Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/312

 Who gave up their lives, at the Queen's Command, For the Pride of their Race and the Peace of the Land.

Now, first of the foemen of Boh Da Thone Was Captain O'Neil of the Black Tyrone,

And his was a Company, seventy strong, Who hustled that dissolute Chief along.

There were lads from Galway and Louth and Meath Who went to their death with a joke in their teeth,

And worshipped with fluency, fervour, and zeal The mud on the boot-heels of "Crook" O'Neil.

But ever a blight on their labours lay, And ever their quarry would vanish away,

Till the sun-dried boys of the Black Tyrone Took a brotherly interest in Boh Da Thone,

And, sooth, if pursuit in possession ends, The Boh and his trackers were best of friends.

The word of a scout a march by night A rush through the mist a scattering fight

A volley from cover a corpse in the clearing A glimpse of a loin-cloth and heavy jade earring

The flare of a village the tally of slain And. . . the Boh was abroad on the raid again!

They cursed their luck, as the Irish will, They gave him credit for cunning and skill,