登陆注册
5152700000031

第31章 THE DREAM OF DEBS(5)

But with the formation of the bread-lines came new troubles. There was only so much of a food reserve in San Francisco, and at the best it could not last long. Organized labour, we knew, had its private supplies; nevertheless, the whole working class joined the bread-lines. As a result, the provisions General Folsom had taken possession of diminished with perilous rapidity. How were the soldiers to distinguish between a shabby middle-class man, a member of the I.L.W., or a slum dweller? The first and the last had to be fed, but the soldiers did not know all the I.L.W. men in the city, much less the wives and sons and daughters of the I.L.W. men. The employers helping, a few of the known union men were flung out of the bread-lines; but that amounted to nothing. To make matters worse, the Government tugs that had been hauling food from the army depots onMare Island to Angel Island found no more food to haul. The soldiers now received their rations from the confiscated provisions, and they received them first. The beginning of the end was in sight. Violence was beginning to show its face. Law and order were passing away, and passing away, I must confess, among the slum people and the upper classes. Organized labour still maintained perfect order. It could well afford to - it had plenty to eat. I remember the afternoon at the club when I caught Halstead and Brentwood whispering in a corner. They took me in on the venture. Brentwood's machine was still in running order, and they were going out cow-stealing. Halstead had a long butcher knife and a cleaver. We went out to the outskirts of the city. Here and there were cows grazing, but always they were guarded by their owners. We pursued our quest, following along the fringe of the city to the east, and on the hills near Hunter's Point we came upon a cow guarded by a little girl. There was also a young calf with the cow. We wasted no time on preliminaries. The little girl ran away screaming, while we slaughtered the cow. I omit the details, for they are not nice - we were unaccustomed to such work, and we bungled it.

But in the midst of it, working with the haste of fear, we heard cries, and we saw a number of men running toward us. We abandoned the spoils and took to our heels. To our surprise we were not pursued. Looking back, we saw the men hurriedly cutting up the cow. They had been on the same lay as ourselves. We argued that there was plenty for all, and ran back. The scene that followed beggars description. We fought and squabbled over the division like savages. Brentwood, I remember, was a perfect brute, snarling and snapping and threatening that murder would be done if we did not get our proper share.

And we were getting our share when there occurred a new irruption on the scene. This time it was the dreaded peace officers of the I.L.W. The little girl had brought them. They were armed with whips and clubs, and there were a score of them. The little girl danced up and down in anger, the tears streaming down her cheeks, crying: "Give it to 'em! Give it to 'em! That guy with the specs - he did it! Mash his face for him! Mash his face!"That guy with the specs was I, and I got my face mashed, too,though I had the presence of mind to take off my glasses at the first. My! but we did receive a trouncing as we scattered in all directions. Brentwood, Halstead, and I fled away for the machine. Brentwood's nose was bleeding, while Halstead's cheek was cut across with the scarlet slash of a black-snake whip.

And, lo, when the pursuit ceased and we had gained the machine, there, hiding behind it, was the frightened calf. Brentwood warned us to be cautious, and crept up on it like a wolf or tiger. Knife and cleaver had been left behind, but Brentwood still had his hands, and over and over on the ground he rolled with the poor little calf as he throttled it. We threw the carcass into the machine, covered it over with a robe, and started for home. But our misfortunes had only begun. We blew out a tyre. There was no way of fixing it, and twilight was coming on. We abandoned the machine, Brentwood pulling and staggering along in advance, the calf, covered by the robe, slung across his shoulders. We took turn about carrying that calf, and it nearly killed us. Also, we lost our way. And then, after hours of wandering and toil, we encountered a gang of hoodlums. They were not I.L.W. men, and I guess they were as hungry as we. At any rate, they got the calf and we got the thrashing. Brentwood raged like a madman the rest of the way home, and he looked like one, with his torn clothes, swollen nose, and blackened eyes.

There wasn't any more cow-stealing after that. General Folsom sent his troopers out and confiscated all the cows, and his troopers, aided by the militia, ate most of the meat. General Folsom was not to be blamed; it was his duty to maintain law and order, and he maintained it by means of the soldiers, wherefore he was compelled to feed them first of all.

It was about this time that the great panic occurred. The wealthy classes precipitated the flight, and then the slum people caught the contagion and stampeded wildly out of the city. General Folsom was pleased. It was estimated that at least 200,000 had deserted San Francisco, and by that much was his food problem solved. Well do I remember that day. In the morning I had eaten a crust of bread. Half of the afternoon I had stood in the bread-line; and after dark I returned home, tired and miserable, carrying a quart of rice and a slice of bacon. Brownmet me at the door. His face was worn and terrified. All the servants had fled, he informed me. He alone remained. I was touched by his faithfulness and, when I learned that he had eaten nothing all day, I divided my food with him. We cooked half the rice and half the bacon, sharing it equally and reserving the other half for morning. I went to bed with my hunger, and tossed restlessly all night. In the morning I found Brown had deserted me, and, greater misfortune still, he had stolen what remained of the rice and bacon.

同类推荐
  • 婆薮槃豆法师传

    婆薮槃豆法师传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 准提净业

    准提净业

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 增慧陀罗尼经

    增慧陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 阙题

    阙题

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 周易述

    周易述

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 床前明月光,美男睡得香

    床前明月光,美男睡得香

    叱咤武林的第一蛊师苗老头为了让女儿苗宝贝有一个忠贞的丈夫,特意研制了一种独情蛊,受蛊者一男一女,若有一方与其他异性有肌肤之亲,将会当场暴毙。不幸被苗老头选上的女婿是武林正派颜家三公子颜玉白,然而这位江湖第一神秘冷酷美男子与从小在苗疆长大并把少儿不宜书当做正规学习教材的苗宝贝,怎么看也不像是能好好做夫妻的一对。
  • 腹黑左相碗里来

    腹黑左相碗里来

    她,本是右相府不受宠的嫡女。大婚之日,一道圣旨,她由嫡女沦为庶女;一纸休书,她被心心念念三年的男子休弃。生性懦弱的她不堪此辱,服毒自尽。她,是二十一世纪的商业天才。一手创建了庞大的商业帝国,却独独解不开多年的心结。一场车祸,让她的灵魂进入到身中顽毒的右相府千金慕晚歌的身上。昔日姨娘看重“正妻”之位?那就让这份“看重”变成束缚!王爷将她休弃后再提婚娶?想得美!让他后悔不迭去吧!............这一世,她不需要依附男人而生存,只想要做个逍遥女王!只是,谁能告诉她,为什么还有个腹黑男人靠边等着?...........换了时空,换了躯体,懦弱褪尽,威严尽显。前世心结,多年顽毒,后院争斗,迷离身世,帝位纷争,皇宫秘史。一时间,风云突变,暗潮涌动,且看浅笑嫣然的她,如何以经济命脉为筹码,不动声色化解阴谋诡计、腥风血雨!??本文宅斗+宫斗,女主腹黑强大,字字珠玑,手段高明,借刀杀人什么的更不在话下!绝对的一对一结尾,欢迎亲们踊跃跳坑!
  • 材料知识篇(科普知识百科全书)

    材料知识篇(科普知识百科全书)

    该套丛书是丰富青少年阅历,培养青少年的想象力、创造力,加强他们的探索兴趣和对未来的向往憧憬,热爱科学的难得教材,是青少年生活、工作必备的大型工具书。本书在内容安排上,注意难易结合,强调内容的差异特点,照顾广大读者的理解力,真正使读者能够开卷有益,在语言上简明易懂,又富有生动的文学色彩,在特殊学科的内容中附有大量图片来帮助理解,具有增加知识,增长文采的特点,可以说该书在当今众多书刊中是不可多得的好书。
  • 将军追妻:傻丫头要当家

    将军追妻:傻丫头要当家

    某将军:做我丫鬟,月钱10两。顾雨两眼发光:好的!某天,府中大大小小的事务摆在眼前……顾雨欲哭无泪地看着在那悠闲自在在那看书的某位将军大人。顾雨:将军大人,我会洗衣做饭,但上得了厨房,下不了厅堂,而且我是丫鬟,不是管家!某将军:迟早也要管的,现在正好给你练练手。顾雨:……丫鬟什么时候能当管事的?我咋不知?某将军一脸无奈:傻丫头。。。作品前期有些惨不忍睹,后期会多多改善!最后一句!!!不喜勿喷!!!
  • WOMEN IN LOVE

    WOMEN IN LOVE

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 网王这块糖你吃不吃

    网王这块糖你吃不吃

    生活如此多艰,让我们愉快的吃点糖吧!本文BG向,原创女主。注重日常,尽量不OOC。比赛也会写的(大概)圣子幸村x妖艳女主其实只是为了满足作者自己想要嫖大美人的少女心。
  • 力辟天穹

    力辟天穹

    混沌初开天地现,阴阳化为五行天!修仙一途,与天争命,强筋锻体,聚气为灵,化灵为海,归元中枢!驭以神魂,散魄重生!九转朝圣,力辟天穹!
  • 北京,1912

    北京,1912

    满族青年宁伯雍留学日本六年,回国后遇上辛亥革命,听说老同学在前门外经营《大华日报》,便去求职,成为记者。从京郊到城里后,宁伯雍看到了一个日益变化的北京城。他在龙泉寺认识了梆子小花旦白牡丹,并与沛上逸民等人组织团体捧白牡丹。从此白牡丹渐渐走红,后被维二爷独占,厌弃宁伯雍等人。宁伯雍又认识了妓女秀卿。秀卿对高官富商冷眼冷语,对宁伯雍却另眼相待,两人渐生情愫。秀卿不幸患病,临死前将母亲和弟弟托付给宁伯雍……
  • 千金翼方

    千金翼方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 七里香

    七里香

    一个阴云密布的日子。高天堡古城战事告急:大西门、光华门、水西门、安定门已被日军突破!贴膏药旗的日军飞机超低空飞行狂轰滥炸,安定酒巷五里香酒楼已经被炸开几个口子,长长的牌匾掉落在地砸成几段。街道上,惊恐的居民蜂拥而过。五里香酒楼掌柜五爷将女儿春英和贴心帮手山仔推出屋外,硬往山仔手上塞了一个包裹,说:“这个店看来开不下去了,你俩先走,去天台山葫芦关投靠四爷!”春英拉着五爷的手,说:“阿爹,要去你和阿妈也一起去!”山仔也说:“是啊,五爷,你和我婶留在这里太危险!”