Itwasthatandnoless。Itwasthefeedingofsomeprodigiousmonster，insatiable，withironteeth，gnashingandthreshingintothefieldsofstandingwheat。devouringalways，neverglutted，neversatiated，swallowinganentireharvest，snarlingandslobberinginawelterofwarmvapour，acridsmoke，andblinding，pungentcloudsofchaff。Itmovedbelly-deepinthestandinggrain，ahippopotamus，half-miredinriverooze，gorgingrushes，snorting，sweating。adinosaurwallowingthroughthick，hotgrasses，flounderingthere，crouching，grovellingthereasitsvastjawscrushedandtore，anditsenormousgulletswallowed，incessant，ravenous，andinordinate。
S。Behrman，verymuchamused，changedplaceswithoneofthesacksewers，allowinghimtoholdhishorsewhilehemountedthesackingplatformandtookhisplace。Thetrepidationandjostlingofthemachineshookhimtillhisteethchatteredinhishead。Hisearswereshockedandassaultedbyamyriad-tonguedclamour，clashingsteel，strainingbelts，jarringwoodwork，whiletheimpalpablechaffpowderfromtheseparatorssettledlikedustinhishair，hisears，eyes，andmouth。
Directlyinfrontofwherehesatontheplatformwasthechutefromthecleaner，andfromthisintothemouthofahalf-fullsackspoutedanunendinggushofgrain，winnowed，cleaned，threshed，readyforthemill。
ThepourfromthechuteofthecleanerhadforS。Behrmananimmensesatisfaction。Withoutaninstant’spause，athickrivuletofwheatrolledanddashedtumultuousintothesack。Inhalfaminute——sometimesintwentyseconds——thesackwasfull，waspassedovertothesecondsewer，themouthreevedup，andthesackdumpedoutupontheground，tobepickedupbythewagonsandhauledtotherailroad。
S。Behrman，hypnotised，satwatchingthatriverofgrain。Allthatshrieking，bellowingmachinery，allthatgiganticorganism，allthemonthsoflabour，theploughing，theplanting，theprayersforrain，theyearsofpreparation，theheartaches，theanxiety，theforesight，allthewholebusinessoftheranch，theworkofhorses，ofsteam，ofmenandboys，lookedtothisspot——