'Twixt the offing here and Greve where the river
disembogues? Are you bought by English gold? Is it love the
lying's for?
Morn and eve, night and day, Have I piloted your bay,
Entered free and anchored fast at the foot of Solidor.
Burn the fleet and ruin France? That were
worse than fifty Hogues!
Sirs, they know I speak the truth! Sirs, be- lieve me there's a way! Only let me lead the line,
Have the biggest ship to steer, Get this Formidable clear, Make the others follow mine, And I lead them, most and least, by a passage I
know well, Right to Solidor past Greve,
And there lay them safe and sound; And if one ship misbehave,
Keel so much as grate the ground, Why, I've nothing but my life, here's my head!" cries Herve Kiel.
Not a minute more to wait.
'Steer us in, then, small and great!
Take the helm, lead the line, save the squadron! '
cried his chief. 'Captains, give the sailor place!
He is Admiral, in brief.
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