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Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Summary

The last day before starting. The hands see to equipment, though several of them — the Spettle boys, Newt, the Irishmen — have almost none. Lippy is put in charge of the horse herd, to Dish's scorn. Call makes Deets the outfit's scout, charged with finding water and a bed ground each night; Deets takes it as a greater honour than his name on the sign. Call keeps the mottled little Texas bull despite its filthy temper — it once charged Needle Nelson mid-piss — because they will want bulls in Montana. Call eats apart, as always, reflecting that listening to men talk of cards and women has never done anything but leave him feeling more alone. Bolivar declines his wages and stays without explanation. Augustus notes the irony that two former lawmen are setting out with a herd that is nine-tenths stolen.

Analysis

Roles are assigned for the whole journey: Deets scouting, Newt on drags, Call eating alone. His reflection on disliking groups explains the leadership the men depend on — competence without appetite for it, which curdles into outright indifference once Gus dies.

Plates

First light on the last day in Lonesome Dove — Newt, too excited to have slept or eaten, sits up in his blanket with the food gone cold beside him.
00 First light on the last day in Lonesome Dove — Newt, too excited to have slept or eaten, sits up in his blanket with the food gone cold beside him.
The Captain's order to see to equipment means nothing to the men who have none — the Spettle brothers stand with one pistol with a broken hammer, the Irishmen with borrowed gear.
01 The Captain's order to see to equipment means nothing to the men who have none — the Spettle brothers stand with one pistol with a broken hammer, the Irishmen with borrowed gear.
Pea Eye spends the entire day sharpening his bowie knife, the only equipment he considers important.
02 Pea Eye spends the entire day sharpening his bowie knife, the only equipment he considers important.
Deets sees to his own equipment — a needle, some pieces of rawhide, and a few more patches sewn onto his old quilted pants.
03 Deets sees to his own equipment — a needle, some pieces of rawhide, and a few more patches sewn onto his old quilted pants.
Augustus arrives with Lippy and the Captain puts him straight in charge of the horses; Dish Boggett scorns the appointment from the corral rail while Gus checks old Malaria's feet.
04 Augustus arrives with Lippy and the Captain puts him straight in charge of the horses; Dish Boggett scorns the appointment from the corral rail while Gus checks old Malaria's feet.
Noon under the big mesquite — Call and Deets rest from culling the weak stock and watch the mottled little Texas bull mount a cow.
05 Noon under the big mesquite — Call and Deets rest from culling the weak stock and watch the mottled little Texas bull mount a cow.
"I want you to be the scout" — Call gives Deets the job of finding water and a bed ground every night, and Deets nods modestly while taking it as a greater honour than his name on the sign.
06 "I want you to be the scout" — Call gives Deets the job of finding water and a bed ground every night, and Deets nods modestly while taking it as a greater honour than his name on the sign.
The afternoon heat at the wagon — Augustus oils his guns, Lippy fans himself with his bowler, and Dish wakes from the falling dream and cracks his head on the wagon bed.
07 The afternoon heat at the wagon — Augustus oils his guns, Lippy fans himself with his bowler, and Dish wakes from the falling dream and cracks his head on the wagon bed.
Call takes his plate of food and goes off alone to eat, as he has always done, apart from the men and further from them for it.
08 Call takes his plate of food and goes off alone to eat, as he has always done, apart from the men and further from them for it.
The last of the day — Bolivar shakes his head at the offer of his wages and stays, while Augustus remarks that two former lawmen are setting out with a herd that is nine-tenths stolen, and Call does not answer.
09 The last of the day — Bolivar shakes his head at the offer of his wages and stays, while Augustus remarks that two former lawmen are setting out with a herd that is nine-tenths stolen, and Call does not answer.