The Swiss family Robinson

Front matter

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I-

K A

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

Preface 3

Introduction 9

Chapter I Shipweecked And Alone

T he storm, which had lasted for six long and terrible days, appeared on the seventh to redouble its fury. We were driven out of our course far to the southeast, and all trace of our position was lost.

Sailors and passengers were alike worn out with fatigue and long watching; indeed, all hope of saving the ship had disappeared. The masts were split and overboard, the sails rent, and the water in the hold from a leak made us expect every moment to be swallowed up in the waves.

Nothi ig could now be heard among the crew or the passengers but earnest prayers to God for mercy! — each commending his soul to his Maker, knowing that His power alone could save them from death.

My children stood clinging to their mother, and trembling with fear in our little cabin, and I endeavored to cheer them by saying,

‘‘My children, God can save us if it is His will; if not, we must resign ourselves to what He judges is best for us, and to die will be to meet again in a better world, where partings are unknown.’’

My poor wife on this wiped her tears and became calm, to give courage to her boys; and yet I could scarcely restrain my own grief, even while endeavoring to comfort my family.

At last we knelt together and otfered our united prayers to the Almighty for succor: my eldest boy Fritz prayed aloud most earnestly, that God would save his dear parents and brothers, seeming not to 15 think at all of his own safety. All else was forgotten in the threatened danger, and yet the evident faith of childhood in the power of the prayers they uttered restored my own.

‘‘Will not the Lord hear and answer these prayers,’’ I thought, “offered in such childlike trust and confidence 1 ’ ’

All at once was heard above the fury of the storm the cry, “Land! land!” At the same moment we felt a shock so violent that I believed the ship had struck on a rock, and would immediately fall to pieces. The sounds of cracking timber, and the rush of water over the decks, quickly proved that I was not mistaken, especially when the voice of the captain made itself heard in terrible tones, “We are lost! lower the boats!” — and the words struck like a sword to my heart.

“Lost!” I exclaimed, in my terror; but the piteous cries of my children aroused me. I must not allow them to despair at this awful moment. ‘ ‘ Keep up your courage!” I exclaimed: “God can help us still if we trust in Him! I will go at once, and try to discover whether some way of deliverance may not be left for us.”

I went up quickly on deck, but as I endeavored to advance, wave after wave passed over me. The first, for which I was unprepared, dashed me to the ground ; but I struggled to withstand the force of the next by clinging to the side of the ship, and then what a sight presented itself!

One boat was far out to sea, and a sailor — the last to leap on board the other boat — ^was about to cut the rope and let it drift away. When I realized the fact that they were escaping, and had left me and my dear ones to perish, I raised my voice in earnest entreaty. I cried, I prayed, I implored them to return and rescue us. All to no purpose. My voice was lost amid the roar of the storm, and even had I been heard, the fury 16 of the waves made the return of the boats an impossibility.

For a few moments I looked around me in despair. Then, with a sudden hope, I observed the position of the vessel. The bow had sunk forward, leaving the stern high above the water as far as a kind of partition situated amidships, which separated the captain’s and the other cabins from the steerage of the ship.

Added to this, I found that the wreck was fixed in this position between two rocks, and therefore likely to remain in safety, especially if the storm abated. A few moments served for me to realize the absence of immediate danger, and then I turned my attention towards the shore, which lay, as I supposed, to the southward. A misty rain obscured the view, and perhaps made it appear more barren and desolate; yet I determined to strain every nerve in an etf ort to reach a spot upon which I now placed my highest hopes of safety. Still, I had to restrain the troubled thought that all hope of human help had vanished, as I went below to the cabin and addressed my dear ones hopefully.

‘^Take courage, my children,” I said as I entered, ‘‘all hope is not lost. The ship is fixed between the rocks, and this little place of refuge is high above the water. To-morrow, if the wind and waves subside, we may be able to reach the land. ’ ’

The hopefulness of childhood enabled my boys to receive this news with transports of joy. They passed all at once from despair to unbounded confidence. All doubts and difficulties vanished, especially as the rolling of the vessel, which had so often dashed them to and fro or against the side of the ship, had entirely ceased. But my wife discovered my hidden anxiety in spite of my calmness ; yet, while I saw this clearly, I knew by her manner that her confidence in God was still unshaken, and this gave me renewed courage.

Her first act was to searcli in the steward’s room for provisions, and with such success that a plentiful supper was quickly prepared for us.

‘^Let us take food,” she said: ‘‘nourishment for the body gives strength to the spirit, and we may have a very disturbed night.”

And so it truly proved. The three younger boys gladly retired to rest after supper, and were soon fast asleep, overcome with fatigue and excitement. Fritz, the eldest, a youth of fourteen, understood our position more clearly than his brothers, and preferred to share the watch with his parents. He was a thoughtful boy, and we discovered after awhile one of his reasons for wishing to sit up with us.

As night advanced the storm still continued, and the waves broke over the lower part of the ship with undiminished fury. From time to time a cracking noise told us that the planks and beams of the wreck were strained by their force, and a continual trembling caused a dread that every moment the vessel would fall in pieces.

It was after one of these shocks that Fritz exclaimed,

“My father, do you think we could find any swimming-belts on board for my mother and the boys ? You and I could swim on shore if anything happened to the wreck, but they cannot swim. ’ ’

“Not a bad thought, my boy,” I replied; “we will search at once.”

But no swimming-belts could be obtained, and I determined to contrive a plan which I hoped would prove successful. In the steward’s cabin we found a number of empty flasks and tin water-cans strong enough to support a light person in the waves. These we fastened together with pocket-handkerchiefs, and tied them under the armpits of the three boys and my wife, who willingly adopted this means of safety. We also supplied ourselves with knives, string, a tinder-box 18 and matches, and other useful but not cumbrous articles, and then seated ourselves to await calmly the result, hoping that, should the vessel fall to pieces, we might be able to gain the shore partly by swimming and partly by being borne on the waves.

^ Fritz, however, feeling more secure in the safety of his dear mother and brothers, retired to rest and slept soundly. I and my brave wife remained awake in watchful anxiety, listening to each shock that threatened a change in the position of the vessel. It was, indeed, a sad night for us both : we passed it in prayer and consultation respecting our future, till with thankful hearts we observed the first glimmer of daylight, and felt that we were safe. As morning advanced the wind lulled, the sky cleared, and with joyful eyes we gazed at the brilliant colors that glowed in the east as the sun rose foretelling a bright day.

In a cheerful voice I roused the boys, and led them with their mother on deck. Then for the first time they became aware that we were alone on the ship.

^‘Oh, papa!’’ exclaimed Jack, ‘‘where are the sailors and the other passengers ? How are we to continue the voyage or get to land ? — are they gone ! — why did they not take us?”

“My children,” I said, “our companions have left us to our fate, but we must not despair. If we exert ourselves and do all we can, God in His mercy will help us ; still let us trust in Him without fear, and consider what is best to be done. ’ ’ .

“Could we not make a raft, papa,” said Ernest, ‘ ‘ and get to shore all together ? ”

“It would certainly be an excellent plan if we had the materials,” I replied.

‘ ‘ The sea is calm enough to reach the shore by swimming,” remarked Fritz.

“Swimming would be all right for you,” said Ernest, “but not for us, who can’t swim.”

yes, I forgot; but will those contrivances we made in the night be safe for mamma and the boys, papa 1 ’ exclaimed Fritz.

would rather adopt some other plan,’^ I replied; ^‘and now suppose we search the ship, and see if any materials for a raft can be found.’’

At these words we all dispersed in different directions. I proceeded at once to the provision stores, which, to my great satisfaction, were well supplied with both food and water. My wife and the youngest boy went to visit the animals ; Fritz ran to the armory-room, and Ernest to the ship-carpenter’s workshop. Jack, as he opened the door of the captain’s cabin, got a little fright. Two large dogs sprang out, and, full of joy, bounded upon him so roughly, that they threw him down, and covered him with their caresses. This performance, however, startled the little man, and he at first cried out in alarm. But soon remembering that the poor doggies must be hungry, he recovered himself quickly, rose to his feet, and mounting on the back of the largest dog, he rode gravely towards me, just as I appeared coming up from the ship’s hold.

I could not help laughing even while I praised his courage, but not without advising him to be more cautious in future with strange animals, otherwise it might cost him dear.

One by one we returned to the cabin, each bringing what he considered would be the most useful in our position.

Fritz brought powder, small shot, bullets, and two sporting guns. Ernest held in his hand a hatful of nails and a hammer, while from his pocket stuck out a pair of pincers and a hatchet. Even little Frank had a packet of fishing-hooks and lines, with which he seemed very much pleased.

‘‘As to myself,” said my dear wife, “I have only brought good news, yet I hope it will prove very valu- 20 able. I am delighted to tell you that there are still alive on the ship a cow, a donkey, two goats, six sheep, a ram, and a sow. I was only jnst in time to save them from dying of hunger and thirst.’’

‘‘Yon have all done well,” I said at last, “yet I am afraid Master J ack has brought two tremendous eaters instead of anything useful ; we shall find it difficult to feed them.”

“Oh! but, papa,” exclaimed Jack, “when we get on shore the dogs will help us to hunt.”

“Yes,” I rephed, “but how are we to get there?”

“Can we not sail in tubs?” said Jack, “I have often done so on the pond at home.”

“Happy thought!” I exclaimed; “let us begin at once. Now for the nails, the hammer, a saw, and a gimlet. We will see what can be found in the hold. ”

My wife and the boys, excepting Jack, followed me to the hold with tools, and here we drew from the water four large empty casks. These we dragged to the lower deck, which was just above the water ’s edge, and discovered with joy that they were all made of solid wood and bound with strong iron hoops. The water in the hold on which they floated had prevented them from getting dry, and proved that they were watertight.

I found them exactly suited to my purpose, and set to work at once to saw them apart through the middle. We succeeded at last, after great exertion, and then gladly refreshed ourselves with the wine and biscuits which were contained in two other small casks. I contemplated with pride the eight half-casks or tubs as they stood side by side on the sloping deck, and felt quite astonished to observe that my wife looked sad.

“I could never dare to trust myself on the open sea in one of those things,” she said with a sigh.

“Do not alarm yourself too soon, dear wife,” I replied: “my work is not yet finished; wait a little, — you will find that these tubs are much better for us 21 than a wrecked vessel which is a fixture in the rocks. ’ ’

After a search I discovered a long and flexible plank, and upon this I fastened my eight tubs, so that the two ends of the plank might bend upwards and form a keel. Two other planks I also found, and these we nailed firmly to the tubs on each side, and brought together at the ends to form the stem and stern. In reality I had made a narrow boat divided into eight compartments. All was strong and well fitted, and appeared quite suitable for navigation, at least on a calm sea and for a short distance.

But, alas! when my wonderful contrivanoe was finished, it was found so heavy that in spite of our united efforts we were not able to move it an inch.

‘ ‘ Fetch me one of the capstan-rods, ’ ’ * I cried, ^ ‘ I can use it as a lever.

Fritz understood, and ran to find one. Then I cut off some pieces of wood from the sail-yards f for rollers, and lifting the lower part of my boat with the iron bar, Fritz placed them underneath, and now we could move it easily where we pleased.

^‘How strange,” exclaimed Ernest, ‘^that one man can do more with that thing than we could do with all our strength ! How is it, papa ? ^ ’

‘ Hf we get safely to land, Ernest, I will explain this to you ; the iron bar forms a lever which is one of the six mechanical powers. Now, however, I am too anxious about the boat to talk to you.”

While saying this I was fastening a rope to the tub-raft with a strong knot, and after placing the two rollers under it and giving it a slight push, we had the pleasure of seeing our little vessel glide from the lower deck towards the sea. But she descended with such rapidity that had I not taken the precaution to fasten

* An iron bar used to turn the capstan when raising the anchor.

t The poles across the masts on which the sailors stand to unfurl or furl the sails.

the rope to a beam on the wreck, she would have been carried far out of our reach. Unfortunately, the boat leaned so much on one side that no one would have dared to embark in it ; but I saw in a moment what it wanted. I quickly gathered up all the heavy things around me, and threw them as ballast into the tubs. The boat immediately righted itself, and my children with eager joy rushed forward, in their haste disputing who should first enter, and forgetting all idea of danger.

But I hastily stopped them. I knew we could not venture to put to sea with any safety yet, for I saw plainly that the slightest obstruction would capsize the craft. To avoid this danger, therefore, I thought I might contrive to manufacture some of those paddles which savage nations use to balance their canoes even against adverse winds.

I again set myself to work to procure this happy means of safety, and with the help of Fritz I succeeded. We found two long sail-yards, which were fastened, one in front and the other at the hinder part of the boat, so that they could be moved without in any way interfering with the progress of our little raft.

To the end of each of these we fixed two little empty casks which were to serve as a counterpoise, and at last I believed that our arrangements were complete and safe. It only remained for me to ascertain the best means of escape from the wreck of the ship to the open sea. I therefore embarked in one of the tubs, and directing the boat towards a fissure in the side which seemed to open a passage, I contrived, by the use of the hatchet and the saw, to cut away the planks and beams which stood in our way.

Nothing now remained but to secure the oars for our voyage on the morrow. It was late when all this was finished, and impossible to attempt to go on shore at that hour. We were obliged, therefore, to pass an- 23 other night on the wreck, which threatened every moment to fall to pieces.

My wife, however, had prepared for ns an abundant supper, which we greatly needed, for in an eager desire to finish the tub-raft, we had taken nothing but the wine and biscuits found in the casks.

At last we all gladly sought repose after the fatigues of the day, but I took the precaution to request my boys to attach the empty cans and flasks to their arms as a means of safety, should anything happen to the ship. I advised my wife also to dress herself in sailor’s clothes, as more convenient for swimming should she be thrown into the water.

She objected greatly at first, but eventually I convinced her of the means of safety the dress would prove in case of accident, and she retired from the cabin to make the change.

When she reappeared, looking very embarrassed, I could not help paying her a compliment, for the middy ’s dress became her admirably. Perhaps my bright hopes for the morrow made her forget her boyish appearance, and she retired to rest in her berth and slept peacefully till morning.

Chapter II A Desolate Island

T he next morning at daybreak we were all awake, for hope as well as care is no friend to sleep. As soon as we had knelt and offered our morning prayers to God, I said to my children,

‘‘I hope now, that with the aid of the Almighty, we shall soon be out of danger. And, first, let us provide food and water for the poor animals enough to last for several days; perhaps we may be able to return for them, if we succeed in reaching the land. And will you, my boys, collect together all that we shall require to take with us for our most pressing wants, while I attend to the animals T’

My first care had been to place on board our little bark a barrel of powder, three fowling-pieces, guns, pistols, and a supply of bullets, with a bullet-mold and lead to prepare more when these were gone. To my wife and each of the boys I gave a game-bag for future use, but now filled with provisions found in the sea-chests of the ship’s officers. Among these were tablets of soup, dried meat, and biscuits.

I also loaded the two unoccupied tubs of the boat with an iron pot for cooking, a fishing-line and rod, a box of nails, a hammer, saw, hatchet, pincers, and a quantity of sail-cloth, with which to erect a tent. So many things were at last collected together to place in the boat, that I had to set aside the least useful for objects more precious.

When all was ready, we knelt once more to ask protection on our perilous voyage. I then placed the boys 25 each in a boat, and waited for my wife. Presently she returned from the cabin carrying a large well-filled bag, which she threw into the tub with little Frank, and 1 imagined that she only intended it to form a more comfortable seat for her youngest boy.

We were about to follow the children into the boat, when all at once the cocks began to crow and the hens to cluck in such a mournful manner, that they appeared to be complaining at being left behind.

‘‘I think we might manage to take them with us,” I said; ‘‘for if they are not cared for now we cannot expect them to be of use to us by and by. ’ ^

My advice was followed : two cocks and ten hens were placed in the tubs, and I contrived a kind of latticework roughly from splinters of wood, to keep them from jumping out. The ducks, geese, and pigeons I merely set free, feeling convinced that they would find their way to land, either through the air or by water.

At length, when we were all safely stowed away in our tubs, I cut the cable and placed myself at the helm. In the first tub was my wife, close behind her little Frank ; the next two tubs contained the ammunition, the sail-cloth, the tools, the provisions, and the chickens? FWtz occupied the fifth; Ernest and Jack the sixth and seventh; and I had taken the last for myself, that I might guide the vessel containing my family by the stern oar, which served for a ruMer.

Each of my elder boys took an oar, and, as well as their mother and little Frank, wore the swimming-belts I had contrived as a protection in case our strange craft should be capsized.

It was just half -tide as we quitted the vessel, and I counted upon that to carry us to land, and compensate for the weakness of our rowers. The eyes of my children were soon eagerly attracted by the green shore before them, and they rowed with all their strength to 26 reach it ; but for a long time we appeared to make but little progress.

Presently we were startled by hearing the two dogs, which had been left on the wreck, whining piteously; and in a few moments they sprang into the sea and swam after us. They were too heavy for us to add to the weight by taking them on board our frail bark. Turk was a large English mastiff, and Floss, equally large, a Danish hound. I pitied them, however, for I feared they would not be able to swim such a distance; yet, now and then, they supported themselves very cleverly, by resting their fore paws on the planks which balanced the tubs, and followed us as a rearguard without much trouble.

After awhile, finding we made but little progress, I took another oar, and by guiding the boat into the current of the flowing tide, our navigation became less difficult, and we found ourselves approaching nearer to the shore.

Its aspect was not very inviting: barren rocks and the absence of all vegetation predicted for us a sad prospect of hunger and suffering. The sea, however, was calm, the sky without a cloud, and the waves rippled gently against the shore; while around us floated chests, casks, and bales of goods — the debris of the ill-fated ship. In the hope that these stray casks might contain provisions, Fritz and I hooked some of them with our oars, and as I drew them near, I told him to have nails and a hammer ready to fasten them to our raft.

As we drew nearer, the land lost much of its wild and sterile aspect, and Fritz, who has the eye of a falcon, declared that he could already distinguish trees, and amongst them palms and cocoanut-trees.

‘‘Oh!^’ cried Ernest, who was fond of good things, ‘‘how nice it will be to have cocoanuts ! they are larger and better than the nuts of Europe.’’

SWISS FAMILY RqBINSON

A difficulty now arose as to the most convenient point on the coast for us to land, and I was beginning to regret that I had forgotten to bring the telescope from the captain’s cabin, when Jack drew from his pocket a smaller one, and offered it to me with delight at being able to gratify my wish.

This telescope enabled me to take precautions in avoiding dangerous rocks, for the impetuous current seemed driving us at its will. Presently I perceived a narrow bay, towards which our ducks and geese were rapidly swimming in advance of us, as if to lead the way. ^

This creek in the shore presented also a much more pleasant aspect, and as I guided our boat towards the entrance, I found the water only just sufficiently deep to float it; and we arrived at last, after some little trouble, at a spot where it was so shallow that the shore was on a level with the top of our tubs.

We all sprang out joyfully from the boat excepting little Frank, who was obliged to be assisted by his mother. The dogs, who had arrived as soon as ourselves, bounded with joy and barked around us in the wildest manner. The geese and ducks quacked loudly to welcome us. To this and the barking of the dogs were added the cries of the flamingoes, who flew away as we appeared, mingled with the screams of the penguins perched on the rocks. The appearance of these wild birds was not disagreeable to me : I decided that the land in which they found a home could not be so sterile and desolate after all.

But these noises and confusion of sounds did not make us forget that we were safe ; and our first act was to fall upon our knees and thank God for having mercifully preserved us in the hour of danger, and pray to Him to continue to grant us His -protection.

We then commenced unloading the boat, and, small as our cargo appeared, I considered we had saved a 28 great deal, especially if we included the cocks and hens, which were set free to roam for the present and find food for themselves.

After choosing a suitable spot, we prepared to erect a tent as a place of shelter for the night, and in this we quickly succeeded, having all the necessary materials. One of the poles, which had served to balance the boat, was firmly fixed in the ground, and the end of another pole placed on the top of it, the opposite end being fixed in a crevice of the rock.

Over this framework we threw our sail-cloth, stretching it out as far as possible on all sides, and then fastening it firmly to the ground with a number of stakes.

For greater security our chests and other heavy articles were placed round the cloth to keep out the wind, and Fritz attached hooks to the edges in front, that we might draw them together during the night. Then I sent the children to gather as much moss and grass as they could find, and lay it in the sun to dry, so that we might have something softer than the hard ground to sleep on at night.

While they were thus engaged, I piled up a number of large stones at some distance from the tent, to form a fireplace, on the borders of the little creek by which we had reached the land. Branches of trees and dried wood I found readily, and gathering armfuls, I placed them on my stone hearth, and presently a fire — that true friend of man — rose sparkling and flaming towards the sky.

Upon this I placed our iron pot full of water, and into it my wife threw one of the tablets, for she intended us to have soup for dinner. Little Frank watched the performance, and said presently.

Mamma, what is papa going to stick together U’

^‘Nothing, my hoy: I am making soup.’’

‘^Glue soup, mamma! Oh, I shan’t like to eat that.”

she replied, ‘‘meat soup; what made you think it was glueT’

“It looks like it, mamma; besides, we can^t get meat here, there are no butchers’ shops.”

“Listen, my hoy,” said his mother: “these cakes, that perhaps do look like glue, are made of the jelly of good meat, well cooked, for persons to carry with them to sea. It would be impossible for us to take fresh meat enough to last for a long voyage, it would not keep, so these meat and soup cakes are made to supply its place.”

Meanwhile Fritz had loaded his gun and took his way along the. banks of the stream. Ernest, remarking that to seek for game upon a desert coast did not appear very agreeable, turned towards the sea, while Jack wandered among the rocks to search for shells. I employed myself in drawing from the water the two casks which we had secured in our transit from the ship to the shore.