Дни грёз
A Saga Of The Seas
Weinvitedthecaptainoftheman-of-war—onecouldhardlydoless,itseemedtome—andthePrincesstookoneendofthetableandItooktheother,andthecaptainwasverykindandnice,andtoldusfairy-stories,andaskedusbothtocomeandstaywithhimnextChristmas,andpromisedweshouldhavesomehunting,onrealponies.WhenheleftIgavehimsomeingotsandthings,andsawhimintohisboat;andthenIwentroundtheshipandaddressedthecrewinseveralsetspeeches,whichmovedthemdeeply,andwithmyownhandsloadedupthecarronadewithgrape-shottillitranoveratthemouth.Thisdone,IretiredintothecabinwiththePrincess,andlockedthedoor.Andfirstwestartedthemusicalbox,takingturnstowinditup;andthenwemadetoffeeinthecabin-stove;andthenweranthetrainroundandroundtheroom,andthroughandthroughthetunnel;andlastlyweswamthetinironcladinthebath,withthesoap-dishforapirate.
Nextmorningtheairwasrichwithspices,porpoisesrolledandgambolledroundthebows,andtheSouthSeaIslandslayfullinview(theyweretheREALSouthSeaIslands,ofcourse—notthebadlyfurnishedjourneymen-islandsthataretobeperceivedonthemap).Asforthepiratebrigantineandtheman-of-war,Idon’treallyknowwhatbecameofthem.Theyhadplayedtheirpartverywell,forthetime,butIwasn’tgoingtobothertoaccountforthem,soIjustletthemevaporatequietly.Theislandsprovidedplentyoffreshoccupation.
