Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           “IfyouseeHarranwhenhecomesin,tellhimImaynotbebackintimeforsupper.”

           Presleyfoundtheponyinthecorral,cinchedthesaddleuponhim,andwentoffovertheLowerRoad,goingeastwardatabriskcanter.

           AtHooven’shecalleda“Howdoyoudo”toMinna,whomhesawlyinginaslathammockunderthemammothliveoak,herfootinbandages;andthengallopedonoverthebridgeacrosstheirrigatingditch,wonderingvaguelywhatwouldbecomeofsuchaprettygirlasMinna,andifintheendshewouldmarrythePortugueseforemaninchargeoftheditching-gang.Hetoldhimselfthathehopedshewould,andthatspeedily.TherewasnolackofcommentastoMinnaHoovenabouttheranches.Certainlyshewasagoodgirl,butshewasseenatallhourshereandthereaboutBonnevilleandGuadalajara,skylarkingwiththePortuguesefarmhandsofQuienSabeandLosMuertos.Shewasverypretty;themenmadefoolsofthemselvesoverher.Presleyhopedtheywouldnotendbymakingafoolofher.

           Justbeyondtheirrigatingditch,PresleylefttheLowerRoad,andfollowingatrailthatbranchedoffsoutheasterlyfromthispoint,heldonacrosstheFourthDivisionoftheranch,keepingtheMissionCreekonhisleft.Afewmilesfartheron,hewentthroughagateinabarbedwirefence,andatonceengagedhimselfinasystemoflittlearroyosandlowrollinghills,thatsteadilyliftedandincreasedinsizeasheproceeded.ThishighergroundwastheadvanceguardoftheSierrafoothills,andservedasthestockrangeforLosMuertos.Thehillswerehugerollinghummocksofbareground,coveredonlybywildoats.