Алая чума
Chapter 1
“IgotitoffofHoo-Hoo.Hefounditwhenwewasherdin’goatsdownnearSanJosélastspring. Hoo-Hoosaiditwasmoney. Ain’tyouhungry,Granser?”
Theancientcaughthisstaffinatightergripandurgedalongthetrail,hisoldeyesshininggreedily.
“IhopeHar-Lip’sfoundacrab...ortwo,”hemumbled. “They’regoodeating,crabs,mightygoodeatingwhenyou’venomoreteethandyou’vegotgrandsonsthatlovetheiroldgrandsireandmakeapointofcatchingcrabsforhim. WhenIwasaboy—”
ButEdwin,suddenlystoppedbywhathesaw,wasdrawingthebowstringonafittedarrow. Hehadpausedonthebrinkofacrevasseintheembankment. Anancientculverthadherewashedout,andthestream,nolongerconfined,hadcutapassagethroughthefill. Ontheoppositeside,theendofarailprojectedandoverhung. Itshowedrustilythroughthecreepingvineswhichoverranit. Beyond,crouchingbyabush,arabbitlookedacrossathimintremblinghesitancy. Fullyfiftyfeetwasthedistance,butthearrowflashedtrue;andthetransfixedrabbit,cryingoutinsuddenfrightandhurt,struggledpainfullyawayintothebrush. Theboyhimselfwasaflashofbrownskinandflyingfurasheboundeddownthesteepwallofthegapanduptheotherside. Hisleanmuscleswerespringsofsteelthatreleasedintogracefulandefficientaction. Ahundredfeetbeyond,inatangleofbushes,heovertookthewoundedcreature,knockeditsheadonaconvenienttree-trunk,andturneditovertoGransertocarry.
