Page:Ballads of a Bohemian.djvu/192

190 I rose and I donned my rain-coat; I buckled my helmet tight. I remember you watched me, Billy, as I took my cane in my hand; I vaulted over the sandbags into the pitchy night, Into the pitted valley that served us as No Man’s Land.

I strode out over the hollow of hate and havoc and death, From the heights the guns were angry, with a vengeful snarling of steel; And once in a moment of stillness I heard hard panting breath, And I turned… it was you, old rascal, following hard on my heel.

I fancy I cursed you, Billy; but not so much as I ought! And so we went forward together, till we came to the valley rim, And then a star-shell sputtered… it was even worse than I thought, For the trench they told me to move in was packed with Boche to the brim.

They saw me too, and they got me; they peppered me till I fell; And there I scribbled my message with my life-blood ebbing away; “Now, Billy, you fat old duffer, you’ve got to get back like hell;