Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VIII
Weexpectedtohaveyoudowninthecountrywithusthiswinter.”
Presleyshookhishead.“No,”heanswered.“Imustgo.EvenifIhadallmyhealth,IcouldnotbringmyselftostayinCaliforniajustnow.Ifyoucanintroducemetooneofyourcaptains—”
“Withpleasure.Whendoyouwanttogo?Youmayhavetowaitafewweeks.Ourfirstshipwon’tcleartilltheendofthemonth.”
“Thatwoulddoverywell.Thankyou,sir.”
ButCedarquistwasstillinterestedinthelandtroublesoftheBonnevillefarmers,andtookthefirstoccasiontoask:
“So,theRailroadareinpossessiononmostoftheranches?”“Onallofthem,”returnedPresley.“TheLeaguewentalltopieces,sosoonasMagnuswasforcedtoresign.Theoldstory—theygotquarrellingamongthemselves.Somebodystartedacompromiseparty,anduponthatissueanewpresidentwaselected.Thenthereweredefections.TheRailroadofferedtoleasethelandsinquestiontotheranchers—therancherswhoownedthem,”heexclaimedbitterly,“andbecausethetermswerenominal—almostnothing—plentyofthementookthechanceofsavingthemselves.And,ofcourse,oncesigningthelease,theyacknowledgedtheRailroad’stitle.ButtheroadwouldnotleasetoMagnus.S.BehrmantakesoverLosMuertosinafewweeksnow.”
“Nodoubt,theroadmadeovertheirtitleinthepropertytohim,”observedCedarquist,“asarewardofhisservices.”
“Nodoubt,”murmuredPresleywearily.Herosetogo.
