Ernest produced a cap full of nails, an axe, and a hammer, while pincers, chisels, and augers stuck out of all his pockets.
Little Franz carried a box, and eagerly began to show us the “nice sharp little hooks” it contained. “Well, done, Franz!” cried I, “these fish-hooks, which you, the youngest have found, may contribute more than anything else in the ship to save our lives by procuring food for us. Fritz and Ernest, you have chosen well.”
“Will you praise me too?” said my dear wife. “I have nothing to show, but I can give you good news. Some useful animals are still alive; a cow, a donkey, two goats, six sheep, a ram, and a fine sow. I was but just in time to save their lives by taking food to them.”
“All these things are excellent indeed,” said I; “but my friend Jack here, has presented me with a couple of huge hungry useless dogs, who will eat more than any of us.”
“Oh, papa! they will be of use! Why, they will help us to hunt when we get on shore!”
“No doubt they will, if ever we do get on shore, Jack; but I must say I don't know how it is to be done.”
“Can't we each get into a big tub, and float there?” returned he. “I have often sailed splendidly like that, round the pond at home.”
“My child, you have hit on a capital idea,” cried I. “Now, Ernest, let me have your tools, hammers, nails, saws, augers, and all; and then make haste to collect any tubs you can find!”
We very soon found four large casks, made of sound wood, and strongly bound with iron hoops; they were floating with many other things in the water in the hold, but we managed to fish them out, and drag them to a suitable place for launching them. They were exactly what I wanted, and I succeeded in sawing them across the middle. Hard work it was, and we were glad enough to stop and refresh ourselves with wine and biscuits.
