Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter I
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Heclimbedbacktohisseatunderthewagonumbrella,and,ashestartedhisteamagainwithgreatcracksofhislongwhip,turnedtothepaintersstillatworkuponthesignanddeclaredwithsomedefiance:
“Siebenyahr;yais,sir,seibenyahrIhefbeenondisrench.Gitoop,youmuleyou,hoop!”
MeanwhilePresleyhadturnedintotheLowerRoad.HewasnowonDerrick’sland,divisionNo.I,or,asitwascalled,theHomeranch,ofthegreatLosMuertosRancho.Theroadwasbetterhere,thedustlaidafterthepassageofHooven’swatering-cart,and,inafewminutes,hehadcometotheranchhouseitself,withitswhitepicketfence,itsfewflowerbeds,andgroveofeucalyptustrees.Onthelawnatthesideofthehouse,hesawHarranintheactofsettingouttheautomaticsprinkler.Intheshadeofthehouse,bytheporch,weretwoorthreeofthegreyhounds,partofthepackthatwereusedtohuntdownjack-rabbits,andGodfrey,Harran’sprizedeerhound.
PresleywheeledupthedrivewayandmetHarranbythehorse-block.HarranwasMagnusDerrick’syoungestson,averywell-lookingyoungfellowoftwenty-threeortwenty-five.Hehadthefinecarriagethatmarkedhisfather,andstillfurtherresembledhiminthathehadtheDerricknose—hawk-likeandprominent,suchasoneseesinthelaterportraitsoftheDukeofWellington.Hewasblond,andincessantexposuretothesunhad,insteadoftanninghimbrown,merelyheightenedthecolourofhischeeks.Hisyellowhairhadatendencytocurlinaforwarddirection,justinfrontoftheears.
Besidehim,Presleymadethesharpestofcontrasts.
