In a time long past, a Whale roamed the sea, consuming every fish in sight until only one small fish remained, known as the 'Stute Fish. This fish suggested that the Whale try eating a human, describing it as "nice but nubbly." The Whale, intrigued, asked the 'Stute Fish to find one. The fish directed him to a specific location where a shipwrecked Mariner, dressed in blue canvas breeches and suspenders, was found on a raft. The Whale swallowed the Mariner along with his raft and belongings, but the Mariner, being resourceful, began to thrash about inside the Whale, causing discomfort. The Whale sought advice from the 'Stute Fish, who suggested asking the Mariner to come out. The Mariner, however, refused, demanding to be taken to his homeland first. The Whale complied, swimming to the Mariner's shore. Upon reaching the beach, the Mariner cleverly fashioned a grating from his raft and tied it with his suspenders, which he then lodged in the Whale's throat, preventing the Whale from eating anything larger than small fish. The Mariner exited the Whale and returned home, while the Whale was left with the grating stuck in his throat, forever altering his diet. The 'Stute Fish, fearing the Whale's anger, hid away, while the Mariner lived happily ever after. The tale concludes with a whimsical note about the sea and the location where the events transpired, emphasizing the importance of the suspenders in the story. The Whale, now unable to eat humans, became a creature of smaller appetites, and the 'Stute Fish remained hidden, marking the end of this peculiar adventure.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1868 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure