Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Magnuscriedaloud:

           “Haltwhereyouare.”

           Fromtheirplacesintheditch,Annixter,Osterman,Dabney,Harran,Hooven,Broderson,Cutter,andPhelps,theirhandslaidupontheirrevolvers,watchedsilently,alert,keen,readyforanything.

           AttheGovernor’swords,theysawRugglespullsharplyonthereins.Thebuggycametoastandstill,theridersdoinglikewise.Magnusapproachedthemarshal,stillfollowedbyGarnettandGethings,andbegantospeak.Hisvoicewasaudibletothemenintheditch,buthiswordscouldnotbemadeout.Theyheardthemarshalreplyquietlyenoughandthetwoshookhands.Delaneycamearoundfromthesideofthebuggy,hishorsestandingbeforetheteamacrosstheroad.Heleanedfromthesaddle,listeningtowhatwasbeingsaid,butmadenoremark.Fromtimetotime,S.BehrmanandRuggles,fromtheirseatsinthebuggy,interposedasentenceortwointotheconversation,butatfirst,sofarastheLeaguerscoulddiscern,neitherMagnusnorthemarshalpaidthemanyattention.Theysaw,however,thatthelatterrepeatedlyshookhisheadandoncetheyheardhimexclaiminaloudvoice:

           “Ionlyknowmyduty,Mr.Derrick.”

           ThenGethingsturnedabout,andseeingDelaneycloseathand,addressedanunheardremarktohim.Thecow-puncherrepliedcurtlyandthewordsseemedtoangerGethings.Hemadeagesture,pointingbacktotheditch,showingtheintrenchedLeaguerstotheposse.DelaneyappearedtocommunicatethenewsthattheLeaguerswereonhandandpreparedtoresist,totheothermembersoftheparty.