Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Osterman’sRanchhousewaslefttotheeastward;thearmyoftheguestshurryingforward—foritbegantobelate—towherearoundaflagpole,flyingaredflag,avastcrowdofbuggiesandhorseswasalreadyforming.Themarshalsbegantoappear.Hooven,descendingfromthefarmwagon,pinnedhiswhitebadgetohishatbrimandmountedhishorse.Osterman,inmarvellousridingclothesofEnglishpattern,gallopedupanddownuponhisbestthoroughbred,crackingjokeswitheverybody,chaffing,joshing,hisgreatmouthdistendedinaperpetualgrinofamiability.

           “Stophere,stophere,”hevociferated,dashingalonginfrontofPresleyandHarran,wavinghiscrop.Theprocessioncametoahalt,thehorses’headspointingeastward.Thelinebegantobeformed.Themarshalsperspiring,shouting,fretting,gallopingabout,urgingthisoneforward,orderingthisoneback,rangedthethousandsofconveyancesandcavaliersinalongline,shapedlikeawideopencrescent.Itswings,underthecommandoflieutenants,wereslightlyadvanced.FaroutbeforeitscentreOstermantookhisplace,delightedbeyondexpressionathisconspicuousness,posingforthegallery,makinghishorsedance.

           “Wail,aindtdeygowuntogommencedenbrettysoohn,”exclaimedMrs.Hooven,whohadtakenherhusband’splaceontheforwardseatofthewagon.

           “Ineverwassowarm,”murmuredMinna,fanningherselfwithherhat.Allseemedinreadiness.Formilesovertheflatexpanseofstubble,curvedtheinterminablelinesofhorsesandvehicles.Ataguess,nearlyfivethousandpeoplewerepresent.