Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
“Ah,Iwasright,”saidtheGovernor.“’MagnusDerrick,LosMuertos,Bonneville,fromDitson&Co.,Rochester.’Theseareours,boy.”
Harranbreathedasighofrelief.
“Atlast,”heanswered,“andjustintime,too.We’llhaverainbeforetheweekisout.Ithink,nowthatIamhere,IwilltelephonePhelpstosendthewagonrightdownforthese.Istartedblue-stoningto-day.”
Magnusnoddedagraveapproval.
“Thatwasshrewd,boy.Astotherain,Ithinkyouarewellinformed;wewillhaveanearlyseason.Theploughshavearrivedatahappymoment.”
“Itmeansmoneytous,Governor,”remarkedHarran.
Butasheturnedthehorsestoallowhisfathertogetintothebuggyagain,thetwoweresurprisedtohearathick,throatyvoicewishingthemgood-morning,andturningaboutwereawareofS.Behrman,whohadcomeupwhiletheywereexaminingtheploughs.Harran’seyesflashedontheinstantandthroughhisnostrilshedrewasharp,quickbreath,whileacertainrigourofcarriagestiffenedthesetofMagnusDerrick’sshouldersandback.Magnushadnotyetgotintothebuggy,butstoodwiththeteambetweenhimandS.Behrman,eyeinghimcalmlyacrossthehorses’backs.S.BehrmancamearoundtotheothersideofthebuggyandfacedMagnus.
Hewasalarge,fatman,withagreatstomach;hischeekandtheupperpartofhisthickneckrantogethertoformagreattremulousjowl,shavenandblue-greyincolour;arolloffat,sprinkledwithsparsehair,moistwithperspiration,protrudedoverthebackofhiscollar.Heworeaheavyblackmoustache.
