Part 24 (1/2)

If she feels the lop already She'll stand on her head in the bay.

It's ebb--it's dusk--it's blowing.

The shoals are a mile of white.

But (s.n.a.t.c.h her along!) we're going To find our master to-night.

_For we hold that in all disaster Of s.h.i.+pwreck, storm, or sword, A Man must stand by his Master When once he has pledged his word._

Raging seas have we rowed in, But we seldom saw them thus; Our master is angry with Odin-- Odin is angry with us!

Heavy odds have we taken, But never before such odds.

The G.o.ds know they are forsaken, We must risk the wrath of the G.o.ds!

Over the crest she flies from, Into its hollow she drops, Cringes and clears her eyes from The wind-torn breaker-tops, Ere out on the shrieking shoulder Of a hill-high surge she drives.

Meet her! Meet her and hold her!

Pull for your scoundrel lives!

The thunders bellow and clamour The harm that they mean to do!

There goes Thor's own Hammer Cracking the dark in two!

Close! But the blow has missed her, Here comes the wind of the blow!

Row or the squall'll twist her Broadside on to it!--_Row!_

Heark 'ee, Thor of the Thunder!

We are not here for a jest-- For wager, warfare, or plunder, Or to put your power to test.

This work is none of our wis.h.i.+ng-- We would house at home if we might-- But our master is wrecked out fis.h.i.+ng.

We go to find him to-night.

_For we hold that in all disaster-- As the G.o.ds Themselves have said-- A Man must stand by his Master Till one of the two is dead._

That is our way of thinking, Now you can do as you will, While we try to save her from sinking And hold her head to it still.

Bale her and keep her moving, Or she'll break her back in the trough....

Who said the weather's improving, Or the swells are taking off?

Sodden, and chafed and aching, Gone in the loins and knees-- No matter--the day is breaking, And there's far less weight to the seas!

Up mast, and finish baling-- In oars, and out with the mead-- The rest will be two-reef sailing....

That was a night indeed!

_But we hold that in all disaster (And faith, we have found it true!) If only you stand by your master, The G.o.ds will stand by you!_

MORNING SONG IN THE JUNGLE