And stead of trowsers (ah! too early torn! For even the mildest woods will have their thorn) A curious sort of somewhat scanty mat Now served for inexpressibles and hat; 480 His naked feet and neck, and sunburnt face, Though one missed fire, the other would go off); Surveyed him in his garb heteroclite. 490 XXI. "What cheer, Ben Bunting?" cried (when in full view Our new acquaintance) Torquil, "Aught of new?" 501 66 Ey, ey," quoth Ben, " not new, but news enow; "Belike," said Ben, " you might not from the bay, Was light and baffling."—" When the sun declin'd 511 « 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 elm 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?"-"Ay; he has piped all hands To quarters. They are furbishing the stands 521 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 My Neuha! ah! and must my fate pursue, But whatsoe'er betide, ah, Neuha! now Unman me not; the hour will not allow A tear; I am thine whatever intervenes !" 66 530 Right," quoth Ben, " that will do for the marines *." * "That will do for the marines, but the sailors won't believe it," is an old saying; and one of the few fragments of former jealousies which still survive (in jest only) between these gallant services. END OF CANTO SECOND. CANTO III. I. THE fight was o'er; the flashing through the gloom, Had ceased; and sulphury vapours upward driven Had left the earth, and but polluted heaven: The rattling roar which rung in every volley Had left the echoes to their melancholy; 10 No more they shrieked their horror, boom for boom; But vainly wolves and lions seek their den, And still more vainly, men escape from men. |