of the picket fires;

Our thoughts, wing-weary with homeward flight,

went astray in the gloomy skies,

And our hearts were beating a reveille whenever

we closed our eyes.

"Hark! what's that? The sentry call?" (A

galloping horseman comes.)

"Hey, boys! Get up! There's something wrong!

Don't ye hear 'em a-thumpin' the drums?"

Said the captain, who sat in the light of the fire