第22章 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.