Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Chapter six, the arrival our visitors, the Anaconda. For some moments,
the appearance of the steamship riveted meto the spot. Never very strong,
my nerves of late, so muchtried by our tropical life and the dangers
(00:21):
it brought, gave way suddenly,and I sat down on the ground and
shook. The colossal and stately vesselcame up the horizon so rapidly that I
grew out of breath watching it.I thought of my dear wife, of
my sweet young brood that we hadreared between us, and as the boat
(00:42):
came nearer and nearer, I weptvery plentifully. The night, however,
which always comes very suddenly in thetropics, set in even more rapidly than
usual. This calm evening. Theblood red sun, which we had all
contemplated with joy and admiration from ourfamily tree top as its shining orb hovered
(01:04):
above the water line, loathe tosink to rest, suddenly sank out of
sight. The stars all rushed outand shone with a brilliancy that again moved
me to tears. When I hadrecovered sufficiently to rise from the ground,
which was getting damp, I pursuedmy way back through the forest to our
(01:26):
home, where all were now silent, in innocent and happy sleep. I
climbed the stairs so rapidly that Ifell down again and had to repeat the
operation of going up again, thoughmost reluctantly. The noise I made awoke
Ernest, who was always a lightsleeper, and he asked me, what
(01:49):
was the matter your curiosity? Isaid, as I brushed my hat is
strangely ill timed. Hand me theair pistol at once, and do not
stop to load it. The boyobeyed, and I hastily climbed to the
highest branch, where but a fewhours since I had made my gastronomical observations.
(02:14):
I loaded the weapon as I went, putting in a double charge,
seating myself so that the recoil couldnot cause me inconvenience. I fired three
signals of distress, waved my hat, and fell to the ground. Thinking
I had better not attempt a secondassent, I told Ernest to climb up
(02:38):
and look out to see ere theyoung lad had well reached the position I
had so lately occupied. A returnsignal from the water thundered through the night
air. We are saved, Isaid, thankfully, and began to awake
my family. With the exception ofEarnest, they all slept very sound,
(03:00):
and I found the most expeditious,as well as most pleasant, way of
recalling them to their senses was toempty gently over them the pure spring water
contained in our gourds. Smiling withdelight, they asked me why I seemed
so happy. Come and see foryourselves, I replied, no, father,
(03:23):
tell us, said little Franz.That which is worth knowing, I
answered, is worth taking trouble tofind out for oneself. Climb up to
the top, my son, andyour energy will be its own reward.
But my lesson to the little fellowwas frustrated by joyful cries from Earnest.
(03:45):
Oh, Father, A great bigship, and it has anchored in the
bay A ship, asked my bravewife, as she hurried out of her
apartment a dressing gown, I answered, gravely, is no proper apparel for
a tree top, even at night. Go in and put on your best
clothes, and I will answer anyreasonable questions. Abashed by my remark,
(04:12):
my wife hurried back to her apartmentere long. My whole dear family was
about me, eager to take thelong disused water. Vellicipuds to go to
the steamer. But daylight was nowbreaking your idea, I said, is
not worth carrying out. Patience,when properly exercised, often saves many tiresome
(04:36):
efforts. The crew of Yonder vesselare now putting out for the shore in
several little boats, which if youuse a glass you will readily see.
We all watched their movements with interest. What if they should be enemies?
Father asked, Ernest, your remark, I observed, shows thought. In
(04:59):
that case, we will retire tothe boilstone cave, and with the chemicals
there compound odors that will keep anyfoe at a distance. Their friends.
Father cried jack joyfully, and oureyes grew dim as the English flag went
up and floated proudly from the mainmast. Delay being no longer advisable, we
(05:24):
all hurried downstairs. Take care,I said, the more haste, the
less speed. The longest way roundis often the shortest way home. Pride
goes before a The large root,which was concealed in the long grass through
which we were now hastening, caughtthe extreme end of my foot most Unfortunately,
(05:46):
the nearest object to grasp was thelong black hair of my dear wife,
which floated behind her as she ranself. Preservation, I said,
as I took hold of it isthe first law of existence. The shock
was so sudden, however, thatmy wife tottered, and, in endeavoring
(06:06):
to save herself very naturally, shethrew her bag round Fritz's neck. But
instead of standing straight and thus savingour fall, he clumsily got entangled in
the folds of the bag, andwe all came down together so rapidly that
Ernest, Jack and Franz, whowere hurrying along immediately behind us, toppled
(06:30):
over our prostrate bodies, together withthe pataguana, whose inability to turn rapidly
is a trait which it shares incommon with the alligator and the crocodile.
We then held a consultation. Ifany of you had listened to my warning
about haste, I said, weshould not have come to grief. But
(06:54):
father said, Jack, you werethe first to trip. This is no
time for hair splitting. I saidseverely. It is clear that if we
proceed to the shore in such acrowd, we shall interfere with each other.
Let all of you accept. Franzand myself make ready a lunch beneath
(07:15):
some large tree. He and Iwill proceed to the shore and meet the
strangers. Should they be hostile,Franz's tender age will move them. We
proceeded to the shore and arrived justin time to witness the traveler's step upon
the beach. With a courteous butdignified attitude, I spoke, gentlemen,
(07:40):
you have come to visit us today, no doubt curious to see the
lions of our island. We areglad to see you and to extend the
hand of our republic to you.If your ancestors ever had anything to do
with it, they would be asproud of the present moment as I am.
We are very much honored, sir, with your politeness and complaisance.
(08:05):
I have the pleasure to make myselfknown to you, Monsieur Tiatre. I
shook the gentleman's hand, and heproceeded to introduce the other distinguished guests.
I exchanged mild and bland greetings withMonsieur de al Rochambeau, who pulls a
very good oar in one of thecrews, with Count von Apollinaris, with
(08:28):
the Marquis of Yendo, Janos andmany other distinguished characters. We then adjourned
to lunch, where my dear wifeacquitted herself nearly as well as I had
done. If there is anything youdo not see, do not ask for
it, I said to the Marquisde Haindolanos, who, not understanding the
(08:52):
language, turned to Baron Friedrichschal foran explanation. After the banquet, each
of my dear children took several ofthe visitors, and we proceeded to entertain
them with the historical sights of ourisland Sey La cav de Boistones, said
Fritz, who spoke French with fluency. Thanks, I didn't take chemistry,
(09:16):
replied Colonel Hap, who with hisdaughter Mishap, was among our Australian guests.
Here the conversation became general. Ias sure, I smiled. Was
you ever to er? The Battleof Bunker Hill reminds me of Martha Washington,
who never liked our petaguana. Whenhe feeds on yams and schnapps from
(09:39):
potstam so goot and garnished plymouth rockin a storm with a paper caller,
that always betrays humility, which Ihave inculcated in my children. From the
gymnasium, where Sarah Barnhardt said thatshe'd never leave me alone in the tree
to take gastronomical obstin our merry party. Straight away through the trees, well
(10:05):
pleased with the island, miss Hap, an ideally sweet girl with large round
eyes and great ringlets of close curls, showed some rashness in wandering away alone.
Indeed, it was most fortunate thatmy eldest son, Fritz, an
ardent youth, followed her steps froma distance, for as she entered the
(10:26):
jungle, a large anaconda sprang ather. The intrepid girl opened her parasol
at the animal, who hesitated fora moment, dazzled by the brilliancy of
the pattern, and then began toswallow it. Miss Hap, bound not
to give up her property without astruggle, braced her foot against a stone
(10:50):
and tugged. The contest, however, might have proved a doubtful one.
When Fritz, hurrying up with theair pistol, shot the serpent in the
head. It fell lifeless to theground, and the grateful girl, turning
to her preserver with moist eyes,smiled a smile so full of sweetness as
(11:13):
my son afterwards informed me that Fritzsank into a misty, happy dream.
These were his own words, andtogether the two wandered through the jungle under
the soft heat of the sunlight asit came through the thick foliage. End
of Chapter six.
Chapter six, the arrival our visitors, the Anaconda. For some moments,
the appearance of the steamship riveted meto the spot. Never very strong,
my nerves of late, so muchtried by our tropical life and the dangers
(00:21):
it brought, gave way suddenly,and I sat down on the ground and
shook. The colossal and stately vesselcame up the horizon so rapidly that I
grew out of breath watching it.I thought of my dear wife, of
my sweet young brood that we hadreared between us, and as the boat
(00:42):
came nearer and nearer, I weptvery plentifully. The night, however,
which always comes very suddenly in thetropics, set in even more rapidly than
usual. This calm evening. Theblood red sun, which we had all
contemplated with joy and admiration from ourfamily tree top as its shining orb hovered
(01:04):
above the water line, loathe tosink to rest, suddenly sank out of
sight. The stars all rushed outand shone with a brilliancy that again moved
me to tears. When I hadrecovered sufficiently to rise from the ground,
which was getting damp, I pursuedmy way back through the forest to our
(01:26):
home, where all were now silent, in innocent and happy sleep. I
climbed the stairs so rapidly that Ifell down again and had to repeat the
operation of going up again, thoughmost reluctantly. The noise I made awoke
Ernest, who was always a lightsleeper, and he asked me, what
(01:49):
was the matter your curiosity? Isaid, as I brushed my hat is
strangely ill timed. Hand me theair pistol at once, and do not
stop to load it. The boyobeyed, and I hastily climbed to the
highest branch, where but a fewhours since I had made my gastronomical observations.
(02:14):
I loaded the weapon as I went, putting in a double charge,
seating myself so that the recoil couldnot cause me inconvenience. I fired three
signals of distress, waved my hat, and fell to the ground. Thinking
I had better not attempt a secondassent, I told Ernest to climb up
(02:38):
and look out to see ere theyoung lad had well reached the position I
had so lately occupied. A returnsignal from the water thundered through the night
air. We are saved, Isaid, thankfully, and began to awake
my family. With the exception ofEarnest, they all slept very sound,
(03:00):
and I found the most expeditious,as well as most pleasant, way of
recalling them to their senses was toempty gently over them the pure spring water
contained in our gourds. Smiling withdelight, they asked me why I seemed
so happy. Come and see foryourselves, I replied, no, father,
(03:23):
tell us, said little Franz.That which is worth knowing, I
answered, is worth taking trouble tofind out for oneself. Climb up to
the top, my son, andyour energy will be its own reward.
But my lesson to the little fellowwas frustrated by joyful cries from Earnest.
(03:45):
Oh, Father, A great bigship, and it has anchored in the
bay A ship, asked my bravewife, as she hurried out of her
apartment a dressing gown, I answered, gravely, is no proper apparel for
a tree top, even at night. Go in and put on your best
clothes, and I will answer anyreasonable questions. Abashed by my remark,
(04:12):
my wife hurried back to her apartmentere long. My whole dear family was
about me, eager to take thelong disused water. Vellicipuds to go to
the steamer. But daylight was nowbreaking your idea, I said, is
not worth carrying out. Patience,when properly exercised, often saves many tiresome
(04:36):
efforts. The crew of Yonder vesselare now putting out for the shore in
several little boats, which if youuse a glass you will readily see.
We all watched their movements with interest. What if they should be enemies?
Father asked, Ernest, your remark, I observed, shows thought. In
(04:59):
that case, we will retire tothe boilstone cave, and with the chemicals
there compound odors that will keep anyfoe at a distance. Their friends.
Father cried jack joyfully, and oureyes grew dim as the English flag went
up and floated proudly from the mainmast. Delay being no longer advisable, we
(05:24):
all hurried downstairs. Take care,I said, the more haste, the
less speed. The longest way roundis often the shortest way home. Pride
goes before a The large root,which was concealed in the long grass through
which we were now hastening, caughtthe extreme end of my foot most Unfortunately,
(05:46):
the nearest object to grasp was thelong black hair of my dear wife,
which floated behind her as she ranself. Preservation, I said,
as I took hold of it isthe first law of existence. The shock
was so sudden, however, thatmy wife tottered, and, in endeavoring
(06:06):
to save herself very naturally, shethrew her bag round Fritz's neck. But
instead of standing straight and thus savingour fall, he clumsily got entangled in
the folds of the bag, andwe all came down together so rapidly that
Ernest, Jack and Franz, whowere hurrying along immediately behind us, toppled
(06:30):
over our prostrate bodies, together withthe pataguana, whose inability to turn rapidly
is a trait which it shares incommon with the alligator and the crocodile.
We then held a consultation. Ifany of you had listened to my warning
about haste, I said, weshould not have come to grief. But
(06:54):
father said, Jack, you werethe first to trip. This is no
time for hair splitting. I saidseverely. It is clear that if we
proceed to the shore in such acrowd, we shall interfere with each other.
Let all of you accept. Franzand myself make ready a lunch beneath
(07:15):
some large tree. He and Iwill proceed to the shore and meet the
strangers. Should they be hostile,Franz's tender age will move them. We
proceeded to the shore and arrived justin time to witness the traveler's step upon
the beach. With a courteous butdignified attitude, I spoke, gentlemen,
(07:40):
you have come to visit us today, no doubt curious to see the
lions of our island. We areglad to see you and to extend the
hand of our republic to you.If your ancestors ever had anything to do
with it, they would be asproud of the present moment as I am.
We are very much honored, sir, with your politeness and complaisance.
(08:05):
I have the pleasure to make myselfknown to you, Monsieur Tiatre. I
shook the gentleman's hand, and heproceeded to introduce the other distinguished guests.
I exchanged mild and bland greetings withMonsieur de al Rochambeau, who pulls a
very good oar in one of thecrews, with Count von Apollinaris, with
(08:28):
the Marquis of Yendo, Janos andmany other distinguished characters. We then adjourned
to lunch, where my dear wifeacquitted herself nearly as well as I had
done. If there is anything youdo not see, do not ask for
it, I said to the Marquisde Haindolanos, who, not understanding the
(08:52):
language, turned to Baron Friedrichschal foran explanation. After the banquet, each
of my dear children took several ofthe visitors, and we proceeded to entertain
them with the historical sights of ourisland Sey La cav de Boistones, said
Fritz, who spoke French with fluency. Thanks, I didn't take chemistry,
(09:16):
replied Colonel Hap, who with hisdaughter Mishap, was among our Australian guests.
Here the conversation became general. Ias sure, I smiled. Was
you ever to er? The Battleof Bunker Hill reminds me of Martha Washington,
who never liked our petaguana. Whenhe feeds on yams and schnapps from
(09:39):
potstam so goot and garnished plymouth rockin a storm with a paper caller,
that always betrays humility, which Ihave inculcated in my children. From the
gymnasium, where Sarah Barnhardt said thatshe'd never leave me alone in the tree
to take gastronomical obstin our merry party. Straight away through the trees, well
(10:05):
pleased with the island, miss Hap, an ideally sweet girl with large round
eyes and great ringlets of close curls, showed some rashness in wandering away alone.
Indeed, it was most fortunate thatmy eldest son, Fritz, an
ardent youth, followed her steps froma distance, for as she entered the
(10:26):
jungle, a large anaconda sprang ather. The intrepid girl opened her parasol
at the animal, who hesitated fora moment, dazzled by the brilliancy of
the pattern, and then began toswallow it. Miss Hap, bound not
to give up her property without astruggle, braced her foot against a stone
(10:50):
and tugged. The contest, however, might have proved a doubtful one.
When Fritz, hurrying up with theair pistol, shot the serpent in the
head. It fell lifeless to theground, and the grateful girl, turning
to her preserver with moist eyes,smiled a smile so full of sweetness as
(11:13):
my son afterwards informed me that Fritzsank into a misty, happy dream.
These were his own words, andtogether the two wandered through the jungle under
the soft heat of the sunlight asit came through the thick foliage. End
of Chapter six.
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