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e stream turned round； and running up inland。
It was the tide； of course： but Tom knew nothing of the tide。 He only knew that in a minute more the water； which had been fresh； turned salt all round him。 And then there came a change over him。 He felt as strong； and light； and fresh； as if his veins had run champagne； and gave； he did not know why； three skips out of the water； a yard high； and head over heels； just as the salmon do when they first touch the noble rich salt water； which； as some wise men tell us； is the mother of all living things。
He did not care now for the tide being against him。 The red buoy was in sight； dancing in the open sea； and to the buoy he would go； and to it he went。 He passed great shoals of bass and mullet； leaping and rushing in after the shrimps； but he never heeded them； or they him； and once he passed a great black shining seal； who was coming in after the mullet。 The seal put his head and shoulders out of water； and stared at him； looking exactly like a fat old greasy negro with a gray pate。 And Tom； instead of being frightened； said； 〃How d'ye do； sir； what a beautiful place the sea is！〃 And the old seal； instead of trying to bite him； looked at him with his soft sleepy winking eyes； and said； 〃Good tide to you； my little man； are you looking for your brothers and sisters？ I passed them all at play outside。〃
〃Oh； then；〃 said Tom； 〃I shall have playfellows at last；〃 and he swam on to the buoy； and got upon it （for he was quite out of breath） and sat there； and looked round for water…babies： but there were none to be seen。
The sea…breeze came in freshly with the tide and blew the fog away； and the little waves danced for joy around the buoy； and the old buoy danced with them。 The shadows of the clouds ran races over the bright blue bay； and yet never caught each other up； and the breakers plunged merrily upon the wide white sands； and jumped up over the rocks； to see what the green fields inside were like； and tumbled down and broke themselves all to pieces； and never minded it a bit； but mended themselves and jumped up again。 And the terns hovered over Tom like huge white dragon…flies with black heads； and the gulls laughed like girls at play； and the sea…pies； with their red bills and legs； flew to and fro from shore to shore； and whistled sweet and wild。 And Tom looked and looked； and listened； and he would have been very happy； if he could only have seen the water…babies。 Then when the tide turned； he left the buoy； and swam round and round in search of them： but in vain。 Sometimes he thought he heard them laughing： but it was only the laughter of the ripples。 And sometimes he thought he saw them at the bottom： but it was only white and pink shells。 And once he was sure he had found one； for he saw two bright eyes peeping out of the sand。 So he dived down； and began scraping the sand away； and cried； 〃Don't hide； I do want some one to play with so much！〃 And out jumped a great turbot with his ugly eyes and mouth all awry； and flopped away along the bottom； knocking poor Tom over。 And he sat down at the bottom of the sea； and cried salt tears from sheer disappointment。
To have come all this way； and faced so many dangers； and yet to find no water…babies！ How hard！ Well； it did seem hard： but people； even little babies； cannot have all they want without waiting for it； and working for it too； my little man； as you will find out some day。
And Tom sat upon the buoy long days； long weeks； looking out to sea； and wondering when the water…babies would come back； and yet they never came。
Then he began to ask all the strange things which came in out of the sea if they had seen any； and some said 〃Yes；〃 and some said nothing at all。
He asked the bass and the pollock； but they were so greedy after the shrimps that they did not care to answer him a word。
Then there came in a whole fleet of purple sea…snails； floating along； each on a sponge full of foam； and Tom said； 〃Where do you come from； you pretty creatures？ and have you seen the water… babies？〃
And the sea…snails answered； 〃Whence we come we know not； and whither we are going； who can tell？ We float out our life in the mid…ocean； with the warm sunshine above our heads； and the warm gulf…stream below； and that is enough for us。 Yes； perhaps we have seen the water…babies。 We have seen many strange things as we sailed along。〃 And they floated away； the happy stupid things； and all went ashore upon the sands。
Then there came in a great lazy sunfish； as big as a fat pig cut in half； and he seemed to have been cut in half too； and squeezed in a clothes…press till he was flat； but to all his big body and big fins he had only a little rabbit's mouth； no bigger than Tom's； and； when Tom questioned him； he answered in a little squeaky feeble voice：
〃I'm sure I don't know； I've lost my way。 I meant to go to the Chesapeake； and I'm afraid I've got wrong somehow。 Dear me！ it was all by following that pleasant warm water。 I'm sure I've lost my way。〃
And； when Tom asked him again； he could only answer； 〃I've lost my way。 Don't talk to me； I want to think。〃
But； like a good many other people； the more he tried to think the less he could think； and Tom saw him blundering about all day； till the coast…guardsmen saw his big fin above the water； and rowed out； and struck a boat…hook into him； and took him away。 They took him up to the town and showed him for a penny a head； and made a good day's work of it。 But of course Tom did not know that。
Then there came by a shoal of porpoises； rolling as they went … papas； and mammas； and little children … and all quite smooth and shiny； because the fairies French…polish them every morning； and they sighed so softly as they came by； that Tom took courage to speak to them： but all they answered was； 〃Hush； hush； hush；〃 for that was all they had learnt to say。
And then there came a shoal of basking sharks' some of them as long as a boat； and Tom was frightened at them。 But they were very lazy good…natured fellows； not greedy tyrants； like white sharks and blue sharks and ground sharks and hammer…heads； who eat men； or saw…fish and threshers and ice…sharks； who hunt the poor old whales。 They came and rubbed their great sides against the buoy； and lay basking in the sun with their backfins out of water； and winked at Tom： but he never could get them to speak。 They had eaten so many herrings that they were quite stupid； and Tom was glad when a collier brig came by and frightened them all away； for they did smell most horribly； certainly； and he had to hold his nose tight as long as they were there。
And then there came by a beautiful creature； like a ribbon of pure silver with a sharp head and very long teeth； but it seemed very sick and sad。 Sometimes it rolled helpless on its side； and then it dashed away glittering like white fire； and then it lay sick again and motionless。
〃Where do you come from？〃 asked Tom。 〃And why are YOU so sick and sad？〃
〃I come from the warm Carolinas； and the sandbanks fringed with pines； where the great owl…rays leap and flap； like giant bats； upon the tide。 But I wandered north and north； upon the treach