Smoke Serves What Unusual Purpose in the Swiss Family Robinson

​

CHAPTER XVII.

Juno'southward epitaph—Fritz does not appear—Nosotros get-go in search of him—A Cachalot Whale—The unexpected advent of a Savage—Fritz in a dusky disguise—He leads u.s.a. to Fair Island, and shows united states the wonders therein—The Stranger—Fritz narrates his adventures—How he saw Toucans—Encountered a tiger—Lost Pounce—Institute the Smoking Rock, and Jenny Montrose—The history of the stranger—Wolves dispute our right to the whale—Coco joins his brethren—Jack and Jenny search for the truant—We leave Pearl Bay—A hearty reception—A visit to Falconhurst—Jack displays our stud—The rainy flavor over again.

The mother and Franz, though somewhat startled by the unexpected absence of Fritz, were delighted to meet us return safely, and listened with eager interest to our adventures. My married woman shuddered, and scarcely suppressed an involuntary scream every bit she heard of our desperate encounter with the lion and his mate. Jack's danger and providential escape, too, made her tremble; and then pale did he still look, that she could scarcely believe he was uninjured.

Tears came into Franz'south eyes when he heard of the sad death of poor old Juno; and he inquired nearly tenderly whether her re mains had been brought back, that they might be interred nearly the business firm which had been her home for so many years.

Next mean solar day he saw her buried carefully; and Ernest, at his request, produced an epitaph, which was inscribed upon a slab of stone above her grave.

JUNO.
A retainer true lies here:
A true-blue friend,
A Dog,
To all most dear;
Who met her cease
Fighting right bravely in her master'southward cause.

​ The flesh of the wild boar and the truffles were handed over to the mother, who received them with please, promising u.s.a. therefrom many a savoury dish. She would fain have had the boar'due south head too; just my word was pledged to Ernest that it should adorn his museum, and, though my lips watered to taste it baked in Hottentot mode, I would not break my promise.

This fantabulous head, therefore, together with the lions' skins, we carried to the tannery on Whale Island, where they were cleaned and dressed.

Five days passed, but Fritz withal remained absent. I could not conceal my anxiety, and at length determined to follow him. All were delighted at the proposal, and even the mother, when she heard that nosotros were to canvass in the pinnace, agreed to accompany u.s.a..

The boat was stored, and on a bright morning time, with a favourable cakewalk, nosotros five, with the dogs, stepped aboard, and ran for Cape Minster.

Our beautiful piddling yacht bounded over the water gaily, and the bright sunshine and delicious body of water-breeze put usa all in the highest spirits. The entrance of the archway was in sight, and thither I was directing the gunkhole's grade. Of a sudden, right ahead, I saw a dark and shadowy mass but below the surface of the water. "A sunken rock!" I thought to myself, "and notwithstanding it is strange that I never before noticed it." I put down the helm in a moment, but a catastrophe seemed inevitable.

Nosotros surged ahead! A slight shock, and all was over! The danger was passed!

I glanced astern, to look again at the dangerous spot; but the stone was gone, and, where only a moment before I had distinctly seen its slap-up greenish shadow, I could now see nothing. Earlier we had recovered from our anaesthesia, a shout from Jack surprised me.

​ "In that location is some other," he exclaimed, "to starboard, father!"

Certain enough, at that place lay, patently, some other sunken rock.

"The rock is moving!" shouted Franz; and a slap-up black trunk emerged from the body of water, while from the upper extremity rushed a column of water, which, with a mighty noise, rose upwards, then fell like rain all around. The mystery was explained; for, as the great beast emerged yet further from the water, I recognized, from its enormous size and neat length of caput, the Cachalot Whale.

The monster was apparently enraged at the style we had scratched his back; for, retreating to a short distance, he obviously meditated a rush upon us.

Fearful stories occurred to me of the savage atmosphere of this whale, how he has been known to destroy boat after boat, and fifty-fifty to sink great ships, and with a feeling of desperation I sprang to one of the guns. Jack leaped to the other, and nearly simultaneously we fired. Both shots apparently took effect; for the whale, after lashing the water violently for a few seconds, plunged beneath its surface, and disappeared. Nosotros kept a sharp look out for him, for I was unwilling to lose such a valuable prize, and, reloading, stood towards the shore, in which management he was plain making. Soon we over again sighted him in shallow water, lashing fearfully with his tail, and dyeing the waves around him with claret. Approaching the infuriate fauna as nearly as I dared, we over again fired.

The struggles of the whale seemed for a few moments to become fifty-fifty nonetheless more than frantic, and so, with a quiver from head to tail, he lay motionless—dead!

The boys were about to raise a cry of victory, but checked the shout upon their very lips; for darting behind a rock they espied a canoe paddled past a tall and muscular savage, who now stood upwards in his skiff and appeared to be examining us attentively. Seeing that nosotros were standing towards him, the ​ swarthy native seized his paddle and once more darted backside a rock. An awful idea now took possession of me. There must be a tribe of blacks lurking on these shores, and Fritz must accept fallen into their hands. Nosotros, however, I adamant, should non be easily taken; and our guns were loaded and run out.

CACHALOT-WHALE.

Soon a dusky face appeared, peeping at u.s. from a lofty stone: it vanished, and we saw some other peeping at us from lower down. Then again the skiff put out every bit though to make a further reconnoitre. All, even Jack, looked anxious, and glanced at me for orders.

"Hoist a white flag," said I, "and hand me the speaking-trumpet."

I seized the instrument and uttered such peaceable words in the Malay language equally I could recall: neither the flag nor my words seemed to produce any effect, and the savage was near to return to the shore.

​ Jack hereupon lost patience, and in his plow took upwards the trumpet.

"Come here, yous blackness son of a gun," he exclaimed.

"Come on board and make friends, or nosotros'll blow you lot and your——"

"Stop! end! you foolish boy," I said; "you will but warning the human, with your wild words and gestures."

"No! but, see," he cried, "he is paddling towards usa!"

And certain enough the canoe was quickly approaching.

Presently a weep from Franz alarmed me. "Expect! look!" he shrieked, "the villain is in Fritz's cajack. I tin can see the walrus' head."

Ernest alone remained unmoved. He took the speaking-trumpet:

"Fritz, ahoy!" he shouted; "welcome, sometime fellow!"

The words were scarcely out of his mouth when I, too, recognized the well-known face below its dusky disguise.

In some other minute the brave boy was on board, and in spite of his blackened face was kissed and welcomed heartily. He was now assailed with a storm of questions from all sides: "Where had he been?" "What had kept him and then long, and why had he turned blackamoor?"

"The last question," replied he, with a smiling, "is the only one I will now reply; the others shall be explained when I give a total account of my adventures. Hearing guns fired, my listen was instantly filled with ideas of Malay pirates, for I never dreamed that you lot could exist here in the yacht, so I disguised myself every bit yous at present see me, and came forth to reconnoitre. When you addressed me in Malay you only added to my terror, for information technology left not a doubt in my mind that yous were pirates."

Having in our turn described to him our adventure with the cachalot whale, I asked him if he knew of a suitable spot for the anchorage of the yacht.

​ "Certainly," he replied, casting towards me a glance full of pregnant; "I can pb you to an island where there is splendid anchorage, and which is itself well worth seeing, for it contains all sorts of strange things." And later on removing the stains from his pare, and turning himself one time more into a civilized being, he again sprang into his canoe and piloted united states of america to a picturesque petty isle in the bay.

At present that at that place could be no doubt equally to the success of Fritz's trek, I no longer hesitated to give to my wife an account of his projection, and to prepare her mind for the surprise which awaited her. She was profoundly startled, equally I expected, and seemed near overcome with emotion at the thought of seeing a human existence, and that being 1 of her ain sex.

"Just why," she asked, "did you not tell me of this at offset? Why wait until the last moment with such joyful news?"

"I was unwilling," I replied, "to raise hopes which might never be realized: merely at present, give thanks Heaven, he has succeeded, and there is no need for concealment."

The boys could not at all empathize the evident air of mystery and suppressed excitement which neither their mother, Fritz, nor I could entirely conceal. They bandage glances of the greatest curiosity towards the isle, and as soon as the sails were furled and the anchor dropped, they sprang eagerly aground. In a trunk nosotros followed Fritz, maintaining perfect silence. Soon we emerged from the thicket through which nosotros were passing, and saw before us a hut of sheltering boughs, at the entrance of which burned a cheerful burn down.

Into this leafy bower Fritz dived, leaving his brothers without, mute with astonishment. In another moment he emerged, leading past the hand a slight, handsome youth, past his dress apparently a young English naval officer. The pair avant-garde to meet u.s.; and Fritz, with a countenance radiant with joy, briefly introduced his companion as Edward Montrose.

​ "And," he continued, looking at his female parent and me, "will yous not welcome him equally a friend and a brother to our family circle?"

"That will we, indeed!" I exclaimed, advancing and belongings out my hands to the fair immature stranger. "Our wild life may take roughened our looks and manners, but it has non hardened our hearts, I trust."

The mother, too, embraced the seeming youth most heartily. The lads, and even the dogs, were not discinct in testifying their gratification at the appearance of their new friend—the former delighted at the idea of a fresh companion, and the latter won past her sweet voice and advent.

From the expressions made use of by Fritz, I perceived that the girl wished her sex to remain unrevealed to the rest of the party until the mother could obtain for her a costume more suited to her real character.

The young men then ran downwards to the yacht to bring up what was necessary for supper, as well as to make preparations for a camp in which we might spend the night. This done, the female parent hastened to gear up before us a substantial meal, while the boys, anxious to make their new acquaintance feel at abode amid them, were doing their best to amuse her. She herself, subsequently the commencement feeling of strangeness had worn off, entered fully into all their fun; and by the time they sat downwardly to supper was laughing and chatting as gaily as any one of the rest. She admired the various dishes, tasted our mead, and without alluding in one case to her previous life, kept up a lively chat.

The mere fact of meeting with whatsoever human existence afterward so many years of isolation was in itself sufficient to heighten the boys to the greatest country of excitement; but that this being should be one so handsome, so gay, so perfectly charming, seemed completely to take turned their heads; and when I gave the sign for the breaking upward of the feast, and their new friend was about to be led ​ to the night quarters which had been prepared for her on lath the yacht, the health of Edward Montrose was proposed, and drank in fragrant mead, amidst the cheers and acclamations of all hands.

When she was gone, and silence had been restored, Jack exclaimed:

"Now, and so, Fritz, if you please, just tell me where you came across this jolly fellow. Did you accept your mysterious voyage in search of him, or did you meet him by chance? Out with your adventures, while we sit down comfortably round the burn down."

So saying, Jack cast more wood upon the blazing pile, and throwing himself downwardly in his usual, careless fashion, prepared to heed attentively.

Fritz, later a few moments' hesitation, began—

"Perhaps you recall," said he, "how, when I returned from my expedition in the cajack the other day, I struck down an albatross. None simply my male parent at the time knew, however, what became of the wounded bird, or fifty-fifty thought more about it. Notwithstanding information technology was that albatross who brought me find of the ship-wrecked stranger; and he, too, I determined should deport back a bulletin, to cheer and encourage the sender.

"I first, as you know, prepared my cajack to carry two persons; and and so, with a heart full of hope and trust, left y'all and the yacht, and, with Pounce seated before me, made for the open up sea. For several hours I paddled steadily on, till, the air current freshening, I thought it advisable to keep in nearer shore; that, should a regular tempest ascend, I might discover some sheltered bay in which to weather it.

"It was well I did so; for, scarcely had I reached a serenity cove which promised to beget me the protection I desired, than the ocean appeared one mass of cream: not bad surging waves arose; and even in the comparative calm of the bay I felt that I was in some danger.

​ "I passed the dark in my cajack; and next morning, after a frugal meal of pemmican, and a draught of h2o from my flask, one time more than ventured along. The wind had subsided, the bounding main was tolerably smooth; and, keeping my eyes busily employed in seeking in every direction to detect, if possible, the slightest trace of fume, or other sign of human life, I paddled on till noon.

"The aspect of the coast now began to change: the shores were sandy, while farther inland lay dumbo forests, from whose gloomy depths I could ever and betimes hear the trigger-happy roar of beasts of prey, the yell of apes, the fiendish express joy of the hyæna, or the despairing death weep of a hapless deer. Seldom have I experienced a greater feeling of solitude than whilst listening to these foreign sounds, and knowing that I in this frail canoe was the only human being near. Giving myself up to contemplation, I rested my paddle, and allowed my cajack to migrate slowly on.

"Every bit I neared the shore, I noticed a big number of strange-looking birds, who would sometimes flutter round me, and and so dart back again to the border of the woods, where they were feeding on what appeared to be the pepper found; they seized the berries in their great ponderous beaks, threw them up into the air, and then dexterously defenseless them in their autumn. Their beaks were really something extraordinary: they looked equally though they must give their owners a perpetual headache, from their immense weight. The only affair that relieved the extreme ugliness of these great appendages was their gorgeous colour, which was only rivalled by the gay hue of the plumage. I wish at present that I had brought home a specimen; just, at the fourth dimension, I was so much amused by watching the grotesque antics of the birds, that I did not think of obtaining one. When I left the spot, I settled in my own heed that they were toucans: was I right, Ernest?"

The Professor, unwilling to interrupt the narrative, simply gave an oracular nod, and Fritz connected—

"For some hours afterwards this I paddled quickly on, sometimes ​ passing the oral cavity of a stream, sometimes that of a wide river. Had I been just on an exploring expedition, I should have been tempted, doubtless, to cruise a little manner up one of these pathways into the forest; but now such an idea did non enter my head. On, on, on, I felt I must go, until I should reach the goal of my voyage.

TOUCANS.

"The shades of night at length drew on, and, finding a sheltered cove, I moored my cajack, and stepped on shore. You may imagine how pleasant information technology was to stretch my legs, after sitting for then long in the cramped position which my cajack enforces. It would not exercise, however, to sleep on shore; and then after preparing and enjoying my supper, I returned on board, and at that place spent the nighttime.

"Next morning Pounce and I again landed for breakfast. I lit my fire, and hung before information technology a plump immature parrot to roast. As ​ I was so doing, I heard a slight rustle amongst the long grass behind me. I glanced circular, and there, with glaring eyes, and his great tail swaying to and fro, I saw an immense tiger.

"In another moment his jump would take been made. I should have been no more, and our young guest would have been doomed to, God merely knows how many more years of frightful solitude!

"My gun was lying by my side. Before I could have stooped to option information technology up, the monster would have seized me.

"Pounce saw and comprehended my danger: the heroic bird darted upon my enemy, and and then blinded him with his flapping wings, and the vehement blows of his beak, that his spring was checked, and I had time to recover my self-possession. I seized my gun, and fired; and the brute, pierced to the heart, gave one spring, and then rolled over at my feet.

"My enemy was dead; but abreast him, alas! lay poor Pounce, crushed and lifeless. I accident of the great brute'southward paw had struck him down, never to rise once more!"

​ I was so doing, I heard a slight rustle amongst the long grass behind me. I glanced round, and in that location, with glaring eyes, and his groovy tail swaying to and fro, I saw an immense tiger.

"In another moment his leap would have been fabricated. I should accept been no more, and our immature guest would have been doomed to, God simply knows how many more years of frightful confinement!

"My gun was lying by my side. Earlier I could have stooped to pick it up, the monster would accept seized me.

"Pounce saw and comprehended my danger: the heroic bird darted upon my enemy, and so blinded him with his flapping wings, and the fierce blows of his beak, that his leap was checked, and I had time to recover my self-possession. I seized my gun, and fired; and the brute, pierced to the center, gave ane jump, and then rolled over at my anxiety.

"My enemy was dead; but beside him, alas! lay poor Pounce, crushed and lifeless. One blow of the great fauna's paw had struck him down, never to ascension once more!"

Fritz's voice shook as he came to this indicate; and, after remaining silent for a moment or ii, he continued, hurriedly—

"With a sorry and desolate feeling at my center, I buried the faithful bird where he had met his death; and and so, unable longer to keep near the spot, I returned to my cajack, and leaving the smashing tiger lying where he brutal, paddled hastily abroad.

"My thoughts were gloomy. I felt every bit though, now that my companion was gone, I could no longer go on the voyage. The boundness, I thought, may have flown for hundreds of miles before information technology reached me. This stranger may be on dissimilar shores from these entirely; every stroke of my paddle may be carrying me further from the blazing signal: who knows?

"This feeling of discouragement was non, still, to be of long

​ duration; for in a moment more a sight presented itself, which banished all my doubts and fears, and raised me to the highest pitch of excitement.

"A loftier bespeak of land lay before me. I rounded information technology, and beyond found a at-home and pleasant bay, from whose curved and thickly wooded shores ran out a reef of rocks. From the betoken of this reef rose a column of smoke, steadily and clearly curling upwards in the at-home air. I could scarcely believe my senses, only stopped gazing at it, as though I were in a dream; then, with throbbing pulse and giddy brain, I seized my paddle, and strained every nerve to reach it.

THE BAY

"A few strokes seemed to carry me beyond the bay, and, securing my canoe, I leaped upon the rock, on which the beacon was blazing, but not a sign of a human being could I meet. I was about to shout, for as the burn down had evidently been recently piled up, I knew the stranger could not exist far off; but, before I could do then, I saw a slight effigy passing along the chain of rocks towards the spot on which I stood. You may all imagine my sensations.

"I advanced a few paces; and and so mastering my emotion as best I could, I said in English—

​ " 'Welcome, fair stranger! God, in his mercy, has heard your call, and has sent me to your aid!"

"Miss Montrose came quickly forward——"

"Who? What?" shouted the boys, interrupting the narrative, "who came forward?" and among a general hubbub, Ernest, rising and advancing to his blood brother, said in his repose manner:

"I did not like to make any remark till you actually let out the cloak-and-dagger, Fritz, simply we need no longer pretend not to see through the disguise of Edward Montrose."

Fritz, though much disconcerted by the discovery of the secret, recovered his self-possession; and, afterwards bearing with perfect equanimity the jokes with which his brothers assailed him, joined in three thanks for their new sister, and when the defoliation and laughter which ensued had subsided, connected his story:

"Miss Montrose grasped my hands warmly, and guessing from my pronunciation, I am agape, that I was non in the habit of speaking English every twenty-four hour period of my life, said in French:

" 'Long, long, have I waited since the bird returned with your message. Thank God, you have come at last!"

"Then with tears of joy and gratitude, she led me to the shore, where she had congenital a hut and a safe sleeping-place, like Falconhurst on a small scale, amidst the branches of a tree. I was delighted with all she showed me, for indeed her hut and its fittings evinced no ordinary skill and ingenuity. Circular the walls hung bows, arrows, lances, and bird-snares; while on her work-table, in boxes and cases, carved skilfully with a pocketknife, were fish-hooks of mother-of-pearl, needles made from fish-bones, and bodkins from the beaks of birds, fishing-lines of all sorts, and knives and other tools. These latter she told me were, with a chest of wearing apparel, almost the only things washed ashore after the wreck, when iii years ago she was cast solitary upon this desolate declension. I marvelled ​ more and more at the wonderful way in which this daughter had surmounted obstacles, the quarter of which would completely have appalled the generality of her sex. The hut itself was a curiosity of skill; stout posts had been driven into the ground, with cantankerous pieces of bamboo, to form a frame-work; the walls had so been woven with reeds, the roof thatched with palm-leaves, and the whole plastered smoothly with clay, an open space being left in the center of the roof for a chimney to carry off the smoke of the fire.

CORMORANT.

"As nosotros entered, a cormorant, with a cry of anger, flew from nether the tabular array towards me, and was about to assault me fiercely. Miss Montrose chosen it off, and she then told me she had captured and tamed the bird presently subsequently first landing, and since that fourth dimension had contrived to train it to assist her in every conceivable style: it now not only was a pleasant companion, simply brought her nutrient of every description, fish, flesh, and fowl, for whether it dived into the waters, according to its natural habit, struck down birds upon ​ the wing, or seized rabbits and other small animals upon the land, it laid all its booty at her feet.

"Before darkness closed in, all the curiosities and ingenious contrivances of the place had been displayed—the kitchen-stove, cooking utensils, skin bottles, shell plates and spoons, the fishing raft, and bags other things—and and so, sitting down with my fair hostess to a virtually appetizing meal, she gave me a short business relationship of her life:

"Jenny Montrose was the daughter of a British officer who had served for many years in Bharat, where she herself was born. At the early on age of three years she lost her mother.

"Afterwards the, death of his wife, all the Colonel'south love and intendance was centred upon his only child; under his eye she was instructed in all the accomplishments suited to her sex activity; and from him she imbibed an agog dearest of field sports. By the fourth dimension she was seventeen she was as much at home upon her horse in the field as in her male parent'south cartoon-room. Colonel Montrose now received orders to return home with his regiment, and every bit for certain reasons he did not wish her to accompany him in the ship with the troops, he obtained a passage for her on board a vessel which was about to sail at the same time.

"The separation was extremely painful to both the old soldier and his daughter, simply there was no alternative. They parted, and Miss Montrose sailed in the 'Dorcas' for England. A week after she had left Calcutta, a storm arose and drove the vessel far out of her grade; more bad atmospheric condition ensued; and at length, leaks having been sprung in all directions, the crew were obliged to take to the boats. Jenny obtained a identify in 1 of the largest of these. After enduring the perils of the sea for many days, land was sighted; and, the other boats having disappeared, an endeavour was made to land. The boat was capsized, and Miss Montrose lonely reached the shore. For a long time she lay upon the sand virtually inanimate; but, reviving sufficiently to move, ​ she at length obtained some beat-fish, and by degrees recovered her strength. From that time forth until I appeared she never fix eyes upon a homo beingness. To attract any passing vessel, and obtain assistance, even so, she kept a beacon continually blazing at the end of the reef; and, with the same purpose in view, attached missives to the feet of any birds she could accept alive in her snares. The albatross, she told me, she had kept for some time, and partially tamed; but, as it was in the habit of making long excursions on its ain account, she conceived the thought of sending it also with a message, that, should it by gamble exist seen and taken alive, information technology might return with an reply.

"Our supper was over; and, at length, both exhausted out with the anxieties and excitement of the 24-hour interval, we retired to rest, she to her leafy bower, and I to sleep in the hut below.

"Next morn, having packed her holding in the cajack, we both went on board; and bidding adieu to her well-known bay, she took her seat before me, and I fabricated for dwelling.

"Nosotros should accept reached Rockburg tonight had non an accident occurred to our skiff, and compelled us to put in at this island. The boat was scarcely repaired when I heard your first shots. I instantly bearded myself; and, never doubting that Malay pirates were near, came forth to reconnoitre. Glad, indeed, I was to observe my fears ungrounded."

All had listened intently to Fritz'south story, simply now a dreadful yawn from Franz, followed past others from Jack, Ernest, and Fritz, and a slap-up want on my ain role to follow their example, warned me that it was time to dismiss the political party for the dark. Fritz retired to his cajack, the boys and I to the deck of the yacht, and the remainder of the night passed quietly away.

Side by side morning equally we assembled for breakfast, I took the opportunity of begging Miss Montrose no longer to endeavor ​ to continue her disguise, but to permit usa to address her in her real character.

Jenny smiled; for she had noticed, as the immature men met her when she came from the cabin, a bully alteration in their mode, and had at in one case seen that her hole-and-corner was guessed.

"After all," she said, "I demand not be ashamed of this attire; it has been my only costume for the last 3 years, and in any other I should have been unable to manage all the work which during that time has been necessary."

Our pleasant meal over I prepared to start for home, but Fritz reminded me of the cachalot, and although he confessed he should non intendance to repeat the performance of cut upwardly a whale, he thought it would be a compassion to lose such a take chances of obtaining a supply of spermaceti.

I fully agreed with him; and embarking, we quickly reached the sandbank on which the monster lay. No sooner did we come nigh than the dogs leaped ashore, and before we could follow, rushed round to the other side of the great animal; snarling, growling, and howling ensued, and when we reached the spot nosotros plant a terrific gainsay going on. A troop of wolves were disputing fiercely with the dogs their right to the prey. Our appearance, however, quickly settled the affair; two of the brutes already lay dead, and those that now escaped our guns, galloped off. Amongst the pack were a few jackals, and no sooner did Coco grab sight of these, his relations, than, suddenly attracted by his instinct, he left his principal's side, and in spite of our shouts and cries, joined them, and disappeared into the forest.

As it would have been useless and dangerous to effort to follow the deserter into the forest, we left him alone, trusting that he would return before nosotros again embarked. Fritz then climbed up the mountain of mankind, and with his hatchet quickly laid open the huge skull; Jack and Franz joined him,—Ernest ​ having remained on the island, where we had left the mother and Jenny,—and with buckets assisted him to bail out the spermaceti. The few vessels nosotros possessed were before long full, and having stored them in the yacht, we once more embarked and arrived at the little island before long before the dinner 60 minutes.

A capital letter meal had been prepared for us, and, when we had made ourselves presentable, nosotros saturday downward to it, and related our adventures. The account of Coco'south desertion was received with exclamations of surprise and sorrow. "Withal," said Jenny, after a time, "I do non think you should despair of his recovery, for animals in their native state seldom care to allow those that have been once domesticated to consort with them. My poor boundness even, though he was never thoroughly tamed, and certainly did finally desert me, yet used to return at intervals; and I am pretty sure that were you, Jack, to search the wood early to-morrow morning, you would find your pet but too willing to come dorsum to civilized life; or, if you lot similar, I will go myself and find him, for I should immensely like to take a paddle in the cajack all by myself."

Jack was delighted at the onetime suggestion, and though he would not mind for a moment to Jenny's asking to be immune to go alone, he agreed, if she cared for the fun of an early prowl, to back-trail her in the canoe side by side morn, and to render to the yacht in time to start for Rockburg.

At sunrise they were off, armed with "allurement" in the shape of meat and biscuit, and a muzzle and chain which Jack had manufactured in the evening to punish the runagate for his offences, should they catch him. Arrived at the sandbank, they landed; and, after entering the forest and shouting "Coco, Coco!" till the forest rang again, they before long espied the truant, slouching disconsolately towards them, looking very miserable and heartily ashamed of himself.

​ With torn ears, and coat ruffled and dirty, he sneaked up. There was no need to apply the bait to entice him; and when the poor brute thus came, unhappy and begging forgiveness, Jack had non the heart to degrade him further with the muzzle and chain. He had obviously attempted to join his wild brethren, and past them had been scouted, worried, and hustled every bit no true jackal; and, as Jenny had foretold, was now only also glad to render to bondage and to comfort.

Poor Coco had recovered his spirits slightly past the fourth dimension the yacht was reached; and, afterwards a hearty meal, over again took his place among the dogs, whom I had little uncertainty he would never once again desert.

All was at present hurry and activity; and breakfast over, we went aboard the yacht. Fritz and Jack stepped into the canoe; and we shortly left Fair Island and Pearl Bay far behind.

The morn was delightful. The sea, excepting for the slight ripple raised by the gentle breeze wafting united states of america homewards, was perfectly calm. Slowly and contentedly nosotros glided on through the wonders of the splendid archway, threaded our passage amongst the rocks and shoals, and passed out to the open sea. So slowly did we make our way, that the occupants of the cajack announced that they could not wait for the states when they had one time piloted united states out from among the shoals and reefs, and plied their paddles to such good purpose that they were soon out of sight. Nautilus Bay and Greatcoat Pug-Nose were in due time passed, however, and Shark Island hove in sight. With slap-up astonishment Jenny gazed at our watch tower, with its guard-business firm, the trigger-happy-looking guns, and the waving flag upon the heights. We landed, that she might visit the fortification; when we displayed all our arrangements with neat pride. When they and the herd of lovely gazelles had been sufficiently admired, nosotros again embarked, and steered towards Deliverance Bay. On reaching the entrance, a 1000 salute of twelve shots welcomed the states and our off-white guest to Rockburg. Not ​ pleased with the fifty-fifty number, all the same, Ernest insisted upon replying with thirteen guns, an odd number existence, he declared, absolutely necessary for grade's sake.

As nosotros neared the quay, Fritz and Jack stood fix to receive united states of america, and with true politeness handed their female parent and Jennie ashore. They turned and led the way to the house through the gardens, orchards, and shrubberies which lay on the rising ground that sloped gently upward to our dwelling.

Jenny'due south surprise was changed to wonder as she neared the villa itself—its broad, shady balustrade, its fountains sparkling in the sun, the dove-cots, the pigeons wheeling above, and the bright, fresh creepers twined round the columns, delighted her. She could scarcely believe that she was still far from whatsoever civilized nation, and that she was amongst a family unit wrecked like herself upon a lone coast.

My amazement, however, fully equalled that of my little daughter when beneath the shade of the verandah I saw a table laid out with a succulent luncheon. All our prc, silverish, and glass had been called into requisition, and was arranged upon the spotless damask cloth.

Vino sparkled in the decanters, first-class pino-apples, oranges, guavas, apples, and pears, resting on absurd green leaves, lay heaped in pyramids upon the porcelain dishes. A haunch of venison, cold fowl, ham, and tongues occupied the ends and sides of the table, while in the centre rose a vase of gay flowers, surrounded by bowls of milk and keen jugs of mead. Information technology was, indeed, a perfect feast, and the heartiness of the welcome brought tears of joy into the lovely optics of the fair girl in whose honour it had been devised.

All were before long set to sit down downward; and Jenny, looking prettier than ever in the dress for which she had exchanged her sailor'south suit, took the place of honour betwixt the mother and me. Ernest and Franz also seated themselves; just naught would ​ induce Fritz and Jack to follow their example. They considered themselves our entertainers, and waited upon us most intently, carving the joints, filling our glasses, and changing the plates; for, as Jack alleged to Miss Montrose, the servants had all run away in our absence, and for the next 24-hour interval or two, perhaps, nosotros should exist obliged to wait upon ourselves.

When the banquet was over, and the waiters had satisfied their appetites, they joined their brothers, and with them displayed all the wonders of Rockburg to their new sister. To the house, cavern, stables, gardens, fields, and boat-houses, to ane later on the other did they lead her.

Non a corner would they accept left unnoticed, had not the female parent, fearing they would tire the poor girl out, come to the rescue, and led her back to the firm.

On the post-obit mean solar day, after an early breakfast, nosotros started, while it was notwithstanding absurd, for Falconhurst; and every bit I knew that repairs and arrangements for the coming winter would be necessary, and would detain u.s.a. for several days, we took with us a supply of tools, as well equally baskets of provisions, and other things essential to our comfort.

The whole of our stud, excepting the ostrich, were in their paddocks, near the tree; simply Jack, saying that his mother and Jenny really must not walk the whole way, to the groovy amusement of the latter, leaped on Hurry, and fled abroad in front of united states of america. Before we had achieved one quarter of the distance, we heard the thundering tread of many feet galloping down the avenue, and presently espied our motley troop of steeds being driven furiously towards us. Storm, Lightfoot, Swift, Mumble, Stentor, Arrow, and Dart were in that location, with Jack, on his armada two-legged courser, at their heels. At his saddle-bow hung a cluster of saddles and bridles, the bits all jangling, and clanking, calculation to the din and confusion, and urging on the excited animals, who thoroughly entered into the fun, and with tails in the air, ears back, and ​ heels always and anon thrown playfully out, seemed almost to overwhelm us.

Nosotros stepped bated to shelter ourselves behind the trees from the furious onset; but a shout from Fritz brought the whole herd to a sudden halt, and Jack spurred towards usa.

"Which of the cattle shall we saddle for you, Jenny?" he shouted; "they're all as gentle as lambs, and as active as cats. Every one has been ridden by female parent; and knows what a side-saddle means, so you lot can't become wrong."

To his keen delight, Jenny quickly showed her appreciation of the merits of the steeds by picking out Sprint, the fleetest and well-nigh spirited in the whole stud.

The ostrich was and so relieved of his unusual burden, the animals were apace equipped, and Lightfoot begetting the baskets and hampers, the whole party mounted and trotted forwards. Jenny was delighted with her palfrey, and henceforward he was reserved for her special utilize.

The piece of work at Falconhurst, as I had expected, occupied united states of america for some fourth dimension, and information technology was a week before we could again return to Rockburg. Even so the fourth dimension passed pleasantly; for though the young men were decorated from morning to night, the presence of their new companion, her lively spirits and gay conversation, kept them in constant good humour.

When the repairs were all finished we remained yet a solar day or two longer, that we might brand excursions in various directions to bring in poultry from Woodlands, stores of acorns for the pigs, and grass, willows, and canes, to be manufactured during the winter into mats, baskets, hurdles, and hencoops.

Many a shower wetted u.s. through during these days, and we had scarcely fourth dimension to bustle back to Rockburg and house our cattle and possessions earlier the almanac deluge began.

Never before had this dreary season seemed so curt and pleasant; with Jenny among us the usual feeling of weariness ​ and discontent never appeared; the English linguistic communication was quickly caused past all hands, Fritz, in particular, speaking it and then well that Jenny declared she could scarcely believe he was not an Englishman. She herself already spoke French, and therefore easily learned our native language and spoke it fluently before we were released from our captivity.

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Source: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Swiss_Family_Robinson_%28Kingston%29/Chapter_17

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