And took to promenading along the Liffey banks.

I made a measured survey of curbstones in the squares,

And prowled behind the corners, for pouncing unawares.

Twelve months of measured pacing, had gone since I began;

I hadn't run a prisoner, the time was all I ran;

And when the year had vanished, said the sergeant, "Halt, O'Brine!

You haven't run a prisoner, you'll have to draw the line."

That night I went and drew it—'twas peeping through a blind!—

I got some information, of suspicious work behind.