Page:Poems that every child should know (ed. Burt, 1904).djvu/105

Rh The "Three Bells" of Glasgow.

the low-hung night cloud

That raked her splintering mast

The good ship settled slowly,

The cruel leak gained fast.

Over the awful ocean

Her signal guns pealed out.

Dear God! was that Thy answer

From the horror round about?

A voice came down the wild wind,

"Ho! ship ahoy!" its cry:

"Our stout Three Bells of Glasgow

Shall stand till daylight by!"

Hour after hour crept slowly,

Yet on the heaving swells

Tossed up and down the ship-lights,

The lights of the Three Bells!

And ship to ship made signals,

Man answered back to man,

While oft, to cheer and hearten,

The Three Bells nearer ran:

And the captain from her taffrail

Sent down his hopeful cry.

"Take heart! Hold on!" he shouted.

"The Three Bells shall stand by!"