Page:A selection of war lyrics with illustrations on wood.djvu/37

ON BOARD THE CUMBERLAND. We reached the deck. There Randall stood:

"Another turn, men—so!"

Calmly he aimed his pivot-gun:

"Now, Tenny, let her go!"

It did our sore hearts good to hear

The song our pivot sang,

As rushing on from wave to wave

The whirring bomb-shell sprang.

Brave Randall leaped upon the gun.

And waved his cap in sport;"

Well done! well aimed! I saw that shell

Go through an open port."

It was our last, our deadliest shot;

The deck was overflown;

The poor ship staggered, lurched to port,

And gave a living groan.

Down, down, as headlong through the waves

Our gallant vessel rushed,

A thousand gurgling watery sounds

Around my senses gushed.

Then I remember little more.

One look to heaven I gave,

Where, like an angel's wing, I saw

Our spotless ensign wave.

I tried to cheer. I cannot say

Whether I swam or sank;

A blue mist closed around my eyes,

And everything was blank.

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