Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/738

 720 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

The old man kindly answered them:

"It might be Japheth, it might be Shem,

Or it might be Ham (though his skin was dark),

Whereas it is Noah, commanding the Ark.

"Your wheel is new and your pumps are strange, But otherwise I perceive no change; And in less than a week, if she did not ground, I'd sail this hooker the wide world round!"

BOTH :

We tell these tales, which are strictest true. Just by way of convincing you How very little, since things was made, Anything alters in any one's trade !

A SMUGGLER'S SONG

JF YOU wake at midnight, and hear a horse's feet,

Don't go drawing back the blind, or looking in the street. Them that ask no questions isn't told a lie. Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!

Five and twenty ponies,

Trotting through the dark

Brandy for the Parson,

'Baccy for the Clerk;

Laces for a lady, letters for a spy, And watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by!

Running round the woodlump if you chance to find Little barrels, roped and tarred, all full of brandy-wine, Don't you shout to come and look, nor use 'em for your play. Put the brishwood back again and they'll be gone next day!