I wish I was a bird to fly away , or a oyster safe in de mud , and free to do as I 's a mind . '' `` I wish you could go and live with Davy on the island ; he is so kind , so happy , and as free as the wind . Ca n't you get away , Moppet ? '' whispered Gulliver , longing to help this poor , friendless little soul . He told her all his story ; and they agreed that he should fly at once to the island , and see if Dan was there ; if not , he was to come back , and Moppet would try to get some one to help find him . When this was done , Davy and Dan were to take Moppet , if they could , and make her happy on the island . Full of hope and joy , Gulliver said good-by , and spread his wings ; but , alas for the poor bird ! he was too weak to fly . For three days he had hardly eaten any thing , had found no salt water to bathe in , and had sat moping in the cage till his strength was all gone . `` What shall I do ? what shall I do ? '' he cried , fluttering his feeble wings , and running to and fro in despair . `` Hush , birdie , I 'll take kere ob you till you 's fit to fly . I knows a nice , quiet little cove down yonder , where no one goes ; and dare you kin stay till you 's better . I 'll come and feed you , and you kin paddle , and rest , and try your wings , safe and free , honey . '' As Moppet spoke , she took Gulliver in her arms , and stole away in the dim light , over the hill , down to the lonely spot where nothing went but the winds and waves , the gulls , and little Moppet , when hard words and blows made heart and body ache . Here she left the bird , and , with a loving `` Good-night , '' crept home to her bed in the garret , feeling as rich as a queen , and much happier ; for she had done a kind thing , and made a friend . Next day , a great storm came : the wind blew a hurricane , the rain poured , and the sea thundered on the coast . If he had been well , Gulliver would n't have minded at all ; but , being sick and sad , he spent an anxious day , sitting in a cranny of the rock , thinking of Davy and Moppet . It was so rough , even in the cove , that he could neither swim nor fly , so feeble was he ; and could find no food but such trifles as he could pick up among the rocks .
At nightfall the storm raged fiercer than ever , and he gave up seeing XXXXX ; for he was sure she would n't come through the pelting rain just to feed him .
Dan Davy Gulliver Moppet day garret hurricane left storm trifles