The daylight shines on figures twain
That ride across Mylora plain,
Laughing and talking—Jim and Jane.
“Steadily, darling. There’s lots of time,
Didn’t we slip the old man prime!
I knew he’d tackle that Bowneck mob,
I reckon he’ll find it too big a job.
They’ve beaten us all. I had a try,
But the warrigal devils seem to fly.
That Sambo’s a real good bit of stuff
No doubt, but not quite good enough.
He’ll have to gallop the livelong day,
To cut and come, to race and stay.
I hope he yards ’em, ‘twill do him good;
To see us going I don’t think would.”
A turn in the road and, fair and square,
They meet the old man standing there.
“What’s up?” “Why, running away, of course,’
Says Jim, emboldened. The old man turned,
His eye with wild excitement burned.
“I’ve raced all day through the scorching heat
After old Bowneck: and now I’m beat.
But over that range I think you’ll find
The Bowneck mob all run stone-blind.
Will you go, and leave the mob behind?
Which will you do? Take the girl away,
Or ride like a white man should today,
And yard old Bowneck? Go or stay?”
Says Jim, “I can’t throw this away,
We can bolt some other day, of course—
Amelia Jane, get off that horse!
Up you get, Old Man. Whoop, halloo!
Here goes to put old Bowneck through!”
Two distant specks on the mountain side,
Two stockwhips echoing far and wide. . . . 
Amelia Jane sat down and cried. “Sakes, Amelia, what’s up now?
Leading old Sambo, too, I vow,
And him deadbeat. Where have you been?
‘Bolted with Jim!’ What do you mean?
‘Met the old man with Sambo, licked
From running old Bowneck.’ Well, I’m kicked—
‘Ran ’em till Sambo nearly dropped?’
What did Jim do when you were stopped?
Did you bolt from father across the plain?
‘Jim made you get off Crazy Jane!
And father got on, and away again
The two of ’em went to the ranges grim.’
Good boy, Jimmy! Oh, well done, Jim!
They’re sure to get them now, of course,
That Tambourine is a spanking horse.
And Crazy Jane is good as gold.
And Jim, they say, rides pretty bold—
Not like your father, but very fair.
Jim will have to follow the mare.”
“It never was yet in father’s hide
To best my Jim on the mountain side.
Jim can rally, and Jim can ride.”
But here again Amelia cried. The sound of a whip comes faint and far,
A rattle of hoofs, and here they are,
In all their tameless pride.
The fleet wild horses snort with fear,
And wheel and break as the yard draws near.
Now, Jim the Ringer, ride!
Wheel ’em! wheel ’em! Whoa back there, whoa!
And the foam-flakes fly like the driven snow,
As under the whip the horses go
Adown the mountain side.
And Jim, hands down, and teeth firm set,
On a horse that never has failed him yet,
Is after them down the range.
Well ridden! well ridden! they wheel—whoa back!
And long and loud the stockwhips crack,
Their flying course they change;
“Steadily does it—let Sambo go!
Open those sliprails down below.
Smart! or you’ll be too late. “They’ll follow old Sambo up—look out!
Wheel that black horse—give Sam a clout.
They’re in! Make fast the gate.” The mob is safely in the yard!
The old man mounts delighted guard.
No thought has he but for his prize. Jim catches poor Amelia’s eyes.
“Will you come after all? The job is done,
And Crazy Jane is fit to run
For a prince’s life—now don’t say no;
Slip on while the old man’s down below
At the inner yard, and away we’ll go.
Will you come, my girl?” “I will, you bet;
We’ll manage this here elopement yet.”