Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VI
GethingsdepartedtojoinCutterontheLongTrestle,whilePhelpsandHarran,takingAnnixter’sfieldglasseswiththem,andmountingtheirhorses,wentouttowardsGuadalajaraontheLowerRoadtowatchforthemarshal’sapproachfromthatdirection.
Aftertheoutpostshadleftthem,thepartyinHooven’scottagelookedtotheirweapons.Longsince,everymemberoftheLeaguehadbeeninthehabitofcarryinghisrevolverwithhim.Theywereallarmedand,inaddition,Hoovenhadhisrifle.Presleyalonecarriednoweapon.
ThemainroomofHooven’shouse,inwhichtheLeaguerswerenowassembled,wasbarren,poverty-stricken,buttolerablyclean.Anoldclocktickedvociferouslyonashelf.Inonecornerwasabed,withapatched,fadedquilt.Inthecentreoftheroom,straddlingoverthebarefloor,stoodapinetable.Aroundthisthemengathered,twoorthreeoccupyingchairs,Annixtersittingsidewaysonthetable,thereststanding.
“Ibelieve,gentlemen,”saidMagnus,“thatwecangothroughthisdaywithoutbloodshed.Ibelievenotoneshotneedbefired.TheRailroadwillnotforcetheissue,willnotbringaboutactualfighting.Whenthemarshalrealisesthatwearethoroughlyinearnest,thoroughlydetermined,Iamconvincedthathewillwithdraw.”
Thereweremurmursofassent.
“Lookhere,”saidAnnixter,“ifthisthingcanbyanymeansbesettledpeaceably,Isaylet’sdoit,solongaswedon’tgivein.”
Theothersstared.
