Page:The Swiss Family Robinson (Kingston).djvu/85

Rh “How clever you are,” said she.

“I am not the inventor,” I replied, “the honour is due to Fritz. He not only thought of this plan for bringing off the animals, but saved one at least of them from a most fearful death.” And I then told them how bravely he had encountered the shark.

My wife was delighted with her son's success, but declared that she would dread our trips to the vessel more than ever, knowing that such savage fish inhabited the waters.

Fritz, Ernest, and I began the work of unloading our craft, while Jack, seeing that the poor donkey was still encumbered with his swimming belt, tried to free him from it. But the donkey would not stand quiet, and the child's fingers were not strong enough to loosen the cordage; finally, therefore, he scrambled upon the animal's back, and urging him on with hand and foot, trotted towards us.

“Come, my boy,” I said, “no one must be idle here, even for a moment; you will have riding practice enough hereafter; dismount and come and help us.”

Jack was soon on his feet. “But I have not been idle all day,” he said; “look here!” and he pointed to a belt round his waist. It was a broad belt of yellow hair in which he had stuck a couple of pistols and a knife. “And see,” he added, “what I have made for the dogs. Here, Juno, Turk,” the dogs came bounding up at his call, and I saw that they were each supplied with a collar of the same skin, in which were fastened nails, which bristled round their necks in a most formidable manner.

“Capital, capital! my boy,” said I, “but where did you get your materials, and who helped you?”

“Except in cutting the skin,” said my wife, “he had no assistance, and as for the materials, Fritz's jackal supplied us with the skin, and the needles and thread came out of my wonderful bag. You little think how many useful things may be had from