Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/662

 644 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

SCREW-GUN MULES

As me and my companions were scrambling up a hill,

The path was lost in rolling stones, but we went forward still;

For we can wriggle and climb, my lads, and turn up every- where,

And it's our delight on a mountain height, with a leg or two to spare!

Good luck to every sergeant, then, that lets us pick our road !

Bad luck to all the driver-men that cannot pack a load!

For we can wriggle and climb, my lads, and turn up every- where,

And it's our delight on a mountain height, with a leg or two to spare !

COMMISSARIAT CAMELS

We haven't a camelty tune of our own

To help us trollop along,

But every neck is a hairAtrombone

(Rtt-ta-ta-ta ! is a hair^trombone!)

And this is our marching-song:

Cant! Don't! Shan 1 1 Wont!

Pass it along the line!

Somebody's pack has slid from his back,

'Wish it were only mine!

Somebody's load has tipped off in the road

Cheer for a halt and a row!

Urrr! Yarrh ! Grr ! Arrhl

Somebody's catching it now!

ALL THE BEASTS TOGETHER

Children of the Camp are we, Serving each in his degree; Children of the yoke and goad, Pack and harness, pad and load.