Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
Asforthehonourwithwhichyouwouldinformme,Imustaffirmthatthat,too,isamatterforgravedeliberation.ThisLeagueisbutanameasyet.Toacceptcontrolofanorganisationwhoseprinciplesarenotyetfixedisaheavyresponsibility.Ishrinkfromit—”
Buthewasallowedtoproceednofarther.Astormofprotestdeveloped.Therewereshoutsof:
“No,no.TheLeagueto-nightandDerrickforPresident.”
“Wehavebeenmoderatetoolong.”
“TheLeaguefirst,principlesafterward.”
“Wecan’twait,”declaredOsterman.“Manyofuscannotattendameetingto-morrow.Ourbusinessaffairswouldpreventit.Nowwearealltogether.Iproposeatemporarychairmanandsecretarybenamedandaballotbetaken.ButfirsttheLeague.Letusdrawupasetofresolutionstostandtogether,forthedefenceofourhomes,todeath,ifneedsbe,andeachmanpresentaffixhissignaturethereto.”
Hesubsidedamidstvigorousapplause.Thenextquarterofanhourwasavagueconfusion,everyonetalkingatonce,conversationsgoingoninlowtonesinvariouscornersoftheroom.Ink,pens,andasheafoffoolscapwerebroughtfromtheranchhouse.Asetofresolutionswasdraughted,havingtheforceofapledge,organisingtheLeagueofDefence.Annixterwasthefirsttosign.Othersfollowed,onlyafewholdingback,refusingtojointilltheyhadthoughtthematterover.Therollgrew;thepapercirculatedaboutthetable;eachsignaturewaswelcomedbyasalvoofcheers.Atlength,itreachedHarranDerrick,whosignedamidtremendousuproar.Hereleasedthepenonlytoshakeascoreofhands.
