Now this was what Macpherson told
While waiting in the stand;
A reckless rider, over-bold,
The only man with hands to hold
The rushing Rio Grande.
He said, -This day I bid good-bye
To bit and bridle rein,
To ditches deep and fences high,
For I have dreamed a dream, and I
Shall never ride again.

-I dreamt last night I rode this race
That I today must ride,
And cantering down to take my place
I saw full many an old friend-s face
Come stealing to my side.

-Dead men on horses long since dead,
They clustered on the track;
The champions of the days long fled,
They moved around with noiseless tread-
Bay, chestnut, brown, and black.

-And one man on a big grey steed
Rode up and waved his hand;
Said he, -We help a friend in need,
And we have come to give a lead
To you and Rio Grande.

--For you must give the field the slip;
So never draw the rein,
But keep him moving with the whip,
And, if he falter, set your lip
And rouse him up again.

--But when you reach the big stone wall
Put down your bridle-hand
And let him sail-he cannot fall,
But don-t you interfere at all;
You trust old Rio Grande.-

-We started, and in front we showed,
The big horse running free:
Right fearlessly and game he strode,
And by my side those dead men rode
Whom no one else could see.

-As silently as flies a bird,
They rode on either hand;
At every fence I plainly heard
The phantom leader give the word,
-Make room for Rio Grande!-

-I spurred him on to get the lead,
n I chanced full many a fall;
But swifter still each phantom steed
Kept with me, and at racing speed
We reached the big stone wall.

-And there the phantoms on each side
Drew in and blocked his leap;
-Make room! make room!- I loudly cried,
But right in front they seemed to ride-
I cursed them in my sleep.

-He never flinched, he faced it game,
He struck it with his chest,
And every stone burst out in flame-
And Rio Grande and I became
Phantoms among the rest.

-And then I woke, and for a space
All nerveless did I seem;
For I have ridden many a race
But never one at such a pace
As in that fearful dream.

-And I am sure as man can be
That out upon the track
Those phantoms that men cannot see
Are waiting now to ride with me;
And I shall not come back.

-For I must ride the dead men-s race,
And follow their command;
-Twere worse than death, the foul disgrace
If I should fear to take my place
Today on Rio Grande.�

He mounted, and a jest he threw,
With never sign of gloom;
But all who heard the story knew
That Jack Macpherson, brave and true,
Was going to his doom.

They started, and the big black steed
Came flashing past the stand;
All single-handed in the lead
He strode along at racing speed,
The mighty Rio Grande.

But on his ribs the whalebone stung-
A madness, sure, it seemed-
And soon it rose on every tongue
That Jack Macpherson rode among
The creatures he had dreamed.

He looked to left, and looked to right,
As though men rode beside;
And Rio Grande, with foam-flecks white,
Raced at his jumps in headlong flight
And cleared them in his stride.

But when they reached the big stone wall,
Down went the bridle-hand,
And loud we heard Macpherson call
-Make room, or half the field will fall!
Make room for Rio Grande!�

-He-s down! he-s down!� And horse and man
Lay quiet side by side!
No need the pallid face to scan,
We knew with Rio Grande he ran
The race the dead men ride.