f the old Swiss songs, that brought to our minds the joys of home.

Though we were by no means dull, nor in want of work to fill up our
time, we were glad when the time came for the rain to cease, and when
we could gaze once more on the green fields. We went out the first fine
day, and took a long walk by the base of the cliff. On the shore we
found a dead whale, which the sea had no doubt thrown up in the storm.
We had long felt the need of oil; for though we had a lamp, we had
naught but our wax lights to put in it, and these gave a poor light to
read by. The next day we cut up the whale, and put the flesh in tubs. It
was far from a clean job, for the oil ran down our clothes and made them
smell; but as we could change them for new ones, thanks to the hemp and
my wife's skill, we did not mind that, for the oil was now worth more to
us than our clothes, though at one time we should not have thought so.

One day we all set out on a tour to the Farm. Jack and Frank had gone
on first, while my wife and I were as yet close to the Cave. All at once
the boys came back, and Fritz said, "Look at that strange thing on its
way up the path. What can it be?"

I cast my eye on the spot and cried out, "Fly all of you to the Cave!
fly for your lives!" for I saw it was a huge snake, or boa, that would
make a meal of one of us, if we did not get out of its way.

We all ran in doors, and put bars up to the door of the Cave. A large
dove cote had been made on the roof, and to this we got up through a
hole in the rock.

Ernest took aim with his gun, and shot at the snake, so did Fritz and
Jack, but it gave no sign that they had hit it. I then tried my skill,
but it did not seem to feel my shot any more than theirs, though I was
sure I must have struck its head. Just as we took aim at it once more,
we saw it turn round and glide through the reeds in the marsh.

Our fears kept us for three long days in the Cave. The snake gave no
sign that could lead us to think it was still near, but the ducks and
geese had left the spot where their nests were, and this we knew to be
a bad sign. On the fourth day I went to the door, with a view to let out
some of the beasts to graze, for we were short of food for them. The ass
was just at my back, and as soon as it saw the light, made a rush to get
out. Off it went, straight to the sands, with its heels in the air, but
just as it got to the marsh we saw the boa glide out from the reeds,
part its wide