Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/711

 INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918 693

For we hold that in all disaster As the Gods Themselves have said A Man must stand by his Master Till one of the two is dead.

That is our way of thinking,

Now you can do as you will,

While we try to save her from sinking,

And hold her head to it still.

Bale her and keep her moving,

Or she'll break her back in the trough. . ..

Who said the weather's improving,

Or the swells are taking off?

Sodden, and chafed and aching,

Gone in the loins and knees

No matter the day is breaking,

And there's far less weight to the seas!

Up mast, and finish baling

In oars, and out with the mead

The rest will be two-reef sailing. . ..

That was a night indeed!

But we hold that in all disaster (And faith, we have found it true /) If only you stand by your Master, The Gods will stand by you !

MINE SWEEPERS

1914-18

FJAWN off the Foreland the young flood making

Jumbled and short and steep Black in the hollows and bright where it's breaking