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〃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 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 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。〃
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 somep