There must be more than one recording of Leadbelly singing this - in the version I'm familiar with - which I haven't heard in twenty years or so - it seems to me he says "trunk", and "Let the damn shack burn down". A few other verses as well. To the effect of (don't know if I've changed them over the years):

The guns they roared like thunder,
And the bullets fell like rain; (repeat)
My comrade fell beside me,
A bullet through his brain.

The guns they flashed like lightning,
The bullets fell like hail; (repeat)
That was on our way to Denver,
On the old Dodge City trail.

If you're afraid to fight, boys,
If you're afraid of death; (repeat)
Better stay out of the badlands,
Keep out of Jesse's path.


I don't think I made all that up ...