Who now politely spoke the company,
Saying unto them: “Mates, ’tween you and me,
I put it as a question—don’t you think
That it is pretty near time to take a drink?
And if you do belong to Gideon’s Band,
Then here’s my purse to pay—and here’s my hand”—
There was a roar of laughter loud and long,
And then the stranger burst into a song;
But for a minute were they all so gay,
For with the words their laughter died away.