И проиграли бой

           "Weprob’lywon’tanyofusbeheretomorrow."

           InthetentLondonpointedtothetwofoodcansonthebox."D’yous’posethesheriff’lltrytokickusoff?"heasked.

           "Damnright.Hewon’tletachancelikethatgoby."

           "Well,willhecomeshootin’,d’yousuppose?Orwillhegivetheguysawarnin’?"

           Macsaid,"Hell,Idon’tknow.Where’sallthemen?"

           "Allundercover,asleep."

           Macsaid,"Iheardacar.Maybeourguyscomingback."

           Londoncockedhishead."Toobig,"hesaid."That’soneofthembigbabies."

           Theyranoutside.UptheroadfromTorgasahugeMackdump-truckrolled.Ithadasteelbedandsides,supportedbytwosetsofdoubletires.Itpulledupinfrontofthecampandstopped.Amanstoodupinthesteelbed,andinhishandsheheldasubmachine-gunwithabigcartridgecylinderbehindtheforwardgrip.Theheadsofothermenshowedabovethetrucksides.Strikersbegantoboiloutofthetents.

           Thestandingmanshouted,"I’msheriffo’thiscounty.Ifthere’sanyoneinauthorityIwanttoseehim."Themobapproachedcloserandlookedcuriouslyatthetruck.

           Macsaidsoftly,"Careful,London.Theymaypopusoff.Theycoulddoitnowiftheywantedto."Theywalkedforward,totheedgeoftheroad,andstopped;andthemobwasliningtheroadnow,too.Londonsaid,"I’mtheboss,mister."