With a sign for the unknown land fevering his brain,
With a pulse as strong as the engine-beat on the rail;
With muscle like blue steel hewn for a ship of the main,
He crossed the Divide, he mastered the wild train.
No flood of the dark Missouri, no white-hot plain,
Could stay the soul of his yearning, could wreck his dream.
No mountain-storm in its fury, no savage train
Could daunt or defeat! he followed the flying Gleam.

He conquered. Men knew his glory, and followed his sign.
They swarmed, and followed till Earth was full of the tale.
He rose as a hero looms on a battle-line,
When the roads are ruts and the whistling balls a gale.
So was he hardened, heightened, and given his might
To build the State and lift the Law for light.