Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V.
”
“Isupposethey’rerottenstinkodoras,oryouwouldn’tgive’emaway.”
“Thiscringinggratitude—”Presleybegan.
“Shutup,”shoutedAnnixter,andtheincidentwasclosed.
Annixterresumedhisshaving,andPresleylitacigarette.
“AnynewsfromWashington?”hequeried.
“Nothingthat’sanygood,”gruntedAnnixter.“Hello,”headded,raisinghishead,“there’ssomebodyinahurryforsure.”
Thenoiseofahorsegallopingsofastthatthehoof-beatssoundedinoneuninterruptedrattle,abruptlymadeitselfheard.ThenoisewascomingfromthedirectionoftheroadthatledfromtheMissiontoQuienSabe.Withincredibleswiftness,thehoof-beatsdrewnearer.TherewasthatintheirsoundwhichbroughtPresleytohisfeet.Annixterthrewopenthewindow.
“Runaway,”exclaimedPresley.
Annixter,withthoughtsoftheRailroad,andthe“Jumping”oftheranch,flunghishandtohishippocket.
“Whatisit,Vacca?”hecried.
YoungVacca,turninginhisseatinthecarryall,waslookinguptheroad.Allatonce,hejumpedfromhisplace,anddashedtowardsthewindow.“Dyke,”heshouted.“Dyke,it’sDyke.”
Whilethewordswereyetinhismouth,thesoundofthehoof-beatsrosetoaroar,andagreat,bell-tonedvoiceshouted:
“Annixter,Annixter,Annixter!”
ItwasDyke’svoice,andthenextinstantheshotintoviewintheopensquareinfrontofthehouse.
“Oh,myGod!”criedPresley.
Theex-engineerthrewthehorseonitshaunches,springingfromthesaddle;and,ashedidso,thebeastcollapsed,shuddering,totheground.
