The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ocean and its Wonders, by R.M. Ballantyne

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Title: The Ocean and its Wonders

Author: R.M. Ballantyne

Release Date: June 7, 2007 [EBook #21754]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OCEAN AND ITS WONDERS ***

Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England

THE OCEAN AND ITS WONDERS, BY R.M. BALLANTYNE.

CHAPTER ONE.

WHAT THE OCEAN HAS TO SAY--ITS WHISPERS--ITS THUNDERS--ITS SECRETS.

There is a voice in the waters of the great sea. It calls to man
continually. Sometimes it thunders in the tempest, when the waves leap
high and strong and the wild winds shriek and roar, as if to force our
attention. Sometimes it whispers in the calm, and comes rippling on the
shingly beach in a still, small voice, as if to solicit our regard. But
whether that voice of ocean comes in crashing billows or in gentle
murmurs, it has but one tale to tell,--it speaks of the love, and power,
and majesty of Him who rides upon the storm, and rules the wave.

Yes, the voice of ocean tells but one tale; yet there are many chapters
in that wonderful story. The sea has much to say; far more than could
possibly be comprehended in one volume, however large. It tells us of
the doings of man on its broad bosom, from the day in which he first
ventured to paddle along shore in the hollow trunk of a tree, to the day
when he launched his great iron ship of 20,000 tons, and rushed out to
sea, against wind and tide, under an impulse equal to the united
strength of 11,500 horses. No small portion of the ocean's tale this,
comprising many chapters of deeds of daring, blood, villainy, heroism,
and enterprise. But with this portion of its story we have nothing to
do just now. It tells us, also, of God's myriad and multiform
creatures, that dwell in its depths, from the vast whale, whose speed is
so great, that it might, if it chose, circle round the world in a few
days, to the languid zoophyte, which clings to the rock, and bears more
resemblance to a plant than to a living animal.

The sea has secrets, too, some of which it will not divulge until that
day when its Creator shall command it