Swiss Family Robinson

sure, the tea-plant of China --it bore very pretty white flowers and the leaves resembled myrtle.
    Our land journey was effected without accident or adventure of any kind.
    Jack, mounted as usual on Hurry, the ostrich, carried the mysterious wet bag very carefully slung at his side, and when near home started off at a prodigious rate in advance of us.
    He let fall the drawbridge, and we saw no more of him until, on reaching Rockburg , he appeared leisurely returning from the swamp, where apparently he had gone to deposit his `moist secret', as Franz called it.
    We were all glad to take up our quarters once more in our large and convenient dwelling, and my first business was to provide for the great number of birds we now had on our hands, by establishing them in suitable localities, it being impossible to maintain them all in the poultry-yard. Some were, therefore, taken to the islands; and the black swans, the heron, the graceful demoiselle cranes, and our latest acquisition, the splendid Sultan cock, soon became perfectly at home in the swamp, greatly adding to the interest of the neighbourhood of Safety Bay.
    The old bustards were the tamest of all our feathered pets, and never more so than at meal-times. They were unfailing in their attendance when we dined or supped in the open air.
    Towards evening, as we sat in the verandah listening to Fritz's account of his trip round the Cape , an extraordinary hollow roaring noise sounded from the swamp, not unlike the angry bellowing of a bull.
    The dogs barked and the family rose in excitement; but remarked a look of quiet humour in Fritz's eye, as he stood leaning against one of the verandah pillars, watching Jack, who, in some confusion, started off towards the marsh.
    `Come back, you silly boy!' cried his mother. `The child has not so much as a pistol, and is rushing off alone to face he knows not what!'
    `Perhaps,' said I, looking at Fritz, `this is not a case requiring the use of firearms. It may be only the booming of a bittern which we hear.'
    `You need not be uneasy, mother,' said Fritz. `Jack knows what he is about, only this charming serenade took him by surprise, and I fancy he will have to exhibit his treasures before they reach perfection. Yes, here he comes!'
    Lugging his `moist secret' along with him, Jack, flushed and breathless, came up to us, exclaiming:
    `They were to grow as big as rabbits before you saw them! Such a shame! I never thought they would kick up a row like that. Now for it!' --and he turned out the bag. `This is "Grace", and this is "Beauty".'
    Two immense frogs rolled clumsily on the ground, and recovering their feet, sat squat before us, swelling and buffing with a ludicrous air of insulted dignity, while peals of laughter greeted them on all sides.
    `Ladies and gentlemen, these are two very handsome young specimens of the famous African bull-frog,' said Jack, pretending to be offended at the mingled disgust and amusement occasioned by their appearance; `they are but half-grown, and I hoped to maintain them in seclusion, until they reached full size, when I would have introduced them with proper eclat . But since their talent for music has brought them precociously into public notice, I must beg for your kind and indulgent patronage and--leave to take them back to the swamp.'
    Great clapping of hands followed Jack's speech.
    `Grace' and `Beauty' were examined, and commented on with much interest, and voted decidedly handsome `in their way'.
    Their general colour was greenish-brown, mottled and spotted with reddish-brown, and yellow; the sides green and black; the underpart yellow, mottled with orange. The eyes were positively beautiful, of a rich chestnut hue, covered with golden white dots, which shone with a metallic lustre . The skin of the body was puckered into longitudinal folds.
    By general consent they were remanded to the swamp. Shortly after our return to Rockburg , my wife drew my attention to the somewhat neglected state of our dear old summer residence at Falconhurst , begging me to devote some time to its restoration and embellishment.
    This I most willingly undertook, and we removed thither, as soon as the boys had completed the arrangement of the artificial salt-lick to their satisfaction.
    At Falconhurst things were quickly in good order, and we made a great improvement by completing the broad terrace supported on the arching roots of the trees--it was better floored--and rustic pillars and trellis-work sustained a bark