The middy stood bewildered there
Uncertain what to do,
He saw the captain's sullen glare,
The darkly frowning crew;
Uncertain what to do,
He saw the captain's sullen glare,
The darkly frowning crew;
He saw the snow white canvas gleam
Upon each straining mast,
He heard the beating of his heart
Above the howling blast.
Upon each straining mast,
He heard the beating of his heart
Above the howling blast.
Then like a hound the captain sprang,
And forward sprang the mate
To snatch the middy from his grasp—
Ah God! too late! too late!
And forward sprang the mate
To snatch the middy from his grasp—
Ah God! too late! too late!
He seized him fiercely by the throat—
My blood ran cold in me,
Then hurled him far across the deck
Into the raging sea.
My blood ran cold in me,
Then hurled him far across the deck
Into the raging sea.
A wild, wild cry, like a sea gull's scream,
Fell sharply on the air,
And a stifled groan from man to man
Went upward like a prayer.
Fell sharply on the air,
And a stifled groan from man to man
Went upward like a prayer.
No boat could live in such a sea,
No hand but God's could save,
He rose upon the billow's crest,
Then sank beneath the wave.
No hand but God's could save,
He rose upon the billow's crest,
Then sank beneath the wave.
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