Swiss Family Robinson Part 6

And so it proved, as a corrective of the wild and fishy flavor of the penguin, as well as improving the taste of the fish. We did full justice to the appetizing meal prepared for us, our gourds coming for the first time into use, and having done it full justice, I produced the cocoanuts by way of dessert.

'Here is better food for your little friend,' said I to Fritz, who had been vainly endeavouring to persuade the monkey to taste dainty morsels of the food we had been eating. 'The poor little animal has been accustomed to nothing but its mother's milk; fetch me a saw, one of you.'

I then, after extracting the milk of the nuts from their natural holes, carefully cut the sh.e.l.ls in half, thus providing several more useful basins. The monkey was perfectly satisfied with the milk, and eagerly sucked the corner of a handkerchief dipped in it.

The sun was now rapidly sinking behind the horizon, and the poultry retiring for the night warned us that we must follow their example.

Having offered up our prayers, we lay down on our beds, the monkey crouched down between Jack and Fritz, and we were all soon fast asleep.

We did not, however, long enjoy this repose; a loud barking from our dogs, who were on guard outside the tent, awakened us, and the fluttering and cackling of our poultry warned us that a foe was approaching. Fritz and I sprang up, and seizing our guns rushed out. There we found a desperate combat going on, our gallant dogs, surrounded by a dozen or more large jackals, were fighting bravely, four of their opponents lay dead, but the others were in no way deterred by the fate of their comrades.

Fritz and I, however, sent bullets through the heads of a couple more, and the rest galloped off. Turk and Juno did not intend that they should escape so cheaply, and pursuing them, they caught, killed, and devoured another of the animals, regardless of their near relationship. Fritz wished to save one of the jackals that he might be able to show it to his brothers in the morning; dragging therefore the one that he had shot near the tent, he concealed it, and we once more returned to our beds. I told him that in justice, if Turk and Flora were still hungry, we should give this last jackal to them. But they, surfeited, curled up to sleep.

Soundly and peacefully we slept until c.o.c.k-crow next morning, when my wife and I awoke. I observed to her that I could not but view with alarm the many cares and exertions to be made. 'In the first place, a journey to the vessel must be made. This is of absolute necessity, at least, if we would not be deprived of the livestock and other useful things, all of which from moment to moment we risk losing by the first heavy sea. What ought we first to resolve on? For example, should not our very first endeavour to be the contriving of a better sort of habitation and a more secure retreat from wild beasts, as well as a separate place for our provisions? I own I am at a loss what to begin first.'

'Return to the wreck by all means,' replied my wife, cheerfully.

'Patience, order and perseverance will help us through all our work, and I agree with you that a visit to the wreck is without doubt our first duty. Come, let us wake the children, and set to work without delay.'

They were soon roused, and Fritz overcoming his drowsiness before the others, ran out for his jackal; it was cold and stiff from the night air, and he placed it on its legs before the tent, in a most life-like att.i.tude, and stood by to watch the effect upon the family.

The dogs were the first to perceive their enemy, and growling, seemed inclined to dispose of the animal as they had disposed of its brethren in the night, but Fritz called them off. The noise the dogs made, however, had the effect of bringing out the younger children, and many were the exclamations they made at the sight of the strange animal.

'A yellow dog!' cried Franz.

'A wolf!' exclaimed Jack.

'It is a striped fox,' said Ernest.

'Hullo,' said Fritz. 'The greatest men may make mistakes. Our Professor does not know a jackal when he sees one.'

'But really,' continued Ernest, examining the animal, 'I think it is a fox.'

'Very well, very well,' retorted Fritz, 'no doubt you know better than your father! He thinks it is a jackal.'

'Come boys,' said I, 'no more of this quarrelling; you are none of you very far wrong, for the jackal partakes of the nature of all three, dog, wolf, and fox.'

The monkey had come out on Jack's shoulder, but no sooner did it catch sight of the jackal, than it fled precipitately back into the tent, and hid itself in a heap of moss until nothing was visible but the tip of its little nose. Jack soothed and comforted the frightened little animal, and I then summoned them all to prayers, soon after which we began our breakfast.

So severely had we dealt with our supper the previous night, that we had little to eat but the biscuits, which were so dry and hard, that, hungry as we were, we could not swallow much. Fritz and I took some cheese to help them down, while my wife and younger sons soaked theirs in water. Ernest roamed down to the sh.o.r.e, and looked about for sh.e.l.lfish.

Presently he returned with a few whelks. 'Ah,' said he, 'if we had but some b.u.t.ter.'

'My good boy,' I replied, 'Your perpetual "if, if", quite annoys me; I would rather eat a bit of cheese with my biscuit at once, than think of ifs, which bring us so meagre a harvest. Why do you not sit down and eat cheese like the rest of us?'

'Not while I can get b.u.t.ter,' he said, 'see here, father,' and he pointed to a large cask, 'that barrel contains excellent salt b.u.t.ter. I made a little opening in it with a knife; and see, I got enough to spread nicely upon this piece of biscuit.'

'Really, Ernest,' I said, 'we are indebted to you. I will open the cask.' So saying, I took a knife and carefully cut a small hole, so that I could extract the b.u.t.ter without exposing the ma.s.s of it to the effects of the air and heat. Filling a cocoanut sh.e.l.l with the good Dutch b.u.t.ter, we once more sat down, toasting our biscuits before the fire and spreading them with b.u.t.ter.

While we were thus employed, I noticed that the two dogs were lying unusually quietly by my side. I at first attributed this drowsiness to their large meal during the night, but I soon discovered that it arose from a different cause; the faithful animals had not escaped unhurt from their late combat, but had received several deep and painful wounds, especially about the neck. The dogs began to lick each other on the places which they could not reach with their own tongues, and my wife carefully dressed the wounds with b.u.t.ter from which she had extracted the salt by washing.

'One of the things we must not forget to look for in the vessel,' said Fritz, 'is a spiked collar for each of the dogs, as a protection to them should they again be called upon to defend themselves and us from wild beasts.'

'Oh yes,' exclaimed Jack, 'but I can make spiked collars, if mother will give me some help.'

'Try by all means, my little fellow,' said I, 'and persuade your mother to a.s.sist you; and now, Fritz,' I continued, 'we must be starting, for you and I are to make a trip to the wreck.'

'That I will, my boy,' she cried, 'for I would like to see what new fancy has come into your head. And all of us must remember that we may make as many new inventions as we can think of. We cannot better employ your time, and if you produce something useful, you will be rewarded with the commendations of all.'

I begged the party who were to remain on sh.o.r.e, to keep together as much as possible, reminded my younger sons to obey their mother in all things, and having arranged a set of signals with my wife that we might exchange communications, asked a blessing on our enterprise. I erected a signal-post, and while Fritz was making preparations for our departure, hoisted a strip of sailcloth as a flag; this flag was to remain hoisted so long as all was well on sh.o.r.e, but should our return be desired, three shots were to be fired and the flag lowered.

All was now ready, and warning my wife that we might find it necessary to remain all night on the vessel, we tenderly bade adieu and embarked.

Except our guns and ammunition we were taking nothing, that we might leave as much s.p.a.ce as possible for the stowage of a large cargo.

Fritz, however, had resolved to bring his little monkey, that he might obtain milk for it as soon as possible.

We had not got far from the sh.o.r.e, when I perceived that a current from the river set in directly for the vessel, and though my nautical knowledge was not great, I succeeded in steering the boat into the favourable stream, which carried us nearly three-fourths of our pa.s.sage with little or no trouble to ourselves; then, by dint of hard pulling, we accomplished the whole distance, and, entering through the breach, gladly made fast our boat and stepped on board.

Our first care was to see to the animals, who greeted us with joy--lowing, bellowing, and bleating as we approached--not that the poor beasts were hungry, for they were all still well supplied with food, but they were apparently pleased by the mere sight of human beings. We removed any partly spoiled food and added a fresh supply, along with fresh water.

Fritz then placed his monkey by one of the goats, and the little animal immediately sucked the milk with evident relish, chattering and grinning all the while; the monkey provided for, we refreshed ourselves with a plentiful meal. 'Now,' said I, 'we have plenty to do; where shall we begin?'

'Let us fix a mast and sail to our boat,' answered Fritz, 'for the current which brought us out will not take us back; whereas the fresh breeze we met would help us immensely had we but a sail.'

Quite startled, I demanded, 'What makes you think of this at so critical a time, when we have so many necessities to attend to?'

'I must confess,' he said, 'that I found it very difficult to row for so long a time, though I a.s.sure you I did my best and did not spare my strength. I noticed that, though the wind blew strong in my face, towards land, the current continued to carry us out. Now, as the current will be of no use in our way back, I was thinking that we might make the wind supply its place. Our boat will be very heavy when we have loaded it with all the things we mean to take away, and I am afraid that I shall not be strong enough to row to land.'

'You have reasoned well, my boy,' I replied, 'and let us set to work at once. Even so, we must take care not to overload the boat, as that might risk our sinking or force us to throw supplies overboard.' I chose a stout spar to serve as a mast, and having made a hole in a plank nailed across one of the tubs we, with the help of a rope and a couple of blocks, stepped it and secured it with stays.

We then discovered a lug-sail, which had belonged to one of the ship's boats; this we hoisted; and our craft was ready to sail. Fritz begged me to decorate the mast-head with a red streamer, to give our vessel a more finished appearance. Smiling at this childish but natural vanity, I complied with his request. I then contrived a rudder, that I might be able to steer the boat; for though I knew that an oar would serve the purpose, it was c.u.mbrous and inconvenient.

While I was thus employed, Fritz examined the sh.o.r.e with his gla.s.s, and soon announced that the flag was flying and all was well.

So much time had now slipped away, that we found we could not return that night, as I had wished. We signalled our intention of remaining on board, and then spent the rest of our time in taking out the stones we had placed in the boat for ballast, and stowed in their place heavy articles, of value to us.

The ship had sailed for the purpose of supplying a young colony; she had therefore on board every conceivable article we could desire in our present situation; our only difficulty indeed was to make a wise selection. Fritz seemed sanguine that we would be able to return for more, but of that I was far from certain.

A large quant.i.ty of powder and shot we first secured, and as Fritz considered that we could not have too many weapons, we added three excellent guns, and a whole armful of swords, daggers and knives. We remembered that knives and forks and spoons were necessary, we therefore laid in a large stock of them, and kitchen utensils of all sorts.

Exploring the captain's cabin, we discovered a service of silver-plate and a cellaret of good old wine; we then went over the stores, and supplied ourselves with potted meats, portable soups, Westphalian hams, sausages, a bag of maize and wheat, and a quant.i.ty of other seeds and vegetables. I then added a barrel of sulphur for matches, and as much string, cordage, and sailcloth as I could find.

Fritz reminded me that sleeping on the ground, even with the leaves and moss the boys had collected, had been both cold and hard, and prevailed upon me to increase our cargo by some hammocks and blankets.

All this--with nails, tools and agricultural implements--completed our cargo, and sank our boat so low, that I should have been obliged to lighten her had not the sea been calm.

Night drew on and a large fire, lighted by those on sh.o.r.e, showed us that all was well. We replied by hoisting four ship's lanterns, and two shots announced us that our signal was perceived.

The ship seemed to be in so wretched a condition that the least tempest, such as might arise unexpectedly during the night, must complete her destructions. We resigned ourselves to sleeping in our small boat, which appeared safer than the great vessel. So, with a heartfelt prayer for the safety of our dear ones on sh.o.r.e, we retired, and Fritz at all events was soon sound asleep.

For a while I could not sleep, the thought of my wife and children--alone and unprotected, save by the great dogs--disturbed my rest. The night at length pa.s.sed away. At daybreak Fritz and I arose, and went on deck. I brought the telescope to bear upon the sh.o.r.e, and with pleasure saw the flag still waving in the morning breeze; while I kept the gla.s.s directed to the land, I saw the door of the tent open, and my wife appear and look steadfastly towards us.