• I hear a sound and look up to the rise,
    There I see a black horse with blue eyes.
    The horse came a'runnin, trying to flee,
    But I was the quicker one you see.

    When I stopped that horse it came down with a 'thump'!
    And there on the ground lay an odd looking lump.
    The lump wriggled a bit; I jumped back in alarm,
    And from under the lump came a blood-streaked arm.

    "Come 'ere," said an old, rasping voice,
    "I'll tell you a story, me last words of a sort."
    I edged closer to him still wary and worried,
    And then he began his sad, sad story.

    "Me horse Cassie and I were a roundin' up cattle,
    When up on the hill came a cry fer a battle!
    Cassie reared up an' started fer town,
    And just then some damn arrows shot 'er down.

    "I was on the ground when they came a closer,
    With arrows an' spears, all of em hunters.
    Up on their horses with large feather plumes,
    Them In'juns came down and I met me doom.

    "Pain seared through me body as them arrows flew,
    Into me body, o the pain it did brew.
    Then a large black shape just then appeared,
    With two icy eyes, a demon I feared!

    "It a lifted me up and flew like a bird,
    Then I was to run into you, it assured.
    That is me story, me last words of a sort,
    So be not a cowboy, but live in the court."

    At that he went limp with not a shudder nor sigh,
    By the time the moon was well in the sky.
    I looked for the horse with the icy blue eyes,
    But no hoof prints led to or away from the rise.

    I learned somethin' thaat very day,
    My career is set and not led astray,
    I want to live life like it a'int no toy,
    So one day I'll be a might fine cowboy.