"Must I drown in sight of my wife," he said,
"Must I die within reach of my home."

"For the sake of my helpless little ones,
For the sake of my faithful wife.
I pray Thee, O Lord, to forgive all my sins,
Give me this one chance for my life."

Still darker grew the storm, black and green looked the waves,
The shore line to the captain grew dim,
But he knew by the lantern and the waving white flag,
Where his loved ones were watching for him.

Three hours he struggled with the full flooding tide.
Now the Channel Rock danger is o'er.
One more stretch of water, some more dangerous rocks,
Then the gleaming surf, then the shore.

"A rope, bring a rope," the kind neighbors shout,
"A rope now the captain will save."
They coiled a stout rope and with powerful hand,
Flung it out o'er the turbulent wave.

Joy! Joy! he is saved! He clutches the rope,
With cold, bruised and stiffening hand,
A long pull, a strong' pull, and more dead than alive,
Through the surf they draw him to land.

"Home, home for hot coffee," to the lassie she cried,
Home, home for hot coffee, went she,