The Swiss family Robinson
followed the winding of a river towards the middle of the wall of
rocks: our course was interrupted by a marsh which bordered a small
lake, the aspect of which was enchantingly picturesque. I perceived,
with joyful surprise, that the whole surface of the swampy soil
was covered with a kind of wild rice, ripe on the stalk, and which
attracted the voracity of large flocks of birds. As we approached, a
loud rustling was heard, and we distinguished on the wing, bustards,
Canada heath-fowl, and great numbers of smaller birds. We succeeded
in bringing down five or six of them; and I was pleased to remark in
Ernest a justness of aim that promised well for the future.
Presently we saw Master Knips jump from Flora’s back, and smell
along the ground among some thick growing plants, then pluck off
something with his two paws, and eat of it voraciously. We ran to
the spot to see what it could be, when, to the relief of our parched
palates, we found he had discovered there the largest and finest
kind of strawberry, which is called in Europe the _Chili_, or _pine
strawberry_.
Pursuing our way a little further along the marsh, we reached the
lake, which we had descried with so much pleasure from a distance,
and whose banks, being overgrown with thick underwood, were
necessarily concealed from the momentary view we had leisure to take
of surrounding objects, particularly as the lake was situated in a
deep and abrupt valley. No one who is not a native of Switzerland can
conceive the emotion which trembled at my heart, as I contemplated
this limpid, azure, undulating body of water, the faithful miniature
of so many grand originals, which I had probably lost sight of
for ever. My eyes swam with tears! Alas! a single glance upon the
surrounding picture, the different characters of the trees, the vast
ocean in the distance, destroyed the momentary illusion, and brought
back my ideas to the painful reality, that I and mine were--strangers
in a desert island!
Another sort of object now presented itself to confirm the certainty
that we were no longer inhabitants of Europe: it was the appearance
of a quantity of swans gliding over the surface of the lake; but
their colour, instead of white, like those of our country, was a
jetty black, and their plumage had so high a gloss as to produce,
reflected on the water, the most astonishing effect. The six large
feathers of the wings of this bird are white, exhibiting a singular
contrast to the rest of the body: in other respects these birds were
remarkable, like those of Europe, for the haughty gracefulness of
their motions, and the voluptuous ease of their nature.
We now began to look for the shortest path for returning to the farm,
which we reached at the same time with Fritz and Jack, who had well
performed the object of their journey. We, on our part, produced
our offering of strawberries and our specimen of rice, which were
welcomed with shouts of pleasure and surprise. We filled the stable
with forage, laid a large provision of grain for the fowls within
their house, and began arrangements for our departure.
The following day we took a silent leave of our animals, and
directed our course towards the eminence in the vicinity of Cape
Disappointment; we ascended it, and found it in every respect adapted
to our wishes. From this eminence we had a view over the country
which surrounded Falcon’s Stream in one direction, and in others of
a richly diversified extent of landscape, comprehending sea, land,
and rocks. When we had paused for a short time upon the exhaustless
beauties of the scene, we agreed with one voice, that it should be
on this spot we would build our second cottage. A spring of the
clearest water issued from the soil near the summit, and flowed over
its sloping side, forming agreeable cascades in its rapid course; in
short, every feature of the picture contributed to form a landscape
worthy the homage of a taste the most delicate and refined. I
presented my children with an appropriate word.--“Let us build here,”
exclaimed I, “and call the spot--_Arcadia_;” to which my wife and all
agreed.
We lost no time in again setting to work; our experience at the farm
enabled us to proceed with incredible rapidity, and our success was
in every respect more complete. The building contained a dining-room,
two bed-chambers, two stables, and a store-room for preserving all
kinds of provisions for man and beast. We formed the roof square,
with four sloped sides, and the whole had really the appearance of an
European cottage, and was finished in the short space of six days.
What now remained to be done, was to fix on a tree fit for my project
of a boat. After much search, I at length found one of prodigious
size, and in most respects suitable to my views.
It was, however, no very encouraging prospect I had before me, being
nothing less than the stripping off a piece of the bark that should
be eighteen feet in length, and five in diameter; and now I found
my rope ladder of signal service: we fastened it by one end to the
nearest branches, and it enabled us to work with the saw as might be
necessary at any height from the ground. Accordingly we cut quite
round the trunk in two places, and then took a perpendicular slip
from the whole length between the circles; by this means we could
introduce the proper utensils for raising the rest by degrees, till
it was entirely separated. We toiled with increasing anxiety, at
every moment dreading that we should not be able to preserve it from
breaking, or uninjured by our tools. When we had loosened about half,
we supported it by means of cords and pulleys; and when all was at
length detached, we let it down gently, and with joy beheld it lying
safe on the grass. Our business was next to mould it to our purpose,
while the substance continued moist and flexible.
The boys observed that we had now nothing more to do than to nail a
plank at each end, and our boat would be as complete as those used
by the savages; but for my own part, I could not be contented with a
mere roll of bark for a boat; and when I reminded them of the paltry
figure it would make following the pinnace, I heard not another word
about the further pains and trouble, and they asked eagerly for my
instructions. I made them assist me to saw the bark in the middle of
the two ends, the length of several feet, these two parts I folded
over till they ended in a point; I kept them in this form by the help
of the strong glue I had before made from fish-bladders, and pieces
of wood nailed fast over the whole. This operation tended to widen
the boat in the middle, and thus render it of too flat a form; but
this we counteracted by straining a cord all round, which again
reduced it to the due proportion, and in this state we put it in the
sun, to harden and fix.
Before our departure for Tent House, we collected several new plants
for our kitchen-garden; and lastly, we made another trip to the
narrow strait at the end of the wall of rocks, resolved to plant
there a sort of fortification of trees, which should produce the
double effect of discouraging the invasion of savages, and allowing
us to keep our pigs on the other side, and thus secure our different
plantations from the chance of injury. We accomplished all these
intentions to our entire satisfaction, and, in addition, we placed a
slight drawbridge across the river beyond the narrow pass, which we
could let down or take up at pleasure on our side. We now hastened
our return to Arcadia, and after a night’s repose we loaded the
sledge with the boat and other matters, and returned to Tent House.
As soon as we had despatched some necessary affairs, we resumed the
completion of the boat: in two days she had received the addition of
a keel, a neat lining of wood, a small flat floor, benches, a small
mast and triangular sail, a rudder, and a thick coat of pitch on the
outside, so that the first time we saw her in the water, we were all
in ecstasies at the charming appearance she made.
We had still two months in prospect before the rainy season, and we
employed them for completing our abode the grotto, with the exception
of such ornaments as we might have time to think of during the long
days of winter. We made the internal divisions of planks and that
which separated us from the stables of stone, to protect us from the
offensive smell occasioned by the animals. Our task was difficult,
but from habit it became easier every day. We took care to collect or
manufacture a sufficient quantity of all sorts of materials, such
as beams and planks, reeds, and twigs for matting, pieces of gypsum
for plaster, etc., etc. At length the time of the rainy season was
near at hand, and we thought of it with pleasure, as it would put us
in possession of the enjoyments we had procured by such unremitting
industry and fatigue.
We plastered over the walls of the principal apartments on each side
with the greatest care, finishing them by pressure with a flat smooth
board, and lastly a wash of size, in the manner of the plasterers in
Europe. This ornamental portion of our work amused us all so much,
that we began to think we might venture a step further in European
luxury, and agreed that we would attempt to make some carpets with
the hair of our goats. To this effect we smoothed the ground in
the rooms we intended to distinguish with great care; then spread
over it some sail-cloth, which my wife had joined in breadths, and
fitted exactly; we next strewed the goats’ hair, mixed with wool
obtained from the sheep, over the whole; on this surface we threw
some hot water, in which a strong cement had been dissolved; the
whole was then rolled up, and was beaten for a considerable time
with hard sticks; the sail-cloth was now unrolled, and the inside
again sprinkled, rolled, and beaten as before; and this process was
continued till the substance had become a sort of felt, which could
be separated from the sail-cloth, and was lastly put in the sun
to harden. We thus produced a very tolerable substitute for that
enviable article of European comfort, a carpet; of these we completed
two, one for our parlour, and the other for our drawing-room, as
we jocosely named them: both of which were completely fit for our
reception by the time the rains had set in.
Thus, as will be perceived, we had made the first steps towards
a condition of civilization; separated from society, condemned,
perhaps, to pass the remainder of life in this desert island, we
yet possessed the means of happiness; we had abundance of all the
necessaries, and many of the comforts, desired by human beings.
CHAPTER XXXIII
Anniversary of Our Deliverance--Motives for
Thankfulness
One morning, having arisen earlier than the rest of my young family,
I occupied myself by counting up the time that had passed away since
our shipwreck. I calculated the dates with the utmost exactness, and
I found that the next day would be the anniversary of that event. It
was just two years since the hand of God had been extended over us to
save us from a watery grave. I felt my mind filled with thanksgiving,
and I resolved to celebrate the day with all the pomp our situation
would permit.
As I had not yet fixed upon the arrangements for our holiday, I said
nothing about it to my family. Breakfast over, we proceeded to our
different employments, and it was not until we were seated at supper
that I announced, in a pompous manner, the holiday for the morrow.
“Be ready,” said I to my sons, “to celebrate the anniversary of the
morrow; let each one prepare himself as is proper for so great a day.”
These last words, joined to the announcement of a holiday, surprised