И проиграли бой

           Achorusofderisiveyellsansweredhim.Onemanputhisforefingersinhismouthandwhistledpiercingly.

           "Yougetoffthisland,"thecheckersaid."You’vegotnorightonthislandatall."

           Thestrikersmarchedslowlyon.Thecheckerbackeduptotheboxpile,wherehispickersshiftednervously,andwatchedwithfrightenedfaces.

           Samsaid,overhisshoulder,"Allright.Youguysstophere."Hesteppedforwardaloneafewpaces."Listen,youworkers,"hesaid."Comeovertoourside.Don’tgoknifin’usguysintheback.Comeonandjoinupwithus."

           Thecheckeranswered,"YoutakethosemenoffthislandorI’llhavethewholebunchofyourunin."

           Thederisiveyellbeganagain,andtheshrillwhistling.Samturnedangrily."Shutup,youcrazybastards.Layoffthemusic."

           Thepickerslookedaboutforaretreat.Thecheckerreassuredthem."Don’tlethimscareyou,men.You’vegotarighttoworkifyouwantto."

           Samcalledagain,"Listen,guys,we’regivin’youthischancetocomealongwithus."

           "Don’tlethimbullyyou,"thecheckercried.Hisvoicewasrising."Theycan’ttellamanwhathe’sgottodo."

           Thepickersstoodstill."Youcomin’?"Samdemanded.Theydidn’tanswer.Sambegantomoveslowlytowardthem.Thecheckersteppedforward."There’sabuckshotinthisgun.I’llshootyouifyoudon’tgetoff."