Lonesome Dove

Lonesome Dove

by

Larry McMurtry

Lonesome Dove: Chapter 62 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Newt—and Pea Eye and Allen and the rest of the crew—begin to worry more about running into Indigenous people after they cross the Red River. But the only thing they run into is a lot of bad weather. Not far from the Canadian River, a thunderstorm of unrivaled ferocity blows in. When the lightning starts, the herd panics and runs. The cowhands spring into action, and after the storm has passed, they’re able to regather all the animals. But 13 were struck by lightning. So was Swift Bill Spettle, whom they bury.
After Sean died crossing the first river, the cowhands became increasingly superstitious about the trip’s many crossings. Surprisingly, they all make it across the Red River only for Swift Bill Spettle to succumb to lightning. Notably, the things the crew fears (drowning, attack by Indigenous warriors) don’t come to pass, while the things the crew doesn’t expect (lightning strikes) do. This suggests yet again how much of one’s life (and death) lies in the hands of fate.
Themes
Luck, Fate, and Chance Theme Icon
Call wants to cross the Canadian before they stop for the night, lest another storm blow through. So, once Deets has identified a likely crossing, Call orders the cowhands to strip naked (so they can each keep a dry change of clothes) and swim across. It starts storming—this time with hail—as soon as they reach the riverbank. For a moment, the inexperienced Newt thinks it must be snow. But, Needle says, snow doesn’t hurt so much. Ultimately, despite the weather, they all make it across in one piece. Most everyone is facing toward the river still when Pea Eye mounts his horse and sees Gus approaching from the north.
The farther north they go, the more Newt must contend with how limited his life experience has been. Notably, the longer they’re on the trail, the more equanimity all the hands—especially Newt—possess in the face of difficulty. 
Themes
Luck, Fate, and Chance Theme Icon
The Meaning of Masculinity Theme Icon