И проиграли бой

           "Somewheresbetweenfourandfivehundredtomorrow.Bemorelater,Iguess.Besurean’telltheguystotakeplentyofrocksintheirpockets."

           "I’lltell’em."

           Burkecamebackin.Hesaid,"TheDoc’sgoin’tosleepinoneofthembigarmytents.There’llbetenguyssleepin’inthesametentwithhim."

           "Were’sDocatnow?"Macasked.

           "He’sdugupacoupleofring-wormsonaguy.He’sfixin’’imoverbythestoves."

           Atthatmomentachorusofyellsbrokeoutinthecamp,andthenahigh,angryvoiceshouting.Thesixmenranoutofthetent.Thenoisecamefromagroupofmenstandinginfrontofthecampstreetthatfacedtheroad.Dakinpushedhiswayinamongthemen."Whatth’hell’sthematterhere?"

           Theangryvoiceanswered,"I’lltellyou.Yourmenstartedthrowin’rocks.I’mtellin’younowifthere’sanymorerockswe’regoin’tostartshootin’,an’wedon’tcarewhowehit."

           MacturnedtoJim,standingbesidehim.Hesaidsoftly,"Iwishtheywouldstartshooting.Thisbunchofmugsisgoingtopieces,maybe,ifsomethingdirtydoesn’thappenprettysoon.They’refeelingtoogood.They’llstartfightingthemselves."

           Londonwalkedfiercelyintothecrowdofmen."Youguysgetback,"hecried."Yougotenoughtodowithoutnokidtricks.Goon,now,getbackwhereyoubelong."Theauthorityofthemandrovethemsullenlyback,buttheydispersedreluctantly.