TOM BLAKE AND THE DAPPLED BROWN. 23 



But Tom had gone to the town that day, 



And locked the strong stable door. 

 The roof had caught, and was giving way 



As well as the old loft floor. 



A cry went up, and a passing thrill 



As they thought of the dappled brown ; 



She was tied with a rope to the manger still 

 Good God ! would the floor come down ? 



But help, ahoy ! take a beam, my lads, 

 And stave in the stable door. 



Once more, a-hoy ! — take a run, my lads- 

 Are you ready ? — now — once more 



The door gives way as a man appears, 



"Tis Tom, now returned from town ; 

 We tell the tale of our hopes and fears 



And point to the dappled brown. 



We point the hand to the falling beams, 



And say he must lose the horse ; 

 But Tom will not hear of that, it seems, 



And decides on another course. 



A frantic rush, with a knife in hand, 



And Tom cuts through the rope ; 

 And the brown horse struggles to where we stand. 



Hurrah ! — we are filled with hope. 



