A bunch of the lads were whooping it up At the Padarn lake saloon; Joe rolling cigs, Cam buying beer, Mo whistling out of tune; Back of the bar in a huddled group Were Ingle, Potts and Crew, And standing there with a cynical air, The lady that's known as Sue. And into the din and the glare, There stumbled a climber fresh from the crags, Dog dirty and covered in hair. He looked like a man who could handle himself, You could see that from afar; As he pushed his way across the room And called for a drink from the bar. There was none could place the strangers face Though we searched ourselves for a clue; But the most intrigued was the little league Of Ingle, Potts and Crew.
There's men that somehow just grip your eyes And hold them hard like a spell; And such was he, and he looked to me Like a man who climbed real well; As he quaffed his pint and looked around, He sort seemed aloof Then he said "I've climbed your hardest stuff And I think I have the proof." Then I got to figuring who he was And wondering what he'd do; And I turned my head – and there watching him Was the lady that's known as Sue. He talks with a studied cool, He'll not tell you what he's done Afraid to look the fool. But not this man, he volunteered And told us all he'd done The hardest routes for miles around He named them one by one. Red and white, octo and shrike; The thing and masters wall, Vector, tramgo, woubits left He said he'd climbed them all. "But I want to state and my words are straight And i'll bet a pint they're true That it's safe to tell that I climb as well As Ingle Potts and Crew'' And he seemed in a kind of a daze, Till at last the dart board fell in the way Of the stranger's wandering gaze. Joe and mo were having a drink, There was no one else on the board So he struts his way across the room And stands there like a lord. In a tartan shirt that was glazed with dirt I never saw him stray. Then he grabbed the darts with his rock scarred hands, My God – how that man could play With triple top and nineteen too, almost everything he got, Fifteen ten and bullseye too, he cuffed them every shot. He beat them all with an arrogant ease As the challengers formed a queue; And last of all to try their luck were Ingle, Potts and Crew. In a voice that was soft and calm, "Lads" said he, "you don't know me, And none of you care a damn. But I've told you what I've climbed round here, And you seem to be impressed, But its over there on Anglesey That I've really done my best. So wait and see and I guarantee That you'll soon know my name; And as for darts you play like tarts, I'd tidy up your game." Then he grabbed his sac and left the bar And the apprehension grew; "I guess we'll make it three more pints", Said Ingle, Potts and Crew. And I guess I ought to know. They said that the stranger was full of bull, And I'm not denying its so. But I somehow think , as I sip my drink, And strictly between us two – That the one who really knew the truth , Was the lady that's known as Sue. |
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