the water-babies-第26章

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lf。

And　then　all　the　birds　rose　up；　and　streamed　away　in　long　black　lines；　north；　and　north…east；　and　north…west；　across　the　bright　blue　summer　sky；　and　their　cry　was　like　ten　thousand　packs　of　hounds；　and　ten　thousand　peals　of　bells。　　Only　the　puffins　stayed　behind；　and　killed　the　young　rabbits；　and　laid　their　eggs　in　the　rabbit…burrows；　which　was　rough　practice；　certainly；　but　a　man　must　see　to　his　own　family。

And；　as　Tom　and　the　petrels　went　north…eastward；　it　began　to　blow　right　hard；　for　the　old　gentleman　in　the　gray　great…coat；　who　looks　after　the　big　copper　boiler；　in　the　gulf　of　Mexico；　had　got　behindhand　with　his　work；　so　Mother　Carey　had　sent　an　electric　message　to　him　for　more　steam；　and　now　the　steam　was　coming；　as　much　in　an　hour　as　ought　to　have　come　in　a　week；　puffing　and　roaring　and　swishing　and　swirling；　till　you　could　not　see　where　the　sky　ended　and　the　sea　began。　　But　Tom　and　the　petrels　never　cared；　for　the　gale　was　right　abaft；　and　away　they　went　over　the　crests　of　the　billows；　as　merry　as　so　many　flying…fish。

And　at　last　they　saw　an　ugly　sight　…　the　black　side　of　a　great　ship；　waterlogged　in　the　trough　of　the　sea。　　Her　funnel　and　her　masts　were　overboard；　and　swayed　and　surged　under　her　lee；　her　decks　were　swept　as　clean　as　a　barn　floor；　and　there　was　no　living　soul　on　board。

The　petrels　flew　up　to　her；　and　wailed　round　her；　for　they　were　very　sorry　indeed；　and　also　they　expected　to　find　some　salt　pork；　and　Tom　scrambled　on　board　of　her　and　looked　round；　frightened　and　sad。

And　there；　in　a　little　cot；　lashed　tight　under　the　bulwark；　lay　a　baby　fast　asleep；　the　very　same　baby；　Tom　saw　at　once；　which　he　had　seen　in　the　singing　lady's　arms。

He　went　up　to　it；　and　wanted　to　wake　it；　but　behold；　from　under　the　cot　out　jumped　a　little　black　and　tan　terrier　dog；　and　began　barking　and　snapping　at　Tom；　and　would　not　let　him　touch　the　cot。

Tom　knew　the　dog's　teeth　could　not　hurt　him：　　but　at　least　it　could　shove　him　away；　and　did；　and　he　and　the　dog　fought　and　struggled；　for　he　wanted　to　help　the　baby；　and　did　not　want　to　throw　the　poor　dog　overboard：　　but　as　they　were　struggling　there　came　a　tall　green　sea；　and　walked　in　over　the　weather　side　of　the　ship；　and　swept　them　all　into　the　waves。

〃Oh；　the　baby；　the　baby！〃　screamed　Tom：　　but　the　next　moment　he　did　not　scream　at　all；　for　he　saw　the　cot　settling　down　through　the　green　water；　with　the　baby；　smiling　in　it；　fast　asleep；　and　he　saw　the　fairies　come　up　from　below；　and　carry　baby　and　cradle　gently　down　in　their　soft　arms；　and　then　he　knew　it　was　all　right；　and　that　there　would　be　a　new　water…baby　in　St。　Brandan's　Isle。

And　the　poor　little　dog？

Why；　after　he　had　kicked　and　coughed　a　little；　he　sneezed　so　hard；　that　he　sneezed　himself　clean　out　of　his　skin；　and　turned　into　a　water…dog；　and　jumped　and　danced　round　Tom；　and　ran　over　the　crests　of　the　waves；　and　snapped　at　the　jelly…fish　and　the　mackerel；　and　followed　Tom　the　whole　way　to　the　Other…end…of…Nowhere。

Then　they　went　on　again；　till　they　began　to　see　the　peak　of　Jan　Mayen's　Land；　standing…up　like　a　white　sugar…loaf；　two　miles　above　the　clouds。

And　there　they　fell　in　with　a　whole　flock　of　molly…mocks；　who　were　feeding　on　a　dead　whale。

〃These　are　the　fellows　to　show　you　the　way；〃　said　Mother　Carey's　chickens；　〃we　cannot　help　you　farther　north。　　We　don't　like　to　get　among　the　ice　pack；　for　fear　it　should　nip　our　toes：　　but　the　mollys　dare　fly　anywhere。〃

So　the　petrels　called　to　the　mollys：　　but　they　were　so　busy　and　greedy；　gobbling　and　peeking　and　spluttering　and　fighting　over　the　blubber；　that　they　did　not　take　the　least　notice。

〃Come；　come；〃　said　the　petrels；　〃you　lazy　greedy　lubbers；　this　young　gentleman　is　going　to　Mother　Carey；　and　if　you　don't　attend　on　him；　you　won't　earn　your　discharge　from　her；　you　know。〃

〃Greedy　we　are；〃　says　a　great　fat　old　molly；　〃but　lazy　we　ain't；　and；　as　for　lubbers；　we're　no　more　lubbers　than　you。　　Let's　have　a　look　at　the　lad。〃

And　he　flapped　right　into　Tom's　face；　and　stared　at　him　in　the　most　impudent　way　（for　the　mollys　are　audacious　fellows；　as　all　whalers　know）；　and　then　asked　him　where　he　hailed　from；　and　what　land　he　sighted　last。

And；　when　Tom　told　him；　he　seemed　pleased；　and　said　he　was　a　good　plucked　one　to　have　got　so　far。

〃Come　along；　lads；〃　he　said　to　the　rest；　〃and　give　this　little　chap　a　cast　over　the　pack；　for　Mother　Carey's　sake。　　We've　eaten　blubber　enough　for　to…day；　and　we'll　e'en　work　out　a　bit　of　our　time　by　helping　the　lad。〃

So　the　mollys　took　Tom　up　on　their　backs；　and　flew　off　with　him；　laughing　and　joking　…　and　oh；　how　they　did　smell　of　train　oil！

〃Who　are　you；　you　jolly　birds？〃　asked　Tom。

〃We　are　the　spirits　of　the　old　Greenland　skippers　（as　every　sailor　knows）；　who　hunted　here；　right　whales　and　horse…whales；　full　hundreds　of　years　agone。　　But；　because　we　were　saucy　and　greedy；　we　were　all　turned　into　mollys；　to　eat　whale's　blubber　all　our　days。　But　lubbers　we　are　none；　and　could　sail　a　ship　now　against　any　man　in　the　North　seas；　though　we　don't　hold　with　this　new…fangled　steam。　　And　it's　a　shame　of　those　black　imps　of　petrels　to　call　us　so；　but　because　they're　her　grace's　pets；　they　think　they　may　say　anything　they　like。〃

〃And　who　are　you？〃　asked　Tom　of　him；　for　he　saw　that　he　was　the　king　of　all　the　birds。

〃My　name　is　Hendrick　Hudson；　and　a　right　good　skipper　was　I；　and　my　name　will　last　to　the　world's　end；　in　spite　of　all　the　wrong　I　did。　For　I　discovered　Hudson　River；　and　I　named　Hudson's　Bay；　and　many　have　come　in　my　wake　that　dared　not　have　shown　me　the　way。　　But　I　was　a　hard　man　in　my　time；　that's　truth；　and　stole　the　poor　Indians　off　the　coast　of　Maine；　and　sold　them　for　slaves　down　in　Virginia；　and　at　last　I　was　so　cruel　to　my　sailors；　here　in　these　very　seas；　that　they　set　me　adrift　in　an　open　boat；　and　I　never　was　heard　of　more。　　So　now　I'm　the　king　of　all　mollys；　till　I've　worked　out　my　time。〃

And　now　they　came　to　the　edge　of　the　pack；　and　beyond　it　they　could　see　Shiny　Wall　looming；　through　mist；　and　snow；　and　storm。　　But　the　pack　rolled　horribly　upon　the　swell；　and　the　ice　giants　fought　and　roared；　and　leapt　upon　each　other's　backs；　and　ground　each　other　to　powder；　so　that　Tom　was　afraid　to　venture　among　them；　lest　he　should　be　ground　to　powder　too。　　And　he　was　the　more　afraid；　when　he　saw　lying　among　the　ice　pack　the　wrecks　of　many　a　gallant　ship；　some　with　masts　and　yards　all　standing；　some　with　the　seamen　frozen　fast　on　board。　　Alas；　alas；　for　them！　　They　were　all　true　English　hearts；　and　they　came　to　their　end　like　good　knights…errant；　in　searching　for　the　white　gate　that　never　was　opened　yet。

But　the　good　mollys　took　Tom　and　his　dog　up；　and　flew　with　them　safe　over　the　pack　and　the　roaring　ice　giants；　and　set　them　down　at　the　foot　of　Shiny　Wall。

〃And　where　is　the　gate？〃　asked　Tom。

〃There　is　no　gate；〃　said　the　mollys。

〃No　gate？〃　cried　Tom；　aghast。

〃None；　never　a　crack　of　one；　and　that's　the　whole　of　the　secret；　as　better　fellows；　lad；　than　you　have　found　to　their　cost；　and　if　there　had　been；　they'd　have　killed　by　now　every　right　whale　that　swims　the　sea。〃

〃What　am　I　to　do；　then？〃

〃Dive　under　the　floe；　to　be　sure；　if　you　have　pluck。〃

〃I've　not　come　so　far　to　turn　now；〃　said　Tom；　〃so　here　goes　for　a　header。〃

〃A　lucky　voyage　to　you；　lad；〃　said　the　mollys；　〃we　knew　you　were　one　of　the　right　sort。　　So　good…bye。〃

〃Why　don't　you　come　too？〃　asked　Tom。

But　the　mollys　only　wailed　sadly；　〃We　can't　go　yet；　we　can't　go　yet；〃　and　flew　away　over　the　pack。

So　Tom　dived　under　the　great　white　gate　which　never　was　opened　yet；　and　went　on　in　black　darkness；　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea；　for　seven　days　and　seven　nights。　　And　yet　he　was　not　a　bit　frightened。　　Why　should　he　be？　　He　was　a　brave　English　lad；　whose　business　is　to　go　out　and　see　all　the　world。

And　at　last　he　saw　the　light；　and　clear　clear　water　overhead；　and　up　he　came　a　thousand　fathoms；　among　clouds　of　sea…moths；　which　fluttered　round　his　head。　　There　were　moths　with　pink　heads　and　wings　and　opal　bodies；　that　flapped　about　slowly；　moths　with　brown　wings　that　flapped　about　quickly；　yellow　shrimps　that　hopped　and　skipped　most　quickly　of　all；　and　jellies　of　all　the　colours　in　the　world；　that　neither　hopped　nor　skipped；　but　only　dawdled　and　yawned；　and　would　not　get　out　of　his　way。　　The　dog　snapped　at　them　till　his　jaws　were　tired；　but　Tom　hardly　minded　them　at　all；　he　was　so　eager　to　get　to　the　top　of　the　water；　and　see　the　pool　where　the　good　whales　go。

And　a　very　large　pool　it　was；　miles　and　miles　across；　though　the　air　was　so　clear　that　the　ice　cliffs　on　the　opposite　side　looked　as　if　they　were　close　at　hand。　　All　round　it　the　ice　cliffs　rose；　in　walls　and　spires　and　battlements；　and　caves　and　bridges；　and　stories　and　galleries；　in　which　the　ice…fairies　live；　and　drive　away　the　storms　and　clouds；　that　Mother　Carey's　pool　may　lie　calm　from　year's　end　to　year's　end。　　And　the　sun　acted　policeman；　and　walked　round　outside　every　day；　peeping　just　over　the　top　of　the　ice　wall；　to　see　that　all　went　right；　and　now　and　then　he　played　conjuring　tricks；　or　had　an　exhibition　of　fireworks；　to　amuse　the　ice…fairies。　　For　he　would　make　himself　into　four　or　five　suns　at　once；　or　paint　the　sky　with　rings　and　crosses　and　crescents　of　white　fire；　and　stick　himself　in　the　middle　of　them；　and　wink　at　the　fairies；　and　I　daresay　they　were　very　much　amused；　for　anything's　fun　in　the　country。

And　there　the　good　whales　lay；　the　happy　sleepy　beasts；　upon　the　still　oily　sea。　　They　were　all　right　whales；　you　must　know；　and　finners；　and　razor…backs；　and　bottle…noses；　and　spotted　sea…　unicorns　with　long　ivory　horns。　　But　the　sperm　whales　are　such　raging；　ramping；　roaring；　rumbustious　fellows；　that；　if　Mother　Carey　let　them　in；　there　would　be　no　more　peace　in　Peacepool。　　So　she　packs　them　away　in　a　great　pond　by　themselves　at　the　South　Pole；　two　hundred　and　sixty…three　miles　south…south…east　of　Mount　Erebus；　the　great　volcano　in　the　ice；　and　there　they　butt　each　other　with　their　ugly　noses；　day　and　night　from　year's　end　to　year's　end。

But　here　there　were　only　good　quiet　beasts；　lying　about　like　the　black　hulls　of　sloops；　and　blowing　every　now　and　then　jets　of　white　steam；　or　sculling　round　with　their　huge　mouths　open；　for　the　sea…　moths　to　swim　down　their　throats。　　There　were　no　threshers　there　to　thresh　their　poor　old　backs；　or　sword…fish　to　stab　their　stomachs；　or　saw…fish　to　rip　them　up；　or　ice…sharks　to　bite　lumps　out　of　their　sides；　or　whalers　to　harpoon　and　lance　them。　　They　were　quite　safe　and　happy　there；　and　all　they　had　to　do　was　to　wait　quietly　in　Peacepool；　till　Mother　Carey　sent　for　them　to　make　them　out　of　old　beasts　into　new。

Tom　swam　up　to　the　nearest　whale；　and　asked　the　way　to　Mother　Carey。

〃There　she　sits　in　the　middle；〃　said　the　whale。

Tom　looked；　but　he　could　see　nothing　in　the　middle　of　the　pool；　but　one　peaked　iceberg：　　and　he　said　so。

〃That's　Mother　Carey；〃　said　the　whale；　〃as　you　will　find　when　you　get　to　her。　　There　she　sits　making　old　beasts　into　new　all　the　year　round。〃

〃How　does　she　do　that？〃

〃That's　her　concern；　not　mine；〃　said　the　old　whale；　and　yawned　so　wide　（for　he　was　very　large）　that　there　swam　into　his　mouth　943　sea…moths；　13；846　jelly…fish　no　bigger　than　pins'　heads；　a