И проиграли бой

           Thegrowlofthemen,andthegrowloftheirangerarose.Theireyeswerefierce.Inamomenttheirvagueunrestandangercenteredandfocused.

           Thecheckerstillcried,"Letmethroughthere."Suddenlyavoiceshrillwithhysteriashouted,"Yougetoutofhere,youson-of-a-bitch."Therewasascuffle.

           "Lookout,Joe.HoldJoe.Don’tlethim.Grabhisfeet."

           "Now,mister,scram,andgofast."

           Jimstoodup."Youguysclearaway.Wegottogetthispoorfellowoutofhere."Themenseemedtoawakenfromasleep.Theinnerringpushedviolentlyoutward."Getacoupleofsticks.Wecanmakeastretcheroutofapairofcoats.There,putthesticksthroughthearms.Now,buttonupthefronts."Jimsaid,"Easynow,withhim.Ithinkhiship’sbusted."HelookeddownatDan’squiet,whiteface."Iguesshe’sfainted.Now,easy."

           TheyliftedDanontothecoatstretcher."Youtwoguyscarryhim,"Jimsaid."Someofyouclearaway."

           Atleastahundredmenhadcollectedbythistime.Themenwiththestretchersteppedout.Newcomersstoodlookingatthebrokenladder.Overandoverthewords,"Lookwhattheygiveustouse."

           Jimturnedtoamanwhostoodstupidlystaringupintothetree."Whathappenedtothechecker?"

           "Huh?Oh,JoeTeaguesluggedhim.Triedtokickhisbrainsout.TheguysheldJoe.Joewenttopieces."

           "Damngoodthinghedidn’tkillhim,"Jimsaid.