33
'A sail!—thank God! a sail!'
And, as the helmsman spoke,
Up through the stormy murmur,
A shout of gladness broke.
Down came the stranger vessel
Unheeding, on her way,
So near, that on the slaver's deck
Fell off her driven spray.
'Ho! for the love of mercy—
We're perishing and blind!'
A wail of utter agony
Came back upon the wind.
'Help us! for we are stricken
With blindness every one—
Ten days we've floated fearfully,
Unnoting star or sun.
Our ship's the slaver Leon—
We've but a score on board—
Our slaves are all gone over—
Help—for the love of God!'
On livid brows of agony
The broad red lightning shone—
But the roar of wind and thunder
Stifled the answering groan.
Wail'd from the broken waters
A last despairing cry,
As kindling in the stormy light,
The stranger ship went by.
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