The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original GermanWyss, Johann David
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The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original German
Wyss, Johann David
Family life -- Fiction; Islands -- Fiction; Survival -- Fiction
"Oh, we will prepare for that," said Fritz; "it shall be soaked and
cleaned, and dried until it is as hard as a wooden model; it shall not
offend your delicate nose in the least, Ernest!"
"I supposed the walrus to be an animal peculiar to the Arctic regions,"
remarked Ernest.
"And so it is," I replied; "though they may occasionally be seen
elsewhere; these may have wandered from the Antarctic seas. I know that
on the eastern coast of Africa is found a smaller species of walrus
called the dugong; it has long incisor teeth, but not tusks; and
certainly resembles a seal, rather than a walrus."
While thus speaking, we were actively engaged in the decapitation of the
walrus, and in cutting off long strips of its skin. This took some time,
as we had not the proper implements, and Fritz remarked that in future
the cajack must be provided with a hunting-knife and a hatchet; adding
that he should like to have a small compass in a box, with a glass top,
fixed in front of the hole where the steersman sits. I saw the necessity
of this, and I promised it should be done.
Our work being accomplished, we were ready to go, and I proposed to take
Fritz and the canoe on board our boat, so that we might all arrive
together; but I yielded to his earnest wish to return alone as he came;
he longed to act as our avant-courier, and announce our approach to his
mother; so he was soon skimming away over the surface of the water,
while we followed at a slower rate.
Black clouds meanwhile gathered thick and fast around us, and a
tremendous storm came on. Fritz was out of sight, and beyond our reach.
We buckled on the swimming belts and firmly lashed ourselves to the
boat, so that we might not be washed overboard by the towering seas
which broke over it.
The horizon was shrouded in darkness, fearful gusts of wind lashed the
ocean into foam, rain descended in torrents, while livid lightning
glared athwart the gloom. Both my boys faced the danger nobly; and my
feelings of alarm were mingled with hope on finding how well the boat
behaved.
The tempest swept on its way, and the sky began to clear as suddenly as
it had been overcast; yet the stormy waves continued for a long time to
threaten our frail bark with destruction, in spite of its buoyancy and
steadiness.
Yet I never lost hope for ourselves--all my fears were for Fritz; in
fact I gave him up for lost, and my whole agonized heart arose in
prayer for strength to say, "Thy will be done!"
At last we rounded the point, and once more entering Safety Bay, quickly
drew near the little harbor.
What was our surprise--our overwhelming delight--when there we saw the
mother with Fritz, as well as her little boy, on their knees in prayer
so earnest for our deliverance, that our approach was unperceived, until
with cries of joy we attracted their notice. Then indeed ensued a happy
meeting, and we gave thanks together for the mercy which had spared our
lives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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