“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