Page:Moyarra- An Australian Legend in Two Cantos, 1891.djvu/87

His polished scales with livid lustre glow
As varied lights the mutable colours show,
His lambent tongue protruded licks the air,
With ardour vibrating—he keeps his lair
But till arrives the fitting time to spring
And crush the victim with its futile wing.
"Koreungat! now our track they near
That seen, for us is no regress:
My life I value not, nor fear
But for our enterprise' success:—
And see! Muntookan swerves; do thou
Retreat—I lay the spoiler low."
He spoke, and heedless of his friend's appeal,
Unerring as a beam of light, departed;
His soul was but one passion strung to feel,
With eagerness of Hope his lips were parted:
Muntookan, startled, turned, and shrunk to see
The rapid death approaching: time was none
His swift assailant to repel or flee:
A fearful commune shook his breast alone
Whose craven judgment owned his race was run.
One effort yet is prompted by despair;
The fatal axe which laid dark Mytah low