Saltbush Bill's Second Flight 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 travelling 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
	-
'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 travellers' hut to ask could he camp the night	J
But Stingy Smith had a bright idea and called to him quot Can you fight quot	J
quot Why what's the game quot said the clean shaved tramp as he looked at him up and down	K
quot 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 quot	J
	-
quot Oh it's not myself but a drover chap quot said Stingy Smith with glee	L
quot 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	J
And I'll take good care that his wretched sheep don't wander a half a yard	J
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 quot	J
	-
quot I'll take the job quot said the fighting man quot and hot as this cove appears	O
He'll stand no chance with a bloke like me what's lived on the game for years	O
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 travelling 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	P
And they all tried hard for to earn the pound but they got no pound of mine	P
If I saw no chance in the opening round I'd slog at their wind and wait	J
Till an opening came and it always came and I settled 'em sure as fate	J
Left on the ribs and right on the jaw and when the chance comes make sure	Q
And it's there a professional bloke like me gets home on an amateur	R
For it's my experience every day and I make no doubt it's yours	S
That a third class pro is an over match for the best of the amateurs quot	J
quot Oh take your swag to the travellers' hut quot said Smith quot for you waste your breath	T
You've a first class chance if you lose the fight of talking your man to death	T
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 quot	J
	-
'Twas Saltbush Bill and his travelling 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	U
And when Stingy Smith came up Bill said that the Route was surveyed wrong	U
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
	-
So they sparred and fought and they shifted ground and never a sound was heard	J
But the thudding fists on their brawny ribs and the seconds' muttered word	J
Till the fighting man shot home his left on the ribs with a mighty clout	J
And his right flashed up with a half arm blow and Saltbush Bill quot went out quot	J
He fell face down and towards the blow and their hearts with fear were filled	J
For he lay as still as a fallen tree and they thought that he must be killed	J
	-
So Stingy Smith and the fighting man they lifted him from the ground	J
And sent back home for a brandy flask and they slowly fetched him round	J
But his head was bad and his jaw was hurt in fact he could scarcely speak	V
So they let him spell till he got his wits and he camped on the run a week	V
While the travelling 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
	-
Then Stingy Smith he wrote a note and gave to the fighting man	W
'Twas writ to the boss of the neighbouring run and thus the missive ran	W
quot The man with this is a fighting man one Stiffener Joe by name	X
He came near murdering Saltbush Bill and I found it a costly game	X
But it's worth your while to employ the chap for there isn't the slightest doubt	J
You'll have no trouble from Saltbush Bill while this man hangs about quot	J
But an answer came by the next week's mail with news that might well appal	G
quot 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	Y
He is Tom Devine who has worked for years for Saltbush Bill as cook	Y
Bill coached him up in the fighting yard and taught him the tale by rote	J
And they shammed to fight and they got your grass and divided your five pound note	J
'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 quot	J
	-
And the teamsters out on the Castlereagh when they meet with a week of rain	Z
And the waggon sinks to its axle tree deep down in the black soil plain	Z
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	S
And the air is thick with the language used and the clamour of men and dogs	S
The teamsters say as they pause to rest and moisten each hairy throat	J
They wish they could swear like Stingy Smith when he read that neighbour's note	J

Banjo Paterson

Saltbush Bill's Second Flight Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

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