Volume II Part 76 (2/2)
He knew not how much or how little it meant; But his heart was heavy and like to burst.
”Up with your sails, my sea-dogs all!
The wind has veered! And my s.h.i.+ps,” quoth he, ”They will serve for a British Admirall Who is Knight-in-chief of the Ocean-sea!”
His will was like a North-east wind That swept along our helmless crew; But he would not stay on the _Golden Hynde_, For that was the stronger s.h.i.+p of the two.
”My little s.h.i.+p's-company, lads, hath pa.s.sed Perils and storms a-many with me!
Would ye have me forsake them at the last?
They'll need a Knight of the Ocean-sea!”
_Ever the more, ever the more, We heard the winds and the waves roar!
Thunder on thunder shook the sh.o.r.e._
Beyond Cape Race, the pale sun splashed The grim grey waves with silver light Where, ever in front, his frigate crashed Eastward, for England and the night.
And still as the dark began to fall, Ever in front of us, running free, We saw the sails of our Admirall Leading us home through the Ocean-sea.
_Ever the more, ever the more, We heard the winds and the waves roar!
But he sailed on, sailed on before._
On Monday, at noon of the third fierce day A-board our _Golden Hynde_ he came, With a trail of blood, marking his way On the salt wet decks as he walked half-lame.
For a rusty nail thro' his foot had pierced.
”Come, master-surgeon, mend it for me; Though I would it were changed for the nails that amerced The dying thief upon Calvary.”
The surgeon bathed and bound his foot, And the master entreated him sore to stay; But roughly he pulled on his great sea-boot With--”The wind is rising and I must away!”
I know not why so little a thing, When into his pinnace we helped him down, Should make our eyelids p.r.i.c.k and sting As the salt spray were into them blown,
But he called as he went--”Keep watch and steer By my lanthorn at night!” Then he waved his hand With a kinglier watch-word, ”We are as near To heaven, my lads, by sea as by land!”
_Ever the more, ever the more, We heard the gathering tempest roar!
But he sailed on, sailed on before._
Three hundred leagues on our homeward road, We strove to signal him, swooping nigh, That he would ease his decks of their load Of nettings and fights and artillery.
And dark and dark that night 'gan fall, And high the muttering breakers swelled, Till that strange fire which seamen call ”Castor and Pollux,” we beheld,
An evil sign of peril and death, Burning pale on the high main-mast; But calm with the might of Gennesareth Our Admirall's voice went ringing past,
Clear thro' the thunders, far and clear, Mighty to counsel, clear to command, Joyfully ringing, ”We are as near To heaven, my lads, by sea as by land!”
_Ever the more, ever the more, We heard the rising hurricane roar!
But he sailed on, sailed on before._
And over us fled the fleet of the stars, And, ever in front of us, far or nigh, The lanthorn on his cross-tree spars Dipped to the Pit or soared to the Sky!
'Twould sweep to the lights of Charles's Wain, As the hills of the deep 'ud mount and flee.
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