The Swiss family Robinson
of a pulley. When I had laid them along to advantage, they looked so
inviting that I could scarcely resist my desire of at once committing
myself to the kind relief they seemed to offer to my exhausted
strength.
But now the savoury smell of the tortoise laid claim to my attention.
I hastened down, and we all partook heartily of the luxurious treat.
We returned thanks to God, and speedily retired to taste the blessing
of sound repose upon the said mattresses.
CHAPTER XIX
Another Trip to the Wreck--Baking
After breakfast the next morning we returned to the seaside to
complete the unloading of the raft, that it might be ready for sea
on the flowing of the tide. We were not long in taking two cargoes
to Falcon’s Stream. At our last trip the water was nearly up to our
craft. I sent back my wife and the boys, and remained with Fritz
till we were quite afloat; when observing Jack still loitering near,
I guessed at his wish, and consented to his embarking with us.
Shortly after, the tide was high enough for us to row off. Instead
of steering for Safety Bay to moor our vessels there securely, I was
tempted by a fresh sea-breeze to go out again to the wreck; but it
was too late to undertake much, and I was unwilling to cause my dear
partner uneasiness by passing another night on board. I therefore
determined to bring away only what could be obtained with ease and
speed: we searched hastily through the ship for any trifling articles
that might be readily removed. Jack was up and down everywhere, at a
loss what to select; and when I saw him again, he drew a wheelbarrow
after him, shouting that he had found a vehicle for carrying our wild
roots.
But Fritz next disclosed still better news, which was, that he had
discovered, behind the bulkhead amidship, a pinnace (i.e. a small
craft, the fore part of which is square), taken to pieces, with
all its appurtenances, and even two small guns for its defence.
This intelligence so delighted me, that I quitted everything else
to run to the bulkhead, when I was convinced of the truth of the
lad’s assertion: but I instantly perceived that to put it together,
and launch it, would be an Herculean task. I collected various
utensils, a copper boiler, some plates of iron, tobacco-graters, two
grinding-stones, a small barrel of gunpowder, and another full of
flints, which I much valued. Jack’s barrow was not forgotten; two
more were afterwards found and added, with straps belonging to them.
All these articles were hurried into the boat, and we re-embarked
with speed, to avoid the land wind that rises in the evening.
Arrived at Falcon’s Stream, my wife exhibited a good store of
tuberous roots, which she had got in during our absence, and a
quantity of the roots I had taken for manioc, and in which I was not
mistaken.
“But now,” said I, “for some supper and repose; and if my little
workmen should be industriously inclined to-morrow, I shall reward
them with the novelty of a new trade to be learned.” This did not
fail to excite the curiosity of all; but I kept my word, and made
them wait till the following day for the explanation I had to give.
I waked the boys very early, reminding them that I had promised to
teach them a new trade.
“What is it? What is it?” exclaimed they, all at once, springing
suddenly out of bed, and hurrying on their clothes.
_Father._--It is the art of the baker, my boys. Hand me those
iron plates that we brought yesterday from the vessel, and the
tobacco-graters also, and we will make our experiment. Ernest, bring
hither the roots you found; but first, my dear, I must request you
to make me a small bag of a piece of strong wrapper cloth.
My wife set instantly to work to oblige me; but having no great
confidence in my talents for making either bread or cakes, she
first filled a copper boiler with roots, and put it on the fire,
that we might not be without something to eat at dinner-time: in
the meanwhile I spread a piece of coarse linen on the ground, and
assembled my young ones round me: I gave each of the boys a grater,
and showed him at the same time how to rest it on the linen, and then
to grate the roots of manioc: in a short time each had produced a
considerable heap of a substance somewhat resembling pollard.
By this time my wife had completed the bag. I had it well filled with
what we called our pollard, and she closed it securely by sewing
up the end. I was now to contrive a kind of press: I cut a long,
straight, stout branch, from a neighbouring tree, and stripped it
of the bark; I then placed a plank across the table we had fixed
between the arched roots of our tree, and which was exactly the right
height for my purpose, and on this I laid the bag; I put other planks
again upon the bag, and then covered all with the large branch, the
thickest extremity of which I inserted under an arch, while to the
other, which projected beyond the planks, I suspended all sorts
of heavy substances, such as lead, our largest hammers, and bars
of iron, which, acting with great force as a press on the bag of
manioc, caused the sap it contained to issue in streams, which flowed
plentifully on the ground.
We then opened the bag, and took out a small quantity of the pollard,
which already was dry enough: we stirred the rest about with a stick,
and then replaced it under the press. The next thing was to fix one
of our iron plates, which was of a round form, and a little hollow,
so as to rest upon two blocks of stone at a distance from each
other; under this we lighted a large fire, and when the iron plate
was completely heated, we placed a portion of the dough upon it with
a wooden spade. As soon as the cake began to be brown underneath, it
was turned, that the other side might be baked also.
When the cake was cold, we broke some of it into crumbs, and gave it
to two of the fowls, and a larger piece to the monkey, who nibbled it
with a perfect relish, making all the time a thousand grimaces, while
the boys stood by envying the preference he enjoyed.
The first thing after dinner was to visit our fowls. Those which had
eaten the manioc were in excellent condition, and no less so was the
monkey. “Now then to the bakehouse, young ones,” said I, “as fast as
you can scamper.” The grated manioc was soon emptied out of the bag,
a large fire was quickly lighted, and I placed the boys where a flat
surface had been prepared for them, and gave to each a plate of iron
and the quantity of a cocoa-nut full to make a cake apiece, and they
were to try who could succeed the best. They were ranged in a half
circle round me, that they might observe how I proceeded, and adopt
the same method for themselves. The result was not discouraging for
a first experiment, though it must be confessed we were now and then
so unlucky as to burn a cake; but there was not a greater number of
these than served to feed the pigeons and the fowls, which hovered
round us to claim their share of the treat.
The rest of the day was employed by the boys in making several turns
with their wheelbarrows, and by myself in different arrangements,
in which the ass and our sledge had a principal share, both being
employed in drawing to Tent House the remaining articles we had
brought from the ship.
CHAPTER XX
The Cracker and the Pinnace
From the time of discovering the pinnace, my desire of returning to
the vessel grew every moment more irresistible; but one thing I saw
was absolutely necessary, which was, to collect all my hands to get
her out from the situation where we had found her.
After breakfast, then, we prepared for setting out. The boys were gay
and on the alert, in the expectation of the pleasure that awaited
them. We took with us an ample provision of boiled roots and cassava;
and in addition, arms and weapons of every kind. We reached Safety
Bay without any remarkable event: here we thought it prudent to put
on our cork jackets; we then scattered some food for the geese and
ducks which had taken up their abode there, and soon after stepped
gaily into our tub-raft, at the same time fastening the new boat by a
rope to her stern, so that she could be drawn along. We put out for
the current, though not without considerable fear of finding that
the wreck had disappeared. We soon, however, perceived that it still
remained firm between the rocks.
Having got on board, all repaired, on the wings of curiosity and
ardour, to that part of the vessel called the bulk-head, which
contained the enviable prize, the pinnace. On further observation,
it appeared to me that the plan we had formed was subject to at
least two alarming difficulties; the one was the situation of the
pinnace in the ship; and the other was the size and weight it
would necessarily acquire when put together. The enclosure which
contained the pinnace was in the interior of the ship, and timbers
of prodigious bulk and weight separated it from the breach, and in
this part of the deck there was not sufficient space for us to put
the pinnace together, or to give her room when done. The breach also
was too narrow and too irregular to admit of her being launched from
this place, as we had done with our tub-raft. In short, the separate
pieces of the pinnace were too heavy for the possibility of our
removing them even with the assistance of our united strength. What
therefore was to be done?
The cabinet which contained the pinnace was lighted by several small
fissures in the timbers, which, after standing in the place a few
minutes to accustom the eye, enabled one to see sufficiently to
distinguish objects. I discovered, with pleasure, that all the pieces
of which she was composed were so accurately arranged and numbered,
that without too much presumption I might flatter myself with the
hope of being able effectually to collect and put them together, if I
could be allowed the necessary time, and could procure a convenient
place. I therefore, in spite of every disadvantage, decided on
the undertaking; and we immediately set about it. We proceeded at
first so slowly as to have produced discouragement, if the desire
of possessing so admirable a little vessel had not at every moment
inspired us with new strength and ardour.
We passed an entire week in this arduous undertaking. I embarked
every morning with my three sons, and returned every evening,
and never without some small addition to our stores. We were now
so accustomed to this manner of proceeding, that my wife bade us
good-bye without concern, and we, on our parts, left Tent House
without anxiety.
At length the pinnace was completed, and in a condition to be
launched: the question now was, how to manage this remaining
difficulty. She was an elegant little vessel, perfect in every part:
she had a small neat deck; and her masts and sails were no less exact
and perfect than those of a little brig. It was probable she would
sail well, from the lightness of her construction, and in consequence
drawing but little water. We had pitched and towed all the seams,
that nothing might be wanting for her complete appearance: we had
even taken the pains of further embellishing, by mounting her with
two small cannon of about a pound weight; and, in imitation of larger
vessels, had fastened them to the deck with chains. But in spite of
the delight we felt in contemplating a work, as it were, of our own
industry, the great difficulty still remained: the said commodious,
charming little vessel still stood fast, enclosed within four
walls: nor could I conceive a mode of getting her out. To effect a
passage through the outer side of the vessel, by means of our united
industry in the use of all the utensils we had secured, seemed to