To the Coxswain and Crew of the Aith Hope Life-boat Samyntas Stannak, I respectfully dedicate these simple verses for their noble work on the iight of the 31st October. It 98, in connection with the disabled steamer Manchester City, during a north-west gale in the Pentland Firth.

They are no fancy regiment Of a spick and span brigade, They wear no brilliant uniform To march with on parade; No pipe or drum to cheer them on Ween siccar work to do; 'Tis the music of the tempest song Leads on the Life-boat crew.

For the Life-boat men are sea-dogs Of many a stubborn fight; They have faced the stormy Pentland In its majesty and might, When the roaring race of Torness Showed fight to the nor'-west, And every green-backed roller Had a white-flaked foaming crest.

A sickly moon is waning Across the murky lift, Watching bleak October's Dying gasp and shrift.

A helpless barque is drifting Down in a stormy lee, And over all is roaring The anthem of the sea.

By Hoy's grim rugged headlands, Through breakers, drift, and foam, Battling with the tempest, The Life-boat struggles on; And bravely are they striving, For down upon the lee There are urgent signals flying- There is trouble on t :o sea." Swirling streams the Pentland Against the nor'-weat gale; The pine-sticks bend and quiver To the bellowing close-reefed sail; Down in the briny hollows Where the rollers loom like cloads,l And the norland winds are singing Though the Life-boat's dripping shrouds.

Stand-by there, lads, for boarding, We must keep her on the track By Stroma's swirling swelkie Past Skerrie, rock and stack; While the sutf sings on your beaches,.

Mighty ocean's glorious hymns, Eemember, aye remember, lads.

That you are men of Brims! Let us cheer the Aith Hope Life-boat And all her noble band; They have shed a brilliant lustre Upon their native land.

In days when they and I are gone 'Twill be a household tale How the men of Brims crossed Torness race In that October gale., B. ROBERTSON, Master of the Orkney Mail Steamer, St. Ola.

Daisybank, StromnesB..