Well, I was a young, big fellow, when one day I felt the will strong within me to take leaps toward the upper sea. Now, I have already said that my mother took the best and most watchful care of me when I was a chicken-fish. So when she saw how restless and venturesome I appeared that day, she tried her best, poor dear, to turn me from my purpose.
For she was older and wise, and could tell by certain signs when the upper currents were seething and boiling. So when I darted upwards with a strong swirl that cut the waters apart for my passage, she thrust herself farther ahead, trying to drive me back, and said plainly by her actions:
"Don't go aloft, my son, you will rush into danger; heed the warnings of your mother and stay where the waters are untroubled and safe."
No, I was getting to be a smart man-fish, and must be allowed to go where I would.
Very well, I went. Upward and upward I dove, until, oh, distress! I was caught by the turmoil and confusion of a great storm. I had gone too far because of knowing far less than I thought I did.
Do you ask why I did not immediately dive downwards again? Alas, I couldn't! I had raised myself into the storm circle, and big creature that I was, I had need to learn that there were mighty forces of the sea that made all my strength as a mere wisp of straw when placed against them.
Do not Folks, I wonder, sometimes find it much easier to get into a hard place than to get out of it? That was what I found then, being driven about first this way, then that. I was slammed against a great, roaring billow that sent me off presently in another direction, merely to be met by another wave that dashed me against a third one.
My instincts, that serve me for mind and brains, taught me that if I wanted to get down to quiet, restful depths, I must dive head foremost directly toward the bottom of the sea.
Oh, what folly to try! No sooner would I get my great head and long nose pointed for a swift downward plunge, than a thundering billow would actually toss me into the air, just as I have seen a spurt of spray toss a cockle-shell.
Oh, but I saw strange sights and heard strange sounds that night! Once when two waves came together I was not only tossed high in air, but for several moments I actually rode atop of the rolling foam.