THE BATTLE AT BOGLE'S HILLBy John McMenamin A ghostly mist obscured the view
'Twas an early autumn fog
And hidden in the swirling mist,
Jordie Tuft and his wee dog. The dynamic duo were on the scent
A hunting they did go,
And before the day was over
Bright red blood would flow. The canine was called Tiny
He was feared through out the land
And his teeth marks scared the sturdy legs
Of many a brave Postman. His owner was one Jordie Tuft,
A simple country man
A devotee of old Pecker Dunn
Yes, Jordie was a fan. Wee Tiny stood and sniffed the air
And growled deep in his throat
And Jordie said, "Are you sure yeh boy"
It could be some old goat. Then Jordie and his canine chum
Came to a pile of rocks
The canine pointed with his paw
Quite near now was the fox. Two foxes watched the hunting pair
As they came into sight,
Then they made a dash for freedom
One ran left and one ran right. Wee Tiny leaped upon his prey,
And the deed was swiftly done
Wee Tiny dispatched his quarry
Jordie cried, " Good on you son!". The other fox met Jordie
And it ran away to hide,
Jordie leaped on it with arms outstretched
Just like Willie John McBride. Now Jordie and the vixen
Are rolling on the ground
And the country man he hold on tight
With his face all bronzed and brown. The countryman is panting
With his face all red and bright,
"You're the boy who stole my hens" said he,
"In the middle of the night". This is nature's justice
And Jordie is the law
And wee Tiny is the deputy
Armed with tooth and claw. "I'll learn you boy" said Jordie
"Not to come into my street",
"You'll pay for this", said the Countryman
With his face red as a beet. The vixen never spoke at all
But fought her corner well,
She sank her teeth into Jordie's arm
And the oracle gave a yell. When Tiny heard his master cry
He hurried to his side.
The vixen was dispatched with haste
In other words - she died. The Countryman lay on the ground
Uttering words that which were quite rude.
Then hurried home to bathe his arm
In a bath of Jeyes Fluid. Now, Jeyes Fluid will cure most ills,
But not this time, you know.
And the Countryman with swollen arm
To the doctor then did go. "What happened here," the doctor said,
Looking at the swollen hand,
"I was fighting with a fox", said Jordie
"In Farmer Bogle's land". "It looks quite bad", the doctor said,
On her face she had a frown.
"Now just bend over that chair", she said
"And pull your trousers down". The Countryman felt all exposed
As he lay there oh so meek.
"I'm sure that hurt", the doctor said
"Now turn the other cheek". Then the Countryman went for a drink
In a wee pub in the town.
The Countryman stood at the bar,
He didn't feel like sitting down. "What happened to you?" the barman said,
Putting money in the till
And Jordie told of the mighty battle,
The battle at Bogle's hill. It became then part of folk lore,
The Battle of Bogle's Hill
When Jordie jumped on a vixen,
Sure they talk about it still. Yes, Jordie Tuft's a mighty man
And he will get wild thick,
Yes, Jordie Tuft will leap on you,
If you touch his wee chick. Now, he sits there by the fire
Listening to the singing thrush
He's on his own, except for Tiny,
-- And a bottle of Black Bush.
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