If you set off on a voyage to America tomorrow, it's very unlikely that you would be shipwrecked and stranded on a lonely island.
But many years ago, when the Swiss family Robinson set off on their journey, things were very different.
Ships were able to make long voyages if the weather was good.
And if the worst came to the worst and the ship did go down, the passengers would find themselves fighting for life in icy seas.
In the case of the Swiss family Robinson, their ship had found it on rocks.
And because the lifeboats had gone without them, they took time to gather some things together and plan their escape to land, which fortunately wasn't too far away.
They used wooden tubs, and after kneeling together in prayer, they quickly loaded tools, canvas, guns, pistols, and some food into the tubs,
as well as putting some of the animals from the ship into the water.
At last, they were ready to cast off.
The nearer to shore they got, the less inviting it looked.
But by and by, they could see beyond the cliffs green grass and trees.
Presently, they found an opening where a stream flowed into the sea.
The geese and ducks were swimming toward this place, and so the family followed after.
Everyone sprang gladly out of the makeshift boat, and what with the dogs from the ship barking,
the geese, the ducks, the flamingos screaming,
and the boys were deafening.
But it didn't matter, because at last the Swiss family Robinson were all safe on dry land.
At once they set to unpacking the tubs and putting up a tent for shelter.
The boys collected moss and grass for the beds,
father made a fireplace with some large flat stones,
and soon with the help of dry twigs and seaweed, the fire began to burn.
The sun was still high in the sky, so there was time to explore the island,
which was to be their home for how long, no one knew.
There was no sign of anyone else from the ship, but several things had been washed ashore,
and they discovered wild animals and birds, as well as food from the sea such as lobsters and oysters.
Dinner that first night was soup, which they had brought from the ship, and some oysters.
There they all sat, mother, father, Fritz, Jack, Ernest and Franz,
all talking about what had happened so far.
They would have been badly off if they hadn't had their tent,
as the night was as cold as the day was hot, but everyone managed to sleep comfortably.
After breakfast, it was decided that Fritz and his father should start on an expedition and take a good look around.
They followed the stream until they reached a waterfall,
and because of the thick trees and not knowing what they might run into,
it was decided to continue along the open sea.
They found coconut trees, as well as calabash trees,
on which the fruit called gourd grows, and this they could use for bowls, spoons and bottles.
For three hours or more they pushed on, keeping a sharp lookout for any trace of others from the ship.
They found sugar cane and cut some to take back with them.
They came across monkeys, which their dog Turk chased and unfortunately killed one of the mothers,
so they gathered up the baby monkey,
to take back with them.
On their return they made quite a sight,
carrying coconuts, gourds, sugar cane and the monkey on Fritz's shoulder.
The next day, Fritz and his father returned to the wreck,
to save the poor animals left there,
and to bring back as many articles of value as they could.
A signal post was erected for a flag,
and this was to remain flying unless there was trouble,
in which case the flag was to be lowered,
three shots fired,
and Fritz and his father would return from the ship.
All went well though,
and after the trip they had added a donkey,
a cow, goats, sheep,
more hens,
kitchen utensils of all sorts,
tinned food,
sulphur for matches, nails, tools,
and goodness knows what else,
to what they already had ashore.
It was mother who made the suggestion,
to Jack, Ernest and Franz,
that while the others were busy,
they should perhaps look for somewhere suitable,
to build a better home for themselves.
After walking for some time,
they came to a pretty wood,
and the longer they looked around,
the more sure mother was,
that somehow,
if they could manage to build something,
up among the branches of the big trees,
they should be perfectly happy and safe.
So it was,
over the next few days,
a tree house was built,
as well as some furniture,
and for the first time at night,
they all felt safe and secure,
especially after pulling up the ladder,
which was the only way of getting into,
and out of their new home.
They were becoming more settled now,
and gradually giving names
to the different places,
around the coast.
The mouth of the bay,
where they had landed,
they called Safety Bay,
and their first home,
they called Tent Home,
and so it went on.
They tended to their animals,
made experiments with different foods they found,
kept exploring the island,
and made another two trips to the wreck.
They also built a bridge
across the stream,
while their mother began to do something about clothes,
with what little she had from the ship,
and the skins of animals they had caught.
A salt cave was discovered,
and they built a canoe,
with a mast, sails,
and paddles fitted.
It's rather difficult to imagine
what life on an island would be like,
but somehow,
they were all kept very busy,
for of course they had to eat,
so there had to be food.
Father had decided to set up a small farm,
and they all helped here.
It was some way from the tree house,
so it meant building another small house.
With all the pigeons on the island,
they built a dove house for them,
and because of the rainy season each year,
a suitable cave was found,
and here they made another home,
one which would keep them dry.
This home was called Rockberg.
As the rainy season drew to a close,
the weather for a while became wilder,
and the storms fiercer than ever.
Thunder roared,
lightning blazed,
torrents rushed toward the sea,
and the raging winds blew.
At last,
all was calm again,
and gladly leaving Rockberg,
they went for a walk along the coast.
It was Fritz,
who saw something on the small island,
it was long and rounded,
and looked like a boat upside down.
Next day,
Father and the boys set out in their canoe
to investigate.
It proved to be a huge stranded whale,
and it was agreed,
when the sea was calmer,
to return with some tools,
and put the dead whale to good use.
The more oil they could obtain,
the better,
for a great deal was used in the large lantern,
and once more they set out for the island,
all five of them this time.
The whale was enormous.
The jaw opened very far back,
in fact nearly sixteen feet in length,
with masses of whale bone
all along the jaws.
At once,
Jack and Fritz stripped,
and went to work scrambling over the back of the head,
and cutting away the lips,
so as to reach the whale bone.
Ernest worked hard at the creature's side,
cutting out slabs of blubber,
while his mother and friends
helped as well as they could
to put it in casks.
The birds of prey flew around
with shrill screams,
trying to get at the whale,
and they kept them off with blows
from their tools.
Several were killed,
but soon their work was done,
and after stripping off a long piece of the skin
to be used for leather work and harnesses,
they loaded it all into the canoe
and put to sea.
They couldn't wait to get home
and wash themselves.
Next morning,
Franz and his mother stayed home,
as the work was to be more horrible
than the day before.
It took all day to open
the whale completely
and remove what was required,
and with a full cargo,
again set sail for home.
A refreshing bath,
clean clothes and supper
cheered them all up,
and they slept well that night.
Ten years passed.
The farm flourished.
Fortunately,
everyone had kept well,
apart from the odd slight accident
and the occasional exciting adventure.
Fritz was now twenty-five,
Ernest two years younger,
Jack twenty,
and Franz seventeen.
Although so many years had passed,
their father continued to believe
that one day they would be rescued.
One morning,
while Fritz was out alone in a kayak
he had built,
he accidentally stunned an albatross
and wound round one of its legs.
There was a message written on the rag,
Save an unfortunate Englishwoman
from the smoking rock.
This was unbelievable.
Quickly deciding
what must be done,
he tore a strip from his handkerchief
and wrote,
Do not despair,
help is near.
This he carefully bound round one leg,
and nursing the bird for a short time,
it came round,
and after drinking a little water,
it disappeared from view.
All this he told his father
and no one else.
One morning,
when everything was ready,
Fritz, his father,
Jack and Ernest
set off in the boats for Pearl Bay,
intending to set up a pearl fishery.
But Fritz had other ideas.
They passed safely through the rocks
and sailed on.
Pearl Bay was quite beautiful,
and after cruising about for some time
they landed close to a stream
all at once
a deep, fearful sound echoed
through the woods.
Again it roared,
this time nearer,
and Fritz suggested while he go and look
the others make the fire blaze
then get back on the boat with their guns.
Meantime,
the horrid roarings approached nearer
and not long after
a large, powerful animal
sprang through the trees.
It was a lion,
the largest they had ever seen.
The dog slunk
behind the fire,
and the lion walked up and down
with a slow pace,
occasionally uttering short, angry roars.
Gradually,
his manner became more threatening.
He turned toward the boat,
crouched, waved his tail,
and looked about to spring
when through the darkness
came the sharp crack of a rifle.
Suddenly, with a fearful roar,
the lion sprang to his feet,
stood stock still,
tottered,
sank on his knees,
rolled over,
and lay quite still on the sand.
Father sprang from the boat,
and the dogs met him,
but kept whining uneasily
and looking toward the woods.
Seeing nothing of Fritz,
his father stayed by the boat,
and all at once
a lioness bounded from the shadow of the trees.
Finding her mate quite still,
she raised her head,
as if she had heard
the most dreadful sound ever heard.
There was another shot,
which lamed the creature,
then father shot and wounded the lioness more.
Old Juno, the dog,
suddenly sprang at the throat of the lioness,
and in an instant
the huge cat raised her left paw,
and at one blow
the cruel claws had laid open
the body of the dog and destroyed him.
Fritz appeared then,
and he and his father made towards
the much weakened creature.
Finally, father plunged a knife
deep into the lioness,
and it was all over.
It was very late now,
so they all bedded down in the boats for the night.
Next morning,
after getting the skins of the lion
and lioness,
they weighed anchor and prepared to sail.
After passing through the reef,
Fritz turned in the opposite direction,
and his father told Jack and Ernest
he had a fancy to explore
more of the coast.
After five days absence,
Fritz returned,
and persuaded them all to follow him
to a lovely island he had found,
which they did,
and here Fritz introduced them
to Miss Montrose.
She was the daughter of a British officer
who had served in India,
and on her return to England
the ship she was on had gone down,
and Miss Montrose was the only one
to make it ashore.
It had taken her a long time to recover,
and from that time
she had seen another human being.
You can imagine the surprise
of the Swiss family Robinson
to this discovery,
and so they packed up Jenny's few belongings
and set sail for home.
Jenny could scarcely believe
that she was still far away
from civilised land,
and here among a family wrecked like herself
upon a lonely coast.
She was amazed at their lovely home,
and at the banquet they had that night
all the china and silverware
from the ship was used.
All the wondrous tales were told
or read and turned by the boys and Jenny
during the long evenings that followed,
and during the days
everyone worked on the various chores
and in the fields, garden and orchard.
One evening after work
Jack and Franz
were having target practice
when there came the sound of guns
booming across the water.
What could it be?
A European vessel?
Or maybe a pirate ship?
Would they be friendly?
Or would they attack?
Who could tell?
In the greatest excitement
they all returned to the house
talking eagerly,
and it was late into the night
before anyone went to bed.
Unfortunately, during the night
the wind came up,
and for two days the hurricane continued.
On the third day,
Jack, Franz and their father
went to the fort and fired the big gun.
After some minutes
a reply was heard.
They then took to the kayak
and paddled out of the bay.
For nearly an hour they sailed
until coming round the point of a bluff
they saw, sheltered in a cave,
a warship flying English colours.
Using their spyglass
they could see figures on deck
and on the shore beyond
several tents pitched
and the smoke rising from the fires.
Feeling quite sure it was an English ship
Fritz and his father returned home
and told the family all they had seen.
It was decided
they would pay a visit the next day
and on rounding the bluff again
all eyes from the ship were on them.
Fritz and his father went on board
and met the captain.
They gave him an outline
of the history of the wreck
and told him of finding Miss Montrose.
It was because of her, actually,
that the ship was in these waters
as the captain knew her father well.
Straight away the rest of the family
were brought on board
and introduced to the captain.
They spent that night in borrowed tents
where Fritz and his father
had some very big decisions to make.
From their discussions
they decided they wanted nothing more
than to spend the rest of their days
where they were
as long as two of their sons stayed
but which two?
Next day
it was proposed for the English ship
to sail into Safety Bay
and visit them at their home.
It was here that the mother and father
told everyone they would stay
in New Switzerland
and while Jack and Ernest decided
they'd stay too,
Fritz and Franz for different reasons
chose to leave.
Fritz had told his father
he wished to marry Jenny
and Franz of course wanted to go to school
and so it was
that as night closed around
the Swiss family Robinson
all slept in the treehouse
together for the last time.