Read The Exploits of Moominpappa (Moominpappa's Memoirs) for Free Online Page B

was deep under the clouds, and I suppose the cogwheels wouldn't have fitted in anyway just then. The engine had been freakish lately.
    The Muddler's tin had jammed and stuck under the railing, and every time The Oshun Oxtra took a dive or was lifted high on a wave-crest all his buttons, suspenders, tin-openers, and glass pearls made a terrible clatter inside. The Muddler cried that he was feeling sick, but there wasn't anything we could do about it. We could only cling to the holds we had and stare out over the darkening ocean.
    The sun was gone. The horizon was gone. We were in the midst of a black and frightening turmoil with flecks of white foam flying past us everywhere like hissing ghosts.
    Hodgkins clung steadily to the helm, and the Joxter and I clung to each other. The Joxter tried to shout something, but I could hear nothing but the roar of the wind. He pointed ahead.
    I looked and saw a large, inflated balloon carrying us forwards with great speed. But it wasn't our sail - it was one of our clouds.
    'That's the end of it,' I thought dizzily.
    Then the second cloud moved. It flattened out, and in a second the gale had blown into it and stretched it to a big sail.
    But it didn't burst. It stretched like another rubber balloon, and The Oshun Oxtra plunged forward shaking and creaking in every seam. Now we were rushing along as fast as the gale itself.
    Then the third cloud took to the air, and it lifted the houseboat almost clear of the water. Like an albatross, like the Flying Dutchman, like a Moomin ghost ship we sailed on.
    It all resembled a dream or a huge merry-go-round. My fright passed, and I intoned a song of victory about invincible Moomins.
    When the darkness finally began to change to a morning grey I was aware that I was cold and that the Joxter had grabbed my tail in a smarting grip.

    The wild roar of the hurricane had toned down to an even whistling, and the movements of The Oshun Oxtra told me that she was in the water once more. Two of the clouds had furled themselves again, and I could hear the buttons rattling about inside the Muddler's tin.
    Another day was dawning.
    I carefully moved one leg and then the other one. Both were safe and sound. Then I politely asked the Joxter to let go of my tail.
    'Oh, was it yours,' he said. 'I thought it was the backstay all the time.'
    A pale light was spreading over the sea and exposed the sad state of The Oshun Oxtra. The mast was broken. The paddles gone. My beautiful house was badly demolished, most of all the fretwork on the verandah. Worst of all, the gilt knob had disappeared from the roof top.
    Torn stays swayed sadly in the wind, and the railings were smashed in several places. But between them our three clouds rested, white and round, exactly as before.
    'Dear crew,' said Hodgkins solemnly. 'We have ridden out the hurricane. Let my nephew out, please!'
    We took off the lid and the Muddler appeared, pitifully green in the face.
    'Button of all buttons,' he said wearily. 'What have I done to be so sick? Oh, what life, what troubles, what worries! Look at my collection!'
    The Nibling came out also, sniffed against the wind and snorted. Then he said: 'I'm hungry!'
    'Excuse me!' exclaimed the Muddler. 'Just to think of food makes me...'
    'Quite, quite,' said Hodgkins kindly. 'Perhaps Moomin will go and warm the pea-soup. I'll have to think.... The Oshun Oxtra nearly flew tonight. I've an idea. You know. The flying houseboat...'
    And Hodgkins became absorbed in calculations. I made my way carefully over the deck.
    It was covered with sea-weed, Nibling smear, oysters, and a few faint sea spooks. And in that moment the sun rose.
    Oh, delight! I stopped outside the galley door and gave the warmth time to surge through me. I remembered the sunshine on my first day of freedom after the night of my escape. I loved the sun!
    I forgot all about the pea-soup and closed my eyes where I stood. The lovely feeling penetrated out to the tip of my tail, and I thought it was