Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Thedrivewasoneofthelargesteverheld.Butnostartwasmade;immobilized,thevastcrescentstuckmotionlessundertheblazingsun.Hereandtherecouldbeheardvoicesupliftedinjocularremonstrance.

           “Oh,Isay,getamoveon,somebody.”

           “ALLaboard.”

           “Say,I’lltakeroothereprettysoon.”

           Sometookmaliciouspleasureinstartingfalsealarms.

           “Ah,HEREwego.”

           “Off,atlast.”

           “We’reoff.”

           Invariablythesejokesfooledsomeoneintheline.Anoldman,orsomeoldwoman,nervous,hardofhearing,alwaysgatheredupthereinsandstartedoff,onlytobehustledandorderedbackintothelinebythenearestmarshal.Thismanoeuvreneverfailedtoproduceitseffectofhilarityuponthosenearathand.Everybodylaughedattheblunderer,thejokerjeeringaudibly.

           “Hey,comebackhere.”

           “Oh,he’seasy.”

           “Don’tbeinahurry,Grandpa.”

           “Say,youwanttodrivealltherabbitsyourself.”

           Lateron,acertaingroupofthesefellowsstartedahuge“josh.”

           “Say,that’swhatwe’rewaitingfor,the’do-funny.’”

           “Thedo-funny?”

           “Sure,youcan’tdriverabbitswithoutthe’do-funny.’”

           “What’sthedo-funny?”

           “Oh,say,shedon’tknowwhatthedo-funnyis.Wecan’tstartwithoutit,sure.Petewentbacktogetit.”

           “Oh,you’rejokingme,there’snosuchthing.”

           “Well,aren’tweWAITINGforit?”

           “Oh,look,look,”criedsomewomeninacoveredrig.“See,theyarestartingalready’wayoverthere.”

           Infact,itdidappearasifthefarextremityofthelinewasinmotion.Dustroseintheairaboveit.