Dan's Odyssey

'I've sailed in a deal o' ships,' said Dan, 'Since first my sailorin' days began: For I never could stick, the way I'm made, To the same ol' ship an' the same ol' trade, An' the same ol' places time an' again, No better'n a bloomin' railway train. Fact of it is, I'm a bit of a roamer, The same as that there bloke in 'Omer . . . I was in a barque, the 'Omer , once, Bit of a thing, five 'undred tons, And 'omeward bound, I well recall, With a cargo of ore from Carrizal; The very day we made the Lizard There came away a beast of a blizzard As kep' us beatin' to an' fro For more'n a week in sleet an' snow, And thinkin' o' the Christmas dinners Waitin' ashore for us poor sinners.' 'Lord, what a fleet them ships 'ud be If you could see 'em all!' said he. 'Fust o' the lot, the old Johore - Parsee-built in 'forty-four - She was a good old has-been too, Malabar teak right through an' through, With a galleried stern and big bluff bows An' six glass stern-ports just like a 'ouse: An' she'd got that old an' she got that leaky, When we loaded nitrates 'ome from Iquique; We pumped all night an' we pumped all day Like pumpin' the blessed sea away, Round the 'Orn and up to the Line, An' we blessed the stars as the passage was fine, An' a shore gang 'ad to take her on An' start to pump afore we was gone Or else she'd 'ave sunk in the New South Dock . . .' 'Next was the clipper Inchcape Rock : She was a beauty, she was a queen, Loveliest thing as ever I seen! Why did I leave 'er? I dunno - I was tired of 'er - I 'ad to go.' 'Then came the Stromness , Colonies clipper, Wot 'ad ol' Bully Baynes for skipper: It was a treat to 'ear 'im swear! You bet I wasn't long in 'er. I run 'er in 'Frisco for a spouter, A reg'lar ol'-time out-an'-outer As went up North to the Behring Sea: That was too blinkin' cold for me.' 'Next, Gow's old packet Inisfail : I tell you, that old ship could sail! The 'Omer , 'er I spoke of first, The Tees ol' shellbacks said was cursed Because she always killed 'er man: The Star of Peace , the Gulistan , Nor them ain't all by chalks,' said Dan. 'Fact of it is, it seems to me A sort o' bloomin' Uly-see Is wot I've allus been,' said he.