[The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island by Johann David Wyss]@TWC D-Link book
The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island

CHAPTER IX
2/10

Neither would she consent to leave the poultry, as food for the jackals; above all, Francis must have a place; he could not possibly walk all the way.

I was amused with the exactions of the sex; but consented to all, and made a good place for Francis between the bags, on the back of the ass.
The elder boys returned in despair,--they could not succeed in catching the fowls; but the experienced mother laughed at them, and said she would soon capture them.
"If you do," said my pert little Jack, "I will be contented to be roasted in the place of the first chicken taken." "Then, my poor Jack," said his mother, "you will soon be on the spit.
Remember, that intellect has always more power than mere bodily exertion.

Look here!" She scattered a few handfuls of grain before the tent, calling the fowls; they soon all assembled, including the pigeons; then throwing more down inside the tent, they followed her.

It was now only necessary to close the entrance; and they were all soon taken, tied by the wings and feet, and, being placed in baskets covered with nets, were added to the rest of our luggage on the backs of the animals.
Finally, we conveyed inside the tent all we could not carry away, closing the entrance, and barricading it with chests and casks, thus confiding all our possessions to the care of God.

We set out on our pilgrimage, each carrying a game-bag and a gun.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books