Page:The man from Snowy River and other verses.pdf/36

It's 'win, tie, or wrangle'—to best 'em,
You must lose 'em, or else it's 'dead heat.'

We strolled down the township and found 'em
At drinking and gaming and play;
If sorrows they had, why they drowned 'em,
And betting was soon under way.
Their horses were good 'uns and fit 'uns,
There was plenty of cash in the town;
They backed their own horses like Britons,
And Lord! how we rattled it down!

With gladness we thought of the morrow,
We counted our wagers with glee,
A simile homely to borrow—
'There was plenty of milk in our tea.'
You see we were green; and we never
Had even a thought of foul play,
Though we well might have known that the clever
Division would 'put us away.'

Experience 'docet,' they tell us,
At least, so I've frequently heard,
But, 'dosing' or 'stuffing,' those fellows
Were up to each move on the board;