Then suddenly a rifle grasped,

And aimed it at his son.

'Jump, far out, boy, into the wave!

Jump or I fire," he said;

That only chance your life can save;

Jump, jump, boy!" He obeyed.

He sunk-he rose-he lived he moved-
And for the ship struck out.
On board we hailed the lad beloved,

With many a manly shout.

His father drew, in silent joy,

Those wet arms round his neck, And folded to his heart his boy

Then fainted on the deck.

THE SKELETON IN ARMOR.

"SPEAK! speak! thou fearful guest!
Who, with thy hollow breast
Still in rude armor drest,

Comest to daunt me !

Wrapt not in Eastern balms,
But with thy fleshless palms
Stretch'd, as if asking alms ;

Why dost thou haunt me?'

Then from those cavernous eyes
Pale flashes seem'd to rise,

As when the Northern skies

Gleams in December;

ANON.

And, like the water's flow
Under December's snow,

Came a dull voice of woe

From the heart's chamber.

“I was a Viking old!
My deeds, though manifold,
No Skald in song has told,
No Saga taught thee!

Take heed, that in thy verse

Thou dost the tale rehearse,

Else dread a dead man's curse; For this I sought thee.

"Far in the Northern land, By the wild Baltic's strand, I, with my childish hand,

Tamed the ger-falcon ; And, with my skates fast bound, Skimm'd the half-frozen sound, That the poor whimpering hound Trembled to walk on.

"Oft to his frozen lair
Track'd I the grisly bear,

While from my path the hare
Fled like a shadow;

Oft through the forest dark
Follow'd the were-wolf's bark,

Until the soaring lark

Sang from the meadow.

64

'But when I older grew, Joining a corsair's crew, O'er the dark sea I flew

With the marauders.
Wild was the life we led;
Many the souls that sped,
Many the hearts that bled,
By our stern orders.

"Many a wassail-bout
Wore the long winter out;
Often our midnight shout
Set the cocks crowing,
As we the Berserk's tale
Measured in cups of ale,
Draining the oaken pail,
Fill'd to o'erflowing.

"Once as I told in glee
Tales of the stormy sea,
Soft eyes did gaze on me,
Burning, yet tender;

And as the white stars shine

On the dark Norway pine,
On that dark heart of mine
Fell their soft splendor.

"I woo'd the blue-eyed maid, Yielding, yet half afraid,

And in the forest's shade

Our vows were plighted.

Under its loosen'd vest
Flutter'd her little breast,
Like birds within their nest

By the hawk frighted.

Bright in her father's hall
Shields gleam'd upon the wall,

Loud sang the minstrels all,
Chanting his glory;

When of old Hildebrand

I ask'd his daughter's hand,
Mute did the minstrels stand
To hear my story.

"While the brown ale he quaff'd,
Loud then the champion laugh'd,
And as the wind-gusts waft
The sea-foam brightly,

So the loud laugh of scorn,
Out of those lips unshorn,
From the deep drinking-horn
Blew the foam lightly.

"She was a prince's child,

I but a Viking wild,

And though she blush'd and smiled,

I was discarded!

Should not the dove so white
Follow the sea-mew's flight,
Why did they leave that night
Her nest unguarded?

"Scarce had I put to sea, Bearing the maid with me, Fairest of all was she

Among the Norsemen ! When on the white sea-strand,

Waving his armed hand,

Saw we old Hildebrand,

With twenty horsemen.

"Then launched they to the blast, Bent like a reed each mast,

Yet we were gaining fast,

When the wind fail'd us;

And with a sudden flaw

Came round the gusty Skaw,

So that our foe we saw

Laugh as he hail'd us.

"And as to catch the gale Round veer'd the flapping sail, 'Death'! was the helmsman's hail,

‘Death without quarter'!

Mid-ships with iron keel

Struck we her ribs of steel,

Down her black hulk did reel

Through the black water!

"As with his wings aslant, Sails the fierce cormorant, Seeking some rocky haunt,

With his prey laden,—