Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter II
It’saboutfive-eighthsofamile.”
“Fromthedepotofthetown,”remarkedS.Behrmanplacidly,“totheheadoftheLongTrestleisabouttwomiles.”
“That’salieandyouknowit’salie,”shoutedtheother,furiousatS.Behrman’scalmness,“andIcanproveit’salie.I’vewalkedthatdistanceontheUpperRoad,andIknowjusthowfastIwalk,andifIcanwalkfourmilesinonehour.”
MagnusandHarrandroveon,leavingAnnixtertryingtodrawS.Behrmanintoawrangle.
WhenatlengthS.Behrmanaswelltookhimselfaway,Annixterreturnedtohishammock,finishedtherestofhisprunesandreadanotherchapterof“Copperfield.”Thenheputthebook,open,overhisfaceandwenttosleep.
Anhourlater,towardnoon,hisownterrificsnoringwokehimupsuddenly,andhesatup,rubbinghisfaceandblinkingatthesunlight.Therewasabadtasteinhismouthfromsleepingwithitwideopen,andgoingintothedining-roomofthehouse,hemixedhimselfadrinkofwhiskeyandsodaandswalloweditinthreegreatgulps.Hetoldhimselfthathefeltnotonlybetterbuthungry,andpressedanelectricbuttoninthewallnearthesideboardthreetimestoletthekitchen—situatedinaseparatebuildingneartheranchhouse—knowthathewasreadyforhisdinner.Ashedidso,anideaoccurredtohim.HewonderedifHilmaTreewouldbringuphisdinnerandwaitonthetablewhileheateit.
Inconnectionwithhisranch,Annixterranadairyfarmonaverysmallscale,makingjustenoughbutterandcheesefortheconsumptionoftheranch’sPERSONNEL.
