`` Now , '' said Tom , `` I am ready be off , if it 's to the world 's end . '' `` Ah ! '' said the fairy , `` that is a brave , good boy . But you must go farther than the world 's end , if you want to find Mr. Grimes ; for he is at the Other-end-of-Nowhere . You must go to Shiny Wall , and through the white gate that never was opened ; and then you will come to Peacepool , and Mother Carey 's Haven , where the good whales go when they die . And there Mother Carey will tell you the way to the Other-end-of-Nowhere , and there you will find Mr. Grimes . '' `` Oh , dear ! '' said Tom . `` But I do not know my way to Shiny Wall , or where it is at all . '' `` Little boys must take the trouble to find out things for themselves , or they will never grow to be men ; so that you must ask all the beasts in the sea and the birds in the air , and if you have been good to them , some of them will tell you the way to Shiny Wall . '' `` Well , '' said Tom , `` it will be a long journey , so I had better start at once . Good-bye , Miss Ellie ; you know I am getting a big boy , and I must go out and see the world . '' `` I know you must , '' said Ellie ; `` but you will not forget me , Tom . I shall wait here till you come . '' And she shook hands with him , and bade him good-bye . Tom longed very much again to kiss her ; but he thought it would not be respectful , considering she was a lady born ; so he promised not to forget her : but his little whirl-about of a head was so full of the notion of going out to see the world , that it forgot her in five minutes : however , though his head forgot her , I am glad to say his heart did not . So he asked all the beasts in the sea , and all the birds in the air , but none of them knew the way to Shiny Wall . For why ? He was still too far down south . Then he met a ship , far larger than he had ever seen -- a gallant ocean-steamer , with a long cloud of smoke trailing behind ; and he wondered how she went on without sails , and swam up to her to see .
A school of dolphins were running races round and round her , XXXXX three feet for her one , and Tom asked them the way to Shiny Wall : but they did not know .
asked forgot going know longed said shook start trailing wondered