Theirgoodgunsguardedtheirgreatgraysidesthatwerethirtyfootinthesheer，Whentherecameacertaintrading-brigwithnewsofaprivateer。
HerriggingwasroughwiththeclotteddriftthatdrivesinaNorthernbreeze，HersideswerecloggedwiththelazyweedthatspawnsintheEasternseas。
Lightsherodeintherudetide-rip，toleftandrightsherolled，Andtheskippersatonthescuttle-buttandstaredatanemptyhold。
“Iha’paidPortduesforyourLaw。”quothhe，“andwhereistheLawyeboastIfIsailunscathedfromaheathenporttoberobbedonaChristiancoast？
YehavesmokedthehivesoftheLaccadivesasweburntheliceinabunk，WetacknotnowtoaGallangproworaplungingPei-hojunk；
IhadnofearbuttheseaswereclearasfarasasailmightfareTillImetwithalime-washedYankeebrigthatrodeoffFinisterre。
Therewerecanvasblindstohisbow-gunportstoscreentheweighthebore，AndthesignalsranforamerchantmanfromSandyHooktotheNore。
HewouldnotflytheRovers’flag——thebloodyortheblack，ButnowhefloatedtheGridironandnowheflauntedtheJack。
HespokeoftheLawashecrimpedmycrew——hesworeitwasonlyaloan；
ButwhenIwouldaskformyownagain，hesworeitwasnoneofmyown。
HehastakenmylittleparrakeetsthatnestbeneaththeLine，Hehasstrippedmyrailsoftheshaddock-frailsandthegreenunripenedpine；
HehastakenmybaleofdammerandspiceIwonbeyondtheseas，Hehastakenmygrinningheathengods——andwhatshouldhewanto’these？
Myforemastwouldnotmendhisboom，mydeckhousepatchhisboats；
Hehaswhittledthetwo，thisYankYahoo，topeddleforshoe-pegoats。
Icouldnotfightforthefailinglightandaroughbeam-seabeside，ButIhulledhimonceforaclumsycrimpandtwicebecausehelied。
HadIhadgunsasIhadgoodstoworkmyChristianharm，Ihadrunhimupfromhisquarter-decktotradewithhisownyard-arm；
Ihadnailedhisearstomycapstan-head，andrippedthemoffwithasaw，Andsousedtheminthebilgewater，andservedthemtohimraw；
Ihadflunghimblindinarudderlessboattorotintherockingdark，Ihadtowedhimaftofhisowncraft，abaitforhisbrothershark；
Ihadlappedhimroundwithcocoahusk，anddrenchedhimwiththeoil，Andlashedhimfasttohisownmasttoblazeabovemyspoil；
Ihadstrippedhishideformyhammock-side，andtasselledhisbeardi’themesh，Andspittedhiscrewonthelivebamboothatgrowsthroughthegangrenedflesh；
Ihadhovehimdownbythemangrovesbrown，wherethemud-reefsucksanddraws，Mooredbytheheeltohisownkeeltowaitfortheland-crab’sclaws！
Heislazarwithinandlimewithout，yecannosehimfarenow，Forhecarriesthetaintofamuskyship——thereekoftheslaver’sdhow！”
Theskipperlookedatthetieringgunsandthebulwarkstallandcold，AndtheCaptainsThreefullcourteouslypeereddownattheguttedhold，AndtheCaptainsThreecalledcourteouslyfromdecktoscuttle-butt：——
“GoodSir，weha’dealtwiththatmerchantmanoreveryourteethwerecut。
Yourwordsbewordsofalawlessrace，andtheLawitstandeththus：
HecomesofaracethathaveneveraLaw，andheneverhasboardedus。
Weha’soldhimcanvasandropeandspar——weknowthathispriceisfair，AndweknowthatheweepsforthelackofaLawasheridesoffFinisterre。
Andsinceheisdamnedforagallows-thiefbyyouandbetterthanyou，WeholditmeetthattheEnglishfleetshouldknowthatweholdhimtrue。”
Theskippercalledtothetalltaffrail：——“Andwhatisthattome？
DideveryouhearofaYankeebrigthatrifledaSeventy-three？
DoIloomsolargefromyourquarter-deckthatIliftlikeashipo’
theLine？
Hehaslearnedtorunfromashottedgunandharrysuchcraftasmine。
ThereisneveraLawontheCocosKeystoholdawhitemanin，Butwedonotstealtheniggers’meal，forthatisanigger’ssin。
MusthehavehisLawasaquidtochaw，orlaidinbrassonhiswheel？
Doeshestealwithtearswhenhebuccaneers？
’ForeGad，then，whydoeshesteal？”
Theskipperbitonadeep-seaword，andtheworditwasnotsweet，ForhecouldseetheCaptainsThreehadsignalledtotheFleet。
Butthreeandtwo，inwhiteandblue，thewhimperingflagsbegan：——
“Wehaveheardataleofa——foreignsail，butheisamerchantman。”
TheskipperpeeredbeneathhispalmandsworebytheGreatHornSpoon：——
“’ForeGad，theChaplainoftheFleetwouldblessmypicaroon！”
Bytwoandthreetheflagsblewfreetolashthelaughingair：——
“Wehavesoldoursparstothemerchantman——weknowthathispriceisfair。”
TheskipperwinkedhisWesterneye，andsworebyaChinastorm：——
“Theyha’riggedhimaJoseph’sjury-coattokeephishonourwarm。”
Thehalliardstwangedagainstthetops，thebuntingbelliedbroad，Theskipperspatintheemptyholdandmournedforawastedcord。
Masthead——masthead，thesignalspedbythelineo’theBritishcraft；
TheskippercalledtohisLascarcrew，andputheraboutandlaughed：——
“It’smainsailhaul，mybullyboysall——we’llouttotheseasagain——
Eretheysetustopainttheirpiratesaint，orscrubathisgrapnel-chain。
It’sfore-sheetfree，withherheadtothesea，andtheswingoftheunboughtbrine——
We’llmakenosportinanEnglishcourttillwecomeasashipo’
theLine：
Tillwecomeasashipo’theLine，mylads，ofthirtyfootinthesheer，Liftingagainfromtheoutermainwithnewsofaprivateer；
Flyinghispluckatourmizzen-truckforweftofAdmiralty，Heavinghisheadforourdipsey-leadinsignthatwekeepthesea。
Thenfore-sheethomeassheliftstothefoam——westandontheoutwardtack，Wearepaidinthecoinofthewhiteman’strade——
thebezantishard，ay，andblack。
Thefrigate-birdshallcarrymywordtotheKlingandtheOrang-LautHowamanmaysailfromaheathencoasttoberobbedinaChristianport；
HowamanmayberobbedinChristianportwhileThreeGreatCaptainsthereShalldiptheirflagtoaslaver’srag——toshowthathistradeisfair！”
TheBalladOfTheClampherdown“
Itwasourwar-ship-Clampherdown-
WouldsweeptheChannelclean，WhereforeshekeptherhatchescloseWhenthemerryChannelchopsarose，Tosavethebleachedmarine。
Shehadonebow-gunofahundredton，Andagreatstern-gunbeside；
Theydippedtheirnosesdeepinthesea，TheyrackedtheirstaysandstanchionsfreeInthewashofthewind-whippedtide。
Itwasourwar-ship-Clampherdown-，FellinwithacruiserlightThatcarriedthedaintyHotchkissgunAndapairo’heelswherewithtorunFromthegripofaclose-foughtfight。
Sheopenedfireatsevenmiles——
Asyeshootatabobbingcork——
Andonceshefiredandtwiceshefired，Tillthebow-gundroopedlikealilytiredThatlollsuponthestalk。
“Captain，thebow-gunmeltsapace，Thedeck-beamsbreakbelow，’Twerewelltorestforanhourortwain，Andbotchtheshatteredplatesagain。”
Andheanswered，“Makeitso。”
Sheopenedfirewithinthemile——
Asyeshootattheflyingduck——
Andthegreatstern-gunshotfairandtrue，Withtheheaveoftheship，tothestainlessblue，Andthegreatstern-turretstuck。
“Captain，theturretfillswithsteam，Thefeed-pipesburstbelow——
Youcanhearthehissofthehelplessram，Youcanhearthetwistedrunnersjam。”
Andheanswered，“Turnandgo！”
Itwasourwar-ship-Clampherdown-，Andgrimlydidsheroll；
Swungroundtotakethecruiser’sfireAstheWhiteWhalefacestheThresher’sireWhentheywarbythefrozenPole。
“Captain，theshellsarefallingfast，Andfasterstillfallwe；
AnditisnotmeetforEnglishstockTobideintheheartofaneight-dayclockThedeaththeycannotsee。”
“Liedown，liedown，myboldA。B。，Wedriftuponherbeam；
Wedarenotram，forshecanrun；
Anddareyefireanothergun，Anddieinthepeelingsteam？”
Itwasourwar-ship-Clampherdown-
Thatcarriedanarmour-belt；
ButfiftyfeetatsternandbowLaybareasthepaunchofthepurser’ssow，Tothehailofthe-Nordenfeldt。
“Captain，theyhackusthroughandthrough；
Thechilledsteelboltsareswift！
Wehaveemptiedthebunkersinopensea，Theirshrapnelburstswhereourcoalshouldbe。”
Andheanswered，“Letherdrift。”
Itwasourwar-ship-Clampherdown-，Swungrounduponthetide，Hertwodumbgunsglaredsouthandnorth，Andthebloodandthebubblingsteamranforth，Andshegroundthecruiser’sside。
“Captain，theycry，thefightisdone，Theybidyousendyoursword。”
Andheanswered，“Grapplehersternandbow。
TheyhaveaskedforthesteelTheyshallhaveitnow；
Outcutlassesandboard！”
Itwasourwar-ship-Clampherdown-
Spewedupfourhundredmen；
Andthescaldedstokersyelpeddelight，AstheyrolledinthewaistandheardthefightStampo’ertheirsteel-walledpen。
Theyclearedthecruiserendtoend，Fromconning-towertohold。
TheyfoughtastheyfoughtinNelson’sfleet；
Theywerestrippedtothewaist，theywerebaretothefeet，Asitwasinthedaysofold。
Itwasthesinking-Clampherdown-
Heavedupherbatteredside——
Andcarriedamillionpoundsinsteel，Tothecodandthecorpse-fedconger-eel，AndthescouroftheChanneltide。
Itwasthecrewofthe-Clampherdown-
Stoodouttosweepthesea，Onacruiserwonfromanancientfoe，Asitwasinthedaysoflongago，Andasitstillshallbe。
THEBALLADOFTHE“BOLIVAR“
Sevenmenfromalltheworld，backtoDocksagain，RollingdowntheRatcliffeRoaddrunkandraisingCain：
Givethegirlsanotherdrink’forewesignaway——
Wethattookthe-Bolivar-outacrosstheBay！
WeputoutfromSunderlandloadeddownwithrails；
WeputbacktoSunderland’causeourcargoshifted；
WeputoutfromSunderland——metthewintergales——
SevendaysandsevennightstotheStartwedrifted。
Racketingherrivetsloose，smoke-stackwhiteassnow，Allthecoalsadriftadeck，halftherailsbelow，Leakinglikealobster-pot，steeringlikeadray——
Outwetookthe-Bolivar-，outacrosstheBay！
OnebyonetheLightscameup，winkedandletusby；
Milebymilewewaddledon，coalandfo’c’sleshort；
Metablowthatlaidusdown，heardabulkheadfly；
Leftthe-Wolf-behinduswithatwo-footlisttoport。
Trailinglikeawoundedduck，workingouthersoul；
Clanginglikeasmithy-shopaftereveryroll；
Justafunnelandamastlurchingthroughthespray——
Sowethreshedthe-Bolivar-outacrosstheBay！
’Feltherhogandfelthersag，bettedwhenshe’dbreak；
Wonderedeverytimesheracedifshe’dstandtheshock；
Heardtheseaslikedrunkenmenpoundingatherstrake；
HopedtheLord’udkeephisthumbontheplummer-block。
Bangedagainsttheirondecks，bilgeschokedwithcoal；
Flayedandfrozenfootandhand，sickofheartandsoul；
Lastweprayedshe’dbuckherselfintojudgmentDay——
Hi！wecursedthe-Bolivar-knockingroundtheBay！
Ohernoseflunguptosky，groaningtobestill——
Upanddownandbackwewent，nevertimeforbreath；
ThenthemoneypaidatLloyd’scaughtherbytheheel，Andthestarsranroundandrounddancin’atourdeath。