I've 'eard 'im cryin' from the ground
Like Abel's blood of old,

An' skirmished out to look, an' found
The beggar nearly cold;

I've waited on till 'e was dead

(Which couldn't 'elp 'im much), But many grateful things 'e's said

To me for doin' such.

Ah there, Piet! whose time 'as come to die,

'Is carcase past rebellion, but 'is eyes
inquirin' why.

Though dressed in stolen uniform with

badge o' rank complete,

I've known a lot o' fellers go a dam'
sight worse than Piet.

An' when there wasn't aught to do
But camp and cattle-guards,

I've fought with 'im the 'ole day through

At fifteen 'undred yards;

Long afternoons o' lyin' still,

An' 'earin' as you lay

The bullets swish from 'ill to 'ill

Like scythes among the 'ay.

Ah there, Piet!-be'ind 'is stony kop,

With 'is Boer bread an' biltong, an' 'is flask of awful Dop;

'Is Mauser for amusement an' 'is pony for

retreat,

I've known a lot o' fellers shoot a dam' sight

worse than Piet.

He's shoved 'is rifle 'neath my nose

Before I'd time to think,

An' borrowed all my Sunday clo'es

An' sent me 'ome in pink;

An' I 'ave crept (Lord, 'ow I've crept!)
On 'ands an' knees I've gone,

And spoored and floored and caught and kept
An' sent him to Ceylon!

Ah there, Piet!-you've sold me many a

pup,

When week on week alternate it was you

an' me "'ands up!"

But though I never made you walk man

naked in the 'eat,

I've known a lot of fellers stalk a dam' sight

worse than Piet.

From Plewman's to Marabastad,

From Ookiep to De Aar,
Me an' my trusty friend 'ave 'ad,

As you might say, a war;

But seein' what both parties done

Before 'e owned defeat,

'Is Mauser for amusement an' 'is pony for

retreat,

I've known a lot o' fellers shoot a dam' sight

worse than Piet.

He's shoved 'is rifle 'neath my nose

Before I'd time to think,

An' borrowed all my Sunday clo'es

An' sent me 'ome in pink;

An' I 'ave crept (Lord, 'ow I've crept!)
On 'ands an' knees I've gone,

And spoored and floored and caught and kept
An' sent him to Ceylon!

Ah there, Piet!-you've sold me many a

pup,

When week on week alternate it was you

an' me "'ands up!"

But though I never made you walk man

naked in the 'eat,

I've known a lot of fellers stalk a dam' sight

worse than Piet.

From Plewman's to Marabastad,

From Ookiep to De Aar,
Me an' my trusty friend 'ave 'ad,

As you might say, a war;

But seein' what both parties done

Before 'e owned defeat,