Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           TheideaoftheLeague,thewholereasonwhyitwasorganised,wastoprotectALLtheranchesofthisvalleyfromtheRailroad,anditlookstomeasifthelivesofourfellow-citizenshadbeensacrificed,notindefendingALLofourranches,butjustindefenceofoneofthem—LosMuertos—theonethatMr.Derrickowns.”

           ThespeakerhadnomorethanregainedhisseatwhenamanwasseenpushinghiswayfromthebackofthestagetowardsGarnett.Hehandedtherancheranote,atthesametimewhisperinginhisear.Garnettreadthenote,thencameforwardtotheedgeofthestage,holdinguphishand.Whentheaudiencehadfallensilenthesaid:

           “Ihavejustreceivedsadnews.Ourfriendandfellow-citizen,Mr.Osterman,diedthismorningbetweenelevenandtwelveo’clock.”

           Instantlytherewasaroar.Everymaninthebuildingrosetohisfeet,shouting,gesticulating.Theroarincreased,theOperaHousetrembledtoit,thegasjetsinthelightedchandeliersvibratedtoit.Itwasaraucoushowlofexecration,abellowofrage,inarticulate,deafening.

           AtornadoofconfusionsweptwhirlingfromwalltowallandthemadnessofthemomentseizedirresistiblyuponPresley.Heforgothimself;henolongerwasmasterofhisemotionsorhisimpulses.Allatoncehefoundhimselfuponthestage,facingtheaudience,flamingwithexcitement,hisimaginationonfire,hisarmsupliftedinfierce,wildgestures,wordsleapingtohismindinatorrentthatcouldnotbewithheld.

           “Onemoredead,”hecried,“onemore.