"Soh! steady lads, belay all that!
"'Vast heaving sobs and sighs;
"Don't never go to 'whip the cat'
"For William, bless his eyes!
"I knew him lads when first he shipped,
"And this is certain, that
"Though William by the 'cat ' was whipped,
"He never 'whipped the cat!"
The skipper read the service through,
And snivelled in his sleeve,