Page:The Bab Ballads.djvu/88

86 "Oh, elderly man, it's little I know,
 * Of the duties of men of the sea,

And I'll eat my hand if I understand
 * How you can possibly be

"At once a cook, and a captain bold,
 * And the mate of the Nancy brig,

And a bo'sun tight and a midshipmite,
 * And the crew of the captain's gig."

Then he gave a hitch to his trousers, which
 * Is a trick all seamen larn,

And having got rid of a thumping quid,
 * He spun this painful yarn:

"'Twas in the good ship Nancy Bell
 * That we sailed to the Indian sea,

And there on a reef we come to grief,
 * Which has often occurred to me.

"And pretty nigh all o' the crew was drowned
 * (There was seventy-seven o' soul)

And only ten of the Nancy's men
 * Said 'Here!' to the muster roll.

"There was me and the cook and the captain bold,
 * And the mate of the Nancy brig,

And the bo'sun tight and a midshipmite,
 * And the crew of the captain's gig.