The bushman, Gus Cigar

By Mick Martin

We didn't know his last name but he told us he was Gus.
His smile just a wrinkle, not a man to make a fuss

He said he'd lived with natives in the ranges way out West
And when it came to tracking, Gus Cigar was with the best.

The story goes that gus was blessed with extra sense to see

the trail of any creature from an emu to a flea

He followed through the bushland where he rarely missed a mark

A piece of moss, a stone askew, a little piece of bark

like when young Molly Dorkins thought she'd take a little walk.
She wouldn't last the night through, "she'll be dead" was all the talk.

but when they called on Gus he simply asked where was she last
and off he went to find her, tracking true and tracking fast.

So when at last, he found her it was dark and it was cold.
They hailed him as a hero, Molly saved, was three years old.

He always smoked an old cigar and wore a
tattered scarf
And if he had a drink at all, he’d simply order "half"

Like many in the region Gus had seen his share of strife

Three children back in England and a wicked, wanton wife

Fine  fettler for the railway, Gus was tough and he was fair

But seeing her like that was more than any man could bear

So rather than confront her Gus thought better he should go

To board a steamer called the rose to where? he did not know.

He lived alone and worked “ad hock” as jobs were awful rare

We figured him for sixty but he looked the worse for wear

But when that fateful day came when a child had turned up dead
They found an old cigar nearby, "it must be Gus! " they said.

But Gus was on the wander when some lads broke in his hut.
They all thought Gus was guilty and they labelled him a "nut".

Cigars the lads had stolen were enough to seal his fate.
good sense was out the window, in the door came fear and hate.

When Granny found the boys were smoking, she made such a scene.
The coppers grilled them one by one, they found out where they'd been.

The finger pointed squarely at the roughest youth they'd seen.
Past crimes were cruel and callous, he was bad and he was mean.

good luck is worth a fortune, Gus would never hear the tale

Of how they thought him guilty and they wanted him in jail

So next time when they need him and they put Gus to the test

They’ll pat him on the back again and tell him ; he’s the best!

.
Mick Martin 14/12/16 V7

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