The Three Bells

Beneath the low-hung night cloud     That raked her splintering mast     The good ship settled slowly,     The cruel leak gained fast.     Over the awful ocean     Her signal guns pealed out.     Dear God! was that Thy answer     From the horror round about?     A voice came down the wild wind,     Ho! ship ahoy! its cry     Our stout Three Bells of Glasgow     Shall lay till daylight by!     Hour after hour crept slowly,     Yet on the heaving swells     Tossed up and down the ship-lights,     The lights of the Three Bells!     And ship to ship made signals,     Man answered back to man,     While oft, to cheer and hearten,     The Three Bells nearer ran;     And the captain from her taffrail     Sent down his hopeful cry     Take heart! Hold on! he shouted;     The Three Bells shall lay by!     All night across the waters     The tossing lights shone clear;     All night from reeling taffrail     The Three Bells sent her cheer.     And when the dreary watches     Of storm and darkness passed,     Just as the wreck lurched under,     All souls were saved at last.     Sail on, Three Bells, forever,     In grateful memory sail!     Ring on, Three Bells of rescue,     Above the wave and gale!     Type of the Love eternal,     Repeat the Masters cry,     As tossing through our darkness     The lights of God draw nigh!