Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter V.
Thewholecountryisup.”
Dykefiredagain,theshotsplinteringtheforelegofthehorsethesheriffrode.
Theposse,fourmenalltold—thewoundeddeputyhavingcrawledoutofthefightafterDyke’sfirstshot—fellbackafterthepreliminaryfusillade,dismounted,andtookshelterbehindrocksandtrees.Onthatruggedground,fightingfromthesaddlewasimpracticable.Dyke,inthemeanwhile,heldhisfire,forheknewthat,oncehispistolwasempty,hewouldneverbeallowedtimetoreload.
“Dyke,”calledthesheriffagain,“forthelasttime,Isummonyoutosurrender.”
Dykedidnotreply.Thesheriff,Delaney,andthemannamedChristianconferredtogetherinalowvoice.ThenDelaneyandChristianlefttheothers,makingawidedetourupthesidesofthearroyo,togainapositiontotheleftandsomewhattotherearofDyke.
ButitwasatthismomentthatS.Behrmanarrived.ItcouldnotbesaidwhetheritwascourageorcarelessnessthatbroughttheRailroad’sagentwithinreachofDyke’srevolver.Possiblyhewasreallyabraveman;possiblyoccupiedwithkeepinganuncertainseatuponthebackofhislabouring,scramblinghorse,hehadnotnoticedthathewassocloseuponthatsceneofbattle.Hecertainlydidnotobservetheposselyinguponthegroundbehindshelteringrocksandtrees,andbeforeanyonecouldcallawarning,hehadriddenoutintotheopen,withinthirtypacesofDyke’sintrenchment.
Dykesaw.
