И проиграли бой

           Alightrustwassettlingonradiators,andsomeoftheworntiresweredown,andallofthecarshadtheappearanceofhavingstoodtherealongwhile.

           Londonsalutedwithawaveofhishand."Hello,Mac.H’ya,Jim?"

           "Fine,"saidJim.

           "Meandtheseguysislookin’overtheheaps.Tryin’toseewhichonestosendout.Thereain’tnoneof’emworthahootinhell."

           "Howmany’dyoufiguretosendout?"

           "’Boutfivecouples.Twotogether,soifanythingwentwrongwithonetheother’dpickourguysupandgoon."Hepointeddowntheline."ThatoldHudson’sallright.There’sfivefour-cylinderDodges,andthemoldbabieswillgotohellontheirbelliesafteryouknockthewheelsoff.MymodelT’sallright—runs,anyway.Let’ssee,wedon’twantnoclosedcars;y’can’theavearockoutofaclosedcar.Here’sashovel-nose.Thinkshe’llrun?"

           Amansteppedup."Damnrightshe’llrun.IbrungherstraightthroughLouisianainwinter.Sheneverevenwarmedup,evencomin’overthemountains."

           Theywalkeddowntherow,pickingoutprospectsinthelineofwrecks."Theseguysissquadleaders,"Londonexplained."I’mgoin’giveoneof’emchargeofeachbus,an’let’empicktheirownguys,fiveorsixapiece.Guystheycantrust,goodfighters,see?"

           "Soundsswell,"saidMac."Idon’tseehowanybody’sgoin’tostop’em."

           Oneofthementurnedonhim."Andtheyain’tnobodygoin’tostopus,neither,"hesaid.