The next morning after my capture, a really fine Jack--sailors are all
"Jack," you know--came rolling toward my tank, and sang out in
sea-breezy fashion:

"Hulloo, Dolly-me-dear, how do you find yourself to-day?"

I liked his hearty manner and cheery voice, but, dear me, I was "Dolly"
to every man-Jack on board after that, and to all the others as well.

So this dear little man once said to me:

"Oh, Dolly, how I wish you could tell me about things under the sea! I
know if you could only talk my way, you could tell stories by the hour,
and what pleasure it would be to listen."

"Stories, indeed, my pretty," I thought, and I did wish I could open my
wide mouth and entertain the little fellow with a few sea yarns. And now
that in some way I can make Folks understand me, I only hope that my
young steamer friend, among others, will see and enjoy Lord Dolphin's
story.

Then the lady-Folks were fine, with their pretty dresses, nice manners,
and soft voices. But I did so like the children! One cute little nymph
of a girl was crazy to get near me, yet nearly scared to pieces if I so
much as looked at her. Oh, she was so fair to see, with her golden hair
flying back in the breeze, eyes blue as the sky, and her sweet, dimpled
face full of smiles!

She would come running up to the tank with a great show of courage,