is like when you hang a good way above it
at sunrise.

It was a very beautiful sight; the sheep and lambs were still fast
asleep on the green hills, and the sea-birds were asleep in long rows
upon the ledges of the cliffs, with their heads under their wings.

"Are those young fairies awake yet?" asked the albatross.

"As sound asleep as ever," answered Jack; "but, Albatross, is not that
the sea which lies under us? You are a sea-bird, I know, but I am not
a sea boy, and I cannot live in the water."

"Yes, that is the sea," answered the albatross. "Don't you observe
that it is covered with ships?"

"I see boats and vessels," answered Jack, "and all their sails are
set, but they cannot sail, because there is no wind."

"The wind never does blow in this great bay," said the bird; "and
those ships would all lie there becalmed till they dropped to pieces
if one of them was not wanted now and then to go up the wonderful
river."

"But how did they come there?" asked Jack.

"Some of them had captains who ill-used their cabin-boys, some were
pirate ships, and others were going out on evil errands. The
consequence was, that when they chanced to sail within this great bay
they got becalmed; the fairies came and picked all the sailors out and
threw them into the water; they then took away the flags and pennons
to make their best coats of, threw the ship-biscuits and other
provisions to the fishes, and set all the sails. Many ships which are
supposed by men to have foundered lie becalmed in this quiet sea. Look
at those five grand ones with high prows; they are moored close
together; they were part of the Spanish Armada: and those open boats
with blue sails belonged to the Romans; they sailed with Caesar when he
invaded Britain."

By this time the albatross was hovering about among the vessels,
making choice of one to take Jack and the fairies up the wonderful
river.

"It must not be a large one," she said, "for the river in some places
is very shallow."

Jack would have liked very much to have a fine three-master, all to
himself; but then he considered that he did not know anything about
sails and rigging; he thought it would be just as well to be
contented with whatever the albatross might choose, so he let her set
him down in a beautiful little open boat, with a great carved
figure-head to it. There he seated himself in great state, and the
albatross perched herself on the next bench, and faced him.

"You rememb