Achingforanhour’ssleep，dozingoffbetween；
’Heardtherottenrivetsdrawwhenshetookitgreen；
’Watchedthecompasschaseitstaillikeacatatplay——
Thatwasonthe-Bolivar-，southacrosstheBay。
Oncewesawbetweenthesqualls，lyin’headtoswell——
Madwithworkandweariness，wishin’theywaswe——
SomedamnedLiner’slightsgobylikealonghotel；
Cheeredherfromthe-Bolivar-swampin’inthesea。
Thenagraybackclearedusout，thentheskipperlaughed；
“Boys，thewheelhasgonetoHell——rigthewinchesaft！
Yokethekickingrudder-head——getherunderway！”
Sowesteeredher，pulley-haul，outacrosstheBay！
Justapacko’rottenplatesputtiedupwithtar，Inwecame，an’timeenough，’crossBilbaoBar。
Overloaded，undermanned，meanttofounder，weEuchredGodAlmighty’sstorm，bluffedtheEternalSea！
Sevenmenfromalltheworld，backtotownagain，Rollin’downtheRatcliffeRoaddrunkandraisingCain：
SevenmenfromoutofHellAin’ttheownersgay，’Causewetookthe“Bolivar“safeacrosstheBay？
THEENGLISHFLAG
Abovetheporticoaflag-staff，bearingtheUnionJack，remainedflutteringintheflamesforsometime，butultimatelywhenitfellthecrowdsrenttheairwithshouts，andseemedtoseesignificanceintheincident——DAILY
PAPERS。
WindsoftheWorld，giveanswer！Theyarewhimperingtoandfro——
AndwhatshouldtheyknowofEnglandwhoonlyEnglandknow？——
Thepoorlittlestreet-bredpeoplethatvapourandfumeandbrag，TheyareliftingtheirheadsinthestillnesstoyelpattheEnglishFlag！
MustweborrowacloutfromtheBoer——toplasteranewwithdirt？
AnIrishliar’sbandage，oranEnglishcoward’sshirt？
WemaynotspeakofEngland；herFlag’stosellorshare。
WhatistheFlagofEngland？WindsoftheWorld，declare！
TheNorthWindblew：——“FromBergenmysteel-shodvanguardsgo；
IchaseyourlazywhalershomefromtheDiskofloe；
BythegreatNorthLightsabovemeIworkthewillofGod，Andthelinersplitsontheice-fieldortheDoggerfillswithcod。
“Ibarredmygateswithiron，Ishutteredmydoorswithflame，Becausetoforcemyrampartsyournutshellnaviescame；
Itookthesunfromtheirpresence，Icutthemdownwithmyblast，Andtheydied，buttheFlagofEnglandblewfreeerethespiritpassed。
“Theleanwhitebearhathseenitinthelong，longArcticnight，Themusk-oxknowsthestandardthatfloutstheNorthernLight：
WhatistheFlagofEngland？Yehavebutmybergstodare，YehavebutmydriftstoconquerGoforth，foritisthere！”
TheSouthWindsighed：——“FromtheVirginsmymid-seacoursewasta’enOverathousandislandslostinanidlemain，Wherethesea-eggflamesonthecoralandthelong-backedbreakerscroonTheirendlessoceanlegendstothelazy，lockedlagoon。
“Strayedamidlonelyislets，mazedamidouterkeys，Iwakedthepalmstolaughter——Itossedthescudinthebreeze——
Neverwasislesolittle，neverwasseasolone，Butoverthescudandthepalm-treesanEnglishflagwasflown。
“IhavewrencheditfreefromthehalliardtohangforawispontheHorn；
IhavechaseditnorthtotheLizard——ribbonedandrolledandtorn；
Ihavespreaditsfoldo’erthedying，adriftinahopelesssea；
Ihavehurleditswiftontheslaver，andseentheslavesetfree。
“Mybaskingsunfishknowit，andwheelingalbatross，WherethelonewavefillswithfirebeneaththeSouthernCross。
WhatistheFlagofEngland？Yehavebutmyreefstodare，YehavebutmyseastofurrowGoforth，foritisthere！”
TheEastWindroared：——“FromtheKuriles，theBitterSeas，I
come，AndmemencalltheHome-Wind，forIbringtheEnglishhome。
Look——lookwelltoyourshipping！BythebreathofmymadtyphoonIsweptyourclose-packedPrayaandbeachedyourbestatKowloon！
“Thereelingjunksbehindmeandtheracingseasbefore，Irapedyourrichestroadstead——IplunderedSingapore！
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