The writings of John Greenleaf Whittier, Volume 1.
John Greenleaf Whittier, Ed.

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[59] ‘Vile scoffer!’ cried the baffled priest,
     ‘Thou'lt yet the gallows see.’
‘Who's born to be hanged will not be drowned,’
     Quoth Macy, merrily;

‘And so, sir sheriff and priest, good-by!’
     He bent him to his oar,
And the small boat glided quietly
     From the twain upon the shore.

Now in the west, the heavy clouds
     Scattered and fell asunder,
While feebler came the rush of rain,
     And fainter growled the thunder.

And through the broken clouds, the sun
     Looked out serene and warm,
Painting its holy symbol-light
     Upon the passing storm.

Oh, beautiful! that rainbow span,
     O'er dim Crane-neck was bended;
One bright foot touched the eastern hills,
     And one with ocean blended.

By green Pentucket's southern slope
     The small boat glided fast;
The watchers of the Block-house saw
     The strangers as they passed.

That night a stalwart garrison
     Sat shaking in their shoes,
To hear the dip of Indian oars,
     The glide of birch canoes.