Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
“TheyAREstarting.Whydon’twestart?”
“No,they’vestopped.Falsealarm.”
“They’venot,either.Whydon’twemove?”
Butasoneortwobegantomoveoff,thenearestmarshalshoutedwrathfully:
“Getbackthere,getbackthere.”
“Well,they’vestartedoverthere.”
“Getback,Itellyou.”
“Where’sthe’do-funny?’”
“Say,we’regoingtomissitall.They’veallstartedoverthere.”
Alieutenantcamegallopingalonginfrontoftheline,shouting:
“Here,what’sthematterhere?Whydon’tyoustart?”
Therewasagreatshout.Everybodysimultaneouslyutteredaprolonged“Oh-h.”
“We’reoff.”
“Herewegoforsurethistime.”
“Remembertokeepthealignment,”roaredthelieutenant.“Don’tgotoofast.”
Andthemarshals,rushinghereandthereontheirsweatinghorsestopointswherethelinebulgedforward,shouted,wavingtheirarms:“Nottoofast,nottoofast....Keepbackhere....Here,keepclosertogetherhere.Doyouwanttoletalltherabbitsrunbackbetweenyou?”
Agreatconfusedsoundroseintotheair,—thecreakingofaxles,thejoltofirontiresoverthedryclods,theclickofbrittlestubbleunderthehorses’hoofs,thebarkingofdogs,theshoutsofconversationandlaughter.
Theentireline,horses,buggies,wagons,gigs,dogs,menandboysonfoot,andarmedwithclubs,movedslowlyacrossthefields,sendingupacloudofwhitedust,thathungabovethescenelikesmoke.Abriskgaietywasintheair.Everyonewasinthebestofhumor,callingfromteamtoteam,laughing,skylarking,joshing.
