在没有树荫的西部平原上，在无云的蔚蓝的夏日天空下，到处都是干燥和炎热，那里矗立着丹达卢镇——一个生命的全部就是睡眠的小镇，朗姆酒使它变得丰富多彩。它长满草的街道尘土很深;要表达它那无梦的寂静的睡眠，它那广阔的、无限的醉意，是徒劳无益的。一年一度的比赛在丹达卢吸引了一群热闹的人群。有一个从东方来的运动员，那是运动员常去的东方国度，他带来了一只飞快的野兽——像马一样快的野兽。他远道而来，希望“做”丹达卢小镇。这是他的软弱，我没有——在我看来，简直是软弱——因为我们在丹达卢的人并不是我们看上去的那种神仙;事实上，在丹达卢，我们以为我们已经把书背熟了。我们在酒吧开了个会，光明正大地回答了这个问题"我们跑遍了全国各地为这里的比赛筹集资金;我们有一两百英镑——对丹达卢来说还不错。 "And now, it seems we have to be Cleaned out by this here Sydney bloke, With his imported horse; and he Will scoop the pool and leave us broke. Shall we sit still, and make no fuss While this chap climbs all over us?" * The races came to Dandaloo, And all the cornstalks from the West On every kind of moke and screw Come forth in all their glory drest. The stranger's horse, as hard as nails, Look'd fit to run for New South Wales. He won the race by half a length -- Quite half a length, it seemed to me -- But Dandaloo, with all its strength, Roared out "Dead heat!" most fervently; And, sfter hesitation meet, The judge's verdict was "Dead heat!" And many men there were could tell What gave the verdict extra force. The stewards -- and the judge as well -- They all had backed the second horse. For things like this they sometimes do In larger towns than Dandaloo. They ran it off, the stranger won, Hands down, by near a hundred yards. He smiled to think his troubles done; But Dandaloo held all the cards. They went to scale and -- cruel fate -- His jockey turned out under weight. Perhaps they's tampered with the scale! I cannot tell. I only know It weighed him out all right. I fail To paint that Sydney sportsman's woe. He said the stewards were a crew Of low-lived thieves in Dandaloo. He lifted up his voice, irate, And swore till all the air was blue; So then we rose to vindicate The dignity of Dandaloo. "Look here," said we, "you must not poke Such oaths at us poor country folk." We rode him softly on a rail, We shied at him, in careless glee, Some large tomatoes, rank and stale, And eggs of great antiquity -- Their wild, unholy fregrance flew About the town of Dandaloo. He left the town at break of day, He led his racehorse through the streets, And now he tells the tale, they say, To every racing man he meets. And Sydney sportsmen all eschew The atmosphere of Dandaloo.