History in Books the world's story, told by its literature

Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Summary

Augustus rejoins the outfit and finds it naked on a hailstone-covered riverbank. He reports Lorena rescued and camped in Wilbarger's borrowed tent, and says he and she will travel alongside the herd as far as Nebraska; Blue Duck got away, and July Johnson's whole party was killed. Call calls Jake's card playing cowardice and says the sheriff is welcome to him. Po Campo dips the hailstones in molasses and hands them round as candy. Lorena stays inside the tent, unable to face the men, watching for Gus's white head and getting the shakes whenever he is gone an hour. Riding out with Call that evening, Augustus proposes they sell the herd, pay off whoever is still alive, and go hunt Blue Duck — this drive is hard on boys, and two are already dead. Call refuses; he means to see Montana and pick his land first. Behind them the Irishman sings to the cattle.

Analysis

Reunion, and the first serious proposal to abandon the drive: Augustus argues they should sell the herd and stop killing boys. Call refuses on grounds of being first, which is the whole of his reasoning. The novel has now offered him an exit and recorded him declining it.

Plates

Augustus rides up over the hailstones on a strange horse and finds Call and Dish half into their dry pants on the naked riverbank.
00 Augustus rides up over the hailstones on a strange horse and finds Call and Dish half into their dry pants on the naked riverbank.
Several of the naked cowboys on the south bank forget caution and plunge into the Canadian to swim over to Gus.
01 Several of the naked cowboys on the south bank forget caution and plunge into the Canadian to swim over to Gus.
Gus points out Wilbarger's borrowed tent where Lorena is camped, and Dish, dressed now and blushing, cannot stop looking at it.
02 Gus points out Wilbarger's borrowed tent where Lorena is camped, and Dish, dressed now and blushing, cannot stop looking at it.
The hands haul the chuck wagon out of the river and the blue shoat jumps clear and swims across on its own.
03 The hands haul the chuck wagon out of the river and the blue shoat jumps clear and swims across on its own.
Mounted apart on the wet flat, Call calls Jake's card playing cowardice and asks Gus why he did not kill Blue Duck.
04 Mounted apart on the wet flat, Call calls Jake's card playing cowardice and asks Gus why he did not kill Blue Duck.
Po Campo dips hailstones in molasses at the dripping wagon and hands one to every man to lick.
05 Po Campo dips hailstones in molasses at the dripping wagon and hands one to every man to lick.
Gus asks where young Bill Spettle is, and in the awkward silence Lippy stops licking his hailstone while Po Campo says the boy is buried.
06 Gus asks where young Bill Spettle is, and in the awkward silence Lippy stops licking his hailstone while Po Campo says the boy is buried.
Newt sits apart licking his molasses hailstone, warm and happy with his clothes on and Mr. Gus back, and remembering Bill Spettle buried in the mud a few miles behind.
07 Newt sits apart licking his molasses hailstone, warm and happy with his clothes on and Mr. Gus back, and remembering Bill Spettle buried in the mud a few miles behind.
Lorena peeps out of the borrowed tent without leaving it, watching for Gus's white head by the wagon.
08 Lorena peeps out of the borrowed tent without leaving it, watching for Gus's white head by the wagon.
Riding out from camp at dusk, Call and Gus stop for a smoke while the cranes settle on the river and the night guard goes out to the herd, and Gus tells him to sell the cattle and go hunt Blue Duck.
09 Riding out from camp at dusk, Call and Gus stop for a smoke while the cranes settle on the river and the night guard goes out to the herd, and Gus tells him to sell the cattle and go hunt Blue Duck.