# St. Nicholas/Volume 40/Number 2/Billy Bowline

* related authors: Fanny Y. Cory.
* sister projects: Commons category, Wikidata item.
“Very well, my son,” replied his mother; “how long shall you be gone?”
“A year, I guess, or more or less,’ answered Billy, “depending on the time it takes. What will you give me for my journey?”
“This gold chain,” she said, “which may be of use to you; and ten pieces of gold for your purse.”
“Thank you, Mother,” said Billy.
Then he put the chain about his neck, the ten gold pieces in his purse, kissed his mother, and began to make ready for his journey.
First he went to the Old Woman of the Wood, and rapped three times on the door.
“Who ’s there?” asked the Old Woman of the Wood.
“It ’s I, Billy Bowline, going for to set out on my adventures.”
“How long shall you be gone?” asked the Old Woman.
“A year, I guess, or more or less,” replied Billy, “depending on the time it takes. What will you give me for my journey?”
“This stick,’ said the Old Woman. “Strike it on the ground to give yourself the strength and stature of a giant; wave it in the air when you wish to grow small.”
“Thank you, Old Woman of the Wood,” said Billy. And he stuck the stick in his belt and went on his way.
Presently he came to the house of Chanticleer, the White Cock, and he rapped three times on the door.
“Who ’s there?” cried the White Cock, crowing lustily.
“It ’s I, Billy Bowline, going for to set out on my adventures.”
“How long shall you be gone?” asked the White Cock.
“A year, or more or less,” replied I guess, Billy, “depending on the time it takes. What will you give me for my journey?”
“Spurs,” said the White Cock.
“Spurs!” exclaimed Billy. “For what shall I need spurs on a voyage?”
“Do you expect to sail on forever,” asked the White Cock, “and never come to land? A fine adventure that would be!”
Then Chanticleer, the White Cock, stooped ​down and took off his spurs, and fastened them to Billy Bowline’s heels.
“With these,” said the White Cock, “you can ride anything that runs on four legs.”
“Thank you, bold Chanticleer,” said Billy, and went on his way. “‘Mother, I wish to set out on my adventures.’”
Next he came to the house of the Silversmith, and rapped three times at the door.
“Who ’s there?” asked the Silversmith, in a thin voice.
“It ’s I, Billy Bowline, going for to set out on my adventures.”
“When shall you return?” asked the Silversmith.
“In a year, I guess, or more or less, depending on the time it takes,’ said Billy. “And what can you give me for my journey?”
“This ring,” said the Silversmith. “It will give you three wishes. Turn it three times on your finger and say your wish aloud, and whatever you wish for shall come to pass.”
“May I wish anything I choose?” asked Billy.
“Anything you choose,’ answered the Silversmith.
“Then I wish,” said Billy, turning the ring on his finger, “I wish that I may have six wishes instead of three.”
The old Silversmith looked angry and stamped his foot; but soon he began to chuckle and grin.
“Six wishes it is then,” he cackled; “six wishes it is. But no more, Billy, no more. And you have wished one wish already.”
“I shall do very well with the five I have left,” said Billy. “Thank you, Old Man,” and he went on his way.
By and by he came to the house of Linda, the Bakeshop Maid, and he rapped three times on the door.
“Who ’s there?” asked the Bakeshop Maid.
“It ’s I, Billy Bowline, going for to set out on my adventures.”
“When shall I see you again, Billy Bowline?” asked the Maid.
“In a year, I guess, or more or less,” said Billy, “depending on the time it takes. And what will you give me for my journey?”
“This bag,’ answered Linda, and she handed him a small leather bag drawn together at the top with a leather string. “Hang this on your arm, Billy, and you need never go hungry or thirsty. In it you will find all manner of good eating and drinking.”
“Thank you, Linda,” said Billy, with a sweeping bow, and he hung the bag on his arm.
Then Billy went on until he came to the Very Wet Sea; and when he was come to this sea, he saw that the water was blue as sapphire, the foam was white as snow, and the sunshine over all was yellow as gold.
“It is a fine day,” thought Billy, “for to set out on an adventure. But first I must find a ship.”
So he went to the house of Hans, the Shipbuilder, who lives at the edge of the Very Wet “Then Chanticleer fastened the spurs to Billy Bowline’s heels.” Sea, and who makes ships for the King. rapped three times at the door.
“Who ’s there?” asked Hans, the Shipbuilder.
“It ’s I, Billy Bowline, going for to set out on my adventures.”
​“How long shall you be gone?” asked Hans.
“Oh, a year, I guess, or more or less,’ answered Billy, “depending on the time it takes. What kind of ship can you give me for my voyage?”
“What kind of ship do you wish?” asked Hans.
“Oh, anything at all,’ replied Billy; “anything at all that will carry me over the sea.”
“‘How long shall you be gone?’ asked the Old Woman.
“Then no doubt I can please you,” said Hans; “I make ships for the King.”
“Let me see them,” said Billy.
“Now?” asked Hans, in surprise. “I cannot show you any now,—I build ships for people, and they take them away. I have none here now. But I can build a fine ship for you. See, here are my models.” And he showed Billy many models of ships, long and short, wide and narrow, brigs, schooners, and men-of-war, with masts and spars and ropes and sails complete in every part.
“These are all very fine,” said Billy, “but I cannot wait for you to build a ship,—I want a ship now, as I have set out on my adventures.”
“Mercy on us,” cried Hans, “what a hurry you are in! But I think you will have to wait, for I have nothing at all for you now.”
“Nevertheless,” said Billy, “I must have a boat now. I will take one of these models.”
“I cannot part with any of them,” said Hans; “they are my patterns, and I cannot spare them.”
“No doubt you can make others,” said Billy, “and I will pay you well’; and he laid three pieces of gold in the Shipbuilder’s hand.
Then Billy took his pick of all the models, and chose one with a very large sail and a small wooden sailor standing in the bow. Then he took the boat in his arms and went down and launched it in the Very Wet Sea.
“It is plain,’ said Billy to himself, “that my boat must be larger or I must be smaller,—and I have a mind to leave the boat as it is.”
Then he took the stick from his belt and waved it above his head. He felt himself slowly shrinking. The more he waved the smaller he got, and ​he did not stop until he had grown as small as the wooden sailor.
“And now,” said Billy, turning the ring three times on his finger, and speaking aloud, “I wish that the wooden sailor may come alive.”
No sooner said than done. The wooden sailor began to move his legs and arms, and presently he took off his cap and made Billy a bow.
“Very good,” said Billy; “you are a proper sailor. I shall call you Peter. I am Captain Billy Bowline, and this is my ship. You will be my mate and fellow-adventurer.”
“Aye, aye, sir,’ said Peter; “will you come aboard?”
So Billy went aboard, and he and Peter set sail on their voyage over the Very Wet Sea. And “‘I wish,’ said Billy, ‘I wish that I may have six wishes instead of three.’” they sailed for sixty days and sixty nights, over blue water and green, through hurricanes and fair weather, till they came to a tropical island.
When they reached the island, Billy said to his mate:
“This, no doubt, is the place of our adventures. Let us go ashore and explore the island.”
“Very well,” said Peter; “but first let us eat and drink.”
So they took out of the bag all manner of good things, and they ate and drank their fill.
Then they set out to explore the island.
The first live creature they met was a Mouse.
“Good day, Mistress Mouse,” said Billy, with a bow, while the Mouse regarded them kindly.
“Good day,” said the Mouse; “and who might you be?”
“Two sailors are we in search of adventure.”
“In search of adventure!” said the Mouse. “Then you can do no better than to follow your noses till you come to the place where the Rat lives. He is himself a bold adventurer, but I advise you to keep clear of him. He is big and fierce and terrible, and will surely do you harm.”
“I am not afraid,’ said Billy; “an adventurer is never afraid. I have a mind to meet him.”
“Pray do nothing so rash,” urged the Mouse; “he will surely eat you.”
“I am determined to meet him,” said Billy; “I am not afraid.”
So Billy and Peter went on their way till they came to the place where the Rat lived. And the Rat stood in his doorway, pulling his long whiskers.
“Good day, Mister Rat,” said Billy.
“Good day,” said the Rat; “and who might you be?”
“Two sailors in search of adventure.”
“Adventure?” said the Rat, with a little smile; “Pirates or Lost Princesses?”
“Pirates,” said Billy. “Are there any hereabouts?”
“A few,” said the Rat. “I am somewhat of a Pirate myself.”
“I have no doubt of it,’ said Billy. “But are there men about who search for gold and hidden treasure?”
“There are a few of those also,” said the Rat. “They do not greatly interest me,—I have adventures in plenty of my own.”
“But I should like to see these men,” said Billy. “Will you not carry us thither?”
“I think my ears deceive me,” said the Rat; “for I almost thought I heard you ask me to carry you,—and that, of course, could not be.”
“Yes, but I did,’ said Billy; “and I will pay you well. I will give you this long gold chain which I wear on my neck.” And Billy unwound the chain and held it up before the Rat.
“You are a bold lad,” said the Rat; “but I had rather carry you in my stomach than on my back.” And he threw back his head, opened his mouth, and laughed a wicked laugh.
But Billy did not flinch; he only stood holding up the gold chain in both hands.
Then the Rat looked down at Billy, and saw with surprise that Billy showed no fear.
“Ho, ho,’ said the Rat, “are you not afraid? Then I will make you afraid.”
​He leaned down toward Billy, opened his mouth very wide, and showed all his sharp teeth.
But now, as he opened his “‘Thank you, Linda,’ said Billy, with a sweeping bow.” mouth, he felt the gold chain thrust into it like a bit. He shut his jaws with a snap, and dropped down on all four feet, and then tried to shake the chain from his mouth; but before he could do this, Billy had jumped on his back, seized the free length of chain for a bridle-rein, and dug the spurs into his sides.
“Perhaps,” said Billy, “you will carry me, after all.”
The Rat gnashed his teeth, but could not shake off his rider because of the magic spurs.
“Get up behind me, Peter,” said Billy; “we will see whether the Rat will carry double.”
Peter climbed up behind Billy on the Rat’s back, nor could the Rat prevent it, though he fought hard.
“Now,” said Billy, “take me to the Pirates.”
In a moment, they were off and away, over hills and bogs, fens and waterways, the Rat fighting all the way, but Billy able to manage him because of the spurs, riding fast and riding slow, jumping high and jumping low, for five hours and twenty minutes, till, at last, they came to the Red Cliffs and the Cave of the Pirates.
“This,” said the Rat, in a strange voice, because “Then Billy launched the boat in the very wet sea.” of the bit in his mouth, “is the Cave of the Pirates, and yonder are the Pirates.
Billy could not, at first, see anything at all, because of the darkness, but when his eyes had become accustomed to it, he saw ten men whom he knew to be Pirates. They were walking to and fro, loading heavy sacks upon each other’s shoulders. Billy knew these were sacks of gold. Presently the Pirates, of whom there were twenty, went out of the cave one by one, carrying the sacks of gold on their shoulders.
Now when they had gone, Billy heard what sounded like a man’s groan; and looking around, he saw a man lying on the ground, bound hand and foot. Billy rode up to him and spoke to him.
But the man, seeing the Rat, was frightened, and exclaimed: “What, Whiskers, are you come to trouble me, now that I am bound hand and foot? For shame!”
But Billy took hold of the man’s hair and tweaked it, and the man turned and looked at Billy and Peter.
“What are you,” asked the man, “gnomes or fairies?”
“Neither,” said Billy, “but only two sailors in search of adventure.”
At this the man laughed with a great noise that echoed through the cave. But Billy only said:
​“Who are you, Man?”
“I am a Mining Mariner,” said the man. “I came hither in my good ship for gold. And gold I found in plenty. But the Pirates found me. “‘Two sailors are we in search of adventure.’” They have stolen my gold, and even now are loading their ship and mine with the gold; and when that is done, they will sail away and leave me here to die.”
“Not so,” said Billy. “We will take a look at these Pirates.”
The man laughed again with a noise like thunder.
Then Billy commanded the Rat to gnaw off the rope that bound the man; and the Rat, who now feared Billy, began to gnaw.
“Gnaw faster,” commanded Billy. And the Rat gnawed with might and main till the man was free.
Then Billy dismounted, leaving Peter still on the Rat’s back.
“Go back to the ship, Peter,” said Billy, “and wait for me. Here are my spurs. With these you can ride anything that runs on four legs.”
So Peter, riding the Rat, started back to the ship, and soon was lost to sight.
When Peter and the Rat had gone, Billy took the stick from his belt and struck the ground to give himself the strength and stature of a giant. At each stroke he gained six feet in height, and after a dozen strokes, he was a giant more than seventy feet tall, with the strength of a hundred lions.
When the Mining Mariner saw this marvel, he turned as if to run away.
“This island,” said he, “is no place for a civilized man.”
“Nonsense,” said Billy; “you are not afraid of me, are you? This is only a part of my adventure. I am now ready to take a look at the Pirates.”
So Billy and the Mining Mariner went down to the edge of the cliff and peered over at the Pirates. Some were walking along the narrow path that runs down over the face of the cliff to the sea; some were on the sandy beach, farther on, loading the sacks of gold into the boats.
“See me catch one,” said Billy.
Then Billy lay flat on his stomach and reached down over the edge of the cliff with his great arm and hand; and with his thumb and finger, he caught one of the Pirates under the arms, and lifted him, as you would a beetle; and he raised him high over the edge of the cliff and gave him to the Mining Mariner to bind hand and foot.
When the other Pirates saw their companion lifted high in air over their heads by a great hand and arm that reached down from the top of the cliff, they were much afraid; and they ran this way and that, trying to escape or to hide themselves. And when they found that they could neither escape nor hide themselves, but that the great hand would overtake them and catch them, they banded themselves together and drew their swords and cutlasses to fight the great hand; and they stabbed and slashed most furiously.
“What wasps we have here!” said Billy; “if wishing could tip their blades with poison, I should feel something as bad as wasps’ stings.”
Nevertheless, he caught them, one by one. And the Mining Mariner bound them hand and foot, and laid them beside their fellows on the cliff. “‘They ate and drank their fill.”
“Now,” said Billy, when all were caught and bound, “what fit punishment shall I devise for ​these men? If I drop them into the sea, you will have nobody to man your two ships. If I release them as they are, they will kill you and escape with the gold.”
“That is very true,” said the Mining Mariner. “But I had rather try my luck alone than with these men.”
“Perhaps,” said Billy; “but I have a mind to make these men serve you.”
At this the Pirates raged, and one of them “‘Now,’ said Billy. ‘Take me to the pirates.’” said: “We have never served any man, and we will not serve this Mining Mariner. You may do many things, Big Man, but you cannot make us do this.”
“I have a plan at this moment,” said Billy. “I have four wishes left; I can use one for this thing. You all shall become apes, each for as many years as he stole bags of gold. If you serve this man well, when you have served your time, you shall be men again; and this Mining Mariner shall give you each one bag of gold, and you shall go whither you will.”
Then the bags of gold were counted, all that were in the ship or in the boats at the foot of the cliff; and there were a hundred and twenty bags.
“Then,” said Billy to the Mining Mariner, “there were six bags for each man. Therefore each man shall serve you six years.”
So he turned the ring three times on his finger, and said aloud: “I wish that these twenty men may become apes for a space of six years; and all that time they shall serve the Mining Mariner; and at the end of that time, if they have served him well, they shall become men again, and go whither they will.”
No sooner said than done. The twenty Pirates changed into twenty apes. They could not talk, but only grin and chatter; and hair covered their hands and faces.
“Now,” said Billy, “you have crews to man your two ships. Unbind your prisoners and take them home. You shall have great glory when you return home laden with gold and with this troop of apes to do your bidding.”
“But what,” said the Mining Mariner, “shall I do to reward you?”
“Nothing at all,” said Billy; “nothing at all. This is my adventure.”
“But I wish to reward you,” said the Mining Mariner. “Will you not take the half of my gold?”
“I could not,” said Billy, “it would sink my ship. But if your heart is set upon a reward, send a bag with a thousand pieces of gold to my mother. She gave me ten pieces when I set out on my adventures; it will be a fine thing to return her so much more.”
“A fine thing, indeed,” said the Mining Mariner, “‘Nonsense,’ said Billy. ‘You are not afraid of me, are you?’” “and I will surely send her the gold.” So he wrote down in a book the name of Billy’s mother and her address, so that he could find her.
​Then the Mining Mariner and his twenty apes loaded the gold into the two ships and sailed away.
When the two ships were quite out of sight, Billy stood up and stretched himself.
“I have had a fine adventure,” said he to himself. “I have wished three wishes. I have ridden the Rat and changed twenty Pirates into apes. I have been small, and now I am a giant; and before I grow small again, I should like to feel my strength. I will pull up a tree by the roots and heave a boulder into the sea.”
So Billy pulled up a tree and planted it upside down. And he carried a great rock to the edge of the Red Cliffs and threw it over into the sea.
“It is a good thing,” said Billy, “that my ship is on the other side of this island. Otherwise the waves I made would have swamped my boat and drowned poor Peter.”
Then Billy started back to find his ship. He was so tall and his legs so long, that before he
“Billy reached down over the edge of the cliff and caught one of the pirates.”
So he took the stick from his belt and waved it above his head. Before he knew it, he was no taller than a toadstool.
“This will not do, either,” said Billy, “I am too small. I could not help Peter work the ship.”
​Then he tapped on the ground, and he grew up six feet at the first tap. Then he waved the stick above his head, very carefully, till he was of The enchanted pirates. proper size. After this he found his ship and went aboard.
“Shall we sail for home now?” said Billy to Peter.
“Aye, aye, sir,” said Peter; “but first let us eat and drink.”
So they took out of the bag all manner of good things, and ate and drank their fill.
Then they set sail over the Very. Wet Sea, and sailed for sixty days and sixty nights, over blue water and green, over rough seas and smooth, through hurricanes and fair weather, till they came to their native land.
Then Billy went ashore. He turned the ring three times on his finger and said aloud: “I wish that all things may be as they were before I set out on my adventure.”
No sooner said than done. Billy found himself a boy of proper size. Peter dropped his arms to his side and became a wooden sailor. The bag and spurs and the stick disappeared; only the wishing ring remained of all the magic presents he had received.
Then Billy picked up the ship and stuck it under his arm, and went home to his mother. When he found her, she was counting the gold pieces the Mining Mariner had sent her.
“Did you have a fine adventure?” asked his mother.
“Fine,” said Billy.
“How long have you been away?” asked his mother.
“Not a year,” said Billy; “there is still time for more adventure before the year is out.”
“What have you under your arm?”
“My ship,” said Billy, “and Peter, a very good sailor.”
“That is good,” said his mother. “Where is the chain I gave you?”
“It paid for a fine adventure,” said Billy. “I will tell you of it some day.”.
“I hope you will,” said his mother; “and what is that on your finger?”
“A wishing ring,” said Billy, “and I have two wishes yet to be wished.”