The Americans Part 3

It's wonderful how much some men can do.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Well, men are ants, and Egerton he's had bread.

And he's kept throwing it down there in the valley, First crumb by crumb and later chunk by chunk, Until he's drawn them round him, thousands of them, And when they've come he's put them all to work.

And to see them at it! I could spend my life Sitting upon the mountains on some rock That hangs above the town, watching them drudge.

'Get me my logs out;' and they get his logs.

'Now saw them; make me lumber;' and they do it, 'Build me my railroad;' and they blast the rocks.

'Now up with my big mansion on the hill, And carve me all my ants upon the walls, Some sawing logs, others with axes raised Hard at the big round boles, some half cut down; Make her look like a forest through and through.'

And they've tugged at it till they've got it done.

And all they've chopped and sawed and built is his, And he puts it in his pocket and sits down And they can't help themselves. They've got to eat, And Egerton he's the man that's----

(_He has risen and stands looking back through the darkness_)

CAP SAUNDERS.

What do you say, Harvey, let's spend the night back in the cabin.

It ain't the cold I mind, but from the air I wouldn't be surprised if it would snow.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

By G.o.d, Cap!

CAP SAUNDERS.

Eh?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Looks like the boys had found it.

CAP SAUNDERS.

You don't, don't say!

(_Goes to the boulder_)

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Off there, beyond the k.n.o.b.

(_Bill Patten comes through the darkness, rear right. He looks about, then spies the men_)

BILL PATTEN.

You got some grub that you can spare, boys?

(_Goes near the men and gets their line of vision_)

That?

It's the moon rising.

CAP SAUNDERS.

Ah, I'm glad, I'm glad!

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Against the sky it looked like some far fire.

(_Gets down from the boulder_)

BILL PATTEN.

You're of the force that's huntin' for the mine?

HARVEY ANDERSON.

That's 'hunting' for it, yes.

BILL PATTEN.

You'll find it.

HARVEY ANDERSON.

Why?

BILL PATTEN.

Egerton's luck.

(_Calls back_)

O Silas!

(_To Anderson_)

'Tain't no use A-fightin' that old wolf or 'spectin' G.o.d To put his hand between J. D. and gold.

He's got a devil that takes care of him.

(_Silas Maury and his son Willie, a boy of twelve or thirteen, enter rear_)

BILL PATTEN.

And the same devil blacks Aug. Jergens' boots.

I'd like to get that man in some lone spot.

(_They sit down. The workmen seize food and eat ravenously_)