Launched from the margin of a bay Among the Indian isles, where lay His father's ship, and had sailed far-- To join that gallant ship of war, In his delightful shell. 135 Our Highland Boy oft visited 'The house that [14] held this prize; and, led By choice or chance, did thither come One day when no one was at home, And found the door unbarred. 140 While there he sate, alone and blind, That story flashed upon his mind;-- A bold thought roused him, and he took The shell from out its secret nook, And bore it on his head. [15] 145 He launched his vessel,--and in pride Of spirit, from Loch-Leven's side, Stepped into it--his thoughts all free As the light breezes that with glee Sang through the adventurer's hair. [16] 150 A while he stood upon his feet; He felt the motion--took his seat; Still better pleased as more and more The tide retreated from the shore, And sucked, and sucked him in. [17] 155 And there he is in face of Heaven. How rapidly the Child is driven! The fourth part of a mile, I ween, He thus had gone, ere he was seen By any human eye. 160 But when he was first seen, oh me What shrieking and what misery! For many saw; among the rest His Mother, she who loved him best, She saw her poor blind Boy. 165 But for the child, the sightless Boy, It is the triumph of his joy! The bravest traveller in balloon, Mounting as if to reach the moon, Was never half so blessed. 170 And let him, let him go his way, Alone, and innocent, and gay! For, if good Angels love to wait On the forlorn unfortunate, This Child will take no harm. 175 But now the passionate lament, Which from the crowd on shore was sent, The cries which broke from old and young In Gaelic, or the English tongue, Are stifled--all is still. 180 And quickly with a silent crew A boat is ready to pursue; And from the shore their course they take, And swiftly down the running lake They follow the blind Boy. 185 But soon they move with softer pace; So have ye seen the fowler chase On Grasmere's clear unruffled breast A youngling of the wild-duck's nest With deftly-lifted oar; 190 Or as the wily sailors crept To seize (while on the Deep it slept) The hapless creature which did dwell Erewhile within the dancing shell, They steal upon their prey. [18] 195 With sound the least that can be made, They follow, more and more afraid, More cautious as they draw more near; But in his darkness he can hear, And guesses their intent. 200