Hank Snow - Patanio, The Pride of the Plains lyrics

Written by - Harry C. McAuliffe - Bobby Gregory Recorded by Hawkshaw Hawkins You look at this picture with a wondering eye And then at the arrow that hangs by it's side They tell a story for you know there is one With the name of Patanio the story begun I'll tell you a story that will thrill you, I know Of a horse that I owned down in New Mexico Swift as an antelope and black as a crow A star on his forehead as white as the snow His hair like a lady was glossy and fine He was restless and proud but so gentle and kind His arched neck was hidden by a thick, flowing mane And they called him Patanio, the pride of the plains The country was new and the settlers were scarce And the Indians on the warpath were savage and fierce Scouts were sent out every day from the post But they never came back so we knew they were lost One day said the captain, someone he must go For help to the border at New Mexico A dozen brave fellows right away answered yeah But the captain he spied me a-standing right near Patanio beside me, his nose in my hand Said the captain, your horse is the best in the land You're good for the ride and the lightest man here On the back of that mustang you've nothing to fear So proud of my horse that I answered, you know Patanio and I both so willing to go For speed and endurance I'll trust to the blind Patanio will carry my life on his back Then they all took my hand and I mounted my horse Rode down the dark pathway and I turned his head horth Pat struck a trot and he kept it all night Till just as the east was beginning to light He answered the touch with a toss of his head His black body lengthened and forward he sped We were beating the redskins and the story was plain When the arrows fell round us like showers of rain We were leaving the redskins and the story was plain When sudden in my leg that I felt a great pain The blood it gushed forth from Patanio's side But he never once shortened his powerful stride Patanio, poor fellow, I knew he was hurt But still he dashed forward and into the fort For many a fine horse I have pa**ed on the range But none like Patanio the pride of the plain