Captain (comes forward):
What ho! the guard is asleep!
What, then, if the enemy come,
Creeping stealthily over the hill
With never the sound of drum?
By surprise our camp they'd take.
Sleeping guard, awake! awake!
(Scott awakes and salutes Captain.)
Captain:
For this offense you shall be tried,
'Twas indeed a sad mistake.
Who shall guard the camp tonight,
If no guard here is awake?
Soldiers (come forward):
'Tis wearisome the watch to keep,
Alas! alas! he fell asleep!
Alas! alas! he fell asleep!
(Scott is led off by Soldiers to be tried by court-martial.)
Old Soldier (enters):
Scott is a bonnie soldier boy:
He's honest, brave and true;
He is worthy still to bear
The Red and White and Blue.
Alas! alas! he will come home,
Sentenced soon to die,
Beloved by all his comrades, now
With bowed heads they march by.