Swiss Family Robinson | Page 4

the water. They were of strong wood, bound with iron hoops, and exactly
suited my purpose; my sons and I therefore began to saw them through the middle. After
long labour, we had eight tubs all the same height. We refreshed ourselves with wine and
biscuit, which we had found in some of the casks. I then contemplated with delight my
little squadron of boats ranged in a line; and was surprised that my wife still continued
depressed. She looked mournfully on them. "I can never venture in one of these tubs,"
said she.
"Wait a little, till my work is finished," replied I, "and you will see it is more to be
depended on than this broken vessel."
I sought out a long flexible plank, and arranged eight tubs on it, close to each other,
leaving a piece at each end to form a curve upwards, like the keel of a vessel. We then
nailed them firmly to the plank, and to each other. We nailed a plank at each side, of the
same length as the first, and succeeded in producing a sort of boat, divided into eight
compartments, in which it did not appear difficult to make a short voyage, over a calm
sea.
But, unluckily, our wonderful vessel proved so heavy, that our united efforts could not
move it an inch. I sent Fritz to bring me the jack-screw, and, in the mean time, sawed a
thick round pole into pieces; then raising the fore-part of our work by means of the
powerful machine, Fritz placed one of these rollers under it.
Ernest was very anxious to know how this small machine could accomplish more than
our united strength. I explained to him, as well as I could, the power of the lever of
Archimedes, with which he had declared he could move the world, if he had but a point
to rest it on; and I promised my son to take the machine to pieces when we were on shore,
and explain the mode of operation. I then told them that God, to compensate for the

weakness of man, had bestowed on him reason, invention, and skill in workmanship. The
result of these had produced a science which, under the name of Mechanics, taught us to
increase and extend our limited powers incredibly by the aid of instruments.
Jack remarked that the jack-screw worked very slowly.
"Better slowly, than not at all," said I. "It is a principle in mechanics, that what is gained
in time is lost in power. The jack is not meant to work rapidly, but to raise heavy weights;
and the heavier the weight, the slower the operation. But, can you tell me how we can
make up for this slowness?"
"Oh, by turning the handle quicker, to be sure!"
"Quite wrong; that would not aid us at all. Patience and Reason are the two fairies, by
whose potent help I hope to get our boat afloat."
I quickly proceeded to tie a strong cord to the after-part of it, and the other end to a beam
in the ship, which was still firm, leaving it long enough for security; then introducing two
more rollers underneath, and working with the jack, we succeeded in launching our bark,
which passed into the water with such velocity, that but for our rope it would have gone
out to sea. Unfortunately, it leaned so much on one side, that none of the boys would
venture into it. I was in despair, when I suddenly remembered it only wanted ballast to
keep it in equilibrium. I hastily threw in anything I got hold of that was heavy, and soon
had my boat level, and ready for occupation. They now contended who should enter first;
but I stopped them, reflecting that these restless children might easily capsize our vessel.
I remembered that savage nations made use of an out-rigger, to prevent their canoe
oversetting, and this I determined to add to my work. I fixed two portions of a
topsail-yard, one over the prow, the other across the stern, in such a manner that they
should not be in the way in pushing off our boat from the wreck. I forced the end of each
yard into the bunghole of an empty brandy-cask, to keep them steady during our progress.
It was now necessary to clear the way for our departure. I got into the first tub, and
managed to get the boat into the cleft in the ship's side, by way of a haven; I then returned,
and, with the axe and saw, cut away right and left all that could obstruct our passage.
Then we secured some oars, to be ready for our voyage next day.
The day had passed in toil, and we were