CHORUS—PIRATES (very loud) With cat-like tread, Upon our prey we steal; In silence dread, Our cautious way we feel. No sound at all! We never speak a word; A fly's foot-fall Would be distinctly heard— POLICE: (softly) Tarantara, tarantara! PIRATES: So stealthily the pirate creeps, While all the household soundly sleeps. Come, friends, who plough the sea, Truce to navigation; Take another station; Let's vary piracee With a little burglaree! POLICE: (softly) Tarantara, tarantara! SAMUEL: (distributing implements to various members of the gang) Here's your crowbar and your centrebit, Your life-preserver—you may want to hit! Your silent matches, your dark lantern seize, Take your file and your skeletonic keys. POLICE: Tarantara! PIRATES: With cat-like tread POLICE: Tarantara! PIRATES: in silence dread, (Enter KING, FREDERIC and RUTH) ALL (fortissimo). With cat-like tread, etc. RECIT FREDERIC: Hush, hush! not a word; I see a light inside! The Major-Gen'ral comes, so quickly hide! PIRATES: Yes, yes, the Major-General comes! (Exeunt KING, FREDERIC, SAMUEL, and RUTH) POLICE: Yes, yes, the Major-General comes! GENERAL: (entering in dressing-gown, carrying a light) Yes, yes, the Major-General comes! SOLO—GENERAL Tormented with the anguish dread Of falsehood unatoned, I lay upon my sleepless bed, And tossed and turned and groaned. The man who finds his conscience ache No peace at all enjoys; And as I lay in bed awake, I thought I heard a noise. MEN: He thought he heard a noise— ha! ha! GENERAL: No, all is still In dale, on hill; My mind is set at ease— So still the scene, It must have been The sighing of the breeze. BALLAD—GENERAL