We resumed our search, thanking God for our preservation from this
danger, in which my dear Jack at any rate, might have perished. As a
proof and trophy of our adventure, we cut off the fore paws of the
animal, to carry to my wife. It is said that these form a very delicious
dish, fit for the table of a king. The valley now began to expand, and
presented a more varied appearance. It was intersected with beautiful
plains or savannas, of which the grass had evidently been eaten, and
with more extensive woods, through which we had great difficulty in
forcing a passage; so thick and entangled were the lianas and underwood.
We succeeded in passing them by keeping at the borders, where we also
felt in greater safety from the wild beasts and reptiles, of which we
saw many species that had their abode at the foot of the rocks. Besides
the fatigue of our journey, we were tormented with thirst, never having
seen any water since we left the sea. The soil was so moist, that I was
of opinion we might have found water by digging; but having been
compelled to leave our spades when we came along the reef, we had no
tools suitable for the purpose. We were also impatient to wash ourselves
after the butchery of the bears, when, to our great satisfaction, we
heard the murmur of waters, which I concluded was the river Jack and I
had seen in our former expedition. He had frequently inquired about it,
and we had foolishly thought it had extended along the whole valley,
which could not be. It was a gentle stream, gushing from a perpendicular
rock, which reminded me of the source of the river Orbe, in the Canton
of Vaud; it issued forth in its full width, rolling at first over a
rocky bed; then forming a graceful bend, it took its course towards the
great bay, and fell in a cascade into the sea. We remained some time
here to fill our gourds, drinking moderately, and taking a bath, which
refreshed us all greatly.
The evening was approaching, and we began to fear we should not reach
home before night. I had warned my wife that there was a possibility
that we might be delayed, though I could not then anticipate the cause
of our delay. We endeavoured, however, by walking as quickly as we
could, and resting no more, to reach our farm at any rate. We followed
the course of the river, on the opposite shore of which rose a wide
plain, where we saw the herd of buffaloes quietly grazing, ruminating,
and drinking, without paying the slightest attention to us. We thought
we distinguished some other quadrupeds amongst them, which Fritz was
certain were zebras or onagras; but certainly not his dear gazelle, for
which he had incessantly looked round. Jack was in despair that the
river separated us from the buffaloes, so that he could not cast his
lasso round the legs of one of them, as he had promised Ernest. He even
wished to swim across the stream, to have a hunt; but I forbade him,
encouraging him to hope that perhaps a single buffalo might cross to our
side, and throw itself in the way of his lasso. I was far from wishing
such a thing myself, for we had no time to lose, nor any means to
secure and lead it home, should we succeed in capturing one, not having
any cords with us; and moreover, intending to return from the bay in the
canoe. When we arrived at the bay, the night, which comes on rapidly in
equinoctial countries, had almost closed. We were scarcely able to see,
without terror, the changes that the late storm had occasioned; the
narrow pass which led from the other side of the island, between the
river and a deep stream that flowed from the rocks, was entirely
obstructed with rocks and earth fallen upon it; and to render our
passage practicable, it was necessary to undertake a labour that the
darkness now prevented, and which would at any time be attended by
danger. We were obliged then to spend the night in the open air, and
separated from our dear and anxious friends at Tent House. Fortunately,
Fritz had collected a store of bread-fruit for his mother, with which he
had filled his own pockets and those of his brothers. These, with water
from the river, formed our supper; for we had nothing but the bone of
our leg of mutton left. We turned back a little way, to establish
ourselves under a clump of trees, where we were in greater safety; we
loaded our muskets, we kindled a large fire of dry branches, and
recommending ourselves to the protection of God, we lay ourselves down
on the soft moss to wait for the first rays of light. With the exception
of Jack, who from the first slept as if he had been in his bed, we none
of us could rest. The night was beautiful; a multitude of stars shone
over our heads in the ethereal vault. Ernest was never tired of gazing
on them. After some questions and suppositions on the plurality of
worlds, their courses and their distances, he quitted us to wander on
the borders of the river, which reflected them in all their brilliancy.
From this night his passion for astronomy commenced, a passion which he
carried beyond all others. This became his favourite and continual
study, nor did he fall far short of Duval, whose history he had read.
Whilst he was engaged in contemplation, Fritz and I conversed on our
projects for tunnelling to the grotto, and on the utility of such a
passage, as this side of the island was quite lost to us, from the
difficulty in reaching it. “And yet,” said I, “it is to this difficulty
we owe the safety we have enjoyed. Who can say that the bears and the
buffaloes may not find the way through the grotto? I confess I am not
desirous of their visits, nor even of those of the onagras. Who knows
but they might persuade your favourite Lightfoot to return and live
amongst them? Liberty has many charms. Till now, we have been very happy
on our side of the island, without the productions of this. My dear boy,
there is a proverb, ‘Let _well_ alone,’ Let us not have too much
ambition,—it has ruined greater states than ours.”
Fritz seemed grieved to give up his plan, and suggested that he could
forge some strong bars of iron to place before the opening, which could
be removed at will.
“But,” said I, “they will not prevent the snakes from passing
underneath. I have noticed some with terror, as they are animals I have
a great antipathy to; and if your mother saw one crawl into her grotto,
she would never enter it again; even if she did not die of fright.”
“Well, we must give it up,” said Fritz; “but it is a pity. Do you
think, father, there are more bears in the island than those we killed?”
“In all probability,” said I; “it is scarcely to be supposed that there
should only be two. I cannot well account for their being here. They can
swim very well, and perhaps the abundance of fruit in this part of the
island may have attracted them.” I then gave my son a short account of
their manners and habits, from the best works on the history of
these animals.
* * * * *