FRONTISPIECE
THE
SWISS FAMILY
ROBINSON
ILLUSTRATED BY
T. H. ROBINSON
GARDEN CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.
GARDEN CITY NEW YORK
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I A SHIPWRECK, AND PREPARATIONS FOR DELIVERANCE 15
II A LANDING, AND CONSEQUENT OCCUPATIONS 28
III VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 39
IV RETURN FROM THE VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY--A
NOCTURNAL ALARM 49
V RETURN TO THE WRECK 56
VI A TROOP OF ANIMALS IN CORK JACKETS 66
VII SECOND JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY PERFORMED BY
THE MOTHER OF THE FAMILY 74
VIII CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE 80
IX CHANGE OF ABODE 87
X CONSTRUCTION OF A LADDER 95
XI THE SETTLING IN THE GIANT TREE 101
XII THE SABBATH AND THE PARABLE 105
XIII CONVERSATION, AND A WALK 114
XIV CONTINUATION OF PRECEDING CHAPTER--DISCOVERIES 119
XV HOPES OF A SLEDGE--SOME SHORT LESSONS
IN USEFUL THINGS 124
XVI BATHING, FISHING, AND A KANGAROO 127
XVII MORE STORES FROM THE WRECK 132
XVIII THE TORTOISE HARNESSED 135
XIX ANOTHER TRIP TO THE WRECK--BAKING 140
XX THE CRACKER AND THE PINNACE 144
XXI GYMNASTIC EXERCISES--VARIOUS DISCOVERIES--
SINGULAR ANIMALS, ETC. 153
XXII EXCURSION INTO UNKNOWN TRACTS 163
XXIII USEFUL OCCUPATIONS AND LABOURS--EMBELLISHMENTS--A
PAINFUL BUT NATURAL SENTIMENT 169
XXIV A NEW DOMAIN--THE TROOP OF BUFFALOES--THE
VANQUISHED HERO 175
XXV THE MALABAR EAGLE--SAGO MANUFACTORY--BEES 184
XXVI TREATMENT OF BEES--STAIRCASE--TRAINING
OF VARIOUS ANIMALS--MANUFACTURES, ETC. 194
XXVII THE WILD ASS--DIFFICULTY IN BREAKING
IT--THE HEATH FOWL’S NEST 201
XXVIII FLAX, AND THE RAINY SEASON 208
XXIX SPRING--SPINNING--SALT MINE 215
XXX HOUSE IN THE SALT ROCK--TURTLES 222
XXXI NEW FISHERY--NEW EXPERIMENTS--NEW DISCOVERIES,
AND HOUSE 226
XXXII COMPLETION OF TWO FARMHOUSES--A
LAKE--A BOAT 235
XXXIII ANNIVERSARY OF OUR DELIVERANCE--MOTIVES
FOR THANKFULNESS 244
XXXIV GOURD PLANTATION--MONKEY-ROOT OR GINSENG--BIRD
SNARES 250
XXXV THE DOVE-COT AND ITS MANAGEMENT 257
XXXVI JACK’S ADVENTURE AND NARROW ESCAPE--A
FOUNTAIN 264
XXXVII THE APPROACH OF WINTER AND WET SEASON--INVENTION
OF A NEW LIGHT--LITERARY ACQUISITIONS 268
XXXVIII CLOSE OF THE RAINY SEASON--A WHALE--CORAL 273
XXXIX THE WHALE, ITS DISSECTION--USES OF THE
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WHALE 276
XL THE BOAT-PROPELLER OR ROWING MACHINE--A
TURTLE DRIVE 279
XLI WEAVING-MACHINE--BASKET-MAKING--THE
ALARM--A DANGEROUS VISITOR--THE
ASS FALLS A VICTIM 286
XLII DISCOVERY OF A CRYSTAL GROTTO--FURTHER
EXPLORATION 295
XLIII THE PIG HUNT--THE SUPPLY--THE
OTAHEITAN ROAST--HAM SMOKING 304
XLIV EXCURSION INTO THE SAVANNA--TWO HORSEMEN--THE
OSTRICH HUNT--THE NEST--THE LAND TURTLES 309
XLV BEARS! BEARS!--NARROW ESCAPE--THE COMBAT--DISCOVERY
OF PORCELAIN EARTH 316
XLVI PREPARATION OF THE BEARS’ FLESH--CUPS OUT OF
OSTRICH EGGS--ANGORA RABBITS AND ANTELOPES 319
XLVII OSTRICHES AGAIN--A HUNT AND A CAPTURE--ACQUISITION
OF TREASURE--EUPHORBIA--VANILLA 325
XLVIII PROGRESS IN OSTRICH DISCIPLINE--EFFICACY
OF TOBACCO SMOKE--HYDROMEL--THE NEW HAT--POTTERY 331
XLIX RETURN OF THE RAINY SEASON--A NEW WANT--THE CAJACK 339
L RETURN OF THE BOYS--THEIR ADVENTURES--HARVESTING--
PARTRIDGES AND QUAILS 345
LI TRIAL OF THE CAJACK--THE ALARM--ADVENTURE WITH
SEA COWS--THE DRAWBRIDGE 350
LII TAMING OF ANTELOPES--SUGAR PRESS--COMBAT WITH A
HYENA--A FLYING COURIER--THE WILD HORSE AND THE
ELEPHANT 357
LIII THE REDOUBT--VALUABLE DISCOVERIES--THE CACAO
TREE--THE BANANA--CROCODILES AND ALLIGATORS--TEA
PLANT--ARTILLERY, AND FORTIFICATION OF SHARK ISLAND 369
LIV A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE COLONY AFTER TEN YEARS OF
ESTABLISHMENT 376
LV EXCURSION OF FRITZ--STARTLING COMMUNICATION--DISCOVERY
OF PEARLS--INTELLIGENCE OF A FELLOW CREATURE--FRITZ’S
RETURN, AND ACCOUNT OF HIS WONDERFUL DISCOVERIES 384
LVI EDIBLE BIRDS’ NESTS--PEARL FISHERY--POOR
JACK IS “KILLED”--DISCOVERY OF TRUFFLES 393
LVII COTTON NUTS--TERRIFIC ENCOUNTER WITH LION AND
LIONESS--A SAVAGE--PARLEY, AND RECOGNITION OF A
FRIEND 398
LVIII ADVENTURES OF FRITZ--SIR EDWARD MONTROSE--OUR ADOPTED
SISTER--ATTACK OF WOLVES--PREPARATIONS FOR RETURN 406
LIX THE LIMEKILN--FRITZ’S STORY 414
LX EMILY’S OWN STORY--RETURN TO FELSENHEIM WITH MILITARY
HONOURS--THE WINTER SEASON ONCE MORE 421
LXI CONCLUSION 427
COLOR PLATES
“The morning dawned upon us without a prospect
of hope” _Frontispiece_
FACING PAGE
“The Vandals themselves could not have made a
more complete pillage than we had done” 62
“I proceeded more cautiously in my pursuit of the
wounded bird” 94
“He accordingly fell into the track of the current,
and drew us straight towards our usual place of
landing” 138
“Thus we entered the rock in solemn procession” 218
“Francis remained with his mother” 310
“With one of our young cavaliers mounted on his back” 334
“I felt so frightened at the apparition” 374
THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON
THE SWISS FAMILY
ROBINSON
CHAPTER I
A Shipwreck, and Preparations for Deliverance
Already the tempest had continued six days; on the seventh its fury
seemed still increasing; and the morning dawned upon us without a
prospect of hope, for we had wandered so far from the right track,
and were so forcibly driven toward the southeast, that none on
board knew where we were. The ship’s company were exhausted by
labour and watching, and the courage which had sustained them was
now sinking. The shivered masts had been cast into the sea; several
leaks appeared, and the ship began to fill. The sailors forbore from
swearing; many were at prayer on their knees; while others offered
miracles of future piety and goodness, as the condition of their
release from danger. “My beloved children,” said I to my four boys,
who clung to me in their fright, “God can save us, for nothing is
impossible to Him. We must however hold ourselves resigned, and,
instead of murmuring at His decree, rely that what He sees fit to do
is best, and that should He call us from this earthly scene, we shall
be near Him in heaven, and united through eternity. Death may be well
supported when it does not separate those who love.”
My excellent wife wiped the tears which were falling on her cheeks,
and from this moment became more tranquil: she encouraged the
youngest children who were leaning on her knees; while I, who owed
them an example of firmness, was scarcely able to resist my grief
at the thought of what would most likely be the fate of beings so
tenderly beloved. We all fell on our knees, and supplicated the God
of Mercy to protect us; and the emotion and fervour of the innocent
creatures are a convincing proof that even in childhood devotion may
be felt and understood, and that tranquillity and consolation, its
natural effects, may at that season be no less certainly experienced.
Fritz, my eldest son, implored, in a loud voice, that God would deign
to save his dear parents and his brothers, generously unmindful of
himself: the boys rose from their posture with a state of mind so
improved that they seemed forgetful of the impending danger. I myself
began to feel my hopes increase, as I beheld the affecting group.
Heaven will surely have pity on them, thought I, and will save their
parents to guard their tender years!
At this moment a cry of “Land, land!” was heard through the roaring
of the waves, and instantly the vessel struck against a rock with so
violent a motion as to drive every one from his place; a tremendous
cracking succeeded, as if the ship were going to pieces; the sea
rushed in, in all directions; we perceived that the vessel had
grounded, and could not long hold together. The captain called out
that all was lost, and bade the men lose not a moment in putting out
the boats. The sounds fell on my heart like a thrust from a dagger:
“We are lost!” I exclaimed, and the children broke out into piercing
cries. I then recollected myself, and, addressing them again,
exhorted them to courage, by observing that the water had not yet
reached us, that the ship was near land, and that Providence would
assist the brave. “Keep where you are,” added I, “while I go and
examine what is best to be done.”
I now went on the deck. A wave instantly threw me down, and wetted me
to the skin; another followed, and then another. I sustained myself
as steadily as I could; and looking around, a scene of terrific
and complete disaster met my eyes: the ship was shattered in all