Supper was already over, the other Drovers had ate,
I'd been chasein' strays all day and I had got in late.

But Cookie had saved me some bacon, some gravy, and some bread.
No matter what time you got into camp, Ole Cookie would see you got fed.

Now me and my old hoss, we had us a mighty rough day,
So I went ahead and wolfed down my supper, and didn't have too much to say.

The other boys even the rowdy ones, they were extra quiet.
A strange feeling came over me it felt like something wasn't right.

Ah but I just shrugged it off, I figured we was all real tired.
Pete got up and poured me some more coffee, I said shore appreciate it pard.

Why, I'm so give out I can't hardly move, had some bad luck right at dark.
Went to rope a Longhorn on that bluff by the river, but my lariat missed it's mark.

The loop landed in some tangled old Juniper, it was so dark I couldn't see.
We was still runnin' hard, when it jerked me out of the saddle and knocked the breath out of me.

Seems that ole rope had a mind of it's own, around my left hand it made a dally.
I rolled down that hill, over the bluff, on my way to the valley.

I found myself hangin' over that bluff, I was addled, and I still couldn't breath.
Then I looked up and seen Old Josh, boys I tell ya, I was relived.

He pulled me up, caught my hoss, then he helped me run down that cow.
Boys I tell ya if it wasent for old Josh, I'd be hangin there now.

Say, wonder where he is anyway? He should have been back by now.
He left out before I did and I had to bring in that cow.

Jim, the trial boss, he looked up and he had kind of a twisted grin.
What's that you say about old Josh, when did you last see him?

Like I said Boss, it was right after dark, about two hours ago.
He didn't look tired, ole Speck looked fresh, they rode off as hard as they could go.

Jim said, boy I better tell you what happened today after we finished noon chuck. Were all run ragged, after that storm last night, but today we had us another piece of bad luck.

Old Josh was riddin' that Appy gelded, the one you called ole Speck,
he fell after steppin' in a praire dog, and Ole Josh, well the fall broke his neck.

We buired him back there, and I said a few words, seemed fitten' since I was the boss.
We pilled the rocks high on his grave, and ole Speck, well, we shot his hoss.

About that time the wind picked up, I was still sweaty, and I caught an icey chill.
I reached for my jumper and put it on, that camp was deathly still.

Well I swear Jim, you say it was right when Ole Josh died?
I don't rightly understand, two hours ago he my side.

We didn't say any more about it, after noon chuck, was standing by and the subject was never brought up again.

But the next day I went back to that bluff, and there was just one set of boot prints where me and Ole Josh had been.