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the open again； safe； as the rescue swooped down upon him。 The
horsemen came at the ditch； a body of daring； a sultry blast of youth。
Wheeling at the brink； they turned； whirling their long ropes。 The skilful
nooses flew； and the ponies； caught by the neck and foot； were dragged
back to the quadrangle and held in line。 So the pageant started the wild
ponies quivering but subdued by the tightened ropes； and the coffin steady
in the ambulance beneath the driver。 The escort； in their fringed leather
and broad hats； moved slowly beside and behind it； many of them swaying；
their faces full of health； and the sun and the strong drink。 The women
followed； whispering a little； and behind them the slow dray jolted； with
its heaps of men waking from the depths of their whiskey and asking what
this was。 So they went up the hill。 When the riders reached the tilted gate
of the graveyard； they sprang off and scattered among the hillocks；
stumbling and eager。 They nodded to Barker and McLean； quietly waiting
there； and began choosing among the open； weather…drifted graves from
which the soldiers had been taken。 Their figures went up and down the
uneven ridges； calling and comparing。
〃Here；〃 said the Doughie； 〃here's a good hole。〃
〃Here's a deep one；〃 said another。
〃We've struck a well here；〃 said some more。 〃Put her in here。〃
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The sand…hills became clamorous with voices until they arrived at a
choice； when some one with a spade quickly squared the rain…washed
opening。 With lariats looping the coffin round； they brought it and were
about to lower it； when Chalkeye； too near the edge； fell in； and one end of
the box rested upon him。 He could not rise by himself； and they pulled the
ropes helplessly above。
McLean spoke to Barker。 〃I'd like to stop this；〃 said he； 〃but a man
might as well〃
〃Might as well stop a cloud…burst；〃 said Barker。
〃Yes； Doc。 But it feelsit feels like I was looking at ten dozen Lin
McLeans。〃 And seeing them still helpless with Chalkeye； he joined them
and lifted the cow…boy out。
〃I think；〃 said Slaghammer； stepping forward； 〃this should proceed no
further without someperhaps some friend would recite 'Now I lay me？〃'
〃They don't use that on funerals；〃 said the Doughie。
〃Will some gentleman give the Lord's Prayer？〃 inquired the coroner。
Foreheads were knotted； triad mutterings ran among them； but some
one remembered a prayer book in one of the rooms in Drybone； and the
notion was hailed。 Four mounted； and raced to bring it。 They went down
the hill in a flowing knot； shirts ballooning and elbows flapping； and so
returned。 But the book was beyond them。 〃Take it； you； you take it；〃 each
one said。 False beginnings were made； big thumbs pushed the pages back
and forth； until impatience conquered them。 They left the book and
lowered the coffin； helped again by McLean。 The weight sank slowly；
decently； steadily； down between the banks。 The sound that it struck the
bottom with was a slight sound； the grating of the load upon the solid sand；
and a little sand strewed from the edge and fell on the box at the same
moment。 The rattle came up from below； compact and brief； a single jar；
quietly smiting through the crowd； smiting it to silence。 One removed his
hat； and then another； and then all。 They stood eying each his neighbor；
and shifting their eyes； looked away at the great valley。 Then they filled in
the grave； brought a head…board from a grave near by； and wrote the name
and date upon it by scratching with a stone。
〃She was sure one of us；〃 said Chalkeye。 〃Let's give her the Lament。〃
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And they followed his lead：
〃Once in the saddle； I used to go dashing；
Once in the saddle； I used to go gay； First took to drinking；
and then to card…playing； Got shot in the body； and now
here I lay。
〃Beat the drum slowly； Play the fife lowly；
Sound the dead march as you bear me along。 Take me to
Boot…hill； and throw the sod over me I'm but a poor cow…
boy； I know I done wrong。〃
When the song was ended； they left the graveyard quietly and went
down the hill。 The morning was growing warm。 Their work waited them
across many sunny miles of range and plain。 Soon their voices and
themselves had emptied away into the splendid vastness and silence； and
they were gone ready with all their might to live or to die； to be animals
or heroes； as the hours might bring them opportunity。 In Drybone's
deserted quadrangle the sun shone down upon Lusk still sleeping； and the
wind shook the aces and kings in the grass。
PART IV
Over at Separ； Jessamine Buckner had no more stockings of Billy's to
mend； and much time for thinking and a change of mind。 The day after
that strange visit； when she had been told that she had hurt a good man's
heart without reason； she took up her work； and while her hands
despatched it her thoughts already accused her。 Could she have seen that
visitor now； she would have thanked her。 She looked at the photograph on
her table。 〃Why did he go away so quickly？〃 she sighed。 But when young
Billy returned to his questions she was buoyant again； and more than a
match for him。 He reached the forbidden twelfth time of asking why Lin
McLean did not come back and marry her。 Nor did she punish him as she
had threatened。 She looked at him confidentially； and he drew near； full of
hope。
〃Billy； I'll tell you just why it is；〃 said she。 〃Lin thinks I'm not a real
girl。〃
〃Aah；〃 drawled Billy； backing from her with suspicion。
〃Indeed that's what it is； Billy。 If he knew I was a real girl〃
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〃Aah；〃 went the boy； entirely angry。 〃Anybody can tell you're a girl。〃
And he marched out； mystified； and nursing a sense of wrong。 Nor did his
dignity allow him to reopen the subject。
To…day； two miles out in the sage…brush by himself； he was shooting
jack…rabbits； but began suddenly to run in toward Separ。 A horseman had
passed him； and he had loudly called； but the rider rode on； intent upon the
little distant station。 Man and horse were soon far ahead of the boy； and
the man came into town galloping。
No need to fire the little pistol by her window； as he had once thought
to do！ She was outside before he could leap to the ground。 And as he held
her； she could only laugh； and cry； and say 〃Forgive me！ Oh； why have
you been so long？〃 She took him back to the room where his picture was；
and made him sit； and sat herself close。 〃What is it？〃 she asked him。 For
through the love she read something else in his serious face。 So then he
told her how nothing was wrong； and as she listened to all that he had to
tell； she； too； grew serious； and held very close to him。 〃Dear； dear
neighbor！〃 she said。
As