CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER II.

_A landing, and consequent occupations._

By break of day we were all awake and alert, for hope as well

as grief, is unfriendly to lengthened slumbers. When we had finished

our morning prayer, I said, We now, my best beloved, with the

assistance of heaven, must enter upon the work of our deliverance.

The first thing to be done, is to give to each poor animal on

board, before we leave them, a hearty meal; we will then put

food enough before them for several days; we cannot take them

with us; but we will hope it may be possible, if our voyage succeeds,

to return and fetch them. Are you now all ready? Bring together

whatever we mean to take, whatever is absolutely necessary for

our wants. It is my wish that our first cargo should consist

of a barrel of gunpowder, three fowling-pieces, and three carbines,

with as much small shot and lead and as many bullets as our boat

will bear; two pair of pocket pistols and one of large ones,

not forgetting a mould to cast balls in: each of the boys and

their mother also should have a bag to carry game in; you will

find plenty of these in the cabins of the officers. We added

a chest containing cakes of portable soup, another full of hard

biscuits, an iron pot, a fishing-rod, a chest of nails and another

of different utensils, such as hammers, saws, pincers, hatchets,

augers, &c. and lastly some sail-cloth to make a tent. In short,

the boys brought so many things, that we were obliged to reject

some of them, though I had already exchanged the worthless ballast

for articles of use for our subsistence.

When all was ready, we stepped bravely each into a tub. At the

moment of our departure we heard all the cocks and hens begin

to crow, as if they were conscious that we had deserted them,

yet willing to bid us a sorrowful adieu. This suggested to me

the idea of taking the geese, ducks, fowls, and pigeons with

us; observing to my wife, that if we could not find means to

feed them, at least they would feed us.

We accordingly executed this plan. We put ten hens and an old

and a young cock into one of the tubs, and covered it with planks;

we set the rest of the poultry at liberty, in the hope that instinct

would direct them towards the land, the geese and the ducks by

water, and the pigeons by the air.

We were waiting for my wife, who had the care of this last part

of our embarkation, when she joined us loaded with a large bag,

which she threw into the tub which already contained her youngest

son. I imagined that she intended it for him to sit upon, and

also to confine him so as to prevent his being tossed from side

to side. I therefore asked no questions concerning it. The order

of our departure was as follows:

In the first tub at the boat’s head, my wife, the most tender

and exemplary of her sex, placed herself.

In the second, our little Francis, a lovely boy six years old,

full of the happiest dispositions, but whose character was not

yet pronounced.

In the third, Fritz, our eldest boy, between fourteen and fifteen

years of age, a handsome curl-pated youth full of intelligence

and vivacity.

In the fourth was the barrel of gunpowder, with the cocks and

hens and the sail-cloth.

In the fifth, the provisions for the support of life.

In the sixth, my son Jack, a light-hearted, enterprising, audacious,

generous lad, about ten years old.

In the seventh, my son Ernest, a boy of twelve years old, of

a rational reflecting temper, well informed, but somewhat disposed

to indolence and the pleasures of the senses.

In the eighth, a father, to whose paternal care the task of guiding

the machine for the safety of his beloved family was intrusted.

Each of us had useful implements within reach; the hand of each

held an oar, and near each was a swimming apparatus in readiness

for what might happen. The tide was already at half its height

when we left the ship, and I had counted on this circumstance

as favourable to our want of strength. We held the two paddles

longways, and thus we passed without accident through the cleft

of the vessel into the sea. The boys devoured with their eyes

the blue land they saw at a distance (for to us it appeared to

be of this colour). We rowed with all our strength, but long

in vain, to reach it: the boat only turned round and round: at

length, however, I had the good fortune to steer in such a way

that she proceeded in a straight line. The two dogs we had left

on board, perceiving that we had abandoned them, plunged immediately

into the sea and swam to the boat; they were too large for us

to think of giving them admittance, and I dreaded lest they should

jump in and upset us. Turk was an English dog, and Ponto of the

Danish breed. I was in great uneasiness on their account, for

I feared it would not be possible for them to swim so far. The

dogs however managed the affair with perfect intelligence. When

they found themselves fatigued, they rested their fore paws on

one of the paddles, which were now turned crossways, and the

rest of their bodies followed with very little effort.

Jack was disposed to refuse them this accommodation: but he soon

yielded to my argument, that it was cruel and unwise to neglect

creatures thrown on our protection, and who indeed might hereafter

protect us in their turn by guarding us from harm, and assisting

in our pursuit of animals for food. Besides, added I, animals

are created beings, and God has given the dog to man to be his

friend and faithful companion.

Our voyage proceeded securely, though slowly; but the nearer

we approached the land, the more gloomy and unpromising we thought

its aspect appeared. The coast was occupied by barren rocks,

which seemed to offer nothing but hunger and distress. The sea

was calm; the waves, gently agitated, washed the shore, and the

sky was serene; in every direction we perceived casks, bales,

chests, and other vestiges of shipwrecks, floating round us.

In the hope of obtaining some good provisions, I determined on

endeavouring to secure two of the casks. I bade Fritz have a

rope, a hammer, and some nails ready, and to try to seize them

as we passed. He succeeded in laying hold of two of them, and

in such a way that we found it easy to draw them after us to

the shore. Now that we were close on land, its hideous aspect

was considerably softened, the rocks no longer appeared one undivided

chain; Fritz with his hawk’s eyes already descried some trees,

and exclaimed that they were palm trees. Ernest expressed his

joy that he should now get much larger and better cocoa nuts

than those of Europe. I for my part was venting audibly my regret,

that I had not thought of bringing with us a telescope that I

knew was in the captain’s cabin, when Jack drew a small spy-glass

from his pocket, and, with a look of triumph that he was able

to compensate this neglect, instantly presented it to me.

So, so, then, said I, you meant to keep this spy-glass for yourself,

and to let no one else have the benefit of it! This was not fair;

pleasures and pain, all should be in common in such a situation

as ours. Jack assured me that he had forgot to give it to me

sooner, and that he had taken it for the benefit of all. In reality,

the glass was of great importance; for with its aid I was able

to make the necessary observations, and consequently became more

sure of the route I ought to take. I remarked that the shore

before us had a desert and savage aspect, but that towards the

left, the scene was much more agreeable: but when I attempted

to steer in that direction, a current carried me irresistibly

towards the coast that was rocky and barren. By and by we perceived

a little opening between the rocks, near the mouth of a creek,

towards which all our geese and ducks betook themselves; and

I, relying on their sagacity, followed in the same course. This

opening formed a little bay, the water of which was tranquil,

and neither too deep nor too shallow to receive our boat. I entered

it, and cautiously put on shore on a spot where the coast was

about the same height above the water as our tubs, and where

at the same time there was a quantity sufficient to keep us afloat.

The shore extended inland in a shelving declivity in the form

of an isosceles triangle, the upper angle of which terminated

among the rocks, while the margin of the sea formed the basis.

All that had life in the boat jumped eagerly on land. Even little

Francis, who had been wedged in his tub like a potted herring,

now got up and sprang forward; but, with all his efforts, he

could not succeed without his mother’s help. The dogs, who had

swam on shore, received us as if they were appointed to do the

honours of the place, jumping round us with every demonstration

of joy: the geese kept up a loud continual cackling, to which

the ducks, with their broad yellow beaks, contributed a perpetual

thorough bass: the cocks and hens, which we had already set at

liberty, clucked; the boys chattering all at once; produced all

together an overpowering confusion of sounds: to this was added

the disagreeable scream of some penguins and flamingos, which

we now perceived, some flying over our heads, others sitting

on the points of the rocks at the entrance of the bay. By and

by the notes of the latter had the ascendant, from the superiority

of their numbers; and their society became the more unpleasant,

from a comparison we could not avoid making, between the sounds

they uttered, with the harmony of the feathered musicians of

our own country. I had however one advantage in perspective;—it

was the reflection that, should we hereafter be short of food,

these very birds might serve for our subsistence.

[Illustration: The Family Landed]

The first thing we did on finding ourselves safe on _terra firma_,

was to fall on our knees, and return thanks to the Supreme Being

who had preserved our lives, and to recommend ourselves with

entire resignation to the care of his paternal kindness.

We next employed our whole attention in unloading the boat. Oh,

how rich we thought ourselves in the little we had been able

to rescue from the merciless abyss of waters! We looked every

where for a convenient place to build a tent under the shade

of the rocks; and having all consulted and agreed upon a place,

we set to work. We drove one of our poles firmly into a fissure

of the rock; this formed the ridge of our tent, and rested upon

another pole, which was driven perpendicularly into the ground.

A frame for a dwelling was thus made secure. We next threw some

sail-cloth over the ridge; and, stretching it to a convenient

distance on each side, fastened its extremities to the ground

with stakes. By way of precaution, we left the chests of provisions

and other heavy matters on the shore, and fixed some tenter-hooks

near the edge of the sail-cloth in front, that we might be able

to inclose the entrance during night. I next desired my sons

to look about and collect all the grass and moss they could find,

and spread it to dry in the sun, as it would then serve us for

beds. During this occupation, in which even the little Francis

could take a share, I erected at a small distance from the tent,

and near a river from which I hoped to be supplied with fresh

water, a kind of little kitchen. A few flat stones that I found

in the bed of the river served for a fire-place. I got a quantity

of dry branches: with the largest I made a small inclosure round

it; and with the little twigs, added to some of our turf, I made

a brisk cheering fire. We put some of the soup cakes, with water,

into our iron pot, and placed it over the fire; and my wife,

with her little Francis for a scullion, took charge of preparing

the dinner. Francis, from their colour, had mistaken the soup

cakes for glue. Why, papa, said he, what are you going to use

glue for? I am going to make some soup of it, said his mother

laughing. That is droll enough, answered he; for how shall we

get any meat to put into it, here, where there is nothing like

a butcher’s shop?

Little blockhead, said I, what you have been thinking was glue,

is in reality excellent meat, reduced as you see to a jelly,

by the process of cookery, and which being dried, is in no danger

of becoming stale. In this state it will bear long voyages by

sea, where it would be difficult to take sufficient animals for

the use of the ship’s company, who would otherwise be kept constantly

on a less wholesome soup made from salted meat; but ours, I assure

you, Francis, will be excellent. The poor child was hungry enough

to believe he should partake of it with joy.

In the mean while Fritz had been reloading the guns, with one

of which he had wandered along the side of the river. He had

proposed to Ernest to accompany him; but Ernest replied that

he did not like a rough and stony walk, and that he should go

alone to the sea-shore. Jack took the road towards a chain of

rocks which jutted out into the sea, with the intention of gathering

some of the muscles which grew upon them. My own occupation was

now an endeavour to draw the two floating casks on shore, but

in which I could not succeed; for our place of landing, though

convenient enough for our machine, was too steep for the casks.

While I was looking about to find a more favourable spot, I heard

loud cries proceeding from a short distance, and recognised the

voice of my son Jack. I snatched my hatchet, and ran in an agony

of apprehension to his assistance. I soon perceived him up to

his knees in water in a shallow, and that a large sea lobster

had fastened his claws in his leg. The poor boy screamed pitiably,

and made useless efforts to disengage himself. I jumped instantly

into the water; and the enemy was no sooner sensible of my approach,

than he let go his hold, and would have scampered out to sea,

but that I indulged the fancy of a little malice against him

for the alarm he had caused us. I turned quickly upon him, and

took him up by the body and carried him off, followed by Jack,

who shouted our triumph all the way. He begged me at last to

let him hold the animal in his own hand, that he might himself

present so fine a booty to his mother. Accordingly, having observed

how I held it to avoid the gripe, he laid his own hand upon it

in exactly the same manner; but scarcely had he grasped it, than

he received a violent blow on the face from the lobster’s tail,

which made him lose his hold, and the animal fell to the ground.

Jack again began to bawl out, while I could not refrain from

laughing heartily. In his rage he took up a stone, and killed

the lobster with a single blow. I was a little vexed at this

conclusion to the scene. This is what we call killing an enemy

when he is unable to defend himself, Jack, said I;—it is wrong

to revenge an injury while we are in a state of anger: the lobster,

it is true, had given you a bite; but then you on your part,

would have eaten the lobster. So I think the game was equal.

Another time I advise you to be both more prudent and more merciful.

But pray, papa, let me carry it to my mother, said Jack, fearless

now of further warfare; and accordingly he carried it to the kitchen,

triumphantly exclaiming, Mamma, mamma, a sea-lobster!—Ernest,

a sea-lobster! Where is Fritz? Where is Fritz? Take care, Francis,

he will bite you. In a moment all were round him to examine the

wonderful creature, and all proclaimed their astonishment at

his enormous size; while they observed that its form was precisely

that of the common lobster so much in use in Europe.

Yes, yes, said Jack, holding up one of his claws; you may well

wonder at his size: this was the frightful claw which seized my

leg, and I believe that if I had not had on my thick sea pantaloons,

he would have bit it through and through; but I have taught him

what it is to attack me: I have paid him well.

Oh, ho! Mr. Boaster, cried I, you give a pretty account of the

matter. Now mine would be, that if I had not been near, the lobster

would have shown you another sort of game; for the slap he gave

you in the face compelled you, I think, to let go your hold.

And it is well it should be thus; for he fought with the arms

with which nature had supplied him, but you must have recourse

to a great stone for your defence. Believe me, Jack, you have

no great reason to boast of the adventure.

Ernest, ever eager about his meals, now bawled out that the lobster

had better be put into the soup, which would give it an excellent

flavour; but this his mother opposed, observing, that we must

be more economical of our provisions than that, for the lobster

of itself would furnish a dinner for the whole family. I now

left them, and walked again to the scene of this adventure, and

examined the shallow. I then made another attempt upon my two

casks, and at length succeeded in getting them into the shallow,

and in fixing them there securely on their bottoms.

On my return, I complimented Jack on his being the first to have

procured us an animal that might serve for our subsistence, and

I promised him for his own share, the famous claw which had already

furnished us with so lively a discussion.

Ah! but _I_ have seen something too that is good to eat, said

Ernest; and I should have got it if it had not been in the water,

so that I must have wetted my feet——;

Oh, that is a famous story, said Jack; I can tell you what he

saw,—some nasty muscles: why, I would not eat one of them for

the world.—Think of my lobster!

That is not true, Jack; for it was oysters, and not muscles,

that I saw: I am sure of it, for they stuck against the foot

of the rock, and I know they must be oysters.

Fortunate enough, my dainty gentleman, cried I, addressing myself

to Ernest; and since you are so well acquainted with the place

where these shell-fish can be found, you will be so obliging

as to dismiss your fears about wetting your feet, and to return

and procure us some. In such a situation as ours, every member

of the family must be actively employed for the common good,

and not be afraid of wetting his feet. Take example by Fritz

and your father: they bear a greater evil, the scorching heat

of the sun, without complaining.

I will do my best with all my heart, answered Ernest; and at

the same time I will bring home some salt, of which I have seen

immense quantities in the holes of the rocks, where I suppose

it is dried by the sun. I tasted some of it, and it was excellent.

Papa, is it not left there by the sea?

No doubt it is, Mr. Reasoner, for where else do you think it

could come from? You would have done more wisely if you had brought

us a bag of it, instead of spending your time in such profound

reflections upon an operation so simple and obvious; and if you

do not wish to dine upon a soup without flavour, you had better

run and fetch us a little immediately.

He set off, and soon returned: what he brought had the appearance

of sea salt, but was so mixed with earth and sand, that I was

on the point of throwing it away. My wife however prevented me;

and by dissolving and afterwards filtering some of it through

a piece of muslin, we found it admirably fit for use.

Why could we not have used some seawater, said Jack, instead

of having all this trouble?

Sea water, answered I, is even more bitter than it is salt; and

it has besides a disagreeable sickly taste. While I was speaking,

my wife tasted the soup with a little stick with which she had

been stirring it, and pronounced that it was all the better for

the salt, and now quite ready. But, said she, Fritz is not come

in. And then, how shall we manage to eat our soup without spoons,

or dishes? Why did we not remember to bring some from the ship?

Why did we not think of them?—Because, my dear, one cannot think

of every thing at once. We shall be lucky if we do not discover

that we have forgotten even more important things.

But indeed, said she, this is a matter which cannot easily be

set to rights. How will it be possible for each of us to raise

this large boiling pot to his lips?

A moment’s further reflection convinced me my wife was right.

We all cast our eyes upon the pot with a sort of silent and stupid

perplexity, and we looked a little like the fox in the fable,

when the stork desires him to help himself from a vessel with

a long neck. Silence was at length broken, by all bursting into

a hearty laugh at our want of every kind of utensil, and at the

thought of our own folly, in not recollecting that spoons and

forks were things of absolute necessity.

Ernest observed, that if we could but get some cocoa-nuts, we

might divide and empty them, and use the pieces of the shells

for spoons.

Yes, yes, that is true enough, replied I; _if we could but get,_—but

we have them not; our ifs will do but little good; and if wishing

were to any purpose, I had as lief wish at once for a dozen silver

spoons; but alas! of what use is wishing?

But at least, said the boy, we can use some oyster-shells for

spoons.

Why, this is well, Ernest, said I, and is what I call a useful

thought. Run then quickly, and get us some of them. But, gentlemen,

I must give you notice, that no one of you must give himself

airs because his spoon is without a handle, or if he should chance

to grease his fingers in the soup.

Jack ran the first, and was up to his knees in the water before

Ernest could reach the place. Jack tore off the fish with eagerness,

and threw them to the slothful Ernest, who put them into his

pocket handkerchief, having first secured in his pocket, one

shell he had met with of a large size. The boys came back together

with their booty.

Fritz not having yet returned, his mother was beginning to be

uneasy, when we heard him shouting to us from a small distance,

to which we answered by similar sounds. In a few minutes he was

among us; his two hands behind him, and with a sort of would-be

melancholy air, which none of us could well understand. What

have you brought? asked his brothers; let us see your booty,

and you shall see ours. Ah! said he, I have unfortunately nothing,

for I have seen nothing. What! nothing at all? said I. Nothing

at all, said he. But now, on fixing my eye upon him, I perceived

a smile of proud success through his assumed dissatisfaction.

At the same instant Jack, having stolen behind him, exclaimed:

A sucking pig! A sucking pig! Fritz, finding his trick discovered,

now proudly displayed his prize, which I immediately perceived,

from the description I had read in different books of travels,

was an agouti, an animal common in that country, and not a sucking

pig, as the boys had supposed. The agouti, says M. de Courtills

in his Voyage to St. Domingo, is of the size of a hare, and runs

with the same swiftness; but its form is more like the pig, and

he makes the same grunting noise. He is not a voracious animal,

but is nice in the choice of his food. When his appetite is satiated,

he buries what remains, and keeps it for another time. He is

naturally of a gentle temper; but if provoked, his hair becomes

erect, he bites, and strikes the ground with his hind feet like

the rabbit, which he also resembles in digging himself a burrow

under ground: but this burrow has but one entrance; he conceals

himself in it during the hottest part of the day, taking care

to provide himself with a store of patates and bananas. He is

usually taken by coursing, and sometimes by dogs, or with nets.

When it is found difficult to seize him, the sportsman has only

to whistle. As soon as the agouti hears the sound, he is instantly

still, remains resting on his hind feet, and suffers himself

to be taken. His flesh is white, like that of the rabbit; but

it is dry, has no fat, and never entirely loses a certain wild

flavour, which is extremely disagreeable to Europeans. He is

held in great esteem by the natives, particularly when the animal

has been feeding near the sea on plants impregnated with salt.

They are therefore caught in great numbers, and for this reason

the species is much diminished.—Where did you find him? How did

you get at him? Did he make you run a great way? asked all at

once the young brothers. Tell me, tell us all . . . . &c. I, for

my part, assumed a somewhat serious tone. I should have preferred,

said I, that you had in reality brought us nothing, rather than

to have heard you assert a falsehood. Never allow yourself, even

in jest, my dear boy, to assert what you know to be an untruth.

By such trifles as these, a habit of lying, the most disgusting

and frightful of vices, may be induced. Now then that I have

given you this caution, let us look at the animal. Where did

you find it?

Fritz related, that he had passed over to the other side of the

river. Ah! continued he, it is quite another thing from this

place; the shore is low, and you can have no notion of the quantity

of casks, chests, and planks, and different sorts of things washed

there by the sea. Ought we not to go and try to obtain some of

these treasures? We ought also, said I, to make our little voyage

to the vessel, and fetch away our animals; at least you will

all agree that of the cow we are pretty much in want. If our

biscuit were soaked in milk, it would not be so hard, but much

improved, said our glutton Ernest. I must tell you too, said

Fritz, that over on the other side there is as much grass for

pasturage as we can desire, and besides a pretty wood, in the

shade of which we could repose. Why then should we remain on

this barren desert side? Patience, patience, replied I, there

is a time for every thing, friend Fritz; we shall not be without

something to undertake tomorrow, and even after tomorrow. But,

above all, I am eager to know if you discovered in your excursion

any traces of our ship companions. Not the smallest trace of

man, dead or alive, on land or water; but I have seen some other

animals that more resembled pigs than the one I have brought

you, but with paws more like those of the hare: the animal I

am speaking of, leaps from place to place on the grass, now sitting

on his hind legs, rubbing his face with his front feet, and then

seeking for roots and gnawing them like the squirrel. If I had

not been afraid of his escaping me, I should have tried to catch

him with my hands, for he appeared almost tame.

Ernest, with the look and manner of a deep observer, now turned

the agouti backwards and forwards to examine him on all sides.

After a long silence, he said with importance, I cannot be sure

that this animal, as you all believe, is a sucking pig; his hair

and his snout pretty much resemble, it is true, those of a pig:

but pray observe his teeth; he has but four incisores in front

similar to the genus Voracious animals: in general he has a greater

resemblance to the rabbit than to the hare. I have seen an engraving

of him in our book of natural history; if I am not mistaken he

is named the _agouti_.

Ah! ha! said Fritz, here is a learned professor, profound in

the subject of natural history!

And who this once is not mistaken? cried I. Spare your raillery,

Fritz, for it is really an agouti. I do not myself know any thing

of the animal: but by his description in books or engravings,

with which his appearance perfectly corresponds; he is a native

of America, lives under ground on the roots of trees, and is,

as travellers report, excellent food. But of this we will judge

for ourselves.

While we were speaking, Jack was trying with all his might to

open one of the oysters with his knife; but he could not succeed.

I laughed heartily at his disappointment, and put a few of them

on the fire, where they soon opened of themselves. Now then,

boys, you may have as fine and choice a regale as if you were

in a palace. I swallowed one myself; but I have never been fond

of oysters; and the boys, observing the wry face I made, all

looked at me with surprise. I thought every body was fond of

oysters, papa, said one of them. I do not mean to dispute the

taste of others, replied I; but, for myself, nothing but a craving

hunger could force me to make a meal of them; but you can yourselves

try the experiment, and perhaps you will like them. This sort

of shell-fish is so little agreeable to the eye of those unaccustomed

to see them, that not one of the boys had any inclination to

touch them. Shortly, however, Jack, in the character of the most

courageous, swallowed one hastily, shutting and squeezing up

his eyes as if it were a medicine, and the others followed his

example; but one and all declared that the oyster was a fish

not at all to their taste, and each hastened to dip his shell

into the pot to get out a little soup; but, as I had foreseen,

each drew out a scalded finger, and it was who could scream the

loudest. Ernest was the only one who had been too cautious to

expose himself to this misfortune; he quietly took his muscle-shell,

as large and deep as a plate, from his pocket, and carefully

dipping it into the pot, drew it out filled with as much soup

as was his fair share; and casting a look of exultation on his

brothers, he set it down to wait till it should be cold enough

to eat.

You have taken excellent care of yourself, I perceive, said I.

But now answer me, dear boy, is the advantage worth the pains

you take to be better off than your companions? Yet this is the

constant failing of your character. As your best friend, I feel

it to be my duty to balk you of the expected success. I therefore

adjudge your dish of delicious soup to our faithful followers,

Turk and Ponto. For ourselves, we will all fare alike, you as

well as the rest; we will simply dip our oyster-shells into the

pot till hunger is appeased; but the picked dish for the dogs,

Ernest, and all the rest _alike!_

This gentle reproach sunk, I perceived, into his heart; he placed

the shell, filled with soup, upon the ground, and in the twinkling

of an eye the dogs had licked up every drop. We on our parts

were almost as sharp set as they, and every eye was fixed on

the pot, watching when the steam would subside a little, that

we might begin dipping; when on looking round we saw Turk and

Ponto standing over the agouti, gnawing and tearing him fiercely

with their teeth and paws. The boys all screamed together; Fritz

seized his gun, and struck them with it; called them the unkindest

names, threw stones at them, and was so furious, that, if I had

not interfered, it is probable he would have killed them. He

had already bent his gun with the blows he had aimed at them,

and his voice was raised so high as to be reechoed from the rocks.

When he had grown a little cool, I seriously remonstrated with

him on his violence of temper. I represented to him what distress

he had occasioned his mother and myself for the event of a rage

so alarming; that his gun, which might have been so useful, was now

entirely spoiled; and that the poor animals, upon whose assistance

we should probably so much depend, he had, no doubt, greatly

injured. Anger, continued I, is always a bad counsellor, and

may even lead the way to crimes; you are not ignorant of the

history of Cain, who, in a moment of violent anger, killed his

brother. Say no more, my dearest father, interrupted Fritz in

a tone of horror.—Happy am I to recollect on this occasion, resumed

I, that they were animals, and not human creatures, you treated

thus. But an angry person never reasons; he scarcely knows whom

he attacks. The most convincing proof of this, is, that you just

now fell upon two dumb animals incapable of judgement, and who

most likely thought that your agouti was placed there, as the

soup had been before, for them to eat. Confess too, that it was

vanity which excited the furious temper you exhibited. If another

than yourself had killed the agouti, you would have been more

patient under that accident. Fritz agreed that I was right, and,

half drowned in tears, entreated my forgiveness.

Soon after we had taken our meal, the sun began to sink into

the west. Our little flock of fowls assembled round us, pecking

here and there what morsels of our biscuit had fallen on the

ground. Just at this moment my wife produced the bag she had

so mysteriously huddled into the tub. Its mouth was now opened,—it

contained the various sorts of grain for feeding poultry—barley,

peas, oats, &c., and also different kinds of seeds of vegetables

for the table. In the fullness of her kind heart she scattered

several handfuls at once upon the ground, which the innocent

creatures began eagerly to seize. I complimented her on the benefit

her foresight had secured for us; but I recommended a more sparing

use of so valuable an acquisition, observing, that the grain,

if kept for sowing, would produce a harvest, and that we could

fetch from the ship spoiled biscuit enough to feed the fowls.

Our pigeons sought a roosting place among the rocks; the hens,

with the two cocks at their head, ranged themselves in a line along

the ridge of the tent; and the geese and ducks betook themselves

in a body, cackling and quacking as they proceeded, to a marshy

bit of ground near the sea, where some thick bushes afforded

them shelter.

A little later, we ourselves began to follow the example of our

winged companions by beginning our preparations for repose. First,

we charged our guns and pistols, and laid them carefully in the

tent: next, we assembled all together and joined in offering

up our thanks to the Almighty for the succour afforded us, and

supplicating his watchful care for our preservation. With the

last ray of the sun we entered our tent, and laid ourselves close

to each other on the grass and moss we had collected in the morning.

The children observed, with surprise, that darkness came upon

us all at once; that night succeeded to day without an intermediate

twilight.—This, replied I, makes me suspect that we are not far

from the equator, or at least between the tropics, where this

is of ordinary occurrence; for the twilight is occasioned by

the rays of the sun being broken in the atmosphere; the more

obliquely they fall, the more their feeble light is extended

and prolonged; while, on the other hand, the more perpendicular

the rays the less their declination: consequently the change

from day to night is much more sudden when the sun is under the

horizon.

I looked once more out of the tent to see if all was quiet around

us, and then carefully fastened the sail-cloth across the entrance.

The old cock, awakened by the rising of the moon, chaunted our

vespers, and then I lay down to sleep. In proportion as we had

been during the day oppressed with heat, we were now in the night

inconvenienced by the cold so that we were obliged to cling close

to each other for warmth. A sweet sleep began to close the eyes

of my beloved family; I was secretly endeavouring to keep awake

till I was sure my wife’s solicitude had yielded to the same

happy state, and then I closed my own. Thanks to the fatigue

we had undergone, our first night in the desert island was very

tolerably comfortable.