ROLL OF THE KETTLEDRUM 



Tall Ewart, our sergeant, was humming a 

 song, 

 Lance-corporal Black Will was blaspheming 

 and cursing. 



Open'd their volley of guns on our right, 

 Puffs of grey smoke, veiling gleams of red 

 flame, 

 Curling to leeward, were seen on the height 

 Where the batteries were posted, as onward 

 we came. 



Spreading before us their cavalry lay, 



Squadron on squadron, troop upon troop ; 



We were so few, and so many were they — 

 Eagles wait calmly the sparrow-hawk's 

 stoop. 



Forward ! still forward ! steed answering steed 

 Cheerily neigh'd, while the foam flakes 

 were toss't 



From bridle to bridle — the top of our speed 



Was gain'd, but the pride of our order was 



lost. 



151 



