Indeed all were well, but for cold Colonel FORD,
Who blames me, the Rover! Too bad, on my word!
The Pirate of Elswick shall not be the sport
of a fussy Commission's ill-tempered Report.
To bring me to book is all fiddlededee—
I'm afloat, I'm afloat, and the Rover is free!
I contraband, careless? Why, everyone owns
That is natural, 'neath the black flag and cross-bones.
No mere paltry maker of fireworks am I,
But a Rover who's free, whose sole roof is the sky.