Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss (microsoft ebook reader TXT) 📖

turn inland towards the

ford, we noticed that Juno was scraping in the sand, and turning up

some round substances, which she hastily devoured.

 

`Ernest went to see what these were, and reported in his calm way that

the dog had found turtles’ eggs.

 

`“Oh,” cried I, “then let us by all means share in the booty!” Mrs.

Juno, however, did not at all approve of this, and it was with some

difficulty that we drove her aside while we gathered a couple of dozen

of the eggs, stowing them in our provision bags. `While thus employed,

we caught sight of a sail which appeared to be merrily approaching the

shore beyond the cliffs. Ernest declared it must be our raft. Little

Franz, always having the fear of savages before his eyes, began to look

frightened, and for a moment I myself was doubtful what to think.

 

`However, we hastened to the stream; and, crossing it by the

stepping-stones, came in sight of the landing-place, where we joyfully

met you.

 

`Now I hope you approve of the proceedings of your exploring party, and

that tomorrow you will do me the favour of packing everything up, and

taking us away to live amongst my splendid trees.’

 

`Aye, little wife,’ said I, `so that is your idea of comfort and

security is it! A tree, I do not know how many feet high, on which we

are to perch and roost like the birds? If we had but wings or a

balloon, it would, I own, be a capital plan.’

 

`Laugh as much as you like,’ returned my wife, `my idea is not so

absurd as you make it out. We should be safe up there from jackals’

visits during the night. And I know I have seen at home in Switzerland,

quite a pretty arbour, with a strong floor, up among the branches of a

lime tree, and we went up a staircase to reach it. Why could not we

contrive a place like that, where we could sleep safely at night?’

 

`I will consider the idea seriously, my wife,’ said I, `perhaps

something may come of it, after all! Meantime, as we have finished

supper, and night is coming on, let us commend ourselves to Almighty

protection and retire to rest.’

 

Beneath the shelter of our tent, we all slept soundly as marmots,

until break of day; when, my wife and I awaking, took counsel together

as to future proceedings.

 

Referring to the task she had the previous evening proposed for me, I

remarked that to undertake it would involve so many difficulties that

it was highly necessary to look closely into the subject.

 

`In the first place,’ said I, `I am unwilling hastily to quit a spot to

which I am convinced we were providentially led as a landing-place. See

how secure it is; guarded on all sides by these high cliffs, and

accessible only by the narrow passage to the ford, while from this

point it is so easy to reach the ship that the whole of its valuable

cargo is at our disposal. Suppose we decide to stay patiently here for

the present—until, at least, we have brought on shore everything we

possibly can?’

 

`I agree with you to a certain extent, dear husband,’ replied she, `but

you do not know how dreadfully the heat among the rocks tries me. It is

almost intolerable to us who remain here all day while you and Fritz

are away out at sea, or wandering among the shady woods, where cool

fruits refresh, and fair scenes delight you.

 

`As to the contents of the ship, an immense deal has been cast ashore,

and I would much rather give up all the remainder, and be spared the

painful anxiety it gives me when you even talk of venturing again on

the faithless deep.’

 

`Well, I must admit that there is much right on your side,’ I

continued; `suppose we were to remove to your chosen abode, and make

this rocky fastness our magazine and place of retreat in case of

danger. I could easily render it still more secure, by blasting

portions of the rock with gunpowder. But a bridge must be constructed

in the first place, to enable us to cross bag and baggage.’

 

`Oh, I shall be parched to death before we can leave this place, if a

bridge has to be made,’ cried my wife impatiently. `Why not just take

our things on our backs and wade across as we have done already? The

cow and the donkey could carry a great deal.’

 

`That they will have to do, in whatever fashion we make the move,’ said

I; `but bags and baskets we must have, to put things in, and if you

will turn your attention to providing those, I will set about the

bridge at once. It will be wanted not once, but continually; the stream

will probably swell and be impassable at times, and even as it is, an

accident might happen.’

 

`Well, well!’ cried my wife, `I submit to your opinion; only pray set

about it without delay, for I long to be off. It is an excellent idea

to make a strong place among the cliffs here; the gunpowder especially,

I shall be delighted to see stored here when we go away, for it is

frightfully dangerous to keep so much as we have close to our

habitation.’

 

`Gunpowder is indeed the most dangerous and at the same time the most

useful thing we have,’ said I, `and for both these reasons we must be

especially careful of it. In time I will hollow out a place in the rock

where we can store it safe from either fire or damp.’

 

By this morning’s consultation we had settled the weighty question of

our change of abode, and also chalked out work for the day. When the

children heard of the proposed move their joy was boundless; they began

at once to talk of it as our `journey to the Promised Land’, and only

regretted that time must be `wasted’, as they said, in bridge-building

before it could be undertaken.

 

Everyone being impatient for breakfast that work might be begun at

once, the cow and goats were milked, and, having enjoyed a comfortable

meal of biscuit boiled in milk, I prepared to start for the wreck, in

order to obtain planks for the proposed bridge.

 

Ernest as well as Fritz accompanied me, and we were soon within the

influence of the current, and were carried swiftly out to sea. Fritz

was steering, and we had no sooner passed beyond the islet at the

entrance of the bay, so as to come in sight of its seaward beach, than

we were astonished to see a countless multitude of sea-birds, gulls and

others, which rose like a cloud into the air, disturbed by our

approach, and deafened us by their wild and screaming cries.

 

Fritz caught up his gun, and would have sent a shot among them had I

permitted it. I was very curious to find out what could be the great

attraction for all this swarm of feathered fowl; and, availing myself

of a fresh breeze from the sea, I set the sail and directed our course

towards the island.

 

The swelling sail and flying pennant charmed Ernest, while Fritz bent

his keen eyes eagerly towards the sandy shore, where the flocks of

birds were again settling.

 

Presently he shouted, `Aha, now I see what they are after! They have

got a huge monster of a fish there, and a proper feast they are making!

Let’s have a nearer look at it, father!’

 

We could not take our boat very close in, but we managed to effect a

landing at a short distance from the festive scene; and, securing the

raft by casting a rope round a large stone, we cautiously drew near the

object of interest.

 

It proved to be a monstrous fish, on whose flesh these multitudes of

birds were ravenously feeding; and it was extraordinary to watch the

ferocity, the envy, the gluttony, and all manner of evil passions,

exhibited among the guests at this banquet.

 

`There was nothing on this sandy beach when we passed yesterday, I am

certain, father,’ said Fritz. `It seems strange to see this creature

stranded here.’

 

`Why, Fritz!’ cried Ernest, `it must be the shark! Your shark, you

know! I believe I can see where you hit him in the head.’

 

`You are right, I do believe, Ernest,’ said I, `though I think your

imagination only can distinguish the gunshot wounds among all the

pecking and tearing of the voracious birds there. Just look, boys, at

those terrific jaws, beneath the strangely projecting snout. See the

rows upon rows of murderous teeth, and thank God we were delivered from

them! Let us try if we can induce these greedy birds to spare us a bit

of the shark’s skin; it is extremely rough, and when dry may be used

like a file.’

 

Ernest drew the ramrod from his gun, and charged so manfully into the

crowd, that striking right and left he speedily killed several, whilst

most of the others took to flight. Fritz detached some broad strips of

skin with his knife, and we returned towards the boat.

 

Perceiving with satisfaction that the shore was strewn with just the

sort of boards and planks I wanted, I lost no time in collecting them;

and, forming a raft to tow after us, we were in a short time able to

direct our course homeward, without visiting the wreck at all.

 

As we sailed along, extremely well pleased with our good fortune,

Fritz, by my direction, nailed part of the shark’s skin flat on boards

to dry in the sun and the rest on the rounded mast.

 

`Will that be a good idea, father?’ inquired he, `it will be quite bent

and crooked when it hardens.’

 

`That is just what I want it to be,’ said I, `we may happen to find it

useful in that form as well as flat. It would be beautiful shagreen*

with which we could smooth and polish wood.’

 

* Rough leather used like sandpaper

 

`I thought,’ remarked Ernest, `that shagreen was made from asses’

hides.’

 

`And you thought rightly,’ said I. `The best shagreen is prepared in

Turkey, Persia, and Tartary, from the skins of horses and asses. In

these skins, the roughness is produced artificially; while the skin is

newly flayed and still soft, hard grains of corn are spread on the

under surface, and pressed into it as it dries. These grains are

afterward removed, and the roughness imparted to the appearance of the

skin remains indelibly; shagreen is useful in polishing joiners’ work,

and it is made in France from the rough skin of a hideous creature

called the angel-fish.’

 

`Angel-fish!’ exclaimed Fritz; `what a name to give to anything

“hideous,” father!’

 

`There are bad angels as well as good ones,’ observed Ernest, in his

dry, quiet way; `it is better to leave people to see for themselves

which is meant.’

 

By this time we were close in shore; and, lowering the sail, we soon

had our craft with the raft in tow, safely moored to the bank.

 

No one was in sight, not a sound to be heard, so with united voice we

gave a loud cheery halloo, which after a while was answered in shrill

tones, and my wife with her two boys came running from behind the high

rocks between us and the stream, each carrying a small bundle in a

handkerchief, while little Franz held aloft a landing-net.

 

Our return so soon was quite unexpected, and they anxiously inquired

the reason, which we