Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Theyounggirlsinlawns,muslins,andgardenhats,returningfromthePostOffice,theirhandsfullofletters,mustsurelyseeinhimthetypeofthefailure,thebankrupt.

           Thenbrusquelyhistardyrageflamedup.ByGod,NO,itwasnothisfault;hehadmadenomistake.Hisenergy,industry,andforesighthadbeensound.Hehadbeenmerelytheobjectofacolossaltrick,asordidinjustice,avictimoftheinsatiategreedofthemonster,caughtandchokedbyoneofthosemillionsoftentaclessuddenlyreachingupfrombelow,fromoutthedarkbeneathhisfeet,coilingaroundhisthroat,throttlinghim,stranglinghim,suckinghisblood.Foramomenthethoughtofthecourts,butinstantlylaughedattheidea.Whatcourtwasimmunefromthepowerofthemonster?Ah,therageofhelplessness,thefuryofimpotence!Nohelp,nohope,—ruinedinabriefinstant—heaveritablegiant,builtofgreatsinews,powerful,inthefulltideofhismanhood,havingallhishealth,allhiswits.Howcouldhenowfacehishome?Howcouldhetellhismotherofthiscatastrophe?AndSidney—thelittletad;howcouldheexplaintoherthiswretchedness—howsoftenherdisappointment?Howkeepthetearsfromouthereyes—howkeepaliveherconfidenceinhim—herfaithinhisresources?

           Bitter,fierce,ominous,hiswrathloomedupinhisheart.Hisfistsgrippedtighttogether,histeethclenched.Oh,foramomenttohavehishanduponthethroatofS.