The Seven Seas Part 18

THE SHUT-EYE SENTRY.

Sez the Junior Orderly Sergeant To the Senior Orderly Man: "Our Orderly Orf'cer's _hokee-mut_, You 'elp 'im all you can.

For the wine was old and the night is cold, An' the best we may go wrong, So, 'fore 'e gits to the sentry-box, You pa.s.s the word along."

_Then it was "Rounds! What rounds?" at two of a frosty night, 'E's 'oldin' on by the sergeant's sash, but, sentry, shut your eye.

An' it's "Pa.s.s! All's well!" Oh, ain't 'e rockin' tight!

'E'll need an affidavit pretty badly by-an'-bye._

The moon was white on the barricks, The road was white an' wide, An' the Orderly Orf'cer took it all, An' the ten-foot ditch beside.

An' the corporal pulled an' the sergeant pushed, An' the three they wagged along, But I'd shut my eyes in the sentry-box, So I didn't see nothin' wrong.

_Though it was "Rounds! What rounds?" O corporal, 'old 'im up!

'E's usin' 'is cap as it shouldn't be used, but, sentry, shut your eye.

An' it's "Pa.s.s! All's well!" Ho, shun the foamin' cup!

'E'll need_, etc.

'Twas after four in the mornin'; We 'ad to stop the fun, An' we sent 'im 'ome on a bullock-cart, With 'is belt an' stock undone; But we sluiced 'im down an' we washed 'im out, An' a first-cla.s.s job we made, When we saved 'im smart as a bombardier For six o'clock parade.

_It 'ad been "Rounds! What rounds?" Oh, shove 'im straight again!

'E's usin' 'is sword for a bicycle, but, sentry, shut your eye.

An' it was "Pa.s.s! All's well!" 'E's called me "darlin' Jane"!

'E'll need_, etc.

The drill was 'ard an' 'eavy, The sky was 'ot an' blue, An' 'is eye was wild an' 'is 'air was wet, But 'is sergeant pulled 'im through.

Our men was good old trusties-- They'd done it on their 'ead; But you ought to 'ave 'eard 'em markin' time To 'ide the things 'e said!

_For it was "Right flank--wheel!" for "'Alt, an' stand at ease!"

An' "Left extend!" for "Centre close!" O marker, shut your eye!

An' it was, "'Ere, sir, 'ere! before the colonel sees!"

So he needed affidavits pretty badly by-an'-bye._

There was two-an'-thirty sergeants, There was corp'rals forty-one, There was just nine 'undred rank an' file To swear to a touch o' sun.

There was me 'e'd kissed in the sentry-box (As I 'ave not told in my song), But I took my oath, which were Bible truth, I 'adn't seen nothin' wrong.

There's them that's 'ot an' 'aughty, There's them that's cold an' 'ard, But there comes a night when the best gets tight, An' then turns out the Guard.

I've seen them 'ide their liquor In every kind o' way, But most depends on makin' friends With Privit Thomas A.

_When it is "Rounds! What rounds?" 'E's breathin' through 'is nose.

'E's reelin', rollin', roarin' ripe, but, sentry, shut your eye.

An' it's "Pa.s.s! All's well!" An' that's the way it goes.

We'll 'elp 'im for 'is mother, an' 'e'll 'elp us by-an'-bye._

"MARY, PITY WOMEN!"

You call yourself a man, For all you used to swear, An' leave me, as you can, My certain shame to bear?

I 'ear! You do not care-- You done the worst you know.

I 'ate you, grinnin' there....

Ah, Gawd, I love you so!

_Nice while it lasted, an' now it is over-- Tear out your 'eart an' good-bye to your lover!

What's the use o' grievin', when the mother that bore you (Mary, pity women!) knew it all before you?_

It aren't no false alarm, The finish to your fun; You--you 'ave brung the 'arm, An' I'm the ruined one; An' now you'll off an' run With some new fool in tow.

Your 'eart? You 'aven't none....

Ah, Gawd, I love you so!

_When a man is tired there is naught will bind 'im; All 'e solemn promised 'e will shove be'ind 'im.

What's the good o' prayin' for The Wrath to strike 'im, (Mary, pity women!) when the rest are like 'im?_

What 'ope for me or--it?

What's left for us to do?

I've walked with men a bit, But this--but this is you!

So 'elp me Christ, it's true!

Where can I 'ide or go?

You coward through an' through!...

Ah, Gawd, I love you so!

_All the more you give 'em the less are they for givin'!

Love lies dead, an' you can not kiss 'im livin'.

Down the road 'e led you there is no returnin', (Mary, pity women!) but you're late in learnin'._

You'd like to treat me fair?

You can't, because we're pore?

We'd starve? What do I care!

We might, but _this_ is sh.o.r.e: I want the name--no more-- The name, an' lines to show, An' not to be an 'ore....

Ah, Gawd, I love you so!

_What's the good o' pleadin', when the mother that bore you (Mary, pity women!) knew it all before you?

Sleep on 'is promises an' wake to your sorrow, (Mary, pity women!) for we sail to-morrow!_

FOR TO ADMIRE.

The Injian Ocean sets an' smiles So sof', so bright, so bloomin' blue; There aren't a wave for miles an' miles Excep' the jiggle from the screw.

The s.h.i.+p is swep', the day is done, The bugle's gone for smoke an' play; An' black agin' the settin' sun The Lascar sings, "_Hum deckty hai!_"[9]

_For to admire an' for to see, For to be'old this world so wide-- It never done no good to me, But I can't drop it if I tried!_