There was no sign of my wife or children when we stepped on land, but a
few moments afterwards they appeared, and with a shout of joy ran
towards us.
We were thankful to be once more united, and after asking and replying
to a few preliminary questions, proceeded to release our herd from
their swimming belts, which, though so useful in the water, were
exceedingly inconvenient on shore. My wife was astonished at the
apparatus. `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.
Pages:
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87