Page:A selection of war lyrics with illustrations on wood.djvu/36

WAR LYRICS. And when a gun's crew lost a hand,

Some bold marine stepped out,

And jerked his braided jacket off,

And hauled the gun about.

Our forward magazine was drowned;

And up from the sick bay

Crawled out the wounded, red with blood,

And round us gasping lay.

Yes, cheering, calling us by name,

Struggling with failing breath,

To keep their shipmates at the post

Where Glory strove with Death.

With decks afloat, and powder gone,

The last broadside we gave

From the guns' heated iron lips

Burst out beneath the wave.

So sponges, rammers and handspike—

As men-of-war's-men should—

We placed within their proper racks,

And at our quarters stood."

Up to the spar-deck! save yourselves!"

Cried Selfridge. "Up, my men !

God grant that some of us may live

To fight yon ship again!"

We turned—we did not like to go;

Yet staying seemed but vain,

Knee-deep in water; so we left

Some swore, some groaned with pain.

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