The Swiss Family Robinson; or Adventures in a Desert Island

going right, I sought, before the boys got up, a shady place to rest in, but in vain; I believe this barren shore has not a single tree on it. Then I began to consider on the ne

d on the rock; Ernest declining to assist him in his dirty work, for which I reproved h

ted them closely through the long pieces of skin he had cut for collars; he then cut some sailcloth, and made a double lining over

, nailing it down, and exposing it to t

a small hatchet, and gave Ernest a carbine, which might be loaded with ball; keeping his light gun for myself. I carefully secured the op

taught the boys to use fire-arms properly, as the defence of my youngest b

oor boys could get their guns ready. They were much mortified, and I recommended them always to have their guns in readiness, for the birds would not be likely to wait till they loaded them. Francis thought the bird was so large, it must be an eagle; but Ernest ridiculed the idea, and added that he thought it must be of the bustard tribe. We went forward to the spot from which it had arisen, when suddenly another bird of the same kind, though still larger, sprung up, close to our feet, and was soon soaring above our

Neither do their young run as soon as they are hatched. These must be of the gallinaceous tribe, an order of birds such as quails, partridges,

ent in scrutinizing, and endeavouring to classify, the immense number of beautiful, un

ne of the arches, and measured the trunk of the tree with a piece of packthread. He found it to be thirty-four feet. I made thirty-two steps round the roots. Between the roots and the lowest branches, it seemed about forty or fifty feet. The branches are thick and str

ld be in perfect peace and safety. We set out on our return, taking the road by the sea-shore, in case the waves had cast up anything from the wreck of the vessel. We found a quantity of timber, chests, and casks; but all too heavy to bring. We succeeded in dragging them, as well as we could, out of the reach of the tide; our dogs, in the mean time, fishing for crabs, with which they regaled themse

, and though Francis was in dread that it should be the savages who visited Robinson Crusoe's island, coming to eat us up, we were soon enabled to

discovered a tree sixty feet high, where you wish we

e used to ascend to it by a wooden staircase. Could you not contrive something of the sort in one of these gi

commodious and shady dwelling among the roots. To-morrow we were to e