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lost the Girl, he knew that he was losing more than half his power to sing, he could scarcely walk to the diminishing crowds that waited for him, and could not see their faces when they stood about him. None. the less he cried angrily to the Crab, 'Why have you come for me now?' 'You were born under my care. coming for you?' said the Crab, wearily. Every human being whom the Crab killed had asked that same question.

How can I help

'But I was just beginning to know what my songs were doing,' said Leo.

'Perhaps that is why,' said the Crab, and the grip tightened.

'You said you would not come till I had taken the world by the shoulders,' gasped Leo, falling back.

'I always keep my word. three times, with three songs. desire ?'

You have done that

What more do you

'Let me live to see the world know it,' pleaded Leo. 'Let me be sure that my songs-'

Even then

6 Make men brave ?' said the Crab. there would be one man who was afraid. The Girl was braver than you are. Come.'

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Leo was standing close to the restless, insatiable mouth. I forgot,' said he, simply. The Girl was braver. But I am a God too, and I am not afraid.'

6 What is that to me ?' said the Crab.

Then Leo's speech was taken from him, and he lay still and dumb, watching Death till he died.

Leo was the last of the Children of the Zodiac. After his death there sprang up a breed of little mean men, whimpering and flinching and howling because the Houses killed them and theirs, who wished to live forever without any pain. They did not increase their lives, but they increased their own torments miserably, and there were no Children of the Zodiac to guide them, and the greater part of Leo's songs were lost.

Only he had carved on the Girl's tombstone the last verse of the Song of the Girl, which stands at the head of this story.

One of the children of men, coming thousands of years later, rubbed away the lichen, read the lines, and applied them to a trouble other than the one Leo meant. Being a man, men believed that he had made the verses himself; but they belong to Leo, the Child of the Zodiac, and teach, as he taught, that what comes or does not come, we must not be afraid.

ENVOY.

HEH! Walk her round! Heave, ah, heave her

short again

Over-snatch her over there, and hold her on the

pawl

Loose all sail, and brace your yards aback and full. Ready jib to pay her off, and heave short all!

Well, ah, fare you well! We can stay no more with you, my love!

Down, set down your liquor, and your girl from off your knee,

For the wind has come to say:

'You must take me while you may,

If you'd go to Mother Carey where she feeds her chicks at sea.'

Heh! Walk her round! Break, ah, break it out o' that

Break our starboard bower out-apeak-awashaclear!

Port-port she casts, with the harbour-roil beneath her foot

And that's the last o' bottom we shall see this year!

Well, ah, fare you well, for we've got to take her out again

Take her out in ballast, riding light and cargo

free.

And it's time to clear and quit

When the hawser grips the bitt;

So we'll pay you with the foresheet and a promise from the sea!

Heh! Tally on! Aft and walk away with her— Handsome to the cathead now; oh, tally on the

fall!

Stop, seize, and fish, and easy on the davit-guy.
Up, well up the fluke of her and inboard haul!

Well, ah, fare you well, for the Channel wind's took hold of us,

Choking down our voices as we snatch the gaskets

free;

And it's blowing up for night,

And she's dropping Light on Light,

And she's snorting under bonnets for a breath of open sea!

Wheel, full and by; but she'll smell her road alone to-night

Sick she is, and harbour-sick-Oh, sick to clear

the land!

Roll down to Brest, with the old Red Ensign over us; Carry on and thrash her out with all she'll stand!

Well, ah, fare you well; and it's Ushant gives the

door to us,

Whirling like a windmill on the dirty scud to lee, Till the last, last flicker goes

From the tumbling water-rows,

And we're off to Mother Carey.

(Walk her down to Mother Carey!)

Oh, we're bound for Mother Carey where she feeds her chicks at sea!

THE END.

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