A Day with the Sea Urchins. 13

 

a sort of rhythmical chant, which seemed to set itself
to the ceaseless murmur of the sea. Indeed, I believe
it was from always speaking to the accompaniment of
sea. music that they had fallen into this strange and
pretty manner of speaking. This was the singing
I had heard, but afterwards I learnt that Jasper, the
biggest of the boys, was a poet, who made songs about
everything that happened to them; and sweet little
Pearl drew pictures of all that occurred worthy of note.
I afterwards obtained a picture which she had made of
the policeman carrying off the unfortunate boy, which,
with many others, and also some of the songs made
by Jasper, you will find set down in this book.

When they had finished their toilets—which, you
may suppose did not take very long—they all stood
on a rock at the entrance of the cave, and sang the
following song, Jasper leading, and the others joining
in the chorus :—

SONG.

“ Night is past, and the sun is peeping
_ Over the rim of the silver sea ;
From ripple to ripple the light is leaping,
Brothers away on the billows free.
Away, away, for the sun is peeping
Over. the rim of the silver sea!