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.