The Swiss Family Robinson

OR, Adventures on a Desert Island

JEAN RUDOLPH WYSS

THE WINDERMERE SERIES

WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY MILO WINTER

RAND McNALLY & COMPANY
CHICAGO; NEW YORK

Illustrations
Copyright, 1916,
By Rand McNally & Co.

The Rand-McNally Press
Chicago

There stood Fritz with his gun to his shoulder pointing it at a huge shark

THE CONTENTS

CHAPTER I. Shipwrecked
CHAPTER II. The First Exploring Expedition
CHAPTER III. Our Home in the Giant Tree
CHAPTER IV. Some Useful Discoveries—A Comical Incident
CHAPTER V. A Second Visit to the Wreck
CHAPTER VI. How We Built the Pinnace
CHAPTER VII. At Falconhurst Again—Bagging a Buffalo
CHAPTER VIII. Improving Our Tree Dwelling
CHAPTER IX. The Salt Palace and the New Farmhouse
CHAPTER X. The War with the Apes—Our Home in the Salt Palace
CHAPTER XI. A Dangerous Visitor and Its Victim
CHAPTER XII. The Crystal Cave—Bagging a Bear
CHAPTER XIII. Breaking in a Refractory Steed
CHAPTER XIV. Building the Cajack—A Plentiful Haravest
CHAPTER XV. Adventures of the Boys at Woodlands—The Elephant Trail
CHAPTER XVI. Ten Years Afterward—A Strange Message
CHAPTER XVII. How Fritz Found the Fair Stranger
CHAPTER XVIII. A Sail!—Farewell to Shark Island

THE ILLUSTRATIONS

There stood Fritz with his gun to his shoulder pointing it at a huge shark

The monkeys seized all the cocoanuts within their reach and sent them down upon us

Jack took the unsuspecting birds by surprise

"Help! or he will pull me into the water"

So greatly was the speed of the ostrich checked that Jack overtook him

Then the walrus sought refuge among these rocks

Up rose the hideous head and gaping jaws of a hippopotamus

There, with glaring eyes and his great tail swaying to and fro, I saw an immense tiger

THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON

CHAPTER I

SHIPWRECKED

For many days we had been tempest-tossed. Six times had the darkness closed over a wild and terrific scene, and returning light as often brought but renewed distress, for the raging storm increased in fury until on the seventh day all hope was lost. We were driven completely out of our course; no conjecture could be formed as to our whereabouts. The crew had lost heart, and were utterly exhausted by incessant labor.

The riven masts had gone by the board, leaks had been sprung in every direction, and the water, which rushed in, gained upon us rapidly.

Instead of reckless oaths, the seamen now uttered frantic cries to God for mercy, mingled with strange and often ludicrous vows, to be performed should deliverance be granted.

Every man on board alternately commended his soul to his Creator, and strove to bethink himself of some means of saving his life.

My heart sank as I looked round upon my family in the midst of these horrors. Our four young sons were