Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Ostermanrolledbulletsofbreadandshotthemwithastonishingforceupanddownthetable,buttheothers—Dyke,oldBroderson,Caraher,HarranDerrick,Hooven,Cutter,GarnettoftheRubyrancho,Keastfromtheranchofthesamename,GethingsoftheSanPablo,andChatternoftheBonanza—occupiedthemselveswitheatingasmuchastheycouldbeforethesuppergaveout.Atacornerofthetable,speechless,unobserved,ignored,satDabney,ofwhomnothingwasknownbuthisname,thesilentoldmanwhomadenofriends.Heateanddrankquietly,dippinghissandwichinhislemonade.

           Ostermanatealltheoliveshecouldlayhishandson,ascoreofthem,fiftyofthem,ahundredofthem.Hetouchednocrumbofanythingelse.OldBrodersonstaredathim,hisjawfallen.Ostermandeclaredhehadonceeatenathousandonabet.Themencalledeachothers’attentiontohim.Delightedtocreateasensation,Ostermanpersevered.Thecontentsofanentirebowldisappearedinhishuge,reptilianslitofamouth.Hischeeksofbrownishredwereextended,hisbaldforeheadglistened.Colicsseizeduponhim.Hisstomachrevolted.Itwasallonewithhim.Hewassatisfied,contented.Hewasastonishingthepeople.

           “OnceIswallowedatreetoad.”hetoldoldBroderson,“bymistake.Iwaseatinggrapes,andthebeggarlivedinmethreeweeks.Inrainyweatherhewouldsing.Youdon’tbelievethat,”hevociferated.“Haven’tIgotthetoadathomenowinabottleofalcohol.”

           Andtheoldman,neverdoubting,hiseyesstarting,waggedhisheadinamazement.