Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss (microsoft ebook reader TXT) đź“–
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their natural shape.’
For three hours or more we pushed forward, keeping a sharp
look-out on either side for any trace of our companions, till we
reached a bold promontory, stretching some way into the sea, from
whose rocky summit I knew that we should obtain a good and
comprehensive view of the surrounding country. With little
difficulty we reached the top, but the most careful survey of
the beautiful landscape failed to show us the slightest sign or
trace of human beings.
Before us stretched a wide and lovely bay, fringed with yellow
sands, either side extending into the distance, and almost lost
to view in two shadowy promontories; enclosed by these two arms
lay a sheet of rippling water, which reflected in its depths the
glorious sun above. The scene inland was no less beautiful; and
yet Fritz and I both felt a shade of loneliness stealing over us
as we gazed on its utter solitude.
`Cheer up, Fritz, my boy,’ said I, presently. `Remember that we
chose a settler’s life long ago, before we left our own dear
country; we certainly did not expect to be so entirely alone—but
what matters a few people, more or less? With God’s help, let us
endeavour to live here contentedly, thankful that we were not cast
upon some bare and inhospitable island. But come, the heat here
is getting unbearable; let us find some shady place before we are
completely broiled away.’
We descended the hill and made for a clump of palm trees, which we
saw at a little distance. To reach this, we had to pass through a
dense thicket of reeds, no pleasant or easy task; for, besides the
difficulty of forcing our way through, I feared at every step that
we might tread on some venomous snake.
Sending Turk in advance, I cut one of the reeds, thinking it would
be a more useful weapon against a reptile than my gun. I had
carried it but a little way, when I noticed a thick juice exuding
from one end. I tasted it, and to my delight, found it sweet and
pleasant. I at once knew that I was standing amongst sugarcanes.
Wishing Fritz to make the same discovery, I advised him to cut a
cane for his defense; he did so, and as he beat the ground before
him, the reed split, and his hand was covered with the juice. He
carefully touched the cane with the tip of his tongue, then,
finding the juice sweet, he did so again with less hesitation;
and a moment afterwards sprang back to me, exclaiming, `Oh, father,
sugarcane, sugarcane! Taste it. Oh, how delicious, how
delightful! Do let us take a lot home to mother,’ he continued,
sucking eagerly at the cane!
`Gently there,’ said I, `take breath a moment, moderation in
all things, remember. Cut some to take home if you like; only
don’t take more than you can conveniently carry.’
In spite of my warning, my son cut a dozen or more of the largest
canes, and stripping them of their leaves, carried them under his
arm. We then pushed through the cane-brake, and reached the clump
of palms for which we had been making; as we entered it a troop of
monkeys, who had been disporting themselves on the ground, sprang
up, chattering and grimacing, and before we could clearly
distinguish them, were at the very top of the trees.
Fritz was so provoked by their impertinent gestures that he raised
his gun, and would have shot one of the poor beasts. `Stay,’ cried
I, `never take the life of any animal needlessly. A live monkey
up in that tree is of more use to us than a dozen dead ones at
our feet, as I will show you.’
Saying this, I gathered a handful of small stones, and threw them
up towards the apes. The stones did not go near them, but influenced
by their instinctive mania for imitation, they instantly seized
all the cocoanuts within their reach, and sent a perfect hail of
them down upon us.
Fritz was delighted with my stratagem, and rushing forward picked
up some of the finest of the nuts. We drank the milk they contained,
drawing it through the holes which I pierced. The milk of a
cocoanut has not a pleasant flavor, but it is excellent for quenching
thirst. What we liked best was a kind of solid cream which adheres
to their shells, and which we scraped off with our spoons.
After this delicious meal, we thoroughly despised the lobster we
had been carrying, and threw it to Turk, who ate it gratefully;
but far from being satisfied, the poor beast began to gnaw the
ends of the sugarcanes, and to beg for cocoanut. I slung a couple
of the nuts over my shoulder, fastening them together by their
stalks, and Fritz having resumed his burden, we began our homeward
march.
I soon discovered that Fritz found the weight of his canes
considerably more than he expected: he shifted them from shoulder
to shoulder, then for a while carried them under his arm, and
finally stopped short with a sigh. `I had no idea,’ he said,
`that a few reeds would be so heavy. How sincerely I pity the
poor negroes who are made to carry heavy loads of them! Yet how
glad I shall be when my mother and brothers are tasting them.’
`Never mind, my boy,’ I said, `Patience and courage! Do you not
remember the story of Aesop and his breadbasket, how heavy he
found it when he started, and how light at the end of his journey?
Let us each take a fresh staff, and then fasten the bundle
crosswise with your gun.’
We did so, and once more stepped forward. Fritz presently noticed
that I from time to time sucked the end of my cane.
`Oh, come,’ said he, `that’s a capital plan of yours, father,
I’ll do that too.’
So saying, he began to suck most vigorously, but not a drop of
the juice could he extract. `How is this?’ he asked. `How do you
get the juice out, father?’
`Think a little,’ I replied, `you are quite as capable as I am of
finding out the way, even if you do not know the real reason of
your failure.’
`Oh, of course,’ said he, `it is like trying to suck marrow from
a marrow bone, without making a hole at the other end.’
`Quite right,’ I said, `you form a vacuum in your mouth and the
end of your tube, and expect the air to force down the liquid
from the other end which it cannot possibly enter.’
Fritz was speedily perfect in the accomplishment of sucking
sugarcane, discovering by experience the necessity for a fresh
cut at each joint or knot in the cane, through which the juice
could not flow; he talked of the pleasure of initiating his
brothers in the art, and of how Ernest would enjoy the cocoanut
milk, with which he had filled his flask.*
* M. Wyss’s acquaintance with sugar has not extended
to the sugar cane. The sap does not flow; it is
embedded in the very fibrous pulp, and the cane
must be crushed, and its juice cooked and repeatedly
refined, to make the sugar. People enjoying the
cane in its natural state must chew the pulp,
which is not particularly sweet.
`My dear boy,’ said I, `you need not have added that to your load;
the chances are it will be vinegar by the time we get home. In
the heat of the sun, it will ferment soon after being drawn
from the nut.’
`Vinegar! Oh, that would be a horrid bore! I must look directly,
and see how it is getting on,’ cried Fritz, hastily swinging
the flask from his shoulder, and tugging out the cork. With a
loud `pop’ the contents came forth, foaming like champagne.
`There now!’ said I, laughing as he tasted this new luxury.
`You will have to exercise moderation again, friend Fritz!
I daresay it is delicious, but it will go to your head, if
you venture deep into your flask.’
`My dear father, you cannot think how good it is! Do take some.
Vinegar, indeed! This is like excellent wine.’
We were both invigorated by this unexpected draught, and went on
so merrily after it, that the distance to the place where we had
left our gourd dishes seemed less than we expected. We found
them quite dry, and very light and easy to carry.
Just as we had passed through the grove in which we breakfasted,
Turk suddenly darted away from us, and sprang furiously among a
troop of monkeys, which were gambolling playfully on the turf at
a little distance from the trees. They were taken by surprise
completely, and the dog, now really ravenous from hunger, had
seized one, and was fiercely tearing it to pieces before we could
approach the spot.
His luckless victim was the mother of a tiny little monkey,
which, being on her back when the dog flew at her, had hindered
her flight; the little creature attempted to hide among the
grass, and in trembling fear watched the tragic fate of its
mother.
On perceiving Turk’s bloodthirsty design, Fritz had eagerly rushed
to the rescue, flinging away all he was carrying, and losing his
hat in his haste. All to no purpose as far as the poor mother ape
was concerned, and a laughable scene ensued, for no sooner did the
young monkey catch sight of him than at one bound it was on his
shoulders, and, holding fast by his thick curly hair, it firmly
kept its seat in spite of all he could do to dislodge it. He
screamed and plunged about as he endeavoured to shake or pull
the creature off, but all in vain, it only clung the closer to
his neck, making the most absurd grimaces.
I laughed so much at this ridiculous scene, that I could scarcely
assist my terrified boy out of his awkward predicament. Indeed, I
told Fritz that the animal, having lost its mother, seemed
determined to adopt Fritz. “Perhaps he has discovered in you
something of the air of a father of a family.”
“Or rather,” Fritz retorted, “the little rogue has found out that
he has to do with a chicken-heart, who shrinks from the idea of
ill-treating an animal which has thrown itself on his protection.
But father, he is yanking my hair terribly, and I shall be
obliged to you to try once more to get him off.”
At last, by coaxing the monkey, offering it a bit of biscuit,
and gradually disentangling its small sinewy paws from the curls
it grasped so tightly, I managed to relieve poor Fritz, who then
looked with interest at the baby ape, no bigger than a kitten,
as it lay in my arms.
`What a jolly little fellow it is!’ exclaimed he. `Do let me try
to rear it, father. I daresay cocoanut milk would do until we can
bring the cow and the goats from the wreck. If he lives he might
be useful to us. I believe monkeys instinctively know what fruits
are wholesome and what are poisonous.’
`Well,’ said I, `let the little orphan be yours. You bravely and
kindly exerted yourself to save the mother’s life, now you must
train her child carefully, for unless you do so its natural
instinct will prove mischievous instead of useful to us.’
Turk was meanwhile devouring with great satisfaction the little
animal’s unfortunate mother. Fritz wished to drive him away from
the feast, but I could not grudge it him, and reminded Fritz that
continued
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