Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/500

Kabul town is sun and dust
Blow the bugle, draw the sword
I'd ha' sooner drownded fust
'Stead of 'im beside the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!
You can 'ear the 'orses threshin', you can 'ear the men a-splashin',
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Kabul town was ours to take
Blow the bugle, draw the sword
I'd ha' left it for 'is sake
'Im that left me by the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!
It's none so bloomin' dry there; ain't you never
comin' nigh there,
'Cross the ford o' Kabul river in the dark?

Kabul town'll go to hell
Blow the bugle, draw the sword
'Fore I see him 'live an' well
'Im the best beside the ford.
Ford, ford, ford o' Kabul river,
Ford o' Kabul river in the dark!
Gawd 'elp 'em if they blunder, for their boots '11 pull 'em under,
By the ford o' Kabul river in the dark.

Turn your 'orse from Kabul town
Blow the bugle, draw the sword
'Im an' 'arf my troop is down,
Down and drownded by the ford.