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

but back to it in evidently equal numbers.

 

We did not, therefore, suppose that the mighty animals remained hidden

in the woods of our territory; but concluded that, after this

freebooting incursion, they had withdrawn to their native wilds, where,

by greatly increasing the strength of our ramparts, we hoped henceforth

to oblige them to remain.

 

In what manner to effect this we laid many plans, during the night of

my arrival, when, sitting by an enormous watch-fire, I chatted with my

boys, and heard details of their numerous adventures, so interesting

for them to relate, and for me to hear, that everyone was more disposed

to act sentinel than retire to sleep.

 

My wife and Ernest arrived next day, and she rejoiced to find all

well, making light of trodden fields and trampled sugarcanes, since

her sons were sound in life and limb.

 

A systematic scheme of defence was now elabourated, and the erection of

the barricade occupied us for at least a month, as it was to be a firm

and durable building, proof against all invasion.

 

As our little tent was unsuited to a long residence of this sort, I

adopted Fritz’s idea of a Kamschatkan dwelling and, to his great

delight, forthwith carried it out.

 

Instead of planting four posts, on which to place a platform, we chose

four trees of equal size, which, in a very suitable place, grew exactly

in a square, twelve or fourteen feet apart. Between these, at about

twenty feet from the ground, we laid a flooring of beams and bamboo,

smoothly and strongly planked. From this rose, on all four sides, walls

of cane; the frame of the roof was covered so effectually by large

pieces of bark that no rain could penetrate. The staircase to this

tree-cottage was simply a broad plank with bars nailed across it for

steps. The flooring projected like a balcony in front of the entrance

door, and underneath, on the ground, we fitted up sheds for cattle and

fowls.

 

Various ornaments in Chinese or Japanese style were added to the roof

and eaves, and a most convenient, cool and picturesque cottage,

overhung and adorned by the graceful foliage of the trees, was the

result of our ingenuity.

 

I was pleased to find that the various birds taken by the boys during

this excursion seemed likely to thrive; they were the first inmates of

the new sheds, and even the black swans and cranes soon became tame and

sociable.

 

Constantly roaming through the woods, the children often made new

discoveries.

 

Fritz brought one day, after an excursion to the opposite side of the

stream beyond the Gap, a cluster of bananas, and also of cacao-beans,

from which chocolate is made.

 

The banana, although valuable and nourishing food for the natives of

the tropical countries where it grows, is not generally liked by

Europeans, and probably this variety was even inferior to many others,

for we found the fruit much like rotten pears, and almost uneatable.

 

The cacao seeds tasted exceedingly bitter, and it seemed wonderful that

by preparation they should produce anything so delicious as chocolate.

 

My wife, who now fancied no manufacture beyond my skill, begged for

plants, seeds, or cuttings to propagate in her nursery garden, already

fancying herself in the enjoyment of chocolate for breakfast, and I

promised to make a cacao plantation near home.

 

`Let me have bananas also,’ said she, `for we may acquire a taste for

that celebrated fruit, and, at all events, I am sure I can make it into

an excellent preserve.’

 

The day before our return to Rockburg, Fritz went again to the inland

region beyond the river to obtain a large supply of young

banana-plants, and the cacao-fruit. He took the cajack, and a bundle of

reeds to float behind him as a raft to carry the fruit, plants, and

anything else he might wish to bring back.

 

In the evening he made his appearance, coming swiftly down stream. His

brothers rushed to meet him, each eager to see and help to land his

cargo. Ernest and Fritz were quickly running up the bank, with arms

full of plants, branches and fruit, when Fritz handed to Jack a

dripping wet bag which he had brought along partly under water. A

curious pattering noise proceeded from this bag, but they kept the

contents a secret for the present, Jack running with it behind a bush

before peeping in, and I could just hear him exclaim:

 

`Hullo! I say, what monsters they are! It’s enough to make a fellow’s

flesh creep to look at them!’

 

With that he hastily shut up the bag, and put it away safely out of

sight in water.

 

Securing the cajack, Fritz sprang towards us, his handsome face

radiant with pleasure, as he exhibited a beautiful waterfowl. Its

plumage was rich purple, changing on the back to dark green; the legs,

feet and a mark above the bill, bright red. This lovely bird I

concluded to be the Sultan cock described by Buffon, and as it was

gentle, we gladly received it among our domestic pets.

 

Fritz gave a stirring account of his exploring trip, having made his

way far up the river, between fertile plains and majestic forests of

lofty trees, where the cries of vast numbers of birds, parrots,

peacocks, guinea-fowls and hundreds unknown to him, quite bewildered

him and made him feel giddy.

 

`It was in the Buffalo Swamp,’ continued he, `that I saw the splendid

birds you call Sultan cocks, and I set my heart on catching one alive,

which, as they seemed to have little fear of my approach, I managed by

means of a wire snare. Farther on I saw a grove of mimosa trees, among

which huge dark masses were moving in a deliberate way. Guess what they

were!’

 

`Savages?’ asked Franz timidly.

 

`Black bears, I bet!’ cried Jack.

 

`Your words suggest to my mind the manner and appearance of

elephants,’ said Ernest.

 

`Right you are, Professor!’ exclaimed Fritz gaily, the words producing

quite a sensation on the whole attentive family. `From fifteen to

twenty elephants were feeding peacefully on the leafy boughs, tearing

down branches with their trunks and shoving them into their mouths with

one jerk, or bathing in the deep waters of the marsh for refreshment in

the great heat. You cannot imagine the wild grandeur of the scene! The

river being very broad, I felt safe from wild animals, and more than

once saw splendid jaguars crouched on the banks, their glossy skin

glancing in the sunlight.

 

`While considering if it would be simply foolhardy to try a shot at one

of these creatures, I was suddenly convinced that discretion is the

better part of valour, and urging my canoe into the centre current,

made a rapid retreat down the river. For just before me, in the calm

deep water of a sheltered bay where I was quietly floating, there arose

a violent boiling, bubbling commotion, and for an instant I thought a

hot spring was going to burst forth—instead of that, up rose the

hideous head and gaping jaws of a hippopotamus, who, with a hoarse

terrific snort, seemed about to attack me.

 

`I can tell you I did not wait to see the rest of him! A glimpse of his

enormous mouth and its array of white gleaming tusks was quite enough.

“Right about face!” said I to myself, and shot down the stream like an

arrow, never pausing till a bend in the river brought me within sight

of the Gap, where I once more felt safe, and joyfully made my way back

to you all.’

 

This narrative was of thrilling interest to us, proving the existence

of tribes of the most formidable animals beyond the rocky barrier which

defended, in so providential a manner, the small and fertile territory

on which our lot was cast.

 

During the absence of the adventurer we had been busily engaged in

making preparations for our departure—and everything was packed up and

ready by the morning after his return.

 

After some hesitation I yielded to his great wish, which was to return

by sea in his cajack round Cape Disappointment and so meet us at

Rockburg.

 

He was much interested in examining the outlines of the coast, and the

rugged precipices of the Cape. These were tenanted by vast flocks of

sea-fowl and birds of prey; while many varieties of shrubs and plants,

hitherto unknown to us, grew in the clefts and crevices of the rocks,

some of them diffusing a strong aromatic odour. Among the specimens he

brought I recognized the caper plant and, with still greater pleasure,

a shrub which was, I felt sure, the tea-plant of China—it bore very

pretty white flowers and the leaves resembled myrtle.

 

Our land journey was effected without accident or adventure of any

kind.

 

Jack, mounted as usual on Hurry, the ostrich, carried the mysterious

wet bag very carefully slung at his side, and when near home started

off at a prodigious rate in advance of us.

 

He let fall the drawbridge, and we saw no more of him until, on

reaching Rockburg, he appeared leisurely returning from the swamp,

where apparently he had gone to deposit his `moist secret’, as Franz

called it.

 

We were all glad to take up our quarters once more in our large and

convenient dwelling, and my first business was to provide for the great

number of birds we now had on our hands, by establishing them in

suitable localities, it being impossible to maintain them all in the

poultry-yard. Some were, therefore, taken to the islands; and the black

swans, the heron, the graceful demoiselle cranes, and our latest

acquisition, the splendid Sultan cock, soon became perfectly at home in

the swamp, greatly adding to the interest of the neighbourhood of

Safety Bay.

 

The old bustards were the tamest of all our feathered pets, and never

more so than at meal-times. They were unfailing in their attendance

when we dined or supped in the open air.

 

Towards evening, as we sat in the verandah listening to Fritz’s

account of his trip round the Cape, an extraordinary hollow roaring

noise sounded from the swamp, not unlike the angry bellowing of a bull.

 

The dogs barked and the family rose in excitement; but remarked a look

of quiet humour in Fritz’s eye, as he stood leaning against one of the

verandah pillars, watching Jack, who, in some confusion, started off

towards the marsh.

 

`Come back, you silly boy!’ cried his mother. `The child has not so

much as a pistol, and is rushing off alone to face he knows not what!’

 

`Perhaps,’ said I, looking at Fritz, `this is not a case requiring the

use of firearms. It may be only the booming of a bittern which we

hear.’

 

`You need not be uneasy, mother,’ said Fritz. `Jack knows what he is

about, only this charming serenade took him by surprise, and I fancy he

will have to exhibit his treasures before they reach perfection. Yes,

here he comes!’

 

Lugging his `moist secret’ along with him, Jack, flushed and

breathless, came up to us, exclaiming:

 

`They were to grow as big as rabbits before you saw them! Such a

shame! I never thought they would kick up a row like that. Now for

it!’—and he turned out the bag. `This is “Grace”, and this is

“Beauty”.’

 

Two immense frogs rolled clumsily on the ground, and recovering their

feet, sat squat before us, swelling and buffing with a ludicrous air of

insulted dignity, while peals of laughter greeted them on all sides.

 

`Ladies and gentlemen, these are two very handsome young specimens of

the famous