Page:The poems of Richard Watson Gilder, Gilder, 1908.djvu/114

86 Till it cut the waves flat

Like the brim of your hat.

There was no sea about,

But it blew straight out

Till the ship lurcht over;

But 't was quick to recover,

When, all of a stroke,

The hurricane broke.

Great heavens! how it roared,

And how the rain poured;

The thirty-fathom chain

Dragged out all in vain.

What next?" the captain cried

To the mate by his side;

Then Tip Ryder he replied:

Fetch the ax—no delay—

Cut the mainmast away;

If you want to save the ship

Let the mainmast rip!"

But another said, "Wait!"

And they did—till too late.

On her beam-ends she blew,

In the sea half the crew—

Struggling back through the wrack,

There to cling day and night.

Not a sail heaves in sight;

And, the worst, one in thirst

(Knows no better, the poor lad!)

Drinks salt water and goes mad.

Eighty hours blown and tost,

Five good sailors drowned and lost,

And the rest brought to shore;

—Some to sail as before;