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breakfast； some splashed and sported in the river； calling and joking； and
across the river some were holding horse…races upon the level beyond the
hog…ranch。 Drybone air rang with them。 Their lusty； wandering shouts
broke out in gusts of hilarity。 Their pistols； aimed at cans or prairie dogs or
anything； cracked as they galloped at large。 Their speeding； clear…cut
forms would shine upon the bluffs； and； descending； merge in the dust
their horses had raised。 Yet all this was nothing in the vastness of the
growing day。
Beyond their voices the rim of the sun moved above the violet hills；
and Drybone； amid the quiet； long； new fields of radiance； stood august
and strange。
Down along the tall； bare slant from the graveyard the two horsemen
were riding back。 They could be seen across the river； and the horse…racers
grew curious。 As more and more watched； the crowd began to speak。 It
was a calf the two were bringing。 It was too small for a calf。 It was dead。 It
was a coyote they had roped。 See it swing！ See it fall on the road！
〃It's a coffin； boys！〃 said one； shrewd at guessing。
At that the event of last night drifted across their memories； and they
wheeled and spurred their ponies。 Their crowding hoofs on the bridge
brought the swimmers from the waters below and； dressing； they climbed
quickly to the plain and followed the gathering。 By the door already were
Jerky Bill and Limber Jim and the Doughie and always more； dashing up
with their ponies； halting with a sharp scatter of gravel to hear and
comment。 Barker was gone； but the important coroner told his news。 And
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it amazed each comer； and set him speaking and remembering past things
with the others。 〃Dead！〃 each one began。 〃Her； does he say？〃
〃Why； pshaw！〃
〃Why； Frenchy said Doc had her cured！〃
Jack Saunders claimed she had rode to Box Elder with Lin McLean。
〃Dead？ Why； pshaw！〃
〃Seems Doc couldn't swim her out。〃
〃Couldn't swim her out？〃
〃That's it。 Doc couldn't swim her out。〃
〃Wellthere's one less of us。〃
〃Sure！ She was one of the boys。〃
〃She grub…staked me when I went broke in '84。〃
〃She gave me fifty dollars onced at Lander； to buy a saddle。〃
〃I run agin her when she was a biscuit…shooter。〃
〃Sidney； Nebraska。 I run again her there； too。〃
〃I knowed her at Laramie。〃
〃Where's Lin？ He knowed her all the way from Bear Creek to
Cheyenne。〃
They laughed loudly at this。
〃That's a lonesome coffin；〃 said the Doughie。 〃That the best you could
do？〃
〃You'd say so！〃 said Toothpick Kid。
〃Choices are getting scarce up there；〃 said Chalkeye。 〃We looked the
lot over。〃
They were arriving from their search among the old dug…up graves on
the hill。 Now they descended from their ponies； with the box roped and
rattling between them。 〃Where's your hearse； Jerky？〃 asked Chalkeye。
〃Have her round in a minute；〃 said the cowboy； and galloped away
with three or four others
〃Turruble lonesome coffin； all the same；〃 repeated the Doughie。 And
they surveyed the box that had once held some soldier。
〃She did like fixin's；〃 said Limber Jim。
〃Fixin's！〃 said Toothpick Kid。 〃That's easy。〃
While some six of them； with Chalkeye； bore the light； half…rotted
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coffin into the room； many followed Toothpick Kid to the post…trader's
store。 Breaking in here； they found men sleeping on the counters。 These
had been able to find no other beds in Drybone； and lay as they had
stretched themselves on entering。 They sprawled in heavy slumber； some
with not even their hats taken off and some with their boots against the
rough hair of the next one。 They were quickly pushed together； few
waking； and so there was space for spreading cloth and chintz。 Stuffs were
unrolled and flung aside till many folds and colors draped the motionless
sleepers； and at length a choice was made。 Unmeasured yards of this drab
chintz were ripped off； money treble its worth was thumped upon the
counter； and they returned； bearing it like a streamer to the coffin。 While
the noise of their hammers filled the room； the hearse came tottering to the
door； pulled and pushed by twenty men。 It was an ambulance left behind
by the soldiers； and of the old…fashioned shape； concave in body； its top
blown away in winds of long ago； and as they revolved； its wheels dished
in and out like hoops about to fall。 While some made a harness from ropes；
and throwing the saddles off two ponies backed them to the vehicle； the
body was put in the coffin； now covered by the chintz。 But the laudanum
upon the front of her dress revolted those who remembered their holidays
with her； and turning the woman upon her face； they looked their last upon
her flashing； colored ribbons； and nailed the lid down。 So they carried her
out； but the concave body of the hearse was too short for the coffin； the
end reached out； and it might have fallen。 But Limber Jim； taking the reins；
sat upon the other end； waiting and smoking。 For all Drybone was making
ready to follow in some way。 They had sought the husband； the chief
mourner。 He； however； still lay in the grass of the quadrangle； and
despising him as she had done； they left him to wake when he should
choose。 Those men who could sit in their saddles rode escort； the old
friends nearest； and four held the heads of the frightened cow…ponies who
were to draw the hearse。 They had never known harness before； and they
plunged with the men who held them。 Behind the hearse the women
followed in a large ranch…wagon； this moment arrived in town。 Two mares
drew this； and their foals gambolled around them。 The great flat…topped
dray for hauling poles came last； with its four government mules。 The
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cow…boys had caught sight of it and captured it。 Rushing to the post…
trader's； they carried the sleeping men from the counter and laid them on
the dray。 Then； searching Drybone outside and in for any more incapable
of following； they brought them； and the dray was piled。
Limber Jim called for another drink and； with his cigar between his
teeth； cracked his long bull…whacker whip。 The ponies； terrified； sprang
away； scattering the men that held them； and the swaying hearse leaped
past the husband； over the stones and the many playing…cards in the grass。
Masterfully steered； it came safe to an open level； while the throng
cheered the unmoved driver on his coffin； his cigar between his teeth。
〃Stay with it； Jim！〃 they shouted。 〃You're a king！〃
A steep ditch lay across the flat where he was veering； abrupt and
nearly hidden； but his eye caught the danger in time； and swinging from it
leftward so that two wheels of the leaning coach were in the air； he faced
the open again； safe； as the rescue swooped down upon him。 The
horsemen