ays； and as he waited； he saw a very curious sight。 On the rabbit burrows on the shore there gathered hundreds and hundreds of hoodie…crows； such as you see in Cambridgeshire。 And they made such a noise； that Tom came on shore and went up to see what was the matter。
And there he found them holding their great caucus； which they hold every year in the North； and all their stump…orators were speechifying； and for a tribune； the speaker stood on an old sheep's skull。
And they cawed and cawed； and boasted of all the clever things they had done； how many lambs' eyes they had picked out； and how many dead bullocks they had eaten； and how many young grouse they had swallowed whole； and how many grouse…eggs they had flown away with； stuck on the point of their bills； which is the hoodie…crow's particularly clever feat； of which he is as proud as a gipsy is of doing the hokany…baro； and what that is； I won't tell you。
And at last they brought out the prettiest； neatest young lady…crow that ever was seen； and set her in the middle； and all began abusing and vilifying； and rating； and bullyragging at her； because she had stolen no grouse…eggs； and had actually dared to say that she would not steal any。 So she was to be tried publicly by their laws （for the hoodies always try some offenders in their great yearly parliament）。 And there she stood in the middle； in her black gown and gray hood； looking as meek and as neat as a Quakeress； and they all bawled at her at once …
And it was in vain that she pleaded …
That she did not like grouse…eggs； That she could get her living very well without them； That she was afraid to eat them； for fear of the gamekeepers； That she had not the heart to eat them； because the grouse were such pretty； kind； jolly birds； And a dozen reasons more。
For all the other scaul…crows set upon her； and pecked her to death there and then； before Tom could come to help her； and then flew away； very proud of what they had done。
Now； was not this a scandalous transaction？
But they are true republicans； these hoodies； who do every one just what he likes； and make other people do so too； so that； for any freedom of speech； thought； or action； which is allowed among them； they might as well be American citizens of the new school。
But the fairies took the good crow； and gave her nine new sets of feathers running； and turned her at last into the most beautiful bird of paradise with a green velvet suit and a long tail； and sent her to eat fruit in the Spice Islands； where cloves and nutmegs grow。
And Mrs。 Bedonebyasyoudid settled her account with the wicked hoodies。 For； as they flew away； what should they find but a nasty dead dog？ … on which they all set to work； peeking and gobbling and cawing and quarrelling to their hearts' content。 But the moment afterwards； they all threw up their bills into the air； and gave one screech； and then turned head over heels backward； and fell down dead； one hundred and twenty…three of them at once。 For why？ The fairy had told the gamekeeper in a dream； to fill the dead dog full of strychnine； and so he did。
And after a while the birds began to gather at Allfowlsness； in thousands and tens of thousands； blackening all the air； swans and brant geese； harlequins and eiders； harolds and garganeys； smews and goosanders； divers and loons； grebes and dovekies； auks and razor…bills； gannets and petrels； skuas and terns； with gulls beyond all naming or numbering； and they paddled and washed and splashed and combed and brushed themselves on the sand； till the shore was white with feathers； and they quacked and clucked and gabbled and chattered and screamed and whooped as they talked over matters with their friends； and settled where they were to go and breed that summer； till you might have heard them ten miles off； and lucky it was for them that there was no one to hear them but the old keeper； who lived all alone upon the Ness； in a turf hut thatched with heather and fringed round with great stones slung across the roof by bent…ropes； lest the winter gales should blow the hut right away。 But he never minded the birds nor hurt them； because they were not in season； indeed； he minded but two things in the whole world； and those were； his Bible and his grouse； for he was as good an old Scotchman as ever knit stockings on a winter's night： only； when all the birds were going； he toddled out； and took off his cap to them； and wished them a merry journey and a safe return； and then gathered up all the feathers which they had left； and cleaned them to sell down south； and make feather… beds for stuffy people to lie on。
Then the petrels asked this bird and that whether they would take Tom to Shiny Wall： but one set was going to Sutherland； and one to the Shetlands； and one to Norway； and one to Spitzbergen； and one to Iceland； and one to Greenland： but none would go to Shiny Wall。 So the good…natured petrels said that they would show him part of the way themselves； but they were only going as far as Jan Mayen's Land； and after that he must shift for himself。
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； th