It was in the Yellow Dog Saloon one sultry summer night,
Old " Pizen Pete " was on the prod and looking for a fight.
With a forty-five in either hand, red whiskers and long hair,
'Twas enough to make a man turn pale to see him standing there.

And then there came into the room, as the swinging doors swung wide,
A young lad of scarce twenty years, with a gun on either side.
He did not look to right or left as he walked up to the bar,
And leaning there he calmly said, " A big drink of Three Star. "

He raised the whiskey to his lips; Pizen Pete stepped back with a sneer;
His six-gun roared and, as it did, the glass seemed to disappear.
The stranger slowly turned around, and I saw his face turn red.
" Do that again, old timer, and I'll burn yuh down! " he said.

" Go ahead and draw, " said Pete, with a grin. His own gun was in hand.
" Just make a move for your six-gun, an' I'll kill yuh where yuh stand! "
The youngster quickly jumped aside, and his guns began to roar.
And when the smoke had cleared away, Pizen Pete lay on the floor.

" Say, stranger, what's your name? " I asked. " It seems like I've seen your face. "
He didn't turn or answer, but quickly left the place.
He went out and mounted his pony; I heard him as he did,
And then his voice came drifting back: " My name is Billy the Kid. "