Спрут: Калифорнийская история

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           AsPresleyandHarrantrottedonalongthecountyroadtheycontinuallypassedorovertookotherhorsemen,orbuggies,carry-alls,buck-boardsorevenfarmwagons,goinginthesamedirection.ThesewerefullofthefarmingpeoplefromallthecountryroundaboutBonneville,ontheirwaytotherabbitdrive—thesamepeopleseenatthebarn-dance—intheirSundayfinest,thegirlsinmuslinfrocksandgardenhats,themenwithlinendustersovertheirblackclothes;theolderwomeninprintsanddottedcalicoes.Manyoftheselatterhadalreadytakenofftheirbonnets—thedaywasveryhot—andpinningtheminnewspapers,stowedthemundertheseats.Theytuckedtheirhandkerchiefsintothecollarsoftheirdresses,orknottedthemabouttheirfatnecks,tokeepoutthedust.Fromtheaxletreesofthevehiclesswungcarefullycoveredbucketsofgalvanisediron,inwhichthelunchwaspacked.Theyoungerchildren,theboyswithgreatfrilledcollars,thegirlswithill-fittingshoescrampingtheirfeet,leanedfromthesidesofbuggyandcarry-all,eatingbananasand“macaroons,”staringaboutwithox-likestolidity.Tiedtotheaxles,thedogsfollowedthehorses’hoofswithlollingtonguescoatedwithdust.

           TheCaliforniasummerlayblanket-wiseandsmotheringoveralltheland.Thehills,bone-dry,werebrownedandparched.Thegrassesandwild-oats,searandyellow,snappedlikeglassfilamentsunderfoot.Theroads,theborderingfences,eventhelowerleavesandbranchesofthetrees,werethickandgreywithdust.