The Americans Part 28

(_Egerton goes rear to the Chauffeur and himself adjusts the gla.s.ses to his eyes_)

A MILITIAMAN.

(_As they pa.s.s through the gate_)

Stay and have one with us.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

After business hours.

EGERTON.

Where did you leave off?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Where the big rock hangs On the south slope up yonder.

(_Dicey, King, and Masters come from the mill-yard, followed by Jergens. Dicey is dividing money with his companions_)

DICEY.

Thank you, boss.

JERGENS.

Then call me up.

DICEY.

I will.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

It ain't there now.

(_The three men go out around the corner right. Jergens joins Egerton and the Chauffeur. Harvey Anderson watches them in silence_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

And that's another reason I came down To hear those cannon boom and see those flags.

You'll have a band play too?

(_With his eyes fixed upon them he slowly shoves his foot through the cast and it falls to pieces. He stands still for a moment. He then picks up his hatchet and roll of blankets, and, going to the gate, throws them into the mill-yard. He does the same with the fragments of the cast, first carrying an armful which he empties inside, then coming back and picking up the last two or three pieces, which he jerks in after the others._

_The First Sentry, coming from rear, signals to the Second Sentry, who is pa.s.sing on his beat. The latter waits and, having heard what the former had to say, starts off_)

SECOND SENTRY.

(_Evidently quoting Chadbourne_)

'Tried to get smart And hit the cast to see the pieces fly.'

(_The First Sentry starts back on his beat, laughing_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

(_As the Second Sentry pa.s.ses him_)

It's steel you're shooting, ain't it?

SECOND SENTRY.

Go to h.e.l.l.

(_Goes out_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

It's all right, partner.

(_Like a great boy he stands tossing his hat into the air and trying to catch it. Egerton and Jergens regard him and seem to be saying something about him. Jergens goes into the mill-yard_)

EGERTON.

(_Comes to Anderson_)

In the line of work, What have you ever done?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Most everything, From punching cattle down to hunting gold.

But chiefly knocked about among the States.

EGERTON.

Drinking and gambling?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Some of that in too.

(_The Chauffeur goes into the mill-yard_)

EGERTON.

There's something in you that I like, my man.

You go about things in a way. And then The daring that you showed. You're full of life; A man can see that. Tended cattle, eh?