The New Swiss Family Robinson Chapter 01 - The Wreck - The Arrival

Episode Transcript

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Chapter one, The Wreck the arrival. The storm had raged for days and
days. Oh, it was anawful storm, and one which is seldom
met with except near the line.My children were beginning to complain of a
swimming of the head, accompanied byyawning and nausea. I told them that

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this was a common form of disease, especially on the water, and added,
it is profitable for you to seehow such trials may be borne by
those who wished to bear them.And, taking an oyster which I had
previously covered with fine sifted sugar,I swallowed it with a courageous smile.

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Abashed at once by my example,my dear children continued their innocent play,
heedless of the reckless oaths which thecruel seamen uttered in their sphere. My
below, the dwife, was inthe lady's cabin, reading the pilgrim's progress,
which did not seem to do hervery much good. The waves were

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running mountains high, and we werecontinually in the trough of the boisterous sea.
Amid this truly sublime but at thesame time terrible war of the elements,
I heard the cry of land,land, and at once we landed
upon a rock. Then arose ahideous scene of distress. Thousands of human

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souls were washed overboard in a moment. Many lost their lives, some lost
their senses. Piercing shrieks rent thestartled air. Even the quiet cattle stopped
chewing their cud. My wife rushedinto my arms, letting the pilgrim's progress

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fall neglected upon the wet deck aroundher skirts. Wailing clung our children.
We were an affecting spectacle, onethat would make many a thoughtful parent shed
tears. While we were thus busilyoccupied, my son Franz, who is

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ever on the alert, looked outover the main and saw that the treacherous
crew had got away in the lifeboatand never so much as given us warning.
In vain, we called to themto come back, that they had
dropped something. The heartless men onlyjeered at us in their cruel sport,
as they rowed further away and werelost amid the mist and hubbub. Then,

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indeed we felt left. Suddenly,my thoughtful earnest said, Papa,
why should we not try and contrivesome means of getting ashore? I praised
the lad heartily for his ingenuity,and we began at once, but ere.
We did this, we unlocked thepoor animals who came bounding about us

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in their simple joy. There werefive cows, eighteen sheep, two horses,
and a terrier called Tim. Welittle thought then how invaluable Tim would
be in days to come. Ithen bade each of my children see what
treasures they could secure. They soonreturned, and my heart bounded as I

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saw how fully we should be preparedfor any emergency. Little Franz brought a
steel watch chain and a bird cage, as he truly remarked, we might
find birds in the bushes. Fritzbrought an Oliver Ditson edition of the Pirates
of Penzance. Jack found a pairof snow shoes and a time table of

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the Boston and Albany Railroad. Ernestbrought a Japanese parasol and a photograph of
the Greek play. But my dearwife found the chief treasures. She came
triumphant with a little air pistol anda box of darts made expressly for it.

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We felt truly thankful for this discovery, since what had hitherto been but
a pretty toy was now to becomeour defense against bears and lions. My
wife also found a set of strangebut beautiful dresses of all colors, made
of the lightest gauze and very short. She laughed gaily as she approached me,

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holding them up. You would notlaugh so much, said I,
if you realized the importance of yourdiscovery. She became serious, and I
explained that, besides being a lightand suitable apparel for the tropical climate,
should we ever reach the shore,it was an excellent suit for her to

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wear at once, as it wouldnot incommode her motions at all in our
journey to the land. She joyfullythanked me and hastened to her cabin.
I wonder what they are meant for, I mused, I think, sir,
I have seen something like them before, sir, said my eldest son,

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Fritz, a bright lad of fifteenyears where, inquired, I rather
sharply. I forget now, sir, but I will try to think,
replied the boy. In the meantime, I had found many treasures myself,
among others, six water velosipeds.These had been destined for trading with the

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natives of the Friendly Islands. Why, father, inquired my little Franz,
laughing, what would savages do withthose, If you would think more and
talk less, said I gravely,you would probably not ask so many foolish
questions. But as the little fellowalready hung his head and making ready to

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cry at my rebuke, I kindlyexplained to him that the natives of the
Friendly Islands are so very friendly thatthey are constantly calling on each other and
staying to tea, And in thesevisits from island to island water velosipeds would
be both simple and satisfactory. Hardlyhad I finished my explanation, when a

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strange sound was heard, and quicklylooking up, I perceived my dear wife,
gaily attired in a pink gauze dresscovered with silver spangles, approaching with
many graceful bounds. My children clungaround me and shed tears of unfeigned joy
at having such a mother. Thenwe joined hands fervently and moved in a

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sad circle about her, as shepoised on one foot turned round on the
other in order to be able tofollow our movements. Then came a lurch
and a crash. My son Jack, with his usual keen observation, said
father, I think something broke.I patted him gently on the head and

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told him that he was probably right. How shall we go ashore, asked
Ernest. I wish we were nativesof the friendly islands, cried Fritz,
my son, you have hit upona capital idea, I replied, Run
and bring those velocipeds at once.I packed our cargo in a number of

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large hen coops. Behind these,I tied the patient animals, who load
intelligently. Moo, moo, youold cows, said Fritz thoughtlessly. I
chid the boy for mocking at dumbanimals, and then bade my wife mount
the first velociped. This she did, displaying much agili. She exclaimed,

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I have left my bag behind.What is your bag? I asked,
It is what I keep a fewnecessaries in, she answered, as Ernest
found it and tossed it skillfully overher head, so that it hung down
behind and made a graceful and convenientornament. My wife then threw forward one

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of her feet and kicked a holein the gunwale, through which she rode
into the water. My children shoutedwith delight and eagerly followed her on their
velocipeds, though I reminded them thatwe were saving our lives and were not
on an excursion for pleasure. Thuswe made our journey. First came my

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dear brave wife, attired in thegay dress she had found. Then our
youngest son, Franz, a tenderbud of seven. Next him Jack,
bold, fearless but rash at times, Next Earnest, a boy of twelve,
thoughtful but indolent. After him myfirst born Fritz, a sturdy lad

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of fifteen, armed with the airpistol. Finally, I myself, the
anxious loving father, steering behind them, all with a rubber belt tied round
my waist, to which were fastenedby a long string. The hen coops
and animals, the perilous way wasaccomplished. We turned the rocky corner and

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landed on a pleasant triangular piece ofsword, overhung by a frowning pile of
architectural rock, which I said shouldbe called memorial, as a monument to
our safe return to Terra Firma.End of Chapter one