Swiss Family Robinson - Johann David Wyss (poetry books to read txt) 📗
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the good fellowship and brotherly love which was the mainstay of our
strength and happiness.
Good humour was soon restored, Ernest himself helped to unharness the
beasts, and got some handfuls of salt and barley to reward their
exertions, saying, that they must have some more palanquin-practise
another day.
I was seated with my wife and Fritz beneath the shade of the verandah,
engaged in wickerwork, and chatting pleasantly, when suddenly Fritz
got up, advanced a step or two, gazing fixedly along the avenue which
led from Jackal River, then he exclaimed:
`I see something so strange in the distance, father! What in the world
can it be? First it seems to be drawn in coils on the ground like a
cable, then uprises as it were a little mast, then that sinks, and the
coils move along again. It is coming towards the bridge.’
My wife took alarm at this description, and calling the other boys,
retreated into the cave, where I desired them to close up the
entrances, and keep watch with firearms at the upper windows.
These were openings we had made in the rock at some elevation, reached
within by steps, and a kind of gallery which passed along the front of
the rooms.
Fritz remained by me while I examined the object through my spy-glass.
`It is, as I feared, an enormous serpent!’ cried I. `It advances
directly this way, and we shall be placed in the greatest possible
danger, for it will cross the bridge to a certainty.’
`May we not attack it, father?’ exclaimed the brave boy.
`Only with the greatest caution,’ returned I. `It is far too
formidable, and too tenacious of life, for us rashly to attempt its
destruction. Thank God we are at Rockburg, where we can keep in safe
retreat, while we watch for an opportunity to destroy this frightful
enemy. Go up to your mother now, and assist in preparing the firearms;
I will join you directly, but I must further observe the monster’s
movements.’
Fritz left me unwillingly, while I continued to watch the serpent,
which was of gigantic size, and already much too near the bridge to
admit of the possibility of removing that means of access to our
dwelling. I recollected, too, how easily it would pass through the
walls. The reptile advanced with writhing and undulatory movements,
from time to time rearing its head to the height of fifteen or twenty
feet, and slowly turning it about, as though on the look-out for prey.
As it crossed the bridge, with a slow, suspicious motion, I withdrew,
and hastily rejoined my little party, which was preparing to garrison
our fortress in warlike array, but with considerable trepidation, which
my presence served in a measure to allay.
We placed ourselves at the upper openings, after strongly barricading
everything below, and, ourselves unseen, awaited with beating hearts
the further advance of the foe, which speedily became visible to us.
Its movements appeared to become uncertain, as though puzzled by the
trace of human habitation; it turned in different directions, coiling
and uncoiling, and frequently rearing its head, but keeping about the
middle of the space in front of the cave, when suddenly, as though
unable to resist doing so, one after another the boys fired, and even
their mother discharged her gun. The shots took not the slightest
effect beyond startling the monster, whose movements were accelerated.
Fritz and I also fired with steadier aim, but with the same want of
success, for the monster passing on with a gliding motion, entered the
reedy marsh to the left, and entirely disappeared.
A wonderful weight seemed lifted from our hearts, while all eagerly
discussed the vast length and awful though magnificent appearance of
the serpent. I had recognized it as the boa constrictor. It was a vast
specimen, upwards of thirty feet in length.
I explained to the children that its name in South America is
Boaguacu; the first syllable of that name, with the Latin addition,
which indicates that it kills its prey by pressure, or ‘constriction,’
gives the name by which it is commonly known.
The near neighbourhood of this terrific reptile occasioned me the
utmost anxiety; and I desired that no one should leave the house on any
pretence whatever, without my express permission.
During three whole days we were kept in suspense and fear, not daring
to stir above a few hundred steps from the door, although during all
that time the enemy showed no sign of his presence.
In fact, we might have been induced to think the boa had passed across
the swamp, and found his way by some cleft or chasm through the wall of
cliffs beyond, had not the restless behaviour of our geese and ducks
given proof that he still lurked in the thicket of reeds which they
were accustomed to make their nightly resting place.
They swam anxiously about, and with much clapping of wings and
disturbed cackling, showed their uneasiness; finally, taking wing, they
crossed the harbour, and took up their quarters on Shark’s Island.
My quandary increased, as time passed on. I could not venture to
attack with insufficient force a monstrous and formidable serpent
concealed in dense thickets amidst dangerous swamps; yet it was
dreadful to live in a state of blockade, cut off from all the
important duties in which we were engaged, and shut up with our
animals in the unnatural light of the cave, enduring constant anxiety
and perturbation.
Out of this painful state we were at last delivered by none other than
our good old simple-hearted donkey; not, however, by the exercise of a
praiseworthy quality, but by sheer stupidity.
Our situation was rendered the more critical from having no great
stock of provisions, or fodder for the animals; and the hay failing us
on the evening of the third day, I determined to set them at liberty by
sending them, under the guidance of Fritz, across the river at the
ford.
He was to ride Lightfoot, and they were to be fastened together until
safely over.
Next morning we began to prepare for this by tying them in a line, and
while so engaged my wife opened the door, when old Grizzle, who was
fresh and frolicsome after the long rest and regular feeding, suddenly
broke away from the halter, cut some awkward capers, then bolting out,
careered at full gallop straight for the marsh.
In vain we called him by name. Fritz would even have rushed after him,
had not I held him back. In another moment the ass was close to the
thicket, and with a cold shudder of horror, we beheld the snake rear
itself from its lair, the fiery eyes glanced around, the dark deadly
jaws opened widely, the forked tongue darted greedily forth—poor
Grizzle’s fate was sealed.
Becoming aware on a sudden of his danger, he stopped short, spread out
all four legs, and set up the most piteous and discordant bray that
ever wrung echo from rocks.
Swift and straight as a fencer’s thrust, the destroyer was upon him,
wound round him, entangled, enfolded, compressed him, all the while
cunningly avoiding the convulsive kicks of the agonized animal.
A cry of horror arose from the spectators of this miserable tragedy.
`Shoot him, father! Oh, shoot him—do save poor Grizzle!’
`My children, it is impossible!’ cried I. `Our old friend is lost to us
for ever! I have hopes, however, that when gorged with his prey, we may
be able to attack the snake with some chance of success.’
`But the horrible wretch is never going to swallow him all at once,
father?’ cried Jack. `That will be too shocking!’
`Snakes have no grinders, but only fangs, therefore they cannot chew
their food, and must swallow it whole. But although the idea is
startling, it is not really more shocking than the rending, tearing and
shedding of blood which occurs when lions and tigers seize their prey.’
`But,’ said Franz, `how can the snake separate the flesh from the
bones without teeth? And is this kind of snake poisonous?’
`No, dear child,’ said I, `only fearfully strong and ferocious. And it
has no need to tear the flesh from the bones. It swallows them, skin,
hair and all, and digests everything in its stomach.’
`It seems utterly impossible that the broad ribs, the strong legs,
hoofs and all, should go down that throat,’ exclaimed Fritz.
`Only see,’ I replied, `how the monster deals with his victim; closer
and more tightly he curls his crushing folds, the bones give way, he is
kneading him into a shapeless mass: He will soon begin to gorge his
prey, and slowly but surely it will disappear down that distended maw!’
My wife, with little Franz, found the scene all too horrible, and
hastened into the cave, trembling and distressed. To the rest of us
there seemed a fearful fascination in the dreadful sight, and we could
not move from the spot. I expected that the boa, before swallowing his
prey, would cover it with saliva, to aid in the operation, although it
struck me that its very slender forked tongue was about the worst
possible implement for such a purpose.
It was evident to us, however, that this popular idea was erroneous.
The act of lubricating the mass must have taken place during the
process of swallowing; certainly nothing was applied beforehand. This
wonderful performance lasted from seven in the morning until noon. When
the awkward morsel was entirely swallowed, the serpent lay stiff,
distorted, and apparently insensible along the edge of the marsh.
I felt that now or never was the moment for attack!
Calling on my sons to maintain their courage and presence of mind, I
left our retreat with a feeling of joyous emotion quite new to me, and
approached with rapid steps and levelled gun, the outstretched form of
the serpent. Fritz followed me closely.
Jack, somewhat timidly, came several paces behind; while Ernest, after
a little hesitation, remained where he was.
The monster’s body was stiff and motionless, which made its rolling and
fiery eyes, and the slow spasmodic undulations of its tail more fearful
by contrast.
We fired together, and both balls entered the skull: the light of the
eye was extinguished, and the only movement was in the further
extremity of the body, which rolled, writhed, coiled and lashed from
side to side.
Advancing closer, we fired our pistols directly into its head, a
convulsive quiver ran through the mighty frame, and the boa
constrictor lay dead.
As we raised a cry of victory, Jack, desirous of a share in the glory
of conquest, ran close to the creature, firing his pistol into its
side, when he was sent sprawling over and over by a movement of its
tail, excited to a last galvanic effort by the shot.
Being in no way hurt, he speedily recovered his feet, and declared he
had given it its quietus.
`I hope the terrific noise you made just now was the signal of
victory,’ said my wife, drawing near, with the utmost circumspection,
and holding Franz tightly by the hand. `I was half-afraid to come, I
assure you.’
`See this dreadful creature dead at our feet; and let us thank God that
we have been able to destroy such an enemy.’
`What’s to be done with him now?’ asked Jack.
`Let us get him stuffed,’ said Fritz, `and set him up in the museum
amongst our shells and corals.’
`Did anybody ever think of eating serpents?’ inquired Franz.
`Of course not!’ said his mother. `Why, child, serpents are
poisonous—it would
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