The Main-Truck; Or, A Leap for Life A Nautical Ballad.

[Founded upon a well-known tale from the pen of the late William Leggett, Esq.]     Old Ironsides at anchor lay,      In the harbor of Mahon;     A dead calm rested on the bay--      The waves to sleep had gone;     When little Jack, the captain's son,      With gallant hardihood,     Climbed shroud and spar--and then upon      The main-truck rose and stood!     A shudder ran through every vein--      All eyes were turned on high!     There stood the boy, with dizzy brain,      Between the sea and sky!     No hold had he above--below,      Alone he stood in air!     At that far height none dared to go--      No aid could reach him there.     We gazed--but not a man could speak!--      With horror all aghast     In groups, with pallid brow and cheek,      We watched the quivering mast.     The atmosphere grew thick and hot,      And of a lurid hue,     As, riveted unto the spot,      Stood officers and crew.     The father came on deck--He gasped,      "O, God, Thy will be done!"     Then suddenly a rifle grasped,      And aimed it at his son!     "Jump far out, boy! into the wave!      Jump, or I fire!" he said:     "That only chance your life can save!      Jump--jump, boy!"--He obeyed.     He sank--he rose--he lived--he moved--      He for the ship struck out!     On board we hailed the lad beloved      With many a manly shout.     His father drew, in silent joy,      Those wet arms round his neck,     Then folded to his heart the boy      And fainted on the deck!