Taking His Chance

They stood by the door of the Inn on the Rise; May Carney looked up in the bushranger's eyes: ‘ Oh! why did you come? — it was mad of you, Jack; You know that the troopers are out on your track.’

A laugh and a shake of his obstinate head — ‘ I wanted a dance, and I'll chance it,’ he said. Some twenty-odd bushmen had come to the‘ ball’, But Jack from his youth had been known to them all,

And bushmen are soft where a woman is fair, So the love of May Carney protected him there; And all the short evening — it seems like romance — She danced with a bushranger taking his chance.

‘ Twas midnight — the dancers stood suddenly still, For hoofs had been heard on the side of the hill! Ben Duggan, the drover, along the hillside Came riding as only a bushman can ride.

He sprang from his horse, to the shanty he sped — ‘ The troopers are down in the gully!’ he said. Quite close to the homestead the troopers were seen. ‘ Clear out and ride hard for the ranges, Jack Dean!

Be quick!’ said May Carney — her hand on her heart — ‘ We'll bluff them awhile, and‘ twill give you a start.’ He lingered a moment — to kiss her, of course — Then ran to the trees where he'd hobbled his horse.

She ran to the gate, and the troopers were there — The jingle of hobbles came faint on the air — Then loudly she screamed: it was only to drown The treacherous clatter of slip-rails let down.

But troopers are sharp, and she saw at a glance That someone was taking a desperate chance. They chased, and they shouted,‘ Surrender, Jack Dean!’ They called him three times in the name of the Queen.

Then came from the darkness the clicking of locks; The crack of the rifles was heard in the rocks! A shriek and a shout, and a rush of pale men — And there lay the bushranger, chancing it then.

The sergeant dismounted and knelt on the sod — ‘ Your bushranging's over — make peace, Jack, with God!’ The bushranger laughed — not a word he replied, But turned to the girl who knelt down by his side.

He gazed in her eyes as she lifted his head: ‘ Just kiss me — my girl — and — I'll — chance it,’ he said.