Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss (microsoft ebook reader TXT) đź“–
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ridges, seals, sea-bears and walruses, were to be seen, some basking
lazily in the sun, some plunging into the water, or emerging awkwardly
from it, hoisting their unwieldy bodies up the rocks by means of their
tusks.
`I must confess to feeling anything but comfortable while going
through the places held in possession by these monsters of the deep,
and used every effort to pass quickly and unnoticed. Yet it was more
than an hour and a half before I got clear of the rocks, cliffs, and
shoals to which they resorted, and neared a high and precipitous cape,
running far out to sea. Right opposite to me, in the side of this rocky
wall, was a magnificent archway, forming as it first appeared to me, a
lofty entrance to an immense vaulted cavern. I passed beneath this
noble portal and examined the interior.
`It was tenanted by numbers of a small species of swallow, scarcely
larger than a wren, and the walls were covered by thousands of their
nests. They were rudely built, and their peculiarity was that each
rested on a kind of platform, something like a spoon without the
handle. I detached a number, and found that they had a curious
appearance, seemingly made of something fibrous and gelatinous, and
more like a set of sponges, corals, or fungi, than nests of birds. I
have brought them home in my fishing net.’
`If we had commercial dealings with the Chinese,’ said I, `your
discovery would be of value; these are doubtless edible birds’ nests.
The bird is called the esculent swallow, and the trade in this strange
article of diet is a very large one. The nests are of different value,
but those which are quite new, and nearly white, are held in such
esteem that they are worth their weight in silver.
`There are tremendous caverns in Java and other places where, at great
risk, these nests are procured; the annual weight obtained being
upwards of fifty thousand pounds, and the value more than �200,000.
`When placed in water and well soaked, they soften and swell, and are
made into soup of very strengthening and restorative quality.
`I think you might try your hand on these, mother, just for
curiosity’s sake.’
`I can’t say I fancy the look of the queer things,’ said she, `but I
don’t mind trying if they will turn to jelly; though boiling birds’
nests is cookery quite out of my line.’
`Oh do, mother, let us taste birds’ nests as soon as you can, though
the idea makes me fancy my mouth full of feathers!’ laughed Jack.
`It is really a most curious formation,’ said Fritz. `From whence are
the swallows supposed to get this kind of gelatine?’
`It has never been exactly ascertained,’ I replied, `whether the birds
discover or produce this curious substance. But whatever may be its
basis, it is clear that a very large portion of it is furnished by
certain glands, which pour out a viscid secretion.’
`After laying in my store of nests,’ continued Fritz, `I pursued my way
through this vaulted cave or corridor; which, presently turning, opened
into a very lonely bay, so calm and lake-like, that, although of
considerable size, I concluded at once it must be nearly land-locked.
Its shores, beyond the rocky boundary through which I penetrated,
extended in a fertile plain towards what seemed the mouth of a river,
beyond which lay rough and probably marshy ground, and a dense forest
of cedars, which closed the view.
`The water beneath me was clear as crystal; and, gazing into its
depths and shallows, I perceived beds of shellfish, like large
oysters, attached to the rocks and to each other by tufts of hairy
filaments.
`“If these are oysters,” thought I, “they must be better worth eating,
as far as size goes, than our little friends in Safety Bay,” and
thereupon I hooked up several clusters with my boat-hook, and landing
soon after on the beach, I flung them on the sand, resolving to fetch
another load, and then tow them after me in the fishing-net.
`The hot sun disagreed with their constitution, I suppose; for when I
came back the shells were all gaping wide open; so I began to examine
them, thinking that after all they were probably much less delicate
than the small oysters we have learnt to like so much.
`Somehow, when a thing is to be “examined”, one generally needs a
knife. The blade met with resistance here and there in the creature’s
body; and still closer “examination” produced from it several pearly
balls, like peas, of different sizes. Do you think they can be pearls?
I have a number here in a box.’
`Oh, show them to us, Fritz!’ cried the boys. `What pretty shining
things! And how delicately rounded! And how softly they gleam!’
`You have discovered treasure, indeed!’ I exclaimed. `Why these are
most beautiful pearls! Valueless, certainly, under present
circumstances; but they may prove a source of wealth, should we ever
again come into contact with the civilized world. We must visit your
pearl-oyster beds at the earliest opportunity.’
`After resting for some time and refreshing myself with food,’ pursued
Fritz, `I resumed my survey of the coast, my progress somewhat impeded
by the bag of shellfish, which I drew after me; but I proceeded without
accident past the mouth of the stream to the further side of the bay,
which was there enclosed by a point corresponding to that through which
I had entered; and between these headlands I found a line of reefs and
sandbanks, with but a single channel leading out to the open sea; from
which, therefore, Pearl Bay, as I named it, lies completely sheltered.
`The tide was setting strongly in shore, so that I could not then
attempt a passage through it, but examined the crags of the headland,
thinking I might perchance discover a second vaulted archway. I saw
nothing remarkable, however, but thousands of sea-fowl of every sort
and kind, from the gull and sea-swallow to the mighty albatross.
`My approach was evidently regarded as an invasion and trespass; for
they regularly beset me, screaming and wheeling over my head, till, out
of all patience, I stood up, and hit furiously about me with the
boat-hook; when, rather to my surprise, one blow struck an albatross
with such force, that he fell stunned into the water.
`I now once more attempted to cross the reef by the narrow channel, and
happily succeeding, found myself in the open sea, and speeding
homewards, joyfully saw our flag flying, and heard the welcome salute
you fired.’
Here ended the narrative; but next morning Fritz drew me aside, and
confided to me a most remarkable sequel, in these words:
`There was something very extraordinary about that albatross, father. I
allowed you to suppose that I left it as it fell, but in reality I
raised it to the deck of the canoe, and then perceived a piece of rag
wound round one of its legs. This I removed, and, to my utter
astonishment, saw English words written on it, which I plainly made out
to be “Save an unfortunate Englishwoman from the smoking rock!”
`This little sentence sent a thrill through every nerve: my brain
seemed to whirl. I doubted the evidence of my senses.
`“Is this reality, or delusion?” thought I, “Can it be true, that a
fellow creature breathes with us the air of this lonely region?”
`I felt stupefied for some minutes: the bird began to show signs of
life, which recalled me to myself; and, quickly deciding what must be
done, I tore a strip from my handkerchief, on which I traced the words,
“Do not despair! Help is near!”
`This I carefully bound round one leg, replacing the rag on the other,
and then applied myself to the complete restoration of the bird. It
gradually revived; and after drinking a little, surprised me by
suddenly rising on the wing, faltering a moment in its flight, and then
rapidly disappearing from my view in a westerly direction.
`Now, father, one thought occupies me continually: will my note ever
reach this Englishwoman? Shall I be able to find, and to save her?’ I
listened to this account with feelings of the liveliest interest and
astonishment.
`My dear son,’ said I, `you have done wisely in confiding to me alone
your most exciting discovery. Unless we know more, we must not unsettle
the others by speaking of it; for it appears to me quite possible that
these words were penned long ago on some distant shore, where, by this
time, the unhappy stranger may have perished miserably. By the “smoking
rock” must be meant a volcano. There are none here.’
Fritz was not disposed to look at the case from this gloomy point of
view; did not think the rag so very old; believed smoke might rise from
a rock which was not volcanic; and evidently cherished the hope that he
might be able to respond effectually to this touching appeal. I was in
reality as anxious as himself on the subject, but judged it prudent to
abate rather than excite hopes of success which might be doomed to
bitter disappointment.
After earnest consultation on the subject, we decided that Fritz
should go in search of the writer of the message, but not until he had
so altered the canoe as to fit it for carrying two persons, as well as
provisions sufficient to admit of his absence for a considerable time.
Impatient as he was, he could not but see the wisdom of this delay. We
returned to the house, and saw the boys busily opening the oysters,
which they had had no time to do the previous night, and greatly
excited as ever and anon a pearl was found.
`May we not establish a pearl-fishery at once, father?’ shouted they.
`We might build a hut on the shore of the bay and set about it
regularly.’
An excursion to Pearl Bay was now the event to which all thoughts
turned, and for which preparations on a grand scale were made. It was
to form, as it were, the basis of the more important voyage Fritz had
in view, and to which, unsuspected by the rest, he could devote all his
attention.
I took an opportunity, one day, when all were present, to remark in a
serious tone:
`I have been considering, dear wife, that our eldest son is now of an
age to be dependent on himself. I shall, therefore, henceforth leave
him at liberty to act in all respects according to his own judgement;
and, especially in the matter of voyages or excursions, he must not be
hampered by the fear of alarming us should he choose to remain absent
longer than we expect. I have such entire confidence in his prudence,
and at the same time in his affection for us, that I am certain he will
never needlessly cause us anxiety.’
Fritz looked gratefully towards me as I spoke; and his mother ratified
my words, embracing him affectionately, and saying, with emotion, `God
bless and preserve thee, my boy!’
It took some time to make several raking or scraping machines, which I
invented for the purpose of detaching and lifting the oysters from
their native rocks; but that gave Fritz leisure to change the fittings
of his canoe, so as to have a spare seat in it.
His brothers naturally concluded he meant to take one of them as
shipmate on board, and he allowed the mistake to continue.
They occupied themselves in making various articles they expected to be
of use, and bore
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