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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 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