There was a man called WILLIAM SHAND.
He had the habit of commănd,
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a stout man wearing a top
hat and heavy coat, smoking a cigar, and holding a cane across his
hands.]
And when subordinates would shout
He used to bang them all about.
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a stout man in a top hat
holding a cane and gesturing forward as another man recoils in surprise
or gets hit.]
It happened, by a turn of Fate,
Himself became sub-ordinate,
Through being passenger upon
A liner, going to Ceylon.
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a man wearing a slouch
hat and double-breasted coat, smoking a cigar, standing with his legs
crossed while leaning on a walking stick.]
One day, as they were in the Red
(Or Libyan) Sea, the Captain said:
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a ship]
“I think it’s coming on to blow.
Let everybody go below!”
But William Shand said: “Not for me.
I’m going to stop on deck!” said he.
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a man standing on the
deck of a ship with his arms crossed, wearing a double-breasted coat and
a hat, smoking a cigar, with a life preserver and rough ocean waves in
the background.]
The Captain, wounded in his pride,
Summoned the Second Mate aside
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of two men in caps facing
each other, with one gesturing near his cheek.]
And whispered: “Surely Mr. Shand
Must be extremely rich by land?”
“No,” said the mate; “when last ashore
I watched him.
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a man standing outside a
building labeled “The Sailors Rest” and “Smoking Room,” looking down
while someone peeks out from the window above.]
He is rather poor.”
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a captain in a uniform
and cap, with his cap floating slightly above his head, adjusting his
coat lapel.]
“Ho!” cried the Captain. “Stands it thus!
And shall the knave make mock of us?
I’ll teach him to respect his betters!
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of a ship]
Here, Bo’swain! Put the man in fetters!”
In fetters therefore William lay
Until the liner reached Bombay,
When he was handed to the court
Which deals with cases of the sort
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of an officer in a pith
helmet leading a handcuffed, smoking man by a tether to the left.]
In that uncomfortable port;
Which promptly
hanged him out of hand.
Such was the fate of WILLIAM SHAND.
[Illustration: Black and white illustration of an officer in a pith
helmet smoking a cigar while leading a handcuffed, stout man by a tether
to the right.]