33
THE TENNESSEE HERO.
"He had heard his comrades plotting to obtain their liberty, and rather than betray them he received 750 lashes and died."
He stood before the savage throng,
The base and coward crew;
A tameless light flashed from his eye,
His heart beat firm and true.
The base and coward crew;
A tameless light flashed from his eye,
His heart beat firm and true.
He was the hero of his band,
The noblest of them all;
Though fetters galled his weary limbs,
His spirit spurned their thrall.
The noblest of them all;
Though fetters galled his weary limbs,
His spirit spurned their thrall.
And towered, in its manly might,
Above the murderous crew.
Oh! liberty had nerved his heart,
And every pulse beat true.
Above the murderous crew.
Oh! liberty had nerved his heart,
And every pulse beat true.
"Now tell us," said the savage troop,
"And life thy gain shall be!
Who are the men that plotting, say—
'They must and will be free!'"
"And life thy gain shall be!
Who are the men that plotting, say—
'They must and will be free!'"
Oh, could you have seen the hero then,
As his lofty soul arose,
And his dauntless eyes defiance flashed
On his mean and craven foes!
As his lofty soul arose,
And his dauntless eyes defiance flashed
On his mean and craven foes!
