The Swiss Family Robinson - Full Audiobook : Chapter 06

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, chapter six.
As soon as day broke, I mounted on deck to
look through the telescope. I saw my wife looking towards us,
and the flag which denoted their safety, floating in the breeze.

(00:23):
Satisfied on this important point, we enjoyed our breakfast of biscuit,
ham and wine, and then turned our thoughts to the
means of saving our cattle. Even if we could contrive
a raft, we could never get all the animals to
remain still on it. We might venture the huge sow
in the water, but the rest of the animals we

(00:44):
found would not be able to swim to shore. At last,
Fritz suggested the swimming apparatus. We passed two hours in
constructing them. For the cow and ass it was necessary
to have an empty cask on each side, well bound
and strong sailcloth fastened by leather thongs over the back
and under each animal. For the rest, we merely tied

(01:07):
a piece of cork under their bodies, the sow only
being unruly and giving us much trouble. We then fastened
a cord to the horns or neck of each animal,
with a slip of wood at the end for a
convenient handle. Luckily, the waves had broken away part of
the ship and left the opening wide enough for the
passage of our troop. We first launched the ass into

(01:30):
the water by a sudden push. He swam away after
the first plunge very gracefully. The cow, sheep, and goats
followed quickly after. The sow was furious and soon broke
loose from us. All but fortunately reached the shore long
before the rest. We now embarked, fastening all the slips

(01:51):
of wood to the stern of the boat, thus drawing
our train after us, and the wind filling our sail
carried us smoothly towards the shore. Fritz exulted in his plan,
as we certainly could never have rowed our boat loaded
as we were. I once more took out my telescope
and was remarking that our party on shore seemed making

(02:13):
ready for some excursion, when a loud cry from Fritz
filled me with terror. We are lost. We are lost.
See what a monstrous fish. Though pale with alarm, the
bold boy had seized his gun, and, encouraged by my directions,
he fired two balls into the head of the monster
as it was preparing to dart on the sheep. It

(02:33):
immediately made its escape, leaving a long red track to
prove it was severely wounded. Being freed from our enemy,
I now resumed the rudder, and we lowered the sail
and rowed to shore. The animals, as soon as the
water became low enough, walked out at their own discretion.
After we had relieved them from their swimming girdles. We

(02:55):
then secured our boat as before, and landed ourselves, anxious
looking round for our friends. We had not long to wait.
They came joyfully to greet us, and after our first
burst of pleasure, we sat down to tell our adventures
in a regular form. My wife was overjoyed to see
herself surrounded by these valuable animals, and especially pleased that

(03:19):
her son Fritz had suggested so many useful plans. We
next proceeded to disembark all our treasures. I noticed that
Jack wore a belt of yellow skin, in which were
placed a pair of pistols, and inquired where he had
got his brigand costume. I manufactured it myself, said he,
And this is not all. Look at the dogs. The

(03:42):
dogs wore each a collar of the same skin as
his belt, bristling with long nails, the points outwards a
formidable defense. It is my own invention, said he. Only
Mama help me in the sewing. But where did you
get the leather, the needle and thread? Quiet eye, Fritz's

(04:02):
jackal supplied the skin, said my wife, and my wonderful bag.
The rest. There is still more to come from it.
Only say what you want. Fritz evidently felt a little
vexation at his brother's unceremonious appropriation of the skin of
the jackal, which displayed itself in the tone in which
he had exclaimed holding his nose, keep at a distance,

(04:25):
mister skinner, you carry an intolerable smell about with you.
I gave him a gentle hint of his duty in
the position of eldest son, and he soon recovered his
good humor. However, as the body, as well as the
skin of the jackal, was becoming offensive, they united in
dragging it down to the sea, while jack placed his

(04:46):
belt in the sun to dry. As I saw no
preparation for supper, I told Fritz to bring the ham,
and to the astonishment and joy of all, he returned
with a fine Wassphalian ham which we had cut in
in the morning. I will tell you, said my wife,
why we have no supper prepared. But first I will

(05:07):
make you an omelet. And she produced from a basket
a dozen turtles eggs. You see, said Ernest. They have
all the characteristics of those Robinson Crusoe had in his island.
They are white balls, the skin of which resembles moistened parchment.
My wife promised to relate the history of the discovery

(05:27):
after supper, and set about preparing her ham an omelet,
while Fritz and I proceeded in unloading our cargo, assisted
by the useful ass Supper was now ready. A tablecloth
was laid over the butter cask and spread with the
plates and spoons from the ship. The ham was in

(05:47):
the middle, and the omelet and cheese at each end,
and we made a good meal, surrounded by our subjects,
the dogs, the fowls, the pigeons, the sheep, and the
goats waiting for our notice. The geese and ducks were
more independent, remaining in their marsh where they lived in
plenty on the small crabs which abounded there After supper,

(06:11):
I sent Fritz for a bottle of the captain's canary wine,
and then requested my wife to give us her recital
end of Chapter six.