Page:Death of Bill Jones.pdf/6

 If well his word the Captain kept.

Bill Jones kept his as well;

For just at midnight all that slept,

With an accord from their hammocks leapt.

Rous'd by a dreadful yell!

Never was heard such a terrible sound.

And fast to the deck each hied,

When by the moon-light beams we found.

The murder'd man in spite of his wound,

Sit close by the steerman’s side.

And from that hour among the rest,

Bill serv’d, nor left us more,

With bloody trowsers, bloody vest.

And bloody shirt, and bloody breast,

Still he stood our eyes before.

And he’d clean the deck, and fill the pail,

And work with right good will,

To stop a leak, or draw a nail,

But when the business was handing a sail,

Then specially ready was Bill.

And to share in all things with the crew

Did the spectre never miss,

And when to the cook for his portion due

Each sailor went, Bill Jones went too,

And tendered his platter for his.