Page:The man from Snowy River and other verses.pdf/207

But he found the rails on that summer night
For a better place—or worse,
As we watched by turns in the flickering light
With an old black gin for nurse.
The breeze came in with the scent of pine,
The river sounded clear,
When a change came on, and we saw the sign
That told us the end was near.

But he spoke in a cultured voice and low—
'I fancy they've "sent the route;"
'I once was an army man, you know,
'Though now I'm a drunken brute;
'But bury me out where the bloodwoods wave,
'And if ever you're fairly stuck,
'Just take and shovel me out of the grave
'And, maybe, I'll bring you luck.

'For I've always heard—' here his voice fell weak,
His strength was well-nigh sped,
He gasped and struggled and tried to speak,
Then fell in a moment—dead.
Thus ended a wasted life and hard,
Of energies misapplied—
Old Bob was out of the 'swagman's yard'
And over the Great Divide.

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