The Furies by John Jakes

Author:John Jakes [Jakes, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Kent family (Fictitious characters), Frontier and pioneer life, Political, Sieges, General, United States, Sagas, Historical, Alamo (San Antonio; Tex.), Fiction
ISBN: 9780451212832
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Published: 2004-09-05T23:00:00+00:00

Israel rode along the main street. She saw no women anywhere. Men milled aimlessly on either side. Most were white, but here and there she spied a darker face; a Mexican; a Chilean. Two stocky youngsters appeared to be Kanakas from Hawaii. Most of the miners were dressed as Jared had been-heavy coats and trousers. There was an almost universal display of mustaches and chin whiskers.

Being hatless, Israel immediately attracted attention. A group lounging outside a tent identified as Sacramento Tom's started pointing.

One man lobbed a stone. Another shouted:

"Ain't no claims for niggers here!"

Israel went rigid. Amanda laid a hand on his arm. He swallowed and gazed straight ahead.

Inside Sacramento Tom's, the fiddle-scraper swung into

The Old Oaken Bucket. A

man approached Amanda's mule, weaving. He doffed a filthy felt hat:

"Welcome, pilgrim! You don right, comin'

to Hopeful. We're takin' it out of the ground with jackknives-Head down, she didn't respond. The man shrugged,

executed a half-turn, unbuttoned his pants and began to urinate in the mud.

On Amanda's left, three bearded fellows were carrying a wounded man out of another gambling tent, to the amusement of a small crowd. Had this been the source of the shots? She heard one of the watchers yell to someone in the tent:

"Frenchie, you be in miner's court at five sharp.

The court'll decide whether Dick provoked you.

That is-was A glance at the wounded man being borne away. "com

ft

Dick's still alive to state his case."

A somewhat larger tent on the right announced itself as The Bear Flag Palace.

From all the lanterns burning inside, some positioned above others, Amanda realized an enterprising soul had somehow rigged an upstairs section for the hotel.

Immediately beyond the Palace, a general store-another tent-was doing a brisk business. Out in front, a shirt-sleeved clerk waved a pair of boots to half a dozen customers:

"Cowhide, double-soled, triple-pegged and guaranteed waterproof. Fit your road-smashers exactly! Who's going to start with a bid of two and a half ounces? Do I hear two and a half ounces Page 195

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