University of Virginia Library

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28

OUR RIDE

MILLER CORRECTED, BY OLD REVELS

This is how it all happen'd. The girl, she was — Well,
We 'd play'd for her, Jo. and me. Dern'd but I'll tell
The truth all clean out. We had been at the lodge
Of her father. He's all-free, is Jo. for a dodge,
And had trick'd — But, no matter! you only would learn
The rights o' that ride when we 'scaped from the burn,
For we all three got through. It was only a skeer,
And the girl a bit scorch'd. Master Jo. didn't keer
A red cent was she burnt or unburnt: that's the one
Touch of truth in the vagabond's tale of the run.
For the rest, he was gassing. All that about Kit,—
Why, I tell you again, it 's a lie, all of it.

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29

Kit Carson would never have left in distress
A friend, nor a stranger, a girl too. Ask Jess,—
Well, I 'm rough: I mean Madam our general's wife.
Bless you, she knew Kit Carson the whole of his life.
I'll read you her letter: just wait till I get
Where she says that Jo. Miller 's a liar, you bet.
Needn't tell you he 'll gas: all us know how he gasses.
Let that go! As we lay half asleep in the grasses
We saw that the prairie was all in a flame;
And the smoke druv before as right on us it came.
We jump'd on our horses, we only had two;
And Jo. took the best. Now don't say So would you!
Though may be I would, for the girl had to ride,
And as he had won her and call'd her his bride
'Twas for him to look for her. He leapt in the saddle
And — blest but the mean crittur went to skedaddle
And leave her, but she was too spry for the varmint
And clim up behind with a grip on his garment,
So holding him fast, with both arms round his waist.
He had flung her off then, but was too much in haste.
So we start.

What the — “gold-mounted Colt's”! Nary one
Had we got. And we stript? The hell, you poke fun
At a fellow. The fire was upon us; suppose
We 'd stop to be singed while we took off our clothes?
We just went as we were, with the fire at our backs,
And lost no fool's time, nor no words, to make tracks.
Their horse was the best, by long odds, but for load:
So I kept close beside them, and onward we rode
Well ahead of the fire. 'Twas no great thing to fear,

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30

But that lying scoundrel was bound for a skeer;
And I saw, as the girl only loosen'd her grip,
He was ready and, shifting her hand from his hip,
Twist her off and, one moment, she lay on the sward.
He turn'd to look at her, then spurr'd on more hard.
Damn your soul, you — I leant to catch hold of his rein
But miss'd and I knew there was no hope to gain
On that beast, so I pull'd in my own; you may bet
She was not long awaiting. One moment to get
On the crupper, one look of her thanks in my face,
And we were again making head in our race
With the fire. And we beat.