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

manage all the work which during that time

has been necessary.’

 

Our pleasant meal over, I prepared to start for home, but Fritz

reminded me of the cachalot, and although he confessed he should not

care to repeat the operation of cutting up a whale, he thought it would

be a pity to lose such a chance of obtaining a supply of spermaceti.

 

I fully agreed with him; and embarking, we quickly reached the

sandbank on which the monster lay. No sooner did we come near than the

dogs leaped ashore, and before we could follow, rushed round to the

other side of the great beast; snarling, growling and howling ensued,

and when we reached the spot we found a terrific combat going on. A

troop of wolves were disputing fiercely with the dogs their right to

the prey.

 

Our appearance, however, quickly settled the matter; two of the brutes

already lay dead, and those that now escaped our guns, galloped off.

Amongst the pack were a few jackals, and no sooner did Coco catch sight

of these, his relations, than, suddenly attracted by his instinct, he

left his master’s side, and in spite of our shouts and cries, joined

them and disappeared into the forest.

 

As it would have been useless and dangerous to attempt to follow the

deserter into the woods, we left him alone, trusting that he would

return before we again embarked. Fritz then climbed up the mountain of

flesh, and with his hatchet quickly laid open the huge skull; Jack and

Franz joined him—Ernest having remained on the island, where we had

left my wife and Jenny—and with buckets assisted him to bail out the

spermaceti.

 

The few vessels we possessed were soon full, and having stored them in

the yacht, we once more embarked and arrived at the little island

shortly before the dinner-hour.

 

A capital meal had been prepared for us and, when we had made

ourselves presentable, we sat down to it, and related our adventures.

The account of Coco’s desertion was received with exclamations of

surprise and sorrow. `Yet,’ said Jenny, after a time, `I do not think

you should despair of his recovery, for animals in their native state

seldom care to allow those that have been once domesticated to consort

with them.

 

`My poor albatross even, though he was never thoroughly tamed, and

certainly did finally desert me, yet used to return at intervals; and I

am pretty sure that were you, Jack, to search the wood early tomorrow

morning, you would find your pet only too willing to come back to

civilized life; or, if you like, I will go myself and find him, for I

should immensely like to have a paddle in the cajack all by myself.’

 

Jack was delighted at the former suggestion, and though he would not

listen for a moment to Jenny’s request to be allowed to go alone, he

agreed, if she cared for the fun of an early cruise, to accompany her

in the canoe next morning, and to return to the yacht in time to start

for Rockburg.

 

At sunrise they were off, armed with `bait’ in the shape of meat and

biscuit, and a muzzle and chain which Jack had manufactured in the

evening to punish the runagate for his offences, should they catch him.

Arrived at the sandbank, they landed; and, after entering the forest

and shouting `Coco, Coco!’ till the woods rang again, they presently

espied the truant, slouching disconsolately towards them, looking very

miserable and heartily ashamed of himself.

 

With torn ears, and coat ruffled and dirty, he sneaked up. There was no

need to use the bait to entice him; and when the poor beast thus came,

unhappy and begging forgiveness, Jack had not the heart to degrade him

further with the muzzle and chain. He had evidently attempted to join

his wild brethren, and by them had been scouted, worried, and hustled,

as no true jackal; and, as Jenny had foretold, was now only too glad to

return to bondage and to comfort.

 

Poor Coco had recovered his spirits slightly by the time the yacht was

reached; and, after a hearty meal, again took his place amongst the

dogs, whom I had little doubt he would never again desert.

 

All was now bustle and activity; and breakfast over, we went aboard the

yacht. Fritz and Jack stepped into the canoe; and we soon left Fair

Isle and Pearl Bay far behind.

 

The morning was delightful. The sea, excepting for the slight ripple

raised by the gentle breeze wafting us homewards, was perfectly calm.

Slowly and contentedly we glided on through the wonders of the splendid

archway, threaded our passage amongst the rocks and shoals, and passed

out to the open sea. So slowly did we make our way, that the occupants

of the cajack announced that they could not wait for us when they had

once piloted us out from amongst the shoals and reefs, and plied their

paddles to such good purpose that they were soon out of sight.

 

Nautilus Bay and Cape Pug-Nose were in due time passed, however, and

Shark Island hove in sight. With great astonishment Jenny gazed at our

watch-tower, with its guard-house, the fierce-looking guns, and the

waving flag upon the heights. We landed, that she might visit the

fortification; then we displayed all our arrangements with great pride.

When they and the herd of lovely gazelles had been sufficiently

admired, we again embarked, and steered towards

 

Safety Bay. On reaching the entrance, a grand salute of twelve shots

welcomed us and our fair guest to Rockburg. Not pleased with the even

number, however, Ernest insisted upon replying with thirteen guns, an

odd number being, he declared, absolutely necessary for form’s sake.

 

As we neared the quay, Fritz and Jack stood ready to receive us, and

with true politeness handed their mother and Jenny ashore.

 

They turned and led the way to the house through the gardens, orchards

and shrubberies which lay on the rising ground that sloped gently

upwards to our dwelling.

 

Jenny’s surprise was changed to wonder as she neared the villa

itself—its broad, shady balcony, its fountains sparkling in the sun,

the dove-cots, the pigeons wheeling above, and the bright, fresh

creepers twined round the columns, delighted her. She could scarcely

believe that she was still far from any civilized nation, and that she

was amongst a family wrecked like herself upon a lonely coast.

 

My amazement, however, fully equalled that of my little daughter when

beneath the shade of the verandah I saw a table laid out with a

delicious luncheon. All our china, silver and glass had been called

into requisition, and was arranged upon the spotless damask cloth.

 

Wine sparkled in the decanters, splendid pineapples, oranges, guavas,

apples and pears, resting on cool green leaves, lay heaped in pyramids

upon the porcelain dishes. A haunch of venison, cold fowl, ham, and

tongues occupied the ends and sides of the table, while in the centre

rose a vase of gay flowers, surrounded by bowls of milk and great jugs

of mead. It was, indeed, a perfect feast, and the heartiness of the

welcome brought tears of joy into the lovely eyes of the fair girl in

whose honour it had been devised.

 

All were soon ready to sit down; and Jenny, looking prettier than ever

in the dress for which she had exchanged her sailor’s suit, took the

place of honour between my wife and me. Ernest and Franz also seated

themselves; but nothing would induce Fritz and Jack to follow their

example. They considered themselves our entertainers, and waited upon

us most attentively, carving the joints, filling our glasses, and

changing the plates; for, as Jack declared to Miss Montrose, the

servants had all run away in our absence, and for the next day or two,

perhaps, we should be obliged to wait upon ourselves.

 

When the banquet was over, and the waiters had satisfied their

appetites, they joined their brothers, and with them displayed all the

wonders of Rockburg to their new sister. To the house, cave, stables,

gardens, fields and boat-houses, to one after the other did they lead

her.

 

Not a corner would they have left unnoticed, had not my wife, fearing

they would tire the poor girl out, come to the rescue, and led her back

to the house.

 

On the following day, after an early breakfast, we started, while it

was yet cool, for Falconhurst; and as I knew that repairs and

arrangements for the coming winter would be necessary and would detain

us for several days, we took with us a supply of tools, as well as

baskets of provisions and other things essential to our comfort.

 

The whole of our stud, excepting the ostrich, were in their paddocks,

near the tree; but Jack, saying that his mother and Jenny really must

not walk the whole way, to the great amusement of the latter, leaped on

Hurry, and fled away in front of us. Before we had accomplished one

quarter of the distance, we heard the thundering tread of many feet

galloping down the avenue, and presently espied our motley troop of

steeds being driven furiously towards us.

 

Storm, Lightfoot, Swift, Grumble, Stentor, Arrow and Dart were there,

with Jack, on his fleet two-legged courser, at their heels. At his

saddle-bow hung a cluster of saddles and bridles, the bits all jangling

and clanking, adding to the din and confusion, and urging on the

excited animals, who thoroughly entered into the fun, and with tails in

the air, ears back, and heels ever and anon thrown playfully out,

seemed about to overwhelm us.

 

We stepped aside to shelter ourselves behind the trees from the

furious onset; but a shout from Fritz brought the whole herd to a

sudden halt, and Jack spurred towards us.

 

`Which of the cattle shall we saddle for you, Jenny?’ he shouted.

`They’re all as gentle as lambs, and as active as cats. Every one has

been ridden by mother; and knows what a side-saddle means, so you can’t

go wrong.’

 

To his great delight, Jenny quickly showed her appreciation of the

merits of the steeds by picking out Dart, the fleetest and most

spirited in the whole stud.

 

The ostrich was then relieved of his unusual burden, the animals were

speedily equipped, and Lightfoot bearing the baskets and hampers, the

whole party mounted and trotted forwards. Jenny was delighted with her

palfrey, and henceforward he was reserved for her special use.

 

The work at Falconhurst, as I had expected, occupied us for some time

and it was a week before we could again return to Rockburg.

 

Yet the time passed pleasantly; for though the young men were busy from

morning to night, the presence of their new companion, her lively

spirits and gay conversation, kept them in constant good humour.

 

When the repairs were all finished we remained yet a day or two

longer, that we might make excursions in various directions to bring in

poultry from Woodlands, stores of acorns for the pigs, and grass,

willows and canes, to be manufactured during the winter into mats,

baskets, hurdles and hen-coops.

 

Many a shower wetted us through during these days, and we had scarcely

time to hurry back to Rockburg and house our cattle and possessions

before the annual deluge began.

 

Never before had this dreary season seemed so short and pleasant; with

Jenny amongst us the usual feeling of weariness and discontent never

appeared; the English language was quickly acquired by all hands,

Fritz, in particular, speaking it so well that Jenny declared she could

scarcely believe he was not an Englishman. She herself already spoke

French, and therefore easily learned our native language and