The Dead Drummer : a Legend of Salisbury Plain. 221 



To ''return to our muttons. "f This mode of progression 

 At length, upon Spanking Bill made some impression. 

 "Hullo, messmate, what cheer ? 

 How queer you do steer" 

 Cried Bill, whose short legs kept him still in the rear. 

 "Why, what's in the wind, Bo? — What is it you fear ?" 

 For he saw in a moment that something was frightning 

 His shipmate much more than the thunder and lightning. 



"Fear ?" stammered out Waters, "Why, Him, — don't you see 

 What faces that Drummer-boy's making at me ? 

 • How he dodges me so 



Wherever I go — 

 What is it he wants with me, Bill, — do you know ?" 

 "What Drummer-boy, Harry?" cries Bill in surprise, 

 With a brief exclamation that ended in "eyes." 

 " What Drummer-boy, Waters ? — the coast is all clear ; 

 We have'nt got never no Drummer-boy here." 



"Why there ! don't you see 



How he's following me ? 

 Now this way, now that way, and won't let me be. 



Keep him off, Bill, — look here — 



Don't let him come near; 

 Only see how the blood-drops his features besmear ! 

 What, the dead come to life again, — Bless me, — Oh dear." 



Bill remarked in reply, "This is all very queer, 

 What, — a Drummer-boy, bloody too, eh! well, I never! 

 I can't see no Drummer-boy here whatsumdever." 

 "Not see him — why there, — look he's close by the post. 

 Hark, hark, how he drums at me now; — he's a ghost. 

 Oh mercy" roared Waters, "do keep him off, Bill: 

 And Andrew, forgive !— I'll confess all, I will ; 

 I'll make a clean breast; 

 And as for the rest, 

 You may do with me just what the lawyers think best. 

 But haunt me not thus — let these visitings cease, 

 And, your vengeance accomplished, Boy, leave me in peace." 

 Harry paused for a moment, — then turning to Bill, 

 Who stood with his mouth open, steady and still, 

 Began spinning what nauticals term "a tough yarn," 

 Viz. his tale of what Bill called "this precious consarn." 



[The " tough yarn" was a confession which Harry thereupon 

 made to his comrade, to the effect, that his name was not Waters 



t Eevenons a nos moutons. 



Fr. 



