I 'll fly to town , if I do n't see him in the bay , and try to learn what has become of Dan . Then I 'll come and tell you , and we will see what is to be done next . Cheer up , Davy dear : I 'll bring you tidings , if any can be had . '' With these cheerful words , away sailed Gulliver , leaving Nep and his master to watch and wait again . The wind blew hard , and the broken wing was not quite well yet , else Gulliver would have been able to steer clear of a boat that came swiftly by . A sudden gust drove the gull so violently against the sail that he dropped breathless into the boat ; and a little girl caught him , before he could recover himself . `` Oh , what a lovely bird ! See his black cap , his white breast , dove-colored wings , red legs and bill , and soft , bright eyes . I wanted a gull ; and I 'll keep this one , for I do n't think he is much hurt . '' Poor Gulliver struggled , pecked and screamed ; but little Dora held him fast , and shut him in a basket till they reached the shore . Then she put him in a lobster pot , -- a large wooden thing , something like a cage , -- and left him on the lawn , where he could catch glimpses of the sea , and watch the light-house tower , as he sat alone in this dreadful prison . If Dora had known the truth , she would have let him go , and done her best to help him ; but she could not understand his speech , as Davy did , for very few people have the power of talking with birds , beasts , insects , and plants . To her , his prayers and cries were only harsh screams ; and , when he sat silent , with drooping head and ruffled feathers , she thought he was sleepy : but he was mourning for Davy , and wondering what his little friend would do . For three long days and nights he was a prisoner , and suffered much . The house was full of happy people , but no one took pity upon him . Ladies and gentlemen talked learnedly about him ; boys poked and pulled him ; little girls admired him , and begged his wings for their hats , if he died . Cats prowled about his cage ; dogs barked at him ; hens cackled over him ; and a shrill canary jeered at him from the pretty pagoda in which it hung , high above danger . In the evening there was music ; and the poor bird 's heart ached as the sweet sounds came to him , reminding him of the airier melodies he loved . Through the stillness of the night , he heard the waves break on the shore ; the wind came singing up from the sea ; the moon shone kindly on him , and he saw the water-fairies dancing on the sand . But for three days no one spoke a friendly word to him , and he pined away with a broken heart .
On the fourth night , when all was quiet , little XXXXX saw a black shadow steal across the lawn , and heard a soft voice say to him : `` Poor bird , you 'll die , if yer stays here ; so I ` se gwine to let yer go .
Dan Dora Gulliver Nep days evening left light-house night nights