For though her rider smite her,
As hard as he can hit,
And strive to turn her from the yard,
She stands in silence, pulling hard
Against the pulling bit.
And now the road to Dalton
Hath felt their coming tread,
The crowd are speed-
ing on before,
And all have gone
ahead.
Yet often look they
backward,
And cheer him on and bawl,
That horseman and that charger go,
And scarce advance at all.
And now two roads to choose from
Are in that rider's sight:
In front the road to Dalton,
And New Croft upon the right.
"I can't get by!" he bellows,
"I really am not able!"
Though I pull my shoulder out of
joint,
I cannot get him past this point,
For it leads unto his stable!"
Then out spake Ulfrid Longbow,[1]
A valiant youth was he,
"Lo! I will stand on thy right hand
And guard the pass for thee!"
- ↑ This valiant knight, besides having a heart of steel and nerves of iron, has been lately in the habit of carrying a brick in his eye.
