И проиграли бой

           "Well,I’vegotatrespasscomplaint.We’vebeenfairtoyoumen.We’veaskedyoutogobacktowork,or,ifyouwantedtostrike,todoitpeacefully.You’vedestroyedpropertyandcommittedhomicide.Thismorningyousentoutmentodestroyproperty.Wehadtoshootsomeofthosemen,andwecaughttherest."Helookeddownatthemeninthetruck,andthenupagain."Nowwedon’twantanybloodshed,sowe’regoingtoletyouout.Youhaveallnighttonighttogetout.Ifyouheadstraightforthecountyline,nobody’llbotheryou.Butifthiscampishereatdaylighttomorrow,we’regoingthroughit."

           Themenstoodsilentlyandwatchedhim.MacwhisperedtoLondon.Londonsaid,"Trespassin’don’tgiveyounorighttoshootguys."

           "Maybenot,butresistingofficersdoes.NowI’mtalkingfairwithyou,soyou’llknowwhattoexpect.Atdaylighttomorrowahundredmen,intentruckslikethis,arecomingout.Everymanwillhaveagun,andwehavethreecasesofMillsbombs.SomeofyoumenwhoknowcantelltheotherswhataMillsbombis.That’sall.We’rethroughfoolingwithyou.Youhavetilldaylighttogetoutofthecounty.That’sall."Heturnedforward."Mightaswelldrivealong,Gus."Hesankfromsightbehindthesteeltruckside.Thewheelsturnedslowly,andgatheredspeed.

           Oneofthestrikersleapedintotheshallowditchandpickeduparock.Andhestoodholdingitinhishandandlookingatitasthetruckrolledaway.Themenwatchedthetruckgo,andthentheyturnedbackintothecamp.

           Londonsighed."Well,thatsoundslikeorders.Hedidn’tmeannofunnybusiness."

           Macsaidimpatiently,"I’mhungry.I’mgoingtoeatmybeans."Theyfollowedhimbackintothetent.Hegobbledhisfoodquicklyandhungrily."Hopeyougotsome,London."