This is the yarn wot Sergeant Wells

O' 'Is Majesty's Marine

Told in the mess 'bout seven bells—

'E's the skipper's servant an' knows a lot;

An' I don't say it's true and I don't say it's not,

But it easily might 'ave been.

"'Twas in the fust few months o' the War,

An' the vessel wot I was on

Was layin' a couple of cables from shore;

I'd pulled to the steps in the scullin' boat