Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
Allcolourhadbeenburnedfromthelandscape,exceptintheirrigatedpatches,thatinthewasteofbrownanddullyellowglowedlikeoases.
Thewheat,nowclosetoitsmaturity,hadturnedfrompaleyellowtogoldenyellow,andfromthattobrown.Likeagiganticcarpet,itspreaditselfoveralltheland.Therewasnothingelsetobeseenbutthelimitlessseaofwheatasfarastheeyecouldreach,dry,rustling,crispandharshintherarebreathsofhotwindoutofthesoutheast.AsHarranandPresleywentalongthecountyroad,thenumberofvehiclesandridersincreased.TheyovertookandpassedHoovenandhisfamilyintheformer’sfarmwagon,asaddledhorsetiedtothebackboard.ThelittleDutchman,wearingtheoldfrockcoatofMagnusDerrick,andanewbroad-brimmedstrawhat,satonthefrontseatwithMrs.Hooven.ThelittlegirlHilda,andtheolderdaughterMinna,werebehindthemonaboardlaidacrossthesidesofthewagon.PresleyandHarranstoppedtoshakehands.“Say,”criedHooven,exhibitinganold,butextremelywellkept,rifle,“say,beiGott,me,Iteksomeschatzatdoserebbit,youbedt.Venhehefshtoptorunundsitoopsoh,beiderhindlaigson,Ioopmitderguhnund—bing!Icetchum.”
“Themarshalswon’tallowyoutoshoot,Bismarck,”observedPresley,lookingatMinna.
Hoovendoubledupwithmerriment.
“Ho!dot’shellofsomefinejoak.Me,I’MONEOAFDOSEMAIRSCHELLMINE-SELLUF,”heroaredwithdelight,beatinghisknee.Tohisnotion,thejokewasirresistible.Alldaylong,hecouldbeheardrepeatingit.
