“Youdon’tsay!“theyexclaimed，takenaback。“Toobad。“
　　Theysatstillintheirsaddles，andupontheirreckless，kindlyfacesthoughtpausedforamoment。“Hergone!“theymurmured。“Hardtogetusedtotheidea。What’sanybodydoingaboutthecoffin？“
　　“Mr。Lusk，“answeredSlaghammer，“doubtless——“
　　“Lusk!He’llnotknowanythingthisforenoon。He’soutthereinthegrass。Shedidn’tthinknothingofhim。TellBill——notDollarBill，JerkyBill，yu’know；he’soverthebridge——tofixupahearse，andwe’llbeback。“Thetwodrovetheirspursinwithvigorousheels，andinstantlyweregonerushinguptheroadtothegraveyard。
　　Thefiddlehadlatelyceased，andnodancersstayedanylongerinthehall。Eastwardtheroseandgoldbegantoflowdownupontheplainoverthetopsofthedistanthills。Oftherevellers，manyhadnevergonetobed，andmanynowwerealreadyrisenfromtheirexcessestoreviveinthecoolgloryofthemorning。Someweredrinkingtostaytheirhungeruntilbreakfast；somesplashedandsportedintheriver，callingandjoking；
　　andacrosstheriversomewereholdinghorse-racesuponthelevelbeyondthehog-ranch。Dryboneairrangwiththem。Theirlusty，wanderingshoutsbrokeoutingustsofhilarity。Theirpistols，aimedatcansorprairiedogsoranything，crackedastheygallopedatlarge。Theirspeeding，clear-cutformswouldshineuponthebluffs，and，descending，mergeinthedusttheirhorseshadraised。Yetallthiswasnothinginthevastnessofthegrowingday。
　　Beyondtheirvoicestherimofthesunmovedabovetheviolethills，andDrybone，amidthequiet，long，newfieldsofradiance，stoodaugustandstrange。
　　Downalongthetall，bareslantfromthegraveyardthetwohorsemenwereridingback。Theycouldbeseenacrosstheriver，andthehorse-racersgrewcurious。Asmoreandmorewatched，thecrowdbegantospeak。Itwasacalfthetwowerebringing。Itwastoosmallforacalf。Itwasdead。
　　Itwasacoyotetheyhadroped。Seeitswing!Seeitfallontheroad!
　　“It’sacoffin，boys!“saidone，shrewdatguessing。
　　Atthattheeventoflastnightdriftedacrosstheirmemories，andtheywheeledandspurredtheirponies。Theircrowdinghoofsonthebridgebroughttheswimmersfromthewatersbelowand，dressing，theyclimbedquicklytotheplainandfollowedthegathering。BythedooralreadywereJerkyBillandLimberJimandtheDoughieandalwaysmore，dashingupwiththeirponies；haltingwithasharpscatterofgraveltohearandcomment。Barkerwasgone，buttheimportantcoronertoldhisnews。Anditamazedeachcomer，andsethimspeakingandrememberingpastthingswiththeothers。“Dead!“eachonebegan。“Her，doeshesay？“
　　“Why，pshaw!“
　　“Why，FrenchysaidDochadhercured!“
　　JackSaundersclaimedshehadrodetoBoxElderwithLinMcLean。
　　“Dead？Why，pshaw!“
　　“SeemsDoccouldn’tswimherout。“
　　“Couldn’tswimherout？“
　　“That’sit。Doccouldn’tswimherout。“
　　“Well——there’sonelessofus。“
　　“Sure!Shewasoneoftheboys。“
　　“Shegrub-stakedmewhenIwentbrokein’84。“
　　“ShegavemefiftydollarsoncedatLander，tobuyasaddle。“
　　“Irunaginherwhenshewasabiscuit-shooter。“
　　“Sidney，Nebraska。Irunagainherthere，too。“
　　“IknowedheratLaramie。“
　　“Where’sLin？HeknowedherallthewayfromBearCreektoCheyenne。“
　　Theylaughedloudlyatthis。
　　“That’salonesomecoffin，“saidtheDoughie。“Thatthebestyoucoulddo？“
　　“You’dsayso!“saidToothpickKid。
　　“Choicesaregettingscarceupthere，“saidChalkeye。“Welookedthelotover。“
　　Theywerearrivingfromtheirsearchamongtheolddug-upgravesonthehill。Nowtheydescendedfromtheirponies，withtheboxropedandrattlingbetweenthem。“Where’syourhearse，Jerky？“askedChalkeye。
　　“Haveherroundinaminute，“saidthecowboy，andgallopedawaywiththreeorfourothers“Turrublelonesomecoffin，allthesame，“repeatedtheDoughie。Andtheysurveyedtheboxthathadonceheldsomesoldier。
　　“Shedidlikefixin’s，“saidLimberJim。
　　“Fixin’s!“saidToothpickKid。“That’seasy。“
　　Whilesomesixofthem，withChalkeye，borethelight，half-rottedcoffinintotheroom，manyfollowedToothpickKidtothepost-trader’sstore。
　　Breakinginhere，theyfoundmensleepingonthecounters。ThesehadbeenabletofindnootherbedsinDrybone，andlayastheyhadstretchedthemselvesonentering。Theysprawledinheavyslumber，somewithnoteventheirhatstakenoffandsomewiththeirbootsagainsttheroughhairofthenextone。Theywerequicklypushedtogether，fewwaking，andsotherewasspaceforspreadingclothandchintz。Stuffswereunrolledandflungasidetillmanyfoldsandcolorsdrapedthemotionlesssleepers，andatlengthachoicewasmade。Unmeasuredyardsofthisdrabchintzwererippedoff，moneytrebleitsworthwasthumpeduponthecounter，andtheyreturned，bearingitlikeastreamertothecoffin。
　　Whilethenoiseoftheirhammersfilledtheroom，thehearsecametotteringtothedoor，pulledandpushedbytwentymen。Itwasanambulanceleftbehindbythesoldiers，andoftheold-fashionedshape，concaveinbody，itstopblownawayinwindsoflongago；andastheyrevolved，itswheelsdishedinandoutlikehoopsabouttofall。Whilesomemadeaharnessfromropes，andthrowingthesaddlesofftwoponiesbackedthemtothevehicle，thebodywasputinthecoffin，nowcoveredbythechintz。Butthelaudanumuponthefrontofherdressrevoltedthosewhorememberedtheirholidayswithher，andturningthewomanuponherface，theylookedtheirlastuponherflashing，coloredribbons，andnailedtheliddown。Sotheycarriedherout，buttheconcavebodyofthehearsewastooshortforthecoffin；theendreachedout，anditmighthavefallen。ButLimberJim，takingthereins，satupontheotherend，waitingandsmoking。ForallDrybonewasmakingreadytofollowinsomeway。Theyhadsoughtthehusband，thechiefmourner。He，however，stilllayinthegrassofthequadrangle，anddespisinghimasshehaddone，theylefthimtowakewhenheshouldchoose。Thosemenwhocouldsitintheirsaddlesrodeescort，theoldfriendsnearest，andfourheldtheheadsofthefrightenedcow-ponieswhoweretodrawthehearse。Theyhadneverknownharnessbefore，andtheyplungedwiththemenwhoheldthem。
　　Behindthehearsethewomenfollowedinalargeranch-wagon，thismomentarrivedintown。Twomaresdrewthis，andtheirfoalsgambolledaroundthem。Thegreatflat-toppeddrayforhaulingpolescamelast，withitsfourgovernmentmules。Thecow-boyshadcaughtsightofitandcapturedit。Rushingtothepost-trader’s，theycarriedthesleepingmenfromthecounterandlaidthemonthedray。Then，searchingDryboneoutsideandinforanymoreincapableoffollowing，theybroughtthem，andthedraywaspiled。
　　LimberJimcalledforanotherdrinkand，withhiscigarbetweenhisteeth，crackedhislongbull-whackerwhip。Theponies，terrified，sprangaway，scatteringthementhatheldthem，andtheswayinghearseleapedpastthehusband，overthestonesandthemanyplaying-cardsinthegrass。Masterfullysteered，itcamesafetoanopenlevel，whilethethrongcheeredtheunmoveddriveronhiscoffin，hiscigarbetweenhisteeth。
　　“Staywithit，Jim!“theyshouted。“You’reaking!“
　　Asteepditchlayacrosstheflatwherehewasveering，abruptandnearlyhidden；buthiseyecaughtthedangerintime，andswingingfromitleftwardsothattwowheelsoftheleaningcoachwereintheair，hefacedtheopenagain，safe，astherescueswoopeddownuponhim。Thehorsemencameattheditch，abodyofdaring，asultryblastofyouth。
　　Wheelingatthebrink，theyturned，whirlingtheirlongropes。Theskilfulnoosesflew，andtheponies，caughtbytheneckandfoot，weredraggedbacktothequadrangleandheldinline。Sothepageantstartedthewildponiesquiveringbutsubduedbythetightenedropes，andthecoffinsteadyintheambulancebeneaththedriver。Theescort，intheirfringedleatherandbroadhats，movedslowlybesideandbehindit，manyofthemswaying，theirfacesfullofhealth，andthesunandthestrongdrink。Thewomenfollowed，whisperingalittle；andbehindthemtheslowdrayjolted，withitsheapsofmenwakingfromthedepthsoftheirwhiskeyandaskingwhatthiswas。Sotheywentupthehill。Whentheridersreachedthetiltedgateofthegraveyard，theysprangoffandscatteredamongthehillocks，stumblingandeager。TheynoddedtoBarkerandMcLean，quietlywaitingthere，andbeganchoosingamongtheopen，weather-driftedgravesfromwhichthesoldiershadbeentaken。Theirfigureswentupanddowntheunevenridges，callingandcomparing。
　　“Here，“saidtheDoughie，“here’sagoodhole。“
　　“Here’sadeepone，“saidanother。
　　“We’vestruckawellhere，“saidsomemore。“Putherinhere。“
　　Thesand-hillsbecameclamorouswithvoicesuntiltheyarrivedatachoice，whensomeonewithaspadequicklysquaredtherain-washedopening。Withlariatsloopingthecoffinround，theybroughtitandwereabouttolowerit，whenChalkeye，tooneartheedge，fellin，andoneendoftheboxresteduponhim。Hecouldnotrisebyhimself，andtheypulledtheropeshelplesslyabove。
　　McLeanspoketoBarker。“I’dliketostopthis，“saidhe，“butamanmightaswell——“
　　“Mightaswellstopacloud-burst，“saidBarker。
　　“Yes，Doc。Butitfeels——itfeelslikeIwaslookingattendozenLinMcLeans。“AndseeingthemstillhelplesswithChalkeye，hejoinedthemandliftedthecow-boyout。
　　“Ithink，“saidSlaghammer，steppingforward，“thisshouldproceednofurtherwithoutsome——perhapssomefriendwouldrecite’NowIlayme？“’
　　“Theydon’tusethatonfunerals，“saidtheDoughie。
　　“WillsomegentlemangivetheLord’sPrayer？“inquiredthecoroner。
　　Foreheadswereknotted；triadmutteringsranamongthem；butsomeonerememberedaprayerbookinoneoftheroomsinDrybone，andthenotionwashailed。Fourmounted，andracedtobringit。Theywentdownthehillinaflowingknot，shirtsballooningandelbowsflapping，andsoreturned。Butthebookwasbeyondthem。“Takeit，you；youtakeit，“eachonesaid。Falsebeginningsweremade，bigthumbspushedthepagesbackandforth，untilimpatienceconqueredthem。Theyleftthebookandloweredthecoffin，helpedagainbyMcLean。Theweightsankslowly，decently，steadily，downbetweenthebanks。Thesoundthatitstruckthebottomwithwasaslightsound，thegratingoftheloaduponthesolidsand；andalittlesandstrewedfromtheedgeandfellontheboxatthesamemoment。Therattlecameupfrombelow，compactandbrief，asinglejar，quietlysmitingthroughthecrowd，smitingittosilence。Oneremovedhishat，andthenanother，andthenall。Theystoodeyingeachhisneighbor，andshiftingtheireyes，lookedawayatthegreatvalley。
　　Thentheyfilledinthegrave，broughtahead-boardfromagravenearby，andwrotethenameanddateuponitbyscratchingwithastone。
　　“Shewassureoneofus，“saidChalkeye。“Let’sgivehertheLament。“
　　Andtheyfollowedhislead：
　　“Onceinthesaddle，Iusedtogodashing，Onceinthesaddle，Iusedtogogay；
　　Firsttooktodrinking，andthentocard-playing；
　　Gotshotinthebody，andnowhereIlay。
　　“Beatthedrumslowly，Playthefifelowly，Soundthedeadmarchasyoubearmealong。
　　TakemetoBoot-hill，andthrowthesodoverme——
　　I’mbutapoorcow-boy，IknowIdonewrong。“
　　Whenthesongwasended，theyleftthegraveyardquietlyandwentdownthehill。Themorningwasgrowingwarm。Theirworkwaitedthemacrossmanysunnymilesofrangeandplain。Soontheirvoicesandthemselveshademptiedawayintothesplendidvastnessandsilence，andtheyweregone——
　　readywithalltheirmighttoliveortodie，tobeanimalsorheroes，asthehoursmightbringthemopportunity。InDrybone’sdesertedquadranglethesunshonedownuponLuskstillsleeping，andthewindshooktheacesandkingsinthegrass。
　　OveratSepar，JessamineBucknerhadnomorestockingsofBilly’stomend，andmuchtimeforthinkingandachangeofmind。Thedayafterthatstrangevisit，whenshehadbeentoldthatshehadhurtagoodman’sheartwithoutreason，shetookupherwork；andwhileherhandsdespatcheditherthoughtsalreadyaccusedher。Couldshehaveseenthatvisitornow，shewouldhavethankedher。Shelookedatthephotographonhertable。“Whydidhegoawaysoquickly？“shesighed。ButwhenyoungBillyreturnedtohisquestionsshewasbuoyantagain，andmorethanamatchforhim。HereachedtheforbiddentwelfthtimeofaskingwhyLinMcLeandidnotcomebackandmarryher。Nordidshepunishhimasshehadthreatened。Shelookedathimconfidentially，andhedrewnear，fullofhope。
　　“Billy，I’lltellyoujustwhyitis，“saidshe。“LinthinksI’mnotarealgirl。“
　　“A——ah，“drawledBilly，backingfromherwithsuspicion。
　　“Indeedthat’swhatitis，Billy。IfheknewIwasarealgirl——“
　　“A——ah，“wenttheboy，entirelyangry。“Anybodycantellyou’reagirl。“
　　Andhemarchedout，mystified，andnursingasenseofwrong。Nordidhisdignityallowhimtoreopenthesubject。
　　To-day，twomilesoutinthesage-brushbyhimself，hewasshootingjack-rabbits，butbegansuddenlytorunintowardSepar。Ahorsemanhadpassedhim，andhehadloudlycalled；buttheriderrodeon，intentuponthelittledistantstation。Manandhorseweresoonfaraheadoftheboy，andthemancameintotowngalloping。
　　Noneedtofirethelittlepistolbyherwindow，ashehadoncethoughttodo!Shewasoutsidebeforehecouldleaptotheground。Andasheheldher，shecouldonlylaugh，andcry，andsay“Forgiveme!Oh，whyhaveyoubeensolong？“Shetookhimbacktotheroomwherehispicturewas，andmadehimsit，andsatherselfclose。“Whatisit？“sheaskedhim。Forthroughtheloveshereadsomethingelseinhisseriousface。Sothenhetoldherhownothingwaswrong；andasshelistenedtoallthathehadtotell，she，too，grewserious，andheldveryclosetohim。“Dear，dearneighbor!“shesaid。
　　Astheysatso，happywithdeepeninghappiness，butnotgayyet，youngBillyburstopenthedoor。“There!“hecried。“IknowedLinknowedyouwereagirl!“
　　ThusdidBillyalsohavehiswish。ForhadhenottoldJessaminethathelikedher，andurgedhertocomeandlivewithhimandLin？ThatcabinonBoxElderbecameahomeintruth，withawomaninsidetakingtheonlycareofMr。McLeanthathehadknownsincehischildhood：thoughsingularlyenoughhehasanimpressionthatitishewhotakescareofJessamine!
　　INTHEAFTER-DAYS
　　Theblackpinesstandhighupthehills，Thewhitesnowsiftstheircolumnsdeep，Whilethroughthecanyon’srivencleftFromthere，beyond，therosecloudssweep。
　　SereneabovetheirpalingshapesOnestarhathwakenedinthesky。
　　AndhereinthegrayworldbelowOverthesagethewindblowsby；
　　Ridesthroughthecotton-woods’ghost-ranks，AndhumsaloftasturdytuneAmongtheriver’stawnybluffs，Untenantedasisthemoon。
　　Far’neaththehugeinvadingduskComesSilenceawfulthroughtheplain；
　　Butyonderhorseman’sheartisgay，Andhegoessingingmightandmain。
　　End