 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Swiss Family Robinson, or Adventures in a Desert Island, by Johann David Wiss. Introduction. It is very well known that, some years ago, Counselor Horner of Swiss made a voyage round the world in the Russian vessel La Podesta, commanded by Captain Kruisenstern. They discovered many islands, and amongst others, one very large and fertile, till then unknown to navigators, to the southwest of Java, near the coast of New Guinea. They landed here, and to the great surprise of Mr. Horner, he was received by a family who spoke to him in German. They were a father and mother, and four robust and hearty sons. Their history was very interesting. The father was a Swiss clergyman, who, in the Revolution of 1798, had lost all his fortune, and had determined to emigrate in order to seek elsewhere the means of supporting his family. He went first to England, with his wife and children, consisting of four sons, between the ages of twelve and five. He there undertook the office of missionary to Otahaita. Not that he intended to remain on that uncivilized island, but he wished to proceed from thence to Port Jackson as a free colonist. He invested his little capital in seeds of every description and some cattle to take out with him. They had a prosperous voyage till they were near the coast of New Guinea, when they were overtaken by a frightful storm. At this period he commenced his journal, which he afterwards committed to the care of Mr. Horner, to be forwarded to his friends in Switzerland. Some time before, a boat from an English vessel, the adventurer, had visited them, and the father had sent the first part of his journal by Lieutenant Bell to the captain, who remained in the vessel. A violent tempest arose, which continued some days, and drove the adventurer from the coast. The family concluded the ship was lost, but this was not the case, as will be seen in the conclusion. Chapter 1 The tempest had raged for six days, and on the seventh seemed to increase. The ship had been so far driven from its course, no one on board knew where they were. Everyone was exhausted with fatigue and watching. The shattered vessel began to leak in many places, the oaths of the sailors were changed to prayers, and each thought only how to save his own life. Children, said I, to my terrified boys who were clinging round me, God can save us, if He will. To Him nothing is impossible, but if He thinks it good to call us to Him, let us not murmur, we shall not be separated. Excellent wife dried her tears, and from that moment became more tranquil. We knelt down to pray for the help of our Heavenly Father, and the fervor and emotion of my innocent boys proved to me that even children can pray and find in prayer consolation and peace. We rose from our knees strengthened to bear the afflictions that hung over us. Suddenly we heard amid the roaring of the waves the cry of, Land, Land! At that moment the ship struck on a rock, the concussion threw us down. We heard a loud cracking as if the vessel were parting asunder. We felt that we were aground and heard the captain cry in a tone of despair, We are lost! Launch the boats! These words were a dagger to my heart, and the lamentations of my children were louder than ever. I then recollected myself and said, Courage, my darlings, we are still above water, and the land is near. God helps those who trust in Him remain here and I will endeavor to save us. I went on deck and was instantly thrown down and went through by a huge sea, a second followed. I struggled boldly with the waves and succeeded in keeping myself up when I saw with terror the extent of our wretchedness. The shattered vessel was almost in two. The crew had crowded into the boats and the last sailor was cutting the rope. I cried out and prayed them to take us with them, but my voice was drowned in the roar of the tempest, nor could they have returned for us through waves that ran mountains high. All hope from their assistance was lost, but I was consoled by observing that the water did not enter the ship above a certain height. The stern, under which lay the cabin which contained all that was dear to me on earth, was immovably fixed between two rocks. At the same time I observed towards the south traces of land which, though wild and barren, were now the haven of my almost-expiring hopes. No longer being able to depend on any human aid. I returned to my family and endeavored to appear calm. Take courage, cried I. There is yet hope for us. The vessel and striking between the rocks is fixed in a position which protects our cabin above the water, and if the wind should settle tomorrow we may possibly reach the land. This assurance called my children, and as usual they depended on all I told them. They rejoiced that the heaving of the vessel had seized as, while it lasted, they were continually thrown against each other. My wife, more accustomed to read my countenance, discovered my uneasiness, and by a sign I explained to her that I had lost all hope. I felt great consolation in seeing that she supported our misfortune with truly Christian resignation. Let us take some food, said she, with the body the mind is strengthened. This must be a night of trial. Night came, and the tempest continued its fury, tearing away the planks from the devoted vessel with a fearful crashing. It appeared absolutely impossible that the boats could about live the storm. My wife had prepared some refreshment, of which the children partook with an appetite that we would not feel. Three younger ones retired to their beds, and soon slept soundly. Fritz the eldest watched with me. I have been considering, said he, how we could save ourselves. If we only had some cork jackets or bladders for Mama and my brothers, you and I don't need them, we could then swim to land. A good thought, said I, I will try during the night to contrive some expedient to secure our safety. We found some small empty barrels in the cabin, which we tied two together with our handkerchiefs, leaving a space between for each child, and fastened this new swimming apparatus under our arms. My wife prepared the same for herself. We then collected some knives, string, tinder-box, and such little necessaries as we could put in our pockets. Thus, in case the vessel should fall to pieces during the night, we hoped we might be enabled to reach land. At length Fritz, overcome with fatigue, lay down and slept with his brothers. My wife and I, too anxious to rest, spent that dreadful night in prayer and in arranging various plans. How gladly we welcomed the light of day shining through an opening. The wind was subsiding, the sky serene, and I watched the sun rise with renewed hope. I called my wife and children on deck. The younger ones were surprised to find we were alone. They inquired what had become of the sailors and how we should manage the ship alone. Children, said I, one more powerful than man has protected us till now and will still extend a saving arm to us if we do not give way to complaint and despair. Let all hands set to work. Remember that excellent maxim. God helps those who help themselves. Let us all consider what is best to do now. Let us leap into the sea, cried Fritz, and swim to the shore. Very well for you, replied Ernest, who can swim, but we should all be drowned. Would it not be better to construct a raft and go all together? That might too, added I, if we were strong enough for such a work and if a raft was not always so dangerous a conveyance. But away, boys, look about you and seek for anything that might be useful to us. We all dispersed to different parts of the vessel. For my own part I went to the provision-room to look after the casks of water and other necessaries of life. My wife visited the livestock and fed them, for they were almost famished. Fritz sought for arms and ammunition. Ernest for the carpenter's tools. Jack had opened the captain's cabin and was immediately thrown down by two large dogs who leaped on him so roughly that he cried out as if they were going to devour him. However, hunger had rendered them so docile that they licked his hands and he soon recovered his feet, seized the largest by the ears, and, mounting his back, gravely rode up to me as I was coming from the hold. I could not help laughing. I applauded his courage, but recommended him always to be prudent with animals of that kind who were often dangerous when hungry. My little troop began to assemble. Fritz had found two fouling pieces, some bags of powder in shot, and some balls in horn flasks. Ernest was loaded with an ax and hammer, a pair of pincers, a large pair of scissors, and an auger showed itself half out of his pocket. Francis had a large box under his arm. From which he eagerly produced what he had called little pointed hooks. His brothers left at his prize. Silence, said I. The youngest has made the most valuable addition to our stores. These are fish hooks, and may be more useful for the preservation of our lives than anything this ship contains. However, Fritz and Ernest have not done a miss. For my part, said my wife, I only contribute good news. I found a cow, an ass, two goats, six sheep, and a sow with young. I fed them and hope we may preserve them. Very well, said I, to my little workman. I am satisfied with all but Master Jack, who, instead of anything useful, has contributed two great eaters who will do us more harm than good. They can help us to hunt when we get to land, said Jack. Yes, replied I. But can you devise any means of our getting there? It does not seem at all difficult, said the spirited little fellow. Put us each into a great tub, and let us float ashore. I remember sailing capitalally that way on Godpapa's great pond. That's a very good idea, Jack. Good counsel may sometimes be given even by a child. Be quick, boys. Give me the saw and auger with some nails. We will see what we can do. I remembered seeing some empty casks in the hold. We went down and found them floating. There was less difficulty in getting them upon the lower deck, which was just above the water. They were of strong wood, bound with iron hoops, and exactly suited my purpose. My sons and I therefore began to saw them through the middle. After long labor we had eight tubs all the same height. We refreshed ourselves with wine and biscuit, which we had found in some of the casks. I then contemplated with delight still to continue depressed. She looked mournfully on them. I can never venture in one of those tubs, she said. Wait a little till my work is finished, replied I, and you will see it is more to be depended on than this broken vessel. I sought out a long, flexible plank, and arranged eight tubs on it close to each other, leaving a piece at each end to form a curve upwards, like the keel of a vessel. We then nailed them firmly to the plank over. We nailed a plank at each side of the same length as the first, and succeeded in producing a sort of boat, divided into eight compartments in which it did not appear difficult to make a short voyage over a calm sea. But, unluckily, our wonderful vessel proved so heavy that our united efforts could not move it an inch. I sent Fritz to bring me the jackscrew, and in the meantime sawed a thick round pole into pieces, then raising the four part of our work by means of the powerful machine, Fritz placed one of these rollers under it. Ernest was very anxious to know how this small machine could accomplish more than our united strength. I explained to him, as well as I could, the power of the lever of Archimedes with which he had declared he could move the world if he had but a point to rest it on, and I promised my son to take the machine to pieces when we were on shore in operation. I then told them that God, to compensate for the weakness of man, had bestowed on him reason, invention, and skill in workmanship. The result of these had produced a science which, under the name of mechanics, taught us to increase and extend our limited powers incredibly by the aid of instruments. Jack remarked that the jackscrew worked very slowly. Better slowly than not at all, in mechanics, that what is gained in time is lost in power. The jack is not meant to work rapidly, but to raise heavy weights and the heavier the weight, the slower the operation. But can you tell me how we can make out for the slowness? Oh, by turning the handle quicker, to be sure. Quite wrong. That would not aid us at all. Patience and reason are the two fairies by whose potent help I hope to get our boat afloat. We succeeded to tie a strong cord to the after-part of it, and the other end to a beam in the ship, which was still firm, leaving it long enough for security. Then, introducing two more rollers underneath, and working with the jack, we succeeded in launching our bark, which passed into the water with such velocity that but for our rope it would have gone out to sea. Unfortunately, it leaned so much on one side that none of the boys would venture into it. When I suddenly remembered, it only wanted ballast to keep it in equilibrium. I hastily threw in anything I got hold of that was heavy and soon had my boat level and ready for occupation. They now contended who should enter first, but I stopped them, reflecting that these restless children might easily capsize our vessel. I remembered that savage nations made use of an outrigger to prevent their canoe over-setting, and this I determined to add to my work. I fixed two portions of a top-soul yard, one over the prowl, the other across the stern, in such a manner that they should not be in the way in pushing off our boat from the wreck. I forced the end of each yard into the bung-hole of an empty brandy cask to keep them steady during our progress. It was now necessary to clear the way for our departure. I got into the first tub and managed to get the boat into the cleft on the ship's side by way of a haven. We returned, and with the ax and saw, cut away right and left all that could obstruct our passage. Then we secured some oars to be ready for our voyage next day. The day had passed in toil, and we were compelled to spend another night on the wreck, though we knew it might not remain until morning. We took a regular meal for during the day we had scarcely had time to snatch a morsel of bread in a glass of wine. More composed than on the preceding night we retired to rest. I took the precaution to fasten the swimming apparatus across the shoulders of my three younger children and my wife for fear another storm might destroy the vessel and cast us into the sea. I also advised my wife to put on a sailor's dress as more convenient for her expected toils and trials. She reluctantly consented, and after a short absence appeared in the dress of a youth who had served as a volunteer in the vessel. She felt very timid and awkward in her new dress, but I showed her the advantage of the change, and at last she was reconciled and joined in the laughter of the children at her strange disguise. She then got into her hammock and we enjoyed a pleasant sleep to prepare us for new labours. End of chapter 1 By Yohan David Wiss Chapter 2 At break of day we were awake and ready, and after morning prayer I addressed my children thus. We are now, my dear boys, with the help of God about to attempt our deliverance. Before we go provide our poor animals with food for some days. We cannot take them with us, but if our voyage succeeds we may return for them. Are you ready? Collect what you wish to carry away, but only things absolutely necessary for our actual wants. I planned that our first cargo should consist of a barrel of powder, three falling pieces, three muskets, two pair of pocket pistols, and one pair larger, ball, shot, and lead as much as we could carry, with a bullet-mold, and I wished each of my sons, as well as their mother, should have a complete game-bag of which they were several in the officer's cabins. We then set apart a box of portable soup, another a biscuit, one pot, a fishing-rod, a chest of nails, and one of carpenter's tools, also some sail-cloth to make a tent. In fact, my boys collected so many things we were compelled to leave some behind, though I exchanged all the useless ballast for necessaries. When all was ready we implored the blessing of God on our undertaking and prepared to embark in our tubs. At this moment the cocks crowed a sort of reproachful farewell to us. We had forgotten them. They were poultry with us, geese, ducks, vows, and pigeons, for, as I observed to my wife, if we could not feed them, they would at any rate feed us. We placed our ten hens and two cocks in a covered tub, the rest we set at liberty, hoping the geese and ducks might reach the shore by water and the pigeons by flight. We waited a little for my wife, who came loaded with a large bag which she threw into the tub that contained her youngest son. We steadied him, for for a seat and made no observation of it. Here follows the order of our embarkation. In the first division sat the tender mother, the faithful and pious wife. In the second, our amiable little Francis, six years old, and of a sweet disposition. In the third, Fritz, our eldest, fourteen or fifteen years old, a curly-headed, clever, intelligent, and lively youth. In the fourth, the powder cask our provisions filled the fifth. In the sixth, our heedless Jack, ten years old, enterprising, bold, and useful. In the seventh, Ernest, twelve years of age, well-informed and rational, but somewhat selfish and indolent. In the eighth, myself, an anxious father, charged with the important duty of guiding the vessel to save my dear family. Each of us had some useful tools beside us, each held an oar, and had a swimming apparatus at hand that we were unfortunately upset. The tide was rising when we left, which I considered might assist my weak endeavors. We turned our outriggers lengthwise and thus passed from the cleft of the ship into the open sea. We rode with all our might to reach the blue land we saw at a distance, but for some time in vain as the boat kept turning round and made no progress. At last I contrived to steer it so that we went straight forward. Soon as our dogs saw us depart, they leaped into the sea and followed us. I could not let them get into the boat for fear they should upset it. I was very sorry for I hardly expected they would be able to swim to land, but by occasionally resting their forepaws on our outriggers they managed to keep up with us. Turk was an English dog and flora of a Danish breed. We proceeded slowly but safely. The nearer we approached the land, the more dreary and unpromising it appeared. The rocky coast seemed to announce to us nothing but famine and misery. The waves gently rippling against the shore were scattered over with barrels, bales and chests from the wreck. Hoping to secure some good provisions I called on Fritz for assistance. He held a cord, hammer and nails, and we managed to seize two hogshead in passing. And fastening them with cords to our vessel drew them safely after us to the shore. As we approached, we could not prove. The chain of rock was not in tire and Fritz's hawk eye made out some trees which he declared were the coconut tree. Ernest was delighted at the prospect of eating these nuts so much larger and better than any grown in Europe. I was regretting not having brought the large telescope from the captain's cabin when Jack produced from his pocket a smaller one which he offered me with no little pride. This was a valuable acquisition as I was now enabled to make decisions and direct my course. The coast before us had a wild and desert appearance. It looked better towards the left but I could not approach that part for a current which drove us towards the rocky and barren shore. At length we saw near the mouth of a rivulet a little creek between the rocks towards which our geese and ducks made serving us for guides. This opening formed a little bay of smooth water just deep enough for our boat. We finally entered it and landed at a place where the coast was about the height of our tubs and the water deep enough to let us approach. The shore spread inland forming a gentle declivity of a triangular form the point lost among the rocks and the base to the sea. All that were able leaped on shore in a moment even little Francis who had been laid down in his tub like a salted herring tried to crawl out The dogs who had preceded us in landing welcomed us in a truly friendly manner leaping playfully around us. The geese kept up a loud cackling to which the yellow-billed ducks quacked a powerful base. This with the clacking of the liberated fowls and the chattering of the boys formed a perfect babble. Mingled with these were the harsh cries of the penguins and flamingos which hovered over our heads or sat in the points of the rocks. They were in immense numbers deafened us especially as they did not accord with the harmony of our civilized fowls. However I rejoiced to see these feathered creatures already fancying them on my table if we were obliged to remain in this desert region. Our first care, when we stepped in safety on land, was to kneel down and thank God to whom we owed our lives and to resign ourselves wholly to his fatherly kindness. We then began to unload our vessel how rich we bought ourselves with the little we had saved. We sought a convenient place for our tent under the shade of the rocks. We then inserted a pole and a fissure in the rock, this resting firmly on another pole fixed in the ground formed the frame of the tent. The sailcloth was then stretched over it and fastened down at proper distances by pegs to which for greater security we added some boxes of provision. We fixed some hooks to the canvas at the opening in front that we might close to the entrance during the night. I sent my sons to seek some moss and withered grass and spread it in the sun to dry to form our beds. And while all even little Francis were busy with this, I constructed a sort of cooking place at some distance from the tent near the river which was to supply us with fresh water. It was merely a hearth of flat stones from the bed of the stream fenced round with some thick branches. I kindled a cheerful fire with some dry twigs put on the pot, filled with water and some squares of portable soup and left my wife with Francis for assistant to prepare dinner. He took the portable soup for glue and could not conceive how mama could make soup as we had no meat and there were no butcher shops here. Fritz in the meantime had loaded our guns. He took one to the side of the river, Ernest declined accompanying him as the rugged road was not to his taste. He preferred the seashore. He headed to a ridge of rocks on the left which ran towards the sea to get some mussels. I went to try and draw the two floating hogsheads on shore but could not succeed for our landing-place was too steep to get them up. Whilst I was vainly trying to find a more favorable place I heard my dear Jack uttering most alarming cries. I seized my hatchet and ran to his assistance. I found him up to the knees in a shallow pool with a large lobster holding his leg in its sharp claws. It made off at my approach but I was determined it should pay for the fright it had given me. Cautiously taking it up I brought it out followed by Jack who, now very triumphant, wished to present it himself to his mother after watching how I held it. But he had hardly got it into his hands when it gave him such a violent blow on the cheek with its tail that he let it fall and began to cry again. I could not help laughing at him and in his rage he seized a stone and put an end to his adversary. I was grieved at this and recommended him never to act in a moment of anger showing him that it was unjust in being so revengeful for if he had been bitten by the lobster it was plain he would have eaten his foe if he had conquered him. Jack promised to be more discreet and merciful in future and obtained leave to bear the prize to his mother. Mama said he proudly, a lobster! a lobster Ernest! where's Fritz? They all crowded round in astonishment. Yes, added he triumphantly. Here is the important claw that sees me but I repaid the nave. You are a boaster, said I. You would have gotten differently on with the lobster if I had not come up and have you forgotten slap on the cheek which compelled you to release him? Besides he only defended himself with his natural arms but you had to take a great stone you have no reason to be proud Jack. Ernest wished to have the lobster added to the soup to improve it but his mother, with a spirit of economy, reserved it for another day. I then walked to the spot where Jack's lobster was caught and finding it favorable for my purpose drew my two hogs' heads on shore there and secured them by turning them on end. On returning I congratulated Jack on being the first to have been successful in foraging. Ernest remarked that he had seen some oysters attached to a rock but could not get at them without having his feet which he did not like. Indeed, my delicate gentleman, said I, laughing, I must trouble you to return and procure a sum. We must all unite in working for the public good, regardless of wet feet. The sun will soon dry us. I might as well bring some salt at the same time, said he. I saw plenty in the fissures of the rocks left by the sea, I should think, Papa. Doubtless Mr. Reesner, replied I, where else could it have come from? Jack was so obvious that you had better have brought a bag full than delayed to reflect about it, but if you wish to escape insipid soup be quick and procure some. He went and returned with some salt, so mixed with sand and earth, that I should have thrown it away as useless but my wife dissolved it in fresh water and, filtering it through a piece of canvas, managed to flavor our soup with it. Jack asked why we could not have used sea water and I explained to him that the bitter taste of sea water would have spoiled our dinner. My wife stirred the soup with a little stick and, tasting it, pronounced it very good, but added, we must wait for fritz and how shall we eat our soup without plates or spoons? We cannot possibly raise this large boiling pot to our heads and drink out of it. It was too true. We gazed stupefied at our pot and at last, all burst into laughter at our destitution and our folly in forgetting such useful necessaries. If we only had coconuts, said Ernest, we might split them and make basins and spoons. If, replied I, but we have none, we might as well wish for a dozen handsome silver spoons at once if wishes were of any use, but, observed he, we can use oyster shells. A useful thought, Ernest, go directly and get the oysters and remember, gentlemen, no complaints though the spoons are without handles and you should dip your fingers into the bowl. Off ran Jack and was mid-legged in the water before Ernest got to him. He tore down the oysters and threw them to his idle brother, who filled his handkerchief, taking care to put a large one into his pocket for his own use and they returned with their spoil. Fritz had not yet appeared and his mother was becoming uneasy. When we heard him cheerfully hailing us at a distance, he soon came up with a feigned air of disappointment and his hands behind him, but Jack, who had glided around him, cried out, a sucking pig, a sucking pig! And he then, with great pride and satisfaction, produced his booty, which I recognized from the description of Travelers, to be the agouti common in these regions, a swift animal which burrows in the earth and lives on fruits and nuts. Its flesh, something like that of the rabbit, has an unpleasant flavor to Europeans. All were anxious to know the particulars of the chase, but I seriously reproved my son for fiction and warned him never to use the least deceit, even in jest. I then inquired where he had met with the agouti. He told me he had been on the other side of the river. A very different place to this, continued he. The shore lies low and you can have no idea of the number of cask, jest, planks and all sorts of things the sea has thrown up. Shall we go and take possession of them? And tomorrow, Father, we ought to make another trip to the vessel to look after our cattle. If we might at least bring away the cow, our biscuit would not be so hard dipped in milk. And very much nicer, added the greedy earnest. Then, continued Fritz, beyond the river there is rich grass for pastridge and a shady wood. Why should we remain in this barren wilderness? Softly, replied I, there is a time for all things, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow will have their work. But first tell me, did you see anything of our shipmates? Not a trace of man living or dead on land or sea, but I saw an animal more like a hog than this, but with feet like a hare, it leaped among the grass, sometimes sitting upright, and rubbing its mouth with its forepaws, sometimes seeking for roots and knowing them like a squirrel. If I had not been afraid it would escape me, I would have tried to take it alive, it seemed so very tame. As we were talking, Jack had been trying with many grimaces to force an oyster open with his knife. I laughed at his vain endeavours, and putting some on the fire showed him them open of themselves. I had no taste for oysters myself, but as they are everywhere accounted to delicacy, I advised my sons to try them. They all at first declined the unattractive repast, except Jack, who with great courage closed his eyes and desperately swallowed one as if it had been medicine. The rest followed his example and then all agreed with me that the oysters were not good. The shells were soon plunged into the pot to bring out some of the good soup, but, scalding their fingers, it was who could cry out the loudest. Ernest took his large shell from his pocket, cautiously filled it with a good portion of soup, and sent it down to cool, exulting in his own prudence. You have been very thoughtful, my dear Ernest, said I, but why are your thoughts always for yourself so seldom for others? As a punishment for your egotism that portion must be given to our faithful dogs, we can all dip our shells into the pot, the dogs cannot. Therefore they shall have your soup and you must wait and eat as we do. My reproach struck his heart and he placed his shell obediently on the ground, which the dogs emptied immediately. We were almost as hungry as they were and were watching anxiously till the soup began to cool when we perceived that the dogs were tearing and gnawing Fritz's agouty. The boys all cried out, but Ernest and a fury took his gun, struck the dogs, called the names through stones at them, and would have killed them if I had not held him. He had actually bent his gun with striking them. As soon as he would listen to me, I reproached him seriously for his violence and represented to him how much he had distressed us and terrified his mother, that he had spoiled his gun which might have been so useful to us and had almost killed the poor animals who might be more so. Ernest said, I, leads to every crime. Remember Cain who killed his brother in a fit of passion? Oh, Father! said he in a voice of terror, and acknowledging his error he asked pardon and shed bitter tears. Soon after I repast, the sun set and the fowls gathered round us and picked up the scattered crumbs of biscuit. My wife then took out her mysterious bag and drew from it some handfuls of grain to feed her flock. She showed me also many other seeds of useful vegetables. I praised her prudence and begged her to be very economical as these seeds were of great value and we could bring from the vessel some spoiled biscuit for the fowls. Our pigeons now flew among the rocks, the cocks and hens perched on the frame of the tent, and the geese and ducks chose to roost in a marsh covered with bushes near the sea. We prepared for our rest, we loaded all our arms, then offered up our prayers together, thanking God for his signal mercy to us and commending ourselves to his care. When the last ray of light departed we closed our tent and lay down on our beds close together. The children had remarked how suddenly the darkness came on from which I concluded we were not far from the equator, for I explained to them the more perpendicularly the rays of the sun fall the less their refraction and consequently night comes on suddenly the reason. Once more I looked out to see if all was quiet, then carefully closing the entrance I lay down. Warm as the day had been, the night was so cold that we were obliged to crowd together for warmth. The children soon slept and when I saw their mother in her first peaceful sleep my own eyes closed and our first night on the island passed comfortably. End of chapter. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss. Chapter 3 At break of day I was waked by the crowing of the cock. I summoned my wife to council to consider on the business of the day. We agreed that our first duty was to seek for our shipmates and to examine the country beyond the river before we came to any decisive resolution. My wife saw we could not all go on this expedition and courageously agreed to remain with her three youngest sons while Fritz as the eldest and boldest should accompany me. I begged her to prepare breakfast immediately which she warned me would be scanty as no soup was provided. I asked for Jack's lobster but it was not to be found. I called the children and asking Jack for the lobster he brought it from a crevice in the rock where he had hidden it from the dogs who did not despise anything eatable. I am glad to see you profit by the misfortunes of others, said I. And now will you give up that large claw that caught your leg and which I promised you to Fritz as a provision for his journey. All were anxious to go on this journey and leaped around me like little kids but I told them we could not all go. Then with their mother, with Flora for a protector Fritz and I would take Turk with him and a loaded gun I thought we should inspire respect. I then ordered Fritz to tie up Flora and get the guns ready. Fritz blushed and tried in vain to straighten his crooked gun. I let him go on for some time and then allowed him to take another for I saw he was penitent. The dogs too snarled and would not let him approach them. He wept and begged some biscuit from his mother declaring he would give up his own breakfast to make his peace with the dogs. He fed them, caressed them and seemed to ask pardon. The dog is always grateful. Flora soon licked his hands. Turk was more unrelenting, appearing to distrust him. Give him a claw of the lobster, said Jack, for I make you a present of the whole for your journey. Don't be too uneasy about them, said Ernest. They will certainly meet with coconuts, as Robinson did. Very different food to your wretched lobster. Think of an almond as big as my head with a large cup full of rich milk. Pray, brother, bring me one if you find any, said Francis. We began our preparation. We each took a game bag and a hatchet. I gave Fritz a pair of pistols in addition to his gun, equipped myself in the same way and took care to carry biscuit and a flask of fresh water. The lobster proved so hard at breakfast that the boys did not object to our carrying off the remainder of the delicious. I proposed before we departed to have prayers, and my thoughtless Jack began to imitate the sound of church bells, ding dong to prayers to prayers, ding dong. I was really angry and reproved him severely for jesting about sacred things. Then, kneeling down, I prayed God's blessing on our undertaking and his pardon for us all, especially for him who had now so grievously sinned. I was begging for forgiveness from me and from God. I embraced him and enjoyed him and his brothers to obey their mother. I then loaded the guns I left with them and charged my wife to keep near the boat their best refuge. We took leave of our friends with many tears as we did not know what dangers might assail us in an unknown region. But the murmur of the river which we were now approaching drowned the sound of their sobs and we bet our thoughts on our journey. The river was so steep that we could only reach the bed at one little opening near the sea where we had procured our water. But here the opposite side was guarded by a ridge of lofty, perpendicular rocks. We were obliged to ascend the river to a place where it fell over some rocks. Some fragments of which having fallen made a sort of stepping stones which enabled us to cross with some hazard. We made our way with difficulty through the high grass withered by the sun directing our course towards the sea in hopes of discovering some traces of the boats or the crew. We had scarcely gone a hundred yards when we heard a loud noise and rustling in the grass which was as tall as we were. We imagined we were pursued by some wild beast and I was gratified to observe the courage of Fritz who instead of running away calmly turned around and presented its peace. What was our joy when we discovered that the formidable enemy was only our faithful Turk whom we had forgotten in our distress and our friends had doubtless dispatched him after us. I applauded my son's presence of mind. A rash act might have deprived us of this valuable friend. We continued our way. The sea lay to our left, on our right, at a short distance ran the chain of rocks which were continued from our landing-place in a line parallel to the sea the summits clothed with verdure and various trees. Between the rocks and the sea several little woods extended even to the shore to which we kept as close as possible vainly looking out on land or sea for any trace of our crew. Fritz proposed to fire his gun as a signal to them if they should be near us but I reminded him that this signal might bring the savages round us instead of our friends. He then inquired why we should search after these persons at all who so unfeelingly abandoned us on the wreck. First, said I, we must not return evil for evil. Besides, they may assist us or be in need of our assistance. Above all, remember, they could save nothing but themselves. We have got many useful things which they have as much right to as we. But we might be saving the lives of our cattle, said he. We should do our duty better by saving the life of a man, answered I. Besides, our cattle have food for some days and the sea is so calm there is no immediate danger. We proceeded and entering a little wood that extended to the sea we rested in the shade near a clear stream and took some refreshment. We were surrounded by unknown birds more remarkable for brilliant plumage than for the charm of their voice. Fritz thought he saw some monkeys among the leaves and Turk began to be restless smelling about and barking very loud. Fritz was gazing up into the trees when he fell over a large round substance which he brought to me observing that it might be a bird's nest. I thought it more likely to be a coconut. The fibrous covering had reminded him of the description he had read of the nests of certain birds, but on breaking the shell we found it was indeed a coconut but quite decayed and uneatable. Fritz was astonished where was the sweet milk that Ernest had talked of. I told him the milk was only in the half-ripe nuts that it thickened and hardened as the nut ripened, becoming a kernel. This nut had perished from remaining above ground. If it had been in the earth it would have vegetated and burst the shell. I advised my son to try if he could not find a perfect nut. After some search we found one and sat down to eat it keeping our own provision for dinner. The nut was somewhat rancid but we enjoyed it and then continued our journey. We were some time before we got through the wood, being frequently obliged to clear a road for ourselves through the entangled brushwood with our hatchets. At last we entered the open plain again and had a clear view before us. The forest still extended about a stone's throw to our right and Fritz, who was always on the lookout for discoveries, observed a remarkable tree here and there which he approached to examine and he soon called me to see this wonderful tree with pumpkins growing on the trunk. On coming up I was overjoyed to find this tree of which there were a great number that was the gourd tree which bears fruit on the trunk. Fritz asked if these were sponges. I told him to bring me one and I would explain the mystery. There's one, said he, very like a pumpkin, only harder outside. Of this shell, said I, we can make plates, dishes, basins and flasks. We call it the gourd tree. Sleep for joy. Now my dear mother will be able to serve her soup properly. I asked him if he knew why the tree bore the fruit on its trunk or on the thick branches only. He immediately replied that the smaller branches would not bear the weight of the fruit. He asked me if this fruit was eatable. Harmless, I believe, said I, but by no means delicate. Its great value to savage nations consist in the shell, which they use to contain their food Fritz could not comprehend how they could cook in the shell without burning it. I told him the shell was not placed on the fire but being filled with cold water and the fish or meat placed in it red hot stones are, by degrees, introduced into the water till it attains sufficient heat to cook the food without injuring the vessel. We then set about making our dishes and plates. I showed Fritz a better plan for dividing the gourd than with a knife. I tied a string tightly round the nut, struck it with a handle of my knife till an incision was made, then tightened it till the nut was separated into two equally sized bowls. Fritz had spoiled his gourd by cutting it irregularly with his knife. I advised him to try and make spoons of it as it would not do for basins now. I told him I had learnt my plan from books of travels. It is the practice of the savages who have no knives to use a sort of string to mark up trees for this purpose. But how can they make bottles, said he. That requires some preparation, replied I. They tie a bandage round the young gourd near the stock so that the part at liberty expands in a round form and the compressed part remains narrow. They then open the top and extract the contents by putting in pebbles and shaking it. By this means they have a complete bottle. We worked on. Fritz completed a dish and some plates to his great satisfaction. But we considered that, being so frail, we could not carry them with us. We therefore filled them with sand that the sun might not warp them and left them to dry till we returned. As we went on, Fritz amused himself with cutting spoons from the rind of the gourd, and I tried to do the same with the fragments of the coconut, but I must confess my performances were inferior to those I had seen in the museum in London, north sea islanders. We laughed at our spoons, which would have required mouths from ear to ear to eat with them. Fritz declared that the curve of the rind was the cause of that defect. If the spoons had been smaller, they would have been flat, and you might as well eat soup with an oyster shell as with a shovel. While we talked, we did not neglect looking about for our lost companions, but in vain. At last we arrived at a place long distance into the sea, on which was an elevated spot favourable for observation. We attained the summit with great labour and saw before us a magnificent prospect of land and water. But with all the aid our excellent telescope gave us, we could in no direction discover any trace of man. Nature only appeared in our greatest beauty. The shore enclosed a large bay, which terminated on the other side in a promontory. The gentle rippling of the waves, the varied verdure of the woods, and the multitude of novelties around us would have filled us with delight, but for the painful recollection of those who we now were compelled to believe were buried beneath that glittering water. We did not feel less, however, the mercy of God who had preserved us and given us a home with a prospect of subsistence and safety. We had not yet met with any dangerous animals, nor received any huts of savages. I remarked to my son that God seemed to have destined us to a solitary life in this rich country, unless some vessel should reach these shores. At His will be done, added I, it must be for the best. Now, let us return to that pretty wood to rust ourselves and eat our dinner before we return. We proceeded towards a pleasant wood of palm trees, but before reaching it had to pass through an immense number of fruits which greatly obstructed our road. We were, moreover, fearful of treading on the deadly serpents who choose such retreats. We made Turk walk before us to give notice, and I cut a long thick cane as a weapon of defence. I was surprised to see a glutinous juice oozing from the end of the cut cane. I tasted it and was convinced that we had met with a plantation of sugar canes. I sucked more of it and found myself singularly refreshed. I said nothing to Fritz that he might have the pleasure of making the discovery himself. He was walking a few paces before me and I called him to cut himself a cane like mine, which he did, and soon found out the riches it contained. He cried out in ecstasy, oh, papa, papa, serp of sugar cane, delicious! How delighted will dear mama and my brothers be when I carry some to them! He went on, sucking pieces of cane so greedily that I checked him in the morning moderation. He was then content to take some pieces to regale himself as he walked home, loading himself with a huge burden for his mother and brothers. We now entered the wood of palms to eat our dinner when suddenly a number of monkeys, alarmed by our approach, and the barking of the dog, fled like lightning to the tops of the trees and then grinned frightfully at us with loud cries of defiance. As I saw the trees were cocoa palms with five means of the monkeys, a supply of the nuts in the half-ripe state when filled with milk. I held Fritz's arm, who was preparing to shoot at them, to his great vexation, as he was irritated against the poor monkeys for their derisive gestures. But I told him, though no patron of monkeys myself, I could not allow it. We had no right to kill any animal except in defense or as a means of supporting life. Besides, the monkeys would be of more use to us living than dead would show him. I began to throw stones at the monkeys, not being able, of course, to reach the place of their retreat, and they and their anger and in the spirit of imitation gathered the nuts and hurled them on us in such quantities that we had some difficulty in escaping from them. We had soon a large stock of coconuts. Fritz enjoyed the success of the stratagem and when the shower subsided he collected as many as he wished. We then sat down and tasted some of the milk through the small holes which we opened with our knives. We then divided some with our hatchets and quenched our thirst with a liquor, which is not, however, a very agreeable flavor. We liked best a sort of thick cream which adheres to the shells from which we scraped it with our spoons and mixing it with a juice of the sugarcane we produced a delicious dish. Turk had the rest of the lobster which we now despised with some biscuit. We then got up, I tied some nuts together by their stems and threw them over my shoulder. Fritz took his bundle of canes and we set out homewards. End of chapter. This is the LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 4 Fritz groaned heavily under the weight of his canes as we traveled on and pitied the poor Negroes who had to carry such heavy burdens of them. He then, in imitation of me, tried to refresh himself by sucking a sugarcane. But was surprised to find he failed in extracting any of the juice. At last, after some reflection he said, Ah, I remember! If there is no opening made for the air I can get nothing out. There is no remedy for this. I will make an opening, said he, above the first knot in the cane. If I draw my breath in sucking and thus make a vacuum in my mouth the outer air then forces itself through the hole I have made to fill this vacuum and carries the juice along with it. And when this division of the cane is emptied I can proceed to Pierce above the next knot. I am only afraid that going on this way we shall have nothing but empty canes to carry to our friends. None might turn the syrup sour before we got our canes home. Therefore we need not spare them. Well, at any rate, said he, I have filled my flask with the milk of the coconut to regale them. I told him I feared another disappointment. For the milk of the coconut, removed from the shell, spoiled sooner than the sugarcane juice. I warned him that the milk exposed to the sun in his tin flask was probably become vinegar. He instantly took the bottle from his shoulder and uncorked it. Water flew out with a report, foaming like champagne. I congratulated him on his new manufacture and said we must beware of intoxication. Oh, taste, papa! He said. It is delicious, not at all like vinegar, but capital new sweet sparkling wine. This will be the best treat if it remains in this state. I fear it will not be so, said I. This is the first stage of fermentation. When this is over and the liquor is cleared, it is a sort of wine or fermented liquor, more or less agreeable, according to the material used. By applying heat, a second and slower fermentation succeeds and the liquor becomes vinegar. Then comes on a third stage, which deprives it of its strength and spoils it. I fear in this burning climate you will carry home only vinegar or something still more offensive. But let us drink each other's health now, but prudently, or we shall soon feel the effects of this potent beverage. Perfectly refreshed, we went on cheerfully to the place where we had left our gourd utensils. We found them quite dry and hard as bone. We had no difficulty in carrying them in our game-bags. We had scarcely got through the little wood where we had breakfasted, when Turk darted furiously on a troop of monkeys who were sporting about and had not perceived him. He immediately sieves to female, holding a young one in her arms which impeded her flight and had killed and devoured the poor mother before we could reach him. The young one had hidden itself among the long grass when frits arrived. He had run with all his might losing his hat, bottle, and canes, but could not prevent the murder of the poor mother. The little monkey no sooner saw him that it leaped upon his shoulders fastening its paws and his curls and neither cries, threats, nor shaking could rid him of it. I ran up to him laughing for I saw the little creature could not hurt him and tried in vain to disengage it. I told him he must carry it thus. It was evident the sagacious little creature, having lost his mother, had adopted him for a father. I succeeded in last and quietly releasing him, and took the little orphan who was no bigger than a cat in my arms pitying its helplessness. The mother appeared as tall as frits. I was reluctant to add another mouth to the number we had to feed, but frits earnestly begged to keep it, offering to divide his share of coconut milk with it till we had our cows. I consented, on condition that he took care of it and taught it to be obedient to him. Turk, in the meantime, was feasting on the remains of the unfortunate mother. Frits would have driven him off, but I saw we had not food sufficient to satisfy this voracious animal, and we might ourselves be in danger from his appetite. We left him therefore with his prey, the little orphan sitting on the shoulder of its protector, while I carried the canes. Turk soon overtook us and was received very coldly. We were approached him with his cruelty, but he was quite unconcerned and continued to walk after frits. The little monkey seemed uneasy at the sight of him, and crept into Frits' bosom, much to his inconvenience. But a thought struck him. He tied the monkey with a cord to Turk's back, leading the dog by another cord, as he was very rebellious at first. But our threats and caresses at last induced him to submit to his burden. Frits waited slowly, and I could not help anticipating the mirth of my little ones when they saw us approach like a pair of showmen. I advised Frits not to correct the dogs for attacking and killing unknown animals, have him bestow the dog on man as well as the horse for a friend and protector. Frits thought we were very fortunate then in having two such faithful dogs. He only regretted that our horses had died on the passage and only left us the ass. I wish we had him here. He is of a very fine breed and would be as useful as a horse to us. In such conversations we arrived at the banks of our river before we were aware. Flora barked to announce our approach and Turk answered so loudly that the terrified little monkey leaped from his back to the shoulder of its protector and would not come down. Turk ran off to meet his companion and our dear family soon appeared on the opposite shore shouting with joy at our happy return. We crossed at the same place as we had done in the morning and embraced each other. Then began such a noise of exclamations a monkey a real live monkey oh how delightful how glad we are how did you catch him he's very ugly said little Francis who was almost afraid of him he's prettier than you are said Jack see how he laughs how I should like to see him eat if we only had some coconuts said earnest have you found any and are they good have you had any unpleasant adventures asked my wife it was in vain to attempt replying to so many questions and exclamations at length when we had got a little peace I told them that though I brought them all sorts of good things I had unfortunately not met with any of our companions God's will be done said my wife let us thank him for saving us and again bringing us together now this day has seemed an age but put down your loads and let us hear your adventures we've not been idle but we are less fatigued than you boys assist your father and brother Jack took my gun earnest the coconuts Francis the gore grinds and my wife the game bag Fritz distributed his sugar canes and placed the monkey on Turks back to the amusement of the children he begged Ernest to carry his gun but he complained of being overloaded from him and we proceeded to the tent Fritz thought Ernest would not have relinquished the bowls if he had known what they contained and called out to tell him they were coconuts give them to me cried Ernest I will carry the mama and the gun too his mother declined giving them I can throw away these sticks said he and carry the gun in my hand I would advise you not observe Fritz for the sticks are sugar canes sugar canes cried they all surrounding Fritz to give them the history and teach them the art of sucking the canes my wife who had a proper respect for sugar in her housekeeping was much pleased with this discovery and the history of all our acquisitions which I displayed to her nothing gave her so much pleasure as our plates and dishes which were actual necessaries we went to our kitchen and were gratified to see preparations going on for a good supper my wife had planted a forked stick on each side of the hearth on these rested a long thin wand on which all sorts of fish were roasting Francis being entrusted to turn the spit on the other side was impaled a goose on another spit and a row of oyster shells form the dripping pan besides this the iron pot was on the fire from which arose the savory odor of a good soup behind the hearth stood one of the hogs heads opened and containing the finest Dutch cheeses enclosed in cases of lead all this was very tempting to hungry travelers and very unlike a supper on a desert island I could not think my family had been idle when I saw such a result of their labors I was only sorry that they had killed the goose as I wished to be economical with our poultry have no uneasiness said my wife this is not from our poultry yard it is a wild goose killed by Ernest it is a sort of penguin I believe said Ernest distinguished by the name of booby and so stupid that I knocked it down with a stick it is webfooted has a long narrow beak a little curved downwards I have preserved the head and neck for you to examine it exactly resembles the penguin of my book of natural history I pointed out to him the advantages of study and was making more inquiries about the form and habits of the bird when my wife requested me to defer my catechism of natural history Ernest has killed the bird I received it we shall eat it what more would you have tasted the coconuts very well replied I Brits must teach them how to open them and we must not forget the little monkey who has lost his mother's milk I've tried him, cried Jack he will eat nothing I had told them he had not yet learnt to eat and we must feed him with coconut milk till we could get something better Jack generously offered all his share but Ernest and Francis were anxious to taste the milk themselves but the monkey must live silently and so must we all said mother supper is ready and we will reserve the coconuts for dessert we sat down on the ground and supper was served on our gore-drine service which answered the purpose admirably my impatient boys had broken the nuts which they found excellent and they made themselves spoons of the shell Jack had taken care the monkey had his share they dipped the corner of their handkerchiefs in the milk and let him suck them I'm going to break up some more nuts after emptying them through the natural holes but I stopped them and called for a saw I carefully divided the nuts with this instrument and Sim provided us each with a neat basin for our soup to the great comfort of my dear wife who was gratified by seeing us able to eat like civilized beings Fritz begged now to enliven the rip-ass by introducing his champagne I consented requesting him however to taste it himself before he served it what was his mortification to find it vinegar but we consoled ourselves by using it as sauce to our goose a great improvement also to the fish we had now to hear the history of our supper Jack and Francis had caught the fish at the edge of the sea my active wife had performed the most laborious duty enrolling the hog's head to the place and breaking open the head the sun was going down as we finished supper and recollecting how rapidly night succeeded we hastened to our tent where we found our beds much more comfortable from the kind attention of the good mother who had collected a large addition of dried grass after prayers we all lay down the monkey between Jack and Fritz carefully covered with moss to keep him warm the fowls went to their roost as on the previous night and after our fatigue we were all soon in a profound sleep we had not slept long when a great commotion among the dogs and fowls was the presence of an enemy my wife, Fritz and I each seizing a gun rushed out by the light of the moon we saw a terrible battle going on our brave dogs were surrounded by a dozen jackals three or four were extended dead but our faithful animals were nearly overpowered by numbers when we arrived I was glad to find nothing worse than jackals Fritz and I fired on them two fell dead and the others fled slowly evidently wounded Turk and Flora pursued and completed the business and then like true dogs devoured their fallen foes regardless of the bonds of relationship all being quiet again we retired to our beds Fritz obtaining leave to drag the jackal he had killed towards the tent to save it from the dogs and to show to his brothers next morning this he accomplished with difficulty for it was as big as a large dog we all slept peacefully the remainder of the night till the crowing of the caca woke my wife and myself to a consultation on the business of the day I feel rather alarmed at all the labours I see before me a voyage to the vessel is indispensable if we wish to save our cattle and many other things that may be useful to us on the other hand I should like to have a more secure shelter for ourselves and our property than this tent with patience, order and perseverance all may be done said my good counselor and whatever uneasiness your voyage may give me I yield to the importance and utility of it let it be done today and have no care for the morrow sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof as our blessed Lord has said it was then agreed that the three youngest children should remain with my wife and Fritz the strongest and most active should accompany me I then arose and woke my children for the important duties of the day Fritz jumped up the first and ran for his jackal which had stiffened in the cold of the night he placed it on all four legs at the entrance of the tent to surprise his brothers but no sooner did the dogs see it erect than they flew at it and would have torn it to pieces if he had not soothed them and called them off however their barking effectually roused the boys who rushed out to see the cause Jack issued first with a monkey on his shoulder but no sooner did the little creature see the jackal than he sprang into the tent and hid himself among the moss till only the tip of his nose was visible all were astonished to see this large yellow animal standing Francis thought it was a wolf Jack said it was only a dead dog and Ernest in a pompous tone pronounced it to be a golden fox Fritz laughed at the learned professor who knew the agouti immediately and now called a jackal a golden fox I judged by the peculiar characteristics said Ernest, examining it carefully Oh! the characteristics said Fritz ironically Don't you think it may be a golden wolf? Pray don't be so cross, brother said Ernest with tears in his eyes perhaps it was a golden wolf Ernest with tears in his eyes perhaps you would not have known the name if Papa had not told you I reproved Fritz for his ridicule of his brother and Ernest for so easily taking offense and to reconcile all I told them that the jackal partook of the nature of the wolf, the fox, and the dog this discussion terminated I summoned them to prayers after which we thought of breakfast we had nothing but biscuit which was certainly dry and hard Fritz begged for a little cheese with it and Ernest, who was never satisfied like other people, took a survey of the unopened hog's head he soon returned crying if we only had a little butter with our biscuit it would be so good, Papa I allowed it would be good but it was no use thinking of such a thing Let us open the other cask said he, displaying a piece of butter he had extracted through a small crack on the side Your instinct for good things has been fortunate for us, said I Come boys, who wants bread and butter? We began to consider how we should come at the contents of the hog's head without exposing the perishable matter to the heat of the sun Finally, I pierced a hole in the lower part of the cask, large enough for us to draw out the butter as we wanted it by means of a little wooden shovel which I soon made We then sat down to breakfast with a coconut basin filled with good salt-dutch butter we toasted our biscuit buttered it hot and agreed it was excellent Our dogs were sleeping by us as we breakfasted and I remarked that they had bloody marks of the last night's fray in some deep and dangerous wounds especially about the neck My wife instantly dressed the wounds with butter well washed in cold water and the poor animals seemed grateful for the ease it gave them Ernest judiciously remarked that they ought to have spiked collars to defend them against any wild beasts they might encounter I will make them collars, said Jack who never hesitated at anything I was glad to employ his inventive powers and ordering my children not to leave their mother during our absence but to pray to God to bless our undertaking we began our preparations for the voyage While Fritz made ready the boat I erected a signal post with a piece of sailcloth for a flag to float as long as all was going on well but if we were wanted they were to lower the flag and fire a gun three times when we should immediately return inform my dear wife it might be necessary for us to remain on board all night and she consented to the plan on my promising to pass the night in our tubs instead of the vessel we took nothing but our guns and ammunition relying on the ship's provisions Fritz would however take the monkey that he might give it some milk from the cow we took a tender leave of each other and embarked when we rode into the middle of the bay I perceived a strong current of river which issued at a little distance which I was glad to take advantage of to spare our labor it carried us three parts of our voyage and we rode the remainder and entering the opening in the vessel we secured our boat firmly and went on board the first care of Fritz was to feed the animals who were on deck and he all saluted us after their fashion rejoiced to see their friends again as well as to have their wants supplied we put the young monkey to a goat and we walked with extraordinary grimaces to our infinite amusement we then took some refreshment ourselves and Fritz to my great surprise proposed that we should begin by adding a sail to our boat he said the current which helped us to the vessel could not carry us back but the wind which blew so strongly against us and made our rowing so fatiguing would be of great service if we had a sail I thanked my counselor for all his good advice and we immediately set to the task I selected a strong pole for a mast and a triangular sail which was fixed to a yard we made a hole in a plank to receive the mast secured the plank on our fourth tub forming a deck and then by eight of a block used to hoist and lower the sails raised our mast finally two ropes fastened by one end to the yard and by the other to each extremity of the boat enabled us to direct the sail at pleasure Fritz next ornamented the top of the mast with a little red streamer he then gave our boat the name of Deliverance and requested it might henceforth be called the Little Vessel to complete its equipment I contrived to rudder so that I could direct the boat from either end after signaling to our friends that we should not return that night we spent the rest of the day in emptying the tubs of the stones that we had used for ballast and replacing them with useful things such as a plate nails and tools of all kinds pieces of cloth above all we did not forget knives forks, spoons, and kitchen utensils including a roasting jack in the captain's cabin we found some services of silver pewter plates and dishes and a small chest filled with bottles of choice wines all these we took as well as a chest of eatables intended for the officer's table portable soup etc. also some bags of maize wheat and other seeds and some potatoes we collected all the implements of husbandry we could spare room for and at the request of Fritz some hammocks and blankets two or three handsome guns and an armful of sabers, swords, and hunting knives lastly I embarked a barrel of sulfur all the cord and string I could lay my hands on and a large roll of sail cloth the sulfur was intended to produce matches with our tubs were loaded to the edge there was barely a room left for us to sit and would have been dangerous to attempt our return if the sea had not been so calm night arrived we exchanged signals to announce security on sea and land and after prayers for the dear islanders we sought our tubs not the most luxurious of dormitories but safer than the ship Fritz slept soundly but I could not close my eyes thinking of the jackals I was, however, thankful for the protection they had in the docks End of Chapter 5 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 6 As soon as day broke I mounted on deck to look through the telescope I saw my wife looking towards us and the flag which denoted their safety floating in the breeze Satisfied on this important point we enjoyed our breakfast of biscuit, ham, and wine and then turned our thoughts to the means of saving our cattle Even if we could contrive a raft we could never get all the animals to remain still on it we might venture the huge sow in the water but the rest of the animals we found would not be able to swim to shore at last Fritz suggested the swimming apparatus we passed two hours in constructing them for the cow and ass it was necessary to have an empty cask on each side well bound and strong sail cloth fastened by leather thongs over the back and under each animal for the rest we merely tied a piece of cork under their bodies the sow only being unruly and giving us much trouble and a cord to the horns or neck of each animal with a slip of wood at the end for a convenient handle luckily the waves had broken away part of the ship and left the opening wide enough for the passage of our troop we first launched the ass into the water by a sudden push he swam away after the first plunge very gracefully the cow, sheep, and goats followed quickly after the sow was furious and soon broke loose from us all but fortunately reached the shore long before the rest we now embarked fastening all the slips of wood to the stern of the boat thus drawing our train after us and the wind filling our sail carried us smoothly towards the shore Fritz exalted in his plan as we certainly could never have rode our boat loaded as we were I once more took out my telescope and was remarking that our party on shore seemed making ready for some excursion when a loud cry from Fritz filled me with terror we are lost see what a monstrous fish! though pale with alarm the bold boy had seized his gun and encouraged by my directions he fired two balls into the head of the monster as it was preparing to dart on the sheep it immediately made its escape leaving a long red track to prove it was severely wounded being freed from our enemy I now resumed the rudder and we lowered the sail and rode to shore the animals as soon as the water became low enough walked out at their own discretion after we had relieved them from their swimming girdles we then secured our boat as before and landed ourselves anxiously looking round for our friends we had not long to wait they came joyfully to greet us and after our first burst of pleasure we sat down to tell our adventures in a regular form my wife was overjoyed to see herself surrounded by these valuable animals and especially pleased that her son Fritz had suggested so many useful plans we next proceeded to disembark all our treasures I noticed that Jack wore a belt of yellow skin in which were placed a pair of pistols and inquired where he had got his brigand custom I manufactured it myself, said he and this is not all look at the dogs the dogs wore each a collar of the same skin as his belt bristling with long nails the points outwards a formidable defence it is my own invention, said he only mama helped me in the sewing where did you get the leather, the needle and thread, inquired I Fritz's jackal supplied the skin, said my wife and my wonderful bag, the rest there's still more to come from it only say what you want Fritz evidently felt a little vexation at his brother's unceremonious appropriation of the skin of the jackal which displayed itself in the tone in which he exclaimed, holding his nose keep at a distance, Mr. Skinner you carry an intolerable smell about with you I gave him a gentle hint of his duty in the position of eldest son and he soon recovered his good humour however, as the body as well as the skin of the jackal was becoming offensive they united in dragging it down to the sea while jack placed his belt in the sun to dry as I saw no preparation for supper I told Fritz to bring the ham and to the astonishment and joy of all he returned with a fine wasphalian ham which we had cut into in the morning I will tell you, said my wife while we have no supper prepared but first I will make you an omelette and she produced from a basket a dozen turtles eggs you see, said Ernest they have all the characteristics of those Robinson Crusoe had in his island they are white balls the skin of which resembles moistened parchment my wife promised to relate the history of the discovery after supper and set about preparing her ham and omelette while Fritz and I proceeded in unloading our cargo assisted by the useful ass supper was now ready a tablecloth was laid over the butter cask and spread with the plates and spoons from the ship the ham was in the middle and the omelette and cheese at each end and we made a good meal surrounded by our subjects the dogs, the fowls, the pigeons the sheep and the goats waiting for our notice the geese and ducks were more independent remaining in their marsh where they lived and plenty on the small crabs which abounded there after supper I sent Fritz for a bottle of the captain's canary wine and then requested my wife to give us her recital end of chapter 6 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina the Swiss family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 7 I will spare you the history of the first day said my good Elizabeth spent an anxiety about you and attending to the signals but this morning being satisfied that all was going right I sought before the boys got up a shady place to rest in but in vain I believe this barren shore has not a single tree on it then I began to consider on the necessity of searching for a more comfortable spot for our residents and determined, after a slight repast to set out with my children across the river on a journey of discovery the day before Jack had busied himself in skinning the jackal with his knife sharpened on the rock Ernest declining to assist him in his dirty work for which I reproved him sorry that any fastidiousness would deter him from a labor of benefit to society Jack proceeded to clean the skin as he was able then procured from the nail-chest some long flat-headed nails and inserted them closely through the long pieces of skin he had cut for collars he then cut some sailcloth and made a double lining over the heads of the nails and finished by giving me the delicate office of sewing them together which I could not but comply with his belt he first stretched on a plank nailing it down and exposing it to the sun lest it should shrink and drying now for our journey we took our game bags and some hunting knives the boys carried provisions and I had a large flask of water I took a small hatchet and gave Ernest a carbine which might be loaded with ball keeping his light gun for myself I carefully secured the opening of the tent with the hooks Turk went before evidently considering himself our guide and we crossed the river with some difficulty as we proceeded I could not help feeling thankful that you had so early taught the boys to use firearms properly as the defense of my youngest boy and myself now depended on the two boys of ten and twelve years of age when we attained the hill you described to us I was charmed with a smiling prospect and for the first time since our shipwreck ventured to hope for better things I had remarked a beautiful wood to which I determined to make our way for a little shade as it was through grass that was higher than the children's heads as we were struggling through it we heard a strange rustling sound among the grass and at the same moment a bird a prodigious size rose and flew away before the poor boys could get their guns ready they were much mortified and I recommended them always to have their guns in readiness for the birds would not be likely to wait till they loaded them Francis thought the bird was so large that it was illegal but Ernest ridiculed the idea and added that he thought it must be of the Bustard tribe we went forward to the spot from which it had arisen when suddenly another bird of the same kind though still larger sprung up close to our feet and was soon soaring above our heads I could not help laughing to see the look of astonishment and confusion with which the boys looked upwards after it pray Mr. Bird be kind enough to pay us another visit you will find us very good children we found the large nest they had left it was rudely formed of dry grass and empty but some fragments of eggshells were scattered near as if the young had just been recently hatched we therefore concluded that they had escaped among the grass Dr. Ernest immediately began a lecture you observe Francis these birds could not be eagles which do not form their nests on ground neither do their young run as soon as they are hatched these must be the Galanaceous tribe an order of birds such as quails partridges, turkeys, etc and from the sort of feathered mustache which I observed at the corner of the beak I should pronounce that these were Bustards and we had now reached the little wood and our learned friend had sufficient employment in scrutinizing and endeavoring to classify the immense number of beautiful birds which sung and fluttered about us apparently regardless of our intrusion we found that what we thought a wood was merely a group of a dozen trees of a height far beyond any I had ever seen and apparently belonging rather to the air than the earth the trunks springing from roots which formed a series of supporting arches Jack climbed one of the arches and measured the trunk of the wood with a piece of pack thread he found it to be 34 feet I made 32 steps round the roots between the roots and the lowest branches it seemed about 40 or 50 feet the branches are thick and strong and the leaves are of a moderate size and resemble our wallet tree a thick short smooth turf clothed the ground beneath and around the detached roots of the trees and everything combined to render this one of the most delicious spots the mind could conceive here we rested and made our noon day fast a clear rivulet ran near us and offered its agreeable waters for our refreshment our dogs soon joined us but I was astonished to find they did not crave for food but laid down to sleep at our feet for myself so safe and happy did I feel that I could not but think that if we could contrive a dwelling on the branches of one of these trees we should be in perfect peace and safety we set out on our return taking the road by the seashore in case the waves had cast up anything from the wreck of the vessel we found a quantity of timber, jests and casks but all too heavy to bring we succeeded in dragging them as well as we could out of the reach of the tide our dogs in the meantime fishing for crabs with which they regaled themselves much to their own satisfaction and to mine as I now saw they would be able to provide their own food as we rested from our rough labor I saw flora scratching in the sand and swallowing something with great relish Ernest watched and then said very quietly they are turtle sex we drove away the dog and collected about two dozen leaving her the rest as a reward for her discovery while we carefully deposited our spoil in the game bags we were astonished at the sight of a sale Ernest was certain it was papa and fritz and though Francis wasn't it should be the savages who visited Robinson Crusoe's island coming to eat us up we were soon able to calm his fears we crossed the river by leaping from stone to stone and hastening to the landing place arrived to greet you on your happy return and I understand my dear said I that you have discovered a tree 60 feet high where you wish we should perch like fowls but how are we to get up oh you must remember she the large lime tree near our native town in which was ballroom we used to ascend to it by wooden staircase could you not contrive something of the sword in one of these gigantic trees where we might sleep in peace fearing neither jackals nor any other terrible nocturnal enemy I promise to consider this plan hoping at least that we might make a commodious and shady dwelling among the roots tomorrow we were to examine it we then performed our evening devotions and retired to rest end of chapter 7 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina the Swiss family Robinson by Johann David Wiss chapter 8 now my dear Elizabeth I, waking early next morning let us talk a little on this grand project of changing our residence to which there are many objections first it seems wise to remain on the spot where Providence has cast us where we can have it once means of support drawn from the ship and security from all attacks protected by the rock the river and the sea on all sides my wife distrusted the river which could not protect us from the jackals and complained of the intolerable heat of this sandy desert of her distaste for such food as oysters and wild geese and lastly of her agony of mind when we ventured to the wreck willingly renouncing all its treasures and begging that we might rest content with the blessings we already had there is some truth in your objections said I and perhaps we may erect a dwelling under the roots of your favorite tree but among these rocks we must have a storehouse for our goods and a retreat in case of invasion I hope some pieces of the rock with powder to be able to fortify the part next the river leaving a secret passage known only to ourselves this would make it impregnable but before we proceed we must have a bridge to convey our baggage across the river a bridge said she in a tone of vexation then when shall we get from here why cannot we ford it as usual the cow and ass could carry our stores I explained to her how necessary it was for our permission and provision to be conveyed over without risk of wetting and begged her to manufacture some bags and baskets and leave the bridge to me and my boys if we succeeded it would always be useful as for fear of danger from lightning or accident I intended to make a powder magazine among the rocks the important question was now decided I called up my sons and communicated our plans to them they were greatly delighted though somewhat alarmed by the incredible project of the bridge besides the delay was vexatious they were all anxious for removal into the land of promise as they chose to call it we read prayers and then thought of breakfast the monkey sucked one of the goats as if it had been its mother my wife milked the cow and gave us boiled milk with biscuit for our breakfast part of which she put in a flask for us to take on our expedition we then prepared our boat for our voyage to the vessel to procure planks of timber for our bridge I took both earnest entrance as I foresaw our cargo would be weighty and require all our hands to bring it to shore we rode vigorously till we got into the current which soon carried us beyond the bay we had scarcely reached a little isle at the entrance when we saw a vast number of gulls and other sea birds fluttering with discordant cries over it I hoisted the sail and we approached rapidly and when near enough we saw that the birds were feasting so eagerly on the remains of a huge fish that they did not even notice our approach we might have killed numbers even with our sticks this fish was the shark which Fritz had so skillfully shot to the head the night before he found the marks of his three balls Ernest drew his ramrod from his gun and struck so vigorously right and left among the birds that he killed some and put the rest to flight we then hastily cut off some pieces of the skin of the monster which I thought might be useful and placed them in our boat but this was not the only advantage we gained by landing I perceived an immense quantity of wrecked timber lying on the shore of the island which would spare us our voyage to the ship we selected such planks as were fit for our purpose then by the aid of our jackscrew and some levers we had brought with us we extricated the planks from the sand and floated them and binding the spars and yards together with cords with the planks above them like a raft we tied them to the stern of our boat and hoisted our sail Fritz as we sailed was drying the shark's skin which I hoped to convert into files and Ernest in his usual reflective manner observed to me what a beautiful arrangement of providence it is that the mouth of the shark should be placed in such a position that he is compelled to turn on his back to seize his prey thus giving it a chance of escape excessive veracity he might depopulate the ocean at last we reached our landing place and securing our boat and calling out loudly we soon saw our friends running from the river each carried a handkerchief filled with some new acquisition and Francis had over his shoulder a small fishing net Jack reached us first and threw down before us from his handkerchief some fine crawfish they had each as many forming a provision for many days of discovery Jack related that Francis and he took a walk to find a good place for the bridge thank you Mr. Architect, said I then you must super intend the workman have you fixed on your place yes, yes, cried he, only listen when we got to the river Francis who was looking about called out Jack, Jack, Fritz's jackal is covered with crabs come, come I ran to tell Mama who brought a net that came from the ship and we caught these in a few minutes many more if you had not come I commanded them to put the smaller ones back into the river, reserving only as many as we could eat I was truly thankful to discover another means of support we now landed our timber I had looked at Jack's site for the bridge and thought my little architect very happy in his selection but it was at a great distance from the timber I recollected the simplicity the harness the lap landers used for their reindeer I tied cords to the horns of the cow as the strength of this animal is in the head and then fasten the other ends around the piece of timber we wanted moving I placed a halter around the neck of the ass and attached the cords to this we were thus enabled, by degrees to remove all our wood to the chosen spot where the sides of the river were steep in a period of equal height it was necessary to know the breadth of the river to select the proper planks and Ernest proposed to procure a ball of pack thread from his mother to tie a stone to the one end of the string and throw it across the river and to measure it after drawing it back this expedient succeeded admirably we found the breadth to be 18 feet but as I proposed to give the bridge strength by having 3 feet at least resting on each shore we chose some planks of 24 feet in length how we were to get these across the river was another question which we prepared to discuss during dinner to which my wife now summoned us our dinner consisted of a dish of crawfish and some very good rice milk but before we began we admired her work she had made a pair of bags for the ass sewed with pack thread but having no large needles she had been obliged to pierce holes with a nail a tedious and painful process well satisfied with her success we turned to our repast talking of our bridge which the boys by anticipation named the non-pariah we then went to work there happened to be an old trunk a tree standing on the shore to this I tied my main beam by a strong cord loose enough to turn round the trunk another cord was attached to the opposite end of the beam long enough to cross the river twice I took the end of my rope over the stream where we had previously fixed the block used in our boat to a tree by the hook which usually suspended it I passed my rope and returned with the end to our own side I then harnessed my cow and asked to the end of my rope forcibly from the shore the beam turned slowly round the trunk then advanced and was finally lodged over the river amidst the shouts of the boys its own weight keeping it firm Fritz and Jack leaped on it immediately to run across to my great fear we succeeded in placing four strong beams in the same way and by the aid of my sons I arranged them at a convenient distance from each other that we might have a broad and good bridge we then laid down planks close together across the beams, but not fixed as in time of danger it might be necessary rapidly to remove the bridge my wife and I were as much excited as the children and ran across with delight our bridge was at least ten feet broad thoroughly fatigued with our day of labor we returned home, supped and offered thanks to God and went to rest End of chapter This is a Leberbox recording All Leberbox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit Leberbox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 9 The next morning after prayers I assembled my family We took a solemn leave of our first place of refuge I cautioned my sons to be prudent and on their guard and especially to remain together during our journey We then prepared for departure We assembled the cattle the bags were fixed across the backs of the cow and the ass and loaded with all our heavy baggage our cooking utensils and provisions consisting of biscuits, butter, cheese and portable soup our hammocks and blankets the captain's service of plate were all carefully packed in the bags equally poised on each side of the animals All was ready with their inexhaustible bag requesting a place for it neither would she consent to leave the poultry as food for the jackals Above all, Francis must have a place he could not possibly walk all the way I was amused with the exactions of the sex but consented to all and made a good place for Francis between the bags on the back of the ass The elder boys returned in despair They could not succeed in catching the fowls but the experienced mother laughed at them and said she would soon capture them If you do, said my pert little Jack I will be contented to be roasted in the place of the first chicken taken Then my poor Jack said his mother You'll soon be on the spit Remember that intellect has always more power than mere bodily exertion Look here She scattered a few handfuls of grain before the tent, calling the fowls They soon all assembled including the pigeons then throwing down more inside the tent they followed her It was now only necessary to close the entrance and they were all soon taken tied by the wings and feet and being placed in baskets covered with nets were added to the rest of our luggage on the backs of the animals Finally, we conveyed inside the tent all we could not carry away closing the entrance and barricading it with chests and casks thus confiding all our possessions to the care of God We set out on our pilgrimage each carrying a game bag and a gun led the way, followed by the heavily laden cow and ass The third division consisted of the goats driven by Jack, the little monkey seated on the back of its nurse and grimacing to our great amusement Next came Ernest with a sheep and I followed, superintending the whole Our gallant dogs acted as aid to camp and were continually passing from the front to the rear rank Our march was slow, but orderly and quite patriarchal We are now travelling across the desert as our first fathers did, said I and as the Arabs, Tartars and other nomads nations due to this day followed by their flocks and herds But these people generally have strong camels to bear their burdens instead of a poor ass and cow I hope this may be the last of our pilgrimages My wife also hoped that once under the shade of her marvellous trees we should have no temptation to travel further We now crossed our new bridge and here the party was happily augmented by a new arrival The sow had proved very mutinous at setting out and we had been compelled to leave her She now voluntarily joined us seeing we were actually departing but continued to grunt loudly her disapprobation of our proceedings After we had crossed the river we had another embarrassment The rich grass tempted our animals to stray off to feed and but for our dogs we should never have been able to master them again But for fear of further accident we headed by advance guard to take the road by the coast which offered no temptation to our troops We had scarcely left the high grass when our dogs rushed back into it barking furiously and howling as if in combat Fritz immediately prepared for action Ernest drew near his mother Jack rushed forward with his gun over his shoulder and I cautiously advanced commanding them to be discreet and cool But Jack with his usual impetuosity leaped among the high grass to the dogs staring, clapping his hands and crying out Be quick, papa, a huge porcupine with quills as long as my arm When I got up I really found a porcupine whom the dogs were warmly attacking It made a frightful noise erecting its quills so boldly that the wounded animals howled with pain after every attempt to seize it As we were looking at them Jack drew a pistol from his belt and discharged it directly into the head of the porcupine which fell dead Jack was very proud of his feet and Fritz not a little jealous suggested that such a little boy should not be trusted with pistols as he might have shot one of the dogs or even one of us I forbade any envy or jealousy among the brothers and declared that all did well who acted for the public good Mama was now summoned to see the curious animal her son's valor had destroyed Her first thought was to dress the wounds made by the quills which had stuck in the noses of the dogs during their attack In the meantime I corrected my son's notions on the power of this animal to lance it starts when in danger Nature has given it a sufficient protection in its defensive and offensive armor As Jack earnestly desired to carry his booty with him I carefully embedded the body in soft grass to preserve the quills then packed it in strong cloth and placed it on the ass behind Francis At last we arrived at the end of our journey and certainly the size of the trees surpassed anything I could have imagined Jack was certain they were gigantic walnut trees for my own part I believed them to be a species of fig tree probably the Antilles fig But all thanks were given to the kind mother who had sought out such a pleasant home for us at all events we could find a convenient shelter among the roots and if we should ever succeed in perching on the branches I told her we should be safe from all wild beasts I would defy even the bears of our time these immense matrunks totally destitute of branches We released our animals from their loads tying their forelegs together that they might not stray except the cow who as usual did her own way the fowls and pigeons we released and left to their own discretion we then sat down on the grass to consider where we should establish ourselves I wished to mount the tree that very night suddenly we heard to our no slight alarm the report of a gun but the next moment the voice of Fritz reassured us he had stolen out unnoticed and shot a beautiful tiger cat which he displayed in great triumph well done noble hunter said I you deserve the thanks of the fowls and pigeons they would most probably have all fallen to sacrifice tonight if you had not slain their deadly foe pray wage war with all his kind or we shall not have a chicken left for the pot Ernest then examined the animal with his customary attention and declared that the proper name was the Marge a fact Fritz did not dispute only requesting that Jack might not meddle with the skin as he wished to preserve it for a belt I recommended them to skin it immediately and give the flesh to the dogs Jack at the same time determined to skin his porcupine to make dog collars part of its flesh went into the soup kettle and the rest was salted for the next day we then sought for some flat stones in the bed of the charming little river and set a little distance from us and set about constructing a cooking place Francis collected dry wood for the fire and while my wife was occupied in preparing our supper I amused myself by making some pecking needles for her rude work from the quills of the porcupine I held a large nail in the fire till it was red hot then holding the head in wet linen I pierced the quills and made several needles of various sizes to the great contentment of our indefatigable workwoman still occupied with the idea of our castle in the air I thought of making a ladder of ropes but this would be useless if we did not succeed in getting a cord over the lower branches to draw it up neither my sons nor myself could throw a stone to which I had vastened a cord over these branches which were 30 feet above us it was necessary to think of some other expedient in the meantime dinner was ready the porcupine made excellent soup and the flesh was well tasted though rather hard my wife could not make up her mind to taste it but contended herself with a slice of ham and some cheese End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 10 After dinner, as I found we could not ascend it present I suspended our hammocks under the arched roots of our tree and covering the hole with sailcloth we had a shelter from the dew and the insects While my wife was employed making harness for the cow and ass I went with my sons to the shore to look for wood fit for our use next day We saw a great quantity of wreck but none fit for our purpose Till Ernest met with a heap of bamboo canes half buried in sand and mud These were exactly what I wanted I drew them out of the sand, stripped them of their leaves, and cut them in pieces of about four or five feet long and my sons each made up a bundle to carry home I then set out to make some slender stalks to make arrows which I should need in my project We went towards a thick grove which appeared likely to contain something for my purpose We were very cautious for fear of reptiles or other dangerous animals allowing Flora to precede us When we got near she darted furiously among the bushes Mount flew a troop of beautiful flamingos and soared into the air Fritz always ready fired at them Two fell, one quite dead the other slightly wounded in the wing made use of its long legs so well that it would have escaped if Flora had not seized it and held it till I came up to take possession The joy of Fritz was extreme to have this beautiful creature alive He thought it wants of curing its wound and domesticating it with our own poultry What splendid plumage said Ernest and you see he is webfooted like the goose and has long legs like the stork thus he can run as fast on land as he can swim in the water Yes said I and flies quickly in the air These birds are remarkable for the power and strength of their wings few birds have so many advantages My boys occupied themselves captive and dressing his wound while I sought some of the canes which had done flowering to cut off the hard ends to point my arrows These are used by the savages of the antilles I then selected the highest canes I could meet with to assist me in measuring by a geometrical process the height of the tree Ernest took the canes I had the wounded flamingo and Fritz carried his own game Very loud were the cries of joy and astonishment at our approach I all hoped the flamingo might be tamed of which I felt no doubt but my wife was uneasy lest it should require more food than she could spare However I assured her our new guest would need no attention as he would provide for himself at the river side feeding on small fishes worms and insects His wounds I dressed and found they would soon be healed I then tied him to a stake near the river by a cord long enough to allow him to fish at his pleasure In a few days he learned to know us and was quite domesticated Meantime my boys had been trying to measure the tree with the long canes I had brought and came laughing to report to me that I ought to have got them ten times as long to reach even the lowest branches There is a simpler mode than that said I, which geometry teaches us and by which the highest mountains can be measured I then showed the method of measuring heights by triangles and imaginary lines using canes of different lengths of cords instead of mathematical instruments My result was 30 feet to the lowest branches This experiment filled the boys with wonder and desired to become acquainted with this useful exact science which happily I was able to teach them fully I now ordered frits to measure our strong cord and the little ones to collect all the small string and wind it I then took a strong bamboo and made a bow of it and some arrows of the slender canes filling them weight and feathering them from the dead flamingo As soon as my work was completed the boys crowded round me all begging to drive the bow and arrows I begged them to be patient and asked my wife to supply me with a ball of thick strong thread The enchanted bag did not fail us The very ball I wanted appeared at her summons This my little ones declared must be magic but I explained to them that prudence, foresight and presence of mine in danger such as their good mother had displayed produced more miracles than magic I then tied the end of the ball of thread to one of my arrows fixed it in my bow and sent it directly over one of the thickest of the lower branches of the tree and falling to the ground it drew the thread after it Charmed with this result I hastened to complete my ladder Frits had measured our ropes and found two of 40 feet each exactly what I wanted These I stretched on the ground about one foot distance from each other Frits cut pieces of cane two feet long, which Ernest passed to me I placed these in knots which I had made in the cords at about a foot distance from each other and Jack fastened each end with a long nail to prevent it slipping In a very short time our ladder was completed and tying it to the end of the cord which went over the branch we drew it up without difficulty All the boys were anxious to ascend back as the lightest and most active Recordingly he ascended while his brothers and myself held the ladder firm by the end of the cord Frits followed him, conveying a bag with nails and hammer. They were soon perched on the branches, huzzying to us Frits secured the ladder so firmly to the branch that I had no hesitation in ascending myself I carried with me a large pulley fixed to the end of a rope, which I attached to a branch above us to enable us to raise the planks necessary for the groundwork of our habitation I smoothed the branches a little by eight of my axe, sending the boys down to be out of my way After completing my day's work I descended by the light of the moon and was alarmed to find that Frits and Jack were not below, and still more so when I heard their clear, sweet voices at the summit of the tree singing the evening hymn as if to sanctify our future abode They climbed the tree instead of descending and with wonder and reference at the sublime view below had burst out into the hymn of thanksgiving to God I could not scold my dear boys when they descended but directed them to assemble the animals and to collect wood to keep up fires during the night in order to drive away any wild beasts that might be near My wife then displayed her work complete harness for her two beasts of burden, and in return I promised her we would establish ourselves next day in the tree The fire was now ready one piece of the porcupine was roasted by the fire smelling deliciously another piece formed a rich soup a cloth was spread on the turf the ham, cheese, butter, and biscuits were placed upon it My wife first assembled the fowls by throwing some grain to them to accustom them to the place We soon saw the pigeons fly to roost on the higher branches of the trees while the fowls perched on the ladder the beasts we tied to the roots close to us Now that our cares were over we sat down to a merry and excellent rip-ass by moonlight Then after the prayers of the evening I kindled our watchfires and we all lay down to rest in our hammocks The boys were rather discontented and complained of their cramped position longing for the freedom of their beds of moss but I instructed them to lie as sailors do, diagonally and swinging the hammock and told them that brave Swiss boys might sleep as the sailors of all nations were compelled to sleep After some stifled sighs and groans all sank to rest except myself kept awake by anxiety for the safety of the rest End of chapter This is a Levervox recording All Levervox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Levervox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 11 My anxiety kept me awake till near morning when, after a short sleep I rose and we were soon all at work My wife, after milking the cow and goats harnessed the cow and ass and set out to search for driftwood for our use In the meantime I mounted the ladder with Brits and we set to work stoutly with ax and saw to rid ourselves of all useless branches Saw him about six feet above our foundation I left to suspend our hammocks from and others a little higher to support the roof which at present was to be merely sailcloth My wife succeeded in collecting us some boards and planks which, with her assistance and the aid of the pulley, we hoisted up We then arranged them on the level branches close to each other in such a manner as to form a smooth and solid floor I made a sort of parapet round to prevent accidents By degrees our dwelling began to assume a distinct form The sailcloth was raised over the high branches forming a roof and being brought down on each side was nailed to the parapet The immense trunk protected the back of our apartment and the front was open to admit the breeze from the sea which was visible from this elevation We hoisted our hammocks in blankets by the pulley and suspended them My son and I then descended and as our day was not yet exhausted we set about constructing a root table and some benches from the remainder of the wood which we placed beneath the roots of the tree hence forward to be our dining room The little boys collected the chips and pieces of wood for firewood while their mama prepared supper which we needed much after the extraordinary fatigues of this day The next day however being Sunday we looked forward to as a day of rest of recreation and thanksgiving to the great god who had preserved us supper was now ready My wife took a large earthen pot from the fire which contained a good stew made of the flamingo which Ernest had told her was an old bird and would not be eatable if dressed any other way His brothers laughed heartily and called him the cook He was however quite right the stew well seasoned was excellent and we picked the very bones Whilst we were thus occupied the living flamingo, accompanying the rest of the vows and free from bonds came in quite tame to claim his share of the repast Evidently quite unsuspicious that we were devouring his mate He did not seem at all inclined to quit us The little monkey too was quite at home with the boys leaping from one to another for food which he took in his for-pause and ate with such absurd mimicry of their actions that he kept us in continual convulsions of laughter To augment our satisfaction our great sow who had deserted us for two days returned of her own accord grunting her joy at our reunion My wife welcomed her with particular distinction treating her with all the milk we had to spare for as she had no dairy utensils to make cheese and butter it was best thus to dispose of our superfluity I promised her on our next voyage to the chip to procure all these necessaries this she could not however hear of without shattering The boys now lighted the fires for the night The dogs were tied to the roots of the tree as a protection against invaders and we commenced our ascent My three eldest sons soon ran up the ladder My wife followed with more deliberation but arrived safely My own journey was more difficult as besides having to carry Francis on my back I had detached the lower part of the ladder from the roots where it was nailed in order to be able to draw it up during the night We were thus as safe in our castle as the knights of old when their drawbridge was raised We retired to our hammocks free from care and did not wake till the sun shone brightly in upon us End of chapter Chapter 12 Next morning all awoken good spirits I told them that on this the Lord's day we would do no work that it was appointed not only for a day of rest but a day when we must as much as possible turn our hearts from the vanities of the world to God himself thank him, worship him and serve him Jack thought we could not do this without a church and a priest but Ernest believed that God would hear our prayers under his own sky and papa could give them a sermon Francis wished to know if God would like to hear them sing the beautiful hymns mama had taught them without an organ accompaniment Yes, my dear children, said I God is everywhere and to bless him, to praise him in all his works to submit to his holy will and to obey him is to serve him but everything in its time let us first attend to the wants of our animals and breakfast and we will then begin the services of the day by him we descended and breakfasted on warm milk fed our animals and then my children and their mother seated on the turf I placed myself on a little eminence before them and after the service of the day which I knew by heart and singing some portions of the 119th Psalm I told them a little allegory there was once on a time a great king whose kingdom was called the land of light and reality because there reigned their constant light and incessant activity on the most remote frontier of this kingdom towards the north there was another large kingdom equally subject to his rule and of which none but himself knew the immense extent from time immemorial an exact plan of this kingdom had been preserved in the archives it was called the land of obscurity or night because everything in it was dark and inactive in the most fertile and agreeable part of the empire of reality the king had a magnificent residence called the heavenly city where he held his brilliant court millions of servants executed his wishes still more were ready to receive his orders the first were clothed in glittering robes wider than snow for white was the color of the great king as the emblem of purity others were clothed in armor shining like the colors of the rainbow and carried flaming swords in their hands each at his master's nod flew like lightning to accomplish his will all his servants, faithful, vigilant, bold and ardent were united in friendship and could imagine no happiness greater than the favor of their master there were some less elevated who were still good, rich and happy in the favors of their sovereign to whom all his subjects were alike and were treated by him as his children not far from the frontiers the great king possessed a desert island which he desired to people and cultivate in order to make it, for time, the abode of those of his subjects whom he intended to admit by degrees into his heavenly city a favor he wished to bestow on the greatest number possible this island was called Earthly Abode and he who had passed some time there, worthily was to be received into all the happiness of the heavenly city to attain this the great king equipped a fleet to transport the colonists whom he chose from the kingdom of night to this island where he gave them light and activity advantages they had not known before think how joyful their arrival would be the land was fertile when cultivated all was prepared to make the time pass agreeably till they were admitted to their highest honors at the moment of embarkation the great king sent his own son who spoke thus to them in his name my dear children I have called you from inaction and insensibility to render you happy by feeling by action, by life never forget I am your king and obey my commands by cultivating the country I confide to you everyone will receive his portion of land and wise and learned men are appointed to explain my will to you I wish you all to acquire the knowledge of my laws and that every father should keep a copy to read daily to his children that they may never be forgotten and on the first day of the week you must all assemble as brothers in one place to hear these laws read and explained thus it will be easy for everyone to learn the best method of improving his land what to plant and how to cleanse it from the tears that might choke the good seed all may ask what they desire and every reasonable demand will be granted if it be conformable to the great end if you feel grateful for these benefits and testify it by increased activity and by occupying yourself on this day and expressing your gratitude to me I will take care this day of rest shall be a benefit and not a loss I wish that all your useful animals and even the wild beasts of the plains should on this day repose in peace he who obeys my commands and earthly abode shall receive a rich reward in the heavenly city but the idol, the negligent and the evil disposed shall be condemned to perpetual slavery or to labor in minds in the bowels of the earth from time to time I shall send ships to bring away individuals to be rewarded or punished as they have fulfilled my commands none can deceive me a magic mirror will show me the actions and thoughts of all the colonists were satisfied and eager to begin their labor the portions of land and instruments of labor were distributed to them with seeds and useful plants and fruit trees they were then left to turn these good gifts to profit but what followed? everyone did as he wished some planted their ground with groves and gardens pretty and useless others planted wild fruit instead of the good fruit the great king had commanded a third had sowed good seed but not knowing the tears from the wheat he had torn up all before they reached maturity but the most part left their land uncultivated they had lost their seeds or spoiled their implements many would not understand the orders of the great king and others tried by subtlety to evade them a few labored with courage as they had been taught rejoicing in the hope of the promise given them their greatest danger was in the disbelief of their teachers though everyone had a copy of the law few read it all were ready by some excuse to avoid this duty some asserted they knew it yet never thought on it but these the laws of past times not of the present others said the great king did not regard the action of his subjects that he had neither mines nor dungeons and that all would certainly be taken to the heavenly city they began to neglect the duties of the day dedicated to the great king few assembled and of these the most part were inattentive and did not profit by the instruction given them but the great king was faithful to his word from time to time frickets appeared bearing the name of some disease these were followed by a large vessel called the grave bearing the terrible flag of the admiral death this flag was of two colors green and black and appeared to the colonists according to their state the smiling color of hope or the gloomy hue of despair this fleet always arrived unexpectedly and was usually unwelcome the officers were sent out by the admiral to seize those he pointed out many who were unwilling were compelled to go and others whose land was prepared and even the harvest ripening were summoned but these went joyfully sure that they went to happiness the fleet being ready sailed for the heavenly city then the great king in his justice awarded the punishments and recompenses excuses were now too late the negligent and disobedient were sent to labor in the dark minds while the faithful and obedient arrayed in bright robes were received into their glorious abodes of happiness I have finished my parable my dear children reflect on it and profit by it fritz what do you think of it I am considering the goodness of the great king and the ingratitude of his people answered he and how foolish they were said earnest with a little prudence they might have kept their land in good condition and secured a pleasant life afterwards away with them to the mines cried Jack they richly deserve such a doom how much I should like said Francis to see those soldiers in their shining armor I hope you will see them some day my dear boy if you continue to be good and obedient I then explained my parable fully and applied the moral to each of my sons directly you fritz should take warning from the people who planted wild fruit and wish to make them pass for good fruit such as those who are proud of natural virtues easy to exercise such as bodily strength or physical courage and place these above the qualities which are only attained by labor impatience you earnest must remember the subjects who laid out their land in flowery gardens like those who seek the pleasures of life rather than the duties and you my thoughtless Jack and little Francis think of the fate of those who left their land untilled or heedlessly sold tears for wheat these are God's people who neither study nor reflect who cast to the winds all instruction and leave room in their minds for evil then let us all be like the good laborers of the parable constantly cultivating our ground that when death comes for us we may willingly follow him to the feet of the great king to hear these blessed words good and faithful servants enter into the joy of your Lord this made a great impression on my children we concluded by singing a hymn then my good wife produced from her unfailing bag a copy of the holy scripture from which I selected such passages as applied to our situation and explain them to my best ability my boys remained for some time thoughtful and serious and though they followed their innocent recreations during the day they did not lose sight of the useful lesson of the morning but by a more gentle and amiable manner showed that my words had taken effect the next morning Ernest had used my bow which I had given him very skillfully bringing down some dozens of small birds a sort of hortiland from the branches of our tree where they assemble to feed on the figs this induced them all to wish for such a weapon I was glad to comply with their wishes as I wished them to become skillful in the use of these arms of our forefathers which might be of great value to us when our ammunition failed I made two bows and two quivers to contain their arrows of a flexible piece of bark and attaching a strap to them I soon armed my little archers Fritz was engaging him preparing the skin of the Marguer with more care than Jack had shown with that of the jackal I showed him how to clean it by rubbing it with sand in the river till no vestige of fat or flesh was left and then applying butter to render it flexible these employments filled up the morning till dinnertime came we had Ernest's hortilands and some fried ham and eggs which made us a sumptuous repast I gave my boys leave to kill as many hortilands as they chose for I knew that half roasted and put into casks covered with butter they would keep for a length of time and prove an invaluable resource in time of need as I continued my work making arrows and a bow for Francis I intimated to my wife that the abundant supply of figs would save our grain as the poultry and pigeons would feed on them as well as the hortilands this was a great satisfaction to her and thus another day passed and we mounted to our dormitory to taste the sweet slumber that follows a day of toil End of Chapter This is the LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 13 The next morning all were engaged in archery I completed the bow for Francis and at his particular request made him a quiver too The delicate bark of a tree, united by glue obtained from our portable soup formed an admirable quiver this I suspended by a string round the neck of my boy furnished with arrows then taking his bow in his hand he was as proud as a knight armed at all points After dinner I proposed that we should give names to all the parts of our island known to us in order that by a pleasing delusion we might fancy ourselves in an inhabited country My proposal was well received and then began the discussion of names Jack wished for something high sounding and difficult such as Monomotapa or Zanguibar very difficult words to puzzle anyone who visited our island but I objected to this as we were the most likely to have to use the names ourselves and we should suffer from it I rather suggested that we should give in our own language such simple names as should point out some circumstance connected with a spot I proposed we should begin with a bay where we landed and called on Fritz for his name The Bay of Oysters said he we found so many there Oh no! said Jack let it be Lobster Bay for there I was caught by the leg Then we ought to call it the Bay of Tears said Ernest to commemorate those you shed on the occasion My advice said my wife is that in gratitude to God we should name it Safety Bay We were all pleased with this name and proceeded to give the name of Tenthouse to our first abode Shark Island to the little island in the bay where we had found that animal and at Jack's Desire the marshy spot where we had cut our arrows was named Flamingo Marsh There the height from which we had vainly sought traces of our shipmates received the name of Cape Disappointment The river was to be Jackal River and the bridge Family Bridge The most difficult point was to name our present abode At last we agreed on the name of Falcon's Nest in German Falconhoist This was received with acclamations and I poured out for my young nestlings each a glass of sweet wine to drink prosperity to Falcon's Nest We thus laid the foundation of the geography of our new country promising to forward it to Europe by the first post After dinner my sons returned to their occupation as tanners Fritz to complete his belt and Jack to make a sort of cuirass of the formidable skin of the porcupine to protect the docks He finished by making a sort of helmet from the head of the animal as strange as the cuirasses The heat of the day being over we prepared to set out to walk to Tenthouse to renew our stock of provisions and endeavor to bring the geese and ducks to our new residence But instead of going by the coast we proposed to go up the river to push the chain of rocks and continue under their shade till we got to the cascade where we could cross and return by family bridge This was approved and we set out Fritz decorated with a beautiful belt of skin Jack in his porcupine helmet Each had a gun and game bag except Francis who with his pretty fair face his golden hair and his bow and quiver was a perfect cupid My wife was loaded with a large supply Turk walked before us with his coat of mail and Flora followed keeping at a respectful distance from him for fear of the darts Nips as my boys called the monkey finding this new saddle very inconvenient jumped off with many contortions but soon fixed on Flora who not being able to shake him off was compelled to become his pal free The road by the river was smooth and pleasant When we reached the end of the wood and now the boys who had been rambling about came running up out of breath Ernest was holding a plant with leaves and flowers and green apples hanging on it Potatoes said he I am certain they are potatoes God be praised said I this precious plant will secure provision for a colony Well said Jack if his superior knowledge discovered them I will be the first to dig them up and he set to work so ardently that we soon had a bag of fine ripe potatoes which we carried on to Tenthouse End of chapter Chapter 14 We have been much delighted with the new and lovely scenery of our road the prickly cactus and aloe with its white flowers the indian fig the white and yellow jasmine the fragrant vanilla throwing round its graceful festoons Above all the regal pineapple grew in profusion and we feasted on it for the first time with evidity Among the prickly stalks of the cactus and aloes I perceived a plant with large pointed leaves which I knew to be the karate I pointed out to the boys its beautiful red flowers the leaves are an excellent application to wounds and thread is made from the filaments and the pith of the stem is used by the savage tribes for tinder When I showed the boys by experiment the use of the pith they thought the tinder tree would be almost as useful as the potatoes At all events, I said it will be more useful than the pineapples your mother will be thankful for thread when her enchanted bag is exhausted How happy it is for us, said she that you have devoted yourself to reading and study In our ignorance we might have passed this treasure without suspecting its value Fritz inquired of what use and the world all the rest of these prickly plants could be which wounded everyone that came near All of these have their use, Fritz said I Some contain juices and gums which are daily made use of in medicine Others are useful in the arts or in manufactures The Indian fig, for instance, is a most interesting tree it grows in the most arid soil the fruit is said to be sweet and wholesome In a moment my little active jack was climbing the rocks to gather some of these figs but he had not remarked that they were covered with thousands of slender thorns and the finest needles which terribly wounded his fingers he returned weeping bitterly and dancing with pain having rallied him a little for his greediness I extracted the thorns and then showed him how to open the fruit by first cutting off the pointed end as it lay on the ground into this I fixed a piece of stick and then paired it with my knife The novelty of the expedient recommended it and they were soon all engaged eating the fruit was very good In the meantime, I saw Ernest examining one of the figs very attentively Oh, pa-pa! said he What a singular sight! The fig is covered with a small red insect I cannot shake them off Can they be the cocconeal? I recognized it once the precious insect of which I explained to my sons the nature and use It is with this insect, said I, that the beautiful enriched scarlet dye is made It is found in America and the Europeans give its weight in gold for it Thus, discoursing on the wonders of nature and the necessity of increasing our knowledge by observation and study, we arrived at Tenthouse and found it in the same state as we left it We all began to collect necessaries Fritz loaded himself with powder and shot I opened the butter-cask and my wife and little Francis filled the pot Ernest and Jack went to try and secure the trucks but they had become so wild that it would have been impossible if Ernest had not thought of an expedient He tied pieces of cheese for bait to threads which he floated on the water The voracious creatures immediately swallowed the cheese and were drawn out by the thread They were then securely tied and fastened to the game bags to be carried home on our backs As the bait could not be recovered the boys contented themselves with cutting off the string close to the beak to bring them to digest the rest Our bags were already loaded with potatoes but we filled up the spaces between them with salt and having relieved Turk of his armor we placed the heaviest on his back I took the butter-pot and after replacing everything and closing our tent we resumed our march with our ludicrous encumbrances The geese and ducks were very noisy in their adieu to their old marsh The dogs barked and we all laughed so excessively that we forgot our burdens till we sat down again under our tree My wife soon had her pot of potatoes on the fire She then milked the cow and goat while I set the fowls at Liberty on the banks of the river We then sat down to a smoking dish of potatoes a jug of milk and butter and cheese After supper we had prayers thanking God especially for his new benefits and we then sought our repose amongst the leaves This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 15 I had observed on the shore the preceding day a quantity of wood suit to make a sledge to convey our casks and heavy stores from tent house to falcons nest At dawn of day I woke Ernest whose inclination to indolence I wished to overcome and leaving the rest to sleep we descended and harnessing the ass to a strong branch of the tree that was lying near we proceeded to the shore I had no difficulty in selecting proper pieces of wood We saw them the right length, tied them together and laid them across the bow the patient animal drew very contentedly We added to the load a small chest we discovered half buried in the sand and we returned homewards Ernest leading the ass and I assisted by raising the load with a lever when we met with any obstruction My wife had been rather alarmed but seeing the result of our expedition and hearing of the prospect of a sledge she was satisfied I opened the chest which contained only some sailor's dresses and some linen both wedded with seawater but likely to be very useful as our own clothes decayed I found Fritz and Jack had been shooting orderlands they had killed about fifty and had consumed so much powder and shot that I trekked a prodigality so imprudent in our situation I taught them to make snares for the birds of the threads we drew from the karate leaves we had brought home My wife and her two younger sons busied themselves with these while I with my two elder boys began to construct the sledge As we were working we heard a great noise among the fowls and Ernest looking about discovered the monkey seizing and hiding the eggs from the nests he had collected a good store and a hole among the roots which Ernest carried to his mother and nips was punished by being tied up every morning till the eggs were collected Our work was interrupted by dinner composed of orderlands, milk and cheese After dinner Jack had climbed to the higher branches of the trees and found the snares and found the pigeons were making nests I then told him to look often to the snares for fear our own poor birds should be taken and above all never in future to fire into the tree Papa, said little Francis can we not sow some gunpowder and then we shall have plenty This proposal was received with shouts of laughter which greatly discomposed the little innocent fellow Professor Ernest immediately seized the opportunity to give a lecture on the composition of gunpowder At the end of the day my sledge was finished Two long curved planks of wood crossed by three pieces at a distance from each other formed the simple conveyance The four and hind parts were in the form of horns to keep the load from falling off Two ropes were fastened to the front and my sledge was complete My wife was delighted with it and hoped I would now set out immediately to tent house for the butter cask I made no objection to this and Ernest and I prepared to go and leave Fritz in charge of the family End of chapter 15 Chapter 16 When we were ready to set out Fritz presented each of us with a little case he had made when the skin of the Marguer They were ingeniously contrived to contain knife, fork and spoon and a small hatchet We then harnessed the ass and the cow to the sledge took a flexible bamboo cane hip and followed by flora we departed, leaving Turk to guard the tree We went by the shore as the better road for the sledge and crossing family bridge were soon at tent house After unharnessing the animals we began to load We took the cask of butter, the cheese and the biscuit, all the rest of our utensils powder, shot and Turk's armor which we had left there These labors had so occupied us that we had not observed that our animals We headed by the pasture edge had crossed the bridge and wandered out of sight I sent Ernest to seek them and in the meantime went to the bay where I discovered some convenient little hollows in the rock that seemed cut out for baths I called Ernest to come until he arrived employed myself in cutting some rushes which I thought might be useful When my son came I found he had ingeniously removed the first planks from the bridge to prevent the animal straying over again on the path and Ernest being out first I sent him to the rock where the salt was accumulated to fill a small bag to be transferred to the large bags on the ass he had not been absent long when I heard him cry out a huge fish, I cannot hold it it will break my line I ran to his assistance and found him lying on the ground on his face tugging at his line to which an enormous salmon was attached and that it nearly pulled him into the water a little more line then drew it gently into a shallow and secured it it appeared about fifteen pounds weight and we pleased ourselves with the idea of presenting this to our good cook Ernest said he remembered having remarked how this place swarmed with fish and he took care to bring his rod with him he had taken about a dozen small fishes which he had in his handkerchief before he was overpowered by the salmon I cut the fishes open and rubbed the inside with salt to preserve them then placing them in a small box on the sledge and adding our bags of salt we harnessed our animals and set off homewards when we were about half way Flora left us and by her barking raised a singular animal which seemed to leap instead of run the irregular bounds of the animal disconcerted my aim and though very near I missed it Ernest was more fortunate he fired at it and killed it it was an animal about the size of a sheep with a tail of a tiger its head and skin were like those of a mouse ears longer than the hair there was a curious pouch on the belly the four legs were short as if imperfectly developed and armed with strong claws the hind legs long like a pair of stilts after Ernest's pride of victory was a little subdued he fell back on his science and began to examine his spoil by its teeth, said he it should belong to the family of rodents or gnaws by its legs to the jumpers and by its pouch to the opossum tribe this gave me the right clue then said I this must be the animal Cook first discovered in New Holland and it is called the kangaroo we now tied the legs of the animal together and putting a stick through carried it to the sledge very carefully for Ernest was anxious to preserve the beautiful skin our animals were heavily laden but giving them a little rest and some fresh grass we once more started and in a short time reached Falcon's nest my wife had been employed during our absence in washing the clothes of the three boys clothing them in the meantime from the sailor's chest we had found a few days before their appearance was excessively ridiculous as the garments neither suited their age nor size and cause great mirth to us all but my wife had preferred this disguise to the alternative of their going naked we now began to display our riches and relate our adventures the butter and the rest of the provisions were very welcome and the salmon still more so but the sight of the kangaroo produced screams of admiration Fritz displayed a little jealousy but soon surmounted it by an exertion of his nobler feelings and only the keen eye of a father could have discovered it he congratulated Ernest warmly I could not help begging to accompany me next time I promise you that, said I as a reward for the conquest you have achieved over your jealousy of your brother but remember I could not have given you a greater proof of my confidence than in leaving you to protect your mother and brothers a noble mind finds its purest joy in the accomplishment of its duty and to that willingly sacrifices its inclination but I added in a low tone lest I should distress my wife I propose another expedition to the vessel and you must accompany me we then fed our tired animals giving them some salt with their grass a great treat to them some salmon was prepared for dinner and the rest salted after dinner I hung up the kangaroo till next day when we intended to salt and smoke the flesh evening arrived and an excellent supper of fish or talants and potatoes refreshed us and after thanks to God we retired to rest End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 17 I rose early and descended the ladder a little uneasy about my kangaroo and found I was but just in time to save it for my dogs had so enjoyed their repast on the entrails which I had given them the night before that they wished to appropriate the rest they had succeeded in tearing off the head which was in their reach and were devouring it in a sort of growling partnership as we had no storeroom for our provision I decided to administer a little correction as a warning to these gluttons I gave them some smart strokes with a cane and they fled howling to the stable under the roots Their cries roused my wife who came down and though she could not but allow the chastisement to be just and prudent she was so moved by compassion that she consoled the poor sufferers with some remains of last night's supper I now carefully stripped the kangaroo of his elegant skin myself and changing my dress after this unpleasant operation I joined my family at breakfast I then announced my plan of visiting the vessel and ordered frits to begin preparations my wife resigned herself mournfully to the necessity when we were ready to depart Ernest and Jack were not to be found their mother suspected they had gone to get potatoes this called my apprehension but I charged her to reprimand them for going without leave we set out towards Ted House leaving Flora to protect the household and taking our guns as usual we had scarcely left the wood and were approaching Jackal River when we heard piercing cries and suddenly Ernest and Jack leap from a thicket delighted as Jack said and having succeeded in their plan of accompanying us and moreover in making us believe we were beset with savages they were however disappointed I gave them a severe reproof for their disobedience and sent them home with a message to their mother that I thought we might be detained all night and beg she would not be uneasy they listened to me in great confusion and were much mortified at their dismissal but I begged frits to give Ernest his silver watch that they might know how the time passed and I knew that I could replace it as there was a case of watches in the ship this reconciled them a little to their lot and they left us we went forward to our boat and aided by the current soon reached the vessel my first care was to construct some more convenient transport vessel than our boat fritz proposed a raft similar to those used by savage nations supported on skins filled with air these we had not but we found a number of water hogs heads which we emptied and closed again and threw a dozen of them into the sea between the ship and our boat some long planks were laid on these and secured with ropes we added a raised edge of planks to secure our cargo and thus had a solid raft capable of conveying any burden this work occupied us the whole day scarcely interrupted by eating a little cold meat from our game bags exhausted by fatigue we were glad to take a good night's rest in the captain's cabin on an elastic mattress of which our hammocks had made us forget the comfort early next morning we began to load our raft we began by entirely stripping our own cabin and that of the captain we carried away even the doors and windows the chests of the carpenter and the gunner followed there were cases of rich jewelry and caskets of money which at first tempted us but were speedily relinquished for objects of real utility I preferred a case of young plants of European fruits carefully packed in moss for transportation I saw with delight among these precious plants apple, pear, plum orange, apricot peach, almond and chestnut trees and some young shoots of vines how I longed to plant these familiar trees of home in a foreign soil we secured some bars of iron and pigs of lead grindstones, cartwheels ready for mounting tongs, shovels, plowshares packets of copper and iron wire sacks of maize, peas oats and vetches and even a small hand mill had been in fact laden with everything likely to be useful in a new colony we found a sawmill in pieces but marked so that it could be easily put together it was difficult to select but we took as much as was safe on the raft adding a large fishing net and the ship's compass Fritz begged to take the harpoons which he hung by the ropes over the bow of the boat and I indulged his fancy we were now loaded as far as prudence would allow us so, attaching our raft firmly to the boat, we hoisted our sail and made slowly to the shore end of chapter 17 chapter 18 the wind was favorable but we advanced slowly the floating mass that we had to tug retarding us Fritz had been some time regarding a large object in the water he called me to steer a little towards it that he might see what it was I went to the rudder and made the movement slowly I heard the whistling of the cord and fell to shock then a second which was followed by a rapid motion of the boat we're going to fowlder, cried I, what's the matter? I've caught it, shouted Fritz I've harpooned it in the neck, it is a turtle I saw the harpoon shining at a distance and the turtle was rapidly drawing us along by the line I lowered the sail and rushed forward to cut the line but Fritz besought me not to do it he assured me there was no danger he himself would release us if necessary I reluctantly consented and saw a whole convoy drawn by an animal whose agony increased its strength as we drew near the shore I endeavored to steer so that we might not strike and be capsized I saw after a few minutes that our conductor again wanted to make out to sea I therefore hoisted the sail and the wind being in our favor he found resistance vain and tugging as before followed up the current only taking more to the left towards Falcon's Nest and landing us in a shallow, rested on the shore I leaped out of the boat and with a hatchet soon put our powerful conductor out of his misery Fritz uttered a shout of joy and fired off his gun as a signal of our arrival all came running to greet us and great was their surprise not only at the value of our cargo but at the strange mode by which it had been brought into harbor my first care was to send them for the sledge to remove some of our load without delay and as the ebbing tide was leaving our vessels almost dry on the sand I profited by the opportunity to secure them by the aid of the jackscrew and levers we raised and brought to the shore two large pieces of lead from the raft these served for anchors and connected to the boat and raft by strong cables fixed them safely as soon as the sledge arrived we placed the turtle with some difficulty on it as it weighed at least 300 weight we added some lighter articles the mattresses, some small chests et cetera and proceeded with our first load to falcons nest in great spirits as we walked on Fritz told them of the wondrous cases of jewelry we had abandoned for things of use Jack wished Fritz had brought him a gold snuff box to hold curious seeds and Francis wished for some of the money to buy gingerbread at the fair but he laughed at the little simpleton who could not help laughing himself when he remembered his distance from fares arrived at home our first care was to turn the turtle on his back to get the excellent meat out of the shell with my hatchet I separated the cartilages that unite the shells the upper shell is convex the lower one nearly flat we had some of the turtle prepared for dinner though my wife felt great repugnance in touching the green fat of it being the chief delicacy to an epicure we salted the remainder of the flesh and gave the awful to the dogs the boys were all clamorous to possess the shell but I said it belonged to Fritz by right of conquest and he must dispose of it as he thought best then said he, I will make a basin of it and place it near the river that my mother may always keep it full of fresh water very good, said I and we will fill our basin as we find some clay to make a solid foundation I found some this morning, said Jack, a whole bed of clay and I brought these balls home to show you and I have made a discovery too, said Ernest look at these roots like radishes I have not eaten any but the sow enjoys them very much a most valuable discovery indeed, said I if I am not mistaken, this is the root of the maniac which with the potatoes would ensure us from famine of this root, they make in the West Indies a sort of bread called cassava bread in its natural state, it contains a violent poison but by a process of heating it, it becomes wholesome the nutritious tapioca is a preparation from this root by this time, we had unloaded and proceeded to the shore to bring a second load before night came on we brought up two chests of our own clothes and property some chests of tools, the cartwheels and a hand of mill likely now to be of use for the cassava after unloading, we sat down to an excellent supper of turtle with potatoes instead of bread after supper, my wife said, smiling after such a hard day I think I can give you something to restore you she then brought a bottle and glasses and filled us each a glass of clear amber colored wine I found it excellent Malaga she had been down to the shore the previous day and there found a small cask thrown up by the waves this with the assistance of her sons she had rolled up to the foot of our tree and there covered it with leaves to keep it cool till our arrival we were so invigorated by this cordial that we set briskly to work to hoist up our mattresses to our dormitory which we accomplished by the aid of ropes and police my wife received and arranged them and after our usual evening devotions we gladly lay down on them to enjoy a night of sweet repose End of Chapter I rose before daylight and leaving my family sleeping descended to go to the shore to look after my vessels I found all the animals moving the dogs leaped about me the cocks were crowing the goats browsing on the dewy grass the ass alone was sleeping and as he was the assistant I wanted I was compelled to rouse him a preference which did not appear to flatter him nevertheless I harnessed him to the sledge and followed by the dogs went forward to the coast where I found my boat and raft safe at anchor I took up a moderate load and came home to breakfast but found all still as I left them I called my family and they sprung up ashamed of their sloth my wife declared it must have been the good mattress that had charmed her I gave my boys a short admonition for their sloth we then came down to a hasty breakfast and returned to the coast to finish the unloading of the boats that I might at high water take them round to Moor at the usual place in the Bay of Safety I sent my wife up with a last load while Fritz and I embarked and seeing Jack watching us I presented that he should form one of the crew for I had determined to make another visit to the wreck before I moored my craft when we reached the vessel the day was so far advanced that we only had time to collect hastily anything easy to embark my sons ran over the ship Jack came trundling a wheelbarrow which he said would be excellent for fetching the potatoes in but Fritz brought me good news he had found between decks a beautiful penis a small vessel of which the prow is square taken to pieces with all its fittings and even two small guns I saw that all the pieces were numbered in place and order nothing was wanting I felt the importance of this acquisition but it would take days of labor to put it together and then how could we launch it at present I felt I must renounce the undertaking I returned to my loading it consisted of all sorts of utensils a copper boiler, some plates of iron tobacco graters, two grindstones a barrel of powder and one of flints Jack did not forget his wheelbarrow and we found two more which we added to our cargo and then sailed off speedily to avoid the land wind which rises in the evening as we drew near we were astonished to see a row of little creatures standing on the shore apparently regarding us with much curiosity they were dressed in black with white waistcoats and thick cravats their arms hung down carelessly but from time to time they raised them and pushed to bestow on us a fraternal embrace I believe said I, laughing this must be the country of pygmies and they are coming to welcome us they are the Lilliputians father said Jack, I read of them but I thought they had been less as if Gulliver's travels were true said Fritz in a tone of derision then there are no pygmies ASCII no my dear boy said I all these stories are either the invention of the navigators who have taken troops of monkeys for men or who have wished to repeat something marvelous but the romance of Gulliver is an allegory intended to convey great truths and now said Fritz, I begin to see our pygmies have big sin wings you're right, said I they are penguins as Ernest explained to us some time since they are good swimmers but unable to fly are very helpless on land I steered gently to the shore but Jack leaped into the water up to his knees and dashing among the penguins with a stick struck right and left knocking down half a dozen of the poor stupid birds before they were aware some of these we brought away alive the rest not liking such a reception took to the water and were soon out of sight I scolded Jack for his useless rashness for the flesh of the penguin is by no means a delicacy we now filled our three wheel-bearers with such things as we could carry not forgetting the sheets of iron and the graters and trudged home our dogs announced our approach and all rushed out to greet us a curious and merry examination commenced they laughed at my graters but I let them laugh for I had a project in my head the penguins I intended for our poultry yard and for the present I ordered the boys to tie each of them by a leg to one of our geese or ducks who opposed the bondage very clamorously but necessity made them submissive my wife showed me a large store of potatoes and manioc roots which she and her children had dug up the evening before we then went to supper and talked of all we had seen in the vessel especially of the penis which we had been obliged to leave my wife did not feel much regret on this account as she dreaded maritime expeditions though she agreed she might have felt less uneasiness if we had had a vessel of this description I gave my sons a charge to rise early next morning as we had an important business on hand and curiosity roused them all in very good time after our usual preparations for the day I addressed them thus gentlemen I am going to teach you all a new business that of a baker give me the plates of iron and the graters we brought yesterday my wife was astonished but I requested her to wait patiently and she should have bread not perhaps light buns but eatable flat cakes she was to make me two small bags of sail cloth she obeyed me but at the same time I observed she put the potatoes on the fire a proof she had not much faith in my bread-making I then spread a cloth over the ground and giving each of the boys a grater we began to grate the carefully washed manioc roots resting the end on the cloth in a short time we had a heap of what appeared to be moist white sawdust certainly not tempting to the appetite the workmen were amused with their labor ingested no little about the cakes made of scraped radishes laugh now boys, said I we shall see after a while but you, Ernest, ought to know that manioc is one of the most precious of elementary roots forming the principal sustenance of many nations of America and often preferred by Europeans who inhabit those countries to wheat and bread when all the roots were grated I filled the two bags closely with a pallard the wife sewed the ends up firmly it was now necessary to apply strong pressure to extract the juice from the root as this juice is a deadly poison I selected an oak beam one end of which we fixed between the roots of our tree beneath this I placed our bags on a row of little blocks of wood I then took a large bow which I had cut from a tree and prepared for the purpose and laid it across them we all united then in drawing down the opposite end of the plank over the bow till we got it to a certain point when we suspended to it the heaviest substances we possessed hammers, bars of iron and masses of lead this acting upon the manioc the sap burst through the cloth and flowed on the ground copiously when I thought the pressure was complete we relieved the bags from the lever and opening one drew out a handful of the pallard still rather moist resembling coarse maize flour it only wants a little heat to complete our success said I in great delight I ordered a fire to be lighted and fixing one of our iron plates which was round in form and rather concave on two stones placed on each side of the fire I covered it with a flower which we took from the bag with a small wooden shovel it soon formed a solid cake which we turned that it might be equally baked it smelled so good that we all wished to commence eating immediately and I had some difficulty in convincing them that this was only a trial and that our baking was still imperfect besides, as I had told them that there were three kinds of manioc of which one contained more poison than the rest I thought it prudent to try whether we had perfectly extracted it by giving a small quantity to our fouls as soon therefore as the cake was cold I gave some to two chickens which I kept apart and also some to master Nip's the monkey for the first time do us a little service he ate it with so much relish and such grimaces of enjoyment that my young party were quite anxious to share his feast but I ordered them to wait till we could judge of the effect and leaving our employment we went to our dinner of potatoes to which my wife had added one of the penguins which was truly rather tough and fishy but as Jack would not allow this and declared it was a dish fit for a king we allowed him to regale on it as much as he liked during dinner I talked to them of the various preparations made from the manioc I told my wife we could obtain an excellent starch from the expressed juice but this did not interest her much as at present she usually wore the dress of a sailor for convenience and had neither caps nor collars to starch the cake made from the root is called by the natives of the Antilles cassava and in no savage nation do we find any word we find bread an article of food unknown to them we spoke of poisons and I explained to my sons the different nature and effects of them especially I warned them against the mancaneel which ought to grow in this part of the world I described the fruit to them as resembling a tempting yellow apple with red spots which is one of the most deadly poisons it is said that even to sleep under the tree is dangerous I forbade them to taste any unknown fruit and they promised to obey me on leaving the table we went to visit the victims of our experiment Jack whistled for nips who came in three bounds from the summit of a high tree where he had doubtless been plundering some nest and his vivacity and the peaceful cackling of the vows assured us our preparation was harmless now gentlemen said I laughing to the bakehouse and let us see what we can do I wished them each to try to make the cakes they immediately kindled the fire and heated the iron plate in the meantime I broke up a grated cassava and mixed it with a little milk and giving each of them a coconut basin filled with the paste I showed them how to pour it with a spoon upon the plate and spread it about when the paste began to puff up I judged it was baked on one side and turned it like a pancake with a fork and after a little time we had a quantity of nice yellow biscuits a jug of milk made us a delicious collation and determined us without delay to set about cultivating the maniac the rest of the day was employed in bringing up the remainder of our cargo by means of the sledge and the useful wheel barrows End of chapter This is the LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 20 The next morning I decided on returning to the wreck The idea of the penis continually haunted my mind and left me no repose but it was necessary to take all the hands I could raise and with difficulty I got my wife's consent to take my three elder sons on promising her we would return in the evening We set out taking provision for the day and soon arrived at the vessel when my boys began to load the raft with all manner of portable things but the great matter was the penis it was contained in the after hold of the vessel immediately below the officer's births My sons with all the ardor of their age begged to begin by clearing a space in the vessel to put the penis together and we might afterwards think how we should launch it under any other circumstances I should have shown them a folly of such an undertaking but in truth I had myself a vague hope of success that encouraged me and I cried out to work to work! The hold was lighted by some chink in the ship's side We set diligently to work hacking, cutting and sawing away all obstacles and before evening we had a clear space round us but now it was necessary to return and we put to sea with our cargo purposing to continue our work daily During the Bay of Safety we had the pleasure of finding my wife and Francis who had established themselves at Tenthouse intending to continue there till our visits to the vessel were concluded that they might always keep us in sight and spare us the unnecessary labour of a walk after our day's work I thanked my wife tenderly for this kind sacrifice for I knew how much she enjoyed the cool shade of Falcon's Nest and in return I showed her the treasures we had brought her from the vessel butter, three hogs heads of flour several bags of millet, rice and other grains and a variety of useful household articles which she conveyed with great delight to our storehouse in the rocks for a week we spent every day in the vessel returning in the evening to enjoy a good supper and talk of our progress and my wife happily engrossed with her poultry and other household cares got accustomed to our absence with much hard labour the penis was at last put together its construction was light and elegant it looked as if it would sail well at the head was a short half-deck the masts and sails were like those of a brigantine we carefully cocked all the seams with tau dipped in melted tar and we even indulged ourselves by placing the two small guns in it fastened by chains and there stood the beautiful little bark immovable on the stalks we admired it incessantly but what could we do to get it to float the difficulty of forcing away through the mighty timbers lined with copper that formed the side of the ship was insurmountable suddenly suggested by the excess of my despair a bold but dangerous idea presented itself to me in which all might be lost as well as all gained I said nothing about this to my children to avoid the vexation of a possible disappointment but began to execute my plan I found a cast-iron mortar exactly fitted for my purpose which I filled with gunpowder I then took a strong oak plank to cover it to which I fixed iron hooks so that they could reach the handles of the mortar I cut a groove in the side of the plank that I might introduce a long match which should burn at least two hours before it reached the powder I placed the plank then over the mortar fastened the hooks through the handles surrounded it with pitch and then bound some strong chains round the hole to give it greater solidity I proceeded to suspend this infernal machine against the side of the ship near our work taking care to place it where the recoil from the explosion should not injure the penis when all was ready I gave the signal of departure my sons having been employed in the boat and not observing my preparations I remained a moment to fire the match and then hastily joined them with a beating heart and proceeded to the shore as soon as we reached our harbor I detached the raft that I might return in the boat as soon as I heard the explosion we began actively to unload the boat and while thus employed a report like thunder was heard all trembled and threw down their load in terror what can it be? cried they perhaps a signal from some vessel in distress let's go to their assistance it came from the vessel said my wife it must have blown up you have not been careful of fire and have left some near a barrel of gum powder at all events said I we will go and ascertain the cause who will go with me by way of reply my three sons leaped into the boat and consoling the anxious mother by a promise to return immediately away we rode we never made the voyage so quickly curiosity quickened the movements of my sons and I was all impatient to see the result of my project as we approached I was glad to see no appearance of flames or even smoke the position of the vessel did not seem altered instead of entering the vessel as usual we rounded the prow and came opposite the other side the greater part of the side of the ship was gone the sea was covered with the remains of it in its place stood our beautiful pinnace quite uninjured only leaning a little over the stocks at the site I cried out in a transport that amazed my sons victory victory the charming vessel is our own it will be easy now to launcher ah I comprehend now said fritz papa has blown up the ship but how could you manage to do it so exactly I explained all to him as we entered through the broken side of the devoted vessel I soon ascertained that no fire remained and that the pinnace had escaped any injury we set to work to clear away all the broken timbers in our way and by the aid of the jackscrew and leavers we moved the pinnace which we had taken there to build on rollers to the opening then attaching a strong cable to her head and fixing the other end to the most solid part of the ship we easily launched her it was too late to do any more now except carefully securing our prize and we returned to the good mother to whom wishing to give her an agreeable surprise we merely said that the side of the vessel was blown out with powder but we were still able to obtain more from it at which she sighed and in her heart I have no doubt wished the vessel and all it contained at the bottom of the sea we had two days of incessant labor in fitting and loading the pinnace finally after putting up our masks ropes and sails we selected a cargo of things our boats could not bring when all was ready my boys obtained permission as a reward for their industry to salute their mama as we entered the bay by firing our two guns Fritz was captain and captain jack at his command put their matches to the guns and fired my wife and little boy rushed out in alarm but our joyful shouts soon reassured them and they were ready to welcome us with astonishment and delight Fritz placed a plank from the pinnace to the shore and assisting his mother she came on board they gave her a new salute and christened the vessel the Elizabeth after her my wife praised our skill and perseverance she posed that Francis and she had been idle during our long absence we moored the little fleet safely to the shore and followed her up the river to the cascade where we saw a neat garden laid out in beds and walks this is our work said she the soil here being chiefly composed of decayed leaves is light and easy to dig there I have my potatoes there maniac roots these are sewn with peas, beans and lentils in this row of beds there are sewn lettuces, radishes, cabbages and other European vegetables I have reserved one part for sugar canes on the high ground I have transplanted pineapples and sewn melons finally round every bed I have sewn a border of maize that the high bushy stems may protect the young plants from the sun I was delighted with the result of the labor and industry of a delicate female and a child and could scarcely believe it was accomplished in so short a time I must confess I had no great hope of success at first said my wife and this made me averse to speaking of it afterwards when I suspected you had a secret I determined to have one too and give you a surprise after again applauding these useful labors we returned to discharge our cargo and as we went my good Elizabeth still full of horticultural plans reminded me of the young fruit trees we have brought from the vessel I promised to look after them next day and to establish my orchard near her kitchen garden we unloaded our vessels placed on the sledge all that might be useful at falcons nest and arranging the rest under the tent fixed our penis to the shore by means of the anchor and a cord fastened to a heavy stone and at length set out to falcons nest where we arrived soon to the great comfort of my wife who dreaded the burning plane at tent house End of Chapter 20 This is LibriVox Recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 21 After I returned to falcons nest I requested my sons to continue their exercises and gymnastics I wished to develop all the vigor and energy that nature had given them and which in our situation were especially necessary I added to archery, racing, leaving wrestling and climbing trees either by the trunks or by a rope suspended from the branches as sailors climb I next taught them to use the lasso a powerful weapon by aid of which the people of South America capture savage animals I fixed two balls of lead to the end of a cord about a fathom and length I told them, use this weapon with wonderful dexterity Having no lead in balls, they attach a heavy stone to each end of a cord about 30 yards long If they wish to capture an animal, they hurl one of the stones at it with singular address By the peculiar art with which the ball is thrown the rope makes a turn or two around the neck of the animal which remains entangled without the power of escaping In order to show the power of this weapon I took aim at the trunk of a tree which they pointed out and it was quite successful The end of the rope passed two or three times around the trunk of the tree and remained firmly fixed to it If the tree had been the neck of a tiger I should have been absolute master of it This experiment decided them all to learn the use of the lasso Ritz was soon skillful in throwing it and I encouraged the rest to persevere in acquiring the same facility as the weapon might be invaluable to us when our ammunition failed The next morning I saw that the sea was too much agitated for any expedition in the boats I therefore turned to some home employments We looked over our stores for winter provision My wife showed me a cask of waterlands she had preserved in butter and a quantity of loaves of cassava bread carefully prepared She pointed out that the pigeons had built in the tree and were sitting on their eggs We then looked over the young fruit trees brought from Europe and my sons and I immediately laid out a piece of ground The day passed in these employments and as we had lived only on potatoes cassava bread and milk for this day we determined to go off next morning in pursuit of game to recruit our larder At dawn of day we all started including little Francis and his mother who wished to take this opportunity of seeing a little more of the country My sons and I took our arms I harnessed the ass to the sledge which contained our provision for the day and was destined to bring back the products of the chase Turk, accoutred in his coat of mail formed the advance guard My sons followed with their guns then came my wife with Francis leading the ass and at a little distance I closed the procession with master nips mounted on the patient flora We crossed Flamingo Marsh and there my wife was charmed with the richness of the vegetation and the lofty trees Fritz left us thinking this a favorable spot for game We soon heard the report of his gun and an enormous bird fell a few paces from us I ran to assist him as he had much difficulty in securing his prize which was only wounded in the wing and was defending itself vigorously with its beak and claws I threw a handkerchief over its head and confused by the darkness I had no difficulty in binding it and conveying it in triumph to the sledge We were all in raptures at the sight of this beautiful creature which Ernest pronounced to be a female My wife hoped that the bird might be domesticated among our poultry and attracting some morbid species might enlarge our stock of useful fowls We soon arrived at the wood of monkeys as we called it where we had obtained our coconuts and Fritz related the laughable scene of the stratagem to his mother and brothers Ernest looked up wistfully at the nuts but there were no monkeys to throw them down Do they never fall from the trees and hardly had he spoken A large coconut fell at his feet succeeded by a second to my great astonishment for I saw no animal in the tree and I was convinced the nuts in the half-ripe state as these were could not fall of themselves It is exactly like a fairy tale said Ernest I only had to speak and my wish was accomplished And here comes the magician said, ah yes, after a shower of nuts I saw a huge land crab descending the tree quietly and quite regardless of our presence Jack boldly struck a blow at him but missed and the animal opening its enormous claws made up to its opponent who fled in terror but the laughter of his brothers made him ashamed and recalling his courage he pulled off his coat and threw it over the back of the crab this checked its movements and going to his assistance I killed it with a blow of my hatchet They all crowded round the frightful animal anxious to know what it was I told them it was a land crab which we might call the coconut crab as we owed such a store to it being unable to break the shell of the nut of which they are very fond they climb the tree and break them off in the unripe state they then descend to enjoy their feast which they obtain by inserting their claw through the small holes in the end and abstracting the contents they sometimes find them broken by the fall when they can eat them at pleasure the hideousness of the animal and the mingled terror and bravery of Jack gave a subject of conversation for some time we placed our booty on the sledge and continued to go on through the wood our path became every instant more intricate from the amazing quantity of creeping plants which choked the way and obliged us to use the axe continually the heat was excessive and we got on slowly when Ernest always observing and who was a little behind us cried out HALT! a new and important discovery we returned and he showed us that from the stalk of one of the creepers we had cut with our axe there was issuing clear pure water it was the Leon Rouge which in America furnishes the hunter such a precious resource against thirst Ernest was much pleased he filled a coconut cup with the water which flowed from the cut stalks like a fountain and carried it to his mother assuring her she might drink fearlessly delaying our thirst and blessing the gracious hand who has placed this refreshing plant in the midst of the dry wilderness for the benefit of man we now marched on with more vigor and soon arrived at the gourd wood where my wife and younger sons beheld with wonder the growth of this remarkable fruit Fritz repeated all the history of our former attempts and cut some gourds to make his mother some egg baskets and a large spoon to cream the milk under the shade and took some refreshment and afterwards while we all worked at making baskets bowls and flasks Ernest who had no taste for such labor explored the wood suddenly we saw him running to us in great terror crying a wild boar papa a great wild boar Fritz and I seized our guns and ran to the spot he pointed out the dogs preceding us we soon heard barking and loud grunting which proved the combat had begun and hoping for a good prize we hastened forward when what was our vexation when we found the dogs holding by the ears not a wild boar but our own great sow whose wild and intractable disposition had induced her to leave us and live in the woods we could not but laugh at our disappointment after a while and I made the dogs release the poor sow who immediately resumed her feast on a small fruit which had fallen from the trees and scattered on the ground and had evidently tempted the voracious beast to this part I took up one of these apples which somewhat resembled a medlar and opening it I found the contents of a rich and juicy nature but did not venture to taste it till we had put it to the usual test we collected a quantity I even broke a loaded branch from the tree and we returned to our party master nips no sooner saw them than he seized on some and crunched them up with great enjoyment that the fruit was wholesome and we regaled ourselves with some my wife was especially delighted when I told her that this must be the guava from which the delicious jelly is obtained so much prized in America but with all this said Fritz, we have a poor show of game do let us leave mama with the young ones and set off to see what we can meet with I consented and we left Ernest with his mother and Francis Jack wishing to accompany us we made towards the rocks at the right hand and Jack proceeded us a little when he startled us by crying out a crocodile, papa a crocodile you simpleton said I a crocodile on a place where there's not a drop of water papa I see it said the poor child his eyes fixed on one spot it is there on this rock sleeping I am sure it is a crocodile as soon as I was near enough to distinguish it I assured him his crocodile was a very harmless lizard called the iguana whose eggs and flesh were excellent food Fritz would immediately have shot at this frightful creature which was about five feet in length I showed him that his scaly coat rendered such an attempt useless I then cut a strong stick and a light wand to the end of the former I attached a cord with a noose this I held in my right hand keeping the wand in my left I approached softly whistling the animal awoke apparently listening with pleasure I drew nearer tickling him gently with a wand he lifted up his head and opened his formidable jaws I then dexterously through the noose around his neck drew it and jumping on his back by the aid of my sons held him down though he succeeded in giving Jack a desperate blow with his tail then plunging my wand up his nostrils a few drops of blood came and he died apparently without pain we now carried off our game I took him on my back holding him by the foreclaws while my boys carried the tail behind me and with shouts of laughter the procession returned to the sledge poor little Francis was in great dismay when he saw the terrible monster we brought and began to cry but we rallied him out of his cowardice and his mother satisfied with our exploits begged to return home as the sledge was heavily laden we decided to leave it till the next day placing on the ass the iguana the crab, our gourd vessels and a bag of the guavas little Francis also being mounted the bustered we loosed and securing it by a string tied to one of its legs led it with us we arrived at home in good time my wife prepared part of the iguana for supper which was pronounced excellent the crab was rejected as tough and tasteless our new utensils were then tried the egg baskets and the milk bowls and Fritz was charged to dig a hole in the earth to be covered with boards and serve as a dairy till something better was thought of finally we ascended our leafy abode and slept in peace End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 22 I projected an excursion with my eldest son to explore the limits of our country and satisfy ourselves that it was an island and not a part of a continent We set out ostensibly to bring the sledge we had left the previous evening I took Turk in the ass with us and left Flora with my wife and children and with a bag of provisions we left Falcon's Nest as soon as the breakfast was over In crossing a wood of oaks covered with the sweet, eatable acorn we again met with a sow Our service to her in the evening did not seem to be forgotten for she appeared tamer and did not run from us A little farther on we saw some beautiful birds Fritz shot some among which I recognized the large blue Virginian jay and some different kinds of parrots As he was reloading his gun the bird had a distance, a singular noise like a muffled drum mingled with the sound made in sharpening a saw It might be savages and we plunged into a thicket and there discovered the cause of the noise in a brilliant green bird seated on the withered trunk of a tree It spread its wings and tail and strutted about with strange contortions to the great delight of its mates who seemed lost in admiration of him At the same time he made the sharp cry we heard making his wing against the tree produced the drum-like sound I knew this to be the roughed grouse one of the greatest ornaments of the forests of America My insatiable hunter soon put an end to the scene He fired at the bird who fell dead and his crowd of admirers with piercing cries took to flight I reprimanded my son for so rashly killing everything we met with without consideration and for the mere love of destruction He seemed sensible of his error and as the thing was done I thought it as well to make the best of it and sent him to pick up his game What a creature! said he as he brought it How it would have figured in our poultry-yard if I had not been in such a hurry We went on to our sledge in the gourdwood and as the morning was not far advanced we determined to leave all here and proceed in our projected excursion beyond the chain of rocks But we took the ass with us to carry our provisions and any game or other object we should meet with in the new country we hoped to penetrate Amongst gigantic trees and through grass of a prodigious height we traveled with some labour looking right and left to avoid danger or to make discoveries Turk walked the first smelling the air then came the donkey with his grave and careless step and we followed with our guns and readiness We met with planes of potatoes and of manioc books of which were sporting tribes of agoutis but we were not tempted by such game We now met with a new kind of bush covered with small white berries about the size of a pea On pressing these berries which adhered to my fingers I discovered that this plant was the Myrica serifera or candleberry myrtle from which a wax is obtained that may be made into candles With great pleasure I gathered a bag of these berries knowing how my wife would appreciate this acquisition for she often lamented that we were compelled to go to bed with the birds as soon as the sun set We forgot our fatigue as we proceeded in contemplation of the wonders of nature flowers of marvellous beauty butterflies of more dazzling colours than the flowers and birds graceful in form and brilliant in plumage Fritz climbed a tree and succeeded in securing a young green parrot which he enveloped in his handkerchief with the intention of bringing it up to speak And now we met with another wonder a number of birds who lived in a community in nests sheltered by a common roof in the formation of which they had probably laboured jointly This roof was composed of straw and dry sticks plastered with clay which rendered it equally impenetrable to sun or rain pressed as we were for time I could not help stopping to admire this feathered colony This leading us to speak of natural history that relates to animals who live in societies We recalled in succession the ingenious labours of the beavers and the marmots the not less marvellous constructions of the bees the wasps and the ants and I mentioned particularly those immense ant hills of America of which the masonry is finished with such skill and solidity that they are sometimes used for ovens to which they bear a resemblance We had now reached some trees quite unknown to us 60 feet in height and from the bark which was cracked in many places issued small balls of a thick gum Fritz got one off with difficulty it was so hardened by the sun He wished to soften it with his hands but found that he'd only gave it the power of extension and that by pulling the two extremities and then releasing them it immediately resumed its first form Fritz ran to me crying out I have found some India rubber If that be true, said I you have made a most valuable discovery He thought I was laughing at him for we had no drawing to rub out here I told him this gum might be turned to many useful purposes among the rest we might make excellent shoes of it This interested him How could we accomplish this? The kuchuk, said I is the milky sap which is obtained from certain trees of the euphorbium kind by incisions made in the bark It is collected in vessels care being taken to agitate them that the liquid may not coagulate In this state they cover little clay bottles with successive layers of it till it attains the required thickness It is then dried in smoke which gives it the dark brown color Before it is quite dry it is ornamented by lines and flowers drawn with a knife Finally they break the clay form and extract it from the mouth and there remains the India rubber bottle of commerce soft and flexible Now this is my plan for shoemaking We will fill a stocking with sand cover it with repeated layers of the gum till it is of the proper thickness then empty out the sand and if I do not deceive myself we shall have perfect boots or shoes Comfortable in the hope of new boots we advance through an interminable forest of various trees The monkeys on the coconut trees furnished us with pleasant refreshment and a small store of nuts besides Among these trees I saw some lower bushes whose leaves were covered with a white dust I opened the trunk of one of these which had been torn up by the wind and found in the interior a white pheronaceous substance which on tasting I knew to be the sego imported into Europe This as connected with our subsistence was a most important affair and my son and I with our hatchets laid open the tree and obtained from it 25 pounds of valuable sego This occupied us an hour and weary and hungry I thought it prudent not to push our discoveries farther this day We therefore returned to the gourd wood placed all our treasures on the sledge and took our way home We arrived without more adventures and were warmly greeted and our various offerings gratefully welcomed especially the green parrot We talked of the kuchuk and new boots with great delight during supper Afterwards my wife looked with exceeding content at her bag of candle-berries anticipating the time when we should not have to go to bed as we did now as soon as the sun set End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 23 The next morning my wife and children besought me to begin my manufacture of candles I remembered having seen the Chandler at work and I tried to recall all my remembrances of the process I put into a boiler as many berries as it would hold and placed it over a moderate fire The wax melted from the berries and rose to the surface and this I carefully skimmed with a large flat spoon and put in a separate vessel placed near the fire When this was done my wife supplied me with some wicks she had made from the threads of sail-cloth These wicks were attached four at a time to a small stick I dipped them into the wax and placed them on two branches of a tree to dry I repeated this operation as often as necessary to make them the proper thickness and then placed them in a cool spot to harden But we could not forbear trying them that very night It was sufficient that they reminded us of our European home and prolonged our days by many useful hours we had lost before This encouraged me to attempt another enterprise My wife had long regretted that she had not been able to make butter She had attempted to beat her cream in a vessel but either the heat of the climate or her want of patience rendered her trials unsuccessful I felt that I had not skill enough to make a churn but I fancied that by some simple method like that used by the hotentots who put their cream in a skin and shake it till they produced butter we might obtain the same result I cut a large gourd in two filled it with three quarts of cream then united the parts and secured them closely I fastened a stick to each corner of a square piece of sail-cloth placed the gourd in the middle and giving a corner to each of my sons directed them to rock the cloth with a slow, regular motion as you would a child's cradle this was quite an amusement for them and at the end of an hour my wife had the pleasure of placing before us some excellent butter I then tried to make a cart our sledge being unfitted for some roads the wheels I had brought from the wreck rendered this less difficult and I completed a very rude vehicle which was nevertheless very useful to us while I was thus usefully employed my wife and children were not idle they had transplanted the European trees and thoughtfully placed each in the situation best suited to it I assisted with my hands and councils the vines we planted round the roots of our trees and hoped in time to form a trellis work of the chestnut, walnut, and cherry trees we formed an avenue from Falcon's Nest to Family Bridge which we hoped would ultimately be a shady road between our two mansions we made a solid road between the two rows of trees raised in the middle and covered with sand which we brought from the shore in our wheel-bearers I also made a sort of tumbrel to which we harnessed the ass to lighten this difficult labour we then turned our thoughts to Tenthouse our first abode and which still might form our refuge in case of danger nature had not favoured it but our labour soon supplied all deficiencies we planted round it every tree that requires ardent heat the citron, pistachio, the almond the mulberry, the siamese orange of which the fruit is as large as the head of a child and the Indian fig with its long prickly leaves all had a place here these plantations succeeding admirably we had after some time the pleasure of seeing the dry and sandy desert converted into a shady grove rich in flowers and fruit as this place was the magazine for our arms ammunition and provisions of all sorts we made a sort of fortress of it surrounding it with a high hedge with strong thorny trees so that not only to wild beast but even to human enemies it was inaccessible our bridge was the only point of approach and we always carefully removed the first planks after crossing it we also placed our two cannon on a little elevation within the enclosure and finally we planted some cedars near our usual landing place to which we might at a future time fasten our vessels these labour occupied us three months only interrupted by strict attention to the devotions and duties of the Sunday I was most especially grateful to God for the robust health we all enjoyed in the midst of our employments all went on well in our little colony we had an abundant in certain supply of provisions but our wardrobe notwithstanding the continual repairing my wife bestowed on it was in a most wretched state and we had no means of renewing it again visiting the wreck which I knew still contained some chests of clothes and bales of cloth this decided me to make another voyage besides I was rather anxious to see the state of the vessel we found it in much the same condition we had left it except being much more shattered by the winds and waves we selected many useful things for our cargo the bales of linen and woollen cloth were not forgotten some barrels of tar and everything portable we could move doors, windows, tables benches, locks and bolts all the ammunition and even such of the guns as we could move in fact we completely sacked the vessel carrying off after several days labor all our booty with the exception of some weighty articles amongst which were three or four immense spoilers intended for a sugar manufacturing these we tied to some large empty casks which we pitched completely over and hoped they would be able to float in the water when we had completed our arrangements I resolved to blow up the ship we placed a large barrel of gunpowder in the hold and arranging a long match from it which would burn some hours we lighted it and proceeded without delay to safety bay to watch the event I proposed to my wife to sup on a point of land where we could distinctly see the vessel just as the sun was going down a majestic rolling like thunder succeeded by a column of fire announced the destruction of the vessel which it brought us from Europe and bestowed its great riches on us we could not help shedding tears as we heard the last mournful cry of this soul remaining bond that connected us with home we returned sorrowfully to tent house and felt as if we had lost an old friend we rose early next morning and hastened to the shore which we found covered with the wreck which with a little exertion we found it easy to collect amongst the rest were the large boilers we afterwards used these to cover our barrels of gunpowder which we placed in a part of the rock where even if an explosion took place no damage could ensue my wife in assisting us with the wreck made the agreeable discovery that two of our ducks and one goose had hatched each a brood and were leading their noisy young families to the water this reminded us of all our poultry in domestic comfort at falcons nest and we determined to defer for some time the rest of our work at tent house and to return the next day to our shady summer home end of chapter this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson David Wiss Chapter 24 As we went along the avenue of fruit trees I was concerned to see my young plants beginning to droop and I immediately resolved to proceed to Cape Disappointment the next morning to cut bamboos to make props for them it was determined we should all go as on our arrival at falcons nest we discovered many other supplies wanting the candles were failing we must have more berries for now my wife sewed by candlelight and wrote my journal she wanted also some wild fowls eggs to set under her hens Jack wanted some guavas and Francis wished for some sugar canes so we made a family tour of it taking the cart with a cow and ass to contain our provision and a large sailcloth to make a tent the weather was delightful and we set out singing in great spirits we crossed the potato and maniac plantations and the wood of guavas on which my boys feasted to their great satisfaction the road was rugged but we assisted to move the cart and rested frequently we stopped to see the bird colony which greatly delighted them all and Ernest declared they belonged to the species of laxia gregaria the sociable grospeak he pointed out to us their wonderful instinct in forming their colony in the midst of the candleberry bushes on which they feed we filled two bags with these berries and another with guavas my wife proposing to make jelly from them we then proceeded to the kuchuk tree and here I determined to rest a while to collect some of the valuable gum I had brought some large gourd shells with me for the purpose I made incisions in the trees and placed these bowls to receive the gum which soon began to run out in a milky stream and we hoped to find them filled on our return we turned a little to the left and entered a beautiful and fertile plain bounded on one side by the sugar canes behind which rose a wood of palms on the other side by the bamboos and before us was caped disappointment backed by the ocean a magnificent picture we at once decided to make this our resting place we even thought of transferring our residents from falcons nest to this spot but we dismissed the thought when we reflected on the perfect security of our dear castle in the air we contended ourselves with arranging to make this always our station for refreshment in our excursions we loosed our animals and allowed them to graze on the rich grass around us we arranged to spend the night there and taking a light repast we separated on our several employments some to cut sugar canes others bamboos and after stripping them to make them into bundles and place them in the cart this hard work made the boys hungry they refreshed themselves with sugar canes but had a great desire to have some coconuts unfortunately there were neither monkeys nor crabs to bestow them and the many attempts they made to climb the lofty bare trunk of the palm ended only in disappointment and confusion I went to their assistance I gave them pieces of the rough skin of the shark which I had brought for the purpose to brace on their legs and showing them how to climb by the aid of a cord fastened round the tree with a running noose a method practiced with success by the savages my little climbers soon reached the summit of the trees they then used their hatchets and their girdles and a shower of coconuts fell down these furnished a pleasant dessert enlivened by the jests of Fritz and Jack who, being the climbers did not spare Dr. Ernest who had contented himself with looking up at them and even now regardless of their banter he was lost in some new idea rising suddenly and looking at the palms he took a coconut cup and a tin flask with a handle and gravely addressed us thus this exercise of climbing is really very disagreeable and difficult but since it confers so much honour on the undertakers I should like also to attempt an adventure hoping to do something at once glorious and agreeable to the company he then bound his legs with the pieces of shark skin and with singular vigor and agility sprung up a palm which he had long been attentively examining his brothers laughed loudly at his taking the trouble to ascend a tree that had not a single nut on it Ernest took no notice of their ridicule but as soon as he reached the top struck with his hatchet and a tuft of tender yellow leaves fell at our feet which I recognised as the product of the cabbage palm a delicate food highly valued in America his mother thought it a mischievous act to destroy the tree thus but he assured her his prize was worth many coconuts but our hero did not descend and I asked him if he wanted to replace the cabbage he had cut off he said a little said he I am bringing you some wine to drink my health but it comes slower than I could wish he now descended holding his cocoa cup into which he poured from the flask a clear rose coloured liquor and presenting it to me begged me to drink it was indeed the true palm wine which is as pleasant as champagne and take immoderately a great restorative we all drank and Ernest was praised and thanked by all till he forgot the gifts he had received as it was getting late we set about putting up our tent for the night when suddenly our ass who had been quietly grazing near us began to brave furiously erected his ears kicking right and left and plunging into the bamboo disappeared this made us very uneasy I could not submit to lose the useful animal and moreover I was afraid his agitation announced the approach of some wild beast the dogs and I sought for any trace in vain I therefore to guard against any danger made a large fire before our tent which I continued to watch till midnight when all being still I crept into the tent to my bed of moss and slept undisturbed till morning in the morning we thanked God for our health and safety and then began to lament our poor donkey which I hoped would have been attracted by the light of our fire and have returned but we saw nothing of him and we decided that his were so indispensable that I should go with one of my sons and the two dogs in search of him and cross the thickets of bamboo I chose to take Jack with me to his great satisfaction for Fritz and Ernest formed a better guard for their mother in a strange place we set out well armed with bags of provisions on our back and after an hour's fruitless search amongst the canes we emerged beyond them in an extensive plain on the borders of the great bay we saw that the ridge of rocks still extended on the right till it nearly reached the shore when it abruptly terminated in a perpendicular precipice a considerable river flowed into the bay here and between the river and the rock was a narrow passage which at high water would be overflowed we thought it most likely that our ass had passed by this defile and I wished to see whether these rocks merely bordered or divided the island we therefore went forward till we met with a stream which fell in a cascade from a mass of rocks into the river we ascended the stream till we found a place shallow enough to cross here we saw the shoe marks of our ass mingled with the footsteps of other animals and at a distance we saw a herd of animals but could not distinguish what they were we ascended a little hill and through our telescope saw a beautiful and fertile country breathing peace and repose to our right rose the majestic chain of rocks that divided the island on our left a succession of beautiful green hills spread to the horizon woods of palms and various unknown trees were scattered over the scene the beautiful stream meandered across the valley like a silver ribbon bordered by rushes and other aquatic plants there was no trace of the footstep of man the country had all the purity of its first creation no living creatures but some beautiful birds and brilliant butterflies appeared but at a distance we saw some specks which I concluded were the animals we had first seen and I resolved to go nearer in hopes our ass might have joined them we made towards the spot and to shorten the road crossed a little wood of bamboo the stalks of which as thick as a man's thigh rose to the height of 30 feet I suspected this to be the giant reed of America so useful for the masses of boats and canoes we went back to allow him to cut some on our return but at present the ass was my sole care when we had crossed the wood we suddenly came face to face on a herd of buffaloes not numerous certainly but formidable appearance at the sight I was absolutely petrified and my gun useless fortunately the dogs were in the rear and the animals lifting their heads and fixing their large eyes on us seemed more astonished than angry we were the first men probably they had ever seen we drew back a little prepared our arms and endeavored to retreat when the dogs arrived and not was standing our efforts to restrain them flew at the buffaloes it was no time now to retreat the combat was begun the whole troop uttered the most frightful roars beat the ground with their feet and butted with their horns our brave dogs were not intimidated but marched straight upon the enemy and falling on a young buffalo seized it by the ears the creature began to bellow and struggle to escape its mother ran to its assistance and with her the whole herd at that moment I tremble as I write it I gave the signal to my brave Jack who behaved with admirable coolness and at the same moment we fired on the herd the effect was wonderful they paused a moment and then even before the smoke was dissipated took to flight with incredible rapidity forwarded the river it was soon out of sight my dog still held their prize and the mother though wounded by our shot tore up the ground in her fury and was advancing on the dogs to destroy them but I stepped forward and discharging a pistol between the horns put an end to her life we began to breathe we had looked death in the face a most horrible death and thanked God for our preservation I praise Jack for his courage in presence of mind or agitation on his part would have unnerved me and rendered our fate certain the dog still held the young calf by the ears it bellowed incessantly and I feared they would either be injured or lose their prize I went up to their assistance I hardly knew how to act I could easily have killed it but I had a great desire to carry it off alive and try to tame it to replace our ass whom I did not intend to follow further a happy idea struck Jack he always carried his lasso in his pocket he drew it out, retired a little and flung it so dexterously that he completely wound it round the hind legs of the calf and threw it down I now approached I replaced the lasso by a stronger cord and used another to bind his forelegs loosely Jack cried victory and already thought how his mother and brothers would be delighted when we presented it but that was no easy matter at last I thought of the method used in Italy to tame the wild bulls and I resolved to try it though it was a little cruel I began by tying to the foot of a tree the cords that held the legs then making the dog seize him again by the ears I caught hold of his mouth and with a sharp knife perforated the nostril and quickly passed a cord through the opening this cord was to serve as my reign to guide the animal the operation was successful and as soon as the blood ceased to flow I took the cord uniting the two ends and the poor suffering creature completely subdued followed me without resistance I was unwilling to abandon the hole of the buffalo I had killed as it is excellent meat and I therefore cut out the tongue and some of the best parts from the loin and covered them well with salt of which we had taken a provision with us I then carefully skinned the forelegs remembering that the American hunters used these skins for boots soft and flexible we permitted the dogs to feast on the remainder and while they were enjoying themselves we washed our cells and sat down under a tree to rest and refresh ourselves but the poor beasts had soon many guests at their banquet clouds of birds of prey came from every part an incessant combat was kept up no sooner was one troop of brigands satisfied than another succeeded and soon all that remained of the poor buffalo was the bones I noticed amongst these ravenous birds the royal vulture, an elegant bird remarkable for a brilliant collar of down we could easily have killed some of these robbers but I thought it useless to destroy for a mere curiosity and I preferred employing our time in cutting with a small saw we had brought some of the gigantic reeds that grew around us we cut several of the very thick ones which make excellent vessels when separated at the joints but I perceived that Jack was cutting of small dimensions and I inquired if he was going to make a pandian pipe to celebrate his triumphal return with a buffalo no, said he I don't recollect that Robbers and Crusoe amused himself with music in his island but I have thought of something that will be useful to Mama I'm cutting these reeds to make molds for our candles an excellent thought, my dear boy said I and if even we break our molds in getting out the candles which I suspect we may we know where they grow and can come for more we collected all our reeds and bundles and then set out the calf, intimidated by the dogs and galled by the rain went on tolerably well we crossed the narrow pass in the rocks and here our dogs killed a large jackal which was coming from her den in the rock the furious animals then entered the den followed by Jack who saved with difficulty one of the young cubs the others being immediately worried it was a pretty little gold-colored creature about the size of a cat Jack petitioned earnestly to have it to bring up and I made him happy by granting his request in the meantime I had tied the calf to a low tree which I discovered was the thorny dwarf palm which grows quickly and is extremely useful for fences it bears an oblong fruit about the size of a pigeon's egg from which is extracted an oil which is an excellent substitute for butter I determined to return for some young plants of this palm to plant a tent-house it was almost night when we joined our family and endless were the questions the sight of the buffalo produced and great was the boasting of Jack the Dauntless I was compelled to lower his pride a little by an unvarnished statement though I gave him much credit for his coolness and resolution and suppertime arriving my wife had time to tell me what had passed while we had been on our expedition end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 25 my wife began by saying they had not been idle in my absence they collected wood and made torches for the night Brits and earnest had even cut down an immense sego-palm 70 feet high intending to extract its precious pith but this they had been unable to accomplish alone and waited for my assistance but while they were engaged in this employment a troop of monkeys had broken into the tent and pillaged and destroyed everything they had drunk or overturned the milk and carried off or spoiled all our provisions and even so much injured the palisade I had erected around the tent that it took them an hour after they returned to repair the damage Brits had made also a beautiful capture and a nest he had discovered in the rocks that kept disappointment it was a superb bird and though very young, quite feathered earnest had pronounced it to be the eagle of Malabar and I confirmed his assertion and as this species of eagle is not large and does not require much food I advised him to train it as a falcon to chase other birds I took this opportunity to announce that hence forward everyone must attend to his own livestock or they should be set at liberty mama having sufficient to manage in her own charge we then made a fire of green wood in the smoke of which we placed the buffalo meat we had brought home leaving it during the night that it might be perfectly cured we had had some for supper and thought it excellent the young buffalo was beginning to graze and we gave him a little milk tonight as well as to the jackal Brits had taken the precaution to cover the eyes of his eagle and tying it fast by the leg to a branch it rested very tranquilly we then retired to our mossy beds to recruit our strength for the labors of another day at break of day we rose made a light breakfast and I was about to give the signal of departure when my wife communicated to me the difficulty they had had in cutting down the palm tree and the valuable provision that might be obtained from it with a little trouble I thought she was right and decided to remain here another day for it was no trifling undertaking to split up a tree seventy feet long I consented the more readily as I thought I might after removing the useful pith from the trunk obtain two large spouts or channels to conduct the water from jackal river to the kitchen garden such tools as we had we carried to the place where the tree lay we first saw it off the head then with a hatchet making an opening at each end we took wedges and mallets and the wood being tolerably soft after four hours labor we succeeded in splitting it completely when parted we pressed the pith with our hands to get the hole into one division of the trunk and began to make our paste at one end of the spout we nailed one of the graders through which we intended to force the paste to form the round seeds my little bakers set vigorously to work on the water on the pith while the rest mixed it into paste when sufficiently worked I pressed it strongly with my hand against the grater the farinaceous parts passed easily through the holes while the lignious part consisting of splinters of wood etc was left behind this we threw into a heap hoping mushrooms might spring from it my wife now carefully spread the grains on sailcloth in the sun to dry them I also formed some vermicelli to make the paste and forcing it through the holes in little pipes my wife promised with this and the Dutch cheese to make us a dish equal to Naples macaroni we were now contented we could at any time obtain more sego by cutting down a tree and we were anxious to get home to try our water pipes we spent the rest of the day unloading the cart with our utensils and the halves of the tree we retired to our hut at sunset and slept in peace the next morning, the whole caravan began to move at an early hour the buffalo, harnessed to the cart by the side of his nurse, the cow took the place of our lost ass and began his apprenticeship as a beast of draft we took the same road on our return that we might carry away the candleberries and the vessels of India rubber the vanguard was composed of fritz and jack who pioneered our way by cutting down the underwood to make a road for the cart our water pipes being very long somewhat impeded our progress but we happily reached the candleberry trees without accident and placed our sacks on the cart we did not find more than a quart of the kuchuk gum but it would be sufficient for our first experiment and I carried it off in crossing the little wood of guavas we suddenly heard our dogs who were before us with fritz and jack uttering the most frightful howlings I was struck with terror lest they should have encountered a tiger and rushed forward ready to fire the dogs were endeavoring to enter a thicket in the midst of which fritz declared he had caught a glimpse of an animal larger than the buffalo with a black bristly skin I was just about to discharge my gun into the thicket when jack who had lain down on the ground to look under the bushes burst into a loud laugh it is another trick of that vexatious animal our old sow she's always making fools of us half merry and half angry we made an opening into the thicket and there discovered the lady lying surrounded by seven little pigs only a few days old we were very glad to see our old friend so attended and stroked her she seemed to recognize us and grunted amicably we supplied her with some potatoes sweet acorns and cassava bread intending in return to eat her young ones when they were ready for the spit though my dear wife cried out against the cruelty idea at present we left them with her but proposed afterwards to take away two to be brought up at home and leave the rest to support themselves on acorns in the woods where they would become game for us at length we arrived at falcons nest which we regarded with all the attachment of home our domestic animals crowded round us and noisily welcomed us we tied up the buffalo and jackal as they were not yet domesticated we went to a branch by a chain long enough to allow it to move freely and then imprudently uncovered its eyes it immediately raised its head erected its feathers and struck on all sides with its beak and claws our fowls took to flight but the poor parrot fell in his way and was torn to pieces before we could assist it Fritz was very angry and would have executed the murderer but Ernest begged he would not be so rash as parrots were more plentiful than eagles and it was his own fault for uncovering his eyes the falconers always keeping their young birds hooded six weeks till they were quite tamed he offered to train it if fritz would part with it but this fritz indignantly refused I told them the fable of the dog and the manger which abashed fritz and he then besought his brother to teach him the means of training the snowball bird and promised to present him with his monkey Ernest then told him that the caribs subdued the largest birds by making them inhale tobacco smoke fritz laughed at this but Ernest produced a pipe and some tobacco he had found in the ship and began to smoke gravely under the branch where the bird was perched it was soon calm and on his continuing to smoke it became quite motionless fritz then easily replaced the bandage and thanked his brother for his good service the next morning we set out early to our young plantation of fruit trees to fix props to support the weaker plants we loaded the cart with the thick bamboo canes and our tools and harnessed the cow to it leaving the buffalo in the stable as I wished the wound in his nostrils to be perfectly healed before I put him to any hard work I left Francis with his mother to prepare our dinner begging them not to forget the macaroni we began at the entrance of the avenue to falcons nest where all the trees were much bent by the wind we raised them gently by a crowbar I made a hole in the earth in which one of my sons placed the bamboo props driving them firmly down with a mallet and we proceeded to another while Harnessed and Jack tied the trees to them with a long tough, pliant plant which I suspected was a species of liana as we were working fritz inquired if these fruit trees were wild ah, pretty question, cried Jack do you think the trees are tame like eagles or buffaloes? you perhaps could teach them to bow politely so that we might gather the fruit you fancy you are a wit, said I but you speak like a dunce we cannot make trees bow at our pleasure but we can make a tree which by nature bears sour and unedible fruit produce what is sweet and wholesome this is affected by grafting into a wild tree a small branch or even a bud of the sort you wish I will show you this method practically at some future time for by these means we can procure all sorts of fruit only we must remember that we can only graft a tree with one of the same natural family thus we could not graft an apple on a cherry tree for one belongs to the apple tribe and the other to the plum tribe do we know the origin of all these European fruits? asked the inquiring earnest all our shell fruits answered I, such as the nuts the almond and the chestnut our natives of the east the peach of Persia the orange and apricot of Armenia and the cherry which was unknown in Europe 60 years before Christ was brought by the proconsul Luculis from the southern shores of the Yucsin the olives come from Palestine the first olive trees were planted on Mount Olympus and from thence were spread through the rest of Europe the fig is from Lydia the plums your favorite fruit with the exception of some natural sorts that are native to our forests are from Syria and the town of Damascus has given its name to one sort the Damocene or Damson the pear is a fruit of Greece the ancients called it the fruit of the Peloponnesus the mulberry is from Asia and the quince from the island of Crete our work progressed as we talked thus and we had soon propped all our valuable plants it was now noon and we returned to Falcons Nest very hungry and found an excellent dinner prepared of smoked beef and a tender bud of the cabbage palm the most delicious of vegetables after dinner we began to discuss a plan I had long had in my head but the execution of it presented many difficulties it was to substitute a firm and solid staircase for the ladder of ropes which was a source of continual fear to my wife it is true that we had only to ascend it to go to bed but bad weather might compel us to remain in our apartment we should then have frequently to ascend and descend and the ladder was very unsafe but the immense height of the tree and the impossibility of procuring beams to sustain a staircase round it threw me into despair however looking at the monstrous trunk of the tree I thought if we cannot succeed outside could we not contrive to mount within have you not said there was a swarm of bees in the trunk of the tree I inquired of my wife yes said little Francis we faced dreadfully the other day when I was on the ladder I was pushing a stick into the hole they came out of to try how deep it was now then, cried I I see through my difficulties let us find out how far the tree is hollow we can increase the size of the tunnel and I have already planned the sort of staircase I can construct I had hardly spoken when the boys leap like squirrels some upon the arched roots some on the steps of the ladder there were some mallets to sound the tree this rash proceeding had nearly been fatal to Jack who having placed himself just before the opening and striking violently the whole swarm alarmed at an attack which probably shook their palace of wax issued forth and revenge themselves amply on all the assailants nothing was heard but cries and stamping a feat my wife hastened to cover the stings with moist earth which rather relieved them but it was some hours before they could open their eyes they begged me to get them the honey from their foes and I prepared a hive which I had long thought of a long gourd which I placed on a board nailed upon a branch of our tree and covered with straw to shelter it from the sun and wind but it was now bedtime and we deferred our attack on the fortress till next day end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 26 an hour before day I waked my sons to assist me in removing the bees to the new abode I had prepared for them I commenced by plastering up the entrance to their present dwelling with clay leaving only room to admit the bowl of my pipe this was necessary because I had neither masks nor gloves as the regular bee takers have I then began to smoke briskly to stupify the bees at first we heard a great buzzing in the hollow like the sound of a distant storm the murmurs ceased by degrees and a profound stillness succeeded and I withdrew my pipe without a single bee appearing Fritz and I then with a chisel and small axe made an opening about three feet square below the bee's entrance before we detached this I repeated the fumigation lest the noise and the fresh air should awake the bees but there was no fear of such a thing they were quite stupefied we removed the wood and through this opening beheld with wonder and admiration the work of this insect nation there was such a store of wax and honey that we feared we should not have vessels to contain it the interior of the tree was filled with honeycombs I cut them carefully and placed them in the gourds the boys brought me as soon as I had made a little space I placed the upper comb on which the bees were hanging in clusters in the new hive and put it on the plank prepared for it I then descended with the rest of the honeycomb and filled the cask with it which I had previously washed in the stream this we covered with sailcloth and planks lest the bees attracted by the smell should come to claim their own we left out some comb for a treat at dinner and my wife carefully put by the rest to prevent the bees returning to their old abode we placed some burning tobacco in the hollow the smell and fumes of which drove them from the tree when they wished to enter and finally they settled in the new hive where the queen bee doubtless had fixed herself we now began our work we emptied the cask of honey into a large boiler except a little reserve for daily use we added a little water placed the boiler on a slow fire to a liquid mass this was strained through a bag into the cask and left standing all night to cool the next morning the wax had risen to the top and formed a hard and solid cake which we easily removed and beneath was the most pure and delicious honey the barrel was then carefully closed and placed in a cool place we now proceeded to examine the interior of the tree I took a long pole and tried the height from the window I had made and tied a stone to a string to sound the depth to my surprise the pole penetrated without resistance to the very branches where our dwelling was and the stone went to the roots it was entirely hollow and I thought I could easily fix a winding staircase in this wide tunnel it would seem that this huge tree like the willow of our country is nourished through the bark for it was flourishing in luxuriant beauty we began by cutting a doorway on the side facing the sea of the size of the door we had brought from the captain's cabin with its framework thus securing ourselves from invasion on that side we then cleansed and perfectly smoothed the cavity fixing in the middle the trunk of a tree about ten feet high to serve for the axis of the staircase we had prepared the evening before a number of boards from the staves of a large barrel to form our steps by the aid of the chisel and mallet we made deep notches in the inner part of our tree and corresponding notches in the central pillar I placed my steps in these notches riveting them with large nails I raised myself in this manner step after step but always turning round the pillar till we got to the top we then fixed on the central pillar another trunk of the same height prepared beforehand and continued our winding steps four times we had to repeat this operation finally we reached our branches and terminated the staircase on the level of the floor of our apartment I cleared the entrance by some strokes of my axe to render it more solid I filled up the spaces between the steps with planks and fastened two strong cords from above to each side of the staircase to hold by towards different points I made openings in which were placed the windows taken from the cabin which gave light to the interior and favored our observations outside the construction of this solid and convenient staircase occupied us during a month of patient industry not that we labored like slaves for we had no one to constrain us we had in this time completed several works of less importance and many events had amused us amidst our toil a few days after we commenced floor produced six puppies but the number being too large provided that only a male and female should be preserved that the breed might be perpetuated this was done and the little jackal being placed with the remainder flora gave it the same privileges as her own offspring our goats also, about this time gave us two kids and our sheep some lambs we saw this increase of our flock with great satisfaction and for fear of these useful animals should take it into their heads to stray from us as our ass had done we tied round their necks some small bells we had found on the wreck intended to propitiate the savages and which would always put us on the track of the fugitives the education of the young buffalo was one of the employments that varied our labor as carpenters through the incision in his nostrils I had passed a small stick to the ends of which I attached a strap this formed its kind of a bit after the fashion of those of the hotentots by this I guided him as I chose not without much rebellion on his part it was only after fritz had broken it in for mounting that we began to make it carry it was certainly a remarkable instance of patience and perseverance surmounting difficulties for we not only made it bear the wallets we usually placed on the ass but earnest jack and even little francis took lessons in horsemanship by riding him and hence forward would have been able to ride the most spirited horse without fear for it could not be worse than the buffalo they had assisted to subdue in the midst of this fritz did not neglect the training of his young eagle the royal bird began already to pounce very cleverly on the dead game his master brought in place before him sometimes between the horns of the buffalo sometimes on the back of the great bustard or the flamingo sometimes he put it on a board or on the end of a pole to a customate to pounce like the falcon on other birds he settled on his wrist at a call or a whistle but it was some time before he could trust it to fly without a long string attached to its leg for fear its wild nature should carry it from us forever even the indolent earnest was seized with the mania of instructing animals he undertook the education of his little monkey who gave him sufficient employment it was amusing to see the quiet slow studious earnest obliged to make leaps and gambles with his pupil to accomplish his instruction he wished to accustomed master nips to carry a pannier and to climb the coconut trees with it on his back jack and he wove a small light pannier of rushes and fixed it firmly on his back with three straps this was intolerable to him at first he ground his teeth rolled on the ground and leaped about in a frantic manner trying in vain to release himself they left the pannier on his back night and day and only allowed him to eat what he had previously put into it after a little time he became so accustomed to it that he rebelled if they wished to remove it and threw into it everything that gave him to hold he was very useful to us but he obeyed only earnest who had very properly taught him equally to love and fear him jack was not so successful with his jackal though he gave him the name of the hunter yet for the first six months the carnivorous animal chased only for himself and if he brought anything to his master it was only the skin of the animal he had just devoured but I charged him not to despair and he continued zealously his instructions during this time I had perfected my candle manufacture by means of mixing the beeswax with that obtained from the candleberry and by using cane molds which jack first suggested to me I succeeded in giving my candles the roundness and polish of those of Europe the wicks were for some time an obstacle I did not wish to use the small quantity of calico we had left but my wife happily proposed to me to substitute the pith of a species of elder which answered my purpose completely I now turned myself to the preparation of the kuchuk I wish we had found several trees I encouraged the boys to try their ingenuity in making flasks and cups by covering molds of clay with a gum as I had explained to them for my part I took a pair of old stockings and filled them with sand for my mold which I covered with a coating of mud and left to dry in the sun I cut out a pair of soles of buffalo leather which I first hammered well and then fastened with small tacks to the sole of the stocking filling up the spaces left with the gum so as to fix it completely then with a brush of goat's hair I covered it with layer upon layer of the elastic gum till I thought it sufficiently thick it was easy after this to remove the sand, the stocking and the hardened mud to shake out the dust and I had a pair of waterproof boots without seam and fitting as well as if I had employed an English shoemaker my boys were wild with joy and all begged for a pair but I wished first to try their durability compared with those of buffalo leather I began to make a pair of boots for fritz using the skin drawn from the legs of the buffalo we had killed with a coley then with a kuchuk I used the gum to cover the seams so that the water might not penetrate they were certainly not elegant as a work of art and the boys laughed at their brothers' awkward movements in them but their own productions though useful vessels were not models of perfection we then worked at our fountain a great source of pleasure to my wife and to all of us we raised in the upper part of the river a sort of dam made with steaks and stones from whence the water flowed into our channels of the sego palm laid down a gentle declivity nearly to our tent and there it was received into the shell of the turtle which we had raised on some stones of a convenient height the hole which the harpoon had made serving to carry off the wastewater through a cane that was fitted to it on two cross sticks were placed the gourds that served us for pails and thus we had always the murmuring of the water near us but always pure and clean which the river, troubled by our waterfowl and the refuse of decayed leaves could not always give us the only inconvenience of these open channels was that the water reached us warm and unrefreshing but this I hoped to remedy in time by using bamboo pipes buried in the earth in the meantime we were grateful for this new acquisition and gave credit to Fritz who had suggested the idea End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 27 One morning as we were engaged in giving the last finish to our staircase we were alarmed at hearing at a distance strange, sharp, prolonged sounds like the roars of a wild beast but mingled with an unaccountable hissing our dogs erected their ears and prepared for deadly combat I assembled my family we then ascended our tree closing the lower door loaded our guns and looked anxiously round but nothing appeared I armed my dogs with their porcupine coats of male and collars and left them below to take care of our animals the horrible howlings were approached nearer to us at length Fritz, who was leading forward to listen as attentively as he could threw down his gun and bursting into a loud laugh, cried out it is our fugitive, the ass come back to us and singing his song of joy on his return we listened and were sure he was right and could not but feel a little vexation at being put into such a fright by a donkey soon after we had the pleasure of seeing him appear among the trees he was still better he was accompanied by another animal of his own species but infinitely more beautiful I knew it at once to be the onagra or wild ass a most important capture if we could make it although all naturalists have declared it impossible to tame the silicon creature yet I determined to make the attempt I went down with Fritz exhorting his brothers to remain quiet and I consulted with my privy counselor on the means of taking our prize I also prepared as quickly as possible a long cord with a noose kept open by a slight stick which would fall out as soon as the animal's head entered while any attempt to escape would only draw the noose closer the end of this cord was tied to the root of a tree I then took a piece of bamboo about two feet long and splitting it up tied it firmly at one end to form a pair of pincers for the nose of the animal in the meantime the two animals that approached nearer our old grizzle apparently doing the honors to his visitor and both grazing very comfortably by degrees we advance softly to them concealed by the trees Fritz carrying the lasso and I the pincers the onagra as soon as he got sight of Fritz who was before me raised his head and started back evidently only in surprise as it was probably the first man the creature had seen Fritz remains still and the animal resumed his browsing Fritz went up to our old servant and offered him a handful of oats mixed with salt the ass came directly to eat its favorite treat its companion followed raised its head snuffed the air and came so near that Fritz adroitly threw the noose over its head the terrified animal attempted to fly but that drew the cord so tight as to almost stop his respiration and he lay down his tongue hanging out I hastened up and relaxed the cord lest he should be strangled I threw the halter of the ass around his neck and placed the split cane over his nose tying it firmly below with a string I subdued this wild animal by the means that blacksmiths used the first time to shoe a horse I then took off the noose and tied the halter by too long cords to the roots of two separate trees and left him to recover himself in the meantime the rest of the family had collected to admire this noble animal whose graceful and elegant form so superior to that at the ass raises it almost to the dignity of a horse after a while it rose and stamped furiously with its feet trying to release itself but the pain in its nose obliged it to lie down again then my eldest son and I approaching gently took the two cords and led or dragged it between two roots to each other to which we tied the cords so short that it had little power to move and could not escape we took care our own donkey should not stray again by tying his four feet loosely and putting on him a new halter and left him near the onagra I continued with the patience I never had in Europe to use every means I could think of with our new guest and at the end of a month he was so far subdued that I ventured to begin his education this was a long and difficult task we placed some burdens on his back but the obedience necessary before we could mount him it seemed impossible to instill into him at last I recollected the method they use in America to tame the wild horses and I resolved to try it in spite of the bounds and kicks of the furious animal I leaped on his back and seizing one of his long ears between my teeth I bit it till the blood came in a moment he reared himself almost direct on his hind feet remained for a while stiff and motionless then came down on his four feet slowly I still holding on his ear at last I ventured to release him he made some leaps but soon subsided into a sort of trot I having previously placed loose cords on his four legs from that time we were his masters my sons mounted him one after another they gave him the name of Lightfoot and never animal deserved his name better as a precaution we kept the cords on his legs for some time and as he never would submit to the bit we used a snaffle by which we obtained power over his head guiding him by a stick with which we struck the right or left ear as we wished him to go during this time our poultry yard was increased by three broods of chickens we had at least 40 of these little creatures being impecking about the pride of their good mistress's heart part of these were kept at home to supply the table and part she allowed to colonize in the woods where we could find them when we wanted them these, she said are of more use than your monkeys, jackals and eagles who do nothing but eat and would not be worth eating themselves if we were in need however she allowed that there was some use in the buffalo who carried burdens and Lightfoot who carried her sons so well the fowls which cost us little for food would be always ready, she said either to supply us with eggs or chickens when the rainy season came on the winter of this climate this reminded me that the approach of that dreary season permitted me no longer to defer a very necessary work for the protection of our animals this was to construct under the roots of the trees covered houses for them we began by making a kind of roof above the vaulted roots of our tree we used bamboo canes for this purpose, the longer and stouter were used for the supports, like columns the slider ones bound together closely form the roof the intervals we filled up with moss and clay and spread over the hull a coating of tar the roof was so firm that it formed a platform which we surrounded with a railing and thus we had a balcony and a pleasant promenade by the aid of some boards nailed to the roots we made several divisions in the interior each little enclosure being appropriated to some useful purpose and thus stables, poultry houses dairy, larder, hay house storeroom, etc. besides our dining room were all united under one roof this occupied us some time as it was necessary to fill our storeroom before the bad weather came and our cart was constantly employed in bringing useful stores one evening, as we were bringing home a load of potatoes on our cart drawn by the ass, the cow and the buffalo I saw the cart was not yet full I therefore sent home the two younger brothers with their mother and went on with Fritz and Ernest to the oak wood to collect a sack of sweet acorns Fritz mounted on his onagra Ernest followed by his monkey and I carrying the bag on arriving at the wood we tied lightfoot to a tree and all three began to gather the dropped acorns when we were startled by the cries of birds and a loud flapping of wings and we concluded that a brisk combat was going on between master Nips and the tenants of the thickets from whence the noise came Ernest went softly to see what was the matter and we soon heard him calling out be quick a fine heath foul's nest full of eggs Nips wants to suck them and the mother is beating him Fritz ran up and secured the two beautiful birds who fluttered and cried out furiously and returned followed by Ernest carrying a large nest filled with eggs the monkey had served us well on this occasion for the nest was so hidden by a bush with long leaves of which Ernest had his hand full that but for the instinct of the animal we could never have discovered it Ernest was overjoyed to carry the nest and eggs for his dear mama and the long pointed leaves he intended for Francis to serve as little toy swords we set out on our return placing the sack of acorns behind Fritz on light foot Ernest carried the two fouls and I charged myself with the care of the eggs which I covered up as I found they were warm and I hoped to get the mother to resume her brooding when we got to falcons nest we were all delighted with the good news we should have to carry home and Fritz anxious to be first struck his charger with a bunch of the pointed leaves he had taken from Ernest this terrified the animal so much that he took the bit in his teeth and flew out of sight like an arrow we followed in some uneasiness but found him safe Master Lightfoot had stopped of himself when he reached his stable my wife placed the valuable eggs under a sitting hen the true mother refusing to fulfill her office she was then put into the cage of the poor parrot and hung in our dining room to accustom her to society in a few days the eggs were hatched and the poultry yard had an increase of fifteen little strangers who fed greedily on bruised acorns and soon became as tame as any of our fowls though I plucked the large feathers out of their wings when they were full grown lest their wild nature should tempt them to quit us End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording has been Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 28 Francis had soon become tired of playing with the long leaves his brother had brought him and they were thrown aside Fritz happened to take some of the withered leaves up which were soft and flexible as a ribbon and he advised Francis to make whiplashes of them to drive the goats and sheep with for the little fellow was the shepherd He was pleased with the idea and began to split the leaves into strips which Fritz plaited together into very good whiplashes I remarked as they were working how strong and pliant these strips seemed and examining them closely I found they were composed of long fibers or filaments which made me suspect it to be Formium Tenax or New Zealand Flax a most important discovery to us and which, when I communicated it to my wife, almost overwhelmed her with joy Bring me all the leaves you can without delay, cried she and I will make you stockings shirts, coats, sewing thread, cords in fact give me but flax and work tools and I can manage all I could not help smiling at the vivacity of her imagination roused at the very name of flax but there was still great space between the leaves lying before us and the linen she was already sewing and the idea but my boys always ready for the wishes of their beloved mother soon mounted their corsers Fritz on light foot and Jack on the great buffalo to procure supplies whilst we waited for these my wife all life and animation explained to me all the machines I must make to enable her to spin and weave and make linen to clothe us from head to foot her eyes sparkle with delight as she spoke and I promised her all she asked in a short time our young Cavaliers returned from the foraging expedition conveying on their steeds huge bundles of the precious plant which they laid at the feet of their mother she gave up everything to begin her preparation the first operation necessary was to steep the flax which is usually done by exposing it in the open air in the rain the wind and the dew so as in a certain degree to dissolve the plant rendering the separation of the fibrous and lignus parts more easy seemed and picked for spinning but as the vegetable glue that connects the two parts is very tenacious and resists for a long time the action of moisture it is often advisable to steep it in water and this in our dry climate I considered most expedient my wife agreed to this and proposed that we should convey it to Flamingo Marsh and we spent the rest of the day in tying up the leaves and bundles next morning we loaded our cart to the marsh we there untied our bundles and spread them in the water pressing them down with stones and leaving them till it was time to take them out to dry we could not but admire here the ingeniousness of the Flamingo they are of a conical form raised above the level of the marsh having a recess above in which the eggs are deposited out of the reach of danger and the female can sit on them with her legs in the water these nests are of clay so solid that they resist the water till the young are able to swim in a fortnight the flax was ready to be taken out of the water we spread it in the sun which dried it so effectually that we brought it to Falcons Nest the same evening where it was stored till we were ready for further operations at present we labored to lay up provision for the rainy season leaving all sedentary occupations to amuse us in our confinement we brought in continually loads of sweet acorns manioc potatoes wood fodder for the cattle sugar canes fruit indeed everything that might be useful during the uncertain period of the rainy season we profited by the last few days to sow the wheat and other remaining European grains that the rain might germinate them we had already had some showers the temperature was variable the sky became cloudy and the wind rose the season changed sooner than we expected the winds raged through the woods the sea roared mountains of clouds were piled in the heavens they soon burst over our heads and torrents of rain fell night and day without intermission the rivers swelled till their waters met and turned the whole country around us into an immense lake happily we had formed our little establishment on a spot rather elevated above the rest of the valley the waters did not quite reach our tree but surrounded us about 200 yards off leaving us on a sort of island in the midst of the general inundation we were reluctantly obliged to descend from our abode the rain entered into all sides and the hurricane threatened every moment to carry away the apartment and all that were in it we set about our removal bringing down our hammocks and bedding to the sheltered space under the roots of the trees that we had roofed for the animals we were painfully crowded in the small space the stores of provisions the cooking utensils and especially the neighborhood of the animals and the various offensive smells made our retreat almost insupportable we were choked with smoke if we lighted a fire and inundated with rain if we opened a door for the first time since our misfortune we sighed for the comforts of our native home but action was necessary and we set about offering to amend our conditions the winding staircase was very useful to us the upper part was crowded with things we did not want and my wife frequently worked in the lower part at one of the windows we crowded our beasts a little more and gave a current of air to the places they had left I placed outside the enclosure the animals of the country which could bear the inclemency of the season thus I gave a half liberty to the buffalo and the onagra we made their legs loosely to prevent them straying the boughs of the tree affording them a shelter we made as few fires as possible as fortunately it was never cold and we had no provisions that required a long process of cookery we had milk in abundance smoked meat and fish the preserved orderlands and cassava cakes as we set out some of our animals in the morning with bells round their necks Fritz and I had to seek them in every evening when we were invariably wet through this induced my ingenious Elizabeth to make us a sort of blouse and hood out of old garments of the sailors which we covered with coatings of the kuchuk and thus obtained two capital waterproof dresses all that the exhausted state of our gum permitted us to make the care of our animals occupied us a great part of the morning then we prepared our cassava and baked our cakes on iron plates then we had a glazed door to our hut the gloominess of the weather and the obscurity caused by the vast boughs of the tree made night come on early we then lighted a candle fixed in a gourd on the table round which we were all assembled the good mother labored with her needle mending the clothes I wrote my journal which Ernest copied as he wrote a beautiful hand while Fritz and Jack taught their young brother to read and write or amused themselves with drawing the animals or plants they have been struck with we read the lessons from the Bible in turns and concluded the evening with devotion we then retired to rest content with ourselves and with our innocent and peaceful life our kind housekeeper often made us a little feast of a roast chicken a pigeon or duck and once in four or five days we had fresh butter made in the gourd churn and the delicious honey made on our cassava bread might have been a treat to European abacures the remains of our repast was always divided amongst our domestic animals we had four dogs the jackal, the eagle and the monkey who relied on their masters and were never neglected but if the buffalo, the inaugural and the sow had not been able to provide for themselves we must have killed them for we had no food for them we now decided that we would not expose ourselves to another rainy season in such an unsuitable habitation even my gentle Elizabeth got out of temper with the inconveniences and begged we would build a better winter house stipulating however that we should return to our tree in summer we consulted a great deal on this matter Fritz quoted Robertson Crusoe who had cut a dwelling out of the rock which sheltered him in the inclement season and the idea of making our home a tent house naturally came into my mind it would probably be a long and difficult undertaking but with time, patience and perseverance we might work wonders we resolved as soon as the weather would allow us to go and examine the rocks at tent house the last work of the winter was at my wife's incessant request a beetle for her flax and some carding combs the beetle was easily made but the combs cost much trouble I filed large nails till they were round and pointed I fixed them slightly inclined at equal distances in a sheet of tin and raised the edge like a box I then poured melted lead between the nails and the edge to fix them more firmly I nailed this on a board and the machine was fit for use and my wife was all anxiety to begin her manufacture End of chapter This is a Leverbox recording While Leverbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer, please visit Leverbox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 29 I cannot describe our delight when after long and gloomy weeks we saw at length the sky clear and the sun dispersing the dark clouds of winter spread its vivifying rays of nature The winds were lulled, the water subsided and the air became mild in serene We went out with great shouts of joy to breathe the balmy air and gratified our eyes with a sigh of the fresh verdure already springing up around us Nature seemed inner youth again and amidst the charms that breathed on every side we forgot our sufferings and like the children of Noah coming forth from the ark we raised a hymn of thanksgiving All our plantations and seeds had prospered The corn was springing and the trees were covered with leaves and blossoms The air was perfumed with the odor of countless beautiful flowers and lively with the songs and cries of hundreds of brilliant birds all busy building their nests This was really spring and all its glory We began our summer occupation by cleaning and putting in order our dormitory in the tree which the rain and the scattered leaves had greatly deranged and in a few days we were able to inhabit it again My wife immediately began with her flax While my sons were leading the cattle to the pasture I took the bundles of flax into the open air where I constructed a sort of oven of stone which dried it completely We began that very evening to strip, beat and comb it and I drew out such handfuls of soft fine flax ready for spinning that my wife was overjoyed and begged me to make her a wheel that she might commence I had formerly had a little taste for turning and though I had now neither lathe nor any other of the tools yet I knew how a spinning wheel in reel should be made and by dint of application I succeeded in completing these two machines to her satisfaction She began to spin with so much earnestness that she would hardly take a walk and reluctantly left her wheel to make dinner ready She employed Francis to reel off the thread as she spun it and would willingly have had the elder boys to take her place when she was called off but they rebelled at the effeminate work except earnest whose indolent habits made him prefer it to more laborious occupation In the meantime we walked over to Tenthouse to see the state of things and found that winter had done more damage there than at Falcon's Nest The storm had overthrown the tent, carried away some of the metal cloth and injured our provisions so much that great part was good for nothing and the rest required to be immediately dried Fortunately our beautiful Penis had not suffered much it was still safe at anchor and fit for use but our tub boat was entirely destroyed Our most important loss was two barrels of gunpowder which had been left in the tent instead of under the shelter of the rock and which the rain had rendered wholly useless This made us feel still more strongly the necessity of securing for the future a more suitable shelter than a canvas tent or a roof of foliage Still I had small hope from the gigantic plan of Fritz or the boldness of Jack I could not be blind to the difficulties of the undertaking The rocks which surrounded Tenthouse presented an unbroken surface like a wall without any crevice and to all appearance I was so hard in nature as to leave little hopes of success However it was necessary to try to contrive some sort of cave if only for our gunpowder I made up my mind and selected the most perpendicular face of the rock as the place to begin our work It was a much pleasenter situation that our tent commanding a view of the whole bay and the two banks of Jackal River with its picturesque bridge I marked out with chalk the dimension of the entrance I wished to give that my sons and I took our chisels, pickaxes and heavy miners' hammers and began boldly to hue the stone Our first blows produced very little effect The rocks seemed impenetrable The sun had so hardened the surface and the sweat poured off our brows with the hard labour Nevertheless the efforts of my young workmen did not relax Every evening we left our work advanced perhaps a few inches and every morning returned to the task with renewed ardour At the end of five or six days when the surface of the rock was removed we found the stone became easier to work It then seemed calcareous and finally only a sort of hardened clay which we could remove with spades and we began to hope After a few days more labour we found we had advanced about seven feet Brits wheeled out the rubbish with it before the opening while I was working at the higher part Jack as the least worked below One morning he was hammering an iron bar which he had pointed at the end into the rock to loosen the earth when he suddenly cried out Papa, Papa, I have pierced through Not through your hand child, asked I No Papa, cried he I have pierced through the mountain Huzzah! Brits ran in at the shout Huzzah! Brits said at once that he had pierced through the earth but Jack persisted that however his brother might laugh he was quite sure he had felt his iron bar enter an empty space behind I now came down from my ladder and moving the bar I felt there really was a hollow into which the rubbish fell but apparently very little below the level we were working on I took a long pole and probed the cavity and found that it must be of considerable size my boys wished to have the opening enlarged and to enter immediately but this I strictly forbade for as I leaned forward to examine it through the opening a rush of mephitic air gave me a sort of vertigo Come away children cried I in terror the air you would breathe there is certain death I explained to them that under certain circumstances carbonic acid gas was frequently accumulated in caves or grottoes rendering the air unfit for respiration producing giddiness of the head fainting and eventually death I sent them to collect some hay which I lighted and threw into the cave this was immediately extinguished we repeated the experiment several times with the same result I now saw that more active means must be resorted to we had brought from the vessel a box of fireworks intended for signals I threw into the cave by a cord a quantity of rockets, grenades etc. and scattered a train of gunpowder from them to this I applied a long match and we retired to a little distance this succeeded well a great explosion agitated the air a torrent of the carbonic acid gas rushed through the opening and was replaced by the pure air we sent in a few more rockets which flew around like fiery dragons disclosing to us the vast extent of the cave a shower of stars which concluded our experiment made us wish the duration had been longer it seemed as if a crowd of winged genii carrying each a lamp were floating about in that enchanted cavern when they vanished I threw in some more lighted hay which blazed in such a lively manner that I knew all danger was over from the gas but for fear of deep pits or pools of water I would not venture in without lights I therefore dispatched Jack on his buffalo to report the discovery to his mother and bring all the candles she had made I purposely sent Jack on the errand for his lively and poetic turn of mine would I hoped invest the grotto with such charms that his mother would even abandon her wheel to come and see it delighted with his commission Jack leaped upon his buffalo and waving his whip galloped off with an intrepidity on end during his absence Fritz and I enlarged the opening to make it easy of access removed all the rubbish and swept a road for Mama we had just finished when we heard the sound of wheels crossing the bridge and the cart appeared drawn by the cow and ass led by Ernest Jack rode before on his buffalo blowing through his hand to imitate a horn and whipping the lazy cow and ass he rode up first to each coarser to help his mother out I then lighted our candles giving one to each with a spare candle and flint and steel in our pockets we took our arms and proceeded in a solemn manner into the rock I walked first my sons followed and their mother came last with Francis we had not gone on above a few steps when we stopped struck with wonder and admiration all was glittering around us we were in a grotto of diamonds from the height of the lofty vaulted roof hung innumerable crystals which uniting with those on the walls formed colonnades, altars and every sort of gothic ornament of dazzling luster creating a fairy palace or an illuminated temple when we were a little recovered from our first astonishment we advanced with more confidence the grotto was spacious more smooth and covered with a fine dry sand from the appearance of these crystals I suspected their nature and on breaking off a piece and tasting it I found to my great joy that we were in a grotto of rock salt which is found in large masses in the earth usually above a bed of gypsum and surrounded by fossils we were charmed with this discovery of which we could no longer have a doubt what an advantage this was and to ourselves we could now procure this precious commodity without care or labour the acquisition was almost as valuable as its brilliant retreat was in itself of which we were never tired of admiring the beauty my wife was struck with our good fortune in opening the rock precisely at the right spot but I was of opinion that this mine was of great extent and that we could not well have missed it some blocks of salt were scattered on the ground and apparently fallen from the vaulted roof I was alarmed for such an accident might destroy one of my children but on examination I found the mass above too solid to be detached spontaneously and I concluded that the explosion of the fireworks had given this shock to the subterranean palace which had not been entered since the creation of the world I feared there might yet be pieces loosened I therefore sent out my wife and younger sons Brits and I remained and after carefully examining the suspected parts we fired our guns and watched the effect one or two pieces fell but the rest remained firm though we struck with long poles as high as we could reach we were now satisfied of the security of our magnificent abode and began to plan our arrangements for converting it into a convenient and pleasant habitation the majority were for coming here immediately the wiser heads determined that for this year Falcons Ness was to continue our home there we went every night and spent the day at Ted House contriving and arranging our future winter dwelling End of Chapter This is the LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 30 The last bed of rock before we reached the cave which Jack had pierced was so soft and easy to work that we had little difficulty in proportioning and opening the place for our door I hope that, being now exposed to the heat of the sun, it would soon become as hard as the original surface The door was that we had used for the staircase at Falcons Nest for as we only intended to make a temporary residence of our old tree there was no necessity for solid fittings and besides I intended to close the entrance of the tree by a door of bark more effectually to conceal it in case savages should visit us I then laid out the extent of the grotto at pleasure for we had ample space we began by dividing it into two parts that on the right of the entrance was to be our dwelling on the left were first our kitchen then the workshop behind these were the store rooms and the cellar in order to give light and air to our apartments it was necessary to insert in the rock the windows we had brought from the ship and this cost us many days of labor the right hand portion was subdivided into three rooms the first our own bedroom the middle the common sitting room and beyond the boys room as we had only three windows we appropriated one to each bedroom and the third to the kitchen contending ourselves at present with a grating in the dining room I constructed a sort of chimney in the kitchen formed of four boards and conducted the smoke thus through a hole made in the face of the rock we made our workroom spacious enough for us to carry on all our manufactures and it served also for our cart house finally all the partition walls were put up communicating by doors and completing our commodious habitation these various labors the removal of our effects and arranging them again all the confusion of a change when it was necessary to be at once workmen and directors took us a great part of summer but the recollection of the vexations we should escape in the rainy season gave us energy we passed nearly all our time at tent house the center of our operations and besides the gardens and plantations which surrounded it by large turtles often came to deposit their eggs in the sand a pleasant treat for us but we raised our desires to the possession of the turtles themselves living to eat when we chose as soon as we saw one on the shore one of my sons ran to cut off its retreat we then hastened to assist turned the creature on its back passed a long cord through its shell and tied it firmly to a post close to the water tied it on its legs one of course it made for the water but could only ramble the length of its cord it seemed, however, very content and we had it in readiness when we wanted it the lobsters crabs, mussels and every sort of fish which abounded on the coast plentifully supplied our table one morning we were struck with an extraordinary spectacle a large portion of the sea appeared in a state of abolition an immense flocks of marine birds hovering over it uttering piercing cries and plunging into the waves from time to time the surface on which the rising sun now shown seemed covered with little flames which rapidly appeared and vanished suddenly this extraordinary mass advanced to the bay and we ran down full of curiosity we found on our arrival that this strange phenomenon was caused by a shoal of herrings these shoals are so dense that they are often taken for sand-banks are many leagues in extent and several feet in depth they spread themselves over the seas caring to bear insures the resources that nature has denied them these brilliant scaly creatures had now entered the bay and my wife and children were lost in admiration of the wonderful sight but I reminded them that when Providence sends plenty we ought to put forth our hands to take it I sent immediately for the necessary utensils and organized my fishery Fritz and Jack stood in the water and such was the thickness of the shoal that they filled baskets taking them up as you would water in a pail they threw them on the sand my wife and Ernest cut them open cleaned them and rubbed them with salt I arranged them in small barrels a layer of herrings and a layer of salt and when the barrel was full the ass led by Francis this labor occupied us several days and at the end of that time we had a dozen barrels of excellent salt provision against the winter season the refuse of this fishery which we threw into the sea attracted a number of sea dogs we killed several for the sake of the skin and the oil which would be useful to burn in lamps or even as an ingredient in soap which I hope to make at some future time at this time I greatly improved my sledge by placing it on two small wheels belonging to the guns of the ship making it a light and commodious carriage but so low that we could easily place heavy weights on it satisfied with our labors we returned very happy to Falcons nest to spend our Sunday and to thank God heartily for all the blessings he had given us End of chapter The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 31 We went on with our labors but slowly as many employments diverted us from the great work I had discovered that the crystals of salt in our grotto had a bit of gypsum for their base from which I hoped to obtain a great advantage I was fortunate enough to discover behind a projecting rock a natural passage leading to our storeroom strewn with fragments of gypsum I took some of it to the kitchen and by repeated burnings it and reduced it to a fine white powder which I put into casks and carefully preserved for use my intention was to form our partition walls of square stones cemented with the gypsum I employed my sons daily to collect this till we had amassed a large quantity using some in the first place effectually to cover our herring barrels four barrels were salted and covered in this way the rest my wife smoked in a little branches in the midst of which the herrings were laid on sticks and exposed to the smoke of a fire of green moss kindled below this dried them and gave them the peculiar flavor so agreeable to many we were visited by another shoal of fish a month after that of the herrings Jack first discovered them at the mouth of Jackal River where they had apparently come to deposit their eggs among the scattered stones they were so large that he was sure I found them to be pretty large sturgeons besides salmon large trout and many other fishes Jack immediately ran for his bow and arrows and told me he would kill them all he fastened the end of a ball of string to an arrow with a hook at the end of it he tied the bladders of the dogfish at certain distances to the string he then placed the ball safe on the shore took his bow fixed the arrow in it and aiming at the largest salmon shot it in the side the fish tried to escape I assisted him to draw the cord and it was no easy task for he struggled tremendously but at length weakened by loss of blood we drew him to land and dispatched him the other boys came running up to congratulate the young fisherman on his invention and as it was to be feared that the rest alarmed by this attack might take their departure we determined to abandon everything for the fishery Fritz threw his harpoon and landed by means of the reel some large salmon Arnes took his rod and caught trout and I, armed like Neptune with an iron trident succeeded in striking amongst the stones some enormous fish the greatest difficulty was to land our booty Fritz had struck a sturgeon at least 8 feet long which resisted our united efforts till my wife brought the buffalo which we harnessed to the line and made ourselves masters of this immense prize we had a great deal of labor in opening and cleaning all our fish some we dried and salted some my wife boiled in oil as they preserved the tunny the spawn of the sturgeon a huge mass weighing not less than 30 pounds I laid aside to prepare as caviar a favorite dish in Holland and Russia I carefully cleansed the eggs from the skin and fibers that were mixed with them washed them thoroughly in sea water slightly sprinkled them with salt then put them in a gourd pierced with small holes to let the water escape and placed weights on them to press them completely for 24 hours we then removed the caviar and solid masses like cheeses took it to the smoking hut to dry and in a few days had this large addition to our winter provision my next employment was the preparation of the valuable icing glass I took the air bladder and sounds of the fish wrapped them in strips, twisted them in rolls and dried them in the sun this is all that is necessary to prepare this excellent glue it becomes very hard and when wanted for use is cut up in small pieces and dissolved over a slow fire the glue was so white and transparent that I hoped to make window panes from it instead of glass after this work was finished we began to plan a boat to replace our tub raft I wished to try to make one of bark as the savage nations do and I proposed to make an expedition in search of a tree for our purpose all those in our own neighborhood were too precious to destroy some for their fruits others for their shade we resolved to search at a distance for trees fit for our purpose taking in our road a survey of our plantations and fields our garden at tent house produced abundantly continual in that virgin soil and in a climate which recognized no change of season the peas, beans, lentils and lettuces were flourishing and only required water and our channels from the river brought this plentifully to us we had delicious cucumbers and melons the maze was already a foot high the sugar canes were prospering and the pineapples on the high ground promised us a rich treat we hoped our distant plantations were gone as well and all set out one fine morning to falcons nest to examine the state of things there we found my wife's corn fields were luxuriant in appearance and for the most part ready for cutting there were barley, wheat, oats beans, millet and lentils we cut such of these as were ready sufficient to give us seeds for another year the richest crop was the maze which suited the soil but there were a quantity eager to taste these new productions than we were there were birds of every kind from the bustard to the quail and from the various establishments they had formed round it might be presumed they would not leave much for us after our first shock at the sight of these robbers we used some measures to lessen the number of them Fritz unhooded his eagle and pointed out the dispersing bustards the well-trained bird immediately soared and pounced on a superb bustard and laid it at the feet of its master the jackal too who was a capital pointer brought to his master about a dozen little fat quails which furnished us with an excellent repast to which my wife added a liquor of her own invention made of the green maze crushed in water and mingled with the juice of the sugar cane a most agreeable beverage white as milk, sweet and refreshing we found the bustard which the eagle had struck down slightly wounded we washed his hurts with a balsam made of wine, butter and water and tied him by the leg in the poultry-yard as companion to our tame-bustard we passed the remainder of the day at falcons nest putting our summer abode into order and thrashing out our grain to save the precious seed for another year the turkey-wheat was laid by in sheaves till we should have time to thrash and winnow it and then I told Fritz to put the hand mill in order that we have brought from the wreck Fritz thought we could build a mill ourselves on the river but this bold scheme was, at present, impracticable the next day we set out on an excursion in the neighborhood my wife wished to establish colonies of our animals at some distance from falcons nest at a convenient spot where they would be secure and might find subsistence we selected from her poultry-yard twelve young fowls two pigs two couple of sheep and two goats these animals were placed in the cart in which we had previously placed our provisions of every kind and the tools and utensils we might need not forgetting the rope ladder and the portable tent we then harnessed the buffalo, the cow and the ass and departed on our tour Fritz rode before on lightfoot to reconnoiter the ground that we might not plunge into any difficulties as this time we went in a new direction exactly in the midst between the rocks and the shore that we might get acquainted with the whole of the country that stretched to keep disappointment we had the usual difficulty at first in getting through the high grass and the underwood embarrassed our road till we were compelled to use the axe frequently I made some trifling discoveries that were useful while engaged in this labor amongst others some roots of trees curved like saddles and yokes for beasts of draft cut away several of these and placed them on the cart when we had nearly passed the wood we were struck with a singular appearance of a little thicket of low bushes apparently covered with snow Francis clapped his hands with joy and begged to get out of the cart that he might make some snowballs Fritz galloped forward and returned bringing me a branch loaded with this beautiful white down which to my great joy I recognized to be cotton and my wife began immediately to enumerate all the advantages we should derive from it when I should have constructed for her the machines for spinning and weaving the cotton we soon gathered as much as filled three bags intending afterwards to collect the seeds of this marvelous plant to sow in the neighborhood of Tenthouse after crossing the plain of the cotton trees we reached the summit of a hill from which the eye rested on a terrestrial paradise trees of every sort covered the sides of the hill and a murmuring stream crossed the plain adding to its beauty and fertility the wood we had just crossed formed a shelter against the north winds and the rich pasture offered food for our cattle we decided at once that this should be the site of our farm we erected our tent made a fireplace and set about cooking our dinner while this was going on Fritz and I saw a convenient spot for our structure we met with a group of beautiful trees at such a distance one from another as to form natural pillars for our dwelling we carried all our tools here but as the day was far advanced we delayed commencing our work till next day we returned to the tent and found my wife and her boys picking cotton with which they had made some very comfortable beds and we slept peacefully under our canvas roof End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 32 The trees which I had chosen for my farmhouse were about a foot in diameter in the trunk They formed a long square the long side facing the sea The dimensions of the hole were about 16 I cut deep mortices in the trees about 10 feet distant from the ground and again 10 feet higher to form a second story I then placed in them strong poles This was the skeleton of my house solid, if not elegant I placed over this a rude roof of bark cut in squares and placed sloping that the rain might run off We fastened these with a thorn of the acacia as our nails were too precious to be lavished While procuring the bark we made many discoveries The first was that of two remarkable trees the pistacea terebinthus and the pistacea atlantica the next the thorniacacia from which we got the substitute for nails The instinct of my goats led us also to find out among the pieces of bark that of the cinnamon not perhaps equal to that of salon but very fragrant and agreeable to the turpentine amastic I hope to procure from the pistachios to compose a sort of pitch to complete our intended boat We continued our work at the house which occupied us several days We formed the walls of thin laths interwoven with long, pliant reeds for about 6 feet from the ground The rest was merely a sort of light trellis work to admit light and air The door opened on the front to the sea The interior consisted simply of a series of compartments proportioned to the guests they were to contain One small apartment was for ourselves when we chose to visit our colony On the upper story was a sort of hayloft for the fodder We projected plastering the walls with clay but these finishing touches we deferred to a future time contented that we had provided a shelter for our cattle and fowls To accustom them to come to the shelter of themselves we took care to fill their racks with the food they liked best with salt and this we proposed to renew at intervals till the habit of coming to their houses was fixed We all labored ardently but the work proceeded slowly from our inexperience and the provisions we had brought were nearly exhausted I did not wish to return to Falcon's nest till I had completed my new establishment and therefore determined to send Fritz and Jack to look after the animals at home and bring back a fresh stock of provisions Our two young couriers set out each on his favorite steed Fritz leading the ass to bring back the load and Jack urging the indolent animal forward with his whip During their absence, Ernest and I made a little excursion to add to our provision If we could meet with them some potatoes and coconuts We ascended the stream for some time which led us to a large marsh beyond which we discovered a lake abounding with waterfowl This lake was surrounded by tall, thick grass with ears of a grain which I found to be a very good though small sort of rice As to the lake itself it is only a Swiss accustomed from his infancy to look on such smooth, tranquil waters that can comprehend the happiness we felt on looking upon this We fancied we were once more in Switzerland our own dear land but the majestic trees and luxuriant vegetation soon reminded us we were no longer in Europe but the ocean separated us from our native home In the meantime Ernest had brought down several birds with a skill and success that surprised me A little after we saw Nip sleep off the back of his usual palfry, flora and making his way through the rich grass collect and carry rapidly to his mouth something that seemed particularly to please his palate We followed him and to our great comfort were able to refresh ourselves with that delicious strawberry called the chili or pineapple strawberry We ate plentifully of this fruit which was of enormous size Ernest especially enjoyed them but did not forget the absent he filled Nip's little pattinger with them and I covered them with large leaves which I fastened down with reeds lest he should take a fancy to help himself as we went home I took also a specimen of rice for the inspection of our good housekeeper who would I knew rejoice in such we proceeded round the lake which presented a different scene on every side this was one of the most lovely and fertile parts we had yet seen of this country birds of all kinds abounded but we were particularly struck with a pair of black swans sailing majestically on the water their plumage was perfectly black and glossy except the extremity of the wings which was white Ernest would have tried his skill again but I forbade him to disturb the profound charming region but Flora who probably had not the same taste for the beauties of nature that I had suddenly darted forward like an arrow pounced upon a creature that was swimming quietly at the edge of the water and brought it to us it was a most curious animal it resembled an otter in form but was webfooted had an erect bushy tail like the squirrel small head eyes and ears almost invisible a long flat bill like that of a duck completed its strange appearance we were completely puzzled even Ernest the naturalist could not give its name I boldly gave it the name of the beast with a bill I told Ernest to take it as I wished to stuff and preserve it it will be, said the little philosopher the first natural object for our museum exactly, replied I and when the establishment is fully arranged we will appoint you curator but thinking my wife would grow uneasy at our protracted absence we return by a direct road to the tent our two messengers arrived about the same time and we all sat down together to a cheerful repast everyone related his feats Ernest dwelled on his discoveries and was very pompous in its descriptions and I was obliged to promise to take fritz another time I learned with pleasure that all was going unwell at falcons nest and that the boys had had the forethought to leave the animals with provisions for ten days this enabled me to complete my farmhouse we remained four days longer in which time I finished the interior and my wife arranged in our own apartment the cotton mattresses to be ready for our visits and put into the houses the fodder and grain for their respective tenants we then loaded our cart and began our march the animals wished to follow us but fritz on light foot covered our retreat and kept them at the farm till we were out of sight we did not proceed directly but went towards the wood of monkeys these mischievous creatures assaulted us with showers of the fur apples but a few shots dispersed our assailants fritz collected some of these new fruits they had flung at us and I recognized them as those of the stone pine the kernel of which is good to eat and produces an excellent oil we gathered a bag of these and continued our journey till we reached the neighborhood of Cape Disappointment there we ascended a little hill from the south there we ascended a little hill from the summit of which we looked upon rich plains rivers and woods clothed with verdure and brilliant flowers and gay birds that fluttered among the bushes here my children, cried I here we will build our summer house this is truly Arcadia here we placed our tent and immediately began to erect a new building formed in the same manner as the farmhouse but now executed more quickly we raised the roof in the middle and made four sloped sides the interior was divided into eating and sleeping apartments stables and a storeroom for provisions the whole was completed and provisioned in ten days and we now had another mansion for ourselves and a shelter for new colonies of animals this new erection received the name of Prospect Hill to gratify earnest who thought it had an English appearance however the end for which our expedition was planned was not yet fulfilled I had not yet met with a tree likely to suit me for a boat we returned then to inspect the trees and I fixed on a sort of oak the bark of which was closer than that of the European oak resembling more like that of the cork tree the trunk was at least five feet in diameter and I fancied its coating if I could obtain it whole would perfectly answer my purpose I traced a circle at the foot of a small saw cut the bark entirely through fritz by means of the rope ladder we had brought with us and attached to the lower branches of the tree ascended and cut a similar circle eighteen feet above mine we then cut out perpendicularly a slip the whole length and removing it we had room to insert the necessary tools and with wedges we finally succeeded in loosening the hole the first part was easy enough but there was greater difficulty as we advanced we sustained it as we proceeded with ropes and then gently let it down on the grass I immediately began to form my boat while the bark was fresh and flexible my sons in their impatience thought it would do very well if we nailed a board at each end of the roll but this would have been merely a heavy trough inelegant and unserviceable I wished to have one that would look well by the side of the penis and this idea at once rendered my boys patient and obedient we began by cutting out at each end of the roll of bark a triangular piece of about five feet long then placing the sloping parts one over the other I united them with pegs and strong glue and thus finished the ends of my boat in a pointed form this operation having widened it too much in the middle we passed strong ropes around it and drew it into the form we required we then exposed it to the sun which dried and fixed it in the proper shape as many things were necessary to complete my work I sent frits and jacked tent-house for the sledge to convey it there that we might finish it more conveniently I had the good fortune to meet with some very hard crooked wood the natural curve of which would be admirably suitable for supporting the sides of the boat we found also a resinous tree which distilled a sort of pitch easy to manage and which soon hardened in the sun my wife and Francis collected sufficient of it for my work it was almost night when our two messengers returned we had only time to sup and retire to our rest we were all early at work next morning we loaded the sledge placing on it the canoe the wood for the sides the pitch and some young trees which I had transplanted for our plantation at tent-house and which we put into the boat but before we set out I wished to erect a sort of fortification at the pass of the rock for the double purpose of securing us against the attacks of wild beasts or of savages and for keeping enclosed in the savanna beyond the rocks some young pigs that we wished to multiply there out of the way of our fields and plantations as we crossed the sugarcane plantation I saw some bamboos larger than any that I had ever met with and we cut down one for a mass to our canoe we now had the river to our left and the chain of rocks to our right which here approached the river leaving only a narrow pass at the narrowest part of this we raised a rampart before a deep ditch which could only be crossed by a drawbridge we placed there beyond the bridge we put a narrow gate of woven bamboos to enable us to enter the country beyond when we wished the rampart with dwarf palms India fig and other thorny shrubs making a winding path through the plantation and digging in the midst a hidden pitfall known to ourselves by four low posts intended to support a plank bridge when we wished to cross it after this was completed we built a little chalet of bark in that part of the plantation that faced the stream and gave it the name of the hermitage intending it for a resting place after several days of hard labour we returned to Prospect Hill and took a little relaxation the only work we did was to prepare the mast and lay it on the sledge with the rest the next morning we returned to Tenthouse where we immediately set to work on our canoe with such diligence that it was soon completed it was solid and elegant lined through with wood and furnished with a keel we provided it with brass rings for the oars and stays for the mast instead of ballast I laid at the bottom a layer of stones covered with clay and over this a flooring of boards the benches for the rowers were laid across and in the midst the bamboo mast rose majestically with a triangular sail behind I fixed the rudder, worked by a tiller and I could now boast of having built a capital canoe our fleet was now in good condition for distant excursions we could take the penis but the canoe would be invaluable for the coasting service our cow had in the meantime given us a young male calf which I undertook to train for service as I had done the buffalo beginning by piercing its nostrils and the calf promised to be docile and useful and as each of the other boys had his favorite animal to ride I bestowed the bull on Francis and entrusted him with its education to encourage him to habits of boldness and activity he was delighted with his new charger and chose to give him the name of Valiant we had still two months before the rainy season and this time we devoted to completing the comforts of our grotto we made all the partitions of wood except those which divided us from the stables which we built of stone to exclude any smell from the animals we soon acquired skill in our works we had a plentiful supply of beams and planks from the ship and by practice we became very good plasterers we clubbered the floors with a sort of well beaten mud smoothed it and it dried perfectly hard we then contrived a sort of felt carpet we first covered the floor with sailcloth we spread over this wool and goat's hair mixed and poured over it icing glass dissolved rolling up the carpet and beating it well when this was dry we repeated the process and in the end had a felt carpet we made one of these for each room to guard against any damp that we might be subject to we covered the floors with a sort of well beaten mud smoothed it and it dried perfectly hard to guard against any damp that we might be subject to in the rainy season the privations we had suffered the preceding winter increased the enjoyment of our present comforts the rainy season came on we had now a warm, well lighted, convenient habitation and abundance of excellent provision for ourselves and our cattle in the morning we could attend to their wants without trouble for the rainwater carefully collected in clean vessels prevented the necessity of going to the river we then assembled in the dining room to prayers after that we went to our work room my wife took her wheel or her loom which was a rude construction of mine but in which she had contrived to weave some useful cloth of wool and cotton and also some linen which she had made up for us everybody worked the workshop was never empty I contrived with the wheel of a gun to arrange a sort of lathe by means of which I and my sons produced some neat furniture and utensils Ernest surprised us all in this art and made some elegant little things for his mother after dinner our evening occupations commenced our room was lighted up brilliantly we did not spare our candles which were so easily procured and we enjoyed the reflection in the elegant crystals above us we had partitioned off a little chapel in one corner of the grotto which we had left untouched and nothing could be more magnificent than this chapel lighted up with its colonnades portico and altars we had divine service here every Sunday I had erected a sort of pulpit from which I delivered a short sermon to my congregation which I endeavored to render as simple and as instructive as possible Jack and Francis had a natural taste for music I made them flagellates of reeds on which they acquired considerable skill they accompanied their mother who had a very good voice and this music in our lofty grotto had a charming effect we thus made great steps towards civilization and though condemned perhaps to pass our lives alone on this unknown shore we might yet be happy we were placed in the midst of abundance we were active, industrious and content blessed with health and united by perfection our minds seemed to enlarge and improve every day we saw around us on every side traces of the divine wisdom and beneficence and our hearts overflowed with love with a mighty hand which had so miraculously saved and continued to predict us I humbly trusted in him either to restore us to the world or send some beings to join us in this beloved island where for two years we had seen no trace of man to him we committed our fate we were happy and tranquil looking with resignation to the future End of the first part of the journal Post script by the editor it is necessary to explain how this first part of the journal of the Swiss pastor came into my hands three or four years after the family had been cast on this desert coast where as we see they lived a happy and contented life an English transport was driven by a storm upon the same shore this vessel was the adventurer Captain Johnson and was returning from New Zealand to the eastern coast of North America by Otahaita to fetch a cargo of furs for China and then to proceed from Canton to England a violent storm which lasted several days drove them out of their course for many days they wandered in unknown seas and the ship was so injured by the storm that the captain looked out for some port to repair it they discovered a rocky coast and as the violence of the wind was lulled ventured to approach the shore at a short distance they anchored and sent a boat to examine the coast Lieutenant Bell who went with the boat knew a little German they were some time before they could venture to land among the rocks which guarded the island but turning the promontory they saw safety bay and entering it were astonished to see a handsome penis and a boat at anchor near the strand a tent and in the rock doors and windows like those of a European house they landed and saw a middle aged man coming to meet them clothed in European fashion and well armed after a friendly salutation German and then in English this was the good father the family were at falcons nest where they were spending the summer he had seen the vessel in the morning through his telescope but unwilling to alarm or to encourage hopes that might be vain he had not spoken of it but come alone towards the coast after much friendly conference the party was regaled with all hospitality at tent house the good swiss gave the lieutenant this first part of his journal the perusal of captain johnson and after an hour's conversation they separated hoping to have a pleasant meeting next day but haven't decreed otherwise during the night another fearful storm arose the adventurer lost its anchor and was driven out to sea and after several days of anxiety and danger found itself so far from the island and so much shattered that all thoughts of returning were given up for that time and captain johnson reluctantly relinquished the hope of rescuing the interesting family thus it happened that the first part of this journal was brought to england and from thence sent to me a friend of the family in switzerland accompanied by a letter from the captain declaring that he could have no rest until he found and became acquainted with this happy family that he would search for the island in his future voyages and either bring away the family or if they preferred to remain he would send out from england some columnist and everything that might be necessary to promote their comfort a rough map of the island is added to the journal executed by fritz the eldest son this ends chapter 32 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by mark smith of simpsonville south carolina the swiss family robinson goodwis chapter 33 i left the reader at the moment in which i had placed the first part of my journal in the hands of lieutenant bell to deliver to captain johnson of the english vessel the adventurer expecting him to return the next day with lieutenant bell we separated in this hope and i thought it necessary to inform my family of this expected visit which might decide their future lot my wife and elder sons might wish to seize this only occasion that might occur to visit their native country to quit their beloved island which would doubtless cost them much sorrow at the last moment but was necessary to their future comfort i could not help feeling distressed at the prospect of my dear children's solitary old age and i determined if they did not wish to return with captain johnson to request him to send some columnists out to people our island it will be remembered that i had left home alone and at an early hour having perceived the vessel from the top with my telescope i had set out without breakfast without giving my sons their tasks or making any arrangements for the labors of the day my conference with lieutenant bell had been long it was now past noon and knowing how prompt my wife was to alarm herself i was surprised that i did not meet her nor any of my sons i began to be uneasy and on my arrival i hastily mounted the tree and found my faithful partner extended on her bed surrounded by her four sons and apparently in great pain i demanded with a cry of grief what had happened all wished to speak at once and it was with some difficulty i learned that my dear wife, in descending the staircase had been seized with a giddiness in her head and had fallen down and injured herself so much that she was unable to rise without assistance she was now enduring great pain in her right leg and in her left foot Ernest and i, added Fritz, carried her without delay to her bed, though not without difficulty for the staircase is so narrow but she continued to get worse and we did not know what to do Jack said i have rubbed her foot continually but it swells more and more as well as her leg, which i dare not touch it hurts her so much and said Ernest i remember, father, that of the chest that we brought from the ship there is one unopened, which is marked medicines may it not contain something that will relieve mama perhaps it may, my son you did well to remember it we will go to tent house for it Fritz, you shall accompany me to a system bringing it i wished to be alone with Fritz to consult him about the English vessel and was glad of this opportunity before i left my wife i intended to examine her leg and foot which were exceedingly painful when i was preparing to enter the church i had studied medicine and practical surgery in order to be able to administer to the bodily afflictions of my poor parishioners as well as to their spiritual sorrows i knew how to bleed and could replace the dislocated limb i had often made cures but since my arrival at the island i had neglected my medical studies which happily had not been needed i hoped now however to recall as much of my knowledge as would be sufficient to cure my poor wife i examined her foot first which i found to be violently sprained she begged me then to look at her leg and what was my distress when i saw it was fractured above the ankle however the fracture appeared simple without splinters and easy to cure i sent Fritz without delay to procure me two pieces of the bark of a tree between which i placed the leg after having with the assistance of my son stretched it till the two pieces of broken bone united i then bound it with bandages of linen and tied the pieces of bark round the leg so that it might not be moved i bound the sprained foot very tightly till i could procure the balsam which i expected to find in the chest i felt assured that the giddiness of the head which had caused her fall proceeded from some existing cause which i suspected from the pulse and the complexion must be a fullness of blood and it appeared to be necessary to take away some ounces which i persuaded her to allow me to do when i should have brought my medicine chest and instruments from tent house i left her with many charges for the care of my three younger sons and proceeded to tent house with fritz to whom i now related my morning adventure and consulted him how we should mention it to its mother fritz was astonished i saw how his mind was employed he looked round on our fields and plantations increasing and prospering we must not tell her father said he i will be at tent house early in the morning you must give me some commission to execute i will await the arrival of the captain and tell him that my dear mother is ill and that he may return as he came you speak rashly fritz answered i i have told you that the ship has suffered much from the storm and needs repairs have you not often read the golden rule of our divine master do unto others as you would have others do unto you our duty is to receive the captain into our island and to assist him in repairing and refitting his vessel and he will find, said he we know something of that kind of work did you show him our beautiful penis and canoe but can such a large vessel enter our bay of safety no, replied i i fear there will not be sufficient water but we will show the captain the large bay at the other end of the island formed by gate disappointment he will find there a beautiful harbor and he and his officers may live at the farm and we can go over every day to assist in repairing their vessel continued fritz said i and when it is finished, he will in return give us a place in it to return to europe to return to europe, father cried he to leave our beautiful winter dwelling, tan house and our charming summer residence, falcons nest our dear good animals our crystals of salt, our farms so much that is our own and which nobody covets to return into europe to poverty, to war to those wicked soldiers who have banished us we want nothing dear father, can you consent to leave our beloved island? you are right, my dear son said i would to god we might always remain here happily together but we are of different ages and by the law of nature we must one day be separated consider, my dear son, if you should survive your brothers how cheerless it would be to live quite alone on this desert island without anyone to close your eyes but let us look at these trees i see they are tamarind trees their fruit contains a pulp which is very useful in medicine and which will suit your mother, i think as well as the juice of the orange or lemon we shall find some of the latter at our plantation near tent house but in the meantime, do you climb the tamarind tree and gather some of those pods which resemble those of beans fill one side of the bag with them and the other we will reserve for the oranges and lemons not to lose any time, i will go on to tent house to seek for the two chests so that you can follow me ritz was up the tamarind tree in a moment i crossed family bridge and soon reached the grotto i lighted a candle which i always kept ready entered the magazine and found the two chests labelled they were neither large nor heavy and having tied cords round them for the convenience of carrying them i proceeded to visit the orange and lemon trees where i found the fruit sufficiently ripe for lemonade ritz came to meet me with a good supply of tamarinds ritz sat with oranges and lemons he threw it over his shoulder and neither of us being overloaded we pursued our way homewards very quickly not withstanding the heat which was excessively oppressive though the sun was hidden under the thick clouds which entirely concealed the sea from us nothing was to be seen but the waves breaking against the rocks ritz expressed his fears that a storm was coming on which might prove fatal to the vessel and wished to take out the penis he asked captain johnson delighted as i felt with his fearless humanity i could not consent i reminded him of the situation of his mother forgive me dear father i had forgotten everything but the poor vessel but the captain may do as we did leave his ship between the rocks and come with all in the vessel to establish themselves here we will give them up a corner of our islands and if there should be any ladies amongst them how pleasant it would be for mama to have a friend the rain fell now in torrents and we proceeded with great difficulty after crossing the bridge we saw at a distance a very extraordinary figure approaching us we could not ascertain what species of animal it was it appeared taller than any of the monkeys we had seen and much larger of a black or brown color we could not distinguish the head but it seemed to have two thick and movable horns before it we had fortunately taken no gun with us or fritz would certainly have fired at the singular animal but as it rapidly approached us we soon recognized the step and the cry of pleasure which hailed us it was jack we exclaimed in fact it was he who was hurrying to meet us with my large cloak and waterproof kuchuk boots i had neglected to take them and my dear little fellow had volunteered to bring them to tent house to protect himself on the way he had put the cloak on covering his head with a hood and my boots being too large for him he had put one on each arm which he held up to secure the hood conceive what a singular figure he made notwithstanding our uneasiness and our wretched condition before we were wet to the skin we could not but laugh hardly at him i would not consent to use the coverings he had brought neither fritz nor i could be worse for the distance we had to go and jack was younger and more delicate i obliged him therefore to retain his curious protection and asked how he had left his mother very uneasy said he about you else i think she must be much better for her cheeks are very red and her eyes very bright and she talks incessantly she would have come herself to see you but could not rise and when i told her i would come she bid me be very quick and when i was coming downstairs i heard her call me back for fear of the rain and the thunder i would not hear her but ran as fast as i could why did you come back so soon to spare you half your journey my brave little man said i hastening on for jack's account of his mother made me uneasy i perceived she must be laboring under fever and the blood is sending to her head my children followed me and we soon reached the foot of our castle in the air end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 34 we entered our apartment literally as if we had come out of the sea and i found my poor Elizabeth much agitated have him be praised said she but where is jack that rash little fellow here i am mama said he has dry as when i left you i have left my dress below that i might not terrify you for if mr fritz had had his gun i might have been shot as a rhinoceros and not been here to tell you my story the good mother then turned her thoughts on fritz and me and would not suffer us to come near her till we had changed our drenched garments to oblige her we retired to a little closet i had contrived between two thick branches at the top of the staircase which was used to contain our chests of linen our dresses and our provisions our dress was soon changed we hung up the wet garments and i returned to my companion who was suffering from her foot but still more from a frightful headache she had a burning fever i concluded that bleeding was urgently needed but commenced by assuaging her thirst with some lemonade i then opened my box of surgical instruments and approaching the opening to the east which served us for a window and which we could close by means of a curtain that was now entirely raised to give air to our dear invalid and to amuse my children who are watching the storm the mighty waves that broke against the rocks the vivid lightning bursting through the castles of murky clouds the majestic and incessant rolling of the thunder formed one of those enchanting spectacles to which they had been from infancy accustomed as in the swiss mountains we are liable to frightful storms to which it is necessary to familiarize oneself as one cannot avoid them i had accustomed my wife and children as an example to behold not only without fear but even with admiration these great shocks of the elements these convulsions of nature i had opened the chest and my children had directed their attention to the instruments it contained the first were a little rusty and i handed them to Ernest who after examining them placed them on a table inside the window i was searching for a landset in good condition my life terrified us all so much that we nearly fell down this burst of thunder had not been preceded by any lightning but was accompanied by two immense fort columns of fire which seemed to stretch from the sky to our very feet we all cried out even my poor wife but the silence of terror succeeded and seemed to be the silence of death i flew to the bedside and found my dear patient in a state of total insensibility i was convinced that she was dead and i was dumb with despair i was roused from my stupor by the voice of my children i then remembered that i had not lost all there still remained duties to fulfill and affection to console me my children cried i extending my arms to them coming comfort your unfortunate father common lament with him the best of wives and mothers terrified at the appearance of their mother they surrounded her bed calling on her in piercing accents at that moment i saw my little Francis was missing and my grief was augmented by the fear that he had been killed by the lightning i hastily turned to the window expecting to find my child dead and are dwelling in flames fortunately, all was safe but in my distraction i scarcely thanked God for his mercy at the very moment even when he graciously restored to me my lost treasures Francis, frightened by the storm had hidden himself in his mother's bed and fallen asleep awaked by the thunder he had dared not to move fearing it announced the arrival of the savages but at last the cries of his brothers roused him and raising his pretty fair head supposing his mother sleeping he flung his arms around her neck saying, wake mama, we are all here papa, my brother is in the storm too which is very beautiful but it frightens me mama, look at the bright lightning and kiss your little Francis either his sweet voice or the cries of her elder children restored her faculties she gradually recovered and called me to her the excess of my joy threatened to be almost as fatal as my grief with difficulty i controlled my own feelings and those of my boys and after i had sent them from the bed i ascertained that she was not only really living but much better the pulse was calm and the fever had subsided leaving only a weakness that was by no means alarming i relinquished joyfully the intention of bleeding her the necessity of which i had trembled to contemplate and contented myself with employing the boys to prepare a cooling mixture composed of the juice of the lemon of barley and tamarins which they completed to the great satisfaction of their mother i then ordered Fritz to descend to the yard to kill a fowl and boil it to make broth a wholesome and light nourishment for our dear infallid i told one of his brothers to assist him and Jack and Francis frequently employed under their mother were ready in a moment Ernest alone remained quietly on his seat which i attributed to his usual indolence and tried to make him ashamed of it Ernest said i you are not very anxious to oblige your mother you sit as if the thunderbolt had struck you it has indeed rendered me unfit to be of any service to my good mother said he quietly and drawing his right hand from under his waistcoat he shouted to me most frightfully black and burnt this dear child who must have suffered very much had never uttered a complaint for fear of alarming his mother and even now he made a sign to me to be silent lest she should hear and discover the truth she soon however fell into a sleep which enabled me to attend to poor Ernest and to question him about the accident i learned that a long and pointed steel instrument which he was examining near the large window stooping over it to see it better had attracted the lightning which falling partly on the hand to which he held it had caused the misfortune there were traces on his arm of the electric fire and his hair was burnt on one side by what miracle the electric fluid had been diverted and how we dwelling in a tree had been preserved from a sudden and general conflagration i knew not my son assured me he had seen the fire run along the instrument he held and from thence fall perpendicularly to the earth where it seemed to burst with a second explosion i was impatient to examine this phenomenon and to see if any other traces were left except those on the hand of my son which it was necessary in the first place to attend to i remembered frequently to have applied with success in burns the most simple and easy of remedies which everybody can command this is to bathe the hand affected in cold water taking care to renew it every 8 or 10 minutes i placed earnest between two tubs of cold water and exhorting him to patience and perseverance i left him to bathe his hand and approached the opening to try and discover what had preserved us by averting the direction of the lightning which one might have expected would have killed my son to avoid our dwelling i saw only some light traces on the table but, on looking more attentively i found that the greater part of the surgical instruments which earnest had placed upon it were either melted or much damaged in examining them separately i remarked one much longer than the rest which projected beyond the edge of the table and was much marked by the fire i could not easily take it up it had adhered somewhat in melting and in endeavoring to disengage it i saw that the point which was beyond the opening touched a thick wire which seemed to be suspended from the roof of our tent all was now explained to me except that i could in no way account for this wire placed expressly to serve as a conductor for the lightning it seemed to be the work of magic the evening was too far advance for me to distinguish how it was fastened and what fixed it below therefore, in joining earnest to call loudly if he needed me i hastened down i saw my three cooks very busy as i passed through preparing the broth for their mother they assured me it would be excellent fritz boasted that he had killed the fowl with all speed jack that he had plucked it without tearing it much and francis that he had lighted and kept up the fire they had nothing to employ them just then and i took them with me to have someone to talk to on the phenomenon of the lightning below the window there was a large packet of iron wire which i had brought from tent house some days before intending on some leisure day to make a sort of grating before our poultry yard by what chance was it here and hooked by one end to the roof of our house some time before i had replaced our cloth canopy by a sort of roof covered with bark nailed upon laths the cloth still enclosed the sides in front all was so inflammable that but for the providential conductor in flames in an instant i thanked god for our preservation and little francis seeing me so happy said is it quite true papa that this wire has preserved us yes it is true my darling and i wish to know what good genius has placed it there that i may be thankful said i ah father said my little fellow embrace me but do not thank me for i did not know that i was doing good astonished at this information i requested my boy to tell me why and how he had fixed the wire i wanted to reach some figs when you and fritz were at tent house and jack and earnest were nursing mama i wish to do some good for her i thought she would like some of our sweet figs but there were none in my reach and i had no stick long enough to beat them down i went below and found that great roll of wire i tried to break a piece off but could not and i then determined a hole up to our dwelling depend one end into a hook by which i might catch some of the branches and bring them near me to gather the figs i was very successful at first and secured one or two figs i had my packet of wire on the table by the window and stood near it myself i thought i could reach a branch that hung over our roof loaded with fruit i leaned forward and extended my hook to the branch i felt i had secured it and joyfully began to pull you know papa, they bend and don't break but it remained immovable as well as my hook which was held by one of the laths and the roof i pulled with all my strength and in my efforts i struck my foot against the roll of wire which fell down to the ground without detaching the hook you may judge how firm it is for it is no trifling leap from our house to the ground a good work indeed my boy said i for it has saved us god has inspired you and has made use of the hand of a child for our preservation your conductor shall remain where you so happily placed it we may still have need of it the sky still looks very threatening let us return to your mother and take a light with us i had contrived a sort of portable lantern made of icing glass which lighted us in our offices moreover a calabash pierced with small holes inside was placed at the top of the winding staircase and lighted it entirely so that we were able to descend without danger by night as well as by day i was however uneasy about the way we should bring my wife down if we found it necessary to remove her during her sickness i named it to Fritz had no uneasiness father said he Ernest and i are very strong now and we can carry mama like a feather you and i might my dear boy but Ernest cannot be of much assistance to us at present i then related his misfortune to them they were distressed and astonished not comprehending the cause which i promised to explain they wish now however to see their brother fritz then requested in a low tone of voice that he might go to tent house to see if the vessel and the captain had arrived seeing his brothers listening with curiosity i thought it best to tell them the affair requesting them however not to name it to their mother at present jack who was now about 14 years of age listened with a most intense interest his eyes sparkling with joy and surprise of vessel people from europe do you think they've come to seek us perhaps they are our relations and friends how glad should i be said frances if my good grandma were there she loved me so much and was always giving me sweet meets this was the mother of my dear wife from whom she had parted with extreme regret i knew that a single word from the child would have relieved all her sorrows and would in her present state be dangerous i therefore forbade him naming such a thing to his mother even if we mentioned the vessel we ascended and found our dear patient awake with earnest at her side his hand tied up and somewhat relieved though from not having applied the water immediately there were several blisters he requested me to open it was necessary to tell his mother he had had a burn she named several remedies and i was hesitating which to use when fritz giving me a significant glance said don't you think father that the leaves of the karate which cured jack's legs so well would be as serviceable to earnest hand i have no doubt of it said i but we have none here i know very well where they grow said he come jack we shall soon be there we'll have a little rain but what of that we shall not be melted and we can have a bath my wife was divided between her desire to relieve earnest and her fear of the boys venturing out in such a stormy night she agreed at last provided jack had my cloak and fritz the boots and that they should take the lantern thus equipped they set out i accompanied them outside the tree fritz assuring me they would be back in three hours at most he intended to proceed along the rocks to make what observations he could for as he told me he could not get the poor captain and his vessel out of his head it was now seven o'clock i gave them my blessing and left them with injunctions to be prudent and returned with an anxious heart to my ambulance end of chapter this is the Liebervox recording all Liebervox recordings were in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Liebervox.org by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina the Swiss family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 35 on entering i found Francis sitting on his mother's bed telling her the story of the lightning of the wire which was called a conductor of the figs that he was going to gather for her and that papa had called him little Francis the preserver of the whole family having briefly explained to them the contents of Francis's fortunate device i procured some raw potato to apply to Ernest's hand which still gave him great pain and bathed my wife's foot with some oh d'arqubousade which i procured from my messin chest here i also met with some laudanum a few drops of which i infused into the lemonade wishing her to sleep till her sons returned she soon was in a sweet slumber the boys followed her example and i was left alone with my anxieties happy, however, to see them at rest after such an evening of agitation the hours passed still my children returned not i was continually at the window listening for their steps or the sounds of their voices i heard only the rain falling in torrents the waves breaking against the rocks and the wind howling frightfully i could not help thinking of the danger they ran having twice to cross the river which was doubtless swollen by the rain there was not so much alarm for fritz of strong, bold youth of nineteen years of age and a determined hunter as for poor jack bold even to rashness and having neither strength nor experience to secure him i could not help fancying him carried away by the stream and his brother not daring to return without him my wife occasionally awoke but the narcotic stupefied her she still did not perceive the absence of her sons but when earnest awoke and heard the tempest so terribly augmented he was almost distracted all his selfishness, all his indolence disappeared he entreated me to allow him to go in search of his brothers and with difficulty i detained him to convince him that he was not the sole cause of the danger of fritz and jack i related to him for the first time the history of the boat and the vessel and assured him that the great cause of their anxiety to go over to tent house was searched for some traces of the unfortunate seaman and their vessel exposed to that furious sea and fritz also is exposed to that sea cried earnest, i know it i am sure that he is at this moment in his canoe struggling against the waves and jack my poor jack sighed i infected with his fears no father, added earnest be composed fritz will not be so imprudent he will have left jack in our house at the rock saying the hopelessness of his undertaking he has returned himself now and is waiting there till the stream subsides a little to allow me to go, dear father you have ordered me cold water for my burnt hand and it will certainly cure it to get it well wet i could not consent to expose my third son to the tempest which was now become frightful the sailcloth which covered our window was torn into a thousand pieces and carried away the rain like a deluge forced itself into our dwelling where my wife and child were lying i could neither make up my mind to leave them myself in this perilous situation nor to spare my boy who could not even be of any use to his brothers i commanded him to remain succeeded in persuading him of their probable safety and induced him to lie down to rest now, in my terrible solitude i turn to him who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb who forbids us not to address him in the trials he sends us to beseech him to soften them or to give us strength to bear them kneeling down i dared to supplicate him to restore me my children submissively adding after the example of our blessed savior yet not my will but thine be done oh lord my prayers appeared to be heard the storm gradually abated and the day began to break i awoke earnest and having dressed his wounded hand he set out for tent house in search of his brothers i followed him with my eyes as far as i could see the whole country appeared one vast lake and the road to tent house was like the bed of a river but protected by his good gaiters of buffalo skin he proceeded fearlessly and was soon out of my sight i was recalled from the window by the voice of my wife who was awake and anxiously inquiring for her sons they are gone, said i to gather the leaves of the karate for earnest burnt hand and he wished to go too her deep sleep had entirely chased from her memory all the advance of the previous evening and i was glad to allow francis to repeat his little tale of the burn and his conductor in order to gain time she was astonished and uneasy to hear of earnest accident and was afraid he would get wet in searching for the karate little aware of the hours of anguish i had endured waiting and watching for those she believed it only just left home at that moment the dear and well known voices were heard under the great window father, i'm bringing back my brothers cried earnest yes papa, we are all alive and wet as fishes added the sweet voice of jack but not without having had our troubles said the manly voice of fritz i rushed down the staircase to meet them and embracing them i led them trembling with emotion to the bed of their mother who could not comprehend the transport of joy i expressed elizabeth said i here are our sons god has given them to us a second time have we then been in any danger of losing them? said she what is the meaning of this they saw their mother was unconscious of their long absence and assured her it was only the storm which had so completely wedded them that it alarmed me i hastened to get them to change their clothes and go to bed a little while to rest themselves as however anxious i was myself to prepare my wife for their recital and also to tell her of the vessel jack would not go till he had produced his bundle of the karate leaves there is enough for six and thirty thunderstorms said he and i will prepare them i had some experience with my own and i know the best method he soon divided one of the leaves with his knife after cutting away the triangular thorn from the end and applied it to his brother's hand binding it with his handkerchief having completed this dressing he threw off his clothes and jumping into his bed he and his brothers were sound asleep in ten minutes i then sat down by my wife and began my tale for my first view of the vessel and my anxious watching for intercourse with it in order that we might take the opportunity to return to europe but why should we return to europe said she you want nothing here now since i have got flax cotton and a wheel with the innocent life and live with us which they might not do in the world for four years we have been happy here and what shall we find in europe to compensate us for what we leave here poverty, war and none of those things which we have here abundantly but we should find grandmama said little francis and stopped recollecting my prohibition he had however said sufficient to bring tears to his mother's eyes and finally said she that is my soul regret but my dear parent was aged and infirm in all probability i should no longer find her in this world and if removed to heaven she watches over us in this island as well as if we were in europe after my dear wife had subdued the agitation this remembrance caused her i pursued the conversation as follows end of chapter this is a liberbox recording liberbox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberbox.org this recording is by mark smith of simpsonville south carolina the swiss family robinson by yohan david wiss chapter 36 i see my dear wife said i that you as well as the rest of my family are contented to remain on this island where it seems it is the will of god for us to dwell as it is improbable that in such a tempest captain johnson would risk approaching the island if indeed it is not already been fatal to him i'm impatient to learn if fritz has any tidings of him for it was on the shore near ten house that he and jack passed the night well done my good and courageous boys said their mother they might at any rate have given assistance to them if wrecked you are more courageous than i am my dear elizabeth answered i i've passed the whole night mourning for my children and you think only of the good they might have done to their fellow creatures my sons were awake by this time and i eagerly inquired if they had discovered any traces of the vessel fritz said they had not but he feared it would never be able to resist the fury of the tempest no indeed said jack those mountains of waves which were not fixtures like other mountains came full gallop to swallow up fritz the great jack the little and their fine canoe my wife nearly fainted when she heard they had ventured on that terrible sea and i reminded fritz that i had forbidden him to do this but you have often said to me papa said he do unto others as you would they should do unto you and what a happiness it would have been to us when our vessel was wrecked if we had seen a canoe with two bold men coming to our assistance said jack but go on with your story fritz fritz continued we proceeded first to the rocks and with some difficulty and not until jack had shed some blood in the cause we secured the karate leaves with their ugly thorns at the end when our sack was full we proceeded along the rocks towards tent house from this height i tried to discover the ship but the darkness obscured everything once i thought i perceived at a great distance a fixed light which was neither a star nor the lightning and which i lost sight of occasionally we had now arrived at the cascade which from the noise seemed much swollen by the rain our great stones were quite hidden by a boiling foam i would have attempted to a cross if i had been alone but with jack on my shoulders i was afraid of the risk i therefore prepared to follow the course of the river to family bridge the wet ground continually brought us on our knees and with great difficulty we reached the bridge but judge of our consternation there had risen so much that the planks were covered and as we conceived the hole was destroyed i then told jack to return to falcons nests with the karate leaves and i would swim across the river i returned about a hundred yards up the stream to find a wider and less rapid part and easily crossed judge of my surprise when i saw a human figure approaching to meet me i had no doubt it was the captain of the vessel and captain jack sans per et sans reproche said the bold little fellow i was determined not to return home a paltrune who was afraid of the water when fritz was gone i tried the bridge and soon found there was not sufficient water over it to risk my being drowned i took off my boots which might have made of me slip and my cloak which was too heavy and making a dart i ran with all my strength across and reached the other side which i had in my hands and advanced to meet fritz who called out as soon as he saw me is that you captain i tried to say yes certainly in a deep tone but my laughter betrayed me to my great regret said fritz i should truly have preferred meeting captain johnson but i fear he and his people are at the bottom of the sea after meeting with jack we proceeded to tent house where we kindled a good fire we then refreshed ourselves with some wine which remained on the table where you had entertained the captain and proceeded to prepare a signal to inform the vessel we were ready to receive them we procured a thick bamboo cane from the magazine i fixed firmly to one end of it the large lantern of the fishes bladder you gave us to take i filled the lamp with oil and placed in it a thick cotton wick which when lighted was very brilliant jack and i then placed it on the shore we fixed it before the rock where the land wind would not reach it sunk it three or four feet into the ground steadied it with stones and then went to rest over our fire after this long and difficult labor after drying ourselves a little we set out on our return when looking towards the sea we were startled by the appearance of the same light we had noticed before we heard at the same time the distant report of a gun which was repeated three or four times at irregular intervals we were persuaded that it was the vessel calling to us for aid and remembering the command of our saviour we thought you would forgive our disobedience if we presented to you in the morning the captain, the lieutenant and as many as our canoe would contain we entered it then without any fear for you know how light and well balanced it is and rowing into the bay the sail was spread to the wind and we had no more trouble i then took the helm my own signal light shone clearly on the shore and except for the rain which fell in torrents the waves which washed over our canoe and uneasiness about the ship and about you and our fear that the wind might carry us into the open sea we should have had a delightful little maritime excursion when we got out of the bay i perceived the wind was driving us towards shark island which being directly before the bay forms two entrances to it we had to go round it and disembark there if possible that i might look out for some trace of the ship but we found this impossible the sea ran too high besides we should have been unable to moor our canoe the island not affording a single tree or anything we could lash it to and the waves would soon have carried it away we had now lost sight of the light and hearing no more signals i began to think on your distress when we did not arrive at the hour we promised i therefore resolved to return by the other side of the bay carefully avoiding the current which would have carried us into the open sea i lowered the sail by means of the ropes you had fixed to it and we rode into port we carefully moor the canoe and without returning to tent house took the road home we crossed the bridge as jack had done found the waterproof cloak and bag of karate leaves where he had left them and soon after met Ernest as it was daylight we did not take him for the captain but knew him immediately and felt the deepest remorse when i heard from him in what anxiety and anguish you had passed the night our enterprise was imprudent it all together useless but we might have saved life which would have been an ample remuneration i fear all is hopeless what do you think father of their fate i hope they are far from this dangerous coast said i as soon as the tempest is subsided we will take the pinnace and sail round the island you have long urged me to this fritz and who knows but that on the opposite side we may find some traces of our own poor sailors perhaps even meet with them the weather gradually clearing i called my sons to go out with me my wife earnestly besought me not to venture on the sea i assured her it was not sufficiently calm but we must examine our plantations to ascertain what damage was done and at the same time we might look out for some traces of the wreck besides our animals were becoming clamorous for food therefore leaving earnest with her we descended to administer in the first place to their wants end of chapter this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina the Swiss family Robinson by Johann David Wiss chapter 37 our animals were impatiently expecting us they had been neglected during the storm and were ill supplied with food besides being half sunk in water the ducks and the flamingo liked it well enough and were swimming comfortably in the muddy water but the quadrupeds were complaining aloud each in his own proper language and making a frightful confusion of sounds valiant especially the name Francis had bestowed on the calf I had given him to bring up bleated incessantly for his young master and could not be quieted till he came it is wonderful how this child only twelve years old had tamed and attached this animal though sometimes so fierce with him he was as mild as a lamb the boy rode on his back guiding him with a little stick with which he just touched the side of his neck and pushed him to move but if his brothers had ventured to mount they would have been certainly thrown off a pretty sight was our cavalry Brits on his handsome monogra Jack on his huge buffalo and Francis on his young bull there was nothing left for Ernest but the donkey and its slow and peaceful habits suited him very well Francis ran up to his favorite who showed his delight at seeing him as well as he was able and at the first summons Brits brought out lightfoot Jack his buffalo and I followed with a cow and the ass we left them to sport about it liberty on the humid earth till we removed the water from their stable and supplied them with fresh food we then drove them in considering it advisable to pursue our expedition on foot lest the bridge should still be overflowed Francis was the superintendent of the fowls and knew every little chicken by name he called them out and scattered their food for them and soon held his beautiful and noisy family fluttering round him after having made all our animals comfortable and given them their breakfast we began to think of our own Francis made a fire and warmed some chicken broth for his mother for ourselves we were contented with some new milk some salt herrings and cold potatoes I'd often searched in my excursions for the precious breadfruit tree so highly spoken of by modern travelers which I had hoped might be found in our island from its favorable situation but I had hitherto been unsuccessful we were unable to procure the blessing of bread our ship biscuit had long been exhausted and though we had sewn our European corn we had not yet reaped any after we had together knelt down to thank God for our merciful protection through the terrors of the past night and we besought him to continue it we prepared to set out the waves still ran high the wind had subsided and we determined merely to go along the shore as the road still continued impassable from the rain and the sand was easier to walk on than the wet grass besides our principal motive for the excursion was to search for any traces of a recent shipwreck at first we could discover nothing even with a telescope but Fritz mounting a high rock fancied he discovered something floating towards the island he besought me to allow him to take the canoe where he had left it on the preceding night as the bridge was now easy to cross I consented only insisting on accompanying him to assist in managing it Jack who was much afraid of being left behind was the first to leap in and seize an ore there was however no need of it I steered my little boat into the current and we were carried away with such velocity as almost to take our breath Fritz was at the helm and appeared to have no fear I will not say his father was so tranquil I held Jack for fear of accidents but he only laughed and observed to his brother that the canoe galloped better than light foot we were soon in the open sea and directed our canoe towards the object we had remarked and which we still had in sight we were afraid it was the boat upset but it proved to be a tolerably large cask which had probably been thrown overboard to lighten the distress vessel we saw several others but neither masked nor planked to give us any idea that the vessel and boat had perished Fritz wished much to have made the circuit of the island to assure ourselves of this but I would not hear of it I thought of my wife's terror besides the sea was still too rough for our frail bark and we had moreover no provisions if my canoe had not been well built it would have run great risk of being over set by the waves which broke over it Jack when he saw one coming lay down on his face saying he preferred having them on his back rather than in his mouth he jumped up as soon as it passed to help to empty the canoe till another wave came to fill it again but thanks to my outriggers we preserved our balance very well and I consented to go as far as Cape Disappointment which merited the name a second time for we found no trace here of the vessel though we mounted the hill and thus commanded a wide extent of view as we looked round the country it appeared completely devastated trees torn up by the roots plantations leveled with the ground water collected into absolute lakes all announced desolation and the tempest seemed to be renewing the sky was darkened the wind arose and was unfavorable for our return nor could I ventured the canoe upon the waves every instant it was becoming more formidable we moored our bark to a large palm tree found at the foot of the hill near the shore and set out by land to our home we crossed the gored wood and the wood of monkeys and arrived at our farm which we found to our great satisfaction had not suffered much from the storm the food we had left in the stables was nearly consumed from which we concluded that the animals we had left here had sheltered themselves during the storm we refilled the mangers with the hay we had preserved in the loft and observing the sky getting more threatening we set out without delay for our house from which we were yet a considerable distance to avoid flamingo marsh which was towards the sea and rice marsh towards the rock we determined to go through cotton wood which would save us from the wind which was ready to blow us off our feet I was still uneasy about the ship which the lieutenant had told me was out of repair but I indulged a hope that they might have taken refuge in some bay or found anchorage on some hospitable shore where they might get their vessel into order Jack was alarmed lest they should fall into the hands of the anthropophage who eat men like hairs or sheep of which he had read in some book of travels and excited the ridicule of his brother who was astonished at his ready belief of travelers tales which he asserted were usually false but Roberts and Crusoe would not tell a falsehood said Jack indignantly and there were cannibals came to his island and were going to eat Friday if he had not saved him oh, Robinson could not tell a falsehood said France because he never existed the whole history is a romance is that not the name father that is given to works of the imagination it is, said I but we must not call Robinson Crusoe a romance though Robinson himself and all the circumstances of his history are probably fictitious details are all founded on truth on the adventures and descriptions of voyagers who may be depended upon and unfortunate individuals who have actually been wrecked on the unknown shores if ever our journal should be printed many may believe that it is only a romance a mere work of the imagination my boys hoped we should not have to introduce any savages into our romance and were astonished that an island so beautiful had not tempted any to inhabit it in fact, I had often been myself surprised at this circumstance but I told them many voyagers had noticed islands apparently fertile and yet uninhabited besides, the chain of rocks which surrounded this might prevent the approach of savages unless they had discovered the little bay of safety where we had landed Fritz said he anxiously desired to circumnavigate the island in order to ascertain the size of it and if there were similar chains of rocks on the opposite side I promised him as soon as the stormy weather was passed and his mother well enough to remove to Tenthouse we would take our pinnace and set out on our little voyage we now approached the marsh and he begged me to let him go and cut some canes as he projected making a sort of carriage for his mother as we were collecting them he explained his scheme to me he wished to weave of these reeds which were very strong in which his mother might sit or recline and which might be suspended between two strong bamboo canes by handles of rope he then purposed to yoke two of our most gentle animals the cow and the ass the one before and the other behind between these shafts the leader to be mounted by one of the children as director the other would follow naturally and the good mother would thus be carried as if in a litter without any danger of jolting I was pleased with this idea and we all set to work to load ourselves each with a huge burden of reeds they requested me not to tell my wife that they might give her an agreeable surprise it needed such affection as ours to induce us to the undertaking in such unpropitious weather it rained in torrents and the marsh was so soft and wet that we were in danger of sinking at every step however I could not be less courageous than my sons whom nothing daunted and we soon made up our bundles and placing them on our heads we formed a sort of umbrella which was not without its benefits we soon arrived at falcons nest before we reached the tree I saw a fire shine to such a distance that I was alarmed but soon found it was only meant for our benefit by our kind friends at home when my wife saw the rain falling she had instructed her little assistant to make a fire in our usual cooking place at a little distance from the tree and protected by a canopy of waterproof cloth from the rain the young cook had not only kept up a good fire to dry us on our return but had taken the opportunity of roasting two dozen of those excellent little birds which his mother had preserved in butter and which all arranged on the old sword which served us as a spit was just ready for our arrival and the fire and feast were equally grateful to the hungry exhausted and wet travelers who sat down to enjoy them however before we sat down to our repast we went up to see our invalids whom we found tolerably well though anxious for our return earnest with his sound hand and the existence of Francis had succeeded in forming a sort of rampart before the opening into the room composed of the four hammocks in which he and his brothers slept placed side by side on end this sufficiently protected them from the rain but excluded the light so that they had been obliged to light a candle and Ernest had been reading to his mother in a book of voyages that had formed part of the captain's small library it was a singular coincidence that while we were talking of the savages on the way home they were also reading of them and I found my dear wife much agitated by the fears these accounts had awakened in her mind after soothing her terrors I returned to the fire to dry myself and to enjoy my repast besides the birds Francis had prepared fresh eggs and potatoes for us he told me that his mama had given up her office of cook to him and assured me that he would perform the duties to our satisfaction provided he was furnished with materials Fritz was to hunt Jack to fish I was to order dinner and he would make it ready and when we have neither game nor fish said Jack we will attack your poultry yard that was not at all to the taste of poor little Francis who could not bear his favorites to be killed and who had actually wept over the chicken that was slaughtered to make broth for his mother we were obliged to promise him that when other resources failed we would apply to our barrels of salt fish he however gave us leave to dispose as we liked of the ducks and geese which were too noisy for him after we had concluded our repast we carried a part of it to our friends above and proceeded to give them an account of our expedition I then secured the hammock somewhat more firmly to save us from the storm that was still raging and the hour of rest being at hand my sons established themselves on mattresses of cotton made by their kind mother and in spite of the roaring winds we were soon in profound repose End of chapter This is a Leberbox recording All Leberbox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit Leberbox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 38 The storm continued to rage the whole of the following day and even the day after were the same violence happily our tree stood firm though several branches were broken amongst others that to which the wire was suspended I replaced it with more care carried it beyond our roof and fixed at the extremity the pointed instrument which had attracted the lightning I then substituted for the hammocks before the window strong planks which remained for my building and which my sons assisted me to raise with pulleys after having sawed them to the proper length Through these I made loopholes to admit the light and air In order to carry off the rain I fixed a sort of spout the tree I had met with which was unknown to me though apparently somewhat like the elder The whole of the tree almost to the bark was filled up with a sort of pith easily removed From this tree I made the pipes for our fountain and the remainder was now useful for these rainspouts I employed those days in which I could not go out in separating the seeds and grain of which I saw we should have need and emmending our work tools My sons in the meantime nestled under the tree among the roots were incessantly employed in the construction of the carriage for their mother The Caradas had nearly completed the cure of Ernest's hand and he was able to assist his brothers preparing the canes which Fritz and Jack wove between the flat wooden wands with which they had made the frame of their pannier they succeeded in making it so strong and close that they might have carried liquids in it My dear wife's foot and leg were gradually improving and I took the opportunity of her confinement to reason with her on her false notion of the dangers of the sea and to represent to her the gloomy prospect of our sons if they were left alone in the island She agreed with me but could not resolve to leave it She hoped God would send some vessel to us which might leave us some society and after all if our sons were left she pointed out to me that they had our beautiful penis and might at any time of their own accord leave the island And why should we anticipate the evils of futurity, my dear friend said she Let us think only of the present I am anxious now to know if the storm has spared my fine kitchen garden You must wait a little, said I I am as uneasy as you for my maize plantations my sugar canes and my cornfields At last one night the storm seized all her glory How delighted we were My wife got me to remove the large plank site placed before the opening and the bright moon beams streamed through the branches of the tree into our room A gentle breeze refreshed us and so delighted were we engaging on that sky of promise that we could scarcely bear to go to bed but spent half the night in projects for the morrow The good mother alone said that she could not join in our excursions Jack and Francis smiled at each other as they thought of their litter, which was now nearly finished A bright sun awoke us early next morning Fritz and Jack had requested me to allow them to finish their carriage so, leaving Ernest with his mother I took Francis with me to ascertain the damage done to the garden at Tenthouse, about which his mother was so anxious We easily crossed the bridge but the water had carried away some of the planks However, my little boy leaped from one plank to another with great agility although the distance was sometimes considerable He was so proud of being my sole companion that he scarcely touched the ground as he ran on before me But he had a sad shock when he got to the garden of which we could not find the slightest trace All was destroyed The walks, the fine vegetable beds the plantations of pines and melons all had vanished Francis stood like a marble statue as pale and still in the end of tears he recovered himself Oh, my good mama, said he What will she say when she hears of this misfortune? But she'd need not know it, papa added he after a pause It would distress her too much and if you and my brothers will help me we will repair the damage before she can walk The plants may not be so large but the earth is moist and they will grow quickly and I will work hard to get it into order I embraced my dear boy and promised him this should be our first work I feared we should have many other disasters to repair but a child of 12 years old gave me an example of resignation and courage We agreed to come next day to begin our labour for the garden was too well situated for me to abandon it It was on a gentle declivity at the foot of the rocks which sheltered it from the north wind and was conveniently watered from the cascade I resolved to add a sort of bank or terrace to protect it from the violent rains and Francis was so pleased with the idea that he began to gather the large stones which were scattered over the garden and to carry them to the place where I wished to build my terrace He would have worked all day if I had allowed him but I wanted to look after my young plantations my sugar canes and my fields and after the destruction I had just witnessed I had everything to fear I proceeded to the avenue of fruit trees to the plant house and was agreeably surprised all were half bowed to the ground as well as the bamboos that supported them but few were torn up and I saw that my sons and I with a labour of 2 or 3 days could restore them Some of them had already begun to bear fruit but all was destroyed for this year This was, however, a trifling loss compared with what I had anticipated for having no more plants of European fruits I could not have replaced them Besides having resolved to inhabit tent-house at present entirely, being there defended from storms it was absolutely necessary to contrive some protection from the heat My new plantations afforded little shade yet and I trembled to propose to my wife to come and inhabit these burning rocks Francis was gathering some of the beautiful unknown flowers of the island for his mother and when he had formed his nose-gay bringing it to me Papa said he how the rain has refreshed these flowers I wish it would rain still it is so dreadfully hot here oh, if we had but a little shade that is just what I was thinking of my dear, said I we shall have shade enough when my trees are grown but in the meantime in the meantime, Papa said Francis, I will tell you what you must do you must make a very long, broad colony before our house and open before so that Mama may have air and shade at once I was pleased with my son's idea and promised him to construct a gallery soon and call it the Franciade in honor of him my little boy was delighted that his suggestion should be thus approved and begged me not to tell his Mama as he wished to surprise her as much as his brothers did with their carriage and he hoped that Franciade might be finished before she visited tent-house I assured him I would be silent and we took the road hence talking about our new colonnade I projected making it in the most simple and easy way a row of strong bamboo canes planted at equal distances along the front of our house and united by a plank of wood at the top cut into arches between the canes others I would place sloping from the rock to which I would fasten them by iron cramps these were to be covered with sail-cloth prepared with the elastic gum and well secured to the plank this building would not take much time and I anticipated the pleasure of my wife when she found out that it was an invention of her little favorite who of a mild and reflecting disposition was beloved by us all as we walked along we saw something approaching that Franciade soon discovered to be his brothers with their new carriage and concluding that his Mama occupied it we hastened to meet them lest they should proceed to the garden but on our approach we discovered that Ernest was in the litter which was borne by the cow before on which Fritz was mounted and by the ass behind with Jack on it Ernest declared the conveyance was so easy and delightful that he should often take his mother's place I like that very much said Jack then I will take care that we will harness the onagra and the buffalo and I promise you the cow and ass are only for Mama look papa is it not complete we wish to try it as soon as we finished it so we got Ernest to occupy it while mother was asleep Ernest declared it only wanted two cushions one to sit upon the other to recline against to make it perfect and though I could not help smiling at his love of ease I encouraged the notion in order to delay my wife's excursion till our plans were completed I put Ernest into the carriage beside his brother and ordering Fritz and Jack to proceed with their equipage to inspect our cornfields I returned to my wife who was still sleeping on her awaking I told her the garden implantations would require a few days labor to set them in order and I should leave Ernest who was not yet in condition to be a laborer to nurse her and read to her my sons returned in the evening and gave me a melancholy account the corn was completely destroyed and we regretted this the more as we had very little left for seed we had anticipated a feast of real bread but we were obliged to give up all hope for this year and to contend ourselves with our cakes of cassava and with potatoes the maize had suffered less and might have been a resource for us but the large hard grain was so difficult to reduce to flour fine enough for dough Fritz often recurred to the necessity of building a mill near the cascaded tent house but this was not the work of a moment and we had time to consider of it for at present we had no corn to grind as I found Francis had let his brothers into all our secrets it was agreed that I with Fritz, Jack and Francis should proceed to tent house next morning Francis desired to be of the party that he might direct the laying out of the garden he said with an important air and his mother's assistant on its formation we arranged our bag of vegetable seeds and having bathed my wife's foot with a simple invocation we offered our united prayers and retired to our beds to prepare ourselves for the toils of the next day End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith from Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 39 We rose early and after our usual morning duties we left our invalids for the whole day taking with us for our dinner a goose and some potatoes made ready the evening before We harnessed the bull and the buffalo to the cart and I sent Fritz and Jack to the wood of bamboo with orders to load the cart with as many as it would contain and especially to select some very thick ones for my colonnade the rest I intended for props for my young trees and this I proposed to be my first undertaking Francis would have preferred beginning with the frenciade or the garden but he was finally won over by the thoughts of the delicious fruits which we might lose by our neglect the peaches, plums, pears and above all the cherries of which he was very fond He then consented to assist me while I replaced the roots after which he went to cut the reeds to tie them Suddenly I heard him cry There is a large chest come for us come and take it I ran to him and saw it was the very chest we had seen floating and which we had taken for the boat at a distance the waves had left it in our bay entangled in the reeds which grew abundantly here it was almost buried in the sand we could not remove it alone understanding our curiosity we were compelled to wait for the arrival of my sons we returned to our work and it was pretty well advanced when the tired and hungry party returned with their cartload of bamboos we rested and sat down to eat our goose guavas and sweet acorns which had escaped the storm and which my sons brought completed our repast Fritz had killed a large bird in the marsh which I took at first for a young flamingo but it was a young cassowary the first I had seen in the island this bird is remarkable for its extraordinary size and for its plumage so short and fine that it seems rather to be hair than feathers I should have liked to have had it alive to ornament our poultry yard and it was so young we might have tamed it but Fritz's unerring aim had killed it at once I wished to let my wife see this rare bird which if standing on its webbed feet would have been four feet high I therefore forbade them to meddle with it as we ate we talked of the chest and our curiosity being stronger than our hunger we swallowed our repast tasteily and then ran down to the shore we were obliged to plunge into the water up to the waist and then had some difficulty to extricate it from the weed and slime and to push it on shore no sooner had we placed it in safety than Fritz with a strong hatchet forced it open to the contents Fritz hoped it would be powder in firearms Jack who was somewhat fond of dress had notions of elegance declared in favor of clothes and particularly of linen finer and wider than that which his mother wove if Ernest had been there books would have been his desire for my own part there was nothing I was more anxious for than European seeds particularly corn Francis had a lingering wish that the chest might contain some of those gingerbread cakes which his grandmama used to treat him with in Europe and which he had often regretted but he kept this wish to himself fears his brothers should call him little glutton and assured us that he should like a little pocket knife with a small saw better than anything in the world and he was the only one who had his wish the chest was opened and we saw that it was filled with a number of trifling things likely to tempt savage nations and to become the means of exchange principally glass and ironware colored beads pins, needles, looking glasses children's toys constructed as models such as carts and tools of every sort months which we found some likely to be useful such as hatchets saws, planes, gimlets, etc besides a collection of knives of which Francis had the choice and scissors which were reserved for mama her own being nearly worn out I had more ever the pleasure of finding a quantity of nails of every size and kind besides iron hooks, staples, etc which I needed greatly after we had examined the contents and selected what we wanted immediately we closed up the chest and conveyed it to our magazine at tent house we had spent so much time in our examination that we had some difficulty to finish propping our trees and to arrive at home before it was dark we found my wife somewhat uneasy at our lengthened absence but our appearance soon calmed her mother said I I have brought back all your chickens to crowd under your wing and we have not come back empty handed said Jack look mama here are beautiful pair of scissors a large paper of needles another of pins and a thimble how rich you are now and when you get well you can make me a pretty waistcoat and a pair of trousers for I am in great want of them mama said Francis have brought you a mirror that you may arrange your cap you have often been sorry papa did not remember to bring one from the ship this was intended for the savages and I will begin with you I believe I rather resemble one now said my good Elizabeth arranging the red and yellow silk handkerchief which she usually wore on her head only mama said Jack when you wear the comical pointed bonnet which Ernest made you what matters it said she whether it be pointed around it will protect me from the sun and it is the work of my Ernest to whom I am much obliged Ernest with great ingenuity and patience had endeavored to plate his mother a bonnet of the rice straw he had succeeded but not knowing how to form the round crown he was obliged to finish it in a point to the great and incessant diversion of his brothers mother said Ernest usual grave and thoughtful tone I should not like you to look like a savage therefore as soon as I regrain the use of my hand my first work shall be to make you a bonnet which I will take care shall be formed with a round crown as you will lend me one of your large needles and I will take to sew the crown on the head of either Jack or Francis what do you mean my head said they both together I don't mean to take it off shoulders said he it will only be necessary that one of you should kneel down before me for a day perhaps while I use your head as a model and you need not cry out much if I should chance to push my needle in this time the philosopher had laugh on his side and his tormentors were silenced we now explained to my wife where we had found the presence we had brought her my offerings to her were a light axe which she could use to cut her firewood with and an iron kettle smaller and more convenient than the one she had Fritz had retired and now came in dragging with difficulty his huge cassowary here mama said he I brought you a little chicken for your dinner and the astonishment and laughter again commenced the rest of the evening was spent implucking the bird to prepare part of it for the next day we then retired to rest that we might begin our labor early next morning Ernest chose to remain with his books and his mother for whom he formed with the mattresses a sort of reclining chair in which he was able to sit up in bed and so thus she endured a confinement of six weeks without complaint and in that time got all her clothes put into good order Francis had nearly betrayed our secret once by asking his mama to make him a mason's apron a mason's apron said she are you going to build a house child I meant to say a gardener's apron said he his mama was satisfied and promised to comply with his request in the meantime my three sons and I labored assiduously to get the garden into order again and to raise the terraces which we hoped might be a defense against future storms Fritz had also proposed to me to construct a stone conduit to bring the water to our kitchen garden from the river to which we might carry it back after it had passed round our vegetable beds this was a formidable task but too useful and fair to be neglected and aided by the geometrical skill of Fritz and the ready hands of my two younger boys the conduit was completed I took an opportunity at the same time to dig a pond above the garden into which the conduit poured the water this was always warm with the sun and by means of a sluice we were able to disperse it in little channels to water the garden the pond would also be useful to preserve small fish and crabs for use we next proceeded to our embankment this was intended to protect the garden from any extraordinary overflow of the river and from the water running from the rocks after heavy rains we then laid out our garden on the same plan as before except that I made the walks wider and not so flat I carried one directly to our house which in the autumn I intended to plant with shrubs that my wife might have a shady avenue to approach her garden where I also planned an arbor furnished with seats as a resting place for her the rocks were covered with numerous climbing plants bearing every variety of elegant flower and I had only to make my selection all this work with enclosing the garden with palisades of bamboo occupied us about a fortnight in which time our invalids made great progress towards their recovery when the roll was finished Francis entreated me to begin his gallery my boys approved of the plan and Fritz declared that the house was certainly comfortable and comodious but that it would be wonderfully improved by a colonnade with a little pavilion at each end and a fountain in each pavilion I never heard a word of these pavilions said I no, said Jack, they are our own invention the colonnade will be called the Franciade and we wish our little pavilions to be named the one Fritzia and the other Jackia if you please I agreed to this reasonable request and only begged to know how they would procure water for their fountains Fritz undertook to bring the water if I would only assist them in completing this little scheme to give pleasure to their beloved mother I was charmed to see the zeal and anxiety of my children to oblige their tender mother her illness seemed to have strengthened their attachment only how to console and amuse her she sometimes told me she really blessed the accident which had taught her how much she was valued by all around her End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 40 The next day was Sunday Our happy Sabbath for reposing quiet conversation at home After passing the day in our usual devotions and sober reading my three elder boys requested my permission to walk towards our farm in the evening On their return they informed me it would be necessary to give a few days labor to our plantations of maize and potatoes I therefore determined to look to them Though I was out early next morning I found Fritz and Jack had been gone some time leaving only the ass in the stables which I secured from my own little Francis I perceived also that they had dismounted my cart and carried away the wheels from which I concluded that they had met with some tree in their walk the preceding evening suitable for the pipes for their fountains and that they had now returned to cut it down and convey it to Tenthouse As I did not know where to meet with them I proceeded with Francis on the ass to commence his favorite work I drew my plan on the ground first at the distance of 12 feet from the rock which formed the front of our house I marked a straight line of 50 feet which I divided into 10 spaces of 5 feet each for my colonnade The two ends were to be reserved for the two pavilions my sons wished to build I was busy in my calculations and Francis placing steaks in the places where I wished to dig when the cart drove up with our two good laborers They had, as I expected found the evening before a species of pine well adapted for their pipes They had cut down four of 15 or 20 feet in length which they had brought on the wheels of the cart drawn by the four animals They had had some difficulty in transporting them to the place and the greatest still remained the boring the trunks and then uniting them firmly was fit for the purpose I had certainly constructed a little fountain at Falcon's Nest but the stream was near at hand and was easily conveyed by our cane pipes to our tortoise shell basin Here the distance was considerable the ground unequal and to have the water pure and cool underground pipes were necessary I thought of large bamboos but Fritz pointed out the knots and the difficulty of joining the pieces and begged me to leave it to him as he had seen fountains made in Switzerland and had no fears of success In the meantime all hands set to work at the arcade We selected 12 bamboos of equal height and thickness and fixed them securely in the earth at 5 feet from each other These formed a pretty colonnade and were working up for one day We took care to divert all inquiries at night by discussing the subjects which our invalids had been reading during the day The little library of our captain was very choice Besides the voyages and travels which interested them greatly there was a good collection of historians and some of the best poets for which Ernest had no little taste However he requested Ernestly that he might be of our party next day and Francis, good-naturedly offered to stay with Mama expecting, no doubt Ernest's congratulations on the forward state of the Franciade The next morning Ernest and I set out his brothers having preceded us Poor Ernest regretted, as we went that he had no share in these happy schemes for his mother I reminded him, however of his dutiful care of her during her sickness and all his endeavors to amuse her And besides, added I Did you not make her a straw bonnet? He asked, said he and I now remember what a frightful shape it was I will try to make a better and will go tomorrow morning to choose my straw As we approached Ted House we heard a most singular noise echoing at intervals amongst the rocks We soon discovered the cause In a hollow of the rocks I saw a very hot fire which Jack was blowing through a cane whilst Fritz was turning amidst the embers a bar of iron When it was red hot they laid it on an anvil I had brought from the ship and struck it alternately with hammers to bring it to a point Well done, my young smiths said I, we ought to try all things and keep what is good Do you expect us to succeed in making your auger? I suppose that is what you want Yes, Father, said Fritz We should succeed well enough if we only had a good pair of bellows You see, we have already got a tolerable point Now Fritz could not believe anything was impossible He had killed a kangaroo the evening before and skinned it The flesh made us a dinner Of the skin he determined to make a pair of bellows He nailed it with a hair out not having time to tann it to two flat pieces of wood with holes in them To this he added a reed for the pipe He then fixed it by means of a long cord and a post to the side of his fire and Jack, with his hand or foot blew the fire so that the iron was speedily red hot and quite malleable I then showed them how to twist the iron into a screw rather clumsy and purpose-tolerably well At one end they formed a ring in which we placed a piece of wood transversely to enable them to turn the screw We then made a trial of it We placed a tree on two props and Fritz and I managed the augers so well that we had our tree pierced through in a very little time working first at one end and then at the other Jack, in the meantime, collected the shavings we made which he deposited in the kitchen for his mother's use and handled the fire Ernest, meanwhile, was walking about making observations and giving his advice to his brothers on the architecture of their pavilions till, seeing that they were going to bore another tree, he retired into the garden to see the embankment He returned delighted with the improvements and much disposed to take some employment He wanted to assist in boring the tree but we could not all work at it I undertook this labor myself and sent him to blow the bellows while his brothers labored at the forge the work not being too hard for his lame hand My young smiths were engaged in flattening the iron to make joints to unite their pipes They succeeded very well and then began to dig the ground to lay them Ernest, knowing something of geometry and land surveying was able to give them some useful hints which enabled them to complete their work successfully Leaving them to do this by myself in covering in my long colonnade After I had placed on my columns a plank cut in arches which united them and was firmly nailed to them I extended from it bamboos placed sloping against the rock and secured to it by cramps of iron the work of my young smiths When my bamboo roof was solidly fixed the canes as close as possible I filled the interstices with a clay I found near the river and poured gum over it I had thus an impervious and brilliant roof which appeared to be varnished and striped green and brown I then raised the floor afoot in order that there might be no damp and paved it with the square stones I had preserved when we cut the rock It must be understood that all this was the work of many days I was assisted by Jack and Fritz and by Ernest and Francis alternately one always remaining with his mother who was able to walk Ernest employed his time when at home in making the straw bonnet without either barring his brother's head for a model or letting any of them know what he was doing Nevertheless, he assisted his brothers with their pavilions by his really valuable knowledge They formed them very elegantly something like a Chinese pagoda They were exactly square supported on four columns and rather higher than the gallery they succeeded in a point and resembled a large parasol The fountains were in the middle the basin's breast-tie were formed to the shells of two turtles from our reservoir which were mercilessly sacrificed for the purpose and furnished our table abundantly for some days They succeeded the cassowary which had supplied us very seasonably its flesh tasted like beef and made excellent soup But to return to the fountains Ernest suggested the idea of ornamenting the end of the perpendicular pipe which brought the water to the basin with shells every sort might be collected on the shore of the most brilliant colors and curious and varied shapes He was passionately devoted to natural history and had made a collection of these endeavoring to classify them from the descriptions he met with in the books of voyages and travels Some of these of the most dazzling beauty which had been plastered with clay from thence the water was received into a volute shaped like an antique urn and again was poured gracefully into the large turtle shell A small channel conveyed it then out of the pavilions The hole was completed in less time than I could have imagined and greatly surpassed my expectations conferring an an estimable advantage on her dwelling by securing us from the heat All honor was rendered to Master Francis the Inventor and the Franciade was written in large letters on the Middle Arch Fritzia and Giacchia were written in the same way over the pavilions Ernest alone was not named and he seemed somewhat affected by it He had acquired a great taste for rambling and botanizing and had communicated it also to Fritz And now that our labors were ended at Tenthouse they left us to nurse our invalid and made long excursions together which lasted sometimes whole days As they generally returned with some game or some new fruit we pardoned their absence and they were always welcome Sometimes they brought a kangaroo Sometimes an agouti The flesh of which resembles that of a rabbit but is richer Sometimes they brought wild ducks, pigeons and even partridges These were contributed by Fritz who never went out without his gun and his dogs Ernest brought us natural curiosities which amused us much Stones, crystals, petrifactions Insects, butterflies of rare beauty and flowers whose colors and fragrance no one in Europe can form an idea of Sometimes he brought fruit which we always administered first to our monkey as taster Some of them proved very delicious Two of his discoveries especially were most valuable acquisitions The Guajuraba on the large leaf of which and the fruit of which a sort of grape is very good to eat Also the date palm every part of which is so useful that we were truly thankful to heaven and our dear boys for the discovery Whilst young the trunk contains a sort of marrow very delicious The date palm is crowned by a head form of from 40 to 80 leafy branches which spread round the top The dates are particularly good about half dried We immediately began to preserve them My sons could only bring the fruit now but we proposed to transplant some of the trees themselves near our abode We did not discourage our sons in these profitable expeditions but they had another aim which I was yet ignorant of In the meantime I usually walked with one of my younger sons towards Ted House to attend to our garden and to see if our works continued in good condition to receive mama But I insisted on her being completely restored before she was introduced to them Our dwelling looked beautiful amongst the picturesque rocks surrounded by trees of every sort and facing the smooth and lovely Bay of Safety The garden was not so forward as I could have wished but we were obliged to be patient and hope for the best End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 41 One day having gone over with my younger sons to weed the garden and survey our possessions I perceived that the roof of the gallery wanted a little repair and called Jack to raise for me the rope ladder which I had brought from Falcons Nest and which had been very useful for constructing the roof but we sought for it everywhere it could not be found and as we were quite free from robbers in our island I could only accuse my older sons who had doubtless carried it off to ascend some tall coconut tree Oblige to be content we walked into the garden by the foot of the rocks Since our arrival I had been somewhat uneasy at hearing a dull continued noise which appeared to proceed from the side The forage we had passed when we were absent passing along close to the rocks the noise became more distinct and I was truly alarmed could it be an earthquake or perhaps it announced some volcanic explosion I stopped before that part of the rock where the noise was loudest the surface was firm and level but from time to time blows and falling stones seemed to strike our ears I was uncertain what to do Curiosity prompted me to stay but a sort of terror urged me to move my child and myself however Jack always daring was unwilling to go till he had discovered the cause of the phenomenon If Francis were here, said he he would fancy it was the wicked gnomes working underground and he would be in a fine fright for my part I believe it is only people come to collect the salt in the rock People, said I you don't know what you're saying Jack I could excuse Francis and his gnomes it would be at least a poetic fancy but yours is quite absurd where are the people to come from what else can it be said he hark you may hear them strike the rock be certain however said I there are no people at that moment I distinctly heard human voices speaking laughing and apparently clapping their hands I could not distinguish any words I was struck with a mortal terror but Jack whom nothing could alarm clapped his hands also with joy that he had guessed right Papa was I not right are there not people within the rock friends I hope he was approaching the rock when it appeared to me to be shaking a stone soon fell down then another I seized hold of Jack to drag him away lest he should be crushed by the fragments of rock at that moment another stone fell and we saw two heads appear through the opening the heads of Fritz and Ernest judge of our surprise and joy Jack was soon through the opening he was then able to enlarge it as soon as I could enter I stepped in and found myself in a real grotto of a round form with a vaulted roof divided by a narrow crevice which admitted the light in air it was however better lighted by two large gourd lamps I saw my long ladder of ropes suspended from the opening at the top and thus comprehended how my sons had penetrated into this recess which it was impossible to suspect the existence of from the outside but how had they discovered it and what were they making of it these were my two questions Ernest replied at once to the last I wished said he to make a resting place for my mother when she came to her garden my brothers have each built some place for her and called it by their name I had a desire that some place in our island might be dedicated to Ernest and I now present to you the grotto Ernestine and after all said Jack the first of us that marries silence little giddy-pate said I where do you expect to find a wife in this island do you think you shall discover one among the rocks as your brothers have discovered the grotto but tell me Fritz what directed you here our good star father said he Ernestine and I were walking round these rocks and talking of his wish for a resting place for my mother on her way to the garden he projected a tent but the path was too narrow to admit it and by the sun was like a stove we were considering what we should do when I saw on the summit of the rock a very beautiful little unknown quadruped from its form I should have taken it as a young shammy if I had been in Switzerland but Ernest reminded me that the shammy was peculiar to cold countries and he thought it was a gazelle or antelope probably the gazelle of Guine or Java called by naturalists the chevrotane you may suppose I tried to climb the rock but the animal remained standing with one foot raised and its pretty head turning first to one side and then to the other but it was useless to attempt it here where the rock was smooth and perpendicular besides I should have put the gazelle to flight as it is a timid and wild animal I then remembered that there was a place near tent house where a considerable break occurred in the chain of rocks and we found that with a little difficulty the rock might be scaled by ascending this ravine Ernest laughed at me and asked me if I expected the antelope would wait patiently till I got to it no matter, I determined to try and I told him to remain but he soon determined to accompany me for he fancied that in the fissure of a rock he saw a flower of a beautiful rose color which was unknown to him my learned botanist thought it might be an Erika or Heath in which to ascertain the fact one helping the other we soon got through all difficulties and arrived at the summit and here we were amply repaid by a beautiful prospect on every side we will talk of that afterwards father I formed some idea of the country which these rocks separate us from but to return to our grotto I went along first looking for my pretty gazelle which I saw licking a piece of rock where doubtless she found some salt I was hardly a hundred yards from her my gun ready when I was suddenly stopped by a crevice which I could not cross though the opening was not very wide the pretty quadruple was on a rock opposite to me but of what use would it have been to shoot it when I could not secure it I was obliged to defer it until a better opportunity offered and turned to examine the opening which appeared deep still I could see that the bottom of the cavity was white like that of our former grotto I called Ernest who was behind me with his plants and stones to impart to him an idea that suddenly struck me it was to make this the retreat for my mother I told him that I believed the floor of the cave was nearly on the level with the path that led to the garden and we had only to make an opening in the form of a natural grotto and it would be exactly what he wished Ernest was much pleased with the idea and said he could easily ascertain the level by means of a weight attached to a string but though he was startled at the difficulty of descending to our labor every day and returning in the evening he would not agree to my wish of beginning at the outside of the rock in our former grotto he had several reasons for wishing to work from within in the first place said he it will be so much cooler this summer weather we should soon unable to go on laboring before the burning rock then our path is so narrow that we should not know how to dispose of the rubbish in the interior it will serve us to make a bench round the grotto besides I should have such pleasure in completing it secretly and unsuspected without any assistance or advice except yours my dear fritz which I accept with all my heart so pre-find some means of descending and ascending readily I immediately recollected your rope ladder father it was 40 feet long and we could easily fasten it to the point of the rock Ernest was delighted and sanguine we returned with all speed we took first a roll of cord and some candles then the rope ladder which we rolled up as well as we could but had great difficulty in conveying it up to the rock once or twice when the ascent was very difficult we were obliged to fasten a cord to it and draw it up after us but determination, courage and perseverance overcame all obstacles we arrived at the opening and on sounding it we were glad to find our ladder would be long enough to reach the bottom we then measured the outside of the rock and ascertained that the floor of the grotto was near the same level as the ground outside we remembered your lessons father and made some experiments to discover if it contained mephitic air we first lighted some candles which were not extinguished we then kindled a large heap of sticks and dried grass which burned well the smoke passing through the opening like a chimney having no uneasiness about this we deferred our commencement till the next day then we lighted the forge and pointed some iron bars we found in the magazine these were to be our tools to break open the rock we secured also your chisel as well as some hammers but all our tools were thrown down below we then arranged two gourds to serve us for lamps and when all was ready and our ladder firmly fixed we descended ourselves and we have nothing more to tell you except that we were very glad when we heard your voices outside at the very time when our work was drawing to an end we were sure when we distinguished your voices so clearly that we must be near the external air we redoubled our experts and here we are now tell us father are you pleased with our idea and will you forgive us for making a mystery of it I assured them of my forgiveness and my cordial approbation of their manly and useful enterprise and made earnest happy by declaring that it should always be called the Grotto Ernestine thanks to you all my dear children said I your dear mama will now prefer tent house to falcons nest and will have no occasion to risk breaking a limb and descending a winding staircase I will assist you to enlarge the opening and as we will leave it until the simplicity of a natural grotto it will soon be ready we all set to work Jack carried away the loosened stones and rubbish and formed benches on each side of the grotto with what had fallen outside he also made two seats in the front of the rock and before evening all was complete Fritz ascended to unfasten the ladder and to convey it by an easier road to tent house he then rejoined us and we returned to our castle in the air which was hence forward only to be looked on as a pleasure house we resolved however to establish here as we had done at our farm a colony of our cattle which increased daily we had now a number of young cows and which were most useful for our support we wished however for a female buffalo as the milk of that animal makes excellent cheese conversing on our future plans we soon reached home and found all well End of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina the Swiss family Robinson by Johann David Wiss chapter 42 in a few days we completed the grotto Ernestine it contains some stalactites but not so many as our former grotto we found however a beautiful block of salt all resembled white marble of which Ernest formed a sort of altar supported by four pillars on which he placed a pretty vase of citron wood which he had turned himself and in which he arranged some of the beautiful Erika which had been the cause of his discovering the grotto it was one of those occasions when his feelings overcame his natural indolence when he became for a time the most active of the four and brought forward all his resources which were many this indolence was merely physical by any sudden circumstance or by some fancy which soon assumed the character of a passion he loved ease and to enjoy life tranquilly and study he improved his mind continually as well by his excellent memory as by natural talent and application he reflected, made experiments and was always successful he had at last succeeded in making his mother a very pretty bonnet he'd also composed some verses which were intended to celebrate her visit to Ted House and this joyful day being at last fixed the boys all went over the evening before to make their preparations the flowers that the storm had spared were gathered to ornament the fountains the altar and the table on which was placed an excellent cold dinner entirely prepared by themselves Fritz supplied and roasted the game a fine bustard, the flesh of which resembles a turkey and a brace of partridges Ernest brought pines, melons and figs Jack should have supplied the fish but was able only to procure oysters, crabs and turtle's eggs Francis had the charge of the dessert which consisted of a dish of strawberries, honeycomb and the cream of the coconut I had contributed a bottle of canary wine that we might drink mama's health all was arranged on a table in the middle of the Franciade and my sons returned to accompany the expedition next day the morning was beautiful the sun shone brightly on our emigration my wife was anxious to set out expecting that she should have to return to her dwelling though her leg and foot were better she still walked feebly and she begged us to harness the cow and asked to the cart and to lead them as gently as possible I will only go a little way the first day said she, for I am that strong enough to visit Tenth House yet we felt quite convinced that she would change her opinion she wished to carry her down the staircase but she declined and descended very well with the help of my arm when the door was opened and she found herself once more in the open air surrounded by her children she thanked God with tears of gratitude for her recovery and all his mercies to us then the pretty Osher carriage arrived they had harnessed the cow and young bull to it Francis answering for the docility of Valiant provided he guided him himself mounted before his cane in his hand and his bow and quiver on his back very proud to be mama's charioteer my other three boys mounted on their animals were ready before to form the advance guard while I proposed to follow and watch over the hole my wife was moved even to tears and could not cease admiring her new carriage which Fritz and Jack presented to her as their own work Francis however boasted that he had carted the cotton for the soft cushion on which she was to sit and I that I had made it I then lifted her in and as soon as she was seated Ernest came to put her new bonnet on her head which greatly delighted her it was a fine straw and so thick and firm that it might even defend her from the rain but what pleased her most was that it was the shape worn by the Swiss peasants in the canton of Vaud where my dear wife had resided some time in her youth she thanked all her dear children very easy and comfortable in her new conveyance that we arrived at family bridge without her feeling the least fatigue here we stopped would you like to cross here my dear said I and as we are very near look in at your convenient tent house where you will have no staircase to ascend and we should like to know too if you approve of our management of your garden as you please said she in fact I am so comfortable in my carriage I could make the tour of the island I should like to see my house again but it will be so very hot at this season that we must not stay long but you must die in there my dear mother said Fritz it is too late to return to dinner at falcons nest consider too the fatigue it would occasion you I would be very glad indeed my dear said she but what are we to dine on we have prepared no provision and I fear we shall all be hungry Fritz said Jack provided you dine with us you must take your chance I will go and get some oysters that we may not die of hunger and off he galloped on his buffalo Fritz followed him on some pretense on light foot Mama wished that she had brought a vessel to carry some water from the river before she knew we could get none at tent house Francis reminded her we could milk the cow and she was satisfied and enjoyed her journey much at last we arrived before the colonnade my wife was dumb with wonder for some moments where am I and what do I see said she when she could speak you see the Franciade Mama said her little boy this beautiful colonade was my invention to protect you from the heat stay read what is written above Francis to his dear mother may this colonade which is called the Franciade be to her a temple of happiness now Mama lean on me and come and see my brother's gifts much better than mine and he led her to Jack's pavilion who was standing by the fountain he held a shell in his hand which he filled with water and drank saying to the health of the queen of the island may she have no more accidents and live as long as her children long live Queen Elizabeth and may she come every day to Jackia to drink her son Jack's health I supported my wife and was almost as much affected as herself she wept and trembled with joy and surprise Jack and Ernest then joined their hands and carried her to the other pavilion where Fritz was waiting to receive her and the same scene of tenderness ensued accept this pavilion dear mother said he and may Fritzia ever make you think on Fritz the delighted mother embraced them all and observing Ernest's name was not commemorated by any trophy thanked him again for her beautiful bonnet she then drank some of the delicious water of the fountain and returned to seat herself at the repast which was another surprise for her we all made an excellent dinner and at the dessert I handed my canary wine round in shells and then Ernest rose and sung us very prettily to a familiar air some little verses he had composed on this festive happy day let us pour our grateful lay since heaven has hushed our mother's pain and given her to her sons again then from this quiet lovely home never never may we roam all we love around a smile joyful is our desert isle when or our mother's couch we bent fervent prayers to heaven we sent and God has spared that mother dear to bless her happy children here then from this quiet lovely home never never may we roam all we love around a smile joyful is our desert isle we all joined in the chorus and none of us thought of the ship of Europe or of anything that was passing in the world the island was our universe and 10 house was a palace we would not have exchanged for any of the world contained this was one of those happy days that God grants us sometimes on earth to give us an idea of the bliss of heaven and most fervently did we thank him at the end of our repast for all his mercies and blessings to us after dinner I told my wife she must not think of returning to falcons nest with all its risk of storms and the winding staircase and she could not better recompense her sons for their labors than by living among them she was of the same opinion and was very glad to be so near her kitchen and her stores and to be able to walk alone with the assistance of a stick in the colonnade which she could do already but she made me promise to leave falcons nest as it was it would be a pretty place to walk to and besides this castle in the air was her own invention we agreed that this very evening she should take possession of her own pretty room with a good felt carpet on which she could walk without fear and that on the next day I should go with my elder sons and the animals to bring the cart such utensils as we needed and above all the poultry our dogs always followed their masters as well as the monkey and jackal so domesticated we had no trouble with them I then prevailed on my wife to go into her room and rest for an hour after which we were to visit the garden she complied and after her repose found her four sons ready to carry her in her litter as in a sedan chair they took care to bring her straight to the grotto where I was waiting for her this was a new surprise for the good mother she could not sufficiently express her astonishment and delight when Jack and Francis were making their flageolets accompanied their brothers who sung the following verse which Ernest had added to his former attempt Dear mother let this gift be mine except the grotto Ernestine may all your hours be doubly blessed within this tranquil place of rest then from this quiet lovely home never, never may we roam all we love around a smile joyful is our desert isle what cause had we to rejoice in our children we could not but shed tears to witness their affection and perfect happiness below the vase of flowers on the block of salt Ernest had written Ernest assisted by his brother Fritz has prepared this grotto as a retreat for his beloved mother when she visits her garden Ernest then conducted his mother to one of the benches which he had covered with soft moss as a seat for her and there she rested at her ease to hear the history of the discovery of the grotto it was now my turn to offer my present the garden, the embankment the pond, and the arbor she walked supported by my arm to view her little empire and her delight was extreme the pond which enabled her to water her vegetables particularly pleased her as well as her shady arbor under which she found all her gardening tools ornamented with flowers and augmented by two light watering pans constructed by Jack and Francis from two gourds they had canes for spouts with a gourd bottles at the end pierced with holes through which the water came in the manner of a watering pan the embankment was also a great surprise she proposed to place plants of pines and melons on it and I agreed to it truly did she rejoice at the appearance of the vegetables which promised us some excellent European provision, a great comfort to her after expressing her grateful feelings she returned to the grotto and seating herself in her sedent chair returned to tent house to enjoy the repose she needed after such a day of excitement we did not however lie down before we had together thanked God for the manifold blessings he had given us and for the pleasure of that day if I have been in Europe said my dear wife on the festival of my recovery I should have received a nose-gay a ribbon or some trinket here I have been presented a carriage a colonnade, pavilions ornamental fountains, a large grotto a garden, a pond an arbor and a straw bonnet end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss in 1943 the next and following days were spent in removing our furniture and property particularly our poultry which had multiplied greatly we also constructed a poultry yard at a sufficient distance from our house to save our sleep from disturbance and still so near that we could easily tend them we made it as a continuation of the colonnade and on the same plan but enclosed in the front by a sort of wire trellis work which Fritz and Jack made wonderfully well Fritz who had a turn for architecture and mechanics gave me some good hints, especially one which we put into execution this was to carry the water from the basin of the fountain through the poultry yard which enabled us also to have a little pond for our ducks the pigeons had their abode above the hen roosts and some pretty baskets which Ernest and Francis made, similar to those made by the savages of the friendly aisles of which they had seen engravings in duck's voyages when all was finished, my wife was delighted to think that even in the rainy season she could attend to her feathered family and collect their eggs what a difference, said she admiring the elegance of our buildings what a difference between this tent house and the original dwelling that suggested the name to us and which was our only shelter four years ago what a surprising progress luxury has made with us in that time do you remember my dear the barrel which served us for a table and the oyster shells for spoons and the tent where we slept crowded together on dried leaves and without undressing and the river half a mile off where we were obliged to go to drink if we were thirsty compared to what we were then we are now great lords kings you mean mama said Jack for all this island is ours and it is quite like a kingdom and how many millions of subjects does Prince Jack reckon in the kingdom of his August father, said I Prince Jack declared he had not yet counted the parrots, kangaroos, agoutis and monkeys the laughter of his brothers stopped him I then agreed with my wife that our luxuries had increased, but I explained to her that this was the result of our industry all civilized nations have commenced as we did necessity has developed the intellect which God has given to man alone and by degrees the arts have progressed which has extended more perhaps than is conducive to happiness what appeared luxury to us now was still simplicity compared with the luxury of towns or even villages among civilized nations my wife declared she had everything she wished for and should not know what more to ask for as we now had only to rest and enjoy our happiness I declared again spending our time in rest and indolence as the sure means of ending our pleasure and I well knew my dear wife was like myself an enemy to idleness but she dreaded any more laborious undertakings but mama said fritz you must let me make a mill under the cascade it will be so useful when our corn grows and even now for the maze I also think of making an oven in the kitchen which will be very useful for you to bake your bread in these would indeed be useful labors said the good mother smiling but can you accomplish them I hope so said fritz with the help of God and that of my dear brothers Ernest promised his best aid in return for his brothers kind services informing his grotto only requesting occasional leisure for his natural history collections his mother did not see the utility of these collections but willing to indulge her kind and attentive Ernest she offered till she could walk well to assist him in arranging and labeling and he gratefully consented in procuring her some paper for the purpose of which I had brought a large quantity from the vessel I brought out an unopened packet amongst which was a piece of some fabric neither paper nor stuff apparently we examined it together and at length remembered it was a piece of stuff made at Odeheite which our captain had bought of a native at an island where we had touched on our voyage fritz appearing much interested Ernest said gravely I can teach you how to make it and immediately bringing Cook's voyages where a detailed description is given he proceeded to read it fritz was disappointed to find it could only be made of the bark of three trees of these our island produced only one these trees were the mulberry tree the breadfruit and the wild fig we had the last in abundance but of the two former we had not yet discovered a single plant that was not however discouraged they ought to be here said he since they are found in all the south sea islands perhaps we may find them on the other side of the rocks where I saw some superb unknown trees from the height where we discovered the grotto and who knows but I may find my pretty gazelle there again the rogue can leap better than I can over those rocks I had a great wish to descend them but found it impossible some are very high and perpendicular others have overhanging summits I might however get round as you did by the pass between the torrent and the rocks at great bay Jack offered to be his guide even with his eyes shut into that rich country where he conquered and captured his buffalo and Ernest begged to be of the party as this was an expedition I had long projected I agreed to accompany them next day their mother being content to have Francis left with her as a protector I cautioned fritz not to fire off the gun when we approached the buffaloes as any show of hostility might render them furious otherwise the animals on a custom demand had no fear of him and will not harm him in general added I I cannot sufficiently recommend to you to be careful of your powder we have not more than will last us a year and there may be a necessity to have recourse to it for our defense I have a plan for making it said fritz who never saw anything I know it is composed of charcoal salt Peter and sulfur and we ought to find all these materials in the island is only necessary to combine them and to form it into little round grains this is my only difficulty but I will consider it over and I have my mill to think on first I have a confused recollection of a powder manufacturer yet burned there was some machinery which went by water this machinery move some hammers which pounded and mixed ingredients was this not the case father something like it said I but we have many things to do before making powder first we must go to sleep we must set out before daybreak if we intend to return tomorrow evening we did indeed rise before the sun which would not rise for us the sky was very cloudy and shortly we had an abundant and incessant rain which obliged us to defer our journey and put us all in bad humor but my wife who was not sorry to keep us with her and who declared this gracious rain would water her garden and bring it forward Fritz was the first who consoled himself he thought on nothing but building mills and manufacturing gunpowder he begged me to draw him a mill this was very easy so far as regards the exterior that is the wheel and the waterfall that set to the motion but the interior the disposition of the wheels the stones to bruise the grain the sieve the bolt to separate the flower from the brand all this complicated machinery was difficult to explain but he comprehended all adding his usual expression I will try and I will succeed not to lose any time and profit by this rainy day he began by making sieves of different materials which he fasted to a circle of plant wood and tried by passing through them the flower of the cassava he made some with sail cloth others the hair of the onagra which is very long and strong and some of the fibers of bark his mother admired his work which he continued to improve more and more she assured him the sieve would be sufficient for her it was useless to have the trouble of building a mill but how should we bruise the grain mama said he it would be tedious and hard work and you think there will be no hard work in building your mill said Jack I am curious to see how you will form that huge stone which is called the mill stone you shall see said Fritz only find me the stone and it shall soon be done do you think father that of our rock would be suitable I told him I thought it would be hard enough but it would be difficult to cut from the rock a piece large enough for the purpose he made his usual reply I will try Ernest and Jack will assist me and perhaps you papa I declared my willingness but named him the master mason we must only be his workmen Francis was impatient to see the mill in operation oh said Jack you shall soon have that pleasure it is a mere trifle we only want stone wood tools and science at the word science Ernest who was reading in a corner without listening to us raised his head suddenly saying what science are you in need of of one you know nothing of Mr. Philosopher said Jack come tell us do you know how to build a mill a mill answered Ernest of what description there are many sorts I was just looking in my dictionary for it there are corn mills and powder mills oil mills wind mills water mills hand mills and saw mills which do you want Fritz would have liked them all you remind me said I that we brought from the vessel a hand mill and a saw mill taken to pieces to be sure but numbered and labeled easily be united they should be in the magazine where you found the anvil and iron bars I had forgotten them let's go and examine them said Fritz lighting his lantern I shall get some ideas from them rather said his mother they will spare you the trouble of thinking and laboring I sent them all to seek these treasures which heaped in an obscure corner of the storeroom had escaped my recollection when we were alone I seriously besought my wife not to oppose any occupations our children might plan however they might seem beyond their power the great point being to keep them continually occupied so that no evil or dangerous fancies might fill their minds let them I said cut stone fell trees or dig fountains and bless God that their thoughts are so innocently directed she understood me and promised not to discourage them only fearing the excessive fatigue of these undertakings our boys returned from the magazine delighted with what they had found and loaded with work tools those of the masons the chisel the short hammer and the trowel were not to be found and rarely are taken out to see but they had collected a great number of carpenter's tools saws planes rules etc and now that Fritz was a smith he had no difficulty in making any tool he wanted he was loaded on each shoulder and in each hand he brought a specimen of gunpowder one sort was in good condition and they had found a barrel of it the other was much damaged by the water Jack and Francis were also bending under the weight of various articles among which I saw some pieces of the hand mill Fritz wished to examine Ernest always rather idle came proudly on with a leather belt across his shoulders to which was suspended a large tin box for plants and a leather portmanteau for stones minerals and shells his brothers even Francis rallied him unmercifully on his immense burden one offered to help him another to go and bring the ass he preserved his grave and thoughtful air and extended himself on a seat near his mother who was occupied with his specimens of natural history Jack deposited his load in a corner and ran out we soon saw him return with a huge screw machine on his head which he placed before Ernest saying with an air of respect I have the honour to bring for his highness the prince of the idle penguins the press for his august plants which his highness doubtless found too heavy and truly it is no little weight Ernest did not know whether to thank him or be angry but he decided to join him in the jest and therefore answered gravely that he was distressed that his highness the prince of the monkeys should have taken so much trouble to oblige him that he ought to have employed some of his docile subjects to do it after all he confessed that the press which he had not noticed gave him great pleasure and he placed some plants in it immediately which he collected the evening before the rain ceasing for a short time I went with Fritz and Jack to examine our embankment and to open the sluices of the pond we found all right and our garden looking beautiful after the rain on our return we looked in at the grotto Ernestine which we found inundated from the opening above we proposed to make a trench or a little channel to carry off the rainwater from it we returned home and retired to bed in hopes of being able to set out next morning we were however again disappointed and for a longer period than we expected the rain continued some days and the country was again a complete lake we had however no storm or wind and our possessions did not suffer so we resolved to wait patiently till the weather would permit us to go my wife was delighted to be in her comfortable abode and to have us round her neither did we waste the time Ernest finished the arrangement of his collection with his mother and Francis Fritz and Jack prepared the tools that they wanted in their great undertaking the first attempt was to be a sawmill in order to prepare the planks they wished a very large saw which they had found amongst the tools would serve their purpose but it was necessary to set an emotion by water and here was the difficulty Fritz made several models from the thin wood of our chests and the wheels of our guns but they were too small in the meantime the mind of my young mechanic was exorcised his ideas were enlarged and improved and as this science was so necessary in our situation I allowed him to go on with his experiments standing the rain protected by my cloak he went several times to the cascade to look out for a place where he should place his mills to the best advantage and have a constant supply of water Ernest assisted him by his advice and promised his labour when it should be needed Jack and Francis were helping their mother to card cotton of which he had made a large collection intending to spin it for our clothing and I exorcised my mechanical talents in turning a large wheel for her which was necessary should revolve very easily her leg being still stiff and a reel by which four bobbins were filled at once by turning a handle these different occupations aided us to pass the rainy season which visited us earlier this year and did not remain so long my wife knew something of dying cloth and some of the plants she had helped Ernest to dry having left their colour on the papers she made some experiments obtaining a very pretty blue to dye our clothes with and with a cockaneal from our fig tree a beautiful red brown with which she had dyed for herself a complete dress thus past several weeks Ernest read to us from some amusing or instructive work every evening and when his collections were all put in order he worked at his lathe or at the business of weaving at last the sun appeared we spent some days enjoying it we went to visit the grotto and the garden where all was going on well the embankment had prevented the inundation satisfied with our work we now fixed our departure for the next day once more hoping the rain would not come again to disappoint us End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 44 The next day the weather was delightful we rose before daybreak my eldest sons took their work tools which we might want and their guns also but under the condition that they should not use them till I gave the word fire I carried the bag of provisions our flock of sheep had increased so much at the farm that we allowed ourselves to kill one and my wife had roasted a piece for us the preceding evening to this we added a cake of cassava and for our dessert we depended on the fruits of the trees we might discover but, previous to our departure while I was taking leave of my wife and Francis I heard a dispute in the columnade which I hastened to learn the cause of I found it was a question between Fritz and Jack whether we should make the tour of the island by sea or land which was anxious for my support Fritz complained that since there are two expeditions in the canoe Jack believed himself the first sailor in the world and that they had given him the name of Lord of the Waves because he was constantly saying when I was under the waves when the waves were washing over me do you think that they left me dry? No, Mr. Sportsman said Jack you have got enough of them and that's the reason you don't wish to try them again for my part I love the waves the sea, the sea it was the sea that brought us here what a boaster you are said Fritz it was only yesterday you said to me I will guide you I know the way by the rocks I got my buffalo there and I intend to have another was it in the pinnest you intended to pass the defile and pursue buffaloes? No, no I met on foot, said Jack but I thought we should be only two then now as we are four papa at the helm and three bold rowers why should we fatigue ourselves in making the tour of the island on our legs when we have a good vessel to carry us? what says Mr. Philosopher the Prince of Idlers to it? for my part said Ernest quietly I am quite indifferent whether I use my legs in walking or my arms in rowing it is equally fatiguing but walking gives me more chance of filling my plant box and my game bag and does he think added Fritz that the mulberry red food trees which we shall certainly find on the other side grow on the sea without naming my gazelle which does not run over the waves no it is waiting without moving for you to shoot it said Jack and Ernest perhaps you may find on the sea some of those curious things half plants half animals which you were showing me in a book the zoophytes or polypy for they are the same family though there are more than a thousand species said Ernest I am not that charmed to display his knowledge but I stopped him by saying we will dispense with a thousand names at present after hearing all your arguments attend to mine even Jack must yield to them our principal aim now being to search for the trees we are in need of and to examine the productions of the island our most sensible plan will be to walk Jack still contented that we might land occasionally but I showed him the danger of this being in all probability surrounded by reefs which might extend so far into the sea as to take us out of the side of the island this I intended to ascertain some day and in the meantime I proposed to them that we should endeavor to find a pass round the rocks on our side from whence we could walk to the defile at the other end take our canoe which we had left at anchor near the great bay and return to Ted House Jack was an ecstasy he must be very well concealed that escaped his search and seizing his lasso and his bow rushed out the first singing the sea, the sea there goes a sailor form my nature thought I as we followed the course of the chain of rocks to the left of our dwelling it conducted us first to the place of our landing that little uncultivated plane of triangular form of which the base was washed by the sea and the point was lost among the rocks we found here some traces of our first establishment but how wretched all appeared compared with our present comforts we tried here in vain to find a passage to cross the rocks the chain was everywhere like an impenetrable wall we arrived at the ravine Fritz and Ernest had scaled when they had discovered their grotto and truly nothing but the courage and rashness of youth could have undertaken this enterprise and continued it daily for three weeks it appeared to me almost impossible Fritz offered to ascend to show me how they had accomplished it but I would not consent as it could serve no useful purpose I thought it better for us to proceed to the border of the island where it was not impossible that there might be a small space on the strand between the rocks and the sea round which we could pass from my son's being able to distinguish from the summit the country on the other side it was evident the chain of rocks could not be very broad suddenly Fritz struck his forehead and seizing Ernest by the arm brother said he what fools we have been Ernest inquired what folly they'd been gilly of why did we not said Fritz when we were working within our grotto attempt to make the opening on the other side we should not have had much difficulty I am persuaded and if our tools had not been sufficient a little powder would have opened us a door on the other side only consider father the convenience of bringing the cart loaded with the trees we wanted through our grotto and to be able to go hunting without having I don't know how many miles to go well we can still do that said Ernest in his usual calm grave manner if we do not find another passage we will make one through the grotto Ernestine with mama's permission as it is her property this idea of my son appeared good it was quite certain from our experience at tent house and in the grotto that the cavity in the rocks was a very great extent and it did not appear difficult to pierce through to the other side but some other chain of rocks some gigantic tree some hill at the end of our tunnel might render all our labor useless I proposed that we should defer our work till we had examined the nature of the ground on the other side my sons agreed and we proceeded with renewed courage when we were suddenly checked by the side of the sea beating against a perpendicular rock a terrific height which terminated our island on this side and did not give us a chance of going on I saw the rock did not extend far but how to get rounded I could not devise I did not conceive we could get the penis round as the coast seems surrounded by reefs masses of rocks stood up in the sea and the breakers showed us that more were hidden after much consideration and many plans Ernest proposed that we should swim out to the rocks and endeavour to pass around Fritz objected on account of his arms and ammunition but Ernest suggested that the powder should be secured in the pockets of his clothes which he might carry on his head holding his gun above the water with some difficulty we arranged our encumbrances and succeeded in reaching the range of outer rocks without swimming as the water was not above our shoulders we rested here a while and putting on some of our clothes we commenced our rock over sharp stones which wounded our feet in many places where the rocks lay low we were up to the waist in the water Ernest the proposer of the plan encouraged us and led the way for some time but at last he fell behind and remained so long that I became alarmed and calling aloud for I had lost sight of him he answered me and at last I discovered him stretched on the rock endeavouring to separate a piece from it with his knife father said he I am now certain that this bed of rocks over which we are walking and which we fancied was formed of stone or flints is nothing but the work of these remarkable zoophytes called coral insects which form coral and many other extraordinary things they can even make whole islands look at these little points and hollows and these stars of every colour and every form I would give all the world to have a specimen and he succeeded in breaking off a piece which was of a deep orange colour inside he collected also and deposited in his bag some other pieces of various forms and colours these greatly enriched his collection and idle as he was he did not complain of any difficulty in obtaining them he had given his gun to Jack who had complained much of the ruggedness of our road our march was truly painful and I repented more than once without having yielded to the idea besides the misery of walking along these shelly rocks which presented points like the sharp teeth of a saw tearing our shoes and even our skin the sea in some of the lower places was so high as to bar our passage and we were obliged in the interval between two waves to rush across with the water to our chins we had some difficulty to avoid being carried away I trembled especially for Jack just small and light he preferred facing the wave to avoiding it I was several times obliged to cash hold of him and nearly escaped destruction along with him happily our march was not above half a mile and we gained the shore at last without any serious accident but much fatigued and foot sore and we made a resolution never more to cross the coral reefs after dressing ourselves resting and taking a slight refreshment on the beach we marched more at our ease into the interior of the island but though the long grass was not so sharp as the coral it was almost as troublesome twisting round our legs and threatening to throw us down every step we took Ernest loaded with a bag of fragments of rock, coral and zoophytes had given his gun to Jack and fearing an accident among the long grass I thought it prudent to discharge it in order to profit by it I fired at a little quadruped the size of a squirrel and killed it it appeared to me to be the animal called by naturalist the palm squirrel because it climbs the cocoa and date palms hooks itself by its tail which is very long and flexible to the upper branches and feeds it pleasure on the fruit of which it is very fond we amused ourselves by details of the habits of this animal occasionally separating to make more discoveries but agreeing on a particular call plus when necessary a precaution by no means useless as it turned out Fritz with his head raised went on examining all the trees and occasionally giving a keen look after his gazelle Ernest, stooping down examined plants, insects and occasionally pursuing rare and beautiful butterflies was filling his bag and plant box with various curiosities Jack with his lasso in his hand prepared himself to fling it round the legs with the first buffalo he met with and was vexed when he did not see any for my own part I was engaged in surveying the chain of rocks in order to discover that which contained the grotto Ernestine it was easy to recognize it from its summit Clefton II and I wished to ascertain as nearly as possible if the cleft extended to the base of the rock as this would render our work much easier this side of the island did not resemble that near the great bay with which Jack and I had been so much charmed the island was much narrower here and instead of the wide plain crossed by a river divided by delightful woods giving an idea of paradise on earth we were journeying through a contracted valley lying between the rocky wall which divided the island and a chain of sandy hills which hid the sea and sheltered the valley from the wind Fritz and I ascended one of these hills when we were growing and perceived beyond them a barren tract stretching to the sea where the coral reefs rose to the level of the water and appeared to extend far into the sea any navigators sailing along these shores would pronounce the island inaccessible and entirely barren this is not the fact the grass is very thick and the trees of noble growth we found many unknown to us some loaded with fruit several beautiful shrubs covered with flowers the dwarf orange tree the elegant melaleuca the nutmeg tree and the Bengal rose blending its flowers with the fragrant jasmine I should never finish if I were to try and name all the plants found in the shady valley which might be called the botanic garden of nature Ernest was in ecstasies he wished to carry away everything but he did not know how to dispose of them aha! said he Grotto was open on this side at this moment Fred's came running out of breath crying out the bread fruit tree I have found the bread fruit tree here is the fruit excellent delicious bread taste it father here Ernest here Jack and he gave each of us a part of an oval fruit about the size of an ordinary melon which really seemed very good and nourishing there are many of these trees continued he loaded with fruit the store of them now that they are ripe my boys pointed out to me exactly the situation of the Grotto judging from the rock above and longed for their tools that they might commence the opening directly we proceeded to make our way through a border of trees and bushes that separated us from the rock that we might examine it and judge of the difficulties of our undertaking Jack proceeded us as usual after giving Ernest his gun Fritz followed him and suddenly turning to me I believe kind nature has saved us much trouble the rock appears to be divided from top to bottom at the foot I see a sort of cave or grotto already made at this moment Jack uttered a piercing cry and came running to us his lasso in his hand two monstrous beasts cried he help help we rushed forward our guns ready and saw at the entrance of the cave two large brown bears the black bear whose fur is much valued is only found in cold and mountainous countries but the brown prefers the south it is a carnivorous animal considered very ferocious the black bear lives only on vegetables and honey of these the one I judged to be the female seemed much irritated uttering deep growls and furiously gnashing her teeth as I knew something of these animals having met with them in the Alps I remembered having heard that a sharp whistling terrifies and checks them I therefore whistled as long and loudly as I could and immediately saw the female retire backwards into the cave while the male raising himself on his hind legs stood quite still with his paws closed my two elder sons fired into his breast he fell down but being only wounded turned furiously on us I fired a third shot at him and finished him we then hastened to load his guns again to be ready to receive his companion Jack wished to use his lasso but I explained to him that the legs of the bear were too short and thick for such a measure to be successful he related to us that having entered the cave he saw something moving at the bottom he took up a stone and threw it with all his strength at the object immediately he heard a frightful growling and saw two large beasts coming towards him he had barely time to escape and call for help from himself behind a tree to save ourselves from the other bear it was necessary that we should take some prompt measures we therefore advanced and formed a line of battle before the entrance of the cave I then called fire and we all three fired off our pieces at the same moment a ferocious roar made us hope they had taken effect but to make sure and to prevent the escape of the animal if it was still living we gathered a large heap of branches and dried leaves before the opening to which I set fire as soon as it blazed we saw by the light the bear laid motionless on its side but it is well known that this animal is crafty enough sometimes to feign itself dead till its enemy approaches near enough to be in its power when it seizes him in its enormous paws and strangles him we took a lighted branch and approached with great precaution the cave did not extend far the animal was lying on a heap of dried leaves prepared for its young ones I ascertained that it was really dead then with the assistance of my sons drew it out of the cave which was too dark for work and I wished to secure the rich and beautiful skins which might be useful to us in winter we set to work and as the animals were still warm we succeeded more easily than I could have expected but the skins were so heavy it was almost impossible to remove them we therefore left them in the cave the bottom of which was sandy closing the entrance with bows that no animal might enter to devour them only regretting the abundance of fat which would have been useful for many domestic purposes End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 45 We resumed our march thanking God for our preservation from this danger in which my dear Jack at any rate might have perished as a proof and a trophy of our adventure we cut off the four paws of the animal to carry to my wife it is said that these form a very delicious dish fit for the tables of kings The valley now began to expand and presented a more varied appearance it was intersected with beautiful plains or savannas of which the grass had evidently been eaten and with more extensive woods through which we had great difficulty enforcing a passage so thick and entangled were the lianas and underwood we succeeded in passing them by keeping at the borders where we also fell in greater safety from the wild beasts and reptiles of which we saw many species that had their abode at the foot of the rocks besides the fatigue of our journey we were tormented with thirst never having seen any water since we left the sea the soil was so moist that I was of opinion we might have found water by digging but having been compelled to leave our spades when we came along the reef we had no tools suitable for the purpose we were also impatient to wash ourselves after the butchery of the bears when, to our great satisfaction we heard the murmur of waters which I concluded was the river Jack and I had seen in our former expedition he had frequently inquired about it and we had foolishly thought it had extended along the whole valley which could not be it was a gentle stream gushing from a perpendicular rock which reminded me of the source of the river Orb in the canton of Vaud it issued forth in its full width rolling it first over a rocky bed then forming a graceful bend it took its course towards the great bay and fell in a cascade into the sea we remained some time here to fill our gourds drinking moderately and taking a bath which refreshed us all greatly the evening was approaching and we began to fear we should not reach home before night I had warned my wife that there was a possibility that we might be delayed though I could not then anticipate the cause of our delay we endeavored, however, by walking as quickly as we could and resting no more to reach our farm at any rate we followed the course of the river on the opposite shore of which rose a wide plain where we saw the herd of buffaloes quietly grazing ruminating and drinking the slightest attention to us we thought we distinguished some other quadrupeds amongst them which Fritz was certain were zebras or anagras but certainly not his dear gazelle for which he had incessantly looked round Jack was in despair that the river separated us from the buffaloes so that he could not cast his lasso around the legs of one of them as he had promised Ernest he even wished to swim across the stream to have a hunt but I forbade him encouraging him to hope that perhaps a single buffalo might cross to our side and throw itself in the way of his lasso I was far from wishing such a thing myself for we had no time to lose nor any means to secure and lead at home should we succeed in capturing one not having any cords with us and moreover intending to return from the bay in the canoe when we arrived at the bay the night which comes on rapidly in equinoctial countries had almost closed we were scarcely able to see without terror the changes that the late storm had occasioned the narrow pass which led from the other side of the island between the river and a deep stream that flowed from the rocks was entirely obstructed with rocks and earth fallen upon it and to render our passage practicable it was necessary to undertake a labor that the darkness now prevented and which would at any time be attended by danger we were obliged then to spend the night in the open air and separated our dear and anxious friends at tent house fortunately Fritz had collected a store of breadfruit for his mother with which he had filled his own pockets in those of his brothers these with water from the river formed our supper for we had nothing but the bone of our leg of mutton left we turned back a little way to establish ourselves under a clump of trees where we were in greater safety we loaded our muskets we kindled the large fire of dry branches and recommending ourselves to the protection of God we lay ourselves down on the soft moss to wait for the first rays of light with the exception of Jack who from the first slept us if he had been in his bed we none of us could rest the night was beautiful a multitude of stars shown over our heads in the ethereal vault Ernest was never tired of gazing on them after some questions and suppositions on the plurality of worlds their courses and their distances he quitted us to wander on the borders of the river which reflected them in all their brilliancy from this night his passion for astronomy commenced a passion which he carried beyond all others this became his favorite and continual study nor did he fall far short of Duval whose history he had read whilst he was engaged in contemplation Fritz and I conversed on our projects for tunneling to the grotto and on the utility of such a passage as this side of the island was quite lost to us from the difficulty in reaching it and yet, said I it is to this difficulty we owe the safety we have enjoyed who can say that the bears and the buffaloes may not find the way through the grotto I confess I am not desirous of their visits nor even of those of the onagras who knows but they might persuade your favorite lightfoot to return and live amongst them liberty has many charms till now we have been very happy on our side of the island without the productions of this my dear boy there is a proverb let well enough alone let us not have too much ambition it is ruined greater states than ours for it seemed grieve to give up his plan and suggested that he could forge some strong bars of iron to place before the opening which could be removed it will but, said I they will not prevent the snakes from passing underneath I have noticed some with terror as they are animals I have a great antipathy to and if your mother saw one crawling to her grotto she would never enter it again even if she did not die of fright well we must give it up said Fritz but it is a pity do you think father that there are more bears in the island than those we killed in all probability said I it is scarcely to be supposed that there should be only two I cannot well account for their being here they could swim very well and perhaps the abundance of fruit in this part of the island may have attracted them I then gave my son a short account of their manners and habits from the best works on the history of these animals end of chapter 45 starting chapter 46 whilst we continued to talk and to admire the beauty of the stars they at length began to fade away before the first light of morning Ernest returned to us and we awoke Jack who had slept uninterruptedly and was quite unconscious where he was we returned to the pass which now by the light of day seemed to us in a more hopeless state than in the dusk of evening I was struck with consternation it appeared to me that we were entirely enclosed at this side and I shuddered to think of crossing the island again to pass round at the other end of the risk we should run of meeting wild beasts and of the painful and perilous passage along the coral reefs at that moment I would gladly have consented to open a passage through the grotto at the hazard of any visitors in order to get through myself that I might relieve the anxious feelings of my dear wife and boy the thoughts of their agony unnerved me and took away all courage for the commencements of the labor which seemed impossible our only utensils being a small saw and a little tool for taking up plants which Ernest had been unwilling to leave behind us the path by which Jack and I had passed was covered with rocks and masses of soil which obstructed even the course of the stream we could not discover the place we had forded the river had opened itself a wider course far beyond its former one it is impossible, said Fritz gazing on the ruins, that we can remove all those immense stones without proper tools but perhaps with a little courage we may cross over them the rivulet being widened cannot be very deep at all events it cannot be worse than the coral reefs let us try but I fear it will be impossible at least for him said I, poeting to Jack him indeed, papa and why not, said the bold fellow he is perhaps as strong and more active than some of them as Fritz what he thinks of his workmen shall I go the first to show you the way and he was advancing boldly but I checked him and said that before we undertook to scale these masses of rock absolutely bare where we had nothing to support us or to hold by it would be as well to examine if by descending lower we could not find a less dangerous road we descended to the narrow pass and found our drawbridge, plantation all our fortification that my boys were so proud of and where at Fritz's request I had even planted a cannon all destroyed the cannon swallowed up with rest my boys deplored their disappointment but I showed them how useless such a defense must ever be nature had provided us with a better fortification than we could construct as we had just now bitterly experienced we had descended several yards lower with incredible difficulty plunged in a wet heavy soil and obliged to step across Fritz, who went first, cried out joyfully the roof, papa the roof of our chalet it is quite whole, it will be a bridge for us if we can only get to it what roof? what chalet? said I in astonishment the roof of our little hermitage said he which we had covered so well with stones like the Swiss chalets I then recollected that I had made this little hut after the fashion of the Swiss chalet of bark with a roof nearly flat and covered with stones to secure it against the winds it was this circumstance and its situation that had saved it in the storm I had placed it opposite the cascade that we might see the fall in all its beauty and consequently a little on one side of the passage filled up by the fall of the rocks some fragments reached the roof of the hut and we certainly could not have entered it but the chalet was supported by this means and the roof was still standing and perfectly secure we contrived to slide along the rock which sustained it Jack was the first to stand on the roof and sing victory it was very easy to descend on the other side holding by the poles and pieces of bark and we soon found ourselves safe on our own island Ernest had lost his gun in the passage not being willing to resign his bag of curiosities he had dropped the gun into the abyss you may take the gun I left in the canoe said Fritz but another time throw away your stones and keep your gun you will find it a good friend and need let us embark in our canoe cried Jack the sea the sea long lived the waves they are not as hard as the stones I was very glad to have the opportunity of conveying my canoe back to the port of tent house our important occupations had prevented me till now and everything favored the plan the sea was calm the wind favorable and we should arrive at home sooner than by land we skirted the great bay to the cabbage palm wood I had moored the canoe so firmly to one of the palms that I felt secure of it being there we arrived at the place and no canoe was there the mark of the cord which fastened it was still to be seen round the tree but the canoe had entirely disappeared struck with astonishment we looked at each other with terror and without being able to articulate a word just become of it some animal the jackals a monkey perhaps might have detached it said Jack but they could not have eaten the canoe and we could not find a trace of it any more than of the gun Fritz had left in it this extraordinary circumstance gave me a great deal of thought savages surely had landed on our island and carried off our canoe we could no longer doubt it when we discovered on the sands the print of naked feet it was easy to believe how uneasy and agitated I was I hastened to take the road to tent house from which we were now more than three leagues distant I forbade my sons to mention this event or our suspicions to their mother as I knew it would rob her of all peace of mind I tried to console myself it was possible that chance had conducted them to the bay that they had seen our pretty canoe and that satisfied with their prize and seeing no inhabitants they might not return perhaps on the contrary these islanders might prove kind and humane and become our friends there was no trace of their proceedings further than the shore we called at the farm on purpose to examine Hall appeared in order and certainly if they had reached here there was much to tempt them our cotton mattresses our Osher seats and some household utensils that my wife had left here geese and fowls did not appear to have been alarmed but were pecking about as usual for worms and insects I began to hope that we might get off with the loss of our canoe a loss which might be repaired we were a sufficient number being well armed not to be afraid of a few savages even if they penetrated further into the island and showed hostile intentions I exhorted my sons to do nothing to irritate them on the contrary to meet them with kindness and attention and to commit no violence against them unless called on to defend their lives I also recommended them to select from the wrecked chest some articles likely to please the savages and to carry them always about with them and I beseech you once more added I not to alarm your mother they promised me and we continued our road unmolested to Falcon's nest Jack proceeded us delighted he said to see our castle again but the savages had not carried away suddenly we saw him return running with terror painted on his countenance they are there said he they have taken possession of it our dwelling is full of them oh how frightful they are what a blessing mama is not there she would have died of fright to see them enter I confess I was much agitated but not wishing to expose my children to danger before I had done all in my power to prevent it I ordered them to remain behind till I called them I broke a branch from a tree hastily which I held in one hand and in the other some long nails which I found by chance in the bottom of my pocket and I advanced thus to my tree castle I expected to have found the door of my staircase torn open and broken and our new guest ascending and descending but I saw it once it was closed as I had left it being a bark it was not easily distinguished how had these savages reached the dwelling forty feet from the ground I had placed planks before the great opening they were no longer there the greater part of them had been hurled down to the ground and I heard such a noise in our house that I could not doubt Jack's report I advanced timidly holding up in the air the branch and my offerings when I discovered all at once that I was offering them to a troop of monkeys lodged in the fortress which they were amusing themselves by destroying we had numbers of them in the island some large and mischievous against whom we had had some difficulty in defending ourselves when crossing the woods where they principally dwelt the frequent report of firearms round our dwelling had kept them aloof till now when, emboldened by our absence and enticed by the figs on our tree they had come in crowds these vexatious animals had got through the roof and once in had thrown down the planks that covered the opening they made the most frightful grimaces they had made the most frightful grimaces throwing down everything they could seize although this devastation caused me much vexation I could not help laughing at their antics and at the humble and submissive matter in which I had advanced a bay homage to them I called my sons who laughed heartily and rallied the prince of the monkeys without mercy for not knowing his own subjects Fritz wished much to discharge his gun amongst them but I forbade him I was too anxious to reach Tenthouse to be able to turn my thoughts on these depredators just now we continued our journey but I pause here my heart is oppressed my feelings when I reached home require another chapter to describe them and I must summon courage for the task end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss chapter 47 we soon arrived at Family Bridge where I had some hopes of meeting Francis and perhaps his mother who was beginning to walk very well but I was disappointed they were not there yet I was not uneasy at the hour of our return nor of the way we might take I expected however to find them in the Colonnade they were not there I hastily entered the house I called aloud Elizabeth, Francis, where are you no one answered our mortal terror seized me and for a moment I could not move they will be in the grotto, said Ernest or in the garden, said Fritz perhaps on the shore, cried Jack my mother likes to watch the waves and bring shells these were possibilities my sons flew in all directions to search of their mother and brother I found it impossible to move and was obliged to sit down I trembled and my heart beat till I could scarcely breathe I did not venture to dwell on the extent of my fears or rather I had no distinct notion of them I tried to recover myself I murmured, yes at the grotto or the garden still I could not compose myself I was overwhelmed with a sad presentiment of the misfortune which impended over me it was but too soon realized my sons returned in fear and consternation they had no occasion to tell me the result of their search I saw it at once and sinking down motionless I cried Alas! they are not there Jack returned the last and in the most frightful state he had been at the seashore he had brought himself into my arms he sobbed out the savages had been here and carried away my mother and Francis perhaps they have devoured them I have seen the marks of their horrible feet on the sands in the print of dear Francis's boots this account at once recalls me to strengthen action come my children let us fly to save them God will pity our sorrow and assist us he will restore them come, come they were ready in a moment had they carried off the penis if so every hope was gone Jack in his distress had never thought of remarking this but the instant I named it Fritz and he ran to ascertain the important circumstance earnest in the meantime supporting me and endeavouring to calm me perhaps said he they are still in the island perhaps they may have fled to hide themselves some wood or amongst the reeds even if the penis be left it would be prudent to search the island end to end before we leave it trust Fritz and me we will do this and even if we find them in the hands of the enemy we will recover them whilst we are off on this expedition you can be preparing for our voyage and we will search the world from one end to the other every country and every sea but we will find them and we shall succeed let us put our whole trust in God he is our father he will not try us beyond our strength I raised my child and a flood of tears relieved my overcharged heart my eyes and hands were raised to heaven my silent prayers winged their flight to the Almighty to him who tries us and consoles us a ray of hope seemed to visit my mind when I heard my boys cry out as they approached the penises here they have not carried that away I fervently thanked God it was a kind of miracle for this pretty vessel was more tempting than the canoe perhaps as it was hidden in a little creek between the rocks it had escaped their observation perhaps they might not know how to manage it or they might not be numerous enough no matter it was there and might be the means of our recovering the beloved objects these barbarians had torn from us how gracious is God to give us hope to sustain us in our afflictions without hope we could not live it restores and revives us and even if never realized below accompanies us to the end of our life and beyond the grave I imparted to my eldest son the idea of his brother that they might be concealed in some part of the island but I dared not rely on this sweet hope finally as we ought not to run the risk of abandoning them if they were still here and perhaps in the power of the savages I consented that my two eldest sons should go to ascertain the fact besides however impatient I was I felt that a voyage such as we were undertaking into unknown seas might be of long duration and it was necessary to make some preparations I must think on food, water, arms and many other things there are situations in life which seize the heart and soul rendering us insensible to the wants of the body this we now experienced we had just come from a painful journey on foot of 24 hours during which we had had little rest and no sleep since morning we had eaten nothing but some morsels of the breadfruit it was natural that we should be overcome with fatigue and hunger but we none of us had even thought of our own state we were supported, if I may use the expression by our despair at the moment that my sons were going to set out the remembrance of their need of refreshments suddenly occurred to me and I besought them to rest a little and take something which agitated to consent I gave Fritz a bottle of canary and some slices of roast mutton I met with which he put in his pocket they had each a loaded musket and they set out taking the road along the rocks where the most hidden retreats and most impenetrable woods lay they promised me to fire off their pieces frequently to let their mother know that they were there if she was hidden among the rocks they took also one of the dogs Flora we could not find which made us conclude she had followed her mistress to whom she was much attached as soon as my eldest son said left us I made Jack conduct me to the shore where he had seen the foot marks that I might examine them to judge of their number and direction I found many very distinct but so mingled I could come to no positive conclusion some were near the sea with the foot pointing to the shore and amongst these Jack thought he could distinguish the boot mark of Francis my wife wore very light boots also which I had made for her they rendered stockings unnecessary and strengthened her ankles I could not find the trace of these but I soon discovered that my poor Elizabeth had been here from a piece torn from an apron she wore made of her own cotton and dyed red I had now not the least doubt that she was in the canoe with her son it was a sort of consolation to think they were together but how many mortal fears accompanied this consolation oh was I ever to see again these objects of my tenderest affection certain now that they were not in the island I was impatient for the return of my sons and I made every preparation for our departure the first thing I thought of was direct chest which would furnish me with means to conciliate the savages and to ransom my loved ones I added to it everything likely to temp them utensils, stuffs, trinkets I even took with me gold and silver coin which was thrown on one side is useless but might be a service to us on this occasion I wished my riches were three times as much as they were then I might give all in exchange for the life and liberty of my wife and son I then turned my thoughts on those remaining to me I took in bags and gourds all that we had left of cassava bread, maniac roots and potatoes a barrel of salt fish, two bottles of rum and several jars of fresh water Jack wept as he filled them at his fountain which he perhaps might never see again any more than his dear valiant whom I set at liberty as well as the cow, ass, buffalo and the beautiful onagra these docile animals were accustomed to us and our attentions and they remained in their places surprised that they were neither harnessed nor mounted we opened the poultry yard in pigeon coat the flamingo would not leave us it went and came with us from the house to the penis we took also oil, candles, fuel and a large iron pot to cook our provisions in for our defence I took two more guns and a small barrel of powder all we had left I added beside some changes of linen not forgetting some for my dear wife which I hoped might be needed the time fled rapidly while we were thus night came on and my sons returned not my grief was inconceivable the island was so large and woody that they might have lost themselves or that savages might have returned and encountered them after twenty hours a frightful terror I heard the report of a gun alas only one report it was the signal agreed on if they returned alone two if they brought their mother three if Francis also accompanied them but I expected they would return alone and I was still grateful I ran to meet them they were overcome with fatigue and vexation they begged to set out immediately not to lose one precious moment they were now sure the island did not contain those they lamented and they hoped I would not return without discovering them for what would the island be to us without our loved ones Fritz at that moment saw his dear light foot capering round him and could not help sighing as he caressed him and took leave of him may I find thee here, said he where I leave thee in such sorrow and I will bring back thy young master added he turning to the bull who was also approaching him he then begged me again to set out as the moon was just rising in all her majesty the queen of night said earnest will guide us to the queen of our island who is perhaps now looking up to her and calling on us to help her most assuredly said I she is thinking on us but it is on God she is calling for help let us join her in prayer my dear children for herself and our dear Francis they fell on their knees with me and I uttered the most fervent and earnest prayer that ever human heart poured forth and I rose with confidence that our prayers were heard I proceeded with new courage to the creek that contained our penis where Jack arranged all we had brought we rode out of the creek and when we were in the bay we held a council to consider on which side we were to commence our search I thought of returning to the great bay from whence our canoe had been taken my sons on the contrary thought that these islanders content with their acquisition had been returning homewards coasting along the island when an unhappy chance had led their mother and brother to the shore where the savages had seen them and carried them off at the most they could be but a day before us but that was long enough to fill us with dreadful anticipations I yielded to the opinion of my sons which had a great deal of reason on its side besides the wind was favorable in that direction and abandoning ourselves and full confidence to Almighty God we spread our sails and were soon in the open sea End of chapter This is a LibreBox recording All LibreBox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibreBox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, chapter 48 A gentle wind swelled our sails and the current carried us rapidly into the open sea I then seated myself at the helm and employed the little knowledge I had gained during our voyage from Europe and directing our bark so that we might avoid the rocks and coral banks that surrounded our island My two oldest sons overcome with fatigue had no sooner seated themselves on a bench than they fell into a profound sleep notwithstanding their sorrows Jack held out the best his love of the sea kept him awake and I surrendered the helm to him till I took a momentary slumber my head resting against the stern A happy dream placed me in the midst of my family in our dear island but a shout from Ernest woke me he was calling on Jack to leave the helm as he was contriving to run the vessel and he seized the helm and soon said all right determined not to trust my giddy son again Jack of all my sons was the one who evinced most taste for the sea but being so young when we made our voyage his knowledge of nautical affairs was very scanty My older sons had learnt more Ernest, who had a great thirst for knowledge of every kind had questioned the pilot on all he had seen him do he had learnt a great deal in theory but a practical knowledge he had none the mechanical genius of Fritz had drawn conclusions from what he saw this would have induced me to place much trust in him in case of that danger which I prayed heaven might be averted what a situation was mine for a father wandering through unknown and dangerous seas with my three sons my only hope in search of a fourth and of my beloved helpmate utterly ignorant which way we should direct our course or where to find a trace of those we sought how often do we allay the happiness granted us below by vain wishes I had at one time regretted that we had no means of leaving our island now we had left it and our sole wish was to recover those we had lost to bring them back to it and never to leave it more I sometimes regretted that I had let my sons into this danger I might have ventured alone but I reflected that I could not have left them for Fritz had said if the savages had carried off the penis I would have swum from isle to isle till I had found them my boys all endeavored to encourage and console me Fritz placed himself at the rudder observing that the penis was new and well built and likely to resist a tempest Ernest stood on the deck silently watching the stars only breaking his silence by telling me he should be able by them to supply the want of the compass and point out how we should direct our course Jack climbed dexterously up the mast to let me see his skill we called him the cabin boy Fritz was the pilot Ernest the astronomer and I was the captain and commander of the expedition Daybreak showed us we had passed far from our island which now only appeared a dark speck I as well as Fritz and Jack was of the opinion that it would be advisable to go round it and try our fortune on the opposite coast but Ernest who had not forgotten his telescope was certain he saw land in a direction he pointed out to us we took the glass and were soon convinced he was right as day advanced we saw the land plainly and did not hesitate to sail towards it as this appeared the land nearest to our island we supposed the savages might have conveyed their captives there but more trials awaited us before we arrived there it being necessary to shift the sail in order to reach the coast in view my poor cabin boy Jack ran up the mast holding by the ropes but before he reached the sail the rope which he held broke suddenly he was precipitated into the sea and disappeared in a moment but he soon rose to the surface trying to swim and mingling his cries with ours Fritz who was the first to see the accident was in the water almost as soon as Jack and seizing him by the hair swam with the other hand calling on him to try and keep afloat and hold by him when I saw my two sons thus struggling with waves that were very strong from a land wind I should and my despair have leaped in after them but Ernest held me and implored me to remain to assist in getting them into the Venice he had thrown ropes to them and a bench which he had torn up with the strength of despair Fritz had contrived to catch one of the ropes and fasten it round Jack who still swam but feebly as if nearly exhausted Fritz had been considered an excellent swimmer in Switzerland he preserved all his presence of mind calling to us to draw the rope gently while he supported the poor boy and pushed him towards the Venice at last I was able to reach and draw him up and when I saw him extended nearly lifeless at the bottom of the Venice I fell down senseless beside him how precious to us now was the composed mind of Ernest in the midst of such a scene he was calm and collected promptly disengaging the rope from the body of Jack he flung it back to Fritz to help him in reaching the Venice further in firmly to the mast this done quicker than I can write it he approached us raised his brother so that he might relieve himself from the quantity of water he had swallowed then turning to me restored me to my senses by administering to me some drops of Brahmin by saying Courage Father, you have saved Jack and I will save Fritz he is hold of the rope he is swimming strongly he is coming he is here and in my arms Jack perfectly recovered joined him and fervently to die thank God for granting me in the midst of my trials such a moment of happiness we could not help fancying this happy preservation was an augury of our success in our anxious search and we should bring back the lost ones to our island oh how terrified mama would have been said Jack to see me sink I thought I was going like a stone to the bottom of the sea with arms and legs with all my strength and up I rose he as well as Fritz was quite wet I had by chance brought some changes of clothes which I made them put on after giving each a little rum they were so much fatigued and I was so overcome by my agitation that we were obliged to relinquish rowing most unwillingly as the skies threatened a storm we gradually began to distinguish clearly the island we wished to approach and the land birds which came to rest on our sails gave us hopes that we should reach it before night but suddenly such a thick fog arose that it hid every object from us even the sea itself and we seemed to be sailing among the clouds I thought it prudent to drop our anchor as fortunately we had a tolerably strong one but there appeared so little water that I feared we were near the breakers and I watched anxiously for the fog to dissipate and permit us to see the coast it finally changed into a heavy rain which we could with difficulty protect ourselves from there was however a half deck to the penis under which we crept and sheltered ourselves here crowded close together we talked over the late accident Fritz assured me he was never in any danger and that he would plunge again into the sea that moment if he had the least hope that it would lead him to find his mother in Francis we all said the same though Jack confessed that his friends had not received his visit very politely but it even beat him very rudely but I would bear twice as much said he to see Mama and dear Francis again do you think Papa that the savages could ever hurt them Mama is so good and Francis is so pretty and then poor Mama is so lame yet I hope they would pity her and carry her alas I could not hope as my boy did I feared that they would force her to walk I tried to conceal other horrible fears that almost threw me into despair I recalled all the cruelties of the cannibal nations and shuttered to think that my Elizabeth and my darling child were perhaps in their ferocious hands prayer and confidence in God were the only means not to console but to support me and teach me to endure my heavy affliction with resignation I looked on my three sons and endeavored for their sakes to hope and submit the darkness rapidly increased till it became total we concluded it was night the rain having ceased I went out to strike a light as I wished to hang the lighted lantern to the mast when Ernest, who was on deck, called out loudly Father, brothers, come the sea is on fire and indeed as far as the eye could reach the surface of the water appeared in flames this light of the most brilliant fiery red reached even to the vessel it was a sight at once beautiful and almost terrific Jack seriously inquired if there was not a volcano at the bottom of the sea and I astonished him much by telling him that this light was caused by a kind of marine animal which in form resembled plants so much that they were formally considered such but naturalist and modern voyagers have entirely destroyed this error and furnished proofs that they are organized beings having all the spontaneous movements that are cooler to animals they feel when they are dutched seek for food, seas and devour it they are of various kinds and colors and are known under the general name of zoophytes and this which glitters in such beautiful colors on the sea is called pyrosoma said Ernest see, here are some I've caught in my hat you may see them move how they change color orange, green, blue, like the rainbow and when you touch them but now they are pale yellow they amused themselves some time with these bright and beautiful creatures which appeared to have but a half life they occupied a large space on the water and their astonishing radiance in the midst of the darkness of the atmosphere had such a striking and magnificent effect that for a few moments we were diverted from our own sad thoughts but an observation from Jack soon recalled them if Francis passed this way said he how he would be amused by these funny creatures which look like fire but do not burn but I know he would be afraid to touch them and how much afraid mama would be as she likes no animals she does not know ah, how glad I shall be to tell her all about our voyage and my excursion into the sea and how Fritz dragged me by the hair and what they call these fiery fishes tell me again Ernest py... pyrosoma what he calls them, said Ernest the description of them is very interesting in his voyage which I have read to mama and as she would recollect it she would not be afraid I pray to God, replied I that she may have nothing more to fear than the pyrosoma and that we may soon see them again with her and Francis we all said amen and the day breaking we decided to wave the anchor and endeavour to find a passage through the reefs to reach the island we now distinctly saw and which seemed an uncultivated and rocky coast I resumed my place at the helm my sons took the oars and we advanced cautiously sounding every minute what would have become of us if our penises had been injured the sea was perfectly calm and after prayer to God and a slight refreshment we proceeded forward looking carefully round for any canoe of the savages it might be even our own now we were not fortunate enough to discover any trace of our beloved friends nor any symptom of the isle being inhabited however as it was our only point of hope we did not wish to abandon it by dint of searching we found a small bay which reminded us of our own it was formed by a river broad and deep enough for our penises to enter we rode in and having placed our vessel in a creek where it appeared to be secure we began to consider the means of exploring the whole island end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 49 I did not disembark on this unknown shore without great emotion barbarous and cruel race and I almost doubted the prudence of thus risking my three remaining children in the hazardous and uncertain search after our dear lost ones I think I could have borne my bereavement with Christian resignation if I had seen my wife and child die in my arms I should then have been certain they were happy in the bosom of their god but to think of them in the power of ferocious and idolatrous savages who might subject them to cruel tortures and death very blood I demanded of my sons if they felt courage to pursue the difficult and perilous enterprise we had commenced they all declared they would rather die than not find their mother and brother Fritz even besought me with Ernest and Jack to return to the island to encase the wanderers should come back and be terrified to find it deserted and to leave him the arms and the means of trafficking with the savages without any uneasiness about his prudence and discretion I assured him I did not distrust his courage and prudence but I showed him the futility of hoping that the savages would voluntarily carry back their victims or that they could escape alone and should he meet with them here and succeed how could he carry his recovered treasures to the island no my children said I we will all search in the confidence that God will bless our efforts and perhaps sooner than we think said Ernest Jack was running off immediately to search but I called my little madcap back till we arranged our plans I advised that two of us should remain to watch the coast while the other two penetrated into the interior the first thing necessary to ascertain was if the island was inhabited which might easily be done by climbing some tree that overlooked the country and remarking if there were any traces of the natives any huts or fires lighted etc if we made any discovery were immediately to inform the rest that we might go in a body to recover our own if nothing announced that the island was inhabited we were to leave it immediately to search elsewhere all wished to be of the party of discovery at length Ernest agreed to remain with me and watch for any arrivals by sea before we parted we all knelt to invoke the blessing of God on our endeavors Fritz and Jack as the most active visited the interior of the island and to return with information as soon as possible to be prepared for any chance I gave them a game bag filled with toys, trinkets and pieces of money to please the savages I also made them take some food Fritz took his gun after promising me he would not fire it except to defend his life lest he should alarm the savages and induce them to remove their captives Jack took his lasso and they set out with our benedictions accompanied by the brave Turk on whom I depended much to discover his mistress and his companion Flora if she was still with her friends as soon as they were out of sight Ernest and I set to work to conceal as much as possible our penance from discovery we lowered the masts and hid with great care under the deck the precious chest with our treasure provisions and powder we got our penance with great difficulty the water being low behind a rock which completely concealed it on the land side but it was still visible from the sea Ernest suggested that we should entirely cover it with branches of trees so that it might appear like a heap of bushes and we began to cut them immediately with two hatchets we found in the chest and which we speedily fitted with handles we found also a large iron staple which Ernest succeeded with a hammer and pieces of wood in fixing in the rock to moor the penance to we had some difficulty in finding branches within our reach there were many trees in the rock within our reach there were many trees on the shore but their trunks were bare we found it last at some distance an extensive thicket composed of a beautiful shrub which Ernest recognized to be a species of mimosa the trunk of this plant is knotty and stunted about three or four feet high and spreads its branches horizontally clothed with beautiful foliage and so thickly interwoven that the little quadrupeds who make their dwellings in these thickets are obliged to open covered roads out of the entangled mass of vegetation at the first blow of the hatchet a number of beautiful little creatures poured forth on all sides they resembled the kangaroos of our island but were smaller, more elegant and remarkable for the beauty of their skin which was striped like that of the zebra it is the striped kangaroo cried Ernest described in the voyages of Perone how I long to have one the female should have a pouch to contain her young ones he lay down very still at the entrance of the thicket and soon had the satisfaction of seizing too which leaped out almost into his arms this animal is as timid as the hair of our country they endeavored to escape but Ernest held them fast one was a female which had her young one in her pouch which my son took out very cautiously it was an elegant little creature with a skin like its mother only more brilliant it was full of graceful antics but poor mother no longer wished to escape all her desires seemed to be to recover her offspring and to replace it in its nest at last she succeeded in seizing and placing it carefully in security then her desire to escape was so strong that Ernest could scarcely hold her he wished much to keep and tame her and asked my permission to empty one of the chest for a dwelling for her and to carry her off in the penis but I refused him decidedly I explained to him the uncertainty of the island and the imprudence of adding to her cares and certainly added I you would not wish this poor mother to perish from famine and confinement when your own mother is herself a prisoner his eyes filled with tears and he declared he would not be such a savage as to keep a poor mother in captivity go pretty creature said he releasing her and may my mother be as fortunate as you she soon profited by his permission and skipped off with her treasure we continued to cut down the branches of the mimosa but they were so entangled and the foliage so light that we agreed to extend our search for some thicker branches as we left the shore the country appeared more fertile we found many unknown trees which bore no fruit but some covered with delicious flowers Ernest was in his element he wanted to collect and examine all of them to endeavor to discover their names either from analogy to other plants descriptions he had read he thought he recognized the melaleuca several kinds of mimosa and the virginian pine which has the largest and thickest branches we loaded ourselves with as much as we could carry and in two or three journeys we collected sufficient to cover the vessel and to make a shelter for ourselves if we were obliged to pass the night on shore I had given orders to my sons that both were to return before night at all events and if the least hope appeared one was to run with all speed to tell us all my fear was that they might lose their way in this unknown country they might meet with lakes, marshes or perplexing forests every moment I was alarmed with the idea of some new danger and never did any day seem so long Ernest endeavored by every means in his power to comfort and encourage me but the buoyancy of spirit peculiar to youth was long on one painful thought he amused his mind by turning to search for the marine productions with which the rocks were covered seaweed, mosses of the most brilliant colors zoophytes of various kinds occupied his attention he brought them to me regretting that he could not preserve them oh, if my dear mother could see them said he, or Fritz could paint them how they would amuse Francis this recalled our sorrows am I uneasiness increased end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina this was Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss chapter 50 all was so still around us and our penance was so completely hidden with its canopy of verdure that I could not help regretting that I had not accompanied my sons it was now too late but my steps involuntarily turned to the road I had seen them take Ernest remaining on the rocks in search of natural curiosities but I was suddenly recalled by a cry from Ernest father, a canoe, a canoe who us, is it not ours I said rushing to the shore where indeed I saw beyond the reefs a canoe floating lightly apparently filled with the islanders easy to distinguish from their dark complexion this canoe did not resemble ours it was longer, narrower and seemed to be composed of long strips of bark, quite rough tied together at each end which gave somewhat of a graceful form to it although it evidently belonged to the infancy of the art of navigation it is almost inconceivable how these frail barks resist the slightest storm but these islanders swim so well that even if the canoe fills they jump out, empty it and take their places again and one or two men take up the canoe and carry it to their habitation this, however, appeared to be provided without rigors to preserve the equilibrium and six savages, or the sort of oars made it fly like the wind when it passed the part of the island where we were, we hailed it as loudly as we could the savages answered by frightful cries but showed no intention of approaching us or entering the bay on contrary, they went on with great rapidity continuing their cries I followed them with my eyes as far as I could in speechless emotion for either my fancy deceived me or I faintly distinguished a form of fairer complexion than the dark-cued beings who surrounded him features or dress I could not see on the whole it was a vague impression that it trembled alike to believe or to doubt Ernest, more active than I, had climbed a sand bank and with his telescope had commanded a better view of the canoe he watched it round a point of land and then came down almost as much agitated as myself I ran to him and said, Ernest, was it your mother? No, papa I am certain it was not my mother, said he neither was it Francis here he was silent cold shuddering came over us Why are you silent? said I what do you think? Indeed, papa, I could distinguish nothing, said he even with the telescope they passed so quickly after my mother and brother we should then be sure they were living and might follow them but a thought strikes me let us free the penis and sail after the canoe we can go quicker than they with the sail we shall overtake them behind the cape and then we shall at least be satisfied I hesitated lest my son should come back but Ernest represented to me that we were only fulfilling the wishes of Fritz besides we should return in a short time so that he would soon disencomber the penis soon cried I when we have been at least two hours in covering it yes, said he but we had a dozen journeys to make it to the trees then I will have it ready in less than half an hour I assisted him as actively as I could though not with good heart for I was uneasy about abandoning my sons I would have given worlds to see them arrive before our departure to have their assistance which was of much consequence in the penis and to know that they were safe I often left off my work to take a glance into the interior of the island hoping to see them frequently I mistook the trees in the twilight which was now coming on for moving objects at last I was not deceived I saw distinctly a figure walking rapidly they're here! I cried running forward followed by Ernest and we soon saw a dark colored figure approaching I concluded it was a savage and though disappointed was not alarmed as he was alone I stopped and begged Ernest to recollect all the words he had met within his books of the language of the savages the black man approached and conceived my surprise when I heard him cry in my own language don't be alarmed father it is I your son Fritz is it possible said I can I believe it and Jack what have you done with my Jack where is he speak Ernest did not ask Fritz he knew too well he had seen with his telescope that it was his dear brother Jack that was in the canoe with the savages but he had dared not tell me I was in agony Fritz harassed with fatigue and overwhelmed with grief sunk down on the ground oh father said he sobbing I dread to appear before you without my brother I had lost him can you ever forgive your unfortunate Fritz oh yes yes I was on the other side my son while Ernest seated himself on the other side to support me I then besought Fritz to tell me if the savages had murdered my dear boy he assured me that he was not killed but carried off by the savages still he hoped he was safe Ernest then told me he had seen him seated in the canoe apparently without clothes but not stained black as Fritz was I earnestly wish he had been said Fritz to that I attribute my escape to you have seen him Ernest which way have the monsters gone Ernest pointed out the cape and Fritz was anxious that we should embark without delay and endeavor to snatch him from them and have you learned nothing of your mother and Francis said I alas nothing said he though I think I recognized a handkerchief belonging to dear mama on the head of a savage I will tell you all my adventure as we go you forgive me dear father yes my dear son said I I forgive and pity you but are you sure my wife and Francis are not on the island quite sure said he in fact the island is entirely uninhabited there's no fresh water nor game and no quadrupeds whatever but rats and kangaroos but plenty of fruit I have filled my bag with breadfruit which is all we shall need let's go we work so hard that in a quarter of an hour the branches were removed and the penis ready to receive us the wind was favorable for carrying us towards the cape the savages had turned we hoisted our sail I took my place at the helm the sea was calm and the moon lighted our way after recommending ourselves to the protection of God I desired Fritz to commence his melancholy recital it will be melancholy indeed said the poor boy weeping if we do not find my dear Jack I shall never forgive myself for not having stained his skin before my own that he should have been with you now but I have you my dear son to console your father said I I can do nothing myself in my sorrow I depend on you my two eldest to restore to me what I've lost go on Fritz we went on continued he with courage and hope and as we proceeded we felt that you were right in saying we ought not to judge of the island by the borders you can form no idea of the fertility of the island the fertility of the trees and shrubs we met with at every step quite unknown to me some were covered with fragrant flowers others with tempting fruits which however we did not venture to taste as we did not have nips to try them did you see any monkeys as Durness not one, replied his brother to the great vexation of Jack but we saw parrots and all sorts of birds of the most splendid plumage whilst we were remarking these creatures I did not neglect to look carefully about for any trace that might aid our search I saw no hut no sort of dwelling nor anything that could indicate that the island was inhabited and not the slightest appearance of fresh water and we should have been tormented with thirst if we had not found some coconuts containing milk and an acid fruit full of juice which we have on our own island Durness calls it the carambolier we quenched our thirst with this as well as with the plant which we also have and which contains water in the stem countries flat and open and its beautiful trees stand at such a distance from each other that no one could hide amongst them but if we found no dwellings we often discovered traces of the savages extinguished fires remains of kangaroos and a fish coconut shells and even entire nuts which we secured for ourselves we marked also footprints on the sand we both wished anxiously for the savage that we might endeavor to making comprehend by signs whom we were in search of hoping that natural affection might have some influence even with these untaught creatures I was only fearful that my dress and the color of my skin might terrify them in the meantime Jack with his usual rashness had climbed to the summit of one of the tallest trees and suddenly cried out Fritz prepare your signs the savages are landing black ugly creatures they are and nearly naked you ought to dress yourself like them to make friends with them you can stain your skin with these throwing me down branches of a sort of fruit of a dark purple color large as a plum with a skin like the mulberry I've been tasting them they are very nauseous and they stain my fingers black rub yourself well with the juice of this fruit and you will be a perfect savage I agreed immediately he descended from the tree while I had dressed and with his assistance I stained myself from head to foot as you see me but don't be alarmed a single dip in the sea will make me a European again the good-natured Jack then helped to dress me in a sort of tunic made of large leaves and laughed heartily when he looked at me calling me omniboo of whom he had seen a picture which he declared I exactly resembled I then wished to disguise him in the same way but he would not consent he declared that when we met Mama and Francis he should fly to embrace them and that he should alarm and disgust them in such a costume he said I could protect him if the savages wished to devour him they were now at hand and we went forward Jack following me with my bundled clothes under his arm I had slung my kangaroo skin bag of powder and provision on my shoulders and I was glad to see that most of the savages wore the skin of that animal for the most part spread out like a mantel few of them had other clothes accepting one who appeared to be the chief and had a tunic of green rushes neatly woven I tried to recollect all the words of savage language I could but very few occurred to me I said at first I don't know whether they comprehended me but they paid me great attention evidently taking me for a savage only one of them wished to seize my gun but I held it firmly and on the chief speaking a word to him he drew back they spoke very rapidly and I saw by their looks they spoke about us they looked incessantly at Jack repeating to my titata Jack imitated all their motions and made some grimaces which seemed to amuse them I tried in vain to attract their attention I had observed a handkerchief twisted round the head of him who seemed the chief that reminded me much of the one my mother usually wore I approached him, touched the handkerchief saying expressively I added pointing to the sea but alas they did not appear to understand my words the chief thought I wished to rob him of his handkerchief and repelled me roughly I then wished to retire and I told Jack to follow me but four islanders seized him opened his waistcoat and shirt and cried out together and an instant he was stripped and his clothes and mine were put on in a strange fashion by the savages Jack mimicking all their contortions recovered his shirt from one of them put it on and began to dance calling on me to do the same and in a tone as if singing repeated make your escape frits while I am amusing them I will then run off and join you very soon as if I could for a moment think of leaving him in the hands of these barbarians however I recollected at that moment the bag you had given me of toys and trinkets we had thoughtlessly left it under the great tree where I had addressed I told Jack in the same tone I would fetch it if he could amuse the savages till I returned which he might be certain would be very soon I ran off with all speed and without opposition arrived at the tree found my bag well guarded indeed father for what was my surprise to find our two faithful dogs Turk and Flora standing over it Flora cried I she accompanied my dear wife and child into their captivity they must be in this island why have they left it my dear father continued fritz to depend on it they are not there but I feel convinced that the wretches who have carried off Jack hold dear mama and Francis in captivity therefore we must at all events pursue them the meeting between Flora and me was truly joyful for I was now convinced that my mother and Francis were not far off though certainly not on the same island or their attached friend would not have quitted them I concluded that the chief who had brought my mama's handkerchief had also taken her dog and brought her on this excursion and that she had met here with a friend Turk who had rambled from us after caressing Flora and taking up my bag I ran off full speed to the spot where my dear Jack was trying to divert the barbarians as I approached I heard cries not the noisy laughter of the savages but cries of distress for my beloved brother it's for help addressed to me I did not walk I flew till I reached the spot and I then saw him bound with a sort of strong cord made of gut his hands were fastened behind his back his legs tied together and these cruel men were carrying him towards their canoe while he was crying out fritz fritz where are you I threw myself desperately on the six men who were bearing him off in the struggle my gun which I held in my hand caught something oh father it was my own dear Jack that I wounded I cannot tell how I survived his cry of you've killed me and when I saw his blood flow my senses forsook me and I fainted when I recovered I was alone they had carried him off I rose and following the traces of his blood arrived fortunately at the shore just as they were embarking God permitted me to see him again supported by one of the savages cry console yourself fritz I'm not dead I'm only wounded in the shoulder it is not your fault go my kind brother as quickly as possible to papa and you will both the canoe sailed away so swiftly that I heard no more but I understood the rest you will both come and rescue me but will there be time will they dress his wound oh father what have I done can you forgive me overwhelmed with grief I could only hold out my hand my poor boy and assure him I could not possibly blame him for this distressing accident Ernest though greatly afflicted endeavored to console his brother he told him a wound in the shoulder was not dangerous and the savages certainly intended to dress his wound or they would have left him to die fritz somewhat comforted begged me to allow him to bathe to divest himself of the coloring which was now becoming odious to him as being that of these ruthless barbarians I was reluctant to consent I thought it might still be useful in gaining access to the savages but he was certain they would recognize him in that disguise as the bearer of the thunder and would distrust him I now recollected to ask what had become of his gun and was sorry to learn that they had carried it off whilst he lay insensible he himself considered it would be useless to them as they had fortunately left him the bag of ammunition Ernest however regretted the loss to ourselves this being the third we had lost the one we had left in the canoe being also in the possession of the savages the dogs we missed too and fritz could give no account of them we concluded they'd either followed the savages or were still on the island this was another severe sorrow it seemed as if every sort of misfortune was poured out upon us I rested on the shoulder of Ernest in my anguish fritz took advantage of my silence and leaped out of the penis to have a bath I was alarmed at first but he was such an excellent swimmer and the sea was so calm that I soon abandoned my fears for him End of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 51 Fritz was now swimming far before us and appeared to have no idea of turning so that I was at once certain he projected swimming on to the point where he had lost sight of the savages to be the first to discover and aid his brother although he was an excellent swimmer yet the distance was so great that I was much alarmed and especially for his arrival by night in the midst of the savages this fear was much increased by a very extraordinary sound which we now heard gradually approaching us it was a sort of submarine tempest the weather was beautiful there was no wind the moon shone in a cloudless sky yet the waves were swollen as if by a storm and threatened to swallow us we heard at the same time a noise like violent rain terrified at this phenomena I cried out aloud for Fritz to return and though it was almost impossible my voice could reach him we saw him swimming towards us with all his strength Ernest and I used all our power and rowing to meet him so that we soon got to him the moment he leaped in he uttered in a stifled voice pointing to the mountains of waves they are enormous marine monsters whales I believe such an immense shoal they will swallow us up no, said Ernest quietly don't be alarmed the whale is a gentle and harmless animal when not attacked I'm very glad to see them so near to the creatures as we did through the shining zoophytes doubtless the whales are searching for them for they constitute a principal article of their food they were now very near us sporting on the surface of the water or plunging into its abysses and forcing out columns of water through their nostrils to a great height which occasionally fell on us and wetted us sometimes they raised themselves on their huge tail and looked like giants ready to fall on us and crush us down again into the water which foamed under their immense weight then they seemed to be going through some military evolutions advancing in a single line like a body of regular troops one after another swimming with grave dignity still more frequently they were in lines of two and two this wonderful sight partly diverted us from our own melancholy thoughts Fritz had however seized his ore without giving himself time to dress whilst I at the rudder whilst I could through these monsters who are notwithstanding their appearance the mildest animals that exist they allowed us to pass so closely that we were wedded with the water they spouted up and might have touched them and with the power to overturn us with the stroke of their tail they never noticed us they seemed to be satisfied with each other's society we were truly sorry to see their mortal enemy appear amongst them the swordfish of the south armed with its long saw remarkable for a sort of fringe of 9 or 10 inches long which distinguishes it from the swordfish of the north they are both terrible enemies to the whale and next to man who wages an eternal war with them its most formidable foes the whales in our south seas had only the swordfish to dread as soon as they saw him approach they dispersed or dived into the depths of the ocean one only very near us did not succeed in escaping and we witnessed a combat of which however we could not see the event these two monsters attacked each other with equal ferocity but as they took an opposite direction to that we were going we soon lost sight of them we shall never forget our meeting with these wonderful giants of the deep we happily doubled the promontory beyond which the canoe had passed and found ourselves in an extensive gulf which narrowed as it entered the land and resembled the mouth of a river we did not hesitate to follow its course we went round the bay but found no traces of man but numerous herds of the amphibious animal called sometimes the sea lion the sea dog or the sea elephant or trunked foca modern voyagers give it the last name these animals though of enormous size are gentle and peaceful unless roused by the cruelty of man they were in such numbers on this desert coast that they would have prevented our approach if we had intended it they actually covered the beach and the rocks opening their huge mouths armed with very sharp teeth more frightful than dangerous as it was night when we entered the bay they were all sleeping but they produced a most deafening noise with their breathing we left them to their noisy slumber for us alas no such comfort remained the continual anxiety attending an affliction like ours the drawers all repose and for three days we had not slept an hour since the new misfortune of Jack's captivity we were all kept up by a kind of fever Fritz was in a most incredible state of excitement and declared he would never sleep till he had rescued his beloved brother his bath had partially removed the colouring from his skin but he was still dark enough to pass for a savage when a raid like them the shores of the strait we were navigating had not yet met with any place where we could land however my sons persisted in thinking the savages could have taken no other route as they had lost sight of their canoe round the promontory as the strait was narrow and shallow I conceded that Fritz should throw off the clothes yet on and swim to reconnoiter a place which seemed to be an opening in the rocks or hills that obstructed our passage and we soon had the pleasure of seeing him standing on the shore motioning for us to approach the strait was now so confined that we could not have proceeded any further with the penis we could not even bring it to the shore Ernest and I were obliged to step into the water up to the waist but we took the precaution to tie a long and strong rope to the prow and when we were aided by the vigorous armour Fritz we soon drew the penis near enough to fix it by means of the anger there were neither trees nor rocks on that desert shore to which we could fasten the penis but to our great delight and encouragement we found at a short distance from our landing place a bark canoe which my sons were certain was that in which Jack had been carried off we entered it but at first saw only the oars at last however Ernest discovered in the water which half filled the canoe part of a handkerchief stained with blood which they recognised as belonging to Jack this discovery which relieved our doubts to shed tears of joy we were certainly on the track of the robbers and might trust that they had not proceeded farther with their barbarity we found on the sand and in the boat some coconut shells and fish bones which satisfied us of the nature of their repasts we resolved to continue our search into the interior of the country following the traces of the steps of the savages we could not find any traces of Jack's foot which would have alarmed us if Fritz had not suggested that they had carried him on account of his wound we were about to set out when the thoughts of the Penis came over us it was more than ever necessary for us to preserve this our only means of return and which moreover contained our goods for ransom, our ammunition and our provisions still untouched for some breadfruit Fritz had gathered some mussels and small but excellent oysters had been sufficient for us it was fortunate that we had brought some gourds of water with us for we had not met with any we decided that it would be necessary to leave one of our party to guard the precious Penis though this would be but an insufficient and dangerous defense in case of the approach of the natives my recent bereavements made me tremble at the idea of leaving either of my sons I cannot yet reflect on the agony of that moment without horror yet it was the sole means to secure our vessel there was not a creek or a tree to hide it this situation of the canoe made it certain the savages must return there to embark my children knew my thoughts by the distracted glances with which I alternately regarded them and the Penis and after consulting each other's looks Ernest said the Penis must not remain here unguarded father to be taken or at any rate pillaged by the natives who will return for their canoe either we must all wait till they come or you must leave me to defend it for it's that you could not endure to remain here in fact for it's impatiently stamped with his foot saying I confess I cannot remain here Jack may be dying of his wound and every moment is precious I will seek him, find him and save him I have a presentiment I shall and if I discover him as I expect in the hands of the savages I know the way to release him and to prevent them carrying off our Penis of aspiration exposed alone to the horde of barbarians but also become their victim I saw that my presence was necessary to restrain and aid him and I decided with a heavy heart to leave Ernest alone to protect the vessel his calm and cool manner made it less dangerous for him to meet the natives he knew several words of their language and had read of the mode of addressing and conciliating them he promised me to be prudent which his elder brother could not be we took the bag of toys which Fritz had brought and left those in the chest to use if necessary and praying for the blessing of heaven oh my son, we left him my sorrow was great but he was no longer a child and his character encouraged me Fritz embraced his brother and promised him to bring Jack back in safety End of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 52 After having traversed for some time a desert sandy plain without meeting a living creature we arrived at a thick wood where we lost the traces we had carefully followed we were obliged to direct our course by chance keeping no fixed road but advancing as the interwoven branches permitted us the wood was alive with the most beautiful birds of brilliant and varied plumage but in our anxious and distressed state we should have been more interested in seeing a savage than a bird we passed at last through these verdant groves and reached an arid plain extending to the shore we again discovered numerous footsteps and whilst we were observing them we saw a large canoe pass rapidly on the islanders and this time I thought that in spite of the distance I could recognize the canoe we had built and which they had robbed us of Fritz wished to swim after them and was beginning to undress himself and I only stopped him by declaring that if he did I must follow him as I had decided not to be separated from him I even proposed that we should return to Ernest as I was of opinion that the savages should stop at the place where we had disembarked and we might then by means of the words Ernest had acquired learn from them what it become of my wife and children Fritz agreed to this though we still persisted that the easiest and quickest mode of return would have been by swimming we were endeavoring to retrace our road when to our great astonishment we saw at a few yards distance a man clothed in a long black robe advancing towards us whom we immediately recognized as a European either I am greatly deceived said I or this is a missionary a worthy servant of God coming to these remote regions to make him known to the wretched idolaters we hastened to him I was not wrong he was one of those zealous and courageous Christians who devote their energies and their lives to the instruction and eternal salvation of men born in another hemisphere of another color uncivilized but not less our brothers I had quitted Europe with the same intention but Providence had ordered it otherwise yet I met with joy one of my Christian brethren and unable to speak from emotion I silently embraced him he spoke to me in English a language I had fortunately learned myself and taught to my children and his words fell on my soul like the message of the angel to Abraham commanding him to spare his son you are the person I am seeking said he in a mild and tender tone and I thank heaven that I have met with you this youth is Fritz your eldest son I conclude but where have you left your second son Ernest? Reverend man cried Fritz seizing his hands you see my brother Jack perhaps my mother you know where they are oh are they living yes they are living and well taken care of said the missionary come and I will lead you to them it was indeed necessary to lead me I was so overcome with joy that I should have fainted the missionary made me inhale some volatile salts which he had about him and supported by him and my son I managed to walk my first words were a thanksgiving to God for his mercy then I implored my good friend to tell me if I should indeed see my wife and children again he assured me that an hour's walk would bring me to them but I suddenly recollected Ernest and refused to present myself before the beloved ones while he was still in danger the missionary smiled as he told me he expected this delay and wished to know where we had left Ernest I recounted to him our arrival in the island and the purpose for which we had left Ernest with our intention of returning to him as soon as we saw the canoe pass hoping to obtain some intelligence from the savages but how could you have made yourselves understood said he are you acquainted with their language I told him Ernest had studied the vocabulary of the south sea islanders doubtless that of Tahiti or the friendly islands said he but the dialect of these islanders differs much from theirs I have resided here more than a year and I have studied it some may be of use to you let us go which way did you come through the thick wood replied I where we wandered a long time and I fear we shall have some difficulty in finding our way back you should have taken the precaution to notch the trees as you came said our worthy friend with that precaution you were in danger of being lost but we will find my marks which will lead us to the brook and following its course we shall be safe we saw no brook remarked Brits there is a brook of excellent water which you have missed in crossing the forest if you had ascended the course of the stream you would have reached the hut which contains your dear friends the brook runs before it Brits struck his forehead with vexation God orders all for the best said I to the good priest we might not have met with you we should have been without earnest you might have sought us all day in vain ah good man it is under your holy auspices that our family ought to meet in order to increase our happiness now please to tell me but first interrupted Fritz pray tell me how Jack is he was wounded and be composed young man said the calm man of God the wound which he confesses he owes to his own imprudence will have no evil consequences the savages had applied some healing herbs to it but it was necessary to extract a small ball an operation which I performed yesterday evening since then he suffers less and will soon be well when his anxiety about you is relieved Fritz embraced the kind missionary in treating his pardon for his rashness and adding did my brother talk to you of us sir he did answered his friend what mingled pain and delight she felt yesterday evening when the savages brought to her dear Jack wounded I was fortunately in the hut to comfort her and assist her beloved boy and dear Francis said I how rejoiced he would be to see his brother again Francis said the missionary smiling will be the protector of you all he is the idol of the savages now and idolatry permitted by Christianity we proceeded through the wood as we conversed and at last reached the brook I had a thousand questions to ask and was very anxious to know how my wife and Francis had been brought to this island and how they met with the missionary the five or six days we have been separated seemed to me five or six months we walked too quickly for me to get much information the English minister said little and referred me to my wife and son for all details on the subject of his own noble mission he was less reserved thank god said he I have already succeeded in giving this people some notions of humanity they love their black friend as they call me and willingly listen to my preaching and the singing of some hymns when your little Francis was taken he had his reed flag you let in his pocket and his playing in graceful manners have so captivated them that I fear they will with reluctance resign him the king is anxious to adopt him but do not alarm yourself brother I hope to arrange all happily with the divine assistance I have gained some power over them and I will avail myself of it a year ago I could not have answered for the life of the prisoners now I believe them to be in safety but how much is there yet to teach these simple children of nature who listen only to her voice and yield to every impression impulses good but they are so unsteady their affection may suddenly change to hatred they are inclined to theft violent in their anger yet generous and affectionate you will see an instance of this in the abode where a woman more unfortunate than your wife since she has lost her husband has found an asylum he was silent and I did not question him farther on this subject we were approaching the arm of the sea and my heart at ease about the rest became now anxious solely for Ernest sometimes the hills concealed the water from us for its climbed them anxious to discover his brother at last I heard him suddenly cry out Ernest, Ernest he was answered by shouts or rather howls amongst which I could not distinguish the voice of my son terror seized me these are the islanders said I to the missionary and these frightful cries of joy said he which will be increased when they see you this path will conduct us to the shore call Fritz but I do not see him he will doubtless have descended the hill and join them have no fears recommend your sons to be prudent the black friend will speak to his black friends and they will hear him we proceeded towards the shore when at some distance I perceived my two sons on the deck of the penis which was covered with the islanders to whom they were distributing the treasures of the chest at least those we have put apart in the bag they had not been so imprudent as to open the chest itself which would soon have been emptied it remained snugly below the deck with the powder barrel at every new acquisition the savages uttered cries of joy repeating Mona Mona signifying beautiful the mirrors were at first received with the most delight but this soon changed into terror they evidently concede that there was something magical about them and flung them all into the sea the colored glass beads had then the preference but the distribution caused many disputes those who had not obtained any wished to deprive the rest of them by force the clamor and quarreling were increasing when the voice of the missionary was heard and calm them as if by enchantment all left the penis and crowded round him he haranged them in their own language to be out to them naming me me tuatuan that is father which they repeated in their turn some approached me and rubbed their noses against mine which the pastor had informed me was a mark of respect in the meantime Fritz had informed Ernest that his mother and brothers were found and that the man who accompanied us was a European Ernest received the intelligence with a calm joy it was only by the tears in his eyes that he could discover how much his heart was affected he leaped from the penis and came to thank the missionary I had my share of his gratitude too for coming to seek him before I had seen the dear lost ones we had now to think of joining them we unanimously decided to proceed by water in the first place that we might bring our penis as near as possible to my dear Elizabeth who was still suffering from her fall her forced voyage and above all from her anxiety I confess that I felt a little fatigue and should have reluctantly set out to cross the wood a third time but in addition to this I was assured that it was the promptest mode of reaching our friends and this alone would have decided me the penis was then loosened the sail set and we entered with thankfulness dreading the agitation of my wife if she saw us suddenly I entreated our new friend to proceed us and prepare her but as he was coming on board he was suddenly stopped by the natives and one of them addressed him for some time the missionary listened till he had concluded with calmness and dignity then turning to me he said you must answer for me brother the request which paramax what makes he wishes me in the name of the whole to wait a few moments for their chief to whom they give the title of king Bara'uru as he is called has assembled them here for a ceremony at which all his warriors must assist I have been anxious to attend fearing it might be a sacrifice to their idols which I have always strongly opposed and wishing to seize this occasion to declare to them the one true god Bara'uru is not wicked and I hope to succeed in touching his heart enlightening his mind and converting him to Christianity his example would certainly be followed by the greatest part of his subjects who are much attached to him your presence and the name of God uttered by you with a fervor and in the attitude of profound veneration and devotion may aid this work of charity and love have you sufficient self command to delay for perhaps a few hours the meeting with your family your wife and children not expecting you will not suffer from suspense if you do not agree to this I will conduct you to them and return I hope in time to fulfill my duty I wait your decision to reply to Paramakuegde who is already sufficiently acquainted with the truth to desire that his king and his brethren should know it also such were the words of this true servant of God but I cannot do justice to the expression of his heavenly countenance Mr. Willis for such was his name was forty five or fifty years of age tall and thin the labors and fatigues of his divine vocation had more than years left their traces on his noble figure and countenance he stooped a little his open and elevated forehead was slightly wrinkled and his thin air was prematurely gray his clear blue eyes were full of intelligence and kindness reading your thoughts and showing you all his own he usually kept his arms folded over his breast and was very calm and speaking but when his extended hand pointed to heaven the effect was irresistible what might have thought he saw the very glory he spoke of his simple words to me seemed a message from God and it would have been impossible to resist him it was indeed a sacrifice but I made it without hesitation I glanced at my sons who had their eyes cast down but I saw Fritz knitting his brows I shall stay with you father said I happy if I could assist you in fulfilling sacred duties and you young people said he are you of the same opinion Fritz came forward and frankly said sir it was unfortunately I who wounded my brother Jack he has been generous enough to conceal this you extracted the ball which I discharged into his shoulder I owe his life to you and mine is at your disposal I can refuse you nothing and however impatient I repeat the same said Ernest you protected our mother and brothers and by God's permission you restore them to us we will all remain with you you shall fix the time of our meeting which will not I trust be long delayed I signified my approbation and the missionary gave them his hand assuring them that their joy on meeting their friends will be greatly increased by the consciousness of this virtuous self-denial we soon experienced this Mr. Willis learned from Parabacuete that they were going to fetch their king and are pretty canoe when we saw it pass the royal habitation was situated on the other side of the promontory and we soon heard a joyful cry that they saw the canoe coming while the sabbages were engaged in preparing to meet their chief I entered the penis and descending beneath the deck I took from the chest what I judged most fitting to present to his majesty I chose an axe a saw a pretty small ornamented sabre which could not do much harm a packet of nails and one of glass beads I had scarcely put aside these articles when my sons rushed to me in great excitement oh father cried day at once look look summon all your fortitude see there is Francis himself in the canoe oh how curiously he is dressed I looked and saw at some distance I knew ascending the straight it was decorated with green branches which the savages who formed the king's guard held in their hand others were rowing vigorously and the chief wearing a red and yellow handkerchief which had belonged to my wife as a turban was seated at the stern and a pretty little blooming flaxen-haired boy was placed on his right shoulder with what delight did I recognize my child he was naked above the waist and wore a little tunic of woven leaves which reached to his knees a necklace and bracelets of shells and a variety of colored feathers mingled with his bright curls one of these fell over his face and doubtless prevented him from seeing us the chief seemed much engaged with him and continually took some ornament from his own dress to decorate him it is my child said I in great terror to Mr. Willis my dearest and youngest they have taken him from his mother what must be her grief the child of her love why have they taken him why have they adorned him in this manner why have they brought him here have no fear, said the missionary they will do him no harm I promise you they shall restore him and you shall take him back to his mother place yourselves at my side with these branches in your hands he took some from Parabapakute who held a bundle of them and gave us each one each of the savages took one also they were from a tree which had slender elegant leaves and rich scarlet flowers species of mimosa the Indians call it the tree of peace they carry a branch of it when they have no hostile intentions in all their assemblies when war is proclaimed they make a fire of these branches and if all are consumed it is considered a nomen of victory while Mr. Willis was explaining this to us the canoe approached two savages took Francis on their shoulders two others took the king in the same way and advanced gravely towards us what difficulty I had to restrain myself from snatching my child from his bearers and embracing him my sons were equally agitated Fritz was darting forward but the missionary restrained him Francis somewhat alarmed at his position had his eyes cast down and had not yet seen us when the king was within twenty yards of us they stopped and all the savages prostrated themselves before him we alone remained standing then Francis saw us and uttered a piercing cry calling out papa, dear brothers he struggled to quit the shoulders of his bearers but they held him too firmly it was impossible to restrain ourselves longer we all cried out and mingled our tears and lamentations I said to the good missionary a little too harshly perhaps ah, if you were a father I am, said he the father of all this flock and your children are mine I am answerable for all command your sons to be silent request the child to be composed and leave the rest to me I immediately took advantage of the permission to speak dear Francis said I holding out my arms we are come to seek you and your mother after all our dangers we shall soon meet again to part no more but be composed my child and do not risk the happiness of that moment may any impatience trust in God and in this good friend that he has given us and who has restored to me the treasures without which I could not live we then waved our hands to him and he remains still but quietly murmuring our names papa, fritz, harness tell me about mama said he at last in an inquiring tone she does not know we are so near her, said I how did you leave her very much grieved, said he that they brought me away but they have not done me any harm they are so kind and we shall soon all go back to her oh what joy for her and our friends one word about jack, said fritz how does his wound go on oh, pretty well, answered he he has no pain now and Sophia nurses him and amuses him how little Matilda would weep when the savages carried me off if you knew papa how kind and good she is I had no time to ask who Sophia and Matilda were they had allowed me to speak to my son to tranquilize him but the king now commanded silence and still elevated on the shoulders of his people began to harangue the assembly he was a middle-aged man with striking features his thick lips his hair tinged with red paint his dark brown face which as well as his body was tattooed with white gave him a formidable aspect yet his countenance was not unpleasant and announced no ferocity in general these savages have enormous mouths with long white teeth they wear a tunic of reeds or leaves from the waist to the knees my wife's handkerchief, which I had recognized at first was gracefully twisted round the head of the king his hair was fastened up high and ornamented with feathers but it nearly removed them all to deck my boy he placed him at his side and frequently pointed him out during his speech I was on thorns as soon as he had concluded the savages shouted clapped their hands and surrounded my child dancing and presenting him fruit flowers and shells crying out Uraki! a cry in which the king who was now standing joined also what does the word Uraki mean said I to the missionary it is the new name of your son answered he or rather of the son of Barrauru who has just adopted him never cried I darting forward boys let us rescue your brother from these barbarians we all three rushed towards Francis who weeping extended his arms to us the savages attempted to repulse us but at that moment the missionary pronounced some words in a loud voice they immediately prostrated themselves on their faces and we had no difficulty in securing the child we brought him to our protector who still remained in the same attitude in which he had spoken with his eyes and his right hand raised towards heaven he made a sign for the savages to rise and afterwards spoke for some time to them what would I have given to have understood him but I formed some idea from the effect of his words he frequently pointed to us pronouncing the word Iakute ru Iakute and particularly addressed the king who listened motionless to him at the conclusion of his speech Baru'uru approached and attempted to take hold of Francis who threw himself into my arms where I firmly held him let him go now, said Mr. Willis and fear nothing I released the child the king lifted him up pressed his own nose to his then placing him on the ground took away the feathers and necklace with which he had decked him and replaced him in my arms rubbing my nose also and repeating several words in my first emotion I threw myself on my knees and was imitated by my two sons it is well cried the missionary again raising his eyes and hands thus should you offer thanks to heaven the king convinced it is the will of God restores your child and wishes to become your friend he is worthy to be so for he adores and fears your God may he soon learn to know the truth of Christianity let us pray together that the time may come when on these shores where paternal love has triumphed I may see a temple rise to the father of all the God of peace and love he kneeled down and the king and all his people followed his example without understanding the words of his prayer I joined in the spirit of it with all my heart and soul I then presented my offerings to the king increasing them considerably I would willingly have given all my treasures in exchange for him he had restored to me my sons also gave something to each of the savages who incessantly cried I beg Mr. Willis to tell the king I gave him my canoe and hoped he would use it to visit us in our island to which we were returning he appeared pleased and wished to accompany us in our penance which he seemed greatly to admire some of his people followed him on board in a row the rest placed themselves in the canoes we soon entered the sea again and doubling the second point we came to an arm of the sea much wider and deep enough for our penance and which conducted us to the object of our dearest hopes end of chapter this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss chapter 53 we were never weary with caressing our dear Francis we were very anxious to learn from him all the particulars of the arrival of savages in our island the seizure of his mother and himself their voyage and their residence here and who were the friends they had met with but it was impossible his tawny majesty never left us for a moment and played with the boy as if he had been a child himself Francis showed him all the toys from our chest he was extremely amused with the small mirrors and the dolls a painted carriage driven by a coachman who raised his whip when the wheels turned appeared miraculous to him he uttered screams of delight as he pointed it out to his followers the ticking of my watch also charmed him and as I had several more I gave it to him showing him how to wind it up but the first time he tried to do it he broke the spring and when it was silent he cared no longer for it but threw it on one side however as the gold was very glittering he took it up again and suspending it from the handkerchief that was wound round his head it hung over his nose and formed a striking ornament Francis showed him his face in a mirror which royal amusement made him laugh heartily he asked the missionary if it was the invisible and almighty god who had made all these wonderful things Mr. Willis replied that it was he who gave men the power to make them I do not know whether Barra Uru comprehended this but he remained for some time in deep thought I profited by this to ask the missionary what were the words which had terrified them so when they wished to keep my son from me and which had compelled them to surrender him I told him answered he that the almighty and unseen god of whom I spoke to them daily ordered them by my voice to restore a son to his father I told them with his anger if they refused and promised them his mercy if they obeyed and they did obey the first step is gained they know the duty of adoring and obeying god every other truth proceeds from this and I have no doubt that my savages will one day become good Christians my method of instruction is suited to their limited capacity I proved to them that their wooden idols made by their own hands could neither create hear them nor protect them I have shown them god in his works have declared him to be as good as he is powerful hating evil cruelty murder and cannibalism and they have renounced all these in their late wars they have either released or adopted their prisoners if they carried off your wife and son they intended it for a good action as you will soon understand I could not ask Francis any questions as Bero Uru continued playing with him and learning to earnest I asked him what passed when the savages joined him when you left me said he I amuse myself by searching for shells plants and zoophiles with which the rocks abound and I have added a good deal to my collection I was at some distance from the pinnace when I heard a confused sound of voices and concluded that the savages were coming in fact ten or a dozen issued from the road you had entered and I cannot comprehend how you missed meeting them they would attempt to take possession of my pinnace I have returned speedily and seized a loaded musket though I determined to use it only to defend my own life or the pinnace I stood on the deck in an attitude as bold and imposing as I could command but I did not succeed in intimidating them they leaped one after the other on deck and surrounded me uttering loud cries I could not discover whether they were cries of joy or fury but I showed no fear in some words from Captain Cook's vocabulary but they did not seem to comprehend me neither could I understand any of theirs except for Tara Toa Woman one of them had Fritz's gun from which I concluded they were of the party that it carried off Jack I took it and showing him mine endeavored to make him understand that it also belonged to me he thought I wished to exchange and readily offered to return it and take mine this would not have suited me Fritz's gun was discharged and I could not let them have mine loaded to prevent accident surrounded as I was I decided to give them a fright and seeing a bird flying above us I took aim so correctly that my shot rocked down the bird a blue pigeon they were for a moment stupefied with terror then immediately all left the pinnace except Parib Equitette he seemed to be pleased with me often pointing to the sky and speaking something which means good I believe his comrades were examining the dead bird some touched their own shoulders to try if they were wounded as well as the bird and Jack had been which convinced me they had carried him off I tried to make Parib Equitette understand my suspicion and I think I succeeded for he made me an affirmative sign pointing to the interior of the island and touching his shoulder with an air of pity I took several things from the chest and gave them to him making signs that he should show them to the others and induce them to return to me he comprehended me very well and complied with my wishes I was soon surrounded by the whole party begging of me I was busy distributing beads mirrors and small knives when you came and we are now excellent friends two or three of them returned to the wood and brought me coconuts and bananas but we must be careful to hide our guns of which they have a holy horror and now dear father I think we ought not to call these people savages they have the simplicity of childhood a trifle irritates them a trifle appeases them but they are grateful and affectionate I find them neither cruel nor barbarous they have done me no harm when they might easily have killed me throw me into the sea or carried me away we must not, said I judge of all savage people by these who have had the benefit of a virtuous teacher Mr. Willis has already cast into their hearts the seeds of that divine religion which commands us to do unto others as we would they should do unto us and to pardon and love our enemies while we were discoursing we arrived at a spot where the canoes had already landed we were about to do the same but the king did not seem inclined to quit the penance but continued speaking to the missionary I was still fearful that he wished to keep Francis to whom he seemed to be more and more attached holding him constantly on his knee but at last to my great joy he placed him in my arms he keeps his word with you said Mr. Willis you may carry him to his mother but in return he wishes you to permit him to go in your penance to his abode on the other side of the straight that he may show it to the women and he promises to bring it back perhaps there would be danger in refusing him I agreed with him but still there was a difficulty in granting this request if he chose to keep it how should we return besides it contained our only barrel of powder and all our articles of traffic and how could we expect it would escape pillage Mr. Willis confessed that he had not been able to cure their fondness for theft and suggested as the only means of security that I should accompany the king and bring the penance back which was then to be committed to the charge of Parabaquite for whose honesty he would be responsible here was another delay the day was so far advanced that I might not perhaps be able to return before night besides though my wife did not know we were so near her she knew they had carried away Francis and she would certainly be very uneasy about him Bara'uru looked very impatient and as it was necessary to answer him I decided at once I resigned Francis to the missionary in treating him to take him to his mother to prepare her for our approach and to relate the cause of our attempt I told my sons it was my desire they should accompany me Fritz agreed rather indignantly and earnest with calmness Mr. Willis told the king that in gratitude to him and to do him honour I and my sons wished to accompany him he appeared much flattered at this made my sons seat themselves on each side of him endeavored to pronounce their names and finished by exchanging names as a token of friendship calling Fritz, Bara Ernest, Uru and himself Fritz Ernest Mr. Willis and Francis left us our hearts were sad to see them go where all our wishes centered but the die was cast the king gave the signal to depart the canoes took the lead and we followed in an hour we saw the royal palace it was a tolerably large hut constructed of bamboo and palm leaves very neatly several women were seated before it busily employed in making the short petticoats of reeds which they all wore their hair was very carefully braided in tufts on the crown of the head none were good looking except two daughters of the king about ten and twelve years old who though very dark were graceful these no doubt he intended for wise for my Francis we disembarked about a hundred yards from the hut the women came to meet us carrying a branch of the mimosa in each hand they then performed a singular kind of dance inchwinding their arms and shaking their feet but never moving from the spot this they accompanied with a wild chant which was anything but musical the king seemed pleased with it and calling his wives and daughters he showed them his Taiyo, Barra and Uru calling himself Fritz Ernest he then joined in the dance dragging my sons with him who managed it pretty well as for me he treated me with great respect always calling me the name for father and made me sit down on a large trunk of a tree before his house which was doubtless his throne for he placed me there with great ceremony rubbing his royal nose against mine after the dance was concluded the women retired to the hut and returned to offer us a collation served up in the shells of coconuts it was a sort of paste composed I believe of different sorts of fruit mixed up with a kind of flour and the milk of the coconut this mixture was detestable to me but I made up for it with some kernel of coconuts and the breadfruit perceiving that I like these Barra Uru ordered some of them to be gathered and carried to the penis the hut was backed by wood of palms and other trees so that our provision was readily made still there was time for my sons to run to the penis attended by Parabakute some beads, mirrors scissors, needles and pins to distribute to the ladies when they brought the fruit they had gathered I made a sign to Barra Uru to take them to see the penis he called them and they followed him timidly and submitting to his wishes and everything they carried the fruit two and two in a sort of basket very skillfully woven in rushes which appeared to have a European form they had no furniture in their dwelling but mats and some trunks of trees serving for seats and tables several baskets were suspended to the bamboo which formed the walls and also lances, slings clubs and other similar weapons from which I concluded they were a nation of warriors I did not observe much however for my thoughts were in the future and I was very impatient for our departure I hastened to the penis and my sons distributed their gifts to the females who did not dare to express their delight but it was evident in their countenances they immediately began to endorn themselves with their presence and appeared to value the mirrors much more than their husbands had done they soon understood their use and employed them to arrange with taste the strings of beads round their necks, heads and arms at last the signal was given for our departure I rubbed my nose against that of the king I added to my presence a packet of nails and one of guilt buttons which he seemed to covet I went on board my penis and conducted by the good Parabaquite we took our way to that part of the coast where the dear ones resided whom I so anxiously desired to see some of the savages accompanied us in their own canoe we should have preferred having only our friend Parabaquite but we were not the masters favored by the wind we soon reached the shore we had formally quitted and found our excellent missionary waiting for us come, said he, you are now going to receive your reward your wife and children impatiently expect you they would have come to meet you but your wife is still weak and jacks suffering your presence will soon cure them I was too much affected to answer Fritz gave me his arm as much to support me as to restrain himself from rushing on before Ernest did the same with Mr. Willis his mildness pleased the good man who also saw his taste for study and tried to encourage it after half an hour's walk the missionary told us we were now near our good friends I saw no sign of a habitation nothing but trees and rocks at last I saw a light smoke among the trees and at that moment Francis who had been watching ran to meet us mama is expecting you said he showing us the way through a grove of shrubs thick enough to hide entirely the entrance of a kind of grotto we had to stoop to pass into it it resembled much the entrance of the bear's den which we found in the remote part of our island a mat of rushes covered the opening yet permitted the light to penetrate it Francis removed the matting calling mama here we are a lady apparently about 27 years of age of mild and pleasing appearance came forward to meet me she was clothed in a robe made of palm leaves which reached from her throat to her feet leaving her beautiful arms uncovered her light hair was braided and fastened up round her head you are welcome, said she, taking my hand you will be my poor friend's best physician we entered and saw my dear wife seated on a bed of moss and leaves she wept abundantly pointing out to me our dear boy by her side a little nymph of 11 or 12 years old was endeavoring to raise him here are your papa and brothers Jack, said she you are very happy in having what I have not but your papa will be mine and you shall be my brother Jack thanked her affectionately Fritz and Ernest kneeling beside the couch embraced their mother Fritz begged her to forgive him for hurting his brother and then tenderly inquired of Jack after his wound for me I cannot describe my gratitude and agitation I could scarce utter a word to my dear wife who on her part sucked down quite overcome on her bed the lady who was I understood named Madame Hurtel approached to assist her when she recovered she presented to me Madame Hurtel and her two daughters the eldest Sophia was attending on Jack Matilda, who was about 10 or 11 years of age was playing with Francis while the good missionary on his knees thanked God for having reunited us and for life cried my dear wife my dear husband I well knew you would set out to seek me but how could I anticipate that you would ever succeed in finding me we will now separate no more this beloved friend has agreed to accompany us to the happy island as I intend to call it if I ever have the happiness to reach it again with all I love in the world how graciously God permits us to derive blessings from our sorrows see what my trial has produced me I will be with my daughters for hence forward we are only one family we were mutually delighted with this arrangement and entreated Mr. Willis to visit us often and to come and live in the happy island when his mission was completed I will consent said he if you will come and assist me in my duties for which purpose you and your sons must acquire the language of these islanders we are much nearer your island than you think for you took a very circuitous course and Parabacute declared it is only a day's voyage with a fair wind and moreover he tells me that he is so much delighted with you and your sons that it cannot part with you and wishes me to obtain your permission to accompany you and remain with you he will be exceedingly useful to you will teach the language to you all and will be a ready means of communication between us I readily agreed to take Parabacute with us as a friend but it was no time yet to think of departing as Mr. Willis wished to have Jack some days longer under his care we therefore arranged that I and my two sons should become his guests as his hut was but a short distance off we have many things to hear but as my wife was yet too weak to relate her adventures we was all first to have the history of Madame Hurtel night coming on the missionary lighted a gored lamp and after a light collation of bread-fruit Madame Hurtel began her story at the end of chapter this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 54 My life, she began passed without any remarkable events till the misfortune occurred to me to this island I was married when very young to Mr. Hurtel a merchant at Hamburg an excellent man whose loss I have deeply felt I was very happy in this union arranged by my parents and sanctioned by reason we had three children a son and two daughters in the first three years of our marriage and Mr. Hurtel, seeing his family increase so rapidly, wished to increase his income an advantageous establishment was offered him he accepted it and prevailed on me to settle there with my family for some years my parents were dead I had no tie to detain me in Europe I was going to see new regions those fortunate aisles I had heard so much of and I set out joyfully with my husband and children little foreseeing the misfortunes before me our voyage was favorable the children like myself were delighted with the novelties of it I was then 23 years old Sophia, 7 Matilda, 6 and Alfred, our pretty gentle boy not yet 5 poor child, he was the darling in the plaything of all the crew she wept bitterly for a few moments and then resumed her narration he was as fair as your own Francis and greatly resembled him we proceeded first to Bordeaux where my husband had a correspondent with whom he had large dealings by his means my husband was enabled to raise large sums for his new undertaking we carried with us in fact nearly his whole fortune we re-embarked under the most favorable auspices the weather delightful and the wind fair but we very soon had a change we were met by a terrible storm and hurricane such as the sailors had never witnessed for a week our ship was tossed about by contrary winds driven into these lost all its rigging and was at last so broken that the water poured in on all sides all was lost apparently but in this extremity my husband made a last attempt to save us he tied my daughters and myself firmly to a plank taking the charge of my boy himself as he feared the additional weight would be too much for our raft his intention was to tie himself to another plank to fasten this to ours and taking his son in his arms to give us a chance of being carried to the shore which did not appear far off whilst he was occupied in placing us he gave Alfred to the care of a sailor who was particularly attached to him I heard the man say leave him with me, I will take care to save him on this Mr. Hurtel insisted on his restoring him and I cried out that he should be given to me at that moment the ship which was already fallen on its side filled rapidly with water plunged and disappeared with all on board the plank on which I and my daughters were fixed alone floated and I saw nothing but death and desolation round me Madam Hurtel paused almost suffocated by the remembrance of that awful moment poor woman set my wife weeping it is five years since this misfortune it was at the same time as our shipwreck and was doubtless caused by the same storm most more fortunate was I I lost none that was dear to me and we even had the vessel left for our use but my dear unfortunate friend by what miracle were you saved it was he who only can work miracles said the missionary who cares for the widow and the orphan and without whose word not a hair of the head can perish who at that moment gave courage to the Christian mother my strength continued she was nearly exhausted when being tossed about by the furious waves I found myself thrown upon what I supposed to be a sand bank with my two children I envied the state of my husband and son if I had not been a mother I should have wished to have followed them but my two girls lay senseless at my side and I was anxious as I perceived they still breathed to recover them at the moment Mr. Hurtel pushed the raft into the water he threw upon it a box bound with iron which I grasped mechanically and still held when we were left on shore it was not locked yet it was with some difficulty in my confined position that I succeeded in opening it it contained a quantity of gold and banknotes which I looked upon with contempt and regret but there was something useful in the box in the Morocco Portfolio which contained the banknotes there were the usual little instruments a knife, scissors, pencils, stiletto and also a small bottle of Odeclone which was particularly serviceable in restoring my children I began by cutting the cords that tied us I then rubbed my dear children with the Odeclone made them inhale it and even swallow a little the wind was still blowing but the clouds began to break and the sun appeared which dried and warmed us my poor children opened their eyes and knew me and I felt I was not utterly comfortless but their first words were to ask for their father and brother I could not tell them that they were no more I tried to deceive myself to support my strength by a feeble and delusive hope Mr. Hurtel swam well the sailor still better and the last words I had heard still rung in my ears to not be uneasy I will save the child I saw anything floating at a distance my heart began to beat and I ran towards the water but I saw it was only wreck which I could not even reach some pieces were however thrown on shore and with these and our own raft I was unable to make a sort of shelter by resting them against a rock my poor children by crouching under this sheltered themselves from the rain or from the rays of the sun I had the good fortune to preserve a large beaver hat which I wore at the time and this protected me but these resources gave me little consolation my children were complaining of hunger and I felt only how much we were in want of I had seen a shellfish on the shore resembling the oyster or mussel I collected some and opening them with my knife we made a rip past on them which sufficed for the first day night came my children offered up their evening prayer and I earnestly besought the sucker of the old mighty I then lay down beside my babes on our raft as conveniently as we could and they soon slept thoughtful thoughts of the past and dreadful anticipations of the future prevented me from sleeping my situation was indeed melancholy but I felt as a mother I ought not to wish for death as soon as day broke I went close to the shore to seek some shellfish for our breakfast in crossing the sand I nearly plunged my foot into a hole and fancied I heard a crash I stooped and putting my hand into the opening it was full of eggs I had broken two or three which I tasted and thought very good from the color form and taste I knew them to be turtles eggs there were at least 60 so I had no more care about food I carried away in my apron as many as I could preserve from the rays of the sun this I endeavored to effect by burying them in the sand and covering them with one end of our plank and succeeded very well besides these there were as many people on the shore as we required I have sometimes found as many as 90 together these were our soul's support while we remained there my children liked them very much I forgot to add that I was fortunate enough to discover a stream of fresh water running into the sea it was the same which runs past this house and which conducted me here the first day we suffered greatly from thirst but on the second we met with a stream I will not tire you by relating day by day our sad life everyone was the same and took away by degrees every hope from me as long as I dared to indulge any I could not bear to leave the shore but at last it became insupportable to me I was worn out with gazing continually on that boundless horizon and that moving crystal which had swallowed up my hopes I pine for the vudur and shade of trees although I had contrived to make for my daughters little hats of a marine rush they suffered much from the extreme heat the burning rays of a tropical sun I decided at last to abandon that sandy shore to penetrate at all risks into the country in order to seek a shady and cooler abode and to escape from the view of that sea which was so painful to me I resolved not to quick the stream which was so precious to us for not having any vessel to contain water I could not carry it with us Sophia who was naturally quick formed from a large leaf a sort of goblet which served us to drink from and I filled my pockets with turtle's eggs as provision for a few days I then set off with my two children after praying the God of all mercy to watch over us and taking leave of the vast tomb which held my husband and my son I never lost sight of the stream the obstacle obliged me to turn a little away from it I soon recovered my path my eldest daughter who was very strong and robust followed me stoutly as I took care not to walk too far without resting but I was often compelled to carry my little Matilda on my shoulders both were delighted with the shade of the woods and were so amused with the delightful birds that inhabited them and a pretty little sport of green monkey that they became as playful as ever they sang and prattled but often asked me if Papa and Alfred were not soon returned to see these pretty creatures and if we were going to seek them these words rent my heart and I thought it best then to tell them that they would meet no more on earth and that they were both gone to heaven to that good God to whom they prayed morning and evening Sophia was very thoughtful and the tears ran down her cheeks I will pray to God more than ever said she we make them happy and send them back to us Mama said Matilda have we left the sea to go to heaven shall we soon be there and shall we see beautiful birds like these we walked on very slowly making frequent rests till night drew on and it was necessary to find a place for repose I fixed on a sort of thick grove which I could only enter by stooping it was formed of one tree whose branches reaching the ground take root there and soon produce other stems which follow the same course and become in time an almost impenetrable thicket here I found a place for us to lie down which appeared sheltered from wild beasts or savages whom I equally dreaded we had still some eggs which we ate but I saw with fear that the time approached when we must have more food which I knew not where to find I saw indeed some fruits on the trees but I did not know them and feared to give them to my children who wished to have them I saw also coconuts but quite out of my reach and even if I could have got them I did not know how to open them the tree under whose branches we found protection was I conjectured an American fig tree it bore a quantity of fruit very small and red and like the European fig I ventured to taste them and found them inferior to ours and sip it and soft but quite harmless I remarked that the little green monkeys ate them greedily so I had no more fear and allowed my children to regale themselves I was much more afraid of wild beasts during the night however I had seen nothing worse than some little quadrupeds resembling the rabbit or the squirrel which came in numbers to shelter themselves during the night under our tree the children wished to catch one but I could not undertake to increase my charge we had a quiet night and were early awaked by the songs of the birds how delighted I was to have escaped the noise of the waves and to feel the freshness of the woods and the perfume of the flowers with which my children make garlands to decorate my head and their own these ornaments during this time of mourning and bereavement affected me painfully and I was weak enough to forbid them this innocent pleasure I tore away my garland and threw it into the rivulet gathered flowers said I bless yourselves and them they are no fitting ornaments for us your father and Alfred cannot see them they were silent and sad and threw their garlands into the water as I had done we followed the stream and passed two more nights under the trees we had the good fortune to find more figs but they did not satisfy us and our eggs were exhausted in my distress I almost decided to return to the shore where we might at least meet with that nourishment as I sat by the stream reflecting mournfully on our situation the children who had been throwing stones into the water cried out look mama what pretty fishes I saw indeed a quantity of small salmon trout in the river but how could I take them I tried to seize them with my hands but could not catch them necessity however is the mother of invention I cut a number of branches with my knife and wove them together to make a kind of light hurdle the breadth of the stream was very narrow just here I made two of these my daughters assisted me and were soon very skillful we then undressed ourselves and took a bath which refreshed us much I placed one of my hurdles upright across the rivulet and the second a little lower the fishes who remained between attempted to pass but the hurdles were woven too close we watched for them attempting the other passage many escaped us but we captured sufficient for our dinner we threw them out upon the grass at a distance from the stream so that they could not leap back my daughters had taken more than I but the sensible Sophia threw back those we did not require to give them pleasure she said and Matilda did the same to see them leap we then removed our hurdles dressed ourselves and I began to consider how I should cook my fish for I had no fire and had never kindled one myself however I had often seen Mr. Hurtel who was a smoker it is pipe by means of the flint and steel they were in the precious Morocco case together with tinder and matches I tried to strike a light and after some difficulty succeeded I collected the fragments of the branches used for the hurdles the children gathered some dry leaves and I soon had a bright, lively fire which I was delighted to see notwithstanding the heat of the climate I scraped the scales from the fish with my knife washed them in the rivulet and then placed them on the fire to broil this was my apprenticeship in the art of cookery I thought how useful it would be to give young ladies some knowledge of the useful arts for who can foresee what they may need our European dinner delighted us as much as the bath and the fishing which had preceded it I decided to fix our residence at the side of the rivulet and beneath the fig trees my only objection being the fear of missing some passing vessel in Europe but can you understand my feelings when I confess to you that although overcome by sorrow and desolation having lost husband, son and fortune knowing that in order to support myself and bring up my children I must depend upon my friends and to attain this having to hazard again the dangers of the sea the very thought of which made me shudder I should prefer to remain where Providence had brought me and live calmly without obligation to anyone I might certainly have some difficulty in procuring the means of supporting a life which was dear to me for the sake of my children but even this was an employment and an amusement my children would early learn to bear privations to content themselves with a simple and frugal life and to labour for their own support I might teach them all that I knew would be useful to them in future and above all impress upon their young minds the great truths of our holy religion by bringing this constantly before their unsophisticated understanding I might hope they would draw from it the necessary virtues of resignation and contentment I was only 23 years of age I might hope by God's mercy to be spared to them some time and in the course of years who knew what might happen besides we were not so far from the sea but that I might visit it sometimes if it were only to seek for turtle sex I remain then under our fig tree at night and by day on the borders of the stream it was under a fig tree also said my wife that I have spent four happy years of my life unknown to each other our fate has been similar but hence forward I hope we shall not be separated Madame Hurtel embraced her kind friend and I'm serving that the evening was advanced and that my wife after such agitation needed repose we agreed to defer till next day the conclusion of the interesting narrative my elder sons and myself followed the missionary to his hut which resembled the king's palace though it was smaller it was constructed of bamboos bound together and the intervals filled with moss and clay it was covered in the same way and was tolerably solid I met him one corner without any covering formed his bed but he brought out a bear's skin which he used in winter and which he now spread on the ground for us I had observed a similar one in the grotto and he told us we should hear the history of these skins next day in the continuation of the story of Emily or Mimi as she was affectionately called by all we were tired to our couch after a prayer from Mr. Willis and for the first time since my dear wife was taken from me I slept in peace End of chapter This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss Chapter 55 We went to the grotto early in the morning and found our two invalids much improved My wife had slept better and Mr. Willis found Jack's wound going on well Madame Mimi told her daughters to prepare breakfast They went out and soon returned to the grotto After that Mama Mimi said We went to the grotto and found Jack out We went to the grotto and we started talking We went back out and we found Jack's wound going on well And our daughters our daughters and the first especially They went to the grotto Oh, if you knew, said Francis, what a well-behaved boy Meno is. He can climb trees, run, and leap, though he's less than I am. He must be my friend." And Kanda, said Elizabeth, shall be our assistant and friend. She gave her hand to Kanda, I did the same, and caressed the boy, who seemed delighted with me, and, to my great surprise, spoke to me in very good German. The mother, too, knew several words of the language. They busied themselves with their breakfast, opened the coconuts, and poured the milk into the shells after separating the kernel. They arranged the fruits on the trunk of a tree, which served for a table, and did great credit to the town of their instructress. I should have liked to have offered you coffee, said Madame Hurtel, which grows in this island, but having no utensils for roasting, grinding, or preparing it, it has been useless to me and I have not even gathered it. Do you think, my dear, that it would grow in our island? Said my wife to me in some anxiety. I then recollected, for the first time, how fond my wife was of coffee, which in Europe had always been her favorite breakfast. There would certainly be in the ship some bags, which I might have brought away, but I had never thought of it, and my unselfish wife, not seeing it, had never named it, except once wishing we had some to plant in the garden. Now that there was a probability of obtaining it, she confessed that coffee and bread were the only luxuries she regretted. I promised to try and cultivate it in our island, for seeing, however, that it would probably not be of the best quality. I told her she must not expect mocha, but her long privation from this delicious beverage had made her less fastidious, and she assured me it would be a treat to her. After breakfast we begged Madame Hurtel to resume her interesting narrative. She continued. After the reflections on my situation, which I told you of last night, I determined only to return to the seashore when our food failed us in the woods, but I acquired other means of procuring it. Encouraged by the success of my fishing, I made a sort of net from the filaments of the bark of a tree and a plant resembling hemp. With these I succeeded in catching some birds. One resembling our thrush was very fat and of delicious flavor. I had the greatest difficulty in overcoming my repugnance and taking away their life. But the obligation of preserving our own could have reconciled me to it. My children plucked them. I then spitted them on a slender branch and roasted them before the fire. I also found some nests of eggs, which I concluded were those of the wild ducks which frequented our strain. I made myself acquainted with all the fruits which the monkeys and parakeets eat, and which were not out of my reach. I found a sort of acorn which had the flavor of a nut. The children also discovered plenty of large strawberries, a delicious repast, and I found a quantity of honeycomb in the hollow of a tree which I obtained by stupefying the bees with a smoking brand. I took care to mark down every day on the blank leaves of my pocketbook. I had now marked thirty days of my wandering life on the border of the river, for I never strayed beyond the sound of its waters. Still I kept continually advancing towards the interior of the island. I had yet met with nothing alarming, and the weather had been most favorable. But we were not long to enjoy this comfort. The rainy season came on, and one night to my great distress I heard it descend in torrents. We were no longer under our fig tree which would have sheltered us for a considerable time. The tree under which we now were had tempted me by having several cavities between the roots, filled with soft moss, which formed natural couches, but the foliage was very thin and we were soon drenched completely. I crept near my poor children to protect them a little but in vain. Our little bed was soon filled with water and we were compelled to leave it. Our clothes were so heavy with the rain that we could scarcely stand, and the night was so dark that we could see no road, and ran the risk of falling or striking against some tree if we moved. My children wept, and I trembled for their health, and for my own, which was so necessary to them. This was one of the most terrible nights of my pilgrimage. My children and I knelt down, and I prayed to our Heavenly Father for strength to bear this trial, if it was His will to continue it. I felt consolation and strength from my prayers, and rose with courage and confidence, and though the rain continued unabated, I waited with resignation the pleasure of the Almighty. I reconciled my children to our situation, and Sophia told me she had asked her father, who was near the gracious God, to entreat him to send no more rain, but let the sun come back. I assured them God would not forget them. They began to be accustomed to the rain, only Sophia begged they might take off their clothes, and then it would be like a bath in the brook. I consented to this, thinking they would be less liable to suffer than by wearing their wet garments. The day began to break, and I determined to walk on without stopping in order to warm ourselves by the motion, and to try to find some cave, some hollow tree, or some tree with thick foliage, to shelter us the next night. I undressed the children, and made a bundle of their clothes, which I would have carried myself, but I found they would not be too heavy for them, and I judged it best to accustom them early to the difficulties, fatigue, and labor, which would be their lot, and to attend entirely on themselves. I therefore divided the clothes into two unequal bundles, proportioned to their strength, and having made a knot in each, I passed a slender branch through it, and showed them how to carry it on their shoulders. When I saw them walking before me in this savage fashion, with the little white bodies exposed to the storm I could not refrain from tears. I blamed myself for condemning them to such an existence, and thought of returning to the shore where some vessel might rescue us, but we were now too far off to set about it. I continued to proceed with much more difficulty than my children, who had nothing on but their shoes and large hats. I carried the valuable box, in which I had placed the remains of our last night's supper on act of necessary prudence as there was neither fishing nor hunting now. As the day advanced the rain diminished, and even the sun appeared above the horizon. Look, my darlings, said I. God has heard us, and sent his son to warm and cheer us. Let us thank him. Papa has begged it of him, said Matilda. Oh, Mama, let us pray him to send Alfred back. My poor little girl bitterly regretted the loss of her brother. Even now she can scarcely hear his name without tears. When the savages brought Francis to us, she at first took him for her brother. Oh, how you've grown in heaven! I tried she, and after she discovered he was not her brother, she often said to him, How I wish your name was Alfred. Forgive me for dwelling so long on the details of my wretched journey, which was not without its comforts, and the pleasure I took in the development of my children's minds, and informing plans for their future education. Though anything relating to science or the usual accomplishments would be useless to them, I did not wish to bring them up like young savages. I hoped to be able to communicate much useful knowledge to them, and to give them jester ideas of this world and that to come. As soon as the sun had dried them, I made them put on their dresses, and we continued our walk by the brook, till we arrived at the grove which is before this rock. I removed the branches to pass through it, and saw beyond them the entrance to this grotto. It was very low and narrow, but I could not help uttering a cry of joy, for this was the only sort of retreat that could securely shelter us. I was going to enter it without thought, not reflecting there might be in it some ferocious animal, when I was arrested by a plate of cry, more like that of a child than a wild beast. I advanced with more caution, and tried to find out what sort of an inhabitant the cave contained. It was indeed a human being, an infant, whose age I could not discover, but it seemed too young to walk, and was, besides, tied up in leaves of moss, enclosed in a piece of bark, which was much torn and rent. The poor infant uttered the most piteous cries, and I did not hesitate a moment to enter the cave, and to take the innocent little creature in my arms. It seized its cries as soon as it felt the warmth of my cheek. But it was evidently in want of food, and I had nothing to give it but some figs, of which I pressed the juice into its mouth. This seemed to satisfy it, and, rocking it in my arms, it soon went to sleep. I had then time to examine it, and to look round the cave. From the size and form of the face, I concluded it might be older than I first thought, and I recollected to have read that the savages carried their children swaddled up in this way, even till they could walk. The complexion of the child was a pale olive, which I have since discovered as the natural complexion of the natives, before the exposure to the heat of the sun gives them the bronze hue you have seen. The features were good, except that the lips were thicker and the mouth larger than those of the Europeans. My two girls were charmed with it, and caressed it with great joy. I left them to rock it gently in its cradle of bark, till I went round this cave, which I intended for my palace, and which I have never quitted. You see it, the form has not changed, but since Heaven has sent me a friend, looking at the missionary, it is adorned with furniture and utensils which have completed my comforts. But to return, the grotto was spacious and irregular in form. In a hollow I found, with surprise, a sort of bed carefully arranged with moss, dry leaves, and small twigs. I was alarmed. Was this grotto inhabited by men or by wild beasts? In either case, it was dangerous to remain here. I encouraged to hope, however, that from the infant being here, the mother must be the inhabited, and that on her return, finding me nursing her child, she might be induced to share her asylum with us. I could not, however, reconcile this hope with the circumstance of the child being abandoned in this open cave. As I was considering whether I ought to remain or leave the cave, I heard strange cries at a distance, mingled with the screams of my children who came running to me for protection, bringing with them the young savage, who fortunately was only half-awake, and soon went to sleep again, sucking a fig. I laid him gently on the bed of leaves and told my daughters to remain near him in a dark corner. Then, stepping cautiously, I ventured to look out to discover what was passing without being seen. The noise approached nearer to my great alarm, and I could perceive through the trees a crowd of men armed with long- pointed lances, clubs, and stones. They appeared furious, and the idea that they might enter the cave froze me with terror. I had an idea of taking the little native babe and holding it in my arms as my best shield, but this time my fears were groundless. The whole troop passed outside the wood, without even looking on the same side as the grotto. They appeared to follow some traces they were looking out for on the ground. I heard their shouts for some time, but they died away, and I recovered from my fears. Still, the dread of meeting them overcame even hunger. I had nothing left in my box but some figs, which I kept for the infant, who was satisfied with them, and I told my daughters we must go to bed without supper. The sleeping infant amused them so much that they readily consented to give up the figs. He awoke smiling, and they gave him the figs to suck. In the meantime, I prepared to release him from his bondage to make him more comfortable, and I then saw that the outer covering of bark was torn by the teeth of some animal, and even the skin of the child slightly grazed. I ventured to carry him to the brook, into which I plunged him two or three times, which seemed to give him great pleasure. I ran back to the cave, which is, you see, not more than twenty yards distant, and found Sophia and Matilda very much delighted at a treasure they had found under the dry leaves in a corner. This was a great quantity of fruits of various kinds, roots of some unknown plant, and a good supply of beautiful honey, on which the little gluttons were already feasting. They came directly to give some on their fingers to their little doll, as they called the babe. This discovery made me very thoughtful. Was it possible that we were in a bear's den? I had read that they sometimes carried off infants and that they were very fond of fruits and of honey, of which they generally had a horde. I remarked on the earth, and especially at the entrance where the rain had made it soft, the impression of large paws which left me no doubt. The animal would certainly return to his den, and we were in the greatest danger. But where could we go? The sky dark with clouds threatened a return of the storm, and the troop of savages might still be wandering about the island. I had not courage, just as night set in, to depart with my children, nor could I leave the poor infant who is now sleeping peacefully after his honey and figs. His two nurses soon followed his example. But for me there was no rest. The noise of the wind among the trees, and of the rain pattering on the leaves, the murmur of the brook, the light-bounds of the kangaroo, all made my heart beat with fear and terror. I fancied it was the bear returning to devour us. I had cut and broken some branches to place before the entrance, but these were but a weak defense against a furious and probably famished animal, and if he even did no other harm to my children, I was sure their terror at the side of him would kill them. I paced backwards and forwards, from the entrance to the bed, in the darkness, envying the dear sleepers their calm and fearless rest. The dark-skinned baby slept soundly, nestled warmly between my daughters, till day broke at last without anything terrible occurring. Then my little people awoke and cried out with hunger. Probably eight of the fruits and honey brought us by our unknown friend, feeding also our little charge, to whom my daughters gave the pet name of Mino, which he still keeps. I busied myself with his toilette. There was no need to go to the brook for a bath, for the rain came down incessantly. I then folded Matilda's apron round him, which pleased her greatly. The rain ceased for a while, and they set off for flowers to amuse him. They were scarcely gone when I heard the cries of the savages again, but this time they seemed rather shouts of joy and triumph. They sung and chanted a sort of chorus, but were still at such distance that I had time to recall my daughters and withdraw them out of sight. I took Mino with me as the mediator, and placed myself in an angle of the rock where I could see without being seen. They passed as before, beyond the wood, armed, and two of them bore at the end of their lances something very large and dark, which I could not distinguish, but thought might be some wild beast they had destroyed. Afterwards I flattered myself it might be the bear, whose return I so greatly dreaded. Following the train was a woman, naked, with her hair hanging down, uttering loud cries, and tearing her face impressed. No one attempted to soothe her, but occasionally one of the bearers of the black mass pointed it out to her. She then became furious, threw herself on it, and tried to tear it with her teeth and nails. I was quite overcome with horror and pity. That woman, my friends, was Kanda, whom you have just seen. Kanda, usually so mild and gentle, was rendered frantic by the loss of her child, her first-born, whom she believed was devoured by the bear. Pervacuate, her husband, tried to console her, but was himself in great sorrow. These bearers, as I have since learnt, for there were two of them, had come from a mountain, at the foot of which was Pervacuate's hut. They had only the sun and Kanda, according to the custom of the country, tying it in a piece of bark, carried it on her back. One morning, after having bathed him in the stream, which has its source near their abode, she placed him on the turf a few moments, while she was employed in some household duties. She soon heard his cries, mingled with a sort of growl. She ran to the spot and saw a frightful beast holding her child in its mouth and running off with it. It was then more than twenty yards off. Her cries brought her husband, she pointed to the horrible animal, and darted after it, determined to save her child or perish. Her husband only stopped to seize his javelin and followed her, but did not overtake her till fatigue and the heat of the day made her fall almost senseless to the ground. Stopping for a moment to raise and encourage her, he lost sight of the bear and could not recover the track. All the night, that dreadful night of rain, when I was weeping and murmuring, thinking myself the most unfortunate of women, was Kanda exposed without clothes to that frightful storm, hopelessly seeking her only child and not even feeling that it did rain. Parabaquitay, not less afflicted, but more composed, went to relate his misfortune to his neighbors, who, arming themselves, set out with Parabaquitay at their head, following the track of the animal over the wet ground. They discovered it next morning with another bear, so busy devouring a swarm of bees and their honey, that the savages were able to draw near them. Parabaquitay pierced one with his spear, and dispatched him with a blow of his clove. One of his comrades killed the other, and Parabaquitay tasted the truly savage joy of vengeance. But the poor mother could not be so comforted. After wandering through the rain all night, she reached the party as they were skinning the bear and dividing the flesh. Parabaquitay only asked and obtained the skins to recompense him for the loss of his son. They returned home in triumph. Kanda following them with bitter cries, tearing her face with a shark's tooth. From observation of these circumstances, I concluded that Kanda must be the mother of my little child that I'd found. My heart sympathized with her, and I even made some steps forward to restore him. But the sight of the savage crowd, with their tattooed bodies, filled me with such terror that I retreated involuntarily to the grotto, where my children, alarmed by the noise, were hiding themselves. Why do the people cry out so? said Sophia. They frighten me. Don't let them come, your mama, or they may carry me no away. Certainly said I, and I should have no right to forbid them. I think they are his friends, who are distressed at losing him. I could restore him to them. Oh, no, mama, said Matilda. Pray don't give him back. We like him so much, and we will be his little mamas. He will be far happier with us than with those ugly savages, who tied him up like a parcel in the bark, with a moss which pricked him so much. He's much more comfortable in my apron. How he moves his legs as if he wanted to walk. Sophia and I will teach him. Do let us keep him, Mimi. Even if I had decided. It was now too late. The savages had passed on to some distance. I, however, explained to Matilda the beauty of the divine precept. Do unto others, as you would, they should do unto you. Asking her how she would have liked to be detained by the savages, and what then would be the suffering of her own mama. She was thoughtful for a moment, and then embracing Mino and me. You're right, mama, Mimi. But if she loves her baby, let her come and seek him, said the little rebel. In the meantime, Sophia had been out and returned with some brilliant flowers, fresh after the rain, with which they make garlands to dress up the infant. Oh, if his mama saw him, she would be glad to let us have him, said Matilda. She then explained to her sister who this mama was, and Sophia shed tears to think of the sorrow of the poor mother. But how do you know, mama, that she was Mino's mother, to manage she? This question proved that her judgment was forming, and I took the opportunity of teaching her what information one may derive from observation. She understood me very well, and when I told her on what I had founded my idea, she trembled to think he had been brought here by a bear, and asked me if the bear would have eaten him. I cannot answer for it, said I, if it had been pressed by hunger. They tell us that the bear does no harm to man unless attacked, and is especially fond of children. But notwithstanding this, I should not like to trust it. At all events, the poor babe would have died if we had not found him. Poor babe, he shall not die of hunger now, said she. Let us give him some figs. But these are not good. We must go and seek some more. The rain having ceased, I consented, passing through the grove where there were no fig trees to search farther. My daughters had fed the child with honey and water. It appeared quite reconciled to us, and had ceased to cry. I judged it might be about eight months old. We soon found some trees covered with the violet-colored figs. Whilst I gathered them, the girls made a pretty bed of moss, adorned with flowers for the little favorite, and fed him with the fresh fruit, which he enjoyed much. And with their fair hair and rosy faces, and the little negro between them with his arch, dark countenance, they formed a charming picture which affected me greatly. End of chapter. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, chapter 56. We have been more than an hour under the tree when I heard cries again, but this time I was not alarmed, for I distinguished the voice of the disconsolate mother, and I knew that I could comfort her. Her grief brought her back to the spot where she thought her child had been devoured. She wished, as she afterwards told us, when we could understand her, to search for some remains of him, his hair, his bones, or even a piece of the bark that bound him. And here he was, full of life and health! She advanced slowly, sobbing, and her eyes turned to the ground. She was so absorbed in her search that she did not see us when we were but twenty yards from her. Suddenly Sophia darted like an arrow to her, took her hand, and said, Come, Meena is here! Candan neither knew what she saw nor what she heard. She took my daughter for something supernatural, and made no resistance, but followed her to the fig tree. Even then she did not recognize the little creature, released from his bonds, half-cloth, covered with flowers, and surrounded by three divinities. For she took us for such, and wished to prostrate herself before us. She was still more convinced of it when I took up her son and placed him in her arms. She recognized him, and the poor little infant held out his arms to her. I can never express to you the transport of the mother. She screamed, clasped her child till he was half-suffocated, rapidly repeating words which we could not understand, wept, laughed, and was in a delirium of delight that terrified Meena. She began to cry, and held out his arms to Sophia, who, as well as Matilda, was weeping at the sight. Candan looked at them with astonishment. She soothed the child, and put him to her breast, which he rejected at first, but finally seized it, and his mother was happy. I took the opportunity to try and make her comprehend that the great animal had brought him here, that we had found him and taken care of him, and I made signs for her to follow me, which she did without hesitation, till we reached the grotto when, without entering, she fled away with her infant with such rapidity that it was impossible to overtake her, and was soon out of sight. I had some difficulty in consoling my daughters for the loss of Meena. They thought they should see him no more, and that his mother was very ungrateful to carry him off, without even letting them take leave of him. They were still weeping and complaining, when we saw the objects of our anxiety approaching, but Candan was now accompanied by a man, who was carrying the child. They entered the grotto, and prostrated themselves before us. You know, Parabaquete, his countenance pleased and tranquilized us. As a relation of the king, he was distinguished by wearing a short tunic of leaves. His body was tattooed and stained with various colors, but not his face, which expressed kindness and gratitude, united with great intelligence. He comprehended most of my signs. I did not succeed so well in understanding him, but saw he meant kindly. In the meantime, my daughters had a more intelligible conversation with Candan and Meena. They have devoured the latter with caresses, fed him with figs and honey, and amused him so much that he would scarcely leave them. Candan was not jealous of this preference, but seemed delighted with it. She in her turn caressed my daughters, admired their glossy hair and fair skin, and pointed them out to her husband. She repeated Minu after them, but always added another Minu, and appeared to think this name beautiful. After some words with Parabaquete, she placed Minu Minu in Sophia's arms, and they both departed, making signs that they would return. But we did not see them for some time after. Sophia and Matilda had their full enjoyment of their favorite. They wished to teach him to walk and to speak, and they assured me he was making great progress. They were beginning to hope his parents had left him entirely. When they came in sight, Parabaquete bending under the weight of two bear skins and a beautiful piece of matting to close the entrance to my grotto. Candan carried a basket on her head filled with fine fruit, the cocoa, the breadfruit, which they call rima, pineapples, figs, and finally a piece of bear's flesh roasted at the fire, which I did not like, but I enjoyed the fruits and the milk of the coconut, of which Minu Minu had a good share. They spread the bear's skins in the midst of the grotto. Parabaquete, canda, and the infle between them took possession of one without ceremony and motioned to us to make our bed at the other. But the bears having only been killed the evening before, these skins had an intolerable smell. I made them comprehend this, and Parabaquete immediately carried them off and placed them in the brook secured by stones. It brought us in exchange a heap of moss and leaves, on which we slept very well. From this moment we became one family. Canda remained with us, and repaid to my daughters all the care and affection they bestowed on Minu Minu. There never was a child had more indulgence, but he deserved it for his quickness and docility. At the end of a few months he began to lisp a few words of German, as well as his mother, of whom I was the teacher, and who made rapid progress. Parabaquete was very little with us, but he undertook to be our purveyor, and furnished us abundantly with everything necessary for our subsistence. Canda taught my daughter to make beautiful baskets. Some of a flat form serve for our plates and dishes. Parabaquete made us knives from sharp stones. My daughters, in return, taught Canda to sew. At the time of our shipwreck we had, each of us, in her pocket, a Morocco housewife with a store of needles and thread. By means of these we had mended our linen and we now made dresses of palm leaves. The bearskins, washed in the stream and thoroughly dried in the burning sun, have been very useful to us in the cold and rainy season. Now that we had guides, we made, in the fine season, excursions to different parts of the island. Minu Minu soon learned to walk, and, being strong, like all these islanders, would always accompany us. We went one day to the seashore. I shuddered at the sight, and Canda, who knew that my husband and child had perished in the sea, wept with me. We now spoke each other's language well enough to converse. She told me that a black friend, Emily Boud to Mr. Willis, had arrived in a neighboring island to announce to them that there was a being, all mighty and all merciful, who lived in heaven and heard all they said. Her comprehension of this truth was very confused, and I endeavored to make it more clear and positive. I see very well, said she, that you know him. Is it to him that you speak every morning and evening, kneeling as we do before our King Bara'uru? Yes, Canda, said I. It is before him who is the King of kings, who gave us our life, who preserves it, and bestows on us all good, and who promises us still more when this life is past. Was it he who charged you to take care of Minu Minu, and to restore him to me? Asked she. Yes, Canda, all that you or I do that is good is put into our hearts by him. I thus tried to prepare the simple mind of Canda for the great truths that Mr. Willis was to teach her. You left me little to do, said Mr. Willis. I found Parabaquitay and Canda prepared to believe, with sincere faith, the holy religion I came to teach. The God of the white people was the only one they adored. I knew Parabaquitay. He had come to hunt seals in the island where I was established, and I was struck by his appearance. What was my astonishment to find, that when I spoke to him of the one true God, he was no stranger to the subject. He had even some ideas of a Saviour, and of future rewards and punishments. It was the white lady, said he, who taught me this. She teaches Canda and Minu Minu, whose life she saved, and whom she is bringing up to be good like herself. I had a great desire, continued Mr. Willis, to become acquainted with my powerful assistant in the great work of my mission. I told Parabaquitay this, who offered to bring me here in his canoe. I came and found, in a miserable cave, or rather in a bear's den, all the virtues of mature age united to the charms of youth, a resigned and pious mother bringing up her children, as women should be brought up, in simplicity, forbearance, and love of industry, teaching them as the best knowledge to love God with all their heart and their neighbor as themselves. Under the inspection of their mother they were educating the son of Parabaquitay. This child, then four years and a half old, spoke German well, and knew his alphabet, which Madame Hurtel traced on the floor of the grotto. In this way she taught her daughters to read, they taught Minu Minu, who in his turn teaches his parents. Parabaquitay often brings his friends to the grotto, and Madame Hurtel, having acquired the language, cast into their hearts the good seed which I ventured to hope will not be unfruitful. Finding these people in such a good state, and wishing to enjoy the society of a family like myself banished to a remote region, I decided to take up my abode in this island. Parabaquitay soon built me a hut in the neighborhood of the grotto. Madame Hurtel compelled me to take one of her bear-skins. I have by degrees for my establishment, dividing with my worthy neighbor the few useful articles I brought from Europe, and we live a tranquil and happy life. And now comes the time that brought about our meeting. Some of our islanders in a fishing expedition were driven by the wind on your island. At the entrance of a large bay they found a small canoeabark, carefully moored to a tree. Either their innate propensity for theft, or the notion that it had no owner prevailed over them, and they brought it away. I was informed of this, and was curious to see it. I recognized at once that it was made by Europeans. The careful finish, the neat form, the ores, rudder, mast, and triangular sail all showed that it had not been made by savages. The seats of the rowers were made of planks and were painted, and what further convinced me was that I found in it a capital gun, loaded, and a horn of powder in a hole under one of the seats. I then made particular inquiries about the island from once they had brought the canoe, and all their answers confirmed my idea that it must be inhabited by a European from whom they had perhaps taken his only means of leaving it. Restless about this fancy, I tried to persuade them to return and discover if the island was inhabited. I could not prevail on them to restore the canoe, but, same he much agitated, they resolved secretly to procure me a great pleasure, as they thought, by returning to the island and bringing away any one they could meet with, whether he would or not. Parabaquite, always the leader in perilous enterprises, and who was so attached to me, would not be left out in one which was to produce me such pleasure. They set out, and you know the rest of their expedition. I leave it to your wife to tell you how she was brought away, and pass on to the time of their arrival. My people brought them to me in triumph, and were vexed that they had only found one woman and a child, whom I might give to the white lady. This I did properly. Your wife was ill and distressed, and I carried her immediately to the grotto. There she found a companion who welcomed her with joy. Frances replaced her own lost Alfred, and the two good mothers were soon intimate friends. But notwithstanding this solace, your Elizabeth was inconsolable at the separation from her husband and children, and terrified at the danger to which you would expose yourself in searching for her. We were even afraid she would lose her reason when the king came to take away Frances. He had seen him on his arrival, and was much taken with his appearance. He came again to see him, and resolved to adopt him as his son. You know what passed on this subject, and now you are once more united to all those who are dear to you. Bless God, brother, who knows how to produce good from what we think evil, and acknowledge the wisdom of his ways. You must return altogether to your island. I am too much interested in the happiness of Emily to wish to detain her, and if God permits me when my missions are completed, I will come to end my days with you and to bless your rising colony. I suppress all our reflections on this interesting history, and our gratitude for the termination of our trials, and hasten to the recital which at my particular entreaty my wife proceeded to give us. CHAPTER 57 My story, she began, will not be long. I might make it in two words. You have lost me, and you have found me. I have every reason to thank heaven for a circumstance which has proved to me how dear I am to you, and has given me the happiness of gaining a friend and two dear daughters. Can one complain of an event which has produced such consequences, even though it was attended with some violence? But I ought to do the savages justice. This violence was as gentle as it could be. I need only tell you Parabaquitay was there to convince you I was well treated, and it was solely the sorrow of being parted from you that affected my health. I shall be well now, and as soon as Jack can walk, I shall be ready to embark for our happy island. I will now tell you how I was brought away. When you and our three sons left, to make the tour of the island, I was very comfortable, and you had told me you might return late, or probably not till next day, and when the evening passed away without seeing you, I was not uneasy. This was constantly with me. We went together to water the garden, and rested in the grano-ernestine. Then I returned to the house, took my wheel, and placed myself in my favorite colonnade, where I should be the first to see your return. Francis, seeing me at work, asked if he might go as far as the bridge to meet you, to which I readily consented. He set out, and I was thinking, thinking of the pleasure I should have in seeing you again, and hearing you relate your voyage, and I saw Francis running, crying out, Mama, Mama! There is a canoe on the sea. I know it is ours. It is full of men, perhaps savages. Silly little fellow, said I, it is your father and brothers. If they are in the canoe, there can be no doubt of it. Your father told me he would bring it, and they would return by water. I had forgotten this when I let you go. Now you can go and meet them on the shore. Give me your arm, and I will go too. I will be set off very joyfully to greet our captors. I soon, alas, saw my error. It was indeed our canoe. But instead of my dear ones, there were in it six half-naked savages, with terrible countenances, who landed and surrounded us. My blood froze with fright, and if I had wished to flee, I was unable. I fell on the shore, nearly insensible. Still, I heard the cries of my dear Francis, who clung to me, and held me with all his strength. Alas, my senses quite failed me, and I only recovered to find myself lying at the bottom of the canoe. My son, weeping over me, was trying to recover me, assisted by one of the savages, of less repulsive appearance than his companions, and who seemed the chief. This was pair of equity. He made me swallow a few drops of a detestable fermented liquor, which, however, restored me. I felt, as I recovered, the extent of my disaster. And your grief, my dears, when you should find me missing. I should have been wholly disconsolate, but that Francis was left to me, and he was continually praying me to live for his sake. I received some comfort from a vague notion that as this was our canoe, the savages had already carried you off, and were taking us to you. I was confirmed in this hope when I saw that the savages, instead of making to sea, continued to coast the island till they came to the great bay. I had then no doubt but that we should meet with you, but this hope was soon destroyed. Two or three more of the savages were waiting there on the shore. They spoke to their friends in the canoe, and I understood from their gestures that they were saying they could not find anybody there. I have since learned from Canada that part of them landed at the great bay with instructions to search that side of the island for inhabitants whilst the rest proceeded with the canoe to examine the other side, and had succeeded but too well. The night came on, and they were anxious to return, which doubtless prevented them pillaging our house. I believe moreover that none of them could have reached tent-house defended by our strong palisade, and hidden by the rocks among which it is built, and the other party, finding us on the shore, would not penetrate further. When all had entered the canoe, they pushed off by the light of the stars into the open sea. I think I must have sunk under my sorrow, but for Francis, and I must confess it, my dear dog Flora, who had never left me. Francis told me that she had tried to defend me and flew at the savages, but one of them took my apron, tore it, and tied it over her mouth like a muzzle, bound her legs, and then threw her into the canoe, where the poor creature lay at my feet moaning piteously. She arrived with us in this island, but I have not seen her since. I have often inquired of Perebacote, but he could not tell me what had become of her. But I know, said Fritz, and have seen her. We brought Turk with us, and the savages had carried Flora to that desert part of the island, from whence Jack was carried off, so the two dogs met. When I had the misfortune to wound Jack, I quite forgot them. They were rambling off in chase of kangaroos. We left them, and no doubt they are still there, but we must not abandon the poor beasts. But my father will permit me, I will go and seek them in Perebacote's canoe. As we were obliged to wait a few days for Jack's recovery, I consented on condition that Perebacote accompanied them, and the next day was fixed for the expedition. Ernest begged to be of the party, that he might see the beautiful trees and flowers they had described. I then requested the narration might be continued, which had been interrupted by this episode of the two dogs. Francis resumed it where his mother had left off. We had a favourable passage, that Steve was calm, and the boat went so smoothly that both Mama and I went to sleep. You must have come a much longer way round than necessary, Papa, as your voyage lasted three days, and we arrived here the day after our departure. Mama was then awake, and wept constantly, believing she should never more see you or my brothers. Perebacote seemed very sorry for her, and tried to console her. At last he addressed to her two or three words of German, saying to Heaven, his words were very plain, Almighty God, good, and then Black Friend, and White Lady, adding the words Kenda, Bear, and Minu Minu. We did not understand what he meant, but he seemed so pleased at speaking these words that we could not but be pleased, too, and to hear him name God in German gave us confidence, though we could not comprehend where or how he had learnt the words. Perhaps, said Mama, he is senior Papa and brothers. I thought so, too. Still it appeared strange that in so short a time he could acquire and remember these words. However it might be, Mama was delighted to have him near her and taught him to pronounce the words Father, Mother, and Son, which did not seem strange to him, and he soon knew them. She pointed to me and to herself as she pronounced the words, and he readily comprehended them, and said to us with bursts of laughter showing its large ivory teeth, Kenda, Mother, Minu Minu, Son, Parabaquite, Father, White Lady, Mother. Mama thought he referred to her, but it was to Madam Emily. He tried to pronounce this name and two others, but could not succeed. At last he said, Girls, girls, and almost convinced us he must know some Europeans, which was a great comfort to us. When I saw Mama more composed, I took out my flageolet to amuse her, and played the air to Ernest's verses. This made her weep again very much, and she begged me to desist. The savages, however, wished me to continue, and I did not know whom to obey. I changed the air, playing the merriest I knew. They were in ecstasies. They took me in their arms one after the other, saying, Barauroo! Barauroo! I repeated the word after them, and they were still more delighted, but Mama was so uneasy to see me in their arms that I broke from them and returned to her. At last we landed. They carried Mama, who was too weak to walk. About a hundred yards from the shore we saw a large building of wood and reeds before which was a crowd of savages, one who was very tall came to receive us. He was dressed in a short tunic, much ornamented, and wore a necklace of pierced shells. He was a little disfigured by a white bone passed through his nostrils. But you saw him, Papa, when he wanted to adopt me. It was Barauroo, the king of the island. I was presented to him, and he was pleased with me, touched the end of my nose with his, and admired my hair very much. My conductors ordered me to play on the flageolet. I played some lively German airs, which made them dance and leap, till the king fell down with fatigue and made a sign for me to desist. He then spoke for some time to the savages, who stood in a circle round him. He looked at Mama, who was seated in a corner near her protector pair of aquatay. He called the latter, who obliged Mama to rise, and presented her to the king. Barauroo looked only at the red and yellow India handkerchief which she wore on her head. He took it off, very unceremoniously, and put it on his own head, saying, Meaty, which means beautiful. He then made us re-embark in the canoe with him, amusing himself with me and my flageolet, which he attempted to play by blowing it through his nose, but did not succeed. After turning round a point which seemed to divide the island into two, we landed on a sandy beach, pair of aquatay and another savage proceeded into the interior, carrying my mother, and we followed. We arrived at a hut similar to the king's, but not so large. There we were received by Mr. Willis, whom we judged to be the black friend, and from that time we had no more fears. He took us under his protection, first speaking to the king and to pair of aquatay in their own language. He then addressed Mama in German, mixed with a few English words, which we understood very well. He knew nothing of you and my brothers, but, from what Mama told him, he promised to have you sought for and brought as soon as possible to the island. In the meantime, he offered to lead us to a friend who would take care of us and nurse poor Mama, who looked very ill. She was obliged to be carried to the grotto, but after that her cares were over and her pleasure without alloy, for the black friend had promised to seek you. The white lady received us like old friends, and Sophia and Matilda took me at first for their own brother and still loved me as if I was. We only wish for you all. Madame Mimi made Mama lie down on the bear skin and prepared her a pleasant beverage from the milk of the coconut. Sophia and Matilda took me to gather strawberries and figs and beautiful flowers, and we caught fish in the brook between two Osher hurdles. We amused ourselves very well with Minu Minu, while Kanda and Madame Emily amused Mama. The king came the next day to see his little favorite. He wished me to go with him to another part of the island, where he often went to hunt, but I would not lead Mama and my new friends. I was wrong, Papa, for you were there and my brothers. It was there Jack was wounded and brought away. I might have prevented all that, and you would then have returned to us. How sorry I have been for my obstinacy! It was I more than Fritz, who was the cause of his being wounded. Bara Uru returned in the evening to the grotto and thanked Papa of our surprise, our delight, and our distress. And he brought us poor Jack wounded and in great pain, but still all joy at finding us again. The king told Mr. Willis he was sure Jack was my brother, and he made us a present of him, adding that he gave him in exchange for Mama's handkerchief. Mama thanked him earnestly and placed Jack beside her. From him she learned all you had done to discover us. He informed Mr. Willis where he had left you, and he promised to seek and bring you to us. He then examined the wound which Jack wished him to think he had himself caused with Fritz's gun, but this was not probable, as the ball had entered behind and lodged in the shoulder. Mr. Willis extracted it with some difficulty, and poor Jack suffered a good deal. But all is now going on well. What a large party we shall be, Papa, when we are all settled in our island! Sophia, Emmatilda, Minu Minu, Kanda, Parabakute, you, Papa, and two Mama's, and Mr. Willis! My wife smiled as a little orator concluded. Mr. Willis then dressed Jack's wound, and thought he might be removed in five or six days. Now, my dear Jack, said I, it is your turn to relate your history. Your brother left off where you were entertaining the savages with your buffooneries, and certainly they were never better introduced. But how did they suddenly think of carrying you away? Parabakute told me, said Jack, that they were struck with my resemblance to Francis as soon as I took my flagiolette. After I played a minute or two, the savage who wore Mama's handkerchief, whom I now know to be the king, interrupted me by crying out and clapping his hands. He spoke earnestly to the others, pointing to my face and to my flagiolette, which he had taken. He looked also at my jacket of blue cotton, which one of them had tied round his shoulders like a mantle, and doubtless he then gave orders for me to be carried to the canoe. They seized upon me. I screamed like a madman, kicked them, and scratched them. But what could I do against seven or eight great savages? They tied my legs together and my hands behind me, and carried me like a parcel. I could then do nothing but cry out for fritz, and the night of the gun came rather too soon, in attempting to defend me, some way or another, off when his gun and the ball took up its abode in my shoulder. I can assure you, an unpleasant visitor is that same ball, but here he is, the scoundrel. Father Willis pulled him out by the same door as that by which he went in, and since his departure all goes on well. Now for my story. When poor Fritz saw that I was wounded, he fell down as if he had been shot at the same time. The savages, thinking he was dead, took away his gun, and carried me into the canoe. I was in despair more for the death of my brother than for my wound, which I almost forgot, and was wishing they would throw me into the sea when I saw Fritz running at full speed to the shore, but we pushed off, and I could only call out some words of consolation. The savages were very kind to me, and one of them held me up seated on the outrigger. They washed my wound with sea water, sucked it, tore my pocket handkerchief to make a bandage, and as soon as we landed, squeezed the juice of some herb into it. We sailed very quickly, and passed the place where we had landed in the morning. I knew it again, and could see Ernest standing on a sandbank, he was watching us, and I held out my arms to him. I thought I also saw you, papa, and heard you call, but the savages yelled, and though I cried with all my strength, it was in vain. I little thought they were taking me to mama. As soon as we had disembarked, they brought me to this grotto, and I thought I must have died of surprise and joy when I was met by mama and Francis, and then by Sophia, Matilda, mama Emily, and Mr. Willis, who is a second father to me. This is the end of my story, and a very pretty end it is that brings us all together. What matters it to have had a little vexation for all this pleasure? I owe it all to you, Fritz. If you had let me sink to the bottom of the sea instead of dragging me out by the hair, I should not have been here so happy as I am. I'm obliged to the gun, too. Next to it I was the first to reach mama and see our new friends. The next day Fritz and Ernest set out on their expedition with Perebacote in his canoe to seek our two valued dogs. The good islander carried his canoe on his back to the shore. I saw them set off, but not without some dread in such a frail bark, into which the water leaked through every seam, but my boys could swim well, and the kind, skillful, and bold Perebacote undertook to answer for their safety. I therefore recommended them to God and returned to the grotto, to tranquilize my wife's fears. Jack was inconsolable that he could not form one of the party, but Sophia scolded him for wishing to leave them to go upon the sea which had swallowed up poor Alfred. In the evening we had the pleasure of seeing our brave dogs enter the grotto. They leaped on us in a way that terrified the poor little girls at first, who took them for bears, but they were soon reconciled to them when they saw them fawn round us, lick our hands, and pass from one to the other to be caressed. My sons had had no difficulty in finding them. They had run to them at the first call, and seemed delighted to see their masters again. The poor animals had subsisted on the remains of the kangaroos, but apparently had met with no fresh water, for they seemed dying with thirst, and rushed to the brook as soon as they discovered it, and returned again and again. Then they followed us to the hut of the good missionary, who had been engaged all day in visiting the dwellings of the natives and teaching them the truths of religion. I had accompanied him, but from ignorance of the language could not aid him. I was, however, delighted with the simple and earnest manner in which he spoke, and the eagerness with which they heard him. He finished by a prayer, kneeling, and they all imitated him, lifting up their hands and eyes to heaven. He told me he was trying to make them celebrate the Sunday. He assembled them in his tent, which he wished to make a temple for the worship of the true God. He intended to consecrate it for this purpose, and to live in the grotto after our departure. The day arrived at last. Jack's shoulder was nearly healed, and my wife, along with her happiness, recovered her strength. The penis had been so well guarded by Parabakute and his friends that it suffered no injury. I distributed among the islanders everything I had that could please them, and made Parabakute invite them to come and see us in our island, requesting we might live on friendly terms. Mr. Willis wished much to see it, and to complete our happiness he promised to accompany and spend some days with us, and Parabakute said he would take him back when he wished it. We embarked then, after taking leave of Bara'uru, who was very liberal in his presence, giving us, besides fruits of every kind, a whole hog roasted which was excellent. We were fourteen in number, sixteen reckoning the two dogs. The missionary accompanied us, and a young islander whom Parabakute had procured to be his servant, as he was too old and too much occupied with his mission to attend to his own wants. This youth was of a good disposition and much attached to him. Parabakute took him to assist in rowing when he returned. Emily could not but feel rather affected at leaving the grotto, where she had passed four tranquil, if not happy years, fulfilling the duties of a mother. Could she avoid a painful sensation when she once more saw the sea that had been so fatal to her husband and son? She could scarcely subdue the fear she had of trusting all she had left to that treacherous element. She held her daughters in her arms and prayed for the protection of heaven. Mr. Willis and I spoke to her of the goodness of God, and pointed out to her the calmness of the water, the security of the penance, and the favorable state of the wind. My wife described to her our establishment, and promised her a far more beautiful grotto than the one she had left, and at last she became more reconciled. After seven or eight hours' voyage, we arrived at Cape Disappointment, and we agreed the bay should henceforth be called the Bay of the Happy Return. The distance to Tent House from Tent House was much too great for the ladies and children to go on foot. My intention was to take them by water to the other end of the island near our house, but my elder sons had begged to be landed at the bay to seek their livestock and take them home. I left them there with pair of aquatay. Jack recommended his buffalo to them, and Francis's bull, and all were found. We coasted the island, arrived at Safety Bay, and were soon at Tent House, where we found all as we had left it in good condition. Notwithstanding the description my wife had given them, our new guest found our establishment far, far beyond their expectation, with what delight Jack and Francis ran up and down the colonnade with their young friends. What stories they had to tell of all the surprises they had prepared for their mother. They showed them Fritzia, Jacchia, the Franciade, and gave their friends water from their beautiful fountain. Absence seemed to have improved everything, and I must confess I had some difficulty to refrain from demonstrating my joy as wildly as my children. Minoo, Minoo, pair of aquatay, and Kanda were lost in admiration, calling out continually, Meaty, beautiful! My wife was busy in arranging a temporary lodging for our guests. The workroom was given up to Mr. Willis. My wife and Madame Emily had our apartment, the two little girls being with them, to whom the hammocks of the elder boys were appropriated. Kanda, who knew nothing about beds, was wonderfully comfortable on the carpet. Fritz, Ernest, and the two natives stowed themselves wherever they wished, in the colonnade or in the kitchen, all was alike to them. I slept on moss and cotton in Mr. Willis's room, with my two younger sons. Everyone was content, waiting till our altery arrangements were completed. End of chapter. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This recording is by Mark Smith of Simpsonville, South Carolina. The Swiss Family Robinson, by Johann David Wiss. The Conclusion I must conclude my journal here. We can scarcely be more happy than we are, and I feel no cares about my children. Fritz is so fond of the chase and of mechanics, and Ernest of study, that they will not wish to marry, but I please myself by hoping at some time to see my dear Jack and Francis happily united to Sophia and Matilda. What remains for me to tell? The details of happiness, however sweet in enjoyment, are often tedious in recital. I will only add that after passing a few days with us, Mr. Willis returned to his charge, promising to visit us, and eventually to join us. The grotto Ernestine, fitted up by Fritz and Parabaquite, made a pretty abode for Madame, Hortel, and her daughters, and the two islanders. Minou Minou did not leave his young mamas, and was very useful to them. I must state also that my son Ernest, without abandoning the study of natural history, applied himself to astronomy, and mounted the large telescope belonging to the ship. He acquired considerable knowledge of this sublime science, which his mother, however, considered somewhat useless. The course of the other planets did not interest her, so long as all went on well in that which she inhabited, and nothing now was wanting to her happiness, surrounded as she was by friends. The following year we had a visit from a Russian vessel, the Neva, commanded by Captain Kruzenstern, a countryman in distant relation of mine. The celebrated horner of Zurich accompanied him as astronomer. Having read the first part of our journal sent into Europe by Captain Johnson, he had come purposely to see us. Delighted with our establishment, he did not advise us to quit it. Captain Kruzenstern invited us to take a passage in his vessel. We declined his offer, but my wife, though she renounced her country forever, was glad of the opportunity of making inquiries about her relations and friends. As she had concluded, her good mother had died some years before, blessing her absent children. My wife shed some tears, but was consoled by the certainty of her mother's eternal felicity and the hope of their meeting in futurity. One of her brothers was also dead. He had left a daughter to whom my wife had always been attached, though she was very young when we left. Henrietta Bodmer was now sixteen, and Mr. Horner assured us, a most immuble girl. My wife wished much to have her with us. Ernest would not leave Mr. Horner a moment. He was so delighted to meet with one so eminently skillful in his favorite science. Astronomy made them such friends that Mr. Horner petitioned me to allow him to take my son to Europe, promising to bring him back himself in a few years. Ernest was a great trial to us, but I felt that his taste for science required a larger field than our island. His mother was reluctant to part with him, but consoled herself with a notion that he might bring his cousin Henrietta back with him. Many tears were shed at our parting. Indeed the grief of his mother was so intense that my son seemed almost inclined to give up his inclination, but Mr. Horner made some observations about the transit of Venus so interesting that Ernest could not resist. He left us, promising to bring us back everything we wished for. In the meantime, Captain Cruisenstern left us a good supply of powder, provisions, seeds, and some capital tools to the great delight of Fritz and Jack. They regretted their brother greatly, but diverted their minds from sorrow by application to mechanics, assisted by the intelligent para-bacquite. They have already succeeded in constructing, near the cascade, a corn mill and a saw mill, and it built a very good oven. We miss Ernest very much. Though his taste for study withdrew him a good deal from us, and he was not so useful as his brother's, we found his calm and considerate advice often of value, and his mildness always spread a charm over our circle in joy or in trouble. Except this little affliction, we were very happy. Our labors are divided regularly. Fritz and Jack managed the board of works. They have opened a passage through the rock which divided us from the other side of the island, thus doubling our domain and our riches. At the same time, they formed a dwelling for Madame Hurtel near our own, from the same excavation in the rock. Fritz took great pains with it. The windows are made of oiled paper instead of glass, but we usually assemble in our large workroom, which is very well lighted. Francis has the charge of our flocks and of the poultry, all greatly increased. For me, I preside over the grand work of agriculture. The two mothers, their two daughters, and Kanda, manage the garden, spin, weave, take care of our clothes, and attend to household matters. Thus we all work, and everything prospers. Several families of the natives, pupils of Mr. Willis, have obtained leave through him to join us, and are settled at Falcons Nest and at the farm. These people assist us in the cultivation of our ground, and our dear missionary in the cultivation of our souls. Nothing is wanting to complete our happiness, but the return of dear Ernest. End of the conclusion and now on to a post-script written two years after. We are now as happy as we can desire. Our son is returned. According to my wishes, he had made out Captain Johnson and Lieutenant Bell, our first visitors, whom the storm had driven from us, but who were still determined to see us again. My son found them preparing for another voyage to the South Seas. He at once seized the opportunity of accompanying them, impatiently desirous to revisit the island, and to bring to us Henrietta Bodmer, now become his wife. She is a simple, amiable Swiss girl, who suits us well, and who is delighted to see once more her kind aunt, now become her mother. My wife is overjoyed. This is her first daughter-in-law, but Jack and Francis, as well as Sophia and Matilda, are growing up. And moreover, my dear wife, who has great ideas of married happiness, hopes to induce Emily to consent to be united to Fritz at the same time as her daughters are married. Fritz would feel all the value of this change. His character is already softened by her society, and though she is a few years older than he is, she is blessed with all the vivacity of youth. Mr. Willis approves of this union, and we hope he will live to solemnize the three marriages. Just in Henrietta inhabit the grotto Ernestine, which his brothers fitted up as a very tasteful dwelling. They had even, to gratify their brother, raised on the rock above the grotto as sort of observatory, where the telescope is mounted, to enable him to make his astronomical observations. Yet I perceive his passion for exploring distant planets is less strong, since he has so much to attach him to this. I give this conclusion of my journal to Captain Johnson, to take into Europe, to be added to the former part. If any one of my readers be anxious for further particulars, respecting our colony and our mode of life, let him set out for the happy island. He will be warmly welcomed, and may join with us in Ernest Chorus, which we now sing with additional pleasure. All we love around a smile, joyful is our desert isle. End of the Postscript. End of the Book. Thank you for listening.