But of course Tom did not know that . Then there came by a shoal of porpoises , rolling as they went -- papas , and mammas , and little children -- and all quite smooth and shiny , because the fairies French-polish them every morning ; and they sighed so softly as they came by , that Tom took courage to speak to them : but all they answered was , `` Hush , hush , hush ; '' for that was all they had learnt to say . And then there came a shoal of basking sharks ' some of them as long as a boat , and Tom was frightened at them . But they were very lazy good-natured fellows , not greedy tyrants , like white sharks and blue sharks and ground sharks and hammer-heads , who eat men , or saw-fish and threshers and ice-sharks , who hunt the poor old whales . They came and rubbed their great sides against the buoy , and lay basking in the sun with their backfins out of water ; and winked at Tom : but he never could get them to speak . They had eaten so many herrings that they were quite stupid ; and Tom was glad when a collier brig came by and frightened them all away ; for they did smell most horribly , certainly , and he had to hold his nose tight as long as they were there . And then there came by a beautiful creature , like a ribbon of pure silver with a sharp head and very long teeth ; but it seemed very sick and sad . Sometimes it rolled helpless on its side ; and then it dashed away glittering like white fire ; and then it lay sick again and motionless . `` Where do you come from ? '' asked Tom . `` And why are YOU so sick and sad ? '' `` I come from the warm Carolinas , and the sandbanks fringed with pines ; where the great owl-rays leap and flap , like giant bats , upon the tide . But I wandered north and north , upon the treacherous warm gulf-stream , till I met with the cold icebergs , afloat in the mid ocean . So I got tangled among the icebergs , and chilled with their frozen breath . But the water-babies helped me from among them , and set me free again . And now I am mending every day ; but I am very sick and sad ; and perhaps I shall never get home again to play with the owl-rays any more . '' `` Oh ! '' cried Tom . `` And you have seen water-babies ? Have you seen any near here ? ''
`` Yes ; they helped me again last night , or I should have been eaten XXXXX a great black porpoise . ''
So against because by for like near of till with