Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Andthenafteralongtimethereturnofreason,theconsciousnessthathisfeetweresetupontheroadtoLosMuertos,andthathewasfleeingterror-stricken,gasping,allbutinsanewithhysteria.Thenthenever-to-be-forgottennightthatensued,whenhedescendedintothepit,horrifiedatwhathesupposedhehaddone,atonemomentriddenwithremorse,atanotherragingagainsthisownfeebleness,hislackofcourage,hiswretched,vacillatingspirit.Butmorninghadcome,andwithittheknowledgethathehadfailed,andthebaserassurancethathewasnotevenremotelysuspected.Hisownescapehadbeennolessmiraculousthanthatofhisenemy,andhehadfallenonhiskneesininarticulateprayer,weeping,pouringouthisthankstoGodforthedeliverancefromthegulftotheverybrinkofwhichhisfeethadbeendrawn.

           Afterthis,however,therehadcometoPresleyadeep-rootedsuspicionthathewas—ofallhumanbeings,themostwretched—afailure.Everythingtowhichhehadsethismindfailed—hisgreatepic,hiseffortstohelpthepeoplewhosurroundedhim,evenhisattempteddestructionoftheenemy,allthesehadcometonothing.Girdinghisshatteredstrengthtogether,heresolvedupononelastattempttoliveuptothebestthatwasinhim,andtothatendhadsethimselftoliftoutofthedespairintowhichtheyhadbeenthrust,thebereavedfamilyoftheGerman,Hooven.

           Afterallwasover,andHooven,togetherwiththesevenotherswhohadfallenattheirrigatingditch,wasburiedintheBonnevillecemetery,Mrs.