Once in a blue eternity they gave us 
dabs of rum 
To close the seams 'n' keep the flume in 
liquor-tight condition; 
But, soft 'n' sentimental, when the long, cold 
evenin's come, 
I'd dream me nibs was dronking' to the height 
of his ambition, 
With rights of suction over all the breweries 
there are, 
Where barrels squat, like Brahma gods, in 
Mother Hardy's bar. 

I had me fit of longin' on the night the Ger- 
mans came, 
All breathin' lioke a gas attack. The air 
was halcholic. 
We smelt 'em in the darkness, 'n' our rage 
went up in flame. 
It was envy, squealin' envy, put the ginger 
in the frolic. 
We shot 'em full of spelter, then went over it 
to spite 
The swines what drunk the liquor that was 
ours by common right. 

?If this ain't stopped, 'n' quick,? sez we, 
?there won't be left a drop 
To celebrate the vict'ry when we capture 
their position.? 
I'm prowlin' blind, when sharp there comes a 
fond, familiar plop- 
Swung round a post, a German in a pitiful 
condition 
Looms over me. He's sprung a cork, and 
shales a flask on high, 
'N' sings of beer that touchin' it would make 
a butcher cry. 

Sez he: ?Berloffed kamarid, you haf some 
drinks mit you.? 
I meant to spike him where he waved, 
but altered me intention. 
'N' ?If you put it thus,? sez I, ?I don't 
care if I do.? 
We had a drink together. There's a tem- 
por'y suspension 
Of hostilities to sample contraband 'n' other 
stuff 
In the enemy's possession. Which I think 
he's had enough. 

That Hun had thirty pockets, 'n' he'd stowed 
a flask in each, 
'N' presently I'm thinkin' I could love him 
like a brother. 
He's talkin' fond 'n' friendly in outlandish 
parts of speech. 
?You're prisoner of war,? I sez; 'n' then 
we had another. 
Ten flasks he pours into his hat, 'n' fills it 
to the brim, 
'N' weeps 'n' sez his frau she will be waitin' 
up for him. 

We drink each other's health, 'n' know no 
henmity nor fear. 
I see I've got to pinch him, but he's out to 
do his div. in, 
'N' don't care if he don't go home till day- 
light doth appear. 
Sez he: ?I pud you home to bed upside dot 
'ouse you live in.? 
He shakes his finger in me eye: ?Mein friendt, 
you're preddy trunk!? 
Then arm in arm through No Man's land we 
does a social bunk. 

There's Fear afoot. Comes more than once 
the glug of sudden death. 
We're rockin' fine 'n' careless where the 
rifle fire is breakin', 
'N' singin' most uproar'ous, in the bomb's 
disgustin' breath, 
Of girls, 'n' drink, 'n' cheerful sprees, 'n' 
'Herman thinks he's takin' 
A cobber home to somewhere in an subbub 
damp 'n' dim, 
Whereas I know fer certain it is me is takin' 
him. 

Somehow, sometime, I lands him where he's 
safely put to bed. 
I wake nex' day, 'n' holy smoke! I'm pri- 
soner with the German. 
Me mouth is like an ashpan, there's hot fish- 
bolts in me head, 
'N' through the barb-wire peerin' is me 
foreigh cobber 'Erman. 
?Ve capdure each lasd nighd,? sez he ?you 
home haf bring me, boss.? 
For bravery in takin' me, he got the Iron 
Cross!