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beds。 Each had mounted his pony； holding trustingly to the saddle； and
thus； unguided； the experienced ponies had taken them right。 Across the
wide sagebrush and up and down the river they were now asleep or riding；
dispersed irrevocably。 But the coroner was here。 He duly received Barker's
testimony； brought his verdict in； and signed it； and even while he was
issuing to himself his own proper voucher for ten dollars came Chalkeye
and Toothpick Kid on their ponies； galloping； eager in their hopes and
good wishes for Mrs。 Lusk。 Life ran strong in them both。 The night had
gone well with them。 Here was the new day going to be fine。 It must be
well with everybody。
〃You don't say！〃 they exclaimed； taken aback。 〃Too bad。〃
They sat still in their saddles； and upon their reckless； kindly faces
thought paused for a moment。 〃Her gone！〃 they murmured。 〃Hard to get
used to the idea。 What's anybody doing about the coffin？〃
〃Mr。 Lusk；〃 answered Slaghammer； 〃doubtless〃
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〃Lusk！ He'll not know anything this forenoon。 He's out there in the
grass。 She didn't think nothing of him。 Tell Billnot Dollar Bill； Jerky Bill；
yu' know； he's over the bridgeto fix up a hearse； and we'll be back。〃 The
two drove their spurs in with vigorous heels； and instantly were gone
rushing up the road to the graveyard。
The fiddle had lately ceased； and no dancers stayed any longer in the
hall。 Eastward the rose and gold began to flow down upon the plain over
the tops of the distant hills。 Of the revellers； many had never gone to bed；
and many now were already risen from their excesses to revive in the cool
glory of the morning。 Some were drinking to stay their hunger until
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
b