ity; he surveyed the
perverse obstinacy of vitality that would not quit its old habitation,
though fierce pain was in possession; and he could wonder at the
wretched body heaving, tortured by a double thirst for air, for water,
when so short a time would render it mere quiet earth, soon to unshape.

Out of the darkness rang her voice, noting beauty wordless, and sunlit
seas glanced through the nights: the magic of the sea was upon him.

Brief sweetness! the bright sound faltered, broke. O blackness and pain!
The far, slow knell struck in.

Again, up welled the buoyant voice, poised and floated exquisitely,
mounted and shrilled frantically sweet, caught up the failing senses from
the death sweats, and launched them on a magic flood of emotion, through
racing sprays, and winds vivid and strong of the brine.

Gone, ah! gone; for a wailing cry came, and then thwart silence suddenly,
and flung him back to the dominion of black anguish.

And again and again, high-noted, above the tramp of the nearing tide,
that perfect voice flew to delicious melody; and promise of words
strengthened the enchantment; and yet, and yet, a cry and a silence
stabbed and bled the spell she would fashion.

Perfect achievement came. Up rose a measure transcending in rapture all
forgone, and flawless, unfaltering, consummate, leaped on and on, rhythm
by rhythm, clear-syllabled for conquest.

'Where silver shallows hold back the sea, Under the bend of the great
land's knee, And the gleaming gulls go nestled and free.

Where the tide runs down in the round of the bay, There in the rings
where the mermen play, On ribs and shallows their footprints lay.

In liquid speech they laughed and sung, Under the rocks, till the rout
outswung, Called from the echoing cave its tongue.

They were away with the glimmering seas: Off with the twilight, off with
the breeze, Wave-weeds fell from their glancing knees;

Robes laid by, which the hollowed spars Held and hid, while the wet
sand-bars Failed of the sunlight and filled with stars.

Sea-mists rose for a dream, but when Mists wore faint in the sunlight,
then Lo, the sea with its dancing men.

Spume and swirl spun under their feet; Sparkle and flash, for the runners
were fleet; Over them climbed the day to its heat.

And the day drew a draught of the tide-winds strong, As a singer the
breath to be rendered song, As a child the life that will last so long.'

Christian had fallen prone.

While she s