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 came the bottom , and down plumped all the little gentlemen into the sea . I tried not to laugh , as the books , wigs , and spectacles flew about ; and , urging my boat nearer , I managed to fish them up , dripping and sneezing , and looking like drowned kittens . When the flurry was over , and they had got their breath , I asked who they were , and where they were going . `` We are from Gotham , ma'am , '' said the fattest one , wiping a very wet face on a very wet handkerchief . `` We were going to that island yonder . We have often tried , but never got there : it 's always so , and I begin to think the thing ca n't be done . '' I looked where he pointed ; and , sure enough , there was an island where I had never seen one before . I rubbed my eyes , and looked again . Yes : there it was , -- a little island , with trees and people on it ; for I saw smoke coming out of the chimney of a queerly-shaped house on the shore . `` What is the name of it ? '' I asked . The little old gentleman put his finger on his lips , and said , with a mysterious nod : `` I could n't tell you , ma'am . It 's a secret ; but , if you manage to land there , you will soon know . '' The other old men nodded at the same time ; and then all went to reading again , with the water still dropping off the ends of their noses . This made me very curious ; and , as the tide drifted us nearer and nearer , I looked well about me , and saw several things that filled me with a strong desire to land on the island . The odd house , I found , was built like a high-heeled shoe ; and at every window I saw children 's heads . Some were eating broth ; some were crying ; and some had nightcaps on . I caught sight of a distracted old lady flying about , with a ladle in one hand , and a rod in the other ; but the house was so full of children -LRB- even up to the skylight , -- out of which they popped their heads , and nodded at me -RRB- that I could n't see much of the mamma of this large family : one seldom can , you know .
I had hardly XXXXX over my surprise at this queer sight , when I saw a cow fly up through the air , over the new moon that hung there , and come down and disappear in the woods .
called caught drifted found got looking managed put rubbed tell