as brownies chanced at eve to stray
around a wide but shallow bay,
not far from shore, to their surprise,
they saw a whale of monstrous size,
that, favored by the wind and tide,
had ventured in from ocean wide,
but waves receding by-and-by,
soon left him with a scant supply.
at times, with flaps and lunges strong
he worked his way some yards along,
till on a bar or sandy marge
he grounded like a leaden barge.
"a chance like this for all the band,"
cried one, "but seldom comes to hand.
i know the bottom of this bay
like those who made the coast survey.
'tis level as a threshing-floor
and shallow now from shore to shore;
that creature's back will be as dry
as hay beneath a tropic sky,
till morning tide comes full and free
and gives him aid to reach the sea."
"i catch the hint!" another cried;
"let all make haste to gain his side
then clamber up as best we may,
and ride him round till break of day."
at once, the band in great delight
went splashing through the water bright,
and soon to where he rolled about
they lightly swam, or waded out.
now climbing up, the brownies tried
to take position for the ride.
some lying down a hold maintained;
more, losing place as soon as gained,
were forced a dozen times to scale
the broad side of the stranded whale.
now half-afloat and half-aground
the burdened monster circled round,
still groping clumsily about
as if to find the channel out,
and brownies clustered close, in fear
that darker moments might be near.
and soon the dullest in the band
was sharp enough to understand
the creature was no longer beached,
but deeper water now had reached.
for plunging left, or plunging right,
or plowing downward in his might,
the fact was plain, as plain could be—
the whale was working out to sea!
a creeping fear will seize the mind
as one is leaving shores behind,
and knows the bark whereon he sails
is hardly fit to weather gales.
soon fancy, with a graphic sweep,
portrays the nightmares of the deep;
while they can see, with living eye,
the terrors of the air sweep by.
for who would not a fierce bird dread,
if it came flying at his head?
and these were hungry, squawking things,
with open beaks and flapping wings.
they made the brownies dodge and dip,
into the sea they feared to slip.
the birds they viewed with chattering teeth,
yet dreaded more the foes beneath.
the lobster, with his ready claw;
the fish with sword, the fish with saw;
the hermit-crab, in coral hall,
averse to every social call;
the father-lasher, and the shrimp,
the cuttle-fish, or ocean imp,
all these increase the landsman's fright,
as shores are fading out of sight.
such fear soon gained complete command
of every brownie in the band.
they looked behind, where fair and green
the grassy banks and woods were seen.
they looked ahead, where white and cold
the foaming waves of ocean rolled,
and then, with woful faces drew
comparisons between the two.
some blamed themselves for action rash
against all reason still to dash
in danger's way, and never think
until they stood on ruin's brink.
while others threw the blame on those
who did the risky trip propose.
but meantime deep and deeper still
the whale was settling down until
his back looked like an island small
that scarce gave standing-room to all.
but, when their chance seemed slight indeed
to sport again o'er dewy mead,
the spouting whale, with movement strong,
ran crashing through some timbers long
that lumbermen had strongly tied
in cribs and rafts, an acre wide.
'twas then, in such a trying hour,
the brownies showed their nerve and power.
the diving whale gave little time
for them to choose a stick to climb,—
but grips were strong; no hold was lost,
however high the logs were tossed;
by happy chance the boom remained
that to the nearest shore was chained,
and o'er that bridge the brownies made
a safe retreat to forest shade.
