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

those of the human race, and pointed out the

curious crest of stiff hairs on its head and neck.

 

`I have read of another species,’ said he, `called the tuft-tailed

porcupine, which must be even more curious-looking than this is. It has

short flat quills, and a scaly tail ending in an extraordinary tuft,

like a bunch of narrow strips of parchment. It cannot be such a

disagreeable enemy to encounter as this fellow.’

 

`Were you not afraid, Jack,’ asked I, `lest the porcupine should cast

some of his quills like darts at you?’

 

`Of course not,’ returned he, `I know well enough that is nothing but a

fable!’

 

`A fable!’ said I, `why look at your mother! She is drawing five or six

spines out of each of the dogs!’

 

`Ah, those stuck into them when they so fiercely fell upon it in their

attack. Those are the shortest quills, and seem very slightly fixed in

its skin. The long quills bent aside when Juno pressed against them.’

 

`You are perfectly right, my boy,’ said I, `there is no truth in the

old idea of shooting out the spines. But now, shall we leave this

prickly booty of yours, or attempt to take it with us?’

 

`Oh, please, father, let us take it! Why, it is good to eat!’

 

Smiling at the child’s eagerness, and willing to please him, I made a

somewhat awkward bundle of the porcupine, wrapping it in several folds

of cloth, and added it to the donkey’s load.

 

Our party then resumed the march, which, with little interruption, was

continued steadily, until we came in sight of our future place of

residence.

 

The wonderful appearance of the enormous trees, and the calm beauty of

the spot altogether, fully came up to the enthusiastic description

which had been given to me. And my wife gladly heard me say that if an

abode could be contrived among the branches, it would be the safest and

most charming home in the world.

 

We hastily unloaded the ass and cow, securing them, as well as the

sheep and goats, by tying their fore-feet loosely together.

 

The doves and poultry were set at liberty, and we sat down to rest

among the soft herbage while we laid our plans for the night.

 

Fritz soon left us, but presently two shots were fired, and he

appeared holding a fine tiger-cat by the hind legs, which, with the

intensest delight, he exhibited to each in turn.

 

`Well done, Fritz!’ cried I. `Our cocks and hens would have had an

unfortunate night of it but for this lucky shot of yours. It is to be

hoped he has left no companion near at hand. You must be on the

look-out.’

 

`How curious it seems,’ remarked Ernest, `that God should create

hurtful animals like this.’

 

`To our feeble and narrow vision many of the ways of the Infinite and

Eternal Mind are incomprehensible,’ I replied. `What our limited reason

cannot grasp, let us be content to acknowledge as the workings of

Almighty power and wisdom, and thankfully trust in that “Rock,” which,

were it not higher than we, would afford no sense of security to the

immortal soul.

 

`That animals should prey upon one another is a means of preserving a

due balance in the world of nature. What beautiful and warm furs are

procured by hunters just in those countries where no other covering

would defend the inhabitants from the wintery cold!—As, for instance,

the skins of bears, wolverines, and arctic foxes, wild cats, and many

others.’

 

`The skin of the seal, or sea dog, is also valuable,’ said Ernest.

 

`It is,’ I replied, `and in its own element that creature preys on fish

as the dog did on land animals before his race became domesticated by

man. But now, Fritz, tell us how you obtained your prize.’

 

`Observing that something moved among the branches,’ said he, `I went

softly round the tree with my gun, and making sure the creature was a

wild cat I fired and brought it down. It was severely wounded, but,

rising in a fury, it attempted to climb the tree, when I luckily having

a loaded pistol, gave it a quietus. And do tell me, father, what sort

of cat it is.’

 

`It is a mercy the brute did not fly at your throat instead of

attempting to escape,’ said I. `It belongs to a fierce and

bloodthirsty race—that of the ocelots or tiger-cats, natives of the

tropical parts of America. I should say this was a margay, and as it

would have proved a cruel foe, not only of our poultry, but also of our

sheep and goats, I am well pleased that you have rid us of it.’

 

`May I have the beautiful skin, father? And will you tell me what will

be the best use to make of it?’

 

`I advise you to skin the animal very carefully, and of the handsome

black and yellow tail, make a hunting-belt for yourself. The paws—let

me see—why, I fancy the paws might be made famous cases for knife,

fork and spoon, and look well hanging from the belt. The skin of the

body you had better preserve until you find some suitable use for it.’

 

`Oh, father, what a splendid plan!’ cried Jack. `Do tell me some good

use for my porcupine.’

 

`I think its feet may make cases also; at least, you may try. The

quills, I am sure, may be used for packing needles, and for tipping

arrows, and I should try to make defensive armour for the dogs out of

the rest. They may fall in with foes more dangerous than any we have

yet seen.’

 

`To be sure, father, the very thing!’ shouted Jack in high glee. `I

have seen pictures of boar-hunts, in which the dogs were protected by a

sort of leather coat of mail. That will be grand!’

 

After giving this advice, I got no peace until I had shown my boys how

to act upon it, and in a short time each had his prize fastened up by

the hind legs, and carefully slitting the skin, was stripping it from

the carcase.

 

Ernest, meanwhile, was fetching large flat stones in order to form a

fireplace, while Franz gathered sticks, as his mother was anxious to

prepare some food.

 

`What sort of tree do you suppose this to be, father?’ inquired

Ernest, seeing me examining that under which we were encamping. `Is not

the leaf something like a walnut?’

 

`There is a resemblance, but in my opinion these gigantic trees must be

mangroves or wild figs. I have heard their enormous height described,

and also the peculiarity of the arching roots supporting the main trunk

raised above the soil.’

 

Just then little Franz came up with a large bundle of sticks, and his

mouth full of something he was eating with evident satisfaction.

 

`Oh, mother!’ cried he, `this is so good! So delicious!’

 

`Greedy little boy!’ exclaimed she in a fright. `What have you got

there? Don’t swallow it, whatever you do. Very likely it is poisonous!

Spit it all out this minute!’ And his anxious mother quickly extracted

from the rosy little mouth the remains of a small fig.

 

`Where did you find this?’ said I.

 

`There are thousands lying among the grass yonder,’ replied the little

boy. `They taste very nice. I thought poison was nasty. Do you think

they will hurt me? The pigeons and the hens are gobbling them up with

all their might and main, papa!’

 

`I think you have no cause for alarm, dear wife,’ I said. `The trees

seem to be the fig-bearing mangrove of the Antilles. But remember,

Franz, you must never eat anything without first showing it to me,

never mind how good it seems.

 

`If birds and monkeys eat a fruit or vegetable, it is usually safe to

believe it wholesome,’ added I, turning to the other boys, who

instantly taking the hint, coaxed Franz to give them the figs he still

had in his pocket, and ran to offer them to Knips, who was closely

watching the skinning of the tiger-cat and porcupine, apparently giving

his opinion on the subject with much chattering and gesticulation.

 

`Here, Knips, allow me to present you with a fig!’ cried Jack, holding

one out to the funny little creature.

 

Knips took it readily, and after turning it about, and sniffing and

smelling it, he popped it into his mouth, with such a droll grimace of

delight and satisfaction that the boys all laughed and clapped their

hands, crying `Bravo, Knips! You know a good thing when you see it,

don’t you, old fellow! Hurrah!’

 

My wife, with her mind set at rest on the question of the figs, now

continued her preparations for dinner.

 

The flesh of the margay was given to the dogs, but part of the

porcupine was put on the fire to boil, while we reserved the rest for

roasting.

 

I employed myself in contriving needles for my wife’s work, by boring

holes at one end of the quills, which I did by means of a red hot nail,

and I soon had a nice packet of various sizes, which pleased her

immensely. I also laid plans for making proper harness for our beasts

of burden, but could not attempt to begin that while so many wants more

pressing demanded attention.

 

We examined the different trees, and chose one which seemed most

suited to our purpose. The branches spread at a great height above us,

and I made the boys try if it were possible to throw sticks or stones

over one of these, my intention being to construct a rope ladder if we

could once succeed in getting a string across a strong bough.

 

Finding we could not succeed in that way, I resolved other schemes in

my mind, and meantime went with Jack and Fritz to a small brook close

by, where I showed them how to place the skins to steep and soften in

the water, with stones placed on them to keep them beneath the surface.

 

When dinner was over, I prepared our night quarters. I first slung our

hammocks from the roots of the tree, which, meeting above us, formed an

arched roof, then covering the whole with sailcloth, we made a

temporary tent, which would at least keep off the night damps and

noxious insects.

 

Leaving my wife engaged in making a set of harness for the ass and cow,

whose strength I intended to employ the following day in drawing the

beams up to our tree, I walked down with Fritz and Ernest to the beach

to look for wood suitable for building our new abode and also to

discover, if possible, some light rods to form a ladder.

 

For some time we hunted in vain, nothing but rough driftwood was to be

seen, utterly unfit for our purpose. Ernest at length pointed out a

quantity of bamboos half buried in the sand. These were exactly what I

wanted, and stripping them of their leaves I cut them into lengths of

about five feet each; these I bound in bundles to carry to the tree,

and then began to look about for some slight reeds to serve as arrows.

 

I presently saw what I required in a copse at a little distance. We

advanced cautiously lest the thicket should contain some wild beast or

venomous serpent. Juno rushed ahead; as she did so a flock of

flamingos, which had been quietly feeding, rose in the air. Fritz

instantly firing brought a couple of the birds to the ground, the rest

of the squadron sailing