The Swiss Family Robinson - Full Audiobook : Chapter 02

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Speaker 1 (00:02):
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, Chapter two.
At break of day, we were awake and ready, and
after morning prayer, I addressed my children. Thus we are, now,
my dear boys, with the help of God, about to

(00:25):
attempt our deliverance. Before we go, provide our poor animals
with food. For some days we cannot take them with us,
but if our voyage succeeds, we may return for them.
Are you ready? Collect what you wish to carry away,
but only things absolutely necessary for our actual wants. I

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plan that our first cargo should consist of a barrel
of powder, three fowling pieces, three muskets, two pair of
pocket pistols, and one pair larger ball shot and lead,
as much as we could carry with a bullet mold,
and I wished each of my sons as well as
their mother, should have a complete game bag, of which

(01:07):
they were several In the officer's cabins. We then set
apart a box of portable soup, another of biscuit, an
iron pot, a fishing rod, a chest of nails, and
one of carpenter's tools, also some sail cloth to make
a tent. In fact, my boys collected so many things,
we were compelled to leave some behind, though I exchanged

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all the useless ballasts for necessaries. When all was ready,
we implored the blessing of God on our undertaking, and
prepared to embark in our tubs. At this moment, the
cocks crowed a sort of reproachful farewell to us. We
had forgotten them. I immediately proposed to take our poultry
with us, geese, ducks, fowls, and pigeons, for as I

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observed to my wife, if we could not feed them,
they would at any rate feed us. We placed our
ten hens and two cocks in a rover tubb. The
rest we set at liberty, hoping the geese and ducks
might reach the shore by water, and the pigeons by flight.
We waited a little for my wife, who came loaded

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with a large bag, which she threw into the tub
that contained her youngest son. I concluded it was intended
to steady him, or for a seat, and made no
observation of it. Here follows the order of our embarkation.
In the first division sat the tender mother, the faithful
and pious wife. In the second, our amiable little Francis,

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six years old and of a sweet disposition. In the third, Fritz,
our eldest, fourteen or fifteen years old, a curly headed, clever, intelligent,
and lively youth. In the fourth the powder cask with
the fowls, and the sailcloth our provisions filled the fifth.
In the sixth, our heedless jack, ten years old, enterprising,

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bold and useful. In the seventh earnest twelve years of age,
well informed and rational, but somewhat selfish and indolent. In
the eighth, myself, an anxious father, charged with the important
duty of guiding the vessel that save my dear family.
Each of us had some useful tools. Beside us, each

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held an oar, and had a swimming apparatus at hand
in case we were unfortunately upset. The tide was rising
when we left, which I considered might assist my weak endeavors.
We turned our outriggers lengthwised, and thus passed from the
cleft of the ship into the open sea. We rowed

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with all our might to reach the blue land we
saw at a distance, but for some time in vain
as the boat kept turning round and made no progress.
At last I contrived to steer it so that we
went straight forward. As soon as our dogs saw us
to part, they leaped into the sea and followed us.
I could not let them get into the boat, for

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feared they should upset it. I was very sorry, for
I hardly expected they would be able to swim to land.
But by occasionally resting their forepaws on our outriggers, they
managed to keep up with us. Turk was an English
dog and floora of a Danish breed. We proceeded slowly
but safely. The nearer we approached the land, the more

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dreary and unpromising it appeared. The rocky coast seemed to
announce to us nothing but famine and misery. The waves,
gently rippling against the shore, were scattered over with barrels, bales,
and chests from the wreck. Hoping to secure some good provisions,
I called on Fritz for assistance. He held a cord

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hammer and nails, and we managed to seize two hogshead
in passing and fastening them with cords to our vessel,
drew them safely after us to the shore. As we approached,
the coast seemed to improve. The chain of rock was
not entire, and Fritz's hawkeye made out some trees which
he declared, were a cocoanut tree. Ernest was delighted at

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the prospect of eating these nuts, so much larger and
better than any grown in Europe. I was regretting not
having brought the large telescope from the captain's cabin, when
Jack produced from his pocket a smaller one, which he
offered me with no little pride. This was a valuable acquisition,
as I was now enabled to make the requisite observations

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and direct my course. The coast before us had a
wild and desert appearance. It looked better towards the left,
but I could not approach that part for a current,
which drove us towards the rocky and barren shore. At
length we saw, near the mouth of a rivulet, a
little creek between the rocks, towards which our geese and

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ducks made, serving us for guides. This opening formed a
little bay of smooth both water just deep enough for
our boat. I cautiously entered it and landed at a
place where the coast was about the height of our
tubs and the water deep enough to let us approach.
The shore spread inland, forming a gentle declivity of a

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triangular form. The point lost among the rocks and the
base to the sea. All that were able leaped on
shore in a moment. Even little Francis, who had been
laid down in his tub like a slid herring, tried
to crawl out, but was compelled to wait for his
mother's assistance. The dogs, who have preceded us in landing,

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welcomed us in a truly friendly manner, leaping playfully around us.
The geese kept up a loud cackling, to which the
yellow billed ducks quacked a powerful base. This, with the
clacking of the liberated fowls and the chattering of the boys,
formed a perfect babble. Mingled with these were the harsh
cries of the penguins and flaming which hovered over our

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heads or sat in the points of the rocks. They
were in immense numbers, and their notes almost deafened us,
especially as they did not accord with the harmony of
our civilized fowls. However, I rejoiced to see these feathered creatures,
already fancying them on my table. If we were obliged
to remain in this desert region, our first care when

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we stepped in safety on land, was to kneel down
and thank God to whom we owed our lives, and
to resign ourselves wholly to His fatherly kindness. We then
began to unload our vessel. How rich we thought ourselves
with a little we had saved. We sought a convenient
place for our tent under the shade of the rocks.

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We then inserted a pole in a fissure in the rock. This,
resting firmly on another pole fixed in the ground, formed
the frame of the tent. The sail cloth was then
stretched over it and fastened down at proper distances by pegs,
to which, for greater security, we added some boxes of provision.

(08:08):
We fixed some hooks to the canvas at the opening
in front, that we might close the entrance during the night.
I sent my sons to seek some moss and withered grass,
and spread it in the sun to dry to form
our beds. And while all even little Frances were busy
with this, I constructed a sort of cooking place at

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some distance from the tent, near the river, which was
to supply us with fresh water. It was merely a
hearth of flat stones from the bed of the stream,
fenced round with some thick branches. I kindled a cheerful
fire with some dry twigs, put on the pot filled
with water and some squares of portable soup, and left

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my wife with France's for assistant to prepare dinner. He
took the portable soup for glue and could not conceive
how Mama could make soup, as we had no meat
and there were no butcher shops here. Fritz, in the meantime,
had loaded our guns. He took one to the side
of the river. Ernest declined accompanying him, as the rugged

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road was not to his taste. He preferred the seashore.
Jack proceeded to a ridge of rocks on the left,
which ran towards the sea to get some mussels. I
went to try and draw the two floating hogsheads on shore,
but could not succeed, for our landing place was too
steep to get them up. Whilst I was vainly trying

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to find a more favorable place, I heard my dear
Jack uttering most alarming cries. I seized my hatchet and
ran to his assistance. I found him up to the
knees in a shallow pool, with a large lobster holding
his leg in its sharp claws. It made off at
my approach, but I was determined it should pay for

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the fright to give him me. Cautiously taking it up,
I brought it out, followed by Jack, who, now very triumphant,
wished to present it himself to his mother after watching
how I held it. But he had hardly got it
into his hands when it gave him such a violent
blow on the cheek with its tail that he let
it fall and began to cry again. I could not

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help laughing at him, and in his rage, he seized
a stone and put an end to his adversary. I
was grieved at this and recommended him never to act
in a moment of anger, showing him that it was
unjust in being so revengeful, for if he had been
bitten by the lobster, it was plain he would have

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eaten his foe if he had conquered him. Jack promised
to be more discreet and merciful in future, and obtained
leave to bear the prize to his mother. Mamma said,
he proudly a lobster. A lobster earnest, Where's Fritz? Take
care it doesn't bite you, Francis. They all crowded round
in astonishment, yes, added he triumphantly. Here is the impertinent

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claw that seized me, but I repaid the knave. You
are a boaster, said I. You would have got indifferently
on with the lobster if I had not come up,
And have you forgotten the slap on the cheek which
compelled you to release him. Besides, he only defended himself
with his natural arms, but you had to take a

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great stone. You have no reason to be proud Jack.
Ernest wished to have the lobster added to the soup
to improve it, but his mother, with a spirit of economy,
reserved it for another day. I then walked to the
spot where Jack's lobster was caught, and, finding it favorable
for my purpose, drew my two hogsheads on shore there

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and secured them by turning them on end. On returning,
I congratulated Jack on being the first to have been
successful in foraging. Ernest remarked that he had seen some
oysters attached to a rock, but could not get at
them without wetting his feet, which he did not like. Indeed,
my delicate gentlemen, said I, laughing, I must trouble you

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to return and procure us some We must all unite
in working for the public good. Regardless of wet feet,
the sun will soon dry us. I might as well
bring some salt at the same time, said he. I
saw plenty in the fissures of the rocks left by
the sea. I should think, Papa doubtless, mister Reasoner replied, I,

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where else could it have come from? The fact was
so obvious that you had better have brought a bagful
than delayed to reflect about it. But if you wished
to escape insipid soup, be quick and procure some. He
went and returned with some salt so mixed with sand
and earth that I should have thrown it away as useless.

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But my wife dissolved it in fresh water, and, filtering
it through a piece of canvas, managed to flavor our
soup with it. Jack asked why we could not of
used sea water, and I explained to him that the
bitter and nauseous taste of sea water would have spoiled
our dinner. My wife stirred the soup with a little stick, and,

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tasting it, pronounced it very good, but added, we must
wait for Fritz, and how shall we eat our soup
without blates or spoons? We cannot possibly raise this large
boiling pot to our heads and drink out of it.
It was too true. We gazed, stupefied at our pot,
and at last hall burst into laughter at our destitution

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and our folly in forgetting such useful necessaries. If we
only had cocoa nuts, said Ernest, we might split them
and make basins and spoons, if replied I, but we
have none. We might as well wish for a dozen
handsome silver spoons at once, if wishes were of any use.
But observed he, we can use oyster shells. A useful thought. Earnest,

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go directly and get the oysters. And remember, gentlemen, no complaints,
though the spoons are without handles, and you should dip
your fingers into the bowl. Off ran Jack, and was
mid leg in the water before Ernest got to him.
He tore down the oysters and threw them to his
idle brother, who filled his handkerchief, taking care to put
a large one into his pocket for his own use,

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and they returned with their spoil. Fritz had not yet appeared,
and his mother was becoming uneasy when we heard him
cheerfully hailing us at a distance. He soon came up
with a feigned air of disappointment, and his hands behind him.
But Jack, who had glided around him, cried out, A

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sucking pig, a sucking pig, And he then, with great
pride and satisfaction, produced his booty, which I recognized from
the description of travelers to be the Agouti, common in
these regions, a swift animal which burrows in the earth
and lives on fruits and nuts. Its flesh, something like
that of the rabbit, has an unpleasant flavor to Europeans.

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All were anxious to know the particulars of the chase,
but I seriously reproved my son for his little fiction,
and warned him never to use the least deceit even
in jest. I then inquired where he had met with
the Agouti. He told me he had been on the
other side of the river, a very different place to this,
continued he. The shore lies low, and you can have

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no idea of the number of cask, chests, planks, and
all sorts of things the sea has thrown up. Shall
we go and take possession of them? And tomorrow, father,
we ought to make another trip to the vessel to
look after our cattle. We might at least bring away
the cow. Our biscuit would not be so hard, dipped
in milk, and very much nicer, added the greedy earnest,

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then continued Fritz, beyond the river there is rich grass
for pasturage and a shady wood. Why should we remain
in this barren wilderness? Softly replied I. There is a
time for all things tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow
we'll have their work. But first tell me did you
see anything of our shipmates? Not a trace of man

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living or dead on land or sea. But I saw
an animal, more like a hog than this, but with
feet like a hare. It leaped among the grass, sometimes
sitting upright and rubbing its mouth with its forepaws, sometimes
seeking for roots and gnawing them like a squirrel. If
I had not been afraid it would escape me, I

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would have tried to take it alive. It seemed so
very tame. As we were talking, Jack had been trying,
with many grimaces to force an oyster open with his knife.
I laughed at his vain endeavors, and, putting some on
the fire, showed him them open of themselves. I had
no taste for oysters myself, but as they are everywhere

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accounted a delicacy. I advised my sons to try them.
They all at first declined the unattractive repast, except Jack,
who with great courage, closed his eyes and desperately swallowed one,
as if it had been medicine. The rest followed his example,
and then all agreed with me that oysters were not good.

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The shells were soon plunged into the pot to bring
out some of the good soup, but scalding their fingers.
It was who could cry out the loudest. Ernest took
his large shell from his pocket, cautiously filled it with
a good portion of soup, and set it down to cool,
exulting in his own prudence. You have been very thoughtful,

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my dear Ernest, said I, But why are your thoughts
always for yourself, so seldom for others. As a punishment
for your egotism, that portion must be given to our
faithful dogs. We can all dip our shells into the pot,
the dogs cannot. Therefore they shall have your soup, and
you must wait and eat as we do. My reproach

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struck his heart, and he placed his shell obediently on
the ground, which the dogs emptied immediately. We were almost
as hungry as they were, and were watching anxiously till
the soup began to cool. When we perceived that the
dogs were tearing and gnawing Fritz z AGOUTI, the boys
all cried out. Fritz was in a fury, took his gun,

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struck the dogs, called them names, threw stones at them,
and would have killed them if I had not held him.
He had actually bent his gun with striking them. As
soon as he would listen to me, I reproached him
seriously for his violence, and represented to him how much
he had distressed us and terrified his mother. That he

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had spoilt his gun, which might have been so useful
to us, had it almost killed the poor animals who
might be more so. Angers said, I leads to every crime.
Remember Kane, who killed his brother in a fit of passion,
Oh father, said he in a voice of terror, and
acknowledging his error, he asked pardon and shed bitter tears.

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Soon after our repast, the sun set, and the fowls
gathered round us and picked up the scattered crumbs of biscuit.
My wife then took out her mysterious bag and drew
from it some handsfulds of grain to feed her flock.
She showed me also many other seeds of useful vegetables.
I praised her prudence and begged her to be very economical,

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as these seeds were of great value, and we could
bring from the vessel some spoiled biscuit for the fowls.
Our pigeons now flew among the rocks. The cocks and
hens perched on the frame of the tent, and the
geese and ducks chose to roost in a marsh covered
with bushes near the sea. We prepared for our rest.

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We loaded all our arms, then offered up our pres together,
thanking God for his signal mercy to us, and commending
ourselves to his care. When the last ray of light departed,
we closed our tent and lay down on our beds
close together. The children had remarked how suddenly the darkness

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came on, from which I concluded we were not far
from the equator. For I explained to them the more
perpendicularly the rays of the sun fall, the less their refraction,
and consequently night comes on suddenly when the sun is
below the horizon. Once more, I looked out to see
if all was quiet then carefully closing the entrance, I

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lay down, warm as the day had been, The night
was so cold that we were obliged to crowd together
for warmth. The children soon slept, and when I saw
their mother in her first peaceful sleep, my own eyes closed,
and our first night on the island passed comfortably. End

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of chapter