XXI.

"What cheer, Ben Bunting?" cried (when in full view 500 Our new acquaintance) Torquil. "Aught of new?" "Ey, ey!" quoth Ben, "not new, but news enow; A strange sail in the offing."--"Sail! and how? What! could you make her out? It cannot be; I've seen no rag of canvass on the sea." "Belike," said Ben, "you might not from the bay, But from the bluff-head, where I watched to-day, I saw her in the doldrums; for the wind Was light and baffling."--"When the Sun declined Where lay she? had she anchored?"--"No, but still 510 She bore down on us, till the wind grew still." "Her flag?"--"I had no glass: but fore and aft, Egad! she seemed a wicked-looking craft." "Armed?"--"I expect so;--sent on the look-out: 'Tis time, belike, to put our helm about." "About?--Whate'er may have us now in chase, We'll make no running fight, for that were base; We will die at our quarters, like true men." "Ey, ey! for that 'tis all the same to Ben." "Does Christian know this?"--"Aye; he has piped all hands 520 To quarters. They are furbishing the stands Of arms; and we have got some guns to bear, And scaled them. You are wanted."--"That's but fair; And if it were not, mine is not the soul To leave my comrades helpless on the shoal. My Neuha! ah! and must my fate pursue Not me alone, but one so sweet and true? But whatsoe'er betide, ah, Neuha! now Unman me not: the hour will not allow A tear; I am thine whatever intervenes!" 530 "Right," quoth Ben; "that will do for the marines."[399]

CANTO THE THIRD.