Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
Hewasalwaysreadytotakechances,tohazardeverythingonthehopesofcolossalreturns.IntheminingdaysatPlacervilletherewasnomoreredoubtablepokerplayerinthecounty.Hehadbeenasluckyinhisminesasinhisgambling,sinkingshaftsandtunnellinginviolationofexperttheoryandfinding“pay”ineverycase.Withoutknowingit,heallowedhimselftoworkhisranchmuchasifhewasstillworkinghismine.Theold-timespiritof’49,hap-hazard,unscientific,persistedinhismind.Everythingwasagamble—whotookthegreatestchanceswasmostapttobethegreatestwinner.TheideaofmanuringLosMuertos,ofhusbandinghisgreatresources,hewouldhavescoutedasniggardly,Hebraic,ungenerous.
Magnusclimbedintothebuggy,helpinghimselfwithHarran’soutstretchedhandwhichhestillheld.Thetwowereimmenselyfondofeachother,proudofeachother.TheywereconstantlytogetherandMagnuskeptnosecretsfromhisfavouriteson.
“Well,boy.”
“Well,Governor.”
“Iamverypleasedyoucameyourself,Harran.IfearedthatyoumightbetoobusyandsendPhelps.Itwasthoughtful.”
Harranwasabouttoreply,butatthatmomentMagnuscaughtsightofthethreeflatcarsloadedwithbright-paintedfarmingmachineswhichstillremainedonthesidingabovethestation.HelaidhishandsonthereinsandHarrancheckedtheteam.
“Harran,”observedMagnus,fixingthemachinerywithajudicialfrown,“Harran,thoselooksingularlylikeourploughs.Driveover,boy.”
ThetrainhadbythistimegoneonitswayandHarranbroughttheteamuptothesiding.
