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David goes voyaging

Chapter 23: SONG TO DAVIE PUTNAM
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About This Book

A young narrator joins a scientific yacht cruise through tropical waters, recounting island landings, encounters with seabirds and marine life, dives and dredging operations, a volcano visit, shipboard routines, and a rescued castaway. Chapters move from canal transit through stops including the Galápagos and Cocos Islands, blending observational natural history, adventurous episodes, and illustrated records of specimens and scenes. The tone mixes wonder at wildlife and hands-on descriptions of exploration techniques, offering a chronological travel memoir of weeks at sea and island excursions.

[Contents]

(A Little Song Written by Don Dickerman for David’s Birthday Party)

SONG TO DAVIE PUTNAM

Oh, his name was Davie Putnam,

And the youngest man aboard,

In truth we guessed they shipped him for a lark.

Didn’t need no powder monkey,

Guests we couldn’t quite afford,

But he sailed with William Beebe on the Ark.

Oh, we took this Davie Putnam,

And we sailed away I say,

To those desert islands cruel, bleak and stark.

There we captured giant lizards,

Sharks and tortoise in the bay,

As we sailed with William Beebe in the Ark.

And this little Davie Putnam,

Who was only twelve y’see,[132]

With his mates t’home a’friskin’ in the park,

Steps out with all his olders,

Hunts and fishes with the best,

As he sailed with William Beebe in the Ark.

So this little Davie Putnam,

Smallest man aboard the ship,

As the topmost fightin’ pirate makes his mark;

And besides we liked his spirit

And his many a merry quip,

As we sailed with William Beebe on the Ark.