Some one had ambushed Bostil in the cottonwoods near his house and had shot at him, narrowly missing him.

Bostil had sworn he recognized the shot as having come from a rifle, and that he knew to whom it belonged.

The riders did not believe this, and said some boy, shooting at a rabbit or coyote, had been afraid to confess he had nearly hit Bostil.

The riders all said Bostil was not wholly himself of late.

The river was still low.
The boat had not been repaired.