Thanks for catching that, Nerd. Yes, Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture.

I noticed that the Traditional Ballad Index description says "Bold McCluskey", when it seems the epithet "bold" is usually (or only) applied to Gordon.

TM, in case "word for word" was a slight overstatement, here is the transcription from the Anglo-American Ballads liner notes; I might have changed some punctuation.


THE LITTLE BROWN BULLS

Not a thing on the river McCluskey did fear
As he swung his gored stick o'er his big spotted steers;
They were round, plump and handsome, girdin' eight foot and three;
Said McCluskey, the Scotchman, "They're the laddies for me."

Then along came Bob Gordon whose skidding was full,
As he hollered, "Whoa, hush!" to his little brown bulls,
Short-legged and shaggy, girdin' six foot and nine;
"Too light," said McCluskey, "to handle our pine.

For it's three to the thousand our contract doth call;
Our skidding is good and our timber is tall."
McCluskey he swore that he'd make the day full,
And he'd skid three to one of the little brown bulls.

"O no," says Bold Gordon, "that you cannot do,
Although your big steers are the pets of the crew.
I tell you, McCluskey, you will have your hands full
When you skid one more log than my little brown bulls."

So the day was appointed and soon did draw nigh,
For twenty-five dollars their fortune to try,
All eager and anxious next morning was found,
The judge and the scaler appeared on the ground.

With a 'hoop and a yell came McCluskey in view
As with his big spotted steers, the pets of the crew,
He says, "Chew your cud, boys, and keep your mouth full,
for we easilye can beat them, the little brown bulls."

Then along came Bold Gordon with his pipe in his jaw;
To his little brown bulls he hollers, "Whoa, haw!"
He says, "Chew your cud, boys, you'd need never fear,
For we will not be beat by the big spotted steers."

Says McCluskey to Sandy, "We'll take off their skins,
We'll dig them a hole and we'll tumble them in.
We'll mix up a dish and we'll feed it to them hot,
We will learn them damn Yankees to face the bold Scot."

After supper was over McCluskey appeared
With a belt ready made for his big spotted steers;
To make it he tore up his best mackinaw,
He was bound to conduct it according to law.

When up stepped the scaler saying, "Hold ye a while,
Your big spotted steers are behind just one mile;
You skidded one hundred and ten and no more
Whilst Bold Gordon has beat you by ten and a score."

All the boys then all laughed and McCluskey did swear,
As he tore out by hands full his long yellow hair.
He says to Bold Gordon, "My dollars I'll pull
And you take the belt for your litle brown bulls."

O it's here's to Bold Gordon and Sandberry John,
For the biggest day's work on the river is done.
It's fill up your glass, boys, and fill them up full
And we'll drink to the health of the little brown bulls.