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

rigging and fittings

complete, even to a couple of small brass guns. This was a great

discovery, and I hastened to see if the lad was right. Indeed he was,

but my pleasure was qualified by a sense of the arduous task it would

be to put such a craft together so as to be fit for sea.

 

For the present, we had barely time to get something to eat and hurry

into the boat, where were collected our new acquisitions, namely, a

copper boiler, iron plates, tobacco-graters, two grindstones, a small

barrel of powder, and another of flints, two wheelbarrows besides

Jack’s, which he kept under his own especial care.

 

As we drew near the shore, we were surprised to see a number of little

figures ranged in a row along the water’s edge, and apparently gazing

fixedly at us. They seemed to wear dark coats and white waistcoats, and

stood quite still with their arms dropping by their sides, only every

now and then one would extend them gently, as though longing to embrace

us.

 

`Ah! Here at last come the pigmy inhabitants of the country to welcome

us!’ cried I, laughing.

 

`Oh, father!’ exclaimed Jack, `I hope they are Lilliputians! I once

read in a book about them, so there must be such people you know, only

these look rather too large.’

 

`You must be content to give up the Lilliputians and accept penguins,

my dear Jack,’ said I. `We have not before seen them in such numbers,

but Ernest knocked one down, if you remember, soon after we landed.

They are excellent swimmers, but helpless on land, as they can neither

fly nor run.’

 

We were gradually approaching the land as I spoke, and no sooner was

the water shallow, than out sprang Jack from his tub, and wading

ashore, took the unsuspecting birds by surprise, and with his stick

laid half a dozen, right and left, either stunned or dead at his feet.

The rest escaped into the water, dived, and disappeared.

 

As these penguins are disagreeable food, on account of their strong

oily taste, I was sorry Jack had attacked them; but going to examine

them when we landed, some of the fallen arose from their swoon, and

began solemnly to waddle away, upon which we caught them, and tying

their feet together with long grass, laid them on the sand to wait

until we were ready to start.

 

The three wheelbarrows then each received a load, the live penguins

seated gravely were trundled along by Jack, and away we went at a great

rate.

 

The unusual noise of our approach set the dogs barking furiously, but

discovering us, they rushed forward with such forcible demonstrations

of delight, that poor little Jack, who, as it was, could scarcely

manage his barrow, was fairly upset, penguins and all. This was too

much for his patience, and it was absurd to see how he started up and

cuffed them soundly for their boisterous behaviour.

 

This scene, and the examination of our burdens, caused great

merriment: the tobacco-grater and iron plates evidently puzzling

everybody.

 

I sent the boys to catch some of our geese and ducks, and bid them

fasten a penguin to each by the leg, thinking that it was worth while

to try to tame them.

 

My wife had exerted herself in our absence to provide a good store of

potatoes, and also of manioc root. I admired her industry, and little

Franz said, `Ah, father! I wonder what you will say when mother and I

give you some Indian corn, and melons, and pumpkins and cucumbers!’

 

`Now, you little chatterbox!’ cried she. `You have let out my secret! I

was to have the pleasure of surprising your father when my plants were

growing up.’

 

`Ah, the poor disappointed little mother!’ said I. `Never mind! I am

charmed to hear about it. Only do tell me, where did those seeds come

from?’

 

`Out of my magic bag, of course!’ replied she. `And each time I have

gone for potatoes, I have sown seeds in the ground which was dug up to

get them; and I have planted potatoes also.’

 

`Well done, you wise little woman!’ I exclaimed, `Why, you are a model

of prudence and industry!’

 

`But,’ continued she, `I do not half like the appearance of those

tobacco-graters you have brought. Is it possible you are going to make

snuff? Do, pray, let us make sure of abundance of food for our mouths,

before we think of our noses!’

 

`Make your mind easy, my wife. I have not the remotest intention of

introducing the dirty, ridiculous habit of snuffing into your family!

Please to treat my graters with respect, however, because they are to

be the means of providing you with the first fresh bread you have seen

this many a long day.’

 

`What possible connection can there be between bread and

tobacco-graters? I cannot imagine what you mean, and to talk of bread

where there are no ovens is only tantalizing.’

 

`Ah, you must not expect real loaves,’ said I. `But on these flat iron

plates I can bake flat cakes or scones, which will be excellent bread;

I mean to try at once what I can do with Ernest’s roots. And first of

all, I want you to make me a nice strong canvas bag.’

 

This my wife willingly undertook to do, but she evidently had not much

faith in my powers as a baker, and I saw her set on a good potful of

potatoes before beginning to work, as though to make sure of a meal

without depending on my bread.

 

Spreading a large sailcloth on the ground, I summoned my boys and set

to work. Each took a grater and a supply of well-washed manioc root,

and when all were seated round the cloth—`Once, twice, thrice! Off!’

cried I, beginning to rub a root as hard as I could against the rough

surface of my grater. My example was instantly followed by the whole

party, amid bursts of merriment, as each remarked the funny attitude

and odd gestures of his neighbours while vehemently rubbing, rasping,

grating and grinding down the roots allotted to him. No one was tempted

by the look of the flour to stop and taste it, for in truth it looked

much like wet sawdust.

 

`Cassava bread is highly esteemed in many parts of the New World, and I

have even heard that some Europeans there prefer it to the wheaten

bread of their own country. There are various species of manioc. One

sort grows quickly, and its roots ripen in a very short time. Another

kind is of somewhat slower growth. The roots of the third kind do not

come to maturity for two years. The two first are poisonous, if eaten

raw, yet they are preferred to the last, which is harmless, because

they are so much more fruitful, and the flour produced is excellent, if

the scrapings are carefully pressed.’

 

`What is the good of pressing them, father?’ inquired Ernest.

 

`It is in order to express the sap, which contains the poison. The dry

pith is wholesome and nourishing. Still, I do not mean to taste my

cakes, until I have tried their effect on our fowls and the ape.’

 

By this time our supply of roots being reduced to damp powder, the

canvas bag was filled with it, and tying it tightly up, I attempted to

squeeze it, but soon found that mechanical aid was necessary in order

to express the moisture.

 

My arrangements for this purpose were as follows. A strong straight

beam was made flat on one side, smooth planks were laid across two of

the lower roots of our tree; on these we placed the sack, above the

sack another plank, and over that the long beam; one end was passed

under a root near the sack, the other projected far forward. And to

that we attached all the heaviest weights we could think of, such as an

anvil, iron bars and masses of lead. The consequent pressure on the bag

was enormous, and the sap flowed from it to the ground.

 

`Will this stuff keep any time?’ inquired my wife, who came to see how

we were getting on. `Or must all this great bagful be used at once? In

that case we shall have to spend the whole of tomorrow in baking

cakes.’

 

`Not at all,’ I replied, `once dry, the flour in barrels will keep

fresh a long time. We shall use a great deal of this, however, as you

shall see.’

 

`Do you think we might begin now, father?’ said Fritz.

 

`There does not seem the least moisture remaining.’

 

`Certainly,’ said I. `But I shall only make one cake today for an

experiment; we must see how it agrees with Master Knips and the hens

before we set up a bakehouse in regular style.’

 

I took out a couple of handfuls of flour for this purpose, and with a

stick loosened and stirred the remainder, which I intended should again

be pressed. While an iron plate placed over a good fire was getting

hot, I mixed the meal with water and a little salt, kneaded it well,

and forming a thick cake, laid it on the hot plate when, one side

presently becoming a nice yellow brown colour, it was turned and was

quickly baked.

 

It smelt so delicious, that the boys quite envied the two hens and the

monkey, who were selected as the subjects of this interesting

experiment, and they silently watched them gobbling up the bits of cake

I gave them, until Fritz turned to me, saying, `Suppose the cake is

poisonous, what effect will it have on the creatures? Will they be

stupefied, or will they suffer pain?’

 

`That depends upon the nature of the poison. Some cause violent pain,

as colchicum, hellebore, and aconite. Others produce stupefaction and

paralysis, as opium, hemlock, and prussic acid; while others again, as

strychnine, are followed by violent convulsions, or, as belladonna, by

delirium.

 

`The effects of course vary according to the quantity taken, and such

remedies should be applied as will best counteract the effect of each

poison: emetics in any case, to remove as much as possible of the

noxious substance, combined with oils and mucilaginous drinks to soothe

and protect the stomach in the case of irritants; stimulants, such as

spirits, ammonia, or strong coffee to rouse from the stupor of the

narcotics; and sedative drugs, which are perhaps in themselves poisons,

to counteract the over stimulation of the nerves caused by the

convulsant poisons.

 

`But now let us think no more of poisons; here is supper ready and we

need not be afraid to eat roast penguin and potatoes.’

 

No sooner said than done; we left the fowls picking up the least crumb

they could find of the questionable food, and assembled to enjoy our

evening meal of roast penguin. The potatoes were as usual excellent,

the penguin really not so bad as I expected, although fishy in taste

and very tough.

 

Next morning every one expressed the tenderest concern as to the

health of Knips and the hens; and lively pleasure was in every

countenance when Jack, who ran first to make the visit of inquiry,

brought news of their perfect good health and spirits.

 

No time was now to be lost, and bread-baking commenced in earnest. A

large fire was kindled, the plates heated, the meal made into cakes,

each of the boys busily preparing his own, and watching the baking most

eagerly. Mistakes occurred, of course, some of the bread was burnt,

some not done enough; but a pile of nice tempting cakes was at length

ready,