NEWBY FERRY 



VII 



What meaneth that sudden and piercing cry 

 From the horsemen who stood on the bank hard by ? 

 The shadow of death seem'd to darken the wave. 

 And the torrent to pause as it open'd a grave. 



VIII 



Slingsby is sinking — his stretch'd arm had clung 

 To the rein of his horse as he overboard sprung ; 

 The barque, overburden'd, bends down on her side. 

 Heels o'er, and her freight is engulf'd in the tide. 



IX 



In that moment an age seem'd to intervene 

 Ere Vyner was first on the surface seen ; 

 The plank scarcely won ere his arm he extends 

 To reach and to rescue his sinking triends. 



X 



Whips knotted fast, in the haste of despair. 

 Reach not the doom'd who were drowning there ; 

 Swimmers undauntedly breasted the wave. 

 Till themselves were nigh sunk in their efforts to 

 save. 



XI 



Robinson (he who could bird-like skim 

 O'er fence and o'er fallow) unpractis'd to swim. 

 Hopeless of aid in his uttermost need. 

 Save in the strength of his gallant steed ! 



