244 LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES, [XIII. 



VI. 



Swift, as by good angels carried, 



Right and left the news has spread. 

 Wives lone widowed — vet scarce married — 



Brides that never hoped to wed, 

 From a hundred pathways meeting 



Crowd along the narrow quay, 

 Maddened by the hope of meeting 



Those long counted cast away. 



VII. 



Soon a crowd of small boats flutter 

 ► O'er the intervening space, 

 Bearing hearts too full to utter 



Thoughts that flush the eager face ! 

 See young Eric foremost gaining — ■ 



(For a father's love athirst !) 

 Every nerve and muscle straining, 



But to touch the dear hand JzrsL 



■ 



VIII. 



In the ship's green shadow rocking 



Lies his little boat at last : 

 Wherefore is the warm heart knocking 



At his side, so loud and fast ? 

 1 ' What strange aspect is she wearing, 



Vessel once so taut and trim ? 

 Shout ! — my heart has lost its daring ; 



Comrades, search ! — my eyes are dim." 



IX. 



Sad the search, and fearful finding ! 



On the deck lay parched and diy 

 Men — who in some burning, blinding 



Clime — had laid them down to die ! 

 Hands — prayer-clenched — that would not sever, 



Eyes that stared against the sun, 

 Sights that haunt the soul for ever, 



Poisoning life — till life is done ! 



x. 



Strength from fear doth Eric gather, 



Wide the cabin door he threw — 

 Lo ! the face of his dead father, 



Stern and still, confronts his view ! 



