The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island

, my dear boys, with the help of God, about to attempt our deliverance. Before we go, provide our poor anima

r, ball, shot, and lead as much as we could carry, with a bullet-mould; and I wished each of my sons, as well as their mother, should have a complete game-bag, of which there were several in the officers' cabins. We then set apart a box of portable soup, another o

ad forgotten them; I immediately proposed to take our poultry with us, geese, ducks, fowls and pigeons, for, as I observed to my wife, if we could not feed them, they would, at any r

it was intended to steady him, or for a seat, and made no observation on it. Here follows the order of our embarkation. In the first divisio

en or fifteen years old, a curly-headed

wder-cask, with the f

ions fille

Jack, ten years old, ente

ols beside us; each held an oar, and had a swimming apparatus at hand, in case we were unfortunately upset. The tide was rising when we left, which I considered might assist my weak endeavours. We turned our out-riggers length-ways, and thus passed from the

ar they should upset it. I was very sorry, for I hardly expected they would be able to swim to land; but by occasionally res

isery. 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

cocoa-nut 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 ha

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. I caut

us; the geese kept up a loud cackling, to which the yellow-billed ducks quacked a powerful bass. This, with the clacking of the liberated fowls, and the chattering of the boys, formed a perfect Babel; mingled with these, were the harsh cries of the penguins and flamingoes, which hovered over our heads, or sa

to kneel down and thank God, to whom we owed our lives;

we added some boxes of provision; we fixed some hooks to the canvas at the opening in front, that we might close 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.

larming 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

t does not bite you, Francis!" They all crowded round in astonishment. "Yes," added h

and have you forgotten the slap on the cheek which compelled you to release him? Besides, he only defend

y, reserved it for another day. I then walked to the spot where Jack's lobster was caught, and, finding it

in foraging. Ernest remarked, that he had seen some oysters attached to a ro

you to return and procure us some. We must all unite in working for

me," said he; "I saw plenty in the fissures of

ct was so obvious, that you had better have brought a bagful, than delayed to ref

uld have thrown it away as useless; but my wife dissolved it in fresh water, a

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. A

at last, all burst into laughter at our destitution

aid Ernest, "we might split th

t as well wish for a dozen handsome silver

he, "we can us

d, remember, gentlemen, no complaints, though the spoons are w

oysters, and threw them to his idle brother, who filled his handkerchief, taking care

t Jack, who had glided round 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 travellers,

d 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 casks, chests, planks, and all sorts of things the sea has thrown u

nicer," added t

is rich grass for pasturage, and a shady wood.

morrow, and the day after to-morrow will have their work.

leaped among the grass, sometimes sitting upright, and rubbing its mouth with its forepaws; sometimes seeking for roots, and gnawi

hell from his pocket, cautiously filled it with a good portion of soup, and set 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 gnawi

ious 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 pruden

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 darkne

been, the night was so cold that we were obliged to crowd together for warmth. The children soon slept, and when I sa