Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VI
Theyalllookedtowardtheditchandplainlysawtheranchersthere,standingtotheirarms.
ButmeanwhileRuggleshadaddressedhimselfmoredirectlytoMagnus,andbetweenthetwoanangrydiscussionwasgoingforward.OnceevenHarranheardhisfatherexclaim:
“Thestatementisalieandnooneknowsitbetterthanyourself.”
“Here,”growledAnnixtertoDabney,whostoodnexthimintheditch,“thosefellowsaregettingtooclose.Lookatthemedgingup.Don’tMagnusseethat?”
Theothermembersofthemarshal’sforcehadcomeforwardfromtheirplacesbehindthebuggyandwerespreadoutacrosstheroad.SomeofthemweregatheredaboutMagnus,Garnett,andGethings;andsomeweretalkingtogether,lookingandpointingtowardstheditch.Whetheractinguponsignalornot,theLeaguersintheditchcouldnottell,butitwascertainthatoneortwoofthepossehadmovedconsiderablyforward.Besidesthis,DelaneyhadnowplacedhishorsebetweenMagnusandtheditch,andtwoothersridingupfromtherearhadfollowedhisexample.Thepossesurroundedthethreeranchers,andbynow,everybodywastalkingatonce.
“Lookhere,”HarrancalledtoAnnixter,“thiswon’tdo.Idon’tlikethelooksofthisthing.Theyallseemtobeedgingup,andbeforeweknowittheymaytaketheGovernorandtheothermenprisoners.”
“Theyoughttocomeback,”declaredAnnixter.
“Somebodyoughttotellthemthatthosefellowsarecreepingup.”
Bynow,theangryargumentbetweentheGovernorandRuggleshadbecomemoreheatedthanever.Theirvoiceswereraised;nowandthentheymadefuriousgestures.
