Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/499

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INCLUSIVE EDITION, 1885-1918
481

I corned away like a bleedin' toff,
For I got four niggers to carry me off,
As I lay in the bight of a canvas trough,
When the Widow give the party.
"What was the end of all the show,
Johnnie, Johnnie?"
Ask my Colonel, for I don't know,
Johnnie, my Johnnie, aha!
We broke a King and we built a road
A court-house stands where the reg'ment goed.
And the river's clean where the raw blood flowed
When the Widow give the party.
(Bugle: Ta rara ra-ra-rara!)


FORD O' KABUL RIVER

KABUL town's by Kabul river
Blow the bugle, draw the sword
There I lef my mate for ever,
Wet an' drippin' by the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!
There's the river up and brimmin', an' there's 'arf
a squadron swimmin'
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Kabul town's a blasted place
Blow the bugle, draw the sword
'Strewth I sha'n't forget 'is face
Wet an' drippin' by the ford!
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!
Keep the crossing-stakes beside you, an' they will
surely guide you
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.