Swiss Family Robinson, Johann David Wyss [tools of titans ebook txt] 📗
- Author: Johann David Wyss
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fluently before we were released from our captivity.
Many wondrous tales were told or read in turn by the boys and Jenny
during the long evenings as we sat drawing, weaving and plaiting in our
rosy study. In fact this winter was a truly happy time, and when at
length the rain ceased and the bright sun again smiled upon the face of
nature, we could scarcely believe, as we stepped forth and once more
felt the balmy breath of spring, that, for so many weeks, we had been
prisoners within our rocky walls.
All was once more activity and life; the duties in field, garden and
orchard called forth the energy of the lads, whilst their mother and
sister found abundant occupation in the poultry-yard and house.
Our various settlements and stations required attention. Falconhurst,
Woodlands, Prospect Hill, Shark and Whale Islands were in turn visited
and set in order. The duty of attending to the island battery fell to
Jack and Franz.
They had been busy all day repairing the flagstaff, rehoisting the
flag, and cleaning and putting into working order the two guns. Evening
was drawing on and our day’s work over; the rest of us were strolling
up and down upon the beach enjoying the cool sea breeze. We watched the
lads as they completed their work. They loaded and ran out their guns
and, paddling off with an empty tub in the cajack, placed it out to sea
as a mark for practice. They returned and fired, and the barrel flew in
pieces; with a shout of triumph, they cleaned the guns and ran them in.
Scarcely had they done so when, as though in answer to their shots,
came the sound of three guns booming across the water from the
westward.
We stopped, speechless. Was it fancy? Had we really heard guns from a
strange ship? Or had the boys again fired? No! There were the lads
leaping into their canoe and paddling in hot haste towards us. They,
too, had heard the sound.
A tumult of feelings rushed over us—anxiety, joy, hope, doubt, each in
turn took possession of our minds. Was it a European vessel close upon
our shores, and were we about to be linked once more to civilized life?
Or did those sounds proceed from a Malay pirate, who would rob and
murder us? What was to be the result of meeting with our fellow beings;
were they to be friends who would help us, enemies who would attack us,
or would they prove unfortunate creatures in need of our assistance?
Who could tell?
Before we could express these thoughts in words the cajack had touched
the shore, and Jack and Franz were among us.
`Did you hear them? Did you hear them?’ they gasped. `What shall we do?
Where shall we go?’
`Oh, Fritz,’ continued my youngest son, `it must be a European ship. We
shall find her. We shall see our Fatherland once more,’ and, in an
emotion of joy, he grasped his brother’s hands.
Till then I knew not what a craving for civilized life had been
aroused in the two young men by the appearance of their European
sister.
All eyes were turned towards me. What would I advise?
`At present,’ I said, `we can do nothing, for night is drawing on. We
must make what preparation we can, and pray for guidance.’ In the
greatest excitement we returned to the house, all talking eagerly, and
till late no one could be persuaded to retire to rest.
Few slept that night. The boys and I took it in turn to keep watch from
the verandah, lest more signals might be fired, or a hostile visit
might be paid us. But about midnight the wind began to rise, and before
we reassembled to discuss our plans a fearful storm was raging; so
terrific was the sea that I knew no boat could live, and had a
broadside been fired at the entrance of the Bay we should not have
heard it through the howling of the blast.
For two days and two nights the hurricane continued, but on the third
day the sun again appeared, and, the wind lulling, the sea went rapidly
down. Full of anxiety I readily complied with the boys’ desire to put
off to Shark Island and discharge the guns; for who could tell what had
been the result of the gale; perhaps the vessel had been driven upon
the rocky shore or, fearing such a fate, she had left the coast and
weathered the storm out at sea; if so she might never return.
With these thoughts I accompanied Jack and Franz to the fort.
One—two—we fired the guns and waited.
For some minutes there was no reply, and then an answering report
rolled in the distance. There was no longer room for doubt; the
strangers were still in the vicinity, and were aware of our presence.
We waved the flag as a signal to those on shore that all was well, and
quickly returned. We found the whole family in a state of the greatest
excitement, and I felt it necessary to calm them down as much as
possible, for neither could I answer the questions with which I was
besieged, nor could I conceal the fact that the visit of the vessel
might not prove so advantageous as they expected.
Fritz and I at once prepared to make a reconnaissance; we armed
ourselves with our guns, pistols and cutlasses, took a spy-glass,
seated ourselves in the cajack and, with a parting entreaty from my
wife to be cautious, paddled out of the bay and round the high cliffs
on our left. For nearly an hour we advanced in the direction from which
the reports of the guns seemed to proceed. Nothing could we see,
however, but the frowning rocks and cliffs, and the waves beating
restlessly at their base. Cape Pug-Nose was reached, and we began to
round the bluff old point.
In a moment all our doubts were dispelled, and joy and gratitude to the
Great Giver of all good filled our hearts. There, in the little
sheltered cove beyond the cape, her sails furled, and anchor dropped,
lay a brig-of-war with the English colours at her masthead.
With the glass I could discern figures upon the deck and, upon the
shore beyond, several tents pitched under the shelter of the trees, and
the smoke of fires rising amongst them. As I handed the glass to Fritz,
I felt a sudden misgiving. `What,’ said I to myself, `can this English
vessel be doing thus far from the usual track of ships?’ and I called
to mind tales of mutinous crews who have risen against their officers,
have chosen some such sheltered retreat as this; have disguised the
vessel, and then sailed forth to rob and plunder upon the high seas.
Fritz then exclaimed, `I can see the captain, father, he is speaking to
one of the officers, and I can see his face quite well; he is English,
I am certain he is English, and the flag speaks the truth!’ and he put
the glass again in my hand that I might see for myself.
Still keeping under the shelter of the cliff, I carefully surveyed the
vessel. There was no doubt that Fritz was right, and my fears were once
more dispelled; all was neatness and regularity on board; the spotless
decks, the burnished steel and brass, and the air of perfect order
which pervaded both ship and camp, betokened that authority and
discipline there reigned.
For some minutes longer we continued our examination of the scene, and
then satisfied by the appearance of the camp on shore, that there was
no chance of the brig quitting the coast for several days, we resolved
to return without betraying our presence, for I was unwilling to appear
before these strangers until we could do so in better form, and in a
manner more in accordance with our actual resources.
We again landed at Rockburg, where our family awaited our arrival in
eager expectation, and as fully as possible we told them of all we had
seen. They thoroughly approved of our caution, and even Jenny, whose
hopes had been excited to the highest pitch by our description of the
English vessel, and who longed to meet her countrymen once more, agreed
to postpone the visit until the following day, when, having put our
yacht into good order, we might pay our respects to the captain, not as
poor shipwrecked creatures begging assistance, but as lords and masters
of the land, seeking to know for what purpose strangers were visiting
the coast.
The rest of the day was occupied in making our preparations. Our
dainty little craft was made to look her very best; her decks were
scrubbed, her brass guns burnished, all lumber* removed and put ashore,
and the flag of England hoisted to her peak.
* Junk, things stored but not in use.
My wife overhauled our wardrobes, and the neatest uniforms were put
ready for the boys and me, for though neither my wife nor Jenny had
ever dreamed of appearing otherwise than they would have done, had they
been at home amongst civilized people in Europe, yet we, accustomed
daily to rough and often even dirty work, had adopted just that costume
which best suited our comfort and inclination. We should indeed have
surprised the smart man-o’-war’s men, had we appeared in our great
shapeless wide-brimmed hats, our linen coats and trousers, our broad
leathern belts and hairy buskins; so we next day readily donned the
more becoming costumes.
At the break of that eventful morn, when we were destined once more to
set our eyes upon our fellow men, and to hear news of the outer world,
from which for so many years we had been exiled, we assembled in our
little breakfast-room. The meal was eaten hurriedly and almost in
silence, for our hearts were too full, and our minds too busily
occupied, to allow of any outward display of excitement. Fritz and Jack
then slipped quietly out, and presently returned from the garden with
baskets of the choicest fruits in fresh and fragrant profusion, and
with these, as presents for the strangers, we went on board our yacht.
The anchor was weighed, the sails set, and with the canoe in tow the
little vessel, as though partaking of our hopes and joyous
expectation, bounded merrily over the waters of Safety Bay, gave a wide
berth to the Reef, against whose frowning rocks the sea still lashed
itself to foam, and kept away for the cove, where the English ship
unconsciously awaited us. The Pug-nosed Cape was reached, and to the
surprise and utter amazement of the strangers, we rounded the point and
brought up within hail.
Every eye on board and on shore was turned towards us, every glass was
produced and fixed upon our motions; for of all the strange sights
which the gallant crew may have looked for, such an anomaly as a
pleasure yacht, manned by such a party as ours, and cruising upon this
strange and inhospitable shore, was the furthest from their thoughts.
Fritz and I stepped into our boat, and pulled for the brig. In another
minute we were upon her deck. The captain, with the simple frankness of
a British seaman, welcomed us cordially, and having led us into his
cabin, begged us to explain to what good fortune he owed a visit from
residents upon a coast generally deemed uninhabited, or the abode of
the fiercest savages.
I gave him an outline of the history of the wreck, and of our sojourn
upon these shores, and spoke
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