Last time I saw him he was going cross
the level
A-kicking up his heels and a-runnin’
like the devil.
It’s cloudy in the west, a-lookin’
like rain,
An’ my damned old slicker’s
in the wagon again.
Crippled my hoss, I don’t know how,
Ropin’ at the horns of a 2-U cow.
We hit Caldwell and we hit her on the
fly,
We bedded down the cattle on the hill
close by.
No chaps, no slicker, and it’s pourin’
down rain,
An’ I swear, by God, I’ll
never night-herd again.
Feet in the stirrups and seat in the saddle,
I hung and rattled with them long-horn
cattle.
Last night I was on guard and the leader
broke the ranks,
I hit my horse down the shoulders and
I spurred him in the flanks.
The wind commenced to blow, and the rain
began to fall.
Hit looked, by grab, like we was goin’
to lose ’em all.
I jumped in the saddle and grabbed holt
the horn,
Best blamed cow-puncher ever was born.
I popped my foot in the stirrup and gave
a little yell,
The tail cattle broke and the leaders
went to hell.
I don’t give a damn if they never
do stop;
I’ll ride as long as an eight-day
clock.
Foot in the stirrup and hand on the horn,
Best damned cowboy ever was born.
I herded and I hollered and I done very
well
Till the boss said, ’Boys, just
let ’em go to hell.’
Stray in the herd and the boss said kill
it,
So I shot him in the rump with the handle
of the skillet.
We rounded ’em up and put ’em
on the cars,
And that was the last of the old Two Bars.
Oh, it’s bacon and beans most every
day,—
I’d as soon be a-eatin’ prairie
hay.
I’m on my best horse and I’m
goin’ at a run,
I’m the quickest shootin’
cowboy that ever pulled a gun.
I went to the wagon to get my roll,
To come back to Texas, dad-burn my soul.
I went to the boss to draw my roll,
He had it figgered out I was nine dollars
in the hole.
I’ll sell my outfit just as soon
as I can,
I won’t punch cattle for no damned
man.
Goin’ back to town to draw my money,
Goin’ back home to see my honey.
With my knees in the saddle and my seat
in the sky,
I’ll quit punchin’ cows in
the sweet by and by.
Coma ti yi youpy, youpy ya,
youpy ya,
Coma ti yi youpy, youpy ya.”
As the last words of the chorus died away both men started at the sound of the girl’s voice.
“Whenever you can spare the time you will find your supper ready,” she announced, coldly, and without waiting for a reply, turned toward the camp. Endicott looked at Tex, and Tex looked at Endicott.


