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The Nimrod sailed for the Southern Seas,
 * On her voyage of venture bent;

She left the Heads with a westerly breeze
 * As the Flagship’s cheers grew faint.

She was taken in tow by the “Koonya”,
 * With seven score fathoms of wire,

And for twelve long days and nights she strove
 * With a southerly buster’s ire.

Watch by watch for two hours at a stretch
 * To the pony stalls we clung,

With the water knee-deep on the for’ard hatch,
 * And the decks a’swimming with dung.

“Doctor” was down on the third night out,
 * And eight hours later was dead;

For the efforts of man in a gale were ‘nowt,’
 * So his end was an ounce of lead.

We slept in our sodden bunks by night,
 * Abaft the after hold;

And wished for the day to bring in the light
 * And the tale that was yet to be told.