Алая чума
Chapter 2
Itstandsfortengrainsofsand,ortentensoffingers,oronehundredfingers. Iputintenpebbles. Theystandforathousandfingers. Itakeamussel-shell,anditstandsfortenpebbles,oronehundredgrainsofsand,oronethousandfingers....” Andsoon,laboriously,andwithmuchreiteration,hestrovetobuildupintheirmindsacrudeconceptionofnumbers. Asthequantitiesincreased,hehadtheboysholdingdifferentmagnitudesineachoftheirhands. Forstillhighersums,helaidthesymbolsonthelogofdriftwood;andforsymbolshewashardput,beingcompelledtousetheteethfromtheskullsformillions,andthecrab-shellsforbillions. Itwasherethathestopped,fortheboyswereshowingsignsofbecomingtired.
“TherewerefourmillionpeopleinSanFrancisco—fourteeth.”
Theboys’eyesrangedalongfromtheteethandfromhandtohand,downthroughthepebblesandsand-grainstoEdwin’sfingers. Andbackagaintheyrangedalongtheascendingseriesintheefforttograspsuchinconceivablenumbers.
“Thatwasalotoffolks,Granser,”Edwinatlasthazarded.
“Likesandonthebeachhere,likesandonthebeach,eachgrainofsandaman,orwoman,orchild. Yes,myboy,allthosepeoplelivedrighthereinSanFrancisco. Andatonetimeoranotherallthosepeoplecameoutonthisverybeach—morepeoplethantherearegrainsofsand. More—more—more. AndSanFranciscowasanoblecity.
