'Go to, it is naught. Now I come to think of it, there was one infernal little sneaking 90-gun Yankee frigate,
'Which, hearing of my coming, ran away six hours before the battle—ere that I had peppered 'em.'
But lo! even as he spake came yet another message, declaring there were twain.
Then HOLLINS declared, 'It is a d——d lie, and he who says it is another—an abolitionist is he in his heart. Did I not pepper 'em?'
But lo, even as he sware there came yet another,
Saying, 'Let not my lord be angry, but with these eyes have I seen it; by many others was it perceived.
'Whether the ships which my lord peppered have risen again I know not, but if the whole Yankee fleet isn't there again, all sound and right side up with care, I hope I may be drotted into everlasting turpentine.'
Then the newspapers arose and reviled HOLLINS,
Calling him a humbug—even a humbug called they him.
As for the multitude, they laughed him to scorn; such a blackguarding never received man before,