Page:The Muse in Arms, Osborn (ed), 1917.djvu/115

 XXXI

"I deeply regret to report the loss of H.M. ships"—Sir John Jellicoe's Despatch ("The Times," July 7th, 1916).

HERE'S a sea that lies uncharted far beyond the setting sun,

And a gallant fleet was sailing there whose fighting days are done,

Sloop and galleon, brig and pinnace, all the rigs you never met,

Fighting frigate, grave three-decker with their snowy canvas set;

Dozed and dreamed, when, on a sudden, ev'ry sail began to swell,

For the breeze has spoken strangers, with a stirring tale to tell,

And a thousand eager voices flung the challenge out to sea:

"Come they hither in the old way, in the only way that's free?"

And the flying breeze called softly: "In the old way,

Through the winters and the waters of the North, 73