Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/481

 
⁠It was "Din! Din! Din!
"You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been?
⁠"You put some juldee^[1] in it
⁠"Or I'll marrow^[2] you this minute
"If you don't fill up my helmet, Gunga Din!"

'E would dot an' carry one
Till the longest day was done;
An' 'e didn't seem to know the use o' fear.
If we charged or broke or cut,
You could bet your bloomin' nut,
'E'd be waitin' fifty paces right flank rear.
With 'is mussick^[3] on 'is back,
'E would skip with our attack,
An' watch us till the bugles made "Retire"
An' for all 'is dirty 'ide
'E was white, clear white, inside
When 'e went to tend the wounded under fire!
⁠It was "Din! Din! Din!"
⁠With the bullets kickin' dust-spots on the green
⁠When the cartridges ran out,
⁠You could hear the front-ranks shout,
⁠"Hi! ammunition-mules an' Gunga Din!"

I sha'n't forgit the night
When I dropped be'ind the fight
Vith a bullet where my belt-plate should 'a* been.
I was chokin' mad with thirst,
An' the man that spied me first
Was our good old grinnin', gruntin' Gunga Din.
'E lifted up my 'ead,
An' he plugged me where I bled,

1. 'Be quick.
2. 'Hit you.
3. 'Water-skin.