“But how did they come there?” asked Jack.
“THOSE FIVE GRAND ONES WITH HIGH PROWS ... WERE PART OF THE SPANISH ARMADA AND THOSE OPEN BOATS WITH THE BLUE SAILS BELONGED TO THE ROMANS.”
“Some of them had captains who ill-used their cabin-boys, some were pirate ships, and others were going out on evil errands. The consequence was, that when they chanced to sail within this great bay they got becalmed; the fairies came and picked all the sailors out and threw them into the water; they then took away the flags and pennons to make their best coats of, threw the ship-biscuits and other provisions to the fishes, and set all the sails. Many ships which are supposed by men to have foundered lie becalmed in this quiet sea. Look at those five grand ones with high prows, they are moored close together, they were part of the Spanish Armada; and those open boats with blue sails belonged to the Romans, they sailed with Cæsar when he invaded Britain.”
By this time the albatross was hovering about among the vessels, making choice of one to take Jack and the fairies up the wonderful river.
“It must not be a large one,” she said, “for the river in some places is very shallow.”
Jack would have liked very much to have a fine three-master, all to himself; but then he considered that he did not know anything about sails and rigging, he thought it would be just as well to be contented with whatever the albatross might choose, so he let her set him down in a beautiful little open boat, with a great carved figure-head to it. There he seated himself in great state, and the albatross perched herself on the next bench, and faced him.
“You remember my name?” asked the albatross.
“Oh yes,” said Jack; but he was not attending—he was thinking what a fine thing it was to have such a curious boat all to himself.
“That’s well,” answered the bird; “then, in the next place, are those fairies awake yet?”