But he said nothing till he was safely out of danger ; then he got all ready , and one day , as I lay placidly in the sun , a horrible harpoon came flying through the air , and sunk deep into my back . I forgot every thing but the pain , and dived for my life . Alas ! the tide was low ; the harbor-bar could n't be passed ; and I found hundreds of boats chasing me , till I was driven ashore down there on the flats . Big and strong as we are , once out of water , and we are perfectly helpless . I was soon despatched ; and my bones left to whiten on the sand . This was long ago ; and , one by one , all my relics have been carried off or washed away . My jaw-bone has been used as a seat here , till it 's worn out ; but I could n't crumble away till I 'd told some one my story . Remember , child , pride goeth before a fall . '' Then , with a great creak , the bone tumbled to pieces ; and found a peaceful grave in the long green grass . X . A STRANGE ISLAND . One day I lay rocking in my boat , reading a very famous book , which all children know and love ; and the name of which I 'll tell you by and by . So busily was I reading , that I never minded the tide ; and presently discovered that I was floating out to sea , with neither sail nor oar . At first I was very much frightened ; for there was no one in sight on land or sea , and I did n't know where I might drift to . But the water was calm , the sky clear , and the wind blew balmily ; so I waited for what should happen . Presently I saw a speck on the sea , and eagerly watched it ; for it drew rapidly near , and seemed to be going my way . When it came closer , I was much amazed ; for , of all the queer boats I ever saw , this was the queerest . It was a great wooden bowl , very cracked and old ; and in it sat three gray-headed little gentlemen with spectacles , all reading busily , and letting the boat go where it pleased . Now , right in their way was a rock ; and I called out , `` Sir , sir , take care . ''
But my call came too late : crash went the bowl , out XXXXX the bottom , and down plumped all the little gentlemen into the sea .
blew came creak despatched drift floating reading tumbled washed whiten