Transcriber's note: Spelling and punctuation inconsistencies, mainly quotes that had not been closed, have been harmonized. Italic text has been marked with _underscores_. ON PATROL ON PATROL BY KLAXON AUTHOR OF 'H. M. S. ----' William Blackwood and Sons Edinburgh and London 1919 _TO D. V. B._ They watch us leaving harbour for the greatest game of all, And wonder if we're coming back across the greedy sea; They never know the fighting thrill or high adventure's call-- I rather think the women folk are better men than we. But I suspect they say of us as out to sea we go, In all our panoply of pride from Orkney to the Nore: "It keeps them quiet, we suppose--they like the work, we know-- And soon perhaps they'll tire and play some safer game than War." CONTENTS. PAGE TO---- 1 OLD WOMEN 5 CHIN UP 9 "... THAT HAVE NO DOUBTS" 15 SKY SIGNS 21 AN ENTENTE 27 A BATTLE-PRAYER 33 SUBMARINES 35 THE BATTLE-FLEET 36 DESTROYERS 37 AN ADMINISTRATIVE VICTORY 39 A NIGHTMARE 49 RELEASED 57 REGULUS 63 A NORTH SEA NOTE 67 SOMETHING WRONG 73 WE 77 THE SAILOR'S VIEW 83 STONEWALL JACKSON 89 WET SHIPS 93 THAT BLINKIN' CAT 99 1797 105 AFTER THE WAR 109 LOW VISIBILITY 117 HANG ON 123 TO FRITZ 129 TO THE SCOTTISH REGIMENTS 135 PRIVILEGED 141 "OUR ANNUAL" 147 MASCOTS 151 A HYMN OF DISGUST 157 A TRINITY 165 IN THE MORNING 173 IN FORTY WEST 179 A RING AXIOM 183 THE QUARTERMASTER 187 IN THE BARRED ZONE 193 WHO CARES? 199 THE UNCHANGING SEX 203 LOOKING AFT 209 A MAXIM 215 THE CRISIS 219 A SEA CHANTY 223 A.D. 400 229 OVERDUE 233 TO---- TO----.