ips me;_
_But we'll both be blowed if we'll either be stowed_
_In the other chap's hold, you see!_

_Balfourius._ What's that you say?

_Chamberlainus._ Oh, merely humming "Birds in their little nests agree."

_Balfourius._ Ah, as the Chief says, there'll be plenty of opportunity
for personal sacrifice and pulling together before we're through with
this siege. To work this Battering-Ram with effect, unanimity and
simultaneity of effort are especially essential.

_Saundersonius._ Quite so! So bear a hand--_at the rope_, GRANDOLPHUS,
if you please. Now then, boys--_all together!!!_ BANG!!!!!!

_Grand Old Voice_ (_from within_). "When they _do_ agree, their
unanimity is wonderful." Wonder if that gate will stand the shock! Must
disable that Rampant Ram of theirs--somehow.

[_Left keeping his eye on 'em._

* * * * *

SUFFICIENTLY ANTIQUE.--Said TOMKINS, "I won't say my
ancestors were in this Country before the Flood, _but_
they came in with the High Tide."

* * * * *

[Illustration: THE ASSAULT!!]

* * * * *

[Illustration: TRIALS OF A CONVALESCENT.

_Tompkins_ (_in a feeble voice, for the fourth or fifth
time, with no result_). "CHAIRMAN!!! CHAIRMAN!!!"

_That Awful Boy._ "LYDIES AND GENTLEMEN----!!"]

* * * * *

A FYTTE OF THE BLUES.

BY AN OLD "CROCK."

(_After reading the rattling verses of_ "Tis," _entitled
"Good Luck!" in the "Granta."_)

Good old _Granta_! They set the blood glowing,
Your verse-grinder's galloping lines,
There seems rare inspiration in Rowing!
The Muse, who politely declines
To patronise pessimist twitters,
Has smiled on these stanzas, which smack
Of health, honest zeal, foaming "bitters,"
And vigour of brain and of back.

Good luck to the Light Blues! That burden
Befits rattling rhymes from the Cam,
Their "movement" might rouse a Dame DURDEN,
Or fire a cold victim of cram.
Why it stirs up "old Crocks" to peruse 'em--
Slashing lines on "a slashing octette"--
They feel, though 'tis hard to "enthuse" 'em,
There _must_ be some life in 'em yet.

Old Crocks! Oh, exuberant younkers!
You "guy" "the old gang" as "played out,"
As fogies, and fussers, and funkers,
You've over-much reason, no doubt.
But, great Scott! as your rowing-rhymes ratt