SADDLE RESTING AGAINST A TREE A FIRE BURNING BRIGHT

AND WITH THE EMBERS OF THE FIRE DRIFTING IN THE NIGHT

DRIFTING UP IN THE AIR AS IF THEY WERE A STAR

I STARED INTO THE FIRE AND DRIFTED BACK A FAR

TO DAY’S OF MEMORIES OF THE PAST IN PLACES I DID STAY

FROM OUT ALONG THE RANGES TO TOWNS SO FAR AWAY

OF FRIENDS LIKE FRANK GARDINER AND GILBERT, DUNN AND CO

FOR TODAY I MUST BE CAUTIOUS FOR TOMORROW I MUST GO

FLAMES BURNING BLUE AND GREEN WITH A HINT OF SMOKEY GREY

BROUGHT A STRANGE BELIEF THE TRAPS WERN’T FAR AWAY

I LAY AGAINST MY SADDLE WITH MY HORSE JUST OUT OF SITE

AND DRIFTED OF TO SLEEP BESIDE THE FIRE’S LIGHT

I SLEPT WITH ONE EYE OPEN WAITING FOR THE DAWN                                                                                                      

THE HORSE DID SNORT AND WINNY TO WAKE ME IN THE MORN

A SMELL AND SCENT OF GUN POWER DRIFTING IN THE BREEZE

AND SOUND’S OF RIFLE FIRE COMING FROM THE TREE’S

I LOOKED AND SAW A DARKEN FACE BESIDE A BLUE GUM TREE

HE WAS THE WHITEMAN’S TRACKER BILLY DARGIN IT MAY BE

PISTOL AT HAND I FIRED A SINGLE SHOT THEN MADE A FLEETING RUN

THROW THE TREE’S I DID SCAMPER BEHIND THE OLD BLUE GUM

WITH THE TRAPS CLOSING IN I TOOK A DIFFERENT COURSE

TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE BRUSH TO MOUNT UPON MY HORSE

AS I MOVED AROUND A CLUMP OF TREE’S I FELT A AWFUL PAIN

THE BULLETS FROM THE TRAPS HAD STRUCK ME ONCE AGAIN

 AGAINTS A TREE I DID LEAN TO TAKE A WANTED REST

IN PAIN WITH MANY BULLETS LODGED INSIDE MY CHEST

UPON THE GROUND I DID FALL MY DAY HAD COME AT LAST                                                                                                 

TRAPS AND TROOPS ALL AROUND FIRING WITH A BLAST

FROM DARGIN TO THE SERGEANT THEY ARGUED AMOUNST THEM ALL