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。