Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Itwasthepreliminaryskirmish,thereconnaisanceinforce,thecombatantsfeelingeachother’sstrength,willingtoproceedwithcaution,postponingtheactualdeath-gripforawhiletilleachhadstrengtheneditspositionandorganiseditsforces.

           DuringthetimethecaseswereontrialatVisalia,S.Behrmanwasmuchinevidenceinandaboutthecourts.Thetrialitself,aftertediouspreliminaries,wasbrief.Therancherslost.ThetestcaseswereimmediatelycarrieduptotheUnitedStatesCircuitCourtinSanFrancisco.Atthemomentthedecisionofthiscourtwaspending.

           “Why,thisisnews,”exclaimedLyman,inresponsetotheGovernor’sannouncement;“Ididnotexpectthemtobesoprompt.Iwasincourtonlylastweekandthereseemedtobenoendofbusinessahead.Isupposeyouareveryanxious?”

           Magnusnodded.HehadseatedhimselfinoneofLyman’sdeepchairs,hisgreytop-hat,withitswidebrim,onthefloorbesidehim.Hiscoatofblackbroad-cloththathadbeentightlypackedinhisvalise,wasyetwrinkledandcreased;histrouserswerestrappedunderhishighboots.Ashespoke,hestrokedthebridgeofhishawklikenosewithhisbentforefinger.

           Leaning-backinhischair,hewatchedhistwosonswithsecretdelight.Tohiseye,bothwereperfectspecimensoftheirclass,intelligent,well-looking,resourceful.Hewasintenselyproudofthem.Hewasneverhappier,nevermorenearlyjovial,nevermoreerect,moremilitary,morealert,andbuoyantthanwheninthecompanyofhistwosons.Hehonestlybelievedthatnofinerexamplesofyoungmanhoodexistedthroughouttheentirenation.