The fire bust out as she clar’d the bar,
And burnt a hole in the night,
And quick as a flash she turned and made
For that wilier-bank on the right.
Thar was runnin’ and cussin’, but Jim yelled out,
Over all the infernal roar,
“I’ll hold her nozzle agin the bank
Till the last galoot’s ashore.”
Through the hot, black breath of the burnin’ boat
Jim Bludso’s voice was heard,