Page:Twenty years before the mast - Charles Erskine, 1896.djvu/320

 "Enough I’ve said of our captain bold, Still this is no jest, For there is much remains untold, But you may guess the rest.

"It’s of the mate I next shall tell, As being next in rank. He’s a man we all like well, He’s rude, but yet he’s frank.

"The mate, he’s an old Dutchman; He’d please you, I am sure; At any rate, with such a man I never sailed before.

"He’s rough and rude, ’tis very true, — And what old sea-dog’s not? But surely he will well treat you, If you’re one of the right sort.

"Our dikey, Mr. Greggs, we all can see How with him is the case; He very well would like to be In Mr. Freeman’s place.

"And so, to please bold Captain Leach, He tries to keep us on the go; But having tried it with us each, He finds it is no go.

"We are but six before the mast, As good a six as ever met; For ne’er before was my lot cast With such a manly, jovial set.

"Our forecastle is dark and wet, But still we don’t complain. Our captain, he will never meet With the likes of us again.