But now I see you've both served in the Lancers,
Though on my word you look much more like dancers."

To which John answer'd, "Oh, the filthy fellow,
I gave him letters to you, which he said
He would deliver, were you ill or well. Oh!
How I should like to knock him on the head,
And would, but that would show I was quite mellow--
Besides, I see the coward has just fled,
Has ta'en to horse, and got across the ford--
Hang him, that I should with him be so bored!"

But Jeannie said, "John, thou shall do no murder."
To which he answer'd, "I will not do so;"
Then bounded off as though he had not heard her,
And reached a fording-place, but not so low
As where Groze cross'd, and who had now got further
Than John would have thought possible, although
He'd a good-horse, and nearly half an hour
In start--but now the clouds began to lower.

Now Fitzadree's good charger was all mettle,
And soon won to the middle of the stream--
But then the sky grew black as a tea kettle;
It rained, too, quite as fast as ever steam
Rose. But the thing which did at last unsettle
The balance of John's steed, was what you'll deem
A being that was nearly supernatural--
But here the waves John's clothes began to spatter all.