<h2><SPAN name="page6"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>SHELTER.</h2>
<p class="poetry"><span class="smcap">By</span> the wide
lake’s margin I mark’d her lie—<br/>
The wide, weird lake where the alders sigh—<br/>
A young fair thing, with a shy, soft eye;<br/>
And I deem’d that her thoughts had flown<br/>
To her home, and her brethren, and sisters dear,<br/>
As she lay there watching the dark, deep mere,<br/>
All motionless, all alone.</p>
<p class="poetry">Then I heard a noise, as of men and boys,<br/>
And a boisterous troop drew nigh.<br/>
Whither now will retreat those fairy feet?<br/>
Where hide till the storm pass by?<br/>
<SPAN name="page7"></SPAN><span class="pagenum"></span>One
glance—the wild glance of a hunted thing—<br/>
She cast behind her; she gave one spring;<br/>
And there follow’d a splash and a broadening ring<br/>
On the lake where the alders sigh.</p>
<p class="poetry">She had gone from the ken of ungentle men!<br/>
Yet scarce did I mourn for that;<br/>
For I knew she was safe in her own home then,<br/>
And, the danger past, would appear again,<br/>
For she was a water-rat.</p>
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