И проиграли бой

           Alwroteasignandpinneditinsidethedoor,facingoutthroughtheglass.HestruggledhischubbyarmsintohiscoatandheldthedooropenforMacandJim.

           MaccrankedtheFordandjumpedin,andJimidledthemotoruntilAlcamebumpingoutofthelotinanoldDodgeroadster.Jimfollowedhimdownthestreettotheeast,acrosstheconcretebridgeovertheriverandoutintothepleasantcountry.Thesunwasnearlydownbynow,redandwarmwithautumndust.Themassedappletreesalongtheroadweregreywithdust.

           Macturnedintheseatandlookeddowntherowsastheypassed."Idon’tseeanybodyworking,"hecriedtoJim."Iwonderifhetookholdalready.There’sboxes,butnobodyworking."

           Thepavedroadgavewaytoadirtroad.TheFordleapedandshudderedontheroughroad.AboutamilefurtherAl’sdust-cloudswungoffintoayard.JimfollowedandcametoastopbesidetheDodge.Awhitetank-houseroseintotheair,andonitstopawindmillthrashedandglitteredinthesun,andthepumpbongedwithadeep,throatyvoice.Itwasapleasantplace.Theappletreesgrewinclosetoasmallwhiteranchhouse.Tamemallardsnuzzledthemudintheoverflowunderthetank.Inawire-boundedkennelagainstabigbarntworubberyEnglishpointersstoodagainstthescreenandyearnedoutatthemenwithlittleyelps.Thehouseitselfwassurroundedbyalowpicketfence,behindwhichgeraniumsgrewbigandred,andaVirginiacreeper,droppingitsredleaves,hungovertheporch.BigsquarePlymouthRockchickensstrolledabout,cawingcontentedlyandcockingtheirheadsatthenewcomers.

           Algotoutofthecar."Looka’themdogs,"hesaid."BestpointersintheValley.Myoldmanlovesthembetter’nme."