when my wife and I awoke, and began to discuss the business of the day.
“It seems absolutely necessary, my dear wife,” I began, “to return at once to the wreck while it is yet calm, that we may save the poor animals left there, and bring on shore many articles of infinite value to us, which, if we do not now recover, we may finally lose entirely. On the other hand, I feel that there is an immense deal to be done on shore, and that I ought not to leave you in such an insecure shelter as this tent.”
“Return to the wreck by all means,” replied my wife, cheerfully. “Patience, order, and perseverance will help us through all our work, and I agree with you that a visit to the wreck is without doubt our first duty. Come, let us wake the children, and set to work without delay.”
They were soon roused, and Fritz overcoming his drowsiness before the others, ran out for his jackal; it was cold and stiff from the night air, and he placed it on its legs before the tent, in a most life-like attitude, and stood by to watch the effect upon the family. The dogs were the first to perceive their enemy, and growling, seemed inclined to dispose of the animal as they had disposed of its brethren in the night, but Fritz called them off. The noise the dogs made, however, had the effect of bringing out the younger children, and many were the exclamations they made at the sight of the strange animal.
“A yellow dog!” cried Franz.
“A wolf!” exclaimed Jack.
“It is a striped fox,” said Ernest.
“Hullo,” said Fritz. “The greatest men may make mistakes. Our Professor does not know a jackal when he sees one.”
“But really,” continued Ernest, examining the animal, “I think it is a fox.”
“Very well, very well,” retorted Fritz, “no doubt you know better than your father! He thinks it is a jackal.”
