Алая чума
Chapter 6
Next,therewerethethreeyoungmen—CardiffandHale,whohadbeenfarmers,andWainwright,acommonday-laborer. Allthreehadfoundwives. ToHale,acrude,illiteratefarmer,hadfallenIsadore,thegreatestprize,nexttoVesta,ofthewomenwhocamethroughtheplague. Shewasoneoftheworld’smostnotedsingers,andtheplaguehadcaughtheratSanFrancisco. Shehastalkedwithmeforhoursatatime,tellingmeofheradventures,until,atlast,rescuedbyHaleintheMendocinoForestReserve,therehadremainednothingforhertodobutbecomehiswife. ButHalewasagoodfellow,inspiteofhisilliteracy. Hehadakeensenseofjusticeandright-dealing,andshewasfarhappierwithhimthanwasVestawiththeChauffeur.
“ThewivesofCardiffandWainwrightwereordinarywomen,accustomedtotoilwithstrongconstitutions—justthetypeforthewildnewlifewhichtheywerecompelledtolive. Inadditionweretwoadultidiotsfromthefeeble-mindedhomeatEl-dredge,andfiveorsixyoungchildrenandinfantsbornaftertheformationoftheSantaRosaTribe. Also,therewasBertha. Shewasagoodwoman,Hare-Lip,inspiteofthesneersofyourfather. HerItookforwife. Shewasthemotherofyourfather,Edwin,andofyours,Hoo-Hoo. Anditwasourdaughter,Vera,whomarriedyourfather,Hare-Lip—yourfather,Sandow,whowastheoldestsonofVestaVanWardenandtheChauffeur.
“AndsoitwasthatIbecamethenineteenthmemberoftheSantaRosaTribe. Therewereonlytwooutsidersaddedafterme.
