346 
LETTERS FROM HIGH LATITUDES. 
III. 
Silent gazed lie; mute we waited, 
Kneeling round—a faithful few, 
Staunch and true,— 
Whilst above, with thunder freighted. 
Wild the boisterous North wind blew, 
And the carrion-bird, unsated, 
On slant wing around us flew. 
IV. 
Sudden, on our startled hearing. 
Came the low-breathed, stem command— 
“ Lo ! ye stand ? 
Linger not, the night is wearing; 
Bear me downwards to the strand, 
Where my ships are idly steering 
Off and on, in sight of land.” 
v. 
Every whispered word obeying, 
Swift we bore him down the steep, 
O’er the deep, 
Up the tall ship’s side, low swaying 
To the storm-wind’s powerful sweep. 
And—his dead companions laying 
Round him,—we had time to weep. 
