The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original GermanWyss, Johann David
General
The Swiss Family Robinson: A Translation from the Original German
Wyss, Johann David
Family life -- Fiction; Islands -- Fiction; Survival -- Fiction
The anchor was weighed, the sails set, and with the canoe in tow the
little vessel, as though partaking of our hopes and joyous expectation,
bounded merrily over the waters of Safety Bay, gave a wide berth to the
Reef, against whose frowning rocks the sea still lashed itself to foam,
and kept away from the cove, where the English ship unconsciously
awaited us. The Pug-Nosed Cape was reached, and, to the surprise and
utter amazement of the strangers, we rounded the point and brought up
within hail. Every eye on board and on shore was turned toward us, every
glass was produced and fixed upon our motions; for of all the strange
sights which the gallant crew may have looked for, such an anomaly as a
pleasure yacht, manned by such a party as ours, and cruising upon this
strange and inhospitable shore, was the furthest from their thoughts.
Fritz and I stepped into our boat and pulled for the brig. In another
minute we were upon her deck. The captain, with the simple frankness of
a British seaman, welcomed us cordially, and having led us into his
cabin, begged us to explain to what good fortune he owed a visit from
residents upon a coast generally deemed uninhabited, or the abode of the
fiercest savages.
I gave him an outline of the history of the wreck, and of our sojourn
upon these shores, and spoke to him, too, of Miss Montrose, and of the
providential way in which we had been the means of rescuing her from her
lonely position.
"Then," said the gallant officer, rising and grasping Fritz by the hand,
"let me heartily thank you in my own name, and in that of Colonel
Montrose; for it was the hope of finding some trace of that brave girl
that led me to these shores. The disappearance of the _Dorcas_ has been
a terrible blow to the colonel, and yet, though for three years no word
of her or any of those who sailed in her has reached England, he has
never entirely abandoned all hope of again hearing of his daughter. I
knew this, and a few weeks ago, when I was about to leave Sydney for the
Cape, I found three men who declared themselves survivors of the
_Dorcas_ and said that their boat, of four which left the wreck, was the
only one which, to their knowledge, reached land in safety. From them I
learned all particulars, and applying for permission to cruise in these
latitudes, I sailed in hopes of finding further traces of the
unfortunate crew. My efforts have been rewarded by unlooked-for
success."
Fritz replied most modestly to the praises which he received, and then
the captain begged to be introduced to my wife and Miss Montrose.
"And," he continued, "if it be not contrary to your rules of discipline
for the whole ship's company to be absent at once, I will now send a
boat for the remainder of your party."
One of the officers was accordingly dispatched to the yacht with a
polite message, and the mother, Jenny, and the boys were presently on
board.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account