'The twenty-third of November, That was the very time, A fine and lofty schooner brig, The _Happy Return_, of Lyme, The bold and noble Captain Escaped from the deep, And died with cold that very night Near to a flock of sheep. _Chorus._ 'So my British tars, etc. 'The mate, as fine a seaman As could stand on a deck, Had with his noble Captain Escaped from the wreck; No refuge could be found on shore. No good could there be done; He returned on board the deck and died: The poor man lost his son. _Chorus._ 'So my British tars, etc. 'This poor man's son was not drown'd, But found dead the next day; Three only of this manly crew Escaped death and sea. Have pity on poor seamen, Kind gentlemen, I beg; The one of them is wounded, The poor man broke his leg. _Chorus._ 'So my British tars, etc. 'I've twice myself been shipwreck'd, Twenty-two years at sea, But never saw a gang of thieves Before that very day; Had it not been for Captain Thomas, And his loyal Preventive crew, They'd have stolen the cargo and the deck, The mast and rigging too. _Chorus._ 'So my British tars, etc. 'This schooner came from Dublin, To London she was bound; I could not believe such daring thieves Stood on the British ground. The Farmers of the country,[8] That distress ought to relieve, Some of them were stealing butter, While others stole the beef. _Chorus._ 'So my British tars, etc. 'Seamen call this place West Barbary. To me it does appear, More of the cargo would have sav'd, Were they wrecked on Algier: The people might as well come in, Rob the market or the fair; But to rob distressed seamen, No one had business there. _Chorus._ 'So my British tars, etc. 'Now to complete this shipwreck, And for to end this song, I've told you nothing but the truth, No mortal I have wrong'd. Great praise is due to Pethick.[9] His wife and family brave, That did their best that very time Poor seamen's lives to save. _Chorus._ 'So my British tars, etc.' [Footnote 8: St. Ginnes.] [Footnote 9: The cottager by the seaside.] Kingsley remarks that 'an agricultural people is generally as cruel to wrecked seamen as a fishing one is merciful,' and speaks of the many stories he has heard of 'baysmen' on this coast 'risking themselves like very heroes to save strangers' lives, and at the same time beating off the labouring folk who swarmed down for plunder from the inland hills.' Retracing the way to Northam Burrows, passing through them to their most northerly point, and crossing the Taw, one arrives at a strip of shore--Braunton Burrows--which corresponds to the strip on the southern bank of the river.