~ One Spur and the Arrow ~
Part 5: THE VALLEY OF THE ARROW
~ 160 ~
The purple hills split the skies
Towered in the alpine wind
On the slopes the horses gathered
As shadows yawned and grinned
~ 161 ~
Through the valley the grasses bent
Like a withing swishing sea
As on the slope the horses grazed
Beneath the spread of tree
~ 162 ~
These horses were wild and free
Primed from the fat of the land
Fearless neath the lordly reign
Of a stallion fine and grand
~ 163 ~
There he stood alone and bold
His great head in the breeze
As he watched over the wild herd
That grazed beneath the tree
~ 164 ~
He moved his glossy head and neck
And smelt the moving air
Then suddenly he was restless
He moved down through the mares
~ 165 ~
The horses stirred to motion
As he caned their glistening rumps
That the lush and thriving valley
Was filled with a hundred thumps
~166 ~
The thunder of their hoof beats
Rumbled down the way
As the Arrow charged behind them
In the hurling dust and clay
~ 167 ~
Soon the distance swallowed them
As they galloped through the lush
And as the grey dust settled down
The valley was a hush
~ 168 ~
Then through a twisting ravine
Cut through the mountain wall
Rode a horseman on a Blue-grass
In the saddle straight and tall
~ 169 ~
Behind in single file
Six riders touched the grass
Upon their pure bred horses
They left the mountain pass
~ 170 ~
One Spur smelt the dust clouds
And knew he'd found the Arrow
After many days of searching
Through ravines deep and narrow
~ 171 ~
From his horse he dismounted
Weary from the ride
He smiled, and spoke to Deacon,
In his eyes shone lonely pride
~ 172 ~
From this valley there is no turning
Till the Arrow is caught and held
Though it may take a dozen months
That from horse-hoof, grass is felled
~ 173 ~
Then Kane from New South Wales
Atop his dapple grey
Saluted to the mountains
That held the horse at bay
~ 174 ~
Then Clive, now dismounted
Stood looking stern and hard
With Dig and Billy Lorrel
Like men of the Royal guard
~ 175 ~
By the way lay Danny
Upon the lush green grass
No finer rider held the reins
In any mounted mass
~ 176 ~
In the sky the sun sank down
Darkness began to fall
As somewhere down the valley
Screamed the wild Arrow's call.
~ 177 ~
The days that followed were spent
Riding throughout the valley
Locating herds of wild mare
Where they did mostly rally
~ 178 ~
They discovered they had found
No other exit in the wall
There was no other way out
No other way at all
~ 179 ~
Thus camp was made by a small ravine
And a fence was built across
in the sky the sun blacked out
To hide the scattered moss
~ 180 ~
But morning broke with splendour
And heatwaves filled the air
The riders prepared their horses
With calm and steady care
~ 181 ~
Soon Danny rode with Deacon
To scout the western end
And the Arrow and his herds
Were seen by the river bend
~ 182 ~
Soon the others joined them
Beneath a shade of gum
One Spur giving orders
Before the muster was begun
~ 183 ~
Then down the hill sped Kane
Upon his dapple grey
To his left rode Clive
Astride his dancing bay
~ 184 ~
Dig with Billy Lorrel
Swung towards the west
While One Spur, Danny and Deacon
Spread for the skilful test
~ 185 ~
The wild mares were snorting
As the Arrow leapt away
In the air grew thunder
That shook the silent day
~ 186 ~
Among the herds rode Kane
Wielding his cracking whip
Clive was there to help him
With shouts upon his lip
~ 187 ~
As the horses swerved and galloped
Bold One Spur cut them back
With Deacon there, and Danny
Their whips a fearful crack
~ 188 ~
The wild herds thundered onward
Down the swaying slopes
As in their wake the horsemen
Rode calmly at a lope
~ 189 ~
Right and left rode Kane and Clive
To keep them in a bunch
This day the wild horses
Would miss their midday lunch