1. Very far went the ship, in the dark, up and down, up and down. There was very little sky; the sailors couldn’t see anything; rain was coming.
2. Now darkness, lightning and very little rain; but big flashes, two yards long, that looked as if they fell into the sea.
3. On the third day the captain looks out for land, shading his eyes with his hand. There may be land. The sailors say to him, “What do you see?” He answers, “Far off is the jungle, and, swinging in a tree, is an old monkey, with two little monkeys in her arms. We must be nearing land.”
4. Again the captain looks out; the sailors say to him, “What do you see?” He answers, “On the shore there walks a pretty little maiden, with a chattee on her head; she skips and runs, and dances as she goes. We must be nearing land.”
5. The storm begins to rage again, and hides the land: at last it clears a little. The sailors say to the captain, “What do you see?” He answers, “I see a man ploughing; two bullocks draw the plough. We must be nearing land.”
It is all true; they have gained the shore.
PART II.
SONG FROM THE SHORE.
(To be sung by one or more voices.)
1. The ship’s on the sea—
Which way is it coming?
Right home to land.
What cargo has it?
The ship brings the sacrament and praying beads.