“Now that we’re gittin’ t’wards the Spanish Strand,” Said Moses Brown, a-waving his bandana, “I just propose that first of all I land— As all of us have done—at the old Havanna. Adventures there do gin’rally abound, The natives being all sus-ceptive creeters; For if romance upon this airth is found, It sartinly _is_ ’mong the senoritas. Though he who of ’em would advantage take, Must be on hand and al’ays wide awake: _Quien el diablo ha de engañar_ _Mañana ha bien de levantar_.” Meanin’ that “who the devil would deceive, Must rise uncommon early,” I believe. That is the precious time to pick a salad, As happened to the fellow in my ballad; Who carried off the booty, as the Fox Took the fair Hen from the two fighting Cocks. NEAR HAVANNA It was down near Havanna town, ho! It was down near Havanna town, low, That I saw a mortal fight, At the coming on of night, By the starlight a long time ago. Two Spaniards were a-fighting for their lives, The blades flashed like lightning up and down; To the click and the clock of the knives, And _there_ stood a lady looking on. I asked her the cause of the fray, And she answered in Spanish: “Oh see! They are villains who carried me away, And now they are fighting for me.” And I said as I looked at her face That I hardly could blame such a theft, “But I’ll wait until one gets his grace, Then I’ll tackle with the other who is left.” But just as I spoke, with a start, The two leapt and fell on the sand, For both had been stabbed to the heart And each had his death out of hand. So I and the _donna_ were friends, And that of the kindest and best; Now here this true history ends, And you must imagine the rest. And ’twas all near Havanna town, ho! It was down by Havanna town, low, That I saw this mortal fight, At the coming on of night, By the starlight a long time ago. There sat a stranger there whom no one knew, Who did not seem a follower of the sea, And yet no stranger surely to the Blue, Who now politely spoke the company, Saying unto them: “Mates, ’tween you and me, I put it as a question—don’t you think That it is pretty near time to take a drink? And if you do belong to Gideon’s Band, Then here’s my purse to pay—and here’s my hand”— There was a roar of laughter loud and long, And then the stranger burst into a song; But for a minute were they all so gay, For with the words their laughter died away. THE THREE DEAD MEN _Los tres Muertos_