"Ah, that reminds me that it's wash-day," said the Whale; and here he spouted a great stream of water out of the top of his head and let it run down in a little cascade all over the front of his waistcoat. The seals seemed to enjoy this amazingly, and flopped about in an ecstasy.
"What do whales eat?" said Davy, who thought it was a good time for picking up a little information.
"Warious whales wants warious wiands," replied the Whale. "That's an old sea-saw, you know. For my part I'm particularly fond of small buoys."
"I don't think that is a very nice taste," said Davy, beginning to feel very uneasy.
"Oh! don't be frightened," bellowed the Whale, good-naturedly. "I don't mean live boys. I mean the little red things that float about in the water. Some of 'em have lights on 'em, and them are particularly nice and crisp."
"Is it nice being a Whale?" said Davy, who was anxious to change the subject.
"Famous!" said the Whale, with an affable roar.
"'I'M AS NIMBLE AS A SIXPENCE,' SAID THE WHALE."