It hurtled down the leaning yellow wall,

And bounding from a brushy ledge’s brow,

It barely grazed the buttocks of a cow

And made a moment’s eddy where it struck.

In peevish wrath Hugh cursed his evil luck,

And seizing rubble, gave his fury vent

By pelting bison till his strength was spent:

So might a child assail the crowding sea!

Then, sick at heart and musing bitterly,

He shambled down the steep way to the creek,