It was a happy day when Dan and Davy , Moppet , Gulliver , and Nep sailed away to the island ; for that was still to be their home , with stout young Ben to help . The sun was setting ; and they floated through waves as rosy as the rosy sky . A fresh wind filled the sail , and ruffled Gulliver 's white breast as he sat on the mast-head crooning a cheery song to himself . Dan held the tiller , and Davy lay at his feet , with Nep bolt upright beside him ; but the happiest face of all was Moppet 's . Kneeling at the bow , she leaned forward , with her lips apart , her fuzzy hair blown back , and her eyes fixed on the island which was to be her home . Like a little black figure-head of Hope , she leaned and looked , as the boat flew on , bearing her away from the old life into the new . As the sun sunk , out shone the lamp with sudden brightness , as if the island bade them welcome . Dan furled the sail ; and , drifting with the tide , they floated in , till the waves broke softly on the shore , and left them safe at home . IX . THE WHALE 'S STORY . Freddy sat thinking on the seat under the trees . It was a wide , white seat , about four feet long , sloping from the sides to the middle , something like a swing ; and was not only comfortable but curious , for it was made of a whale 's bone . Freddy often sat there , and thought about it for he was very much interested in it , and nobody could tell him any thing of it , except that it had been there a long time . `` Poor old whale , I wonder how you got here , where you came from , and if you were a good and happy creature while you lived , '' said Freddy , patting the old bone with his little hand . It gave a great creak ; and a sudden gust of air stirred the trees , as if some monster groaned and sighed . Then Freddy heard a strange voice , very loud , yet cracked and queer , as if some one tried to talk with a broken jaw . `` Freddy ahoy ! '' called the big voice . `` I 'll tell you all about it ; for you are the only person who ever pitied me , or cared to know any thing about me . '' `` Why , can you talk ? ''
asked XXXXX , very much astonished and a little frightened .
Ben Davy Freddy Gulliver Moppet Nep WHALE ahoy figure-head left