Page:The Swiss Family Robinson, In Words of One Syllable.djvu/39

Rh how we built piers of stone in the stream, and how we put the planks one by one in their place; it was late at night when we left off work, and once more sought our tent.

The next day we saw the sun rise, and took our first meal in haste, for we knew we should have a long day's toil. All the stores that we could not take with us were laid by in the tent, the door of which was made safe by a row of casks that we put round it. My wife and Fritz soon led the way; the cow went next; then the ass, with Frank on its back. Jack led the goats, and on the back of one of them sat the ape. Ernest took charge of the sheep, and I brought up the rear as chief guard. Our dogs ran from the front to the rear rank, and went to and fro, as if to see that all was right, and to keep us in line. We left the sow near the tent, but we had not gone far when she set off with a loud grunt, and soon came up with us. Our march was slow, for the livestock would stray here and there to graze on the rich grass that grew by the way; but still we got on. We took care to cross the bridge one at a time, and found it bear our weight well; but once or twice we thought the cow would step in the stream, or fall off the boards, when she went to the sides to drink.