Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Athalf-pasttwelve,Vanameeandtherestofthedriversatetheirlunchinthefield,thetinbucketshavingbeendistributedtothemthatmorningafterbreakfast.Butintheevening,theroutineofthepreviousdaywasrepeated,andVanamee,unharnessinghisteam,ridingonehorseandleadingtheothers,returnedtothedivisionbarnsandbunk-house.

           Itwasbetweensixandseveno’clock.ThehalfhundredmenofthegangthrewthemselvesuponthesuppertheChinesecookshadsetoutintheshedoftheeating-house,longasabowlingalley,unpainted,crude,theseatsbenches,thetablecoveredwithoilcloth.Overheadahalf-dozenkerosenelampsflaredandsmoked.

           Thetablewastakenasifbyassault;theclatterofironknivesuponthetinplateswasasthereverberationofhailuponametalroof.Theploughmenrinsedtheirthroatswithgreatdraughtsofwine,and,theirelbowswide,theirforeheadsflushed,resumedtheattackuponthebeefandbread,eatingasthoughtheywouldneverhaveenough.Allupanddownthelongtable,wherethekerosenelampsreflectedthemselvesdeepintheoil-clothcover,oneheardtheincessantsoundsofmastication,andsawtheuninterruptedmovementofgreatjaws.Ateverymomentoneoranotherofthemendemandedafreshportionofbeef,anotherpintofwine,anotherhalf-loafofbread.Forupwardsofanhourthegangate.Itwasnolongerasupper.Itwasaveritablebarbecue,acrudeandprimitivefeasting,barbaric,homeric.

           ButinallthissceneVanameesawnothingrepulsive.