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Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Summary

Sean O'Brien's death. Through mosquito swarms and one maddening red cow that keeps hiding in thickets, the outfit brings the herd to the Nueces behind Old Dog, the lead steer Call bought from the Pumphreys. Riding to the crossing, Augustus remembers Clara telling him sixteen years ago to stay away ten years and then come and be a friend to her children — and admits aloud he may balk at Ogallala. The crossing goes smoothly until a scream: Sean's horse has swum into a nest of water moccasins stirred up by the storm. Pea Eye and Call ride into the snakes beating with coiled ropes; Augustus shoots three from a swimming horse. Pea drags Sean out with eight sets of fang marks on his body above the waist alone. He dies before his brother can cross. They bury him under a live oak; Allen breaks down mid-song. Newt, who never told Sean to go home to Ireland, cries and vomits on horseback. Augustus says the best thing to do with a death is move on from it.

Analysis

The first great arbitrary death, and the novel's argument in miniature: no skill prevents it, no meaning attaches to it. Augustus's eulogy — move on from it — becomes the outfit's operating rule for every death after. Clara's ten-year request is finally reported in the same chapter.

Plates

In the brush near the Nueces the mosquito swarms hit, and Sean O'Brien, his face lumpy with bites, tells Newt he would go to Ireland if he only knew where the boats were.
00 In the brush near the Nueces the mosquito swarms hit, and Sean O'Brien, his face lumpy with bites, tells Newt he would go to Ireland if he only knew where the boats were.
The red cow has wiggled into another thicket and stopped, looking out at Newt, who has shouted himself hoarse and wants to shoot her.
01 The red cow has wiggled into another thicket and stopped, looking out at Newt, who has shouted himself hoarse and wants to shoot her.
Dish Boggett eases Old Dog, the lead steer Call bought from the Pumphreys, to the front of the herd while Augustus tells Call the old steer is mature, like him.
02 Dish Boggett eases Old Dog, the lead steer Call bought from the Pumphreys, to the front of the herd while Augustus tells Call the old steer is mature, like him.
The outfit comes out of the brush into a clearing a mile wide with tall grass, and Call lopes through it with Deets to look at the crossing.
03 The outfit comes out of the brush into a clearing a mile wide with tall grass, and Call lopes through it with Deets to look at the crossing.
Riding beside Dish in the tall grass, Augustus remembers Clara telling him sixteen years ago to stay away ten years and then come and be a friend to her children, and says out loud that he may just balk in Ogallala.
04 Riding beside Dish in the tall grass, Augustus remembers Clara telling him sixteen years ago to stay away ten years and then come and be a friend to her children, and says out loud that he may just balk in Ogallala.
The crossing goes smoothly — Old Dog follows Deets straight into the water — and Newt shuts his eyes as Mouse goes to swimming depth and the Nueces comes over the saddle.
05 The crossing goes smoothly — Old Dog follows Deets straight into the water — and Newt shuts his eyes as Mouse goes to swimming depth and the Nueces comes over the saddle.
Sean's horse has swum into a nest of water moccasins; he screams and goes under while Pea Eye and Call beat about themselves with coiled ropes and Augustus shoots snakes from a swimming horse.
06 Sean's horse has swum into a nest of water moccasins; he screams and goes under while Pea Eye and Call beat about themselves with coiled ropes and Augustus shoots snakes from a swimming horse.
On the bank they lay Sean on Call's slicker and Augustus cuts the boy's shirt off — eight sets of fang marks, one on the neck — while Pea Eye, weak with shock, clings to his saddle horn.
07 On the bank they lay Sean on Call's slicker and Augustus cuts the boy's shirt off — eight sets of fang marks, one on the neck — while Pea Eye, weak with shock, clings to his saddle horn.
Holding the drifting cattle, Newt cries until he starts vomiting and has to lean over and be sick beneath his horse's neck, while behind him Augustus and Deets kneel with Sean.
08 Holding the drifting cattle, Newt cries until he starts vomiting and has to lean over and be sick beneath his horse's neck, while behind him Augustus and Deets kneel with Sean.
At the grave under the live oak Allen O'Brien starts an Irish song for his brother in a quavering voice, breaks down crying and cannot finish it; Augustus is already mounted, ready to say his word and go on to Montana.
09 At the grave under the live oak Allen O'Brien starts an Irish song for his brother in a quavering voice, breaks down crying and cannot finish it; Augustus is already mounted, ready to say his word and go on to Montana.