Featherstonhaugh Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABCD EBEBCD FGFGCD HIHICD JKJKCD KLKLCD MNMNCD GOPOCD GQGQCD RSRSCD TUTUCD VBVBCD HWHWXD KYKYCD ZA2ZA2CDBrookong station lay half asleep | A |
Dozed in the waning western glare | B |
'Twas before the run had stocked with sheep | A |
And only cattle depastured there | B |
As the Bluccap mob reined up at the door | C |
And loudly saluted Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
My saintly preacher the leader cried | E |
I stand no nonsense as you're aware | B |
I've a word for you if you'll step outside | E |
Just drop that pistol and have a care | B |
I'll trouble you too for the key of the store | C |
For we're short of tucker friend Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
The muscular Christian showed no fear | F |
Though he handed the key with but small delay | G |
He never answered the ruffian's jeer | F |
Except by a look which seemed to say | G |
Beware my friend and think twice before | C |
You raise the devil in Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
Two hours after he reined his horse | H |
Up in Urana and straightway went | I |
To the barracks the trooper was gone of course | H |
Blindly nosing a week old scent | I |
Away in the scrub around Mount Galore | C |
Confound the fellow quoth Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
Will any man of you come with me | J |
And give this Bluecap a dressing down | K |
They all regarded him silently | J |
As he turned his horse with a scornful frown | K |
You're curs the lot of you to the core | C |
I'll go by myself said Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
The scrub was thick on Urangeline | K |
As he followed the tracks that twisted through | L |
The box and dogwood and scented pine | K |
One of their horses had cast a shoe | L |
Steeped from his youth in forest lore | C |
He could track like a nigger could Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
He paused as he saw the thread of smoke | M |
From the outlaw camp and he marked the sound | N |
Of a hobble check as it sharply broke | M |
The silence that held the scrub land bound | N |
There were their horses two three four | C |
It's a risk but I'll chance it quoth Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
He loosened the first and it walked away | G |
But his comrade's silence could not be bought | O |
For he raised his head with a sudden neigh | P |
And plainly showed that he'd not be caught | O |
As a bullet sang from a rifle bore | C |
It's time to be moving quoth Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
The brittle pine as they broke away | G |
Crackled like ice in a winter's ponds | Q |
The strokes fell fast on the cones that lay | G |
Buried beneath the withered fronds | Q |
That softly carpet the sandy floor | C |
Swept two on the tracks of Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
They struck that path that the stock had made | R |
A dustily red well beaten track | S |
The leader opened a fusillade | R |
Whose target was Featherston's stooping back | S |
But his luck was out not a bullet tore | C |
As much as a shred from Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
Rattle 'em rattle 'em fast on the pad | T |
Where the sloping shades fell dusk and dim | U |
The manager's heart beat high and glad | T |
For he knew the creek was a mighty swim | U |
Already he heard a smothered roar | C |
They're done like a dinner quoth Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
It was almost dark as they neared the dam | V |
He struck the crossing as true as a hair | B |
For the space of a second the pony swam | V |
Then shook himself in the chill night air | B |
In a pine tree shade on the further shore | C |
With his pistol cocked stood Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
A splash an oath and a rearing horse | H |
A thread snapped short in the fateful loom | W |
The tide unaltered swept on its course | H |
Though a fellow creature had met his doom | W |
Pale and trembling and struck with awe | X |
Bluccap stood opposite Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
While the creek rolled muddily in between | K |
The eddies played with the drowned man's hat | Y |
The stars peeped out in the summer sheen | K |
A night bird chirruped across the flat | Y |
Quoth Bluecap I owe you a heavy score | C |
And I'll live to repay it Featherstonhaugh | D |
- | |
But he never did for he ran his race | Z |
Before he had time to fulfil his oath | A2 |
I can't think how but in any case | Z |
He was hung or drowned or maybe both | A2 |
But whichever it was he came no more | C |
To trouble the peace of Featherstonhaugh | D |
Barcroft Boake
(1)
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