Will Watch

One morn when the wind

From the northward blew keenly,

When sullen roared

The big waves on the main,

A famed smuggler, Will Watch,

Kissed his Susan serenely

Took helm, and to sea

Boldly steered out again.

Will had promised his Sue

That this trip, if well ended,

Should coil up his ropes,

And he'd anchor on shore;

When his pockets were lined,

Why his life should be ended,

The laws he had broke

He would never break more.

His sea-boat was trim

Made her port, took her loading,

Then Will stood to sea,

Reached the offing, and cried,

"This night, if I've luck,

Furls the sails of my trading.

In dock I can lay -

Serve a friend or two besides."

We lay to 'til night

Came on darksome and dreary,

To crowd every sail

Then he piped up all hands;

But a signal soon spied -

'Twas a prospect uncheerly,

'Twas a signal that warned him

To beat from the land.

"The Philistians are out",

Cries Will, "we'll take no heed on't,

Attacked, who's the man

That will flinch from his gun?

Should my head be blown off

I shall ne'er feel the need on't,

We'll fight while we can;

When we can't, boys, we'll run."

Through the haze of the night

A bright flash now appearing,

"Oh ho!" cried Will Watch,

"The Philistians bear down.

Bear a hand, my tight lads,

Ere we think about sheering.

Our broadside poured in;

Should we swim, boys, or drown?"

"But should I be popped off,

You, my mates left behind me,

Pay regard of my last words,

See 'em kindly obeyed.

Let no stone mark the spot,

And, my friends, do you mind me,

Near the beach with this grave

Where Will Watch should be laid."

Poor Will's yarn was spun up -

For a bullet next minute

Laid him low on the deck

And he never rose more.

The crew fought the brig

While a shot remained in him,

Then sheered, and Will's hulk

To his Susan they bore.

In the dead of the night

His last wish was complied with,

To few known his grave

And to few known his end;

He was borne to the earth

By the crew that he died with;

He'd the tears of his Susan,

The prayers of his men.

Near his grave dash the billow,

That wild low last billow,

Yon ash struck with lightning

That marked his cold bed.

Will Watch, the bold smuggler,

That famed lawless fellow -

Once feared, now forgot -

Sleep in peace with the dead.