Sections 1 Just after passing Caraher's saloon, on the County Road that ran south from Bonneville, and… 2 He drew abreast of the tank and halted there, leaning his bicycle against the fence. 3 “You'll have to see Derrick himself or Harran about that, Bismarck,” 4 Presley wheeled up the driveway and met Harran by the horse-block. 5 But whatever he wrote, and in whatever fashion, Presley was determined that his poem should… 6 “Ulsteen gave his decision yesterday,” 7 Harran, his mind full of other things, nodded to say he understood. 8 All about him the country was flat. 9 But now Presley exerted himself in good earnest. 10 Dyke's home was in Guadalajara. 11 “Now, YOU tell me what for,” 12 Dyke smote his knee with his clenched fist. 13 “De La Cuesta held the grant of Los Muertos in those days,” 14 “And the girl?” 15 When Presley reached Annixter's ranch house, he found young Annixter himself stretched in… 16 He had taken a trip to Europe after this sickness to put himself completely to rights. 17 As a last characteristic, Annixter pretended to be a woman-hater, for no other reason than… 18 But Presley, scenting an argument, refrained from answering, and bethought himself of moving on. 19 Already he had passed the larger part of the herd—an intervening rise of ground having… 20 But the shepherd came forward to meet Presley, followed by one of his dogs. 21 It was more than that. 22 “Off there, down to the south, very far off. 23 At the time of his meeting with Angele, Vanamee was living on the Los Muertos ranch. 24 Who was the Other? 25 While Presley had been reflecting upon all this, Vanamee had continued to speak. 26 Vanamee heard him to the end, his grave, sad face thoughtful and attentive. 27 Father Sarria opened the door. 28 Presley climbed to the summit of one of the hills—the highest—that rose out of the canyon,… 29 But all this seemed to be only foreground, a mere array of accessories—a mass of irrelevant… 30 Never had he so nearly grasped his inspiration as at that moment on the hilltop. 31 Abruptly Presley remembered.
Start Learning A poet cycling the San Joaquin wheat ranches in search of an epic subject instead meets tenant farmers rattled by the railroad's grip on their land and livelihoods.
Wheat ranching in the San Joaquin Railroad monopoly A poet's search for an epic subject Tenant farmers' anxiety
31 sections · ~69 min read
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