302 



"Not a minute more to wait, 



' Steer us in, then, small and great ! 



Take the helm, lead the line, save the squadrtin ! ' cried its chief. 

 ' Captains, give the sailor place ! 



He is admiral, in brief.' 

 Still the north wind, by God's grace. 

 See the noble fellow's face 

 As the big ship, with a bound, 

 Clears the entry like a hound, 

 Keeps the passage as its inch of way were the wide seas' profound ! 



See, safe through shoal and rock, 



How they follow in a flock. 

 Not a ship that misbehaves, not a keel that grates the ground, 



Not a spar that comes to grief ! 

 The peril, see, is past, 

 All are harboured to the last, 



And just as Herve Kiel hollas ' Anchor ! ' sure as fate, 

 Up the English come, too late." 



So all are saved, and the crews see longingly the green heights above Greve, all 

 bursting out, with one accord 



" 'Let France, let France's King 

 Thank the man that did the thing ! ' 

 What a shout, and all one word, 



' Herve Kiel,' 



As he stepped in front once more, 

 Not a symptom of surprise 

 In the frank blue Breton eyes, 

 Just the same man as before. 



" Then said Damfreville, ' My friend, 



I must speak out at the end, 



Though I find the speaking hard : 

 Praise is deeper than the lips : 

 You have saved the King his ships, 



You must name your own reward. 

 'Faith, our sun was near eclipse ! 

 Demand whate'er you will, 

 France remains your debtor still. 

 Ask to heart's content and have ! or my name's not Damfreville.' 



" Then a beam of fun outbroke 

 On the bearded mouth that spoke, 

 As the honest heart laughed through 

 Those frank eyes of Breton blue : 



' Since I needs must say my say, 

 Since on board the duty 's done 

 And from Malo Koads to Croisie Point what is it but a run ? 



" ' Since 'tis ask and have, I may 

 Since the others go ashore 



Come ! a good whole holiday ! 



Leave to go and see my wife, whom I call the Belle Aurore ! ' 

 That he asked and that he got nothing more." 



