CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTER IV.

_Return from the voyage of discovery. A nocturnal alarm._

My poor boy now began to complain heavily of fatigue; the bundle

of sugar-canes galled his shoulders, and he was obliged to move

it from place to place. At last, he stopped to take breath. No,

cried he, I never could have thought that a few sugar-canes could

be so heavy. How sincerely I pity the poor negroes who carry

them in even larger quantities, and to a greater distance! I

should however be so glad, if my mother and my brother could

but partake of our booty!

A little patience and a little courage, dear Fritz, replied I, will

enable you to accomplish this wish; recollect Esop’s bread-basket,

which at first was so overwhelming a burden, but which at last became

so light. We can cause it to be the same with your sugar-canes,

if we consent to diminish them by sucking a certain number of

them on the road; as a precedent, you may dispose of one to me,

and I will use it at one moment as a walking-stick, and at another

as a sugarplum. Take you one, also; the rest we will bind together

and put at your back, hanging them upon the barrel of your gun,

by which means you will carry them with ease.

In such a situation as ours we must learn to call forth all our

intelligence; reflection and the faculty of invention must be

made to compensate our want of means.

While we were conversing and proceeding on our way, Fritz perceived

that from time to time I sucked the end of my sugar-cane, and

he would needs do the same. It was in vain, however, that he

tried; scarcely a drop of the sap reached his eager lips. What

then is the reason, said he, that though the cane is full of

juice, I cannot get out a drop?

The reason is, answered I, that you make use neither of reflection

nor of your imagination.

Ah! I recollect now, is it not a question about air? Unless there

were a particular opening in the cane, I may suck in vain, no

juice will come.

You have well explained the difficulty: but how will you manage

to set it right?

Father, lend me your cane an instant.

No, no, that will not do; what I wish is, that you should yourself

invent the remedy.

Let me see; I imagine that I have only to make a little opening

just above the first knot, and then the air can enter.

Exactly right. But tell me what you think would be the operation

of this opening near the first knot; and in what manner can it

make the juice get into your mouth?

The pith of the cane being completely interrupted by each knot

in its growth, the opening that I might make below, could have

no effect upon the part above; in sucking the juice, I draw in

my breath, and thus exhaust the air in my mouth; the external

air presses at the same time through the hole I have made, and

fills this void: the juice of the cane forms an obstacle to this

effort, and is accordingly driven into my mouth. But how shall

I manage, when I have sucked this part dry, to get at the part

above?

Oh, ho! Mr. Philosopher, what should prevent you, who have been

reasoning so well about the force and fluidity of the air, from

immediately conceiving so simple a process as that of cutting

away the part of the cane you have already sucked dry, and making

a second perforation in the part above, so that . . . . .

Oh, I have it, I have it, I understand;—but if we should become

too expert in the art of drawing out the juice, I fear but few

of the canes will reach our good friends in the tent.

I also am not without my apprehensions, that of our acquisition

we shall carry them only a few sticks for fire-wood; for I must

bring another circumstance to your recollection: the juice of

the sugar-cane is apt to turn sour soon after cutting, and the

more certainly in such heat as we now experience; we may suck

them therefore without compunction, and without regret at the

diminution of their numbers.

Well then, if we can do no better with the sugar-canes, at least

I will take them a good provision of the milk of cocoa-nuts,

which I have here in a tin bottle; we shall sit round on the

grass and drink it so deliciously!

In this too, my generous boy, I fear, you will also be disappointed.

You talk of milk; but the milk of the cocoa-nut, no less than

the juice of the sugar-cane, when exposed to the air and heat,

turns soon to vinegar. I would almost wager that it is already

sour; for the tin bottle which contains it, is particularly liable

to become hot in the sun.

O heavens, how provoking! I must taste it this very minute. The

tin bottle was lowered from his shoulder in the twinkling of

an eye, and he began to pull the cork with all his strength;

as soon as it was loose, the liquid flew upwards in a brisk stream,

and with a loud noise and frothing like champain.

Bravo, Mr. Fritz! you have manufactured there a wine of some

mettle. I must now caution you not to let it make you tipsy.

Oh, taste it, father, pray taste it; it is quite delicious; not

the least like vinegar; it is rather like excellent new wine;

its taste is sweet, and it is so sparkling! do take a little,

father. Is it not good? If all the milk remains in this state,

the treat will be better even than I thought.

I wish it may prove so: but I have my fears; its present state

is what is called the first degree of fermentation; the same

thing happens to honey dissolved in water, of which hydromel

is made. When this first fermentation is past, and the liquid

is clear, it is become a sort of wine, or other fermented liquor, the

quality of which depends on the materials used. By the application

of heat, there next results a second and more gradual fermentation,

which turns the fluid into vinegar. But this may be prevented

by extraordinary care, and by keeping the vessel that contains

it in a cool place. Lastly, a third fermentation takes place

in the vinegar itself, which entirely changes its character,

and deprives it of its taste, its strength, and its transparency.

In the intense temperature of this climate, this triple fermentation

comes on very rapidly, so that it is not improbable that, on

entering our tent, you might find your liquids turned to vinegar,

or even to a thick liquid of ill odour: we may therefore venture

to refresh ourselves with a portion of our booty, that it may

not all be spoiled. Come then, I drink your health, and that

of our dear family. I find the liquor at present both refreshing

and agreeable; but I am pretty sure that, if we would arrive

sober, we must not venture on frequent libations.

Our regale imparted to our exhausted frames an increase of strength

and cheerfulness; we pursued our way with briskness, to the place

where we had left our gourd utensils upon the sands; we found

them perfectly dry, as hard as bone, and not the least mis-shapen.

We now therefore could put them into our game bags conveniently

enough; and this done, we continued our way. Scarcely had we

passed through the little wood in which we breakfasted, when

Turk sprang furiously away to seize upon a troop of monkeys,

who were skipping about and amusing themselves without observing

our approach toward the place of their merriment. They were thus

taken by surprise; and before we could get to the spot, our ferocious

Turk had already seized one of them: it was a female monkey who

held a young one in her arms, which she was caressing almost

to suffocation, and which incumbrance in reality deprived her of

the power of escaping. The poor creature was killed, and afterwards

devoured; the young one hid himself in the grass, and looked

on grinding his teeth all the time that this horrible achievement

was performing. Fritz flew like lightning to force the ferocious

Turk from his prey. He lost his hat, threw down his tin bottle,

canes, and other burdens, but all in vain; he arrived too late

to prevent the murder of the interesting mother.

The next scene that presented itself was of a different nature,

and comical enough; it afforded me considerable amusement. The

young monkey, on perceiving Fritz, sprang nimbly on his shoulders,

and fastened his feet securely in the stiff curls of his hair;

nor could the squalls of Fritz, nor all the shaking he gave him,

make him let go his hold. I ran to them, laughing heartily, for

I saw that the animal was too young to be capable of doing him

any injury, while the expression of the panic in the features

of the boy, made the most diverting contrast with the grimaces

of the monkey, whom I in vain endeavoured to disengage. There

is no remedy, Fritz, said I, but to submit quietly and carry

him; he will furnish an addition to our stock of provisions,

though less alluring, I must needs confess, than that we could

wish to take to your mother. The conduct of the little animal

displays a very surprising intelligence; he has lost his mother,

and he adopts you for his father; perhaps he discovered in you

something of the air of a father of a family.

Or rather the little rogue found out that he had to do with a

chicken-hearted fellow, who shrinks with aversion from the idea

of ill-treating an animal which has thrown itself on his protection.

But I assure you, father, he is giving me some terrible twitches,

and I shall be obliged to you to try once more to get him off.

With a little gentleness and management I found means to succeed.

I took the creature in my arms as one would an infant, and I

confess I could not help pitying and caressing him. He was not

larger than a kitten, and quite unable to help himself: its mother

appeared to us to be at least as tall as Fritz.

What shall I do with thee, poor orphan? cried I, and how in our

state of necessity shall I be able to maintain thee? We have

already more mouths to fill, than food to put into them, and

our workmen are too young to afford us soon much hope from their

exertions.

Father, cried Fritz, do let me have this little animal in my

own keeping. I will take the greatest care of him; I will give

him all my share of the milk of the cocoa-nuts till we get our

cows and goats; and who knows? his monkey instinct may one day

assist us in discovering some different kinds of wholesome fruits.

I have not the least objection, answered I. You have conducted

yourself throughout this tragi-comic adventure as a lad of courage

and sensibility, and I am well satisfied with every circumstance

of your behaviour. It is therefore but just that the little dependent

should be given up to your management and discretion; much will

depend on your manner of educating him; by and by we shall see

whether he will be fittest to aid us with his intelligence, or

to injure us by his malice; in this last case we shall have nothing

to do but to get rid of him.

While Fritz and I were conversing on the subject of his adoption

of the young monkey, Turk was employed in taking his fill of

the remains of its unfortunate mother. Fritz would have driven

him away from so cannibal-like a repast: but besides the difficulty

of restraining him, we had to consider, that we might ourselves

be in danger from the pressing hunger of so powerful an animal;

all the food we had before given him in the day seeming to be

nothing for his voracious and unbounded appetite.

We now again thought of resuming our journey, and accordingly

left the ferocious Turk to pursue his sanguinary dispositions;

the little orphan jumped again on the shoulder of his protector,

while I on my part relieved my boy of the bundle of canes. Scarcely

had we proceeded a quarter of a league when Turk overtook us

full gallop. Fritz and I received him without the usual marks

of kindness, and reproached him with the cruel action he had

committed, as if he could feel, and understand us; but he showed

no sign of giving himself any concern about the matter, following

quietly behind Fritz with an air of cool and perfect satisfaction.

The young monkey appeared uneasy, from seeing him so near, and

passed round and fixed himself on his protector’s bosom, who

did not long bear with so great an inconvenience without having

recourse to his invention for a remedy. He tied some string round

Turk’s body in such a way, as to admit of the monkey’s being

fastened on his back with it, and then in a tone really pathetic

addressed the dog as follows: Now, Mr. Turk, since it was you

who had the cruelty to destroy the mother, it is for you to take

every care of her child. At first the dog was restive and resisted;

but by degrees, partly by menaces and partly by caresses, we

succeeded in gaining his good will, and he quietly consented

to carry the little burden; and the young monkey, who also had made

some difficulties, at length found himself perfectly accommodated.

Fritz put another string round Turk’s neck, by which he might

lead him, a precaution he used to prevent him from going out

of sight. I must needs confess, we had not the sin of too great

haste to answer for, so that I had sufficient leisure for amusing

myself with the idea, that we should arrive at our home with

something of the appearance of keepers of rare animals for show.

I enjoyed in foresight the jubilations of our young ones when

they should see the figure we made. Ah! cried Fritz, I promise

you, brother Jack will draw from the occasion materials enough

for future malicious jokes. Do you then, my son, said I, take

your materials for a model from your admirable mother, who never

fails to make allowance for the buoyant spirits so natural to

youth. Your reflections on their faults, which, thanks be to

heaven, are such as to do injury to none, give me no pleasure;

I am aware of their existence without the aid of your observations,

and I beg you will leave to me the task of correcting them.

May I however observe, father, that I wish we could cure Turk

of his passion for attacking living animals, and tearing them

to pieces? It was, I assure you, a most frightful spectacle;

the more so, that monkeys so much resemble our own species that

I could scarcely convince myself he was not killing a man.

There was reason enough to be disgusted with the sight, though

it were only an animal you saw so treated; but, for all this,

it would in our situation be dangerous to teach our dogs not

to attack and kill, if they can, what unknown animals they meet

with. You will see that Turk will soon regard your little monkey

as a member of our family; already he is content to carry him

on his back; but I assure you we must not discourage him in his

fancy for attacking wild beasts. Heaven bestowed the dog on man

for his safe-guard and defence, and the horse the same: they

may be considered as our allies against the different tribes

of pernicious animals. How conspicuous is the goodness of the

Almighty in the natural dispositions he has bestowed on these

useful creatures, who at all times discover so much affection

for man, and so easily submit to the slavery of serving him!

A man on horseback, and accompanied by a troop of well conditioned

dogs, has no occasion to fear any species of wild beasts, not

even the lion, nor the hyena; he may even baffle the voracious

rapidity of the tiger.

I see clearly how fortunate we are in the possession of two such

creatures, who feel the strongest attachment to our persons and

are ever ready to protect us from danger; but what a pity it

was that the horses we had on board should have died during our

voyage, and have left us with only an ass!

Let us take care how we treat even our ass with disdain. I wish

we had him safe on land. Fortunately he is a powerful creature

of his species, and not of the common kind. We may train him

to do us the same services as are performed by the horse; and

it is not improbable that he will even improve under our care,

and from the excellent pasture he will find in this climate.

In such conversation as this, on subjects equally interesting

to both, we forgot the length of our journey, and soon found

ourselves on the bank of the river and near our family before

we were aware. Ponto on the other side announced our approach

by a violent barking, and Turk replied so heartily, that his

motions disturbed the tranquillity of his little burden, who,

in his fright, jumped the length of his string from his back

to Fritz’s shoulder, which he could not afterwards be prevailed

upon to leave. Turk, who began to be well acquainted with the

country, ran off to meet his companion and announce our arrival;

and shortly after our much-loved family appeared in sight on

the opposite shore, exhibiting every demonstration of unbounded

joy at our safe return. They advanced along by the course of

the river, till they on one side, and we on the other, had reached

the place where we had crossed it in the morning. We re-passed

it again in safety, and threw ourselves into each other’s arms.

Scarcely had the young ones joined their brother, than they again

began their joyful exclamations: A monkey, a live monkey! Papa,

mamma, a live monkey! Oh, how delightful! how happy shall we

be! How did you catch him? What a droll face he has! He is very

ugly, said little Francis, half afraid to touch him. He is much

prettier than you, retorted Jack; only see, he is laughing; I

wish I could see him eat. Ah! if we had but some cocoa-nut! said

Ernest; could you not find any? Are they nice? Have you brought me

any milk of almonds? said Francis. Have you met with any unfortunate

adventure? asked my wife. In this manner, questions and exclamations

succeeded to each other without interval, and with such rapidity

as not to leave us time to answer them.

At length when all became a little tranquil I answered them thus:

Most happy am I to return to you again, my best beloved, and

God be praised! without having encountered any new misfortune.

We have even the pleasure of presenting you with many valuable

acquisitions; but in the object nearest my heart, the discovering

what has become of our ship-companions, or of any individual

of them, we have entirely failed.

Since it pleases God that it should be so, said my wife, let

us endeavour to be content, and let us be grateful to him for

having saved us from their unhappy fate, and for having once

more brought us all together: I have laboured this day under

an unusual uneasiness about your safety, and imagined a thousand

evils that might beset you. The day appeared an age. But now

I see you once more safe and well, I trust I shall again resume

my tranquillity. But put down your burdens; we will all help

you; for though we have not, I assure you, spent the day in idleness,

we are less fatigued than you. Quick then, my boys, and help

to take the loads from your father and your brother. Now then

sit down and tell us your adventures.

Jack received my gun, Ernest the cocoa-nuts, Francis the gourd-rinds,

and my wife my game-bag. Fritz distributed the sugar-canes, and

put his monkey on the back of Turk, to the great amusement of

the children, at the same time begging Ernest to relieve him

of his gun. But Ernest, ever careful of his own accommodation,

assured him, that the large heavy bowls with which he was loaded,

were the most he had strength to carry. His mother, a little

too indulgent to his lazy humour, relieved him of them: and thus

we proceeded all together to our tent.

Fritz whispered to me, that if Ernest had known what the large

heavy bowls were, he would not so readily have parted with them.

Then turning to his brother, Why, Ernest, cried he, do you know

that these bowls are cocoa-nuts, your dear much-desired cocoa-nuts,

and each containing the sweet nice milk you have so much wished

to taste?

Are they indeed? are they really and truly cocoa-nuts, brother?

Oh! mamma, return them to me quickly; I will carry them if you

please, and I can carry the gun too without finding it heavy.

No, no, Ernest, answered his mother, I do not intend to be teased

with hearing any more of your heavy sighs and moanings about

your being fatigued; for I am certain you would begin again before

we had gone a hundred paces. Ernest would willingly have asked

his mother to give him the cocoa-nuts and take the gun herself,

but this he dared not do:—I have only, said he, to get rid of

these sticks, and carry the gun in my hand.

I would advise you not to give up the sticks either, said Fritz

drily; I know you will be sorry if you do; and for this good

reason—the sticks are sugar-canes!

Sugar-canes! cried he. Sugar-canes! exclaimed they all; and,

surrounding Fritz, made him give them full instructions on the

sublime art of sucking sugar-canes.

My wife also, who had always entertained a high respect for the

article of sugar in her household management, was perfectly

astonished, and earnestly entreated we would explain to her all about

it. I instantly complied with her request, giving her every

explanation and particular respecting our journey, and our new

acquisitions, which I alternately exhibited for her inspection.

No one of them afforded her more pleasure than the plates and

dishes, because to persons of decent habits they were articles

of indispensable necessity. We now adjourned to our little kitchen,

and with great delight observed the preparations going forward

in it for an excellent repast. On one side of the fire we saw

a turnspit, which my wife had contrived by driving two forked

pieces of wood into the ground, and placing a long even stick

sharpened at one end across them. By this invention she was

enabled to roast different kinds of fish, or other food, with

the help of little Francis, who was intrusted with the care of

turning it round from time to time. On the occasion of our return

she had prepared us the treat of a goose, the fat of which ran

down into some oyster-shells placed there to serve the purpose

of a dripping-pan. And besides a dish of fish, which the little

ones had caught, the iron pot was upon the fire, provided with

a good soup, the agreeable odour of which increased our appetite.

By the side of these most exhilarating preparations, stood one

of the casks which we had recovered from the waves, the head

of which my wife had knocked out, so that it exposed to our

view a cargo of the finest sort of Dutch cheeses contained in

round tins. All this display was made to excite the appetite

of the two travellers, who had fared but scantily during the

day; and I must needs observe, that the whole was very little

like such a dinner as one should expect to see on a desert island.

You indeed but barely did yourselves justice, my dear ones, in

saying that you had not been idle during our absence, cried I.

I see before me what must have cost you considerable labour.

I am however a little sorry that you have killed one of our geese

so soon; we must employ the utmost economy in the use of our

poultry, which may be of service in a time of need.

Do not make yourself uneasy on this subject, said my wife; for

what you see is not one of our geese, but a kind of wild bird,

and is the booty of your son Ernest, who calls him by a singular

name, and assures me that it is good to eat.

Yes, father, I believe that the bird which I have caught is a

kind of penguin, or we might distinguish him by the surname of

_Stupid_. He showed himself to be a bird so destitute, of even

the least degree of intelligence, that I killed him with a single

blow with my stick.

What is the form of his feet, and of his beak? asked I.

His feet were formed for swimming; in other words, he was what

is called web-footed; the beak was long, small, and a little

curved downwards: I have preserved his head and neck, that you

might examine it yourself; it reminds me exactly of the penguin,

described as so stupid a bird in my book of natural history.

You now then perceive, my son, of what use it is to read, and

to extend our knowledge, particularly on subjects of natural

history and the productions of nature in general; by this study

and knowledge, we are enabled to recognise at the moment, the

objects which chance throws in our way, whether we have seen

them before or not. Tell me now what birds there are with feet

formed like those which you have just described, and which are

so formed to enable the creature to strike the water and prevent

himself from sinking.

There are the man of war bird, cormorants, and pelicans, father.

By what mark do you distinguish the kind to which you just now

said the _penguin_ or _Stupid_ belonged?

Upon my word, interrupted his mother, I must give the answer

myself: and it will consist of a petition, that you will take

some other time for your catechism on birds: when once you have

begun on any particular subject, one never sees the end of it.

Now to my mind there is a time for every thing; Ernest killed

the bird, and was able to tell his kind; we on our parts shall

eat him; what more therefore is necessary? Do you not see that

the poor child is thinking all the while of his cocoa-nuts? Let

me intercede on his behalf, and prevail upon you to let him have

the pleasure of examining and tasting them.

Ah! thank you, my good mother; I shall be very glad if papa will

consent.

_Father._—Well, well, you have my full permission. But first

you will be obliged to learn from Fritz the best manner of opening

them, so as to preserve the milk: and one word more; I recommend

to you not to forget the young monkey, who has no longer his

mother’s milk for food.

_Jack._—I cannot prevail upon him to taste a bit; I have offered

him every thing we have.

_Father._—It cannot well be otherwise, for he has not yet learned

how to eat; you must feed him with the milk of cocoa-nuts till

we can procure something more proper for him to eat.

_Jack._—I will give the poor little creature my share with all

my heart.

_Ernest._—I have however the greatest desire to taste this milk

myself, just to know what it is like.

And so have I, said the little Francis.

However, gentlemen, the monkey must live, said Jack a little

maliciously.

And we and our children must live too, answered their mother.

Come then, the supper is ready, and the cocoa-nuts shall be for

the dessert.

We seated ourselves on the ground; my wife had placed each article

of the repast in one of our newly manufactured dishes, the neat

appearance of which exceeded all our expectations. My sons had

not patience to wait, but had broken the cocoa-nuts, and already

convinced themselves of their delicious flavour; and then they

fell to making spoons with the fragments of the shells. The little

monkey, thanks to the kind temper of Jack, had been served the

first, and each amused himself with making him suck the corner

of his pocket-handkerchief, dipped in the milk of the cocoa-nut.

He appeared delighted with the treatment he received, and we

remarked with satisfaction, that we should most likely be able

to preserve him.

The boys were preparing to break some more of the nuts with the

hatchet, after having drawn out the milk through the three little

holes which I have already observed are found near the stalk

of the cocoa-nut, and which are guarded by a soft substance which

may easily be pierced. I pronounced the word _halt_, and bade

them bring me a saw; the thought struck me, that by dividing

the nuts carefully with this instrument, the two halves when

emptied, would remain with the form of some well looking tea-cups

or basons already made to our hands. Jack, who was on every occasion

the most active, brought me a saw. I performed my undertaking

in the best manner I could, and in a short time each of us was

provided with a convenient receptacle for food. Accordingly my

wife put the share of soup which belonged to each, into those

basons or vessels. The excellent creature appeared delighted

that we should no longer be under the necessity, as before, of

scalding our fingers by dipping into the pot; and I firmly believe,

that never did the most magnificent service of china occasion

half the pleasure to its possessor, as our utensils, manufactured

by our own hands from gourds and cocoa-nuts, excited in the kind

heart of my wife. Fritz asked me if he might not invite our company

to taste his fine champain, which he said would not fail to make

us all the merrier.

I have not the least objection, answered I, but remember to taste

it yourself, before you serve it to your guests.

He ran to draw out the stopple and to taste it . . . . . . . How

unfortunate! said he, it is already turned to vinegar.

What is it? vinegar, did you say? exclaimed my wife. How lucky!

it will make the most delicious sauce for our bird, mixed with

the fat which has fallen from it in roasting, and will be as

good a relish as a salad. No sooner said than done. This vinegar

produced from cocoa-nut proved a most agreeable corrective of

the wild and fishy flavour of the penguin, and without which

I am afraid we should have found it not very palatable. The same

sauce considerably improved our dish of fish also. Each boasted

most of what he himself had been the means of procuring; it was

Jack and Francis who had caught the fish in one of the shallows,

while Ernest was employed with very little trouble to himself

in securing his penguin _the stupid_. My poor wife had herself

performed the most difficult task of all, that of rolling the

cask of Dutch cheeses into the kitchen, and then knocking out

its head. But if it was she who had most exerted herself, it

was she also who received the highest commendations; for one

and all agreed, that nothing we had tasted since we left the

ship, was half so agreeable to our appetites as this cheese which

she served for our dessert.

By the time we had finished our meal, the sun was retiring from

our view; and recollecting how quickly the night would fall upon

us, we were in the greatest haste to regain our place of rest.

My wife had considerately procured for us a tenfold quantity of

dry grass, which she had spread in the tent, so that we anticipated

with joy the prospect which was now afforded, of stretching our limbs

on a substance somewhat approaching to the quality of mattresses,

while, the night before, our bodies seemed to touch the ground.

Our whole flock of fowls placed themselves as they had done the

preceding evening; we said our prayers, and, with an improved

serenity of mind, lay down in the tent, taking the young monkey

with us, who was become the little favourite of all. Fritz and

Jack contended for a short time which should enjoy the honour

of his company for the night; and it was at last decided that

he should be laid between them; after which, each would have

a hand in covering him carefully, that he might not catch cold.

We now all lay down upon the grass, in the order of the night

before, myself remaining last to fasten the sail-cloth in front

of the tent; when heartily fatigued by the exertions of the day,

I as well as the rest soon fell into a profound and refreshing

sleep.

But I had not long enjoyed this pleasing state, when I was awakened

by the motion of the fowls on the ridge of the tent, and by a

violent barking of our vigilant safeguards, the dogs. I rushed

out instantly; my wife and Fritz, who had also been alarmed by

the noise, followed my example: we each took a gun, and sallied

forth to their assistance. Shall you, my dearest, have the courage

to fire, if it should be necessary? said I to my wife.

Most certainly, said she, if, as you say, it should be necessary.

I can depend upon myself for daring to do whatever can be the

means of preservation to our dear children. At the same time

it would perhaps be better that I should leave to you the task

of firing, while I can undertake to load your guns, and to hand

them to you as fast as you may want them.

Best of all, said I; so let us not lose a moment in examining

what enemy it is we have to deal with. Our dogs continued barking

with the same violence, and at intervals even howled. We had not

proceeded many steps from the tent, when, to our great astonishment,

we perceived by the light of the moon a terrible combat. At least

a dozen of jackalls had surrounded our brave dogs, who defended

themselves with an almost unexampled courage. Already the fierce

champions had laid three or four of their adversaries on the

ground, while those which remained began to make a timid kind

of noise, as if imploring pity and forbearance. Meanwhile they

did not the less endeavour to entangle and surprise the dogs, when

thrown off their guard, and thus secure themselves the advantage.

But our watchful combatants were not so easily to be deceived;

they took good care not to let the enemy approach them too nearly.

I, for my part, apprehended something much worse than jackalls.

We shall soon manage to set these gentlemen at rest, said I.

Let us fire both together, my boy; but let us take care how we

aim, for fear of killing the dogs; your mother shall give us

the word of command; mind how you fire, that you may not miss,

and I shall do the same. We fired, and two of the intruders fell

instantly dead upon the sands. The others made their escape;

but we perceived it was with great difficulty, in consequence,

no doubt, of being wounded. Turk and Ponto afterwards pursued

them, and put the finishing stroke to what we had begun; and

thus the battle ended: but the dogs, true Caribees by nature,

made a hearty meal on the flesh of their fallen enemies. Their

doing this was a proof of the keen hunger they experienced; for

dogs do not readily feed on foxes, and the jackall is a more

fierce and mischievous species of the fox, than the animal known

by that name in Europe. My wife, seeing that all was now quiet,

entreated us to lie down again and finish our night’s sleep;

but Fritz asked my permission to let him first drag the jackall

he had killed, towards the tent, that he might be able to exhibit

him the next morning to his brothers. Having obtained my consent,

he ran to fetch him, and, with great difficulty, succeeded in

his plan, the animal being of the size of a large dog. I however

observed to Fritz, that if Turk and Ponto were still hungry,

we ought to give them this last jackall in addition, as a recompense

for their courageous behaviour.

We had now done with this affair. The body of the jackall was

left on the rock, by the side of the tent, in which were the

little sleepers, who had not once awaked during the whole of

the scene which had been passing. Having therefore nothing further

to prevent us, we lay down by their side till day began to break,

and till the cocks, with their shrill morning salutation, awoke

us both. The children being still asleep, afforded us an excellent

opportunity to consult together respecting the plan we should

pursue for the ensuing day.