While The Billy BoilsSearchThey are mustering cattle on Brigalow Vale Where the stock-horses whinny and stamp,And where long Andy Ferguson, you may go bail, Is yet boss on a cutting-out camp.Half the duffers I met would not know a fat steer From a blessed old Alderney cow.Whilst they're mustering there I am wondering here — Who is riding brown Harlequin now?
Are the pikers as wild and the scrubs just as dense In the brigalow country as whenThere was never a homestead and never a fence Between Brigalow Vale and The Glen?Do they yard the big micks 'neath the light of the moon? Do the yard-wings re-echo the rowOf stockwhips and hoof-beats? And what sort of coon Is there riding old Harlequin now?
There was buckjumping blood in the brown gelding's veins, But, lean-headed, with iron-like pins,Of Pyrrhus and Panic he'd plentiful strains, All their virtues, and some of their sins.'Twas the pity, some said, that so shapely a colt Fate should with such temper endow;He would kick and would strike, he would buck and would bolt — Ah! who's riding brown Harlequin now?
A demon to handle! a devil to ride! Small wonder the surcingle burst;You'd have thought that he'd buck himself out of his hide On the morning we saddled him first.I can mind how he cow-kicked the spur on my boot, And though that's long ago, still I vowIf they're wheeling a piker no new-chum galoot Is a-riding old Harlequin now!
I remember the boss — how he chuckled and laughed When they yarded the brown colt for me:"He'll be steady enough when we finish the graft And have cleaned up the scrubs of Glen Leigh!'I am wondering today if the brown horse yet live, For the fellow who broke him, I trow,A long lease of soul-ease would willingly give To be riding brown Harlequin now!
'Do you think you can hold him?' old Ferguson said — He was mounted on Homet, the grey;I think Harlequin heard him — he shook his lean head, And he needed no holding that day.Not a prick from a spur, nor a sting from a whip As he raced among deadwood and boughWhile I sat fairly quiet and just let him rip — But who's riding old Harlequin now?
I could hear 'em a-crashing the gidgee in front As the Bryan colt streaked to the leadWhilst the boss and the niggers were out of the hunt. For their horses lacked Harlequin's speed;The pikers were yarded and skies growing dim When old Fergie was fain to allow:'The colt's track through the scrub was a knocker' to him — But who's riding brown Harlequin now?
From starlight to starlight — all day in between The foam-flakes might fly from his bit,But whatever the pace of the day's work had been, The brown gelding was eager and fit.On the packhorse's back they are fixing a load Where the path climbs the hill's gloomy brow;They are mustering bullocks to send on the road, But — who's riding old Harlequin now?