They were in a new town. He rubbed his eyes as he
stood beside the wagon wheel and looked upon the amazing scene before
him. Dozens of huge wagons were spread over the show-grounds; a
multitude of men and horses swarmed in and about them; curious crowds
of early risers stood afar off and gazed. The rhythmic pounding of
iron stakes, driven down by four precise sledge-men came to his ears
from all sides; the jangling of trace-chains; the creaking of wagons
and the whine of pulleys. Here, there, everywhere were signs of a
mighty activity, systematic in its every phase. Men toiled and swore
and were cursed with the regularity of a single well-balanced mind.
Already the horse tent and the cook tent were up. A blacksmith shop
was clanging out its busy greetings.
For a moment David forgot his own predicament. He stared in utter
bewilderment, vastly interested in the great transformation. Under his
very eyes a city of white was about to spring into existence.
Some one touched his shoulder, not ungently. He started in sudden
alarm. A rough-looking fellow in a soiled red undershirt was standing
at his elbow.
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