Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter VII
HehadseenwhathadescapedHilma’sattention,twomen,deputies,nodoubt,ontheporchoftheranchhouse.Theyheldpossessionthere,andtheevidenceofthepresenceoftheenemyinthisraiduponQuienSabehaddauntedhim.
“No,SIR,”hedeclared,gettingoutofthecarry-all,“Iain’tgoingtotakeyouanywherewhereyou’reliabletogethurt.Besides,theroad’sblockedbyallthisstuff.Youcan’tgettheteamby.”
Hilmasprangfromthecarry-all.
“Come,”shesaidtoMrs.Derrick.
Theolderwoman,trembling,hesitating,faintwithdread,obeyed,andHilma,pickingherwaythroughandaroundthewreckofherhome,setoffbythetrailtowardstheLongTrestleandHooven’s.
Whenshearrived,shefoundtheroadinfrontoftheGerman’shouse,and,indeed,allthesurroundingyard,crowdedwithpeople.Anoverturnedbuggylayonthesideoftheroadinthedistance,itshorsesinatangleofharness,heldbytwoorthreemen.ShesawCaraher’sbuckboardundertheliveoakandnearitasecondbuggywhichsherecognisedasbelongingtoadoctorinGuadalajara.
“Oh,whathashappened;oh,whathashappened?”moanedMrs.Derrick.
“Come,”repeatedHilma.Theyounggirltookherbythehandandtogethertheypushedtheirwaythroughthecrowdofmenandwomenandenteredtheyard.
Thethronggavewaybeforethetwowomen,partingtorightandleftwithoutaword.
“Presley,”criedMrs.Derrick,asshecaughtsightofhiminthedoorwayofthehouse,“oh,Presley,whathashappened?IsHarransafe?IsMagnussafe?Wherearethey?”
“Don’tgoin,Mrs.
