Page:The man from Snowy River and other verses.pdf/40

 They gained ten good lengths on him quickly
 * He dropped right away from the pack;

I tell you it made me feel sickly
 * To see the blue jacket fall back.

Our very last hope had departed—
 * We thought the old fellow was done,

When all of a sudden he started
 * To go like a shot from a gun.

His chances seemed slight to embolden
 * Our hearts; but, with teeth firmly set,

We thought, 'Now or never! The old 'un
 * 'May reckon with some of 'em yet.'

Then loud rose the war-cry for Pardon;
 * He swept like the wind down the dip,

And over the rise by the garden,
 * The jockey was done with the whip

The field were at sixes and sevens—
 * The pace at the first had been fast—

And hope seemed to drop from the heavens,
 * For Pardon was coming at last.

And how did he come! It was splendid;
 * He gained on them yards every bound,