Page:The Swiss Family Robinson (Kingston).djvu/55

Rh “Rouse up, rouse up, my boys,” cried I, awakening the children cheerfully. “Come and help your mother to get breakfast ready.”

“As to that,” said she, smiling, “we can but set on the pot, and boil some more soup!”

“Why! you forget Jack's fine lobster!” replied I. “What has become of it, Jack?”

“It has been safe in this hole in the rock all night, father. You see, I thought as the dogs seem to like good things, they might take a fancy to that as well as to the agouti.”

“A very sensible precaution,” remarked I; “I believe even my heedless Jack will learn wisdom in time. It is well the lobster is so large, for we shall want to take part with us on our excursion to-day.”

At the mention of an excursion, the four children were wild with delight, and, capering around me, clapped their hands for joy.

“Steady there, steady!” said I, “you cannot expect all to go. Such an expedition as this would be too dangerous and fatiguing for you younger ones. Fritz and I will go alone this time, with one of the dogs, leaving the other to defend you.”

We then armed ourselves, each taking a gun and a game-bag; Fritz in addition sticking a pair of pistols in his belt, and I a small hatchet in mine; breakfast being over, we stowed away the remainder of the lobster and some biscuits, with a flask of water, and were ready for a start.

“Stop!” I exclaimed, “we have still left something very important undone.”

“Surely not,” said Fritz.

“Yes,” said I, “we have not yet joined in morning prayer. We are only too ready, amid the cares and pleasures of this life, to forget the God to whom we owe all things.” Then having commended ourselves to his protecting care, I took leave of my wife and children, and bidding them not wander far from the boat