noon
Then as the something moved more distinctly , with terror in their eyes they all turned and burst into the darkness behind them , crashing through the young cottonwoods and over piles of loose driftwood in their mad haste to escape -- they knew not what . Still , the `` something '' came on ; slowly it moved through the muddy waters until the form of a man could be distinguished in the uncertain light , carrying some heavy load . At the edge of the river the man placed his burden on the soft sand and dropped down , panting for breath . * * * * * At noon that day , a single horseman rode a tired , sweat-covered animal into a little town on the railroad some thirty miles from the river . Two hours later , away to the north , under the snow-capped Rockies , where the city of Trinidad nestles below the Raton Pass , a lone woman received this brief message : `` Dick was accidentally drowned yesterday crossing the river . Wagon will be here tomorrow with body , Please wire instructions . `` JAMES SCOTT . ''