Page:Departmental Ditties and Ballads and Barrack-Room Ballads, Kipling, 1899.djvu/360

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176
BARRACK-ROOM BALLADS

They 'ad nipped against an uphill, they was tuckin' down the brow,
When a tricky, trundlin' round-shot give the knock to Snarleyow.


They cut 'im loose an' left 'im—'e was almost tore in two—
But he tried to follow after as a well-trained 'orse should do;
'E went an' fouled the limber, an' the Driver's Brother squeals:
"Pull up, pull up for Snarleyow—'is 'ead's between 'is 'eels!"


The Driver 'umped 'is shoulder, for the wheels was goin' round,
An' there aren't no "Stop, conductor!" when a batt'ry's changin' ground;
Sez 'e: "I broke the beggar in, an' very sad I feels,
But I couldn't pull up, not for you—your 'ead between your 'eels!"


'E 'adn't 'ardly spoke the word, before a droppin' shell

A little right the batt'ry an' between the sections fell;