Page:Songs from the Southern Seas and Other Poems (1873).djvu/181

Rh Gleaming whitely through, the water, fathoms deep they saw its frown,— They saw its white hand clenched above it,—sinking slowly down! And then there was a rushing 'neath the boats, and every soul Was thrilled with greed: they knew it was the seaward-going shoal!

Defying the dread warning, every face was sternly set, And wildly did they ply the oar, and wildly haul the net. But two boats' crews obeyed the sign,—God-fearing men were they,— They cut their lines and left their nets, and homeward sped away; But darkly rising sternwards did God's wrath in tempest sweep. And they, of all the fishermen, that night escaped the deep.