A STRANGE BURIAL.
The courier on the trail of Landlord Larry found him and his
half-hundred miners trailing the mountains and valleys over in search of
some trace of the coming of the road-agents to the scene of the tragedy,
and their going therefrom.
But the search of the evening before, and up to the arrival of Wall at
noon, when they had gone into camp, had been wholly in vain.
Not a hoof-track could be found of the road-agents' horses, nor a place
where they had lain in wait until the stage came along.
Landlord Larry was not one to waste energy upon impossibilities, and
after reading Doctor Dick's letter he decided to return with his men to
Last Chance.
They set out soon after the midday rest and arrived in Last Chance just
as all was in readiness for the burial of Dave Dockery and Brassy, for a
double funeral was to be had.
The landlord dismissed his men and went at once to the quarters of
Doctor Dick, who greeted him warmly and asked:
"Any success?"
"Not a bit."
"Too bad."
"We could not find the photograph of a trail and to search longer was a
waste of time, so as the men wished to go to Dave's funeral, I just came
in."
"It was about all you could do under the circumstances, Larry."
"I see that they have got the corpse you furnished rigged out for burial
too."
"Brassy?"
"Yes."
"Why not, for he has a number of friends?"
"Don't fear no trouble, do yer?"
"No, I think not, for Brassy prescribed for himself and I administered
the medicine."
"Served him right for playing with edged tools."
"I will not say that, poor fellow, for life was dear to him; but he
should have been more careful."
"We will go together to the burial."
"By all means, and I'll give my friends a hint to be ready if Brassy's
pards go to showing an ugly mood, while you will go prepared, Doc?"
"I always am," was the laconic response.
"Now, how's yer sick man?"
"He will recover bodily, but never mentally I fear."
"I'm sorry," and Landlord Larry went to prepare for the burial.
In half an hour all was ready to start, and Doctor Dick and Landlord
Larry were given the places of honor at the procession, or rather just
following what was called "the band," and which consisted of a dozen men
who _sang_, the leader alone playing on a cornet.
Following the doctor and Landlord Larry, came the eight men bearing the
body of Dave Dockery on a litter on their shoulders.
The body was encased in a board coffin, and behind followed eight men
carrying the body of Brassy.
Following were the miners, marching eight abreast, and in solid column,
nearly a thousand men being in line, and among them were led the horses
which Dave Dockery was wont to drive, his belt of arms, hat, and whip
being carried on top of his coffin.
Up the canyon to the cemetery beneath the cliffs filed the column at
funeral pace, keeping time to the splendid voices, that changed from air
to air as they marched along, and which echoed and reechoed among the
hills.
The burying-ground was reached, the bodies placed by the side of the
graves dug for them, and Landlord Larry consigned them to their last
resting-place by repeating the words of the burial service over them, no
partiality being shown.
But when the coffin, with the weapons, hat, and whip of Dave Dockery was
lowered into the grave, hundreds of bold, brawny men stepped forward and
threw in upon it benches of wild flowers they had gathered, and when
filled up, the little mound was covered from view by these sweet
offerings of manly regard for the dead driver, while in strange contrast
was the barren grave of Brassy, for his immediate friends had not
thought of gathering flowers, there being no sentiment in his death.
Doctor Dick looked calmly on, and perhaps it was his stern, fearless
mien that stayed the trouble that several of Brassy's pards seemed to
have decided upon there in the sacred resting-place of the dead,
perhaps the belief that they would be quickly sent to join their
comrade, for they created no disturbance, only with a significant glance
at the gold-king gambler turned and walked away with the bearing of men
who would bide their time to avenge.