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| Growltiger was a Bravo Cat, who traveled on a barge: |
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| In fact he was the roughest cat that ever roamed at large. |
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| From Gravesend up to Oxford he pursued his evil aims, |
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| Rejoicing in his title of 'The Terror of the Thames'. |
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| His manners and appearance did not calculate to please; |
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| He coat was torn and seedy, he was baggy at the knees; |
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| One ear was somewhat missing, no need to tell you why, |
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| And he scowled upon a hostile world from one forbidding eye. |
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| The cottagers of Rotherhithe knew something of his fame; |
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| At Hammersmith and Putney people shuddered at his name. |
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| They would fortify the hen-house, lock up the silly goose, |
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| When the rumour ran along the shore: GROWLTIGER'S ON THE LOOSE! |
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| Woe to the weak canary, that fluttered from its cage; |
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| Woe to the pampered Pekinese, that faced Growltiger's rage; |
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| Woe to the bristly Bandicoot, that lurks on foreign ships, |
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| And woe to any Cat with whom Growltiger came to grips! |
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| But most to Cats of foreign race his hatred had been vowed; |
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| To Cats of foreign name and race no quarter was allowed. |
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| The Persian and the Siamese regarded him with fear- |
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| Because it was a Siamese had mauled his missing ear. |
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| Now on a peaceful summer night, all nature seemed at play, |
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| The tender moon was shining bright, the barge at Molesey lay. |
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| All in the balmy moonlight it lay rocking on the tide- |
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| And Growltiger was disposed to show his sentimental side. |
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| His bucko mate, GRUMBUSKIN, had long since disappeared, |
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| For to the Bell at Hampton he had gone to wet his beard; |
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| And his bosun, TUMBLEBRUTUS, he too had stol'n away- |
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| In the yard behind the Lion he was prowling for his prey. |
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| In the forepeak of the vessel Growltiger sate alone, |
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| Concentrating his attention on the Lady GRIDDLEBONE. |
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| And his raffish crew were sleeping in their barrels and their bunks- |
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| As the Siamese came creeping in their sampans and their junks. |
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| Growltiger had no eye or ear for aught but Griddlebone, |
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| And the Lady seemed enraptured by his manly baritone, |
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| Disposed to relaxation, and awaiting no surprise- |
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| But the moonlight shone reflected from a hundred bright blue eyes. |
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| And closer still and closer the sampans circled round, |
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| And yet from all the enemy there was not heard a sound. |
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| The lovers sang their last duet, in danger of their lives- |
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| For the foe was armed with toasting forks and cruel carving knives. |
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| Then GILBERT gave the signal to his fierce Mongolian horde; |
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| With a frightful burst of fireworks the Chinks they swarmed aboard. |
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| Abandoning their sampans, and their pullaways and junks, |
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| They battened down the hatches on the crew within their bunks. |
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| Then Griddlebone she gave a screech, for she was badly skeered; |
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| I am sorry to admit it, but she quickly disappeared. |
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| She probably escaped with ease, I'm sure she was not drowned- |
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| But a serried ring of flashing steel Growltiger did surround. |
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| The ruthless foe pressed forward, in stubborn rank and rank; |
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| Growltiger to his vast surprise was forced to walk the plank. |
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| He who a hundred victims had driven to that drop, |
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| At the end of all his crimes was forced to go ker-flip, ker-flop. |
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| Oh there was joy in Wapping when the news flew through the land; |
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| At Maidenhead and Henley there was dancing on the strand. |
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| Rats were roasted whole at Brentford, and at Victoria dock, |
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| And a day of celebration was commanded in Bangkok. |
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