324 



TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



Then forth went all the " bobbies," 



And forth went Baker too, 

 And when they got to where 'twas hot 



At once their staves they drew. 

 " Down with the torches! " Baker cried, 



6 ' With all the speed ye may, 

 I with two more to help me 



Will hold the foe in play. ' 7 



Then out spoke (t dapper Owen ; " 



From San Fernando he : 

 " Lo, I will stand at thy right hand 



And fight the foe with thee. ' ' 

 And out spake big Concannon — 



Of Hibernian blood was he — 

 " I will abide on t'other side 



Shure it 's nothing but a spree. ' ' 



Ho ! flambeaux flash the war-note, 



Ho ! ' ' bobbies ' ' clear the way ! 

 The leaders ride in all their pride 



Along the streets to-day. 

 To-night the lamps and windows 



Will suffer in the fall 

 From top to bottom of each street 



And e'en from wall to wall. 



Then down at once the flambeaux went, 



And staves and sticks they drew, 

 And in and out and all about 



The stones and bottles flew, 

 Hotter and hotter the battle raged 



Till near the break of day ; 

 Full many a head and many a lamp 



Were cracked in the affray. 



From night till morn the battle raged, 



The streets with blood were red 

 From many a cut and many a wound 



And many a broken head. 

 The " bobbies " were victorious 



And back to barracks went ; 

 The furious crowd, all up and down, 



Cried, ' 1 to-morrow night we '11 burn the town 



Our anger 's not yet spent. ' ' 



