And in such a situation how-whatever could he do?

Bein’ quick upon the trigger Lyons did not stop to choose,

For a match was in his fingers, so he lighted up the fuse,

And dropped behind a boulder for to disabuse their aim,

When at him like a sheriff’s writ full dig the Injuns came.

He had timed the fuse so nicely that the ’Paches reached the rock

Exactly at the nick of the explosionary shock:

Bang! How the big rock busted as the powder gave a flare!

While a rain of stones and gravel went a-thunderin’ through the air.

It was four red Apaches who also had a rise,