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 BELISARIUS III: THE FLAMES OF SUNSET
David Drake & Eric Flint
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed
in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or
incidents is purely coincidental.

''Introduction'' copyright 2009 by Eric Flint; The Tide of Victory

copyright
2001 by David Drake & Eric Flint; The Dance of Time copyright
2006 by Eric Flint & David Drake.

A Baen Book
Baen Publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com

ISBN 13: 978-4391-3280-7

Cover art by Kurt Miller

First Baen printing, August 2009

Distributed by Simon & Schuster

1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

t/k

Printed in the United States of America

Baen Books by Eric Flint & David Drake

 The Belisarius Series:
An Oblique Approach
In the Heart of Darkness
Belisarius I: Thunder at Dawn (omnibus)
Destiny's Shield
Fortune's Stroke
Belisarius II: Storm at Noontide (omnibus)
The Tide of Victory
The Dance of Time
Belisarius III: The Flames of Sunset (omnibus, forthcoming)
Mountain Magic (with Ryk E. Spoor & Henry Kuttner)
The Tyrant
The World Turned Upside Down (edited with Jim Baen)
For a complete list of Baen Books by
Eric Flint and David Drake, please go to:
www.baen.com
 The Tide of Victory
To Dick and Dolores

Acknowledgements
As this series has progressed, a number of people have provided us
with assistance in one manner or another. It's time to thank them:

Conrad Chu
Judith Lasker
Joe Nefflen
Pam "Pogo" Poggiani
Richard Roach
Mike Spehar
Ralph and Marilyn Tacoma
Detlef Zander

. . . and probably several others I've forgotten to mention, for which

my apologies in advance.
I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank Janet Dailey for the
many ways in which she's helped me out over the past year or so. I can't
remember if that assistance involved my work on the Belisarius series, but
it probably did—and even if it didn't, she's way overdue for my public
appreciation anyway.
Eric Flint
January, 2001
 Prologue
Knowing what to expect, the two sisters had already disrobed
by the time their new owner returned to his tent. The older sister's
infant was asleep on the pallet. The sisters were a bit concerned
that the ensuing activities would awaken him—the pallet was small
and thin, oddly so for such an obviously wealthy man—but not
much. The baby was accustomed to the noise, after all, having spent
the first year of his life in a brothel crib.
Unless, of course, their new owner was given to bizarre tastes
and habits . . .
That was the real source of the sisters' anxiety. For all its
foulness, the brothel had at least been fairly predictable. Now, for
the first time since their enslavement, they faced an entirely new
situation. New—and unsettling. Their new owner had said nothing to
them, other than commanding them into his tent after his caravan
stopped for the night.
But, as they waited, they took solace in the fact that they were
still together. Against all odds, they had managed to keep from being
separated during the long years of their captivity. Apparently, it
tickled their new owner's fancy to have sisters for his concubines.
They would see to it that he was satisfied with the result. In that
manner, they might preserve the remaining fragment of their family.
So it was, when their new owner pushed back the flap and
entered the tent, that he found the sisters reclining nude on the
pallet. The fact that they were holding hands was the only indication
that any uneasiness lurked beneath their sensual poses. Standing
still and straight a few feet from the pallet, he studied them for a
moment. The sisters found the scrutiny unsettling. They could detect
nothing of lust in that gaze. For all the natural warmth of the man's
dark brown eyes, there seemed to be little if any warmth in the eyes
themselves. And not a trace of animal heat. That was odd. Odder,
even, than the austerity of the pallet and the tent's furnishings.
Their new owner was obviously as healthy as he was rich. He was
not especially tall, but his broad shoulders and lean hips were those
of a physically active man. And there was something almost feline
about the way he moved. Very poised, very balanced, very quick.
"Stand up," he commanded abruptly.
The sisters obeyed instantly. They were accustomed to
inspection by prospective customers. As soon as they were on their
feet, both of them assumed familiar poses. Languid, sensual,
inviting. But they were still holding hands.
"Not like that," he said softly. "Just stand straight. And turn
around slowly." His thin lips curved into a smile. "I'm afraid you'll
have to stop holding hands for a bit."
Flushing slightly, the sisters obeyed.
"Slower," he commanded. "And lift up your arms so I can see
your entire bodies."
This was not customary. The uneasiness of the sisters mounted.
The last characteristic that slave prostitutes wanted to see in a new
customer was different. But, of course, they obeyed.
In the long minutes which followed, the sisters found it
increasingly difficult to keep the worry out of their faces. Their new
owner seemed to be subjecting every inch of their bodies to a
detailed and exhaustive scrutiny. As if he were trying to commit
them to memory.
"Which of these scars are from your childhood?" he asked. His
voice was soft and low-pitched. But the sisters took no comfort in
that mild tone. This was a man, clearly enough, who had no need to
raise his voice for the simple reason that command came easily to
him. He would not be denied, whatever he wanted. Which, again,
was not a characteristic which slave prostitutes treasured in their
customers. Especially new and unknown ones.
They were so startled by the unexpected question that they did
not respond immediately. Instead, they exchanged a quick and half-
frightened glance.
Seeing the glance, their new owner's face broke into another
smile. But this one was not thin at all, and seemed to have some
actual humor in it.
 "Be at ease. I have no intention of adding any new scars to the
collection. It is simply information which I must have."
The smile disappeared and the question was asked again. This
time, with firm command. "Which scars?"
Hesitantly, the younger sister lifted her left leg and pointed to a
scar on her knee. "I got this one falling out of a tree. My father was
furious with me."
Their owner nodded. "He would know of it, then? Good. Are
there any other such? Did he beat you afterward? And, if so, are
there any marks?"
The sisters looked at each other. Then, back at their owner.
"He never beat us," whispered the older. "Not once."
"Our mother did," added the younger sister. She was beginning
to relax a bit. Enough that she managed a little chuckle. "Very often.
But not very hard. I can't remember even being bruised." The man
shook his head. "What kind of silly way is that to raise children?
Especially girls?" But the question was obviously rhetorical. The
smile was back on his face, and for the first time the sisters detected
the whimsical humor which seemed to reside somewhere inside the
soul of their new owner.
He stepped up to the older sister and touched her cheek with
his forefinger. "That is the worst scar. It almost disfigures your face.
How did you get it?"
"From the brothel-keeper."
The man's eyes widened slightly. "Stupid," he mused. "Bad for
business."
"He was very angry with me. I—" She shuddered, remembering.
"The new customer had—unusual demands. I refused—"
"Ah." With a light finger, he traced the scar from the ear to the
corner of her mouth.
"I think he forgot he was wearing that huge ring when he
slapped me."
"Ah. Yes, I remember the ring. Probably the same one he was
wearing when we conducted our transaction. A large ruby, set in
silver?"
She nodded.
"Excellent," he said. "Easy for you to remember, then."
He turned to the younger sister. Placing one hand on her
shoulder, he rotated her partway around. With the forefinger of his
other hand, he traced the faint lines across her back.
"These are your worst. How?"
She explained. It was a similar story, except the individual
involved had been the chief pimp instead of the brothel-keeper, and
the instrument had been a whip rather than a ring.
"Ah. Yes, I believe I met him also. Rather short, squat. The little
finger of his left hand is missing?"
The two sisters nodded. He returned the nods with a curt one of
his own. "Excellent, also."
He stepped back a pace or two. "Can either of you write?" The
sisters were now utterly confused. This man was the weirdest
customer they had ever encountered. But—
So far, at least, he did not seem dangerous. The younger sister
spoke first. "Not very well."
"Our father taught us a bit," added the older sister. "But it's
been a long time. Several years."
Both of the sisters, for the first time, found it almost impossible
to maintain their poise. Memories of their father were flooding back.
Their eyes were moist.
The man averted his gaze, for a moment. The sisters took
advantage of the opportunity to quickly pinch the tears away. It
would not do to offend their new owner.
They heard him snort softly. "Taught his daughters! Scandalous,
what it is." Another soft snort. Again, the sisters thought to detect
that strange whimsical humor. "But what else would you expect from
—"
He broke off abruptly and looked back at them.
"In a few days, you will write a letter. As best you can." Seeing
the uncertainty in their faces, he waved his hand idly. "I am not
concerned if the handwriting is poor. All the better, in fact."
His eyes moved to the pallet, and then to the baby asleep to
one side. "It will be crowded, with the four of us." Again, the thin
smile. "But there's no help for it, I'm afraid. Appearances must be
maintained."
Moving with that unsettling ease and speed, he glided past
them and reclined on the pallet. He was lying on the opposite side
from the infant. He patted the middle of the pallet with his hand.
"Come, girls. Sleep. It has been a long day, and tomorrow will
be longer. And the days after, as well. We have a considerable
distance to travel."
Quickly, the sisters did as they were told. After the confusion of
the preceding minutes, they almost found comfort in this familiar
process. Not quite.
The younger sister lay next to him. The gesture of protection for
the older came automatically to her. The two of them had protected
each other for years, as best they could. If she exhausted him, he
might be satisfied. Her sister's infant would not be disturbed.
Their new owner was still fully clothed. She began to stroke his
chest, her fingers working at the laces.
Her hand was immobilized by his own. The man's grip was
gentle enough, but she could sense the iron muscles and sinews in
his hand.
"No," he said softly. "That is all finished. Just sleep." He moved
her hand away.
Uncertainly, she obeyed. She stared at his profile. He was not a
handsome man, not in the least. His face was lean and tightly
drawn. High cheekbones, a sharply curved nose, thin lips below a
thin mustache, clean-shaven cheeks so taut they seemed more like
leather than flesh. Except for the mustache, he reminded her more
of a bird of prey than a man.
But she found herself relaxing, despite his fearsome
appearance. His voice was soft, after all. And she had never been
abused by a bird.
 His eyes were closed. "Finished," he repeated. "There will be no
more scars."
Two days later, at daybreak, he arose from the pallet with his
usual energy. The sisters had become accustomed to his way of
moving. They no longer even found it frightening.
"Enough time has elapsed," he announced. "I will be gone for a
few days. Three, perhaps four."
His words brought instant fear. The younger sister's eyes moved
immediately to the tent flap. The older sister, suckling her infant at
her breast, did not look up. But her sudden indrawn breath was
quite audible.
Their new owner shook his head. "Have no fear. The soldiers in
my escort will not molest you. I have given them clear instructions."
He turned away and began to push back the flap of the tent.
"They will obey those instructions. You can be quite certain of
it." Then, he was gone. The sisters stared at each other. After a few
seconds, their tension eased. They still did not know their new
owner's name, since he had not provided it. But they were coming
to know him. Well enough, at least.
Yes. His instructions would be obeyed. Even by soldiers.

He returned at midmorning, three days later. When he entered

the tent, he was carrying a leather sack in one hand and a roll of
leather in the other. Once flattened on the floor of the tent, the
leather roll measured perhaps eighteen inches square.
"Should be big enough to prevent a mess," he murmured. He
jerked his head, motioning the sisters toward him, while he untied
the sack.
When they were squatting next to him, their new owner spilled
the sack's contents onto the piece of flat leather.
He had gauged correctly, and grunted his satisfaction. Even with
the addition of the fluid pooled at the bottom of the sack, the two
objects did not leak blood onto the floor.
 Both hands had been severed at the wrist, as if by a razor. Or—
The sisters glanced at the dagger scabbarded to their owner's waist.
They had seen him shave with it, every day. He shaved with the
quick and sure motions with which he did everything—except honing
the blade. That, he seemed to enjoy lingering over.
One hand was plump. The middle finger sported a large silver
ring, with a great ruby set at its center. The other hand was thick
and stubby. The little finger was missing.
He rose and moved to one of the chests against the side of the
tent. Opening it, he withdrew a small piece of vellum and writing
equipment.
"And now, the letter."

Long before the sisters had finished, they were sobbing fiercely.
Their new owner did not chide them for it. Indeed, he seemed
obscurely satisfied. As if the tears staining the words and causing
the letters to run added something valuable to the message.
When they were done, he began to roll up the vellum. But the
younger sister stopped him.
"Wait. There is something we can put in it." She hurried to the
far side of the pallet and began plucking apart the threads along the
seam. Her older sister opened her mouth, as if to protest. But
whatever protest she might have made went unspoken. Indeed, by
the time her sister had extracted the object hidden within the pallet,
she was smiling. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes. "
The younger sister came back to their owner and, shyly,
extended her hand. Nestled in the palm was a bright golden coin.
"It's all we have," she said. "He won't recognize it, of course,
because we got it after—" She fell silent, fighting back further tears.
"But still—"
The man plucked the coin out of her hand and held it up for
inspection. Within seconds, he was chuckling softly.
"Freshly minted Malwa imperial coin. I wonder—"
Smiling, he tucked the coin into the vellum and rolled it up.
Then, quickly folding it further, he began tying it up with cord. As he
worked, he spoke softly, as if to himself.
"I wonder . . . Ha! Probably not, of course. But wouldn't that be
a delicious irony?"
The work done, he transferred the smile to the sisters. They had
no difficulty, any longer, recognizing the humor in it. "I'm a man who
appreciates such things, you know."
They nodded, smiling themselves.
His own smile faded. "I am not your friend, girls. Never think so.
But, perhaps, I am not your enemy either."
He lifted the package and hefted it slightly. "We will discover
which, one of these days."
The older sister sighed. "It's not finished, then?"
Their owner's smile returned, this time with more of bright
cheer than whimsy. "Finished? I think not!"
He was actually laughing, now. For the first time since they had
entered his possession.
"I think not! The game has just begun!"

In the days, weeks and months to come, that package—and the

ones which went with it—would cause consternation, three times
over. And glee, once.
***
The consternation came in ascending degrees. The least
concerned were the soldiers who investigated the murder and
mutilation of a brothel-keeper and his chief pimp.
"Who cares who did it?" yawned the officer in charge of the
squad. "Plenty more where they came from."
He turned away from the bed where the brothel-keeper's body
had been found. The linen was still soaked with blood from a throat
slit to the bone. "Maybe a competitor. Or it could have been a
pissed-off customer." It was apparent, from the bored tone of his
voice, that he had no intention of pursuing the matter further.
The pimp who had succeeded to the brothel's uncertain
ownership sighed. "No problem, then?" He fought very hard to keep
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spend less of our time in sleep; but independently of this advantage,
the mere sight of a candle, which for so long a time we had been
deprived of, caused ecstasies of joy to all.
Our success in this last enterprise, encouraged us to think of
another, the idea of which had long been cherished by our kind
steward of provisions: it was, to make fresh butter of the cream we
every day skimmed from the milk, and which was frequently, to her
great vexation, spoiled, and given to the animals for want of such a
process. The utensil we stood in need of, was a churn, to turn the
cream in. Having earnestly applied my thoughts, as to the most
effectual manner of conquering the difficulty, I suddenly recollected
what I had read in a book of travels, of the method used by the
Hottentots for making butter; but in adopting it, I determined to
introduce one feature of proceeding, for which, apparently, they
have not a partiality; and this was, the utmost attention to
cleanliness. Instead of a sheep-skin sewed together at its
extremities, I emptied a large gourd of its natural contents, and filled
it again with cream, and stopped it quite close with the piece I had
cut from the top. I placed my vase of cream on a piece of coarse
linen cloth with four corners, which last I tied to four stakes; I
placed one boy midway between each stake, and directed them to
shake the linen briskly, but with a steady measure, for a certain
time. This exercise, which seemed like children’s play, pleased them
mightily, and they called it rocking the cradle. They performed their
office singing and laughing all the time, and in an hour, on taking off
the cover, we had the satisfaction of seeing some excellent butter.
We heartily congratulated each other, and praised the workmen, who
by their constancy of labour, had thus produced one of the first
conveniences in the list of articles for food.
The employments we had thus been engaged in, were little
different from play; but now a question occurred of one that would
require our most serious attention:—it was the constructing a cart, in
all its forms, for the better conveyance of our effects from place to
place, instead of the sledge which caused us so much fatigue to load
and draw. Many reasons induced me to confine my attempt in the
first instance to a two-wheel cart, and to observe the result before I
ventured on one with four wheels.
I will not fatigue the reader with the detail of my undertaking: I
tried earnestly and long to accomplish my machine; but it did not
entirely succeed to my wishes, and I wasted in the attempt both
time and timber. I however produced what from courtesy we called a
cart; but I would not advise my readers to take it for a model,
though, to say the truth, to us it answered the purpose for which it
was designed.
While I was thus laboriously engaged, the boys and their mother
were no less busy in matters of use or convenience; and I now and
then left my cart to assist them with my advice, though, to do them
justice, I must say, they seldom stood in need of it. They undertook
to transplant the greatest part of the European fruit-trees, to place
them where they would be in a better situation for growth,
according to the properties of each. They planted vine shoots round
the roots of the magnificent tree we inhabited, and round the trunks
of some other kinds of trees which grew near; and we watched them
in the fond anticipation that they would in time ascend to a height
capable of being formed into a sort of trellis, and help to cool us by
their shade. In the climate we inhabited, the vine requires the
protection of the larger trees against the scorching rays of the sun.
Lastly, we planted two parallel lines of saplings, consisting of
chesnut, cherry, and the common nut-trees, to form an avenue from
Family Bridge to Falcon’s Stream, which would hereafter afford us a
cool shade in our walks to Tent House. This last undertaking was not
to be effected without a degree of labour and fatigue the most
discouraging:—the ground was to be cleared of every thing it had
produced, and a certain breadth covered with sand, left higher in the
middle than on the sides, for the sake of being always dry. The boys
fetched the sand from the sea-side in their wheel-barrows, and I
also nailed together a few pieces of wood, in the form of a tub,
which could be harnessed to the ass to ease in some measure their
fatigue.
 Our next concern was to introduce, if possible, some shade and
other improvements on the barren site of Tent House, and to render
our occasional abode or visits there more secure. We began by
planting in a quincunx all those sorts of trees that thrive best in the
sun, such as lemon, pistachio, almond, mulberry, and lime-trees;
lastly, some of a kind of orange-tree which attains to a prodigious
size, and bears a fruit as large as the head of a child12, and weighs
not less than twelve or fourteen pounds. The commoner sorts of
nut-trees we placed along the shore in the most favourable
situations. The better to conceal and fortify our tent, which inclosed
all our stores, we formed on the accessible side, a hedge of wild
orange and lemon-trees, which produce an abundant prickly foliage;
and to add to the agreeableness of their appearance, we introduced
here and there the pomegranate; nor did I omit to make a little
arbour of the guava shrub, which is easily raised from slips, and
bears a small fruit rather pleasant to the taste. We also took care to
introduce at proper places a certain number of the largest sorts of
trees, which in time would serve the double purpose of shading
annual plants, and, with benches placed under them, of a kind of
private cabinet. Should any accident or alarm compel us to retire to
the fortress of Tent-House, a thing of the first importance would be
to find there sufficient food for our cattle. For the greater security, I
formed a plantation of the thorny fig-tree, of sufficient breadth to
occupy the space between our fortress and the river, thus rendering
it difficult for an enemy to approach.
The curving form of the river having left some partial elevations of
the soil within the inclosure, I found means to work them into slopes
and angles so as to serve as bastions to our two cannon from the
pinnace and our other fire-arms, should we ever be attacked by
savages. When this was all complete, we perceived that one thing
more was wanting, which was to make such alterations in Family
Bridge as would enable us to use it as a drawbridge or to take it
away entirely, this being the only point at which the passage of the
river could be easily effected. But as we could not do all at once, we
contented ourselves, for present safety, with taking away the first
planks of the bridge at each end every time we passed it. My
concluding labour was to plant some cedars along the usual landing-
places, to which we might fasten our vessels.
We employed six whole weeks in effecting what for the present it
was possible to effect, of these laborious arrangements; but the
continual exercise of mind and body they imposed, visibly
contributed to the physical and moral health of the boys, and to the
support of cheerfulness and serenity in ourselves. The more we
embellished our abode by the work of our own hands, the more it
became dear to our hearts. The constant and strict observance of
the sabbath-day afforded such an interval of rest, as could not fail to
restore our strength; and inspire us with the desire of new exertions.
The sentiment of gratitude which filled our minds towards the
Supreme Being, who had saved us from destruction and supplied us
with all things needful, demanded utterance, and on Sundays we
might allow ourselves the indulgence of pouring out our hearts in
thankfulness. Thus our religious exercises, succeeded by gymnastic
recreations, and these again by pleasing rambles near Falcon’s
Stream, during which I did not fail to inculcate some moral truth,
served to increase at once, our usefulness and our happiness. It was
deserving of remark, that though the boys had been employed in
severe labour through the week, yet they were ever ready to
encounter the climbing of trees, running races, swimming, shooting
with the bow and arrow, when Sunday came; a proof that it is not so
much inaction which renews the strength, as a change of
occupations.
But the repetition of these exercises wore out our clothes so fast,
that another trip to the vessel was absolutely necessary. We had
nearly exhausted the stock we had already brought away; we were
now absolutely in rags, and we feared we saw the time when we
should be compelled to renounce the European modes of dress. I
had also another reason; the cart I had just completed, and with
which at first I was quite enchanted on further acquaintance
disclosed a defect which it was scarcely possible to endure; it was a
violent creaking of the wheels at every turn, and in addition the
wheels moved so imperfectly round the axle-tree, that the united
strength of the ass and the cow could scarcely drag the machine
along. It was in vain that, in spite of my wife’s reproofs, I applied a
little butter now and then; in an hour or two the butter was dried,
and the wheels remained the same.
These two circumstances compelled us then once more to have
recourse to the vessel, which heaven and the waves had still
preserved. We knew there remained on board five or six chests
containing apparel, and we suspected there were also some tubs of
pitch and grease for wheels in her hold, which we should thus
obtain. To these motives were added, that of an earnest desire to
take another look at her, and, if practicable, to bring away a few
pieces of cannon which might be fixed on the new bastions at Tent
House, and thus we should be prepared for the worst.
The first fine day I assembled my three eldest sons, and put my
design into execution. We reached the wreck without any striking
adventure, and found her still fixed between the rocks, but
somewhat more shattered than when we had last seen her. We did
not lose a moment in searching for the tubs of pitch, which, with the
help of the pulley, we soon conveyed into the pinnace; we next
secured the chests of clothes, and whatever remained of
ammunition stores; powder, shot, and even such pieces of cannon as
we could remove, while those that were too heavy, we stripped of
their wheels, which might be extremely useful.
But to effect our purpose, it was necessary to spend several days
in visits to the vessel, returning constantly in the evening, enriched
with every thing of a portable nature which the wreck contained;
doors, windows, locks, bolts, nothing escaped our grasp: so that the
ship was now entirely emptied, with the exception of the heavy
cannon and three or four immense copper caldrons, which were too
heavy to be got into the boat. We by degrees contrived to tie these
heavy articles to two or three empty casks well pitched, which would
effectually sustain themselves and the cannon above water. When
these measures were taken, I came to the resolution of blowing up
the wreck by a process similar to that with which I had so well
succeeded with the pinnace. I directed my views to that part of the
vessel which had been entirely stripped of every thing; I supposed
that the wind and tide would convey the beams and timbers ashore,
and thus with little pains we should be possessed of a sufficient
quantity of materials for erecting a building at some future time.
We accordingly prepared a cask of gunpowder, which we left on
board for the purpose: we rolled it to the place most favourable for
our views: we made a small opening in its side, and at the moment
of quitting the vessel, we inserted a piece of match-wood which we
lighted at the last moment, as before. We then sailed with all
possible expedition for Safety Bay, where we arrived in a short time.
We could not, however, withdraw our thoughts from the wreck and
from the expected explosion for a single moment. I had cut the
match a sufficient length for us to hope that she would not go to
pieces before dark. I proposed to my wife to have our supper carried
to a little point of land from whence we had a view of her, and here
we waited for the moment of her destruction with lively impatience.
About the time of night-fall, a majestic rolling sound like thunder,
accompanied by a column of fire and smoke, announced that the
ship, so awfully concerned with our peculiar destiny, which had
brought us to our present abode in a desert, and furnished us there
with such vast supplies for general comfort, was that instant
annihilated, and withdrawn for ever from the face of man!—At this
moment, love for the country that gave us birth, that most powerful
sentiment of the human heart, sunk with a new force into ours. The
ship had disappeared for ever! Could we then form a hope ever to
behold that country more! We had made a sort of jubilee of
witnessing the spectacle; the boys had clapped their hands and
skipped about in joyful expectation; but the noise was heard;—the
smoke and sparks were seen while the sudden change which took
place in our minds could be compared only to the rapidity of these
effects of our concerted scheme against the vessel. We all observed
a mournful silence, and all rose, as it were, by an impulse of mutual
condemnation, and with our heads sinking on our bosoms, and our
eyes cast upon the ground, we took the road to Tent House.
 My wife was the only person who was sensible of motives for
consolation in the distressing scene which had been passing; she
was now relieved from all the cruel fears for our safety in our visits
to a shattered wreck, that was liable to fall to pieces during the time
we were on board. From this moment she conceived a stronger
partiality for our island, and the modes of life we had adopted. A
night’s repose had in some measure relieved the melancholy of the
preceding evening, and I went rather early in the morning with the
boys, to make further observations as to the effects of this
remarkable event. We perceived in the water, and along the shore,
abundant vestiges of the departed wreck, and among the rest, at a
certain distance, the empty casks, caldrons, and cannon, all tied
together, and floating in a large mass upon the water. We jumped
instantly into the pinnace, with the tub-boat fastened to it, and
made a way towards them through the numberless pieces of timber,
&c., that intervened, and in a little time reached the object of our
search, which from its great weight moved slowly upon the waves.
Fritz with his accustomed readiness flung some rope round two four-
pounders, and contrived to fasten them to our barge, after which he
secured also an enormous quantity of poles, laths, and other useful
articles. With this rich booty we returned to land.
We performed three more trips for the purpose of bringing away
more cannon, caldrons, fragments of masts, &c., all of which we
deposited for present convenience in Safety Bay: and now began our
most fatiguing operations, the removing such numerous and heavy
stores from the boats to Tent House. We separated the cannon and
the caldrons from the tub-raft, and from each other, and left them in
a place which was accessible for the sledge and the beasts of
burden. With the help of the crow we succeeded in getting the
caldrons upon the sledge, and in replacing the four wheels we had
before taken from the cannon; and now found it easy to make the
cow and the ass draw them. We in the same manner conveyed away
all the pieces of wood we wished to preserve dry, and what stores
remained, we tied with cords to stakes along the shore, to protect
them from the tide.
 The largest of the boilers or copper caldrons, which had been
intended as principal utensils for a proposed manufactory of sugar,
we now found of the most essential use. We brought out all our
barrels of gunpowder, and placed them on their ends in three
separate groups, at a short distance from our tent; we dug a little
ditch round the whole, to draw off the moisture from the ground,
and then put one of the caldrons turned upside down upon each,
which completely answered the purpose of an out-house. The
cannon were covered with sail-cloth, and upon this we laid heavy
branches of trees; the larger casks of gunpowder we prudently
removed under a projecting piece of rock, where, should they even
blow up, no mischief could arise to the inhabitants of Tent House:
these we covered with planks, till we should have leisure for
executing the plan of an ammunition storehouse, about which we
had all become extremely earnest.
My wife, in taking a survey of these our labours, made the
agreeable discovery that two of our ducks and one of the geese had
been brooding under a large bush, and at the time were conducting
their little families to the water. The news produced general
rejoicings; Fritz and Ernest looked forward to some luxurious
Sunday-dinners, and Jack and Francis wondered what the young
birds could think, when they first saw any human creatures! We in a
short time found means to tame them, by throwing them
occasionally some crumbs of manioc. This last employment, together
with the gambols of the little creatures, so forcibly carried our
thoughts to Falcon’s Stream, that we all conceived the ardent desire
of returning to the society of the numerous old friends we had left
there. One sighed for his monkey, another for his flamingo; Francis
for his parrot, and his mother for her poultry-yard, her various
housewifery accommodations, and her comfortable bed. We
therefore fixed the next day for our departure, and set about the
necessary preparations.
 CHAPTER XXV.
A new excursion.—Palm-tree wine.

On entering our new plantation of fruit-trees forming the avenue

to Falcon’s Stream, we observed that they had not a vigorous
appearance, and that they inclined to curve a little in the stalk: we
therefore immediately resolved to support them with sticks, and I
proposed a walk to the vicinity of Cape Disappointment, for the
purpose of cutting some bamboos. I had no sooner pronounced the
words, than the three eldest boys and their mother exclaimed at
once that they would accompany me. Their curiosity had been
excited by the accounts Fritz and I had given of the variety of
amusing objects we had met with in our visit to the spot: each found
a sound and special reason why he must not fail to be of the party:
—one of the hens was observed to be brooding, and some of the
eggs of the heath-fowl were to be fetched and laid under her;—our
provision of candles was nearly exhausted, and a new stock of
berries must therefore be procured, for my wife now repaired our
clothes by candle-light, while I employed myself in composing a
journal of the events of every day:—Then, the sow had again
deserted us, and nothing could be so probable as that we should
find her in the acorn wood:—Jack would fain gather some guavas for
himself, and Francis must needs see the sugar-canes he sucked with
so keen a relish. In short, all would visit this land of Canaan.
We accordingly fixed the following morning, and set out in full
procession. For myself, I had a great desire to explore with more
attention this part of our island, and to reap some more substantial
advantages from its produce. I therefore made some preparations
for sleeping, should we find the day too short for all we might have
to accomplish: I took the cart instead of the sledge, having fixed
some planks across it for Francis and his mother to sit upon when
they should be tired; I was careful to be provided with the different
implements we might want, some rope machinery I had contrived
for rendering the climbing of trees more easy, since we could not
always expect to meet with a crab who should obligingly give us his
assistance; and lastly, some provisions, consisting of a piece of the
salted tortoise, some water in a gourd-flask, and one bottle of wine
from the captain’s store. When all was placed in the cart, I for this
time harnessed to it both the ass and the cow, as I expected the
load would be increased on our return; and we set out, taking the
road of the potatoe and manioc plantations. Our first halt was at the
tree of the colony of birds; close upon the same spot were also the
trees whose berries produced the wax for candles, and intermixed
with these some of the guava kind. On this second occasion of
seeing the birds, I recollected to what species they belonged, which
by naturalists is named Loxia gregaria (Sociable Grossbeak).
It was not without much difficulty that we conducted the cart
through the thick entangled bushes, the most intricate of which I
every where cut down, and we helped to push it along with all our
strength. We succeeded tolerably well at last; and that the poor
animals might have time to rest, we determined to pass several
hours in this place which furnished such a variety of agreeable and
useful objects. We began by gathering a bag full of the guavas; and
after regaling ourselves plentifully upon them, we put the remainder
into the cart. We next examined anew, and with close attention, the
interesting structure of the nest inhabited by the colony of birds, and
concluded, contrary to the opinion I had formerly entertained, that
the little green parrot was an invader who had seized upon an empty
place, and fixed himself in it; for numerous flocks of the brown-
coloured birds now passed in and out, rested upon the bushes which
produced the wax, and devoured large quantities of the berries,
which explained the reason of their building their singularly-contrived
abode in this particular spot. We claimed the same privilege as the
birds, and had soon filled another bag with the berries we found
means to beat down from the bushes. Seeing them so greedily
consumed by those little animals, the boys desired to follow their
example, and accordingly tasted them, but found them too insipid
for their palate.
We had brought the monkey with us to search out the nests of the
heath-fowl, that we might seize upon the eggs; but we postponed
the setting him on this employment till we should again reach the
place on our way back, for fear of breaking the eggs in carrying. We
continued our way, and soon arrived at the caoutchouc, or gum-
elastic trees: I thought we could not do better than to make a halt
here, and endeavour to collect a sufficient quantity of the sap, to
make the different kinds of utensils, and the impenetrable boots and
shoes, as I had before proposed. It was with this design that I had
taken care to bring with me several of the most capacious of the
gourd rinds. I made deep incisions in the trunks, and fixed some
large leaves of trees partly doubled together lengthways, to the
place, to serve as a sort of channel to conduct the sap to the vessels
I had kept in readiness to receive it. We had not long begun this
process before we perceived the sap begin to run out as white as
milk, and in large drops, so that we were not without hopes by the
time of our return to find the vessels full, and thus to have obtained
a sufficient quantity of the ingredient for a first experiment.
We left the sap running, and pursued our way, which led us to the
wood of cocoa-trees; from thence we passed to the left, and
stopped half way between the bamboos and the sugar canes,
intending to furnish ourselves with a provision of each. We aimed
our course so judiciously, that on clearing the skirts of the wood we
found ourselves in an open plain, with the sugar-cane plantations on
our left, and on our right those of bamboo interspersed with various
kinds of palm-trees, and in front the magnificent bay formed by
Cape Disappointment, which stretched far out into the sea.
The prospect that now presented itself to our view was of such
exquisite beauty, that we determined to choose it for our resting-
place, and to make it the central point of every excursion we should
in future make: we were even more than half disposed to desert our
pretty Falcon’s Stream, and transport our possessions hither: a
moment’s reflection, however, betrayed the folly of quitting the
thousand comforts we had there with almost incredible industry
assembled: and we dismissed the thought with promising ourselves
to include this ravishing spot ever more in our projects for
excursions. We disengaged the animals, that they might graze and
refresh themselves under the shade of the palm-trees, and sat down
to enjoy our own repast, and to converse on the beauty of the
scene.
Our next proceeding was to divide amongst us the different
occupations which were the objects of our walk. Some scampered
away to the right to cut bamboos; others to the left, to secure the
sugar-canes, of both which a large bundle was collected, tied
together, and put into the cart. The bodily exertions made by the
boys again excited their desire to eat; they sucked some of the
canes, but their hunger was not appeased. Their mother, however,
refused to let them have the remainder of the provisions, and they
therefore cast a longing eye to the tops of the trees, where they saw
a great number of cocoa-nuts suspended. After a short deliberation,
it was determined that two of them should venture on climbing to
the top, a height of from sixty to eighty feet, and with the hatchet
which would be fastened to his waist, should beat them down. Fritz
and Jack had no hesitation; they selected the trees which had most
fruit for their attempt, and with my assistance they proceeded a
considerable way; but when left to themselves, their legs and arms
were too short to embrace the trunk of the tree, and having no place
of rest for either, they scampered down again much quicker than
they had ascended, chagrined and out of countenance. It was now
my part to interfere: I wished, said I, to let you try for yourselves
first; but though it may be well to be possessed of personal courage,
yet at your age, my boys, it is advisable to distrust your own
suggestions and to ask advice from persons of experience: had you
applied for mine, I should have told you how impossible it would be
for you to mount such a tree as this without assistance. It is true,
very young sailor-boys mount to the heads of masts, which are
nearly as high; but then the mast is of small circumference, and the
boys have, besides, the aid of ropes. I have something here which
may answer the same purpose;—here are some pieces of prepared
shagreen, which must be tied round your legs; then with this cord I
shall fasten you by the body to the trunk of the tree, but so loosely
that it will move up and down when you do; by sitting occasionally
on this cord, you will be enabled to rest when necessary, and so
push on by little and little. This manner of climbing trees is practised
by savages and by negro slaves with success. At first you will make
but slow progress, but after two or three experiments you will find
no further difficulty.
The boys had listened with entire attention: excited by the
description I had made, they eagerly demanded to be equipped for
the experiment, and their success exceeded our expectation; they
with tolerable ease reached the top of the tree, where the thick
tufted foliage furnished a commodious seat, and from whence they
sent forth exulting salutations. They now took their hatchets and set
to work, when presently a shower of cocoa-nuts descended, from
which the persons below had barely time to escape by running to a
distance. The monkey having observed what was going on, took the
fancy of imitating his young masters, and springing from the ground
into one of the trees, he with his teeth and his paws sent down as
many nuts as the hatchet: he then came down with equal swiftness,
and seating himself on the ground began to crack one of the nuts,
making all the time such strange grimaces as to occasion us all
much merriment. The two boys had descended with more caution
than the monkey, and with perfect safety: they received our
compliments on the skill and address they had evinced in so
promptly making themselves masters of so valuable an art.
Ernest was the only person who took no part in this animated
scene: his brothers began to banter him a little on the old subject of
his indolence; they approached him gravely, and offered him some
cocoa-nut, to refresh him after so much fatigue; he made no reply,
and pushed the offering aside. He then rose from his seat, and
began to examine the trees one by one with deep attention; he
requested me to saw off the top of a cocoa-nut for him, which he
emptied, and fastened round it cross-ways a string with a loop to
hang it to the button of his waistcoat. Not one of us could imagine
what he was going to do; he placed a small hatchet in his girdle, and
then advancing a few paces out of the group we formed, he in a
graceful manner pronounced the following little address:
“I am sensible, my dear parents, that in our republic, or rather in
our kingdom, (for our father is to us as a beloved sovereign, and our
mother as a much cherished queen,) I am I say sensible, that here,
as in Europe, he who has sufficient talent to raise himself above the
rest, is held in high consideration and esteem. For my own part, I
must confess I had more pleasure in remaining in tranquillity without
endeavours to obtain distinction. I have but little ambition, and am
fond of quiet, and therefore the greater will be my desert, if I, like
the rest, resolve to contribute to the general good of this our
country, by executing, as the other subjects have done, the task of
climbing trees; well satisfied if, like them, I should obtain the
applauses of my king and of my fellow-citizens!—To the tree then,
since climbing is the question,” said he, saluting us with his hand as
he sprang away to a high palm-tree of the cabbage species13.
I looked with extreme curiosity; but when I saw him courageously
grasp the trunk with his legs and arms, and proceed to climb without
assistance, I approached the tree and offered him the shagreen and
the cord; he accepted the first, but refused the cord. I am naturally
somewhat awkward, observed he, and to have to draw a cord after
me would only add to my difficulty; besides, I think I have no
occasion for it. In fact, he employed so much earnest desire in the
undertaking, and exerted his limbs with so much spirit, that I was
astonished at the rapidity of his ascent, and conceived at every
remove the most terrible alarm, since the further from the ground,
the more danger would attend him, should any slip or other accident
occasion him to fall. I kept my station near the foot of the tree,
continually encouraging him by calling out: Bravo, bravo, boy Ernest,
though last in attempt, yet it is you who have shown the greatest
courage, for you have not, like your brothers, had assistance from
the cord. Fritz and Jack, who were spectators also, now, instead of
seeming humbled by my repeated commendation of Ernest, to my
great surprise, were observed whispering each other with an air of
self-satisfaction; I could not for my own part conceive what could be
the subject of their seeming exultation, but I soon learnt the truth.
When Ernest now showed himself at the very top of the tree, Fritz
and Jack burst into an immoderate fit of laughter:—Pains enough for
nothing, master Ernest, bawled they as loud as they could: in your
sublime wisdom, master Ernest, you have chosen a tree which has
no fruit upon it. Not a single cocoa-nut will you bring down, your
most devoted fellow-subjects can truly assure you!
Not a cocoa-nut, certainly, replied Ernest in his loudest voice; but,
brothers, you shall receive a crown instead, and at the same instant
he with his hatchet cut off the tufted summit of the palm-tree, and a
large mass of tender leaves fell at our feet.
Mischievous boy! cried his mother: disappointed of his cocoa-nuts,
see if he has not cut off the head of this magnificent palm-tree, and
it will perish in consequence! Ah! Ernest, what do you not deserve
for thus giving way to anger!
I am happy, mother, to be able to correct your mistake, cried
Ernest from his stately column, where he stood erect, and looked
exactly like a statue. What I have done was not from anger, but from
a desire to procure you one of the finest kinds of food this country
affords; the tree is the cabbage palm-tree, and believe me you will
find it a more valuable acquisition than even our highly prized cocoa-
nuts!—A cabbage! exclaimed Fritz: Ah, ah! Master Ernest, so you
would make us believe that cabbages grow on palm-trees, and that
we are in a land of wonders!
In a land of wonders, my son, we can never fail to be, in whatever
place we may abide, for the whole scheme of nature is a perpetual
tissue of wonders proceeding from the hand of a beneficent Creator;
and those we now behold appear to us extraordinary, only because
we view them for the first time. Examine this production, to which
the name of palm-cabbage has been given by naturalists; it has not
the shape of our European cabbage; but, as Ernest tells you, it is a
most delicious and refreshing food: he has also had the merit of
distinguishing this tree from others: and let me seize the present
occasion, young ones, to reprove you for the taunting spirit in which
you viewed your brother’s proceedings, who, though less
enterprising and less alert than you, so far surpasses any one of you
in observation and reflection. To him we are indebted for the most
useful of the discoveries which have been made—the potatoes and
the manioc: if, instead of envying each other, you were to unite your
various endowments, what happiness and what success might be
the result! Ernest would think for you, you would execute for him;
thus, all would share in the advantages which would result from this
spirit of concord, so necessary among mankind, but particularly
among brothers. Let me also recommend to you to accustom
yourselves to suspend your judgement on the actions of another, till
those actions are complete and you are quite sure both of their
object and effect. Even you, well-beloved of my heart, were not on
this occasion free from blame towards your boy! Try then to make
him such reparation as your kind maternal heart shall dictate!
Most willingly, cried she, her eyes filling with tears of tenderness;
and she looked up to invite him to come down: mine and the boys’
followed in the same direction; when we beheld Ernest in a fixed
erect position in the very centre of the palm-tree, which he had
stripped of its crown, as motionless as if he had become a cabbage.
The whole effect of this spectacle was irresistibly ludicrous; and
accordingly the boys, in spite of the lecture I had that moment
concluded, burst into an immoderate fit of laughter.
I now called out to Ernest: Do you mean, said I, to stay all night
in your tree, or are you afraid to trust yourself with coming down?
Far from it, father, answered he; but I am engaged in preparing
you here some good sauce for the cabbage, and the operation takes
a longer time than I imagined: but have a little patience, and I will
bring down something for you to drink to my health.
What can he mean? asked little Francis; I dare say he has found a
fountain in the tree; do you know, papa, I have been thinking that
this must be an enchanted forest, like those I have read about in my
little books; perhaps some of those trees are all the time princes and
princesses:—do you not think it very likely, brother Fritz? said the
young innocent with so real and fearful a persuasion, that we all
laughed heartily as we answered his question. His mother took him
on her knee and explained to him the nature of a fairy-tale, while
the scene for my own part strengthened me in the opinion that
children should be told nothing but the truth.
By this time Ernest had finished his work, and was descending
cautiously from the tree. When he reached the ground, he released
the cocoa-shell from his button, held it delicately in one hand, while
with the other he drew from his pocket a small bottle, and pulling
out the cork he emptied the contents into the shell, and presented it
to me, saying: Most gracious sovereign, permit your devoted cup-
bearer to present you with a specimen of a new and choice
beverage he has been so fortunate as to procure for you: may it be
pleasing to your royal taste: it is called palmist-wine, and your
faithful slave waits but your commands to obtain a larger supply!.....
My wife and the other boys looked on in astonishment. I was
myself less surprised, having read accounts of this production in
different books. I was, however, much gratified to owe the
acquisition to the study and reflection of my young philosopher, as I
now called Ernest. It is excellent, my boy, said I, and we shall unite
in drinking it to your health, with sensations of gratitude and
affection. This was accordingly done.
I then made some inquiries of Ernest, as to his previous
knowledge of the tree and its properties; and he answered, that if
he had been quite sure of these being the kind producing cabbage,
he should sooner have ascended. I knew, continued he, that there
was a sort of palm which bore a cabbage at the top; and while my
brothers were getting up for the cocoa-nuts, I was looking about in
hopes to find it, and presently I thought that the tree which had no
cocoa-nuts was most likely to be the sort; and you see I was lucky,
in my guess. He then related his expectation of finding some of our
famous palm-wine also. When I had cut off the cabbage, said he, a
quantity of juice issued from the place, which I tasted and found
delicious: you know the rest, father, added he; and I have only to
regret that I had not a larger bottle to receive it; but now that we
know the means, we can obtain the liquor when we please.
A small quantity at a time, observed I, will always be best; for the
juice, though so like to Champaign in flavour, and which would
perhaps affect our heads as soon if we were to use it freely, would
by to-morrow, like the cocoa-milk, be quite sour: as there are
abundance of the trees, we can, as you say, procure the liquor at
pleasure, only taking care to be moderate; for it is affirmed by
writers on natural history, that if the cabbage at the top is cut off,
the tree dies, and we should therefore in time destroy the species.
There are other sorts of palm-trees besides those we have noticed;
one in particular, which yields a kind of oil which burns whatever it is
applied to; we shall perhaps meet with it. In the mean time, let us
render thanks to Providence for the benefits he has bestowed.
It was now past noon; and as we had determined to pass the
night in this enchanting spot, we began to think of forming some
large branches of trees into a sort of hut, as is practised by the
hunters in America, to shelter us from the dew and the coolness of
the air, for we had dismissed our fears of the approach of wild-
beasts, not having in so long a time been visited by any. I
accordingly set to work; I had brought a piece of sail-cloth with me
from Falcon’s Stream, and I drove some stakes into the ground, and
covered them with it, filling the opening in the front with some
branches I had cut for the purpose. While we were engaged in our
work, which was nearly completed, we were suddenly roused by the
loud braying of the ass, which we had left to graze at a distance but
a short time before. As we approached nearer to the place, we saw
him throwing his head in the air, and kicking and prancing about in a
most extraordinary manner; and while we were thinking what could
be the matter, he set off on a full gallop, leaving us in a state of
astonishment at all we saw. Unfortunately, Turk and Porto, whom we
sent after him, took the fancy of entering the plantation of the
sugar-canes, while the ass had preferred the direction of the
bamboos on the right. We began to fear the approach of some wild
beast might have frightened the creature, and to think of assembling
our fire-arms. In a little time the dogs returned, and showed no
signs, by scenting the ground or otherwise, of any pursuit. I made a
turn round the hut to see that all was well, and then sallied forth
with Fritz and the two dogs in the direction the ass had taken,
hoping the latter might be enabled to trace him by the scent; but
the familiar creatures could not be made to understand our
meaning; they lived habitually with the ass, and had no notion of the
new reason for following him; so that they did no more than run
from place to place for their amusement; and as night was coming
on, I prudently gave up the pursuit and returned to my companions.
Fatigued, and vexed with the loss of the ass, which was so
eminently useful to us, I entered the hut, which I found complete
and provided with the necessary branches strewed on the ground for
sleeping, and with some reeds for making a fire, which the freshness
of the evening air rendered agreeable to all: it served us also for
cooking our supper; and after it had been partaken by us all, we
were glad to lie down upon the branches and enjoy the blessing of
sleep. When all was safe, I watched and replenished the fire till
midnight, rather from habit than the fear of wild beasts, and then
took possession of the little corner assigned me near my slumbering
companions.
 CHAPTER XXVI.
A new country discovered.—The troop of buffalos; a
precious acquisition.

The following morning found us all in good health, and thankful for
the Divine protection we had enjoyed. We breakfasted on some milk
from the cow, some boiled potatoes, and a small portion of Dutch
cheese, and formed during our meal the plan of the business for the
day: we had in vain hoped that night and our bright fire would bring
back the fugitive; we had therefore no resource but to depend upon
our own exertions for recovering him. It was accordingly decided
that one of the boys and myself, attended by the two dogs, should
seek him in every direction through the bamboo plantation; and if
we should not succeed in finding him, I was to return to the hut,
where I knew my wife and the other boys would have been
employed in cutting sugar-canes and collecting a provision of the
different articles we had met with, preparatory to our return the
following day to Falcon’s Stream. As I was to take both the dogs, it
seemed but reasonable that I should leave the two eldest boys to
protect little Francis and his mother, and to take for my own escort
the agile Jack, who was almost beside himself with joy at this
determination.
We took then our hatchets, our fire-arms, a little saw for the
cocoa-nuts we might happen to find, and began our course with the
first dawn of the morning. We soon reached the bamboo plantation,
which we entered, preceded by the dogs, and found means, though
not without difficulty, to force ourselves along its intricate
entanglements. After the most exhausting fatigue, and when we
were on the point of relinquishing all further hope, we discovered
the print of the ass’s hoofs on the soil, which inspired us with new
ardour in the pursuit. After spending a whole hour in further
endeavours, we at length, on reaching the skirts of the plantation,
perceived the sea in the distance, and soon after found ourselves in
an open space which bounded the great bay. A considerable river
flowed into the bay at this place, and we perceived that the ridge of
rocks which we had invariably observed to the right, extended to the
shore, terminating in a perpendicular precipice, leaving only a
narrow passage between the rocks and the river, which during every
flux of the tide must necessarily be under water, but which at that
moment was dry and passable. The probability that the ass would
prefer passing by this narrow way, to the hazard of the water,
determined us to follow in the same path: we had also some
curiosity to ascertain what might be found on the other side of the
rocks, for as yet we were ignorant whether they formed a boundary
to our island, or divided it into two portions; whether we should see
there, land, or water. We continued to advance, and at length
reached a stream which issued foaming from a large mass of rock
and fell in a cascade into the river; the bed of this stream was so
deep, and its course so rapid, that we were a long time finding a
part where it might be most practicable for us to cross. When we
had got to the other side, we found the soil again sandy and mixed
with a fertile kind of earth: in this place we no longer saw naked
rock; and here we again discovered the print of the ass’s hoofs.
By observing with attention, we beheld with astonishment that
there were the prints of the feet of other animals also, that they
were somewhat different from those of the ass, and much larger.
Our curiosity was so strongly excited by this appearance, that we
resolved to follow the traces; and they conducted us to a plain at a
great distance, which presented to our wondering eyes the
exhilarating image of a terrestrial paradise. We ascended a hill which
partly concealed from our view this delicious scene, and then with
the assistance of the glass we looked down upon a range of country
exhibiting every rural beauty that the mind could conceive, and
where a profound tranquillity had seemed to take up its abode. To
our right appeared the majestic wall of rocks which divided the
island, some of which appeared to touch the heavens, others
seemed to imprint the clouds with wild fantastic forms, while mists
broken into pieces partially concealed their tops. To the left, a chain
of gently rising hills, the long green verdure of which was tinged
with blue, stretched as far as the eye could discern, and were
interspersed at agreeable distances with little woods of palm-trees of
every kind. The river we had crossed flowed in a serpentine course
through this exquisite valley, presenting the idea of a broad floating
silver ribbon, while its banks were adorned with reeds and various
aquatic plants. I could with difficulty take my eyes from this
enchanting spectacle, and I seated myself on the ground to
contemplate and enjoy it at my leisure. Neither the plain nor on the
hills was there the smallest trace of the abode of man, or of any kind
of cultivation; it was every where a virgin soil in all its original purity;
nothing endowed with life appeared to view, excepting a few birds
which flew fearlessly around us, and a quantity of brilliantly coloured
butterflies, which the eye frequently confounded with the different
sorts of unknown flowers, which here and there diversified the
surface of the soil.
By straining our eyes, however, as far as we could see, we thought
we perceived at a great distance some specks upon the land, that
seemed to be in motion. We hastened towards the spot; and as we
drew nearer, to our inexpressible surprise discovered a group of
animals, which in the assemblage presented something like the
outline of a troop of horses or of cows; I observed them sometimes
run up to each other, and then suddenly stoop to graze. Though we
had not lately met with further traces of the ass, I was not entirely
without hope of finding him among this group of animals. We
accordingly drew near by a path we found in a plantation of reeds,
that we might not give notice of our approach, being ignorant of the
kind of animal we were about to meet. We had not gone far when
the soil became so marshy, and the reeds entangled to such a
degree, that we were obliged to get out of the plantation and wind
along on the outside. We were soon near the animals, which we
perceived consisted of rather a numerous troop of wild buffalos14.
This animal is formed at first sight to inspire the beholder with
terror; it is endowed with an extraordinary degree of strength, and
two or three of them were capable of destroying us in a moment,
should they feel the desire of attacking us. My alarm was so great,
that I remained for a few moments fixed to the spot like a statue. By
good luck the dogs were far behind us, and the buffalos having
never beheld the face of man, gave no sign of fear or of displeasure
at our approach; they stood perfectly still, with their large round
eyes fixed upon us in astonishment; those which were lying down
got up slowly, but not one among them seemed to have any hostile
disposition towards us. The circumstance of the dogs’ absence was
most likely, on this occasion, the means of our safety, for on the
least demonstration from these, no doubt the fierce animals would
instantly have fallen upon us. As it was, we had time to draw back
quietly and prepare our fire-arms. It was not, however, my intention
to make use of them in any way but for defence, being sensible that
we were not strong enough for the encounter, and recollecting also
to have read that the sound of a gun drives the buffalo to a state of
desperation. I therefore thought only of retreating; and with my
poor Jack, for whom I was more alarmed than for myself, was
proceeding in this way, when unfortunately Turk and Ponto ran up to
us, and we could see were noticed by the buffalos. The animals
instantly, and altogether, set up such a roar, as to make our nerves
tremble with the shock of so terrible a noise; they struck their horns
and their hoofs upon the ground, which they tore up by pieces and
scattered in the air. I with horror foresaw the moment when
confounding us with the dogs, which no doubt they mistook for
jackals, they would seize upon and tear us to pieces. Our brave Turk
and Ponto, fearless of danger, ran among the troop in spite of all our
efforts to detain them, and according to their manner of attacking,
laid hold of the ears of a young buffalo which happened to be
standing a few paces nearer to us than the rest; and though the
creature began a tremendous roar and motion with his hoofs, they
held him fast, and were dragging him towards us. Thus hostilities
had commenced; and unless we could resolve to abandon the cause
of our valiant defenders, we were now forced upon the measure of
open war, which, considering the strength and number of the enemy,
wore a face of the most pressing and inevitable danger. Our every
hope seemed now to be in the chance of the terror the buffalos
would feel at the noise of our musketry, which for the first time
would assail their organs, and perhaps excite them to flight. With, I
must confess, a palpitating heart and trembling hands, we fired both
at the same moment: the buffalos, terrified by the sound and by the
smoke, remained for an instant motionless, as if struck by a
thunderbolt, and then one and all betook themselves to flight with
such incredible rapidity that they were soon beyond the reach of our
sight. We heard their loud roaring from a considerable distance,
which by degrees subsided into silence, and we were left with only
one of their terrific species near us; this one, a female, was no doubt
the mother of the young buffalo which the dogs had seized and still
kept a prisoner; she had drawn near on hearing its cries, and had
been wounded by our guns, but not killed; the creature was in a
furious state: after a moment’s pause, she took aim at the dogs, and
with her head on the ground, as if to guide her by the scent, was
advancing in her rage, and would have torn them to pieces, if I had
not prevented her by firing upon her with my double-barrelled gun,
and thus putting an end to her existence.
It was only now that we began to breathe. A few moments before,
death, in the most horrible and inevitable form, seemed to stare us
in the face! But now we might hope that every danger was over! I
was enchanted with the behaviour of my boy, who, instead of giving
way to fears and lamentations, as other lads of his age would
probably have done, had stood all the time in a firm posture by my
side, and had fired with a steady aim in silence. I bestowed freely on
him the commendation he had so well deserved, and made him
sensible how necessary it is in times of danger to preserve a
presence of mind, which in many cases is of itself sufficient to effect
the sought-for deliverance. But I had not time for a long discourse.
The young buffalo still remained a prisoner with his ears in the
mouths of the dogs, and the pain occasioned him to be so furious
that I was fearful he might do them some injury.
I therefore determined to advance and give them what assistance
I might find practicable. To say the truth, I scarcely knew in what
way to effect this. The buffalo, though young, was strong enough to
revenge himself, if I were to give the dogs a sign to let go his ears. I
had the power of killing him with a pistol at a stroke; but I had a
great desire to preserve him alive, and to tame him, that he might
be a substitute for the ass, which we now had no hope of
recovering.
I found myself altogether in a perplexing state of indecision, when
Jack suddenly and unexpectedly interposed a most effective means
for accomplishing my wishes. He had his string with balls in his
pocket; he drew it out hastily, and making a few steps backward, he
threw it so skilfully as to entangle the buffalo completely, and throw
him down. As I could then approach him safely, I tied his legs by
two and two together with a very strong cord; the dogs released his
ears, and from this moment we considered the buffalo as our own.
Jack was almost mad with joy. What a magnificent creature! How
much better than the ass he will look, harnessed to the cart! How
my mother and the boys will be surprised and stare at him as we
draw near! repeated he many and many times.
Father.—Ah hah! What, you already fancy him exactly to your
wishes, Jack; already you have harnessed him to the loaded cart,
while for my part I have not yet been able to conceive a means for
even removing him from this place! Will you carry him upon your
back?
Jack.—If I were Sampson or Hercules I would most willingly; but,
father, he will be able to walk if we untie his legs.
Father.—And if we bid him do so, you think he will implicitly obey
us?
Jack.—The dogs would make him get on.
 Father.—And the buffalo might kill the dogs, Jack, and then turn
back at a full gallop:—on reflection, the best way I think will be to tie
his two fore-legs together, so tight that he cannot run, and loose
enough for him to walk, as they do to mischievous horses: I will
assist the scheme by trying a method which is practised in Italy for
subduing the buffalo; you will think it somewhat cruel, but the
success will be certain; it shall afterwards be our study to make him
amends by the kindest care and treatment. Hold you the cord which
confines his legs with all your strength, that he may not be able to
move:—I then called Turk and Ponto, and made each again take hold
of the ears of the animal, who was now keeping his head quite still;
I took from my pocket a sharp and pointed knife, and held a piece of
string in my hand in readiness; I placed myself before the buffalo,
and taking hold of his snout, I made a hole in his nostril, into which
I quickly inserted the string, which I immediately tied so closely to a
tree, that the animal was prevented from the least motion of the
head which might have inflamed the wound and increased his pain. I
drew off the dogs the moment the operation was performed. The
creature, thus rendered furious, would have run away, but the
stricture of the legs and the pain in the nostril prevented it. The first
attempt I made to pull the cord, found him docile and ready to
accommodate his motions to our designs, and I perceived that we
might now begin our march. I left him for a short time to make
some other preparations.
I was unwilling to leave so fine a prey as the dead buffalo behind
us: I therefore, after considering what was to be done, began by
cutting out the tongue, which I sprinkled with some of the salt we
had in our provision-bag: I next took off the skin from the four feet,
taking care not to tear it in the operation. I remembered that the
Americans use these skins, which are of a soft and flexible quality, as
boots and shoes, and I considered them as precious articles. I lastly
cut some of the flesh of the animal with the skin on, and salted it,
and abandoned the rest to the dogs, as a recompense for the valour
of their behaviour, and I then repaired to the river to wash myself
after the performance of these butcher-like employments.
 We now seated ourselves under the shade of a large tree; and as
we ate the remaining portion of our provisions, amused ourselves
with an animated review of the scene which had been passing. Our
dogs were no less busily employed in greedily devouring the flesh of
the buffalo.
As we were not disposed to leave the spot in a hurry, I desired
Jack to take the saw and cut down a small quantity of the reeds,
which from their enormous size might hereafter be of use to us. We
set to work, but I observed that he took pains to choose the
smallest.—What shall we do, said I, with these small-sized reeds?
You are thinking, I presume, of nothing better than providing a bag-
pipe to announce a triumphal arrival to our companions! You are
mistaken, father, answered Jack; I am thinking rather of some
candlesticks to present to my mother, who will set so high a value on
them!
This is a good thought, my boy, said I, tapping him on the
shoulder, I am well pleased both with the kindness and the readiness
of your invention, and I will give you my assistance in trying to
empty the reeds without breaking them; if we should not succeed,
at least we know where to provide ourselves with more. I now
helped him to choose some reeds, and soon after we set out on our
return home.
We had so many and such heavy articles to remove, that I did not
hesitate to dismiss, for that day, all thoughts of looking further for
the ass, that we might return the sooner to our companions to
relieve any uneasiness they might have felt at our long stay, and
also to be myself satisfied respecting their safety during our
absence. I began now to think of untying the young buffalo; and on
approaching him, perceived with pleasure that he was asleep, which
afforded me a proof that his wound was not extremely painful. When
I awaked him he gave a start as I began to pull him gently with the
string; but he afterwards seemed to forget his pain, and followed me
without resistance. I fastened another string to his horns, and led
him on by drawing both together; and he performed the journey
with little inconvenience, and with so unexpected a docility, that to
ease ourselves of a part of the heavy burdens we had to carry, we
even ventured on the measure of fastening the bundles of reeds
upon his back, and upon these we laid the salted pieces of the
buffalo. The creature did not seem aware that he was carrying a
load; he followed in our path, as before, and thus on the first day of
our acquaintance he rendered us an essential service.
In a short time we found ourselves once more at the narrow
passage between the torrent and the precipice of the rocks, which I
have already mentioned. Near this spot, we met with a large jackal,
who on perceiving us, slunk away, but was stoutly pursued by our
brave dogs, who overtook him at the entrance of a cavern, and
forced him to give them battle. The fight, however, was unequal; the
dogs were two to one, besides being protected by their pointed
collars, which enabled them to resist the most skilful attacks of the
enemy. When we got up to them, the jackal was already killed. On
examining our prey, we found it was a female, which from
appearances had lately brought forth young, and we therefore
concluded that she was going to suckle them in the cavern, where
no doubt they lay concealed. Jack would instantly have entered to
search for them; but I prevented him, from the apprehension that
the male might also be there for the purpose of guarding them. I
accordingly used the precaution of shooting off my piece into the
dark profundity which presented itself, when finding all quiet, I gave
him leave to enter, being myself both proud and gratified by every
proof he gave of personal courage.
For some moments after entering the cavern, the complete
darkness which prevailed prevented him from seeing any thing
around him; but when his eyes had become accustomed to it, he
discerned in a corner a litter of young jackals: the dogs who
accompanied had before discovered them by the smell; they flew
upon the creatures without mercy, and with the exception of one,
which Jack found means to preserve, put an end to their existence.
He came out of the cavern with the young jackal in his arms, asking
if he might have leave to rear it as Fritz had done his monkey; and
to this I made no objection, being unwilling to refuse to one of my
children what I had granted to another; besides that it appeared to
me that nothing could be so cruel as to kill the innocent little being
in cold blood, or to leave it there to perish. I also felt the inclination
to make an experiment on the effects and power of education, and
to observe if it should be possible to succeed in taming him in such a
degree as to obtain in consequence a race of good running dogs; at
all events it seemed worth while to convince ourselves by the
experiment. Jack therefore obtained leave to keep him, and could
scarcely express the joy he felt: he pressed the animal to his bosom
and devoured it with kisses, and promised to bestow upon him so
faultless an education, that he should become the gentlest and most
engaging little creature in the world.
We now left the cavern. I had fastened the young buffalo to a tree
near the cascade without remarking of what species it might be;
when I went to release him, I saw that it was a kind of small palm-
tree, and on looking about me I observed also some other kinds of
the palm which I had not before met with15. One of the kinds I now
remarked was from ten to twelve feet in height; its leaves were
armed with thorns, and it bore a fruit resembling a small cucumber
in form, but which at this time was immature, so that we could not
taste it. The second, which was smaller, was also thorny; it was now
in blossom, and had no fruit. I suspected that the first of these was
the little royal palm, sometimes called awiva, or Adam’s needle; and
the other, the dwarf palm. I resolved to avail myself of both for
further fortifying my enclosure at Tent-House, and also to protect the
outer side of the narrow pass immediately over the torrent of the
cascade. I determined to return and plant a line of them there, as
close to each other as the consideration of their growth would allow;
for my intention, of course, was to effect this by means of the young
shoots which presented themselves in great abundance; we also
hoped by that time to find their fruit ripe, and to ascertain their kind.
We repassed the river in safety, and accompanied by the
agreeable noise of its foaming cascades, we regained the hazardous
and narrow pass at the turn of the rocks. We however proceeded
with caution, and finding ourselves safe on the other side, we
thought of quickening our pace to arrive the sooner at the hut: we
accordingly had the happiness to rejoin our friends before the close
of the evening; and though we were somewhat fatigued, yet in other
respects we were well and satisfied with the success of our various
undertakings. We were received with the liveliest demonstrations of
joy, and, as usual, a thousand questions asked at once. Where, how
and where did we procure such interesting creatures as the buffalo
and the golden fox? Shall we see the precipice and the cascade at
the end of the wall of rocks?—Questions were so rapidly proposed to
us, that we were obliged to demand on our parts the necessary time
for answering them. This being granted, the story of our different
adventures served for the amusement of the evening: conversing
happily together concerning them, we enjoyed the sober meal which
had been prepared for us; and having warmed ourselves by the fire,
we retired in thankfulness to rest.