Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
Thereportprovedtobebutthefirstofmanyfalsealarms,butithadstimulatedtheLeaguetounusualactivity,andsomethreeorfourhundredmenwerefurnishedwitharmsandfromtimetotimeweredrilledinsecret.
Amongthemselves,therancherssaidthatiftheRailroadmanagersdidnotbelievetheywereterriblyinearnestinthestandtheyhadtaken,theyweremakingafatalmistake.
HarranreassertedthisstatementtoPresleyonthewayhometotheranchhousethatsameday.HarranhadcaughtupwithhimbythetimehereachedtheLowerRoad,andthetwojoggedhomewardthroughthemilesofstandingwheat.
“Theymayjumptheranch,Pres,”hesaid,“iftheytryhardenough,buttheywillneverdoitwhileIamalive.Bytheway,”headded,“youknowweservednoticesyesterdayuponS.BehrmanandCy.Rugglestoquitthecountry.Ofcourse,theywon’tdoit,buttheywon’tbeabletosaytheydidn’thavewarning.”
Aboutanhourlater,thetworeachedtheranchhouse,butasHarranrodeupthedriveway,heutteredanexclamation.
“Hello,”hesaid,“somethingisup.That’sGenslinger’sbuckboard.”
Infact,theeditor’steamwastiedunderneaththeshadeofagianteucalyptustreenearby.Harran,uneasyunderthisunexpectedvisitoftheenemy’sfriend,dismountedwithoutstablinghishorse,andwentatoncetothedining-room,wherevisitorswereinvariablyreceived.Butthedining-roomwasempty,andhismothertoldhimthatMagnusandtheeditorwereinthe“office.”Magnushadsaidtheywerenottobedisturbed.
