O’erwhelmed him there. And when the black bulk churned

The star-flecked stream no longer, Jamie turned,

Recrossed the river and rode back to Hugh.

A burning twist of valley grasses threw

Blear light about the region of the spring.

Then Jamie, torch aloft and shuddering,

Knelt there beside his friend, and moaned: “O Hugh,

If I had been with you—just been with you!

We might be laughing now—and you are dead.”

With gentle hand he turned the hoary head