oot of Solidor.
Burn the fleet and ruin France? That were worse than fifty Hogues!
Sirs, they know I speak the truth! Sirs, believe me 55
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, 60
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 65
Riel.

VII

Not a minute more to wait.
"Steer us in, then, small and great!
Take the helm, lead the line, save the squadron!" cried its chief.
Captains, give the sailor place!
He is Admiral, in brief. 70
Still the north-wind, by God's grace!
See the noble fellow's face
As the big ship, with a bound,
Clears the entry like a hound,
Keeps the passage as its inch of way were the wide sea's 75
profound!
See, safe through shoal and rock,
How they follow in a flock;
Not a ship that misbehaves, not a keel that grates the ground,
Not a spar that comes to grief!
The peril, see, is past. 80
All are harbored to the last,
And just as Herve Riel hollas, "Anchor!"--sure as fate
Up the English come--too late!

VIII

So, the storm subsides to calm:
They see the green trees wave 85
On the heights o'erlooking Greve.
Hearts that bled are stanched with balm.
"Just our rapture to enhance;
Let the English rake the bay,
Gnash their teeth, and glare askance 90
As they cannonade away!
'Neath rampired Solidor pleasant riding on the Rance!"
How hope succeeds despair on each Captain's countenance!
Out burst all with one accord,
"This is Paradise for Hell! 95
Let France, let France's King
Thank the man that did the thing!"
What a shout, and all one word, "Herve Riel!"
As he stepped in front once more,
Not a symptom of surprise 100
In the frank blue Breton eyes,
Just the same man as before.

IX

Then said Damfreville, "My friend,