Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, Chapter five. Well,
my dear, I began, I feel rather alarmed at all
the labors I see before me. A voyage to the
vessel is indispensable if we wish to save our cattle
and many of the things that may be useful to us.
(00:24):
On the other hand, I should like to have a
more secure shelter for ourselves and our property than this tent.
With patience, order and perseverance, all may be done, said
my good counselor. And whatever uneasiness your voyage may give me,
I yield to the importance and utility of it. Let
it be done to day, and have no care for
(00:46):
the morrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,
as our blessed Lord has said. It was then agreed
that the three youngest children should remain with my wife,
and Fritz, the strongest and most active, it accompany me.
I then arose and woke my children from the important
duties of the day. Fritz jumped up the first and
(01:08):
ran for his jackal, which had stiffened in the cold
of the night. He placed it on all four legs
at the entrance of the tent. To surprise his brothers.
But no sooner did the dogs see it erect than
they flew at it and would have torn it to
pieces if he had not soothed them and called them off. However,
their barking effectually roused the boys, who rushed out to
(01:29):
see the cause. Jack issued first, with a monkey on
his shoulder. But no sooner did the little creature see
the jackal than he sprang into the tent and hid
himself among the moss, till only the tip of his
nose was visible. All were astonished to see this large
yellow animal standing. Francis thought it was a wolf. Jack
(01:50):
said it was only a dead dog, and Earnest, in
a pompous tone, pronounced it to be a golden fox.
Fritz laughed at the learned professor, who knew the AGOUTI
immediately and now called a jackal of golden fox. I
judged by the peculiar characteristics, said Ernest, examining it carefully. Oh,
(02:12):
the characteristics, said Fritz ironically. Don't you think it may
be a golden wolf? Pray, don't be so cross, brother,
said Ernest, with tears in his eyes. Perhaps you would
not have known the name if Papa had not told you.
I reproved Fritz for his ridicule of his brother, and
Ernest for so easily taking offense, and to reconcile all,
(02:36):
I told them that the jackal partook of the nature
of the wolf, the fox, and the dog. This discussion terminated,
I summoned them to prayers, after which we thought of breakfast.
We had nothing but biscuit, which was certainly dry and hard.
Fritz begged for a little cheese with it, and Ernest,
who was never satisfied like other people, took a survey
(02:59):
of the un opened hogshead. He soon returned crying, if
we only had a little butter with our biscuit, it
would be so good. Papa, I allowed, it would be good,
but it was no use thinking of such a thing.
Let us open the other cask, said he displaying a
piece of butter he had extracted through a small crack
in the side. Your instinct for good things has been
(03:23):
fortunate for us, said I, come, boys, who wants bread
and butter? We began to consider how we should come
at the contents of the hogshead without exposing the perishable
matter to the heat of the sun. Finally, I pierced
a hole in the lower part of the cask large
enough for us to draw out the butter as we
wanted it by means of a little wooden shovel, which
(03:45):
I soon made. We then sat down to breakfast with
a cocoanut basin filled with good salt Dutch butter. We
toasted our biscuit, buttered it hot, and agreed it was excellent.
Our dogs were sleeping by us as we breakfasted, and
I remarked that they had bloody marks of the last
night's fray in some deep and dangerous wounds, especially about
(04:07):
the neck. My wife instantly dressed the wounds with butter,
well washed in cold water, and the poor animals seemed
grateful for the ease it gave them. Ernest judiciously remarked
that they ought to have spiked collars to defend them
against any wild beasts they might encounter. I will make
them collars, said Jack, who never hesitated at anything. I
(04:31):
was glad to employ his inventive powers, and ordering my
children not to leave their mother during our absence, but
to pray to God to bless our undertaking, we began
our preparations for the voyage, while Fritz made ready the boat.
I erected a signal post with a piece of sailcloth
(04:51):
for a flag to float as long as all was
going on well, but if we were wanted, they were
to lower the flag and fire a gun three times
when we should immediately return. For I had informed my
dear wife it might be necessary for us to remain
on board all night, and she consented to the plan
(05:12):
on my promising to pass the night in our tubs
instead of the vessel. We took nothing but our guns
and ammunition, relying on the ship's provisions. Fritz would, however,
take the monkey, that he might give it some milk
from the cow. We took a tender leave of each
other and embarked. When we had rowed into the middle
(05:32):
of the bay, I perceived a strong current formed by
the water of the river, which issued at a little distance,
which I was glad to take advantage of to spare
our labor. It carried us three parts of our voyage,
and we rowed the remainder, and entering the opening in
the vessel, we secured our boat firmly and went on board.
(05:54):
The first care of Fritz was to feed the animals
who were on deck, and who all saluted us after
their fashion, rejoiced to see their friends again, as well
as to have their wants supplied. We put the young
monkey to a goat, which he sucked with extraordinary grimaces,
to our infinite amusement. We then took some refreshment ourselves,
(06:16):
and Fritz, to my great surprise, proposed that we should
begin by adding a sail to our boat. He said,
the current which helped us to the vessel could not
carry us back, but the wind, which blew so strongly
against us and made our rowing so fatiguing, would be
of great service if we had a sail. I thanked
(06:37):
my counselor for all his good advice, and we immediately
set to the task. I selected a strong pole for
a mast and a triangular sail, which was fixed to
a yard. We made a hole in a plank to
receive the mast, secured the plank on our fourth tub,
forming a deck, and then, by aid of a block
(06:59):
used to hoist and lower the sails, raised our mast. Finally,
two ropes, fastened by one end to the yard and
by the other to each extremity of the boat, enabled
us to direct the sail at pleasure. Fritz next ornamented
the top of the mast with a little red streamer.
He then gave our boat the name of Deliverance, and
(07:22):
requested it might henceforward be called the Little Vessel. To
complete its equipment, I contrived to rudder so that I
could direct the boat from either end. After signaling to
our friends that we should not return that night, we
spent the rest of the day in emptying the tubs
of the stones that we had used for ballast, and
(07:42):
replacing them with useful things powder and shot, nails, and
tools of all kinds, pieces of cloth. Above all, we
did not forget knives, forks, spoons, and kitchen utensils, including
a roasting jack. In the captain's cabin we found some
so services of silver, pewter, plates and dishes, and a
(08:03):
small chest filled with bottles of choice wines. All these
we took, as well as a chest of eatables intended
for the officer's table, portable soup Restphalian hams, bolognia, sausages,
et cetera. Also some bags of maize, wheat and other seeds,
and some potatoes. We collected all the implements of husbandry
(08:26):
we could spare room for, and at the request of Fritz,
some hammocks and blankets, two or three handsome guns, and
an armful of sabers, swords and hunting knives. Lastly, I
embarked a barrel of sulfur, all the cord and string
I could lay my hands on, and a large roll
of sailcloth. The sulfur was intended to produce matches with
(08:49):
Our tubs were loaded to the edge. There was barely
a room left for us to sit, and it would
have been dangerous to attempt our return if the sea
had not been so calm. Night arrived. We exchanged signals
to announce security on sea and land, and after prayers
for the dear islanders, we sought our tubs, not the
(09:11):
most luxurious of dormitories, but safer than the ship. Fritz
slept soundly, but I could not close my eyes thinking
of the jackals. I was, however, thankful for the protection
they had in the dogs. End of Chapter five
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, Chapter five. Well,
my dear, I began, I feel rather alarmed at all
the labors I see before me. A voyage to the
vessel is indispensable if we wish to save our cattle
and many of the things that may be useful to us.
(00:24):
On the other hand, I should like to have a
more secure shelter for ourselves and our property than this tent.
With patience, order and perseverance, all may be done, said
my good counselor. And whatever uneasiness your voyage may give me,
I yield to the importance and utility of it. Let
it be done to day, and have no care for
(00:46):
the morrow. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,
as our blessed Lord has said. It was then agreed
that the three youngest children should remain with my wife,
and Fritz, the strongest and most active, it accompany me.
I then arose and woke my children from the important
duties of the day. Fritz jumped up the first and
(01:08):
ran for his jackal, which had stiffened in the cold
of the night. He placed it on all four legs
at the entrance of the tent. To surprise his brothers.
But no sooner did the dogs see it erect than
they flew at it and would have torn it to
pieces if he had not soothed them and called them off. However,
their barking effectually roused the boys, who rushed out to
(01:29):
see the cause. Jack issued first, with a monkey on
his shoulder. But no sooner did the little creature see
the jackal than he sprang into the tent and hid
himself among the moss, till only the tip of his
nose was visible. All were astonished to see this large
yellow animal standing. Francis thought it was a wolf. Jack
(01:50):
said it was only a dead dog, and Earnest, in
a pompous tone, pronounced it to be a golden fox.
Fritz laughed at the learned professor, who knew the AGOUTI
immediately and now called a jackal of golden fox. I
judged by the peculiar characteristics, said Ernest, examining it carefully. Oh,
(02:12):
the characteristics, said Fritz ironically. Don't you think it may
be a golden wolf? Pray, don't be so cross, brother,
said Ernest, with tears in his eyes. Perhaps you would
not have known the name if Papa had not told you.
I reproved Fritz for his ridicule of his brother, and
Ernest for so easily taking offense, and to reconcile all,
(02:36):
I told them that the jackal partook of the nature
of the wolf, the fox, and the dog. This discussion terminated,
I summoned them to prayers, after which we thought of breakfast.
We had nothing but biscuit, which was certainly dry and hard.
Fritz begged for a little cheese with it, and Ernest,
who was never satisfied like other people, took a survey
(02:59):
of the un opened hogshead. He soon returned crying, if
we only had a little butter with our biscuit, it
would be so good. Papa, I allowed, it would be good,
but it was no use thinking of such a thing.
Let us open the other cask, said he displaying a
piece of butter he had extracted through a small crack
in the side. Your instinct for good things has been
(03:23):
fortunate for us, said I, come, boys, who wants bread
and butter? We began to consider how we should come
at the contents of the hogshead without exposing the perishable
matter to the heat of the sun. Finally, I pierced
a hole in the lower part of the cask large
enough for us to draw out the butter as we
wanted it by means of a little wooden shovel, which
(03:45):
I soon made. We then sat down to breakfast with
a cocoanut basin filled with good salt Dutch butter. We
toasted our biscuit, buttered it hot, and agreed it was excellent.
Our dogs were sleeping by us as we breakfasted, and
I remarked that they had bloody marks of the last
night's fray in some deep and dangerous wounds, especially about
(04:07):
the neck. My wife instantly dressed the wounds with butter,
well washed in cold water, and the poor animals seemed
grateful for the ease it gave them. Ernest judiciously remarked
that they ought to have spiked collars to defend them
against any wild beasts they might encounter. I will make
them collars, said Jack, who never hesitated at anything. I
(04:31):
was glad to employ his inventive powers, and ordering my
children not to leave their mother during our absence, but
to pray to God to bless our undertaking, we began
our preparations for the voyage, while Fritz made ready the boat.
I erected a signal post with a piece of sailcloth
(04:51):
for a flag to float as long as all was
going on well, but if we were wanted, they were
to lower the flag and fire a gun three times
when we should immediately return. For I had informed my
dear wife it might be necessary for us to remain
on board all night, and she consented to the plan
(05:12):
on my promising to pass the night in our tubs
instead of the vessel. We took nothing but our guns
and ammunition, relying on the ship's provisions. Fritz would, however,
take the monkey, that he might give it some milk
from the cow. We took a tender leave of each
other and embarked. When we had rowed into the middle
(05:32):
of the bay, I perceived a strong current formed by
the water of the river, which issued at a little distance,
which I was glad to take advantage of to spare
our labor. It carried us three parts of our voyage,
and we rowed the remainder, and entering the opening in
the vessel, we secured our boat firmly and went on board.
(05:54):
The first care of Fritz was to feed the animals
who were on deck, and who all saluted us after
their fashion, rejoiced to see their friends again, as well
as to have their wants supplied. We put the young
monkey to a goat, which he sucked with extraordinary grimaces,
to our infinite amusement. We then took some refreshment ourselves,
(06:16):
and Fritz, to my great surprise, proposed that we should
begin by adding a sail to our boat. He said,
the current which helped us to the vessel could not
carry us back, but the wind, which blew so strongly
against us and made our rowing so fatiguing, would be
of great service if we had a sail. I thanked
(06:37):
my counselor for all his good advice, and we immediately
set to the task. I selected a strong pole for
a mast and a triangular sail, which was fixed to
a yard. We made a hole in a plank to
receive the mast, secured the plank on our fourth tub,
forming a deck, and then, by aid of a block
(06:59):
used to hoist and lower the sails, raised our mast. Finally,
two ropes, fastened by one end to the yard and
by the other to each extremity of the boat, enabled
us to direct the sail at pleasure. Fritz next ornamented
the top of the mast with a little red streamer.
He then gave our boat the name of Deliverance, and
(07:22):
requested it might henceforward be called the Little Vessel. To
complete its equipment, I contrived to rudder so that I
could direct the boat from either end. After signaling to
our friends that we should not return that night, we
spent the rest of the day in emptying the tubs
of the stones that we had used for ballast, and
(07:42):
replacing them with useful things powder and shot, nails, and
tools of all kinds, pieces of cloth. Above all, we
did not forget knives, forks, spoons, and kitchen utensils, including
a roasting jack. In the captain's cabin we found some
so services of silver, pewter, plates and dishes, and a
(08:03):
small chest filled with bottles of choice wines. All these
we took, as well as a chest of eatables intended
for the officer's table, portable soup Restphalian hams, bolognia, sausages,
et cetera. Also some bags of maize, wheat and other seeds,
and some potatoes. We collected all the implements of husbandry
(08:26):
we could spare room for, and at the request of Fritz,
some hammocks and blankets, two or three handsome guns, and
an armful of sabers, swords and hunting knives. Lastly, I
embarked a barrel of sulfur, all the cord and string
I could lay my hands on, and a large roll
of sailcloth. The sulfur was intended to produce matches with
(08:49):
Our tubs were loaded to the edge. There was barely
a room left for us to sit, and it would
have been dangerous to attempt our return if the sea
had not been so calm. Night arrived. We exchanged signals
to announce security on sea and land, and after prayers
for the dear islanders, we sought our tubs, not the
(09:11):
most luxurious of dormitories, but safer than the ship. Fritz
slept soundly, but I could not close my eyes thinking
of the jackals. I was, however, thankful for the protection
they had in the dogs. End of Chapter five
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