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SHIPWRECK.
89
And here and there a sigh went up
That might have been a prayer ;
There was no time for talking then,
No place for weakness there.
Then, like a mighty ghost, arose
The darkness of the night, —
Came on and on, close after us,
Pursued and slew the light.
We drifted on, and on, and on,
We knew not how nor where ;
And as the chill of morning came
We scarcely seemed to care.
Only the captain cheered us still :
" 'Tis darkness tries a man ;
Fair-weather sailors are not we ;
Let him despair who can."
And then our dying hope sprang up,
Like lion from its lair ;
It caught the traitor, Fear, and slew,
And left us strong to bear.
