Saltbush Bill's Second Fight Poem Rhyme Scheme

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The news came down on the Castlereagh and went to the world at large	A
That twenty thousand traveling sheep with Saltbush Bill in charge	A
Were drifting down from a dried out run to ravage the Castlereagh	B
And the squatters swore when they heard the news and wished they were well away	C
For the name and the fame of Saltbush Bill were over the country side	D
For the wonderful way that he fed his sheep and the dodges and tricks he tried	D
He would lose his way on a Main Stock Route and stray to the squatters' grass	E
He would come to a run with the boss away and swear he had leave to pass	E
And back of all and behind it all as well the squatters knew	F
If he had to fight he would fight all day so long as his sheep got through	F
But this is the story of Stingy Smith the owner of Hard Times Hill	G
And the way that he chanced on a fighting man to reckon with Saltbush Bill	G
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'Twas Stingy Smith on his stockyard sat and prayed for an early Spring	H
When he started at sight of a clean shaved tramp who walked with a jaunty swing	H
For a clean shaved tramp with a jaunty walk a swinging along the track	I
Is as rare a thing as a feathered frog on the desolate roads out back	I
So the tramp he made for the travelers' hut to ask could he camp the night	J
But Stingy Smith had a bright idea and called to him Can you fight	J
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Why what's the game said the clean shaved tramp as he looked at him up and down	K
If you want a battle get off that fence and I'll kill you for half a crown	K
But Boss you'd better not fight with me it wouldn't be fair nor right	J
I'm Stiffener Joe from the Rocks Brigade and I killed a man in a fight	J
I served two years for it fair and square and now I'm trampin' back	I
To look for a peaceful quiet life away on the outside track	I
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Oh it's not myself but a drover chap said Stingy Smith with glee	L
A bullying fellow called Saltbush Bill and you are the man for me	L
He's on the road with his hungry sheep and he's certain to raise a row	M
For he's bullied the whole of the Castlereagh till he's got them under cow	N
Just pick a quarrel and raise a fight and leather him good and hard	O
And I'll take good care that his wretched sheep don't wander a half a yard	O
It's a five pound job if you belt him well do anything short of kill	G
For there isn't a beak on the Castlereagh will fine you for Saltbush Bill	G
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I'll take the job said the fighting man and hot as this cove appears	P
He'll stand no chance with a bloke like me what's lived on the game for years	P
For he's maybe learnt in a boxing school and sparred for a round or so	M
But I've fought all hands in a ten foot ring each night in a traveling show	M
They earned a pound if they stayed three rounds and they tried for it every night	J
In a ten foot ring Oh that's the game that teaches a bloke to fight	J
For they'd rush and clinch it was Dublin Rules and we drew no colour line	Q
And they all tried hard for to earn the pound but they got no pound of mine	Q
If I saw no chance in the opening round I'd slog at their wind and wait	R
Till an opening came and it always came and I settled 'em sure as fate	R
Left on the ribs and right on the jaw and when the chance comes make sure	S
And it's there a professional bloke like me gets home on an amateur	T
For it's my experience every day and I make no doubt it's yours	U
That a third class pro is an over match for the best of the amateurs	V
Oh take your swag to the travelers' hut said Smith for you waste your breath	W
You've a first class chance if you lose the fight of talking your man to death	W
I'll tell the cook you're to have your grub and see that you eat your fill	G
And come to the scratch all fit and well to leather this Saltbush Bill	G
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'Twas Saltbush Bill and his traveling sheep were wending their weary way	C
On the Main Stock Route through the Hard Times Run on their six mile stage a day	C
And he strayed a mile from the Main Stock Route and started to feed along	X
And when Stingy Smith came up Bill said that the Route was surveyed wrong	X
And he tried to prove that the sheep had rushed and strayed from their camp at night	J
But the fighting man he kicked Bill's dog and of course that meant a fight	J
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So they sparred and fought and they shifted ground and never a sound was heard	Y
But the thudding fists on their brawny ribs and the seconds' muttered word	Y
Till the fighting man shot home his left on the ribs with a mighty clout	Z
And his right flashed up with a half arm blow and Saltbush Bill went out	Z
He fell face down and towards the blow and their hearts with fear were filled	A2
For he lay as still as a fallen tree and they thought that he must be killed	A2
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So Stingy Smith and the fighting man they lifted him from the ground	B2
And sent back home for a brandy flask and they slowly fetched him round	B2
But his head was bad and his jaw was hurt in fact he could scarcely speak	C2
So they let him spell till he got his wits and he camped on the run a week	C2
While the traveling sheep went here and there wherever they liked to stray	C
Till Saltbush Bill was fit once more for the track to the Castlereagh	B
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Then Stingy Smith he wrote a note and gave to the fighting man	D2
'Twas writ to the boss of the neighbouring run and thus the missive ran	D2
The man with this is a fighting man one Stiffener Joe by name	E2
He came near murdering Saltbush Bill and I found it a costly game	E2
But it's worth your while to employ the chap for there isn't the slightest doubt	Z
You'll have no trouble from Saltbush Bill while this man hangs about	Z
But an answer came by the next week's mail with news that might well appal	G
The man you sent with a note is not a fighting man at all	G
He has shaved his beard and has cut his hair but I spotted him at a look	F2
He is Tom Devine who has worked for years for Saltbush Bill as cook	F2
Bill coached him up in the fighting yard and taught him the tale by rote	G2
And they shammed to fight and they got your grass and divided your five pound note	G2
'Twas a clean take in and you'll find it wise 'twill save you a lot of pelf	B
When next you're hiring a fighting man just fight him a round yourself	B
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And the teamsters out on the Castlereagh when they meet with a week of rain	H2
And the waggon sinks to its axle tree deep down in the black soil plain	H2
When the bullocks wade in a sea of mud and strain at the load of wool	G
And the cattle dogs at the bullocks' heels are biting to make them pull	G
When the off side driver flays the team and curses tham while he flogs	V
And the air is thick with the language used and the clamour of men and dogs	V
The teamsters say as they pause to rest and moisten each hairy throat	G2
They wish they could swear like Stingy Smith when he read that neighbour's note	G2

Banjo Paterson (andrew Barton)

Saltbush Bill's Second Fight Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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