The wind was favourable
for carrying us towards the cape the savages had turned; we hoisted our
sail, I took my place at the helm; the sea was calm, and the moon
lighted our way. After recommending ourselves to the protection of God,
I desired Fritz to commence his melancholy recital.
"It will be melancholy, indeed," said the poor boy, weeping; "if we do
not find my dear Jack, I shall never forgive myself for not having
stained his skin before my own; then he should have been with you now--"
"But I have you, my dear son, to console your father," said I. "I can do
nothing myself, in my sorrow. I depend on you, my two eldest, to restore
to me what I have lost. Go on, Fritz."
"We went on," continued he, "with courage and hope; and as we proceeded,
we felt that you were right in saying we ought not to judge of the
island by the borders. You can form no idea of the fertility of the
island, or of the beauty of the trees and shrubs we met with at every
step, quite unknown to me; some were covered with fragrant flowers,
others with tempting fruits; which, however, we did not venture to
taste, as we had not Knips to try them."
"Did you see any monkeys?" asked Ernest.
"Not one," replied his brother, "to the great vexation of Jack; but we
saw parrots, and all sorts of birds of the most splendid plumage.
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