`Must you really go again to that dreadful wreck?' said my wife shuddering. `You have no idea how anxious I am when you are away there.'
`Go we must, I am afraid,' I replied, `but not for a day or two yet.
Come, it is getting late. We and the chickens must go to roost.'
We lit our watch fires, and, leaving the dogs on guard below, ascended the ladder. Fritz, Ernest and Jack were up in a moment.
Their mother followed very cautiously, for though she had originated the idea of building a nest, she yet hesitated to entrust herself at such a terrific height from the ground. When she was safely landed in the house, taking little Franz on my back, I let go the fastenings which secured the lower end of the ladder to the ground, and swinging to and fro, slowly ascended.
Then for the first time we stood all together in our new home. I drew up the ladder, and, with a greater sense of security than I had enjoyed since we landed on the island, offered up our evening prayer, and retired for the night.
Chapter 4
Next morning all were early awake, and the children sprang about the tree like young monkeys.
`What shall we begin to do, father?' they cried. `What do you want us to do, today?'
`Rest, my boys,' I replied, `rest.'
`Rest?' repeated they. `Why should we rest?'