La tempestad se había prolongado durante seis días y
al séptimo parecía aumentar. El barco había sido hasta ahora expulsado de su
curso, y nadie a bordo sabía dónde estábamos. Todo el mundo estaba agotado por
la fatiga y observando. La rota embarcación comenzó a filtrarse en muchos
lugares. Los juramentos de los marineros
se cambiaron a las oraciones, y cada uno pensó sólo en la forma de salvar su
propia vida. "Niños", dije, a mis aterrorizados hijos, que se
aferraban a mi alrededor, "Dios puede salvarnos. Para él nada es imposible.
Pero si piensa que es bueno llevarnos, no nos quejemos; no vamos a estar
separados ". Mi excelente esposa secó sus lágrimas, y desde ese momento se
calmó. Nos arrodillamos a orar pidiendo la ayuda de nuestro Padre Celestial, y
el fervor y la emoción de mis inocentes muchachos me demostró que incluso los
niños pueden rezar y encontrar consuelo en la oración y la paz…
We rose from our knees strengthened to bear the
afflictions that hung over us. Suddenly we heard amid the roaring of the waves
the cry of "Land! Land!" At that moment the ship struck on a rock;
the concussion threw us down. We heard a loud cracking, as if the vessel was
parting asunder; we felt that we were aground, and heard the captain cry, in a
tone of despair, "We are lost! Launch the boats!" These words were a
dagger to my heart, and the lamentations of my children were louder than ever.
I then recollected myself, and said, "Courage, my darlings, we are still,
above water, and the land is near. God helps those who trust in him. Remain
here, and I will endeavour to save us."
I went on deck, and was instantly thrown down, and
wet through by a huge sea; a second followed. I struggled boldly with the
waves, and succeeded in keeping myself up, when I saw, with terror, the extent
of our wretchedness. The shattered vessel was almost in two; the crew had crowded
into the boats, and the last sailor was cutting the rope. I cried out, and
prayed them to take us with them; but my voice was drowned in the roar of the
tempest, nor could they have returned for us through waves that ran mountains
high. All hope from their assistance was lost; but I was consoled by observing
that the water did not enter the ship above a certain height. The stern, under
which lay the cabin which contained all that was dear to me on earth, was
immovably fixed between two rocks. At the same time I observed, towards the
south, traces of land, which, though wild and barren, was now the haven of my almost
expiring hopes; no longer being able to depend on any human aid. I returned to
my family, and endeavoured to appear calm. "Take courage," cried I,
"there is yet hope for us; the vessel, in striking between the rocks, is
fixed in a position which protects our cabin above the water, and if the wind
should settle to-morrow, we may possibly reach
the land."
This assurance calmed my children, and as usual,
they depended on all I told them; they rejoiced that the heaving of the vessel
had ceased, as, while it lasted, they were continually thrown against each
other. My wife, more accustomed to read my countenance, discovered my
uneasiness; and by a sign, I explained to her that I had lost all hope. I felt
great consolation in seeing that she supported our misfortune with truly
Christian resignation.
"Let us take some food," said she;
"with the body, the mind is strengthened; this must be a night of
trial."
Night came, and the tempest continued its fury;
tearing away the planks from the devoted vessel with a fearful crashing. It
appeared absolutely impossible that the boats could have out-lived the storm.
My wife had prepared some refreshment, of which the
children partook with an appetite
that we could not feel. The three younger ones retired to their beds, and soon
slept soundly. Fritz, the eldest, watched with me. "I have been considering,"
said he, "how we could save ourselves. If we only had some cork jackets,
or bladders, for mamma and my brothers, you and I don't need them, we could
then swim to land."
"A good thought," said I, "I will
try during the night to contrive some expedient to secure our safety." We
found some small empty barrels in the cabin, which we tied two together with
our handkerchiefs, leaving a space between for each child; and fastened this
new swimming apparatus under their arms. My wife prepared the same for herself.
We then collected some knives, string, tinder-box, and such little necessaries as
we could put in our pockets; thus, in case the vessel should fall to pieces
during the night, we hoped we might be enabled to reach land.
At length Fritz, overcome with fatigue, lay down
and slept with his brothers. My wife and I, too anxious to rest, spent that
dreadful night in prayer, and in arranging various plans. How gladly we
welcomed the light of day, shining through an opening. The wind was subsiding,
the sky serene, and I watched the sun rise with renewed hope. I called my wife
and children on deck. The younger ones were surprised to find we were alone.
They inquired what had become of the sailors, and how we should manage the ship
alone.
"Children," said I, "one more
powerful than man has protected us till now, and will still extend a saving arm
to us, if we do not give way to complaint and despair. Let all hands set to
work. Remember that excellent maxim, God helps those who help themselves. Let
us all consider what is best to do now."
"Let us leap into the sea," cried Fritz,
"and swim to the shore."
"Very well for you," replied Ernest,
"who can swim; but we should be all drowned. Would it not be better to
construct a raft and go all together?"
"That might do," added I, "if we
were strong enough for such a work, and if a raft was not always so dangerous a
conveyance. But away, boys, look about you, and seek for anything that may be
useful to us."
We all dispersed to different parts of the vessel.
For my own part I went to the provision-room, to look after the casks of water
and other necessaries of life; my wife visited the live stock and fed them, for
they were almost famished; Fritz sought for arms and ammunition; Ernest for the
carpenter's tools. Jack had opened the captain's cabin, and was immediately
thrown down by two large dogs, who leaped on him so roughly
that he cried out as if they were going to devour
him. However, hunger had rendered them so docile that they licked his hands,
and he soon recovered his feet, seized the largest by the ears, and mounting
his back, gravely rode up to me as I was coming from the hold. I could not help
laughing; I applauded his courage; but recommended him always to be prudent
with animals of that kind, who are often dangerous when hungry. . . (del
original inglés de Johann David Wyss)
Vocabulario
Partook (past):
partake – partook – partaken: take part in, receive, have a portion
Novela
Los Robinson Suizos fue publicada en 1812. Narra las
aventuras de una familia suiza que naufraga en Asia rumbo a Australia.
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Fuentes
Farlex. The free
dictionary
The Swiss Family
Robinson. The project gutenberg
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