Ere long the tugboat swinging clear Turned bow to stream and left the pier, While many Brownies, young and old, From upper deck to lower hold Were crowding round in happy vein Still striving better views to gain. Some watched the waves around them roll; Some stayed below to shovel coal, From hand to hand, with pitches strong, They passed the rattling loads along. Some at the engine took a place, More to the pilot-house would race To keep a sharp lookout ahead, Or man the wheel as fancy led. But accidents we oft record, However well we watch and ward, And vessels often go to wreck With careful captains on the deck; They had mishaps that night, for still, In spite of all their care and skill, While running straight or turning round In river, bay, or broader sound, At times they ran upon a rock, And startled by the sudden shock Some timid Brownies, turning pale, Would spring at once across the rail; And then, repenting, find all hope Of life depended on a rope, That willing hands were quick to throw And hoist them from the waves below. Sometimes too near a ship they ran For peace of mind; again, their plan Would come to naught through lengthy tow Of barges passing to and fro. The painted buoys around the bay At times occasioned some dismay-- They took them for torpedoes dread That might the boat in fragments spread, Awake the city's slumbering crowds, And hoist the band among the clouds. But thus, till hints of dawn appeared Now here, now there, the boat was steered With many joys and many fears, That some will bear in mind for years; But at her pier once more she lay When night gave place to creeping day. [Illustration] THE BROWNIES' TALLY-HO. [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration] [Illustration]