Page:The Swiss Family Robinson, In Words of One Syllable.djvu/57

Rh grunt told us that the dogs had found the beast, and were no doubt at his throat. But just then we heard Ernest laugh, and saw the two dogs come through a clump of brush wood, with our old sow fast by the ears. She did not seem to like the way in which they had put an end to her feast of fruit, so she ran back as soon as we told the dogs to let go their hold of her ears.

"But with all our sport," said Fritz, "we have a poor show of game. Let us leave the young ones, and set off to see what we can meet with." Ernest, who was not so fond of field sports as the rest, sat down with Frank, and we left them and my wife at the gourd tree, while Fritz and Jack set off with me to a high rock which we saw on the right. Jack went first and broke off the twigs, to let him pass through, with as much ease as if he had been born to that kind of work. "Fritz, look here," said he, as he made his way to the rock.

"What have you found now?" said Fritz.

"I don't know what it is, but it's a fine prize."

When I went up I saw at once that it was a large, the flesh and eggs of which are both good for food. Fritz would have shot at it, but I told him that its scales were no doubt shot proof, and that I knew a way to catch it that I thought would do quite as well. I had heard that these and such like