For the girls have got hold of her tow-rope to-day.
The old man he stood on the poop at high noon;
He paced fore and aft and he whistled a tune;
Then put by his sextant and thus he did say,
"The girls have got hold of our tow-rope to-day.
"Of cargoes and charters we've had our full share,
Of grain and of lumber enough and to spare,
Of nitrates at Taltal and rice for Bombay,
And the girls have got hold of our tow-rope to-day.
"She has dipped her yards under, hove-to off the Horn;