly gratified by these our late adventures;
she applauded our skill and perseverance: “But,” said she, “we have
not, I assure you, remained idle while the rest were so actively
employed for the common benefit. No, not so; little Francis and his
mother found means to be doing something also, though not at this
moment prepared to furnish such unquestionable proofs as you, by your
salutations of cannon, etc.; but wait a little, good friends, and
our proofs shall hereafter be apparent in some dishes of excellent
vegetables which we shall be able to regale you with. It depends, to
say the truth, only on yourselves, dear ones, to go with me and see
what we have done.”
We did not hesitate to comply, and jumped briskly out of the pinnace
for the purpose. Taking her little coadjutor Francis by the hand,
she led the way, and we followed in the gayest mood imaginable. She
conducted us up an ascent of one of our rocks, and stopping at the
spot where the cascade is formed from Jackal’s River, she displayed
to our astonished eyes a handsome kitchen-garden, laid out properly
in beds and walks, and, as she told us, everywhere sowed with the
seed of useful plants.
“This,” said she, “is the pretty exploit we have been engaged in, if
you will kindly think so of it. In this spot the earth is so light,
being principally composed of decayed leaves, that Francis and I had
no difficulty in working in it, and then dividing it into different
compartments: one for potatoes, one for manioc, and other smaller
shares for lettuces of various kinds, not forgetting to leave a
due proportion to receive some plants of the sugar-cane. You, dear
husband, and Fritz, will easily find means to conduct sufficient
water hither from the cascade, by means of pipes of bamboo, to keep
the whole in health and vigour.”
I stood transported in the midst of so perfect an exhibition of the
kind zeal and persevering industry of this most amiable of women!
I could only exclaim, that I should never have believed in the
possibility of such a labour in so short a time, and particularly
with so much privacy as to leave me wholly unsuspicious of the
existence of such a project.
The pinnace was anchored on the shore, and fastened with a rope, by
her head, to a stake. When all our stores were disposed of, we began
our journey to Falcon’s Stream, but not empty-handed; we took with us
everything that seemed to be absolutely wanted for comfort; and when
brought together, it was really so much, that both ourselves and our
beasts of burden had no easy task to perform.
CHAPTER XXI
Gymnastic Exercises--Various Discoveries--Singular
Animals, etc.
I recommended to my sons to resume the exercise of the shooting of
arrows; for I had an extreme solicitude about their preserving and
increasing their bodily strength and agility. On this occasion, I
added the exercises of running, jumping, getting up trees, both by
means of climbing by the trunk, or by a suspended rope, as sailors
are obliged to do to get to the masthead. We began at first by making
knots in the rope, at a foot distance from each other; then we
reduced the number of knots, and before we left off we contrived to
succeed without any. I next taught them an exercise of a different
nature, which was to be effected by means of two balls of lead,
fastened one to each end of a string about a fathom in length. While
I was preparing this machinery, all eyes were fixed upon me.
“I am endeavouring,” said I, “to imitate the arms used by the
Patagonians, inhabitants of the most southern point of America; but,
instead of balls, which they are not able to procure, they tie two
heavy stones, one at each end of a cord, but considerably longer
than the one I am working with: every Patagonian is armed with this
simple instrument, which they used with singular dexterity. If they
desire to kill or wound an enemy, or an animal, they fling one of
the ends of this cord at him, and begin instantly to draw it back
by the other, which they keep carefully in their hand, to be ready
for another throw, if necessary: but if they wish to take an animal
alive, and without hurting it, they possess the singular art of
throwing it in such a way as to make it run several times round the
neck of the prey, occasioning a perplexing tightness; they then throw
the second stone, and with so certain an aim, that they scarcely ever
miss their object: the operation of the second is, the so twisting
itself about the animal as to impede his progress, even though he
were at full gallop. The stones continue turning, carrying with them
the cord: the poor animal is at length so entangled, that he can
neither advance nor retire, and thus falls a prey to the enemy.”
This description was heard with much interest by the boys, who
now all entreated I would that instant try the effect of my own
instrument upon a small trunk of a tree which we saw at a certain
distance. My throws entirely succeeded; and the string with the balls
at the end so completely surrounded the tree, that the skill of the
Patagonian huntsmen required no further illustration. Each of the
boys must then needs have a similar instrument; and in a short time
Fritz became quite an expert in the art.
The next morning, as I was dressing, I remarked from my window in the
tree, that the sea was violently agitated, and the waves swelled with
the wind. I rejoiced to find myself in safety in my home, and that
the day had not been destined for out-of-door occupation. We now fell
to a more minute examination than I had hitherto had time for, of all
our various possession at Falcon’s Stream. My wife showed me many
things she had herself found means to add to them during my repeated
absences from home: among these was a pair of young pigeons, which
had been lately hatched, and were already beginning to try their
wings, while their mother was again sitting on her eggs. From these
we passed to the fruit trees we had laid in earth to be planted, and
which were in real need of our assistance. I immediately set myself
to prevent so important an injury. I had promised the boys, the
evening before, to go all together to the wood of gourds, to provide
ourselves with vessels of different sizes to keep our provisions in:
they were enchanted with the idea, but I bargained that they must
first assist me to plant all the young trees: which was no sooner
said than set about.
When we had finished, the evening was too far advanced for so long a
walk. By sunrise the next morning all were on foot, and we set out,
full of good-humour and high spirits, from Falcon’s Stream. Turning
round Flamingo Marsh, we soon reached the pleasant spot which before
had so delighted us. Fritz took a direction a little further from the
seashore; and sending Turk into the tall grass, he followed himself,
and both disappeared. Soon, eager for sport, we heard Turk barking
loud; a large bird sprang up, and almost at the same moment a shot
from Fritz brought it down: but though wounded it was not killed: it
raised itself, and got off with incredible swiftness, not by flying,
but by running. Turk followed, and seizing the bird, held it fast
till Fritz came up. Now a different scene succeeded from that which
took place at the capture of the flamingo. The legs of that bird are
long and weak, and it was able to make but a poor resistance. The
present captive was large in size, and strong; it struck the dogs,
or whoever came near, with its legs, with so much force, that Fritz,
who had received a blow or two, dared not again approach the enemy.
Fortunately I reached the spot in time to give assistance, and was
pleased to see that it was a female bustard of the largest size.
To secure the bird without injuring it, I threw my
pocket-handkerchief over the head of the bustard; it could not
disengage itself, and its efforts served only to entangle it the
more. As it could not now see me, I got near enough to pass a string
with a running knot over its legs, which, for the present, I drew
tight, to prevent further mischief from such powerful weapons. I
gently released its wing from Turk’s mouth, and tied it, with its
fellow, close to the bird’s body. In short, the bustard was our own.
As we advanced, I was frequently obliged to use the hatchet to make a
free passage for the ass in the tall grass. The heat also increased,
and we were all complaining of thirst, when Ernest, whose discoveries
were generally of a kind to be of use, made one of a most agreeable
nature. He found a kind of hollow stalk, of some height, which grew
at the foot of trees, and entangled our feet in walking. He cut one
of them, and was surprised to see a drop of pure fresh water issue at
the place where the knife had been applied: he showed it to us, put
it to his lips, and found it pure, and felt much regret that there
was no more. I then fell to examining the phenomenon myself, and soon
perceived that the want of air prevented a more considerable issue
of water. I made some more incisions, and presently water flowed out
as if from a small conduit. I tried the experiment of dividing the
plants longways, and they soon gave out water enough to supply even
the ass, the monkey, and the bustard.
We were still compelled to fight our way through thick bushes, till
at length, arrived at the wood of gourds, we were not long in finding
the spot where Fritz and I had once before enjoyed so agreeable a
repose. My wife now gave us notice that she should want some vessels
to contain milk, a large flat spoon to cut out butter by pieces, and
next, some pretty plates for serving it at table, made from the gourd
rinds.
I made the boys gather or collect the gourds, till we were in
possession of a sufficient number. We now began our work: some had
to cut; others to saw, scoop out, and model into agreeable forms. It
was a real pleasure to witness the activity exhibited in this our
manufacture of porcelain; each tried what specimens he could present
for the applause of his companions. For my own part, I made a pretty
basket, large enough to carry eggs, with one of the gourds, leaving
an arch at the top to serve as a cover. I likewise accomplished a
certain number of vessels, also with covers, fit to hold our milk,
and then some spoons to skim the cream. My next attempt was some
bottles large enough to hold fresh water, and these occasioned me
more trouble than all the rest. It was necessary to empty the gourd
through the small opening of the size of one’s finger, which I had
cut in it; I was obliged, after loosening the contents with a stick,
to get them out by friction with shot and water well shaken on the
inside. Lastly, to please my wife, I undertook the labour of a set
of plates for her use. Fritz and Jack engaged to make hives for
the bees, and nests for the pigeons and hens. For this last object
they took the largest gourds, and cut a hole in front, the size of
the animal for whose use it was intended. The pigeons’ nests were
intended to be tied to the branches of our tree; those for the hens,
the geese, and the ducks, were to be placed between its roots, or on
the seashore, and to represent a sort of hencoop.
Our work, added to the heat of the day, had made us all thirsty;
but we found nothing on this spot like our _fountain_ plants, as we
had named them. The boys entreated me to go with them in different
directions, and try to find some water, not daring by themselves to
venture further into the wood.
Ernest with great eagerness proposed relieving me of this trouble,
and putting himself in my place. It was not long before we heard him
calling loudly to us, and saw him returning in great alarm.--“Run
quick, father,” said he, “here is an immense wild boar.”
I then cried out to the boys to call the dogs quickly. “Halloo, here,
Turk! Flora!” The dogs arrived full gallop. Ernest was our leader,
and conducted us to the place where he saw the boar; but it was gone,
and we saw nothing but a plot of roots which appeared to have been
ransacked by the animal. We soon heard the cry of the dogs; for they
had overtaken the runaway, and soon after the most hideous growling
assailed our ears from the same quarter. We advanced with caution,
holding our guns in readiness to fire together the instant the animal
should be within the proper distance. Presently the spectacle of the
two brave creatures attacking him on the right and left presented
itself; each held one of his ears between its teeth. But it was not
a boar, but our own sow which had run away and so long been lost!
After the first surprise we could not resist a hearty laugh; and then
we hastened to disencumber our old friend of the teeth of her two
adversaries. But here the attention of all was attracted to a kind
of small potato which we observed lying thick on the grass around
us, and which had fallen from some trees which appeared loaded with
the same production: our sow devoured them greedily, thus consoling
herself for the pain and fright the dogs had occasioned her.
The fruit was of different colours, and extremely pleasing to the
eye. Fritz expressed his apprehension that it was the poisonous apple
called the mancenilla; but the sow ate them with so much eagerness,
and the tree which bore them having neither the form nor foliage
ascribed by naturalists to the mancenilla, that I doubted the truth
of his idea. I desired my sons to put some of the fruit in their
pockets, to make an experiment with them upon the monkey. We now
again, from extreme thirst, began to recollect our want of water, and
determined to seek for some in every direction. Jack sprang off, and
sought among the rocks, hoping that he should discover some little
stream: but scarcely had he left the wood than he bawled to us that
he had found a crocodile.
“A crocodile!” cried I, with a hearty laugh; “you have a fine
imagination, my boy! Who ever saw a crocodile on such scorching rocks
as these, and with not a drop of water near? Now, Jack, you are
surely dreaming....”
“Not so much of a dream as you may think, father,” answered Jack,
trying to speak in a low voice; “fortunately he is asleep; he lies
here on a stone at his full length; do, father, step here, and look
at it; it does not stir in the least.”
We stole softly to the place where the animal lay; but instead
of a crocodile, I saw before me a large sort of lizard, named by
naturalists _Leguana_, or _Yguana_, an animal by nature of a mild
character, and excellent as food. Instantly all were for seizing him,
and presenting so rare a prize to their mother. Fritz was already
taking aim with his gun: but I prevented him, observing that the
animal being protected by a coat of scales, it might be difficult to
destroy him, and that he is known to be dangerous, if approached,
when angry. “Let us try,” said I, “another sort of experiment; as he
is asleep, we need not be in a hurry.”
I cut a stout stick from a bush, to the extremity of which I tied a
string with a running knot. I guarded my other hand simply with a
little switch, and thus with cautious steps approached the creature.
When I was very near to him, I began to whistle a lively air, taking
care to make the sounds low at first, and to increase in loudness
till the lizard was awaked. The creature appeared entranced with
pleasure as the sounds fell upon his ear; he raised his head to
receive them still more distinctly, and looked round on all sides to
discover from whence they came. I now advanced by a step at a time,
without a moment’s interval in the music, which fixed him like a
statue to the place. At length I was near enough to reach him with
my switch, with which I tickled him gently, still continuing to
whistle, one after the other, the different airs I could recollect.
The lizard was bewildered by the charms of the music: the attitudes
he threw himself into were expressive of a delirious voluptuousness;
he stretched himself at full length, made undulating motions with
his long tail, threw his head about, raised it up, and by this sort
of action disclosed the formidable range of his sharp-pointed teeth,
which were capable of tearing us to pieces if we had excited his
hostility. I dexterously seized the moment of his raising his head,
to throw my noose over him. When this was accomplished, the boys
drew near also, and wanted instantly to draw it tight and strangle
him at once; but this I positively forbade, being unwilling to cause
the poor animal so unmerited a suffering. I had used the noose only
to make sure of him, in case it should happen that a milder mode of
killing him, which I intended to try, failed of success, in which
case I should have looked to the noose for protection; but this
was rendered unnecessary. Continuing to whistle my most affecting
melodies, I seized a favorable moment to plunge my switch into one of
his nostrils. The blood flowed in abundance, and soon deprived him of
life, without his exhibiting the least appearance of being in pain;
on the contrary, to the last moment, he seemed to be still listening
to the music.
We had now to consider of the best way for transporting to Falcon’s
Stream so large and valuable a booty. After a moment of reflection,
I perceived that I had better come at once to the determination
of carrying him across my shoulders; and the figure I made with so
singular an animal on my back, with his tail dragging on the ground,
was not the least amusing circumstance of the adventure.
We were proceeding in our return, when we distinguished the voices
of my wife and little Francis calling loudly upon my name. Our long
absence had alarmed them: we had forgotten on this occasion to give
them notice of our approach by firing our gun, and they had imagined
some terrible disaster must have befallen us. We had so many things
to tell, that, till reminded by my wife, we forgot to mention that we
had failed of procuring any water. My sons had taken out some of the
unknown apples from their pockets, and they lay on the ground by our
sides. Knips soon scented them, and came slily up and stole several,
and fell to chewing them with great eagerness. I myself threw one or
two to the bustard, who also ate them without hesitation. Being now
convinced that the apples were not of a poisonous nature, I announced
to the boys, who had looked on with envy all the time, that they
also might begin to eat them, and I myself set the example. We found
them excellent in quality, and I began to suspect that they might
be the sort of fruit called _guava_, which is much esteemed in such
countries. This regale of the apples had in some measure relieved our
thirst; but on the other hand, they had increased our hunger; and
as we had not time for preparing a portion of the lizard, we were
obliged to content ourselves with the cold provisions we had brought
with us.
We had scarcely finished, before my wife earnestly entreated we would
begin our journey home, and it appeared to me, as the evening was so
far advanced, that it would be prudent to return this once without
the sledge, which was heavy laden, and the ass could have drawn it
but slowly. I therefore determined to leave it on the spot till the
following day, when I could return and fetch it, contenting myself
with loading the ass, for the present, with the bags which contained
our new sets of porcelain; the lizard, which I feared might not keep
fresh so long; and our little Francis, who began to complain of being
tired. I took these arrangements upon myself, and left to my wife and
Fritz the care of confining the bustard in such a manner that she
could walk before us without danger of escaping.
When these preparations were complete, our little caravan was put in
motion, taking the direction of a straight line to Falcon’s Stream.
The course of our route now lay along a wood of majestic oaks, and
the ground was covered with acorns. My young travellers could not
refrain from tasting them; and finding them both sweet and mild to
the palate, I had the pleasure of reckoning them as a new means of
support.
We arrived shortly at Falcon’s Stream, and had time to employ
ourselves in some trifling arrangements before it was completely
dark. We concluded the exertions of the day with a plain repast, and
the contriving a comfortable bed for the bustard by the side of the
flamingo, and then stretched our weary limbs upon the homely couch,
rendered by fatigue luxurious, in the giant tree.
CHAPTER XXII
Excursion into Unknown Tracts
My first thought, the next morning, was to fetch the sledge from
the wood. I had a double motive for leaving it there, which I had
refrained from explaining to my wife, to avoid giving her uneasiness.
I had formed a wish to penetrate a little farther into the land, and
ascertain whether anything useful would present itself beyond the
wall of rocks. I was, besides, desirous to be better acquainted with
the extent, the form, and general productions of our island: I wished
Fritz only, who was stronger and more courageous than his brothers,
and Turk, to accompany me. We set out very early in the morning, and
drove the ass before us for the purpose of drawing home the sledge.
As we were picking up some acorns, different birds of exquisite
plumage flitted about us; for this once, I could not refuse Fritz the
pleasure of firing upon them, that we might learn their species. He
brought down three. I recognized one to be the great blue Virginia
jay, and the other two were parrots. One of the two was a superb red
parrot: the other was green and yellow.
We soon arrived at the guava trees, and a little after at the spot
where we had left the sledge, when we found our treasures in the
best possible condition; but as the morning was not far advanced, we
entered upon our intended project of penetrating beyond the wall of
rocks.
We pursued our way in a straight line at the foot of these massy,
solid productions of nature, every moment expecting to reach their
extremity, or to find some turn, or breach, or passage through
them, that should conduct us into the interior of the island, if,
as I presumed, it was not terminated by these rocks. We walked on,
continually looking about, that nothing might escape us worthy of
notice, and to anticipate and avoid such dangers as should threaten.
We next entered a pretty little grove, the trees of which were
unknown to us. Their branches were loaded with large quantities of
berries of an extraordinary quality, being entirely covered with
a minute meal or farina. I knew of a sort of bush, the berries of
which, when boiled, yield a viscous scum resembling wax: it grows in
America, and is named by botanists _Myrica cerifera_, or candleberry
tree; this plant resembled it much, and the discovery gave me great
pleasure.
A short time after, another object presented itself with equal claims
to our attention; it was the singular modes of behaviour of a kind
of bird scarcely larger than a chaffinch, and clothed in feathers of
a common brown colour. These birds appeared to exist as a republic,
there being among them one common nest, inhabited at pleasure by all
their tribes. We saw one of these nests in a tree, in a somewhat
retired situation; it was formed of plaited straws and bulrushes
intermixed; it enclosed great numbers of inhabitants, and was built
round the trunk of a tree; it had a kind of roof formed of roots and
bulrushes, carefully knit together. We observed in the sides small
apertures, seemingly intended as doors and windows to each particular
cell of this general receptacle; from a few of these apertures issued
some small branches, which served the birds as points of rest for
entering and returning: the external appearance of the whole excited
the image of an immensely large open sponge.
While we were attentively examining this interesting little colony,
we perceived numbers of a very small kind of parrot hovering about
the nest. Their gilded green wings, and the variety of their colours,
produced a beautiful effect; they seemed to be perpetually disputing
with the colonists, and not infrequently endeavoured to prevent their
entrance into the building; they attacked them fiercely, and even
tried to peck at us, if we but advanced our hand to the structure.
Fritz, who was well trained in the art of climbing trees, was
earnestly desirous to take a nearer view of them, and to secure if
possible a few individuals. He threw his burden down, and climbed
to the nest: he then tried to introduce his hand into one of the
apertures, and to seize whatever living creature it should touch in
that particular cell; what he most desired, was to find a female
brooding, and to carry both her and the eggs away. Several of the
cells were empty, but by perseverance he found one in the situation
he wished; but he received so violent a peck from an invisible bird,
that his only care was now to withdraw his hand; presently, however,
he ventured a second time to pass his hand into the nest, and
succeeded in seizing his prey, which he laid hold of, and in spite of
the bird’s resistance, he drew it through the aperture, and squeezed
it into the pocket of his waistcoat, and buttoning it securely, he
slided down the tree, and reached the ground in safety. The signals
of distress sent forth by the prisoner collected a multitude of birds
from their cells, who all surrounded him, uttering loud cries, and
attacking him with their beaks, till he had made good his retreat. He
now released the prisoner, and we discovered him to be a beautiful
green parrot,[2] which Fritz entreated he might be allowed to
preserve, and make a present of to his brothers, who would make a
cage to keep him in, and would then tame him and teach him to speak.
On the road home, we observed to each other, that from the
circumstance of this young bird’s nesting within the structure,
it appeared probable that the true right of property was in this
species, and that the brown-coloured birds we at first observed were
intruders endeavouring to deprive them of it.
We reached a wood, the trees of which, in a small degree, resembled
the wild fig-tree; at least the fruit they bore, like the fig, was
round in form, and contained a soft juicy substance full of small
grains. Their height was from forty to sixty feet; the bark of the
trunk was scaly, like the pineapple, and wholly bare of branches,
except at the very top. The leaves of these trees are very thick; in
substance tough, like leather; and their upper and under surfaces are
different in colour. But what surprised us the most was a kind of gum
which issued in a liquid state from the trunk of the tree, and became
immediately hardened by the air. This discovery awakened Fritz’s
attention: in Europe he had often made use of the gum produced
by cherry trees, either as a cement or varnish, in his youthful
occupations: and the thought struck him, that he could do the same
with what he now saw.
As he walked, he frequently looked at his gum, which he tried to
soften with his breath, but without success: he now discovered a
still more singular property in the substance: that of stretching on
being pulled at the extremities, and, on being let go, of reducing
itself instantly, by the power of an elastic principle. He was struck
with surprise, and sprang towards me, repeating the experiment
before my eyes, and exclaiming, “Look, father! if this is not the
very thing we formerly used to rub out bad strokes in our drawings.”
“Ah! what do you tell me?” cried I with joy; “such a discovery would
be valuable indeed. The best thanks of all will be due to you, if it
is the true _caoutchouc_ tree which yields the Indian rubber. Quick,
hand it here, that I may examine it.”--Having satisfied myself of our
good fortune, I had now to explain that caoutchouc is a kind of milky
sap, which runs from its tree, in consequence of incisions made in
the bark. “This liquid is received in vessels placed expressly for
the purpose: it is afterwards made to take the form of dark-coloured
bottles, of different sizes, such as we have seen them, in the
following manner. Before the liquid has time to coagulate, some small
earthen bottles are dipped into it a sufficient number of times
to form the thickness required. These vessels are then hung over
smoke, which completely dries them, and gives them a dark colour.
The concluding part of the operation is to break the mould, and to
get out the pieces by the passage of the neck, when there remains
the complete form of a bottle. In the same way we may be able to
make shoes and boots without seams, if we can add the assistance of
earthen moulds of the size of the leg or foot to be fitted. We must
consider of some means of restoring masses of the caoutchouc to its
liquid form, for spreading upon the moulds; and if we should not
succeed, we must endeavour to draw it in sufficient quantities, in
its liquid state, from the trees themselves.”
We now began to consider how much farther we would go: the thick
bushes of bamboo, through which it was impossible to pass, seemed
to furnish a natural conclusion to our journey. We were, therefore,
unable to ascertain whether or not we should have found a passage
beyond the wall of rocks: we perceived then no better resource than
to turn to the left towards Cape Disappointment, where the luxurious
plantations of sugar-canes now again drew our attention. That we
might not return empty-handed to Falcon’s Stream, and might deserve
forgiveness for so long an absence, we each took the pains to cut a
large bundle of the canes, which we threw across the ass’s back, not
forgetting the ceremony of reserving one apiece to refresh ourselves
with along the road. We soon arrived on the well-known shore of the
sea, which at length afforded an open and a shorter path; we next
reached the wood of gourds, where we found our sledge loaded as we
had left it the night before; we took the sugar-canes from the ass,
and fastened them to the sledge, and then we harnessed the ass, and
the patient animal began to draw towards home.
FOOTNOTE:
[2] _Tuiete._ This is the smallest kind of Brazilian
parrot. There is an infinite variety in their
plumage.
CHAPTER XXIII
Useful Occupations and Labours--Embellishments--A
Painful but Natural Sentiment
On the following day, my wife and the boys importuned me to begin my
manufactory of candles: I therefore set myself to recollect all I had
read on the subject. I soon perceived that I should be at a loss for
a little fat to mix with the wax I had procured from the berries,
for making the light burn clearer; but I was compelled to proceed
without. I put as many berries into a vessel as it would contain, and
set it on a moderate fire; my wife in the meantime employed herself
in making some wicks with the threads of sail-cloth. When we saw an
oily matter, of a pleasing smell and light green colour, rise to the
top of the liquid the berries had yielded, we carefully skimmed it
off and put it into a separate vessel, taking care to keep it warm.
We continued this process till the berries were exhausted, and had
produced a considerable quantity of wax; we next dipped the wicks one
by one into it, while it remained liquid, and then hung them on the
bushes to harden: in a short time we dipped them again, and repeated
the operation till the candles were increased to the proper size, and
they were then put in a place and kept till sufficiently hardened
for use. We, however, were all eager to judge of our success that
very evening, by burning one of the candles, with which we were well
satisfied.
Our success in this last enterprise encouraged us to think of
another, the idea of which had long been cherished by our kind
steward of provisions; it was to make fresh butter of the cream
we every day skimmed from the milk, and which was frequently, to
her great vexation, spoiled and given to the animals. The utensil
we stood in need of was a churn to turn the cream in. Having
earnestly applied my thoughts as to the best manner of conquering
the difficulty, I suddenly recollected what I had read in a book of
travels, of the method used by the Hottentots for making butter; but
instead of a sheep-skin sewed together at its extremities, I emptied
a large gourd, washed it clean, filled it again with cream, and
stopped it close with the piece I had cut from the top. I placed my
vase of cream on a piece of sail-cloth with four corners, and tied to
each corner a stake: I placed one boy midway between each stake, and
directed them to shake the cloth briskly, but with a steady measure,
for a certain time. This exercise, which seemed like children’s play,
pleased them mightily, and they called it rocking the cradle. They
performed their office, singing and laughing all the time, and in
an hour, on taking off the cover, we had the satisfaction of seeing
some excellent butter. I had now to propose to my sons a work of a
more difficult nature than we had hitherto accomplished: it was the
construction of a cart, for the conveyance of our effects from place
to place, to supersede the sledge, which caused us so much fatigue
to load and draw. I tried earnestly and long to accomplish such a
machine; but it did not entirely succeed to my wishes, and I wasted
in the attempt both time and timber: I however produced what from
courtesy we called a cart, and it answered the purpose for which it
was designed.
By this time we had nearly exhausted our stock of clothes, and we
were compelled once more to have recourse to the vessel, which we
knew still contained some chests fit for our use. To this motive
we added an earnest desire to take another look at her, and, if
practicable, to bring away a few pieces of cannon.
The first fine day I assembled my three eldest sons, and put my
design into execution. We reached the wreck without any striking
adventure, and found her still fixed between the rocks, but somewhat
more shattered than when we had last seen her. We secured the chests
of clothes, and whatever remained of ammunition stores: powder, shot,
and even such pieces of cannon as we could remove, while those that
were too heavy we stripped of their wheels, which might be extremely
useful.
But to effect our purpose, it was necessary to spend several days in
visits to the vessel, returning constantly in the evening, enriched
with everything of a portable nature which the wreck contained;
doors, windows, locks, bolts--nothing escaped our grasp: so that
the ship was now entirely emptied, with the exception of the large
cannon, and three or four immense copper caldrons. We by degrees
contrived to tie the heaviest articles to two or three empty casks
well pitched, which would thus be sustained above water. I supposed
that the wind and tide would convey the beams and timbers ashore,
and thus with little pains we should be possessed of a sufficient
quantity of materials for erecting a building at some future
time. When these measures were taken, I came to the resolution of
blowing up the wreck, by a process similar to that which had so
well succeeded with the pinnace. We accordingly prepared a cask of
gunpowder, which we left on board for the purpose: we rolled it to
the place most favourable for our views: we made a small opening
in its side, and on quitting the vessel, we inserted a piece of
match-wood, which we lighted at the last moment, as before. We then
sailed with all possible expedition for Safety Bay, where we arrived
in a short time.
About the time of nightfall, a majestic rolling sound like thunder,
accompanied by a column of fire and smoke, announced that the ship
so awfully concerned with our peculiar destiny, which had brought us
to our present abode in a desert, and furnished us there with such
vast supplies for general comfort, was that instant annihilated, and
withdrawn for ever from the face of man! At this moment, love for the
country that gave us birth, that most powerful sentiment of the human
heart, sank with a new force into ours. The ship had disappeared for
ever! Could we then form a hope ever to behold that country more?
We had made a sort of jubilee of witnessing the spectacle: the boys
had clapped their hands and skipped about in joyful expectation; but
the noise was heard; the smoke and sparks were seen; and the sudden
change which took place in our minds could be compared only to the
rapidity of these effects of our concerted scheme against the vessel.
We all observed a mournful silence, and all rose, as it were by an
impulse of mutual condemnation, and took the road to Tent House.
A night’s repose had in some measure relieved the melancholy of
the preceding evening, and I went rather early in the morning with
the boys, to make further observations as to the effects of this
remarkable event. We perceived in the water, and along the shore,
abundant vestiges of the departed wreck; and amongst the rest, at a
certain distance, the empty casks, caldrons, and cannon, all tied
together and floating in a large mass upon the water. We jumped
instantly into the pinnace, with the tub-boat fastened to it, and
made a way towards them through the numberless pieces of timber,
etc., that intervened, and in a little time reached the object
of our search, which from its great weight moved slowly upon the
waves. Fritz, with his accustomed readiness, flung some rope round
two four-pounders, and contrived to fasten them to our barge; after
which he secured also an enormous quantity of poles, laths, and other
useful articles. With this rich booty we returned to land.
We performed three more trips for the purpose of bringing away more
cannon, caldrons, fragments of masts, etc., all of which we deposited
for present convenience in Safety Bay; and now began our most
fatiguing operations--the removing such numerous and heavy stores
from the boats to the Tent House. We separated the cannon and the
caldrons from the tub-raft, and from each other, and left them in a
place which was accessible for the sledge and the beasts of burden.
With the help of the crow we succeeded in getting the caldrons upon
the sledge, and in replacing the four wheels we had before taken from
the cannon; and now found it easy to make the cow and the ass draw
them.
The largest of the boilers or copper caldrons we found of the most
essential use. We brought out all our barrels of gunpowder, and
placed them on their ends in three separate groups, at a short
distance from our tent; we dug a little ditch round the whole, to
draw off the moisture from the ground, and then put one of the
caldrons turned upside down upon each, which completely answered the
purpose of an outhouse. The cannon were covered with sail-cloth,
and upon this we laid heavy branches of trees; the larger casks of
gunpowder we prudently removed under a projecting piece of rock, and
covered them with planks till we should have leisure for executing
the plan of an ammunition store-house, about which we had all become
extremely earnest.
My wife, in taking a survey of these our labours, made the agreeable
discovery that two of our ducks and one of the geese had been
brooding under a large bush, and at the time were conducting their
little families to the water. The news produced general rejoicings;
and the sight of the little creatures so forcibly carried our
thoughts to Falcon’s Stream, that we all conceived the ardent desire
of returning to the society of the numerous old friends we had left
there. We therefore fixed the next day for our departure, and set
about the necessary preparations.
CHAPTER XXIV
A New Domain--The Troop of Buffaloes--The
Vanquished Hero
On entering our plantation of fruit-trees forming the avenue to
Falcon’s Stream, we observed that they had not a vigorous appearance,
and that they inclined to curve a little in the stalk: we therefore
resolved to support them with sticks, and I proposed to walk to the
vicinity of Cape Disappointment for the purpose of cutting some
bamboos. I had no sooner pronounced the words, than the three eldest
boys and their mother exclaimed, at once, that they would accompany
me.
We accordingly fixed the following morning, and set out in
full procession. For myself, I had a great desire to explore
more thoroughly this part of our island. I therefore made some
preparations for sleeping, should we find the day too short for all
we might have to accomplish. I took the cart instead of the sledge,
having fixed some planks across it for Francis and his mother to sit
upon when they should be tired: I was careful to be provided with
the different implements we might want; some rope machinery I had
contrived for rendering the climbing of trees more easy; and lastly,
some provisions, some water in a gourd-flask, and one bottle of wine
from the captain’s store.
It was not without much difficulty that we conducted the cart through
the thick entangled bushes, the most intricate of which I everywhere
cut down, and we helped to push it along with all our strength. We
soon arrived at the caoutchouc, or gum-elastic trees. I thought we
could not do better than to halt here, and endeavour to collect a
sufficient quantity of the sap to make the different utensils and
the impenetrable boots and shoes, as I had before proposed. It was
with this design that I had taken care to bring with me several of
the most capacious of the gourd rinds. I made deep incisions in the
trunks, and fixed some large leaves of trees, partly doubled together
lengthways, to the place, to serve as a sort of channel to conduct
the sap to the vessels I had kept in readiness to receive it. We had
not long begun this process before we perceived the sap begin to run
out as white as milk, and in large drops, so that we were not without
hopes, by the time of our return, to find the vessels full, and thus
to have obtained a sufficient quantity of the ingredient for a first
experiment.
We left the sap running, and pursued our way, which led us to
the wood of cocoa-trees: from thence we passed to the left, and
stopped halfway between the bamboos and the sugar-canes, intending
to furnish ourselves with a provision of each. We aimed our course
so judiciously, that on clearing the skirts of the wood, we found
ourselves in an open plain with the sugar-cane plantations on our
left, and on our right those of bamboo, interspersed with various
kinds of palm-trees, and, in front, the magnificent bay formed by
Cape Disappointment, which stretched far out into the sea.
The prospect that now presented itself to our view was of such
exquisite beauty, that we determined to choose it for our
resting-place, and to make it the central point of every excursion
we should in future make; we were even more than half disposed to
desert our pretty Falcon’s Stream, and transport our possessions
hither; a moment’s reflection, however, betrayed the folly of
quitting the thousand comforts we had there, with almost incredible
industry, assembled; and we dismissed the thought with promising
ourselves to include this ravishing spot evermore in our projects for
excursions.
It was now evening; and as we had determined to pass the night
in this enchanting spot, we began to think of forming some large
branches of trees into a sort of hut, as is practised by the hunters
in America, to shelter us from the dew and the coolness of the air.
While we were thus engaged, we were suddenly roused by the loud
braying of the ass, which we had left to graze at a distance but a
short time before. On going to the place, we saw him throwing his
head in the air, and kicking and prancing about; and while we were
thinking what could be the matter, he set off at a full gallop.
Unfortunately, Turk and Flora, whom we sent after him, took the fancy
of entering the plantation of the sugar-canes, while the ass had
preferred the direction of the bamboos on the right.
The following morning we breakfasted on some milk from the cow, some
boiled roots, and a small portion of Dutch cheese, and formed, during
our meal, the plan of the business for the day. It was decided that
one of the boys and myself, attended by the two dogs, should seek the
ass through the bamboo plantation. I took with me the agile Jack, who
was almost beside himself with joy at this determination.
We soon reached the bamboo plantation, and found means to force
ourselves along its intricate entanglements. After great fatigue,
and when we were on the point of relinquishing all further hope,
we discovered the print of the ass’s hoofs on the soil, which
inspired us with new ardour in the pursuit. After spending a whole
hour in further endeavours, we at length, on reaching the skirts
of the plantation, perceived the sea in the distance, and soon
after found ourselves in an open space, which bounded the great
bay. A considerable river flowed into the bay at this place, and we
perceived that the ridge of rocks, which we had constantly seen,
extended to the shore, and terminated in a perpendicular precipice,
leaving only a narrow passage between the rocks and the river, which,
during every flux of the tide, must necessarily be under water, but
which at that moment was dry and passable. The probability that the
ass would prefer passing by this narrow way, to the hazard of the
water, determined us to follow in the same path: we had also some
curiosity to ascertain what might be found on the other side of the
rocks, for as yet we were ignorant whether they formed a boundary to
our island, or divided it into two portions; whether we should see
there land or water. We continued to advance, and at length reached
a stream which issued foaming from a large mass of rock, and fell in
a cascade into the river. The bed of this stream was so deep, and
its course so rapid, that we were a long time finding a part where
it might be most practicable for us to cross. When we had got to the
other side, we found the soil again sandy, and mixed with a fertile
kind of earth: in this place we no longer saw naked rock; but the
print of the ass’s hoofs were again visible on the ground.
By observing closely, we saw with astonishment the prints of the feet
of other animals, much larger and different in many respects from
those of the ass. Our curiosity was so strongly excited, that we
resolved to follow the traces; and they conducted us to a plain at a
great distance, which presented to our wondering eyes a terrestrial
paradise. We ascended a hill, which partly concealed from our view
this delicious scene, and then, with the assistance of a glass, we
beheld an extensive range of country, exhibiting every kind of rural
beauty, and in which a profound tranquillity had seemed to take up
its abode.
By straining our eyes, however, as far as we could see, we thought we
perceived at a great distance some specks upon the land, that seemed
to be in motion. We hastened towards the spot; and as we drew nearer,
to our inexpressible surprise, beheld a pretty numerous group of
animals, which in the assemblage presented something like the outline
of a troop of horses or of cows. I observed them sometimes run up
to each other, and then suddenly stoop to graze. Though we had not
lately met with farther traces of the ass, I was not entirely without
the hope of finding him among these animals. On a nearer approach,
we perceived they were wild buffaloes. My alarm was so great that I
remained for a few moments fixed to the spot like a statue. By good
luck the dogs were far behind us, and the buffaloes gave no sign of
fear or of displeasure at our approach: they stood perfectly still,
with their large round eyes fixed upon us in vacant surprise: those
which were lying down got up slowly, but not one among them seemed
to have any hostile disposition towards us. The circumstance of the
dogs’ absence was most likely, on this occasion, the means of our
safety; as it was, we had time to draw back quietly, and prepare
our firearms. It was not, however, my intention to make use of them
in any way but for defence, being sensible that we were unequal to
the encounter, and recollecting also to have read that the sound
of a gun drives the buffalo to a state of desperation. I therefore
thought only of retreating; and with my poor Jack, for whom I was
more alarmed than for myself, was proceeding in this way, when
unfortunately Turk and Flora ran up to us, and we could see were
noticed by the buffaloes. The animals instantly, and all together,
set up such a roar as to make our nerves tremble; they struck their
horns and their hoofs upon the ground, which they tore up by pieces
and scattered in the air. Our brave Turk and Flora, fearless of
danger, ran, in spite of all our efforts, into the midst of them,
and, according to their manner of attacking, laid hold of the ears of
a young buffalo, which happened to be standing a few paces nearer to
us than the rest; and, though the creature began a tremendous roar
and motion with his hoofs, they held him fast, and were dragging him
towards us. Our every hope seemed now to be in the chance of the
terror the buffaloes would feel at the noise of our musketry, which,
perhaps, for the first time would assail their organs, and most
likely excite them to flight. With, I must confess, a palpitating
heart and trembling hands, we fired both at the same moment: the
buffaloes, terrified by the sound and by the smoke, remained for an
instant motionless, as if struck by a thunderbolt, and then one and
all betook themselves to flight with such incredible rapidity, that
they were soon beyond the reach of our sight. We heard their loud
roaring from a considerable distance, which by degrees subsided into
silence, and we were left with only one of their terrific species
near us; this one, a female, was no doubt the mother of the young
buffalo which the dogs had seized; she had drawn near on hearing
its cries, and had been wounded by our guns, but not killed; the
creature was in a furious state: after a moment’s pause, she took
aim at the dogs, and with her head on the ground, as if to guide her
by the scent, was advancing in her rage, and would have torn them
in pieces, if I had not prevented her by firing upon her with my
double-barrelled gun, and thus putting an end to her existence.
The young buffalo still remained a prisoner, with his ears in the
mouths of the dogs, and the pain occasioned him to be so furious,
that I was fearful he might do them some injury; I therefore
determined to advance and give them what assistance I might find
practicable. To say the truth, I scarcely knew in what way to effect
this. The buffalo, though young, was strong enough to revenge himself
if I were to give the dogs a sign to let go his ears. I had the
power of killing him with a pistol at a stroke; but I had a great
desire to preserve him alive, and to tame him, that he might be a
substitute for the ass, which we had but little hope of recovering. I
found myself in a perplexing state of indecision, when Jack suddenly
interposed an effective means for accomplishing my wishes. He had his
string with balls in his pocket; he drew it out hastily, and making
a few steps backward, he threw it so skilfully as to entangle the
buffalo completely, and throw him down. As I could then approach him
safely, I tied his legs two and two together with a very strong cord;
the dogs released his ears, and from this moment we considered the
buffalo as our own.
The question was now, how we were to get the buffalo home: having
reflected, I conceived that the best way would be to tie his two
fore-legs together so tight that he could not run, yet loose enough
for him to walk; “and,” pursued I, “we will next adopt the method
practised in Italy; you will think it somewhat cruel, but the success
will be certain; and it shall afterwards be our study to make him
amends by the kindest care and treatment. Hold you the cord which
confines his legs with all your strength, that he may not be able to
move.” I then called Turk and Flora, and made each again take hold
of the ears of the animal; I took from my pocket a sharp-pointed
knife, and taking hold of the snout, I made a hole in the nostril,
into which I quickly inserted a string, which I immediately tied so
closely to a tree that the animal was prevented from the least motion
of the head, which might have inflamed the wound and increased his
pain. I drew off the dogs the moment the operation was performed.
The creature, thus rendered furious, would have run away, but the
stricture of the legs and the pain in the nostril prevented it. The
first attempt I made to pull the cord found him docile and ready to
accommodate his motions to our designs, and I perceived that we might
now begin our march.
I was unwilling to leave so fine a prey as the dead buffalo behind
us: I therefore, after considering what was to be done, began by
cutting out the tongue, which I sprinkled with some of the salt we
had in our provision-bag. I next took off the skin from the four
feet, taking care not to tear it in the operation. I remembered that
the Americans use these skins, which are of a soft and flexible
quality, as boots and shoes, and I considered them as precious
articles. I lastly cut some of the flesh of the animal with the
skin on, and salted it, and abandoned the rest to the dogs, as a
recompense for their behaviour. I then repaired to the river, to wash
myself, after which we sat down under the shade of a large tree, and
ate the rest of our provisions.
As we were not disposed to leave the spot in a hurry, I desired Jack
to take the saw and cut down a small quantity of the reeds, which
from their enormous size might be of use to us. We set to work, but
I observed that he took pains to choose the smallest. “What shall
we do,” said I, “with these small-sized reeds? You are thinking,
I presume, of a bagpipe, to announce a triumphal arrival to our
companions!”
“You are mistaken, father,” answered Jack; “I am thinking of some
candlesticks for my mother, who will set so high a value on them!”
“This is a good thought,” said I; “I am pleased both with the
kindness and the readiness of your invention, and I will assist you
to empty the reeds without breaking them; if we should not succeed,
at least we know where to provide ourselves with more.”
We had so many and such heavy articles to remove, that I dismissed
for that day all thoughts of looking further for the ass. I began
now to think of untying the young buffalo; and on approaching him
perceived with pleasure that he was asleep, which afforded me a proof
that his wound was not extremely painful. As I began to pull him
gently with the string, he gave a start; but he afterwards followed
me without resistance.
We repassed the river in safety, and, accompanied by the agreeable
sounds of its foaming cascades, we regained the narrow pass at the
turn of the rocks. We proceeded with caution, and when safe on the
other side, we thought of quickening our pace to arrive the sooner at
the hut.
The first solicitudes about health and safety being answered, we
entered upon the narrative of our adventures; when question after
question was so rapidly proposed to us, that we, on our parts, were
obliged to ask for the necessary time for our replies. All agreed
that our success with the buffalo was the most extraordinary of our
achievements: all longed for the morning, when they might take their
fill of looking at the spirited creature we had brought with us. The
day concluded with supper, and sound repose.
CHAPTER XXV
The Malabar Eagle--Sago Manufactory--Bees
My wife next morning began the conversation. She told me that
the boys had been good and diligent; that they had ascended Cape
Disappointment with her, and had gathered wood, and made some torches
for the night; and, what seemed almost incredible, had ventured to
fell and bring down an immense palm-tree. It lay prostrate on the
ground, and covered a space of at least seventy feet in length. To
effect their purpose, Fritz had got up the tree with a long rope,
which he fastened tight to the top of it. As soon as he had come
down again, he and Ernest worked with the axe and saw to cut it
through. When it was nearly divided, they carefully managed its fall
with the rope, and in this manner they succeeded. Fritz was in high
spirits too on another account: he brought me on his wrist a young
bird of prey, of the most beauteous plumage; he had taken it from
the nest in one of the rocks near Cape Disappointment. Very young as
the bird was, it had already all its feathers, though they had not
yet received their full colouring: it answered to the description
I had read of the beautiful eagle of Malabar, and I viewed it with
the admiration it was entitled to: meeting with one of these birds
is thought a lucky omen; and it being neither large nor expensive in
its food, I was desirous to keep it and train it like a falcon, to
pursue smaller birds. Fritz had already covered its eyes, and tied
a string to its foot: and I advised him to hold it often, and for a
length of time, on his hand, and to tame it with hunger, as falconers
do.
When all the narratives were concluded, I ordered a fire to be
lighted, and a quantity of green wood to be put on it, for the
purpose of raising a thick smoke, over which I meant to hang the
buffalo meat I had salted, to dry and preserve it for our future use.
The young buffalo was beginning to browse, and we gave him also a
little of the cow’s milk; and in a few days we fed him with a heap of
sliced roots, which he greedily devoured; and this led us to conclude
that the pains from the wound in his nose had subsided, and that he
would soon become tame.
The morning of this day was spent in again talking over our late
extraordinary adventures; we left our meat suspended over the smoke
of the fires during our sleep; we tied the young buffalo by the side
of the cow, and were pleased to see them agree and bid fair to live
in peace together. At night the dogs were set upon the watch. The
time of repose elapsed so calmly that none of us awoke to keep in
the torchlights, which now for the first time the industry of the
boys had supplied us with, and we did not get up till after sunrise.
After a moderate breakfast, I chanted the accustomed summons for our
setting out; but my young ones had some projects in their heads, and
neither they nor their mother were just then in the humour to obey me.
“Let us reflect a little first,” said my wife: “as we had so much
difficulty in felling the palm-tree, would it not be a pity to lose
our labour, by leaving it in this place? Ernest assures me it is a
sago-tree; if so, the pith would be an excellent ingredient for our
soups. Do, my dear, examine it, and let us see if in any way we can
turn it to account.”
I found she was in the right; but in that case it was necessary to
employ a day in the business; since to lay open from one end to the
other a tree of such a length and substance, was no trivial task.
I however consented; as, independent of the use of the farinaceous
pith, I could, by emptying it, obtain two handsome and large troughs
for the conveyance of water from Jackal’s River to my wife’s kitchen
garden at Tent House, and thence to my new plantations of trees.
I now desired them to bring me the graters they had used for the
manioc, and observed that they had to assist me in raising the
palm-tree from the ground, which must be done, continued I, by fixing
at each end two small cross pieces or props to support it; to split
it open as it lies would be a work of too much labour: this done, I
shall want several wooden wedges to keep the cleft open while I am
sawing it, and afterwards a sufficient quantity of water. “There is
the difficulty,” said my wife; “our Falcon’s Stream is too far off,
and we have not yet discovered any spring in the neighbourhood of
this place.”
_Ernest._--That is of no consequence, mother; I have seen hereabouts
so great an abundance of plants which contain water, that we need not
be at a loss; for they will fully supply us if I could only contrive
to get vessels enough to hold it.
We now produced the enormous reeds we had brought home, which, being
hollow, would answer the purpose of vessels; and as some time was
required to draw off the water from such small tubes, he and Francis
at once set to work: they cut a number of the plants, which they
placed slantingly over the brim of a vessel, and whilst that was
filling, they were preparing another. The rest of us got round the
tree, and with our united strength we soon succeeded in raising the
heavy trunk, and the top of it was then sawn off. We next began to
split it through the whole length, and this the softness of the wood
enabled us to effect with little trouble. We soon reached the pith
or marrow that fills up the middle of the trunk the whole of its
length. When divided, we laid one half on the ground, and we pressed
the pith together with our hands, so as to make temporary room for
the pith of the other half of the trunk, which rested still on the
props. We wished to empty it entirely, that we might employ it as a
kneading-trough, leaving merely enough of the pith at both ends to
prevent a running-out; and then we proceeded to form our paste.
My young manufacturers fell joyfully to work: they brought water,
and poured it gradually into the trough, whilst we mixed it with the
flour. In a short time the paste appeared sufficiently fermented; I
then made an aperture at the bottom of the grater on its outside,
and pressed the paste strongly with my hand: the farinaceous parts
passed with ease through the small holes of the grater, and the
ligneous parts which did not pass were thrown aside in a heap, in
the hope that mushrooms, etc., might spring from them. My boys were
in readiness to receive in reed vessels what fell from the grater,
and conveyed it directly to their mother, whose business was to
spread out the small grains in the sun upon sail-cloth, for the
purpose of drying them. Thus we procured a good supply of a wholesome
and pleasant food. The paste which remained was thrown upon the
mushroom-bed, and watered well to promote a fermentation.
We next employed ourselves in loading the cart with our tools and
the two halves of the tree. Night coming on, we retired to our hut,
where we enjoyed our usual repose, and early next morning were ready
to return to Falcon’s Stream. Our buffalo now commenced his service,
yoked with the cow; he supplied the want of the ass, and was very
tractable: it is true, I led him by the cord in his nose, and thus
restrained him whenever he was disposed to deviate from his duty.
We returned the same way as we came, in order to load the cart with a
provision of berries, wax and elastic gum. I sent forward Fritz and
Jack as a vanguard, with one of the dogs: they were to cut an ample
road through the bushes for our cart. The two water-conductors, which
were very long, produced numerous difficulties, and somewhat impeded
our progress. We reached the wax and gum-trees with tolerable speed,
and without any accident, and halted to place our sacks of berries
in the cart. The elastic gum had not yielded as much as I expected,
from the too rapid thickening caused by an ardent sun. We obtained,
however, about a quart, which sufficed for the experiment of the
impenetrable boots I had so long desired.
We set out again, still preceded by our pioneers, who cleared the
way for us through the little wood of guavas. Suddenly we heard a
dreadful noise, which came from our vanguard, and beheld Fritz and
Jack hastening towards us. I began now to fear a tiger or panther
was near at hand, or had perhaps attacked them. Turk began to bark
so frightfully, and Flora joined in so hideous a yell, that I
prepared myself for a conflict. I advanced at the head of my troop
to the assistance of my high-mettled dogs, who ran furiously up to a
thicket, where they stopped, and with their noses to the ground, and
almost breathless, strove to enter it. I had no doubt some terrible
animal was lurking there; and Fritz, who had seen it through the
leaves, confirmed my suspicion; he said it was about the size of
the young buffalo, and that his hair was black and shaggy. I was
going to fire promiscuously into the thicket, when Jack, who had
thrown himself on his face on the ground to have a better view of
the animal, got up in a fit of laughter. “It is only,” exclaimed he,
“our old sow, who is never tired of playing off her tricks upon us.”
Half vexed, half laughing, we broke into the midst of the thicket,
where in reality we found our old companion stretched supinely on
the earth, but by no means in a state of dreary solitude; she had
round her seven little creatures, which had been littered a few days,
and were sprawling about, contending with each other for the best
place near their mother for a hearty meal. This discovery gave us
considerable satisfaction, and we all greeted the good matron, who
seemed to recollect and welcome us with a sociable kind of grunting,
while she licked her young without any ceremony or show of fear. And
now a general consultation took place: should this new family be left
where we found it, or conveyed to Falcon’s Stream? Opinions being at
variance, it was decided that for the present the sow and her young
should keep quiet possession of their retreat.
We then, so many adventures ended, pursued our road, and arrived at
Falcon’s Stream in safety, experiencing what is so generally true,
that home is always dear and sacred to the heart, and anticipated
with delight. All was in due order, and our animals welcomed our
return in their own jargon and manner, but which did not fail to be
expressive of their satisfaction at seeing us again. We threw them
some of the food they were most partial to, which they greedily
accepted, and then voluntarily went back to their usual stand. It
was necessary to practise a measure dictated by prudence, which was
to tie up the buffalo again, to inure it by degrees to confinement;
and the handsome Malabar eagle shared the same fate: Fritz chose to
place it near the parrot, on the root of a tree; he fastened it with
a piece of packthread, of sufficient length to allow it free motion,
and uncovered its eyes: till then the bird had been tolerably quiet:
but the instant it was restored to light it fell into a species of
rage that surprised us; it proudly raised its head, its feathers
became ruffled, and its eyeballs seemed to whirl in their orbits, and
dart out vivid lightnings. All the poultry were terrified and fled;
but the poor luckless parrot was too near the sanguinary creature to
escape. Before we were aware of the danger, it was seized and mangled
by the formidable hooked beak of the eagle. Fritz vented his anger
in loud and passionate reproaches; he would have killed the murderer
on the spot, had not Ernest run up and entreated him to spare its
life: “Parrots,” said he, “we shall find in plenty, but never perhaps
so beauteous, so magnificent a bird as this eagle, which, as father
observes, we may train for hawking. You may too blame only yourself
for the parrot’s death;--why did you uncover his eyes? I could have
told you that falconers keep them covered six weeks, till they are
completely tamed. But now, brother, let me have the care of him; let
me manage the unruly fellow; he shall soon, in consequence of the
methods I shall use, be as tractable and submissive as a new-born
puppy.”
Fritz refused to part with his eagle, and Ernest did not long oppose
giving him the information he wanted:--“I have read,” said he,
“somewhere, that the Caribs puff tobacco smoke into the nostrils of
the birds of prey and of the parrots they catch, until they are giddy
and almost senseless;--this stupefaction over, they are no longer
wild and untractable.”
Fritz resolved on the experiment; he took some tobacco and a pipe,
of which we had plenty in the sailors’ chests, and began to smoke,
at the same time gradually approaching the unruly bird. As soon as
it was somewhat composed, he replaced the fillet over the eyes,
and smoked close to its beak and nostrils so effectually, that it
became motionless on the spot, and had the exact air of a stuffed
bird. Fritz thought it dead, and was inclined to be angry with his
brother; but I told him it would not hold on the perch if it were
lifeless, and that its head alone was affected;--and so it proved.
The favourite came to itself by degrees, and made no noise when its
eyes were unbound; it looked at us with an air of surprise, but void
of fury, and grew tamer and calmer every day.
We next began a business which I and my wife had been thinking of
for some time: she found it difficult, and even dangerous, to ascend
and descend our tree with a rope ladder. We never went there but on
going to bed, and each time felt an apprehension that one of the
children, who scrambled up like cats, might make a false step, and
perhaps be lame for ever: bad weather might come on, and compel us
for a long time together to seek an asylum in our aërial apartment,
and consequently to ascend and descend oftener.
My wife had repeatedly applied to me to remedy this evil, and my own
anxiety had often made me reflect if the thing were really possible.
A staircase on the outside was not to be thought of; the considerable
height of the tree rendered that impracticable, as I had nothing to
rest it on, and should be at a loss to find beams to sustain it;
but I had for some time formed the idea of constructing winding
stairs within the immense trunk of the tree, if it should happen to
be hollow, or I could contrive to make it so. I had heard the boys
talking of a hollow in our tree, and of a swarm of bees issuing from
it, and I now, therefore, went to examine whether the cavity extended
to the roots, or what its circumference might be. The boys seized
the idea with ardour; they sprang up, and climbed to the tops of the
roots like squirrels, to strike at the trunk with axes, and to judge
from the sound how far it was hollow; but they soon paid dearly for
their attempt; the whole swarm of bees, alarmed at the noise made
against their dwelling, issued forth, buzzing with fury, attacked
the little disturbers, began to sting them, stuck to their hair and
clothes, and soon put them to flight, uttering lamentable cries. My
wife and I had some trouble to stop the course of their uproar, and
cover their wounds with fresh earth to allay the smart. Jack, whose
temper was on all occasions rash, had struck fiercely upon the bees’
nest, and was more severely attacked by them than the rest: it was
necessary, so serious was the injury, to cover the whole of his face
with linen. The less active Ernest got up the last, and was the first
to run off when he saw the consequences, and thus avoided any further
injury than a sting or two; but some hours elapsed before the other
boys could open their eyes, or be in the least relieved from the
acute pain that had been inflicted. When they grew a little better,
the desire of being revenged of the insects that had so roughly used
them had the ascendant in their minds: they teased me to hasten the
measures for getting everything in readiness for obtaining possession
of their honey. The bees in the meantime were still buzzing furiously
round the tree. I prepared tobacco, a pipe, some clay, chisels,
hammers, etc. I took the large gourd long intended for a hive, and
fitted a place for it, by nailing a piece of board on a branch of
the tree; I made a straw roof for the top, to screen it from the
sun and rain; and as all this took up more time than I was aware of,
we deferred the attack of the fortress to the following day, and
got ready for a sound sleep, which completed the cure of my wounded
patients.
CHAPTER XXVI
Treatment of Bees--Staircase--Training of
Various Animals--Manufactures, etc.
Next morning, almost before dawn, all were up and in motion; the
bees had returned to their cells, and I stopped the passages with
clay, leaving only a sufficient aperture for the tube of my pipe. I
then smoked as much as was requisite to stupefy, without killing,
the little warlike creatures. Not having a cap with a mask, such
as bee-catchers usually wear, nor even gloves, this precaution
was necessary. At first a humming was heard in the hollow of the
tree, and a noise like the gathering tempest, which died away by
degrees. All was become calm, and I withdrew my tube without the
appearance of a single bee. Fritz had got up by me: we then began
with a chisel and a small axe to cut out of the tree, under the bees’
hole of entrance, a piece three feet square. Before it was entirely
separated, I repeated the fumigation, lest the stupefaction produced
by the first smoking should have ceased, or the noise we had been
just making revived the bees. As soon as I supposed them lulled
again, I separated from the trunk the piece I had cut out, producing
as it were the aspect of a window, through which the inside of the
tree was laid open to view; and we were filled at once with joy and
astonishment on beholding the immense and wonderful work of this
colony of insects. There was such a stock of wax and honey, that we
feared our vessels would be insufficient to contain it. The whole
interior of the tree was lined with fine honeycombs. I cut them off
with care, and put them in the gourds the boys constantly supplied
me with. When I had somewhat cleared the cavity, I put the upper
combs, in which the bees had assembled in clusters and swarms, into
the gourd which was to serve as a hive, and placed it on the plank
I had purposely raised. I came down, bringing with me the rest of
the honeycombs, with which I filled a small cask, previously well
washed in the stream. Some I kept out for a treat at dinner; and
had the barrel carefully covered with cloths and planks, that the
bees, when attracted by the smell, might be unable to get at it. We
assembled round the table, and regaled ourselves plentifully with the
delicious treat. My wife then put by the remainder; and I proposed
to my sons to go back to the tree, to prevent the bees from swarming
again there on being roused from their stupor, as they would not
have failed to do but for the precaution I took of placing a board
at the aperture, and burning a few handfuls of tobacco on it, the
smell and smoke of which drove them back whenever they attempted to
return. At length they desisted, and became gradually reconciled to
their new residence, where their queen no doubt had settled herself.
I now advised that all should watch during the night over the whole
provision of honey obtained while the bees were torpid, who, when
recovered, would not fail to be troublesome, and come in legions
to get back to their property; and to this end we threw ourselves
on our beds, in our clothes, to take an early doze. On awakening
about nightfall, we found the bees quiet in the gourd, or settled in
clusters upon near branches, so we went expeditiously to business.
The cask of honey was emptied into a kettle, except a few prime
combs, which we kept for daily consumption; the remainder, mixed with
a little water, was set over a gentle fire, and reduced to a liquid
consistence, strained and squeezed through a bag, and afterwards
poured back into the cask, which was left upright and uncovered all
night to cool. In the morning the wax was entirely separated, and had
risen to the surface in a compact and solid cake, that was easily
removed: beneath was the purest, most beautiful and delicate honey
that could be seen; the cask was then carefully headed again, and put
into cool ground near our wine-vessels. This task accomplished, I
mounted to revisit the hive, and found everything in order; the bees
going forth in swarms, and returning loaded with wax, from which I
judged they were forming fresh edifices in their new dwelling-place.
I had been surprised that the numbers occupying the trunk of the tree
should find room in the gourd, till I perceived the clusters upon
the branches, and I thence concluded a young queen was among each of
them. In consequence, I procured another gourd, into which I shook
them, and placed it by the former; thus I had the satisfaction of
obtaining at an easy rate two fine hives of bees in activity.
Soon after these operations we proceeded to examine the inside of
the tree. I sounded it with a pole from the opening I had made; and
a stone fastened to a string served us to sound the bottom, and
thus to ascertain the height and depth of the cavity. To my great
surprise, the pole penetrated without any resistance to the branches
on which our dwelling rested, and the stone descended to the roots.
The trunk, it appeared, had wholly lost its pith, and most of its
wood internally. It seems that this species of tree, like the willow
in our climates, receives nourishment through the bark; for it did
not look decayed, and its far-extended branches were luxuriant and
beautiful in the extreme. I determined to begin our construction
in its capacious hollow that very day. The undertaking appeared at
first beyond our powers; but intelligence, patience, time, and a firm
resolution vanquished all obstacles.
We began to cut into the side of the tree, towards the sea, a doorway
equal in dimensions to the door of the captain’s cabin, which we had
removed with all its framework and windows. We next cleared away from
the cavity all the rotten wood, and rendered the interior even and
smooth, leaving sufficient thickness for cutting out resting-places
for the winding stairs, without injuring the bark. I then fixed in
the centre the trunk of a tree about twenty feet in length, and a
foot thick, completely stripped of its branches, in order to carry
my winding staircase round it. On the outside of this trunk, and
the inside of the cavity of our own tree, we formed grooves, so
calculated as to correspond with the distances at which the boards
were to be placed to form the stairs. These were continued till I had
got to the height of the trunk round which they turned. I made two
more apertures at suitable distances, and thus completely lighted the
whole ascent. I also effected an opening near our room, that I might
more conveniently finish the upper part of the staircase. A second
trunk was fixed upon the first, and firmly sustained with screws and
transverse beams. It was surrounded, like the other, with stairs cut
slopingly; and thus we happily effected the stupendous undertaking of
conducting it to the level of our bed-chamber. Here I made another
door directly into it. To render it more solid and agreeable, I
closed the spaces between the stairs with plank. I then fastened two
strong ropes, the one descending the length of the central trunk,
the other along the inside of our large tree, to assist in case of
slipping. I fixed the sash windows taken from the captain’s cabin in
the apertures we had made to give light to the stairs; and I then
found I could add nothing further to my design.
I have now to relate some occurrences that took place during the
construction of our staircase.
A few days after the commencement of our undertaking, our brave Flora
whelped us six young puppies, all healthy, and likely to live. The
number was so alarming, that I was under the necessity of drowning
all but a male and female to keep up the breed. A few days later, the
two she-goats gave us two kids, and our ewes five lambs: so that we
now saw ourselves in possession of a pretty flock.
Next to the winding stairs, my chief occupation was the management
of the young buffalo, whose wound in the nose was quite healed, so
that I could lead it at will with a cord or stick passed through
the orifice, as the Caffrarians do. I preferred the stick, which
answered the purpose of a bit, and I resolved to break in this
spirited beast for riding as well as drawing. It was already used to
the shafts, and very tractable in them; but I had more trouble in
inuring him to a rider, and to wearing a girth, having made one out
of the old buffalo’s hide. I formed a sort of saddle with sail-cloth,
and tacked it to the girth. Upon this I fixed a burden, which I
increased progressively. I was indefatigable in the training of the
animal, and soon brought it to carry, patiently, large bags of roots,
salt, and other articles in the place of the ass. The monkey was
his first rider, who stuck so close to the saddle, that in spite of
the plunging and kicking of the buffalo, it was not thrown. Francis
was then tried, as the lightest of the family; but throughout his
excursion I led the beast with a halter, that it might not throw him
off. Jack now showed some impatience to mount the animal in his
turn. I next passed the stick through the buffalo’s nose, and tied
strong packthread at each end of it, bringing them together over the
neck of the animal, and put this new-fangled bridle into the hands
of the young rider, directing him how to use it. For a time the lad
kept his saddle, notwithstanding the unruly gestures of the creature;
at length a side jolt threw him on the sand, without his receiving
much injury. Ernest, Fritz, and lastly myself, got on successively,
with more or less effect. His trotting shook us to the very centre,
the rapidity of his gallop turned us giddy, and our lessons in
horsemanship were reiterated many days before the animal was tamed,
and could be ridden with either safety or pleasure. At last, however,
we succeeded without any serious accident; and the strength and
swiftness of our saddled buffalo were prodigious. It seemed to sport
with the heaviest loads. My three eldest boys mounted it together now
and then, and it ran with them with the swiftness of lightning.
We now began to think of manufacturing our impenetrable boots without
seams, of the caoutchouc, or elastic-gum. I began with a pair for
myself; and I encouraged my children to afford a specimen of their
industry, by trying to form some flasks and cups that could not
break. They began by making some clay moulds, which they covered
with layers of gum, agreeably to the instructions I had given them.
In the meanwhile I filled a pair of stockings with sand, and covered
them with a layer of clay, which I first dried in the shade, and
afterwards in the sun. I then took a sole of buffalo leather, well
beaten, and studded round with tacks, which served me to fix it under
the foot of the stocking; after this I poured the liquid gum into all
the interstices, which, on drying, produced a close adhesion between
the leather and stocking sole. I next proceeded to smear the whole
with a coat of resin of a tolerable thickness; and as soon as this
layer was dried on, I put on another, and so on till I had applied a
sufficiency with my brush. After this I emptied the sand, drew out
the stocking, removed the hardened clay, shook off the dust, and thus
obtained a pair of seamless boots, as finished as if made by the best
English workman, being pliant, warm, soft, smooth, and completely
waterproof.
We had also been engaged in the construction of our fountain, which
afforded a perpetual source of pleasure to my wife, and indeed to
all of us. In the upper part of the stream we built with stakes and
stones a kind of dam, that raised the water sufficiently to convey
it into the palm-tree troughs; and afterwards, by means of a gentle
slope, to glide on contiguous to our habitation, where it fell
into the tortoiseshell basin, which we had elevated on stones to a
certain height for our convenience; and it was so contrived that
the redundant water passed off through a cane pipe fitted to it. I
placed two sticks athwart each other for the gourds, that served
as pales, to rest on; and we thus produced, close to our abode, an
agreeable fountain, delighting with its rill, and supplying us with
a pure crystal fluid, such as we frequently could not get when we
drew our water from the bed of the river, which was often encumbered
with the leaves and earth fallen into it, or rendered turbid by our
water-fowls.
CHAPTER XXVII
The Wild Ass--Difficulty in breaking it--The
Heath Fowl’s Nest
We were scarcely up one morning, and had just got to work in putting
the last hand to our winding staircase, when we heard at a distance
two strange kinds of voices, that resembled the howlings of wild
beasts mixed with hissings and sounds of some creature at its last
gasp; and I was not without uneasiness: our dogs too pricked up their
ears, and seemed to whet their teeth for a sanguinary combat with a
dangerous enemy.
From their looks we judged it prudent to put ourselves in a state of
defence; we loaded our guns and pistols, placed them together within
our castle in the tree, and repaired to repel vigorously any hostile
attack from that quarter. The howlings having ceased an instant, I
descended from our citadel, well armed, and put on our two faithful
guardians their spiked collars and side-guards; I assembled our
cattle about the tree to have them in sight, and I then re-ascended
to look around for the enemy’s approach.
At this instant the howlings were renewed, and almost close to us.
Fritz got as near the spot as he could, listened attentively, and
with eager looks, then threw down his gun, and burst into a loud
laughter, exclaiming, “Father, it is our ass! the deserter comes back
to us, chanting the hymn of return: listen! do you not hear his
melodious brayings in all the varieties of the gamut?” I listened,
and a fresh roar, in sounds unquestionable, raised loud peals of
laughter amongst us. Shortly after we had the satisfaction of seeing
among the trees our old friend Grizzle, moving towards us leisurely,
and stopping now and then to browse; but, to our great joy, he was
accompanied by one of his own species, of very superior beauty; and
when it was nearer, I knew it to be a fine onagra, or wild ass, which
I conceived a strong desire to possess, though at the same time aware
of the extreme difficulty there would be in taming and rendering
him subject to the use of man. Without delay I descended the ladder
with Fritz, desiring his brothers to keep still; and I consulted my
privy-counsellor on the means of surprising and taking the stranger
captive.
I got ready, as soon as possible, a long cord with a running knot,
one end of which I tied fast to the root of a tree; the noose was
kept open with a little stick slightly fixed in the opening, so as to
fall of itself on the cord being thrown round the neck of the animal,
whose efforts to escape would draw the knot closer. I also prepared a
piece of bamboo about two feet long, which I split at the bottom, and
tied fast at top, to serve as nippers. Fritz attentively examined my
contrivance, without seeing the use of it. Prompted by the impatience
of youth, he took the ball-sling, and proposed aiming at the wild ass
with it, which he said was the shortest way of proceeding. I declined
adopting this Patagonian method, fearing the attempt might fail,
and the beautiful creature avail itself of its natural velocity to
evade us beyond recovery; I therefore told him my project of catching
it in the noose, which I gave him to manage, as being nimbler and
more expert than myself. The two asses drew nearer and nearer to
us. Fritz, holding in his hand the open noose, moved softly on from
behind the tree where we were concealed, and advanced as far as the
length of the rope allowed him. The onagra started on perceiving a
human figure; it sprang some paces backward, then stopped, as if to
examine the unknown form; but as Fritz now remained quite still,
the animal resumed its composure, and continued to browse. Soon
after he approached the old ass, hoping that the confidence that
would be shown by it would raise a similar feeling in the stranger;
he held out a handful of oats mixed with salt. Our ass instantly
ran up to take its favourite food, and greedily devoured it: this
was quickly perceived by the other. It drew near, raised its head,
breathed strongly, and came up so close, that Fritz, seizing the
opportunity, succeeded in throwing the rope round its neck; but the
motion and stroke so affrighted the beast that it instantly sprang
off. It was soon checked by the cord, which, in compressing the
neck, almost stopped its breath: it could go no farther, and, after
many exhausting efforts, it sank panting for breath upon the ground.
I hastened to loosen the cord, and prevent its being strangled. I
then quickly threw our ass’s halter over its head; I fixed the nose
in my split cane, which I secured at the bottom with packthread.
Thus I succeeded in subduing the first alarm of this wild animal,
as farriers shoe a horse for the first time. I wholly removed the
noose that seemed to bring the creature into a dangerous situation;
I fastened the halter with two long ropes to two roots near us, on
the right and left, and let the animal recover itself, noticing its
actions, and devising the best way to tame it in the completest
manner.
In a few moments the onagra got up again, struck furiously with its
foot, and seemed resolved to free itself from all bonds; but the
pain of its nose, which was grasped and violently squeezed in the
bamboo, forced it to lie down again. Fritz and I now gently undid
the cords, and half led, half dragged it, between two roots closely
connected, to which we fastened it afresh, so as to give the least
scope for motion, and thus render its escape impracticable, whilst
it enabled us to approach securely, and examine the valuable capture
we had made. We also guarded against master Grizzle playing truant
again, and tied him fast with a new halter, confining its fore legs
with a rope. I then fastened it and the wild ass side by side, and
put before both plenty of good provender to solace their impatience
of captivity.
We had now the additional occupation of training the onagra for our
service or our pleasure, as might turn out to be most practicable:
my boys exulted in the idea of riding it, and we repeatedly
congratulated each other on the good fortune which had thus resulted
from the flight of our ass.
During the training of the onagra, which we named _Lightfoot_, a
triple brood of our hens had given us a crowd of little feathered
beings; forty of these at least were chirping and hopping about us,
to the great satisfaction of my wife, whose zealous care of them
sometimes made me smile. Some of these we kept near us, while others
were sent in small colonies to feed and breed in the desert, where we
could find them as they were wanted for our use.
This increase of our poultry reminded us of an undertaking we had
long thought of, and was not in prudence to be deferred any longer;
this was the building between the roots of our great tree covered
sheds for all our bipeds and quadrupeds. The rainy season, which is
the winter of these countries, was drawing near; and to avoid losing
most of our stock, it was requisite to shelter it.
We began by forming a kind of roof above the arched roots of our
tree, and employed bamboo canes for the purpose; the longest and
strongest supported the roofing in the place of columns, the smaller
more closely united and composed the roof itself. I filled up the
interstices with moss and clay, and I spread over the whole a thick
coat of tar. By these means I formed a compact and solid covering,
capable of bearing pressure. I then made a railing round it, which
gave the appearance of a balcony, under which, between the roots,
were various stalls, sheltered from rain and sun, that could be
easily shut and separated from each other by means of planks nailed
upon the roots: part of them were calculated to serve as a stable and
yard, part as an eating-house, a store-room, etc., and as a hay-loft,
to keep our hay and provisions dry in. This work was soon completed;
but afterwards it was necessary to fill these places with stores of
every kind for our supply throughout the wet season. In this task we
engaged diligently, and went daily here and there with our cart to
collect everything useful, and that might give us employment when the
weather prevented our going far.
One evening, on our return from digging up roots, as our cart,
loaded with bags, drawn by the buffalo, ass, and cow, was gently
rolling along, seeing still a vacant place in the vehicle, I advised
my wife to go home with the two youngest boys, whilst I went round
by the wood of oaks with Ernest and Fritz, to gather as many sweet
acorns as we could find room for. We had still some empty sacks.
Ernest was accompanied by his monkey, who seldom left him; and
Fritz, horsemanlike, was on the onagra, which he had appropriated to
himself, inasmuch as he had helped to take and tame it, and indeed
because he knew how to manage it better than his brothers. Ernest
was too lazy, and preferred walking at ease with the monkey on his
shoulder, and the more so because it spared him the trouble of
gathering fruit.
When we reached the oaks, Lightfoot was tied to a bush, and we
set actively to work to gather the acorns that had dropped from
the trees. While all were busily employed, the monkey quitted its
master’s shoulder, and skipped unperceived into an adjoining bush. It
had been there some time, when we heard on that side loud cries of
birds and flapping of wings, and this assured us a sharp conflict was
going on betwixt master Knips and the inhabitants of the bushes. I
dispatched Ernest to reconnoitre. He went stoutly towards the place,
and in an instant we heard him exclaim, “Come quickly, father! A fine
heath-fowl’s nest, full of eggs.”
Fritz ran up directly, and in a few moments brought out alive the
male and female heath-fowl, both very beautiful. I was rejoiced at
this discovery, and helped my son to prevent their escape, by tying
their wings and feet, and hold them while he returned to the bush for
the eggs. And now Ernest came forward, driving the monkey before him,
and carrying his hat with the utmost care. He had stuck his girdle
full of narrow sharp-pointed leaves, in shape like a knife-blade,
which reminded me of the production named sword-grass; but I did not
pay much attention, as I was too busily engaged in our egg-hunt. On
coming up to me he uncovered his hat, and gave it me in a transport
of joy, crying out, “Here, father, are some heath-fowl’s eggs. I
found them in a nest so well concealed under these long leaves,
that I should not have observed them had not the hen, in defending
herself against the monkey, scattered them about. I am going to
take them home, they will please my mother; and these leaves will
amuse Francis, for they are like swords, and he will like them for
a plaything.” It was now time to think of moving homeward: my two
sons filled the bags with acorns, and put them on Lightfoot. Fritz
mounted, Ernest carried the eggs, I took charge of the hen, and we
proceeded to Falcon’s Stream, followed by our train-waggon. When
arrived, our first care was to examine the eggs: the female bird
was too frightened and wild to sit upon them; fortunately we had a
hen that was hatching: her eggs were immediately removed, and the
new ones put in their place: the female heath-fowl was put into
the parrot’s cage, and hung up in the room, to accustom it to our
society. In less than three days all the chickens were hatched; they
kept close to their foster-mother, and ate greedily a mixture of
sweet acorns bruised in milk, such as we gave our tame poultry. As
they grew up I plucked out the large feathers of their wings, lest
they should naturally take flight; but they and their real parent
gradually became so domesticated, that they daily accompanied our
feathered stock in search of food, and regularly came back at night
to the roost I had prepared for them, and in which this little new
colony of feathered beings seemed to delight.
CHAPTER XXVIII
Flax, and the Rainy Season
Francis for a short time was highly amused with his sword-leaves,
and then, like all children, who are soon tired of their toys, he
grew weary of them, and they were thrown aside. Fritz picked up some
of them that were quite soft and withered; holding up one which was
pliable as a riband in his hand, “Francis,” said he, “you can make
whips of your sword-grass, and they will be of use in driving your
goats and sheep.” It had been lately decided that it should be the
business of Francis to lead these to pasture. Fritz accordingly sat
down to help him to divide the leaves, and afterwards plait them into
whipcords. As they were working, I saw with pleasure the flexibility
and strength of the bands: I examined them more closely, and found
they were composed of long fibres, or filaments; and this discovery
led me to surmise that this supposed sword-grass might be a very
different thing, and not improbably the flax plant of New Zealand.
This was a valuable discovery in our situation: I knew how much my
wife wished for the production, and that it was the article she
felt the most the want of; I therefore hastened to communicate the
intelligence to her, and she expressed the liveliest joy. “This,”
said she, “is the most useful thing you have found; lose not a moment
in searching for more of these leaves, and bring me the most you
can of them; I will make you stockings, shirts, clothes, thread,
ropes;--in short, give me flax, looms, and frames, and I shall be
at no loss in the employment of it.” I could not help smiling at
the scope she gave to her imagination on the bare mention of flax,
though so much was to be done between the gathering the leaves and
having the cloth she was already sewing in idea. Fritz whispered a
word in Jack’s ear; both went to the stable, and, without asking my
leave, one mounted Lightfoot, the other the buffalo, and galloped off
towards the wood, so fast that I had no time to call them back: they
were already out of sight. Their eagerness to oblige their mother in
this instance pleaded their forgiveness, and I suffered them to go on
without following them, purposing to proceed and bring them back if
they did not soon return.
In a quarter of an hour our deserters came back; like true hussars,
they had foraged the woods, and heavily loaded their cattle with
the precious plant, which they threw at their mother’s feet with
joyful shouts. It was next proposed that all should assist her in
preparations for the work she was to engage in, and previously in
steeping the flax.
Next morning the ass was put to the small light car, loaded with
bundles of leaves; Francis and the monkey sat on them, and the
remainder of the family gaily followed with shovels and pickaxes. We
stopped at Flamingo Marsh, divided our large bundles into smaller,
which we placed in the water, pressing them down with stones, and
leaving them in this state till it was time to remove and set them in
the sun to dry, and thus render the stems soft and easy to peel.
In a fortnight we took the flax out of the water, and spread it on
the grass in the sun, where it dried so rapidly that we were able
to load it on our cart the same evening, and carry it to Falcon’s
Stream, where it was put by till we had time to make the beetles,
wheels, reels, carding-combs, etc., required by our chief for the
manufacture. It was thought best to reserve this task for the rainy
season, and to employ the present time in collecting a competent
stock of provisions for ourselves and for all the animals. Occasional
slight showers, the harbingers of winter, had already come on; the
temperature, which hitherto had been warm and serene, became gloomy
and variable; the sky was often darkened with clouds, the stormy
winds were heard, and warned us to avail ourselves of the favorable
moment to get all that might be wanted ready.
Our first care was to dig up a full supply of yams and other roots
for bread, with plenty of cocoa-nuts and some bags of sweet acorns.
It occurred to us, while digging, that, the ground being thus
opened and manured with the leaves of plants, we might sow in it to
advantage the remainder of our European corn. Notwithstanding all the
delicacies this stranger land afforded us, the force of habit still
caused us to long for the bread we had been fed with from childhood.
We had not yet laid ourselves out for regular tillage, and I was
inclined to attempt the construction of a plough of some sort as
soon as we had a sufficient stock of corn for sowing. For this time,
therefore, we committed it to the earth with little preparation: the
season, however, was proper for sowing and planting, as the ensuing
rain would moisten and swell the embryo grain, which otherwise would
perish in an arid burning soil. We accordingly expedited the planting
of the various palm-trees we had discovered in our excursions at Tent
House, carefully selecting the smallest and the youngest. In the
environs we formed a large handsome plantation of sugar-canes, so as
to have hereafter everything useful and agreeable around us, and thus
be dispensed from the usual toil and loss of time in procuring them.
Unfortunately, the weather changed sooner than we had expected, and
than, with all our care, we could be prepared for: before we had
completed our winter establishment, the rain fell in such heavy
torrents that I could not refrain from painful apprehension in
surmising how we should resist such a body of water, that seemed to
change the whole face of the country into a lake.
The first thing to be done was to remove our aërial abode, and to
fix our residence at the bottom of the tree, between the roots and
under the tarred roof I had erected: for it was no longer possible to
remain above, on account of the furious winds that threatened to bear
us away, and deluged our beds with rain through the large opening in
front, our only protection here being a piece of sail-cloth, which
was soon dripping wet and rent to pieces. In this condition we were
forced to take down our hammocks, mattresses, and every article
that could be injured by the rain; and most fortunate did we deem
ourselves in having made the winding stairs, which sheltered us
during the operation of the removal. The stairs served afterwards for
a kind of lumber-room; we kept all in it we could dispense with, and
most of our culinary vessels, which my wife fetched as she happened
to want them. Our little sheds between the roots, constructed for
the poultry and the cattle, could scarcely contain us all; and the
first days we passed in this manner were painfully embarrassing,
crowded all together, and hardly able to move in these almost dark
recesses, which the fœtid smell from the close adjoining animals
rendered almost insupportable: in addition, we were half stifled with
smoke whenever we kindled a fire, and drenched with rain when we
opened the doors. For the first time since our disaster, we sighed
for the comfortable houses of our dear country:--but what was to
be done? We were not there, and losing our courage and our temper
would only increase the evil. I strove to raise the spirits of my
companions, and obviate some of the inconveniences. We confined our
live stock to a smaller number, and gave them a freer current of air,
dismissing from the stalls those animals that, from their properties,
and being natives of the country, would be at no loss in providing
for themselves. That we might not lose them altogether, we tied bells
round their necks; Fritz and I sought and drove them in every evening
when they did not spontaneously return.
As to the smoke, our only remedy was to open the door when we made
a fire; and we did without fire as much as we could, living on milk
and cheese, and never making one but to bake our cakes: we then used
the occasion to boil a quantity of our favourite roots and salt meat
enough to last us a number of days. Our dry wood was also nearly
expended, and we thanked Heaven the weather was not very cold; for
had this been the case, our other trials would have much increased.
A more serious concern was our not having provided sufficient hay
and leaves for our European cattle, which we kept housed to avoid
losing them. The cow, the ass, the sheep, and the goats, the two
last of which were increased in number, required a large quantity of
provender, so that we were ere long forced to give them our tuberous
roots and sweet acorns, which, by the bye, they found very palatable,
and we remarked that they imparted a delicate flavour to their milk;
the cow, the goats, and even the sheep, amply supplied us with that
precious article. Milking, cleaning the animals, and preparing their
food, occupied us most of the morning, after which we were usually
employed in making flour of the manioc root, with which we filled the
large gourds, previously placed in rows. The gloom of the atmosphere
and our low windowless habitation sensibly abridged our daylight;
fortunately we had laid in a huge store of candles, and felt no
want of that article. When darkness obliged us to light up, we got
round the table, where a large taper fixed on a gourd gave us an
excellent light, which enabled my wife to pursue her occupation with
the needle, while I on my part was forming a journal, and recording
what the reader has perused of the narrative of our shipwreck and
residence in this island, assisted from time to time by my sons and
their admirable mother, who did not cease to remind me of various
incidents belonging to the story. To Ernest, who wrote a fine hand,
was entrusted the care of writing off my pages in a clear legible
character; Fritz and Jack amused themselves by drawing from memory
the plants and animals which had most struck their observation; while
one and all contributed to teach little Francis to read and write.
We concluded the day with a devotional reading in the Holy Bible,
performed by each in turn, and we then retired to rest, happy in
ourselves and in the innocent and peaceful course of our existence.
It was unanimously resolved on, however, that we would not
pass another rainy season exposed to the same evils; even my
gentle-tempered and most beloved consort was a little ruffled now
and then with our inconvenient situation, and insisted more than
any of us on the plan of building elsewhere a more spacious winter
residence; she wished, however, to return to our castle in the tree
every summer, and we all joined with her in that desire. The choice
of a fresh abode now engrossed our attention, and Fritz in the midst
of consultation came forward triumphantly with a book he had found
in the bottom of our clothes chest. “Here,” said he, “is our best
counsellor and model, _Robinson Crusoe_; since Heaven has destined us
to a similar fate, whom better can we consult? As far as I remember,
he cut himself a habitation out of the solid rock: let us see how he
proceeded; we will do the same, and with greater ease, for he was
alone; we are six in number, and four of us able to work.” This idea
of Fritz was hailed by all. We assembled, and read the famous history
with an ardent interest; it seemed, though so familiar, quite new to
us; we entered earnestly into every detail, and derived considerable
information from it, and never failed to feel lively gratitude
towards God, who had rescued us all together, and not permitted one
only of us to be cast, a solitary being, on the island.
Francis expressed his wish to have a _Man Friday_; Fritz thought it
better to be without such a companion, and to have no savages to
contend with. Jack was for the savages, warfare, and encounters.
The final result of our deliberations was to go and survey the
rocks round Tent House, and to examine whether any of them could be
excavated for our purpose.
Our last job for the winter, undertaken at my wife’s solicitation,
was a beetle for her flax, and some carding combs. I filed large
nails till they were even, round, and pointed; I fixed them at
equal distances in a sheet of tin, and raised the side of it like a
box; I then poured melted lead between the nails and the sides to
give firmness to their points, which came out four inches. I nailed
this tin on a board, and the machine was fit to work. My wife was
impatient to use it; and the drying, peeling, and spinning her flax,
became from this time a source of inexhaustible delight.
CHAPTER XXIX
Spring--Spinning--Salt Mine
I can hardly describe our joy, when, after many tedious and gloomy
weeks of rain, the sky began to brighten, the sun to dart its benign
rays on the humid earth, the winds to be lulled, and the state of
the air became mild and serene. We issued from our dreary hovels
with joyful shouts, and walked round our habitation breathing
the enlivening balmy ether, while our eyes were regaled with the
beauteous verdure beginning to shoot forth on every side.
Our summer occupations commenced by arranging and thoroughly
cleaning Falcon’s Nest, the order and neatness of which the rain
and dead leaves blown by the wind had disturbed; in other respects,
however, it was not injured, and in a few days we rendered it fit
for our reception; the stairs were cleared, the rooms between the
roots reoccupied, and we were left with leisure to proceed to other
employments. My wife lost not a moment in resuming the process of her
flax. Our sons hastened to lead the cattle to the fresh pastures;
whilst it was my task to carry the bundles of flax into the open air,
where, by heaping stones together, I contrived an oven sufficiently
commodious to dry it well. The same evening, we all set to work to
peel, and afterwards to beat it and strip off the bark; and lastly to
comb it with my carding machine, which fully answered the purpose. I
took this laborious task on myself, and drew out such distaffs full
of long soft flax ready for spinning, that my enraptured wife ran to
embrace me, to express her thankfulness, requesting me to make her a
wheel without delay, that she might enter upon her favourite work.
At an early period of my life I had practised turnery for my
amusement; now, however, I was unfortunately destitute of the
requisite utensils; but as I had not forgotten the arrangement
and component parts of a spinning-wheel and reel, I by repeated
endeavours found means to accomplish those two machines to her
satisfaction; and she fell so eagerly to spinning, as to allow
herself no leisure even for a walk, and scarcely time to dress our
dinners.
Our first visit was to Tent House, and here we found the ravages of
winter more considerable than even at Falcon’s Stream; the tempest
and rain had beaten down the tent, carried away a part of the
sail-cloth, and made such havoc among our provisions, that by far the
largest portion was spotted with mildew, and the remainder could be
only saved by drying it instantly. Luckily our handsome pinnace had
been for the most part spared; it was still at anchor, ready to serve
us in case of need; but our tub-boat was in too shattered a state to
be of any further service.
In looking over the stores, we were grieved to find the gunpowder,
of which I had left three barrels in the tent, the most damaged.
The contents of two were rendered wholly useless. I thought myself
fortunate in finding the remaining one in tolerable condition, and
derived from this great and irreparable loss a cogent motive to fix
upon winter quarters where our stores, our only wealth, would not be
exposed to such cruel dilapidations.
Fritz and Jack were constant in their endeavours to make me undertake
the excavation of the rock, but I had no hopes of success. Robinson
Crusoe found a spacious cavern that merely required arrangement:
no such cavity was apparent in our rock, which bore the aspect of
extreme solidity and impenetrableness; so that with our limited
powers, three or four summers would scarcely suffice to execute the
design. Still, the earnest desire of a more substantial habitation,
to defend us from the elements, perplexed me incessantly, and I
resolved to make at least the attempt of cutting out a recess that
should protect the gunpowder, the most valuable of all our treasures.
I accordingly set off one day, accompanied by my two boys, leaving
their mother at her spinning with Ernest and Francis. We took with us
pickaxes, chisels, hammers, and iron levers, to try what impression
we could make on the rock. I chose a part nearly perpendicular, and
much better situated than our tent: the view from it was enchanting,
for it embraced the whole range of Safety Bay, the banks of Jackal’s
River, and Family Bridge, and many of the picturesque projections
of the rocks. I marked out with charcoal the opening we wished to
make, and we began the heavy toil of piercing the quarry. We made
so little progress the first day, that, in spite of our courage, we
were tempted to relinquish the undertaking; we persevered, however,
and my hope was somewhat revived as I perceived the stone was of a
softer texture as we penetrated deeper. I concluded from this, that
the ardent rays of the sun striking upon the rock had hardened the
external layer, and that the stone within would increase in softness
as we advanced. When I had cut about a foot in depth, we could loosen
it with a spade like dried mud; this determined me to proceed with
double ardour, and my boys assisted me with a spirit and zeal beyond
their years.
After a few days of assiduous labour, we measured the opening, and
found we had already advanced seven feet into the rock. Fritz removed
the fragments in a barrow, and discharged them in a line before the
place, to form a sort of terrace; I applied my own labour to the
upper part, to enlarge the aperture; Jack, the smallest of the three,
was able to get in and cut away below. He had with him a long iron
bar sharpened at the end, which he drove in with a hammer to loosen
a piece at a time. Suddenly he bawled out, “It is pierced through,
father! Fritz, I have pierced it through!”
“Hah, hah, Master Jack at his jokes again!--But let us hear, what
have you pierced? Is it the mountain? Not peradventure your hand or
foot, Jack?” cried I.
_Jack._--No, no, it is the mountain (the rocks resounding with his
usual shout of joy); huzza, huzza! I have pierced the mountain!
Fritz now ran to him. “Come, let us see then: it is no doubt the
globe at least you have pierced,” said he, in a bantering tone: “you
should have pushed on your tool boldly, till you reached Europe,
which they say is under our feet; I should have been glad to peep
into that hole.”
_Jack._--Well, then, peep you may, but I hardly know what you will
see; come and look how far the iron is gone in, and tell me if it is
all my boasting.
[Illustration: “Thus we entered the rock in solemn procession.”]
“Come hither, father,” said Fritz, “this is really extraordinary:
his iron bar seems to have got to a hollow place; see, it can be
moved in every direction.” I approached, thinking the incident worth
attention: I took hold of the bar, which was still in the rock, and
working it about, I made a sufficient aperture for one of my sons
to pass, and I observed that in reality the rubbish fell within
the cavity, which I judged, from the falling of the stones, was not
much deeper than the part we stood on. My two lads offered to go
in together and examine it: this, however, I forbade. I even made
them remove from the opening, as I smelled the foul air that issued
abundantly from it, and began myself to feel giddiness in consequence
of having gone too near; so that I was compelled to withdraw quickly,
and inhale a purer air.
Under my direction the boys now hastened to gather some dry moss,
which they made into bundles; they then struck a light and set
fire to them, and threw the moss blazing into the opening; but, as
I had foreseen, the fire was extinguished at the very entrance,
thus proving that the air within was highly mephitic. I now saw
that it was to be rarefied by another and more effectual method. I
recollected that we had brought from the vessel a chest that was full
of grenades, rockets, and other fireworks, which had been shipped for
the purpose of making signals, as well as for amusement. I sought it
hastily, and took some of these, together with an iron mortar for
throwing; out of it I laid a train of gunpowder and set fire to the
end, which reached to where we stood. A general explosion took place,
and an awful report reverberated through the dark recess: the lighted
grenades flew about on all sides like brilliant meteors, rebounding
and bursting with a terrific sound. We then sent in the rockets,
which had also a full effect. They hissed in the cavity like flying
dragons, disclosing to our astonished view its vast extent. We beheld
too, as we thought, numerous dazzling bodies that sparkled suddenly,
as if by magic, and disappeared with the rapidity of lightning,
leaving the place in total darkness.
After having played off our fireworks, I tried lighted straw; to our
great satisfaction, the bundles thrown in were entirely consumed; we
could then reasonably hope nothing was to be feared from the air; but
there still remained the danger of plunging into some abyss, or of
meeting with a body of water. From these considerations, I deemed it
more prudent to defer our entrance into this unknown recess till we
had lights to guide us through it. I dispatched Jack on the buffalo
to Falcon’s Stream to tell his mother and brothers of our discovery,
directing him to return with them, and bring all the tapers that were
left: my intention was to tie them together to the end of a stick,
and proceed with it lighted to examine the cavity.
In three or four hours we saw them coming up in our car of state. I
immediately lighted some of the tapers; but not together, as I had
intended: I preferred each taking one in his right hand, an implement
in his left, another taper in his pocket, flint and steel; and thus
we entered the rock in solemn procession. The most beautiful and
magnificent spectacle presented itself. The sides of the cavern
sparkled like diamonds, the light from our tapers was reflected from
all parts, and had the effect of a grand illumination. Innumerable
crystals of every length and shape hung from the top of the vault,
which, uniting with those of the sides, formed pillars, altars,
entablatures, and a variety of other figures, composing the most
splendid masses. We might have fancied ourselves in the palace of a
fairy, or an illuminated temple.
The floor was level, covered with a white and very fine sand, as if
purposely strewed, and so dry that I could not see the least mark of
humidity anywhere. All this led me to hope the spot would be healthy,
convenient, and eligible for our proposed residence. I now formed
a particular conjecture as to the nature of the crystallizations
shooting out on all sides, and especially from the arch-roof. They
could scarcely be of that species of rock-crystals produced by
the slow filtering of water falling in drops, and coagulating in
succession, and seldom found in excavations exhibiting so dry a
nature, nor even with so many of the crystals perpendicular and
perfectly smooth. I was impatient to evince the truth or falsehood
of this idea by an experiment, and discovered with great joy,
on breaking a portion of one of them, that I was in a grotto of
_sal-gem_, that is, fossil, or rock salt, found in the earth in
solid crystallized masses, generally above a bed of spar or gypsum,
and surrounded by layers of fossils or rock. The discovery of this
fact, which no longer admitted a doubt, pleased us all exceedingly.
The shape of the crystals, their little solidity, and finally their
saline taste, were decisive evidences.
Many schemes were formed for converting this magnificent grotto into
a convenient and agreeable mansion for our abode. We had possession
of the most eligible premises: the sole business was to turn them to
the best account; and how to effect this was our unceasing theme.
Some voted for our immediate establishment there, but they were
opposed by more sagacious counsel, and it was resolved that Falcon’s
Stream should still be our headquarters till the end of the year.
CHAPTER XXX
House in the Salt Rock--Turtles
The lucky discovery of a previously existing cavern in the rock had,
as must be supposed, considerably lessened our labour; excavation
was no longer requisite. I had more room than was wanted for the
construction of our dwelling: to render it habitable was the present
object, and to do this did not seem a difficult task. The upper bed
of the rock, in front of the cavern, through which my little Jack had
dug so easily, was of a soft nature, and to be worked with moderate
effort. I hoped also that, being now exposed to the air and heat of
the sun, it would become by degrees as hard and compact as the first
layer that had given me so much trouble. From this consideration I
began, while it retained its soft state, to make openings for the
doors and windows of the front. This I regulated by the measurement
of those I had fixed in my winding stair-case, which I had removed
for the purpose of placing them in our winter tenement. I had
previously marked out the openings to be cut for the frames, which
were received into grooves for greater convenience and solidity. I
took care not to break the stone taken from the apertures, or at
least to preserve it in large pieces, and these I cut with the saw
and chisel into oblongs an inch and a half in thickness, to serve
as tiles. I laid them in the sun, and was gratified in seeing they
hardened quickly; I then removed them, and my sons placed them in
order against the side of the rock, till they were wanted for our
internal arrangements.
When I could enter the cavern freely with a good doorway, and it was
sufficiently lighted by the windows, I erected a partition, for the
distribution of our apartments and other conveniences. The extent
of the place afforded ample room for my design, and even allowed
me to leave several spaces in which salt and other articles could
be stored. I laid out the interior in the following manner: A very
considerable space was first partitioned off in two divisions; the
one on the right was appropriated to our residence, that on the
left was to contain the kitchen, stables, and work-room. At the
end of the second division, where windows could not be placed, the
cellar and store-room were to be formed; the whole separated by
partition-boards, with doors of communication, so as to give us a
pleasant and comfortable abode.
The side we designed to lodge in was divided into three apartments;
the first, next the door, was the bedroom for my wife and me, the
second a dining-parlour, and the last a bedroom for the boys. As we
had only three windows, we put one in each sleeping-room; the third
was fixed in the kitchen, where my wife would often be. A grating
for the present fell to the lot of our dining-room, which when too
cold was to be exchanged for one of the other apartments. I contrived
a good fireplace in the kitchen near the window; I pierced the
rock a little above, and four planks nailed together, and passing
through this opening, answered the purpose of a chimney. We made
the work-room near the kitchen of sufficient dimensions for the
performance of undertakings of some magnitude; it served also to keep
our cart and sledge in. Lastly, the stables, which were formed into
four compartments, to separate the different species of animals,
occupied all the bottom of the cavern on this side; on the other were
the cellar and magazine.
The long stay we made at Tent House, during these employments,
furnished us an opportunity of perceiving several advantages we had
not reckoned upon. Immense turtles were often seen on the shore,
where they deposited their eggs in the sand, and they regaled us
with a rich treat; but, extending our wishes, we thought of getting
possession of the turtles themselves for livestock, and of feasting
on them whenever we pleased. As soon as we saw one on the sands,
one of my boys was despatched to cut off its retreat; meanwhile we
approached the animal, and quietly, without doing it any injury,
turned it on its back, then passed a long cord through the shell,
and tied the end of it to a stake, which we fixed close to the edge
of the water. This done, we set the prisoner on its legs again; it
hastened into the sea, but could not go beyond the end of the cord;
apparently it was all the happier, finding food with more facility
along shore than out at sea; and we enjoyed the idea of being able to
take it when wanted.
A number of sea-dogs came into Safety Bay, and ascended the river in
search of prey, sporting in the water along shore, without evincing
any fear of us. The fish presented no attraction to the palate, but
its skin, tanned and dressed, makes excellent leather. I was in great
need of it for straps and harness, to make saddles for Fritz and
Jack to ride the onagra and buffalo, and in short for our own use to
cut up into soles, belts, and pantaloons, of which articles we much
wanted a fresh supply; besides, I knew the fat yielded good lamp oil,
that might be substituted for tapers in the long evenings of winter;
and that it would be further useful in tanning and rendering the
leather pliant.
At this time I likewise made some improvements in our sledge, to
facilitate the carrying of stores from Falcon’s Stream to our
dwelling in the rock at Tent House. I raised it on two beams,
on axle-trees, at the extremities of which I put on the four
gun-carriage wheels I had taken off the cannon from the vessel;
by this alteration I obtained a light and convenient vehicle, of
moderate height, on which boxes and casks could be placed. Pleased
with the operations of the week, we set out all together with
cheerful hearts for Falcon’s Stream, to pass our Sunday there,
and once more offer our pious thanks to the Almighty, for all the
benefits He had bestowed upon His defenceless creatures.
CHAPTER XXXI
New Fishery--New Experiments--New
Discoveries, and House
The enterprise of our dwelling went on, sometimes as a principal,
sometimes as an intermediate occupation, according to the greater or
less importance of other concerns; but though we advanced thus with
moderate rapidity, the progress was such as to afford the hope of our
being settled within it by the time of the rainy season.
From the moment I discovered gypsum to be the basis of the crystal
salt in our grotto, I foresaw some great advantages I should derive
from it; but to avoid enlarging the dimensions of our house by
digging further, I tried to find a place in the continuation of the
rock, which I might be able to blow up. I had soon the good fortune
to meet with a narrow slip between the projections of the rock, which
I could easily, by the means I proposed, convert into a passage that
should terminate in our work-room. I found also on the ground a
quantity of fragments of gypsum, and removed a great number of them
to the kitchen, where we did not fail to bake a few of the pieces at
a time when we made a fire for cooking, which, thus calcined, rubbed
into a powder when cold; we obtained a considerable quantity of it,
which I put carefully into casks for use when the time should come
for finishing the interior of our dwelling. My notion was to form the
walls, for separating the apartments, of the squares of stone I had
already provided, and to unite them together with a cement of this
new ingredient, which would be the means, both of sparing the timber,
and increasing the beauty and solidity of the work.
One day as Jack and I were walking near the mouth of Jackal’s
River, we perceived immense quantities of a large fish moving
slowly towards the banks. As they came nearer, I distinguished the
largest to resemble sturgeons, a fish found in higher latitudes,
while the smallest I pronounced to be salmon. Jack now strutted
about in ecstasies. “What say you now, father?” said he; “this is
nothing like your little paltry fry! A single fish of this troop
would fill a tub!”--“No doubt,” answered I; and with great gravity I
added,--“Pr’ythee, Jack, step into the river, and fling them to me
one by one, that I may take them home to salt and dry.”
He looked at me for a moment with a sort of vacant doubt if I could
possibly be in earnest: then seizing suddenly a new idea--“Wait a
moment, father,” cried he, “and I will do so”: and he sprang off
like lightning towards the cavern, from whence he soon returned
loaded with a bow and arrows, the bladders of the sea-dogs, and a
ball of string, to catch, as he assured me, every one of the fishes.
I looked on with interest and curiosity to mark what was next to
happen, while the animation of his countenance, the promptitude and
boyish gracefulness of his motions, and the firm determination of his
manner, afforded me the highest amusement. He tied the bladders round
at certain distances with a long piece of string, to the end of which
he fastened an arrow and a small iron hook; he placed the large ball
of string in a hole in the ground at a sufficient distance from the
water’s edge, and then he shot off an arrow, which the next instant
stuck in one of the largest fishes. My young sportsman uttered a
shout of joy. At the same moment Fritz joined us, and witnessed this
unexpected feat without the least symptom of jealousy. “Well done,
brother Jack,” cried he; “but let me, too, have my turn.”--Saying
this, he ran back and fetched the harpoon and the windlass, and
returned to us accompanied by Ernest. We were well pleased with
their opportune arrival, for the salmon Jack had pierced struggled
so fiercely, that all our endeavours to hold the string were
insufficient, and we dreaded at every throw to see it break, and the
animal make good its escape. By degrees, however, its strength was
exhausted, and, aided by Fritz and Ernest, we succeeded in drawing it
to a bank, where I put an end to its existence.
This fortunate beginning of a plan for a fishery inspired us all with
hope and emulation. Fritz eagerly seized his harpoon and windlass;
I, for my part, like Neptune, wielded a trident; Ernest prepared
the large fishing-rod; and Jack his arrow, with the same apparatus
as before, not forgetting the bladders, which were so effectual
in preventing the fish from sinking when struck. We were now more
than ever sensible of our loss in the destruction of the tub-boat,
with which we could have pursued the creatures in the water, and
have been spared much pains and difficulty; but, on the other hand,
such numbers of fishes presented themselves at the mouth of the
river, that we had only to choose among them. Jack’s arrow, after
missing twice, struck the third time a large sturgeon, which was so
untractable, that we had great difficulty in securing him. I too had
caught two of the same fish, and had been obliged to go up to the
middle in the water to manage my booty. Ernest, with his rod and
line and a hook, had also taken two smaller ones. Fritz, with his
harpoon, had struck a sturgeon at least eight feet in length, and
the skill and strength of our whole company were found necessary to
conduct him safe to shore, where we harnessed the buffalo to him with
strong cords to draw him to Tent House.
When these various concerns were complete, we began to meditate a
plan for constructing a small boat as a substitute for the tub-raft,
to come close in to shore. I had a great desire to make it, as the
savages do, of the rind of a tree; but the difficulty was to fix
on one of sufficient bulk for my purpose; for though many were to
be found in our vicinity, yet each was on some account or other of
too much value to be spared. We therefore resolved to make a little
excursion in search of a tree of capacious dimensions, and in a
situation where it was not likely to yield us fruit, to refresh us
with its shade, or to adorn the landscape round our dwelling.
We arrived at Falcon’s Stream, where we intended to pass the
night. We visited the ground my wife had so plentifully sowed with
grain, which had sprung up with an almost incredible rapidity and
luxuriance, and was now nearly ready for reaping. We cut down what
was fairly ripe, bound it together in bundles, and conveyed it to a
place where it would be secure from the attacks of more expert grain
consumers than ourselves, of which thousands hovered round the booty.
We reaped barley, wheat, rye, oats, pease, millet, lentils--only
a small quantity of each, it is true, but sufficient to enable us
to sow again plentifully at the proper season. The plant that had
yielded the most was maize, a proof that it best loved the soil. It
had already shown itself in abundance in our garden at Tent House;
but here there was a surface of land, the size of an ordinary field,
entirely covered with its splendid golden ears, which still more
than the other plants attracted the voracity of the feathered race.
The moment we drew near, a dozen at least of large bustards sprang up
with a loud rustling noise, which awakened the attention of the dogs;
they plunged into the thickest parts, and routed numerous flocks of
birds of all kinds and sizes, who took hastily to flight. Among the
fugitives were some quails, who escaped by running; and lastly some
kangaroos, whose prodigious leaps enabled them to elude the pursuit
of the dogs.
We were so overcome by the surprise such an assemblage of living
creatures occasioned, as to forget the resource we had in our guns;
we stood as it were stupid with amazements during the first moments,
and before we came to ourselves, the prey was beyond our reach, and
for the most part out of sight. Fritz was the first to perceive and
to feel with indignation the silly part we had been playing, and to
consider in what way we could repair the mischief. Without further
loss of time, he took the bandage from his eagle’s eyes (for the bird
always accompanied him perched upon his game-bag), and showed him
with his hand the bustards still flying, and at no great distance.
The eagle took a rapid flight. Fritz jumped like lightning on the
back of his onagra, and galloped over everything that intervened, in
the direction the bird had taken, and we soon lost sight of him.
We now beheld a spectacle which in the highest degree excited our
curiosity and interest: the eagle had soon his prey in view; he
mounted above one of the bustards in a direct line, without losing
sight of it for an instant, and then darted suddenly down; the
bustards flew about in utter confusion, now seeking shelter in the
bushes, then crossing each other in every direction, in the attempt
to evade the common enemy; but the eagle remained steady in pursuit
of the bird he had fixed upon for his prey, and disregarded all the
rest: he alighted on the unlucky bustard, fixed his claws and his
beak in its back, till Fritz, arriving full gallop, got down from the
onagra, replaced the bandage on the eagle’s eyes, seated him once
more upon the game-bag, and having relieved the poor bustard from his
persecutor, he shouted to us to come and witness his triumph. We ran
speedily to the place.
At the conclusion of this adventure, we hastened forward to Falcon’s
Stream, and dressed the wounds of the bustard. We perceived with
pleasure that it was a male, and foresaw the advantage of giving him
for a companion to our solitary female of the same species, which was
completely tamed. I threw a few more bundles of maize into the cart,
and without further delay we arrived at our tree.
The rest of the day was employed in picking the grains of the
different sorts of corn from the stalks; we put what we wished to
keep for sowing into some gourd-shells, and the Turkey wheat was
laid carefully aside in sheaves till we should have time to beat and
separate it. Fritz observed that we should also want to grind it; and
I reminded him of the hand-mill we had secured from our departed ally
the wrecked vessel.
_Fritz._--But, father, the hand-mill is so small, and so subject to
be put out of order:--why should we not contrive a water-mill, as
they do in Europe? We have surely rapid streams of water in abundance.
_Father._--This is true; but such a mechanism is more difficult than
you imagine. The wheel alone, I conceive, would be an undertaking far
beyond our strength or our capacity. I am, however, well pleased with
the activity and zeal which prompted your idea; and we will hereafter
consider whether it may be worth while to bestow upon it further
attention. We have abundance of time before us, for we shall not
want a water-mill till our harvests are such as to produce plentiful
crops of corn. In the meantime, let us be thinking of our proposed
excursion for to-morrow; for we should set out at least by sunrise.
We began our preparations accordingly. My wife chose some hens and
two fine cocks, with the intention of taking them with us, and
leaving them at large to produce a colony of their species at a
considerable distance from our dwelling-places. I, with the same
view, visited our beasts, and selected four young pigs, four sheep,
two kids, and one male of each species; our numbers having so much
increased that we could well afford to spare these individuals for
the experiment. If we succeeded in thus accustoming them to the
natural temperature and productions of our island, we should have
eased ourselves of the burden of their support, and should always be
able to find them at pleasure.
We took this time a new direction, which was straight forward between
the rocks and the shore, that we might make ourselves acquainted with
everything contained in the island we seemed destined for ever to
inhabit. We found, as usual, much difficulty in pushing through the
tall tough grass, and alternately through the thick prickly bushes
which everywhere obtruded themselves. We were often obliged to turn
aside, while I cut a passage with my hatchet: but these accidents
seldom failed to reward my toil by the discovery of different small
additions to our general comfort; among others, some roots of trees
curved by nature to serve both for saddles and yokes for our beasts
of burden. I took care to secure several, and put them in the cart.
In about an hour we found ourselves at the extremity of the wood,
and a most singular phenomenon presented itself to our view: a
small plain, or rather a grove of low bushes, to appearance almost
covered with flakes of snow, lay extended before us. Suddenly a
suspicion crossed my mind, and was soon confirmed by Fritz, who
had darted forward on his onagra, and now returned with one hand
filled with tufts of a most excellent species of cotton, so that
the whole surface of low bushes was in reality a plantation of that
valuable article. The pods had burst from ripeness, and the winds
had scattered around their flaky contents; the ground was strewed
with them, they had gathered in tufts on the bushes, and they floated
gently in the air.
The joy of this discovery was almost too great for utterance. We
collected as much cotton as our bags would hold, and my wife filled
her pockets with the seed, to raise it in our garden at Tent House.
It was now time to proceed: and we took a direction towards a point
of land which skirted the wood of gourds, and being high, commanded
a view of the adjacent country. I conceived a wish to remove our
establishment to the vicinity of the cotton plantation and the
gourd wood, which furnished so many of the utensils for daily use
throughout the family. I pleased myself in idea, with the view of
the different colonies of animals I had imagined, both winged and
quadruped; and in this elevation of my fancy, I even thought it might
be practicable to erect a sort of farmhouse on the soil, which we
might visit occasionally, and be welcomed by the agreeable sounds
of the cackling of our feathered subjects, which would so forcibly
remind us of the customs of our forsaken but ever-cherished country.
We accordingly soon reached the high ground, which I found in all
respects favourable to my design. My plan for a building was
approved by all, and we lost no time in pitching our tent, and
forming temporary accommodations for cooking our victuals. When we
had refreshed ourselves with a meal, I, for my part, resolved to look
about in all directions, that I might completely understand what
we should have to depend upon in this place, in point of safety,
salubrity, and general accommodation. I had also to find a tree that
would suit for the proposed construction of a boat; and lastly, to
meet, if possible, with a group of trees, at such fit distances from
each other as would assist me in my plan of erecting a farmhouse. I
was fortunate enough in no long time to find in this last respect
exactly what I wanted, and quite near to the spot we on many accounts
had felt to be so enviable. I returned to my companions, whom I found
busily employed in preparing excellent beds of the cotton, upon
which, at an earlier hour than usual, we all retired to rest.
CHAPTER XXXII
Completion of Two Farmhouses--A Lake--A
Boat
The trees that I had chosen for the construction of my farmhouse
embellishments were for the most part one foot in diameter in the
trunk; they presented the form of a tolerably regular parallelogram,
with its longest side to the sea, the length twenty-four feet, and
the breadth sixteen. I cut little hollow places or mortises in the
trunks, at the distance of ten feet, one above the other, to form
two stories. The upper one I made a few inches shorter before than
behind, that the roof might be in some degree shelving; I then
inserted beams five inches in diameter respectively in the mortises,
and thus formed the skeleton of my building. We next nailed some
laths from tree to tree, at equal distances from each other, to form
the roof, and placed on them, in mathematical order, a covering
composed of pieces of the bark of trees, cut into the shape of tiles,
and in a sloping position, for the rain to run off in the wet season.
As we had no great provision of iron nails, we used for the purpose
the strong pointed thorn of the acacia, which we had discovered the
day before. We cut down a quantity of them, and laid them in the
sun to dry, when they became as hard as iron, and were of essential
service to our undertaking.
After our next meal we resumed with ardour our undertaking of the
farmhouse, which we continued without interruption for several days.
We formed the walls with matted reeds interwoven with pliant laths to
the height of six feet; the remaining space to the roof was enclosed
with only a simple grating, that the air and light might be admitted.
A door was placed in the middle of the front. We next arranged the
interior with as much convenience as the shortness of the time and
our reluctance to use all our timber would allow; we divided it
half-way up by a partition wall into two unequal parts; the largest
was intended for the sheep and goats, and the smallest for ourselves,
when we should wish to pass a few days here. At the further end of
the stable we fixed a house for the fowls, and above it a sort of
hay-loft for the forage. Before the door of entrance we placed two
benches, contrived as well as we could of laths and odd pieces of
wood, that we might rest ourselves under the shade of the trees, and
enjoy the exquisite prospect which presented itself on all sides. Our
own apartment was provided with a couple of the best bedsteads we
could make of twigs of trees, raised upon four legs, two feet from
the ground, and these were destined to receive our cotton mattresses.
Our aim was to content ourselves for the present with these slight
hints of a dwelling, and to consider hereafter what additions either
of convenience or ornament could be made, such as plastering, etc.
I had imagined we should accomplish what we wished at the farm in
three or four days; but we found in the experiment that a whole week
was necessary, and our victuals fell short before our work was done.
We began to consider what remedy we could apply to so embarrassing a
circumstance; I could not prevail upon myself to return to Falcon’s
Stream before I had completed my intentions at the farm, and the
other objects of my journey. I had even come to the determination
of erecting another building upon the site of Cape Disappointment; I
therefore decided that on this trying occasion I would invest Fritz
and Jack with the important mission. They were accordingly despatched
to Falcon’s Stream, and to Tent House, to fetch new supplies of
cheese, ham, potatoes, dried fish, manioc bread, for our subsistence,
and also to distribute fresh food to the numerous animals we had left
there.
During the absence of our purveyors I rambled with Ernest about
the neighbouring soil, to make what new discoveries I could, and
to procure, if possible, additions to our store of provisions. We
followed the winding of a river towards the middle of the wall of
rocks: our course was interrupted by a marsh which bordered a small
lake, the aspect of which was enchantingly picturesque. I perceived,
with joyful surprise, that the whole surface of the swampy soil
was covered with a kind of wild rice, ripe on the stalk, and which
attracted the voracity of large flocks of birds. As we approached, a
loud rustling was heard, and we distinguished on the wing, bustards,
Canada heath-fowl, and great numbers of smaller birds. We succeeded
in bringing down five or six of them; and I was pleased to remark in
Ernest a justness of aim that promised well for the future.
Presently we saw Master Knips jump from Flora’s back, and smell
along the ground among some thick growing plants, then pluck off
something with his two paws, and eat of it voraciously. We ran to
the spot to see what it could be, when, to the relief of our parched
palates, we found he had discovered there the largest and finest
kind of strawberry, which is called in Europe the _Chili_, or _pine
strawberry_.
Pursuing our way a little further along the marsh, we reached the
lake, which we had descried with so much pleasure from a distance,
and whose banks, being overgrown with thick underwood, were
necessarily concealed from the momentary view we had leisure to take
of surrounding objects, particularly as the lake was situated in a
deep and abrupt valley. No one who is not a native of Switzerland can
conceive the emotion which trembled at my heart, as I contemplated
this limpid, azure, undulating body of water, the faithful miniature
of so many grand originals, which I had probably lost sight of
for ever. My eyes swam with tears! Alas! a single glance upon the
surrounding picture, the different characters of the trees, the vast
ocean in the distance, destroyed the momentary illusion, and brought
back my ideas to the painful reality, that I and mine were--strangers
in a desert island!
Another sort of object now presented itself to confirm the certainty
that we were no longer inhabitants of Europe: it was the appearance
of a quantity of swans gliding over the surface of the lake; but
their colour, instead of white, like those of our country, was a
jetty black, and their plumage had so high a gloss as to produce,
reflected on the water, the most astonishing effect. The six large
feathers of the wings of this bird are white, exhibiting a singular
contrast to the rest of the body: in other respects these birds were
remarkable, like those of Europe, for the haughty gracefulness of
their motions, and the voluptuous ease of their nature.
We now began to look for the shortest path for returning to the farm,
which we reached at the same time with Fritz and Jack, who had well
performed the object of their journey. We, on our part, produced
our offering of strawberries and our specimen of rice, which were
welcomed with shouts of pleasure and surprise. We filled the stable
with forage, laid a large provision of grain for the fowls within
their house, and began arrangements for our departure.
The following day we took a silent leave of our animals, and
directed our course towards the eminence in the vicinity of Cape
Disappointment; we ascended it, and found it in every respect adapted
to our wishes. From this eminence we had a view over the country
which surrounded Falcon’s Stream in one direction, and in others of
a richly diversified extent of landscape, comprehending sea, land,
and rocks. When we had paused for a short time upon the exhaustless
beauties of the scene, we agreed with one voice, that it should be
on this spot we would build our second cottage. A spring of the
clearest water issued from the soil near the summit, and flowed over
its sloping side, forming agreeable cascades in its rapid course; in
short, every feature of the picture contributed to form a landscape
worthy the homage of a taste the most delicate and refined. I
presented my children with an appropriate word.--“Let us build here,”
exclaimed I, “and call the spot--_Arcadia_;” to which my wife and all
agreed.
We lost no time in again setting to work; our experience at the farm
enabled us to proceed with incredible rapidity, and our success was
in every respect more complete. The building contained a dining-room,
two bed-chambers, two stables, and a store-room for preserving all
kinds of provisions for man and beast. We formed the roof square,
with four sloped sides, and the whole had really the appearance of an
European cottage, and was finished in the short space of six days.
What now remained to be done, was to fix on a tree fit for my project
of a boat. After much search, I at length found one of prodigious
size, and in most respects suitable to my views.
It was, however, no very encouraging prospect I had before me, being
nothing less than the stripping off a piece of the bark that should
be eighteen feet in length, and five in diameter; and now I found
my rope ladder of signal service: we fastened it by one end to the
nearest branches, and it enabled us to work with the saw as might be
necessary at any height from the ground. Accordingly we cut quite
round the trunk in two places, and then took a perpendicular slip
from the whole length between the circles; by this means we could
introduce the proper utensils for raising the rest by degrees, till
it was entirely separated. We toiled with increasing anxiety, at
every moment dreading that we should not be able to preserve it from
breaking, or uninjured by our tools. When we had loosened about half,
we supported it by means of cords and pulleys; and when all was at
length detached, we let it down gently, and with joy beheld it lying
safe on the grass. Our business was next to mould it to our purpose,
while the substance continued moist and flexible.
The boys observed that we had now nothing more to do than to nail a
plank at each end, and our boat would be as complete as those used
by the savages; but for my own part, I could not be contented with a
mere roll of bark for a boat; and when I reminded them of the paltry
figure it would make following the pinnace, I heard not another word
about the further pains and trouble, and they asked eagerly for my
instructions. I made them assist me to saw the bark in the middle of
the two ends, the length of several feet, these two parts I folded
over till they ended in a point; I kept them in this form by the help
of the strong glue I had before made from fish-bladders, and pieces
of wood nailed fast over the whole. This operation tended to widen
the boat in the middle, and thus render it of too flat a form; but
this we counteracted by straining a cord all round, which again
reduced it to the due proportion, and in this state we put it in the
sun, to harden and fix.
Before our departure for Tent House, we collected several new plants
for our kitchen-garden; and lastly, we made another trip to the
narrow strait at the end of the wall of rocks, resolved to plant
there a sort of fortification of trees, which should produce the
double effect of discouraging the invasion of savages, and allowing
us to keep our pigs on the other side, and thus secure our different
plantations from the chance of injury. We accomplished all these
intentions to our entire satisfaction, and, in addition, we placed a
slight drawbridge across the river beyond the narrow pass, which we
could let down or take up at pleasure on our side. We now hastened
our return to Arcadia, and after a night’s repose we loaded the
sledge with the boat and other matters, and returned to Tent House.
As soon as we had despatched some necessary affairs, we resumed the
completion of the boat: in two days she had received the addition of
a keel, a neat lining of wood, a small flat floor, benches, a small
mast and triangular sail, a rudder, and a thick coat of pitch on the
outside, so that the first time we saw her in the water, we were all
in ecstasies at the charming appearance she made.
We had still two months in prospect before the rainy season, and we
employed them for completing our abode the grotto, with the exception
of such ornaments as we might have time to think of during the long
days of winter. We made the internal divisions of planks and that
which separated us from the stables of stone, to protect us from the
offensive smell occasioned by the animals. Our task was difficult,
but from habit it became easier every day. We took care to collect or
manufacture a sufficient quantity of all sorts of materials, such
as beams and planks, reeds, and twigs for matting, pieces of gypsum
for plaster, etc., etc. At length the time of the rainy season was
near at hand, and we thought of it with pleasure, as it would put us
in possession of the enjoyments we had procured by such unremitting
industry and fatigue.
We plastered over the walls of the principal apartments on each side
with the greatest care, finishing them by pressure with a flat smooth
board, and lastly a wash of size, in the manner of the plasterers in
Europe. This ornamental portion of our work amused us all so much,
that we began to think we might venture a step further in European
luxury, and agreed that we would attempt to make some carpets with
the hair of our goats. To this effect we smoothed the ground in
the rooms we intended to distinguish with great care; then spread
over it some sail-cloth, which my wife had joined in breadths, and
fitted exactly; we next strewed the goats’ hair, mixed with wool
obtained from the sheep, over the whole; on this surface we threw
some hot water, in which a strong cement had been dissolved; the
whole was then rolled up, and was beaten for a considerable time
with hard sticks; the sail-cloth was now unrolled, and the inside
again sprinkled, rolled, and beaten as before; and this process was
continued till the substance had become a sort of felt, which could
be separated from the sail-cloth, and was lastly put in the sun
to harden. We thus produced a very tolerable substitute for that
enviable article of European comfort, a carpet; of these we completed
two, one for our parlour, and the other for our drawing-room, as
we jocosely named them: both of which were completely fit for our
reception by the time the rains had set in.
Thus, as will be perceived, we had made the first steps towards
a condition of civilization; separated from society, condemned,
perhaps, to pass the remainder of life in this desert island, we
yet possessed the means of happiness; we had abundance of all the
necessaries, and many of the comforts, desired by human beings.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Anniversary of Our Deliverance--Motives for
Thankfulness
One morning, having arisen earlier than the rest of my young family,
I occupied myself by counting up the time that had passed away since
our shipwreck. I calculated the dates with the utmost exactness, and
I found that the next day would be the anniversary of that event. It
was just two years since the hand of God had been extended over us to
save us from a watery grave. I felt my mind filled with thanksgiving,
and I resolved to celebrate the day with all the pomp our situation
would permit.
As I had not yet fixed upon the arrangements for our holiday, I said
nothing about it to my family. Breakfast over, we proceeded to our
different employments, and it was not until we were seated at supper
that I announced, in a pompous manner, the holiday for the morrow.
“Be ready,” said I to my sons, “to celebrate the anniversary of the
morrow; let each one prepare himself as is proper for so great a day.”
These last words, joined to the announcement of a holiday, surprised
and overjoyed my children. Their mother was not less astonished than
they were to find that they had been on the island two years.
On the morrow we rose and dressed as decently as our scanty means
afforded, and proceeded to breakfast. After our daily prayer I
announced to my family that the amusements of the day would conclude
with the exercises which always terminated our holidays.
“You have practised for some time,” said I, “in wrestling, running,
slinging, and horsemanship; the time has come when you shall receive
the reward for your labours. You shall this day contend, before your
mother and me, and the crown shall be given to the victor. Come,
champions,” I added, elevating my voice, “the barrier is open, enter
the lists; and you, trumpets, sound the horn of combat.” As I said
these last words, I turned to the little inlet where our geese and
ducks were feeding, and the whole troop, frightened by my gestures,
and the tone of my voice, commenced a most deafening clamour, and
furnished my sons with a good joke to excite their risible faculties.
I then organized the different combats which were to take place.
First came firing at a mark; the materials for this were soon
arranged by fixing in the ground a rudely-shaped piece of wood,
with two bits of leather at each side of the top, which we called a
kangaroo. Jack did wonders, either by chance or skill: he shot away
one of the ears of our pretended kangaroo! Fritz just grazed the
head, and Ernest lodged his ball in the middle of the body. The three
shots were all worthy of praise. Another proof of skill was then
made; it consisted in firing at a ball of cork which I threw up in
the air. Ernest had the advantage here: he cut the ball to pieces.
Fritz also shot well, but Jack could not hit it. We then tried
the same thing with pistols, shortening the distance, and again I
complimented my boys upon the progress they had made since last year.
Slinging succeeded to the pistol exercise. Fritz carried off
the prize. After that came archery; and here all--even little
Francis--distinguished themselves. Next came the races; and I gave
them for a course the distance between Family Bridge and Falcon’s
Nest.
“The one that arrives first,” said I to the runners, who gathered
about me, “will bring me, as proof of his victory, my knife, which
I left on the table, under the tree.” I then gave the signal, by
clapping my hands three times. My three sons set out, Jack and
Fritz with all the impetuosity that marked their character; on the
contrary, Ernest, who never did anything without reflecting, set off
slowly at first, but gradually augmented his pace. I perceived that
he had his elbows pressed firmly against his body, and I augured well
from this little mark of prudence.
The runners were absent about three-quarters of an hour. Jack
returned first; but he was mounted on his buffalo, and the onagra and
the ass followed him.
“How now,” said I, “is this what you call racing? It was your legs,
and not those of the buffalo, that I wished to exercise.”
“Bah!” cried he, jumping from the back of his courser; “I knew I
would never get there, so I left the course; and, as the trial of
horsemanship comes next, I thought that, as I was near Falcon’s Nest,
I would bring our coursers back with me.”
Fritz came next, all out of breath and covered with sweat; but he had
not the knife, and it was Ernest who brought it me.
“How came you to have the knife,” said I, “when Fritz got here before
you?”
“The thing is simple,” answered Ernest; “in going, he could not long
keep up the pace he started with, and soon stopped to breathe, while
I ran on and got the knife; but in coming back, Fritz had learned a
lesson; he pressed his arms against his sides, and held his mouth
shut, as he had seen me do, and then the victory depended upon our
relative strength: Fritz is 16, while I am but 13, and of course he
arrived first.”
I praised the two boys for their skill, and declared Ernest conqueror.
But now Jack, mounted on his buffalo, demanded that the equestrian
exercises should commence, and he be allowed to repair the injury his
reputation had sustained.
“To the saddle, to the saddle, my lads,” he bellowed with all his
force, “and you shall then see who can best manage a courser; we
shall then know whether you can sit your horse as well as you can
exercise your legs.”
I hastened to comply with the request of the little braggart: Fritz
mounted his onagra, and Ernest took the ass; but although they tried
all their skill, Jack distanced them both. I was frightened myself
to see with what boldness the boy abandoned himself to the powerful
animal that bore him. To stop, charge, and turn was but a trifle to
him; a practised groom could not have managed a thoroughbred horse
with more ease and grace than he did his bull. Just as I had declared
the contest over, and was about to proclaim Jack victor, the little
Francis rode into the arena, mounted on his young bull “Broumm,” who
was not more than three or four months old; my wife had made him a
saddle of kangaroo-skin, with stirrups adjusted to his little legs,
and there he sat, a whip in his right hand, and the bridle of his
animal in the left.
“Gentlemen,” said the little cavalier, saluting us with a gracious
bend, “I have not contended with you thus far in any of the exercises
of the day; will you now permit Milo of Crotona to make a trial of
his horsemanship before you?”
The assembly loudly applauded this little harangue, and the cavalier
commenced to manœuvre his courser. The boy was more cool and calm
than those of his age are apt to be. But what I admired most was the
docility of the animal. My wife looked on with maternal pride to see
the success of her dear pupil, and Francis was unanimously proclaimed
an excellent horseman.
After the horsemanship, the swimming occupied some time; they also
climbed the trees; and, after we had finished our gymnastics, I
announced that the rewards would now be distributed, and that the
crowns would shade the brows of the victors.
Every one hastened to the grotto, which had been lighted up with
all the torches we possessed; my wife, as queen of the day, was
pompously installed in an elevated seat, decorated with flowers, and
I called up the laureates to receive the rewards, which their mother
distributed to each one as she impressed a tender kiss upon his
forehead.
Fritz--conqueror at shooting and swimming--received a superb English
rifle,[3] and a hunting-knife, which he had long wished for. Ernest
had for the reward of the race a splendid gold watch. Jack--the
cavalier--obtained a magnificent pair of steel spurs and a whip of
whalebone. Little Francis received a pair of stirrups and a box of
colours as a reward for the industry he had displayed in educating
his bull.
When this distribution was finished, I rose, and, turning to my
wife, presented her with a beautiful English work-box, in which was
contained all those little things that add so much to the comfort of
an industrious woman, such as pins, needles, scissors, etc.
“Receive,” said I, “my excellent companion, also a reward; for your
services and endurance during the year well deserve one, even though
the tender love of myself and children may be in itself a sufficient
reward.”
The day was finished as it had begun--with songs and expressions
of joy; we were all happy, all contented: we all enjoyed that pure
felicity which a life free from reproach had given us; and we all
thanked in our hearts the Lord who had been so merciful toward us.
FOOTNOTE:
[3] These articles were portion of the property brought
from the wreck.
CHAPTER XXXIV
Gourd Plantation--Monkey Root or Ginseng--Bird
Snares
We all remembered the bountiful provision we had derived from the
blackbirds and ortolans that had settled upon our giant tree at
Falcon’s Nest the preceding year. The time had now arrived for their
reappearance, and we resolved to leave the grotto, which had become
our established residence, and remove nearer to the spot, where I
intended to secure as many as possible of this delicious provision
for the coming winter.
The provision of India-rubber which we had collected on our last
excursion was exhausted; we had made waterproof boots of it, and,
before I set out, I wished to give them a new coat of it. I sent
Fritz and Jack to the wood of india-rubber trees, where I thought
they would find, ready drawn, a sufficient quantity of the gum, as
we had made large incisions in the trees, and placed calabashes
under them to receive it; and as experience had taught us that the
sun hardens it immediately, we had protected our calabashes from its
rays, by surrounding them with green branches.
Our two messengers were lost to our view when my wife suddenly
exclaimed, “Stupid woman that I am, I have forgotten to give the boys
a calabash in which they might put the gum, for they cannot bring it
home in the flat dishes we put there. I mean to go directly, and see
whether my gourds are ripe.”
I tranquillized my good wife by assuring her that they would not be
at a loss to find something; and then, returning to the last word she
had spoken, asked her what she meant by saying “my gourds.”
She then informed me that she possessed a superb plantation of
gourds, the seeds of which she had found among our European grains,
and which she had planted in her kitchen-garden. She led the way
there; and we found, among many other plants, a quantity of those
bottle-shaped gourds that the peasants in our country carry to the
field. Some were ripe, some just formed, and others in full bloom. We
selected the ripest, and those the form of which could be useful to
us, and we commenced to empty them out. We made bottles, and plates,
and saucers, using alternately the knife and the saw. But Ernest, my
aid and companion, had very little taste for such work, and he could
scarcely contain his joy when he heard me say we had done enough.
We now anxiously expected our young messengers back, for the sun had
already begun to decline. Ernest kept a good lookout on the side
his brothers were expected from, and he soon perceived them rapidly
approaching, the one mounted on the onagra, and the other on the
buffalo.
“Well,” said I, “have you made out well?”
“Oh, yes, very well,” said Fritz, in a singular tone, as they
leaped from their coursers, and showed us what they had brought,
which consisted of a root of anise that Jack had brought in his
buffalo-pouch; a root wrapped up in leaves, which they called “monkey
root”; two calabashes of india-rubber, and another half full of
turpentine; a sack full of wax berries, and a crane, which Fritz’s
eagle had killed. But while they were exhibiting their treasures,
they talked so fast and so rambling that I was obliged to make them
preserve a little order in their recital.
Jack then commenced telling us how he had obtained the anise and the
turpentine. Of these two things, one was, at least, superfluous; but
the other might be of some advantage, as I could use it instead of
oil in making my snares for the birds. I then asked them concerning
the “monkey root” they had brought; Fritz answered as follows:--
“I do not know of what importance this root may be to us; but I can
assure you that it far surpasses manioc, both in smell and savour. We
discovered it close by the farmhouse, where a company of monkeys were
regaling themselves on it. You would have laughed to see the manner
in which the ugly animals pulled out the roots. They made use of a
process which the labourers of Europe had no idea of--they pulled
them up by turning somersets.”
“By turning somersets!” cried we; “why, how wonderful!”
“Yes, somersets,” replied Fritz. “Every monkey, after having buried
his teeth as far as possible in the root, turns himself violently
over, backward, and repeats the exercise until his reiterated efforts
have drawn the precious root from the ground.”
The monkey root, or ginseng, made its appearance at supper, and was
pronounced excellent; but as its aromatic nature made it more of a
medicine than an article of food, I forbade its frequent use, while I
enjoined my wife to plant a few roots in our garden.
The next morning I took a certain quantity of the liquid
india-rubber, which I mixed with the turpentine, and placed the
mixture over the fire; and, while the glue was thickening, I sent
the boys into the copse to gather a quantity of little twigs which
I needed. They soon brought me a large quantity, which I made them
dip in the glue and fasten to the branches of the fig-trees, the
fruit of which I observed was very much liked by the ortolans,[4]
thrushes, and beccafigoes,[5] who frequented the place. I discovered
that we had but seen the last of the season the preceding year, as
at present the birds were so numerous that a blind man firing into
the tree could not have failed to bring down a large number of them.
The abundance of game suggested another idea to my mind; I thought
that if the ortolans were so numerous during the day they would
not be less so at night, and I resolved to try, an imitation of
the Americans in Virginia, the experiment of a hunt with torches,
persuaded that it would be more expeditious and successful than
taking the birds by snares.
But my boys, while employed at making the snares, had been taken
in their own trap. Hands, faces and clothes were all covered with
glue, and one could not touch them without getting besmeared. They
were all in great consternation, and their good mother also, for she
had but very little clean linen to spare them. I calmed their fears
by assuring them that some ashes and water would remedy all the
disorder, and wash out all the stains.
I rallied them a little on their awkwardness. “I knew very well,”
said I, “that my glue would trap the birds; but I had no idea it
would catch little boys.”
I then taught them how to avoid the inconveniences of gluing their
fingers, by plunging a packet of five or six twigs, by the aid of a
pair of pincers, into the glue, instead of dipping them in singly.
They adopted the plan, which succeeded perfectly. When I had made
a sufficient quantity, Jack and Fritz climbed into the tree, and
placed the branches of fig-trees, covered with the snares, among the
limbs of the tree; and it was not long before we saw the unfortunate
ortolans falling to the ground in numbers, their legs and wings stuck
fast in the glue. But, although the fowling was so abundant, the
labour was very fatiguing, for the branches to which Fritz and Jack
had to climb were as much as sixty or seventy feet from the ground.
I placed a great deal of confidence in my torches, and I arranged
the materials for making them, in which turpentine was a powerful
auxiliary.
While I was thus occupied, Jack brought me a beautiful bird, much
larger than an ortolan, which had been taken in the snare.
“I am very certain,” said Ernest, who had approached, and who, with
his observing eye, had already recognized the bird, “I am very sure
that it is one of our European pigeons, one of the young ones from
those who built their nests last year in the branches of the tree.”
I took the bird from Jack’s hands, and recognized with pleasure that
Ernest’s conjecture was true. I rubbed the ends of his wings and his
feet with ashes to clean them from the glue, and I put him in a cage
with the intention of adding a dove-cot to our domestic property. We
captured others, and at night we had in our possession two fine pairs
of wood-pigeons.
But, notwithstanding our hard labour during the day, we were not able
to fill more than one barrel. I enjoined my sons to take notice of
the trees on which the ortolans roosted during the night. The bark of
two or three of the fig-trees which were covered with the excrements
of the birds decided the matter; and, after supper, and a few minutes
of rest, I commenced my preparations. These were few in number, and
consisted of two or three long bamboo canes, two bags, torches of
resin, and some sugar-canes. Fritz, my grand huntsman, regarded me
with a look of incredulity. He could not understand how, with these
strange instruments, I could realize the prodigies I prophesied.
We set out; and the night--which succeeds immediately to the day in
these climates--soon overshadowed the earth. Arrived at the foot of
the trees that we had chosen, I lighted up my torches, and scarcely
had the flame begun to burn, than a cloud of ortolans fell down
around us, and began to fly wildly around the flickering flames.
“Well, gentlemen,” said I to my sons, “you see that my stratagem has
proved not to be a bad idea. Now is your time; I have placed the game
within your reach; you have but to extend your hand, and you are
masters.”
I then armed each one with a bamboo cane, and set them an example
by striking right and left among the mass of ortolans. They fell
as thick and fast as rain, and we soon filled two large bags. Our
flambeaux, however, would only last long enough to light us back to
Falcon’s Nest; and as the sacks were too heavy for me alone to carry,
we placed them crosswise on the bamboo poles, and thus carried them
very easily.
We arrived safely at Falcon’s Nest, and, before we retired to rest,
looked over our game, and terminated the sufferings of those poor
birds that had not been killed by the blows. The next day, every one
put his hand to the work of cleaning and preparing our game--a very
disagreeable, although necessary, task. We filled two barrels with
ortolans, half roasted, and packed down in butter.
FOOTNOTES:
[4] _Ortolan_, not unlike the yellow-hammer.
[5] _Beccafigo_, or _Fig-eater_, about the size of a
linnet; both these birds feed on fruits and berries,
and are much prized for the delicacy of their flesh;
a very large trade is carried on from the island of
Cyprus with the former.
CHAPTER XXXV
The Dove-Cot and its Management
My wife took care of my pigeons, and approved of the plan of a
dove-cot; consequently the waggon was immediately loaded with
provisions, and all that was necessary for an excursion of some days,
and we set out for the grotto. As soon as we arrived, I chose that
part of the rock next our grotto as the situation of our dove-cot;
and as the rock, after the outside layer was pierced, became softer,
we soon made an excavation ten feet high, and large enough to
contain twenty pairs of pigeons; two perches ran through the whole
length, and, projecting out in front, with a board nailed across,
formed a platform, which we protected by a slight roof; a door with
a hole to admit light closed the front; and a rope ladder suspended
from one of the perches enabled us to mount up, and look after the
inhabitants. It cost us several weeks of constant labour to finish
the construction, fix the boards strongly in their places, cover the
inside with a coat of plaster, to prevent humidity, and arrange the
perches, the nests, etc.
“There is the edifice,” said I to Fritz; “but where are the
inhabitants? We must call into action all our knowledge to find a way
to force our wild stranger pigeons to dwell in the new habitation
we have provided for them; and, besides, they must not only remain
themselves, but must bring their companions with them.”
“It appears to me, father, that nothing short of sorcery will do it.”
“Sorcery or not, difficult as it appears, I am going to try it;
and I have strong hopes of succeeding, with the assistance you can
afford me. It is to a pigeon merchant that I owe the secret which I
am about to put into practice. I will not warrant its success, for
I have never tried it; but it consists in perfuming a new dove-cot
with anise. The pigeons, it is said, are so fond of the odour of this
plant that they will return themselves every night to respire its
perfume; and it is in this manner that they insensibly change their
country life for that of the pigeon-house.”
“Nothing can be easier,” replied Fritz. “The plant of anise that Jack
brought will do the business. We can break the seeds on a stone; and
if the oil is not as pure as that of the chemists, it will not be
less useful or less aromatic.”
“I think as you do,” I answered; “and I am very glad that I permitted
Jack to plant a root that appeared to me to be so valueless.”
We then proceeded to make the oil of anise. I rubbed the door of
the dove-cot, the perches, and every place where the pigeons could
touch either feet or wings with it. I then mixed a sort of dough
with anise, salt, and clay, and, after having placed it in the
middle of the dove-cot, we put in the pigeons, which we had kept in
willow-baskets while their habitation was building. We shut them up,
with provision for two days, and then left them to enjoy at their
leisure the odour of the anise.
When our boys had returned from our kitchen-garden at the end of
that time, we formally announced to them that the pigeons had taken
possession of their new abode. In a moment they flew to the ladder,
in eager haste to get a sight of the new inhabitants. The two
windows of isinglass which I had placed in the door were raised
by the curious, and I saw with pleasure that, instead of being
frightened at the new objects that surrounded them, our prisoners
appeared to have become quite tame; and when I entered, they took no
more notice of me than a domestic pigeon would have done.
Two days more passed away, and I became curious myself to know the
result of my _sorcery_.
On the morning of the third day I awoke Fritz very early, and
commanded him to rub anew with anise the door, which was made to
rise up and down by means of a pulley. He did it, and we then went,
without saying anything about our preparations, to awake the still
sleeping family. I then announced that the day of liberty for our
prisoners had arrived, and now they were to be free.
All now took their stations. I gave the cord of the door into Jack’s
hands; and, scarcely able to keep my countenance, I described a
magic circle with a wand, and, after having murmured a pretended
conjuration, I ordered Jack to pull up the cord.
The pigeons poked their heads cautiously out of the hole, then
advanced on the platform, and suddenly soared up to such a height
that they were lost to our sight. But in a few moments they again
flew down, and settled, tranquilly, upon the platform they had just
quitted.
This incident, which I did not expect, gave new proofs of my dealings
in magic, and I cried out, in the most serious manner, “I knew very
well, when they flew up in the clouds, that they were not lost.”
“How could you possibly know that?” said Ernest.
“Because my charms have attached them to the dove-cot,” was my answer.
“Charms!” cried Jack; “are you, then, a sorcerer, papa?”
“Simpleton!” replied Ernest; “who ever _heard_ of sorcerers?”
At that moment the pigeons, who had been quietly picking on the
ground, attracted our attention. The two Molucca pigeons suddenly
quitted their European brothers, and flew off in the direction of
Falcon’s Nest, with such rapidity that soon they were lost to our
view.
“Adieu, gentlemen,” cried Jack, as they darted away, taking his hat
off and making a thousand faces; “adieu, a pleasant trip to you.”
My wife and Francis commenced to deplore the loss of our two handsome
pigeons, while I, preserving as serious a look as possible, stretched
out my hands, and, turning to the direction in which the pigeons
flew, I murmured, half aloud, the following words:
“Fly, little ones, fly far, far away; till to-morrow you may stay;
but then, return with your companions.”
I then turned toward my family, who stood stupefied with
astonishment, not knowing what to make out of my serious address to
the departed pigeons.
As for the other pigeons, they did not seem disposed to follow
their companions, but appeared completely tamed: they had found the
dove-cot of Europe with its shelter, and there they gladly remained.
We passed the rest of the day in the neighbourhood of the dove-cot,
conversing on sorcery and the question of the pigeons; we often
strained our eyes in the direction of Falcon’s Nest, but nothing
appeared. The evening came, and the European pigeons slept alone
in their palace. We supped gaily, and retired to rest in anxious
expectation of the morrow, which must establish either my defeat or
my triumph.
We renewed, the next day, our habitual occupations; and though I felt
a little doubtful about the return of the birds, I said nothing, but
anxiously awaited the evening; when, about noon, we saw Jack running
furiously toward us, clapping his hands, and screaming out:
“He has returned! he has returned!”
“Who? who?” was eagerly asked.
“The blue pigeon!” he answered, “the blue pigeon! Quick! quick! come
and see him!”
We ran to the dove-cot, and, besides the blue pigeon, we found with
him, on one of the exterior perches of the house, his mate, whom he
was endeavouring to persuade to venture into the interior. He would
put in his head, and then return to her, until at last he prevailed,
and we had the satisfaction of seeing her enter the pigeon-house.
My sons would have immediately closed the door, but I prevented them,
saying that some time or other it must be opened; “and besides,” I
added, “how are the other pigeons to enter if we close the door?”
“I begin to think,” said my wife, at last, “that there is something
extraordinary in this; and, unless you have used some enchantment, I
cannot comprehend it.”
“It is chance--pure chance,” interrupted Ernest.
“Chance!” replied I, laughing; “that will do very well for one time,
but when the other pigeon returns this evening, with his mate, will
you think _that_ chance?”
“Impossible!” answered he; “the same phenomenon could not happen
twice in a day.”
While we were thus speaking, Fritz suddenly interrupted us: his eagle
eyes had perceived the birds we were expecting.
“What do you say now, my little doctor?” said I to Ernest: “both
pairs of pigeons have now returned.”
“I do not know what to say,” he answered seriously; “it certainly
appears very extraordinary; but as for any sorcery or magic being
employed, I will not believe it.”
“It gives me pleasure to see that you are not credulous; but if a
third pair of Molucca pigeons should visit us to-day, would you call
that chance also?”
Ernest did not answer; but his silence showed that he was far from
being convinced.
We returned to our occupations, leaving Francis and his mother to
provide a dinner for us. We had worked about two hours, when we saw
our little Francis come running towards us. When he came near he drew
up his little form, and, bowing haughtily, commenced the following
speech:
“Most high and mighty lords, I am here to invite you, on the part of
my good mother, to come and behold the prince of pigeons, who, with
his noble spouse, has come to take possession of the magnificent
palace you have provided for him.”
“You are welcome for your good news, Mr. Messenger,” was the
universal answer.
We hastened to the dove-cot, where my wife, after cautioning us to
make no noise, pointed out to us two superb birds, whom those in the
interior were endeavouring to persuade to enter.
“I give up,” said Ernest, at last; “my little knowledge cannot
comprehend it. I beg of you, papa, to explain all.”
I explained to him, in detail, all that we had done. Jack laughed
heartily on hearing that his plant of anise had been the charm which
had so puzzled them; and I tried to persuade him to follow the
example of Ernest, and not believe everything so readily.
The following days were devoted to bringing our dove-cot as near
as possible to perfection; and we saw, with joy, that the new
inhabitants were permanently settled, and had already begun to
construct their nests. I observed among the articles they gathered
for that purpose, a sort of long, grey moss, which I had seen hanging
from the branches of old trees. I recognized it as being the same
thing as is exported from India as a substitute for horse-hair, in
the manufacture of mattresses. The Spaniards make cords also of it,
which are so light that a piece twenty feet in length, if suspended
from a pole, will float, like a flag, in the air.
I made this discovery known to my good wife, and one can easily
imagine my news was well received; for it added another treasure to
our domestic riches, and afforded promise of some fine mattresses.
We found, from time to time, in the soil of the dove-cot, nutmegs,
which, doubtless, the pigeons of Molucca had brought over. We washed
them, and, although they were deprived of their silky covering,
we committed them to the earth, without much hope of their ever
germinating.
CHAPTER XXXVI
Jack’s Adventure and Narrow Escape--A
Fountain
An adventure of which Master Jack was the hero diverted the monotony
of our existence, divided as it was between new constructions and
provisioning our habitation for winter.
Jack had one day set off on an expedition, the intent and purpose of
which nobody but himself had any knowledge of; but his absence was
not long, for we soon saw him returning, covered from head to foot
with a thick, black mud, and dragging after him a bundle of Spanish
rushes, likewise covered with mud.
“Where have you been,” said I, “to dirty yourself so?”
“In Flamingo Marsh.”
“Why, what in the name of common sense were you doing there?”
“Alas!” answered the poor boy, as he heaved a deep sigh, “I wanted to
get some Spanish osiers to make nests for the pigeons.”
“A praiseworthy intention,” said I. “It was not your fault that the
enterprise did not succeed well.”
“Oh, no; and if it had not been for these bundles of rushes I should
certainly have lost my life. I wanted some thin, flexible rushes;
those on the borders of the swamp were too large, and I advanced
farther into the marsh, jumping from hummock to hummock, until I
came to a spot where the only footing was a mass of soft, black
mud; my feet slipped in, and I found myself up to my knees in the
compound; and, gradually sinking deeper, I commenced screaming at
the top of my voice; but nobody heard me, except my jackal, who came
running up to me, and tried to assist me by howling with all his
might.”
“But why,” said Ernest, “did you not try to swim? you excel all of us
in swimming.”
“Fine advice, truly; I would like to see you swimming in a swamp, up
to your neck in mud, and surrounded by a thick forest of willows.
When I perceived that neither my cries nor those of the jackal
produced any good, I endeavoured to draw myself out; for I was
sinking fast, and had no time to lose. I took my knife from my
pocket, and cut, from the willows that surrounded me, two large
bundles, and, placing one under each arm, they served me as a sort
of hold. I then exerted all my strength, and, by moving my body, my
arms, and my legs, I managed to raise myself up a little. All this
time my jackal stood on the edge of the marsh, howling with all his
might. I whistled him to me, and, grasping hold of his tail at last,
with great difficulty, I reached terra firma.”
“God be praised, my poor child,” said I, “that you have been
preserved to us! but the risk was great, and you may thank your
jackal that you are alive.”
His mother hastened to wash and clean the poor adventurer: his entire
suit was put to soak in the Jackal’s River, and we also washed the
rushes, as I intended to make use of them. In their present condition
they were too long and hard, and we were obliged to cut them in
several strips.
I profited by the willows that Jack had brought, to commence the
construction of a machine that my wife had long expected of me, viz.,
a weaving-machine.
Two rushes, split lengthwise, and wound round with packthread, so
that they would dry without bending, formed four bars to make that
part of the machine called the “combs.” I made my sons cut me a
quantity of little pieces of wood, to make the teeth for the combs;
and when I had procured these first materials for my construction,
I put them aside, saying nothing to anybody concerning their
destination, as I wished the machine to be a surprise to my wife,
and I proved insensible to all the ridicule showered upon my little
sticks, which Ernest facetiously called _tooth-picks_.
“What are you going to make with all those sticks?” asked my wife,
with womanish curiosity.
“Oh, nothing but a whim of mine,” I answered, laughing. “I intend to
make you a superb instrument of music, such as the Hottentots have
called a _gom-gom_. Let me alone, and I promise you, you shall be the
first to dance to its melodious sounds.”
About this time, our onagra gave birth to a beautiful little ass of
its species. It was received with pleasure, for it not only added
to our number of useful animals, but also afforded us a courser,
that in future time would make quite a figure in our cavalcades. I
gave it the name of “Rapid,” as I designed him particularly for the
saddle; and we saw with pleasure that his limbs were all beautifully
proportioned.
The approach of the rainy season and the remembrance of the trouble
we had had in collecting our animals last year, induced us to invent
a method to render the service less painful; it was to accustom them
to return to their homes at the sound of a conch, in which I had
placed a bit of wood, like a flute. The pigs were the only ones that
we could not manage. They were unruly and loved their liberty too
much to be confined; we willingly abandoned them, as the dogs could
easily bring them together if desired.
Among the embellishments and comforts with which we had surrounded
our winter habitation, we yet wanted a reservoir of pure water, which
we were obliged to bring from the Jackal’s River. The distance was
too great in winter, and I wished to remedy the inconvenience before
the rains came on. I conceived the idea of bringing a stream of water
from the river to the grotto, and to establish a fountain, as we had
done at Falcon’s Nest. Bamboo canes, fitted into one another, served
us for canals; we rested them on crutches of wood, and a barrel sunk
in the ground performed the office of a basin.
We proposed, when time permitted us, to give to this construction the
elegance and perfection it wanted. But such as it was, it answered
our purpose; and my wife assured me she was just as contented with
the little fountain as if it had been built of marble, and surrounded
by dolphins and naiads, spouting water from their mouths.
CHAPTER XXXVII
The Approach of Winter and Wet Season--Invention
of a New Light--Literary
Acquisitions
The season of rains was fast approaching, and we used all possible
expedition to get in everything necessary. The grain, the fruits of
all sorts which surrounded our habitation, potatoes, rice, guavas,
sweet acorns, pineapples, anise, manioc, bananas, nothing in short
was forgotten. We sowed our seeds as we had done the year before,
hoping that the European sorts would sprout quicker and more easily
on account of the moisture of the atmosphere.
My wife made us sacks of canvas which we filled, and by the aid of
our patient beasts carried to the magazines, where they were emptied
into large hogsheads prepared for them. But these labours were not
accomplished without much trouble; for as we had planted our corn
and wheat at different times, we were obliged to choose out the ripe
stalks from a whole field--a work of no small difficulty. I resolved
to devise some plan for a more regular cultivation the next year.
We had a pair of buffaloes for all the labour that would have to be
done; and all that was required, in addition to our present stock
of harness, was a double yoke, which I intended to make during our
winter seclusion.
But the rains had already commenced; several times we had been
visited by heavy showers, which hastened our remaining occupations.
By degrees the horizon became covered with thick clouds, the winds
swept fearfully along the coast, the billows rose, and for the space
of fifteen days we were witnesses of a scene of whose majesty and
terrific grandeur man cannot form an idea. Nature seemed overturned,
the trees bent to the terrible blasts, the lightning and the
thunder were mingled with the wind and the storm; in one word, it
was a concert of Nature’s many voices, where the deep tones of the
thunder served for the bass, and harmoniously blended with the sharp
whistlings of the storm. It seemed to us that the storm of last year
had been nothing in comparison to it. Nevertheless, the winds began
to calm, and the rain, instead of beating down upon us in torrents,
began to fall with that despair-inspiring uniformity, which we felt
would last for twelve long weeks. The first moments of our seclusion
were sad enough, but necessity reconciled us to our situation, and
we began as cheerfully as possible to arrange the interior of our
subterranean habitation.
We devoted our attention first to a crowd of minor wants which we
only discovered by occupation, but yet were of primary necessity. I
have said that our apartments were all on one floor; but the ground
had not been carefully levelled, and we set to work to fill up the
cavities and cut away the projections, so as to prevent any of us
from breaking our necks. The fountain I had made did not answer the
purpose, and the one great necessity of a good supply of water was
as yet unprovided for. We also made tables and chairs, prepared for
all the exigencies of our position, and endeavoured to render our
long confinement as supportable as possible. But there was yet an
inconvenience. We had not imagined we wanted light. There were but
three openings in the grotto, besides the door: one in the kitchen,
one in the work-room, and a third in my sleeping-chamber. The boys’
room, and all the rest of our habitation, was plunged in the most
complete darkness. The light never penetrated into the recesses
of the grotto. I discovered that three or four more windows were
necessary; but they could not be made before the return of fine
weather, and I devised the following remedy for the defect.
Among the bamboos that I had procured as leaders for the water, was
one of great size, which I had preserved. This bamboo I found by
chance was just the height of our grotto. I trimmed it, and planted
it in the ground about a foot deep, surrounding it with props to
make it steady. I then gave Jack a hammer, a pulley, and a rope,
and, appealing to his agility, I asked him to climb the pole. In a
moment he was at the top, and, after having driven the pulley into
the roof of the grotto, and thrown the cord over it, he descended
safely to the ground. I then suspended to one end of the cord a
large lantern which we found in the ship. Francis and my wife were
officially charged with its supervision, and, thanks to the thousand
reflectors which lined the sides of the rock, our grotto was as light
as if it had been broad day. The light was an immense benefit to us,
and enabled us to carry on our different occupations with zeal and
comfort.
Ernest and Francis charged themselves with the task of arranging
our library, and disposing, in its different shelves, the works we
had saved from the wreck. Jack aided his mother in the kitchen; and
Fritz, being stronger than his brothers, assisted me in the work-room.
We arranged there, by the window, a superb English turning-lathe,
with all its equipments. I had often amused myself by turning in my
younger days, and I now could put my knowledge of the art to some
use. We also constructed a forge; anvils were fixed in large blocks
of wood, and all the tools of the wheelwright and the cooper were
laid out in long array on the racks I had put up next the wall. Our
shop began to assume a business-like appearance, of which I was
proud; and often did I congratulate myself that I had sufficiently
acquainted myself, in youth, with mechanics to prevent their being
entirely new to me.
The grotto every day grew more agreeable, and we were enabled to
wait without ennui for the welcome light of the sun. We had our
work-room, our dining-room, and our library, where we could refresh
our minds after the fatigues of the body; for the cases we had saved
from the ship contained a quantity of books which had belonged to
the captain and officers. Besides Bibles and books of devotion, we
found works on history, botany, philosophy, voyages, and travels,
some enriched with engravings, which were a real treasure to us. We
had also maps, several mathematical and astronomical instruments, a
portable globe--an English invention, which blew up like a balloon;
but the sort of works which prevailed were grammars and dictionaries
of different nations: they generally form the chief stock of ship
libraries.
We all knew a little of French, for this is as much in use as
German throughout Switzerland. Fritz and Ernest had commenced to
learn English at Zurich, and I had myself paid some attention to
the language, in order to superintend their education. I now urged
them to continue their studies, as English was the language of the
sea, and there were very few ships that did not contain some one
who understood it. Jack, who knew nothing at all, began to pay some
attention to Spanish and Italian, the pomp and melody of these two
languages according with his character. As for myself, I laboured
hard to master the Malay tongue; for the inspection of charts and
maps convinced me that we were in the neighbourhood of these people.
Our grotto grew every day so comfortable that the children could
not think of any name suitable to call it by: some wanted it called
The Fairy Palace, others The Resplendent Grotto; but after a long
discussion, we came to the conclusion that it should be called simply
“Felsenheim,” or the dwelling in the rock. Time rolled away so
rapidly in all these occupations, that two months of the rainy season
had elapsed, and I had not yet found time to make my double yokes, or
a new pair of carding-combs, that my wife had teased me for a long
time.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Close of the Rainy Season--A Whale--Coral
The end of the month of August was marked by a renewal of the bad
weather. The rain, the winds, the thunder redoubled with new fury.
How happy we were in the habitation we had made. What would have
become of us in our aërial palace at Falcon’s Nest? and our tent, how
could that have withstood the storm? But at last the weather became
more settled; the clouds dissipated; the rain ceased; and we were
able to venture out from our grotto, to see whether the world yet
remained firm.
We promenaded upon the belt of rocks that extended all along the
coast; and, as we had need of liberty and exercise, we took pleasure
in scaling the highest peaks, and looking over the plain which was
spread out beneath us. Fritz, always daring, and whose eye almost
rivalled that of his eagle, was standing upon the peak of rocks, when
he perceived, upon the little island in Flamingo Bay, a black spot,
the nature and form of which he could not determine; but he thought
it was a shipwrecked vessel. Ernest, who mounted after him, took
it for a sea-lion, such as Admiral Anson speaks of in his voyages.
I determined to go and inspect it myself. We walked down to the
sea-shore, emptied the rain-water from the canoe, and all set off.
The nearer we approached, the more rapidly one conjecture followed
another. At last, when we were near enough to distinguish it, what
was our surprise to see an enormous whale, lying on his side upon the
strand.
Being ignorant whether he was dead or sleeping, I did not think it
prudent to approach without precaution; consequently we turned around
and steered for the other side of the island, which consisted of
nothing more than a sand-bank elevated above the waves; but a rank
growth of herbs and plants covered it, and it was the resort of
numbers of sea-birds, whose nests and eggs we found in abundance.
There were two roads to choose, by which to reach the whale: one
by climbing over the rocks, which rendered it laborious; the other
longer, but far the less fatiguing. I took the first path, and
commanded the boys to take the other, as I wished to examine fully
this little island, which wanted but trees to render it charming.
From this elevation I could see the whole coast, from Tent House to
Falcon’s Nest, which spectacle made me almost forget the whale; and
when I reached the side where my children were, they came running
toward me, screaming with joy, and carrying their hats full of shells
and coral, which they had picked up on the beach. “Look, papa,” said
they, “what beautiful shells we have found; what can have brought
them here?”
“It is the sea, my children,” I answered; “the sea has thrown them up
from its abyss, and it appears to be little cause for astonishment
that she should bring such frail, light things as these shells, when
she has thrown upon our shores a monster whose bulk is so immense.”
On the return journey I related to my sons the phenomena of
the existence of coral; and, while talking, we arrived at our
destination, where my wife and son were ready to receive us. She
admired the beauty of our coral, but observed that it was of no use
in the household affairs; and when I had told her my resolution to
return to the whale that afternoon, she cheerfully declared that
she would accompany me. I was enchanted at this resolution, and we
hastened to prepare the necessary provisions and articles for a stay
of two days; for, perhaps, we might be detained on the island, and I
thought it best to make preparations accordingly.
CHAPTER XXXIX
The Whale, its dissection--Uses of the different
parts of the Whale
After dinner, which we partook of an hour earlier than usual, I made
a search for some barrels in which to put the blubber of the whale,
I did not want to take the empty barrels we had at Falcon’s Nest
and Felsenheim, as I knew that it would be impossible to remove the
disagreeable smell of oil. My wife reminded me that we yet had four
tubs in our boat, which would answer my purpose very well. I fastened
them to the stern of the canoe; and, after having armed my sons with
knives, and hatchets, and saws, and all the cutting-instruments I
could find, we weighed anchor, and directed our course toward the
island where the whale lay.
Our whale looked like those of Greenland: the back was greenish
black, the stomach yellowish, the fins and tail black. I immediately
measured it, and I found that it was between sixty and seventy feet
long, and about forty in diameter, which is about the ordinary size
of these monsters of the deep. My children were astonished at the
proportions of the head, which formed a third of the whole creature;
its mouth was immense; and its jaws, which were full twelve feet in
length were furnished with flexible appendages called “dewlaps,”[6]
and which in Europe form an article of commerce. One thing which
struck Fritz was the smallness of the monster’s eye, which was not
larger than that of an ox; and the opening by which his immense mouth
communicated with his throat, was scarcely the diameter of my arm.
Fritz and Jack entered the head of the whale, and working with the
hatchet and the saw, cut out the “dewlaps,” which Francis and his
mother carried to the boat; we cut out more than two hundred pieces
of different sizes. While this was going on, Ernest and I cut several
feet deep into the fat which covered the sides of the animal; we
literally swam in grease, for walls of solid fat rose on each side
of us. But we were not long the only claimants for the whale. A
multitude of winged robbers surrounded us, eager to associate in
our work. They flew round and round our heads; then, gradually
approaching, they were so bold as to snatch pieces of fat from our
hands. The birds were very troublesome; but my wife having made the
remark that their down would be of use to her, I knocked down some
with a club, and threw them into the boat. I cut from the back of the
whale a long and large band of skin, out of which I wanted to make a
harness for the ass and the two buffaloes. It was a difficult task,
the skin was so thick, and so hard to cut. The tubs were placed in
the canoe, and we set out for the coast with the new cargo we had
acquired. It was for us a precious treasure, but far from agreeably
obtained.
The next morning we again embarked in the canoe; but this time
Francis and his mother were left behind, as they could have been
of no use in the work I intended, which was to penetrate into the
interior of the whale, and, if possible, to procure some parts of its
immense intestines. A fresh wind was blowing, and we soon arrived
at the island, which we found covered with gulls and other marine
birds, who, in spite of the canvas with which the pieces that had
been cut from the whale were covered, had made a plentiful meal. It
was necessary to have recourse to fire-arms to drive away this horde
of pillagers.
We took care, before commencing our work, to strip off every article
of clothing, excepting our pantaloons; then, like true butchers, we
opened the animal, selected from the mass of entrails those which
would best suit our purpose; I cut them in pieces of from six to
twelve feet long, and, after having turned them inside out, washed
them, and well rubbed them with sand; they were then placed in the
boat.
We abandoned the rest of our prey to the voracious birds; and, after
having loaded our boat with a new cargo of whale blubber, we set sail
for Felsenheim.
The reason that I had taken so much trouble to obtain the whale’s
intestines was, that I wished to use them as vessels to contain the
oil.
When we arrived at home, we found my wife anxiously expecting us;
but the sight of our greasy habiliments almost frightened her, and
she anticipated the labour of washing them with no very pleasurable
sensations; but I consoled her by promising miracles from the rich
treasures of whale oil, and the entrails we had brought home. We
washed ourselves completely, and, after an entire change of clothing,
set out for Felsenheim.
FOOTNOTE:
[6] Whalebone.
CHAPTER XL
The Boat-propeller or Rowing Machine--A
Turtle Drive
The day had scarcely dawned when we were all up and ready for work.
The four tubs of fat were raised from the ground, and, a strong
pressure being applied, we squeezed out as much of the oil as
possible; and as this was the finest and purest, we filled one or two
of the entrails with it.
The rest was emptied into a large iron kettle, and, a slow fire being
applied, it was soon reduced to a liquid state. A large iron spoon,
which we had saved from the wreck, and which had been originally
intended for the sugar factory, served us to empty the oil into
the entrails from the kettle. All these works were carried on at
a distance from Felsenheim, as we did not wish to perfume the air
around our habitation with the fœtid odour of whale oil.
While we were occupied in our manufacture of oil, my wife made me
a proposition which met my hearty approbation: it was to establish
a new colony on the island of the whale. “We will put some fowls
there,” said she; “they will be safe from their two great plagues,
the monkeys and the jackals.”
I liked the project of my wife very much; and the children were so
enchanted that they wanted to start immediately, and put it into
execution. But it was now too late, and I calmed their ardour by
mentioning an idea I had conceived of fitting a propelling machine to
the canoe.
“Oh,” cried Jack, “the canoe will go along without any rowing; how
fine it will be!”
“Stop, stop,” said I; “not so fast. All that I can do will be to save
your arms some labour, and quicken our speed.”
I immediately commenced the work. All my materials consisted of the
wheel of a smoke-jack and an iron-toothed axle upon which it turned.
The machine that I constructed was not a masterpiece of execution;
but it answered the purpose very well. A handle attached to the wheel
put the machine in motion, and two large flat pieces of whalebone,
nailed together in the form of a cross, and fixed at each end of
the axle, resembled the wheels of a steamboat. When the handle was
turned, the wings of whalebone beat against the surface of the water,
and drove the canoe forward. Its velocity was in proportion to the
power imparted to the wheel.
I will not attempt to describe the transports of joy that my children
evinced when they saw the canoe gliding over the surface of the
water. I was astonished myself at the rapidity of our course. We
had scarcely touched the land, when every one was in the boat, and
begging me to make an excursion to the island of the whale. But the
day was too far advanced to admit of such a thing, and I promised
them that we would make, on the morrow, a grand trial of our vessel
by an excursion, by sea, to the farmhouse at Prospect Hill, for the
purpose of inspecting our colony there.
My proposition was well received, and we immediately began to
prepare our arms and provisions, so that we could start early on the
morrow.
At the first dawning of the day everybody was ready. We did not
forget provisions; and my wife put up, in a double envelope of fresh
leaves, a piece of the whale’s tongue, which, by the recommendation
of doctor Ernest, she had cooked and spiced as a delicate viand.
We gaily quitted the shore, and the strong current of the Jackal’s
River soon brought us into the sea; the breeze was good, and
everything promised a favourable sail. We soon perceived Shark
Island, the bank of sand where the whale had been stranded; and so
well did our machine work, that in a short time we found ourselves in
sight of Prospect Hill. I had kept at some distance from the coast,
as I was afraid that there might be some hidden rocks inshore, which
might destroy our frail bark.
When we had arrived opposite the “Wood of Monkeys,” I ran the
boat into a little creek, and landed, to replenish our stock of
cocoa-nuts. It was with feelings of the keenest pleasure that we
heard the crowing of the cocks through the woods, announcing the
neighbourhood of the farmhouse. We re-embarked and rapidly neared
Prospect Hill, and could plainly distinguish the bleating of our
little herd. We landed, and directed our course toward the farmhouse.
Everything was in order; but what greatly astonished us was the
wildness of the sheep and goats, who fled on all sides at our
approach. My sons began to run after them; but as the long-bearded
ladies were far more agile than they were, they soon grew tired of
the chase, and, drawing from their pockets the strings with balls
attached, they soon captured three or four of the fugitives. We
distributed some potatoes and a handful of salt among them, in
return for which they yielded us several bowls of most delicious milk.
We dined at Prospect Hill. The cold meats we had brought had composed
our repast; but the whale’s tongue was unanimously pronounced most
detestable and only fit for a sailor. We gave it to Jack’s jackal,
the only one of our domestic animals who had followed us.
I left my wife to make the preparations for our departure, and
started out with Fritz to gather some sugar-cane. I also dug up some
roots of this precious article to plant on Whale Island.
We weighed anchor, or, at least, we pulled up the stone that secured
us, and coasted along in the direction of Cape Disappointment, which
I wished to double; but the cape still justified its name, and a
long bank of sand stretching out prevented our progress, and we were
obliged to turn back. I hoisted the sail, we redoubled our labours at
the wheel, and, thanks to a little breeze that sprang up, were soon
in sight of Whale Island.
On landing, my first care was to plant the roots I had brought from
Prospect Hill; but my companions, on whose assistance I had counted,
did not think the plantation of sufficient consequence for them, and
ran off to the beach to gather shells. My good wife supplied their
places, and we two began our labours. We had scarcely commenced when
Jack came running up to us, all out of breath. “Papa, papa,” cried
he, “come here--quick, I have discovered the skeleton of a mammoth!”
I burst into a laugh, and informed my little boy that his skeleton
was nothing more than the carcass of our whale.
“No, no,” replied he; “they are not fish bones, but those of some
immense animal; and, besides, they lie a great deal farther up on the
sand than the whale did.”
Jack implored and entreated so earnestly that I consented at last to
go; but another voice soon stopped my progress.
“Run, run--this way,” screamed Fritz, from some distance, waving his
hand to hasten my arrival. “Quick--a monstrous turtle that we are
not strong enough to turn.” I caught up two handspikes and ran, as
fast as possible, to the spot, where I found Ernest struggling with
a monstrous turtle, which he held by one leg, but which, despite all
his efforts, had reached the border of the sea. I arrived just in
time; and, throwing one of the spikes to Fritz, we were able to turn
the enormous animal on its back.
It really was of prodigious size, about eight feet and a half in
length, and could not possibly weigh less than five hundred pounds.
I did not know how we should be able to carry it away; however, the
position in which we had placed it gave us time for reflection.
But Jack had not forgotten his mammoth, and continued teasing me to
go and see it. I soon perceived that it really was our whale; but the
birds of prey had not left a morsel of flesh on the bones, which had
blanched in the sun. I showed him our footprints in the sand, and
some morsels of whalebone which we had forgotten.
“Can we not,” said Fritz, in considering the skeleton of a whale,
“draw from this mountain of bones some utility?”
“I do not know,” said I, “what use we can make of them; the
Hollanders make palings of them, and also rustic chairs, which
produce a fine effect; and we will one day, when we have leisure,
make a philosophical chair for our museum.” Discussing in this
manner, we arrived at our plantation. I perceived that it was
too late to finish our work that night. We buried the roots,
yet unplanted, in the ground, and deferred till another day this
important occupation. The giant turtle was now our grand object:
I brought the boat round to where he lay extended on his back,
and, forming a circle around him, we debated as to the means of
transporting him.
“Zounds! gentlemen,” said I, striking my forehead, “we need not
embarrass ourselves _much_; instead of carrying this monster, let him
conduct _us_ back to Felsenheim. A turtle makes an excellent equipage
on the sea: Fritz and I have tried the experiment.”
My idea was a happy one, and every one was glad. I commenced by
emptying out the barrel of water we had brought; then, turning the
turtle over on his feet, we fastened the barrel to his back, so that
it was impossible for him to sink and draw us with him; a cord,
passed through a hole which we broke in the upper shell, served me
for reins; and without losing time we all embarked for home. I placed
myself in the prow of the canoe, with a hatchet to cut the cord in
case of need.
Our course was accomplished rapidly and safely: a handspike that I
held in my hand served me for a whip, and a blow well applied would
rectify any deviation from the track. Master Ernest, the professor,
compared us to Neptune gliding over the waves drawn by dolphins.
We arrived safely at Felsenheim, and our first care was to secure
our turtle, and to replace the empty barrel by strong ropes. But as
we could not keep him long in this way, we finished his life the
next morning, and his enormous shell was destined to serve as a
basin to our fountain in the grotto. The work cost some trouble and
time, as it was very difficult to detach the flesh from the shell.
It was a superb piece of meat, full six feet by three, and afforded
us material for many a delicious pot of soup. We inquired into all
our works on natural history, and we came to the conclusion (the
professor and I) that our turtle was the giant green turtle, the
largest of all.
CHAPTER XLI
Weaving Machine--Basket making--The Alarm--A
Dangerous Visitor--The Ass Falls
a Victim
We had had so much trouble in harvesting our crops the last season
that we had resolved, instead of trusting them to the ground without
any order or regularity, to prepare a field which could receive them
all at the same time, and where they could ripen together. But as our
animals were not yet sufficiently accustomed to the yoke to warrant
our undertaking the task, I was obliged to defer it till some future
period.
In the meantime, I employed myself in constructing a weaving-machine
for my wife: our garments had become so tattered and torn that the
machine was of incalculable benefit to us. It was neither perfect nor
handsome, and nothing more could be expected. As we had none of the
wheat flour that the weavers use to make paste, which they employ
in hardening the warp, and preventing the threads from tangling, I
substituted the glue of fish; and I may confess, without self-praise,
that my composition was better than that of the weavers, for the
fish-glue preserves a humidity that the ordinary glue does not,
and by employing it one can weave in a dry situation, instead of
descending into cellars, where the weavers from time immemorial have
been obliged to confine themselves. From this fish-glue I also made
window-panes, not well calculated, it is true, for windows exposed to
the rain; but they answered for ours, which, on account of their deep
embrasures, were protected from storm.
These two successes encouraged me, and I resolved to try my hand
at another thing, or, to speak poetically, “add another flower to
my wreath.” My little cavaliers had long tormented me to make them
saddles and bridles, and our beasts had need of yokes and other
harness. I commenced my work and established myself as saddler;
kangaroos and sea-dogs furnished me with the necessary leather, and I
used for wadding the moss that the Molucca pigeons had discovered to
us. But as this moss would have matted together, and grown hard under
the rider, I employed my sons in twisting it into cords, in which
state it was left some time, and then untwisted; by that means we
obtained frizzed hair, as elastic as that of horses. In a short time
we had saddles and stirrups, bits and bridles, yokes and collars,
each adapted to the strength of the animal for which it was intended.
But this sedentary course of life did not suit the restless minds of
my young people, and they earnestly begged me to take them hunting
in the country. I put the matter off, and took in hand another sort
of work, the want of which we felt sensibly. I speak of the making
of baskets, a number of which articles we needed to carry our rice,
roots, grain, etc. Our first attempts were clumsy enough, and we
reserved them for our potato baskets. We gradually improved, and when
I thought we were skilful enough, I ventured to use those Spanish
rushes that had cost Jack so dear, and we made a number of fine
baskets; they were not as finished workmanship as more skilful hands
would have effected, but they were light and strong, and that was all
we cared for.
My sons had made a large basket to put manioc roots in, and, in a fit
of mischief, Jack and Ernest had passed a bamboo cane through the
handles, and, putting little Francis in the basket, set off on a full
run, while the poor fellow endeavoured in vain to stop them.
Fritz, who had been looking at them, turned to me, saying, “An idea
has struck me, papa; why cannot we make a litter of rushes for mamma,
and then she will be able to accompany us in our distant excursions?”
“Really,” I replied, “a litter would be much more convenient than the
back of the ass, and much easier than the cart: we will try what can
be done.”
My children were delighted at the plan; but my wife laughingly
observed, “that she would make but a poor figure seated in a wicker
basket.”
“Never fear,” said I, “we will make you a fine palanquin such as are
used in Persia and Hindostan.”
We immediately put the design into execution: the buffalo and the
bull were brought out; two poles, which supported a large basket,
were suspended by cords on each side, and Ernest jumped in to make
the first trial. Jack mounted Storm, who was placed at the head, and
Francis Broumm, who supported the hinder part, and they set off. The
first steps answered admirably; the basket, balanced between the
poles, resembled a luxurious carriage on its springs of steel. But it
was not exactly a pleasant carriage-drive that Ernest enjoyed; for,
at a given signal agreed on by his coachmen, they whipped up their
beasts, and set off at full gallop, subjecting Ernest to a punishment
as novel as it was ridiculous, which consisted in forcing him to
perform a sort of _basket-dance_ at each jump of his conductors. The
fun was violent, but it was harmless, and we could not help laughing
to see the phlegmatic Ernest so tossed about.
We then all returned to our basket-making; but we had scarcely
recommenced, when Fritz, whose eagle eye was always making
discoveries, suddenly started up as if frightened at a cloud of dust
which had arisen on the other side of the river, in the direction of
Falcon’s Nest.
“There is some large animal there,” said he, “to judge from the dust
it has raised; besides, it is plainly coming in this direction.”
“I cannot imagine what it is,” I answered; “our large animals are in
the stable, resting themselves after the experiment of the palanquin.”
“Probably two or three sheep, or, perhaps, our sow, frolicking in the
sand,” observed my wife.
“No, no,” replied Fritz, quickly; “it is some singular animal:
I can perceive its movements: it rolls and unrolls itself
alternately; I can see the rings of which it is formed. See, it
is raising itself up, and looks like a huge mast in the dust; it
advances--stops--marches on; but I cannot distinguish either feet or
legs.”
I ran for the spy-glass we had saved from the wreck, and directed it
toward the dust.
“I can see it plainly,” said Fritz; “it has a greenish-coloured body.
What do you think of it, papa?”
“That we must fly as fast as possible, and entrench ourselves in the
grotto.”
“What do you think it is?”
“A serpent--a huge serpent, advancing directly for us.”
“Shall I run for the guns, to be ready to receive him?”
“Not here. The serpent is too powerful to permit of our attacking
him, unless we are ourselves in a place of safety.”
We hastened to gain the interior of the grotto, and prepared to
receive our enemy. It was a boa-constrictor, and he advanced so
quickly that it was too late to take up the boards on Family Bridge.
We watched all his movements, and saw him stretching out his enormous
length along the bank of the river. From time to time the reptile
would raise up the forepart of his body twenty feet from the ground,
and turn his head gently from right to left, as if seeking for his
prey, while he darted a triple-barbed tongued from his half-open
jaws. He crossed the bridge, and directed his course straight for
the grotto: we had barricaded the door and the windows as well as we
were able, and ascended into the dove-cot, to which we had made an
interior entrance; we passed our muskets through the holes in the
door, and waited silently for the enemy--it was the silence of terror.
But the boa, in advancing, had perceived the traces of man’s
handiwork, and he came on hesitatingly, until at last he stopped,
about thirty paces directly in front of our position. He had scarcely
advanced thus far when Ernest, more through fear than through any
war-like ardour, discharged his gun, and thus gave a false signal.
Jack and Francis followed his example; and my wife, whom the danger
had rendered bold, also discharged her gun.
The monster raised his head; but either because none of the shots
had touched him, or because the scales of his skin were impenetrable
to balls, he appeared to have received no wound. Fritz and I then
fired, but without any effect, and the serpent glided away with
inconceivable rapidity toward the marsh which our ducks and geese
inhabited, and disappeared in the rushes.
The neighbourhood of the boa threw me into the most unenviable state
of mind; for I could think of no way to rid ourselves of him, and our
united forces were as nothing against such an enemy. I expressly
commanded my whole family to remain in the grotto, and forbade them
opening the door without my permission.
The fear of our terrible neighbour kept us shut up three days in our
retreat--three long days of anguish and alarm--during which time I
suffered no one to break the rule I had established; the interior
service of the grotto was the only consideration that could induce
me to break it, and even then I allowed no one to go beyond the
reservoir of the fountain.
The monster had given us no signs of his presence, and we would have
supposed him departed, either by traversing the marsh, or by some
unknown passage in the rock, if the agitation which reigned among our
aquatic animals had not assured us of his presence. Every evening the
whole colony of ducks and geese would direct their course to the bay,
making a terrible noise, and sail away for Whale Island, where they
found a safe asylum.
My embarrassment daily increased; and the immovability of the enemy
rendered our position very painful. I was afraid that a direct attack
might cost us the lives of one or more of our little family. Our dogs
could do nothing against such a foe; and to have exposed any one of
our beasts of burden would have been certain destruction to it. On
the other hand, our provisions daily diminished, as the season was
not yet far enough advanced for us to have laid in any winter stores.
In a word, we were in a most deplorable situation, when Heaven came
to our aid. The instrument that effected our deliverance was our poor
old jackass, the companion of our wanderings, and faithful servant.
The fodder that we happened to have in the grotto had diminished
frightfully: it was necessary to nourish the cow, as she contributed
in great part to our subsistence, and some must be taken from the
other animals. In this dilemma I resolved to set them at liberty,
and let them provide for their own nourishment. As inconvenient as
this measure was, it was better than to see us all dying of hunger,
shut up in the grotto. I thought that if we could get them on the
other side of the river they would find a plentiful supply of food,
and be in safety as long as the boa remained buried in the rushes. I
was afraid to cross Family Bridge, lest I should arouse the monster,
and I decided to ford at the spot where our first crossing was made.
My plan was to attach the animals together. Fritz, mounted on his
onagra, would direct the front of the procession, while I would take
care that the marsh was effected in good order. I recommended to my
son, at the first sign of the serpent’s presence, to fly, as fast as
his beast would carry him, to Falcon’s Nest. As to our animals, I
left to Providence the care of watching over and saving them. For my
part, I proposed to post myself on a rock that overlooked the marsh,
and in case of an attack on the part of the serpent, retreat to the
grotto, where a well-directed discharge of firearms would rid us of
him.
I then loaded all our arms; my sons were placed as videttes in
the dove-cot, with orders to observe the movements of the enemy,
while Fritz and I arranged our beasts as aforesaid. But a little
misunderstanding put an end to all my plans. My wife, who had charge
of the door, did not wait for the signal, and opened it before the
animals were attached together. The ass, who had grown very lively,
considering his age, by his three days’ rest and good feed, no sooner
saw a ray of light than he shot out of the door like an arrow, and
was away in the open plain before we could stop him. It was a comical
sight to see him kicking his heels in the air; and Fritz would have
mounted his onagra, and ridden out after him, but I restrained him,
and contented myself by trying every manner of persuasion to induce
the poor animal to come back. We called him by his name; we made
use of our cow-horn; but all was useless--the unruly fellow exulted
in his liberty, and, as if urged on by some fatality, he advanced
direct to the marsh. But what horror froze our veins when, suddenly,
we saw the horrid serpent emerging from the rushes! He elevated his
head about ten feet from the ground, darted out his forked tongue,
and crawled swiftly on toward the ass. The poor fellow soon saw his
danger, and began to run, braying with all his might; but neither his
cries nor his legs could save him from his terrible enemy, and in a
moment he was seized, enveloped, and crushed in the monstrous rings
that the serpent threw around him.
My wife and sons uttered a cry of terror, and we fled in haste to the
grotto, from whence we could view the horrible combat between the boa
and the ass. My children wanted to fire, and deliver, said they, the
poor jackass; but I forbade them to do it.
“What can you do,” said I, “with firearms? The boa is too much
occupied with his prey to abandon it, and, besides, if you wound
him, perhaps we may become the victims of his fury.” The loss of our
ass was great, it was true, but I hoped that it would save us from a
greater.
The boa proceeded with horrible avidity to his repast. The ass was
dead; we had heard his last bray stifled by the pressure of the
boa, and we could now distinctly hear the cracking of his bones.
The monster, to give himself more power, had wound his tail about a
piece of rock, which gave it the force of a lever. When the monster
judged his preparation sufficient, he commenced to swallow the prey
he had secured. We observed that as he advanced the animal lost his
strength; and when all had been swallowed he remained perfectly
torpid and insensible.
I saw that the time had now arrived, and I exclaimed, “Now, my
children, now the serpent is in our power!”
I then set out from the grotto, carrying my loaded gun in my hand;
Fritz followed close by my side; Jack came next, but the more timid
Ernest lingered behind. On approaching the reptile, I found that
my suppositions were right, and that it was the giant boa of the
naturalists. The serpent raised its head, and darting on me a look of
powerless anger, again let it fall.
Fritz and I fired together, and both our shots entered the skull
of the animal; but they did not produce death, and the eyes of the
serpent sparkled with rage. We advanced nearer, and, firing our
pistols directly through the eye, we saw its rings contract, a slight
quiver ran through its body, and it lay dead upon the sand before us,
stretched out like the mast of a ship.
CHAPTER XLII
Discovery of a Crystal Grotto--Further
Exploration
We had nothing more to fear from the neighbourhood of the boa; but
I was afraid it might have either left its mate (it was a female)
behind it, or else a nest of little ones, which in time would spread
terror through the land. I resolved, in consequence, to undertake two
expeditions--the one through the marsh, the other toward Falcon’s
Nest, through the passage in the rock, where I supposed the boa had
got through.
We set out loaded with our hunting equipage. We carried, besides our
arms, some boards, and the bladders of sea-dogs, to sustain us on the
water if necessary. The boards we wanted to assist us in our march;
for, by placing one before the other, and taking them up, we made a
solid walk of wood. This was a great convenience, and enabled us to
search the marsh thoroughly. We easily recognized traces of the boa;
the rushes were bent down where it had passed through, and there were
deep spiral impressions in the wet ground where it had rested its
enormous rings. But we discovered nothing that induced us to believe
that the boa had a companion: we found neither eggs, nor little
ones--nothing but a nest of dried rushes, and I did not think that
the boa had constructed even that. Arrived at the end of the marsh,
we made an interesting discovery; it was that of a new grotto, which
opened out of the rock, and out of which flowed a little stream that
passed on among the rushes of the marsh.
The grotto was hung with stalactites, which rose in immense columns
on each side, as if to sustain the vault, and formed themselves into
singular and beautiful designs. We remained some time in admiration
of this miracle of nature, and as we walked on, I remarked that the
ground upon which we trod was composed of an extremely fine and white
sort of earth, which, after examining it, I recognized as being
“fullers’ clay.” I immediately gathered some handfuls, and carefully
placed them in my pocket-handkerchief.
“Here,” said I to my sons, who were regarding me with astonishment,
“here is a discovery that will be very welcome to your mother;
and henceforth, if we bring her dirty clothes, we will bring her
something to wash them with, for here is soap.”
“I thought,” said Ernest, “that soap was the result of human
industry, and not a production of the earth.”
“You thought right; the soap that is ordinarily used is composed of
a certain salt, the acidity of which is corrected by the addition
of grease and so forth, which weakens its power greatly. But this
fabrication is tedious and costly, and men have been so fortunate as
to find a sort of earth in which is united certain qualities of the
soap; it is this we have found, and it is called ‘fullers’ clay,’
because it is used to clean woollen goods.”
We had approached the source of the spring while conversing; and
Fritz, who was a little in advance, cried out that the rock had a
large opening on one side. We ran forward, and soon found ourselves
in a new cavern. We fired off a pistol, and we were able to judge
by the echo that the grotto extended to a great distance. We then
lighted two candles, with which our knapsacks were provided; they
burned without obstacle, and the pure light assured us of the
salubrity of the air. Having left the others behind, Fritz and I
continued to advance, when suddenly we saw our torches reflected from
every side of the rock.
“Ah, papa,” cried Fritz, in a transport of joy, “see! see! a salt
grotto! look at the enormous blocks of salt lying at our feet.”
“You are very much mistaken, indeed,” I answered; “these masses are
not salt; if they were, the water which drips from the rock would
have melted them long ago; instead of salt it is crystal: we are
really in a palace of rock-crystal.”
“Better yet--a palace of crystal! what an immense treasure for us!”
“Yes; such a treasure as the gold mine was to Robinson Crusoe.”
When we reappeared at the entrance of the grotto, we found Jack
alone. He conducted us to the border of the swamp, where we found
Ernest tranquilly employed in making a rush basket such as fishermen
use, consisting of a frame of long stalks, terminated at the end by a
funnel, through which the fish passed, but could not return.
“Quick, quick!” he cried, when he saw us approaching, “I have killed
a young boa.”
We had been talking so much of serpents, etc., that the poor boy
had mistaken a superb eel, four feet in length, for a snake; he had
walked straight up to it, hit it two or three blows on the head with
his gun, with as much courage as would have sufficed to kill a dozen
boas.
The examination that I made of the snake humbled the pride of the
victor; but the eel was a great treat for us, and we returned home to
Felsenheim.
I had as yet only half accomplished my design, and there remained
all the country about the farmhouse yet unexplored; and besides, I
wished, if it were possible, by fortifying the passages in the rock,
to keep out all such visitors as the one we had lately received.
I made sure, before we set out, against any accident that might
happen: we took plenty of provisions, arms, vessels of all sorts,
torches to scare away all intruders on our night encampments, in
short, everything that would render our excursion safer and less
disagreeable.
We advanced in good order along the avenue of Falcon’s Nest, and
discovered the marks of the boa’s progress half effaced by the wind.
We found everything in good order at the Nest; the harvest and the
fruit-trees gave promise of an abundant crop. The goats and sheep
received us joyfully, and came up of their own accord to receive some
salt we threw them in passing. We did not stop, as the Lake farmhouse
was the object of our expedition; and we wished to arrive as soon as
possible, in order to gather, before night, cotton enough to make
some pillows and mattresses that might render our slumbers more
agreeable.
The farther we advanced, the fewer traces we found of the serpent. We
could not see a single monkey in the cocoa-wood; and the crowing of
our cocks, mingled with the bleating of our herds, gave promise of
good order at the farmhouse; and we were not disappointed. As soon as
we arrived, our good housekeeper set about procuring us some dinner,
while we went to gather the cotton.
After dinner I announced that we would immediately commence our
search, and we divided into three parties, each one charged to
explore a part of the country. Ernest and his mother had, for their
division, the guard of the provisions and the collection of all the
ripe blades in the rice-field; to defend them we left our brave dog
Billy. Fritz and Jack, accompanied by Turk and the jackal, took the
right bank of the lake, while I followed the left, with Francis, and
his two young dogs. It was the first time that the little fellow
had shared in any of our expeditions, or had had a gun entrusted to
him; he marched along with his head up, and as proud as a new-made
officer; and he burned with ardour to make trial of his new weapon.
But the noise of our steps among the dried rushes frightened only
some herons, and they flew so suddenly and quickly that it was
impossible to shoot them. Francis began to grow despairing at his
ill success, when suddenly we found ourselves in presence of an
innumerable quantity of wild geese and black swans, which covered the
waters in all directions. Frank was just about to fire into the mass,
when suddenly a sort of deep, prolonged cry, like a bellow, issued
from the middle of the rushes. We stopped, astonished, and a second
after the cry was repeated.
“I am sure,” said Francis, “that it is the little onagra.”
“Impossible,” said I; “he would not leave his mother; and, besides,
we must have heard him as he passed along. It is more likely to be a
swamp-bird, called a bittern.”
I called the dogs to my side, and, setting them in the rushes,
presently heard the report of Francis’s gun. But, instead of firing
in the air, he had discharged his gun right into the thickest part of
the rushes, and I saw the birds that the dogs had disturbed flying
away safe and sound.
“You awkward fellow,” said I; “you have let your game escape you.”
“On the contrary, papa, I have him! I have him!” repeated he, with
passionate emotion. “Look!”
So saying, he pulled out of the rushes an animal resembling an
agouti, and which the little hunter had already christened by that
name.
I examined it with attention, and discovered that there was much
difference between it and the agouti.
This one was about two feet in length, had incisor teeth like the
rabbit, webbed feet, long snout, but no tail at all.
“You have killed a rare and curious beast,” said I to my little boy.
“It is an inhabitant of South America, of the same family as the
agouti and peccaries, but much rarer. It is a cabiai, and what is
more, a cabiai of the largest size.”
“And what sort of an animal is this cabiai? I have never heard of him
before.”
“Oh, yes; you heard him bray just now; for it was his cry that I
attributed to the bittern. This animal profits by the darkness of
night to provide his food: he runs fast, can swim well, and has the
power of remaining a long time under water; he eats seated on his
hind legs; and as to his cry, it sounds exactly like the braying of
an ass.”
But it was now time to return home, and Francis rejoiced at the
prospect of his triumph over his brothers. He took up his cabiai,
threw it over his shoulder, and although I saw that it was much too
heavy for him, I thought I would let him have the merit of the whole
affair.
We found, on returning, Master Ernest tranquilly seated on the bank
of the river, and surrounded by a prodigious number of enormous rats
which he had killed. The phlegmatic philosopher then recounted to us
the history of this massacre.
“We were occupied,” said he, “my mother and I, in collecting the
ripe rice-blades, when I discovered, at a little distance, a sort
of high, solid causeway, which looked like a road constructed in
the middle of the swamp. I immediately set off to discover what it
was, and Master Knips with me. But we had scarcely advanced one step
when he darted from my side in pursuit of an animal that quickly
disappeared in a sort of hole bored in the causeway. I remarked, on
advancing, that the two sides of the bank were pierced all along
with these holes, all of the same form and size. I was curious to
know what they contained, and I introduced into the opening a long
bamboo cane that I had in my hand. I had scarcely drawn it out when
there issued forth a legion of animals similar to the first. Knips
ran after them; but the rice grew so thick that he could not get
along. An idea then occurred to me to place my rice-sack over the
hole. I did so; and beating the top of the causeway with a stick, a
great number ran into the sack. I then began to beat the bag with my
stick, so as to kill the prisoners. But imagine my surprise when I
found myself assailed by a whole army of rats who emerged from every
side, and began to run up my pantaloons. Knips made most desperate
attempts. I could do nothing with my stick, and I cannot tell what
might have happened if Billy had not heard my voice, and come to my
assistance. He rushed bravely upon the army of rats, and made so
terrible a slaughter that the enemy fled in terror. Those that you
behold fell victims to my stick and the formidable teeth of Billy;
the rest of the army took refuge in their holes.”
The narration of Ernest excited my curiosity, and I wished to see for
myself the causeway with its inhabitants, and I recognized a series
of works similar to those of the beaver, with the single difference,
that they were not so extensive. I made my sons observe the
conformity that existed between these animals and the beaver of the
north; both had the same membrane at the feet to facilitate swimming;
both had the flat tail, and both were provided with two little bags
of musk.
Fritz and Jack returned during these conversations; they brought back
a ruffled moor-hen and a nest of eggs: we placed them under one of
our hens that happened to be sitting at the time. We then all united
around a savoury mess of rice that my good wife had prepared. She had
cooked a small piece of the cabiai; but it was detestable, and we
abandoned it to our dogs, who would not taste the flesh of the rats
on account of the smell of musk.
The repast was a merry one. We were all delighted to have found
no traces of the boa; and my mischievous boys showered a flood of
epigrams upon the “Conqueror of Rats,” as they called poor Ernest.
The conversation naturally turned upon what we should do with our
rat-skins; and it was determined upon to make a carpet of them, to
preserve the floor of our house dry. Our first care was to clean them
with sand and ashes, as we were accustomed to do.
Presently Jack and Francis ran to their knapsacks.
“Look here, sir!” said the youngest, as he threw some pine cones
before the philosopher.
“Look here, sir!” said Jack, placing on the table some little shining
apples, of a pale green, which exhaled a strong odour of cinnamon.
A general cry of admiration greeted them.
“Stop!” cried I. “Before tasting this fruit, Master Knips must
undergo the customary trial, for I am afraid these are the fruit of
the manchineel tree; and the manchineel apples produce most terrible
colics.”
I then opened one of the fruit, and discovered that I had been
deceived by the appearance. The manchineel apple has a nut, and these
had very small seeds, like the common apple. While I was showing this
difference to my children, Master Knips snatched one of the apples
from the table and commenced to eat it, smacking his lips as if it
were something excellent. This determined the matter. I distributed
the fruit, and on tasting them we declared them most excellent. Fritz
wished to know their name.
“They are,” said I, “cinnamon apples; I think you gathered them from
a low shrub; did you not, Jack?”
“Oh, yes, yes--shrub--cinnamon. I am falling asleep,” stammered out
the stupid fellow.
I then gave the signal for retiring. We took all necessary
precautions for safety during the night, and we sought, on our
mattresses of cotton, the repose that the fatigues of the day had
rendered necessary.
CHAPTER XLIII
The Pig Hunt--The Supply--The Otaheitan
Roast--Ham Smoking
The next morning, at break of day, we renewed our search. We directed
our course to the sugar-cane plantation, where I had built a hut of
branches, but we found it all blown down; and setting up our tent, we
resolved to pass the forenoon there.
While my wife was making preparations for dinner, we explored the
sugar-canes, as I thought it would be a natural retreat for the
serpents, if there yet remained any in this part of the country.
Happily, our investigation was without any result; and we were
turning to quit the sugar-canes, when suddenly our dogs began to
bark, as if they had taken some dangerous animal. We could perceive
nothing; but as it was not prudent to venture among the canes, I
ordered my sons to direct their course toward the plain, and we soon
found ourselves clear of the canes. At the same time there emerged
from them a troop of pigs of quite respectable size and strength. I
at first thought it was the young family of our old sow; but their
number, the grey colour of their skin, and the singular manner in
which they walked, soon banished that idea. They trotted one after
the other with a precision and regularity that would have done
honour to a troop on parade. I took good aim, fired both barrels of
my gun, and two of the animals fell. The loss did not seem to make
much impression on the rest of the troop, who trotted on as before.
It was a singular spectacle to see the whole family marching along
the borders of the sugar-canes, with an imperturbable tranquillity;
every one followed exactly in his place, without any pushing for
precedence; and, on examining them more closely, we found that there
was but one footstep in the sand, so regularly did they march.
But Jack and Fritz, who were a little in advance, could not let them
pass unheeded. Bang, bang, went their pistols, and two more animals
bit the dust; the dogs also had their part in the victory, and each
one strangled a victim.
I immediately recognized them as being a sort of hog, and as I knew
that one part, if not immediately removed, would render the meat
uneatable, I immediately set about the operation, and my sons gladly
aided me, so rejoiced were they at such a splendid booty; for we had
six pigs, each, on an average, three feet in length.
While we were thus occupied, I heard the reports of two other guns
in the distance; I conjectured them to have come from Ernest and
Francis, who had overtaken the pigs. I was right; and Ernest, who
soon returned with the waggon for which I had sent Fritz, confirmed
me in my conjecture. We thus had in possession three more pigs, for
Billy had also done his duty.
The arrival of the doctor naturally provoked a discussion on the
name of our game. Fritz thought that these were the Otaheitan pigs
of which Captain Cook speaks. Ernest was of another opinion, and
maintained that they were peccaries. This animal is very common in
Guiana and South America. Before loading the waggon we resolved
to clean our game to diminish the weight. Although we worked as
diligently as possible, the work was not yet finished at dinner-time,
and we were glad to find in the sugar-cane a cordial that refreshed
and nourished us. We set out for the tent; but my boys were so
proud of our chase that they determined to convert our convoy into
a triumphal march: they cut some green boughs and decorated our
equipage; they adorned their caps and guns with flowers, and we made
our entrance chanting a song of victory.
“You have kept me waiting long enough, gentlemen,” said my wife;
“your dinner is all spoiled; but, bless me! what a quantity of meat!
Why should you abuse the provision nature has so liberally provided
by killing more than we require?”
We justified ourselves as well as we were able, and my children
offered their mother the sugar-canes they had brought home.
Fritz proposed to regale the family with an Otaheitan roast. We
received his proposition, but it was put off till the morrow, as the
preparation of our pigs precluded all thoughts of anything else.
I sent the two smaller boys to gather a quantity of green branches
and leaves, with which to smoke our pork, and we then set to work.
Ernest skinned the pigs. Fritz and I cut them up, and my wife salted
the pieces. I piled the hams all together, so that the salt would
penetrate every part, and we also poured salted water over them and
allowed them to remain until the hut for smoking was constructed. As
for the heads and bones, they were abandoned to the dogs.
The next morning, Fritz recalled to my memory the promise I had made
to allow him to serve us for dinner an Otaheitan roast. He began
by digging a deep trench; he then took the pig he had reserved for
the purpose, washed it with care, rubbed the interior with salt,
and filled it with a sort of stuffing made of meat, potatoes, and
different roots.
When the trench was full of combustibles, Fritz set it on fire, and
from time to time the boys threw in, by the direction of their elder
brother, a quantity of pebbles, which soon became red hot.
My wife observed all these particulars with a look of incredulity.
“Beautiful cookery you will make,” said she, “with an entire pig,
some ashes, and a hole in the ground--delicious eating I do not
doubt!”
Nevertheless, notwithstanding her sarcasms, she could not help giving
the boys some advice, and she aided Fritz in giving his pig the
graceful turn that roast pigs should always have to taste good.
When these preparations were finished, our cook-in-chief enveloped
his “roast” in leaves and pieces of bark; a hole was made in the
burning cinders large enough to receive it, and it was then covered
with red-hot stones, and the hole filled up with earth to prevent the
air from penetrating.
Fritz let his “roast” cook for about two hours; and it was not
without astonishment that, after having taken off the triple layer
of earth, cinders, and stones, the most delicious odour saluted our
olfactories. I scarcely expected anything eatable, and we had before
us meat cooked to a nicety, combined with a spicy perfume that would
have done honour to a Parisian cook. Fritz triumphed: his good mother
avowed that she was conquered, and every one proceeded, without
delay, to prove the pig. Some ashes which had fallen on it were
carefully removed, and the meat was pronounced delicious.
During the three days while our meat was being smoked, I had every
day, with my sons, explored the country. These excursions discovered
to us no traces of the boa; but they very seldom ended without our
bringing home some little addition to our comforts and luxuries.
One day we directed our course toward the wood of bamboo, and
returned home loaded with cups of all dimensions, formed from rushes,
which we sawed apart at every knot; some of them were very large,
twenty inches in diameter. We also made another discovery the same
day: it was that each knot of the rushes distilled a sugary matter
which crystallized in the sun, and resembled candied sugar. These
rushes also furnished us a quantity of long, strong thorns, which
filled the place of nails admirably.
We also made an excursion to Prospect Hill; but we found every thing
there in the greatest disorder: the walls of the farmhouse were
pulled down, and the cattle gone. The monkeys had passed that way,
and left unequivocal traces of their progress.
We then surrounded the hut, where our hams were suspended, with a
rampart of earth, and fortified it with branches and stones, so as
effectually to keep out all intruders; and we arranged everything so
that we might be ready to set off on the morning of the fourth day,
and commence our explorations beyond the defile that had been the
barrier between the district we had inhabited for nearly three years,
and an unknown land, which we had but once entered, and then were
nearly destroyed by a troop of buffaloes.
CHAPTER XLIV
Excursion into the Savanna--Two Horsemen--The
Ostrich Hunt--The Nest--The Land
Turtles
We began our march at daylight, and, after having journeyed on for
about two hours, I gave the signal for a halt, as about gunshot from
the defile which separated the two countries appeared to me to be a
favourable spot for our encampment. It was situated on an elevated
point that commanded a far extended prospect, and was defended on one
side by a thick pine forest.
Fritz wanted me, before quitting the place, to leave, as a mark
of our passage, a fortress, after the manner of the Kamschatkans,
which is simply composed of some boards, elevated by stones at each
corner, to a height sufficient to keep out all savage animals. Before
commencing this work, we made an investigation of the forest round
about; but we discovered nothing but two “margays,” or wild cats, who
fled into the forest before we could level a gun at them.
The rest of the morning was devoted to the fortification of our
encampment. We then dined; but the heat was so powerful that we were
obliged to postpone our excursion into the savanna until the morrow.
Nothing troubled the repose of the night. We were up at daylight,
and in a few moments our preparations were complete. I took with me
my three eldest sons, as I wished to be in force on entering into a
country as yet unknown. Francis remained with his mother to take care
of the baggage; and, after breakfast, we packed some provisions, and
took leave of our good mother, who saw us depart without uneasiness.
We passed through the defile, at the extremity of which we had
erected a palisade of bamboo and thorny palm; but it had all been
torn down, and we could easily trace on the sand the spiral imprints
of the boa, clearly demonstrating that he had come from savanna
through this passage. I intended to erect a solid rampart here, that
should be proof against the attack of any animal; but I was obliged
to defer the execution of the plan until some other time.
We had now ventured into a country we had entered but once before.
Jack recognized the place where we had taken the buffalo; the river
which divided the plain was bordered by a rich line of vegetation.
We followed its course for some time, and arrived at the grotto
where my son had taken the young jackal; but the farther we advanced
vegetation disappeared, and we soon found ourselves in the middle of
an immense plain, only bounded by the horizon. The sun beat right
down on our heads, the sand burned our feet--in one word, it was a
desert--a desert without a single tree--a desert of sand, the only
green things being a few withered geraniums and some sort of grass
that contrasted strangely with the aridity of the soil. On crossing
the river, we had filled our gourds with fresh water, but the sun had
heated it so that we could not drink it, and we were obliged to throw
it away.
[Illustration: “Francis remained with his mother.”]
After two hours of painful journeying we arrived at the foot of a
hill that we had perceived afar off: it was a rock that elevated
itself in the middle of the desert, and afforded us a refuge
against the rays of the sun. We were too fatigued to climb the
rock and reconnoitre the country: we could scarcely stand against
the overpowering rays of the sun, and our dogs were as tired as
ourselves; we were isolated in the middle of the desert, and could
see the river in the distance, like a silver thread, winding through
its green banks. It was like the Nile, beheld from a mountain under
the burning sun of Nubia.
We had scarcely been seated five minutes when Master Knips, who had
accompanied us, suddenly disappeared over the rock, having probably
scented some brother monkeys in the neighbourhood; our dogs, also,
and the jackal deserted us; but we were too tired to call them back.
I brought out some morsels of sugar-cane and distributed them among
the boys, for our thirst was terrible. This refreshment restored our
appetites, and some rounds of roast peccary furnished us with an
excellent repast.
Suddenly Fritz, whose excellent sight was always making discoveries,
cried out,
“What do I see! There are two horsemen galloping up towards us.
There, a third has joined them--doubtless they are Arabs of the
desert.”
“Arabs!” said Ernest! “Bedouins you mean.”
“Bedouins are but one division of the great family of Arabs, and your
brother was right,” said I; “but take my spy-glass, Fritz; your news
astonishes me.”
“Oh, I see now a number of waggons loaded with hay; but they are so
distant I can scarcely distinguish anything; something extraordinary
is certainly going on.”
“Let me have the glass,” cried Jack, impatiently; and he declared he
saw a crowd of cavaliers who carried little lances, with banners at
the point.
“Come, give me the glass now,” said I; “your imaginations are too
poetic to be relied upon.”
I applied the glass to my eye, and, after having looked some time
attentively--
“Well,” said I to Jack, “your Arabs, your cavaliers with lances, your
hay-carts, what do you think they have been transformed into?”
“Camelopards, perhaps.”
“No; although not a bad idea, yet they are ostriches, and chance
has thrown a splendid chase into our hands; and if you will take my
advice, we will not let these beautiful inhabitants of the desert
pass us by without measuring our strength with theirs.”
The ostriches were rapidly approaching, and it was time to think of
some mode of capturing them. It seemed to me that the best way would
be to wait until they came up, and then attack them by surprise. I
ordered Fritz and Jack to go in search of the dogs, whilst Ernest
and I sought some shelter to conceal us from the ostriches. We threw
ourselves down behind some large tufts of a plant that grew among
the rocks, and which I recognized as the euphorbia, commonly called
wolf’s milk, and the juice of which is one of the most active poisons
in the world.
Jack and Fritz now returned with our faithful companions, whom,
from their wet skins, we easily judged to have been taking a bath
somewhere.
The ostriches were now within eyesight, and I could distinguish that
the family was composed of three females and a male, who was easily
recognized by the long white feathers of his tail. We crouched closer
to the ground, and held our dogs close to our sides, for fear lest
their impatience should defeat our stratagem.
I now perceived that the ostriches were aware of our presence--they
appeared to hesitate in their march; but, as we remained immovable,
they at last seemed reassured, and were advancing directly to us,
when our dogs, whom we could not keep quiet, suddenly sprang out upon
them. Away went the timid birds, with a rapidity that can be compared
to nothing else but the wind driving before it a bundle of feathers.
Their feet did not appear to touch the ground, their half-extended
wings had the appearance of sails, and the wind greatly accelerated
their velocity. I then ordered Fritz to unhood his eagle; he did
so, and the noble bird soon lit upon the head of the male ostrich,
and, attacking his eyes, brought him to the ground. The dogs and
the jackal ran up, and when we arrived the gigantic bird was just
expiring under the numerous wounds that the ferocious animals had
inflicted.
We were greatly disappointed at this issue of our chase; but, as the
evil was without remedy, we contented ourselves with preserving the
lifeless corpse. The eagle and jackal were immediately taken away, as
being the most ferocious. We then deprived the unfortunate animal of
the white plumes in the tail, and we placed them proudly in our hats.
The rich and sumptuous feathers contrasted strangely with our old
worn-out beavers; but they were an excellent protection against the
rays of the sun.
“What a pity,” said Fritz, as we examined the gigantic proportions
of the bird, “what a pity to have put such a magnificent bird to
death!--how beautiful it would have looked stalking among our
domestic animals!”
While we were talking, Jack and Ernest, who had followed the jackal,
made some great discovery, and we soon saw them waving their plumed
hats in the air, and shouting to us to hurry on,
“A nest!” they cried, “an ostrich’s nest!--Quick--quick!”
We hurried on, and found the two boys standing over a large
ostrich-nest--if we can dignify a hole dug in the ground by the name
of nest--in which were symmetrically arranged from twenty-five to
thirty eggs, each as large as a child’s head.
My sons wanted to carry away the ostrich-eggs; they would hatch them,
they said, by exposing them in the daytime to the rays of the sun,
and wrapping them up as warm as possible at night.
I observed to Fritz, who made the proposal, that each of these
eggs weighed about three pounds, and the whole number about one
hundred pounds, and that, having neither equipage nor beast, it
would be impossible to transport them across a desert, through which
we could hardly drag our arms and knapsacks; besides, I doubted
whether artificial heat could replace the natural influence. But
the children had got the idea into their heads, and they agreed
that each one should take one egg, which he should carry in his
pocket-handkerchief. The little boys soon repented of their
agreement, and they changed their burden from hand to hand, with
all the signs of ennui and fatigue. I came to their assistance, and
advised them to cut some branches from a low sort of pine that grew
about the rocks, and make a basket to carry their eggs, as the Dutch
milk-women carry their milk-pots. My plan succeeded admirably, and my
boys began their march without the slightest complaint.
We then arrived at the borders of a swamp that seemed to be formed
by the confluence of several springs that flowed from the rocks;
we could trace the marks of the dogs and the monkey, and recognized
this as the place where they had wet themselves. We could perceive,
in the distance, troops of buffaloes, monkeys, and antelopes, but so
far from us that we took no further notice of them; nothing, however,
indicated to us the presence of a boa, or that such animals resided
here. We halted at this marsh, and refreshed ourselves with some
provisions; and then, filling our empty gourds with water, prepared
to depart, when we perceived the jackal had made a discovery. It
was a round object which he had dug out of the sand with his paws;
it resembled a mass of moist earth, and I threw it into the water
to clean it, when, what was my astonishment to see it move! I took
it out, and, on examining it, discovered it to be a turtle of the
smallest kind, scarcely as large as an apple.
“How is this?” said Fritz. “I thought that turtles inhabited the sea
only.”
“Who knows?” said Ernest; “perhaps there has been a shower of turtles
here, as the Romans formerly had a shower of frogs.”
“Stop there,” said I to the philosopher; “your irony does not show
your learning. Perhaps you do not know that there are land as well as
sea-turtles. They are not only found in swamps, but even in gardens,
where they subsist on snails, caterpillars, and all sorts of insects.”
“Well, then,” replied Ernest, “let us carry some home to mamma. She
would like them to put in her garden; we will also put one in our
cabinet of natural history.”
CHAPTER XLV
Bears! Bears!--Narrow Escape--The Combat--Discovery
of Porcelain Earth
We quitted the borders of the swamp; but, instead of directing our
steps through the desert, we followed a little stream of water that
led us to the rock where we had reposed on our first excursion into
the savanna. It was a delicious route in comparison with our painful
journey of the morning. We found trees, grass--in short, it was a
little oasis in the desert, and we named it “Green Valley.”
We were yet distant about half an hour’s journey from the jackal’s
grotto; Jack and Fritz had stopped a moment to adjust their burdens,
and I also stopped with them, while Ernest marched forward, followed
by Folb.
“The philosopher is in a hurry to get home,” said Jack, laughing; “he
runs that he may be rested first.”
But scarcely had the fellow finished his sentence, when we heard a
cry of distress; it was the voice of Ernest, followed by two terrible
howls, mingled with the barking of the dog. A moment after, Ernest
reappeared; he was running at full speed, his face deadly pale, and
he cried out in a voice stifled with fear--
“Bears! bears! they are following me”; and the poor boy fell into my
arms more dead than alive. I had not time to reassure him, and I felt
myself seized with a sudden shiver, as an enormous bear appeared,
immediately followed by a second.
“Courage, children,” was all I could say. I seized my gun, and
prepared to receive the enemy. Fritz did the same; and, with a
courage and coolness far above his years, he took his place by my
side. Jack also took his gun, but remained in the rear; while Ernest,
who had no arms--for in his fright he had let his gun fall--took to
his heels and ran away.
But our dogs were already at the attack, and they had commenced
to measure themselves with their terrible adversaries. We fired
together; and, although our shots did not bring down the enemy, they
nevertheless told well: one of the bears had a jaw broken, the other
a shoulder fractured. But the combat was not yet finished: they were
only partially disabled. Our faithful servants did prodigies of
valour; they fought most desperately, rolling in the dust with their
enemies, while their blood poured in streams on the sand. We would
have fired again, but we were afraid that we should kill the dogs, it
being impossible, during the changing contest, to take any aim. We
resolved to advance nearer, and, at about four paces from the bears,
we discharged our pistols direct at their heads. The huge animals
gave a groan that caused us to shudder, and then fell back motionless
on the sand.
It was too late to meddle with the animals, and we took the
precaution, before leaving, to draw the two carcasses into the
jackal’s cave, and cover them with thorn-bushes, to keep off all
carnivorous beasts and birds of prey; we also buried our ostrich-eggs
in the sand, as their weight retarded our march greatly, and we could
leave them here until the morrow.
The sun was set when we rejoined my dear companion and our little
Francis. A good fire and a well-cooked supper refreshed our weary
bodies, and my little heroes commenced a long narration of the
exploits of the day, Master Jack making up for the small share he had
had in our victory by boasting and swaggering enough for all.
My wife and Francis had not been idle during our absence; they had
discovered on the banks of a stream a sort of greasy, white earth,
which appeared to me to be fine pipeclay. They had also collected
water enough for the use of our domestic animals, and, by the
force of industry and perseverance, had amassed, at the entrance
of the defile, a quantity of materials necessary for my projected
fortification.
I thanked my good wife for the pains she had taken. We then lighted a
large fire to guard us through the night, and our dogs, whose wounds
my wife had washed and dressed with fresh butter, lay down beside it.
I wished, before retiring for the night, to make a trial of the earth
my wife had found, for I suspected that it was porcelain. I made two
roughly-shaped bowls from it, and threw them into a furnace of hot
cinders, and we then all retired to the tent, where sweet sleep soon
sealed our eyelids. The next morning it required a strong effort to
tear us from our beds, so wearied out had we been the preceding day.
I found my two bowls hardened by the heat; they were, as I supposed,
porcelain, rather coarse-grained, but well enough for our purposes.
We breakfasted in haste; the beasts were harnessed to the cart, and,
after a pleasant little ride, we arrived safe and sound at the cavern
of the bears.
CHAPTER XLVI
Preparation of the Bears’ Flesh--Cups out of
Ostrich Eggs--Angora Rabbits and
Antelopes
We devoted a whole day to the preparation of the bears’ flesh. After
having skinned them with the utmost care and precaution, I cut off
the hams, and then divided the rest of the meat into long strips,
about an inch in thickness, and we exposed the whole to a good
current of smoke, as the ancient buccaneers used to do. The grease
was collected in bamboo canes, and carefully preserved; for, besides
its use in the kitchen, my wife said it was excellent on bread in
lieu of butter. We had about a hundred pounds of fat, together with
that which the peccaries had afforded us a few days before; we
abandoned the carcasses to our dogs, and they, aided by the birds of
prey, soon picked the bones so clean, that there remained nothing
but two perfectly white, dry skeletons, which we carried home with
us for our museum. As for the skins, they were carefully washed with
salt water, and rubbed with sand and ashes; and although our talents
in the art of currying were poor enough, we rendered the skins
sufficiently soft for all purposes.
Our labours had been too peaceful for the restless, turbulent
character of my boys. I could see that they were tired and fretful,
and I thought that the best plan would be to diversify our work with
some amusement. I proposed to them to make an excursion alone in the
desert; my proposition, as one may suppose, was joyfully received,
and the perspective of an unchecked course rallied the flagging
spirits of my little companions. Ernest refused to accompany them,
preferring to remain at home with us. On the other hand, Francis was
so eager to accompany his brothers, that I at last permitted him to
go.
My wife and I resumed our domestic labours, and Ernest, tranquilly
seated on the sand, occupied himself in making cups from ostrich
eggs; for we had discovered, by putting our eggs into hot water,
that the principle of life was exhausted. Ernest had read of a plan
somewhere to separate the eggs by surrounding them with a string
steeped in strong vinegar. The action of the acid on the lime
contained in the shell forms a circular line, which gradually eats
through; but the lining membrane of the egg was so hard, that it
was necessary to cut it with a knife; it had all the elasticity of
parchment.
We soon quitted this occupation to undertake another. While examining
a small cavern which we had discovered near the tent, I found
several minerals, among others, a piece of amianth, known as being
incombustible; and also a superb block of talc, as transparent as
glass, and which I resolved to fashion into window panes. Ernest
aided me as much as he was able, and we soon detached a splendid
piece, about two feet in length, and the same in thickness. My
wife, who received everything that could recall Europe to her mind
with pleasure, was overjoyed at our new discovery, especially when
I informed her that this mineral could be divided into leaves no
thicker than paper.
We had been thus occupied the best part of the day, and, as evening
approached, we gathered around our hearth, where our good housewife
was cooking two bear’s paws, which had been well soaked in brine,
and the smell of which, as it escaped from the pot, promised us
a delicious supper; and we sat down to while away the time in
conversation until our huntsmen returned. We did not wait long, for
the galloping of their steeds was soon heard, and in another moment
they were at our sides.
Jack and Francis each carried a little kid on his back, with the feet
tied together, and the game-bag of Fritz appeared to me to be pretty
full.
“A fine chase, papa!” cried Jack. “Storm carried me through the
desert like a flash of lightning. Fritz has two magnificent Angora
rabbits in his pouch, and also a complaisant cuckoo, who led us to
one of the finest hives I have ever seen; we shall be able to get
plenty of honey.”
“Jack has not told all,” said Fritz: “we have taken a whole troop of
antelopes prisoners, and have driven them into our domains, where we
can hunt them and tame them just when we please.”
Turning towards Jack, whose face seemed very much swollen, I said,
“What is the matter with your cheeks? have your adventures been
dangerous in any way?”
Fritz interrupted his answer, and began the following narration.
“After quitting you, we took the direction of the valley and, finding
a narrow place where two or three trees had fallen down, we took
advantage of this natural bridge, and crossed to the other side of
the river. We rode on some time without perceiving anything, our
coursers going at full speed, and the sun not being high enough to
be unpleasant. At last we discovered, in the distance, two herds of
small animals, of what kind we could not distinguish, but I thought
they were either antelopes or gazelles. Our first care was to call
our dogs together, and keep them close by our sides, as we knew
the animals were more afraid of them than of us. I then divided my
forces: I gave Francis the line of the river as his position; Jack
occupied the middle, while I, mounted on the onagra, sustained the
right wing, and endeavoured to drive the animals to the centre. We
effected this movement, and one of the herds passed the river as
quietly as if the act had been voluntary. The other herd did not seem
to perceive us until we were close to them, when suddenly they raised
themselves from the grass where they had been lying, and, stretching
out their long necks and little heads, surmounted by short, pointed
ears, set off at full speed; and now our chase commenced. We urged
our coursers onward, and, giving our dogs their liberty, we soon
forced the entire troop over the river, and drove them into the
defile which separated us from the savanna. After we had secured them
in our dominions, the next thing was to keep them there. Several
plans were proposed, but at last the following was chosen. We
stretched a long cord from one side of the defile to the other, and
fastened to it every light thing we could find, the continual motion
of which frightened the animals away whenever they approached it; the
ostrich-plumes in our hats, our handkerchiefs, etc., furnished us
with materials.”
“Admirable!” said I, as the boy stopped as if to see how his
stratagem was received, “admirable! The only thing is, in the night
it cannot be seen; but it truly was a bright thought for such a boy.
But about the rabbits,” added I, “what do you intend to do with them?
If they should happen to get in your mother’s vegetable garden, there
would not be much of it left.”
“No, no; but I thought that one of our two islands would make a good
home for them; for instance, Shark Island would make a magnificent
warren, and furnish us many a good dish, and fine furs to make caps
out of.”
“But how did you come to take them alive?”
“The honour of the capture is due to my eagle; he pounced down upon
a troop of rabbits that were flying before us, and carried off two
in his talons. I rescued them before he had injured them, and he
consoled himself by killing another, which he soon devoured.”
I could see that Jack was watching every opportunity to put in a
word, and I laughingly requested the poor fellow to speak.
“In my turn!” said he, “in my turn! I galloped on with Francis while
Fritz was chasing the rabbits; the dogs followed us, and suddenly we
saw them jump forward, and run after two little animals about the
size of a hare, that fled with incredible rapidity. Away we all went,
and, after a hot chase of a quarter of an hour, we captured the two
fugitives. There they are,” continued the young narrator, throwing
down before us two beautiful little animals; “I think they are young
fawns.”
“And I think,” said I, “that they are antelopes.”
“Well, whatever they may be,” continued Jack, “our dogs behaved
admirably, and so, I can say, did their masters. But that was nothing
to what happened afterwards. We had scarcely commenced our progress
when a sort of cuckoo began to fly before us, singing away as if
to defy us. I had already levelled my gun, when Fritz requested me
to recollect that it was loaded with ball, and that I should only
waste the charge. I accordingly slung my gun on my back, and we rode
on, the cuckoo flying on before us, when suddenly he stopped just
over a bees’ nest, artfully concealed in the ground. We now held a
council of war about the nest, and discussed the plan of attack.
Francis begged to be excused, recalling to our memories the former
attack at Falcon’s Nest. Fritz was willing to do all the advising
part, but would rather leave the execution to somebody else; so you
see, at last, the whole affair devolved upon me. Armed with some
sulphur matches that I found in my knapsack, I advanced and tried to
suffocate the bees by throwing the lighted matches down the hole,
when suddenly a rumbling noise was heard, and, in a second, a swarm
of bees emerged, attacking me on all sides. My hands and face were
violently treated, and it was with the greatest difficulty that I
mounted my buffalo and rode away, bearing with me the honourable
marks of the conflict. I could scarcely believe,” said Jack, as he
finished his recital, “that so small an animal could cause so much
pain.”
I reflected long upon what Jack had told me concerning the strange
bird that had shown them the nest of bees. I easily recognized it
as being the “cuckoo-indicator” of naturalists; “But,” thought I,
“how, if this coast is uninhabited, could the bird have known that
human beings liked honey, and would be willing to share the discovery
with him? Is not such conduct a sign that we are not the first men
who have trod this soil? May not the interior of the country be
inhabited?” These considerations were of the highest importance to
us, and I was convinced that it would not be prudent to advance into
the interior, unless with the greatest caution. I also resolved to
build a fortress on one side of the coast, and I chose Shark Island
as its situation, as it appeared to me that a strong fortification
that would command the coast of Felsenheim, and fortified by our two
cannons, would enable us to defend ourselves against all attack from
the interior, if any ever took place.
CHAPTER XLVII
Ostriches Again--A Hunt and a Capture--Acquisition
of Treasure--Euphorbia--Vanilla
At the break of day I was up, and awoke my sons; our labours were
almost done--our bears’ meat was smoked, our fat all run out into
bamboo vessels; and the rainy season, which was rapidly approaching,
warned us to return to our home in the grotto. Nevertheless, I wished
to make another excursion into the desert, to see whether a second
visit to the nest of ostrich eggs would not succeed better than
the first, and I likewise wanted to gather some of the gum of the
euphorbia.
As we wished to accomplish this excursion as rapidly as possible,
it was resolved to go on horseback. We took with us Turk and Billy,
and set off, following the direction of the Green Valley, tracing
over again all the places rendered illustrious by some remembrance
of our last excursion--the spot where we had encountered the bears,
the turtle-marsh, and, at last, the rock from which Fritz discovered
the ostriches. To this rock we gave the name of “Arab’s Tower,” in
allusion to the mistake he had made in thinking the ostriches to be
Arabs of the desert.
Jack and Francis galloped off at full speed, and, as the plain was
so level that they could not escape from my eye, I let them go on. I
retained Fritz by my side to aid me in gathering the euphorbia which
had congealed in the sun. I had provided myself with a vessel to put
it in, and I soon filled it with the little drops of hardened gum.
This gum is one of the most violent and subtle poisons, and my son
asked me why I took so much pains to collect it.
“I intend to use it,” said I, “to destroy the monkeys--a cruel means,
I will allow, but necessity drives us to adopt it. We can also employ
the euphorbia in preparing the skins of birds and other animals; it
will preserve them from corruption, and keep out all insects. To
whatever use, however, we may apply it, the greatest precaution must
be observed, as it is capable of producing the most dreadful results.”
During our work, the two cavaliers had almost disappeared in the
savanna, and it was with great difficulty that our eyes could follow
them, surrounded as they were by a cloud of dust. They had passed far
beyond the ostrich nest, to which we directed our course, wishing to
see whether the eggs had been abandoned or not.
We had scarcely come in sight of the nest when we saw four noble
ostriches rise from the sand and advance toward us. Fritz’s first
care was to prepare his eagle for the conflict; and, to prevent it
from renewing the former scene of carnage, he fastened its beak so
strongly that it was almost harmless. Our dogs were also muzzled,
and we stood still, in order that we might not frighten the birds.
On they came, with half-extended wings, gliding over the ground with
inconceivable rapidity. They seemed to think us inanimate objects,
for they came on directly for us until they had arrived within
pistol-shot; they were three females and a male--the last a little
in advance, with his beautiful tail-feathers floating behind him.
The moment of attack was come; I seized my string with balls, and,
calling up all my sleight-of-hand, I launched it against the male
ostrich. Unfortunately, however, instead of catching him around the
legs, as I intended, the balls of my string took a turn round his
body, and I only fastened his wings to his sides. It diminished his
speed somewhat, but the victory was not complete; and the frightened
bird turned round, and, using his long legs, endeavoured to escape:
away we dashed after him, I on the onagra, and Fritz on the colt.
But we were nearly exhausted, when, happily, Jack and Francis rode
up, and cut off his further retreat. Fritz then unhooded his eagle,
and, pointing out the ostrich to him, he immediately pounced upon his
prey; and now commenced an arduous chase. Jack and Francis on one
side, and Fritz and I on the other, tormented him, and harassed him
without ceasing; but the most useful combatant was the eagle. The
presence of this new enemy troubled the ostrich greatly; he felt him
on his head, and heard the flapping of his wings, while, on the other
hand, the eagle, furious at finding his beak strongly fastened by a
ligature of cotton, was so violent that, by a vigorous stroke of his
wings, the ostrich fairly tottered. Jack then threw his string and
balls so skilfully that the noble bird bit the sand of the desert.
A cry of joy burst from the huntsmen, the eagle was recalled and
hoodwinked, and we hastened to our prize in order to prevent his
breaking the bonds that confined him; for he was so very violent,
and struggled so vigorously, that I hardly dared to approach him. I
imagined that by depriving him of light I might reduce his fury, and
I threw my hunting-sack, my vest and handkerchief, over his head.
I had discovered the secret: no sooner were his eyes covered than
he became as quiet as a lamb. I approached, passed a large band of
seadog-skin around his body, two other bands were attached as reins
to each side, and his legs were fastened with strong cords, long
enough to allow him to walk, but which confined him sufficiently to
prevent his escape.
I then attached our two coursers before and behind the ostrich with
strong cords; and when all was ready, my two cavaliers jumped into
their saddles, and I pulled the covering from the head of the ostrich.
The bird remained some time immovable, as if astonished at the return
of light. It soon made a start; but the ropes pulled it roughly back,
and it fell down on its knees; again it made the attempt, and again
it was foiled. It tried to fly, but its wings were tightly fastened
by the band I had passed around them: its legs were also restrained:
it threw itself from side to side with the utmost violence, but the
patient buffaloes did not pay the least attention to the pulling and
hauling. At last the bird appeared convinced of the inutility of its
efforts, and, submitting to its two companions, set off with them at
full gallop. They dashed gallantly on for half an hour, until the
buffalo and the bull, less accustomed to the sands of the savanna
than the ostrich, forced it to abate its rapid pace, and adopt a
slower system of movement.
While the two young cavaliers were thus occupied, Fritz and I set
out in search of the ostrich nest. The cross of willows which we had
planted in the ground near it, at our last visit, still remained,
and, as we approached, a female bird rose up off the nest and fled
rapidly away into the desert. Her presence appeared to us a good
augury, as it assured us that the eggs still retained the principle
of life. I had taken care to bring with me a sack and a quantity
of cotton. I now took out six of the eggs, and, enveloping them as
carefully as possible in the cotton, placed them in the sack, leaving
the others in the nest, in hopes the mother would not discover the
theft.
We traversed the Green Valley without perceiving anything uncommon,
and soon arrived at the tent, where Ernest and his mother received us
with an astonishment they could not find words to express.
I fastened the ostrich securely between two trees, and the rest of
the day was devoted to preparations for our departure on the morrow.
We had a number of new riches to collect, and I wished to leave
nothing behind us.
The next day we set off early. The ostrich took his place between the
bull and the buffalo, as before; he was, at first, inclined to be
refractory, and threw himself from right to left, but all in vain:
his two conductors were like immovable masses, against which all
resistance was unavailing.
Fritz mounted the young colt Rapid, and I the onagra, while Ernest
directed the car, in the middle of which my wife sat in all her
majesty, among the provisions. Our march was slow, but it was very
picturesque, as may be imagined.
We halted at the entrance of the defile where my sons had suspended
the cord with the feathers attached, to keep back the antelopes and
gazelles. In the place of the cord, we erected a solid palisade of
bamboo, high enough to keep out all animals that do not climb. We
planted a row of thorn bushes on each side, and sprinkled a layer of
sand all around, so that we could discover what sort of animals might
frequent it. During the construction of this fence we made a new
discovery; it was that of the Vanilla bean, which I recognized by its
brown pods and balsamic odour.
Our labours at the defile detained us a long time, and it was
night when we arrived at the cabin of the Hermitage. We found
our smoking-hut the same as before, and our provision of peccary
untouched. We lighted a fire, and, after a frugal repast, extended
ourselves on our sacks of cotton, and courted balmy sleep.
The next day, we discovered a new treasure: our henhouse had received
an addition of twenty young chicks--the product of the eggs Jack had
brought home in his hat. My wife was enchanted at this discovery, and
caught several pairs to take home with her.
We were so anxious to return to our dear Felsenheim, and to resume
all our comforts and luxuries, that we resolved not to stop again
until we arrived there. It was long after noon when our weary journey
was finished. We were worn out with fatigue; the sun’s rays had been
pouring down on our heads all day, and our strength was so exhausted
we could scarcely give our animals their evening food.
CHAPTER XLVIII
Progress in Ostrich Discipline--Efficacy of
Tobacco Smoke--Hydromel--The New
Hat--Pottery
The day after our arrival at Felsenheim, my wife commenced “cleaning
house.” Windows were opened, beds aired, and all swept and garnished.
While she and the two younger boys were thus employed, I, with the
two elder, unpacked and distributed the riches we had brought home.
We had tied the ostrich, at first, under a tree, and securely
fastened his feet; but we changed his situation, and tied him to one
of the strong bamboo columns that supported the gallery.
We next visited the eggs, and they were, like the first, submitted
to the trial of warm water. Several of them fell heavily to the
bottom; but three or four moved slightly when immersed in the water,
and these were carefully preserved, in order that we might try the
experiment of hatching them by cotton and artificial heat. For this
purpose I constructed an oven, in which I took care to maintain that
degree of heat which the thermometer marked as being the natural heat
of the hen.
We then installed our Angora rabbits on Shark Island; we constructed
a burrow in the ground, similar to those of Europe, and, before
putting them in, we combed them, and removed all the superfluous
hair. We also fixed wooden combs over the entrance of each burrow, so
that the rabbits, when passing in or out, would be deprived of some
part of their fine wool, which I intended to manufacture into hats.
The two antelopes were also transported to Shark Island. We should
have liked very much to keep these charming little creatures about
us, but the fear of the dogs and beasts of prey forced us to condemn
the timid creatures to confinement. In order to render their exile as
agreeable as possible, I erected a hut in the middle of the island,
to shelter them, and we took good care to provide them with plenty of
provisions.
I wished, before the rains came on, to prepare a field to receive
the seeds we had hitherto confided to the earth without any order
or regularity. It was a difficult enterprise, and we felt in all
its reality the force of that law which condemned man to gain his
bread by the sweat of his brow. Our faithful animals were of much
assistance to us; but the sun was so intense that the slightest
labour utterly exhausted them. We could work but four hours in
the day: two in the morning and two in the evening; we were able,
however, to prepare at last about two acres of land, which would
furnish us an ample harvest of maize, potatoes, and manioc-root.
During the intervals of our fatiguing field labours, we occupied
ourselves by beginning the education of the ostrich. It was an
enterprise as difficult as it was novel; but I had read that it could
be accomplished, and I was resolved to try it.
Our pupil began by putting himself in a terrible passion; he
struggled, snapped at us with his beak, and cut up all sorts of
capers; but we could find no better remedy for such conduct than to
treat him as we had treated Fritz’s eagle, that was, by burning
tobacco under his nose. This had the desired effect, and we soon saw
the majestic bird totter and fall insensible to the ground. We had
recourse to this plan several times. Little by little we relaxed
the cord which fastened it to the bamboo post, and gave it room to
wander about the doorway. A litter of rushes was provided for him;
calabashes filled with sweet nuts, rice, maize, and guavas were
placed every day before the animal; in a word, we neglected nothing
that we thought would consort with the fellow’s taste.
During three days all our cares were in vain: our choice dishes were
regarded with great disdain, the beautiful captive would not eat, and
it carried its obstinacy so far that at last I was seriously afraid
of the consequences. At last an idea occurred to my wife, which
relieved us from all embarrassment. It was to poke down the throat of
the bird, willy nilly, balls of maize and butter. The ostrich made
horrible faces at first, but when it got a taste of the balls, all
trouble on that point was over, and the delicacies we placed before
it were quickly devoured, the guavas, by the bye, being especially
favoured.
The natural savageness of the bird disappeared more and more every
day; it would let us approach it without striking at us, and after
some days we thought we could, without much risk, unfasten it, to
take a short lesson in the art of walking. We placed it between the
buffalo and the bull, and put it through all the exercises of the
stable--to trot, to gallop, stop short, trot again, walk slow, etc.
I cannot say that the poor bird relished his first lesson very much,
but the tobacco pipe and the whip were two admirable instructors, and
when he was disposed to become unruly a whiff of tobacco would set
all to rights.
At the end of the month its education was complete, and it had so
well succeeded that I now seriously thought of making our new
conquest of general usefulness. I wished it to associate with our
domestic animals, to submit like them to regular movements, and to
stop and march as we wished. The first thing that was to be thought
of was a bit; but how could I contrive a bit for a beak? I had never
seen one, and I must confess that I felt greatly embarrassed; at last
I achieved my task. I had remarked that the absence of light had a
very direct influence upon the ostrich; it would stop short when
blindfolded, and could not be induced to move until its eyes were
uncovered. This discovery was the basis of the new invention that
I constructed. I made, with the skin of a sea-dog, a sort of hood,
like the one we had made for the eagle, which covered the head, being
fastened about the neck. I made two openings in the side of this
hood, one opposite each eye, and covered each of these holes with one
of our little turtle-shells, attached to a whale-bone spring, fixed
in such a manner that it would open and shut. Reins were fastened to
these springs, so that, by their action, we could admit the light
or shut it out, just as we pleased. When the two shells were open,
the ostrich galloped straight on; when one was opened, it went in a
direction corresponding with the eye that received light, and when
both shells were shut, it would stop short. The most fully trained
horse could not have obeyed better than our ostrich did under his
novel head-dress.
My children thought that the education of our captive was now
complete; but I was of a different opinion. The ostrich is a very
robust animal, and capable of supporting a great deal of fatigue.
I wished it to learn to carry burdens, to draw a carriage, and be
adapted for horsemanship; I began, consequently, to make harness
for each of these occupations. We had a great deal of difficulty in
making the ostrich submit to our wishes; our hardest task was
to make it submit to our mounting it; but I knew that patience and
perseverance are the two first elements of success in imparting
education. I was not, therefore, discouraged, and at last we had the
satisfaction to see our new courser galloping between Felsenheim and
Falcon’s Nest with one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back.
[Illustration: “With one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back.”]
The artificial nest of ostrich eggs, which we had enveloped in
cotton, and placed in a stove, had succeeded; that is to say,
out of six eggs, three had hatched. The young ostriches were the
drollest-looking animals that could be imagined: they looked like
ducks, mounted on long legs, and they tottered awkwardly about on
their slender stilts. One died the day after its birth; the two
others survived, and we endeavoured to preserve them by taking all
possible care for their comfort. Maize, acorns, boiled rice, milk,
and cassava, were set before them in rich profusion.
We had had nothing to drink but water since our arrival on the
island, if I except the barrel of Cape wine that we had saved from
the shipwreck; but that had long ago been exhausted, and I now
determined to make some sort of drink for the winter.
I had often heard of the hydromel of the Russians; we had the primary
material, honey, from our hives, and I determined to make the
experiment. We boiled some honey in a sufficient quantity of water,
and after having filled two barrels with the fluid, I threw in a
large cake of sour corn bread, to make the liquor ferment; when that
process was finished, we tasted it, and found it was of a pleasant
flavour, agreeably acid, and a great resource for our long winter
days. We placed the two tuns in our cellar, or, to speak more justly,
in the hole we had dignified by that name. We then set to work and
made a choicer drink than the first: to our honey and water we added
nutmegs, ravensara, and, in short, a collection of all the aromatic
plants we could find. This drink was reserved for extraordinary
occasions, such as holiday banquets, anniversaries, etc.
When all our provisions were gathered in, and we felt sure that
we could get through the winter without famine overtaking us, we
commenced our manufacture of hats. It was a labour as difficult as
novel for us. The first question that presented itself was the form
of our hats; each one gave in his opinion, but necessity came into
the council, and obliged us to give our new manufacture the form most
in unison with our means of execution. It was extremely simple: I cut
a wooden head, which divided into two parts, and on which we spread
a thick layer of soft paste, composed of rat-skin and the glue of
fishes. We let it dry, and as it took the exact impress of the mould,
we obtained a sort of cap, of which my readers can form some idea of
the shape.
It had cost us a great deal of trouble to produce even this
ill-looking affair. My sons were scarcely less satisfied with it than
I was; but our European hats were so dilapidated that it became a
matter of necessity to procure something to replace them.
I now had recourse to the cochineal, and I soon gave to our beaver a
beautiful brilliant purple tint. The hat looked better; I adorned it
with a couple of ostrich-plumes, and it looked better still; my wife
passed a ribbon round it, which she had found in her enchanted sack,
and the disdain with which my poor beaver had been received, was
changed into anxious requests for its possession.
But its destination had been fixed beforehand: it belonged to Francis
by right, as he had lost his old hat a few days before.
Our success in the manufacture of hats emboldened us to try our hand
at other things. We were much in want of kitchen utensils, and I was
obliged to pass from the art of hat-making to that of potter.
I did not understand much about pottery; and what puzzled me most was
the way in which the earth was to be prepared before using it; and I
began my experiments with very little hope of their ever succeeding.
I constructed, in one corner of the grotto, a large stove, divided
into compartments, destined to receive the different articles;
earthen pipes were conducted all around, so as to equalize the heat
as much as possible. These preparations occupied me a long time, as
I had no idea how the thing should be done, and I can safely say I
invented rather than imitated a furnace for pottery.
I next took a certain quantity of the porcelain earth, which very
much resembled fine white sand. I carefully removed all foreign
particles, such as bits of stone, etc., as I was afraid they would
cut our hands while working the porcelain. I also mixed a quantity
of the talc we had brought home for window-panes, thinking, perhaps,
it would render the mixture more firm and solid. When all was well
worked up together, I left it a little while to dry, while I set
to work to invent a machine for turning our utensils on. The wheel
of one of our cannon carriages, fixed horizontally on a pivot and
surmounted by another wheel, united to it by an axle and turning with
it, formed my machine. I first turned out some plates and dishes,
cups and saucers, bowls, and other things. I exposed these articles
to a very strong heat: a great many broke in pieces, but I completed
about half. When baked they were perfectly transparent and of the
most beautiful grain. My wife saw her kitchen apparatus enriched with
utensils of all sorts, and, overwhelmed with joy, she promised us,
in exchange, numberless good dainties, which, for want of a suitable
utensil, she had hitherto been unable to make.
CHAPTER XLIX
Return of the Rainy Season--A New
Want--The Cajack
The rainy season was now rapidly approaching, and we were soon
obliged to give up our excursions. The winds and the rain commenced;
the sky that had so long been clear became dark with storm-clouds;
terrible tempests announced the approach of winter; and we closed the
door of our grotto, happy in having such a comfortable shelter.
The turning-wheel was continually in motion. We improved the quality
of our fabrications more and more, and we manufactured utensils that
at the outset we had despaired of ever possessing.
We had preserved the shells of the ostrich-eggs, and having divided
them by means of a string steeped in vinegar, we converted the halves
into elegant vases. I turned some wooden pedestals on which they were
placed, and we thus obtained drinking-cups and vases for flowers in
summer.
But these labours were much more interesting to me than to my young
family, and I feared that the inactivity to which I saw them reduced
would render them indolent. Ernest found occupation enough in his
books; but his brothers never entered the library unless when driven
by necessity. I felt the urgency of providing some active occupation
for them, and one more to their taste than literature; but I could
not think of anything, when Fritz came to my assistance.
“We have,” said he, “in the person of our ostrich, a splendid
post-horse, with which to travel the highways of our kingdom; we have
carts to transport our provisions; a pinnace, and a canoe, which are
riding majestically at anchor in Safety Bay; but one thing is yet
wanting: we have need of an equipage that will glide over the surface
of the water, as the ostrich does over the sand. I have read that
the Greenlanders have a sort of vessel which they call ‘cajack,’ and
which I must have. Why cannot we construct one? We have constructed a
canoe--why should we, civilized Europeans, not succeed in that which
barbarous savages have attempted?”
I joyfully received the proposition of my son. The cajack, the only
vessel of the Greenlander, is a sort of canoe in the form of a shell;
and a piece of walrus-skin, with three or four strips of whalebone,
are almost the only requisites for its construction. It is extremely
light, and the navigator who has glided in it over the surface of the
wave can easily carry it on his shoulder when he has arrived at land.
The strips of whalebone, bamboo-cane, and Spanish rushes, with some
sea-dog skin, were the materials that we employed in making our
cajack. Two arched strips of whalebone fastened at each end, and
separated in the middle by a piece of bamboo fixed transversely
across, formed the two sides of our canoe; other pieces of whalebone,
woven in with rushes and moss, well covered with pitch, formed the
skeleton.
When the skeleton was finished, and the interior covered with a coat
of gum and moss, we commenced the construction of an envelope. For
this I took the two entire skins of sea-calves, fastened one at each
end of the canoe, and then drew them down under it, where they were
strongly sewed together, and covered with a gum elastic coat, to
render them impervious to water. I also cut out oars of bamboo, and
fastened bladders to one end, so that they might be useful in case of
accident. I also constructed, in the bow, a place to receive a sail,
in case we should decide, at a future period, to put one there.
There was yet an important thing wanting in the completion of our
Greenland boat: it was the equipment of him who was to manage it. I
had often heard of a sort of apparel well known to those who dwell
near the sea, and which consisted in enveloping a person in an
airtight dress, lighter than the volume of liquid his body displaced.
I described this apparel to my sons, narrated to them how the head
of the swimmer was covered with a hood, furnished with a pipe
intended to let in air when it was necessary to breathe under water.
My description of the costume and the air-chimney fairly turned
the boys’ heads, and they would not rest, night or day, until they
persuaded me to ask their mother to construct such a suit for them.
My good Elizabeth, to whom our desires were as laws, kindly undertook
the work; and so nimbly did her needle ply, that in a few days she
had made a complete swimming-costume for Fritz.
A jacket of the skin of the whale’s entrails, hermetically sealed and
sewed round the borders, so that the air could not possibly escape,
was furnished with a flexible pipe, closed with a valve, so that it
could be inflated or exhausted at the pleasure of its wearer.
The winter had glided insensibly away: reading, the study of
languages, and other literary pursuits had been mingled with our
domestic avocations, and helped to render the gloomy days we passed
in the grotto more pleasant and agreeable. But our emancipation
from the grotto was approaching: the wind calmed, the sea resumed
its wonted placidity, the grass sprang up under our feet, and we
revisited Falcon’s Nest, with its giant trees and its rich harvest of
springing grain.
The swimming-costume was the last thing that we had made, and Fritz
was anxious to make a trial of it; consequently, one fine afternoon,
dinner over, he put on his jacket, which was drawn close round his
neck; then his hood, with its pipe for air, was fitted to the jacket,
and two pieces of talc inserted in such a manner as to enable him to
see.
Our first movement, on seeing him thus accoutred, was to burst into a
fit of laughter; but Fritz plunged gravely into the water, and struck
out for Shark Island. We followed him in the canoe, and arrived about
the same time. We unfastened his hood, and found that not a particle
of water had penetrated it; every one was rejoiced at the success of
the experiment, and we all persuaded our kind mother to make us one
each.
We then set off to explore the island, and endeavour to discover what
had become of the colony we had planted there. Our first visit was to
the antelopes. They fled at our approach; but we saw with pleasure
that they had devoured all the provisions we had provided them
with. We strewed some rushes in their little hut, for a litter; and
after renewing the stock of provisions, left the spot, so that the
timid animals could return. My sons and I wandered over the island,
gathering pieces of coral and beautiful shells to adorn our museum.
A second excursion to Shark Island gave us leisure to examine the
different plantations we had made: they had succeeded admirably, and
we found several young trees already some feet above the ground.
Our rabbits had also prospered, and the family had increased to an
enormous extent.
We made, too, a short excursion to Whale Island; our plantations
here had also succeeded--all was prosperity around us. Our maritime
possessions and those on terra firma afforded a most agreeable
spectacle to the eyes of the proprietors. Abundance, richness, and a
luxuriant vegetation gave promise of an excellent harvest.
One day, when I was occupied by my domestic cares in the interior of
the grotto, three of my sons disappeared without saying anything;
they carried with them their arms, provisions, and a number
of rat-traps. The latter easily explained the secret of their
expedition; they had gone for rat-skins in order to make some new
hats. I wished them good luck, and thought nothing more of the matter.
Ernest, always fond of home, had remained reading in the library:
my wife was occupied in the kitchen; and I resolved to imitate my
sons, and attempt an excursion alone. I had need of some large blocks
of wood with which to grind the grain we had gathered; but I would
not cut down one of the trees around our habitation for fear of
disfiguring our residence. I went to the stable for a horse; but all
except the buffalo had disappeared, and I was obliged to be content
with him. I soon fastened him to the sledge, and we set off in
company in the direction of the Jackal’s River. I took with me Folb
and Braun; the faithful Billy remained with Ernest, and Turk had gone
off in the morning with his young masters.
My intention in choosing the river road was that in passing I might
take a look at our plantations of manioc and potatoes which extended
along its bank. I had not seen this land, which we had prepared
with a great deal of trouble, for four months prior, and I expected
to find an abundant harvest preparing for us. Judge, then, of my
surprise, on approaching, to find the whole plantation a scene of
ruin: the roots that had just begun to sprout were all trodden
under foot, or scattered over the ground--in a word, it was a scene
of utter desolation. I thought at first that perhaps my sons had
gathered the harvest; but the prints in the moist earth soon revealed
the authors of this devastation: it had been done either by the wild
pigs, or else by the family of our old sow.
My brave companions, Folb and Braun, had gone off in search of the
despoilers; and they soon returned, driving before them a whole herd
of pigs, at the head of which trotted our old sow, grunting most
melodiously. I was so irritated at the unlucky animals, that almost
instinctively I raised my gun, and by a single shot brought down two
young porkers. The others took to flight, and the dogs would have
pursued them, but I called them back, and, cutting off the heads of
the two pigs, gave them to them. I then placed the bodies on the
sledge, and having marked with a hatchet the trees I had chosen,
so that I should know them again, I set off for Felsenheim, with a
saddened heart at the devastation I had witnessed.
CHAPTER L
Return of the Boys--Their Adventures--Harvesting--Partridges
and Quails
Toward evening we began to grow anxious about the return of the
boys, when suddenly Jack appeared in the distance. He arrived at
full gallop on his ostrich, having left his brothers far behind.
He brought nothing with him, pretending that his courser would
receive no other burden than himself. Fritz and Francis coming up,
we discovered that each of them carried before him a sack full of
game, the products of the chase, in which they had been extremely
fortunate; and they had brought back with them four of those beasts
whom we had christened “beasts with a bill,” twenty ondatras, one
monkey, a kangaroo, and two varieties of the musk-rat, which they had
found in the swamp.
During supper, each one recounted his adventures, Fritz describing
their passage through the valley, the attack of the ondatras and the
beavers. “We also,” said he, “then saw those ‘beasts with a bill’
coming out of the swamp to partake of a repast not intended for them.
We then caught a fish or two in the lake; and relieving our dinner
with a plate of ginseng cooked in the ashes, sat down to our humble
meal.”
“Pooh, pooh!” cried Jack the boaster; “who cares for rats and
fishes? It is to my courser and me that you owe this royal prize,
this noble kangaroo.”
“Oh, yes,” added Francis, “a prize very easy to take, as it remained
quiet until you came up and shot it.”
“For my part,” continued Fritz, “I have brought home nothing but
a plant: but it is of more value than the kangaroo. Examine these
thistles, I beg of you; see their hard, sharp points. Will they not
be excellent to card the hair in manufacturing our hats?”
Each one of our young adventurers had a thousand different stories to
relate, each one vaunting his own prowess and extolling his share in
the events of the day. I had no time to listen to their boastings,
and I turned to examine the products of the expedition and determine
their use. The thistles of Fritz, which I recognized as being the
“carding-thistle,” were received by me as a precious discovery--one
more instrument added to our resources. My sons had also brought
home some cuttings of sweet potatoes and cinnamon: their good mother
received them with joy; and the next morning they were carefully
planted in the kitchen garden.
The grain that we had sown before the rainy season, I perceived,
had now come to maturity, although it was not more than five months
since we had confided it to the earth. We now had our hands full of
business. The herrings would soon arrive, then the sea-dogs would
come; and my dear Elizabeth lamented piteously while she enumerated
all the labour we yet had to perform. There was the manioc to dig up,
the potatoes to gather and sow--in short, a thousand cares to attend
to, a thousand labours to undertake, that would occupy more time than
the year has days.
I tranquillized my good companion as well as I was able, assuring her
that the manioc would not be injured by remaining in the ground; and
as to the potatoes, I informed her that she had nothing to fear for
this precious fruit, as our soil was warm and sandy, and they would
keep a great while in the earth.
I decided that our labours should commence with the grain, the chief
and best of our resources; but wishing to effect the harvest in
the shortest possible time, and with the smallest expenditure of
strength, I resolved to adopt the Italian method rather than the
Swiss.
I commenced by levelling a large space before the grotto, to serve
as a threshing-floor. We then, after having well watered it, beat
the earth for a long time with clubs. When the sun had dried it
up, the operation was repeated, and we continued it until we
obtained a solid, flat surface, without a crack in it, and almost as
impenetrable to water as to the sun’s rays.
On arriving at the field we were about to reap, my wife asked me
where I would find anything with which to tie up the blades into
sheaves.
“We will need nothing of the sort,” said I; “everything is to be done
according to the Italian method. Those people, naturally averse to
labour, never use sheaves, as being too heavy to carry.”
“How, then,” asked Fritz, “do they manage to carry their harvest
home?”
“You will soon see,” said I.
At the same time I gathered up in my left hand all the stalks it
could contain, and taking a long knife in my right hand, I cut off
the stalks about six inches below the head. I then threw the handful
into a basket. “There,” said I, laughing, to Fritz, “there is the
first act of an Italian harvest.”
My children thought it was an admirable plan; and in a short time the
plain presented but an unequal surface, bristling with decapitated
stalks, here and there dotted with a forgotten blade.
We now hastened to the grotto, taking with us the grain we had cut.
When we arrived there, Ernest and his mother received orders to
sprinkle the blades over the threshing-floor I had prepared, while my
three cavaliers stood by their coursers’ sides, laughing at our new
invention for threshing grain.
When everything was prepared, “To the saddle!” cried I, “to the
saddle!” and I told them they had nothing to do but display their
horsemanship among the grain. I leave the screams, the shouts of
laughter to the imagination of readers; the bull, the onagra, and the
ostrich rivalled each other in swiftness; my wife, Ernest, and I,
each one armed with a pitchfork, followed after them, throwing the
grain under the feet of the animals.
When the grain was all threshed, we set to work to clear it of the
straws and dirt that had become mixed with it. This was the most
difficult and the most painful part of all the labour. We laid the
grain on close hurdles, and with wooden flails we endeavoured to
disengage the dirt; but this was not to be effected, except at the
expense of our eyes, mouth, or nose. The poor little workmen coughed
terribly, and we were obliged to desist every few moments to clear
our throats.
We were several days engaged in these works, and we wished to see
exactly how much we possessed. We found ourselves rich enough to
defy all attacks of famine; we had sixty bushels of barley, eighty
of wheat, and more than a hundred of maize, from which I concluded
that the soil was more favourable to this last than to the barley
and the other European grains we had sown at the same time. We had
not prepared the maize as we had the other grains; but after having
dried the stalks, we detached the grains by beating them with long,
flexible whips; we took this care because we wanted its soft and
elastic leaves to stuff our mattresses.
I had not lost sight of my intention of obtaining a second harvest
before the end of the season, and we now set to work to clear our
fields of the straw; but we had scarcely commenced when we beheld an
innumerable swarm of quails and partridges start up from the dried
stalks, where they had been enticed by the few blades of grain we had
left behind. As we were unprepared for them, they all escaped, save
one quail, which Fritz brought down with a stone; but the presence of
these birds after the harvest was a precious discovery for following
years, and we anticipated with pleasure the superb chase of quails
and partridges we should have after our harvests.
When the land was all cleared I sowed it anew; but remembering what I
had learned in Europe, not to exhaust the soil, I varied my original
mode of operation, and contented myself by sowing, for the second
crop, wheat and oats.
Our agricultural labours were scarcely finished, when the bank of
herrings appeared off Safety Bay. Our winter provisions being so
abundant, we did not take as many as customary of these; and we
contented ourselves with preparing two barrels, one of salted and one
of smoked herrings; we also preserved some of the fish alive, which
we put in the Jackal’s River, so that at any time we could obtain
them.
CHAPTER LI
Trial of the Cajack--The Alarm--Adventure
with Sea-Cows--The Drawbridge
The trial of the cajack was a grand holiday fête; all were anxious to
join in it: and when Fritz appeared, clad in his maritime costume,
he was formally invited to take his place in his boat of skin. I
had forgotten to say before, that the cajack was furnished with two
little wheels of copper, so that it could be used as well on land
as on sea. This advantage enabled my sons to arrange the ceremony
with all possible pomp. Fritz was installed upon his bench, as proud
as Neptune or any other marine god setting off on a distant voyage.
The form of the cajack was not a bad resemblance of those immense
shells that fable has assigned to the sea-gods, as having been used
for chariots. I untied the canoe and held myself ready to start at
a moment’s notice, if any real danger should threaten our Greenland
sailor. When all these precautions were taken--“To the sea!” cried I
to Fritz; “to the sea!” “Good-bye!” repeated his brothers; and the
cajack glided into the water with inconceivable rapidity. The surface
of the bay was calm and tranquil, and soon the Greenlander was
dancing gaily over the waves: then, like a skilful actor, he began
executing a series of evolutions, each more adroit or more audacious
than the other. Sometimes he would shoot off far out of our sight;
then suddenly he would disappear in a cloud of foam, to the great
terror of his mother; in another moment we saw his head above the
floods, and an oar that he had elevated to signalize his triumph.
The address and the audacity of our young sailor provoked, as one
can easily imagine, loud and frequent applause on our part: on his
part, not content with acting on the surface of the bay, he turned
his frail bark toward the Jackal’s River, and attempted to mount the
current; but this proved too strong for him, and threw him back so
violently that he disappeared from our sight. To jump into the canoe
and fly to the assistance of the poor Greenlander, was the affair
of an instant. Jack and Ernest went with me. The wheel of the canoe
appeared to us too slow; and while I exerted all my force in turning
it, my two sons took each an oar. We scarcely touched the surface
of the water, yet we could not perceive anything; our cries had no
echo but the rocks, and our sight was lost in the foaming waves that
boiled up around us. I felt my heart beating violently, and I had
not the courage to express my uneasiness to my sons; when suddenly,
in the direction of a rock just visible through the foam, I saw a
light cloud of smoke issuing forth, and putting my hand on my pulse,
I counted its beat four times before that smoke was followed by a
report.
“He is saved!” cried I, “he is saved! Fritz is there in the direction
of the smoke: before a quarter of an hour he will rejoin us.”
I then fired my pistol, which was instantly answered by another
report in the same direction. Ernest drew out his watch. After a hard
row we perceived Fritz, and in a quarter of an hour we reached him.
We found the young hero of the sea established on the rocks. Before
him lay a walrus, or sea-cow, which he had killed with his harpoon. I
commenced by reproving my son for his imprudence.
“My dear father,” answered he, “it was the current that swept me away
in spite of myself: my oars were like straws before the impetuosity
of the Jackal’s River; and I found myself thrown back into the sea,
at such a distance as to lose sight of land altogether. But I had no
time to fear: a company of sea-cows passed along, almost under my
nose. To throw my harpoon and strike one of these animals was the
work of an instant; but the wound I had inflicted was not mortal, and
instead of weakening him, it seemed, on the contrary, to inspire him
with new strength. He dived down; but the traces of blood he left
behind, and the bladder of air fastened to the end of the rope of
the harpoon, served as guides to follow him. The second time I was
more successful, and I launched a second harpoon direct in his side.
This last blow was decisive, and, after some struggles, the monster
extended himself on this rock. Remembering our precaution with the
boa, I fired two pistols at the head of the animal, and probably
those were the reports you heard.”
“You have achieved a truly heroic action, and the combat was a
perilous one. The walrus is a redoubtable monster; and instead of
flying, he would have turned upon you, and God knows, my poor child,
what would have become of you if your frail boat of leather had been
torn by the terrible teeth of the walrus. But, God be praised, you
are safe, and that is better than the capture of ten such animals,
which are not very precious game. I do not know what use this will be
to us, notwithstanding it is near ten feet long.”
“Well, then, if it is good for nothing,” answered Fritz, “I will keep
the head myself: I will prepare it and fasten it to the bow of my
cajack: its long, white teeth will have a fine effect, and I will now
call my cajack ‘The Walrus.’”
“The teeth of the walrus,” said I, “are the only things worth
preserving. They are as white and hard as ivory. But make haste, for
the sky gives sure token of a storm.”
I wished to take Fritz and his cajack into our canoe, but he refused,
and dashed on, saying he would announce our return to his mother. I
let him proceed, and he soon passed us.
The storm came on quicker than I had anticipated. We had scarcely
accomplished a third of our course, when the thick, black clouds that
brooded over the horizon burst forth in torrents of rain. The wind,
the lightning, the waves, were confounded in horrible confusion.
Fritz was too far from us to allow of his joining us, and I repented
of not having taken him into the boat with us. I desired Jack and
Ernest to put on their swimming corsets, which we were always careful
to take with us, and to lash themselves fast to the ropes of the
canoe, so that they would not be carried away by the waves that
occasionally broke over us.
The tempest increased, and my anxiety increased with it; the waves
elevated themselves like mountains: at one moment we would be high
in air, and at another precipitated to the bottom of an abyss, where
it would seem we were lost for ever. But the violence of the tempest
prevented its lasting a great while. The waves subsided, and after a
hurricane of a quarter of an hour, the wind fell, and the storm for a
time was over, although black and angry clouds rolled over our heads.
We redoubled our efforts at the oars and the wheel, and soon arrived
within sight of Safety Bay. We entered the well-known harbour, and
the first objects which greeted our sight were Fritz, Francis,
and their mother, kneeling on the beach: they were praying for our
preservation. The heart of my poor Elizabeth was almost broken with
anxiety, and she needed to put all her trust in Him who alone can
comfort.
We leaped from our canoe, amid the cries of joy and the embraces of
the dear ones who rushed to our arms. My wife had not strength to
articulate a single word of reproach for the great imprudence we had
displayed: her only thought was a feeling of thankfulness to our
Almighty Preserver.
We all united in prayer, and retired to the grotto, to exchange our
dripping garments for dry ones.
“At last,” said Fritz, who then spoke, “we are again united. I had
given up all hopes of ever seeing you again, when a huge wave swept
over my little barque; but I held my breath, and the wave passed on,
and I found myself still alive. But it was not my exertions that
brought me to the shore: there was a stronger hand than mine that
sustained my cajack among the waves--the hand of God,” added the
young man; “and to Him have I rendered homage.”
The rain had been so abundant that the Jackal’s River had overflowed
its banks and damaged some of our constructions, which demanded
instant restoration. We therefore employed ourselves in building
protections against any other storms that might visit the coast of
Felsenheim. During our labours we received the visit of a superb
company of salmon. We captured a number, which were salted and smoked
according to the customary manner; we preserved some alive by passing
a strong cord through the gills and fastening them to stakes.
We had resumed the peaceable course of our domestic avocations, when,
one clear moonlight night, I was suddenly awakened by barks and
cries, as if all the jackals of the country, the bears and tigers of
the savanna, had made an invasion into our domain. I rose in a great
fright, and arming myself with a gun, I walked to the door of the
grotto, which we generally left open on account of the fresh air.
Fritz had also heard the noise, and I found him half dressed, ready
to face the danger.
“What do you think it is, papa?” said he; “a new invasion of jackals?”
I dissembled the real fear I entertained, and assured my son that
doubtless it was our pigs, who were making us a nocturnal visit. I
did not think my supposition would be true. We ran out, and found
that our dogs and the jackal had captured three large hogs. Our first
movement was to laugh; we tried to call off our dogs, but in vain;
they had the poor pigs by the ears, and they would not let them go,
and we were forced to open their mouths with our hands. The pigs
never waited to see who were their liberators, but scampered away and
were soon across the river.
I attributed this invasion to negligence on our part, and thought we
had forgotten to take up the planks from Family Bridge; but, upon
examination, I found that they had been all removed, and that the
audacious pigs had come across on the beams of the bridge.
This occurrence convinced me that Family Bridge was not sufficient
for our security: instead of a barrier, it was only a means of
entering our domains. I had long contemplated the erection of a
drawbridge, and now appeared the proper time for constructing it. To
be sure, a drawbridge was not a little thing to undertake; but after
having constructed two vessels, attempted and executed a thousand
other things which required more skill than the simple art of
carpentering, we could not recoil before the idea of constructing a
drawbridge.
I understood the turning-bridges; but as I had neither vice nor
windlass, I was obliged to adopt the simplest kind of drawbridge. I
constructed, between two high stakes, a sweep that could be easily
moved, and by the means of two ropes, a lever, and a counterpoise,
we had a bridge which could be easily raised and lowered. It would
only ensure us against the invasion of animals, the river being too
shallow to oppose any obstacle to a more serious attack. Whatever it
was, our domains were enriched with a new masterpiece, and my young
people exerted themselves in a thousand gymnastic exercises about the
stakes of the drawbridge: it was lowered, and raised, and for a few
days it was a great source of amusement for them.
CHAPTER LII
Taming of Antelopes--Sugar Press--Combat
with a Hyena--A Flying Courier--The
Wild Horse and the Elephant
The drawbridge suffered the fate of all new inventions, admiration
evaporates so quickly! and at the end of several days, if any one
climbed the stakes, it was that he might have the pleasure of seeing
the antelopes and gazelles bounding over the plain of Falcon’s Nest.
“Behold,” said one, “how graceful and light those animals are! they
scarcely touch the earth. What a pity we cannot tame them; or, at
least, approach them without scattering the whole flock, as the wind
does the dust!”
“To take them,” said Ernest, “you will have to adopt the plan
resorted to by the Georgians in capturing buffaloes.”
“Tut, tut,” said Jack, “cannot you find an example nearer home than
Georgia?”
“For the world of thought,” replied the professor, gravely, “there is
no limitation; and it would be as well to become acquainted with the
Georgian method before rejecting Georgia as being too distant.”
“Well, then, doctor, give us a lesson.”
The professor, who willingly forgot the sarcasms and pleasantries
that were showered upon him, whenever he availed himself of an
opportunity to display his scientific knowledge, now began to explain
this former remark.
“In the savannas of North America, in some places beds of marl are
found which contain salt, of which the animals are very fond: the
buffaloes especially flock in great numbers to this luxury which
Nature has provided for them. The natives of the country lie in
ambush for them there, and numbers fall victims to their avidity. In
the absence of salt marl,” continued the professor, “we can, if we
wish, prepare artificially a substitute for it, where the graceful
antelopes will fall into the snare. We can, for that purpose, mix
together the porcelain clay and some salt.”
“Adopted! adopted!” responded all the little boys unanimously.
“Long live philosopher Ernest, first professor of the academy of
Falsenheim, doctor, librarian, manager of the museum, naturalist and
so forth!”
To plan an excursion and ask my permission was the work of an
instant, and my harebrained youngsters promised themselves so much
pleasure that I had not the disposition to deny them.
“Oh do, do, papa!” was the general cry; “an excursion is much more
fun than constructing bridges.”
“I will make some pemmican,” said Fritz; “we have bear’s meat enough
left for it.”
“And I,” said Jack, with a mysterious air, “I will take two pigeons
with me. I have got an idea in my head.”
“And I,” added little Francis, “will take care of the coursers; and
if Fritz will take my advice, he will take the cajack along--it will
sail so nicely on the lake; and perhaps we can capture some of the
black swans. Oh, how beautiful a pair of those swans would look in
the basin of Falcon’s Nest!”
The weather was calm and serene, and everything promised a pleasant
excursion to the adventurers.
The making of pemmican was commenced immediately, under the
inspection of Fritz. The meat was pounded and crushed, until, after
two days of hard work, it was reduced to half its former size. I
tasted the meat of which Fritz boasted so much, and I did not think
it bad.
Baskets, sacks, and all utensils necessary for the excursion were
collected together; even our old sledge was brought down, and it
was mounted on cannon-wheels, and loaded with all that the young
adventurers intended to carry with them. The cajack, arms, provision
for the mouth and for war--nothing was forgotten; anything that came
into their heads they piled on, and a caravan in the desert could not
have made more preparation.
The morning of departure arrived. Every one was awake before day; and
Jack, without saying a word to anybody, climbed up into the dove-cot,
and took out several pairs of pigeons.
“How is this?” said I, as I saw the youngster placing his pigeons in
a basket. “It appears that you gentlemen take precautions to provide
a variety for yourselves. I am only afraid that those old pigeons
will be pretty tough eating.”
The fellow looked at me knowingly for a moment, but did not answer.
When they were about to set off, I saw him conversing mysteriously
with Ernest; but I could discover nothing, and I contented myself
with waiting a surprise of some kind, as I knew they intended one.
At last they were ready to set out. My wife enjoined my sons to be
prudent; we embraced them, and they soon disappeared in a cloud
of dust, with the coursers and the sledge. Ernest alone remained
with his mother and me, and we employed ourselves in constructing a
sugar-cane press, which my wife had much need of. The machine, which
was composed of three cylinders, placed upright, differed very little
from the ordinary presses, with the exception that it was arranged so
as to be moved by animals.
Meanwhile our young adventurers were pursuing their course toward the
savanna. I will relate their adventures here as they were recounted
to us on the return of the party.
They had passed over the tract of land that separated Family Bridge
from the country which we had called Waldegg, or the Hermitage,
and where they intended to pass the day, when, on approaching the
farmhouse, they heard cries like that of a person in distress. It
was a sort of wild, maniacal laugh; and the animals stopped in
terror; the dogs barked and howled fearfully; and the ostrich, more
frightened than the others, fled in the direction of the Lake of
Swans with such rapidity that all the efforts of its master could not
check it. The bull and the onagra trembled so violently that Fritz
and his brother were obliged to dismount.
Francis seized his gun, put two pistols in his belt, called Folb and
Braun, and calmly walked on in the direction of the strange laugh. He
had not gone more than thirty paces when he perceived, through the
bushes, an enormous hyena, who, after having killed one of our sheep,
was devouring it; while ever and anon that strange laugh of joy would
echo from its blood-stained lips. The presence of the little hunter
did not disturb the monster in his horrid repast. While rolling his
flaming eyes, he tore the poor sheep in pieces. But Francis wanted
neither courage nor presence of mind: he placed himself behind a
tree, and taking good aim, he discharged both barrels of his gun,
and was so fortunate as to break both the fore-legs and pierce the
breast of the hyena. The dogs then rushed on; their terror changed
into rage. The most terrible combat now ensued between them and the
furious monster; growls and cries resounded through the air, and the
blood flowed in torrents.
Fritz, who had succeeded in attaching the onagra and the bull to a
tree, now ran up at the sound of the double explosion and the noise
of the dogs. They would have fired again and terminated the combat,
but the dogs were so close to the hyena that they were afraid of
hitting them, so that they were obliged to await the issue of the
combat. Folb took the hyena by the throat, and Braun by the muzzle,
and there they held him until he dropped down dead. My sons uttered
a cry of joy; and calling off the dogs, dressed the wounds they had
received by rubbing them with hydromel and bears’ grease, which they
had brought with them to eat.
When my sons had established their tent, etc., at Waldegg, they set
off with the sledge to bring the hyena thither. The following day was
entirely devoted to skinning the animal and preparing the hide. While
they were thus employed, we were calmly conversing under the vault of
the grotto.
“I wonder where my brothers are,” said Ernest. “I think we shall very
soon have news from them.”
“What put that idea into your head?” said his mother.
“Oh! I dreamed it,” said Ernest.
“Bah! A great confidence your dreams will induce!” replied my wife.
While we were thus talking, a bird, whose genus we could not discover
on account of the obscurity, fluttered in at the open door of the
dove-cot.
“Shut it, shut it!” cried Ernest; “to-morrow morning we will inspect
our new guest. Who knows! perhaps it is a courier from New Holland,
and bears despatches under its wing from Sydney, Port Jackson and so
forth.”
“Why, how is it your thoughts run on despatches and news this
evening, Ernest?”
“Ah, it is nothing,” answered he, with indifference; “only the
arrival of that pigeon recalled to my mind something I have been
reading to-day, concerning the correspondence the ancient Greeks and
Romans carried on by means of carrier-pigeons.”
The next morning, Ernest rose before me, and paid a visit to the
dove-cot; I said nothing; and after breakfast I saw him coming
in, holding in his hand a piece of paper, folded and sealed like
a government letter, which he presented to me on bended knees,
saying as he did so, “Noble and gracious lord of these lands, I beg
you to excuse the postmaster of Felsenheim for the delay that the
despatches from Sydney and New Holland have experienced; the packet
was retarded, and did not arrive till very late last evening.”
His mother and I burst into a laugh at this ridiculous speech.
“Well,” replied I, continuing the jest, “what are our subjects in
Sydney and New Holland engaged in? Will the secretary open and read
the despatches?”
At these words, Ernest broke the seal of the paper, and, elevating
his voice, commenced--
“_The Governor-General of New Holland, to the Governor of
Felsenheim, Falcon’s Nest, Waldegg, the Field of the
Sugar-Canes, and the surrounding country._
“GREETING,
“Noble and faithful ally! We learn with displeasure that
three men, whom we suppose to be part of your colony, are
making inroads into our savannas, and doing much damage
to the animals of the province; we have also learned that
frightful hyenas have broken through the limits of our
quarter, and killed many of the domestic animals of our
colonists. We therefore beg you, on one part, to call back
your starving huntsmen; on the other, to provide measures
to purge the country of the hyenas and other ferocious
beasts that infest it. Especially I pray God, my Lord
Governor, that He will keep you under His holy protection.
“Done under our hand and seal at Sydney Cove, Port Jackson,
the twelfth day of the eighth month of the thirty-fourth
year of the colony.
“PHILIP PHILLIPSON, _Governor_.”
Ernest stopped in laughter at the effect the letter produced on us.
I felt that there was some mystery, and I was anxious to get at the
bottom of it. Ernest enjoyed my evident embarrassment, and, jumping
up and down as children do, he let fall a new paper from his pocket.
I caught it up, and was going to read it, when he laid his hand on my
arm, saying--
“Those also are despatches; they came from Waldegg, and, although
less pompous than General Phillipson’s, perhaps they are more
truthful. Listen, then, to a letter from Waldegg----”
“Oh, do explain to us,” said I, “this prolonged enigma. Did your
brothers leave a letter before they went? Is the news of the hyena
true? Did they act so rashly as to attack the animal?”
“Here is a letter from Fritz,” replied Ernest; “my pigeon brought it
to me last night.”
He opened the paper and read the following words--
“DEAR PARENTS, and you, my good ERNEST,--I will inform you
of our arrival at Waldegg; we there found a hyena, who had
devoured several of our sheep. Francis alone has all the
honour of having killed the monster, and he deserves much
praise for his intrepidity: we have passed the whole day in
preparing the skin, which is very fine, and will be very
useful. The pemmican is the most detestable stuff I ever
tasted. Adieu! we embrace you tenderly in spirit.
“FRITZ.”
“A true hunter’s letter,” cried I. “But this hyena, how could it have
found its way into our domains? Has the palisade been overturned?”
“We shall probably receive another letter this evening,” said Ernest,
“and that will give us further details of the expedition.”
After dinner a new pigeon was seen to enter the dove-cot. Ernest,
who had not remained quiet one moment during the day, immediately
shut the door of the dove-cot, removed from the wing of the aërial
messenger the despatch he had brought, and delivered it to us; it
read as follows--
“The night has been fine--the weather beautiful--excursion
in cajack on lake--capture of some black swans--several new
animals--apparition and sudden flight of an aquatic beast,
entirely unknown to us--to-morrow at Prospect Hill.
“Be of good cheer;
“Your sons,
“FRITZ, JACK, and FRANCIS.”
“It is almost a telegraphic despatch,” said I, laughing; “it could
not be more concise. Our huntsmen would rather fire a gun than write
a sentence; nevertheless, their letter tranquillizes me; but I really
hope that the hyena which they killed is the only one in the country.”
We received other letters at intervals; but they were so concise that
I will continue here the narration the boys made on their return.
Delivered from the terrible neighbourhood of the hyena, they had
undertaken to explore the marsh around the Lake of Swans. Fritz
embarked in the cajack, and his brothers followed, as near as
possible to him, along the shore. The black swans afforded a fine
chase to our young huntsmen. A loop of wire fastened to a long bamboo
was the means they employed; but they captured only three young
swans, the old ones being too strong, and defending themselves with
their powerful wings.
After the swans came a bird of a new kind, which, by his majestic
walk and noble appearance, seemed the king of birds. The boys threw
the wire loop over his head, and, drawing him to the shore, fastened
his feet and wings, and laid him alongside the swans.
While they were occupied in examining their magnificent prey, which
Ernest afterward pronounced to be the “heron royal,” an extraordinary
animal rushed out from the weeds, and passing close to their sides,
struck them with terror. It was an animal about the size of a young
foal, of a form like that of the rhinoceros, only it had not the horn
on the nose which that animal has; the upper lip was very prominent,
and the whole body of a very dark brown colour. My three huntsmen
were not very distinguished naturalists, and the best name they could
find for the beast was the Tapir or Anta of South America,
Fritz began to pursue it in his cajack; but the tapir swam away so
rapidly that he was soon obliged to desist. During this time Jack and
Francis had set out for the hut, carrying with them the black swans
and the beautiful heron royal. In their way thither they encountered
a flock of cranes, which hovered around their heads, uttering
piercing cries. A great number were soon brought down, not by
firearms, but by the bows which the boys carried. These were provided
with long, triangular-pointed arrows.
Fritz, on rejoining his brothers, felt a little piqued when he
perceived, from their trophies, the fine chase that they had made;
and, on the other hand, his unsuccessful pursuit of the tapir made
him a little ashamed. He wished to retrieve his honour and repair
the damage which his reputation as a good hunter had sustained; so,
calling the dogs to him, and accompanied by his eagle, he directed
his course toward the wood of guavas. He had not been there more
than a quarter of an hour before his dogs started a flock of the
most beautiful birds Fritz had ever seen. He cast off his eagle, and
while it was pursuing one, a second fell down from fright into his
hands. He also captured a third, which had become entangled in a
shrub. This last was a magnificent one. Its tail was more than two
feet in length, and two of the feathers were longer than the others,
and glowed with the most beautiful shades of gold, green, and brown,
terminated at the end by a spot of black, exactly like velvet. Ernest
recognized it afterward as being the Bird of Paradise, the _manu
cordiata_, which is the most elegant in form and plumage of all the
birds of New Holland.
Our huntsmen, after all their exertions, had acquired a most
ferocious appetite; and although their repast was frugal, yet they
did it ample justice. The cold meat of the peccary, guavas, cinnamon
apples, and potatoes cooked in the ashes, were all devoured with
thankfulness. The pemmican alone was disdained, and declared unworthy
of its reputation.
And now another despatch arrived, which filled me with anxiety. It
contained the following words--
“The palisade of the defile which leads to the savanna is
destroyed; the sugar-canes have been all trampled down,
and we have discovered large footprints, like those of
the elephant, in the sand. There are also the prints of
the hoofs of wild horses. Come quickly to our aid, dear
parents; there is much to do for the safety of the colony.
Lose not an instant, we beg of you.”
I leave it to the reader to imagine the inquietude into which this
letter threw me. I saddled the onagra without losing a moment, and,
leaving Ernest and his mother to follow me on the next day, I set off
for the defile. There was a distance of six leagues between my sons
and me; but I accomplished it in three hours.
My children were surprised to see me arrive so promptly, and they
received me with transports of joy. The idea I had entertained of
the devastation was but faint in comparison with the reality. The
sugar-canes were irretrievably lost: they had been trampled down, and
the leaves torn off, by some animal that I was sure must have been an
elephant. All our trouble in erecting the palisade had been wasted;
the stakes had been all torn up, the trees near by deprived of their
bark, the bamboos had been treated no better than the sugar-canes,
and every young shrub I had planted had been torn up. I examined
attentively the footprints in the sand, and was convinced that the
larger ones were those of the elephant, and the smaller ones those
of a hippopotamus; but I could discover no traces of the hyena.
I surrounded our tent with dry branches, and amassed an abundant
provision of combustibles, so that we might keep off any beasts by
fires at night.
Ernest and his mother arrived after dinner, bringing with them
the waggon, the cow, the ass, and all necessary utensils for our
encampment, which was likely to last a good while.
We immediately began the construction of a solid fortification across
the defile, one that would effectually keep out all intruders. I will
spare my readers the details of this tiresome work, which occupied
us constantly for more than a month. My good Elizabeth shared in our
toils, and inspired her sons with ardour and perseverance. Sometimes
we would relax from our labours; Fritz would make excursions in his
cajack, and the other boys would wander off, and always bring us home
something useful.
CHAPTER LIII
The Redoubt--Valuable Discoveries--The
Cacao Tree--The Banana--Crocodiles and
Alligators--Tea Plant--Artillery and
Fortification of Shark Island
Our next labour was to construct some sort of a fort to shelter us
whenever we might visit the defile. We had not strength enough to
build a regular fort; and besides, our knowledge of fortification was
very limited. At last Fritz thought of a plan of a Kamschatdale fort,
which he had read of somewhere, and which I thought, with a little
improvement, would answer admirably.
The Kamschatdale fort simply consists of four high stones, upon which
are laid planks and boards, forming a platform upon which a hut of
bark or branches is constructed--not a very formidable fortress
certainly; but yet capable of defending us in case of an attack from
wild beasts.
Instead of four stones for the foundation, we chose out four trees
to answer the same purpose. We did not cut the branches off close,
but left them as rests for the beams of our platform. We surrounded
our platform with a high and strong network of rushes and branches,
leaving an opening for entrance; and we covered the roof with the
waterproof leaves of the Talipot palm. These leaves grow so large
that ten men can be covered by one of them. Our fort bore a strong
resemblance to Falcon’s Nest; and, surrounded as it was by green
trees and flourishing verdure, it did not look much like a military
construction.
To ascend to the platform, we employed one of the simplest means I
could imagine: it was by a beam which descended perpendicularly to
the ground, and notched deeply into steps. We also arranged this so
that it could be raised and lowered at pleasure.
Fritz and Jack promised themselves wonders from our new fort, which
overlooked the savanna for a great distance, and we could see the
river running like a silver thread through the immense plain; and by
means of spy-glasses we could discern troops of buffaloes and other
animals feeding around the brink.
Our labours at the fort were diversified by some important
discoveries. One day Fritz made an excursion to the river of the
savanna, and found among the rich vegetation there some unknown
shrubs, of which he brought me specimens to examine. One kind bore,
in large clusters, a beautiful green fruit, tipped at the end with
violet, and shaped like a large gherkin; the others were covered with
quantities of small flowers, interspersed with large fruits like
cucumbers. On examination, I recognized them as being two of the
most precious productions of the tropics: the largest of the fruits
was the cacao-bean, of which chocolate is made; the other was the
banana, that forms an article of food for the inhabitants of several
countries in America.
We tasted these far-famed fruits, but did not find them very
excellent. The beans of the cacao are filled with a sort of viscous
matter, like thick cream, but of an insipid taste and an odour like
that of an over-ripe pear.
My wife, who had opened several bananas, sought in vain for some
seeds which she might take home to plant in her kitchen-garden.
I told her that the banana contained no seeds, and was always
propagated from cuttings, which will easily grow if planted in rich,
wet earth. My wife also wished to plant some of the cacao-beans in
her garden: but she was obliged to renounce her project, as Ernest
told her that unless the seeds were put in when the fruit was
gathered they would be useless. It was resolved, in consequence, that
Fritz should set out the next day in his cajack, and go in search of
the elements necessary for the reproduction of these two precious
plants. My wife never forgot her kitchen-garden; and whenever she
came across a useful addition, she immediately planted a specimen
there.
The next day Fritz embarked; and fearing that his cajack would not be
large enough to hold the cargo he intended to bring home, he fastened
a raft of rushes behind it. He was ashamed, he said, to go for some
banana cuttings only, and he intended to bring home something else.
We occupied ourselves during the day in preparing to set out for
Felsenheim; and Fritz did not return till late in the evening, when
we saw him coming toward us, the cajack and the raft loaded down to
the water’s edge.
“Bravo! bravo!” cried his brothers, as they saw Fritz advancing,
laden with green branches. The cargo was soon unloaded, and dragged
up to the hut with as much contentment as if it had been the galleons
of silver that Admiral Anson captured.
Fritz now came up, holding in his hand a superb bird, the feet and
wings of which he had fastened, and which he presented to us as the
principal booty of the day.
It was the Sultan Cock of Buffon, the king of water-fowls, so called
from its beauty of form, and the brilliancy of its plumage. I easily
recognized its long red legs, and its beautiful green and violet
plumage, with a red spot in the forehead. My wife wished to add it
to the inhabitants of the farmyard; and as it was very gentle, it
soon became as tame as the rest of our domestic fowls, who appeared
jealous of the new-comer.
Fritz now recounted to us the details of the day. He informed us that
he had ascended the river for a great distance, and that he had been
astonished at the majestic forests which bordered it, and threw a
sombre shade over its waters. He had encountered several families of
turkeys, pintadoes, and peacocks, whose cries and screams imparted an
air of life to the sombre river. Farther on the scene had changed:
there were enormous elephants feeding along the bank, in troops of
twenty or thirty; some were playing in the water, and squirting the
cooling fluid over the heated bodies of their companions; tigers
and panthers, too, lay sleeping in the sun, their magnificent fur
contrasting strangely with the green bank upon which they reclined;
but not one of these animals paid the least attention to the young
navigator.
“I felt my inability and weakness,” said Fritz, “on finding myself
face to face with these terrible enemies; my gun, my balls, and my
skill would have been of little use, and I thought I had better
retrace my steps. I commenced to turn my cajack round, when what was
my surprise to see, at about the distance of two gun-shots before me,
a long and large mouth, armed with rows of formidable teeth, and the
whole apparatus moving directly toward me. I cannot say how I found
strength enough to escape, I felt so frightened at the apparition. I
took a lesson then in natural history that I have no desire soon to
repeat.”
“What animal was it,” asked Francis, “the mouth and teeth of which
Fritz saw coming out of the water?”
“An alligator, probably,” said Ernest; “or, if you would prefer using
a name more familiar to you, a crocodile.”
We finished our preparations for departure, and set off at break of
day the next morning for Felsenheim. Fritz asked my permission to
allow him to make the journey by water, in his cajack, and to return
home by doubling Cape Disappointment. I readily consented, as the
ease with which he managed his little boat gave me nothing to fear,
and besides, I was anxious to know more about the cape.
We both set out at the same time, and both arrived home safely. The
sailor, in doubling the cape, had made two new discoveries: among the
bushes which covered the rock he remarked two shrubs, one of which
was covered with very highly-scented, rose-coloured flowers, and had
long, narrow leaves; the other had numerous small white flowers, and
in its whole appearance very much resembled the myrtle. He brought
home to us specimens of these two shrubs, one of which my wife
recognized as the caper-tree, used in pickling; the other was a sort
of Chinese tea-plant, which was received with marked distinction.
When we were a little rested from our fatigue, my wife recalled
to mind Falcon’s Nest and its aërial chateau, which we had almost
forgotten since our discovery of the salt cavern.
“It is wrong,” said she, “to let that beautiful habitation go to
ruin. Although Felsenheim offers us a sure protection in winter, yet
Falcon’s Nest, with its gigantic branches and pleasant verdure, is
the most agreeable habitation we could possess.”
My wife spoke reasonably, and I promised her that I would do as
she wished. We left Felsenheim and took up our residence in our
old habitation. The roof that we had made over the roots was now
plastered with gum and resin; the staircase was repaired: we
substituted a bark roof for the old linen one over our chamber in the
tree; we made a balcony all around it, and repaired everything, so
that it was a clean, agreeable habitation.
[Illustration: “I felt so frightened at the apparition.”]
But the embellishments at Falcon’s Nest were but a prelude to more
considerable and difficult works. Fritz had conceived the idea of
fortifying Shark Island, and making that a sort of rallying point in
case of danger. He teased me so about it, and his head was so full
of plans and projects, that it was impossible to resist him, and the
work was at length begun. One can easily conceive how great were the
obstacles that a man and four boys had to contend with, in order to
convey two cannons to the island, and level them on a platform more
than fifty feet in height. It cost us immense labour even to effect
the transport of the cannons. I then placed on the platform we had
built a large capstan; and, to shorten the time and reduce the labour
in passing round the rock, I let down a rope, made into loops, so
that we could easily ascend and descend. The cannons were attached by
strong ropes, and then hauled up by the capstan. This work cost us a
whole day of hard labour; but at last the cannons were landed on the
platform, and established with their mouths toward the sea. We placed
a long pole in the rock, with a string and pulley, so that we could
hoist up a flag at any time. How glad we felt when our work was done,
and how proud we were of our ingenuity! When we had crowned this
military construction with a flag, a cry of joy was uttered; and, as
economical as I felt we must be in powder, six times we fired our
cannons, and the rocks repeated the echo over a vast extent of ocean.
CHAPTER LIV
A General Review of the Colony after Ten Years
of Establishment
It is with dismay that I cast my eyes over the number of pages I have
filled, and which every day grow more numerous.
Although I should like to mention the minutest details of our
domestic life, yet I have some consideration for my readers, who
would throw down the book in disgust and grow weary of the monotony
of the design; therefore, I must content myself with merely
describing our principal occupations.
Ten years have passed away since we were thrown on this coast, each
year resembling the preceding one in the similarity of its works:
we had our fields to sow, our harvests to gather, and our domestic
cares to attend to. These formed the almost unbroken circle of our
existence. My only desire is, that the end I intended in writing this
journal may be fulfilled, and that my readers, if I ever have any,
may learn how, with God’s blessing, to provide for their necessities
when thrown, as we have been, entirely on their own resources.
Providence had willed that the land of our exile should be in one of
the most favoured quarters of the globe, and every day we offered up
our thanks to Him for His goodness and beneficent kindness toward us.
The ten years we had passed were but years of conquest and
establishment. We had constructed three habitations, built a solid
wall across the defile, which would secure us against invasion from
the wild beasts which infested the savanna. The part of the country
in which we dwelt was defended by high mountains on one side, and the
ocean on the other; we had traversed the whole extent, and rested
in perfect surety that no enemy lurked within it. Our principal
habitations were beautiful, commodious, and especially very healthy.
Felsenheim was a safe retreat for us during the storms of winter,
while Falcon’s Nest was our summer residence and country villa;
Waldegg, Prospect Hill, and even the establishment at the defile,
were like the quiet farmhouses that the traveller finds in the
mountains of our own dear Switzerland.
The remembrance of our native land is never obliterated from the
mind; the love of one’s birthplace is a love that survives youth, and
exists in all its ardour in the bosom of the old man.
Of all our resources, the bees had prospered most; experience had
taught me how to manage them, and the only trouble that I had was
to provide new hives each year for the increasing swarms; and, in
truth, so great was the number of our hives that they attracted a
considerable flock of those birds called _merops_, or bee-eaters, who
are extremely fond of these insects.
We finished the gallery which extended along the front of our grotto:
a roof was made to the rock above it, and it rested on fourteen
columns of light bamboo, which gave it an elegant and picturesque
appearance; large pillars supported the gallery, around which twined
the aromatic vines of the vanilla and the pepper, and each end of
the gallery was terminated by a little cabinet with elevated roofs,
having the appearance of Chinese pavilions, surrounded by flowers
and foliage. A flight of steps led up into the gallery, which we had
paved with a sort of stone so soft when dug out as to be cut with a
chisel, but hardening rapidly in the sun.
The environs of our habitation were rich and agreeable; our
plantations had perfectly succeeded; and between the grotto and the
bay was a grove of trees and shrubs, planted in tasteful confusion,
which gave the spot the aspect of an English garden.
Shark Island no longer was an arid bank of sand: palm and pine-apple
trees had been planted everywhere, and the earth was covered with a
carpet of vivid green; while far above the trees towered a staff,
upon the top of which the Swiss flag floated gaily in the breeze.
Our European trees had grown with a strength and rapidity of
vegetation almost incredible; but their fruits had lost their
flavour; and whether because the soil or the air was unfavourable,
the apples and pears became black and withered, the plums and
apricots were nothing but hard kernels surrounded by a tough
skin. On the other hand, the indigenous productions, multiplied a
hundred-fold: the bananas, the figs, the guavas, the oranges and
the citron, made our corner of the island a complete terrestrial
paradise, where all the riches of vegetation were assembled. But
the abundance of fruit brought on another plague: multitudes of
pillagers, in the shape of birds, flocked to the spot. We kept our
bird-snares always ready, and it sometimes happened that an unknown
animal would be taken in the trap; for example, the great squirrel
of Canada, remarkable for its beautiful tufted tail and lustrous
red skin, attracted hither probably by our almonds and chestnuts;
parroquets, in all their diversity of colours, would sometimes be
caught; blue jays, thrushes, yellow loriots, abounded plentifully,
to the great prejudice of our cherries, figs, and native grapes.
Besides the birds by day, there were other destroyers by night, and
we had a great deal of trouble to dislodge a nest of flying squirrels
that had taken up their residence in the topmost branches of one of
our finest trees.
Our beautiful flowers also attracted numerous guests: these were the
humming birds; and it was one of our greatest amusements to watch
these little birds flying around us, sparkling like precious stones,
and hardly perceptible by the quickness of their motions; it was an
amusing spectacle to see these passionate, choleric little fellows
attack others twice their size, and drive them away from their nests,
and at other times they would tear in pieces the unlucky flower that
had deceived their expectations of a rich feast. These little scenes
diverted us, and we endeavoured to induce the birds to remain in
our neighbourhood by fixing little pots of honey on the branches,
and planting the flowers we observed they preferred. Our cares were
recompensed; several couples suspended their little nests, lined with
soft cotton, to the branches of the vanilla which wound around the
columns of the gallery, or on the vines of the pepper, the perfume of
which is very enticing to the humming-bird.
The making of sugar was an object of our special attention, and
we gradually improved our manufacture; not that I can say we
crystallized it as done in the refineries, but we obtained a very
satisfactory result. We had saved from the wreck of the ship many
articles intended for a sugar factory; among others, three metal
cylinders with which to press the sugar-cane, three great kettles to
boil the liquid in, and ladles and skimmers in abundance. The press
was fixed under a perpendicular screw, working in connection with the
cylinders, the whole turned by a lever passed horizontally through
the screw, and moved by one of our beasts of burden.
Whale Island had not been neglected: we embellished it with trees and
shrubs; but it was here that we always performed our less cleanly
avocations, such as the preparation of fish, the melting of fat, the
tannery, and the candle-making. The materials for these works were
kept under an overhanging rock, which protected them from the sun and
storm.
Our cares were divided between these different establishments,
without neglecting those that were more distant from us, and which
we called our colonies. At Waldegg we transformed the swamp into a
superb rice-field, which repaid our labour by plentiful harvests; we
also planted cinnamon, which yielded us an ample return. Prospect
Hill also had its share of attention; for each year, when the capers
were ripe, we made an excursion thither, and gathered a large
quantity, which my wife preserved in spice and vinegar; and when
the tea-plant began to put forth its leaves, again we set out, and
gathering enough for our use; we took it home to my wife, who, with
her youngest son, occupied herself in rolling, drying, and preparing
it for use.
We made, from time to time, an excursion to the defile of the
savanna, so that we might see whether any elephants, or other hurtful
beasts, had penetrated into our plantations. Fritz then made an
excursion in his cajack up the river of the savanna, and brought back
to us a rich cargo of ginseng, cacao, and bananas.
As Fritz had discovered in the woods near the defile traces of birds
which, from their noise and form, he judged to be heath-cocks, we
resolved one day to have a grand hunt, after the manner of the Cape
colonists. For this purpose we constructed a large quadrangle of the
enormous bamboo-canes I have spoken of, piled upon one another until
the edifice was ten feet long and six high, and exactly resembled
an enormous bird-cage; the top was covered with a lattice of canes,
and the door formed of the same. To induce the birds to enter, we
dug a deep ditch, which led, like a mine under a city wall, into
the centre of the edifice; we covered this ditch with sticks and
earth, and placed in the exterior entrance, all along the passage,
different sorts of grain. We then retired, and the birds precipitated
themselves on the food; the more they ate the deeper they buried
themselves in the ditch, until at last, when they arrived at the end,
they found themselves captured, and in vain they beat their heads
against the trellis-work. We entered and soon took them all prisoners.
The family of Turk and Flora had each year been increased by a
certain number of young dogs, which, notwithstanding the brilliant
qualities they displayed, we were obliged to throw into the water, as
to have allowed them to live would have been our own destruction. To
this rule there was but one exception, and on the earnest entreaty of
Jack, I permitted the canine family to retain one new member, which
we called _Coco_, “because,” said Jack, “the vowel _o_ is the most
sonorous, and will sound so fine in the forests.”
The female buffalo and the cow had each year produced us a scion
from their race; but we had only raised one heifer and a second
bull. We had called the cow _Blanche_, on account of her pale yellow
colour, and the bull _Thunder_, as his voice was so powerful. We
also possessed two more asses, which we named _Arrow_ and _Alert_ on
account of the swiftness of their course.
Our pigs were as wild as ever. The old sow had been dead many
years; but she had bequeathed to her posterity a spirit of savage
independence that all our exertions could not modify. Our other
beasts had multiplied in the same proportion, so that we could often
kill one without any fear of impoverishing ourselves. Such was
the state of the colony ten years after our arrival on the coast:
our resources had multiplied as our industry increased; abundance
reigned around us; we were as familiar with our part of the island
as a farmer with his farm. It was a perfect paradise. It would have
been an Eden, but there was one great void--oh! if we could but have
looked upon men, our brothers!
For ten years had we watched both by sea and land for some traces of
man’s existence, but all in vain; and yet we hoped on, hoped ever,
and still gathered up all our treasures of cotton, and spices, and
ostrich-plumes, etc., in earnest hope that some day we might again
see the blessed face of man.
My sons were no longer children. Fritz had become a strong and
vigorous man; although not tall, yet his limbs had been developed by
exercise: he was twenty-four years of age.
Ernest was twenty-three, and although of a good constitution, he was
not so strong as his brother; his reflective mind had ripened; reason
now aided his studious disposition; he had conquered his habit of
idleness, and was, in a word, a well-informed young man, of a sound
judgment, and unquestionably the light of the family.
Jack had but little changed: he was as headlong at twenty as at ten;
but he excelled in corporeal exercises.
Francis was eighteen: he was stout and tall; his character, without
any predominant trait, was estimable. He was reflective, without
being as deep as Ernest; agile and skilful, but without surpassing
Jack or Fritz. In general my sons were good and honest men, with
sound principles, and a deep sense of religion.
My dear Elizabeth had not grown very old. As for me, my hair had
become whitened by age, or, to speak more justly, there were but a
few scattering locks left; the heat of the climate and excessive
fatigue had taken them all away, although I still felt young and
vigorous.
There was one bitter, sad thought that always haunted my mind; and
turning my eyes to heaven, I would often say, “My God, who didst save
us from shipwreck, and hast surrounded us with so many blessings,
still watch over us, I pray thee, and do not let those perish in
solitude whom thy hand has saved.”
CHAPTER LV
Excursion of Fritz--Startling Communication--Discovery
of Pearls--Intelligence of a Fellow
Creature--Fritz’s Return, and Account of
his Wonderful Discoveries
One can easily imagine that my young family was not so easy to govern
now as it was during the first few years of our stay.
My children would often absent themselves whole days, hunting in
the forest, or clambering over the rocks; but when they returned at
evening, fatigued and wearied, if I had intended to reproach them for
their wandering life, they would have so much to tell me concerning
the rare and curious things that they had seen, that I never had
resolution enough to scold them.
Fritz one day went off in this manner, and caused us the greatest
disquietude. He had taken with him some provisions, and--as if the
land was not large enough for him--also his cajack, and gone out to
sea. He had set out before daylight, and night was approaching, but
nothing could be seen of him. My wife was in a state of the greatest
suspense; and, to alleviate her distress, I launched the canoe, and
we set out for Shark Island. There, from the top of the flag-staff,
we displayed our flag and fired an alarm-cannon. A few moments after,
we saw a black spot in the far distance, and, by the aid of a
spy-glass, we discovered our beloved Fritz. He advanced slowly toward
us, beating the sea with his oars, as if his canoe were charged with
a double load.
“Fire!” cried Ernest, in his capacity as commander of the fort,
“fire!” and Jack touched off the cannon. We descended to the shore,
and were soon in the arms of our adventurer Fritz. His boat was
loaded with different things; and something heavy and dark, which
looked like the head of a large animal, was towing behind.
“It appears,” said I, “my dear Fritz, that your day has not been an
unprofitable one; and blessed be God that He has returned you safe
and sound.”
“Yes,” replied Fritz, “blessed be God; for, besides the booty which
you see, I think I have made a discovery which is worth more to us
than all the treasures of the earth.”
These words, half-whispered in my ear, excited my curiosity, but
I thought I would say nothing until the voyager had taken breath.
When we had brought on shore his sack, filled with large oysters,
as it appeared to me, and the marine monster which served as a
counterpoise, we drew the little cajack, with its master seated in
triumph in it, up to the grotto. The boys then returned to obtain
the remainder of the cargo, while we sat down quietly in the gallery
to listen to Fritz’s narrative. He commenced the recital of his
adventures by begging us to pardon him for running away, as he had
resolved to visit the eastern part of our country, of which we as yet
knew nothing.
“I had long ago intended to make this expedition,” said he. “This
morning, before you awoke, I softly arose and ran, as is my custom,
to the borders of the sea. The weather was so beautiful, the waves
so tranquil, that I could not resist the temptation. I called my
eagle, and seizing a hatchet, jumped into the cajack, and falling
into the current of Jackal’s River, was hurried out toward the shoals
where our vessel was wrecked. I directed my course toward the eastern
coast, among shoals and rocks covered with the nests of sea-birds,
who flew around me uttering piercing cries. Whenever the rocks
offered any surface, you would see great marine monsters extended
in the sun, while others were playing and bellowing frightfully in
the neighbouring waters. There were sea-lions, and elephants, and
walruses of all sorts, who, holding on to the rocks by their long
teeth, let their hinder parts rest in the water. It seemed that this
was the general rendezvous of these monsters; for I saw, in coasting
along the shore, several places strewed with their bones and ivory
teeth.
“I must confess,” said Fritz, “that when I saw myself encompassed
by these monsters, I did not feel very safe; and I endeavoured, as
far as I was able, to pass through the shoals unperceived, which I
effected after a hard row of an hour and a half. I stopped my course
before a magnificent portico of rocks, which nature seemed to have
fashioned into the most imposing forms: it was like the arch of an
immense bridge, under which the sea flowed in like a canal, while the
rock on each side of the entrance advanced out into the sea, like an
immense promontory. I did not hesitate to enter this sombre vault,
from the other extremity of which issued a feeble light. A delicious
coolness filled the cavern. On all sides numbers of the little
coast-swallows were flying about; and on my entrance into the cavern,
a swarm of these birds surrounded me, uttering piercing cries, as if
they wished to prohibit my farther approach. I tied my skiff to an
angular stone in the cavern, and began to examine the inhabitants. I
found I was mistaken in considering these birds swallows: they were
about the size of wrens, their breast of a pure white colour, their
wings of a light grey, the back of a lustrous black. Their nests
appeared like those of other birds, made of feathers and dry leaves;
but they were placed on a singular sort of a support, resembling a
long spoon, made of greyish, polished wax. Some of these nests were
empty; and having examined them with more attention, I discovered
that they were made of a substance resembling fish-glue. I disengaged
a few of them to bring home to you, and I now beg you will examine
them, and see whether they are good for anything.”
“Certainly they are, my son. If we carried on commerce with China or
India, we could sell these nests for their weight in gold; for they
eat them by millions, and esteem them one of the greatest delicacies.”
A general cry of disgust burst forth from my wife and children,
at the idea of eating birds’ nests. I explained to them that the
feathers and moss lining the inside were not eaten, but only the
covering, which is carefully cleaned and cooked with spices, making a
transparent, savoury jelly.
“I advanced boldly through the passage,” said Fritz, “and came out
into a magnificent bay, whose low and fertile shores stretched out
into a savanna of vast extent; trees and shrubs everywhere varied
the beauty of the scene: on the right, a vast mass of rocks rose up,
being a prolongation of those that I had passed through; on the left
rolled a calm and limpid river; and beyond this was a thick swamp,
which terminated in a dense forest of cedars. While I was coasting
along the shores of the bay, I perceived at the bottom of the
transparent waters beds of shells resembling large oysters. ‘Here,’
said I to myself, ‘is something that is much better than our little
oysters at Felsenheim; if they taste good, I will take some home
with me.’ I detached some with my hook and threw them on the sand,
without getting out of my canoe, and set to work to obtain more. When
I returned with a new load, I found that the oysters I had first
deposited on the sand were opened, and the sun had already begun to
corrupt them. I took up one or two; but instead of finding the nice
fat oyster I expected, I found nothing but a hard, gritty meat. In
trying to detach this from the shell, I felt some little round, hard
stones, like peas, under my knife; I took them out, and found them so
brilliant that I filled a little box with them which I happened to
have with me. Do you not think, my father,” added Fritz, “that they
are really pearls?”
I took the box in my hand. “They are really pearls,” cried I,
“oriental pearls of the greatest beauty. You have, in truth,
discovered a treasure, my son, which one day will be, I hope, of
immense value to us. We will pay a visit to this rich bay as soon as
possible; but continue your story.”
“I pursued my course,” resumed Fritz, “along the coast, indented with
creeks, and covered with verdure and flowers. I came up to the mouth
of the river, the calm waters of which floated on tranquilly toward
the sea; its surface, overgrown with aquatic plants, resembled a
verdant prairie covered with different sorts of birds. I gave to this
river the name of St. John, as it put me in mind of the description
I had read of a river of that name in Florida. Having renewed my
provision of fresh water, I then directed my course towards the other
promontory, opposite the arch by which I had entered. I endeavoured
to leave the bay; but the tide had risen so high that it filled the
vault, and I was obliged to await its ebb. I stepped on shore, as I
saw on all sides, popping up out of the water, the heads of marine
animals, which appeared about the size of a calf, and they plunged
and frisked about in such a manner that I was afraid they would
overset my cajack; so I secured it to a point in the rock, and,
taking my eagle in my hand, I stood ready to attack the first game
that came near me; for I wished to procure one of the animals, which
resembled a stuffed valise, as I thought its thick skin might be of
use to me. A company of them soon came, plunging and diving, close to
the shore. I cast off my eagle, who seized on the largest and best,
and soon blinded him; I jumped on a projecting rock, and, catching
hold of the animal with my boat-hook, drew it to the shore. All the
others fled as if by enchantment. I had to remove the entrails of the
animal, as the weight was too heavy for my little skiff; but, while I
was thus occupied, a prodigious number of sea-birds clustered around
me: gulls, sea-swallows, frigates, and half a dozen other kinds.
They came up so close that I whirled my staff around to keep them
off, and in doing so knocked down a very large bird, an albatross,
I think. After this operation was finished, I fastened my sea-otter
to the stern of my boat; and, taking a sack full of oysters, made
preparations for my return. I soon passed through the arch, and
sailed quietly along, until I saw your flag and heard the report of
the cannon.”
After this narrative, and while my wife and the younger boys had
gone to the cajack, my son drew me aside and confided to my ear an
important secret.
“A very singular circumstance,” said he, “happened on my voyage. In
examining the albatross which I had knocked down, judge my surprise
when I saw a piece of linen around one of its feet. I untied it, and
read the following words written upon it in good English: ‘_Save the
poor shipwrecked sailor on the smoking rock._’ I cannot express to
you, my father, what I felt on seeing this linen. I read and re-read
the line to assure myself that it was not an optical illusion. I
cried aloud to the Almighty that it might but be true. From this
moment my only thought shall be to search the coast in quest of
the smoking rock, to save the sufferer--my brother--my friend. Oh!
once more perhaps I may see a human being. An idea occurred to me
to attach the linen again to the foot of the albatross, and to
write upon a second piece, which I fastened to the other foot, the
following sentence in English: ‘_Have confidence in God: succour is
near._’ If the bird returns to the place from whence it came, thought
I, the person can read the answer: at all events there will be no
harm in trying this experiment. The albatross had been stunned, and I
poured some hydromel down its throat to reanimate it. I attached my
note to its foot, and let it go, earnestly praying that its mission
might be successful. The bird flew up, hesitated for a moment, and
then darted rapidly away in an easterly direction, which decided
me to take that route in my search. And now, my father,” continued
Fritz with emotion, “what do you think of this event? If we could
find a new friend, a new brother--for certainly we will go in search
of the stranger, oh yes, we will go--what joy! what happiness! But,
alas! what despair if we should not succeed! The reason I did not
communicate this to my brothers and my mother was to spare them the
agonies of a hope which, after all, might never be realized.”
My son pronounced these last words with sadness.
“You have acted very prudently,” said I, “and I am glad that you have
sufficient strength of mind to resist the temptation of immediately
flying to the assistance of the sufferer. As for the result of any
expedition of discovery, I cannot say much; the albatross is a
traveller-bird, and it flies extremely swiftly: the linen might have
been put on its foot thousands of miles from here; and even if near,
perhaps years ago, and now succour may be too late. But continue to
keep the secret, and I will try to imagine whether some way cannot be
devised to save the poor unfortunate, if in our vicinity.”
The pearls were too important an object to be forgotten, and my sons
importuned me to start immediately for the newly-discovered fishery.
“Softly,” said I; “before riding, you must saddle your horse; and if
you wish that your enterprise should succeed, you must take with you
the necessary implements. Let each one of you try to invent something
useful for our purpose, and then we will start.”
This proposition was received with joyous acclamations, and each
member of the party set his ingenuity to work. I forged for myself
two large iron rakes and two small hooks of the same metal; I
fixed wooden handles to the first-named, with iron rings attached,
so that I could fasten them to the boat and drag them over the
banks of oysters; with the hooks I intended to loosen the oysters,
which the rakes were insufficient to detach. Ernest made a sort of
butterfly-net with scissors attached, intended to receive the birds’
nests. Jack constructed a kind of ladder, made by piercing a long
bamboo at regular distances, and fixing in sticks crosswise; the
machine looked like the stick in a parrot’s cage. To the top the
young man fixed a hook of iron, and a spike at the bottom, so that it
should rest firmly in the rocks. Francis, very adroit in making nets,
made several very strong ones to hold our oysters.
During this time, Fritz worked in silence at his cajack, endeavouring
to construct a second seat in it. I alone knew his intention; but I
dared not encourage him by evincing my knowledge of his object.
We next prepared our provisions for the voyage: two hams were
cooked, cassava cakes, barley-bread, rice, nuts, almonds, and other
dry fruits; and for drink we took a barrel of water, and one of
hydromel. These stores, with our tools and finishing implements,
loaded down the boat.
CHAPTER LVI
Edible Birds’ Nests--Pearl-Fishery--Poor Jack
is “Killed”--Discovery of Truffles
We had spent an entire day in preparing our cargo. A fresh and
favourable breeze and a slightly ruffled sea induced us to embark
immediately. Francis and his mother were left to guard the shore, and
we gaily put off, amid their prayers and wishes for our safe return.
We took with us some of our domestics: young Knips, the successor
of our good old monkey, Jack’s jackal, Flora, Braun, and Folb, all
found a place in the boat. Jack occupied the second seat in Fritz’s
cajack. Ernest and I conducted the canoe loaded with our provisions
and animals.
The cajack led the way, and we followed, steering our course through
the shoals and rocks with the greatest difficulty. We did not
encounter any marine monsters; but the rocks were covered with the
whitened bones of walruses and sea-horses, and Ernest made us stop
several times, at the risk of bruising our boat against the rocks,
in order that he might collect some of these osseous remains for our
museum of natural history.
We soon attained the promontory, behind which, Fritz said, was the
Bay of Pearls. This promontory was singular and imposing. Arch
rose above arch, column above column; in a word, it resembled the
front of one of those old Gothic cathedrals, embellished with a
thousand grotesque carvings and antiquated decorations, with the
only difference that, instead of a pavement of marble, we had the
blue sea, and the columns were washed by the waves. It struck us
as a temple elevated to the Eternal, in the midst of immensity. We
penetrated into the vault; it was sombre and gloomy, like an old
cathedral, and only lighted by a few apertures in the rock.
The noise of our oars frightened the peaceable salanganes, and they
flew about in such numbers as almost to render it impossible to guide
the boat; but when our eyes became habituated to the darkness, we
saw with pleasure that every niche and corner was filled with their
nests. These nests resembled white cups, were as transparent as horn,
and filled, like the nests of other birds, with feathers, and dry
sticks of some sort of perfumed wood.
The trial which we had made of this substance, after boiling it with
salt and spices, convinced us that it was a delicate and wholesome
food; besides, we knew how highly it was valued in China, and we were
so possessed with the idea that, some day or other, a vessel would
arrive on our shores, with which we could trade, that I resolved
to gather a considerable number of these nests, only taking care
to leave those which contained eggs or young ones. Fritz and Jack
climbed like cats along the rocks and detached the nests, which
they gave to Ernest and me, who placed them in a large sack we had
brought. It was soon filled, and I was glad of it, as the boys were
tired, and I could not bear to see them suspended on the ladder over
the water.
I now gave the order for departure. Fritz had assured me that
the canal which flowed through the vault was navigable, and that
by following the passage, we should soon arrive at the bay. The
flood-tide carried us rapidly forward toward the other extremity of
the cavern, and we could not help admiring the magnificence of the
passage: the roof was covered with stalactites wrought by the hand
of nature into a thousand fantastic forms. At length we issued into
a beautiful bay; we were struck with surprise, and remained resting
on our oars in silent admiration. The water was so calm and pure that
we could see the fish far below us. I recognized the white fish, the
shining scales of which are used as false pearls. I showed them to
my sons; but they could not understand how a little stone would be
worth so much more than the fish-scales, when the latter were full as
brilliant as the former.
“It is not the object itself,” said I; “it is the difficulty in
procuring it which costs so much. If every river in Europe abounded
in pearls, they would be worth nothing.”
The day was too far advanced to commence our pearl-fishing, and we
appeased our hungry stomachs with some slices of ham, fried potatoes,
and some cassava cakes; and, after having lighted up fires along the
coast, to keep off wild beasts, we left the dogs on shore and went
on board the canoe, Knips being installed on the mast as vidette.
We drew the sail over our heads, and, wrapping ourselves in our
bear-skins, soon sank to rest.
We rose at daylight, and, after a frugal breakfast, commenced our
labours in the pearl-fishery, and, with the aid of the rakes, hooks,
nets, and poles, soon brought in a large quantity of the precious
oysters: we heaped them all up in a pile on the shore, so that the
heat of the sun would cause them to open.
Toward evening the coast appeared so beautiful, and the vegetation
so rich and glowing, that it was impossible for us to resist the
temptation of making an excursion to a little wood, where we had
heard turkeys gobbling all day. Each took with him one of our
faithful servants, and we separated. Ernest entered first into the
wood, accompanied by Folb; Jack soon followed him, while Fritz and I
remained a moment to fix our guns. A few moments after, we heard a
report, then a scream from Jack, followed by another report. Fritz
unhooded his eagle, I snatched up my gun, and we ran in the direction
of Jack, who was screaming, “Papa! papa! quick! I am killed! quick!
come!”
The poor boy had exaggerated matters a little, for he was not even
wounded; but there he lay face to face with an enormous boar, with
formidable tusks, who had knocked him down so rudely that he thought
himself lost.
His brothers ran quickly up, and two shots well fired freed him from
his terrible enemy. Ernest recounted to me the manner in which this
affair happened. “I had entered into the little wood,” said he, “with
Folb, when suddenly the brave dog quitted me, and set off in pursuit
of a wild boar, who had come out of the forest, and was sharpening
his tusks against the tree with a terrible noise. At that moment Jack
came up; his jackal, perceiving the boar, sprang furiously upon him,
while Folb attacked him on the other side. I approached cautiously,
by passing from one tree to another, until I was near enough to fire;
the jackal, however, had received such a terrible blow from the
boar’s foot that he lay senseless on the grass. Jack then fired, but
missed; and the boar, turning round, set off in pursuit of his new
assailant, who fled like a Hottentot before him. Without doubt, he
would have soon escaped if a projecting root had not tripped him up.
Down he fell; I fired, but missed, and the boar began to butt poor
Jack with his head. He, however, had not time to do him much harm,
as Braun and Flora rushed in, and, seizing the animal by his ears,
held him so firmly that he could not stir. Fritz’s eagle now joined
the fray, and, flying on the head of the boar, who fairly frothed
with rage, began picking at his eyes. Fritz now fired, and hit the
animal directly in the throat; it fell right across Jack’s body, who
could not disengage himself. I then ran up and helped him; he groaned
dreadfully, and at first I thought he was seriously wounded; but I
found that I was mistaken. He took Fritz’s arm and walked away, while
I remained by the boar. It was not without some surprise that I saw
master Knips with some large black tubercles, with which the ground
was covered; I gathered two or three which I put in my game-bag. Look
at them.”
So saying, the young naturalist presented me with six tubercles
resembling potatoes, the odour of which was very penetrating. I
opened one, and, having tasted it, I discovered that they were
excellent truffles, of a perfumed, delicate flesh, marbled with white.
“It appears,” said I to my son, congratulating him on his discovery,
“that the boar, who is very fond of these things, was eating them
when he was disturbed.”
While talking in this way, night came on, and it was necessary to
seek repose. We lighted our watch-fires, swallowed a morsel of meat,
and then retired to our canoe: the dogs were again left on shore.
We were soon asleep, and dreaming of the absent ones at our beloved
Felsenheim.
CHAPTER LVII
Cotton Nuts--Terrific Encounter with Lion and
Lioness--A Savage--Parley, and Recognition
of a Friend
Our first care, on rising the next morning, was to set about the
preparation of the boar. Jack had recovered from his fear, and,
accompanied by the dogs, we set out to look for the dead boar. He
was enormous--between a boar and a buffalo in size, and his head was
indeed frightfully large.
“I fear,” said I, “that the flesh of this old African is not better
than a European boar. My advice is, that instead of dragging the
immense carcass away, we cut off what we want, and let the rest
alone.”
My sons agreed with me, and we began to cut off the hams and head of
the wild boar. Some branches of trees furnished us with sleds to put
the pieces on, and we made the dogs draw them to the shore.
While we were occupied in disposing of our hams, chance made known
to us an important discovery. Ernest remarked on the branches we had
cut to make our sleds a sort of nut; he opened one, but, instead of
a kernel, it contained a beautiful fine cotton, of a deep yellow,
which I recognized as being the real Nankin cotton. This cotton owes
its name to a province of China, where it grows abundantly, and is
cultivated with much care. We made a large provision of these nuts,
and dug up two young trees to carry to Felsenheim.
Jack shrank with fright from the head of his terrible enemy,
and appeared quite overjoyed that it was going to figure in our
museum; but, on the observation of Ernest that it would be very
difficult to prepare, and having heard that boar’s head was very
fine eating, we resolved to cook it with truffles, in the Otaheitan
manner; consequently Fritz and Ernest set to work, and dug a deep
ditch, while I cleaned the head and heated some stones. When these
preparations were finished, we placed the head, stuffed with
truffles, and seasoned with salt, pepper, and nutmeg, in a ditch, and
covered it with red-hot stones and a thick layer of earth. While our
supper was cooking, we suspended the hams over the smoke of the fire,
and tranquilly sat down to talk over the events of the day, when
suddenly a deep, prolonged cry rang through the forest. It was the
first time we had ever heard such unearthly tones: the rocks echoed
it, and we felt seized with sudden terror; the dogs and the jackal
also commenced howling horribly.
“What a diabolical concert!” said Fritz, jumping up and seizing his
gun; “some danger must be near. Build up the fire,” continued he,
“and while I try to discover the danger in my cajack, you retire to
the canoe.”
This plan appeared the best we could pursue, and I adopted it. We
threw on the fire all the wood we could find ready cut, and, without
losing time, we regained the canoe. Fritz jumped into the cajack, and
was soon lost in the obscurity.
During all this time the roarings continued, and they appeared to
approach nearer to us. Our dogs gathered around the fire, uttering
plaintive moans. Our poor little monkey seemed to suffer painfully
from fear. I imagined that it was a leopard or a panther, which had
been attracted by the remains of the wild boar in the wood. My doubts
did not last long, for we soon discovered by the pale light of our
fires a terrible lion, considerably larger and stronger than those I
had seen in the royal menageries of Europe. In two or three leaps he
bounded over the space which separated the wood from the shore; he
stood immovable for a moment, and then commenced lashing his flanks
with his tail, and roaring furiously, every moment crouching down
as if to spring on us. This frightful pantomime did not last long:
every moment he would run to the stream, lap up some water, and then
return. I remarked with mortal anguish that the animal came nearer
and nearer to the shore; and at length he lay crouched down, his
flaming eyes fixed directly on us. Half in fear, half in despair, I
raised my gun, and was about to fire, when suddenly I heard a report;
the animal bounded up, gave a tremendous yell, and fell lifeless on
the earth.
“’Tis Fritz,” murmured my poor Ernest, pale with terror. “O God!
protect my brother.”
“Yes, it is he,” I cried, “our brave Fritz: he has saved us from a
terrible death; let us go to him.” In two strokes of the oars we were
on shore; but our dogs, with an admirable instinct, began to bark
terribly. I did not neglect this indication; we threw more wood on
the fire, and again jumped into the boat. It was time; for scarcely
were we secure, when a second enemy rushed from the forest: it was
not so large as the first, but its roar was frightful. This time it
was a lioness, probably the companion of the superb animal which
we had just killed. How grateful I felt that both had not appeared
together; what could we have done? The lioness ran straight up to
the corpse of her late partner, smelled it, and licked up the blood,
which had flowed from the wound; and when she was convinced that
he no longer lived, she set up a howl of rage that pen could not
describe; she lashed her sides and opened her enormous mouth, as if
she would devour us all.
Again Fritz fired, and the shot, less fortunate than the first, only
broke the shoulder of the animal. The wounded lioness commenced
rolling on the sand, foaming with rage; but all three of our dogs
rushed upon her. Braun and Folb seized the animal in the flanks, and
Flora caught hold of the throat. Another shot would have put an end
to the combat, but I was afraid of wounding the dogs; so I jumped
from the boat, and, running up to the animal, who was held fast by
the dogs, I plunged my hunting-knife direct to her heart: the blood
spouted out, and the lioness fell; but the victory had cost us dear,
for there lay our poor Flora, dead under the terrible wounds she had
received from the fangs of the monster.
Fritz now ran up and threw himself into my arms, as did Ernest and
poor Jack, who trembled with mortal agony. We lighted our torches,
and directed our course toward the field of battle; we found poor
Flora, with her teeth yet clutching the throat of her enemy, while
the royal couple lay majestically extended on the sand, and we could
hardly suppress a sentiment of fear which struck us as we gazed on
the terrific beasts.
“What a terrible range of teeth!” said Ernest, as he raised up the
head of the lion.
“Yes, and what frightful claws!” said Jack; “wouldn’t they make nice
holes in your skin?”
“Yes, my friends,” observed I, “let us thank God that He has saved us
from the danger; thank Him for the wisdom with which He has endowed
men, so that they may be able to conquer such terrible beasts.”
“Poor Flora!” said Fritz, as he detached the dead body of our dear
dog from that of the lioness; “she has done for us to-day what our
old ass did in the case of the boa. Come, Ernest, see if you cannot
induce your muse to fabricate an epitaph.”
“Ah! my muse, I must confess, has been too terribly frightened to
make any rhymes.”
“Tush! go and meditate while we dig the grave of our poor hunter, and
be sure to be ready when we are done.”
Flora received the honours of a funeral by torchlight; we dug a
grave, and silently placed in it the remains of the faithful animal,
and a flat stone served to mark her resting-place. Ernest composed
the following legend, which he read to us, saying that he was too
frightened for poetry, and Flora must be contented with prose:
Here Lies
FLORA, A DOG
remarkable
for her courage and devotion.
She died
under the claws of a lion,
on whom
she also inflicted death.
“Admirable,” said Fritz. “It must be confessed, Ernest, you write
full as good prose as poetry.”
At sunrise next morning we were up, and our first care was to
deprive our noble prey of their superb furs. Jack wanted to make a
mantle of the lion’s skin, such as Hercules wore after his victory
in the Nemæan forest; but I adjourned all arrangements about their
appropriation till a more convenient time.
The heat of the sun had commenced to corrupt the oysters heaped upon
the bank, and the effluvia which they exhaled induced us to return
to Felsenheim, and early in the morning we set sail. Fritz set off
before us, as if to serve as pilot; but when he had conducted us
through the vault, and over the shoals, he rowed up to our canoe,
and, handing me a paper, shot off again like an arrow. I opened the
paper quickly, and imagine my surprise when I found that, instead of
having forgotten the albatross and the smoking rock, he informed me
in the letter that he was going in search of the unfortunate being! I
had a thousand objections to make to this romantic project; but Fritz
rowed so fast, I could barely halloo through the speaking-trumpet,
“Return soon, and be prudent,” before he was out of sight. We gave
to the cape where he left us the name of the “Adieu Cape.” We prayed
that our adventurer might return safe, and I begged my rowers
to redouble their endeavours, so that we could arrive early at
Felsenheim, for I suspected that my good Elizabeth would be worried
at our long absence of three days.
We finally arrived without accident, and the different treasures we
had brought were joyfully received; the truffles, the lion-skins, the
pearls, the Nankin, became the objects of a thousand questions, but
they could not drive away the thoughts of Fritz; and my wife said she
would willingly give up all our cargo of pearls, etc., if she could
only see her beloved son.
I had not yet spoken to my wife concerning the reason of Fritz’s
absence, as I did not wish to give rise to hopes which were so
unlikely to be realized; but now I thought that it was my duty to do
so. I therefore confided to her the secret of the albatross; and the
dear woman, to my surprise, was calm and resigned; she only prayed
with me that he might be successful.
Five days had thus passed away and still Fritz had not returned, and
his mother was so anxious and worried that I proposed to launch the
pinnace and make a new excursion to the Bay of Pearls. We lost no
time; the pinnace was prepared, and early the next day we bade adieu
to Felsenheim, and soon were in sight of the promontory of the bay,
when suddenly the vessel ran against a black mass, and was nearly
thrown over by the shock. My wife and sons uttered a cry of terror;
but the boat soon righted, and I perceived that the obstacle was not
a point of rock, as I had thought, but a marine monster of the family
of blowers, for we soon saw him throw up into the air two spouts of
water mingled with blood. I instantly pointed the cannons of the
pinnace, and a discharge of artillery prevented the huge monster
from overturning us, which he certainly would have done if the blow
had not stunned him. We saw with pleasure that the waves carried the
enormous body to a sand-bank a little distance from the shore, and
there it lay like a stranded ship.
Suddenly Ernest uttered a loud scream. “A man! a savage!” said he,
and he pointed out to us in the distance a sort of canoe dancing over
the waves. The person who conducted it seemed to have perceived us,
for he advanced and then made towards a projecting point, as if to
communicate his discovery to his companions. I leave our sensations
to the imagination of the reader. I had not the slightest doubt that
we had fallen in with a band of savages, and we began to fortify our
boat against their arrows, by making a bulwark of the stalks of maize
and corn we had brought with us. We loaded our cannons, guns, and
pistols, and, everything arranged, we stood ready behind our rampart,
resolved to defend it as long as we were able. We dared not advance,
for there was the savage; and Ernest, growing tired of the pantomime,
observed that, if we used the speaking-trumpet, possibly our savage
might understand some words of the half-dozen languages we were
familiar with.
The advice appeared good. I took up the speaking-trumpet and bellowed
out with all my force some words of Malay; but still the canoe
remained immovable, as if its master had not comprehended us.
“Instead of Malay,” said Jack, “suppose we try English.” So saying,
he caught up the trumpet, and in his clear, loud tone pronounced some
common sailor-phrases, well known to all who have ever been on board
ship. The device succeeded, and we saw the savage advancing toward
us, holding a green branch in his hand. Nearer and nearer he came,
and at last we recognized in the painted savage our own dear Fritz.
CHAPTER LVIII
Adventures of Fritz--Sir Edward Montrose--Our
Adopted Sister--Attack of Wolves--Preparations
for Return
When we had freed Fritz from our oft-repeated embraces, we commenced
asking him all manner of questions; and, speaking all together, the
poor fellow was so confused he did not know what to do. I demanded
an answer on two points only--whether his excursion had been
satisfactory, and why he had played this farce of dressing himself
like a savage, and causing us such anxiety.
“As to the purpose of my excursion,” said he, with a joy he could
scarcely conceal, “I have attained it”; and the young man, as he
said these words, pressed my hand, which he held in his. “As for my
costume, I mistook you for a tribe of Malays, or some other nation,
and, in the fear that you were enemies, I endeavoured to disguise
myself by painting the upper part of my body with powder, soaked in
water. The two reports of the cannon that I heard convinced me more
and more that you were enemies; the Malay words that you addressed to
me confirmed me, and I should still have been endeavouring to deceive
you, and you would still have been in fear of me, if Jack had not
bawled out those sailor-phrases in his unmistakable voice.”
We all began to laugh over the farce we had been enacting; and Fritz,
drawing me aside, said, in an eager, joyous tone, “I have succeeded,
papa: the hand of God conducted me to the dwelling-place of the poor
shipwrecked girl--for it was a woman that had written those lines.
Three years has she lived on that smoking rock, all alone, destitute
of everything! Can you believe it, but the poor girl has conjured me
not to betray her sex, except to you and my mother. I have brought
her with me: she is near by, on a little island just beyond the Bay
of Pearls; come and see her. Oh! do not say anything to my brothers.
I want to enjoy their surprise when they find I have brought them
back a sister, for I am sure she will allow them to call her so.”
I consented to the wish of my son, and, without saying anything to
the rest of the family, I ordered them to hoist the sails, weigh
anchor, and make ready to depart. Fritz, who had changed his dress
and washed off his disguise, flew about, hastening his less eager
brothers; then, jumping into his cajack, he piloted us through the
shoals and reefs that were scattered along the coast. After an hour’s
sailing he turned off, and directed his course toward a shady island
not far from the Bay of Pearls; we sailed close up to the shore,
and fastened the pinnace to the trunk of a fallen tree. Fritz,
however, was quicker than we, and he was on shore, and had entered
a little wood in the middle of the island before we had yet landed.
We followed him into the wood, and soon found ourselves in the
vicinity of a hut, built like those of the Hottentots, with a fire
burning before it, on which some fish were cooking in a large shell.
Fritz uttered a peculiar kind of halloo, and what was our surprise
to see, descending from a large tree, a young and handsome sailor,
who, turning his timid eyes on us, stood still, as if he dared not
approach!
It was such a long time since we had seen a man--ten years!--society
had become so strange a thing to us, that we remained stupefied; our
hearts felt for the young stranger, but our tongues remained dumb.
The silence was broken by Fritz, who, taking the young sailor by
the hand, advanced toward us. “My father, my mother, and you, my
brothers,” said he, in a voice broken by emotion, “behold a friend--a
brother--that I present you, a new companion in misfortune--Sir
Edward Montrose, who, like ourselves, has been shipwrecked on the
coast.”
“He is welcome among us,” was the general cry; and, approaching the
young sailor, whom I easily recognized as being a woman, and taking
her by the hand, I comforted and encouraged her, assuring the seeming
man, that among us he would always find food and sustenance; my wife
and myself would be his parents, and my sons his brothers. My wife,
moved by compassion, opened her arms, and the young sailor rushed
into them, bursting into a flood of tears, as he thanked us for our
kindness. The most lively joy now reigned in our little circle, and
his brothers poured question after question upon Fritz, who joyfully
replied, “I will tell you all afterward; let us attend now to our new
brother.” Supper was served, and my wife brought out a bottle of her
spiced hydromel to add to the feast. Everybody spoke at once, and my
sons addressed their new companion with such vivacity as to embarrass
the timid stranger: my wife saw his distress, and, as it was late,
she gave the signal for retirement, taking the sailor with her on the
pinnace where she said she intended to provide a bed for him that
would amply console him for the uncomfortable nights he had hitherto
passed. We then separated, my wife and the stranger retiring to
the boat, while my sons and I stopped to light and arrange our
watch-fires.
The new-comer naturally became the subject of conversation, and Fritz
recounted to his brothers the whole history of the albatross. He
spoke of his thoughts and actions, but he became so excited in his
narration, that he forgot himself and the secret he had to keep. A
word escaped him, and he called the young sailor “Emily.”
“Emily!--Emily!” repeated his brothers, who had begun to doubt
the mystery; “Emily!--Fritz has deceived us, and Sir Edward is a
girl!--our adopted brother turned into a sister!”
I leave to the imagination to picture the embarrassment of Fritz when
he discovered his imprudence. In vain he endeavoured to bring back
his words: it would not do, and the girl could no longer hide her sex
by the hat and pantaloons.
The next morning it was a comic sight to see the embarrassment and
awkwardness with which my sons approached one whom they had the day
before embraced as a companion and a brother. My poor boys were
not acquainted with the usages of polite society and the ease it
inspires, and they appeared to a great disadvantage by the side of
the beautiful English girl. The name of sister was substituted for
that of brother, but pronounced with reserve and embarrassment. As
for Emily, she was very much astonished at the discovery the young
men had made, and she retreated, as if for protection, to the arms of
my wife; but a moment after, recovering herself, she advanced, and
extending her hand to each one of the boys, gracefully demanded for
the sister the friendship they had extended to the brother. Gaiety
was re-established, and we sat down to breakfast, which was composed
of fruits, cold meat, and chocolate of our own making, which was a
great treat to my new daughter, and recalled her native land to her
mind. After breakfast I proposed to weigh anchor and return to the
Bay of Pearls, where the cachalot stranded on the shore offered us a
magnificent prey. Arrived there, we debated in what manner we could
carry away the oily substance with which the head and dorsal bone of
this animal is filled. Unfortunately we had no barrels in which we
could gather the precious product. Emily rescued us from our dilemma,
by mentioning a process she had seen employed in India, which was, to
put the half-liquid substance in wet linen bags. The idea appeared
excellent, and we immediately put it into practice. I gathered all
the sacks I could find, and dipping them in the sea-water, stretched
them open with pieces of branches. We were two hours engaged in these
preparations. The tide was not yet high enough to allow the pinnace
to approach the bank, where the whale lay; but we took the canoe and
the cajack and set off, leaving the two women under the safeguard of
Turk, and taking with us Folb, Braun, and the jackal. The monster lay
extended like a huge wall; our dogs ran up to it, and a moment after
we heard some animals howling dreadfully. We hastened up, and found
our brave dogs valiantly contending with a troop of black wolves, who
were devouring the whale. Two of their number were already stretched
on the sand, two others were yet engaged with the dogs, and the rest
fled at our approach toward a little wood.
Our dogs acquitted themselves bravely: four wolves lay stretched upon
the sand, but the noble animals had paid dearly for their victory;
the blood streamed from all parts of their bodies, and the ears of
Folb especially were dreadfully torn. Jack dressed their wounds with
some hydromel, while Fritz and Francis aided me in another work. The
former, after having armed his feet with cramp-irons, climbed like a
cat up the back of the monster, and cut open the enormous head of the
cachalot with a hatchet, and then with a ladle dipped the spermaceti
out of the head, and emptied it into one of the sacks which I held
ready, while Francis covered the outside with wet sand and mortar,
forming a solid crust through which none of the grease could escape.
Our sacks were soon full, for as fast as Fritz emptied the head the
cavity was filled by a fresh supply from the backbone. The operation
was very fatiguing, and I was glad when it was over. We then cut a
quantity of willows, and wove them into little pointed caps, with
which we covered the sacks, in order to shield them from the sun and
the birds of prey, who were fast assembling in great numbers.
We now thought of returning. The tide was high, but the load was too
heavy for the boat; we therefore were obliged to leave it and return
to the verdant little island, which we had named “Good Rencounter,”
because there we had first found Emily. The appearance of the sacks
ranged on the sand was very droll; they exactly resembled little
Chinese with their pointed hats, and we could not help laughing
heartily at the sight.
After having recounted our adventures, and shown our four fine
black wolves, with their superb skins, we were invited by our dear
housekeepers to sit down to an excellent dinner, enriched by a new
dish--a sauce after the manner of the Caribbees, made with eggs of
land-crabs, with which the island abounded. I was undecided as to
what means I should adopt to transport the spermaceti to the island,
for the pinnace could not approach the bank near enough, without risk
of running aground, and our other boats were not large enough. Every
one gave his advice; when it came to Emily’s turn, she observed, in
her soft, silvery tone, “If you are willing, my dear papa”--for
already she had accustomed herself to address me by that endearing
name--“if you are willing, while you and my brothers are engaged in
that disgusting tannery, I will promise to bring over your sacks.”
The next morning, before my sons were awake, Emily prepared for
her expedition; she took a bladder of fresh water, a basket of
provisions, and lightly descending the ladder of the pinnace, she
seated herself in Fritz’s cajack, untied it, and rowed off with a
grace and ease that surprised me. I would have called her back, but
the little vixen gaily kissed her hand, and soon was far on her way
toward the bank of sand. She had chosen just the right time; the tide
was rising, and had just commenced to wet the bottom of the sacks.
The adventurous girl jumped on shore, fastened all the sacks by cords
to a rope which she had with her, and tied the rope to the cajack,
and again embarking, drew after her all the sacks, the contents of
which, being light, floated like bladders on the water.
It was now full noon; we sat down to table, and, after dinner, began
our preparations for setting out for Felsenheim, where we desired to
instal our new companion. We packed up everything we had, including
Emily’s treasures, both those she had saved from shipwreck and those
she had made herself. Fritz had made her a box which held them all,
and they really were very curious, consisting of clothes, ornaments,
domestic utensils, and all sorts of articles which she had made in
her exile, out of the scanty material she had at her disposal.
Emily now bade adieu to the island that had received her, and the
trees that had sheltered her, during her short sojourn. We could not
leave the place without giving it a name, so we called the bay in
which we anchored “Happy Bay,” in allusion to the joyful meeting we
had had there. We now took the direction of the Bay of Pearls, where
we were obliged to make a short stay before returning to Felsenheim,
to which we were impatient to introduce our new companion.
CHAPTER LIX
The Limekiln--Fritz’s Story
Fritz, seated in his cajack, served as pilot to assist us in
penetrating safely through the rocks and shoals into the bay, where
at last we all arrived in safety. Everything was found just as we
had left it--the table and benches yet standing, our fireplace
undestroyed, and, what was more, the air was purified; and, the
oysters, having all been dried up by the sun, had lost their
unpleasant odour. The dead bodies of the lions and the wild boar were
but heaps of whitened bones, the birds of prey having completely
stripped them of every particle of flesh.
We wished to go direct to Felsenheim immediately; but an unexpected
discovery detained us a longer time than we intended. I had noticed
among the stones which strewed the shore, a sort of rock which
it appeared to me could be easily converted into lime. It was a
discovery too precious to be neglected, and I resolved to establish a
limekiln without delay on the beach. It did not take us long to make
one to suit our purpose; but the calcination of the stones occupied
us much longer, and we were obliged to sit up a great part of the
night. During this time we made some barrels of pieces of pine bark,
circled with strong withs of willow; a round piece of bark served
for the bottom, and another for the cover. To enliven our labour,
and to abridge the length of the evening, I persuaded Fritz to give
us a more complete account than he had hitherto done of the manner
in which he had found our new sister, and the details of his voyage.
It was the best way in which to employ our remaining time, and the
curiosity of my sons was so excited that they formed a circle about
Fritz, who thus commenced his narration.
“You all remember,” said he to his brothers, “the manner in which
I left you, after having given my father a letter which contained
an account of my intended excursion. The sea was calm; but I had
scarcely passed the Bay of Pearls, when suddenly a violent wind
arose, gradually increasing to a perfect hurricane; the rising waves,
the rain, the thunder and lightning, all confounded in horrible
confusion. My little bark was not strong enough to resist the
tremendous sea, and all that I could do was to abandon myself to the
current.
“After several hours the wind fell and the air calmed, and my canoe
again found its equilibrium upon the surface of the waters. I was
far from all the places that we were acquainted with; the tempest
had thrown me on a coast entirely new to my eyes; the conformation
of the rocks, the gigantic cliffs which seemed to lose themselves in
the clouds, the vegetation, the animals I perceived on the coast, the
birds which flew about me, all announced a new world. My first care
was to look carefully around and see whether some light smoke did not
rise behind the rocks; for, as you know, the Smoking Rock was my only
thought. I could perceive nothing as yet; but full of hope, I rowed
along the coast. Night came on, and I passed it in the cajack, after
having made a miserable supper on pemmican.
“The next morning I continued my journey, and the farther I advanced,
the more the coast appeared to change its aspect. I encountered, from
time to time, majestic rivers, which flowed silently on and mingled
with the sea. The mouth of one of them resembled an immense bay, and
I decided to ascend it some little distance; its banks were covered
with large trees, willows, and vines, so thickly woven together, that
they resembled a huge mat, covered with birds, monkeys, and even
squirrels.
“Toward the middle of the day the heat became so unsupportable, that
it was impossible to resist the desire of seeking some shade under
the trees. After being slightly refreshed, I pursued my route, and
sailed on a long time without being able to land; the rivers and
shores were both defended by guards I had little desire to come in
contact with, for I recognized elephants, lions, panthers--in one
word, a complete reunion of all the ferocious animals of creation.
After travelling several leagues farther, the appearance of the coast
suddenly changed, and, as if the ferocious animals had had their
district marked out to them, I ceased to perceive any. The shore
appeared peaceable, but desolate; the breeze which murmured among the
vines, and the song of some inoffensive birds were the only noises
which broke the calm stillness, and I felt reassured, and resolved
to land and procure a repast. I accordingly fastened my cajack as
strongly as possible, and jumped lightly to the shore; and being
hungry, I lighted my fire, and began to prepare a juicy dinner from a
fat goose which I had shot while landing, and a dozen of oysters.
“I rose long before daylight next morning and resumed my voyage.
The country through which I now sailed was of an aspect entirely
different from any I had ever yet seen. There were beautiful green
plains, dotted over with clumps of towering palms; little lakes
surrounded with osiers, upon the borders of which sported herds of
elephants; thick tufts of cactus of all sorts, loaded with flowers
and fruits, which the enormous rhinoceros seemed to devour without
paying any attention to the thorns; beautiful clumps of the mimosa,
the high tops of which the towering giraffe devoured with as much
facility as a goat would a small shrub.
“On I sailed, and, once more seduced by the picturesque appearance
of a river which lost itself in a tranquil bay, I resolved to
ascend it. The water slipped gently under the prow of my little
cajack--nothing appeared to indicate any danger; there were no
serpents on the bank, no horrid beasts in the forests, and I floated
tranquilly on, enjoying the fresh breeze and the cool shade of the
overhanging trees, when suddenly there appeared before me a long
throat, armed with rows of strong sharp teeth; it was distended to
its full capacity as if it would take in at one mouthful myself,
the cajack, and the oars. I instantly comprehended the extent of my
danger, and, seizing one of the oars, I drove it with all my strength
direct into the yawning mouth of the monster, who disappeared in
an instant, leaving a long trace of blood behind him, showing that
the wound I had made was of some importance. I did not remain long
on this river; two other monsters of the same nature as the first
rose up to the surface of the water. They were alligators, the most
terrible kind among these animals, but whose tremendous voracity is
happily balanced by a natural laziness, which retains them always
near the spot where they were born. I had escaped from one danger
only to fall into another. At a little distance from the River of
Alligators, while coasting along a little wood, I observed that the
trees were loaded with the rarest and most beautiful of birds, among
which were lyras, paroquets, humming-birds, and birds of paradise--in
one word, a complete assemblage of all that array of beautiful
plumage which decorates the forests of the New World, and I could
not resist the desire of attacking them. I landed, attached my cajack
to the bank and walked up to the wood, holding my eagle unhooded in
my hand. I cast him off, and he returned with a superb paroquet,
whose flame-coloured feathers sparkled in the sun’s rays. While I was
occupied in examining him, I heard behind me a light rustling on the
sand, which I thought was merely caused by a little land-turtle, or
some such animal, and I turned carelessly round. It was well I did
so; for not twelve paces from me there was a splendid royal tiger
with open mouth, crouched down as if about to spring upon me. I stood
as if struck with stupor; a mist came over my eyes, and scarcely
could I raise my gun, so much had horror paralysed my strength, when
suddenly my brave eagle, comprehending my danger, flew boldly at the
advancing tiger, and began to pick at his eyes. This timely succour
saved me; for it enabled me to collect my senses, and levelling my
gun, I discharged its contents into the right flank of my enemy, and
then two pistol-balls lodged in the throat completed my victory. The
tiger lay dead; but alas! my victory had cost me dear, for my poor
eagle fell at the same time with his conquered enemy, who had seized
him in his claws and had torn him in pieces. I picked him up, weeping
bitterly over my loss, and carried him to the cajack, hoping some day
to have him stuffed and placed in our museum.
“I quitted the shore with a sorrowing mind, and again I prayed to
my heavenly Father that He would give me strength to continue my
voyage. I doubled a little cape, and, suddenly, from the summit of
the grey rocks which bordered the coast, I perceived a light cloud of
smoke rising in the air. I turned my canoe in the direction of the
long-sought-for signal. The irregularities of the rocks along the
coast were the only difficulties I had to encounter, and it appeared
to me that I should never get through them. At last I landed, and,
with infinite difficulty, scrambled up the rocks until I arrived
at a platform on which I perceived a human creature. At the noise
which I made in approaching, the individual, who was arranging the
fire, rose, perceived me, uttered a cry of surprise and joy, then,
joining his hands, stood still, as if waiting for me to speak.
Notwithstanding the midshipman’s dress she wore, her exclamation,
and the delicate contour of her features, convinced me that I was
in the presence of a female. I stopped about ten paces from her,
and calling to my memory all I knew of English, I said in a subdued
tone, ‘I am the liberator whom God has sent you. I have received
the message of the albatross.’ I must have pronounced these words
very badly, as Emily did not at first comprehend them; I repeated
them, however, and after a few moments we understood each other
well enough to make a mutual interchange of our feelings. Gestures,
looks, accents all filled up the blank that words had left vacant.
I spoke to my new sister about the castle of Felsenheim, Falcon’s
Nest, our shipwreck, and ten years’ sojourn on the coast, where we
lived in almost European luxury; on her part, she recounted to me the
history of her childhood, her shipwreck, and existence on the Island
of the Smoking Rock, making a fine story for my papa to write out
in the long winter evenings. Emily graciously invited me to supper,
after which we passed the remainder of the night, I in my cajack,
she in the branches of a tree, where she always slept from the fear
of wild beasts. The next morning we again met. Emily had already
prepared breakfast, which consisted of fruit and broiled fish. The
repast being over, the sea looked so calm that I thought we had
better start; so, after packing up all her curiosities, and putting
them on board the cajack, we took our seats and set off. We sailed
on a long time; but an accident happened to my little barque, and
I was obliged to put in at the little island which you have called
‘Good Rencounter,’ in memory of our meeting; it was there I left my
new-found sister, who, doubtful of her reception in a strange family,
begged me to go on and ask permission of my father to bring her among
them. I consented; and my canoe having been repaired, I took the
well-known route home: it was then that I encountered you, and from
fear that you were pirates, I disguised myself, and played you such a
trick.”
“Oh! I am so sorry it is done,” cried Jack, as Fritz finished his
story; “but you must now tell us the history of our sister.”
Fritz was about to commence a new narration, of greater interest than
the former, but I stopped him, and advised him to take a little rest
before he talked any more.
CHAPTER LX
Emily’s own Story--Return to Felsenheim with
Military Honours--The Winter Season
Once More
The story of Fritz had detained us longer than I had anticipated,
as upon looking at my watch, I discovered that it was midnight. The
audience were not at all sleepy, however, but as we had to execute
labours on the morrow, which would require strength and agility, I
thought that if they sat up all night they would be over-wearied the
next day; I therefore deemed it necessary to cut short the narration,
deferring its completion till a more convenient time. This decision
was received with a very bad grace; but it was positive, so each
one sought his accustomed resting-place, either on shore or in the
pinnace.
The next morning, when all the family were assembled for breakfast,
the enterprise and courage of Fritz became the subject of
conversation; this naturally brought on the story of last night, and
I was obliged to consent that Emily’s history should open the day. I
wanted the dear girl herself to tell it; but she was so timid, though
at the same time so lively, busied in her domestic occupations, that
I could do nothing with her. Fritz was therefore entreated to act as
her proxy, and resume his recital.
“As soon as I was able to understand my new sister,” said he, “I
asked her by what course of events she had been thrown on the desert
coast where I now found her.
“She told me that she was born in India, of English parents, and
that her father, after having served as major in a British regiment,
obtained the command of an important English colony. The commandant,
Montrose, for that was the name of Emily’s father, had the misfortune
to lose his wife only three years after his marriage; and, profoundly
afflicted by this loss, all his affections centred in their only
child. He took charge of her education, and devoted all the time he
could spare from his official duties, in developing the precious
qualities which nature had endowed his dear daughter with. Not
content with providing her with every means for mental improvement,
he endeavoured to make her a strong, healthy woman, capable of facing
and resisting danger. Such was Emily’s education up to the age of
sixteen; she managed a fowling-piece as well as a needle, and rode
as gracefully and firmly as the best cavalry officer, and shone
resplendent in her father’s brilliant saloons.
“Major Montrose, having been appointed colonel, was ordered to return
with part of his regiment to England. This circumstance forced him to
separate himself from his daughter, as naval discipline did not allow
women on board a line-of-battle ship in time of war. It was arranged,
however, that she should sail the same day that he did, in another
ship, the captain of which was an old friend of her father’s, and who
would take every care of his daughter. The voyage at its commencement
was prosperous and agreeable, but before many days a terrible tempest
arose. The ship was thrown off her course, and a furious wind drove
her down upon our rocky coast; two shallops were launched upon the
angry waves, and a chance of safety offered to the shipwrecked. Emily
found a place in the smallest--the captain was in the other. The
storm continuing, the boats were soon separated, and the one that
contained Emily was broken in pieces, and the poor girl alone, of all
the crew, was fortunate enough to escape death. The waves carried
her, half fainting, to the foot of the rock where I discovered her.
She crawled under the shade of a projecting rock, and, sinking on
the sand, slept for four-and-twenty hours. There she passed several
days, abandoned to dark despair, with no nourishment but some birds’
eggs, which she found on the rocks. At the end of that time, the sun
reappearing and the sea growing calm, the poor castaway thought of
the crew in the large shallop and, in the hope that they might see
her, she resolved to establish signals of distress. As she wore a
midshipman’s uniform on board ship, by order of her father, she had
a box in her pocket containing a flint, knife, and other articles.
She picked up some pieces of wood which the sea had thrown on the
sand, carried them to the summit of the rock, and there kindled a
fire, which she never allowed to go out. You can easily imagine how
drearily passed the first days of Emily’s exile; she had to contend
against all the horrors of hunger and the desert. How thankful she
felt for the semi-masculine education that her father had given her:
it had endowed her with courage and resolution far beyond her sex.
She comprehended the whole extent of her situation, and turning to
heaven, she placed her trust in God and hoped on. She built a hut,
fished, hunted, tamed birds--among others a cormorant, which she
taught to catch fish--in one word, she lived alone, with no earthly
succour, for three long dreary years.”
Fritz stopped; his eyes fell upon the heroine of his story, who could
hardly conceal her embarrassment.
“My child,” said I, “you are but another proof that God never
withholds His aid from those who desire it. That which you have done
for three years a poor Swiss family have done for ten, and heavenly
aid has never been withheld from them.”
I allowed some little time for commentaries on Emily’s history;
but, as I had resolved that the day should be an active one, I soon
gave the signal for work. The manufacture of lime had succeeded. I
submitted some pieces to the proof of water, and found it excellent.
Toward evening the pinnace was laden with all that we could carry
away, and we talked seriously of returning to Felsenheim. The
poetic description we had given concerning the salt grotto, and
our aërial palace at Falcon’s Nest, had rendered Emily exceedingly
curious to judge for herself concerning all these wonders. The next
day we weighed anchor just as dawn was breaking; the sail of the
pinnace fluttered gaily in the fresh breeze, and Fritz’s cajack,
containing himself and Francis, went before us as pilots. When we
hove in sight of Prospect Hill, I proposed to stop and take a look
at the farmhouse; but Fritz and his brother asked permission of me
to go on home, so that they could have all things prepared for us. I
consented, and they set out.
From Prospect Hill we sailed to Shark Island, where we secured, in
passing, a fine quantity of the soft wool of the Angora rabbits. From
Shark Island we directed our course toward Felsenheim, and we could
just distinguish it when a salute of ten guns greeted our ears. This
produced a very good effect, doctor Ernest only regretting that the
salute was not composed of an odd number of guns. “An even number,”
said he, “is entirely contrary to general usage.”
We returned the polite salute of our two artillerymen by a salvo of
eleven guns, the execution of which was undertaken and performed
by Jack and Ernest in a style that would have done honour to a
practised cannoneer. Soon after we saw Fritz and Francis coming
toward us in their canoe; they received us at the entrance of the
bay, and followed us to the shore. They landed before us, and the
moment Emily’s foot touched the sand, a hurrah resounded through the
air, and Fritz, springing forward, presented her his hand, like a
gallant cavalier, and led her up to the portico of the grotto. There
a new spectacle awaited us: a table was spread in the middle of the
gallery, and loaded with all the fruits that the country produced.
Bananas, figs, guavas, oranges, rose up in perfumed heaps upon flat
calabashes. All the vases, cocoa-nut cups and ostrich-eggs mounted on
turned wooden pedestals, urns of painted porcelain, all were filled
with hydromel and milk; while a large dish of fried fish, and a huge
roast turkey, stuffed with truffles, formed the solid part of the
repast. A double festoon of flowers surrounded the canopy above the
table, sustaining a large medallion on which was inscribed, “Welcome,
fair Emily Montrose!” It was a complete holiday, and as pompous a
reception as our means would allow. Emily sat down to table between
my wife and myself; Ernest and Jack also took their places; while the
two caterers of the feast, each with a napkin on his arm, did the
honours of the table.
We passed from the table to the interior of the grotto, and our young
companion had the apartment next ours for her use. She could not
restrain her admiration at the effects our industry had accomplished;
she was astonished that a man and four children could have effected
so much. The chateau in the tree at Falcon’s Nest next received a
visit; it had fallen into decay, from neglect, and we passed a whole
week in fitting it up. We then set out for Waldegg to gather our rice
and other grains, for the season was advancing, and some violent
showers already warned us to hasten our preparations for the coming
winter. Emily gave proof, during these labours, of an intelligence
and good will which rendered her assistance very valuable; and she
inspired everybody with such zeal and industry, that when the winter
set in we were all prepared for it. Ten years had accustomed us to
the terrible winters, and we calmly listened to the wind and storm as
it raged furiously without. We had reserved for the winter several
sedentary occupations, in which our new companion proved her skill
and industry; she excelled in weaving and plaiting straw, osiers,
etc.; and, under her direction, we made some light straw hats for
summer, some elegant baskets, and conveniently arranged game-bags.
My wife was delighted with her adopted daughter, and Ernest found
a companion, whose fine education rendered her a conversable and
intelligent woman. In fact, Emily had become to my wife and myself a
fifth child, and a beloved sister for my sons.
CHAPTER LXI
Conclusion
It is with a thousand different sensations that I write the word
_conclusion_. It recalls to my mind all that has passed. God is good!
God is merciful! is the reigning sentiment in my heart: I have so
many reasons for heartfelt gratitude to a gracious Providence, that I
hope the reader will pardon me for the disorder in which I finish my
story.
It was toward the end of the rainy season, the wind had lost its
violence, and a patch of blue sky could now and then be seen; our
pigeons had quitted the dove-cot, and we ourselves ventured to open
the door of the grotto, and taste the fresh air.
Our first care was for our gardens, which had suffered injury; we
took account of the damage as well as we were able, and then set out
for our more distant possessions. Fritz and Jack proposed to make an
excursion to Shark Island, to inspect our fort and colony there. I
consented, and they set off in the cajack.
My sons, on their arrival, having examined the interior of the fort,
and assured themselves that nothing of importance was damaged, began
to look round and see if anything appeared on the horizon, but all
was blank. Wishing to see whether the cannons were in good order,
they began firing away, as if they had all the powder in the world
at their command. But what was their astonishment and emotion when,
a moment after, they heard distinctly three reports of a cannon in
the distance! They could not be mistaken, for a faint light toward
the east preceded each report. After a short consultation as to what
should be done, the two brothers resolved to hasten home and recount
their adventure to us.
We had heard the reports of the cannons they had fired, and we could
not imagine why they were hurrying back so fast. I called out, as
loud as I could, “Halloo, there! what is the matter?” On they came,
and, jumping on shore, fell into my arms, faintly articulating, “Oh,
papa, papa, did you not hear them?”
“Hear what?” said I. “We have heard nothing but the noise your waste
of powder made.”
“You have not heard three other reports in the distance?”
“No.”
“Why, we heard them plainly and distinctly.”
“It was the echo,” said Ernest.
This remark nettled Jack a little, and he replied rather sharply--
“No, Mr. Doctor, it wasn’t the echo; I think I have fired cannons
enough in my lifetime to know whether that was an echo or not. We
distinctly heard three reports of a cannon, and we are certain that
some ship is sailing in this part of the world.”
“If there is really a ship on our coasts,” said I, “who knows whether
it is manned by Europeans or by Malay pirates--who knows whether
we ought to rejoice or be sorry at its presence, and that, instead
of preparing for deliverance, we should not make preparations for
defence?”
My first resolution was to organize a system of defence, and provide
for our safety. We watched alternately under the gallery of the
grotto, so that we could be ready in case of surprise; but the night
passed quietly away, and in the morning the rain commenced, and
continued so violently during two long days that it was impossible
for us to go out.
On the third day the sun reappeared. Fritz and Jack, full of
impatience, resolved to return to Shark Island, and try a new signal.
I consented; but, instead of the cajack, we took the canoe, and I
went with them. On arriving at the fort we hoisted our flag, while
Jack, ever impatient, loaded a cannon and fired it; but scarcely had
the report died away in the distance, when we distinctly heard a
louder answering report in the direction of Cape Disappointment.
Jack could not contain himself for joy. “Men, men,” cried he, dancing
about us; “men, papa; are you sure of it now?” And his enthusiasm
communicating itself to us, we hoisted another and a larger flag on
our flag-staff. Six other reports followed the first one we had heard.
Overpowered with emotion, we hastened to our boat, and were soon in
the presence of the family. They had not heard the seven reports, but
they had seen our two flags flying, and they were eagerly waiting for
circumstantial news.
I ordered that everything in the grotto should be put in a place
of safety. My three youngest sons, my wife and Emily, set off for
Falcon’s Nest with our cattle, and I embarked in the cajack with
Fritz, to reconnoitre. It was near midday when we set out; we
coasted along without discovering anything, and the illusion of the
moment began to dissipate. On more calm reflection, however, the
certainty that we had heard the seven reports of the cannon kept up
our courage; when suddenly, on doubling a little promontory which
had hitherto concealed it from us, we beheld a fine European ship
majestically reposing at anchor, with a long-boat at the side, and an
English flag floating at the masthead.
I seek in vain to find words that will express the sentiments which
filled our souls. We elevated our hands and eyes toward heaven, and
thus returned our thanks to God for His great beneficence. If I
had permitted it, Fritz would have thrown himself into the sea and
swum off to the ship; but I was afraid that, notwithstanding the
English flag, the vessel before us might be a Malay corsair, which
had assumed false colours in order to deceive other vessels. We
remained at a distance, not liking to venture nearer without being
more certain what it was. We could see all that was passing on board
the vessel. Two tents had been raised on the shore, tables were laid
for dinner, quarters of meat were roasting before blazing fires, men
were running to and fro, and the whole scene had the appearance of an
organized encampment. Two sentinels were on the deck of the vessel,
and when they perceived us they spoke to the officer on duty who
stood near, and who turned his telescope toward us.
“They are Europeans,” cried Fritz; “you can easily judge from the
face of the officer. Malays certainly would be more dusky than that.”
Fritz’s remark was true; but yet I did not like to go too near. We
remained in the bay, manœuvring our canoe with all the dexterity of
which we were capable. We sang a Swiss mountain song, and when we
had finished I cried out through my speaking-trumpet these three
words, _Englishmen, good men!_ But no answer was returned: our song,
our cajack, and more than all our costume, I expect, marked us for
savages, from the officer making signs to us to approach, and holding
up knives, scissors, and glass beads, for which the savages of the
New World are generally so desirous. This mistake made us laugh; but
we did not approach, as we wished to present ourselves before them
in better trim. We contented ourselves with exclaiming once more,
_Englishmen_, and then darted off as fast as our boat could carry us.
We passed a whole day in preparing the pinnace, and loading it with
presents for the captain, as we wished him to see that those whom
he had taken for savages were beings far advanced in the arts of
civilization. We set off at sunrise; the weather was magnificent, and
we sailed gallantly along, Fritz preceding us as pilot.
When we could clearly distinguish the ship, a sensation of vivid
joy was experienced by us all: my sons were dumb with pleasure and
eagerness.
“Hoist the English flag,” cried I in the voice of a Stentor; and a
second after, a flag similar to the one on the ship fluttered from
our masthead.
If we were filled with extraordinary emotions on seeing a European
ship, the English were not less astonished to see a little boat with
flowing sails coming toward them. Guns were now fired from the ship
and answered from our pinnace, and joining Fritz in his cajack, we
approached the English ship to welcome the captain to our shores.
The captain received us with that frankness and cordiality that
always distinguish sailors; and conducted us to the cabin, where a
flask of Cape wine cemented the alliance between us.
I recounted to the captain, as briefly as possible, the history of
our shipwreck, and our sojourn of ten years on this coast. I spoke
to him of Emily, and asked him if he had ever heard of her father,
Sir Edward Montrose. The captain not only knew him, but it was a
part of his instructions to explore these latitudes, where, three
years before, the ship _Dorcas_, which had on board the daughter
of Commander Montrose, was supposed to have been wrecked, and to
try to discover whether any tidings of the vessel or crew could be
ascertained. In consequence, he manifested the greatest desire to see
her, and assure her that her father was alive. He informed us that a
tempest of four days’ duration had thrown him off the course which he
followed for Sydney and New Holland; and thus he had been driven on
this coast, where he had renewed his wood and water. “It was then,”
added he, “that we heard the reports of cannon, which we answered;
on the third day new discharges convinced us that we were not alone
on the coast, and we resolved to wait until, by some means or other,
we discovered who were our companions in misfortune. But we find an
organized colony, and a maritime power, whose alliance I solicit in
the name of the sovereign of Great Britain.”
This last sally made us laugh, and we cordially pressed the hand
which Captain Littleton extended to us.
The rest of the family were waiting some distance off in the pinnace.
We took leave of the captain, who, ordering his gig to be manned,
arrived on board our vessel almost as soon as we did. We received him
with every demonstration of joy and friendship, and Emily was half
wild with happiness at the sight of a fellow-countryman, and one who
brought intelligence of her father.
The captain brought with him an English family, whom the fatigues
of the passage had rendered ill, consisting of Mr. Wolston, a
distinguished machinist, his wife, and two daughters. My wife offered
Mrs. Wolston her assistance, and promised her that her family should
find every comfort and convenience at Felsenheim if they would return
with us. They gladly consented, and we set out with them, taking
leave of the captain, who did not like to pass the night away from
his ship.
My readers can form an idea of the astonishment which was evinced
by the Wolston family on seeing all our establishments. We
ostentatiously pointed out to them Felsenheim with its rocky vault,
the giant-tree of Falcon’s Nest, Prospect Hill, and all the marvels
which were comprised in our domains. A frugal repast in the evening
united both families under the gallery of the grotto, and my wife
prepared, in the interior, apartments and beds to receive the
new-comers.
The next morning Mr. Wolston came up to me, and tenderly stretching
out his hand, spoke as follows--
“Sir,” said he, “I cannot express all the admiration that I feel on
regarding the wonders with which you are surrounded. The hand of
God has been with you, and here you live happily, far away from the
strife of the world, among the works of creation, alone with your
family. I came from England to seek repose: where can I find it
better than here? and I shall esteem myself the happiest of men if
you will allow me to establish myself in a corner of your domains.”
This proposition of Mr. Wolston filled me with joy, and I immediately
assured him that I would willingly share with him the half of my
patriarchal empire.
Mr. Wolston hastened to communicate to his wife the success of his
application, and the morning was devoted to the joy and pleasure that
this news caused. But considerations of a painful nature occupied
my mind: the ship which now presented itself was the second only we
had seen in ten years, and probably as long a period might elapse
before another appeared, should we let Captain Littleton and his
ship leave us without any addition to his crew. These questions
affected the dearest interests of our family. My wife did not wish
to return to Europe; I was myself too much attached to my new life
to leave it, and we were both at an age when hazards and dangers
have no attraction, and ambition has resolved itself into a desire
for repose. But our children were young, their life was but just
commencing, and I did not think it right to deprive them of the
advantages which civilization and a contact with the world presented;
and then again, Emily, since she had heard that her father was in
England, did not conceal her desire to return; and although we
regretted losing this amiable girl, yet it was impossible to detain
her. So at last I decided to call my children together, and ascertain
their sentiments. I spoke to them of civilized Europe, of the
resources of every kind which society offered to its members, and I
asked them if they would depart with Captain Littleton, or be content
to pass the remainder of their lives upon this coast.
Jack and Ernest declared that they would rather remain. Ernest, the
philosopher, had no need of the world to interrupt his studies; and
Jack, the hunter, found the domain of Falcon’s Nest large enough for
his excursions. Fritz was silent, but I saw by his countenance that
he had decided to go. I encouraged him to speak; he confessed that
he had a great desire to return to Europe, and his younger brother,
Francis, declared that he would willingly accompany him.
Mr. Wolston also dismembered his family: he kept but one of
his daughters; the other went on to New Holland. These family
arrangements were very painful, and when they were finished I
hastened to inform the captain of the _Unicorn_. He readily consented
to take our three passengers.
“I resign three persons,” said he, “Mr. and Mrs. Wolston and one of
their daughters; I take three more, and my complement will not be
affected.”
The _Unicorn_ remained eight days at anchor, and we employed them
in preparing the cargo which was to be the fortune of our voyagers
on arriving in Europe. All the riches that we had amassed--pearls,
ivory, spices, furs, and all our rare productions, were carefully
packed and put on board the ship, which we also furnished with meat
and fruits.
On the eve of their departure, after having exhausted myself in a
last conversation, in which I advised my sons always to carry out
the principles in which they had been instructed, and so to live
in this world that we might, through the merits of our Saviour, be
united in the next, I gave Fritz this narration of our shipwreck and
establishment on the desert coast, enjoining him expressly to have
it published as soon after his arrival as he possibly could; and
this desire on my part, exempt from all vanity of authorship, had
for its only object and hope that it might be useful to others as a
lesson of morality, patience, courage, perseverance, and of Christian
submission to the will of God. Perhaps some day a father may take
courage from the manner in which we supported our tribulations;
perhaps some young person will see, in the course of this narrative,
the value of a varied education and the importance of becoming
acquainted with first principles.
I have not written this as a learned man would have done, and all my
results may not have been arrived at according to the correct theory;
but we were in an extraordinary position, and were obliged to depend
on our own resources. We placed our entire trust in the mercy of God;
and He ever watched over and protected us.
We none of us slept much during the last night. At the dawn of day
the cannon of the ship announced the order to go on board. We
conducted our children to the shore; there they received our last
embraces and benedictions.
* * * * *
The anchor has been weighed, the sails unfurled, the flag run up to
the mast-head, and a rapid wind promises speedily to separate us from
our children.
I will not attempt to paint the grief of my dear Elizabeth--it is the
grief of a mother, silent and profound. Jack and Ernest are weeping
bitterly, and my own grief and heartfelt sorrow is, I must confess,
but badly concealed.
I finish these few lines whilst the ship’s boat is waiting. My sons
will thus receive my last blessing. May God ever be with you. Adieu,
Europe! adieu, dear Switzerland! Never shall I see you again! May
your inhabitants be always happy, pious, and free!
THE END
Transcriber’s Note:
Words may have multiple spelling variations or inconsistent
hyphenation. Obsolete and archaic spelling was not changed. Nine
misspelled words were corrected.
Words and phrases in italics are surrounded by underscores, _like
this_. Footnotes were renumbered sequentially and were moved to the
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