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THE SAUCY SCYLLA |
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THE SAUCY SCYLLA.
Come all you who delight in a frolicksome song, Concerning the Scylla it will not keep you long ; Concerning the Scylla, a ship of great fame, She had the Bahama station, and bore a great name.
At four in the morning the work it came on, For sand and for holy stones loud was the song ; For fore and main topmen loud was the call, For sand and for holy stones both great and small.
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The next thing to divisions your hammocks you bring, You must have them as snug and as round as a ring ; With your lanyards and lacings, all made up so neat, Or to carry them all day on our shoulders was our fate.
There is someone we know well, a British old Turk, Would go creeping and snarling as the men were at work; ' Hurrah ! bear a hand, men, or you I'll report:' Then he'd walk you on the carpet like a prisoner at court.
Two bells in the evening—'twas the drummer once more— Beat all hands to quarters with your bayonets and swords. ' Cast loose, clear for action,' our lieutenant cries, With the rest of good drilling and much exercise.
After quarters was over, there was one thing more, All hands to reef top sails, which grieved us full sore ; ' Men, man the rigging,' our lieutenant would cry, Rise up, and lay out your reef points to tie.
In less than two minutes our top sails must be reef'd, All sail set above them so snug and complete; For black-listing and drilling grieved us to the heart, For our six-watered grog it just measured one quart.
As we lay in Providence so neat and so clean, With scraping and painting we did take great pains ; With scraping and scouring from morning 'till night, It was swabbing, dum-scraping that was their delight. |
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