И проиграли бой

           Menwerestandingintheroad,watchingforthem.Asthetruckmovedalongthemenonthebeansacksstoodupandtookofftheirhatsandbowed.Albertdroppedintolowgearandcrawledthroughthecrowdofmentotheendofthecamp,neartheappletrees.

           London,withSambehindhim,camepushingthroughtheshoutingmillofhystericalmenandwomen.

           Maccried,"String’emup.Andlisten,London,tellthecookstocutthemeatthin,soit’llcookquick.Theseguysarehungry."

           London’seyeswereasbrightasthoseofthemenaroundhim."Jesus,couldIeat,"hesaid."We’daboutgiveyouup."

           Thecookscamethroughthecrowd.Theanimalswerehungtothelowerbranchesofthetrees,entrailsscoopedout,skinsrippedoff.Maccried,"London,don’tlet’emwasteanything.Saveallthebonesandheadsandfeetforsoup."Apanofhackedpiecesofmeatwenttothepit,andthecrowdfollowed,leavingthebutchersmoreroomtowork.Macstoodontherunning-board,overlookingthescene,butJimstillsatinthecab,straddlingthegear-shiftlever.Macturnedanxiouslytohim."What’sthematter,Jim?Youfeelallright?"

           "Sure,I’mO.K.Myshoulder’sawfulstiff,though.Idarnnearcan’tmoveit."

           "Iguessyou’recold.We’llseeifDoccan’tloosenyouupalittle."HehelpedJimdownfromthetruckandsupportedhimbytheelbowastheywalkedacrosstowardthemeatpit.Asmellofcookingmeathungoverthewholecamp,andthemeatdrippedfatonthecoalssothatfiercelittleflamesleapedupanddevouredeachdrop.Themencrowdedsodenselyaboutthepitthatthecooks,whowentaboutturningthemeatwithlongpointedsticks,hadtopushtheirwaythroughthethrong.