Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter V.
Wouldnightcomeonbeforetheywereupwithhim?
“Look!Look!Thereheis!Quick,therehegoes!”
Highonthebareslopeofthenearesthill,alltheposse,lookinginthedirectionofDelaney’sgesture,sawthefigureofahorsemanemergefromanarroyo,filledwithchaparral,andstruggleatalabouringgallopstraightuptheslope.Suddenly,everymemberofthepartyshoutedaloud.Thehorsehadfallen,pitchingtheriderfromthesaddle.Themanrosetohisfeet,caughtatthebridle,misseditandthehorsedashedonalone.Theman,pausingforasecondlookedaround,sawthechasedrawingnearer,then,turningback,disappearedinthechaparral.Delaneyraisedagreatwhoop.
“We’vegotyounow.”Intotheslopesandvalleysofthehillsdashedthebandofhorsemen,thetrailnowsofreshthatitcouldbeeasilydiscernedbyall.Onandonitledthem,afurious,wildscramblestraightuptheslopes.Theminuteswentby.Thedrybedofarivuletwaspassed;thenanotherfence;thenatangleofmanzanita;ameadowofwildoats,fullofagitatedcattle;thenanarroyo,thickwithchaparralandscruboaks,andthen,withoutwarning,thepistolshotsrippedoutandranfromridertoriderwiththerapidityofagatlingdischarge,andoneofthedeputiesbentforwardinthesaddle,bothhandstohisface,thebloodjettingfrombetweenhisfingers.
Dykewasthere,atbayatlast,hisbackagainstabankofrock,therootsofafallentreeservinghimasarampart,hisrevolversmokinginhishand.
“You’reunderarrest,Dyke,”criedthesheriff.“It’snottheleastusetofight.
