CHAPTER XLVI

Preparation of the Bears’ Flesh—Cups out of Ostrich Eggs—Angora Rabbits and Antelopes

We devoted a whole day to the preparation of the bears’ flesh. After having skinned them with the utmost care and precaution, I cut off the hams, and then divided the rest of the meat into long strips, about an inch in thickness, and we exposed the whole to a good current of smoke, as the ancient buccaneers used to do. The grease was collected in bamboo canes, and carefully preserved; for, besides its use in the kitchen, my wife said it was excellent on bread in lieu of butter. We had about a hundred pounds of fat, together with that which the peccaries had afforded us a few days before; we abandoned the carcasses to our dogs, and they, aided by the birds of prey, soon picked the bones so clean, that there remained nothing but two perfectly white, dry skeletons, which we carried home with us for our museum. As for the skins, they were carefully washed with salt water, and rubbed with sand and ashes; and although our talents in the art of currying were poor enough, we rendered the skins sufficiently soft for all purposes.

Our labours had been too peaceful for the restless, turbulent character of my boys. I could see that they were tired and fretful, and I thought that the best plan would be to diversify our work with some amusement. I proposed to them to make an excursion alone in the desert; my proposition, as one may suppose, was joyfully received, and the perspective of an unchecked course rallied the flagging spirits of my little companions. Ernest refused to accompany them, preferring to remain at home with us. On the other hand, Francis was so eager to accompany his brothers, that I at last permitted him to go.

My wife and I resumed our domestic labours, and Ernest, tranquilly seated on the sand, occupied himself in making cups from ostrich eggs; for we had discovered, by putting our eggs into hot water, that the principle of life was exhausted. Ernest had read of a plan somewhere to separate the eggs by surrounding them with a string steeped in strong vinegar. The action of the acid on the lime contained in the shell forms a circular line, which gradually eats through; but the lining membrane of the egg was so hard, that it was necessary to cut it with a knife; it had all the elasticity of parchment.

We soon quitted this occupation to undertake another. While examining a small cavern which we had discovered near the tent, I found several minerals, among others, a piece of amianth, known as being incombustible; and also a superb block of talc, as transparent as glass, and which I resolved to fashion into window panes. Ernest aided me as much as he was able, and we soon detached a splendid piece, about two feet in length, and the same in thickness. My wife, who received everything that could recall Europe to her mind with pleasure, was overjoyed at our new discovery, especially when I informed her that this mineral could be divided into leaves no thicker than paper.

We had been thus occupied the best part of the day, and, as evening approached, we gathered around our hearth, where our good housewife was cooking two bear’s paws, which had been well soaked in brine, and the smell of which, as it escaped from the pot, promised us a delicious supper; and we sat down to while away the time in conversation until our huntsmen returned. We did not wait long, for the galloping of their steeds was soon heard, and in another moment they were at our sides.

Jack and Francis each carried a little kid on his back, with the feet tied together, and the game-bag of Fritz appeared to me to be pretty full.

“A fine chase, papa!” cried Jack. “Storm carried me through the desert like a flash of lightning. Fritz has two magnificent Angora rabbits in his pouch, and also a complaisant cuckoo, who led us to one of the finest hives I have ever seen; we shall be able to get plenty of honey.”

“Jack has not told all,” said Fritz: “we have taken a whole troop of antelopes prisoners, and have driven them into our domains, where we can hunt them and tame them just when we please.”

Turning towards Jack, whose face seemed very much swollen, I said, “What is the matter with your cheeks? have your adventures been dangerous in any way?”

Fritz interrupted his answer, and began the following narration.

“After quitting you, we took the direction of the valley and, finding a narrow place where two or three trees had fallen down, we took advantage of this natural bridge, and crossed to the other side of the river. We rode on some time without perceiving anything, our coursers going at full speed, and the sun not being high enough to be unpleasant. At last we discovered, in the distance, two herds of small animals, of what kind we could not distinguish, but I thought they were either antelopes or gazelles. Our first care was to call our dogs together, and keep them close by our sides, as we knew the animals were more afraid of them than of us. I then divided my forces: I gave Francis the line of the river as his position; Jack occupied the middle, while I, mounted on the onagra, sustained the right wing, and endeavoured to drive the animals to the centre. We effected this movement, and one of the herds passed the river as quietly as if the act had been voluntary. The other herd did not seem to perceive us until we were close to them, when suddenly they raised themselves from the grass where they had been lying, and, stretching out their long necks and little heads, surmounted by short, pointed ears, set off at full speed; and now our chase commenced. We urged our coursers onward, and, giving our dogs their liberty, we soon forced the entire troop over the river, and drove them into the defile which separated us from the savanna. After we had secured them in our dominions, the next thing was to keep them there. Several plans were proposed, but at last the following was chosen. We stretched a long cord from one side of the defile to the other, and fastened to it every light thing we could find, the continual motion of which frightened the animals away whenever they approached it; the ostrich-plumes in our hats, our handkerchiefs, etc., furnished us with materials.”

“Admirable!” said I, as the boy stopped as if to see how his stratagem was received, “admirable! The only thing is, in the night it cannot be seen; but it truly was a bright thought for such a boy. But about the rabbits,” added I, “what do you intend to do with them? If they should happen to get in your mother’s vegetable garden, there would not be much of it left.”

“No, no; but I thought that one of our two islands would make a good home for them; for instance, Shark Island would make a magnificent warren, and furnish us many a good dish, and fine furs to make caps out of.”

“But how did you come to take them alive?”

“The honour of the capture is due to my eagle; he pounced down upon a troop of rabbits that were flying before us, and carried off two in his talons. I rescued them before he had injured them, and he consoled himself by killing another, which he soon devoured.”

I could see that Jack was watching every opportunity to put in a word, and I laughingly requested the poor fellow to speak.

“In my turn!” said he, “in my turn! I galloped on with Francis while Fritz was chasing the rabbits; the dogs followed us, and suddenly we saw them jump forward, and run after two little animals about the size of a hare, that fled with incredible rapidity. Away we all went, and, after a hot chase of a quarter of an hour, we captured the two fugitives. There they are,” continued the young narrator, throwing down before us two beautiful little animals; “I think they are young fawns.”

“And I think,” said I, “that they are antelopes.”

“Well, whatever they may be,” continued Jack, “our dogs behaved admirably, and so, I can say, did their masters. But that was nothing to what happened afterwards. We had scarcely commenced our progress when a sort of cuckoo began to fly before us, singing away as if to defy us. I had already levelled my gun, when Fritz requested me to recollect that it was loaded with ball, and that I should only waste the charge. I accordingly slung my gun on my back, and we rode on, the cuckoo flying on before us, when suddenly he stopped just over a bees’ nest, artfully concealed in the ground. We now held a council of war about the nest, and discussed the plan of attack. Francis begged to be excused, recalling to our memories the former attack at Falcon’s Nest. Fritz was willing to do all the advising part, but would rather leave the execution to somebody else; so you see, at last, the whole affair devolved upon me. Armed with some sulphur matches that I found in my knapsack, I advanced and tried to suffocate the bees by throwing the lighted matches down the hole, when suddenly a rumbling noise was heard, and, in a second, a swarm of bees emerged, attacking me on all sides. My hands and face were violently treated, and it was with the greatest difficulty that I mounted my buffalo and rode away, bearing with me the honourable marks of the conflict. I could scarcely believe,” said Jack, as he finished his recital, “that so small an animal could cause so much pain.”

I reflected long upon what Jack had told me concerning the strange bird that had shown them the nest of bees. I easily recognized it as being the “cuckoo-indicator” of naturalists; “But,” thought I, “how, if this coast is uninhabited, could the bird have known that human beings liked honey, and would be willing to share the discovery with him? Is not such conduct a sign that we are not the first men who have trod this soil? May not the interior of the country be inhabited?” These considerations were of the highest importance to us, and I was convinced that it would not be prudent to advance into the interior, unless with the greatest caution. I also resolved to build a fortress on one side of the coast, and I chose Shark Island as its situation, as it appeared to me that a strong fortification that would command the coast of Felsenheim, and fortified by our two cannons, would enable us to defend ourselves against all attack from the interior, if any ever took place.