(_To be sung by one or more voices._)
1. Very far went the ship, in the dark, up and down, up and down.
There was very little sky; the sailors couldn't see anything;
rain was coming.
2. Now darkness, lightning and very little rain; but big flashes,
two yards long, that looked as if they fell into the sea.
3. On the third day the captain looks out for land, shading his
eyes with his hand. There may be land. The sailors say to him,
"What do you see?" He answers, "Far off is the jungle, and,
swinging in a tree, is an old monkey, with two little monkeys
in her arms. We must be nearing land."
4. Again the captain looks out; the sailors say to him, "What do
you see?" He answers, "On the shore there walks a pretty little
maiden, with a chattee on her head; she skips and runs, and
dances as she goes. We must be nearing land."
5. The storm begins to rage again, and hides the land: at last it
clears a little. The sailors say to the captain, "What do you
see?" He answers, "I see a man ploughing; two bullocks draw
the plough. We must be nearing land."
It is all true; they have gained the shore.