Songs of the Red Cross : and other verses / by George Stoker.

  • Stoker, George.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Songs of the Red Cross : and other verses / by George Stoker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    SELIM, AN INCIDENT OF THE TURKO-RUSSIAN WAR, OF 1877-78. TO MY FRIENDS SIR ROBERT and LADY BORWICK, A TOKEN OF AFFECTION AND RESPECT. ’Twas on the Caucasian border, at a place called Chamcharee We lay besieged in a marshy camp at the edge of the tideless sea, In front was a valiant watchful foe, behind us the stony beach, Prolonged resistance seemed hopeless and rescue out of reach. All round the camp’s close limits we’d raised a wall of clay, And no one went beyond it, outside ’twas death to stray ; And here and there we built stockades, with fascines tough and strong, About four yards or so in width, and nine or ten times as long. And underneath the strongest we’d hollowed a cave with care, And all the ammunition we had was guarded in safety there. The cave was closed with a narrow door built of rough baulks of wood ; A shelving path led down to it, ’twas there the sentry stood.