After he said save your breath... as he crossed the alkali all his thoughts flew on ahead to the little lane and the cow ranch thinking not of danger near. With his quirt's unceasing whirl and the jingle of his spurs little Shapo bore the cowboy o're the far away frontier.
Lower and lower sank the sun, he drew rein at Rocky Run, "Here those men met death my Shappo and he stroked his glossy mane.
So shall they we go to warn ar'e the coming of the morn, if I fail God bless my Bessy and he felt the cold tears start.
Sharp and clear a rifle shot woke the echoes' of the spot, "I'm wounded cried Venero and he swayed from side to side.
I will save he yet he cried, little Bess will know I tried and for her sake he halted in the shadow of a hill.
From a limb a twig he broke and he dipped his pen of oak from the warm blood that was spurting from a wound above his heart.
Then he made his message fast love's first message and the last, to the saddle horn he tied it and his lips were white with pain.
Take this message if not me, straight to little Bessy Lee then he tied himself in the saddle and gave his horse the rein.

Just at dusk a horse of brown wet with sweat came prancing down the little lane at the cow ranch and he stopped at Bessies door.
But the cowboy was asleep and his slumber was so deep Little Bess could never wake him if she tried for ever more.

You have heard the story told by the young and by the old, down yonder at the cow ranch the night the Apacies came. Of the sharp and bloody fight how the Chief fell in the fight, and the panic stricken warriors when they heard Veneros name.
And their heaven on earth between keeps a little flower green that little Bess had planted 'are they laid her by his side..