The dark wave, the plumed wave,

It meets his eager glance;

And it sparkles ’neath the stars,

Like the glimmer of a lance;—

A dark wave, a plumed wave;

On an emerald expanse.

A sharp clang, a steel clang,

And terror in the sound!

For the sentry, falcon-eyed,

In the camp a spy hath found;