Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія

           Asthewagonpassedoutfromundertheeucalyptustreesabouttheranchhouse,takingMrs.Dyke,Sidney,andtheone-timeengineerbacktothehopranch,Presleyleaningfromhiswindowheardthelatterremark:

           “Caraherisright.Thereisonlyonethingtheylistento,andthat’sdynamite.”

           ThefollowingdayPresleydroveMagnusovertoGuadalajaratotakethetrainforSanFrancisco.Butafterhehadsaidgood-byetotheGovernor,hewasmovedtogoontothehopranchtoseetheconditionofaffairsinthatquarter.HereturnedtoLosMuertosoverwhelmedwithsadnessandtremblingwithanger.Thehopranchthathehadlastseeninthefulltideofprosperitywasalmostaruin.Workhadevidentlybeenabandonedlongsince.Weedswerealreadychokingthevines.Everywherethepolessaggedanddrooped.Manyhadevenfallen,draggingthevineswiththem,spreadingthemoverthegroundinaninextricabletangleofdeadleaves,decayingtendrils,andsnarledstring.Thefencewasbroken;theunfinishedstorehouse,whichneverwastoseecompletion,wasalamentablespectacleofgapingdoorsandwindows—amelancholyskeleton.Lastofall,PresleyhadcaughtaglimpseofDykehimself,seatedinhisrockingchairontheporch,hisbeardandhairunkempt,motionless,lookingwithvagueeyesuponhishandsthatlaypalmupwardsandidleinhislap.

           MagnusonhiswaytoSanFranciscowasjoinedatBonnevillebyOsterman.UponseatinghimselfinfrontofthemasterofLosMuertosinthesmoking-carofthetrain,thislatter,pushingbackhishatandsmoothinghisbaldhead,observed:

           “Governor,youlookallfrazeledout.