Swiss Family Robinson, Johann David Wyss [tools of titans ebook txt] 📗

not better let

her go?’

 

`Why, my dear, kind-hearted wife, that was weeks and weeks ago! Those

little birds are all strong and big by this time, and I daresay Mrs.

Bustard here has forgotten all about them. Besides, she is badly

wounded, and we must try to cure the hurt. If we succeed, she will be a

valuable addition to our poultry-yard; if we cannot, you shall roast

her for dinner.’

 

Resuming our march, we next arrived at the Monkey Grove, which was the

scene of the tragicomic adventure by which Fritz became the guardian of

the orphan ape.

 

While he amused us all by a lively and graphic description of the

scene, Ernest was standing apart under a splendid cocoanut palm,

gazing in fixed admiration at the grand height of the stem, and its

beautiful graceful crown of leaves. The cluster of nuts beneath these

evidently added interest to the spectacle, for, drawing quietly near

him, I heard a long-drawn sigh, and the words:

 

`It’s awfully high! I wish one would fall down!’ Scarcely had he

uttered these words, than, as if by magic, down plumped a huge nut at

his feet.

 

The boy was quite startled, and sprang aside, looking timidly upwards,

when, to my surprise, down came another.

 

`Why, this is just like the fairy tale of the wishing-cap!’ cried

Ernest. `My wish is granted as soon as formed!’

 

`I suspect the fairy in this instance is more anxious to pelt us and

drive us away, than to bestow dainty gifts upon us,’ said I. `I think

there is most likely a cross-grained old ape sitting up among those

shadowy leaves and branches.’

 

We examined the nuts, thinking they were perhaps old ones, and had

fallen, in consequence, naturally, but they were not even quite ripe.

 

Anxious to discover what was in the tree, we all surrounded it, gaping

and gazing upwards with curious eyes.

 

`Hollo! I see him!’ shouted Fritz presently. `Oh, a hideous creature!

What can it be? Flat, round, as big as a plate, and with a pair of

horrid claws! Here he comes! He is going to creep down the tree!’

 

At this, little Franz slipped behind his mother, Ernest took a glance

round to mark a place of retreat, Jack raised the butt-end of his gun,

and every eye was fixed on the trunk of the tree, down which a large

land-crab commenced a leisurely descent. As it approached within reach,

Jack hit at it boldly, when it suddenly dropped the remaining distance,

and opening its great claws, sidled after him with considerable

rapidity, upon which he fairly turned tail and ran.

 

We all burst into a roar of laughter, which soon made him face about,

and then, to our infinite amusement, the little fellow prepared for a

fresh onset; laying down all he was carrying, pulling off his jacket

and spreading it wide out in both hands, he returned to the charge,

suddenly threw his garment over the creature, wrapped it well round it,

and then pummelled it with all the strength of his fists.

 

For a few minutes I could do nothing but laugh, but then running to him

with my hatchet, I struck several sharp blows on his bundle, which we

opened carefully, and found within the land-crab perfectly dead.

 

`Well, this is an ugly rascal!’ cried Jack. `If he hadn’t been so

hideous, I should not have dealt so severely with him. I wasn’t a bit

afraid. What is the creature’s name?’

 

`This is a crab, a land-crab,’ said I, `of which there are many

varieties, and this, I think, is called a cocoanut crab, or at least it

deserves the name, for it is evidently very fond of eating these nuts,

since it takes the trouble to climb the trees for them; the difficulty

of getting at the kernel, too, is considerable. You showed no little

presence of mind, Jack, when you thought of catching it in your jacket;

in fact it might have been more than a match for you otherwise, for

some are most determined fighters, and are very swift too. Now let us

take it, as well as the nuts, to the sledge, and go on our way.’

 

Progress became difficult, for we were constantly stopped in passing

through the wood, by having to cut away the hanging boughs and creeping

plants which interlaced them. Ernest was behind, and by and by called

me back to see what proved to be an important discovery; from the

several stalks of one of these creepers flowed clear cold water, and I

recognized the ‘liane rouge’, which is known in America, and is so

precious to the thirsty hunter or traveller.

 

This is truly one of God’s good gifts to man! The boys were much

delighted with this curious plant. `Only fancy, mother,’ said Ernest,

as he showed it to her, `how cheering and refreshing to find this if

one were lost and alone in a vast forest, wandering for days and days

without being near a proper spring of water.’

 

`But are you certain it is safe to drink this?’ asked she. I assured

her it was so, and advised the boys to cut enough to quench the thirst

of the whole party, including our animals. This they did, only finding

it necessary, as with the sugar canes, to cut air holes above the

joints.

 

After struggling onward for a short time, we emerged from the thickets

into open ground, and saw the calabash trees in the distance. As we

drew near, their curious appearance and singular fruit caused much

surprise and also amusement, for we were speedily established among the

trees, where, as I chose and cut down the gourds most likely to be

useful, every one engaged merrily in the work of cutting, carving,

sawing and scooping some manner of dish, bowl, cup, jar or platter,

according to his several taste or ability.

 

We were to dine here, and after a time Fritz and Jack began to prepare

a fireplace, their great ambition being to heat the stones red hot, and

cook the crab in a hollow gourd. Their mother, therefore, left them to

their own devices, and attended to the hungry animals, unharnessing the

ass to graze, and giving cocoanut milk to the poor little monkey, who

had been obliged to travel in a covered basket for some time, lest he

should be lost in the woods. The wounded bustard had been completely

forgotten, and from heat and thirst was suffering greatly until her

friendly care revived it, and it was tied to a tree and allowed to move

about, its fierce spirit greatly tamed by adversity.

 

The cooking operations came to a stand soon after the fire was

lighted, for it appeared that we had no more water in the jars we had

brought, so the boys proposed to go in search of a spring. I agreed to

accompany them; Ernest also wished to join us, and as our intention was

to examine merely the surrounding wood, I saw no objection to leaving

their mother and Franz for a short time.

 

Very soon after our exploration began, Ernest, who was in front,

turned with a face of terror, shouting, `A wild boar! An immense wild

boar, father! Do come quick!’

 

And, sure enough, I heard a loud snorting and puffing as some large

animal passed hastily through the thick underwood beyond us. `After

him, lads, after him!’ cried I, hurrying forwards. `Call the dogs!

Stand ready to fire!’ And we pressed through the bushes to the spot

where Ernest had seen the creature.

 

The ground was grubbed up, and some potatoes lay about, showing that we

had disturbed him at his mid-day meal. Ernest and Jack were more

disposed to gather the roots than to follow up the chase. Fritz and I

alone went after the dogs, who eagerly pushed on, and by the sounds we

heard had evidently attacked the boar at no great distance. Terrific

barking, snarling and grunting, guided us to the scene of action, and

we beheld our mastiffs one on each side of a large respectable-looking

pig, holding on by the great ears, while the animal, on seeing us,

appeared rather to beseech our interference than to propose to offer a

desperate resistance.

 

In a moment the truth became apparent! The captive grunter was no

fierce native of the forest, but our own runaway sow! Our excitement

had been wound to so high a pitch, that the discovery was quite a

shock, and we felt half angry with the creature who had disappointed

us; then the absurdity of the whole thing made us laugh heartily, and

calling off the dogs, the old lady was released from her ignominious

position.

 

Our laughter resounding through the wood, brought Ernest and Jack from

their potatoes, to see what was going on.

 

`Much use you two would have been suppose we had required help,’ cried

Fritz, as they too recognized their old friend.

 

`Ah, well, you see,’ returned Jack, `Ernest and I had a sort of a kind

of presentiment that this was going to be the old sow. And just look at

our fine potatoes!’

 

A good deal of joking on the subject ensued, but was interrupted by

Ernest, who drew our attention to fruit resembling apples on the

surrounding bushes, and on the grass beneath them.

 

The sow was making amends for the fright and pain she had endured by

munching and crunching this fruit at a great rate. Fritz feared that it

might be the poisonous manchineel, against which I once warned them,

but on examining it, I was induced to pronounce a more favourable

opinion, and we collected a quantity in hopes that, if the monkey

approved of it as well as the old sow, we might be able to enjoy a

feast ourselves.

 

All this time not a drop of water had we seen, and our own thirst

increasing, we felt eager to procure some before returning to our

resting-place.

 

Jack preceded us, and we made our way towards a high rock, which rose

above the thickets, when he suddenly startled us by a loud cry of `A

crocodile! Father! Father! A crocodile!’

 

`Nonsense, boy! A crocodile of all things, in this dry, parched

forest, where we can’t get so much as a mouthful of water!’

 

On advancing to where Jack stood, I perceived that his mistake was not

so very silly after all, for I beheld an iguana, one of the largest of

the lizard species, and a truly formidable-looking fellow. I was glad

to assure Jack that the strange creature he had found was perfectly

harmless, and that its flesh being esteemed a delicacy, it would be a

valuable prize to carry back with us.

 

In another moment Fritz would have fired, but arresting his

hand—`Your shot,’ I said, `would probably only wound the animal, and

being extremely tenacious of life, it would certainly escape us; we

must gain possession of the sleeping beauty by a gentler method.’

 

`You are not going to kiss it, are you, father?’ asked Jack, with a

grin. I tried to rebuke him for his impertinence, but, failing, I

commenced operations. I first attached a cord and running-noose to a

stout stick, and holding a light switch in my other hand, I began to

approach the creature with soft, slow steps, while the boys looked on

with the utmost curiosity.

 

Presently I began very softly to whistle a sweet, yet very lively air,

which I continued more and more distinctly as I drew near the lizard;

until, awaking, it seemed to listen with pleasure—raising its head as

though better to catch the sounds, or to discover whence they came.

 

When