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

>imitation of a band, and then all four, bowing respectfully, stood

before her, like the victors in a tournament of old, awaiting the

reward of valour from the Queen of Beauty, which she bestowed with a

few words of praise and encouragement.

 

Fritz, to his immense delight, received as the prize for shooting and

swimming, a splendid double-barrelled rifle, and a beautiful

hunting-knife.

 

To Ernest, as winner of the running-match, was given a handsome gold

watch.

 

For climbing and riding, Jack had a pair of silver-plated spurs, and a

riding whip, both of which gave him extraordinary pleasure.

 

Franz received a pair of stirrups, and a driving whip made of

rhinoceros hide, which we thought would be of use to him in the

character of bull-trainer.

 

When the ceremony was supposed to be over, I advanced, and solemnly

presented to my wife a lovely work-box, filled with every imaginable

requirement for a lady’s work-table, which she accepted with equal

surprise and delight.

 

The whole entertainment afforded the boys such intense pleasure, and

their spirits rose to such a pitch, that nothing would serve them but

another salvo of artillery in order to close with befitting dignity and

honour so great a day. They gave me no peace till they had leave to

squander some gunpowder, and then at last their excited feelings

seeming relieved, we were able to sit down to supper; shortly

afterwards we joined in family worship and retired to rest.

 

Soon after the great festival of our grand Thanksgiving Day I

recollected that it was now the time when, the figs at Falconhurst

being ripe, immense flocks of ortolans and wild pigeons were attracted

thither, and as we had found those preserved last year of the greatest

use among our stores of winter provisions, I would not miss the

opportunity of renewing our stock; and therefore, laying aside the

building work, we removed with all speed to our home in the tree, where

sure enough we found the first detachment of the birds already busy

with the fruit.

 

In order to spare ammunition, I resolved to concoct a strong sort of

birdlime, of which I had read in some account of the Palm Islanders,

who make it of fresh caoutchouc mixed with oil, and of so good a

quality that it has been known to catch even peacocks and turkeys.

 

Fritz and Jack were therefore dispatched to collect some fresh

caoutchouc from the trees, and as this involved a good gallop on Storm

and Lightfoot, they nothing loth set off.

 

They took a supply of calabashes, in which to bring the gum, and we

found it high time to manufacture a fresh stock of these useful

vessels. I was beginning to propose an expedition to the Gourd-tree

wood, regretting the time it would take to go such a distance, when my

wife reminded me of her plantation near the potato-field.

 

There to our joy we found that all the plants were flourishing, and

crops of gourds and pumpkins, in all stages of ripeness, covered the

ground.

 

Selecting a great number suited to our purpose, we hastened home, and

began the manufacture of basins, dishes, plates, flasks and spoons of

all sorts and sizes, with even greater success than before.

 

When the riders returned with the caoutchouc, they brought several

novelties besides.

 

A crane, for example, shot by Fritz, and an animal which they called a

marmot, but which to me seemed much more like a badger.

 

Aniseed, turpentine and wax berries for candles, they had also

collected, and a curious root which they introduced by the name of the

monkey plant.

 

`And pray wherefore “monkey plant”, may I ask?’

 

`Well, for this reason, father,’ answered Fritz. `We came upon an open

space in the forest near Woodlands, and perceived a troop of monkeys,

apparently engaged as Jack said, in cultivating the soil! Being curious

to make out what they were at, we tied up the dogs, as well as Storm

and Lightfoot, and crept near enough to see that the apes were most

industriously grubbing up and eating roots. This they did in a way that

nearly choked us with laughter, for when the root was rather hard to

pull up, and the leaves were torn off, they seized it firmly in their

teeth, and flung themselves fairly heels-over-head in the most

ludicrous fashion you ever saw, and up came the root unable to resist

the leverage!

 

`Of course we wanted to see what this dainty morsel was like, so we

loosed the dogs, and the apes cleared out double quick, leaving plenty

of the roots about. We tasted them, and thought them very nice. Will

you try one?’

 

The plant was quite new to me, but I imagined it might be what is

called in China ‘ginseng’, and there prized and valued beyond

everything. The children being curious to hear more about this

ginseng, I continued:

 

`In China it is considered so strengthening and wholesome, that it is

used as a sort of universal medicine, being supposed to prolong human

life.

 

`The emperor alone has the right to permit it to be gathered, and

guards are placed round land where it grows.

 

`Ginseng is to be found in Tartary, and has lately been discovered in

Canada; it is cultivated in Pennsylvania, because the Americans

introduce it secretly into China as smuggled merchandise.’

 

Fritz then continued:

 

`After this we went on to Woodlands; but mercy on us! What a confusion

the place was in! Everything smashed or torn, and covered with mud and

dirt; the fowls terrified, the sheep and goats scattered, the contents

of the rooms dashed about as if a whirlwind had swept through the

house.’

 

`What!’ I exclaimed, while my wife looked horrified at the news,

conjuring up in her imagination hordes of savages who would soon come

and lay waste Falconhurst and Tentholm as well as Woodlands.

 

`How can that have happened? Did you discover the authors of all this

mischief?’

 

`Oh,’ said Jack, `it was easy to see that those dreadful monkeys had

done it all. First they must have got into the yards and sheds, and

hunted the fowls and creatures about; and then I daresay the cunning

rascals put a little monkey in at some small opening, and bid him

unfasten the shutters—you know what nimble fingers they have. Then of

course the whole posse of them swarmed into our nice tidy cottage and

skylarked with every single thing they could lay paws on, till perhaps

they got hungry all at once, and bethought them of the “ginseng”, as

you call it, out in the woods yonder, where we found them so busy

refreshing themselves, the mischievous villains!’

 

`While we were gazing at all this ruin in a sort of bewilderment,’

pursued Fritz, `we heard a sound of rushing wings and strange ringing

cries as of multitudes of birds passing high above us, and looking up

we perceived them flying quickly in a wedge-shaped flock at a great

height in the air. They began gradually to descend, taking the

direction of the lake, and separated into a number of small detachments

which followed in a long straight line, and at a slower rate, the

movements of the leaders, who appeared to be examining the

neighbourhood. We could now see what large birds they must be, but

dared not show ourselves or follow them, lest they should take alarm.

 

`Presently, and with one accord, they quickened their motion, just as

if the band had begun to play a quick march after a slow one, and

rapidly descended to earth in a variety of lively ways, and near enough

for us to see that they must be cranes.

 

`Some alighted at once, while others hovered sportively over them. Many

darted to the ground, and, just touching it, would soar again upward

with a strong but somewhat heavy flight.

 

`After gambolling in this way for a time, the whole multitude, as

though at the word of command, alighted on the rice-fields, and began

to feast on the fresh grain.

 

`We thought now was our time to get a shot at the cranes and

cautiously approached; but they were too cunning to let themselves be

surprised, and we came unexpectedly upon their outposts or sentinels,

who instantly sprang into the air uttering loud trumpet-like cries,

upon which the whole flock arose and followed them with a rush like a

sudden squall of wind.

 

`We were quite startled, and it was useless to attempt a shot; but

unwilling to miss the chance of securing at least one of the birds, I

hastily unhooded my eagle, and threw him into the air.

 

`With a piercing cry he soared away high above them, then shot

downwards like an arrow, causing wild confusion among the cranes.

 

`The one which the eagle attacked, sought to defend itself; a struggle

followed, and they came together to the ground not far from where we

stood.

 

`Hastening forward, to my grief I found the beautiful crane already

dead. The eagle, luckily unhurt, was rewarded with a small pigeon from

my game-bag.

 

`After this we went back to Woodlands, got some turpentine and a bag of

rice—and set off for home.’

 

Fritz’s interesting story being ended, and supper ready, we made trial

of the new roots, and found them very palatable, either boiled or

stewed; the monkey plant, however, if it really proved to be the

ginseng of the Chinese, would require to be used with caution, being of

an aromatic and heating nature.

 

We resolved to transplant a supply of both roots to our kitchen

garden.