At length espying a "purple-muscle shell" upon the beach, he determines to use it as a boat, and thus evade the animosity of the water-spirits whose powers extend not above the wave. Making a "sculler's notch" in the stern, and providing himself with an oar of the bootle-blade, the Ouphe a second time ventures upon the deep. His perils are now diminished, but still great. The imps of the river heave the billows up before the prow of the boat, dash the surges against her side, and strike against her keel. The quarl uprears "his island-back" in her path, and the scallop, floating in the rear of the vessel, spatters it all over with water. Our adventurer however, bails it out with the colen bell (which he has luckily provided for the purpose of catching the drop from the silver bow of the sturgeon,) and keeping his little bark warily trimmed, holds on his course undiscomfited. {330} The object of his first adventure is at length discovered in a "brown-backed sturgeon," who Like the heaven-shot javelin Springs above the waters blue, And, instant as the star-fall light Plunges him in the deep again, But leaves an arch of silver bright, The rainbow of the moony main. From this rainbow our Ouphe succeeds in catching, by means of his colen-bell cup, a "droplet of the sparkling dew." One half of his task is accordingly done-- His wings are pure, for the gem is won. On his return to land, the ripples divide before him, while the water-spirits, so rancorous before, are obsequiously attentive to his comfort. Having tarried a moment on the beach to breathe a prayer, he "spreads his wings of gilded blue" and takes his way to the elfin court--there resting until the cricket, at two in the morning, rouses him up for the second portion of his penance. His equipments are now an "acorn helmet," a "thistle-down plume," a corslet of the "wild-bee's" skin, a cloak of the "wings of butterflies," a shield of the "shell of the lady-bug," for lance "the sting of a wasp," for sword a "blade of grass," for horse "a fire-fly," and for spurs a couple of "cockle seed." Thus accoutred, Away like a glance of thought he flies To skim the heavens and follow far The fiery trail of the rocket-star. In the Heavens he has new dangers to encounter. The "shapes of air" have begun their work--a "drizzly mist" is cast around him--"storm, darkness, sleet and shade" assail him--"shadowy hands" twitch at his bridle-rein--"flame-shot tongues" play around him--"fiendish eyes" glare upon him--and Yells of rage and shrieks of fear Come screaming on his startled ear. Still our adventurer is nothing daunted. He thrusts before, and he strikes behind, Till he pierces the cloudy bodies through And gashes the shadowy limbs of wind,