`True, that is an idea worth having! Off with you, my boys, get the oysters and clean out a few shells. And none of you must complain because the spoons have no handles, and we grease our fingers a little in baling the soup out.'
Jack was away and up to his knees in the water in a moment detaching the oysters. Ernest followed more leisurely, and still unwilling to wet his feet, stood by the margin of the pool and gathered in his handkerchief the oysters his brother threw him; as he thus stood he picked up and pocketed a large mussel shell for his own use. As they returned with a good supply we heard a shout from Fritz in the distance; we returned it joyfully, and he presently appeared before us, his hands behind his back, and a look of disappointment upon his countenance.
`Unsuccessful!' said he.
`Really!' I replied. `Never mind, my boy, better luck next time.'
`Oh, Fritz!' exclaimed his brothers who had looked behind him. `A sucking-pig, a little sucking-pig. Where did you get it? How did you shoot it? Do let us see it!'
Fritz then with sparkling eyes exhibited his prize.
`I am glad to see the result of your prowess, my boy,' said I; `but I cannot approve of deceit, even as a joke; stick to the truth in jest and earnest.'
Fritz then told us how he had been to the other side of the stream. `So different from this,' he said, `it is really a beautiful country, and the shore, which runs down to the sea in a gentle slope, is covered with all sorts of useful things from the wreck. Do let us go and collect them. And, father, why should we not return to the wreck and bring off some of the animals? Just think of what value the cow would be to us, and what a pity it would be to lose her. Let us get her on shore, and we will move over the stream, where she will have good pasturage, and we shall be in the shade instead of on this desert, and, father, I do wish—'
`Stop, stop, my boy!' cried I. `All will be done in good time. Tomorrow and the day after will bring work of their own. And tell me, did you see no traces of our shipmates?'
`Not a sign of them, either on land or sea, living or dead,' he replied.