The Captain of the 'Dolphin,' and other poems of the sea

Preface

A T a time when so many volumes of verse are placed before the public, the author feels that in venturing to add one more to the number, some thing approaching an apology is called for. He begs to offer it and call attention to a truth which in some degree excuses him. Though the British people are the greatest maritime nation the world has ever seen, and the command of the seas the object for which they are prepared to make any sacrifice, it is surprising how comparatively little English verse makes the sea and the sailor its theme. He ventures to hope, therefore, the mari time character of the following poems may save them from a cold rejection, if it does not insure for them some measure of welcome. If the words of Byron, in Childe Harold, have for the reader the charm and truth they have for the author, he will be indulgent — " I have loved thee, ocean ! and my joy Of youthful sports was on thy breast to be

PREFACE.

. unbe Borne, like thy bubbles, onward : from a boy I wanton'd with thy breakers — they to me Were a delight ; and if the fresh'ning sea Made them a terror — 'twas but a pleasing fear, For I was as it were a child of thee, And trusted to thy billows far and near, And laid my hand upon thy mane — as I do here." The use of a few nautical terms has been avoidable. A glossary of those at all likely to unfamiliar will be found in the appendix. CONTENTS The Captain of the "Dolphin" — PAGE I. The Coming of the Captain . . . . 13 By the Inn fire . ... 13 II. The Captain's Story . . 17 He refers briefly to his Early Life . ■ 17 He bids his Bride farewell, and sails for Newfoundland 18 The Ice is seen and entered . . . 20 St. John's, Newfoundland, is reached 21 He dreams of Wife and Home . . . 22 A Seaman awakens him 26 The Harbour Scene . ... 26 The Sailing of the Sealing Fleet . . . 28 The Ship is overtaken by a Storm . . 30 She ships a Sea and loses a portion of her Crew . 31 She is Ice-bound . 33 The Dream . . ... 34 He goes Aloft once more, and determines to walk to the Shore . ■ • • 35 He falls into a Trance . 36 He is carried to the Ship 37 A Gale releases the Ship . . . 38 He awakens from his Trance, saves the Ship from destruction, and hears his Wedding Bells . . 40 The Storm passes away, and a Night of great Beautyensues . . . ... 42 He Sleeps and Dreams again . . 44 The Fleet is seen . . . .

CONTENTS. 10 The Captain of the " Dolphin " — continued ge The Ship is laden and returns to St. John's . . 45 Ice, Storm, and Shipwreck . . . . 46 The wind releases the Ship, and the St. John's Haven is reached . . ... 48 The Ship enters Port, and he hears from Home . . 50 The Ship sails for Davis' Strait in pursuit of Whales . 51 A Mysterious Occurrence . . • ■ 53 A Phantom Wreck rises from the Deep and sinks again 55 The Ship goes on her way, and again he dreams . . 57 During a Storm a Man is lost Overboard, and the Captain sees strange Sights . . • • 59 Land is seen . . ... 61 The Ship reaches Dundee, and he hastens to his Home 63 III. What followed the Captain's Story . 66 The Host expresses thanks and asks a Question . 66 The Captain induces the Host to tell a strange Story . 67 A Strange Old Barque . . 68 The Windlass and the Bell . . . . 69 Silence is kept for a space . . . . 70 The Captain asks a Question and makes a Revelation . 7 1 IV.

The Shipwreck . . ... 72 A Distress Signal is heard, and Dawn breaks 72 The Scene from the Cliffs . . ■ ■ 73 The Captain says Farewell . . . 74 V. The Fisherman's Story . . . 76 The Manning of the Petrel . . . . 76 The Petrel is Launched . . . . 78 The Storm drives the Petrel backwards, and the Wreck breaks asunder . . ... 80 The Captain alarms the Fishermen . . .81 The Boat is turned about and sails Homewards, but uPsets • • ■ ... 82 He indulges in a little Fisher Philosophy . . CONTENTS. 11 The Captain of the " Dolphin "—continued pack VI. The Passing of the Storm . . . . 87 The Author watches the coming of Calm and Sunshine 87 The Author muses and slumbers . . . 89 The Author dreams . . ... 90 The Host awakens him . . . 91 VII. Conclusion . . . ... 92 Morning . . . ... 92 Departure . . . • ■ • 93 The Armada Called " Invincible " — The Captains on the Hoe . . . . 94 Arrival of Fleming . . ... 96 The Sailing of the Sea Dogs . ... 102 The Signal-fires are lit . ... 104 The Armada is sighted . . .105 The First English Attack . . 108 The Spaniards reach Calais . . 113 The English Fire-ships . . ..119 The Flight of the Spanish Fleet 123 The Second English Attack . . . 124 The Spanish Council of War . . . . 127 The Spaniards steer Northwards . .130 The English abandon the Pursuit . .132 How England received the News . 133 Lours Philippe Delarue — 1.

The Sailing and the Wreck . . 135 II. The Apparition . . ... 142 III. The Bottle on the Beach . . . . 147 In the Indian Ocean — 1. Sunrise . . . . 153 II. Noon . 155 III. Sunset 158 IV. Midnight . . .160 CONTENTS. 12 PAGB The Demon and the Derelict 162 Making the Harbour Light • 168 The Song of the Iceberg . . • • 174 The Full-rigged Ship " Centurion " ... 184 In the Cleft of a Rock . . . . 191 A Seaside Reverie . . ... 199 Wreck . . . . ... 206 The Water Bells . . . ... 209 An Outward Bound . • ■ 214 A Mother's Dream . . ... 216 The Sailor's Burial . . . 217 Bewilderment . . ... 218 Appendix . ... 221 I. Note . ... 221 II. Glossary of Nautical Term., . ... Part I. Zbe Coming os tbe Captain. • Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks ! rage ! blow ! " Shakespeare, Henry IV. By the Inn Fire. X LONELY inn looks oui upon the sea "^^ That laves and frets the northern Cornish coast, Where I, unwilling guest, was weather-bound, And sat till late in converse with my host.

A night of storm, as gloomy as the grave, Now moaned and groaned like man in deep distress , Now piped and thundered round the weathered walls Like fifes and drums that Satan might possess. A fire of wood — of planks from off a wreck, Roared loud in concert up the ample flue. We talked of gales and dangers on the sea, The stout ship's loss and drowning of the crew. Our talk was weird, well suited to the night — Such talk as stirs the human brain and breast ; And while the clock was striking twelve there came A bearded, weird, and unexpected guest. So loud the shriek of winds and thunders' roar — As if ten thousand demons were the storm — We did not hear the opening of the door, So, like a spectre stood his lofty form Clad as a master-mariner is clad When in a tempest he commands a ship. On every garment ran the water down, And as he stood it fell with heavy drip His hair was matted curls, his beard was long, And every thread of both was snowy white ; His form was straight and sturdy as a mast : 'T was plain he once had been a man of might.

The eyes were blue, their light — it seemed to me — Like light of stars reflected in the sea, The sorehead wrinkled, the expression sad— A man who might not or who might be mad. Just such a man as old sea stories paint Upon the canvas of a schoolboy's mind — Or we behold in dreams in after life, When youth's romance has drifted far behind. "Pray, take a seat," the host, uprising, said, " And till the morning make yourself at home. 'T is not a night for such an aged man To wander on the Cornish cliffs alone." A smile spread rippling o'er the stranger's face, As circle waves spread out upon a pool Whose calm is broken by the plunging stone Cast by an urchin on his way to school. Then laughed he loud and long, as if the host Had cracked a joke of very rarest kind ; And laughed again, more loudly than before — So loud, indeed, he drowned the whistling wind.

The host, amazed, stood gazing at the guest, Disturbed with doubts about the cause of mirth ; And looking like a man who thinks he sees A spirit-form that haunts this nether earth. •' A little makes you merry, friend," said he; At which the guest looked stern, and gravely said "The mirth of man has long been dead in me. My hope and joy are both for ever fled ! "I laughed because you called me 'aged man' — Laughed at myself, without a thought of thee. Forget my laughter, neighbour, if you can. Have either of you ever been to sea ? " We answered " No " (which seemed to please him much) And begged a story of the stormy main. " A story you shall have," was his reply, " Which I have told, but may not tell again." We piled more wood upon the blazing hearth — More broken planks from off the mould'ring wreck ; The billets, all composed of Norway pine, Were evidently portions of the deck.

The sailor sat in silence for a while, Gazing intently at the blazing fire, Watching the flames, like waves against a cliff, Fanned by the draught their yellow foam throw higher. The host and I sat on an oaken bench Made from two thwarts from out a broken yawl ; He in a chair before the billets' blaze Which threw his trembling shadow on the wall. There leaning forth he spread his horny hands To shade his eyes a little from the light, While we sat wondering what the tale would be Told by the roving pilgrim of the night. When he his tale began, his softened tones Revealed a man who felt himself forlorn ; But later on he seemed, from time to time, The incarnation of the howling storm. Part II. Ubc Captain's Stocg.* " Are his wits safe ? Is he not light of brain ? " Shakespeare, Othello. He refers briefly to his Early Life.

My mother died when I was ten, my father long before : They left me like a castaway upon a lonely shore ! No friend had I to guide or chide, so, feeling I was free, I chose to be a cabin-boy and sailed away to sea. Just where the winds and tides of life propelled me, there I went For thirty years, in twenty ships, to every continent. I sailed the frigid northern seas amid the frost and snow, And in the sultry tropics' heat I travelled to and fro. Those years were all as restless as the restless sea itself ! As Nature gave me common sense I wasted not my pelf. At length I somewhat weary felt of ceaseless come and go — Of being like the ocean tide's eternal ebb and flow. I should have said when I began, that I'm a Scot by birth. No spot to me is like Dundee in all the varied earth. * See Appendix. u Twas there my parents gave me life, 'twas there my parents died, 'Twas there, an orphan, sailed I forth on life's uncertain tide : And thither went I when the time had come to take a rest — A stormy petrel flown to land to make itself a nest.

I found a wife as dear as life, and left her when had flown My year of rest — the briefest year my stormy life has known ! He bids his Bride farewell, and sails for Newfoundland. We stood upon the busy quay one darksome winter day, My bride and I, to say good-bye before I sailed away. I kissed the lass and kissed again — I kissed with honest pride, For sweet was she, and meet was she to be a sailor's bride. I see her now, as then she stood and waved her kerchief white ! I waved my hand ; I left the land ; and through the breezy night I dreamed of her, and dreamed again — I lingered by her side: While she at home was all alone, and dreaming of the tide. The plighted vow ! I feel it now — I feel it night and day ! Oh, precious pearl ! Oh, sweetest girl within the Firth of Tay! Thy sweetness was the sweetness of the sweetest summer rose ; Thy purity the spotlessness of newly fallen snows !

The Dolphin's sail embraced the gale, and north we gaily sped; We saw at night the beacon-light that tells of Peterhead : Then yards were braced, as on we raced towards the rough defiles Which lie between a Caithness green and Orkney's stormy isles. When night was done, a cheerful sun lit up a cheerful sea, And shed a smile on Stroma Isle and shores of Duncansby : With lighter gale and cloud of sail we felt inclined to mirth As, closely trimmed, we lightly skimmed the waves of Pentland Firth. Then came the rain with change of wind — it soon a tempest blew : The waters hissed, and in the mist old Scotland sank from view. Then all around but storms were found and wild Atlantic tide! By wintry blasts our sturdy masts were long and sorely tried. With foaming head, on — on we sped ! Oh, I remember well The stormy days, the blinding sprays, the long Atlantic swell !

High on the waves, through broken crests, with foaming leeward rails, Or deep entroughed, with shrieks aloft, the Dolphin fought the gales. The Ice is seen and entered. Ten stormy days and stormy nights, and then, to north and west, A line of white, at fall of night, lay on the ocean's breast, With belt of light about as bright as when, about to rise, The queen of night with half her light gleams on the darkened skies. Of line of white and belt of light we well the meaning knew, For oft e'er then the Dolphin's stem had bravely pierced them through. As some proud steed on battle-mead rides boldly on the foe By night and day she ploughed her way amid the ice and snow. Now veins of blue would let her through and ripple by her side, — Now like a vise the lifeless ice would hold her in the tide !

And then again the sturdy stem, and steam, and straining mast, With cogent might would win the fight and leave the danger past. 'Mid bergs in hosts like sheeted ghosts a sinuous way we found — We saw them north and south and west, we saw them all around ! No life was there except in air the pallid arctic gull ; While overhead, as dark as lead, the clouds hung low and dull. And then came dreary days and nights — no sun or moon or star! No change beguiled, the ice was piled in masses near and far; No vein of blue to let us through, while in the icy grip Like living thing with broken wing remained the stalwart ship. Then came a gale — a bitter gale with biting bitter blasts ; And driving snow went o'er us so we could not see the masts ; The ice did shift — began to drift — we felt it strangely stir !

And wildly tossed, with reck'ning lost, we knew not where we were. That was a night ! No ray of light to shew where danger lay; 'Mid tossing floes and crashing bergs we longed for break of day. 'Neath snow in clouds, with glittered shrouds and perils near and far, We bore our parts with manly hearts in nature's solemn war. At last came day — with lurid ray the crimson sun uprose ; The blasts all died and left the tide to lie in smooth repose ; The broken ice lay far and wide upon the lurid sea ; With sails uphoist, how we rejoiced to see the course was free! St. John's, Newfoundland, is reached. With later day came warmer ray, and gaily sang the crew Of sunlit ships with sunlit sails on sunlit seas of blue. The man aloft gave joyful shout (Oh, I can hear it now !)— "Ahoy!" said he, "There's land, I see, upon the starboard bow."

The sea-fowl came in wondrous flocks— we blessed the beauteous things ! All round about, and in and out, the air seemed filled with wings, Now soaring past, now 'twixt the masts, now plunging in the sea : We knew that soon — ere stroke of noon— the ship would anchored be. At length, high on the right and left rose cliffs six hundred feet. We passed a fort, we entered port and saw the anchored fleet. O'er ships and haven, hills and town, a calm repose was spread — A snowy pall lay over all as if the whole were dead. He dreams of Wife and Home. The plighted vow ! — I feel it now — I feel it night and day ! Of her at home I dreamed that night as we so quiet lay — Of her — my life ! — the sweetest wife that ever blessed the earth ; And I could see dear old Dundee and all the Moray Firth. Again I heard her kindly voice, as when in Kentish vale By leafy way, at death of day, is heard the nightingale ; Again I heard her laughter sweet, so like the tinkling rills That gaily run in summer sun adown the Sidlaw Hills.

Once more my pearl, my bonnie girl, lay in my arms' repose To hear me tell of what befel amid the Arctic floes ; And pale was she to hear from me how near at times was death : The tears did rise within her eyes, and trembling in her breath. Then mirth again and merry laugh. Oh, God, it seemed so real ! I see her now ! I hear it now, that laughter's silver peal ! I told of pastime in the north and sport among the crew ; How, roused at night, the mimic bear in mimic fight we slew. And then the scene was strangely changed! 'Twas gladsome summer day : 'Neath cloudless sky my bride and I were by the bonnie Tay. Life seemed all bliss — one warm, long kiss — and we the meeting lips ! 'Twas haying time, and I and mine thought not of storms and ships. The new-mown hay made sweet the day ; the Tay was strangely bright With brilliant birds and brilliant boats. 'Twas an enchanting sight !

With sail and oar the boats went by with wondrous skill controlled — The sails were sails of flashing silk, the oars were oars of gold. Both they who rowed the golden oars and they who trimmed the sail Were friends whom we had known through life : they gave us joyful hail As, kindly smiling, past they swept along the perfumed shore. With joy-dimmed eyes we gave replies and blessed them o'er and o'er. Most brilliant birds of wondrous song, with brilliant wings outspread In graceful flight, with speed of light, came wheeling overhead : Their wings were white, and strangely bright with wondrous golden tips ; Their flashing breasts and sunlit crests were like my darling's lips. Our marriage bells we heard again — a madly merry chime ! The air seemed filled, with music thrilled, and throbbed responsive time.

The form was read — again we said, each one, a glad "I will"; Another burst of marriage chimes, and then the bells stood still. Through sunny hours I culled the flowers that bloomed about her feet, And deftly twined, with green combined, to make a chaplet sweet. Oh, sweet indeed the chaplet was ! — " My love," I gently said, "This chaplet I have made for you" -and laid it on her head. To my surprise her gentle eyes o'erflowed with blinding tears, While, pale in look, she plainly shook as if with sudden fears! She left home clad in Scottish plaid which now turned strangely white — As white as snow or Arctic floe seen in Aurora's light. I calmed her fears, I dried her tears, and held her in my arms. 'T is strange, thought I, that she should cry and feel such wild alarms ; And while I thought, a wind uprose (as chill as death !

I deem) — The wreath was tossed and quickly lost "within the passing stream. The brilliant light and beauty died as dies a sunset hue ; The birds all fled from overhead (as hopes are wont to do) ; The brilliant boats became as jet; the waters dark as night; The rowers and their golden oars became a ghastly white ! Then darkness fell, 'twas dark as hell — it fell like falling pall On faded scene and faded stream, till blackness covered all ! One beam alone, like marble stone, fell on my trembling bride ; No sound I heard save one lone bird and rush of passing tide. "Wreath! wreath!" cried she. "Ah, woe is me!" Oh, frenzy of the dream ! With piercing shriek she fled to seek the chaplet in the stream. I heard her plunge ; I heard her rise ; I saw an outstretched hand — 'Twas lustrous white and mocked the night.

Then I became unmanned ! I strove to plunge, but could not plunge — some demon held me back, While I beheld the hand uplift amid surrounding black ! Adown the stream the drifting hand grew paler as it swept ; In grief I sank upon the bank, and long and sorely wept. A Seaman awakens Him. Then came a knocking — and again, with strokes of chimes between. "The hand!" I cried; "the snow-white hand has drifted down the stream ! " " Six bells, sir, six ! " a voice replied. Then flew the visioned scene, And glad was I to wake and find it all a troubled dream. My teeth were set (I can't forget !), set like a tightened vise, My brow was wet with death-like sweat, my hands like blocks of ice ! That hand so white — so strangely bright — I saw through standing tears ; The piercing cry refused to die upon my terrored ears.

I felt as weak, and looked as pale as if in direful swoon ; The cabin light was dim to sight, and like a clouded moon. With beating heart and panting breath I sat me up in bed, And felt as Lazarus must have felt when wakened from the dead. I felt like one entombed in trance, and longed the sun to see. My cabin seemed a charnel house which close imprisoned me! I got me forth and walked the deck — the very sun seemed sad! Who saw my pace and livid face concluded I was mad. The Harbour Scene. I strove to find relief of mind, and long I strove in vain. What met the sight recalled the night and burned within the brain, For boats there were, and birds there were, and rowers rowing past — A pageant bright with morning light upon the waters cast. The rowers hailed the Dolphin's crew : I thought they called to me, And feared again my fevered brain would all its horrors see.

Had they returned — if I had heard that shriek and plunge again, I must confess, with sore distress I should have gone insane. My mind was calmed, and joy returned, as upwards sailed the sun ; But times there were when thoughts would stir which made me feel undone. Yes — thoughts of her — the bonnie heart I left in old Dundee, Who watched with sighs and tear-dimmed eyes the Dolphin sail to sea. I thought about the busy quay and darksome winter day ; I thought about the sweet good-bye, and how I sailed away. In thought I kissed my lass again, and kissed with honest pride, For sweet was she, and meet was she to be a sailor's bride. I tried to think what life would be— a long and weary day ! — Without my pearl, the sweetest girl in all the Firth of Tay. A shadow fell across my soul ; then came unbidden tears, And I was tossed and almost lost in waves of hopes and fears.

There have been times, there will be times (I think you '11 both agree), When, looking back, a thoughtful mind can strange connections see Between a grief and dream of grief. On this I '11 say no more, But just remark, great sorrows cast their shadows long before. The sun went on ; and on I mused till near the close of day; The Dolphin's masts their shadows cast on objects far away. The evening lit her vestal lamp — the lonely star I blessed ! My stormy life seemed halcyon and full of nameless rest. Night brought the bright Aurora's light with mystic, fitful flash- Round her bespangled azure robe she bound a silver sash. I stayed to watch the dancing light until it failed and died : The clock struck twelve when night unbound and laid her sash aside. The Sailing of the Sealing Fleet. The day we sailed it briskly blew.

The world was all aglow, And down the hills poured countless rills from off the melting snow. A gladsome sight — a world bedight lay spread before my eyes — The haven, town, and shipping made a picture to surprise ! At anchor lay a score of ships of stalwart mould and main, With oaken hides and iron sides to meet the ice's strain — To meet the floes and fight the floes that lay await afar — A sturdy fleet prepared to meet the blows of sturdy war. In lofty order stood each mast and yard and sail and rope — A gay array to meet the storms and with the storms to cope. With flash and dip from shore to ship, again from ship to shore, The brawny sailors and their boats kept passing evermore. High over decks and over yards the language of the seas — A thousand coloured pennons — kissed and flirted with the breeze : The town and shore, each street and store, appeared one busy hive ; The ships, the boats, the wooden quays with men were all alive.

One humming rout, with laugh and shout, all eager for the sound Of engine's throb and flapping sails wide-spread and outward bound. It came at last ! Each windlass clicked in time to lusty song; The engines beat; the sails spread out to bear the fleet along. From lips on ships, from lips on shore came loud and lusty cheers, While wives and sweethearts waved their hands and wiped away their tears. The very birds which winged about seemed in excitement bound As, far and near, cheer after cheer burst forth with thrilling sound. The engines throbbed like throbbing hearts of living, moving things ; Ship after ship, like giant bird, spread out her giant wings : Beyond the port, beyond the fort and frowns of Signal Hill, The cheers on shore we faintly heard, and heard more faintly still. Before our bows the waters hissed, and gurgled far behind ; They leaped and laughed along the sides and sported in the wind.

The frowning northern headland passed, the wheel was made to spin — With " Yo, heave ho ! " we gaily hauled the starboardbraces in. On fled the fleet, and wildly well the lively Dolphin flew Where, snow bedight and bathed in light, lay storm-worn Baccalieu. The wind increased : as bar of steel became each weathershroud — Like strings of some colossal harp they softly played aloud. The Ship is overtaken by a Storm. The sun went down, and, as it sank, put on an angry glow. Dark clouds uprolled all edged with gold ; then came the blinding snow And hid the masts and men aloft who furled the flapping sails ; It whirled about the deck and massed against the leeward rails. Then darkness came — the night closed round, a very night of nights ! 'Twas like the grave, save where the wave received the Dolphin's lights.