The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original German. Johann David Wyss

Falconhurst and Woodlands and examine the country round—Franz shoots a capybara—Ernest and Knips fight the rats—A lecture on musk—Cinnamon apples—A peccary hunt—We prepare the peccary meat—Disasters at Prospect Hill—An exploring expedition through the Gap—We find our barrier broken down across the desert—Strange objects in the distance—An account of ostriches—An ostrich slain—We discover the nest—A mud tortoise—We encounter bears—A desperate fight—Back again to camp—We skin the bears and smoke their flesh—Pepper found—Three of the boys start on an expedition—I discover talc.

       CHAPTER XIII. The boys return and give an account of their adventures—How they captured the antelopes—How Fritz caught the rabbits and Jack rode down the gazelles—How they followed the honey bird and Jack tried to rob the bees' byke—We sup on the bears' paws—Across the desert again—Sight three ostriches—The male bird captured—We secure him between Storm and Grumble—The mother's astonishment at our new pet—Return to Woodlands—Home again—We establish colonies on Shark and Whale Islands—Turn our attention to agriculture—The difficulties of ostrich training—My patent saddle and bridle—I exercise my ingenuity in various trades.

       CHAPTER XIV. The rainy season again—The building of the cajack—The mother invents a swimming dress—A visit to our colonies—Mysterious seaweed—The mother's surprise—A visit to Whale Island—Mischievous pigs—The three boys return from a day's hunting—They display their treasures—A new skinning apparatus—We make a crushing machine—An early harvest—We prepare a threshing floor—Reaping in Italian fashion—Threshing also in Italian fashion—Return of the herring shoals.

       CHAPTER XV. Trial of the cajack—Fritz kills a walrus—We carry home its head—The storm—Where is Fritz?—Safe at last—The fishing season—An expedition proposed—Three of the boys start for Woodlands—Pigeon post—Encounter with a hyena—Wood Lake explored—A tapir—Prospect Hill pillaged—A tragedy—The boys in danger—We join them—We build a summer house—Discover the cacao plant—Fritz ascends the stream—He sees elephants and hippopotami—Jack's "moist secret"—We return to Rockburg—Grace and beauty—Shark Island is fortified.

       CHAPTER XVI. Ten years afterward—Our farms and farmyards—Fritz makes a voyage of discovery—Cape Minster and the swallows' nests—Pearl oysters—A magnificent bay—The strange message—- An excursion to Pearl Bay—Fritz proposes to search for the stranger, and prepares his canoe for her reception—The pearl fishery—An encounter with a wild boar—Jack's accident—Truffles—A midnight alarm—The lion and his mate—Our enemies overcome—Juno's death—We set sail for Rockburg—Fritz leaves us.

       CHAPTER XVII. Juno's epitaph—Fritz does not appear—We start in search of him—A cachalot whale—The unexpected appearance of a savage—Fritz in a dusky disguise—He leads us to Fair Isle, and shows us the wonders therein—The stranger—Fritz narrates his adventures—How he saw Toucans—Encountered a tiger—Lost Pounce—Found the Smoking Rock, and Jenny Montrose—The history of the stranger—Wolves dispute our right to the whale—Coco joins his brethren—Jack and Jenny search for the truant—We leave Pearl Bay—A hearty reception—A visit to Falconhurst—Jack displays our stud—The rainy season again.

       CHAPTER XVIII. Spring and its accompanying work—The mysterious guns—Who fired them—A storm—Fritz and I reconnoiter—The English brig—We visit her in the yacht—Captain Littlestone—We are cordially welcomed—Mr. Wolston and his family—An earnest consultation—Our visitors at Rockburg—The supper—Who is for Europe and who for New Switzerland?—The decision—Farewell.

      THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON

CHAPTER I.

       Storm-tossed—Wrecked—Deserted—Supper—We make swimming-belts for the children—An anxious night—The gale moderates—We examine our cargo—Jack introduces two new acquaintances—How shall we get on shore?—Jack's plan—We adopt it—The use of a lever—Our tug-boat completed—Another night on the wreck—We collect the cargo—And embark—Jack's friends will not be left behind—Steer for the shore—Once more on land—We erect a tent—Glue soup—Jack makes the acquaintance of a lobster—Ernest shirks the water—Oysters and salt—How shall we eat our soup?—Ernest solves the difficulty—Fritz returns—The sucking pig—How to open an oyster and how to eat it—The dogs devour the agouti—Fritz's anger—Our first night in the new country.

       Table of Contents

      For many days we had been tempest-tossed. Six times had the darkness closed over a wild and terrific scene, and returning light as often brought but renewed distress, for the raging storm increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost.

      We were driven completely out of our course; no conjecture could be formed as to our whereabouts. The crew had lost heart, and were utterly exhausted by incessant labor.

      The riven masts had gone by the board, leaks had been sprung in every direction, and the water, which rushed in, gained upon us rapidly.

      Instead of reckless oaths, the seamen now uttered frantic cries to God for mercy, mingled with strange and often ludicrous vows, to be performed should deliverance be granted.

      Every man on board alternately commended his soul to his Creator, and strove to bethink himself of some means of saving his life.

      My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these horrors. Our four young sons were overpowered by terror. "Dear children," said I, "if the Lord will, he can save us even from this fearful peril; if not, let us calmly yield our lives into his hand, and think of the joy and blessedness of finding ourselves forever and ever united in that happy home above."

      At these words my weeping wife looked bravely up, and, as the boys clustered round her, she began to cheer and encourage them with calm and loving words. I rejoiced to see her fortitude, though my heart was ready to break as I gazed on my dear ones.

      We knelt down together, one after another praying with deep earnestness and emotion. Fritz, in particular, besought help and deliverance for his dear parents and brothers, as though quite forgetting himself.

      Our hearts were soothed by the never-failing comfort of child-like, confiding prayer, and the horror of our situation seemed less overwhelming. "Ah," thought I, "the Lord will hear our prayer! He will help us."

      Amid the roar of the thundering waves I suddenly heard the cry of "Land, land!" while at the same instant the ship struck with a frightful shock, which threw every one to the deck, and seemed to threaten her immediate destruction.

      Dreadful sounds betokened the breaking up of the ship, and the roaring waters poured in on all sides:

      Then the voice of the captain was heard above the tumult shouting, "Lower away the boats! We are lost!"

      "Lost!" I exclaimed, and the word went like a dagger to my heart; but seeing my children's terror renewed, I composed myself, calling out cheerfully, "Take courage, my boys! we are all above water yet. There is the land not far off; let us do our best to reach it. You know God helps those that help themselves!" With that, I left them and went on deck. What was my horror when through the foam and spray I beheld the only remaining boat leave the ship, the last of the seamen spring into her and push off, regardless of my cries and entreaties that we might be allowed to share their slender chance of preserving their lives. My voice was drowned in the howling