Part 39 (1/2)

'Before his beard began to shoot, I showed him the length of the Spaniard's foot-- And I reckon he clapped the boot on it later.

(_All round the Sands!_)

'If there's a risk which you can make That's worse than he was used to take Nigh every week in the way of his business; (_All round the Sands!_)

'If there's a trick that you can try Which he hasn't met in time gone by, Not once or twice, but ten times over; (_All round the Sands!_)

'If you can teach him aught that's new, (_A-hay O! To me O!_) I'll give you Bruges and Niewport too, And the ten tall churches that stand between 'em.'

_Storm along my gallant Captains!_ (_All round the Horn!_)

The Tree of Justice

THE BALLAD OF MINEPIT SHAW

About the time that taverns shut And men can buy no beer, Two lads went up by the keepers' hut To steal Lord Pelham's deer.

Night and the liquor was in their heads-- They laughed and talked no bounds, Till they waked the keepers on their beds, And the keepers loosed the hounds.

They had killed a hart, they had killed a hind, Ready to carry away, When they heard a whimper down the wind And they heard a bloodhound bay.

They took and ran across the fern, Their crossbows in their hand, Till they met a man with a green lantern That called and bade 'em stand.

'What are ye doing, O Flesh and Blood, And what's your foolish will, That you must break into Minepit Wood And wake the Folk of the Hill?'

'Oh, we've broke into Lord Pelham's park, And killed Lord Pelham's deer, And if ever you heard a little dog bark You'll know why we come here!

'We ask you let us go our way, As fast as we can flee, For if ever you heard a bloodhound bay, You'll know how pressed we be.'

'Oh, lay your crossbows on the bank And drop the knife from your hand, And though the hounds are at your flank I'll save you where you stand!'

They laid their crossbows on the bank They threw their knives in the wood, And the ground before them opened and sank And saved 'em where they stood.

'Oh, what's the roaring in our ears That strikes us well-nigh dumb?'

'Oh, that is just how things appears According as they come.'

'What are the stars before our eyes That strike us well-nigh blind?'

'Oh, that is just how things arise According as you find.'

'And why's our bed so hard to the bones Excepting where it's cold?'

'Oh, that's because it is precious stones Excepting where 'tis gold.'

'Think it over as you stand, For I tell you without fail, If you haven't got into Fairyland You're not in Lewes Gaol.'