Same tumble-down on the same ’idden farm,
Same white-eyed Kaffir ’oo gives the alarm
Of the section, etc.
Same shootin’ wild at the end o’ the night,
Same flyin’ tackle an’ same messy fight
By the section, etc.
Same ugly ’iccup an’ same ’orrid squeal,
When it’s too dark to see an’ it’s too late to feel
In the section, etc.
(Same batch of prisoners, ’airy an’ still,
Watchin’ their comrades bolt over the ’ill
From the section, etc.)
Same chilly glare in the eye of the sun
As ’e gets up displeasured to see what was done
By the section, etc.
Same splash o’ pink on the stoep or the kraal,
An’ the same quiet face which ’as finished with all
In the section, the pompom, an’ six ’undred men.
Out o’ the wilderness, dusty an’ dry
(Time, an’ ’igh time to be trekkin’ again!)
’Oo is it ’eads to the Detail Supply?
(A section, a pompom, an’ six ’undred men.)
THE PARTING OF THE COLUMNS
‘... On the —th instant a mixed detachment of colonials left —— for Cape Town, there to rejoin their respective homeward-bound contingents, after fifteen months’ service in the field. They were escorted to the station by the regular troops in garrison and the bulk of Colonel ——’s column, which has just come in to refit, preparatory to further operations. The leave-taking was of the most cordial character, the men cheering each other continuously.’—Any Newspaper.