Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, Chapter eight. Now,
my dear Elizabeth, said I, waking early next morning, let
us talk a little on this grand project of changing
our residence, to which there are many objections. First, it
seems wise to remain on the spot where Providence has
(00:22):
cast us, where we can have at once means of
support drawn from the ship, and security from all attacks,
protected by the rock, the river, and the sea on
all sides. My wife distrusted the river, which could not
protect us from the jackals, and complained of the intolerable
heat of the sandy desert, of her distaste for such
(00:43):
food as oysters and wild geese, and lastly of her
agony of mind when we ventured to the wreck, willingly
renouncing all its treasures, and begging that we might rest
content with the blessings we already had. There is some
truth in your objections, said I. And perhaps we may
erect a dwelling under the roots of your favorite tree.
(01:06):
But among these rocks we must have a storehouse for
our goods and a retreating case of invasion. I hope
by blowing off some pieces of the rock with powder,
to be able to fortify the part next the river,
leaving a secret passage known only to ourselves. This would
make it impregnable. But before we proceed, we must have
(01:27):
a bridge to convey our baggage across the river. A bridge,
said she in a tone of vexation. Then when shall
we get from here? Why cannot we ford it as usual?
The cow and ask could carry our stores. I explained
to her how necessary it was for our ammunition and
provision to be conveyed over without risk of wetting, and
(01:51):
begged her to manufacture some bags and baskets and leave
the bridge to me and my boys. If we succeeded,
it would always be useful. As for fear of danger
from lightning or accident, I intended to make a powder
magazine among the rocks. The important question was now decided.
I called up my sons and communicated our plans to them.
(02:14):
They were greatly delighted, though somewhat alarmed at the formidable
project of the bridge. Besides, the delay was vexatious. They
were all anxious for removal into the land of Promise,
as they chose to call it. We read prayers and
then thought of breakfast. The monkey sucked one of the
goats as if it had been its mother. My wife
(02:37):
milked the cow and gave us boiled milk with biscuit
for our breakfast, part of which she put in a
flask for us to take on our expedition. We then
prepared our boat for a voyage to the vessel to
procure planks and timber for our bridge. I took both
earnest infrits, as I foresaw our cargo would be weighty
(02:58):
and require all our hands to bring it to shore.
We rode vigorously till we got into the current, which
soon carried us beyond the bay. We had scarcely reached
a little ale at the entrance when we saw a
vast number of gulls and other sea birds fluttering with
discordant cries over it. I hoisted the sail and we
(03:18):
approached rapidly, and when near enough, we stepped on shore
and saw that the birds were feasting so eagerly on
the remains of a huge fish that they did not
even notice our approach. We might have killed numbers even
with our sticks. This fish was the shark which Fritz
had so skillfully shot through the head the night before.
(03:40):
He found the marks of his three balls. Ernest drew
his ramrod from his gun and struck so vigorously right
and left among the birds that he killed some and
put the rest to flight. We then hastily cut off
some pieces of the skin of the monster, which I
thought might be useful, and placed them in our boat.
But this was not the only advantage we gained by landing.
(04:04):
I perceived an immense quantity of wrecked timber lying on
the shore of the island, which would spare us our
voyage to the ship. We selected such planks as were
fit for our purpose. Then, by the aid of our
jackscrew and some levers we had brought with us, we
extricated the planks from the sand and floated them, and
(04:25):
binding the spars and yards together with cords with the
planks above them like a raft, we tied them to
the stern of our boat and hoisted our sail. Fritz,
as we sailed, was drying the shark's skin, which I
hoped to convert into files, and Earnest, in his usual
reflective manner, observed to me, what a beautiful arrangement of
(04:48):
providence it is that the mouth of the shark should
be placed in such a position that he is compelled
to turn on his back to seize his prey, thus
giving it a chance of escape. Else with his ex
excessive veracity, he might depopulate the ocean. At last, we
reached our landing place, and securing our boat, and calling
(05:09):
out loudly, We soon saw our friends running from the river.
Each carried a handkerchief filled with some new acquisition, and
Francis had over his shoulder a small fishing net. Jack
reached us first and threw down before us from his
handkerchief some fine crawfish. They had each as many, forming
a provision for many days. Francis claimed the merit of
(05:31):
the discovery. Jack related that Francis and he took a
walk to find a good place for the bridge. Thank you,
mister architect, said I then you must superintend the workman.
Have you fixed on your place? Yes? Yes, cried he
only listen. When we got to the river, Francis, who
was looking about, called out Jack, Jack, Fritz's jackal is
(05:54):
covered with crabs. Come come. I ran to tell Mama,
who brought a net that came from the ship. And
we caught these in a few minutes, and could have
got many more if you had not come. I commanded
them to put the smaller ones back into the river,
reserving only as many as we could eat. I was
truly thankful to discover another means of support. We now
(06:17):
landed our timber. I had looked at Jack's site for
the bridge, and thought my little architect very happy in
his selection. But it was at a great distance from
the timber. I recollected the simplicity the harness the Laplanders
used for their reindeer. I tied cords to the horns
of the cow, as the strength of this animal is
in the head, and then fastened the other ends round
(06:40):
the piece of timber we wanted moving. I placed a
halter round the neck of the ass and attached the
cords to this. We were thus enabled, by degrees to
remove all her wood to the chosen spot, where the
sides of the river were steep and a period of
equal height. It was necessary to know the breadth of
(07:00):
the river to select the proper planks, and Ernest proposed
to procure a ball of pack thread from his mother,
to tie a stone to one end of the string
and throw it across the river, and to measure it
after drawing it back. This expedient succeeded admirably. We found
the breath to be eighteen feet. But as I proposed
(07:22):
to give the bridge strength by having three feet at
least resting on each shore, we chose some planks of
twenty four feet in length. How we were to get
these across the river was another question, which we prepared
to discuss during dinner, to which my wife now summoned us.
Our dinner consisted of a dish of crawfish and some
(07:42):
very good rice milk. But before we began we admired
her work. She had made a pair of bags for
the ass, sewed with pack thread, but having no large needles,
she had been obliged to pierce holes with a nail,
a tedious and painful process. Well satisfied with her success,
we turned to our repast, talking of our bridge, which
(08:04):
the boys by anticipation named the nun Pariah. We then
went to work. There happened to be an old trunk
of a tree standing on the shore. To this I
tied my main beam by a strong cord loose enough
to turn round the trunk. Another cord was attached to
the opposite end of the beam, long enough to cross
(08:25):
the river. Twice. I took the end of my rope
over the stream, where we had previously fixed the block
used in our boat to a tree by the hook
which usually suspended it. I passed my rope and returned
with the end to our own side. I then harnessed
my cow and asked to the end of my rope
and drove them forcibly from the shore. The beam turned
(08:48):
slowly round. The trunk then advanced, and was finally lodged
over the river amidst the shouts of the boys, its
own weight keeping it firm. Fritz and Jack leaped on
it immediately to run across. To my great fear, we
succeeded in placing four strong beams in the same way,
and by the aid of my sons, I arranged them
(09:09):
at a convenient distance from each other, that we might
have a broad and good bridge. We then laid down
planks close together across the beams, but not fixed, as
in time of danger it might be necessary rapidly to
remove the bridge. My wife and I were as much
excited as the children, and ran across with delight. Our
(09:31):
bridge was at least ten feet broad, thoroughly fatigued with
our day of labor. We returned home, supped and offered
thanks to God and went to rest. End of chapter
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wiss, Chapter eight. Now,
my dear Elizabeth, said I, waking early next morning, let
us talk a little on this grand project of changing
our residence, to which there are many objections. First, it
seems wise to remain on the spot where Providence has
(00:22):
cast us, where we can have at once means of
support drawn from the ship, and security from all attacks,
protected by the rock, the river, and the sea on
all sides. My wife distrusted the river, which could not
protect us from the jackals, and complained of the intolerable
heat of the sandy desert, of her distaste for such
(00:43):
food as oysters and wild geese, and lastly of her
agony of mind when we ventured to the wreck, willingly
renouncing all its treasures, and begging that we might rest
content with the blessings we already had. There is some
truth in your objections, said I. And perhaps we may
erect a dwelling under the roots of your favorite tree.
(01:06):
But among these rocks we must have a storehouse for
our goods and a retreating case of invasion. I hope
by blowing off some pieces of the rock with powder,
to be able to fortify the part next the river,
leaving a secret passage known only to ourselves. This would
make it impregnable. But before we proceed, we must have
(01:27):
a bridge to convey our baggage across the river. A bridge,
said she in a tone of vexation. Then when shall
we get from here? Why cannot we ford it as usual?
The cow and ask could carry our stores. I explained
to her how necessary it was for our ammunition and
provision to be conveyed over without risk of wetting, and
(01:51):
begged her to manufacture some bags and baskets and leave
the bridge to me and my boys. If we succeeded,
it would always be useful. As for fear of danger
from lightning or accident, I intended to make a powder
magazine among the rocks. The important question was now decided.
I called up my sons and communicated our plans to them.
(02:14):
They were greatly delighted, though somewhat alarmed at the formidable
project of the bridge. Besides, the delay was vexatious. They
were all anxious for removal into the land of Promise,
as they chose to call it. We read prayers and
then thought of breakfast. The monkey sucked one of the
goats as if it had been its mother. My wife
(02:37):
milked the cow and gave us boiled milk with biscuit
for our breakfast, part of which she put in a
flask for us to take on our expedition. We then
prepared our boat for a voyage to the vessel to
procure planks and timber for our bridge. I took both
earnest infrits, as I foresaw our cargo would be weighty
(02:58):
and require all our hands to bring it to shore.
We rode vigorously till we got into the current, which
soon carried us beyond the bay. We had scarcely reached
a little ale at the entrance when we saw a
vast number of gulls and other sea birds fluttering with
discordant cries over it. I hoisted the sail and we
(03:18):
approached rapidly, and when near enough, we stepped on shore
and saw that the birds were feasting so eagerly on
the remains of a huge fish that they did not
even notice our approach. We might have killed numbers even
with our sticks. This fish was the shark which Fritz
had so skillfully shot through the head the night before.
(03:40):
He found the marks of his three balls. Ernest drew
his ramrod from his gun and struck so vigorously right
and left among the birds that he killed some and
put the rest to flight. We then hastily cut off
some pieces of the skin of the monster, which I
thought might be useful, and placed them in our boat.
But this was not the only advantage we gained by landing.
(04:04):
I perceived an immense quantity of wrecked timber lying on
the shore of the island, which would spare us our
voyage to the ship. We selected such planks as were
fit for our purpose. Then, by the aid of our
jackscrew and some levers we had brought with us, we
extricated the planks from the sand and floated them, and
(04:25):
binding the spars and yards together with cords with the
planks above them like a raft, we tied them to
the stern of our boat and hoisted our sail. Fritz,
as we sailed, was drying the shark's skin, which I
hoped to convert into files, and Earnest, in his usual
reflective manner, observed to me, what a beautiful arrangement of
(04:48):
providence it is that the mouth of the shark should
be placed in such a position that he is compelled
to turn on his back to seize his prey, thus
giving it a chance of escape. Else with his ex
excessive veracity, he might depopulate the ocean. At last, we
reached our landing place, and securing our boat, and calling
(05:09):
out loudly, We soon saw our friends running from the river.
Each carried a handkerchief filled with some new acquisition, and
Francis had over his shoulder a small fishing net. Jack
reached us first and threw down before us from his
handkerchief some fine crawfish. They had each as many, forming
a provision for many days. Francis claimed the merit of
(05:31):
the discovery. Jack related that Francis and he took a
walk to find a good place for the bridge. Thank you,
mister architect, said I then you must superintend the workman.
Have you fixed on your place? Yes? Yes, cried he
only listen. When we got to the river, Francis, who
was looking about, called out Jack, Jack, Fritz's jackal is
(05:54):
covered with crabs. Come come. I ran to tell Mama,
who brought a net that came from the ship. And
we caught these in a few minutes, and could have
got many more if you had not come. I commanded
them to put the smaller ones back into the river,
reserving only as many as we could eat. I was
truly thankful to discover another means of support. We now
(06:17):
landed our timber. I had looked at Jack's site for
the bridge, and thought my little architect very happy in
his selection. But it was at a great distance from
the timber. I recollected the simplicity the harness the Laplanders
used for their reindeer. I tied cords to the horns
of the cow, as the strength of this animal is
in the head, and then fastened the other ends round
(06:40):
the piece of timber we wanted moving. I placed a
halter round the neck of the ass and attached the
cords to this. We were thus enabled, by degrees to
remove all her wood to the chosen spot, where the
sides of the river were steep and a period of
equal height. It was necessary to know the breadth of
(07:00):
the river to select the proper planks, and Ernest proposed
to procure a ball of pack thread from his mother,
to tie a stone to one end of the string
and throw it across the river, and to measure it
after drawing it back. This expedient succeeded admirably. We found
the breath to be eighteen feet. But as I proposed
(07:22):
to give the bridge strength by having three feet at
least resting on each shore, we chose some planks of
twenty four feet in length. How we were to get
these across the river was another question, which we prepared
to discuss during dinner, to which my wife now summoned us.
Our dinner consisted of a dish of crawfish and some
(07:42):
very good rice milk. But before we began we admired
her work. She had made a pair of bags for
the ass, sewed with pack thread, but having no large needles,
she had been obliged to pierce holes with a nail,
a tedious and painful process. Well satisfied with her success,
we turned to our repast, talking of our bridge, which
(08:04):
the boys by anticipation named the nun Pariah. We then
went to work. There happened to be an old trunk
of a tree standing on the shore. To this I
tied my main beam by a strong cord loose enough
to turn round the trunk. Another cord was attached to
the opposite end of the beam, long enough to cross
(08:25):
the river. Twice. I took the end of my rope
over the stream, where we had previously fixed the block
used in our boat to a tree by the hook
which usually suspended it. I passed my rope and returned
with the end to our own side. I then harnessed
my cow and asked to the end of my rope
and drove them forcibly from the shore. The beam turned
(08:48):
slowly round. The trunk then advanced, and was finally lodged
over the river amidst the shouts of the boys, its
own weight keeping it firm. Fritz and Jack leaped on
it immediately to run across. To my great fear, we
succeeded in placing four strong beams in the same way,
and by the aid of my sons, I arranged them
(09:09):
at a convenient distance from each other, that we might
have a broad and good bridge. We then laid down
planks close together across the beams, but not fixed, as
in time of danger it might be necessary rapidly to
remove the bridge. My wife and I were as much
excited as the children, and ran across with delight. Our
(09:31):
bridge was at least ten feet broad, thoroughly fatigued with
our day of labor. We returned home, supped and offered
thanks to God and went to rest. End of chapter
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