OUR ISLAND STORY Rob . Point direct sir—answer me. Alf. Viceroy, I know what you have done for me,— Have chosen me for your pilot and right well I know your word is law. All this I know And strongly feel; but when the moment came To carry out your orders, in my breast Compassion and obedience went to war, And I had thought—had hoped—* Rob . Say on Sir, Well? Alf. Obedience triumphed. With what grace I might I made her doom known to the Lady Mar— Rob. The prisoner— Alf. The prisoners, they also had with them A horrible old witch or nursing mother,-— 'Fore Gad, I'd rather face five savages Than that old spitfire; with her claws she flew At all around; and lo! mariners of Fled like Neapolitans before her charge, With much scratched visages, e'en I myself Had to be rescued by my port ensign Else I had throttled been. At length she clung To her loved lady, who stood pale and dumb, But trembling much; and then unto the boat We lowered them while the sailors at the oars Were silent in the presence of such grief, But, when we left to come on board, there came Over the surge such wild burst of despair It quite o'ercame us; and I had to turn And vent some rounds of good sound Gascoyne oaths As a wild diluent to soothe my feelings. IThe place of landing was, as by this chart, An Island you will see on Cartier 's plan At thirty-six leagues distant from the coast Across the mouth of the known estuary, Rob . So that 'tis done, tell me not were 'twas done. Alf. The wind had fallen, and our idle sails Lay pinned against the masts. I