XIX.

His ruddy cheek retained its streak,
  No danger seem’d to shrink him: 
His step still bold—­of mortal mould
  The crew could hardly think him: 
The Lady of the Lake, he seem’d
  To know; could never sink him.

XX.

Relaxed at last the furious gale
  Quite out of breath with racing;
The boiling flood in milder mood,
  With gentler billows chasing;
From stem to stern, with frequent turn,
  The Stranger took to pacing.

XXI.

And as he walked to self he talked,
  Some ancient ditty thrumming,
In undertone, as not alone—­
  Now whistling, and now humming—­
“You’re welcome, Charlie,” “Cowdenknowes,”
  “Kenmure,” or “Campbells’ Coming.”

XXII.

Down went the wind, down went the wave,
  Fear quitted the most finical;
The Saints, I wot, were soon forgot,
  And Hope was at the pinnacle: 
When rose on high a frightful cry—­
  “The Devil’s in the binnacle!”

XXIII.

“The Saints be near,” the helmsman cried,
  His voice with quite a falter—­
“Steady’s my helm, but every look
  The needle seems to alter;
God only knows where China lies,
  Jamaica, or Gibraltar!”

XXIV.

The captain stared aghast at mate,
  The pilot at th’ apprentice;
No fancy of the German Sea
  Of Fiction the event is: 
But when they at the compass look’d,
  It seem’d non compass mentis.

XXV.

Now north, now south, now east, now west,
  The wavering point was shaken,
’Twas past the whole philosophy
  Of Newton, or of Bacon;
Never by compass, till that hour,
  Such latitudes were taken!

XXVI.

With fearful speech, each after each
  Took turns in the inspection;
They found no gun—­no iron—­none—­
  To vary its direction;
It seem’d a new magnetic case
  Of Poles in Insurrection!

XXVII.

Farewell to wives, farewell their lives,
  And all their household riches;
Oh! while they thought of girl or boy,
  And dear domestic niches,
All down the side which holds the heart,
  That needle gave them stitches.

XXVIII.

With deep amaze, the Stranger gazed
  To see them so white-livered: 
And walked abaft the binnacle,
  To know at what they shivered;
But when he stood beside the card,
  St. Josef! how it quivered!