THE night was dark, the tempest roared, The waves ran mountains high: It seemed to every hand on board As if the sea and sky In one commingled mass was blent And welded by the gale, Save where the quiv'ring light'niag rent The darkness as a veil.

Our boats were gone, and one by one Our masts 'gan sway and reel: On beam-ends thrown, we lay alone Off Kingsdowne, hard by Deal.

A dull deep thud, a stifled sound, A crushing, tearing grind, A shock, a crash—we are aground, A prey to wave and wind.

The sea breaks o'er us fore and aft, Our decks are swept quite clear, Not e'en a spar to make a raft Is left—we sink with fear.

The lightning's flash, the thunder's crash, Shakes us from truck to keel: The waves tumultuous splash and dash, Off Kingsdowne, hard by Deal.

We were just forty souls and seven, Both passengers and crew: "With cries for help we wearied Heav'n, No help appeared in viow.

We clung to ropes along the deck, And strained our aching sight- Through spray and mist—a helpless wreck The Solent lay that night.

One tiny spark glints through the dark, We watch it roll and reel: " The Life-boat's out!" we wildly shout, " From Kingsdowne, hard by Deal." Now poised upon the billow's crest, Now whelmed in the deep, She struggles on—no pause—no rest- She climbs the wat'ry steep.

She nears—but cannot make us, The current runs so sore: Must Death then overtake us So near our native shore ? On board that boat could we but float A line—hearts true as steel Wait us to save from wat'ry grave Off Kingsdowue, hard by Deal.

Of all the lumber round the deck, Nought is there left, save one Old anchor buoy—itself a wreck With honest service done.

The mate he bent it to a rope, And hove it o'er the side.

God help us, 'tis our only hope! May He its course now guide: It nears them—nay;—'tis swept away.

Again the line we reel, Again 'tis east, our hearts beat fast, Off Kingsdowne, hard by Deal.

Twice has the old float missed its mark — Twice is it dashed away— Twice have we lost it in the dark— Twice, by the ghastly ray Of blue-light burnt aboard that bark, We see it dashed and whirled— Our refuge sole, our only ark Of safety in this world.

See'. see ! 'tis caught—fast round the thwart 'Ti9 hitched—a joyous peal, A clam'rous shout, rings boldly out, Off Kingsdowue, hard by Deal.

God bless the Life-boat and its crew! Its coxswain brave and old! And Jarvist Arnold is his name, Sprung from those Vikings bold, Who made the wind and waves their slaves, As likewise we do so, While still Britannia rules the waves, And the stormy winds do blow; And th' old" cork float, that safety brought, We'll hold in honour leal, And it shall grace the chiefest place In Kingsdowne, hard by Deal.

FRED. I/YSTEB.

From Tine Figaro.

HOTICE.—The next number of the " Life-boat Journal" will be published on the 1st of February, 1876..