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In an Arizona town one day |
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Bill Venero heard them say |
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That a band of Apache Indians |
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Were on the trail that way |
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Heard them tell of murder done |
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Three men killed at Rocky Run |
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\"They're in danger at the cow ranch\" |
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Said Venero under his breath! |
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Nearly forty miles away |
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Was a little place that lay |
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In a deep and shady valley |
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In the mighty wilderness |
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Half a score of homes were there |
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And in one a maiden fair |
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Held the heart of Bill Venero |
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Bill Venero's Little Bess. |
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So no wonder he grew pale |
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When he heard the cowboy's tale |
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Of the men that he'd seen murdered |
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There at Rocky Run |
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Sure as there's a God above |
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I will save the girl I love |
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By that love I hold for Bessie |
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I will see that somethin's done! |
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Not one minute he delayed |
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When this brave resolve was made |
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\"But, man,\" his comrades told him |
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When they hears his daring plan |
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\"You are riding straight to death!\" |
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But he answered, \"Save your breath, |
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I may never reach the cow ranch |
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But I'll do the best I can.\" |
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As he crossed the alkali |
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All his thoughts flew on ahead |
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To the little band at Cow Ranch |
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Thinking not a danger near |
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With his quirt's unceasing whirl |
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And the jingle of his spurs |
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Little Chapo bore the cowboy |
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O'er the far away frontier. |
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Sharp and dear a rifle shot |
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Woke the echoes of the spot |
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\"I am wounded,\" cried Venero |
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As he swayed from side to side. |
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\"While there's life there's always hope |
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Slowly onward I will lope |
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If we fail to reach the Cow Ranch |
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Bessie Lee will know I tried.\" |
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Then at dusk a horse of brown |
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Wet with sweat came panting down |
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The little lane at Cow Ranch |
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Stopped in front of Bessie's door. |
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But the cowboy was asleep |
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And his slumber was so deep |
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Little Bess could never wake him |
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Though she tried forever more. |
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You have heard this story told |
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By the young and by the old |
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How the Indians killed Venero |
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On his way to Rocky Run. |
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Many years have passed away |
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And the maiden's hair is gray |
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But still she places roses |
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On Bill Venero's grave... |
