Patonio lyrics

I'll tell you a story that'll thrill you I know

Of a horse I once owned a long time ago

You'll gaze at his picture with wondering eyes

And then at the arrow that hangs by his side

He was swift as an antelope and black as a crow

With a star on his forehead as white as the snow

His arched neck was covered with a dark flowing mane

I called him Patonio the pride of the plains

The country was new and the settlers were scarce

The Indians on the warpath were savage and fierce

Though the scouts were sent out everyday from the fort

Yet they never returned and we knew they were lost

One day the captian says someone must go

Across the dark borders of New Mexico

A dozen young fellows straightaway answered here

But the captain spied me I was standing right near

Patonio was by me his nose in my hand

Said the captain your horse is the best in the land

You're good for the ride you're the lightest man here

On the back of that mustang you have nothing to fear

Proud of my pony I answered you know

Patonio and I are both willing to go

For speed and endurance I'll trust in my black

Then they all shook my hand and I mounted his back

Turned down the dark pathway turned his head to the right

The black struck a trot and he kept it all night

When far back behind me I hear a shrill wail

I knew that the Indians were hot on my trail

I jingled the bells at the end of his rein

Spoke his name softly and stroked his dark mane

Patonio he answered with a nod of his head

His dark body lengthened as faster we sped

We were leaving the Indians the story was plain

The arrows fell round us like torrents of rain

Patonio he stumbled and I knew he was hurt

But still he raced onward and into the fort

I delivered the message then turned to dismount

But the pain in my foot was so bad I could not

The arrow you see hanging there on the wall

Had passed through my foot saddle stirrup and all

With good care and patients Pat and I were soon well

Of his death many years later I will not try to tell

Of all the fine horses I rode o'er the range

There was none like Patonio the pride of the plains