{"product_id":"2940013768826","title":"A Strange Island","description":"One day I lay rocking in my boat, reading a very famous book, which\u003cbr\u003eall children know and love; and the name of which I'll tell you by and\u003cbr\u003eby. So busily was I reading, that I never minded the tide; and\u003cbr\u003epresently discovered that I was floating out to sea, with neither sail\u003cbr\u003enor oar. At first I was very much frightened; for there was no one in\u003cbr\u003esight on land or sea, and I didn't know where I might drift to. But\u003cbr\u003ethe water was calm, the sky clear, and the wind blew balmily; so I\u003cbr\u003ewaited for what should happen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePresently I saw a speck on the sea, and eagerly watched it; for it\u003cbr\u003edrew rapidly near, and seemed to be going my way. When it came closer,\u003cbr\u003eI was much amazed; for, of all the queer boats I ever saw, this was\u003cbr\u003ethe queerest. It was a great wooden bowl, very cracked and old; and in\u003cbr\u003eit sat three gray-headed little gentlemen with spectacles, all reading\u003cbr\u003ebusily, and letting the boat go where it pleased. Now, right in their\u003cbr\u003eway was a rock; and I called out, \"Sir, sir, take care.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut my call came too late: crash went the bowl, out came the bottom,\u003cbr\u003eand down plumped all the little gentlemen into the sea. I tried not to\u003cbr\u003elaugh, as the books, wigs, and spectacles flew about; and, urging my\u003cbr\u003eboat nearer, I managed to fish them up, dripping and sneezing, and\u003cbr\u003elooking like drowned kittens. When the flurry was over, and they had\u003cbr\u003egot their breath, I asked who they were, and where they were going.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We are from Gotham, ma'am,\" said the fattest one wiping a very wet\u003cbr\u003eface on a very wet handkerchief. \"We were going to that island yonder.\u003cbr\u003eWe have often tried, but never got there: it's always so, and I begin\u003cbr\u003eto think the thing can't be done.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI looked where he pointed; and, sure enough, there was an island where\u003cbr\u003eI had never seen one before. I rubbed my eyes, and looked again. Yes:\u003cbr\u003ethere it was,--a little island, with trees and people on it; for I saw\u003cbr\u003esmoke coming out of the chimney of a queerly-shaped house on the\u003cbr\u003eshore.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"What is the name of it?\" I asked.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe little old gentleman put his finger on his lips, and said, with a\u003cbr\u003emysterious nod:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I couldn't tell you, ma'am. It's a secret; but, if you manage to land\u003cbr\u003ethere, you will soon know.\"","brand":"WDS Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47069008724208,"sku":"2940013768826","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013768826_p0.jpg?v=1763590015","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013768826","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}