Then the gardener came with his gun over his shoulder , and he heard something rustling in the pea bed . ' I think that must be a sparrow , ' he said . ` Ras ! Ras ! ' but no sparrows flew out , for Little Lasse had no wings , only two small legs . ` Wait ! I will load my gun and shoot the sparrows , ' said the gardener . Then Little Lasse was frightened , and crept out on to the path . ` Forgive me , dear gardener ! ' he said . ' I wanted to get some fine boats . ' ` Well , I will this time , ' said the gardener . ` But another time Little Lasse must ask leave to go and look for boats in the pea bed . ' ' I will , ' answered Lasse ; and he went off to the shore . Then he opened the shells with a pin , split them carefully in two , and broke small little bits of sticks for the rowers ' seats . Then he took the peas which were in the shells and put them in the boats for cargo . Some of the shells got broken , some remained whole , and when all were ready Lasse had twelve boats . But they should not be boats , they should be large warships . He had three liners , three frigates , three brigs and three schooners . The largest liner was called Hercules , and the smallest schooner The Flea .
Little Lasse put all the twelve into the water , and they floated as splendidly and as proudly as any great ships XXXXX the waves of the ocean .
brigs for in of over pea schooners that to with