"Give the word!" But no such word Was ever spoke or heard; For up stood, for out stepped, for in struck, amid all these-- 30 A captain? A lieutenant? A mate--first, second, third? No such man of mark, and meet With his betters to compete, But a simple Breton sailor pressed by Tourville for the fleet-- 5 A poor coasting pilot he, Hervé Riel the Croisickese. And "What mockery or malice have we here?" cries Hervé Riel. "Are you mad, you Malouins? Are you cowards, fools, or rogues? 10 Talk to me of rocks and shoals, me who took the soundings, tell On my fingers every bank, every shallow, every swell, 'Twixt the offing here and Grève where the river disembogues? 15 Are you bought by English gold? Is it love the lying's for? Morn and eve, night and day, Have I piloted your bay, Entered free and anchored fast at the foot of Solidor. 20 Burn the fleet and ruin France? That were worse than fifty Hogues! Sirs, they know I speak the truth! Sirs, believe me there's a way! Only let me lead the line, 25 Have the biggest ship to steer; Get this _Formidable_ clear, Make the others follow mine, And I lead them, most and least, by a passage I know well, Right to Solidor past Grève, 30 And there lay them safe and sound; And if one ship misbehave-- Keel so much as grate the ground-- Why, I've nothing but my life--here's my head!" cries Hervé Riel.
Not a minute more to wait. "Steer us in, then, small and great! 5 Take the helm, lead the line, save the squadron!" cried its chief. "Captains, give the sailor place! He is admiral, in brief." Still the north wind, by God's grace! 10 See the noble fellow's face As the big ship, with a bound, Clears the entry like a hound, Keeps the passage as its inch of way were the wide seas profound! 15 See, safe through shoal and rock, How they follow in a flock, Not a ship that misbehaves, not a keel that grates the ground, Not a spar that comes to grief! 20 The peril, see, is past, All are harbored to the last, And just as Hervé Riel hollas "Anchor!"--sure as fate, Up the English come--too late!
So the storm subsides to calm; 25 They see the green trees wave On the heights o'erlooking Grève; Hearts that bled are stanched with balm. "Just our rapture to enhance, Let the English rake the bay, 30 Gnash their teeth and glare askance As they cannonade away! 'Neath rampired Solidor pleasant riding on the Rance!" How hope succeeds despair on each captain's countenance!