Page:Songs from the Southern Seas and Other Poems (1873).djvu/210

206 Some distance off, in order ranged, stood men,—about a score: God! 'twas all that now remained of my old gallant corps! The muster-roll was being called: to every well- known name I heard the solemn answer,—'Dead!' At length my own turn came. I paused to hear,—a comrade answered, 'Dead! I saw him fall!' I could not move another step, I tried in vain to call. My life was flowing fast, and all around was gathering haze. And o'er the heather tops I watched my comrades' cheerful blaze. I thought such anguish as I felt was more than man could bear. God! it was an awful thing to die with help so near! And death was stealing o'er me: with the strength of wild despair I raised the standard o'er my head, and waved it through the air.