46 
THE SEA-SERPENT. 
would like to know, what is it can frighten my 
sailors so ? ’ 
“ I went in the boat; there were men with me, 
who had roved the earth and sailed the sea,— all 
fortunes, climes, and shores had seen, — through 
battle, fire, and shipwreck been, — every desper¬ 
ate chance had braved, — fought for their com¬ 
rades when enslaved. Old England thought her 
bloody flag, that floated c in its pride of place,’ 
might swoop upon our fleets, and drag our men 
to chains ; the deep disgrace they sought to heap 
upon us then we nobly spurned, as freemen 
should. O, long shall they remember when we 
on the seas our claims made good ! for frightful 
wreck and anguished groan have long on His¬ 
tory’s page made known how Hull’s brave sailors 
stood. We dimmed her gleaming cross in gore, 
and taught her, though an infant yet, that sons of 
sires who fought of yore had not forgot, but 
may forget . Forgive me, but that fearful strife 
cost me a much-loved father’s life ; that war was 
fairly fought ; and when Peace with its blessings 
