Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VI
AlltheLeaguerswerenowoutoftheditch,andalittlewaydowntheroad,Hooven,Osterman,Annixter,andHarraninfront,Dabney,Phelps,andCuttercomingupfrombehind.
“Keepback,you,”criedthedeputyagain.
InthegrouparoundS.Behrman’sbuggy,GethingsandDelaneywereyetquarrelling,andtheangrydebatebetweenMagnus,Garnett,andthemarshalstillcontinued.
Tillthismoment,therealestatebroker,Christian,hadtakennopartintheargument,buthadkepthimselfintherearofthebuggy.Now,however,hepushedforward.Therewasbutlittleroomforhimtopass,and,asherodebythebuggy,hishorsescrapedhisflankagainstthehubofthewheel.Theanimalrecoiledsharply,and,strikingagainstGarnett,threwhimtotheground.Delaney’shorsestoodbetweenthebuggyandtheLeaguersgatheredontheroadinfrontoftheditch;theincident,indistinctlyseenbythem,wasmisinterpreted.
GarnetthadnotyetrisenwhenHoovenraisedagreatshout:
“HOCH,DERKAISER!HOCH,DERVATERLAND!”
Withthewords,hedroppedtooneknee,andsightinghisriflecarefully,firedintothegroupofmenaroundthebuggy.
Instantlytherevolversandriflesseemedtogooffofthemselves.Bothsides,deputiesandLeaguers,openedfiresimultaneously.Atfirst,itwasnothingbutaconfusedroarofexplosions;thentheroarlapsedtoanirregular,quicksuccessionofreports,shotleapingaftershot;thenamoment’ssilence,and,lastofall,regularasclock-ticks,threeshotsatexactintervals.Thenstillness
