The Swiss Family Robinson, Told in Words of One Syllable
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CHAPTER IV.
ON our way back we took up the gourd bowls and plates, which we foundquite dry and hard as bone, and put them in our bags. We had scarce gotthrough the wood, when Turk made a dart in front of us, and we saw atroop of apes rush out of the way. But he gave a leap and brought downone that could not climb so fast as the rest, for she had a young onein her arms. Turk made short work of the poor thing, for ere Fritz couldcall the dog off, the ape was dead. The young one, as soon as it sawFritz, sprang on his back, put its paws in his curls, and would not letgo. I at length got the ape from Fritz's back, and took it up in my armslike a child. We found that it was too young to seek its own food, and,as Fritz said he should like to take it home, we put it on Turk's back.Turk did not at first like this, but we soon got him to bear the ape,which held so tight by the hair on the dog's neck that it could not wellfall off. Fritz then led Turk with a string, that he might not stray outof sight, or throw off his charge, which I think he would have done hadwe not been on the watch.
It did not take us long to reach the bank of the stream near to ourhome.
I need not tell you how glad my wife and sons were to see us safe back,or with what joy the boys took the "real live ape" out of Fritz's arms.
At length, when they got more staid, I told them that we had broughtthem all sorts of good things, but that we had not met with any of themen of whom we went in search. "God's will be done," said my wife, "letus thank Him that you have come back safe to us. This day to me has beenan age; but put down your loads, for we must now go in and hear what youhave to tell."
Fritz and I then told them, by turns, where we found the things webrought with us, how we made and dried the plates and bowls, cut thecanes, and caught the ape in the wood. Our tales had not come to an endwhen we were told that it was time to sup. Ernest had shot a wild goose,and some fish had been caught in the stream. With these, and the Dutchcheese that we brought from the ship, we made a good meal; but the boyswould not rest till we broke some of the nuts, from which they drank themilk, made sweet with the juice of the canes. I must tell you that weate our food in great state from our gourd rind plates, which my wifesaid she should prize more than if they were made of pure gold.
That night the ape went to bed with Jack and Fritz, and we all slept inpeace till the cocks on the roof of the tent woke us up.
Next day Fritz and I went back to the wreck to save the live stock, andget what else we had left that might be of use to us. We found it nolight task, for we had to make floats for the cow, the ass, the sheep,and the goats, throw them in the sea, and tie them with ropes to ourraft. We put on board the raft a vast deal of food that had not beenspoiled by the sea, though the waves had made a breach in the sides ofthe wreck. We then put to sea with our train of live stock made fast tothe stern.
We had not gone far when I heard a loud cry of fear from Fritz, "We arelost! We are lost! See what a great shark is on its way to us!"
Though pale with fright, he took aim with his gun, and shot the fish inthe head. It sank at once, but left a track of blood in the sea, which Iknew to be a sign that we were once more safe. We then got to land, andmade fast our freight to the shore. Ere we had done this our friendscame to give us what help they could to get the beasts out of thestream, and take them up to the tent. The poor things were well nighworn out; but we took good care of them, and put them to rest on somedry grass that my wife had laid out for them.
That night we did not sup on the ground. My wife had spread a cloth onthe top of a cask, and we each sat on a tub. With the knives and forksthat we had found in the ship we ate a dish of hot ham and eggs, nor didwe fail to test the wine that I had brought with me in a small cask fromthe wreck.
Ere bed-time my wife had told me that while I was at the wreck she hadgone in search of some place in which we could build a house.
"And did you find one, my dear?" I said.
"Oh, yes," said she. "We can take you to a great tree that will serve uswell, if we can but get across the stream with our goods."
"But would you have us roost, like fowls, in a tree? How do you think wecould get up to our perch?"
"Was there not a large lime tree in our town in which they built a ballroom, with stairs up the trunk?"
"To be sure there was," said I; "and if we can not build in it, we canat least make use of its shade, and dwell in a hut on the roots."
Ernest said that he took a string, and found that it was twelve yardsround. This led me to think that my wife's scheme was by no means a badone, and that I would have a look at the tree the next day.
When I had heard all they had to tell, we knelt down to pray, and thensought a good night's rest, which the toils of the day made us much inneed of.