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Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Summary

July and Joe leave Fort Smith before dawn. Joe rides a rat-chewed singletree saddle borrowed from Peach, who is delighted the hunt is finally starting, and is thrown by his horse Red within a hundred yards — mortified, unhurt. At the jail Roscoe, routed out of bed and grumbling about Comanches, gives up his shotgun and, in a rare gesture, his old black felt hat for the bareheaded boy. Elmira cooks them breakfast and sends them off with no more warmth than on any other morning; July, who lay awake hoping she might turn to him, leaves feeling that everything is wrong and that he is being carried along like a chip on a river. He tells Roscoe to carry Elmira's groceries and take her a fish now and then — instructions Roscoe finds pointless, since she dislikes fish. Then July turns from the river and rides out.

Analysis

A quiet chapter that arms the tragedy: Joe goes because Elmira insisted, Roscoe stays because July trusts him, and both dispositions prove fatal. July's sense of being carried along like a chip on a river is the governing image of everything he does hereafter.

Plates

An hour before dawn, July and Joe leave the cabin and catch their horses in the dark lot.
00 An hour before dawn, July and Joe leave the cabin and catch their horses in the dark lot.
The rat-eaten singletree saddle borrowed from Peach Johnson, the only saddle Joe has.
01 The rat-eaten singletree saddle borrowed from Peach Johnson, the only saddle Joe has.
Elmira cooks the last breakfast and is as brisk as on any ordinary day.
02 Elmira cooks the last breakfast and is as brisk as on any ordinary day.
Elmira sees to it that Joe draws one more bucket of water before he leaves.
03 Elmira sees to it that Joe draws one more bucket of water before he leaves.
They leave Elmira standing in the door of the cabin, no sorrier than on any other morning.
04 They leave Elmira standing in the door of the cabin, no sorrier than on any other morning.
Red bows up in the dark street and throws Joe within a hundred yards of the cabin.
05 Red bows up in the dark street and throws Joe within a hundred yards of the cabin.
Roscoe, routed out of bed and barefoot in the jail, objects as July takes down the shotgun.
06 Roscoe, routed out of bed and barefoot in the jail, objects as July takes down the shotgun.
Roscoe gives the bareheaded boy his old black felt hat, and it swallows Joe's head to the mouth.
07 Roscoe gives the bareheaded boy his old black felt hat, and it swallows Joe's head to the mouth.
Mounted and unwilling to go, July sits looking at the shining river and tells Roscoe to look after Ellie.
08 Mounted and unwilling to go, July sits looking at the shining river and tells Roscoe to look after Ellie.
July turns his horse away from the river and the glowing sky, and he and little Joe are soon out of town.
09 July turns his horse away from the river and the glowing sky, and he and little Joe are soon out of town.