Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           ”

           Fromfarouttowardsthefrontofthetrain,nearthelocomotive,camethesharp,incisivereportofarevolver;thentwomorealmostsimultaneously;then,afteralonginterval,afourth.

           “Say,that’sSHOOTING.ByGod,boys,they’reshooting.Say,thisisahold-up.”

           Instantlyawhite-hotexcitementflaredfromendtoendofthecar.Incrediblysinister,heardthusinthenight,andintherain,mysterious,fearful,thosefourpistolshotsstartedconfusionfromoutthesenseofsecuritylikeafrightenedrabbithuntedfromherburrow.Wide-eyed,thepassengersofthecarlookedintoeachother’sfaces.Ithadcometothematlast,this,theyhadsooftenreadabout.Nowtheyweretoseetherealthing,nowtheyweretofaceactuality,facethisdangerofthenight,leapinginfromouttheblacknessoftheroadside,masked,armed,readytokill.Theywerefacingitnow.Theywereheldup.

           Hilmasaidnothing,onlycatchingAnnixter’shand,lookingsquarelyintohiseyes.

           “Steady,littlegirl,”hesaid.“Theycan’thurtyou.Iwon’tleaveyou.BytheLord,”hesuddenlyexclaimed,hisexcitementgettingthebetterofhimforamoment.“BytheLord,it’sahold-up.”

           Theschool-teacherswereintheaisleofthecar,innightgown,wrapper,anddressingsack,huddledtogetherlikesheep,holdingontoeachother,lookingtothemen,silentlyappealingforprotection.Twoofthemwereweeping,whitetothelips.

           “Oh,oh,oh,it’sterrible.Oh,iftheyonlywon’thurtme.