THE OCTOPUS A Story of California by Frank Norris ... - Pink Monkey

marshal, beyond question--rode at the left of the buggy; Delaney,
carrying a Winchester, at the right. Christian, the real estate
broker, S. Behrman's cousin, also with a rifle, could be made out
just behind the marshal. Back of these, riding well up, was a
group of horsemen, indistinguishable in the dust raised by the
buggy's wheels.
Steadily the distance between the Leaguers and the posse
diminished.
"Don't let them get too close, Governor," whispered Harran.
When S. Behrman's buggy was about one hundred yards distant from
the irrigating ditch, Magnus sprang out upon the road, leaving
his revolvers behind him. He beckoned Garnett and Gethings to
follow, and the three ranchers, who, with the exception of
Broderson, were the oldest men present, advanced, without arms,
to meet the marshal.
Magnus cried aloud:
"Halt where you are."
From their places in the ditch, Annixter, Osterman, Dabney,
Harran, Hooven, Broderson, Cutter, and Phelps, their hands laid
upon their revolvers, watched silently, alert, keen, ready for
anything.
At the Governor's words, they saw Ruggles pull sharply on the
reins. The buggy came to a standstill, the riders doing
likewise. Magnus approached the marshal, still followed by
Garnett and Gethings, and began to speak. His voice was audible
to the men in the ditch, but his words could not be made out.
They heard the marshal reply quietly enough and the two shook
hands. Delaney came around from the side of the buggy, his horse
standing before the team across the road. He leaned from the
saddle, listening to what was being said, but made no remark.
From time to time, S. Behrman and Ruggles, from their seats in
the buggy, interposed a sentence or two into the conversation,
but at first, so far as the Leaguers could discern, neither
Magnus nor the marshal paid them any attention. They saw,
however, that the latter repeatedly shook his head and once they
heard him exclaim in a loud voice:
"I only know my duty, Mr. Derrick."