And washed us to and fro;
But half the crew, though wild it blew,
Were sleeping down below.
“‘The captain stood upon the bridge,’
And I was at the wheel;
The waves were piling all around,
Which made the old ‘tank’ reel,
When—smash! there came an awful crash
That shook the ribs of steel.
“‘We’ve struck a wreck!’ ‘Stand by the pumps!’