28 THE FORESTERS. 



Fixed to the spot, with staring eyes we stood ! 



He, slowly moving, sought the adjoining wood; 



Conscious of deadly j|ower, he seemed to say, 



" Pass on ; in peace let each pursue his way." 



But when th' uplifted musket met his view, 



Sudden in sounding coils his form he threw ! 



Fierce from the centre rose his flattened head, 



With quivering tongue and eyes of fiery red, 



And jaws extended vast, where threatening lay 



The fangs of death in horrible array : 



While poised above, invisible to view, 



His whizzing tail in swift vibration flew. 



Back sprung our bard ! and, aiming to let fly, 



Glanced o'er the deadly tube his vengeful eye ; 



And now destruction seemed at once decreed ; 



But Duncan's pleading checked the barbarous deed ; 



" O spare the brave !" our generous pilot cried, 



44 Let mercy, sir ! let justice now decide ; 



"This noble foe, so terrible to si«-ht, 



44 Though armed with death, yet ne'er provokes tho 



fight; 

 " Stern, yet magnanimous, he forms his den 

 u Far from the noisy, dangerous haunts of men. 

 " Th' unconcious foot that presses him he spares, 

 44 And what was harmless meant forgiving bears ; 

 4i But dare his life. — Behold, he rises brave, 

 44 To guard that being bounteous Nature gave. 

 44 W T e are th' aggressors here ; the hero he ; 

 44 Honor the brave defence of one to three ! " 

 He spoke. Three cheers the voice of Mercy hailed ; 

 And heav'ns most glorious attribute prevailed. 



