Chapter 6

ALONE BUT NOT ALONE

Bart shook off the moment's daze
And in the evening northern haze
He took poke and rifle back inside
And closed the door as Billy died.

In the days that passed in time
Bart renewed his love of wine
And once again the snow did fall
And heard outside a lonely call.

"Oh Bart, please, let me in!
You keep the gold, I give, you win.
Please, it's cold as death you know,
Out here, Bart, deep in the snow."

"Is that you my Billy boy?
Is to trick me, now your ploy?
You've been dead this whole long week.
I know the dead can not speak."

"Come on Bart, let us in,
It's me Tom, your long lost friend.
I lost my leg and can not find
My poke of gold I left behind."

"There is no gold for you my boys.
The gold is mine and all its joys.
Be gone you spirits of the night.
Be gone you phantoms, from my sight."

And Bart fell into fitful sleep
And his dreams did bound and leap
With visions of his phantom ghosts
And of a human leg to roast.

"Wake up and help us to come in,
We implore you once again."
And Bart woke up again that night
To see his partners in full flight.

With wine bottle raised on high
He let his curse and bottle fly.
"Damn your souls and damn your eyes.
I'll cause again your swift demise."

And with his rifle at the ready,
Bart took steps, though none too steady
Toward the door and broken glass,
"Get ready 'cause I'll kill your ass!"

In desperation Bart staggered toward
The door and voices that implored,
"Now open wide and welcome say
For comrades gone upon harms way."

~Robert E Browne~