Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
”
“Theyarewayaheadofusyet,”hesaid.“Here,taketheglasses.”
Hepassedherhisfieldglasses,andsheadjustedthem.
“Oh,yes,”shecried,“Isee.Icanseefiveorsix,butoh,sofaroff.”
“Thebeggarsrun’wayahead,atfirst.”
“Ishouldsayso.Seethemrun,—littlespecks.Everynowandthentheysitup,theirearsstraightup,intheair.”
“Here,look,Hilma,theregoesonecloseby.”
Fromoutofthegroundapparently,sometwentyyardsdistant,agreatjacksprangintoview,boundingawaywithtremendousleaps,hisblack-tippedearserect.Hedisappeared,hisgreybodylosingitselfagainstthegreyoftheground.
“Oh,abigfellow.”
“Hi,yonder’sanother.”
“Yes,yes,oh,lookathimrun.”Fromoffthesurfaceoftheground,atfirstapparentlyemptyofalllife,andseeminglyunabletoaffordhidingplaceforsomuchasafield-mouse,jack-rabbitsstartedupateverymomentasthelinewentforward.Atfirst,theyappearedsinglyandatlongintervals;thenintwosandthrees,asthedrivecontinuedtoadvance.Theyleapedacrosstheplain,andstoppedinthedistance,sittingupwithstraightears,thenranonagain,werejoinedbyothers;sankdownflushtothesoil—theirearsflattened;startedupagain,rantotheside,turnedbackoncemore,dartedawaywithincredibleswiftness,andwerelosttoviewonlytobereplacedbyascoreofothers.
Gradually,thenumberofjackstobeseenovertheexpanseofstubbleinfrontofthelineofteamsincreased.Theiranticswereinfinite.Notwoactedpreciselyalike.
