Chapter II

Sea that sprang to the keels of the ships of Nelson and Drake,
Billows that leap’d for delight in the battles for England’s sake--
Will ye fail us now? Nay, never! Ye are strong as ye were of yore,
And Victory’s voice rings clearly out in your rush on the rocky
shore--
And shark-like Death, at the enemy’s cry, to meet him swiftly runs,
For your swirl and sucking sands are as sure as the fire of a
thousand guns!