The Swiss family Robinson
directions, and on one side there was a complete breach. The ship’s
company crowded into the boats till they could contain not one man
more, and the last who entered were now cutting the ropes to move
off. I called to them with almost frantic entreaties to stop and
receive us also, but in vain; for the roaring of the sea prevented my
being heard, and the waves, which rose to the height of mountains,
would have made it impossible to return. All hope from this source
was over, for, while I spoke, the boats, and all they contained, were
driving out of sight. My best consolation now was to observe that
the slanting position the ship had taken would afford us present
protection from the water; and that the stern, under which was the
cabin that enclosed all that was dear to me on earth, had been driven
upwards between two rocks, and seemed immovably fixed. At the same
time, in the distance southward, I descried through clouds and rain,
several nooks of land, which, though rude and savage in appearance,
were the objects of every hope I could form in this distressing
moment.
Sunk and desolate from the loss of all chance of human aid, it was
yet my duty to appear serene before my family: “Courage, dear ones,”
cried I on entering their cabin, “let us not desert ourselves: I will
not conceal from you that the ship is aground; but we are at least
in greater safety than if she were beating upon the rocks; our cabin
is above water; and should the sea be more calm to-morrow, we may yet
find means to reach the land in safety.”
What I had just said appeased their fears; for my family had the
habit of confiding in my assurances. They now began to feel the
advantage of the ship’s remaining still; for its motion had been
most distressing, by jostling them one against another, or whatever
happened to be nearest. My wife, however, more accustomed than
the children to read my inmost thoughts, perceived the anxiety
which devoured me. I made her a sign which conveyed an idea of the
hopelessness of our situation; and I had the consolation to see that
she was resolved to support the trial with resignation. “Let us take
some nourishment,” said she; “our courage will strengthen with our
bodies; we shall perhaps need this comfort to support a long and
melancholy night,”
Soon after night set in; the fury of the tempest had not abated;
the planks and beams of the vessel separated in many parts with a
horrible crash. We thought of the boats, and feared that all they
contained must have sunk under the foaming surge.
My wife had prepared a slender meal, and the four boys partook of it
with an appetite to which their parents were strangers. They went to
bed, and, exhausted by fatigue, soon were snoring soundly. Fritz, the
eldest, sat up with us. “I have been thinking,” said he, after a long
silence, “how it may be possible to save ourselves. If we had some
bladders or cork-jackets for my mother and my brothers, you and I,
father, would soon contrive to swim to land.”
“That is a good thought,” said I; “we will see what can be done.”
Fritz and I looked about for some small empty firkins; these we tied
two and two together with handkerchiefs or towels, leaving about a
foot distance between them, and fastened them as swimming-jackets
under the arms of each child, my wife at the same time preparing one
for herself. We provided ourselves with knives, some string, some
turfs, and other necessaries which could be put into the pocket,
proceeding upon the hope, that if the ship went to pieces in the
night, we should either be able to swim to land, or be driven thither
by the waves.
Fritz, who had been up all night, and was fatigued with his laborious
occupations, now lay down near his brothers, and was soon asleep;
but their mother and I, too anxious to close our eyes, kept watch,
listening to every sound that seemed to threaten a further change in
our situation. We passed this awful night in prayer, in agonizing
apprehensions, and in forming various resolutions as to what we
should next attempt. We hailed with joy the first gleam of light
which shot through a small opening of the window. The raging of
the winds had begun to abate, the sky was become serene, and hope
throbbed in my bosom, as I beheld the sun already tinging the
horizon. Thus revived, I summoned my wife and the boys to the deck
to partake of the scene. The youngest children, half forgetful of
the past, asked with surprise, why we were there alone, and what had
become of the ship’s company? I led them to the recollection of our
misfortune, and then added, “Dearest children, a Being more powerful
than man has helped us, and will, no doubt, continue to help us, if
we do not abandon ourselves to a fruitless despair. Observe, our
companions, in whom we had so much confidence, have deserted us, and
that Divine Providence, in its goodness, has given us protection!
But, my dear ones, let us show ourselves willing in our exertions,
and thus deserve support from heaven. Let us not forget this useful
maxim, and let each labour according to his strength.”
Fritz advised that we should all throw ourselves into the sea, while
it was calm, and swim to land.--“Ah! that may be well enough for
you,” said Ernest, “for you can swim; but we others should soon be
drowned. Would it not be better to make a float of rafts, and get to
land all together upon it?”
“Vastly well,” answered I, “if we had the means for contriving such a
float, and if, after all, it were not a dangerous sort of conveyance.
But come, my boys, look each of you about the ship, and see what can
be done to enable us to reach the land.”
They now all sprang from me with eager looks, to do as I desired.
I, on my part, lost no time in examining what we had to depend upon
as to provisions and fresh water. My wife and the youngest boy
visited the animals, whom they found in a pitiable condition, nearly
perishing with hunger and thirst. Fritz repaired to the ammunition
room; Ernest to the carpenter’s cabin; and Jack to the apartment of
the captain; but scarcely had he opened the door, when two large
dogs sprang upon him, and saluted him with such rude affection that
he roared for assistance, as if they had been killing him. Hunger,
however, had rendered the poor creatures so gentle that they licked
his hands and face, uttering all the time a low sort of moan, and
continuing their caresses till he was almost suffocated. Poor Jack
exerted all his strength in blows to drive them away: at last he
began to understand, and to sympathize in their joyful movements, and
put himself upon another footing. He got upon his legs, and gently
taking the largest dog by the ears, sprang upon his back, and with
great gravity presented himself thus mounted before me, as I came out
of the ship’s hold. I could not refrain from laughing, and I praised
his courage; but I added a little exhortation to be cautious, and not
go too far with animals of this species, who, in a state of hunger,
might be dangerous.
By and by my little company were again assembled round me, and each
boasted of what he had to contribute. Fritz had two fowling-pieces,
some powder and small-shot, contained in horn flasks, and some
bullets in bags.
Ernest produced his hat filled with nails, and held in his hands a
hatchet and a hammer; in addition, a pair of pincers, a pair of large
scissors, and an auger, peeped out at his pocket-hole.
Even the little Francis carried under his arm a box of no very small
size, from which he eagerly produced what he called some little
sharp-pointed hooks. His brothers smiled scornfully. “Vastly well,
gentlemen,” said I; “but let me tell you that the youngest has
brought the most valuable prize, and this is often the case in the
world; the person who least courts the smiles of Fortune, and in the
calm of his heart is scarcely conscious of her existence, is often he
to whom she most readily presents herself. These little sharp-pointed
hooks, as Francis calls them, are fishing-hooks, and will probably be
of more use in preserving our lives than all we may find besides in
the ship. In justice, however, I must confess, that what Fritz and
Ernest have contributed will also afford essential service.”
“I, for my part,” said my wife, “have brought nothing; but I have
some tidings to communicate which I hope will secure my welcome: I
have found on board a cow and an ass, two goats, six sheep, and a sow
big with young: I have just supplied them with food and water, and I
reckon on being able to preserve their lives.”
“All this is admirable,” said I to my young labourers; “and there is
only master Jack, who, instead of thinking of something useful, has
done us the favour to present us two personages, who, no doubt, will
be principally distinguished by being willing to eat more than we
shall have to give them.”
“Ah!” replied Jack, “but if we can once get to land, you will see
that they will assist us in hunting and shooting.”
“True enough,” said I, “but be so good as to tell us how we are to
get to land, and whether you have contrived the means?”
“I am sure it cannot be very difficult,” said Jack, with an arch
motion of his head. “Look here at these large tubs. Why cannot each
of us get into one of them, and float to the land? I remember I
succeeded very well in this manner on the water, when I was visiting
my godfather at S----”
“Every one’s thought is good for something,” cried I, “and I begin to
believe that what Jack has suggested is worth a trial: quick, then,
boy! give me the saw, the auger, and some nails; we will see what is
to be done.” I recollected having seen some empty casks in the ship’s
hold: we went down, and found them floating in the water which had
got into the vessel; it cost us but little trouble to hoist them up,
and place them on the lower deck, which was at this time scarcely
above water. We saw, with joy, that they were all sound, well guarded
by iron hoops, and in every respect in good condition; they were
exactly suited for the object; and, with the assistance of my sons,
I instantly began to saw them in two. In a short time I had produced
eight tubs, of equal size, and of the proper height. We now allowed
ourselves some refreshment of wine and biscuit. I viewed with delight
my eight little tubs, ranged in a line. I was surprised to see that
my wife did not partake our eagerness; she sighed deeply as she
looked at them. “Never, never,” cried she, “can I venture to get into
one of these.”
“Do not decide so hastily, my dear,” said I; “my plan is not yet
complete; and you will see presently that it is more worthy of our
confidence than this shattered vessel, which cannot move from its
place.”
I then sought for a long pliant plank, and placed my eight tubs upon
it, leaving a piece at each end reaching beyond the tubs, which, bent
upward, would present an outline like the keel of a vessel; we next
nailed all the tubs to the plank, and then the tubs to each other, as
they stood, side by side, to make them the firmer, and afterwards two
other planks, of the same length as the first, on each side of the
tubs. When all this was finished, we found we had produced a kind of
narrow boat, divided into eight compartments, which I had no doubt
would be able to perform a short course in calm water.
But now we discovered that the machine we had contrived was so heavy,
that, with the strength of all united, we were not able to move
it an inch from its place. I bade Fritz fetch me a crow, who soon
returned with it: in the meanwhile I sawed a thick round pole into
several pieces, to make some rollers. I then, with the crow, easily
raised the foremost part of my machine, while Fritz placed one of the
rollers under it.
“How astonishing,” cried Ernest, “that this engine, which is smaller