By J. Douglas Hinds
Four of us were headin’ east
The sky overcast and gray
There was Jack, Bill, Dave and me
Out looking for some strays
Sure enough those clouds got mean
And it didn’t take us long
The rain was easily felt and seen
So we put our slickers on
But the rain was easy ridin’
As we rode along the trail
Until that bolt of lightnin’
When the rain gave way to hail
Those horses froze right in their tracks
Then hail like marbles fell
I looked at Dave, he looked at Jack
And we gave them ponies hell
Head for those trees I heard them say
And lets get out of here
I spurred my horse and followed Dave
While bringin’ up the rear
I had my slicker buttoned tight
My hat I pulled down low
We must have looked a frightful sight
As down the hill we go
We hunkered there down in the trees
But just kept getting hit
Let’s find that cave across the creek
And get ourselves in it
We crossed the creek, went up the hill
And rode up to that cave
I looked at Jack, he looked at Bill
And in we followed Dave
Now no one ever thought that cave
Was anything but hollow
But I’d have to say that on that day
Dave was not the man to follow
We backed our horses in that hole
To watch that hail a poundin’
Four ole cowboys hunkered low
All safely there resoundin’
That icy hail had chilled the air
And we all shivered some
And then I noticed my ole mare
Begin to come undone
I felt that ripple go down her back
Her eyes and ears both flared
There’s something in here, I said to Jack
As in the dark we stared
Our attention drawn to that fearful hole
We plum forgot the hail
And out of that darkness, black as coal
There came this mournful wail
All four horses shot straight up
And never came back down
Til we were riding hard in hail
They never touched the ground
We left that cave in such a flurry
I was riding with no hat
And to this day there’s been no hurry
For ever goin’ back
I still ride with Dave in my new hat
Though now I take the lead
I don’t ever follow Dave in fact
That’s one thing I don’t need
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