Then swift alarm’d, in tones that arm’d,
Her crew that toward him hied.
“Move off!” her captain roar’d,
His pistol aiming well;
Then fired[23]—alack! fire answer’d back;
He started, stagger’d, fell.
And then, as dark and fierce
As tidal waves, where fleets
Are whelm’d and whirl’d and downward hurl’d
Till death their deed completes,