CHAPTER XIII.
The Family take possession of the ruined Hut. The Fortification. The Maize Harvest. The Wild Cow captured and tamed. The Capsicum. Spinning and Weaving. Walks in the Wood. The Cactus. The Hedge of Defence. The Alerse Pine.

IN the mean time the whole family had been to inspect the hut, and notwithstanding the fearful adventure connected with it, even Mrs. Merton seemed pleased at the first sight with the peaceful seclusion of the situation, and the air of abundance produced by the appearance of the ripe maize and the laden peach-trees. She certainly shuddered as she looked into the hut, but the bold workmen promised not only to fortify it securely, but to change its present desolation into convenience and comfort. She agreed to wait for the completion of their promise; and that no time might be lost, the tent was brought, and spread under the peach-trees; all the property transferred to the same place, and then they began to work in earnest.

Their first task was to cut down trees, and Almagro shook his head as he saw the light axes which formed part of Tom's carpenters's chest. He had one strong axe which he had brought from his own hut, but the work could not be rapidly done with one hand. As soon as Maria understood their distress she directed them to the cave for implements of work. They were. glad to find there some excellent axes and spades; and all hands working vigorously, they were able to bring | | 145 to the hut, in the evening, a large stock of palisades ready for use.

Next morning they began to dig a deep trench, surrounding the hut and an area of about an acre, which was to form their garden and pleasure-ground. The corral was destined to be beyond the inclosure, as they could not include it without more labor than they had time, at present, to bestow. When the trench was ready, they placed their palisades as close as possible in it, and formed a stockade six feet high, the palisades being pointed sharply at the upper end. This defence cost all the able hands three hard days of labor; but when it was completed, Mrs. Merton declared she should now sleep in peace, especially as the narrow entrance was protected by a huge stone, which they rolled down with great difficulty from the rocks above, and placed before the opening while they slept, till they could make a door strong enough for security. Almagro undertook to new roof the hut, and to thatch it with slender dry branches and maize-leaves; over which he pegged down hides of oxen, of which many were stored in the cave. Thus the roof was not only waterproof, but they trusted even fire-proof, should it ever again be exposed to that terrible ordeal.

Their next task was to partition the spacious hut with slender interlaced branches, forming two small dormitories, one each side, and reserving a large space in the middle for the common sitting-room, of which the floor was partly covered with skins. Nanny emphatically declared she now felt like herself, with a roof over her head and she forgot all her ill humor in the pleasure of unpacking boxes, which they had never before had opportunity to open.

And now they had time to gather in the maize crop, which was done by plucking the ripe ears; in which light labor old and young merrily joined. These ears were accumulated in heaps, to be further dried by the sun. Then the large grains were forced from the pod by scraping the edge of a knife along it and those grains were placed in such casks and bags as they could command, and deposited in the cave for safety. Under the direction of Almagro, the boys dug some holes within the inclosure, and lined them with dry maize-leaves, in these holes the remainder of the grain was stored, and they were then carefully covered with earth to exclude the | | 146 air. The pods were stacked behind the hut to serve for fuel, and the leaves and stalks, after being left a little longer on the ground to be perfectly dried, were cut down, as well as the knives and spades permitted them to accomplish the tedious work, and were then stacked for the animals. This food, Lewis said, was wholesome and fattening for cattle, from the saccharine quality of the plant.

After the harvest they had each a little bed of fresh maize straw, covered with a skin and the blanket each had secured. Nanny declared, she did not see why her mistress should not have a four-post bed, as if she was in a Christian country; but more important occupations prevented the realization of this ambitious plan, and Mrs. Merton's mattress was, for the present, placed on a frame, made by planting four short poles in the earth, and stretching a skin firmly over them.

Some small openings were made in the mud walls, to admit light and air; the young people called them windows, but instead of glass, they were latticed with thin willow wands; and they proposed in the winter, if the hunters supplied means, to make curtains of skin for them.

The animals, which had fattened with ease and good pasturage, now demanded their attention, and a corral, or strong inclosure, adjoining the palisades, was soon formed to contain them, from the scattered palisades torn down by the Indians.

In the midst of these occupations the young men occasionally went to the woods with their bolas, and brought home parrots, or sometimes a hare; but the heavy labor being now accomplished, they set out one day early, to cross the hills, and have a ramble on the Pampas; Almagro accompanying them on his mule. They were fortunate enough to see immediately a herd of wild cattle. They had never yet tried their weapons on such large animals, and Almagro ordered them to be very cautious and regular in their approach. But, by good luck, a young cow had wandered to some distance from the rest of the herd, and Almagro immediately galloped forward, ard flung his bolas so dexterous round the forelegs of the animal, that it fell on the spot.

"Stop, Almagro," cried Jack, as the Guacho was about to despatch it with his knife, "we do not want meat just now, | | 147 and if we could get it home, and tame it, Nanny would be so delighted to have a real cow!"

This was a very tempting plan, but not easy to accomplish. They succeeded in tying its legs in such a manner that it could not run from them; but the cow was absolutely determined not to move at all with its legs tied, and all attempts to drive it forward were found fruitless. At length a strong lasso was fixed round its neck, and, partly by main force; and partly by goading it, it was brought by slow degrees, and with violent resistance, to the wood near the inclosure, and there tied to a tree in such a manner that it could not reach the grass to feed.

However charmed Matilda and Mary were to possess a cow, they were much distressed that such painful means should be necessary to subdue it; and but for the extreme fear they had of its large horns, they would have ventured to give it a handful of maize-leaves. After being tied up for twenty-four hours, its lowing was so piteous that Mary could resist it no longer, but approaching it cautiously, she held out the straw at the end of a long forked stick. The animal greedily devoured the food, and then stretched out its neck to her for more. She took courage, and ventured to stroke its huge thick neck, and to offer the straw from her own hand, and water from a wooden bowl. The cow soon knew Mary, and lowed at her approach; and Almagro's management rendered it so quiet, that in a few days it was allowed to graze, though still secured to the tree. A week after, the animal produced a calf, which soon became a great pet with the girls, and the mother, being gratified, as Mary said, with their kindness to her offspring, finally submitted to be milked, and Nanny triumphantly established a dairy in the cave.

And now the tent being finally struck, the family took possession of their new abode; which the chill night air from the mountains rendered a very desirable measure. Maria was perfectly recovered, and able to enter into their pursuits, and plans were talked of for regular daily employment.

"Permit me, papa," said Matilda, "to lay down the rules, so that the most profitable use may be made of every moment of time. I believe I have a talent for managing time well."

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"And remember," added Jack, "you must all submit to the laws of Queen Matilda, on pain of the knout. The idle and disobedient, after a public reprimand, to receive a certain number of lashes, proportioned to their offence; to be inflicted by Nanny, as public executioner."

"Well, Jack," said Matilda, "at least give us your plan, before you ridicule mine."

"My dear children," said Mrs. Merton, "we will listen to all your suggestions, because we love you to acquire habits of reflection; and it is even probable some of your measures may be more practicable than my own, for my feeble health has subdued my energy; but your father and I alone must be rulers, supported by our prime minister and excellent counsellor, Dr. Lewis."

Lewis rejoiced to see Mrs. Merton had recovered some activity of mind, and the rules and laws of the little community were arranged and cheerfully submitted to, even by the abashed Matilda. Every one was expected to rise early, and assemble in the common room, where Mr. Merton performed the sacred service of the morning. The girls then assisted Nanny in milking, and other household duties, and in making ready the breakfast of maize boiled in milk; the young men, in the mean time, fed the animals in the corral with fresh grass, cut or plucked on the plain. After breakfast, an hour or two was devoted to study; then the hunters departed for the woods, the plains, or the river, on which they had constructed weirs, and, at this season, were enabled to take abundance of excellent fish. In the woods Tom frequently forgot the game in his eagerness to discover new plants, and it was with great pleasure he pointed out to Lewis one day, a low, dark-green, weedy-looking shrub, covered with capsicums.

"It is the Capsicum frutescens, the Chili pepper," said he, "one of the most pungent and wholesome of the pepper tribe."

They filled a bag with the capsicums for Nanny, who was glad to have some seasoning for her stews; for though a small store of salt had been found in the cave, even that was nearly exhausted, and to eat meat without salt was an unpleasant prospect. When Maria saw the capsicums, she took Tom to a spot in the devastated garden where this | | 149 plant had been cultivated; and he saw that the shrub, though broken, would revive in the spring, when they should have the produce always at hand for use.

"I don't know how it is," said Jack, "but I never make any botanical discoveries; perhaps I have not patience to count the stamens or petals, or examine whether the leaves be serrated or lanceolate; but I will tell you, Nanny, what I will do for you--I will make an oven for you."

"And if you say that, Master Jack," replied Nanny, "I'll trust you, you will do it; you were always a boy of your word, and an oven is just the thing I want."

But Jack's oven, like all important undertakings, was not to be completed in a day; many things intervened to delay even the commencement, though Jack did not forget his promise.

The morning, when the hunters were absent, was spent by the sisters in acquiring from Maria the art of spinning and weaving the fine hair of the llama, and the coarse wool of the guanaco. The former, indeed, needed no spinning; it was merely drawn out, knotted together aad wound round a wooden spindle; but the wool was formed into a thread before it was wound. In both cases, the process was tedious, and Matilda declared she would certainly have a wheel made, but the unpractised workmen rejected the order. The simple contrivance for the loom consisted of four short rods placed in the ground before the hut, about eighteen inches apart, and four long rods, running along the top, from one to another, and tied to them. This was the frame, and the threads were stretched from end to end, and knotied to the rods. Then the young weavers, kneeling down, passed the weft from one side to the other, astonished alike at the readiness with which they acquired the art, and at the wonderful production of the stuff woven by their own hands. Even Mr. Merton was sometimes weaned from his studies to observe the rapid progress of the industrious little hands. And after dinner, the boys brought their carpenter's tools to the side of the loom, that they might converse with their sisters and obtain their sympathy in the many ineffectual attempts they made before they could produce anything tolerable, as a seat, or a table.

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Towards evening the whole family went forth to ramble in the woods, to listen to the curious notes of birds yet strange to them, or to collect the last flowers of autumn. It was in these pleasant evenings that the good father loved to speak to his children of the charm and advantage of retirement from the evils of life.

"Here, my children," said he, "I should be contented to remain, and prepare my soul for eternity. Why should we ever stray beyond this wood? Here Nature, with her beautiful and inimitable propriety, prepares plenty for all seasons: the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, are alike bountifully fed by the hand of God. Here the sordid cares of labor and acquisition are suspended, and man has leisure for mental improvement unbroken by the weary duty of providing for the morrow. How soothing to the mind it is, in this blessed retreat, to contemplate the wonders of creation which surround us, and to devote ourselves to reading and meditation, undisturbed by vexations. Oh, my children! God has led us to this peaceful harbor; let us remain here let us enjoy this Garden of Eden, which shadows forth, in its peace and beauty, that better world which God has provided for them who love him."

"But we must toil a little, before we make you quite comfortable in your abode," said Jack. "And now, papa, confess, if we had not been with you, could you really have set about building yourself a hut?"

"In truth, my son," said the meek old man, "I doubt it much. I have small skill in mechanical works, and should probably have contented myself with the retirement of a cave, or with the simple shelter of a sail spread over the lower branches of a tree,--albeit that might have proved an insufficient protection against the attacks of the Feræ of the forest. Yet, had your mother been my companion, I might have essayed to construct some fabric more suitable to her delicate health; especially as she has a feminine repugnance to abide in a cave. Surely such an abode is gloomy yet we read that holy men of old dwelt in caves to extreme old age, unmolested, save by their own sinful thoughts."

"I hope it is not sinful to think, papa," said Mat ilda, that these devout men might have been less exposed to evil | | 151 fancies if they had been employed in the useful labors, of the world."

"We will try, my dear Mr. Merton," said Lewis, "if we can, by God's help, successfully blend a life of employment with a faithful attention to our sacred duties."

"You are ever right in judgment, my thoughtful friend," replied Mr. Merton; "for I now remember that the holy apostle Paul recommends that all men should work. Here our sphere of action is circumscribed; but it may please God to enlarge the boundaries of our utility. Waiting his time, I exhort you my children, to help one another, and to fulfil, as far as human frailty permits, your duty to God and to those around you."

"And, after all, papa," said Jack, "I hope you will not forbid us occasionally descending to the Pampas, to have a scamper about, and see how the world looks outside our Eden?"

"Do let Jack go, papa," added Mary; "he is such a good boy, and he wishes so much to see ostriches and jaguars, and just to have a peep at the wonderful Indians; and he will take his lasso, and catch some wild horses, and then we can all ride. Let them all go; we are quite safe in our fairy bower."

"Certainly they must not go, Mary," answered her mamma, "if there is any possibility of encountering the terrible Indians."

"Not any probability, mamma," said Tom. "Besides, I have a plan to render our castle impregnable. Look here, Lewis, at this branch, which I deposited on this spot in the morning, when I returned from my climbing up the mountain. Is not this the cactus, described as so useful in forming the impenetrable hedge, that even the daring Indian shrinks from?"

"I recognise it at once," said Matilda, "as one of the Cacti, which are remarkable for their rapid growth, and for the spines, which render them so formidable. We must have a hedge; then dig a moat round our fort, and make a drawbridge, which will complete our security."

"What do you say, Matilda," asked Jack, laughing, "to our placing a row of cannon on our battlements?"

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"In truth, my dear Matilda," observed Lewis, "you ought not to be offended with Jack's jest for we might as well plan towers and guns, as a moat and drawbridge; we have not the means and appliances for such works. No: all thanks to Tom the thoughtful, the cactus hedge is the grand security for our peace and I propose that we, the men of sinews and muscles should set out to-morrow morning with spades and lassoes, to dig up and draw to our fort, all the young cacti we can find."

They went off accordingly next morning in high glee, but returned with cross looks; for though they drew after them a great number of young trees, their hands and legs were bleeding from many wounds, received, as Jack said, in the battle with the Cacti.

"We will, however, convert our enemy into a friend," said Lewis, as he tore away the thorns from one of the leaves, and then bound it over the wounded hand of Charles, which certainly was dreadfully lacerated.

"Henceforward I give up the warfare," said Charles. "Give me but a sword, and, like the Paladins of old, I will cut my way through the most formidable obstacles but it is too much to expect a warrior to bind his prisoners with thongs, and then submit to draw them behind him."

"But I will not have you turn recreant," said Mary. "You must go out and conquer, that you may deserve the prize of a poncho I am weaving for you. In the mean time, receive these elegant gloves I have made, to replace those you sacrificed so soon after our landing."

The ingenious girls had been employed during the day in making a defence for the hands of the workmen, after a design given them by Nanny. She had described to them the mittens, as they are provincially named, used by the hedgers in Westmoreland and these simple coverings they had formed very successfully from the skins of the hare and vicuna. They entirely covered the hand, having no division between the fingers; the thumb alone having a distinct protection. They were all much pleased with the gloves, which were soon put into use, for, immediately after dinner, the work of planting began.

Two of the party were employed in digging a trench outside the stockade, into which the other two placed the young trees, at a very short distance from each other, and then | | 153 filled up the trench again. It was tedious work, and they did not complete many yards before they wera quite exhausted; but they were satisfied with their success, and ready to renew their labors next day. Yet it was not without some murmuring that day after day passed, and still the heavy task went on slowly; at length experience taught them to improve their mode of labor. They secured the young trees by a lasso before they were dug up, and then placed them upon a sort of sledge, made by Almagro of some hides found in the cave, sewed together with threads of the same material. To this rude vehicle the horse and mule were harnessed and the trees were drawn to the enclosure, to the great relief of the workmen, allowing them to take a hare or some parrots to supply the table.

It was nearly three weeks before the great work was finished. The trees seemed all to take well, and the defence was already satisfactory; for a double row of young trees completely encircled the enclosure and the corral, except a narrow opening for the entrance, which they planned to defend by as strong a door as their means permitted them to make. These trees were now about four feet in height; but such is the rapidity of the growth of the cactus, that they hoped in time to see their hedge twelve or fourteen feet high.

"And now for our door," said Jack. "What do you say, Matilda? Shall we have a mahogany door, with a brass rapper? or a heavy oaken portal with massy iron bars, like those in the mysterious castle of Udolpho?"

"I am perfectly aware, Jack," replied his sister, "that in this solitude we can neither obtain iron, oak, nor mahogany; but we have that tall pine or cedar that Tom pointed out the other day, and which Almagro calls the Alerse, and which he tells you is so easily parted into planks of any thickness. Why not cut down that tree to form a strong, narrow door?"

"This time, Jack," said Lewis; "the dictator Matilda is right. The Alerse is the very tree for our purpose, for with a single wedge we can split it into planks. We have still a good stock of nails, so that we can make our door doubly firm by nailing cross-pieces over it."

"And cover it with hide, to render it fire-proof," added Matilda.

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"You are a skilful engineer," said Lewis, "and we will eertcluly adopt your plan. Come, boys, to work! Let us to the woods. I have seen beeches, but they would be too hard to split up for our door; and we must be careful to spare the valuable Pino de la tierre; so we must try the Alerse pine, on the recommendation of Almagro."

The alerse was a noble tree, not less than ninety or one hundred feet high, and thirty feet in circumference. It was long before their efforts brought it to the ground. The short thick branches were then lopped off, and the trunk was hewed into logs, eight or nine feet long, for use. One of these logs was selected and split into thick planks by means of wedges, with loss difficulty than they had anticipated. These planks were conveyed to the enclosure, and the door, strengthened by cross-pieces, was truly a heavy portal. It was attached by broad hinges of hide to strong posts, and secured by stout wooden bars; and the young men had reason to be proud of their great work.