Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Thisencompassingdetouraroundthewholecountry-sidewasafavoritepastimeofhisandhewasanxiousthatVanameeshouldsharehispleasureinit.

           ButsoonafterleavingGuadalajara,theyfoundthemselvesuponthelandthatDykehadboughtanduponwhichhewastoraisehisfamouscropofhops.Dyke’shousewascloseathand,averypleasantlittlecottage,paintedwhite,withgreenblindsanddeepporches,whilenearitandyetinprocessofconstruction,weretwogreatstorehousesandadryingandcuringhouse,wherethehopsweretobestoredandtreated.Allaboutwereevidencesthattheformerengineerhadalreadybeenhardatwork.Thegroundhadbeenputinreadinesstoreceivethecropandabewildering,innumerablemultitudeofpoles,connectedwithamazeofwireandtwine,hadbeensetout.Fartheronataturnoftheroad,theycameuponDykehimself,drivingafarmwagonloadedwithmorepoles.Hewasinhisshirtsleeves,hismassive,hairyarmsbaretotheelbow,glisteningwithsweat,redwithheat.Inhisbell-like,rumblingvoice,hewascallingtohisforemanandaboyatworkinstringingthepolestogether.AtsightofPresleyandVanameehehailedthemjovially,addressingthemas“boys,”andinsistingthattheyshouldgetintothewagonwithhimanddrivetothehouseforaglassofbeer.HismotherhadonlythedaybeforereturnedfromMarysville,whereshehadbeenlookingupaseminaryforthelittletad.