Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Annixter,whomhehadspokentofirst,hadsenthimacrosstheranchtooneofhisdivisionsuperintendents,andthislatter,afterassuringhimselfofVanamee’sfamiliaritywithhorsesandhispreviousexperience—eventhoughsomewhatremote—onLosMuertos,hadtakenhimonasadriverofoneofthegangploughs,thenatworkonhisdivision.

           Theeveningbefore,whentheforemanhadblownhiswhistleatsixo’clock,thelonglineofploughshadhaltedupontheinstant,andthedrivers,unharnessingtheirteams,hadtakenthembacktothedivisionbarns—leavingtheploughsastheywereinthefurrows.Butanhourafterdaylightthenextmorningtheworkwasresumed.Afterbreakfast,Vanamee,ridingonehorseandleadingtheothers,hadreturnedtothelineofploughstogetherwiththeotherdrivers.Nowhewasbusyharnessingtheteam.Atthedivisionblacksmithshop—temporarilyputup—hehadbeenobligedtowaitwhileoneofhisleadhorseswasshod,andhehadthusbeendelayedquitefiveminutes.Nearlyalltheotherteamswereharnessed,thedriversontheirseats,waitingfortheforeman’ssignal.

           “Allreadyhere?”inquiredtheforeman,drivinguptoVanamee’steaminhisbuggy.

           “Allready,sir,”answeredVanamee,bucklingthelaststrap.

           Heclimbedtohisseat,shakingoutthereins,andturningabout,lookedbackalongtheline,thenallaroundhimatthelandscapeinundatedwiththebrilliantglowoftheearlymorning.

           Thedaywasfine.Sincethefirstrainoftheseason,therehadbeennoother.Nowtheskywaswithoutacloud,paleblue,delicate,luminous,scintillatingwithmorning.