The book Arran; - Cook Clan

350 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
Our skipper Ronald then arose
And said, My jolly quorum,
To raise our hopes we
'11 broach a cask
And drink a hearty joruna.
When through our veins we felt the heat
King's men would ne'er make us retreat,
But stick in hand, would boldly meet
And well with cudgels claur 'em.
We 'd dash the hopes of all who came
Intending to oppose us,
And pack them oft with bleeding crests.
And torn and bloody noses.
Long-legged Crawford then got up
And caught the tiller in his grip.
Quoth he, I '11 steer our trusty ship
To land e'er morning shows us.
We hid our stuff beneath the sand,
Though little that avail'd us.
Then went our weary way to town
While sorely sleep assail'd us.
Would that a better watch we set.
Though we should ne'er have slumbered yet.
Ere we allowed such rogues to get
Our store ere morning hail'd us.
Oh, rare to see the rascals run
With kegs that ne'er paid duty,
'Twas Luidein laid their burdens on.
The orders came from Clootie.
His lies he glibly would relate,
How useful they were to the State,
And though they stole, 'twas to abate
Their thirst with lawful booty.
That he was aye the sinner's friend,
Their kind need never fear him.
Nor need they care what might befall
So long as he was near them
But much I fear they need not boast,
Some later day they '11 count the cost
When at his hearth their toes he '11 toast,
And for their labour jeer them.
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