The Brownies: Their Book Part 12

While some were spiking planks and beams, The calkers stuffed the yawning seams, And poured the resin left and right, To make her stanch and water-tight.

Some busily were bringing nails, And bolts of canvas for the sails, And coils of rope of every size To make the ratlines, shrouds, and guys.

It mattered little whence it came, Or who a loss of stock might claim; Supply kept even with demand, Convenient to the rigger's hand.

'T was marvelous to see how fast The vessel was together cast; Until, with all its rigs and stays, It sat prepared to leave the ways.

It but remained to name it now, And break a bottle on the bow, To knock the wedges from the side, And from the keel, and let it slide.

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And when it rode upon the sea, The Brownies thronged the deck with glee, And veering 'round in proper style, They bore away for nearest isle.

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But those who will the ocean brave Should be prepared for wind and wave For storms will rise, as many know, When least we look for squall or blow And soon the sky was overcast, And waves were running high and fast;

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Then some were sick and some were filled With fears that all their ardor chilled; But, as when dangers do a.s.sail The humankind, though some may quail, There will be found a few to face The danger, and redeem the race,--

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So, some brave Brownies n.o.bly stood And manned the s.h.i.+p as best they could.

Some staid on deck to sound for bars; Some went aloft to watch for stars; And some around the rudder hung, And here and there the vessel swung, While, others, strung on yard and mast, Kept s.h.i.+fting sails to suit the blast.

At times, the bow was high in air, And next the stern was lifted there.

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So thus it tumbled, tossed, and rolled, And s.h.i.+pped enough to fill the hold, Till more than once it seemed as though To feed the fish they all must go.

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But still they bravely tacked and veered, And hauled, and reefed, and onward steered; While screaming birds around them wheeled, As if to say: "Your doom is sealed"; And hungry gar and hopeful shark In shoals pursued the creaking bark, Still wondering how it braved a gale That might have made Columbus pale.

The rugged island, near them now, Was looming on their starboard bow; But knowing not the proper way Of entering its sheltered bay, They simply kept their canvas spread, And steered the vessel straight ahead.

The birds were distanced in the race; The gar and shark gave up the chase, And turning back, forsook the keel, And lost their chances of a meal.

For now the s.h.i.+p to ruin flew, As though it felt its work was through, And soon it stranded, "pitch and toss,"

Upon the rocks, a total loss.

The masts and spars went by the board-- The hull was s.h.i.+vered like a gourd!

But yet, on broken plank and rail, On splintered spars and bits of sail That strewed for miles the rugged strand, The Brownies safely reached the land.

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Now, Brownies lack the power, 'tis said, Of making twice what once they've made; So all their efforts were in vain To build and launch the s.h.i.+p again;-- And on that island, roaming 'round, That Brownie band for years was found.

THE BROWNIES' RETURN.

ONCE while the Brownies lay at ease About the roots of rugged trees, And listened to the dreary moan Of tides around their island lone Said one: "My friends, unhappy here, We spend our days from year to year We're cornered in, and hardly boast A run of twenty leagues at most You all remember well, I ween, The night we reached this island green, When flocks of fowl around us wailed, And followed till their pinions failed.

And still our s.h.i.+p at every wave To sharks a creaking promise gave, Then spilled us out in breakers white, To gain the land as best we might.

Since then how oft we've tried in vain To reach our native haunts again, Where roaming freely, unconfined, Would better suit our roving mind.

"To-night, while wandering by the sea A novel scheme occurred to me, As I beheld in groups and rows The weary fowl in deep repose.

They sat as motionless as though The life had left them years ago.

The albatross and crane are there, The loon, the gull, and gannet rare.

An easy task for us to creep Around the fowl, while fast asleep.

And at a given signal spring Aboard, before they spread a wing, And trust to them to bear us o'er.

In safety to our native sh.o.r.e."

Another spoke: "I never yet Have shunned a risk that others met, But here uncommon dangers lie, Suppose the fowl should seaward fly, And never landing, course about, And drop us, when their wings gave out?"

To shallow schemes that will not bring A modest risk, let cowards cling!

The first replied. "A Brownie shows The best where dangers thickest close.

But, hear me out: by sea and land, Their habits well I understand.

When rising first they circle wide, As though the strength of wings they tried, Then steering straight across the bay, To yonder coast a visit pay.

But granting they for once should be Inclined to strike for open sea, The breeze that now is rising fast, Will freshen to a whistling blast, And landward sweeping, stronger still, Will drive the fowl against their will."

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Now at his heels, with willing feet, They followed to the fowls' retreat.

'Twas hard to scale the rugged breast Of crags, where birds took nightly rest.

But some on hands, and some on knees, And more by vines or roots of trees, From shelf to shelf untiring strained, And soon the windy summit gained.

With bated breath, they gathered round; They crawled with care along the ground.

By this, one paused; or that, one eyed; Each chose the bird he wished to ride.

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When all had done the best they could, And waiting for the signal stood, It hardly took a moment's s.p.a.ce For each to scramble to his place.

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Some seized a neck and some a head, And some a wing, and some a shred Of tail, or aught that nearest lay, To help them mount without delay.

Then rose wild flaps and piercing screams, As sudden starting from their dreams The wondering fowl in sore dismay Brought wings and muscles into play.

Some felt the need of longer sleep, And hardly had the strength to "cheep;"

While others seemed to find a store Of screams they'd never found before --But off like leaves or flakes of snow Before the gale the Brownies go, Away, away, through spray or cloud As fancy led, or load allowed.

Some birds to poor advantage showed, As, with an oddly balanced load, Now right or left at random cast,

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They flew, the sport of every blast; While fish below had aching eyes With gazing upward at the prize.

They followed still from mile to mile, Believing fortune yet would smile; While plainer to the Brownies grew The hills and vales that well they knew.

"I see," said one, who, from his post Between the wings, could view the coast, "The lofty peaks we used to climb

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