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

Chapter 5

Next morning, while the breakfast was getting ready, I attended to the

beautiful skin of the kangaroo, which I was anxious to preserve entire;

and afterwards, when Fritz had prepared everything in readiness for our

trip to the wreck, I called Ernest and Jack in order to give them some

parting injunctions.

 

They, however, had disappeared directly after breakfast, and their

mother could only guess that, as we required potatoes, they might have

gone to fetch a supply. I desired her to reprove them, on their return,

for starting away without leave; but, as it appeared they had taken

Turk, I satisfied myself that no harm was likely to befall them,

although it was not without reluctance that I left my dear wife alone

with little Franz, cheering her with hopes of our speedy return with

new treasures from the wreck.

 

Advancing steadily on our way, we crossed the bridge at Jackal River,

when suddenly, to our no small astonishment, Jack and Ernest burst out

of a hiding-place where they had lain in wait for us, and were

enchanted with the startling effect of their unexpected appearance upon

their unsuspecting father and brother.

 

It was evident that they fully believed they might now go with us to

the wreck.

 

To this notion I at once put a decided stop, although I could not find

it in my heart to scold the two merry rogues for their thoughtless

frolic, more especially as I particularly wished to send back a message

to my wife. I told them they must hurry home, so as not to leave their

mother in suspense, although, as they were already so far, they might

collect some salt.

 

And I instructed them to explain that, as my work on board would take

up a long time, she must try to bear with our absence for a night. This

I had meant to say when we parted, but my courage had failed, knowing

how much she would object to such a plan, and I had resolved to return

in the evening.

 

On consideration, however, of the importance of constructing a raft,

which was my intention in going, and finishing it without a second

trip, I determined to remain on board for the night, as the boys had,

unintentionally, given me the chance of sending a message to that

effect.

 

`Goodbye boys, take care of yourselves! We’re off,’ shouted Fritz, as I

joined him in the tub-boat, and we shoved off.

 

The current carried us briskly out of the bay; we were very soon

moored safely alongside the wreck, and scrambling up her shattered

sides, stood on what remained of the deck, and began at once to lay our

plans. I wanted to make a raft fit to carry on shore a great variety of

articles far too large and heavy for our present boat.

 

A number of empty water-casks seemed just what was required for a

foundation: we closed them tightly, pushed them overboard, and

arranging twelve of them side by side in rows of three, we firmly

secured them together by means of spars, and then proceeded to lay a

good substantial floor of planks, which was defended by a low bulwark.

In this way we soon had a first-rate raft, exactly suited to our

purpose.

 

It would have been impossible to return to land that same evening, for

we were thoroughly fatigued by our labours, and had eaten only the

light refreshment we had brought in our wallets, scarcely desisting a

moment from our work.

 

Rejoicing that we were not expected home, we now made an excellent

supper from the ship’s provisions, and then rested for the night on

spring mattresses, a perfect luxury to us, after our hard and narrow

hammocks.

 

Next morning we actively set about loading the raft and boat: first

carrying off the entire contents of our own cabins; and, passing on to

the captain’s room, we removed the furniture, as well as the doors and

window-frames, with their bolts, bars and locks. We next took the

officers’ chests, and those belonging to the carpenter and gunsmith;

the contents of these latter we had to remove in portions, as their

weight was far beyond our strength.

 

One large chest was filled with an assortment of fancy goods, and

reminded us of a jeweller’s shop, so glittering was the display of gold

and silver watches, snuff-boxes, buckles, studs, chains, rings and all

manner of trinkets; these, and a box of money, drew our attention for a

time; but more useful to us at present was a case of common knives and

forks, which I was glad to find, as more suited to us than the smart

silver ones we had previously taken on shore.

 

To my delight we found, most carefully packed, a number of young fruit

trees; and we read on the tickets attached to them the names, so

pleasant to European ears, of the apple, pear, chestnut, orange,

almond, peach, apricot, plum, cherry and vine.

 

The cargo, which had been destined for the supply of a distant colony,

proved, in fact, a rich and almost inexhaustible treasure to us.

Ironmongery, plumber’s tools, lead, paint, grindstones, cart wheels,

and all that was necessary for the work of a smith’s forge, spades and

plough-shares, sacks of maize, peas, oats, and wheat, a hand-mill, and

also the parts of a saw-mill so carefully numbered that, were we strong

enough, it would be easy to put it up, had been stowed away.

 

So bewildered were we by the wealth around us that for some time we

were at a loss as to what to remove to the raft. It would be

impossible to take everything; yet the first storm would complete the

destruction of the ship, and we should lose all we left behind.

 

Selecting a number of the most useful articles, however, including of

course the grain and the fruit trees, we gradually loaded our raft.

 

Fishing lines, reels, cordage, and a couple of harpoons were put on

board, as well as a mariner’s compass. Fritz, recollecting our

encounter with the shark, placed the harpoons in readiness; and amused

me by seeming to picture himself a whaler, flourishing his harpoon in

most approved fashion. Early in the afternoon, both our craft were

heavily laden, and we were ready to make for the shore. The voyage was

begun with considerable anxiety, as, with the raft in tow, there was

some danger of an accident.

 

But the sea being calm and the wind favourable, we found we could

spread the sail, and our progress was very satisfactory. Presently,

Fritz asked me for the telescope, as he had observed something curious

floating at a distance. Then handing it back, he begged me to examine

the object; which I soon discovered to be a turtle asleep on the water,

and of course unconscious of our approach.

 

`Do, father, steer towards it!’ exclaimed he. I accordingly did so,

that he might have a nearer look at the creature. Little did I suspect

what was to follow. The lad’s back was turned to me, and the broad sail

was between us, so that I could not perceive his actions; when, all of

a sudden, I experienced a shock, and the thrill as of line running

through a reel. Before I had time to call out, a second shock, and the

sensation of the boat being rapidly drawn through the water, alarmed

me.

 

`Fritz, what are you about?’ cried I. `You are sending us to the

bottom.’

 

`I have him, hurrah! I have him safe!’ shouted he, in eager

excitement. To my amazement, I perceived that he really had struck the

tortoise with a harpoon; a rope was attached to it, and the creature

was running away with us.

 

Lowering the sail and seizing my hatchet, I hastened forward, in order

to cut the line, and cast adrift at once turtle and harpoon.

 

`Father! Do wait!’ pleaded the boy. `There is no danger just yet! I

promise to cut the line myself the instant it is necessary! Let us

catch this turtle if we possibly can.’

 

`My dear boy, the turtle will be a very dear bargain, if he upsets all

our goods into the sea, even if he does not drown us too. For heaven’s

sake, be careful! I will wait a few minutes, but the instant there is

danger, cut the line.’

 

As the turtle began to make for the open sea, I hoisted the sail

again; and, finding the opposition too much for it, the creature again

directed its course landward, drawing