Rogue by heredity, felon by birth,
Ancestors often the scum of the earth
Bred on "duffed" mutton and other folks' beef :
Horse-stealer, brand-fakir, rowdy and thief.
Rides like a centaur--no country too rough ;
Lithe as a warrigal, wiry and tough :
Joined by comrade, some human reproach ;
Plucks up his courage and sticks up the coach.
Then becomes "wanted," and warrants abound ;
Troopers are eager to run him to ground :
Aye, to be hunted and hounded his lot;
Finally hanged, or if lucky is shot.
Never the hero some writers aver,
Seldom the scoundrel his critics infer.
Two great attractions for men of his mould--
Lots of excitement and lightly-won gold.
-E. H. M.
Notes
From the NSW Newspaper The Bowral Free Press 10 Oct 1903 Page 3.
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